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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
This was a bit all over the place. I’m not a fan of the timeline, and I’ve never been a fan of second-chance romances. I enjoyed this more than book 1 but not as much as book 2. Definitely not as much as Stray Dogs, which was some of my favourite reads of the year. [b:Bad Dogs|90583793|Bad Dogs (Dirty Strays #1)|Riley Nash|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1675341032l/90583793._SY75_.jpg|100221184] features Jackson’s younger brother, Scout, and it’s amazing.
This starts with Oliver on the train. The train crashes in a mountain tunnel. I suppose there was a cave in. Oliver and Jackson are the only survivors. They’re stuck in there together for a few days, maybe a week. It’s pitch black and they never see each other, but they fall in love.
Once they are rescued they don’t get a chance to see each other before they are separated. Jackson serves 6 years in prison for breaking parole. Oliver writes him letters for years, that go unanswered. He eventually tries to move on, and moves states.
After he is released Jackson tries to outrun his past as well, and travels to another state. He picks up odd jobs. He starts working doing some renos in a bank in a small town. He ends up dating and falling for one of the bank employees, Ollie. Neither of them realized who each other were, until they suddenly do.
I kind of like the idea of them falling in love twice. But the fact that they ran into each other again completely by chance! It’s just way too much for me. If they stayed in the same area, if they hadn’t both moved, it would be more likely. Or if one of them had been actively looking for the other, following a train, it would have made more sense. But out of the whole country! They both end up in the same town again! Working in the same bank! No, just, come on!
They date for a bit and it seems like things might work out this time. But Jackson’s past catches up with him again, and he runs. He leaves Oliver behind without an explanation. And after the gang member that was hunting him dies, Jackson doesn’t go looking for Oliver again. He thinks fate will just bring them back together without him having to do anything? WTF? Luckily, Ollie goes looking and finds him again, after 3 years. But man, I was pissed at Jackson for that.
This starts with Oliver on the train. The train crashes in a mountain tunnel. I suppose there was a cave in. Oliver and Jackson are the only survivors. They’re stuck in there together for a few days, maybe a week. It’s pitch black and they never see each other, but they fall in love.
Once they are rescued they don’t get a chance to see each other before they are separated. Jackson serves 6 years in prison for breaking parole. Oliver writes him letters for years, that go unanswered. He eventually tries to move on, and moves states.
After he is released Jackson tries to outrun his past as well, and travels to another state. He picks up odd jobs. He starts working doing some renos in a bank in a small town. He ends up dating and falling for one of the bank employees, Ollie. Neither of them realized who each other were, until they suddenly do.
I kind of like the idea of them falling in love twice. But the fact that they ran into each other again completely by chance! It’s just way too much for me. If they stayed in the same area, if they hadn’t both moved, it would be more likely. Or if one of them had been actively looking for the other, following a train, it would have made more sense. But out of the whole country! They both end up in the same town again! Working in the same bank! No, just, come on!
They date for a bit and it seems like things might work out this time. But Jackson’s past catches up with him again, and he runs. He leaves Oliver behind without an explanation. And after the gang member that was hunting him dies, Jackson doesn’t go looking for Oliver again. He thinks fate will just bring them back together without him having to do anything? WTF? Luckily, Ollie goes looking and finds him again, after 3 years. But man, I was pissed at Jackson for that.
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
I sit with the ghosts of everything I wanted, everything I lost, the man I can barely remember, the promise I made myself afterward that I didn’t need love to be content. The fear that if I do somehow find love, I’ll erase him completely.
I quite often mention how easily I cry when reading, but this book legitimately made me sob. My face is puffy, it feels like someone rubbed sand in my eyes, and it looks like someone locked a teenager in my room for a week with only tissues and lotion for entertainment, if you look at all the snotty tissues lying around. This book broke my heart into tiny pieces, and it’s too soon to say if it put it back together again or not. Of course it’s another five star book by Riley Nash, because it’s absolutely brilliant, emotional and beautiful, but christ, it wrecked me. I won’t read it again, because it was right at the edge of what I can personally handle, but it was worth it. I think?
I’m running out of things you touched, Ollie.
Oliver is just a beautiful soul who deserves all the good things, and the universe took it’s sweet goddamn time giving it to him. Both MCs had to fight tooth and nail for everything they got, and it nearly wasn’t enough. If you’ve read either of the first two books, you know to expect emotional turmoil of epic proportions from this series, and this one certainly followed through on that.
If only wanting were enough, I’d be the king of everything.
