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Declan Rhodes
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First: The Mathesons Book 1 - A Gay Family Romance Series Kindle Edition

by Declan Rhodes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 446 ratings

First-born Mason Matheson has been first in so many ways. Now, can he be his childhood buddy’s first-time with a man?

Mason began the fateful week shoehorned into a minivan with his four adult brothers and one sister on the way to Kyle’s mountain ski lodge for a vacation week. Matheson and Greene, the company founded by the elder generation of two close families, enjoyed a windfall of business, and Mason’s father, John, decided that it was time to gather around, bring the two families together for the first time in years, and celebrate.

For a whole week. Away from work. Away from the city. With brothers and sisters.

Mason dreaded the upcoming seven days. Then he saw Kyle again for the first time since high school. Former Olympic slalom skier Kyle is hurting from the three-pronged lousy luck of a blown-out knee ending his competitive skiing career, the death of his mother, and the disintegration of his marriage. All that he had left was his family, disapproving father Bentley and loving sister Lily, and his recently purchased ski resort, The Hideaway. He saw the arrival of the Matheson clan as an opportunity to get back on his feet and surround himself with a crowd of people who cared.

For Kyle, Mason represented one more opportunity. Kyle’s curiosity about men lingered in the back of his mind since high school, and he knew that it played a role in his divorce. As part of a promise to his mother before she died, he was determined to explore his dreams, even the long-hidden ones. Hard-driving, hard-working gay Mason could help with that.

It doesn’t take long for the week to turn complicated. There is a hidden pregnancy, a new ski injury, and bitterness from Kyle’s father to contend with. At the center of it all, two men are falling in love. For Mason, true love would be a first.

First is a 57,000-word gay romance with friends-to-lovers and first-time themes plus steamy scenes. It is the first book in the series The Mathesons and can be read as a standalone story. There are no cliffhangers, and you’re guaranteed a happy ending.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Mathesons
  2. Print length
    210 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 20, 2019
  5. File size
    1.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07MZHB5PR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (January 20, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 20, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 446 ratings

About the author

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Declan Rhodes

Declan Rhodes

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Declan Rhodes is an author of gay romance. He has been writing stories since he was six years old.

He is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and loves men, cooking for friends and family, travel, and long walks along the shore of Lake Michigan not necessarily in that order.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
446 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a wonderful romance with beautiful family dynamics and hot steamy love scenes, with one review noting the right amount of drama. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its character development, with one customer highlighting the open interplay between characters, and customers appreciate its sexy cover. Additionally, they praise the writing quality and consider it an awesome start to the series, with one review mentioning it grabs readers from the beginning.

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15 customers mention "Romance"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, with one customer highlighting the beautiful family dynamics and another noting the right amount of drama and steamy scenes.

"...Mr. Rhodes can write the best M/M romances with just the right amount of spice to drama. This one whet my appetite for the next in this new series...." Read more

"Sexy cover, friends-to-lovers, paced well for the romance to bloom and to sizzle...." Read more

"...between all of the characters is mostly open and is interesting progressed throughout the book...." Read more

"...of the Mathesons and the Greenes made for a really warm, frustrating, loving and challenging set of stories in this, Kyle and Mason love story...." Read more

9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book pure pleasure to read and consider it an awesome new series.

"This story checked all the boxes: sexy, sweet, angsty with an HEA...." Read more

"...The secondary characters were awesome too. Loved it! Can't wait to read the next book in this series." Read more

"...This first book of "The Mathesons" series was pure pleasure to read...." Read more

"...I thank the author for that. That alone was worth 2 points in my book." Read more

7 customers mention "Family bond"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the family bond in the book, particularly the love shared between the two families, with one customer noting it as a friends-to-lovers romance.

"Sexy cover, friends-to-lovers, paced well for the romance to bloom and to sizzle...." Read more

"...Read and enjoy the twists, surprises, romance, and love these two families share." Read more

"I really liked the family aspect of this book...." Read more

"...A great read with two wonderful families." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the characters in the book, with one noting that the interplay between them is mostly open.

