Ethan Hall plans to fill Saturday, December 23, with junk food and bad TV, a day just for him amid the holiday chaosā¦ until his baby sister calls and begs him to go collect a present for her. At the biggest shopping center in Australia. On the busiest shopping day of the year. Hell no. Right? Ethanās soft heart gets the best of him. He battles through the parking lot, and in the main shopping concourse, heās trampled, elbowed, and bombarded with terrible holiday music. Then he enters hell itself, a specialty store aimed at womenā¦ where he meets Ty. They bond in a sea of estrogen and manic shoppers, fighting together to attain freedom, only to find theyāre not quite ready go their separate ways.
This novella was originally published in 2017. Some scenes have been revamped and an epilogue has been added.
Iām not sure why this sat a few days on my shelf before I got to it because it has to be one of my favorite romances yet this year.
Lily Morton really ticked every box for me here on contemporary romances and then further with not one but two love letters to Majorca and Venice. These settings are clearly places the author is familiar with and loves. And it shows in each warmly described location and all the finely etched details. The lagoons of Venice, history, the twisty roads and beaches along with local foodsā¦ all folded in with a memorable, heartwarming romance.
That Prologue! Honestly. Starting a story with a prologue almost guaranteed to make you sniffle ! Blink and you are already invested 100 percent in Wren Robertās story, why heās fog bound at that airport. And bereft.
Then comes the story.
And what a fantastic, romantic, grand story it is.
I laughed, cried, laughed some moreā¦ sighed a lot. And was ultimately thrilled at the ending.
Lily Morton gives us a spectacular cast of characters here.
Wren Morton, the Cuckoo of the title. The foster child forever being deposited in someone elseās ānestā, but who grew up without self pity, self-sufficient, kind, and with a love for learning. How I fell deeply in love with this character.
Mateo Rossi, extremely wealthy hotelier, bored, multidimensional. Of an ancient Venice family as well as one in Majorca. A man of divided hearts. Watching Mateo interact with Wren, changing as he reveals more of his real self? Amazing.
While the story is told mostly from Wrenās perspective, every now and then we get Mateoās pov, just when itās needed. To see Wren outside of how he sees himself. I grew to anticipate those!
The other characters like Mateoās mother and grandfather are people that are so well developed that I felt I just didnāt get enough of them. Same about Alfie and a certain glass artist.
I really hope to see a sequel to this story.
The Cuckooās Call by Lily Morton is such a remarkable romance that I felt 5 stars wasnāt nearly enough.
Iām highly recommending it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Synopsis:
Can a summer romance last forever?
Wren Roberts thought heād found his fairy tale when he met Mateo Rossi on holiday in Majorca. The wealthy and successful older man swept him off his feet, and before he knew it, heād thrown caution to the wind and was living in Mateoās waterside apartment in Venice. Itās a far cry from his harsh upbringing and crummy flat in London.
But as the summer turns to autumn, cracks begin to show. Mateoās family arenāt welcoming, and there doesnāt seem to be a place for Wren in Mateoās world. He could have coped with all of that, but Mateo himself seems like a different person away from the sunshine island.
Should Wren have been more cautious in riding off into the sunset when he wasnāt sure what lay over the horizon?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a romance about two men who find that sometimes happily ever after doesnāt end there.
Holigay is a term that denotes someone who is gay or gay curious just for a holiday vacation. Once again home, they return to their safe sexual orientation.
Holigay by K.M. Neuhold is a sweet best friends to lovers, sexual discovery holiday romance. Itās frankly adorable.
It helps that the men involved have known each other all their lives and their dialogue reflects that long time familiarity and deep love for each other. For it to move from one type of love to a romantic, sexual love felt easy and natural.
Matt, large, gentle and learning that Caspian isnāt merely his oldest and best friend but also the person he loves and wants to spend the rest of his life with? Itās a journey of joyous awakening as well as sexual pleasure. Itās as though everything finally makes sense. And for Caspian, it does finally as heās long loved his best friend.
This is a sweet, absolutely romantic, low angst holiday romance. I adored this couple and story.
You will too.
