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pshelling's review against another edition
2.0
As much as I love hot cops and small town stories, this story had a couple flaws that prevented me from enjoying it as much as I could have. First, Nash's closeted schtick didn't work because it's establishes that Rainbow Cove is pretty gay friendly despite a few bad faith actors, so his desire to not come out rang false. There are times and places where it's unsafe for people to come out, but this was not one of those times. Second, I don't really see why Mason tries so hard to get with Nash. Yes, I'm sure that Nash is hot, but that Mason is old enough to have a career and still willing to put with Nash's baggage really boggled my mind. And third, while Nash's growth arc is learning that coming out of the closet isn't so scary after all, Mason learns
Spoiler
to not put his family ahead of himself which a) the text doesn't show him putting his family ahead of himself b) the whole point of family of going through the family court stuff was to keep Lily which is portrayed as a good thing and c) that's a just a suspicious life lesson to learn.tsuyoi's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lifeand100books's review against another edition
4.0
What a freaking wonderful book. These characters and their story had me from page 1. The minute "Officer Sexy" was introduced I knew I was in for a wild ride. Very excited to continue this series!
wildfaeriecaps's review
5.0
Sweet story that hit my feels harder than I'd like in places. As much as I'm tired of the closeted love interest thing that seems to be in almost every book I pick up, it wasn't too bad in this one. I mean.. it was there and front-and-center, but it made sense in a way it often doesn't. That's probably just me, though. Anyway. Quick, fun, would definitely like to read the rest of the series.
indiekay's review
I unfortunately decided to dnf this about 65% in. While I enjoyed Annabeth Ablert's writing style, the book at this point has just become sex scene after sex scene after sex scene, and I'm just bored. Also don't really feel any connection to Nash as a character, and the only thing that'd keep me reading at this point is the fact that I want to know who's doing the graffiti around town.
bookish_notes's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a classic Annabeth Albert story. The story is cute, the characters are lovable, and it manages to tug at your heartstrings just enough to make you cry. The last book I read by the author was On Point in the Out of Uniform series and that has been my absolute favorite book ever by the author. This book was a slight change of pace since it's in an entirely new setting and new characters, but it held its own.
Mason Hanks has returned to his small, hometown of Rainbow Cove, Oregon with his two best friends to start a tourist-friendly, LGBTQ welcome restaurant and bar. He has a reputation in Rainbow Cove, but not for anything that he's ever done, just his family name to weight him down. The Hanks are notorious for getting into trouble with law enforcement, especially his two older brothers, and it's a reputation that he wants to escape from.
The man who placed his older brother Freddy in prison is Nash Flint, the Police Chief of Rainbow Cove. The last police chief of the town was Nash's father and this is the only life Nash has ever known. He has his job and his fishing, but that makes up his entire life. His sister has moved to Portland, and his mother with her after their father died, leaving Nash all on his own in a childhood home now too empty. Mason may be out, but Nash certainly isn't. And in a small town like Rainbow Cove where everyone gossips about everyone else's business? Nash has no plans on coming out anytime soon. Or ever.
I love Mason and I love Nash. Mason is a vibrant character, who is full of life and wants everything to be sunshine and rainbows...even when his family wants to drag him down. He hasn't had the easiest life. His father hates the law, his lovely mother passed away years earlier, and his two older brothers are nothing but trouble. Jimmy has a daughter, Lilac, who is seven and cute as can be. But Jimmy and Lilac's mother Francine are not a very stable environment for her. Luckily, she has Mason to look after her from time-to-time. Nash is only out to a few of his friends, like gay woodcarving Curtis, and his mother (even though they've never talked about it). Nash has been fine living the life he's been living - working all morning, dropping by the old grill for a burger for lunch, and working until his shift ended to go home to his usual microwavable dinners. He's not living, but he was content with this life, until Mason shows up. Trouble, he calls Mason. Mason is the one that starts to slowly shift Nash's world view and it's so gut-wrenching to read.
Nash is a darling and almost forty to Mason's twenty-seven. The age gap is fantastic, and never once seems creepy that Nash knew Mason when he was younger. There wasn't an attraction then, but there definitely is a spark between them now. This is a bit of a slow burn as we see how Mason and Nash could possibly make their relationship work. Their interactions are cute (and oh so HOT when they want it to be). This book is written in an alternating first-person POV, so we get both character's stories and that works out really well here to know what Mason and Nash think of each other.
So...this story made me hungry (should I clarify that I mean food?). At least in the beginning, there's a lot of descriptors about cooking and the dishes Mason serves at his restaurant, and let's just say don't read this on an empty stomach or you'll be like me and constantly snacking while reading this book. *nom nom nom*
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending of this book. It does seem a little rushed to me. We're never really given a reason why for the vandalism sub-plot and leaves me confused even after reading the book. I am reading an ARC, so maybe this gets edited in the final version. I don't know.
