children – Love is Love Reviews

Review: Acrobat by Mary Calmes

The professor/mob muscle dynamic wasn’t as stereotypical as I had expected. Both men has a lot of nuance.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 252 pages. Published May 7^th 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Forty-five-year-old English professor Nathan Qells is very good at making people feel important. What he’s not very good at is sticking around afterward. He’s a nice guy; he just doesn’t feel things the way other people do. So even after all the time he’s spent taking care of Michael, the kid across the hall, he doesn’t realize that Michael’s mob muscle uncle and guardian, Andreo Fiore, has slowly been falling in love with him.

Dreo has bigger problems than getting Nate to see him as a potential partner. He’s raising his nephew, trying to leave his unsavory job, and starting his own business, a process made infinitely more difficult when a series of hits takes out some key underworld players. Still, Dreo is determined to build a life he can be proud of—a life with Nate as a cornerstone. A life that is starting to look like exactly what Nate has been looking for. Unfortunately for Dreo—and for Nate—the last hits were just part of a major reorganization, and Dreo’s obvious love for Nate has made him a target too.

Likes:

The story behind the cover art.
Great characters all around.
I ended up deeply invested.
The eventual acceptance of Nate and Dreo’s relationship.
The drama at the end.
Good smut.
Went from slow-burn to hyperdrive.

Dislikes:

I was confused that Dreo wasn’t the guy Nate was flirting with at the start.
Meandering story.
Didn’t have a strong hook.
The homophobia.
Nate was too perfect.
Mel’s freak out didn’t make sense.

I’ve seen this book around for a while, not surprising since it was published in 2012 and I just read it in August 2021. I think it was the English professor/mob muscle dynamic that kept me away. I expected something stereotypical out of the men and their relationship – a wimpy, nerdy professor falling head over heels for the badass alpha male. Which, yes, reflects a lot on me and on the books I’ve read in the past.

Now that I’m really looking at the blurb, I see that it did try to give the men more nuance than I gave it credit for. And the reality of the book was even better.

Nate isn’t some weak little pushover. He might not be the fighter Dreo is, but he’s smart and can stand up for himself. He’s fierce when it comes to looking out for his family, and worked hard to build up good relationships with his colleagues.

In the same way, Dreo isn’t some dumb lackey. He’s got a vision for the kind of future he wants and is working hard to make it a reality. He puts his all into everything he does, without expecting anyone to comfort him when things get tough.

It was Nate’s personality that got me invested in the story. The start of the book didn’t really have much of a hook, and the story felt a little meandering. I was also confused why there was so much focus on Nate setting up a date with someone who wasn’t mentioned in the blurb. Still, I finished the book quickly. Nate had a magnetism to him. He always seemed to know what to do or say in every situation to make it better. He was like an everyday hero, solving problems for his friends, family, and neighbors.

In other words, Nate was perfect. Which did get a little annoying. Even when he got hurt, it wasn’t his fault. Dreo was the same. Physically attractive, caring, monogamous, and the perfect amount of toppy alpha to suit Nate’s tastes. You’d think a guy who was mob muscle would have issues, but nope. Not even nightmares after

Spoiler

Their relationship starts out as a slow burn, with the first half of the book focused on Nate’s life. Then, when Nate finally realizes Dreo likes him, things shift into hyperdrive. The smut is fantastic, they’re super compatible, and the feelings come quick. It definitely wasn’t the slow buildup I prefer, but by the time it happened, I was too invested to care.

The drama at the end, both physical and emotional, was good, if expected. The physical danger had been mentioned in the blurb, so I knew something more was going to happen. The emotional stuff, all centered around who was blatantly homophobic and who accepted their relationship, was a bit of a surprise. Especially with how many people ended up being accepting.

The inspiration for the cover art was a sweet touch to a sweet story. The side characters were all fantastic. There wasn’t much angst, which felt strange for a book where one of the MC’s is part of the mob. Nate had very little hardship, in part because he was so perfect.

Overall, the book was surprisingly fluffy, even if some of the situations felt a little ridiculous. Especially Mel’s freak out about

Spoiler

It didn’t make sense, but it did contribute to the big happy ending, while also giving Nate another chance to save the day.