Synopsis:
Iāve been in love with my best friend for almost as long as I can remember. The only problem is heās straight. At least I thought he was.
But when he gets me to Fiji for Christmas, heās suddenly looking at me in a way Iāve never seen before. Could this all be real, or is he just HoliGay?
Hazardous Things is the third story in the Star Shadow series and the review Iām having the most problems writing.
One one hand I genuinely love the characters of Felix Humphries and Max McCloud, Star Shadowās drummer. Felix has been a snarky bundle of intelligent judgment and wry humor from the beginning with the unusual perspective that heās both known everyone since the band formed as teenagers, heās the younger brother of one, but also as a non musician has remained on the edge of it all. A sort of edgy, brilliant Greek chorus of one.
Max whoās always been the quiet one of the band, writing but without drama. Heās the been the one who, after Caleb disappeared, Felix became the closest to, as they both watched Leo shatter.
Over the two preceding books, the Max and Felix we started to get to know were great people, and it was hinted at the long time crush Felix has had on the āstraightā Max.
Hazardous Things takes Max on a sexual awakening as he becomes aware of his attraction to Felix during an enforced period of physical closeness due to surgery.
Itās a realistic one in which Max doesnāt assign a name to his new sexuality but more realizes that what heās calling ānewā feelings are emotions that have deep roots that heās never identified before.
The thought processes, the fear, the insecurityā¦ everything that Max goes through feels exceptionally believable.
As does Felixās reaction and inability to trust Maxās judgement and new sexuality. Especially when trust or the ability to trust is such a huge issue with Felix to begin with.
All that? Yep awesome. Because thatās got obstacles and misunderstandings stamped all over it and I get that. Well done.
Whatās less credible in the storyline is Maxās (and others) inability to trust Felixās judgement. Granted heās younger than all of them but throughout all the novels, Felix is the one who pulls everything and everyone together. From the tours, bandās accounts, payrollsā¦ everything. Itās Felix. Again and again, they tell each other how brilliant he is etc. They trust him with every aspect of their lives, professionally speaking and even personally.
However, here Max brings up that he doesnāt trust Felix to know whatās best for his own future?
Thatās so illogical from the standpoint of a man who was as close as heās been to Felix. Especially given their past and present history. It seems only like a ploy narratively speaking.
It and some of the other plot ābarriersā feel forced and unnecessary, because thereās enough real issues to work through between them before a satisfying relationship can occur.
While thereās a age gap between them itās not a issue here. No, a matter of Maxās previous sexuality or perceived sexual identity. And Felix overcoming his fears.
That the heart and center here. And I wish some of the āextra dramaā had been trimmed away to focus on that.
Still Felix and Max are a terrific couple, they have enormous chemistry, and I enjoyed their story.
And Iām recommending it. Read all the stories in the order they were written. Now onto book 4.
Felix Humphries canāt even remember the first time he crushed on Star Shadowās drummer, Max McCloud.
Itās been an embarrassingly long time, but heās still never acted on his feelings. One, because Max is his older brotherās best friend. Two, because Max is also his friend. Three, Max is technically his boss. And four, worst of all, Max is straight.
But when Max unexpectedly needs a caretaker for a few weeks, Felix canāt leave his friend in the lurch. Heās all ready to suffer through being so close but not close enough, when the unexpected happens.
Max isnāt straight after all, and what Max wants is Felixābut only in his bed, not in his heart.
Hazardous Things is the third book in the Star Shadow series and should not be read as a standalone.
Lane Hayes is at her best when it comes to characters deeply anguished by choices theyāve made or failed to make in their lives. People who are now failing under the pressure, stress, and pain the situation they now find themselves in.
Hayes has that ability to deliver that pain, that shame and doubt directly into the readers hearts, connecting us to the characters and their life choices.
Here in book 3, the angst has never been so apparent, the pain of repression and itās repercussions so widespread.
We start off with Asher Fitzgibbons,genius, works at NASA, immediate-goal to work at the JPL. Heās decided to, one time only, to hook up with a app for a one night stand.
Asher, diminutive blonde genius, has made a number of impactful appearances in the prior stories but here the tiny perfectionist is given his due.
