REVIEW: Too Close to the Flame by Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood

Can he ever learn to trust again?

Brandon Weber’s old boyfriend almost beat him to death. Brandon survived, but still bears the emotional scars. Eighteen months later, he has withdrawn into himself, convinced he’ll never be able to trust another man.

Devin Macadam, fresh out of law school, has an exciting new job. He is also on the lookout for just the right guy, someone to take care of and love.

When Devin shows up for the first day of work at his new office, he meets Brandon, a legal assistant there. Sparks fly, but Brandon is paralyzed by fear and isn’t about to give another man the power to hurt him again. Devin, never one to give up easily, doesn’t want to take no for an answer. Both men feel the magic, but can their relationship ever get past the friend zone?


Too Close to the Flame is a dark-to-light, sweet romance featuring out and proud gay men, lots of feels, steamy love scenes, and a wonderful happy ending. The book is approximately 86,000 words.

Trigger Warning: Too Close to the Flame contains specific memories of physical & Sexual abuse.



Author: Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood
Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Purchase Links:
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Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

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♦ My Review ♦

Enjoyed this book so much. It's just a refreshing story about a man who suffered the most horrible abuse one can encounter from someone who they loved, or thought they did, and how he overcame that trauma. Little by little, he overcame the prison he locked himself in. One of his own making. I really loved the flow of the story, the back and forth of the two characters' banter was hilarious and just so perfect, it made me sigh in happiness. lol

The one thing that sort of threw me out of the book and kind of annoyed me was when, about half way into the book, Devin calls his Penis by a nickname. DON'T. Ever. EVER. do that again PLEASE!!! 

I almost just threw it away. lol... (but also not kidding.)

It really ruined those intimate moments for me. Like, I don't mind it if they're talking about his dick between them like that, OUTSIDE of the bedroom, but if his monologue of when he's going to stick it in, his like. "oh yeah, Pete is ready to slide into his snug warmth" --- I'm out. It was so, So bad. I had to reword it in my had to get through it. 

But.. other than that, It was a very nice read. I look forward to reading another by these author's. It ended with just the right pinch of suspense and tears and pulling of the heartstrings. lol... Loved it.