Books That Changed My Life: Shifting Gears

Some books you enjoy. Some books you rave about. Then there are the books that happen to come into your life at exactly the right moment and give you something you didn’t know you needed. These are the books that change your life.

Back in February of 2016, I released my second novel, Our Little Secret. It was a very exciting time for me as OLS managed to creep up into second place on one of the Amazon Best Seller lists. Which, of course, means I spent a ridiculous amount of time staring at that particular page on my browser. The placings tended to shuffle around hourly, so I had to refresh every minute or so, to make sure I was up-to-date. 🙂

There was another book that hung out beside mine for a few days, which had one of the most beautiful, romantic covers I had ever seen. It had been published within a few days of mine. The book was Shifting Gears by Riley Hart.

At that stage, I had never read an MM romance. I’d read some MMF, and Our Little Secret was an MMF Romance. But I’d never read a book that focused solely on an MM relationship.

I hesitated in those first few days. The idea felt so different from anything I’d ever read before. Like sneaking a peek into a forbidden world. Plus, I’d spent so much on the costs associated with my release that spending money on a book for myself seemed entirely too decadent. But I kept coming back to it over and over. To the cover. The description. The idea. I wanted to know what a true MM Romance was like.

Eventually, I gave in and bought the book. It was amazing!

By the time I reached The End I was hopelessly in love with the main characters. Especially Rod, whose smiling, carefree exterior masked deep insecurities and a desperate need for acceptance and love. Oh, the deliciousness of all that angst!

Needless to say, I was hooked and have been reading MM Romance ever since. It was still some time before I nervously plucked up the courage to pen an MM novel of my own (All the Broken Pieces was my first). But I can definitely say that Shifting Gears was the book that started me on the path to where I am today. I will forever be grateful to the talented and generous Riley Hart for providing such a swoonworthy introduction to the world of MM Romance.

Do you remember your first MM Romance? If so, I’d love to know which book or author seduced you into the fold. Simply hit reply on this email to respond.