Author: Jaime Reese
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages/Word Count: 363 Pages
At a Glance: This book, as well as the others in the series, is just amazing.
Reviewed By: Jackie
Blurb: Cole Renzo thinks his greatest challenge is to behave for the remainder of his term at Halfway House. Until he meets his new boss, Ty Calloway, a man who ticks off every box on Cole’s list of interests.
A sought-after restorer and customizer of exotic and collectible cars, Ty had enough confidence to command what he wanted in life, until one fateful night changed everything. Almost two years later, he’s slowly rebuilding his life with great control. He’s defied the odds and works tirelessly to be the man he once was—but he still feels broken.
Cole’s candor and unfiltered personality awaken Ty’s barely-remembered desire to greet each new day with a smile, while Ty’s unwavering acceptance of Cole’s quirks and brash humor makes Cole feel as if he fits in for the first time in far too long. When a nemesis threatens Ty’s personal restoration and the things he holds dear, Cole is determined to protect their relationship, even if that means sacrificing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve.
But Ty will have to let his guard down, surrender control, and admit he needs Cole first, even if that puts himself at risk of breaking beyond repair.
Review: Oh man, when I saw A Restored Man on the “Coming Soon” page, I was so very excited. I have loved The Men of Halfway House series since the very beginning. When Cole made his first appearance in the series, he seemed like a total trouble maker. I was looking forward to reading this so I could find out more about this character. I just knew he had to have hidden depths, and boy was I right.
Cole Renzo has turned out to be one of my favorite characters of the year. On the surface he is just a car stealing, ADHD-having wild man. Once you scratch at the surface a little, though, you get a whole other view of the man. He is a whiz at just about anything that has to do with cars, he is completely devoted to his family, and he has a thing for beanies.
Ty Calloway has offered Cole a job in his shop during his stay in the halfway house. Ty is a premier auto restorer and mechanic who has had it pretty rough lately. An accident has left him scarred, both physically and mentally. Add in an opportunistic criminal, and Ty is on the edge of a breakdown. Little does he know that Cole could be the answer to questions he hasn’t even thought to ask himself.
Jaime Reese has once again put pen to paper and worked some major magic between two men who are somewhat cracked but not wholly broken. Cole is a man who grew up in a close knit family, but tragedy put him on a course of self-destruction that landed him in jail and eventually, in the Halfway House. Ty’s life was almost identical. He had great parents, a loving brother, and a killer career. The difference is when tragedy struck Ty, he just shut down. No acting out for him.
From the moment these two meet there are sparks, but they have a metric ton of baggage to sort through before they can even think of a HEA. Luckily for us, the author did a fantastic job of walking us through their journey. I loved getting to experience the highs and lows right alongside Ty and Cole. Cole’s family was a treat and Ty’s brother, well, he was…interesting. I am hoping he’ll be getting his very own story soon. I am sure it will be a page turner as well.
This book, as well as the others in the series, is just amazing. I am completely in love with all the characters, and I can’t wait to see where Ms. Reese will take us next.
You can buy A Restored Man here:
