Author: Elle Keaton
Series: Accidental Roots #1-8
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Dates: Storm Season #1 - March 10, 2017
No Pressure #2 - March 31, 2017
Spring Break #3 - June 6, 2017
As Sure As The Sun #4 - September 27, 2017
River Home #5 - February 16, 2018
Unforgivable #6 - May 18, 2018
His Best Man #7 - September 28, 2018
The Northstar #7.5 - December 7, 2018
When It Rains #8 - April 2, 2019
Summary:
They say you can’t go home again, Adam Klay doesn’t intend to until the death of his father, a famous artist, forces his return to Skagit, Washington. Cleaning up his father’s chaotic life was never on Adam’s bucket list. Worse, Adam finds himself inexplicably drawn to the elusive, terminally-clumsy, gorgeous, Micah Ryan. No way is he getting involved with someone from his hometown, he’s always insisted the best view of Skagit was in his rearview mirror.
Micah Ryan has been coasting on auto-pilot since his family was killed in a car accident a decade earlier. He runs a web business and has an irritable cat. He hardly leaves his house, unless it is for his afternoon espresso. His world tips upside down when Adam Klay rolls into town. For the first time in years, he feels alive. Unfortunately, Micah’s return to the living has been noticed and is not appreciated.
Someone has a secret. Someone is exploiting the vulnerable youth population in Skagit. Teenagers are disappearing, young women turning up dead, the dirty secrets of Skagit are surfacing.
Summary:
Home is where the heart is, right? Except when it's not. Not when you're afraid for your life.
Joey James has given up on finding his 'Prince Charming'. There is no such thing, he needs to be realistic about his chances of a lasting relationship. A chance encounter with a former school mate at the local grocery store changes everything-maybe. Before Joey can decide what to do about it, he is swept into a terrifying scheme. Forced into helping a dangerous stranger in exchange for his family's safety, Joey begins a perilous journey into the criminal underbelly of Skagit. He will do whatever is needed to protect his family.
Buck Swanfeldt had a secret crush on Joey James in high school. Social anxiety and a two-year age difference made it impossible for him to approach Joey then. Life since high school has been challenging. And lonely. Eight years later, fate brings them together and Buck decides to act. He utterly fails. He would have left it at that, except fate seems to be intent on pushing Joey in his direction, and clearly Joey needs someone at his back.
Dark, sordid secrets hiding in Skagit are bubbling to the surface, danger lurks in unexpected places. Buck has never been anyone's hero but something about Joey has him throwing caution to the wind. Together the two men take on a dangerous force greater than themselves. But sometimes our worst enemy is ourselves.
Summary:
Sometimes a guy needs a break. Carroll Weir got one--but it wasn't what he expected.
All he dreams of is escaping dreary, damp Skagit, WA, for a warmer climate. Instead, Federal Investigator Carroll Weir is assigned to a cross-agency case involving geoduck smugglers and a very dead Fish and Wildlife Detective.
Sterling Bailey, the regular bartender at the Loft, likes to think of his customers and employees as family since he doesn’t have one of his own. Exhausted and tense, Carroll Weir wanders in one night and one thing leads to another. All in a night’s work, right?
Who murdered Fish and Wildlife Detective Peter Krystad? Does the killer have Weir in his sights? Things begin to heat up between them but Sterling and Weir will have to move past their personal history in order to change the course of their future.
The spark burning between them is hot enough to scald unless they’re careful somebody’s going to get burned.
Summary:
The universe is trying to tell Sacha Bolic something. A fire escape collapses under him, he lands in crap, and a killer barely misses his target... all in the same few seconds. That's on top of a long list of mishaps and job dissatisfaction. Not one to ignore signals when they're shoved in his face, Sacha retires and uses his savings to buy an old building in Skagit, Washington. With a little help from DIY videos, he’s going to bring it back to its former glory. And, yeah, it’s a metaphor. If he makes one change, others will follow…
Seth Culver avoids entanglements, romantic or otherwise. Who needs them? He’s learned the hard way that people betray you or leave. Still, Seth finds people compelling. He kind of collects them, learning their secrets before letting them go their own way. His commitment to no commitments may have met its match in Sacha. Handsome and hot, Sacha seems to offer a permanence that scares Seth more than anything ever has. Seth will have to decide if he’s going to grab life by the balls or keep watching from the sidelines.