Review: Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5) by Macy Blake

A cute story with a good beginning, but is clearly setting up the actual series.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 230 pages. Published September 25th 2018

Blurb:

Sam Baker couldn’t be more normal. He’s a teacher at the local middle school and the most exciting part of his day is dealing with a classroom full of hormonal preteens. His life takes a turn for the weird one stormy night when he finds a small boy on his doorstep. A boy who growls, flashes unnaturally blue eyes, demands for Sam to call the alpha– whatever that is– and gives Sam the one name he wishes he could forget: Vaughn Jerrick.

Vaughn Jerrick is the alpha to a pack of wolf shifters and a doctor to the supernatural world. After sharing a steamy one night stand with Sam years ago, Vaughn couldn’t consider the possibility of a future with the man, no matter how much he wanted him. Bringing a human into his world is against the rules, but one phone call changes everything, and Vaughn finds himself face-to-face with the man who could give him everything he’s ever wanted.

Rescuing one small child turns into saving six from a dark and uncertain fate, and although Sam doesn’t understand the world he’s been forced into, he would never turn his back on children in need, even if it means confronting his past with Vaughn.

As Vaughn and Sam join forces to protect the children put into their care, the future they’ve both dreamed of is within their reach, but first they need to survive the sinister force looking to rip away everything they’ve come to hold dear.

Likes:

Good introduction to the story and situation.
Hooked me fast.
Cute kids.
Hellhounds are a type of shifter.
No long discussion about shifters being real.
Multiple mentions of getting the kinds therapy.
No insta-love.
Fluffy and heartwarming.
Hot smut.

Dislikes:

Not a ton of world building.
Felt like a prequel.
Totally focused on the interpersonal relationships until about 90%.
Vaughn’s not recognizing that Sean was his mate earlier swept under the rug.
No mention of why the kids were taken.

It’s not often that I’m impressed by how well a book’s beginning is set up, but that’s the feeling I had. Not only was I hooked fast, but all of the pertinent information is presented at the beginning without feeling like an info dump.

It doesn’t take long to understand that Sam’s a nice guy. He called Vaughn on the say-so of a lost little kid, despite their history. The way he fought for the kids throughout the book is part of what makes the story so heartwarming. Sam didn’t have to stay and help, but he chose to, even though finding out about shifters and magic turned his world upside down.

I liked that the typical info dump about shifters was done off page. There’s not a ton of world building in the book, and it seems pretty standard as far as shifters and packs go. The one unique thing I liked was that hellhounds were a type of shifter.

Vaughn was also easy to like. He wasn’t an alpha-hole. For him, being an alpha meant protecting his pack and the little kids in whatever way possible. I also like that he was determined to woo Sam correctly, and didn’t pressure him or do any of the all-too-common possessive behaviors.

Their relationship was both hot and sweet, and while they bonded quickly, it wasn’t insta-love. Sam had lots of doubts about their mating, which Vaughn addressed. What wasn’t addressed was why it took Vaughn so long to realize that Sam was his mate.

I’m not the biggest fan of kids in my romance. They can easily become annoying cockblocks, but the six kids in this book were actually pretty great. Not too annoying, and sometimes even downright cute. I was happy that Vaughn mentioned getting them therapy multiple times. After what they went through, it was necessary. I just wish we learned why they were taken.

The bulk of the book is focused on the interpersonal relationships between Sam, Vaughn, and the kids. It was low angst, but the way the kids were always waiting for the other shoe to drop made my heart go out to them.

It wasn’t until about 90% of the way through the book that something big happened. Even if I hadn’t known this was a prequel book, I would have realized that it was setting up the next books. The ending, while showing that Sam, Vaughn, and the kids had become a family, was totally focused on Henry, and what he’d be up to next.

There are two short stories about Sam, Vaughn, and the kids before the actual Chosen One books begin, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Be sure to check out the rest of the series The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1)

Review: The Missing Ingredient by Brian Lancaster (Dreamspun Desires #63)

Slow burn romance with good smut, but ultimately not very memorable.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 1st edition. 220 pages. Published August 7th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

It can take losing everything to realize what you had all along.

Up-and-coming London chef Marcus Vine is poised on the edge of success, but the only men courting him are investors. That leaves Marcus with some free time—which is fortunate, because his godchildren need him.

