Since I have been semi-retired I have found a love for reading M/M romance novels to the point I prefer reading to pretty much anything else. I try and tell myself I need to watch a good movie from time to time since I have Apple, Netflix, and Hulu. But to be honest, it just doesn’t compare to reading a good book. According to my iPad, I read 75 novels last year and I’ve probably read about ten so far this year. I just finished a complete series of books called the Open Doors Series by Vinny George and I feel compelled to share the wonderful experience with you. If I had to pick a favorite book out of the six, I think I would have to go with the first book, “Hold The Door”. But I thoroughly enjoyed every book, and if you read the first book as I did, I guarantee you will want to read the rest. Below is my review of each of the six books a bio and some links to the wonderful writer herself.
As far as the rating, I am just going to give one big 5 stars for the entire series. Reading these has been a true delight!
The Open Doors Series
Hold the Door—a second chance, friends to lovers romance—is the first full-length novel in the Open Doors series, featuring Sam Addison—a corporate accountant who’s uptight unless he’s on the beach, Max Martino—a globetrotting travel photographer who never realized he wanted to settle down, bad decisions made over spiked fruit punch, and surfing lessons that often lead to more.
OK, book one! Soooooo Gooooood! I don’t know where to start. The book begins with anxiety, anger, pain, and heartbreak, all in the first chapter. The rollercoaster ride continues throughout the entire book. Sam and Max’s relationship is the central theme of the book but there are several other interesting and likable characters woven through the pages providing levity and interest. Vinni George knows how to bring the heat and the romance (not to mention the FEELS) to her Happy Ever After novels, Hold the Door, and was a finalist and runner-up in Gay Contemporary Romance in the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards.
Well-developed characters. I laughed, I cheered, OK, I teared up a little. The book runs the emotional gambit and you can’t help but feel the story and the characters.
A great second-chance romance novel. Highly recommended and especially for those who love friends to lovers and second chances stories. Well done!
Door Number Two—a Cinderfella story (with a misplaced Captain America shield instead of a shoe)—is story 1.5 in the Open Doors series, featuring Corbin Fisher—a magazine layout designer who’s lost his groove, Ryan Corrigan—a former naval officer who just got out of the military, mistaken identity, Halloween party shenanigans, and a meddling sister. It can be read as a standalone but is best enjoyed after Hold the Door and before Revolving Door.
This was a short novel, but very sweet and heartwarming. I didn’t realize there would be a theme with these books of the same characters. This book was about a character from the first book who falls in love with the brother of another character from the first book. Although it starts with a hot sex hookup, OK, not judging. It turned into a sweet romantic happy ever after, and I loved it.
Revolving Door—an enemies-to-lovers, hurt/comfort romance—is the second full-length novel in the Open Doors series, featuring Fletcher Morgan—a slightly surly silver fox surf shop owner who refuses to fall in love again, Archer Waverly—a (mostly) reformed flirt who has never been in love but who’s had a revolving door of men in his life, and a fabulous aging drag queen who has a penchant for platforms.
This third book in the Open Door Series focused on Archer and Fletcher. Fletcher had a small role in the first book as the surf shop owner and I found him intriguing, but Archer had a much bigger role in the first book as Sam’s friend-from-work, (work husband, as Archer would put it) and I didn’t care for him much. He was the life of the party, the center of attention, always on, flirting. But he didn’t just flirt, he would do it with anyone and everyone.
But in this book, we get a deep look into what makes him that way and we can see through the facade and can better understand him and he becomes a better, more likable person. We are also introduced to his best friend. An old (going on 70) sassy drag queen Hank (aka Summer Sausage). This is also where we find out the brooding surf shop owner Fletcher’s back story. Fletcher and Archer meet and it’s a love-hate relationship from the beginning with a lot of sex thrown in the mix. But they both become enduring characters and it ends with the always-appreciated Happy Ever After!
Doors Open on the Left—A Stranger on a Train, secret identity romance—is story 2.5 in the Open Doors series featuring, Dr. Brooks Bruno—a jaded English literature professor with a secret identity, Henry Miller—a bookstore owner who loves romance novels, and a human shop cat. It can be read as a standalone but is best enjoyed after Revolving Door and before A Foot in the Door.
This book in the series took an entirely different turn and introduced two new people and had just a sprinkling of any reference to characters from the first book. But these two characters, Henry and Brooks were the most enduring duo yet in my opinion. As with book two, this was a short novel wrapped around a writer and a bookshop owner. Short and sweet. I found this to be my second favorite after book one of the six-book series. This is one of the best happy-ever-afters I’ve read in a very long time!
A Foot in the Door—a teacher-student, forced proximity romance—is the third full-length novel in the Open Doors series, featuring Dr. Beckett James—a rock star statistics professor who makes a mean curry, Tanner Brown—a ginger-haired graduate student with a bright future, and an offer neither can refuse.
Another GREAT BOOK In the series! Vinni George, you’re killing me! This book brings us back to the last book centered in Chicago and merges back into the first book based in San Diego as the “it’s a small world scenario” continues. Again it has the heartbreak, the heat, and the happy-ever-after constantly driving you to turn each page, and when you reach the end it leaves you wishing there was more.
The Hidden Door—a jock/nerd, virgin, demisexual awakening romance—is the final full-length novel in the Open Doors series, featuring Phin Bosse—a marine biologist who loves to teach (especially in the bedroom), Brody Gilmore—a SoCal surfer with a hidden identity and a secret, and an unlikely friendship forged over a shared love of tide pools, tacos, and vinyl records.
Again, another wonderful happy-ever-after novel full of everything you want in a good M/M romance novel. This final book centers around Phil and Brody (the last of the characters yet to tell their full story). What I like best about this book is how it brings all the characters from all the books full circle and all end up living in San Diego except Henry and Brooks from “Doors Open on the Left”.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to stumble across this series, and now that I own it, I’m sure I will want to read it again at some point. But there are many more books to tackle first and Vinni George has several more of her own I intend to read! Reading this series has given me many hours of joyful entertainment!
About the Author—Vinni George has been a lover of romance novels (of all shapes, sizes, and colors) since she first got her hands on one of her grandmother’s Harlequins and has never looked back. She lives in Ohio with her two favorite guys (her husband and son) and, hopefully—one day—a dog. When not writing her own stories, she can be found helping to polish other people’s novels. In her spare time, Vinni dabbles in performance art, quilting, and various culinary pursuits and enjoys traveling.