Oh, what a complicated man he turns out to be, with a heartbreak of a past as a foundation.
The man on the other side of the app? That would be Blake Johnson, coach of girls LaCrosse at a posh private school , and very closeted bisexual.
At first you believe that all the anguish, the repression, and the pain is coming from Blake as he deals with years of self denial and the situations at school. This is heartbreaking stuff here.
But slowly it becomes apparent that Asher too is suffering from some deep emotional issues, and past trauma.
How both men work through all the issues and barriers to arrive at a satisfying relationship is a richly rewarding journey and wonderful read.
I adore these uniquely nerdy geniuses and the men they come to love. Apparently the series isnāt over yet. Another holiday novel and book four is coming.
Great characters, well written storylines, including some deep elements all leading up to heartwarming romances.
Swipe left, swipe left, swipe left. Sure, the idea of a quick, no-strings intimate rendezvous via hookup app sounds oddly thrilling, but itās simply not me. Or maybe it is me, because it happenedā¦and I liked it. Until I realized he looked familiar for a reason. A bad reason. Now Iāve made a faux pas with the sexiest man on planet Earth, and my internal karma system requires me to fix it. Help!
Blake-
I may seem like I have it together, but the truth is, Iām a hot mess. Iām so deep in the closet that I canāt remember my real name some days. Thatās okay. The benefit of one-night stands is anonymity. Until Asher. Not a total surprise. Iāve always had a thing for geeks, but Iāve never met anyone like him. Heās a pint-sized dynamo on a quest for perfection who can help me come outā¦if I follow his script.
Hmm. Iām in.
The Jock Script is an MM bisexual, geek/jock romance starring a bowtie wearing nerd, a sexy lacrosse coach, and a shenanigan inducing script!
You know those books about the professional security agencies with highly trained agents with specialized skills ? Ones who are extremely cool under stress and focused on the job and clients? Even if a romance seems pending, they donāt loose their professional patina or come off as comical.The novels with plots dealing with drug cartels so criminally vile that the scenes and storylines come across as realistically gritty? Those books?
Yeah, this isnāt those.
Hijacked is more a āeye rollā emoji, suspend your belief sort of tale. The type where you canāt believe anyone actually does the jobs theyāre supposedly doing but , hey, the novel is fun so letās just roll with it shall we?
If you can do that, you enjoy this story, otherwise no.
If you canāt put aside your need for any sort of reality check, then this is just one big ā yeah, noā.
The characters, from dialogues that range from ālocal yokel ā cringe worthy (reallyā¦ they sound right out of the Beverly Hillbillies) to South Park cartel style criminals, nothing here says take me seriously.
Scene after scene of situations where nothing feels believable , written by the author, so purposely really bad judgment on everyoneās part, just keeps occurring.
Like , the drug cartels guards who most likely are crazy homophobic are coming down the hall so letās have sex now! SMH!
They, of course, just assume thereās no cameras or listening devices so it must be ok. Because, duhā¦ professional.
So yeahā¦ entertaining on a fun, cartoony way. Quick read . No depth of character and the plot is one that continues into book 2.
Yep, itās a series.
If this sounds like something youād be interested in, you have several books to look forward to.
Synopsis:
Renowned cardiologist Carter Rogers is used to having things under control. His life, his prestigious reputation, his career, his future.
Things he canāt control this time around:
ā¢ His meddling grandfather
ā¢ His annoying gamer cousin
ā¢ Buggy South American jungles
ā¢ Being the meat in a feuding cartel sandwich
ā¢ Getting kidnapped by a monologuing drug lord
ā¢Falling for the very hot, very mouthy ex-soldier from his past
In short, Carterās peaceful, well-planned life has beenā¦ hijacked
Totally sweet college romance. This is one short story that I wish had been expanded a bit in places to give us a firmer foundation of both characters, their history on the campus, and at the end. Especially with them facing the huge upheavals in their lives.
Vincent is the most fully realized of the two characters and I like his snarky self just fine. Could have done with more of him and his crew at the local small print store . They were a great group of found family and made the story more then any of the other people introduced later.
