Joshua's Rainbow (Rainbow Key Book 1)

I loved reading about Josh and Daniels HEA!! Found family is so important to those of us who are apart from blood relatives for one reason or another! Family maybe the ones we are born with, but bonds can be stronger with the Family we choose! Great story of rejection and redemption of self esteem! Kudos, Victoria Sue! You’ve done it again!

Joshua’s Rainbow by Victoria Sue1st book in the Rainbow Key series. Contemporary M-M romance.After suffering a panic attack, Daniel agrees to unplug at a small hotel on an island off the west coast of Florida. Daniel is worried about the lack of amenities but the first meal is wonderful so he decides to stay a bit longer. Daniel soon starts a relationship with Joshua and realizes the group is special and but under pressure by unscrupulous owners.An emotional teeter-totter between Joshua and Daniel plus Matt, Charlie, Ben and the situations each has gone through in the past (tragic m-m situations). Load the current insecurities anyone can carry and it’s a bog of attempted emotional healing.The author isn’t afraid of the tragic but remember this is a romance so of course, we are going to get an hea - for the main couple at least. You’ll have to read the rest of the series for the supporting men.🎧 I alternated between a paperback copy and the audiobook narrated by John Solo. The narration was well done with distinct voices for the two main male characters and the emotional depth each went through. The most comfortable speed for this for me was 1.4 which was slightly faster than my preferred 1.2.

The author has created some interesting characters which she is obviously using to set the stage for future books in this series. But a lot about this story didn't make sense to me. 1.) Josh didn't have any skin in this game - no ownership of the resort - so why was he trying to preserve and remodel a decrepit money pit? 2.) Josh had low self-esteem and viewed himself as unworthy, fat, and unattractive yet he came on like gangbusters sexually to Daniel . If he was so insecure, where did his sexual confidence come from? 3.)Daniel made a remark about his grandmother talking about the AIDS crisis during the early 80's. Daniel was only 42 years old so he was barely a toddler in the early 80's. (This book was published in 2018. Even with that publishing date, Daniel couldn't have been more than 4 or 5 in the early 80's - barely old enough to remember.) 4.) Daniel kept regarding himself as "old" when he was only 42 years of age!! 42 is hardly old! 40 is the new 30! The whole story felt like it was playing off of old movie themes like White Christmas (we have to have a big show in order to save the inn from being sold!) and Pretty Woman (take your trashy hooker shopping and make them into a beauty!) with shades of My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins and Eliza Dolittle). In the end, it is still confusing how the ownership of the resort works out and whether, or not, Josh explains his past to Daniel. Overall, I felt many parts of the book were incongruous and inconsistent.

A beautifully written hurt/comfort story with a delectable age gap, Joshua’s Rainbow is the first in Victoria Sue’s Rainbow Key series. Narrator Darcy Stark’s rich, warm voice pulled me in right from the get-go, and this story flew by much too fast. Luckily for me, there are two more episodes to come and I can’t wait to listen to them.I really enjoy the compelling backstories Victoria Sue develops for her characters, and the powerful connections she establishes between them. When Josh and Daniel click, damn do they click!These are wonderful characters and I challenge anyone not to fall in love with Joshua. After everything he’s been through in his life, he still has such a huge heart - I couldn’t wait to see him get his happily-ever-after. And slightly flustered, overworked Daniel needs to re-prioritize, and watching him find something of value in his life is very rewarding.The way Daniel breaks down Joshua’s walls and helps him overcome his fear of intimacy is very romantic. And I love the way he shows his support of Joshua’s continual journey of recovery. Josh is a strong man and he’s working hard to make a new life for himself and others who need a safe place.Victoria Sue always tells an amazing story, and she gives me everything I need in a romance with Joshua’s Rainbow. It's wonderful, and I’m moving right on to Charlie’s Rainbow which is also narrated by the wonderful Darcy Stark.

