Best Laid Plans

3.5 stars

Like a lot of reviewers, I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first. Charlie seemed like an interesting character in the first book but Parrish gave him this weird complex that just felt uncomfortable when paired up with Rye, who states he's pan without really showing that in the story or his background. They just didn't seem compatible at all and the relationship developed in a weird way. So I ended up not really liking either of them. The story itself was also too long, with the cat shelter business after fixing up the house dragged out a bit instead of spending that time actually developing the characters and their relationship.
The more stories I read taking place in this Podunk Wyoming town, the more it seems just wildly unrealistic. There must be something in the water if all of these characters have fluid sexualities and identities or are totally non-plussed by them in a rural town that has to be less than 2k. I'd like a little more conflict in that area, just to make something in this book have some actual stakes.
Overall, very meh but I'll probably continue with the series because I do enjoy Parrish's writing style. This book didn't really give a clue as to who the next couple is going to be but I hope they are a little more likeable and realistic than these two.

Solid Romance, Animals Again Nearly Steal The Show. This was a solid romance featuring one guy that never really had a chance to find himself, and another that perhaps had too much time to find himself. The connection to the prior book is fairly loose, in the way that many romance series are these days, with Charlie of our primary couple here being introduced in Book 1 (Better Than People) as the brother of one half of that book's couple. We get a touch of his back ground in that book, mostly as it relates to the brother, but here we get even more. And yes, the brother and his boyfriend from Book 1 show up a few times, even to the point of the new guy in this book befriending the boyfriend of Book 1 - which apparently is common when dating siblings. (At least according to what I've observed of my wife and sisters-in-law.) But in addition to the new guy, we are also introduced to a new cat in Chapter 1... and this cat damn near steals every scene it is in. Even moreso than the cats and dogs (including Charlie's own cat) of the first book. For me, this book completely worked. There were far less issues reading it than the first book, as while I identified with different elements here, it wasn't to the point of knowing all too well what certain ... sometimes “debilitating”... issues are like. But, yeah, blog tour - I also knew I had to finish this thing soon no matter what, anyway. :D Still, truly at least as strong as Book 1 (I could see a strong debate on which tale is “stronger”, and I could probably argue either side of it), and at least for this cat-lover, with its emphasis on cats over dogs, I'll give this one a slight edge on the first one. :D Very much recommended.

Best Laid Plans is a warm blanket of a novel, complete with cats, that will soothe your early 2021 anxieties. Along with a lot of readers of [b:Better Than People 52739474 Better Than People (Garnet Run, #1) Roan Parrish https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588946672l/52739474.SY75.jpg 77716051], I was intrigued by Charlie, the older brother of People's MC Jack, who had been forced to both take over the family business and serve as surrogate parent to Jack when their parents died tragically and suddenly. In the ensuing years Charlie's caregiving has become a way of life, and he has learned not to even think about his own needs. Into this bland but perfectly fine life of meatloaf every Tuesday comes Rye, a Seattle drifter who has inherited a broken down house from the grandfather he never knew. Rye is prickly and armed with an assortment of glares for every occasion. At first he resists Charlie's overly generous offer to help rebuild the ramshackle house, mistrustful of someone who would do so much without any real payment. But as the two men work and live side by side, Rye realizes that Charlie needs someone to help him name his own needs and desires. Rye may not have much, but he is more than willing to show Charlie how to explore them without fear or shame. Calling Charlie a virgin MC would be an understatement; not only has he not had much sexual experience, he has no idea what he likes or even how to examine and articulate what feels good to him. Rye is a patient partner, and the scenes between the two of them are exactly what I look for in a love scene - they show character depth and relationship development, instead of just being an opportunity to describe two hot guys getting off together. It's impossible not to like Charlie, and Rye's glares are obviously armor to protect a soft, gooey heart. There are bumps along the road to their HEA but no major break, which I greatly appreciated. Parrish includes just enough cameo appearances from Jack and Simon from Better Than People to satisfy readers, and the brothers' relationship gets a much-needed nudge towards better balance, thanks to Rye. Surprisingly, the one thing that pulled me out of the story was animal-related. Both Charlie and Rye have cats, and when the two felines meet they immediately bond. I've introduced new cats to a household with already established cats, and believe me, they are extremely territorial, and it is often a long, tedious process to facilitate their mutual acceptance, if not affection. But this is fiction, so I'll allow it. Also, both cats have distinct personalities, and Parrish does credit her own cat in the acknowledgements for keeping her sane during COVID quarantine. And without spoilers, I will just say that cats feature prominently in the plot's resolution in a charming way.A young nonbinary teenager named River is introduced halfway through the story and I suspect they are next in line for a story. I'll be there for sure; Roan Parrish has made Garnet Run one of my favorite places to visit. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for honest review.