A year ago, a horrible accident killed Marcus’s best friend, Raine, leaving her children without a mother and her husband, Tom, without a partner. Consumed by grief, Tom has been going it alone, refusing help, but when Marcus sees him out with the children, it’s obvious that Tom and his two daughters need someone. His persistent caring finally wears Tom down, allowing him to accept the comfort Marcus offers. Soon Marcus is up to his elbows in homework, home-cooked meals, and after-school activities. Over time he helps them rebuild their world, until soon their lives are approaching normal.

Then the unexpected happens: Tom confesses he has romantic feelings for Marcus, and nothing can ever be the same.

Likes:

Slow burn.
Kids weren’t annoying.
Cute ending.
Good smut.
Interesting side characters.
How Tom won Marcus back.

Dislikes:

The idea of Marcus falling for his dead best friend’s husband put me off.
Not very memorable.
Epilogue fake-out.
Tom’s journey of discovering his bisexuality was lackluster.
Bathtub on book cover.

I’ll admit, the idea behind this book put me off at first. I’m down with single dads finding love, but the idea that Marcus would end up with his dead best friend’s husband was a little weird. Gladly, once I got into the book, it didn’t bother me. The story is set up in a way that doesn’t make Marcus and Tom’s relationship weird.

I’m also a little weary of kids in a romance. They can be good or bad, but these kids were fine. Present enough in the story to keep Tom and Marcus together, without distracting from the romance.

As for Tom and Marcus, they were fine. Not great, not terrible. Marcus was more likeable, being the only point of view character, while Tom’s journey of discovering his bisexuality felt lackluster. The smut was good, once the romance actually started. The first half of the book is focused on family affairs, and Marcus liking Tom but never intending to do anything about it. Literally it isn’t until the 52% mark that anything happens between the men. So when I say slow burn, I mean it.

Luckily there’s not a ton of angst. I was expecting a big blowup near the end, and there were issues, but nothing that couldn’t be overcome with some groveling. I actually really liked the way Tom made things right between them. It came full circle to something that had been referenced earlier in the book and it felt right.

The actual ending of the book – in the epilogue – was really sweet. I just didn’t like the beginning of the epilogue. It was one of those fake-outs that try to make you think that everything’s gone to shit, when obviously it hasn’t because there’s not enough room left in the book to have anything major happen. I don’t like that kind of thing. Readers are smart enough to see through that.

Overall, this book was good, but not great. I waited a few days to write my review and I actually had to go back and look at my notes to remember what the book was about. There’s nothing particularly memorable about it. That being said, it was a quick, fluffy read and that was what I was going for. Although I have to wonder why there’s a man in a bathtub on the cover. I don’t remember anyone taking a bath.

Review: Help Wanted (The DADcademy #1) by Alison Hendricks

Loved the diverse side characters.

3 out of 5 stars

Ebook. Kindle Unlimited. 109 pages. Published January 29, 2019.

Blurb:

“Will you start a DADcademy with me?”

Eric Buchanan just wants to do right by his daughter, but when she expresses an interest in all things glamorous–something his nerdy, dad jeans wearing self knows nothing about–he’s absolutely lost. The solution? Find an adorably fashionable hairdresser who can show him the ropes.

Julian Rossi has spent his life helping other people become the best version of themselves, but when it comes to raising a son on his own–especially feeding that son–he’s making it up as he goes along. When a big teddy bear of a man comes in looking for help, Julian can’t resist. And when he learns that man also knows how to cook, he decides to strike a deal.

The plan: Swap essential dad-skills to support each other, one single dad to another. But attraction grows with every lesson, and Eric and Julian soon find themselves eager for a little one-on-one teaching. When old insecurities and crazy exes threaten to ruin what they’ve built, they’ll have to learn to truly trust one another–with their family, and their heart.

Likes:

Single dads who are very involved in their children’s lives.
Eric’s ex-wife is a nice woman he’s still friendly with. No evil women character.
Dads who want to learn and do better by their children.
Multiple LGBTQ+ side characters.
The idea of the dadcademy.

Dislikes:

The term ‘dadcademy’.
The romance wasn’t well developed enough for the emotions the characters felt.
There wasn’t enough time spent on page with the Eric and Julian together.
So much childcare.
The thing with Omar, that happened and then was ignored.
Eric being stupid.

