New Release Reviews ~ The Mayor and the Mystery Man by A.J. Truman

Posted on by dusty273

To win this election, I should be trying to kiss babies, not my best friend!

My chances of reelection have gone from slam dunk to nose dive.

What happened? A former hookup sold me out to the press, complete with screenshots. In my defense, between being mayor and parenting twins (double the puberty!), I have zero room for relationships that go beyond one night.

My campaign manager says I need to change the narrative, aka get a boyfriend ASAP to make me seem more (ugh) likeable. The only person I trust with this ruse is my charming best friend Dusty.

Despite living 3,000 miles apart, thanks to endless text chains and 2 a.m. phone calls, we’ve been the constant in each other’s lives, navigating through single dad fails (me) and breakups with cruel ex-girlfriends (all him).

Each day we spend as fake boyfriends feels more real, which is odd because Dusty is straight.

And yet our playful banter is shifting from friendly to flirty.

And he doesn’t stop holding my hand when the crowds leave.

And was he always this attractive?

With reporters sniffing for the truth, exploring these feelings could mean the implosion of my political career and our friendship.

The Mayor and the Mystery Man is book 2 in the Single Dads Club series, but can be read as a standalone. Join Leo and Dusty as they stumble toward their happily ever after!

 

Amazon (Available on KU) |  Goodreads

~ * ~ Jo‘s Review ~ * ~

5 Stars
This is actually book 2 in the Single Dads Club series but it absolutely works as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed book 1 but I’d say this is sweeter, the best friends to lovers—the first is enemies to lovers— aspect makes the characters more likable and engaging. I really connected from the start with both MCs. Leo is dedicated to his job as mayor. A scandal leads him to ask his best friend Dusty to become his fake boyfriend to stop his re-election campaign from going off the rails. Dusty is a bit of a mess (though Leo doesn’t know it) and as he’d do anything for his friend, he steps into the role happily.
The author does a great job of showing the connection between these two, they bounce off each other and it is easy to believe the transition from friends to lovers. They are cute together and the slow burn is right for the relationship. The plot ticks along nicely, developing things between them steadily. When they do come together the chemistry is definitely there and it’s all the sexier for the emotional connection you feel between them. I really liked this pair together.
A definite recommendation from me; a great addition to the series full of wonderful characters, a couple you really root for, and a warm and satisfying HEA. Looking forward to the next one on the series.
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement.**

~ * ~ Annie‘s Review ~ * ~

4.5 Stars

I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve read by this author thus far and The Mayor and the Mystery Man is no exception. I loved the easy rhythm of the writing, the palpable bond between best friends, the bright dialogue, and the steamy moments. Together, these attributes made for a fun, easy-to-read story that left me with a smile on my face.

Leo and Dusty have a simple but close bond that’s readily apparent from the start of The Mayor and the Mystery Man. While the sparks may be obvious to the reader early on, the author does a great job at cultivating the subtle shift from things being friendly and faking it to something more substantial. I found both characters to be well-developed and I was really happy the story never relied on silly conflicts and miscommunications to propel the story along.

The Mayor and the Mystery Man proved to be well-balanced with just enough sweetness and heat alongside the fun storyline. If you are looking for a good story that’s sure to put you in a good mood without being saccharine sweet and lacking heat, this is the book for you.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***