"...Interplay between all of the characters is mostly open and is interesting progressed throughout the book...." Read more

"...The secondary characters were awesome too. Loved it! Can't wait to read the next book in this series." Read more

"...The characters are flawless and the storyline is captivating. I can’t wait to read book 2. I can already guess what it’s about and I’m excited." Read more

"A wonderful story full of sexy parts and characters you will fall in love with...." Read more

3 customers mention "Angst level"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the level of angst in the book.

"This story checked all the boxes: sexy, sweet, angsty with an HEA...." Read more

"...together of the Mathesons and the Greenes made for a really warm, frustrating, loving and challenging set of stories in this, Kyle and Mason love..." Read more

"...There is some angst in this book. Enjoy it like I did." Read more

3 customers mention "Sexy cover"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's cover sexy.

"This story checked all the boxes: sexy, sweet, angsty with an HEA...." Read more

"Sexy cover, friends-to-lovers, paced well for the romance to bloom and to sizzle...." Read more

"Sexy & Sweet..." Read more

3 customers mention "Start"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's start engaging, with one mentioning it grabs them from the beginning.

"Great start to the Mathesons series. I absolutely loved Mason and Kyle and I didn't want their story to end...." Read more

"...It hooked me early on and once it had me it didn't let me go till I finished the last page...." Read more

"...The plot is clear and it grabs you from the the start...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"...The writing throughout this book was excellent throughout and at times like honey it flowed off the page...." Read more

"The story of Mason Matheson and Kyle Greene is very well written and put together. The plot is clear and it grabs you from the the start...." Read more

"So many firsts. A stellar book from an outstanding author...." Read more

A heartwarming Story
5 out of 5 stars
A heartwarming Story
What a brilliant start to a new series. I loved this story so much Mason Matheson and Kyle Greene dad's are business partners and these two have grown up together but haven't seen each other for 10 years. When John Mason's dad decides to take his family of 8 on a vacation to Kyle's Hideaway Winter Resort for a week things are really starting to heat up in more ways than one. So looking forward to more stories from this family.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Linda Reads
    5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite M/M genre: first times or gay-for-him…LOVED it
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This story checked all the boxes: sexy, sweet, angsty with an HEA. Mason Matheson is the oldest at about 30yo of the six Matheson siblings, four of which are gay men, one female and one straight adopted son. Mason is an executive at his family’s firm Matheson & Greene Advertising in L.A. To celebrate securing a new significant contract at their firm, the Mathesons go on vacation with the Greene family at Kyle’s ski resort. Kyle Greene and Mason had been friends and competitors in high school but haven’t seen one another for 10 years. Since Kyle wanted his own thing, he left the family business to renovate a former ski lodge after his mother died and his wife left him. Because he had been an Olympic skier the ski lodge is a perfect fit.
    Oh. My. Word. When Mason finds out that Kyle may be bi-curious, ski-lifts are not the only things going up. Chapter 13 – Kyle’s first time!!! Mr. Rhodes can write the best M/M romances with just the right amount of spice to drama. This one whet my appetite for the next in this new series. Will the twins share the ski instructor? Who will Tate want to connect with? So many options…There are sub-plots involving M/F romance and drama too. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book and it comes highly recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well, I Liked It, But...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Sexy cover, friends-to-lovers, paced well for the romance to bloom and to sizzle. But...I am getting a little put out by white-bread rich people with large families that happen to have more than one gay brother--in this case, I lost count. I say this as a big fan of Declan Rhodes whose baseball books I simply adore.

