Best Laid Plans

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.