Review: The Sum of Everything by April Kelley

I’m thouroughly enjoying this series (“Pickleville”).  The romances are as sweet as they are sexy.  The characters are likable, and a lot of them are lovable.  The stories flow smoothly, and the plots are timely and real.  April Kelley should be proud!

In “The Sum of Everything”, Greg is in love with Brian…has been for awhile now, but Brian?  He’s kind of casual sex kind of guy.  You know the type, friends with benefits, but no permanent ties.  He’s got a fear of relationships, and that made me feel sad for him.  Greg sets the love story in motion with a drunken declaration that is adorable, and it makes Brian sit up and take notice.  Greg’s childhood and Brian’s skittishness lead to a difficult road for the couple.  There is just enough angst to move the story along, but not page after page of weeping and chest beating.  Our boys are very different from each other, but there is a connection that will not die.  At one point, I was very frustrated with Brian, but he stepped up to the plate and made me a very happy woman. The chemistry between the two is explosive, and when they come together, the sex is nuclear!It completely enhances their relationship.  It’s not ALL about sex, but it certainly helps 🙂

Another thing that I really liked about this book, and I did mention it a bit, was the background characters.  As this is the second installment of the series, Jaron and Travis from book one appear and are central to the story.  They’re not just filler.  Also, others come in, and it’s obvious that they’re being set up for future stories.  I thought that was great because I’m anxious to see what eles Ms. Kelley has to offer.  I recommend this one for fans of MM.  In fact, if you’re new to MM or haven’t read any yet, this is a great starter series.   I also recommend it to anyone who just likes reading about a sweet romance being built from the ground up.  You’ll smile, laugh, want to kick some ass, and most of all root for Greg and Brian.