    I liked Mason and his stupid twin 20-year-old brothers, but I found both him and Kyle to be somewhat airheaded when it came to relationships and love. The plot itself was a bit too in-and-out, but in the end I gave it four stars because it was harmless and maybe the sequels will be more down to earth.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Life Is Good
    3.0 out of 5 stars DNF
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I stopped reading at 72% after Mason revealed his “trauma” that happened in 5th grade. I mean really? I just couldn’t get back into the story and I was bored anyway at that point. I’ll probably read the next books in the series as they seem and I hope more interesting.
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  • copperdropper
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story full of beautiful family dynamics.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The Mathesons have six children of which four are admitted and accepted as gay. Mason is the oldest and this first book is his story. Don't let the title mislead you. Mason is out and proud. His family is going on a vacation forced on them by their father John, the co-partner with Bentley Greene of the successful L.A. Matheson and Greene Advertising agency celebrating a big contract signing. Their destination is Hideaway Ski Resort owned and run by Kyle Greene. And here is where "First" comes into play. Kyle is now divorced but was never really aware of his interest in men. The light comes on when he sees Mason at his resort. Interplay between all of the characters is mostly open and is interesting progressed throughout the book. I was first given an ARC from the author but I liked and enjoyed this first book so much that I had to have this book when it was finally released. Read and enjoy the twists, surprises, romance, and love these two families share.
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Great start to the Mathesons series. I absolutely loved Mason and Kyle and I didn't want their story to end. The secondary characters were awesome too. Loved it! Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
    Helpful
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  • Len Evans Jr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome start to the series!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Ok... Want to start off by saying that based on this book this is gonna be a series you won't want to miss a single book of! This first book of "The Mathesons" series was pure pleasure to read. It hooked me early on and once it had me it didn't let me go till I finished the last page. I quickly came to love the Matheson family with all their quirks, foibles and issues. I can't wait to see how the rest of the sons find their HEA as well. This book is about the oldest son in the family, Mason and his best friend growing up Kyle. While their love story is the main focus I love how the author made it about all the family and just not them, since both are so very much the product of their familly. Mason is someone who since he can't seem to find someone he want to get serious with, instead pours everything he has into his job. Kyle, who is bisexual (leaning heavily towards gay) has been divorced for 3 yrs. When the Matheson and Greene families decide to take a vacation togehter at Kyle's Ski lodge, Kyle and Mason meet again for the first time in years... Add in a bunch of family drama and lots of snow and you've got a romance filled wiht fireworks good and bad. The writing throughout this book was excellent throughout and at times like honey it flowed off the page. I shed a lot of happy and sad tears throughout this book... it was impossible not to after getting to know these families so very well.

    I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
    One person found this helpful
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  • avidreader4ever
    5.0 out of 5 stars firsts in so many ways
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I really liked the family aspect of this book. The bringing together of the Mathesons and the Greenes made for a really warm, frustrating, loving and challenging set of stories in this, Kyle and Mason love story. But with so many family members afoot that is to be expected. Then there was Mason, the workaholic learning for the first time that there were some things in life more important than work. And Kyle having his first experience with loving a man after being curious for so long. The surprise baby that is a first fruit of these connected families. This was steamy, sweet, touching, difficult and funny as well. And it served as a strong lead in to what I am hoping will be a strong series from Declan Rhodes. The first sets the tone often and this one gives us readers something to look forward to.
    I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • DarkJade
    4.0 out of 5 stars Mason & Kyle
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Mason is focused on business and lets his personal life and relationships take the back burner, except did his family because they mean the world to him. Kyle is learning so much about himself since his divorce. His family is important, but his father is struggling with all the changes. A great read with two wonderful families.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • sss
    5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood friends to lovers
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A new series and author for me. I loved the family dynamics and how childhood friends found feelings for each other. There are a few other storylines going on, which added more to the story. Lots of gay brothers, who hopefully get stories too.
    Report
  • SG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Kyle and Mason
    Reviewed in Canada on August 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Kyle and Mason are both really likeable men, they have been friends for a long time and that solid base is part of the reason that their step into a sexual relationship soon becomes a deep, meaningful love, and has them getting a sweetly satisfying HEA.
    They are surrounded by a bunch of unique and interesting family that adds more entertainment to this story. An enjoyable read that I would recommend.
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  • mrs sarah frost
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great start to series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 rating

    A great start to series, sweet, sexy, gay-for-you, friends to lovers and Firsts.
    Mason is the oldest of six. He has three gay brothers (Tate and twins Jamie & Benji) , one adopted straight brother (Guy) and a sister (Diana). He's an executive in the family's advertising firm Mattheson & Greene.
    They all go on a vacation with parents John & Petra to a ski resort with the Greene family, dad Bentley, daughter Lily and the resorts owner Kyle. Kyle has recently divorced his wife Lisa. Kyle and Mason had been friends at school but haven't seen each other in ten years. When Mason finds out that Kyle is bi-curious things certainly heat up on the snowy slopes!
    Excited for next book. Is it going to be Tate or the twins Jamie & Benji with the new sexy downhill instructor?
    Report

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