I started off liking this story. The premise is good and I liked the characters. Especially how much both Eric and Julian cared for their kids and their businesses.

And then the story lost momentum. I put it down around the 65% mark and had a hard time picking it back up. The time Eric and Julian spent together just wasn’t the good kind of ‘building a romance’ kind of interactions. In fact, we barely get to see them interacting romantically at all. They literally have one date before things go south.

Which brings me to my second point. Considering how little time these two men have been romantically linked, their emotional attachment is way too strong.

Both men are negatively impacted by the breakup to the point where it’s affecting their daily lives. They simply didn’t connect enough for that kind of reaction. Or the way Julian instantly forgave Eric for the breakup.

Because this story is so short, I think the romance should have started sooner. On the one hand, I like that Eric is reluctant to start anything, and that there are some missteps between him and Julian over actually trying to date. But all that took time. Time that could have been spent deepening the relationship. The first date doesn’t happen until the 57% mark.

And I just have to complain about Julian’s ex. Hendricks’ author blurb says she “believes love stories are better with just a little angst thrown in” and I wish she’s chosen some other sort of angst for this story. Julian’s ex shows up at Eric’s bakery to “warn” him about Julian. This sparks Eric’s hidden insecurities and he ends up breaking up with Julian, even though it takes him a week of indecision to do so. He doesn’t talk to Julian, doesn’t try to be an adult about it. Just freaks out and runs away. Later, we learn that Omar tried to contact Julian over social media, but Julian blocks his new account. It makes Omar seem like a total creep stalker, but nothing is done about it. I wish Omar had been left out entirely. His presence made Eric seem really weak willed and susceptible to suggestion. Not to mention, I was deeply annoyed at the lightening quick way Julian forgave Eric when he finally realized breaking up was a mistake. It made Julian seem so desperate to have someone in his life that he’d forgive anything – something he specifically said he wouldn’t do after the way Omar treated him. More than anything else, it was the breakup/makeup part of the story that really killed my interest in the book and had me skimming until the end.

Overall, I think there was too much going on for a book this length. It needed to either be trimmed down, which would get rid of a lot of the little things I liked, or expanded into a longer book with a lot more focus on building the relationship. I’ll give the next book in the series a shot, but I can’t say I’m eager to read it. The hint in the epilogue about who the next main character will be didn’t exactly wet my appetite, but I’ll give it a shot.

Review: Score (Men of Hidden Creek Season 1 # 6) by A.E. Wasp

Loved all the characters, even the kids.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. Kindle Unlimited. 332 pages. Published April 3, 2018

Blurb:

Home is where you make it.
Beau Hopper is good at goodbyes. A minor-league hockey player, he goes where the league tells him. Single and estranged from his family, Beau drifts without connections or commitments. He makes a living, not a life.

Former Marine Connor Casey’s life revolves around his siblings. After Hurricane Harvey took their home and a car-crash claimed their parents, Connor is determined to rebuild their house and their lives.

When Beau learns Connor might lose custody of his siblings if he can’t finish the rebuild in time, he volunteers to help in exchange for a place to stay, and it isn’t long before he finds himself in Connor’s bed. It takes more than passion and plywood to build a home, so when the league comes calling after Beau, Connor can’t ask him to stay… but how can he ever let him go?

Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains eye-rolling teenagers, stolen kisses, and fewer noogies than you’d expect.

Likes:

All the characters, even the kids.
The plot.
The romantic tension.
The backstory for both Beau and Connor.
Mention of hurricane Harvey and the damage it caused.
Connor’s relationship with his siblings and how it evolved.

Dislikes:

The same bad guy social worker as in Storm.
The kids got in the way of the romance a lot.
Felt like so much was going on that some things got glossed over.
It took me a while to get Beau’s image straight in my mind.

This was exactly the kind of down home story I expected from this series. Two guys who meet by chance and have an instant connection, but neither expects it to turn serious. Add in lots of colorful side characters, hockey, and four kids, and you have a book with a lot going on.

I really sympathized with Connor. His life changed drastically when he became responsible for his four siblings and their damaged house. It would be a lot for anyone, and while Connor was constantly struggling, I think he did an excellent job handling everything. Watching him learn what it meant to be a parent and grow his relationship with his siblings was heartwarming.