A box of inconsequential belongings hidden for decades in the old building hints at lives imagined but not lived, reminding them both there are no guarantees in love, or this thing called life.
Summary:
If you don’t know what you want, would you recognize it if you found it?
Miguel Ramirez is the definition of pochos; a half-breed-white-washed Mexican–American who doesn’t speak Spanish (also unapologetically bisexual). Three years ago he arrived in Skagit a broken man having barely managed to escape an abusive relationship. Slowly, he’s rebuilt his life. He’s tried hard to discard his deepest desires and be happy with what life has doled out. Family feels out of his grasp, no one really wants to keep a stray after all. Except, maybe, a red-haired stranger with a galaxy of freckles covering his face who seems to encompass everything Miguel’s learned to avoid.
Nate Richardson; focused, solid, reliable, career-minded, Federal Agent. No time for relationships outside of work. Then he runs into Miguel with his crazy green eyes, rakish smile and outrageous sense of humor. Nate starts thinking about Miguel as more than just another guy. Nate was sure he didn’t care about sex and didn’t believe in love…he’d never met Miguel Ramirez before.
Things quickly heat up between Nate and Miguel. Crime is heating up in Skagit as well. Nate is sidelined when the case he is working on reaches a frustrating standstill. In the meantime, unnerving incidents transpire, some literally on Nate’s doorstep. Will outside forces—or their own baggage—keep Miguel and Nate apart? What exactly is family, and can Miguel and Nate make one of their own?
Original Review May 2017:
Sometimes going home is the last thing you want but is exactly what you need. Well, that's what Adam Klay is facing when he returns to Skagit to sort out his father's estate. Micah Ryan on the flipside hasn't left Skagit since losing his family in a car accident nearly ten years prior. When fate, destiny, or just plain dumb luck puts these two on the same course their lives will never be the same.
Storm Season is a wonderful blend of romance, drama, mystery, comedy, and it's all tied up together in a great big bow of heat and chemistry. I always find mysteries to be a very hard genre to review because I don't do spoilers and with a mystery every little detail can be a huge spoiler so all I will say is that I was hooked from page one and dreaded when I had to put my kindle down when my need for sleep overwhelmed my want to read.
Original Review May 2017:
No Pressure is much like book one, Storm Season, not because its a copy or too formulaic but because it's jam packed with a little bit of everything and the author meshes it together perfectly. Joey James is a nurse we met in book one who finds himself in a position he never dreamed possible, and it's not a pleasant one. Bucky Swanfeldt, who we also met in the first installment, has found that destiny has given him a second chance to get to know his youthful crush. Just like Adam and Micah from Storm Season, Bucky and Joey are facing a situation that could change their entire existence, good and bad.
The chemistry between Joey and Bucky may not be instantaneous since Joey didn't even remember Bucky when Bucky stopped him and said hello in the store but you just know its lurking in the shadows, kind of like when the bad guys are preparing to spring a trap. That's not so say I'm comparing Bucky and Joey's connection to bad guys just the "around the corner" feel.
Overall Series(#1 & #2)
Original Review May 2017:
Luckily for me I didn't have to wait before reading No Pressure, I was able to go straight from book one to book two. Are these standalones? No. Yes, there are resolutions to the mystery in Storm Season but not the whole picture. You really must read them in order but you won't be disappointed because Accidental Roots kept me on the edge of my seat so much I probably would have been safer to just sprawl on the floor and neglect everything around me until I finished. Wherever you choose to sit, or sprawl, this is definitely a series that will hold your attention to the very end. Elle Keaton is new to me and with Accidental Roots she has certainly found her way towards the top of my author's to watch list.
Spring Break #3
Original Review June 2017:
Carroll Weir can't wait to leave soggy Skagit behind now that everything that brought him there is wrapped up but as we all know life doesn't always work how we want, Skagit is not done with Agent Weir. Sterling Bailey sees so much as the bartender of The Loft but nothing surprises him because of his past and the love he has for his little sister is what brought him home to Skagit. When their paths cross in a late night hook-up, we all know it's going to become more and boy does it ever!