That includes his best friend and ā brotherā who bailed on him and the rent for a tiny apartment, being a nonentity here basically for most of the story , while supposedly a huge part of Vincentās life.
Thatās one issue here. Elements that are foundation components to these characters and to the story just donāt get much narrative time. And it shows. With both boys history and with the big revelation from Carson about his feelings for Vincent. The author just laid no groundwork for it and I wish she had because this is an adorable couple with great potential.
There needed to be more to that ending because as crafted, Vincent was not the sort of person to behave irresponsibly and leave his friends/co workers hanging. We and they needed something more.
So a cute romance that needed a bit more length and closure to feel complete.
Synopsis:About the last thing Vincent Wade expected was for Carson Cress to ask him out. Vince is a dedicated biology student and a bit of a loner. Superstar quarterback Carson is larger than life, and he lives under a public microscope. Thereās no way they should work. But Vince is learning that sometimes people just come steamrolling into your life and all you can do is hang on for the ride or lose your heart in the process. If their relationship can survive the fallout when an injury derails Carsonās future plans, maybe Vince can finally find something to believe in
I truly love Mary Calmes and consider her books comfort reads. Whether itās the latest in her Torus series or Frog, I have an understanding of what characters I might meet, no matter the situation, and the outcome of the passionate romance the main couple falls into. Doesnāt matter if theyāve just met or have known each other for years.
Thereās a remarkable amount of comfort to be derived from this knowledge and yes, love for her guys. We know a Mary Calmes man when we read one.
Theyāre often too perfect for their own good and everyone (mostly) in the novels loves them. Myself included.
However in More Than Life the standard themes Iām used to doesnāt run so smoothly here. Or at all really in parts.
Looking at some of the elements, those with ācriminal aspects ā especially, if the reader takes all the events as they occur and runs out all the ramifications to their logical ends, how they do end here and how they should end are volumes apart.
And that bothers me.
Yes the romance is how one would expect and I like this part of the story. Morganās trauma from his time and abuse in prison is perhaps given too light a treatment but heās going to therapy so ok great.
However, my biggest issues here is that ( spoilers) all those that acted criminally got off basically with no legal repercussions.
With physical assault and battery, especially an attack so vicious that it put its victim in the hospital for an extended stay, if the author writes such a huge element into their story and makes it a pivotal part of the main characterās story and history then thereās an equal responsibility to ensure that the person who inflicted that beating be held accountable. Indeed, as he is shown to be an even more morally bankrupt, devious person whoās likely to repeat his behavior of assault by his own words, for him to be totally let off without even a police report of any type filed against him and his father had me stunned.
For the perpetrators , even one in a novel, of such acts to be let off so lightly and with so little disregard for the future victims to follow is such a irresponsible act that I was just horrified. The character brutalized Hart and the beating he gave Hart scarred and hospitalized him but when he reappeared then then went about victimizing yet another.
All the while expressing his views on rape his fatherās men carried out ( he wasnāt bothered by it FYI) and could see himself attacking more people. SMH.
But no , it doesnāt just stop with one person but others whoās behavior was equally outrageous, murderous, criminal, heinous, or just plain whacked here were , narratively ,story wise , let off the hook, to go live their lives elsewhere as well.
For me this felt utterly irresponsible for the sake of the one character of the main couple seemingly being seen as āgreat guyā about things. So chill and forgiving. Uh no.
Nope I call that being highly idiotic and masochistic and should all this be in RL, he surely would have been responsible for letting a predator get away without any records to follow him. Hart does not come off well in the good judgement department here. Morgan maybe, Hartā¦. Maryās typical āgolden boyā? No.
No this book has its own issues of judgement to solve.
Liked the romance though. Not sure itās enough to overcome the other things Iād had problems with. Probably not.
Synopsis:
Hart Jarrett was only supposed to be passing through Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He wasnāt supposed to get involved, no emotional entanglements to tie him down. Setting down roots was never part of the plan, not until he opened himself up to love. Too bad the man he bet on bailed and left Hart holding the ranch. There were two choices after that: run away, or stay and build something real from nothing.
Nearly six years later, Hart has created a home and a life he never expected, with the help of his best friend and foreman, Morgan Brace. The ranch is thriving thanks to its loyal men and strong ties to the community. But thereās a snake in the garden, and it takes many forms. Thereās a dead man on Hartās property, a man he knows, and the questions are piling up. As if that werenāt enough, his ex has reappeared out of the blue, with plans to reclaim what he willingly gave.
And, to make matters worse, it appears Morgan is finally taking his dating life seriously.
Everything Hart has built is unraveling.
The life Hart wants doesnāt work without Morgan in it. Imagining a future without Morgan, him turning elsewhere for love and coming in second to someone else in Morganās heartāas well as his bedāis almost unbearable. So maybe, just maybe, the answer lies in Hart confessing that he loves Morgan more than life itself.
If Hart gambles and loses, will he even still want the life heās worked so hard to build?
Resilient Heart is an expanded short story that appeared in an earlier released collection of stories. Here the author has added an additional 10k words to give her characters a closure to their romance.
I didnāt read the first version and love this author so I thought this was a new release and took it that way when reading it.
Albert takes on some very hard, emotionally traumatic themes in Resilient Heart. Very current and tragic ones that are still impacting families and the country today. Thatās our disabled veterans, and their dire need for support and treatment. Itās just not from our current wars and engagements but also from Desert Storm and wars past. The effects of war donāt cease to exist because the war does, history has taught us that.
Itās a lesson Iām not sure weāve learned.
These themes are woven through a years long relationship/romance between two soldiers. Mackie and Xander. Itās Xander whoās in need of support and treatment, not that heās accepting it.
Xanderās life is shattered along with his NETCOM unit when a IED exploded under their truck, killing most, leaving Xander scarred and an amputee. You might say Xander stands in for that population of our disabled vets, angry, depressed, a victim of PTSD and with a body he no longer recognizes.
A two person POV narrative helps the reader get under Xanderās mindset all the times heās struggling with his emotional and physical ābattlesā and losing. Xanderās not comprehending what is happening to him mentally or equipped to deal emotionally with his disability and ending his career with the Army.
Mackey is harder to connect with here for me because much of the information heās withheld from Xander is also withheld from the reader. Heās back in Xanderās life, after totally realigning his career for Xander and Xanderās rehabilitation. This after years of apparently a friends with benefits only relationship. Nothing more.
Even with Mackieās perspective, Iām not sure I didnāt agree with Xander most of the time here and think nope, no clarity. Itās a complete guilt trip for Mackie.
So when the truth does come out, and the climax of the story hits, it works against the romance for me in a way perhaps the author didnāt intend.
Mackie not only never gave Xander any options or opportunity to have any say but even after itās out, Xander never completely āownsā his truth. Calls himself a coward but never tells Mackie the truth, his truth about those decisions. What he, Xander, would have done given the opportunity. Instead, he keeps it āhidden ā. No clarity between them still.
Felt wrong, felt like an imbalance in this relationship. Just my opinion.
The event does get Xander into therapy and medication is realistic. It ends well for him.
Just an aside. Walter Reed or the Naval Medical Hospital as it both known here locally is 243 acres of clinics, doctors and specialists. Itās sits across the street from NIH, which Iām very familiar with. It too is a small city at its head is a certain Dr. Fauci. National Institute of Health is a small city of 300 acres of buildings, clinics, doctors and scientists. Itās not unusual to see uniforms walking between campuses and white jackets scurrying under the lights across 355 as workdays and worlds intertwine.
Albert certainly gets the area right.
However, Walter Reed has just 244 hospital beds available. The local area alone? Home to Fort Derrick , Andrews AFB, Ft McNair, Joint Base Ft Myer-Henderson, Ft Meade, Aberdeen, more than I can name off the top of my head. You have any idea how many military are deployed in and around this area? 244 beds? Do the RL disabled vets get the same type of experience as Xander? Immediate response to the need for assistance, for therapy, and support? Not really, most donāt.
I only wish it were so.
While I enjoyed the romance Iām not sure a short story can unpack all the aspects of the huge themes and emotional elements Albert was trying to deal with here and do them justice.
There was too much left to discuss in what Mackie had done , to them and their relationship as well as what the repercussions had meant going forward. That was sort of brushed off.
As was his depression and PTSD. That was taken care of far more easily then it often happens in RL. The reality I know of the VA and the disabled veterans clashes too much with the rosy picture painted here.
So yes, some lovely things and some things that seem less than realized. I think thatās due primarily to the length and not the author.
If you like Annabeth Albert, you might have already read this story and will enjoy the relationship epilogue.
Her Out of Uniform series are terrific and Iād look there for a great series to start.
Synopsis:
Originally released as part of the Unconditional Surrender bundle, now available as a stand-alone novella complete with BRAND-NEW 10,000 word short story/epilogue. When a wounded soldier is forced to accept help from his former best friend, both men discover the true strength of their entwined hearts.
Army IT specialist Xander keeps his emotions wired as tight as his NETCOM gear, but when heās seriously injured by an IED, his whole life unravels. Running out of options, Xander must accept help from his ex-friend-with-benefits, Mackey. However, Xanderās had feelings for Mackey for years, and close quarters only complicates his emotions. Further, Xander doesnāt know which is worse: combating his inner demons or dealing with Mackeyās guilty kindnesses.
Mackeyās always kept his emotions close to his chest, but now heās got a secret that could destroy his one chance with the man he cares far too much for. Both men will have to heal their wounded hearts to ensure a future together.
Entwined Future: In this new short story, Mackey has news that could change everything for him and Xander, but a visit from Xander’s family jeopardizes Mackey’s plans–and forces Xander to confront some harsh truths
Here it is. The final story and the end of a series I really donāt want to say goodbye to. Hmmm perhaps the author will give me a path to potentially seeing them all againā¦.
Anywayā¦ back to Drilled . Itās that wonderful best friends to enemies to lovers story we all love to read.
What? Thatās not a trope? Sure it is. If not perhaps it will be after this book.
Apollo Day, the scowling brooding hunk at the Four Bears Construction Company has always been a bit of a mystery man. While not above joining in ,albeit quietly at night, in the groupās company many pranks, and in the Friday night Wollseyās get togethers, he still has managed to remain a bit of a unknown quantity.
Then the newest hire shows up and that threatens to shatter any calm Apollo has demonstrated and the new home heās building within the company. Not that heās admitting that.
The new guy? Thatās forty year old construction builder Ridgeway āRidgeā Tanner. Heās recently returned to Wisconsin, a place he formerly called home. Still, heās shocked to see standing in the office of the company thatās just hired him a man he hasnāt seen in 15 years. Behind them a shared past in which they were once so close no one knew the other better then themselves. Until he detonated everything in a single day and they both lost it all.
Mini explosions start the story off immediately as Apollo wonāt tell Cole and the rest of the company why thereās bad history between Ridge and himself. Ridge wonāt enlighten the crew either. But both are needed on a special jobsite as all the others now have partners/husbands, increasing responsibilities outside of work.
The special work order includes a month long restoration job at a summer camp that both Apollo and Ridge first think is a prank but is in fact an important and large scale camp renewal. At a remote location.
This is a perfect way for the reader and the men to connect/reconnect. Because at first nothing of their former history is mentioned. But the daily construction work and interaction starts bringing up old memories.
Again, the 2 man POV is an intimate format to share the thoughts and feelings of men not inclined to voice their pain and anger , especially of those struggling with their emotions and memories as these two are.
Stubbornness and silence, the need to escape rather then confront an issue, things that seems to be Apolloās fallback measures. All in full force.Until Ridgeās efforts to make Apollo listen to him finally make the past and the events that broke them apart make sense.
Itās a fine line here between what should be revealed and spoilerville. Itās just not worth it because the central conflict is also a major part of the reveal and a revelation. So it will remain not a part of this review. Iāll just say the anticipation leading up doesnāt disappoint.
All the stories have had such different angles to them. Men needing to earn partners trust who have had been relationships, men overcoming their own mistakes and fears as well as assumptions about true love, men coming out of the closet late in life, age gap, a trans man completely at home in his body but a partner to be whoās not, but all those weāve basically followed from meeting to HEA. Even Miller and Demetriās childhood camp past was briefly mentioned but happy mostly , puking incident aside.
