Change of Address

Change of Address is a charming m/m romance involving two men and a service dog--no, not like that. Disabled veteran Michael Baldwin moves to Hartsbridge Island so that he can finish recovering from the incident that retired him from the Army with the help of his service dog Kaylee. There he meets bagel-baker extraordinaire Josh, who co-owns a bakery with his dad. The two men hit it off, but there are complications, chiefly Michael's father, who just happens to be the governor of the state and wants to run for U.S. Senate. His plans for Michael never included a stint in the Army that left him with neurological injuries, let alone being gay. The romance is center stage here, a slowly developing attraction that's more emotional than sexual. There's a satisfying sex scene, but not orgasms on every page. Rather, there is food on almost every page, including lots and lots of bagels. There were times I was almost drooling over my tablet at the food descriptions. Just writing this review makes me want a fresh everything bagel. Brock's handling of Michael's disabilities and his reliance on Kaylee the service dog is particularly good. Rather than an obvious injury such as a prosthetic limb, Michael has nerve and brain damage that affect his speech, memory, and physical balance, along with PTSD. Kaylee functions as an emotional stabilizer and a boundary between Michael and people or situations he doesn't want to deal with or can't. Josh's respectful, understanding treatment of Kaylee and of Michael's limitations helps to win Michael's heart, and the reader's, too. If you're looking for a gay romance that focuses on emotions and relationships rather than hot bodies, Change of Address is what you're looking for.

This is a brilliant story! The author focuses almost entirely on the development of the relationship between the two main characters, Josh and Michael. When I first started reading this book, I became frustrated with the time that Josh and Michael spent not acting on their desires and feelings. However, after I had read on a bit more, I settled into this part of the story as the characters developed. We learn about each of their misgivings, self-doubts, uncertainties, joys and mischievous desires that occur in the early stages of most relationships. Who can't remember the heightened emotional responses when one sees the stranger across the dance floor on some enchanted evening (to paraphrase the song from South Pacific)? And then to wonder whether the emotional responses are the same for the other person. All of this is captured sensitively and descriptively in Change of Address and there is little distraction with side issues, as often is the case with romance stories, as Josh and Michael fumble, stumble, hesitate and finally act on their desires and feelings. Even towards the end, when Michael is confronted by his father, this is used by the author to only round off Michael's relationship with his Dad. Oh and there is another main character, Kaylee, Michael's service dog. I'd not known of service dogs until I read this book. In Australia, we often come across seeing-eye dogs but rarely service dogs and the inclusion of Kaylee in the story stimulated me to find out more. The inclusion of Kaylee provides an insight into the benefit of these dogs for those experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). And the author weaves Kaylee's role into the story so naturally.This story warmed the inner cockles of my gay heart and I highly recommend it.

I wanted to give this more stars, but the characters were under developed as people in spite of the care put into his PTSD and brain injury. I wish there had been more personal development between them--it was hard to connect to them as a couple without it.Also this is a small nit-pick but it bothers me anyway since the character is practicing Jewish. Keeping kosher "at home" but not in your place of business is strange. He runs a bagel shop but cooks bacon in the shop's kitchen? Also...you can't just get a kosher pizza by avoiding pork-- kosher is something that has to be certified, so the pizza place would have to be confirmed by a Rabbi. Which means the pizza parlor needs TWO kitchens- one kosher and one non. Kosher isn't just not eating bacon, and even us non-Kosher Jews know that. Apart from a BUNCH of other kosher rules, you can't mix meat and cheese--which means even if Pepperoni isn't pork, it's not kosher if it's served on a cheese pizza. If he was eating cheese, he'd have to wait a specific amount of time before he ate meat, or vice versa. As I said, the nitpick is small, but annoying because it would have taken five seconds to google what kosher actually is, and not just assume that all Jews keeping kosher just avoid bacon.

The story line is acceptable even though it has minimal details concerning Michael’s PTSD. I would have liked to know more of the why. And while the reader is told Josh dropped out of school, and is insecure because of that, nothing much is said about his why, either. The interaction and slow build to the relationship is good, I just wish there had been a bit more background in support of their actions.

I loved the writing and that everything was edited flawlessly. The story is very sweet, not overly angsty. It just flows and allows you to peek into the life of an insecure bagel baker and a soldier with a service dog. And that’s really it, there are no big twists and turns. And I loved it all the more for it.

I burned through this book because I just couldn’t put it down. It’s heartwarming and fun with that little bit of angst to never leave you board. It’s a beautiful relationship that blossoms into something magical. I absolutely adore this book and can’t wait for the next one.

I loved this book so much! It was super easy to follow and wonderful enough to curl up on a weekend and finish it in one sitting! The author is excellent at painting a picture in your mind and letting you lose yourself in the story! Definite recommendation!

The two main characters are sweet and for logical reasons, move slowly in their attraction. The book is well written and well edited.However, it ends abruptly right after a crucial family moment, which left me metaphorically flicking through pages looking for the rest of it. There's a non sequitur epilogue which adds little to the story and goes nowhere, leaving the story unresolved and this reader feeling cheated.I found the story to be more of a HFN rather than a HEA. It was also short and expensive, which I justified for a new author because I respect Riptide. If I'd DNF'd, I'd have asked for my money back, as it was, I was merely looking for the rest of it.If there is a sequel planned, I will not be buying it. Not because the story wasn't good enough or the characters interesting enough, but because it should have been one story.

This is a story about an exsoldier with PTSD and battle to find saftey and love . His service dog is his rock but he fines comfort and understanding in a bagel shop. This is a lovely story , not a lot of sex scenes more on the emotional story

It was refreshing to read a story about two men in love, as opposed to being in lust and looking for the next lay. I'll look forward to reading another book by this author.

A sweet novel about two men in love and it was lovely to read a novel where the endgame was not sex but a lasting, healthy, relationship. I was craving bagels by the end. :D

Well written and sweet. However, as a Jew, and a cook, the multiple errors with regards to our food and traditions were very frustrating. A good read otherwise.