Steele My Heart (A Bridge to Abingdon #1) by Tatum West

Steele My Heart (A Bridge to Abingdon #1) Reviews

• 
  Lyn❤Loves❤Listening #AUDIOBOOKADDICT

  I feel bad about having to dnf not only this book but the entire series. The writing nor the narrator pairing of Alexander Cendese and Tor Thom work for me.
• 
  Darien

  
  Time of death 41%
  
  Y’all know how much I love Alexander Cendese y’all know...but Tom Thor is not the dude to read with him. The story is not interesting enough to keep me going and I’m gonna have to give up on the entire series even though it pains me to do so. The writing is just not something I think I will like 🤷🏽‍♀️
  
  PASS!
• 
  Shelba

  DNF @ 55%.
  
  I'm not interested in the main pair. I'm not interested in any single side character. I'm not interested in the plot.
  
  I'm not into relationships that go from zero to monogamy during the first date.
  
  I can't get behind Kendall withholding info about the hate crimes from Gil. Like, people are being harassed, threatened, hospitalized and Kendall and Gil are acting like they are trying to figure out who killed Prof. Plum in the billards room with the candlestick.
• 
  Line

  Freebie at the zon.com right now:
  https://smile.amazon.com/Steele-Heart...
• 
  Jennifer☠Pher☠

  2★'s = it was ok.
  
  Small town romance, a pretty cover and high ratings caught me in its web again. I’ll never learn.
  
  This was one of the most ridiculous books I’ve ever read. Truly. This took every single trope you can think of from every single M/M romance/romance you have ever read, amped them up by like 100 and then threw them all in TO THE SAME STORY. All of them.
  
  
  
  I should have thrown in the towel. I think at least three of four times I did jump out and look to see if I wanted to read something else but I persevered. Probably just because sometimes ridiculous is fun. I don’t know if this was fun but OMG I was dizzy from shaking my head and rolling my eyes!
  
  Shoot me now cause I’ll probably read the next one.
  
• 
  Kirsten

  I can’t haiku
  once with a book so awful.
  So much wrong with this.
  
  Cum is barely an
  acceptable noun. Never
  a verb. Instalove.
  
  Decor descriptions
  go on forever. Food too.
  It’s all OTT.
  
  And the gays! How
  they suffer! They’re just victims.
  Melodramatic.
  
  Lakes don't have currents.
  Search warrants have rules.
  Inconsistent. Bad.
  
  Just bad. Really bad.
  Embarrassingly awful.
  Read for a challenge.
• 
  Lena Grey

  “...The journey's longer than I thought, my love. There's lots of things get in the way, but every time I think of you, you just steal my heart away...Just like the sunshine after rain I'll come to be with you will save the day. 'Cos I know when I'm with you again, you just steal my heart away...” — Van Morrison
  
  Gil Steele, of ‘Steele My Heart’ by Tatum West, is reluctant to come back to a town where being gay put his life in danger. Gil returns because his family and his town needs him to end the corruption and bigotry, alive and well, ever since the time Gil left. Almost immediately Gil runs into the good old boy attitude. Gil is not impressed with their condescending attitude and immediately incurs their wrath, putting him and those he loves in danger.
  
  Kendall Vincent is a newcomer to Abbington, but he has been here long enough to fall for a closeted police officer who refuses to come out for him. Their pillow talk involves a plethora of confessions about illegal activity, particularly that of hate crimes toward Abbington’s gay community. Kendall understands the precarious position the officer is in, but is frustrated with being his dirty little secret. Kendall ends their relationship. In order to protect his ex, he remains silent about what he knows.
  
  When Gil and Kendall meet, the attraction between them sizzles like electricity, but Kendall remains cautious. After what he has been through with his ex, he is not ready to jump into bed with another man, who, as a cop like his ex, may be so far in the closet that he may never get out. Another consideration is the secrets Kendall carries to protect his ex-lover and friend. Surely dating a cop will complicate matters. Kendall and Gil do go out, but he lays down the rules swiftly and firmly. He doesn’t do casual and insists that he and the man he is with be exclusive. Before they fall into bed, Kendall wants to get to know Gil. Fortunately he and Gill are on the same page about what they want in a relationship, so all is well. As they are about to become intimate, Gil gets a call to which he has to respond. Two teenage boys have been viciously attacked; one is in critical condition.
  
  This is a tale of the inner workings of a small town, both good and bad. There is a lot going on in the background that creates a huge aura of mystery and suspense. Kendall and Gil are amazing, sexy, loving, and compassionate men. Although it is insta-love, with these two guys it works. Their “some enchanted evening” moment hit me hard and fast, just as it did them. I could feel that these two men belonged together. Thanks, Tatum, for the fast and furious ride. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
• 
  Coco.V

  💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/24/2018)!💝
  
  Blurb:
  I swore I'd never set foot in this town again. But Abingdon needs me. And Kendall Vincent might just get me to stay for good.
  