Rainbow’s Key in Florida, is struggling to survive since two hurricanes hurt the resort.Young Joshua, 22, took over running the tropical locale after his friend, Clive, the owner died. Joshua and his small crew, have each seen hardship. It’s a safe place, a home for the hard working staff. We get descriptions of some abuses they endured in the past, so we are hoping they can stay together.Businessman Daniel, 42, Is ordered there for a rest after a health scare back home. Daniel has connections in the hotel industry, but doesn’t tell anyone, which allows him to be a hero later on.There are a few story lines, plus the attraction Daniel and Joshua feel. Their emotions take over and the sexy times are beautiful. Sweet, deserving, overweight chef Joshua, has a sad past of abusiveness, and with Daniel he has caring, gentle sex for the first time. Daniel sees Joshua’s tender soul.A lot is happening with repairs, Clive’s wishes in his will being adhered to, a wedding being prepared, an assault, an emergency, and a huge surprise in the epilogue.This story is fresh, different, entertaining and heartwarming. I liked Daniel’s humanity and Joshua’s tenacity.Enjoy !=====

This was such a beautiful read.Daniel is forty-two years old when he gets a life changing health scare. He’s been busy building his empire of luxury hotels and keeping up with his much younger boyfriend Eric. Life is telling him he needs to slow down and take stock. But that’s easier said than done when you’re a workaholic.His doctor and lifetime best friend sends him to stay on Rainbow Key an island off Florida. An island which Daniel has tried to buy in the past. What he finds there is a crumbling hotel held together by Joshua and his group of misfits.Daniel can’t help picturing what he’ll do once he owns the island. The changes he’ll make and how amazing it will be. But as he comes to know Joshua and his group he realises there’s more to life and this island than a luxury resort.This is a beautifully written book. The characters are so real, I lost myself in them and their story. I fully intend to continue on and read Charlie’s Rainbow.That said my rating might be confusing.Why have I only given 3.5*?There’s several reasons. While it is a beautiful and enjoyable read it’s not a book I will ever re-read. It’s also not a book that will stay with me or leave any lasting impression. It is what I think of as the perfect 3* story. A read I can enjoy and forget. It’s the quality of the writing that’s given it the extra half a star.

Daniel is a hard working businessman who owns a string of luxury hotels. After working too hard for too long he suffers a panic attack and his long time friend and doctor packs him off to a quiet island hotel for a month’s rest, recuperation and relaxation. When he gets there he realises it’s an island his company has been trying to buy for years as it’s ripe for redevelopment, but he stays quiet while trying to assess the place and it’s potential.Joshua is there to greet him, the quiet 22 year old runs the hotel and carries the weight of the world on his shoulders trying to make ends meet so he can repair the hotel following a string of hurricanes and just generally keep the place open. As well as being running a hotel, Joshua provides a home and safe haven for lost souls such as himself by giving them a roof over their heads and a job on staff.The sparks are immediate between Daniel and Joshua but they both keep secrets from each other and while they tentatively explore the sparks between them the weight of their secrets threatens to pull them apart forever.This is a beautiful story of love - not just romantic love, but love between family (the family you are born with and the family you choose to create), friends and the wider community you influence. I loved both Daniel and Joshua as well as the other lost souls of Rainbow Key and the long time hotel guests. I highly recommend this book.

So kept looking for other books but still kept 🌈Rainbow Keys in mind but still thinking of the book & reviews so give it a try & got to say I am glad I did in my eyes a fantastic read a M/M love story but with a twist it got to say at first a I got a bit confused with to many names to follow but after the first few pages the reason of this soon became clear set in the hotel business set on a small island off Florida Keys the owner finding young boys for customers pleasure and run the place a long story with a Happy ending a where you will find anger love heartache & tears for people life they had to live to get where they are now a truly great read I for one love this book .

Rainbow Key is the first book in a new series by Victoria Sue. In it we have Daniel the rich business man whose Dr decides he needs a break and packs him off to the Island. Straight into Josh's arms.They tip toe around each other with secrets neither one of them want revealing.Until they are revealed and due to a tragedy in Daniels life brings a big misunderstanding to the fore. They both think it's to late.I thought this was a fabulous introduction to the series and i can't wait for the next one.Victoria Sue just gets better and better.

Compared to some of Victoria Sue's other books, this was more of a gentle stroll rather than a wild ride.An enjoyable stroll mind and very romantic, with strong, likeable characters with secrets, mild angst and drama and a nicely flowing, believable storyline.Looking forward to finding out more about the other residents of Rainbow Key.