I love the small-town feel of Rainbow Cove. I don't really know how small towns in Oregon are like, but the way this book reads, the characters remind me of the small Southern town I grew up in and sometimes I forget this book is set in Oregon. Mason and Nash live in a touristy location and Mason and his Portland friend Brock are looking to expand their vision in Rainbow Cove. This definitely has potential to be an overarching story for Mason's friends who helped him start Rainbow Tavern (subtle they are not), Adam and Logan. It looks like there's definitely three more books coming in this series, based on the listing at the end of the book, and I cannot wait to read Curtis and Logan's book next!!!
***Thanks to IndiGo Marketing & Design for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
Mason Hanks has returned to his small, hometown of Rainbow Cove, Oregon with his two best friends to start a tourist-friendly, LGBTQ welcome restaurant and bar. He has a reputation in Rainbow Cove, but not for anything that he's ever done, just his family name to weight him down. The Hanks are notorious for getting into trouble with law enforcement, especially his two older brothers, and it's a reputation that he wants to escape from.
The man who placed his older brother Freddy in prison is Nash Flint, the Police Chief of Rainbow Cove. The last police chief of the town was Nash's father and this is the only life Nash has ever known. He has his job and his fishing, but that makes up his entire life. His sister has moved to Portland, and his mother with her after their father died, leaving Nash all on his own in a childhood home now too empty. Mason may be out, but Nash certainly isn't. And in a small town like Rainbow Cove where everyone gossips about everyone else's business? Nash has no plans on coming out anytime soon. Or ever.
I love Mason and I love Nash. Mason is a vibrant character, who is full of life and wants everything to be sunshine and rainbows...even when his family wants to drag him down. He hasn't had the easiest life. His father hates the law, his lovely mother passed away years earlier, and his two older brothers are nothing but trouble. Jimmy has a daughter, Lilac, who is seven and cute as can be. But Jimmy and Lilac's mother Francine are not a very stable environment for her. Luckily, she has Mason to look after her from time-to-time. Nash is only out to a few of his friends, like gay woodcarving Curtis, and his mother (even though they've never talked about it). Nash has been fine living the life he's been living - working all morning, dropping by the old grill for a burger for lunch, and working until his shift ended to go home to his usual microwavable dinners. He's not living, but he was content with this life, until Mason shows up. Trouble, he calls Mason. Mason is the one that starts to slowly shift Nash's world view and it's so gut-wrenching to read.
There were lines I just didn't cross. And unfortunately for me, Mason Hanks was one of those lines. I didn't need a warning from Jimmy to see that. Didn't matter how nice Mason was, how hardworking, how hot - he wasn't for me.
Nash is a darling and almost forty to Mason's twenty-seven. The age gap is fantastic, and never once seems creepy that Nash knew Mason when he was younger. There wasn't an attraction then, but there definitely is a spark between them now. This is a bit of a slow burn as we see how Mason and Nash could possibly make their relationship work. Their interactions are cute (and oh so HOT when they want it to be). This book is written in an alternating first-person POV, so we get both character's stories and that works out really well here to know what Mason and Nash think of each other.
"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered. But you did.
So...this story made me hungry (should I clarify that I mean food?). At least in the beginning, there's a lot of descriptors about cooking and the dishes Mason serves at his restaurant, and let's just say don't read this on an empty stomach or you'll be like me and constantly snacking while reading this book. *nom nom nom*
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending of this book. It does seem a little rushed to me. We're never really given a reason why for the vandalism sub-plot and leaves me confused even after reading the book. I am reading an ARC, so maybe this gets edited in the final version. I don't know.
I love the small-town feel of Rainbow Cove. I don't really know how small towns in Oregon are like, but the way this book reads, the characters remind me of the small Southern town I grew up in and sometimes I forget this book is set in Oregon. Mason and Nash live in a touristy location and Mason and his Portland friend Brock are looking to expand their vision in Rainbow Cove. This definitely has potential to be an overarching story for Mason's friends who helped him start Rainbow Tavern (subtle they are not), Adam and Logan. It looks like there's definitely three more books coming in this series, based on the listing at the end of the book, and I cannot wait to read Curtis and Logan's book next!!!
***Thanks to IndiGo Marketing & Design for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
liza5326's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this one. Nash and Mason were a perfect balance. It got a little frustrating with the having to stay in the closet to uphold his father's image. I can't imagine that burden. I wanted to smack Nash's mother more than once! Then you have Mason's family, that classic other-side-of-the-tracks, good for nothing family in the eyes of the townsfolk. Seems like a doomed relationship, but it worked so well.