Sasha is a psychic who can read houses. He is a homeless young man who left home because of his mother’s addiction and the men she that is in her life. Nick is someone who flips houses and he’s attracted to Sasha and offers Sasha a place to live while helping him with the house.
The story had my attention from start to finish. Jesi Ryan did a great job with her first book. I’m looking forward to her next book.

That was.....okay, I guess...

The premise of this book sounded really interesting, but I don’t know that it really worked for me. Sasha is a Russian-Jewish squatter whose Mom is an addict, which has caused conflict and not wanting to be around her while high is what lead to his homelessness. Nick used to flip homes, but after housing market crashes and stuff he struggles to do what he enjoys, so he makes the choice to borrow from a loan shark to jumpstart his business again. The house Nick ends up buying is the place where Sasha is staying, and rather than kick him out Nick offers him some work and allows him to stay in the house.

A lot of drama seems to happen between Sasha’s Mom, Nick’s loan shark, and the house’s sentience. Some times things felt too drawn out but then in the end everything is tied up neatly and quickly. This book just wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped, and the conclusion felt too easy after all the struggle Nick and Sasha had already gone through.

Overall, I think the idea behind the story is an interesting one, but some of the drama felt almost over the top, and in the end everything was resolved too easily.

3.5* Sweet, feelgood tale with just the tiniest bit of Bollywoodish roses and unicorns and...

...fairy dust at the end.

This was an interesting read, but the second on the trot that I read that involved real estate, which was kind of strange. I hadn't expected too heavy a plot, but more so a tale with a couple of guys who felt real, some goodwill and a HEA. I got all of the former, in what felt like a real tale, despite the surreal aspect and title.

I think that the author pitched it right, and yes everything turned out rosy, which did make me roll my eyes a little, but I was happy to suspend disbelief a little and go with the flow. I'd like to read another novel with these guys to see how their partnership pans out, both personal and professional, as they seemed to work on both levels.

ARC courtesy of Riptide Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

This little book was so entertaining and I was intrigued, I needed to know what was going to happen. Having real life mixed with just a tiny bit of paranormal, psychic powers, was just perfect. I missed reading about psychics and this is my first time reading about someone who can sense the feelings of places, houses to be precise.

The characters were likable and not annoying. I had a couple of tiny issues with Nick, thinking unnecessary things, but I can sort of forgive him because he was figuring a huge about himself out. I loved the lack of real drama. There was something weighting on them, with Sasha having his addict mom taking really bad decisions, and Nick having a loan shark waiting for him to fail just to punish him hard.

I liked how things evolved between the two men. It felt natural even if quick. Nothing bad, just feelings and real life. It was a really nice read.

Surreal Estate is a story that surprised me and by a new to me author, Jesi Lea Ryan. For now it seems that the story will be a stand-alone, but there is the possibility for more, though the story of Sasha and Nick was brought to a nice end. It’s a story with a surprising psychic talent and it was nicely worked in the story.

Surreal Estate is primarily the story of Sasha, a psychic who can read houses and more or less talk to them or at the very least read the emotions of the house. He is a young man down on his luck. He is homeless and when an abandoned house invites him in. That is how he meets Nick, who flips houses. He’s bought the house and when the two meet the ball starts rolling. Sasha’s past comes back to haunt him by way of his dead beat mum. In between that, helping Nick meet a very deadly deadline that is fast approaching, there is the chemistry between them that is sizzling.

In short, I really liked this story. It’s not a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, but rather it’s a cozy story with a few thrilling moments, romance and some exciting bits.

The story of Sasha and Nick was nicely worked out. The author gives you a solid glimpse of the characters and the supporting cast that mostly consists of Sasha’s mum and Nick’s brothers.

The writing was solid. No overuse of flowery adjectives or dialogue tags, but rather told from Sasha and Nick’s pov. You get a solid feel for them and the plot, without knowing where it’s going. Sasha’s psychic talent was worked well in the story. and it fit in rather than scenes that were built around it.

Should you read it? Yes, it is the perfect story to read in the winter season, with a blanket and a cup of tea!

Sasha a homeless, young man wanders the streets not knowing where he’d end up. One fateful night he walks down just the right street, where an old abandoned colonel house calls to him. Sasha can feel it’s loneliness and pain and goes to comfort it. Who was he to be picky, he got a shelter and the house now had a friend. But six months of living in the moldy abandoned house, Sasha is startled when Nick Cooper comes walking in through the front door. From the first time, they meet sparks fly between them. The house is set to be remolded and sold. For Nick to pull this off he agrees to let sash stay and pay him in exchange for helping with the demo and remodel. Both men take a wild journey of self-discovery as their lives continue to intertwine, but there is still that thought of what that means when the house gets sold in the back of their minds.

I was extremely happy with the cast of this book, everyone felt real and though each had their flaws their characters were everyday people. This was one of the most enjoyable books I have read, it defies not only the LGBT genre but envelopes, horror, mystery, self-discovery, and so much more. I couldn’t put this book down and I hope to see more books like this in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read this book and give my honest review. I would recommend this to my friend, to anyone wanting to read a young adult or LGBT mystery, and just anyone wanting to read a book that pushes the boundaries in an MM romance.

I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more in the series as his brothers need their HEA. I loved this new psychic phenomenon. I have never read a book where the physic feels what a House/building feels. That was so cool. We got to see a little a little of the reconstructing of the House and would love to see it finished. I would also read a series about a physic flipper with his hot construction boyfriend. And the new house Stephen called about, that would be fun. MYbe solve some old mysteries. Okay I’m getting ahead of myself. I loved the MCs. I hated that Nick pulled that hair-brain idea, he is lucky things worked out. The had some hot chemistry and make and adorable couple.

A flipper, a squatter and houses that talk-- How can you not be intrigued? Here is Jesi Lea Ryan's very first M/M Romance and it's pretty brilliant!

I loved reading (had a real hard time putting it down) Ryan's terrific new book, filled to the brim with great story lines that take Surreal Estate far beyond the typical M/M romance. If I started listing all the interesting topics that come up in the book, I'm afraid potential readers might think it sounds too plot heavy but believe me-- this book is engaging and has so much to capture and hold your interest. The blending of topics (sub plots) is perfect and lends a lot of authenticity to making the story feel like real life.

Nick and Sasha bring a lot of baggage to their relationship and have a lot to overcome. What's really beautiful is the love and acceptance without the overpowering need or desire to 'change' the other person. This goes fro the secondary characters as well. It has a lot to say about passion and survival. I thought the paranormal aspect had just enough intrigue to add excitement and still stay completely believable-- not stepping into fantasy-territory.

The only thing I had an issue with was Frank D's 'roughing up' his clients as a warning, long before the note was due. I found this a little far fetched, personally. Ryan had already well-established the danger and risk without the need for that element. Aside from that, Ryan did a beautiful job (technically and artistically) creating, writing and organizing a great novel.

I really liked that the further I read, the characters continued to evolve- even the way I initially pictured them (physically) changed; due to the fine writing. So often, writers hand you a stereotype and little evolves- Ryan keeps them fresh and alive, always growing, from beginning to end.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.