When Beau was first mentioned in Storm, it was the blue hair and his van named Lady Gaga that stuck in my memory. And for some reason, I thought of him as being slim and a bit campy. Neither of which was true, the former because he’s a pro hockey player and very muscular. That was just my little hiccup to get over, and in the end I liked how muscular yet sweet he was.

I liked Beau right from the start. He was fun and flirty. When his background was revealed, my opinion of him did go down a bit. He had so many opportunities and he squandered them. But he redeemed himself. It was great seeing how seamlessly he fit himself into the family.

I don’t mind kids in my romance novels, if they’re written well. I thought Benji, Micah, Fiona, and Sean were great characters, each unique and true to their age. Though their constant presence at the house did make physical romance a hard thing to come by.

There was a lot going on in this book, and some of it did get less page time than I would have expected. The work on the house was almost completely glossed over, and the social services worker, who I think was the same one from Storm, was more of a threat hanging over their heads than an actual presence. But of all the random little things thrown into the story, I have to admit I liked seeing not one but two lesbian couples. Gay romance books don’t usually show any of the other LBGTQ+ groups, so it was a nice touch.

This was my first time reading A.E. Wasp and I will definitely read more from her later on. Because yes, I cried, both sad tears and happy ones. I’m a little disappointed to see that she didn’t write anything else for the Hidden Creek series.

Review: Storm (Men of Hidden Creek Season 1 #3) by H.J. Welch

Too many self-esteem issues.

3 out of 5 stars

Ebook. Kindle Unlimited. 272 pages. Published April 1 2018

Blurb:

“I can’t do this without you” Chase Williamson was never meant to be a dad. Like it or not, though, he’s now the sole guardian of five-year-old Lyla and terrified of messing it up. He needs help, but who wants to rescue a high school dropout? Certainly not the gorgeous newcomer in town, even if he is an ex-Marine.

Hunter Duke is looking forward to a small-town life to drive away his demons. Maybe meet a nice girl? Adopting a puppy begins to fill the hole in his heart, but it’s an unlikely friendship with Chase and his daughter that really starts to make Hidden Creek feel like home.

When social services threaten to take Lyla away, Hunter knows he’ll do anything to prove that this town is wrong about Chase. Could it be that this is the family he was searching for all along?

Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains a three-legged puppy with attitude, a long-awaited comeuppance, and enough kisses to mend any broken heart.

Likes:

Hunter was a good guy.
Chase was a good dad.
The town is relatively open and welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
Puppy.

Dislikes:

Chase’s low self-esteem, literal hand wringing, and self-destructive habits.
Lyla.
No one went into therapy despite obviously needing to.
The lack of focus on Chase and Hunter’s lives as a whole.
Chase’s past was only mentioned in snippets despite having a huge effect on him.
There was no arc when Hunter realized he liked Chase. It was just ‘boom, he’s gay.’
Started skimming at 70 %
Overall very cliché.
Over the top villainous social worker.

I was very hesitant going into this book because I really didn’t like the last book I ready by H.J. Welch, Ashes. But I always try to give authors a second chance because not every book is going to be for me. So I started Storm with an open mind and…it was fine.

I had strong negative feelings about Ashes, so despite giving the books the same rating, I did enjoy Storm better. I was invested in the story, and enjoyed watching Hunter and Chase get to know each other. Unfortunately, once they got together it was all very predictable and I ended up skimming until the end.

Chase is a sympathetic character who suddenly finds himself struggling to deal with a grieving daughter he barely knows. It was nice to watch him gain confidence as a father, and he clearly loved Lyla. I did wonder why he spent so little time with her when they lived in the same town because Chase doesn’t know Lyla’s friends or what her favorite food is.

Unfortunately, Chase has a whole slew of personal problems, including self-esteem so low it’s practically nonexistent. I actually rolled my eyes at him once because he was just being so over the top with how he sucks at everything. Worst of all, in my opinion, is that he never tried to better himself. He didn’t try to get his GED or read parenting books or learn how to cook or anything that would make him feel like less of a screw up, and it’s hard for me to get behind a character like that.

Hunter is the opposite of Chase. He’s a strong, smart, ex-Marine doctor with a new house and an adorable puppy. And he befriends Chase because of intuition. Okay, fine. I liked Hunter’s character, except the part where he

kept ignoring his PTSD and hoping it would go away on its own. He’s a doctor and yet he won’t seek professional help when he needs it? Ugh.

The final two important characters were Lyla and the social worker. The social worker was so obviously evil that he became cartoonish. And Lyla… I usually don’t mind children in my romance novels, but I didn’t care for Lyla. Maybe she was just too young and struggling with the grief of her mom’s death, but a little of her went a long way and she was in the story a lot.

Overall, I feel like this story is held together by threads instead of it being a finely woven tapestry. It was enjoyable when I was reading it but the moment I actually thought about the plot, I noticed all the little things that didn’t quite work.

I don’t know if I’m being overly harsh on the book because I didn’t like Ashes or if Welch is just not the author for me. Maybe a bit of both. I’ll read her third book in season 3 of the Hidden Creek series, but don’t think I’ll read her standalone stuff.

Review: Caught! (The Shamwell Tales #1) by J.L. Merrow

The British slang was so much fun.

5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 276 pages. Published August 19th 2014 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

Blurb:

You can run from the past…but the past runs faster.

Behind Robert’s cheerfully eccentric exterior lies a young heart battered and bruised by his past. He’s taken a job teaching in a village primary school to make a fresh start, and love isn’t part of his plans. But he’s knocked for six—literally—by a chance encounter with the uncle of two of his pupils.

Sean works in pest control, rides a motorbike, and lives on a council estate. On the face of it, he shouldn’t have anything in common with Robert’s bow-tie, classic-car style and posh family background. Yet Robert is helpless to resist Sean’s roguish grin, and a rocky, excruciatingly embarrassing start doesn’t keep the sparks between them from flaring.

Despite Robert’s increasingly ludicrous attempts to keep his past where it belongs, his past hasn’t read the memo. And soon his secrets could be the very things that drive Sean away for good…

Warning: Contains the alarming misadventures of a pest control technician, a stepsister with a truly unfortunate name, and a young man who may have more bow ties than sense.

Likes:

Everything.
The characters. Even the kids.
The English slang.
Robert was adorkable and Sean was great. Especially the motorcycle and leather jacket.

Dislikes:

Wanted more.
Wished the situation with Oliver got a more thorough resolution.

This book made me laugh so many times I lost count. Robert was so great, I feel like we’d be best friends if he was real. He was a little awkward and has a unique fashion sense, but he was imminently likeable. So was Sean, especially seeing how much he cared for his nephews.

I will admit that if you don’t like Robert’s adorkable-ness, you won’t like the book. The story is told from Robert’s first person perspective, and the reader is given a front row seat to everything going through his brain. But since I liked Robert a lot, this book was a fun read.

I honestly had a hard time coming up with things I disliked about this book. Normally, even with books I like, there are things about them that I don’t care for. I have no major complaints about this book. I would have liked to see Sean meet Robert’s parents, but that was mentioned only briefly in the epilogue.

The situation with Oliver could have used more resolution. I would have liked to see Oliver set the record straight publicly. That would have been nice both for Robert and also to make Oliver, who I do feel a little bit of sympathy for, a more likeable guy.

As for the things I liked, I have to say the biggest would be the side characters. There were many, including the children, and they all felt very flushed out and believable. Even the characters who didn’t play a big part in the story, like Robert’s childhood friend and his new friend/coworker Rose have such great personalities.

The story does have some misunderstandings between characters, but I didn’t mind them. They fit the story. Especially the last one that almost ended the relationship. It was very believable. Robert had a traumatizing incident in his past that he doesn’t want anyone to know. So when he tries to avoid telling Sean about it, the whole thing blows up in his face. It’s expected, and you could see it coming from a mile away, but it fits with their personalities and the story. Plus, I really liked that Rose told Robert he wasn’t obligated to tell Sean anything he didn’t feel comfortable talking about.

The smut was definitely set on low heat, but that didn’t bother me. I will definitely continue with the series, and I’m glad I picked up this book. It’s my first time reading J.L. Merrow and I’m glad I gave this book a shot!

Note: I used the book cover was on the ebook I read. There is a different cover on Goodreads.

Be sure to check out the review for the other three books in the series – Played!, Out!, and Spun! as well as the series review.