Review: Cherish & Blessed by Tere Michaels

Title: Cherish & Blessed (Faith, Love & Devotion: Books Four and Five

Author: Tere Michaels

Pages/Word Count: 200 Pages

At a Glance: Reading these stories was like visiting with a best friend.

Reviewed By: Lana

Blurbs: Cherished

After several years of happy coupledom, Matt and Evan can relax in the knowledge that their little family has survived the worst of it. The two older girls are away at college, the twins have yet to fully hit teen angst, Matt is doing well with his part time security consulting, and Evan is about to be promoted to captain—it seems like things are calm and bright.

Until they aren’t.

As the holidays approach, Evan and Matt get a shock no parent is ever prepared for: feisty Miranda, Evan’s eldest, has a new boyfriend, Kent, and they are talking marriage after just three months together. In fact, Miranda wants to bring him to Thanksgiving dinner—along with his parents, Blake and Cornelia.

Blessed

Lives are in transition as everyone gathers at the stunning Hamptons beach home of Daisy and Bennett to celebrate the christening of their new baby. Griffin and Jim—secretly growing tired of their rootless lifestyle—are in a rocky spot in their relationship. And as the godfather, Griffin finds himself yearning for something he’s sure Jim won’t be interested in.

Fatherhood.

Matt and Evan are looking to reconnect during the long weekend, as their respective careers pull them in separate directions. With less time spent together, Evan grows concerned about what will happen when the last two kids leave the nest.

Review: Cherish & Blessed is a continuation of Evan and Matt’s story, their family, and a close circle of friends. What can I say but that I loved it? I couldn’t get enough and was disappointed when I finished the book.

I’m not going to go into the plot, but the stories center around the Haight/Cirelli household. In Cherish, it’s been a number of years since Matt and Evan got together. The kids are growing up and moving out. Matt and Evan are settled in their relationship. Reading about them, their typical, mundane everyday life, and their passion was just beautiful because it’s all about their love for each other. But, it’s not without some drama in the form of Miranda and her lingering issues regarding her mother’s death and her father’s relationship with a man. Thanksgiving becomes a crazy event as Miranda brings her boyfriend’s family, hoping for some fireworks when they meet Evan and Matt.

It doesn’t quite go her way. It’s funny and very poignant. Miranda still can’t fully accept Matt in her life, and this brings a heap of guilt onto Evan. There is always this underlying question: if his wife hadn’t died, who would he choose? Evan’s still struggling with his guilt, but he will never choose between the two because he loves them both in different ways. And Matt loves him unconditionally and always shows it.

Blessed is a chapter in Evan and Matt’s lives. New opportunities and life changes are on the horizon. Evan is up for a promotion, but he’s afraid he’ll just be a gay poster boy for the new and improved inclusive police force. Matt’s security business is taking off and as the kids get older and move out, he’s getting more content in his life. As always, the extended family/friends are all there and are as lovable as ever. Bennett and Daisy are getting ready for a new baby. Helena and Shane are still in a honeymoon state, and Jim and Griffin are at a crossroads in life. Griffin has baby fever and Jim is not sure what the next step in their life is.

Every storyline was perfect. Okay, so I’m a huge fan and just couldn’t get enough. I want to know these people in real life. I want to be their friend! The love they have for each other jumps off the page, and the emotions are of the charts.

Reading these stories was like visiting with a best friend. I just couldn’t get enough because my appetite for them is insatiable. So, Ms. Michaels, you need to give us more of Evan and Matt ASAP!