The mystery and drama that fills the pages of Spring Break may have nothing to do with what was in books one and two, so it is readable by itself and not necessary to have read them first. Personally, I am glad that I read Storm Season and No Pressure first, the main characters from those two stories pop up as secondary characters and it just made it flow better having known their story. But I will admit that had I not, I wouldn't have been lost.
Weir and Bailey's journey is a wonderful tale of lust, fighting, friendship, mystery, but mostly it is filled with heart that had me hooked from beginning to end. With Spring Break, Elle Keaton has cemented her place on my author's to watch list and I can't wait to see what she brings next to the Accidental Roots series.
As Sure As The Sun #4
Original Review October 2017:
When Sacha Bolic has a fall on the job that had the potential to be a lot worse than stiff joints and achy muscles, he decided it was time for a change in direction. Seth Culver may be the half-brother to a member of law enforcement but that doesn't stop him from helping out a stranger with the offer of a hot shower and coffee. When researching the past, will Seth and Sacha find a happily ever after or just a happy for now?
I couldn't help but love Seth's carefree nature but he is more guarded than you think and it actually makes me want to wrap him up in bubblewrap so he has to listen and give him a good talking to about taking chances. Sacha on the other hand is guarded about his past, for good reason, but he is open for the first time that love is possible. One of the things I loved about this pair is that on the surface they really should not mix, they appear to be almost too opposite to fit the "opposites attract" trope but really they aren't that different when you get to know them.
As a history buff and lover of historical fiction, Seth's desire to learn Owen and Theodore's story really sucked me in, probably even more than Seth's need to discover their tale. There's a little bit of everything in As Sure as the Sun: romance, history, lust, family, friends, and of course love.
This installment in the Accidental Roots series is a standalone and can be read without the first three entries but for me, I am glad I read them in order. There are cameos of the other Skagit couples from the first three with minor references to their stories that I felt knowing those journeys made it flow together better. But, I don't think I would have been lost either had I started with As Sure as the Sun. However you choose to start, I highly recommend this series because I am already looking forward to number five.
River Home #5
Original Review February 2018:
When Miguel Ramirez found himself in Skagit, WA he also found himself a job and friends but he wasn't able to let go of his past and the trust issues that came from it but he's getting closer every day. Nate Richardson is part of Adam Klay's FBI team still trying to get a hold on the human trafficking case. When these two meet, the passionate attraction is obvious but will they be able to find happiness amongst trust and crime?
I love this series by Elle Keaton, in fact it was one of my Best Reads of 2017 so when the opportunity to read the newest installment crossed my desk, how could I not jump at the chance? River Home is a perfect fit for the Skagit universe, not only do we get to know Miguel from Buck Swanfeldt’s Garage but we also get to meet Agent Nate Richardson working the case with Adam Klay. The characters are as appealing and engaging as ever, definitely fictional but with just the right amount of what I like to call "next door neighbor factor". I just wanted to wrap Miguel in one never-ending bear hug to keep him safe and loved but I also knew he had the strength to say "Bring it on!". As for Nate, well he screamed the classic case of needing to risk something before discovering how important it or they are to him.
As for the mystery aspect, Elle Keaton blends the case perfectly with the characters and romance between them. We get to see some of our favorites from previous entries that helped fill in their own lives as well as make Miguel and Nate's more rounded. Speaking of secondary characters who were main in the other installments, if asked whether River Home is a standalone I would say, yes technically. However, I am glad I have read them in order I just find the connections between friends to flow better which in turn just adds to the warmth and heart of the story but the case too just meshed better in my head. But, yes it could be read without having read the previous entries I just don't think I would recommend doing so.
River Home(the whole Accidental Roots series really) at its core is about friendships and love and reminding us that family does not have to be blood alone, or at all, its about heart and those who are there beside you that makes a family. Elle Keaton's Accidental Roots series is not only entertaining but it also reminds us what is really important in life and when you can blend those two factors together, you know you are reading something special.
RATING:
Summary:
No one ever claimed it would be easy.
Running away from his messy divorce did not bring Ira Fragale the peace he sought. If he's going to get his life together, he needs to pull up his big-boy pants and take care of business. He's been hiding out in Skagit, licking his wounds, for two years now. Keeping his head down, except for the trail of twinks he's left behind. Something's gotta give.
