REVIEW: Checking Out by Jay Leigh (City Boys Never Sleep #1)

CHECKING OUT

City Boys Never Sleep - Book One

by Jay Leigh

Release Date: June 29, 2023

Review

"Somehow, in some cruel twist of fate, the universe brought me the perfect complement to my life when I least expected it, and now nothing made sense anymore."

This is not a light happy read. It covers heavy topics and difficult pasts, but it’s not oppressive either. It’s intelligent, thoughtful and compassionate.

It’s character-driven and involves Shiloh (and his twin) and Trey. Shiloh and his brother grew up in a horrendous family, mostly fending for themselves. Which is what they were doing when they discover that the father they never knew has died and left them part of his company.

Suddenly they are thrust into a world they know nothing about with people they’ve never met before.

Trey is one of those people. He was devoted to Marcus, Shiloh’s father. And now it’s his job to help this floundering man figure out his new role.

The story revolves around the collision of these two men, their connection, and the people close to them. Together they help each other see their worth, and that is a beautiful thing.

Add to your TBR List

GOODREADS LINK

Synopsis

Shiloh Corbel is just a simple boy from a small town.

When he and his twin brother are thrown headfirst into the deep end, their status quo is turned upside down. They never even knew their father’s name, but a knock on their door early one morning finds them suddenly inheriting a luxury hotel empire, Clueless about how to handle this change of circumstances, they have to figure out how to navigate the fast-paced city lifestyle and the burden of maintaining a successful business. All while struggling to come to terms with the upheaval of learning about their sordid, secret history.

Trey Guillebeaux has been with Talbot & Co Properties for almost a decade.

He’s worked his way up from bellhop to executive assistant with the grit and determination needed to succeed in this fast-paced industry. But when tragedy strikes, his world is turned upside down. Now he is faced with the uncertainty of working alongside the Corbel twins and his late boss’ grieving wife as they try to keep the dream alive. The weight of it all threatens to crush him, especially as he tries in vain to deal with his own addictions and demons. Alone.

Forced to learn how to work together, Shiloh and Trey find themselves slowly drawn into the orbit of one another, even as they desperately try to deny the magnetic quality of their attraction. The task becomes even harder when the secrets and nightmares lurking in the alleys of their pasts step into the light. As the layers are peeled back, they are left raw and vulnerable, fighting against their demons for a chance to find something real together.

This adult, full-length m/m romance novel examines topics of mental health and substance abuse, following Trey and Shiloh's journey together as they work through their obstacles and find love together. This is book one in the City Boys Never Sleep series.

About Jay Leigh

Jay Leigh is an author (duh) as well as a voracious reader of primarily M/M romance novels filled with all sorts of goodies like action, suspense, emotions, and spice. Lots of spice.

Plot twist: It’s actually just three mischievous raccoons in a trench coat fueled by levels of caffeine known to cause cancer in the state of California. Good thing they live in New York!

Where to find them: