Holden Worthington’s globetrotting days are over. Once the host of a popular adventure show, he hasn’t ventured past his own front door in more than a year. Then the arrival of a sexy new gardener sparks something Holden hasn’t felt in a very long time—an interest in the world outside his window.
Holden tries to resist the attraction. But painfully shy yet definitely interested Adam Morgan has Holden longing to conquer his debilitating anxiety and live again. After a grisly discovery on the grounds of the estate, the town of Smithfield turns a suspicious eye on the reclusive Holden—and the two men must trust in each other to bring the truth out in the open.
Holden used to be an adventurer and now he’s an agoraphobic, go figure. He’s home, of course, when his new gardener shows up and Holden is more than happy to watch his beautiful new landscaper do his thing. Unfortunately his viewing gets interrupted when the gardener, Adam, knocks on his door and tells him that he just found a body behind the shed.
Holden is freaked out, especially when the police come and start asking him and Adam questions like they had something to do with the death. What this DOES do is put Holden and Adam together and gets them talking and that’s a very good thing in Holden’s mind.
The story is told from Holden’s point of view and revolves around the relationship between Holden and Adam but also relationships that Holden has with others. At the time of the body being discovered Holden’s brother, Porter is visiting and staying at the house and is with his friend who lives in town, Kurt. Then there’s Porter’s soon to be ex-wife, Mitzi, and Holden’s bastard ex-boyfriend who comes to visit. The guests seem to come and go at their leisure and Holden really never knows when someone is home or not. He just wants the murderer found so that neither he nor Adam will be suspect any longer, the damned media will get out of his face and he can spend some time with Adam because he wants that relationship to go farther than he originally thought.
I think what I love about this book so much, besides Holden’s snark (which is always in play) is the fact that Holden and Adam are so very different from each other. Yes, there’s the obvious that Adam loves the outdoors and Holden can’t leave the house without fainting. But it’s the fact that Holden seems so jaded (but not unredeemable) and Adam is so very innocent in his own way. The pair together forms this new little unit that’s both lovable and hot as hell at the same time and I loved their relationship.
I do wish we could have gotten a little bit more info on Adam and his background but since the story was told in first per from Holden’s point of view, and Adam was on the quieter side I could understand the lack of information.
Overall a wonderful book, once again. I originally read In and Out when it first came out but it was great rereading the newer version of Adam and Holden and I loved the book just as much.
Rating: 5 out of 5
I'm definitely reading this book! I just re-read all the other Men of Smithfield books last month? Soooo… yeah. I'm SO happy to see that 5/5 rating. Yay!
This is my fav besides Seth and David. Just love those 2 couples.