If I had to give some sort of criticism, it would be that I wish we got a longer epilogue. Considering the struggles lasted most of the book, I felt naked and raw and left outside in the cold with how it ended. Personally, I could’ve used a gentler and slower let-down after all that. That’s not to say it wasn’t there. It was, and it was sweet, but I think I needed more.
He gives a little snort, like he’s stifling a giggle. “What now?” “Sorry, it’s just… the fucking romance trope. I’m soooo cold. Here, let me hold you close. Oops, I kissed you. Let me put my dick where you can keep it warm.” When he’s done, I leave him hanging in awkward silence for way too long. “Let it be known that I’m not the one making this weird.”
I’m going to go read something comforting for a bit. Highly recommend though. Fucking fantastic book, but ouch. Bring tissues.
Oh, and someone please get these guys some damn lube.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Disaster, survival, demisexual/bi-awakening, single dad, strangers to lovers, separated by outside forces, transcends tropes, mental illness, MC in prison, hard-fought HEA, angst, hung bottom
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Homophobia (brief, from unnamed side character)
*from the author*
A disaster situation
Emotional distress
Claustrophobia
Brief description of vehicle accident
Mentions of blood and dead bodies
Violence
Mental illness
Agoraphobia
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Depression
Mentions of past suicide attempts
Domestic abuse
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: Yes. They are separated for a long time, several times.
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
I sit with the ghosts of everything I wanted, everything I lost, the man I can barely remember, the promise I made myself afterward that I didn’t need love to be content. The fear that if I do somehow find love, I’ll erase him completely.
I quite often mention how easily I cry when reading, but this book legitimately made me sob. My face is puffy, it feels like someone rubbed sand in my eyes, and it looks like someone locked a teenager in my room for a week with only tissues and lotion for entertainment, if you look at all the snotty tissues lying around. This book broke my heart into tiny pieces, and it’s too soon to say if it put it back together again or not. Of course it’s another five star book by Riley Nash, because it’s absolutely brilliant, emotional and beautiful, but christ, it wrecked me. I won’t read it again, because it was right at the edge of what I can personally handle, but it was worth it. I think?
I’m running out of things you touched, Ollie.
Oliver is just a beautiful soul who deserves all the good things, and the universe took it’s sweet goddamn time giving it to him. Both MCs had to fight tooth and nail for everything they got, and it nearly wasn’t enough. If you’ve read either of the first two books, you know to expect emotional turmoil of epic proportions from this series, and this one certainly followed through on that.
If only wanting were enough, I’d be the king of everything.
If I had to give some sort of criticism, it would be that I wish we got a longer epilogue. Considering the struggles lasted most of the book, I felt naked and raw and left outside in the cold with how it ended. Personally, I could’ve used a gentler and slower let-down after all that. That’s not to say it wasn’t there. It was, and it was sweet, but I think I needed more.
He gives a little snort, like he’s stifling a giggle. “What now?” “Sorry, it’s just… the fucking romance trope. I’m soooo cold. Here, let me hold you close. Oops, I kissed you. Let me put my dick where you can keep it warm.” When he’s done, I leave him hanging in awkward silence for way too long. “Let it be known that I’m not the one making this weird.”
I’m going to go read something comforting for a bit. Highly recommend though. Fucking fantastic book, but ouch. Bring tissues.
Oh, and someone please get these guys some damn lube.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Disaster, survival, demisexual/bi-awakening, single dad, strangers to lovers, separated by outside forces, transcends tropes, mental illness, MC in prison, hard-fought HEA, angst, hung bottom
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Homophobia (brief, from unnamed side character)
*from the author*
A disaster situation
Emotional distress
Claustrophobia
Brief description of vehicle accident
Mentions of blood and dead bodies
Violence
Mental illness
Agoraphobia
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Depression
Mentions of past suicide attempts
Domestic abuse
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: Yes. They are separated for a long time, several times.
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
I was not emotionally prepared for this book. It made me laugh, made me cry, gave me anxiety. Don’t even read it in public, I’m currently crying in the airport after having just finished.
This book did not have a dull moment. Every second was wonderful, I could not put it down.
Loved Ollie. I’m actually surprised how much I liked Jax as well, I don’t normally like his type of character but I loved him too.
If I have to give any criticism, I would say I wish part one in the train was a little longer.
This book did not have a dull moment. Every second was wonderful, I could not put it down.
Loved Ollie. I’m actually surprised how much I liked Jax as well, I don’t normally like his type of character but I loved him too.
If I have to give any criticism, I would say I wish part one in the train was a little longer.
“I missed you so fucking much,” he whispers. Then we’re kissing so hard it’s not about lips anymore, just tongues and moans and the fracturing of our breath as Ollie and Jax do this for the first time and Oliver and Jackson do it for the last.
