Well, really my only issue here is with the title. It should be called Keeping Brant because Kellen? Heās a done deal here. Has been for years since he realized he saw Brant as more than his BFFās younger brother.
So the question here? Thatās Brant not Kellen. So yep, a definite change up in title needed.
Otherwise, this is a splendid story that sees us catching up on the lives of the group of men from Keeping Casey. Itās been a while, theyāve graduated from Glen Hill College and moved forward with their partners and future plans.
As with Brant, those years has been ones of growth and now he sees himself ready to move forward again, this time in a familiar directionā¦ home and new opportunities.
Aislin opens a path into Brantās world with this story, one barely hinted at in the first novel. Now Brantās past, present, and , his potential future is laid out in all its pain, love, familial dysfunction , and emotional distress. It also includes his boyhood crush which has never faded. And who now has returned as well. Aislinās writes this all so superbly that you are pulled into Brantās world and situation, feeling easily a part of it.
Yes, I googled that region even. I could go there, indeed I could.
Then thereās Kellen, the crush. Kellen, an immediately likable and connectable character, is one with a few painful layers himself. Although not as many as Brant.
The story and the menās relationship begins immediately as they reconnect over a drive home from the airport and bond over Ollie, a āshared dogā and just great chemistry.
Through obstacles and new challenges raised by career changes, this pair grows together by using communication and love to get stronger and solidify their partnership. I just loved that.
No failure to talk things out, no childish misunderstandings. Just two adults working together towards a loving, mutually respectful relationship. Sigh. More pls.
And they treat others in the same manner. Be still my heart.
Ok, yes. Iām so happily on board here.
Even if Keeping Him series stays at two novels , which I expect it wonāt become there are others unattached, this is absolutely a book and series I recommend.
Brant Harkrader is done living by other peoplesā rules. He may not know exactly what he wants out of life, but heās perfectly happy letting that question figure itself out while starting a new job as a tour guide.
Too bad the one thing he does wantāhis sisterās BFFāonly sees him as a little brother.
Or so he thinksā¦
Kellan Shelby-Briggs has never shied away from going after what he wants. And what he wants is the important contract that will put his brand new company on the mapāand Brant.
Too bad Kellanās career keeps yanking him away just as things heat up between them.
Now that Brant is back in townāup close and personal in Kell’s living spaceācan they finally get the timing right to go after the love that has eluded them both for too long?
Yes, my holiday reading is in full swing! And hereās another book guaranteed to bring about an onslaught of the Christmas cozies and a need to bake a gazillion sugar holiday cookies!
Itās N. R. Walkerās Tic-Tac Mistletoe! What a Christmas heartwarmer!
It will, as it itself will tell you, bring up the imagery of every great Hallmark Christmas movie, including all the spot on elements we expect to see in those holiday stories and happily delivers us a Walker Hallmark Christmas story that exudes so much heart, Christmas cheer as well as poignancy, family, and love that you will want to include this as a holiday story to return to.
It even has an adorable doggy character and memorable quotes from one of my favorite movies. And no, surprisingly, itās not a holiday one.
Walkerās characters are perfectly imperfect, layered and connectable. And so easy to love. Here it also includes a town straight out of every Hallmark tale and itās citizens.
My only issue is that stories like these end far sooner then Iām ready for. I can always linger a tad longer than the pages allow.
Maybe next season there will be a return and a wedding. I can always hope.
Til then, make this a part of your holiday reading list. Yes Iām highly recommending it.
Synopsis:
Hamish Kenneally is moving from Australia to the US for a fresh start, starting with Christmas at his sisterās place in Idaho. When a snowstorm diverts his plane to Montana and leaves him stranded two days before Christmas, he hires a car and drives right into a blizzard.
Ren Brooks has always called Hartbridge, Montana, and his family hardware store, home. After a few failed attempts at love, heās resigned to being single foreverāafter all, no guy wants to stay in his sleepy little town for long. And after his dadās passing earlier in the year, Renās Christmas is looking bleak. But when a car runs off the road in front of his property, Ren pulls the driver out and takes him home to get out of the cold.
With the storm and the holidays leaving Hamish with nowhere else to go, Ren kindly offers a place to stay. Hamish is certain heās crashed right into a Hallmark Christmas movie, despite more car delays and road closures and the prospect of not seeing his sister for Christmas. And with help from Hamish, Ren is beginning to feel a little Christmas cheer.
These two unlikely strangers have more in common than they first realise, and after two days of Christmas decorations, cookies, and non-stop conversation, it looks like Christmas might be saved after all
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!
Fairy and Impartial picks up right after the events of book 3, His Fairy Share.
So first thing right off? Read all previous stories if you havenāt done so already. In the exact order they are written so all the characters relationships, growth, and overall developing series themes make sense.
Trust me, there are some wonderfully complicated doings happening here and I suspect only Auric, that manipulative bastard, has a clue about most of them.
This is a densely packed series, epic themes of world salvation, good versus evil, line up closely along with those of forever love and found family.
Honestly, I treasure this series and love this new story. It adds onto the growing mysteries of conspiracy against Auric and his politics and family as well as introduces us to incredible new main characters that will have important roles to play , not only here but in the upcoming stories. This is one wicked, well told epic!
Twig and Quinnās relationship continueās to deepen and thrive here as they face new battles and explore new dimensions to their powers and roles. Really, each is so amazing because they have such depth of character and yet still are showing such capacity for growth.
Actually that applies to all the beings here who are undergoing so many spurts of development simply because of the demanding times and villainous challenges they are facing. Zak , Quinnās younger brother, has to learn accept certain things about his pursuit of love without asking if itās wanted, Bill , all patchwork soul, needs to adjust to heartbreak for the first time and find his way forward, and well, there are othersā¦.
I donāt know how many books Maslow has planned for this series, personally Iād be thrilled if they just kept coming because this universe is so rich and diverse that it easily could host series after series even based on the different realms.
But this expanding found family or should I say clan? It has found its way into my heart. Now I want Twig to add a couple moreā¦ and I need to know more. I have questions, need answers! And always want more of each and every one of these fabulous beings.
You will too. But you absolutely need to read these stories in the order they are written to appreciate the characters, understand the relationships, the growth and , frankly, the series arc.
Itās fantastic and Iām highly recommending this and all of them.
All Twig Starfig wants is to settle into mated life with his wizard and be a good leader to his clan. No drama. No heartache. A happily-ever-after fit for a dragon. Or half-dragon, at any rate.
Instead, Twig and Quinn get roped into a new case involving missing orc stones. Yes, those really are a thing. Twigās dad is on the PR warpath . . . again. Quinn’s little brother can’t seem to stop pining over their housemate. Someoneāor somethingāseems to be following them. And getting quality time alone with his wizard is more difficult than keeping oneās virginity at an incubus party.
To make matters worse, Twig’s old enemies start dropping like fairyflies, and they find themselves smack in the middle of an inconvenient murder investigation with a certain red fury as the main suspect. With everyone in Lighthelm convinced of Billās guiltāand by association TwigāsāStarfig Investigations is on the case.
Is there no one in the Elder Realm whoās fairy and impartial?
Major characters not in any order:
Greyclover , elf and Auricās lover and guard
Auric Starfig, Twigās fairy father and powerful leader of well everyone
Agent Hatheral āLeoā Leotoris, elf and investigator at EBI
Quinn Broomsparkles, wizard, former High Rei, mate to Twig
Twig Starfig , half fairy half dragon now City Council Member and head of his own expanding clan
Zak Broomsparkles, younger brother to Quinn, also a wizard
I just love this story! It just ticks so many of the āmake me gush out loudā boxes when I think of stories that just hit me right in the heart.
Starting with the fact that, yeah, itās N.R.Walker, whoās able to do that book after book.
Then itās that dead letter theme. Beautifully written, emotionally fraught messages from the past that emerge, lightly dust laden, to prompt an incredible journey , one that also turns into one of self discovery and often love. Whether it ends in a bittersweet , heartbreaking revelation or one of heart-stopping joy, those letters from the past represent a haunting mystery that grabs both at your mind and heart.
I can name movies, tv series, novels,ā¦and this theme never becomes tired or shallow. Because the potential for pain and for hope is too huge here no matter the media. Our minds are already reaching out for the ending, we want to know what happensā¦.
In Walkerās hands, weāre in for an emotional, heartwarming journey. Our introduction to the ādead letter office ā is through the amazing, delightful, effervescent character, Malachi Keogh as heās being ushered onto its premises and his first day on the job by his father.
Iāll not go into the details as Iāll leave that to Malachi and the story to relate. Itās a gem by the way.
There, Malachi meets his boss, Julian Pollard, all sexy and well, beige. Then a cast of characters to charm your socks off, co workers you will become so intimately familiar with as to feel they are part of your regular lives. Much as they become a deep part of Malachiās.
Julianās , eyes gleaming with quiet humor and enjoyment, is an absolute jewel of a man and character. Such a memorable Walker personality in a ocean of them! Heās so perfect for Malachi!
I love that their romance proceeds with communication, humor to go with outstanding chemistry and off the charts dynamics! Love this couple.
The letters at the heart of the mystery and story title grabs your heart and rattles poignantly to get your attention . You can easily imagine the era they were written in and the couple involved.
And like Malachi, you fear for the outcome and the revelation as you get closer to finding the person who wrote them.
No spoilers here. But this romance is all about finding your place and true love as Malachi does.
Itās a story you will want to put under comfort reads. And recommend to others.
Thatās exactly what Iām doing now. Beautifully written, memorable characters, incredible story. Pick it up and read it now.
Just a small picky note: one thing that is sure to get me is the disappearing animal character in a story, it sort of happens here. It surprised me because Walker is huge with her animals in books. So when Buster is a fun, very much alive animal character I was disappointed not to see that Malachi hadnāt in some way appropriated him for themselves because clearly he was theirs and not the neighbors.
I imagine him still waiting by that window door for it to be opened and Iām so sad.
I quite adore this Regency series. After the last romance with the intense and highly intelligent Lord Christmas Gale and several murders at the center, I wasnāt sure what awaited me here with this couple.
Yes we were given glances of the pair in book 2 but I wasnāt quite prepared for the dry and funny opening here. Honestly, it reads like a Tale of Two Twits, albeit very well dressed and well bred ones.
But this is Rock and Henry , so the twits at hand who are about to make their debut and have their first Season , have a rivalry that starts to spiral immediately into a story of personal growth, a bit of sexy romping about, some madcap adventures and finally true love.
Yes our lovely boyish twits of fashion and the Tonne become young vulnerable and often poignant men who, after some introspection and advice, find the lives theyāve lead a bit lacking in kindness and decide on a new path, together. Happily.
Itās really a kind, sweet, story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Plus it sets up one Iāve been dying to read. That of Lord Soulden. Thatās next up in A Sanctuary for Soulden.
This a just a remarkably great and romantic series, each story contains bits of the others and their characters who are truly noteworthy.
Read them in the order they are written for a simply splendid romantic Regency journey. I recommend all those releases to date.
Series – The Lords of Bucknall Club
A Husband for Hartwell #1
A Case for Christmas #2
A Rival for Rivingdon #3
A Sanctuary for Soulden #4. – coming soon
Synopsis.
He must marry well, to secure his fortune.
The Honourable Loftus Rivingdon is poised to make his debut into Society. Heās beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. If only he could find the right hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Loftus has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Loftus knows just the peerāthe dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing thereās nothing standing in his way.
He must also marry well, to secure his fortune.
The Honourable Morgan Notley is poised to make his debut into Society. Heās beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. And he has just found the perfect hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Morgan has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Morgan knows just the peerāthe dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing thereās nothing standing in his wā
Damn it all to hell.
Their ambitions collide.
When Loftus and Morgan both set their sights on Soulden, the rivalry of the Season begins. Their mutual hatred escalates into spite, sabotage, and scandal, as all of Society eagerly waits to see which diamond of the first water will prevail. Except the course of true loathing, just like true love, never did run smooth. The harder they try to destroy each other, the closer they come to uncovering each otherās deepest vulnerabilitiesāand the more difficult it becomes to deny the burning attraction between them.
A Rival for Rivingdon is the third book in the Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance. The Lords of Bucknall Club can be read in any order.
Itās officially hockey season again and Iād thought Iād celebrate by reviewing a hockey romance by a favorite author who loves this sport and itās athletes as much as I do.
This sport seems to attract wonderful writers who are just as obsessed by its fast paced athleticism and unbelievable drama on ice as itās gorgeous international teams of talented, intense athletes.
Lucky us, the readers!
Risking the Shot is the fourth story in Aislinās Side Stick series, a fantastic group of hockey romances if you arenāt familiar with it yet. Mostly centered around a certain group of LGBTG players in various stages of coming out, finding love, and what the ramifications are for their careers in the NHL, itās a great and varied journey.
Taylor āTayā Cunningham, a forward for Toronto is bisexual and at ease with his sexuality. However, heās ready to come to come out to the public,tired of hiding his truth. Itās a matter of timing. Thereās his teamās run for the playoffs, his college courses, and then the new guy heās seriously crushing on, the single dad from the Foundation.
Tay is such a likable, well rounded character. Easy to picture, so relatable and adorable. The issues he has that become clear? They are ones people see in other families and can connect to.
The man heās crushing on? Single dad and part-time baker Dakota Cotton, brother to another NHL player in Burlington ( we will see him later). Dakota comes with a realistic and absolutely adorable 4 year old boy, Andy.
The relationship and work the men do on themselves, the trust issues, communication channels, goals for themselves and as a coupleā¦ we watch it all get worked through with so much love and care. With a great amount of very hot sex thrown in. Fans self. Plus the added joy of a growing family dynamics with Andy who has his own abandonment issues because of his mother.
I love this little family group so much.
The wonderful addition of the quirky, fascinating characters flowing around them is just that depth of storytelling that gives this series that spice and oomph to make it stand out.
Iām really not ready for book 5 to roll out, not if it means an end to another hockey series. Sigh. I mean the season just got started.
Yes Iām highly recommending this and the series. Start reading in the order they are written. And enjoy!
On an aside note. If you love scotch, this is also a wonderful tour through some of the best scotch brands out there. Iām a scotch person myself and while the author listed many I was familiar with and had tasted, she had some that were complete unknowns and had me making notes. Ty, Amy Aislin!
Synopsis:
Time for distractions? Hardly.
A chance at making the playoffs? Itās a dream for NHL forward Taylor Cunningham that just might come true. If he can keep his eyes on the ballāahem, puck. And study for midterms. Dakota Cotton, eleven years his senior, isnāt just a distraction, thoughāheās everything Tayās ever wanted.
Dakota has no interest in introducing someone who might not stick around to his four-year-old son. Been there, done that, with the divorce to prove it. But thereās something about Tay that hits all of the right buttons and has him wanting to take a chance.
As things heat up between them, and the pressure to succeed hits an all-time high, will they risk a shot at happiness or choke?
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
Recently Iāve been reading books with older characters, in their 40ās and one aspect Iāve appreciated about these stories from various authors is the open and adult communication that flows between most of these characters.
Firefly Lane is a great example of this level of open communication. It exists not just among the primary characters but also throughout the community of the town of Harmony, whether itās blunt questions or advice. Itās still on the open adult communication scale .
Hartās themes for this story run the gamut from the ability to grow and change oneās outlook, no matter your age to the notion that finding your true home has no timetable. Even such basics as you arenāt your parents. Thereās a multitude of storylines here. All unpacked with care and intelligence.
At the heart of the story is not a couple of men but more a intersecting triangles of families, all of equal importance to this story and beautifully crafted.
The first family that launches the novel and action is that of two siblings. Holden Barnett, pilot out of Atlanta, and his estranged younger sister, Marilee Young, and her teenage son Sean. The sister and son in deep need, living in Harmony, NC.
The second family, one thatās deeply established and well liked in town is that of Monroe āRoeā Covington of the huge Covington family, his teenage son Wyatt who he had with his best friend Lindsey. Roe is out gay man to all around him and has been since his teenage years, although his closeness to Lindsey has people thinking , wrongly, they still might get together.
The foundation Hart starts to lay down here for the series is solid. We feel a warm, layered community, full of interesting people, some busybodies, many far more intriguing and caring.
And as we see our way around Harmony and get to know the citizens, the past histories and real issues are coming to the surface within the two families.
Itās never just problems with Holden and Marilee and Sean. Because their heavy issues impact Roe, Wyatt, and Lindsey. All as we watch, we see parents/uncles weighing what effect their adult relationships will have on their sons as well as their sons/nephews relationships. Yes, people actually acting as responsible adults. Love it.
All the while, keeping the romance sexy, endearing, and vulnerable.
Thereās also a back history of parental abuse ( mentioned , never seen) with Holden and Marileeās folks as well as Seanās father Adam, Marileeās absent husband. That plays into much of the story here, and finally figures into the personal growth.
I found this to be a terrific story. So many layers, great characters and foundation Town to get acquainted with.
I canāt wait to the next in the series and eagerly look forward to seeing all these people and couples once more.
Synopsis: At forty-three, Holden Barnett is getting along just fine. His job as a pilot keeps him from getting restless, and heās got a man who doesnāt want promises for the future. One phone call from his estranged sister changes everything. She needs his help, so Holden drops everything and heads to Harmony, a small town in Briar County, which represents everything heās tried to avoid in life.
Monroe Covington is forty-five and happy. He loves his lifeārunning his store, helping at his familyās farm, and spending his days with his best friend, Lindsey, and their son, Wyatt. Sure, half the town likes to forget heās gay, and heād love for the queer population to be bigger, but Roe makes do. He misses dating, relationships, and a man to hold at night, but at least he gets new eye candy when Holden, the brother of the woman whoās renting his cabin, shows up.
The attraction is instant, the friendship not far behind, but between Holdenās initial relationship status, family complications, and the two of them wanting different things, theyāre a disaster waiting to happenā¦only it doesnāt feel that way, not with how much time they spend talking, laughing, and eventually, tumbling into bed, a field, or the back of a truck together. The closer they get, the more Holden realizes that just being fine isnāt enough, and Roe begins to see that his life isnāt as complete as he thought. Now, if they could only sort out the rest of itā¦
Firefly Lane is a small town, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers summer romance with no cheating, mature characters who talk out their problems, like to work with their hands, and have amazing chemistry. Did I mention they watch movies in the company of goats?
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