  Gil:
  I was tired of working the police beat in Northern Cali. Exhausted--my whole body was yearning for a place I hadn't been in years, my old home. When my mama died, I knew I had to come back, and my new job as police chief sealed the deal.
  
  I got away from heartbreak. From being so tired. From the constant, never-ending world of crime I'd come to know.
  In Abingdon, I can relax, see all my old friends from Jackson Academy. Maybe I can even change this place and make it better for all the kids like me. The ones who were different, who needed a place a little bigger and broader than a small mountain town could provide.
  I always promised myself I wouldn't come back.
  But Kendall Vincent--he might get me to stay for good. When I'm in his arms, I feel complete, whole again, like a man reborn to the world.
  
  Everything seems perfect, right up until the moment that it's not.
  When two gay kids get hurt bad by a gang of thugs, I realize that Abingdon needs me far more than I thought.
  And I'm here to protect the town--and the man--that I'm growing to love.
  
  Kendall:
  I've survived everything this world has tossed my way--ignorant parents, falling for men who want to play straight, and running a food truck in a town that likes its men butch and its hot dogs bland as all hell.
  I even got through chemo and three bone marrow transplants when I was a kid.
  But nothing prepared me for meeting Gilman Steele.
  Six feet of pure muscle with eyes that shine like gold and a smile I'd like to see every morning for the rest of my life.
  I know I'm crazy, but I swear to God almighty that I fell in love with that man of Steele from the first second I laid eyes on him.
  
  There's a secret I know that could change my relationship with Gil, a lie I've been hiding for over a year.
  It could threaten Gil's life here, everything he's worked for. But justice is justice, and I believe in the Abingdon that Gil wants to create.
  When the drama gets worse than I ever imagined, I realize that Gil's not the only one in danger.
  I'm toppling off a bridge and getting sucked down into the murky water of Holston Lake when I know for sure--this isn't the day I meet my maker.
  I didn't survive everything I've been through just to die at the hands of an evil man with a secret far darker than my own.
  I'll make my way back to Gil. He's mine, now and forever.
  This town might not be ready for us, but I am.
  And I plan to let the world know it.
  
• 
  ~BookNeeds~

  I think I found a new series and author!! I’m so excited.
• 
  Bora Noona

  Sometimes it is just where my frame of mind is, so take this with a grain of salt. But the sex scenes in this book were just so...weird. Like reading porn (but not the good kind. lol). I liked the plot, even if it was predictable. But unlike the sex scenes, it felt like a fresh prespective on a regularly used plot of bad guys hating "the homos".
  I am going to try reading the rest of the series to see if it gets better for me.
• 
  Keith

  Disappointing
  
  The story simply did not appeal to me. The two MCs, Gil and Kendall, did not come across as men, at least, not to me. They were not effeminate but they talked and acted more like women than men. The sex scenes were definitely written for women. While all the parts were there, the descriptions and actions did nothing for me. I am not interested in the least in following this series - I’m done.
• 
  Nic

  Nice
  
  I liked this story. It was easy to read. The author did a good job of plot development and having various unforeseen incidents being linked together. The author also did a good job of character development. The story was interesting and it was a quick read. I look forward to Dillon's story next.
• 
  Antisocial Recluse

  Very engrossing
  
  I did like this a lot but prepare for a couple of homophobic attacks, a little disturbing to read but not too much graphic detail. Gil becomes Chief of police and finds a conspiracy against LGBT around his town and county. Kendall is a well drawn opposite but fits well with Gil. It’s a nice romance given a good foundation in spite of moving fast. I’m not a fan of insta-love but it would have been fine except the ending was too much for me. It has a nice epilogue and HEA.
• 
  Kim Stone

  New to me author. This is a contemporary mm story, set in small town USA. Gil and Kendall make a great couple. I’ll read this author again.
• 
  Steph

  It was fine. No more no less. I’m not the target audience for this one.
• 
  Megan

  Fast love is not bad love
  
  I really loved this story from start to end. The author did a great job with alternating POV each chapter. I never felt like the transitions were rough or felt like I was missing out. The main characters Gil and Kendall are great and had instant chemistry that just jumped off the page.
  