But this is the first story where the past severely impacts the menās present. That their history has caused them both such deep emotional damage over the years becomes obvious. Especially in the stunted romantic areas. Neither has had a committed relationship, and neither has forgotten the other.
Nuehold brings the pain one pleasure of remembered past through so clearly here. Itās in the gestures, frustration that boils over, and the stress and strain of the enforced physical presence of each other. The reader feels it as much as Ridge and Apollo.
When all the secrets are revealed, itās not the happiest of environment youād expect. Because then all the What ifs come naturally into play , all the regrets, guilt, and what it all means now in their current lives.
That the reader wants them together is obvious. They are made for each other. But again thereās some very realistic hurdles to overcome here. Do they? Of course, this is the Four Bears Construction series so we and they get their HEA joyous ending!
All the men and their partners/husbands make a showing here. Of course. Thereās humor, because this series is full of laughter. Thereās animals. Cats this time.
And a HEA finale. No really a link to a story that sees all the couples a few years in the future all together at a birthday party. Simply wonderful way to tie it all up.
I had questions because Nuehold has created some memorable characters here that have lived and moved in and out of the lives of our couples. One has been Porter, a full on vet at the end of this story. Poor Porter, Watsonās bestie, went out on dates with a few of the guys and it never ended well for such a sweet man.
He ends up here swearing heāll marry the next big, hunky bear carrying a box of abandoned bunnies he sees. Be still my heart. Pls give this man his bear and bunnies.
Plus through Demetri ,West and yes Ridge, we got familiar with Auggie (Demās neighbor) and Tallahassee (sometime date of two of the guys) from the Big Bull Mechanics Shop. Great news!
Next up from this author? Yup the Big Bull Mechanics series. Auggie is another great character as is Tallahassee. Canāt wait to see them again and maybe one will be Porterās bunny man. I can always hope.
So while normally Iād be bereft at having to say goodbye to these amazing people and their joy-filled, sweet, heartwarming love stories, Iām looking forward to the next group of bears and hopefully a sighting or two from these books.
Honestly what a lighthearted, happy reads each one is. Iām sure Iāll be revisiting them at some time.
Because as Stoney would sayā¦
āNonsense makes the heart grow fonder.ā
Nonsense, humor, sweetness, and so so much love.
My heart is so fond of these couples and books it feels huge.
Yes highly recommended. I think they should be read in order because itās just more fun to see the progression that way.
So hereās the list:
Four Bears Construction series and their animals:
šµCaulky #1: Cole and Renās bees
šµNailed #2: Stone and Dare: Rudy and Nard Dog
šµHardwood #3, Ev and Watson, Hedgehog
šµScrewed #4 Ollie and Daniel: Monty the Python
šµStud #5, West and Sawyer: Huey, Luey, Duey, Darkwing
šµStripped #6, Miller and Dem,
Mars and at the end Shelldon, omg so adorable. Yes tortoises!
šµDrilled #7 the finale. Apollo and Ridge, cat Log and family. Iāve been waiting to see a cat tbh.
šµGoats Like Cake Too: Four Bears Construction Series Epilogue- free story linked on Drilled.
A month in a remote cabin with the last man I ever expected to see again? I canāt decide if I should punch him or drill him. It might end up being both.
After more than a decade, the last person I expected to see walk into the Four Bears Construction offices as a new hire was Ridge.
He was my first crush, and my first heartbreak when he started dating my sister. When he left her at the altar without so much as a note, I wrote him off for good.
No amount of excuses and explanations can erase what he did. At least thatās what I keep telling myself. But when we end up being sent to a remote campground alone to spend a month rebuilding the cabins, itās too easy to remember why I fell for him in the first place.
I know the guys are all taking bets on how long it takes us to start playing with each otherās tools.
Itās going to be a long month.
*** Drilled is a forced proximity, best friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, hilarious and steamy, final book in the Four Bears Construction series. It can be read as a stand alone but you won’t want to miss this whole hilarious and hot series. No bear shifters, only the other kind of burly, hairy bears
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 