If you love heartfelt small-town romances with deep character growth, On Board by Jay Hogan will capture your heart. This is the second book in the Painted Bay series, bringing back familiar faces while introducing a raw and emotional love story between Leroy and Fox. With themes of self-discovery, healing from past wounds, and finding love where you least expect it, this book is a must-read for fans of MM romance set against the stunning backdrop of New Zealand.
On Board by Jay Hogan Series: Painted Bay #2
Genres: Contemporary, MM Romance
Buy Links:Buy on Amazon
Leroy Madden is in trouble. Big, handsome, Fox Carmody trouble.
Leroy has buried his attraction to the enigmatic fisherman in irritation and pointless bickering, keeping Fox at a safe distance. But with the troublesome man now living in Leroy’s house, it’s becoming impossible for Leroy to keep his true feelings hidden, or the fact that Leroy maybe isn’t so straight, after all.
Leroy hungers for something different between them. He wants more. But Leroy’s business is struggling, his newly mended relationship with his brother is at risk, Fox doesn’t plan to stay, and their mothers are lovers.
Regardless of what Leroy’s heart so desperately wants, his entire world is at stake, and nothing about a relationship with Fox Carmody was ever going to be easy.
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The first thing to say about this book is: what a shame it had to end! On Board easily earned the The Cat Loved badge.
While it can be read as a standalone, I don’t recommend skipping Off Balance, as the main characters from book one, especially Judah, play important roles here.
Leroy, Judah’s older brother, is grumpy, closed-off, and has been running the family’s mussel farm since their father’s death. Fox, older, is a deep-sea fisherman who moved temporarily to Painted Bay to be close to his mother while finalizing the settlement of a difficult divorce that forced him to sell his boat. Their paths cross naturally since Fox’s mother is dating Leroy’s mother, and from there, sparks fly.
Jay Hogan once again uses a lot of internal monologue, which isn’t usually my favorite, but her characters are so complex that it’s easy to overlook. Leroy struggles with his attraction to Fox, initially lashing out at him. However, their chemistry is undeniable, and once Leroy accepts his feelings for Fox, he owns them with pride. I loved how he never hid their relationship and stood firm in his love.
Through Leroy’s perspective, we see a different side of him compared to the first book. We also see Judah from a new angle—how sheltered he was, how differently their parents treated them, and how much Leroy had to sacrifice. One of the most emotional moments is when Leroy voices the inequality in how their sexuality is perceived:
“Maybe I’ve got no right after everything I’ve done to you in the past, Judah, but let me ask you something. Why, when I find out I’m bisexual and act on it, it’s only experimenting? When you knew you were gay, you dated. And why am I only curious, but you’re allowed to be serious? And why are you able to have a boyfriend you’re committed to, while I only get to have a fuck partner that I’m clearly going to leave?”
This growth arc was beautifully executed. Leroy’s redemption feels real, and Fox is the perfect counterpart to his gruff personality. I also appreciated the honesty in how Fox spoke about his past marriage with Van, he acknowledged the love he once had without diminishing it, and that level of sincerity felt truly refreshing.
This book is about learning, healing, and finding happiness, and it delivers all of that with sincerity. I adored it, and I’m ready (with tissues) for Kane’s book, even if it means enduring more of Judah’s drama!
Final Rating: 5 stars!
Have you read On Board or any books in the Painted Bay series? Share your thoughts about Leroy and Fox in the comments below!
About Jay Hogan
Heart, humour and keeping it real.
I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.