  The next best thing in the story to the characters was the overall storyline. It had me hooked and I didn’t want to put my phone down even though I needed sleep badly. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
• 
  Theresa

  DNF. There was something off about Gil. Didn't buy into him as police chief. Too unprofessional. Disliked Gil and Kendall's relationship. They were too fast, too smooth, and too icky slick. Like two experienced hookup artists.
• 
  Tessi4M

  This one kind of boils down to 'badass ex-marine good guy breezes in to remove the human garbage from his hometown and finds love in the process'. And I enjoyed it immensely :)
• 
  Cait

  This story was just okay. I wasn't in love with either character, and the writing was just okay. I think I'm willing to try the next book in this series to see if I like it better.
• 
  Michele

  Gilman Steele can’t pass up the opportunity to go back to his home town as the new police chief. He can be closer to his family, the pay is better and according to his sister, the small southern town of Abington has gotten a lot more LGBT friendly. Should be far easier than his current job as a big city detective, right?
  
  His first week on the job does not go smoothly. A couple of college students are brutally beaten and refuse to identify the assailant. Gil quickly discovers that this isn’t the first hate crime in recent history and his investigation points directly to the neighboring town’s homophobic sheriff.
  
  On the plus side, he also meets Kendall, owner and chief cook of Dirty, Hot & Sweet...a popular local food truck specializing in Southern cuisine. Kendall never left Abington. He knows that the town’s facelift masks a long, persistent culture of ignorance and hate. If Kendall chooses to stand with Gil against Sheriff Cletus Vossburg (what a name!), can Gil keep him safe?
  
  I really liked watching Gil face off against his rival and strategize victory. The romance between Gil and Kendall is pretty generic. This feels like an author’s early novel. The main characters needed more back story to flesh them out. Kendall’s childhood leukemia, for instance, is thrown in a couple of times without much lead-up. I also found his nickname for Gil to be VERY annoying (Dreamcake—ugh). Bottom line, I see potential for future books...with a little more character development.
• 
  Beth

  Enjoyable story, important issue
  
  I very much enjoyed this new to me author and this first book in a series. I will be moving on to book two immediately. Steele My Heart starts the world building for Abingdon, VA, a small town in rural Virginia to which our hero Gil returns to serve as the new police chief. He meets Kendall, owner of a food truck business and the romance part of the story begins. It’s a sweet story of men ready to find their person and settle down.
  
  Nothing is easy of course and the other storyline involves heinous hate crimes and some truly despicable people including the county sheriff. It’s hard to believe people with the mindset portrayed here still exist in the 21st century but recent political events in the US demonstrate just how far from enlightened we are.
  
  The author does a good job of portraying The hideousness of the hate crimes and harassment without being preachy. The positives that Gil sees in many in the community’s reactions to what is happening are encouraging while the degree to which the sheriff has been allowed to bully and intimidate are scary. I’d say, in this age of social media, it’s unlikely that even in a small town the sheriff could get away with what he does and thus it makes the plot a bit far fetched but sadly I’m afraid that’s not the case.
  
  The characters are well drawn. The story arc moves well. The secondary characters contribute nicely to the storyline. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
• 
  Valerie

  3.5 stars, rounding up (as I go).
  
  I almost have to review this as a series, so here's my take on this book after coming back to it seven books in. Give the optimistic Abington world a chance.
  
  This first book was definitely not the strongest of the bunch. It tried to create a basis for understanding the context of small-town Abingdon, VA as a town in the midst of a social and cultural progression for the rest of the entire series. We got some cute insta-love and a ton of dramatic angst, but unless you're like me and read far too deeply into empathizing with a character's emotions, a lot of their actions aren't wholly shown or explained. This could be by design for suspense since the readers are already in both characters' heads, but that's what left me feeling like both Kendall and Gil grew into caricatures of their roles in town the further into the series I got.
  
  However, there is no denying that West does wonderfully approaching sensitive, though important, topics with fun characters to lead the charge. The intimate scenes did not strike me as steamy but rather cute. And that's how I'd characterize this whole series starting with Steel My Heart: cute. There's absolutely nothing wrong with cute. I knew it looked cute going into this series, and I enjoy cute. If you don't enjoy the fluffiness tinged with bouts of safe angst for spice, this series may not be for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and cannot wait to see what topic West weaves into their series next.
• 
  Catlou

  Gilman Steele is returning to Abingdon, VA, as the chief of police. While he’s looking for a slower paced lifestyle, he gets so much more. When he meets Kendall Vincent, local chef and owner of Dirty, Hot & Sweet, he finds something he only dreamed of having. Gil and Kendall want to explore where their attraction to each other may lead. What they didn’t expect is the impact their feelings would have.
  
