Review: Strong Enough

Strong Enough by Melanie Harlow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review written on 1/5/2019

So, after completing Strong Enough for the second time I have a new appreciation for this story. I'm not sure what's changed for me from the first time to this time around, but the story is more than I remember.

Derek is set in his ways, he's determined to live a perfect life, and he's positive he can control everything in his little world. Including who he loves.

Maxim is fresh off a plane, full of big plans, content to let fate guide him, and he's not looking for love.

But Derek and Maxim hit it off and Maxim's carefree ways pull at something deep inside Derek. And Derek doesn't know how to handle that. He doesn't know because it's out of his control and he likes to have control.

Watching the back and forth, watching the struggle, the love, the growth...yeah, it just speaks to me in a way it didn't two years ago.

And I will always cheer for the two who proved that sometimes fate does have her hand in things and just when you think you can control your life, fate plops herself down on a barstool and gets to work.

I'm still waiting to see Ellen's story. Can that happen?
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3.75 Because it feels good Stars

This is my weakness. M/M is always my weakness. Melanie Harlow and David Romanov give us the story of Derek and Maxim. You're going to swoon, you're going to fall in love, and you're going to really, really hope they figure their shit out because it's heartbreaking when they fight against it.

"I believe it was more than luck, too."

Maxim just landed Stateside. His friend didn't show up at the airport, his phone is dead, and he has no idea where his new apartment is located. So, Maxim grabs a cab and the rest of his life is changed.

Derek is one of three children. He's the perfectionist, he's the one you can always count on, he's dependable. That has to explain why his sister, Ellen, calls him for a favor--almost every time she needs a favor.

Maxim and Derek are unlikely. They aren't conventional. They have twelve years separating them, not to mention a language--although Maxim does speak English. They have nothing in common.

"Because I wanted to know what it would be like to be yours. To belong to you."

Except a boatload of chemistry. So much chemistry that everyone notices it, even when they are trying to hide it. And when they don't hide it from themselves, it's beautiful.

This is a story of more than just love. It's a story of self-discovery, self-awareness, and understanding. It's the story of acceptance. It's a story of strength.

It wasn't that he didn't know what he wanted, the problem was that he did know--he just didn't like it. He didn't want to want it.

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