Life, Some Assembly Required Paperback – June 9, 2015

I love this series and these characters. Ryan and John are inspiring and there is so much love in their lives. I am humbled by the struggles they are navigating and their commitment to each other and their family. Thank you for the education.

“Life, Some Assembly Required” by Kaje Harper is part of ‘The Rebuilding Year’ series and continues the saga of former firefighter Ryan and head groundskeeper John as they work out the permutations of their relationship, complete with challenges provided by their respective families. Family drama escalates and the life the couple is building together is challenged by their respective relatives. The family is growing, in more than one way, and it is up to Ryan and John to decide how to handle the new challenges coming their way, hopefully by growing as a couple as well.This contemporary m/m romance provides a great look at the complications of blending families, particularly when acceptance is in short supply among those who should be one’s biggest supporters. There are multiple sobering issues touched upon, including the complications of pregnancy, the difficulty of establishing one’s identity while going through the challenges of being a teen, and the shock of being harshly judged for who you are loving. I was a bit surprised to discover that this story was more of a character study and not an intense romantic suspense the way the first in the series was, but I was delighted to be able to see how the relationship was maturing between two fantastic guys who have found a way to trust, despite betrayals in their respective pasts.One of the things I enjoy most about this author is her ability to blend angst and romance and to depict that tremulous quality of a flowering relationship that is challenged by both one’s own doubts and the pressures due to the expectations of others. I always have many ‘aww’ moments when reading Ms. Harper’s stories because they remind me of the wonderful benefits of finding someone who you can lean on unconditionally, who accepts you, scars and all. I feel that one can read this as a stand-alone story but that it will be enhanced by having read the first in the series and I definitely hope that there are still more tales in store that feature this wonderful couple.A version of this review was submitted to Night Owl Reviews

Reading "The Rebuilding Year" first is recommended, as this book has the same main characters. The author is good about making books stand on their own, even in a series, but you'll still miss a lot about their history if you read out of order.I really loved The Rebuilding Year. Ryan was a former fireman, seriously injured and starting over in a new life with a bad leg and as a medical student. He meets John, who takes care of the college's grounds, and who is dealing with a selfish ex and lack of custody of his kids. To top it off, they have both previously considered themselves straight and there is some seriously creepy, dangerous stuff going on at campus. It's almost too much, but Kaje Harper manages to make it work, and the characters and their relationship are just too good and memorable to go wrong at any rate.This continuation is welcome because of those characters and that relationship. There is no extra bit of craziness--no murder and mayhem, but dealing with the aftermath, yes. And dealing with the continuing relationship between two men who formerly identified as straight and have other things in life to deal with. It's enough conflict. And thankfully it isn't over-blown into annoyingly fake major conflict! There are plenty of things in their lives that they need to sort out without creating silly sources of conflict.I love how there aren't any extreme personalities, and yet all the characters feel lively and engaging. There is a subtlety and depth to the writing that is more than enough to make this an exciting read without anything blowing up. Seriously, you know we read romances for the relationship (sure, sex scenes are good, too, and there are enough here, but if we wanted ONLY that, we'd just read erotica), and there needs to be a strong plot to go along with it, and it's all here.Read "The Rebuilding Year" first and I guarantee that if you liked it at all, you'll like this even better.

Well written, as one would expect from Kaje Harper. However, one line from the book summed up this story for me and made the whole thing a little tiresome, ' you don't have to take care of everyone, everywhere...' Ryan said this to John, and truer words.... I found John's dealings with his ex wife tiresome. I just wanted to keep shouting at my kindle, ' She cheated on you, she treated you like crap, and now she's treating the love of your life like crap.... ' Nobody is that self sacrificing. John was lovely, a veritable saint, I suppose, but, I felt, needed to grow a pair, even though he kinda redeemed himself at the end of the book. I also felt that the dismissal of Ryan and John at Brent's wedding could've been better dealt with. The story made me roll my eyes at times. It was all just a bit ' wishy washy.'

I have so much I want to say about this book but I’m too tired to bother. It’s not bad but like everyone says it’s a slog to get through. It’s taken me over a week when usually this size book take me less than two days. I was ready to be done. I still could not stand Cynthia, still don’t get Mark’s discomfort and how it’s okay & the ending was too cliche and sickly sweet for this kind of book. 3 🌟

The Rebuilding Year is one of my favourite m/m books. I love Kaje Harper's writing. She knows how to write about families, she understands the relationships & how they tick, plus she writes realistic dialogue & is an excellent story teller.So what stops me giving this 5*s? Well, whilst I loved the story & meeting up with John & Ry again, I did feel there were some loose ends still. I really wanted to see a little more progression with their story to a definitive HEA I suppose. I also felt Torey's tale was a little predictable, though I liked how it was done (& was relieved it wasn't Mark as that would have been too predictable).I felt Cynthia's story was very realistic, her manipulative streak showing itself again in a very realistic way. But again, there was that peeve that women seem to be all too often portrayed as the villain - in an unflattering light (another peeve is how girls - though not in this book, are always wearing & loving pink! Honestly, not all girls do like pink you know & it seems to be a stereotype that appears all too often... but I digress!).It was great to catch up with John & Ryan again. They are really lovely characters & their relationship was solid throughout. I loved their tenderness towards each other as they navigated their complicated lives. I got angry on their behalf at Cynthia (& Brandon's) treatment; at Brent & Ryan's dad & the way they treated Ryan & John; I smiled & laughed along with them & surely that's a sign of a well-written tale, when you feel for & with the characters.Overall though, whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the book & read it at great pace, I guess I just wanted that little bit more. Maybe it was because I love The Rebuilding Year so much, but I just felt a little unsatisfied. Perhaps another John & Ry installment would help?!

I can't make up my mind between 2 and 3 stars so I'm going with 2.5 rounded up.I have a love hate relationship with this book.I love Kaje Harper and her writing, I love John, I love Ryan, I even love Torey and Mark.I loved the tenderness between John and Ryan, they just fit.I adored how they trusted their love for each other.But...I hated all the drama. They just lurched from one family crisis to another, it was all so...irritating.I wanted to see them together as a couple, learning to live with each other and fit in each other's lives but instead they just lurched from one crisis to another.I'm sick to death of Cynthia. I get that John had to deal with her because of the children but he constantly allows her to walk all over him and I wanted him to man up.When he finally did, it all felt like too little to late. I was over it.Unfortunately the unnecessary drama for drama's sake is the over riding memory I'm taking from this book.I wanted more romance and heat and less unnecessary drama, I'm left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

I'm giving this 3 stars as it was well written and had a storyline worth following. However for the content I'm more inclined to give it 2 stars. I won't rehash all the points where I was disappointed with this effort from Kaje Harper as many other reviews have already mentioned John's selflessness especially towards his ex wife, not to mention the unresolved issues with Ryan's family.More than that though I found the overall story a bit dull. It takes place straight after the first book ended and that to me was a major problem. The world has moved on since 2011 especially where gay rights are concerned and I found it grating having to wade through issue after issue that given a 2015 context would have been seen very differently. I have to be honest the two main characters of this book are not my favorite pairing by this author, but I think if this story would have been allowed a jump of a few years, it would have benefited greatly.I am a massive Kaje fan and will look forward to her next book as always, I believe I have read nearly all her efforts and almost without exception I have found them a 5 star read. So although I can not recommend this book, I will urge you to give her others a try you won't be disappointed.