Bartending at the Loft is easy, and Cameron McCulloch likes the friendships he's developed since his family rejected him, but he wants more. To get that, Cam needs to knock Ira off the pedestal he's placed him on. Ira's older, but that doesn't mean he has any clearer handle on life and the universe than Cam. Cam needs to focus on his own needs and forget about Ira, but he can't.
Ira didn't choose Skagit at random; decades-old events set him on the path he is on today. The mystery of his father's murder may never be solved, but Ira would like to lay his spirit to rest.
None of this explains why Cameron is suddenly the target of a series of hate crimes. The small town of Skagit has its share of trouble, but someone has it in for the LGBTQ community, and Cameron is directly in their crosshairs.
Summary:
Rod Beton and Travis Walker have known each other almost all their lives; since the third grade when Rod was the new kid in town and Travis befriended him with Pokémon trading cards and a fruit snack. Apparently Rod’s easy. Since that day they've had each other's back's, bread and butter, biscuit and gravy...and so on.
Along the way, Rod fell in love with Travis. He's been hoping for some kind of signal from Travis that he returns Rod's feelings. When Travis announces his surprise engagement over Thanksgiving dinner Rod decides he's done waiting for the impossible. He packs his belongings and heads for Skagit and a new life. Even if Travis suddenly decided Rod was the man for him would Rod be able to put aside his insecurities?
Travis always knew he was destined to take over the family business. As the only boy he’s expected to take the helm of the Walker farming operation, and he’s good at it. An engagement to a local girl he’s pals with seems like the perfect solution, gets him mom off his back and ensures the family line -- eventually. When his best friend abruptly leaves town Travis’s eyes are finally opened to the difference between what is expected of him and what he could expect for himself.
Summary:
The holiday season can’t be over soon enough for John Hall. His ex-boyfriend emptied the bank accounts and ran off with his personal trainer months earlier leaving John unable to pay his creditors. Now he’s forced to close the independent movie theater he runs, a bad end to a bad year. Gay, single and closer to fifty than forty, John doesn’t see a lot of hope in his future. In the dark of night he wonders if staying afloat is worth the effort.
Chance Allsop made a promise to his dying mother he hopes he doesn’t regret. Ten months after her death he’s finally in Skagit Washington, visiting the old movie theater where his parents met and fell in love decades ago. The whole thing seems like a lark until he lays eyes on the handsome owner. With his mother’s spirit at his back Chance fully intends to win John Hall’s heart.
Summary:
Beto Hernandez’s objective: Break the human trafficking ring plaguing Skagit once and for all. He’s not in Skagit to make friends—he's kicking ass first and taking names later. Maybe. He crosses paths with an intriguing and sexy man, the first in years to spark Beto’s interest. It’s ultimate bad timing, though; no one in Skagit can be trusted.
Who is Carsten Quinn, and where does he fit in Beto’s investigation? Beto tries to stay away from Carsten but their undeniable chemistry keeps him close.
Carsten Quinn survived years in hell to return to “normal life,” and he has his own mission in Skagit. The only problem is he’s hiding, not living anything like a normal life. When his closest friend is severely injured it’s up to Carsten to finish gathering evidence to put some very bad people behind bars and he knows all too well he can’t trust anyone, especially not the law.
Ironically, the law appears anyway, in the form of a sexy cop he can’t stop thinking about; when Carsten’s past comes back with a vengeance, he has no one else to turn to.
Is happiness too much to hope for? Are Beto and Carsten too different and too broken to trust anyone, much less each other?
Thanks for stopping by, I’m Elle Keaton and I hail from the northwest corner of the US where we are known for rain, rain and more rain. I write the Accidental Roots series, set here in the Pacific Northwest featuring hot mm romance and the guarantee of a happy ending for my men. They start out broken, and maybe they end up that way too, but they always find the other half of their hearts.
I started writing way back when but only began publishing about two and a half years ago and now have nine books out. Each features a couple in my little universe, sometimes there is added mystery and suspense.
Thank you for supporting this Indie Author,
Elle
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Storm Season #1
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
No Pressure #2
Spring Break #3
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
As Sure As The Sun #4
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
River Home #5
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
Unforgivable #6
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
His Best Man #7
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
The Northstar #7.5
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
When It Rains #8
B&N / KOBO / BOOKS2READ
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