  While Gil and Kendall’s chemistry is HOT, don’t expect this to be your typical M/M love story. It is so much more! The elements of prejudice and hate that are explored in the sub-story are intense and powerful. From the prologue we get a strong sense of who Gilman Steele is and why he left his hometown behind. What he finds is not the same small town he remembers but one that needs him in more ways than one.
  
  This tale is a roller coaster of emotions. There are feelings of profound loss and ultimate joy. The story will grab you, wreak your heart and put it back together. To paraphrase a statement from the book, it’s greater than the sum of its parts. The characters are engaging and very well developed; establishing a character tableau for the future stories of this series. I highly recommend you read this. It will be more than you may be expecting but well worth it. Be prepared to spend some time reading because once you start you will not want to put this down.
  
• 
  Jackie D

  A fast and furious tale!
  Instant connection! Food truck owner Kendall cooked his way into the heart and libido of Police Cheif Gilman Steele.
  Gil is back in his hometown with a purpose, his family and to aid in the push to bring the town into the right century.
  Meeting Kendall was a welcomed surprise to his already turned upside down world, but he refused to pass up a chance with the man who shocked his senses.
  When Kendall helps connect pieces to his first case, their connection grows stronger, but so does the danger.
  Can he keep Kendall and his hometown safe while bringing the guilty parties to justice?
  What did I get out of this book?
  A sizzling tale, with equal parts drama and passion coupled with a heart thumping, witty romance.
  I could not help but love the perfectly imperfect characters right from the very start! ( Grandma Lizzy is the best )
  Tatum West wrote a storyline that was meaningful with its cause, yet sweet, playful, dirty and dark.
  Ticking off many of my go to's the world of fictional romance!
• 
  Sandra

  This was the first book from Tatum West that I read and I really enjoy her way of writing. The story is about Gil, a gay cop who moves back to his hometown when they offer him the position of the police chief. He never planned to return since Abingdon was not a nice place for gay people and it's about time to change that. In his first week at the new job he overcomes a hate crime that needs the help of the State Police. Besides work Gil starts dating Kendall, owner of a food truck. When Kendall offers information to help with the case, things start to get ugly and it looks like there won't be a happy end to this story. Yet miracles happen but find out yourself.
  
  I loved the connection between Gil and Kendall, so heartwarming.
  
  I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
• 
  Valerie

  This was a refreshing book and my first from Tatum West. When Gil moves back to his hometown after burning out, he's a little hesitant because the town isn't exactly known for being open-minded when it came to his sexual orientation. But when he meets Kendall everything changes and he is instantly attracted to him. Then, Kendall helps him out with information about his case, and they grow even closer together. I enjoyed getting to know both these men and although their connection is hot from the beginning, what both men had to work through as they dealt with discrimination and a ramped up investigation that might put both their lives in danger adds tension to the story. It's a great book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Although there are great subplots, the relationship between Gil and Kendall is what makes the story great!!
• 
  Ellen

  This is definitely a story of insta-love, but it was insta-love at it's finest.
  
  Gil is burnt out with his detective work in the high crime world of San Francisco and decides to move home to quiet Abingdon, Virginia because he's been offered the position of police chief. When he moves back he meets Kendall, who runs a food cart in town, and the attraction is instantaneous.
  
  Getting in the way of their time together is some nastiness in the form of a bad hate crime against some high school students who attend the private academy that Gil used to go to. As Gil digs further into what happened, he realizes that there's many power players involved, and that even Kendall has an ideal of what all has been going on against the LGBT community of Abingdon.
  
  Overall this is an entertaining read with some thrills and mystery, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
• 
  Joyffree

  No need to steal what I freely give
  
  Happy tears 💖
  West is a new author to me who now will be added to my one-click must reads
  This has everything suspense, mystery, a little comedy , family and romance all b wrapped up in that small town feels good aura
  This was Gil and Kendall's story
  Gil returns to his home town to help his family and take a step back from the stress of big city life. Newly appointed as the town sheriff he finds himself embroiled in a string of hate crimes - can he solve the case before someone else gets hurt?
  Kendall has called this town home for years and he knows first hand who the dangers are to his community. When the new sheriff catches his eye will he have the courage to go after what he wants? Or will his secrets cost him his shot at love?
• 
  Heather Martin

  Steele My Heart
  
  This was a good book in a new series by a new author. I enjoyed the story and really like the characters created. There was a couple things that distracted me with the interactions with the Sheriff and Commissioners but I’m going with the theory that maybe other states handle these things differently. But, in my experience, the Sheriff has no jurisdiction in a city and doesn’t have the authority to take over an investigation if the city has a police department. Additionally, commissioners do not provide funding to city police forces, only to the sheriff’s office. But, maybe other states handle this differently. This part distracted me from the story. Otherwise a good story, with instalove and a great epilogue.