This book was aaaaaaaamazing and is now one of my favourite second-chance romances. The storyline kept me hooked throughout the whole story with the intensity in the first part, the longing and tension in the middle, and the beautiful family in the end. Jackson and Oliver go through so much to get their happy ending, and it's such an emotional and heartwarming journey. I loved seeing Jonah and Gray as side characters and Ollie's friends. Megan was also a wonderful and precious side character, and I loved her scenes with Jackson so much. I really enjoy this author's writing style and how loving and gentle and caring her characters are toward each other, whether it's romantic or friendship, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, especially after seeing that its about some of the "villains" that we've seen already!!
This book was aaaaaaaamazing and is now one of my favourite second-chance romances. The storyline kept me hooked throughout the whole story with the intensity in the first part, the longing and tension in the middle, and the beautiful family in the end. Jackson and Oliver go through so much to get their happy ending, and it's such an emotional and heartwarming journey. I loved seeing Jonah and Gray as side characters and Ollie's friends. Megan was also a wonderful and precious side character, and I loved her scenes with Jackson so much. I really enjoy this author's writing style and how loving and gentle and caring her characters are toward each other, whether it's romantic or friendship, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, especially after seeing that its about some of the "villains" that we've seen already!!
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the previous books, but I still appreciated the writing and the emotional moments.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Show Me Wonders: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Riley Nash (Water, Air, Earth, Fire, #3)
“You’re my reason.”
Ollie fell in love with Jax in the midst of a horrible tragedy, where he wasn't sure if he was even going to make it out alive. But now, it's been years and they both did make it out alive, only Jax has hidden demons of his own chasing after him.
Tropes:
– Opposites attract
– Second chance
– Hurt/comfort
– Single dad
– Found family
Riley Nash can do no wrong. This book was so good. I enjoyed every second of Ollie and Jax, the sweetest, most wholesome yet unconventional pairing ever. They are so pure and don't seem like they fit but they do in the best way. Part I of this story had me so intrigued and on the edge of my seat because it was such an interesting premise that I had never read before. I was really sitting here stressed out. Then, the letters and the reptiles and the bike rides and Megan and everything about their story was just so angsty yet perfect.
I think the thing I love about Riley Nash books the most is the way they show domestic love. Like, not always the big, huge, grand gestures (though those do exist and are very swoon-worthy) but the smaller, silent ones like Jax setting up their date outdoors for the agoraphobia or Ollie's wallpaper or any number of things. It feels like an attainable kind of intimacy with someone while still maintaining that overwhelming, head-in-the-clouds, epic feeling of love. I don't know if that makes sense (probably doesn't) but it's the best way I can describe it.
I love [a:Riley Nash|21972383|Riley Nash|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1680748775p2/21972383.jpg] books with my whole heart.
Riley Nash (Water, Air, Earth, Fire, #3)
“You’re my reason.”
Ollie fell in love with Jax in the midst of a horrible tragedy, where he wasn't sure if he was even going to make it out alive. But now, it's been years and they both did make it out alive, only Jax has hidden demons of his own chasing after him.
Tropes:
– Opposites attract
– Second chance
– Hurt/comfort
– Single dad
– Found family
Riley Nash can do no wrong. This book was so good. I enjoyed every second of Ollie and Jax, the sweetest, most wholesome yet unconventional pairing ever. They are so pure and don't seem like they fit but they do in the best way. Part I of this story had me so intrigued and on the edge of my seat because it was such an interesting premise that I had never read before. I was really sitting here stressed out. Then, the letters and the reptiles and the bike rides and Megan and everything about their story was just so angsty yet perfect.
Spoiler
I will say, when they didn't recognize one another once they had met for the second time I wanted to yell at them but watching them fall in love again was just too pure to not love as its own entity as well. I felt the same when Jax wouldn't reply to the letters and when they had the second two-year separation because Jax was on the run, but the way they reunited made up for that.I think the thing I love about Riley Nash books the most is the way they show domestic love. Like, not always the big, huge, grand gestures (though those do exist and are very swoon-worthy) but the smaller, silent ones like Jax setting up their date outdoors for the agoraphobia or Ollie's wallpaper or any number of things. It feels like an attainable kind of intimacy with someone while still maintaining that overwhelming, head-in-the-clouds, epic feeling of love. I don't know if that makes sense (probably doesn't) but it's the best way I can describe it.
I love [a:Riley Nash|21972383|Riley Nash|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1680748775p2/21972383.jpg] books with my whole heart.
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes