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tink535's review
4.0
Another great book by MJ. I'll definitely be picking up the rest in this series :)
saphirablue's review
2.0
Nice little read for a hot summer day.
I liked the characters and the story in general, even though I don't quite understand how Lex could fall so quickly for Tallis, but my major pet peeve was in this book - switching POVs within a paragraph. *grrrr* Granted, it didn't happen all the time but it did, especially in the beginning of the book, and it jarred me out of the story. :/
I liked the characters and the story in general, even though I don't quite understand how Lex could fall so quickly for Tallis, but my major pet peeve was in this book - switching POVs within a paragraph. *grrrr* Granted, it didn't happen all the time but it did, especially in the beginning of the book, and it jarred me out of the story. :/
jkh107's review
4.0
Tallis Carrington, former town bully and rich boy, whose family went down in disgrace, returns home after becoming destitute. He finds new friends and a new love, before his past returns to threaten them all...
I like to read about characters who redeem their pasts, especially when it is a struggle.
I like to read about characters who redeem their pasts, especially when it is a struggle.
anitalouise's review
4.0
Lovely enemies to lovers read. Grabbed me from the beginning with the slow development of Tally and Lex' relationship. I know many have been saddened by Tally's actions and while reprehensible, I totally understood how it happened. What happens to us in high school or our childhood impacts us way into adulthood and we do stupid things. Tally's life had been shit and, adulthood for him, up until when he moved back, was crappy so it made sense for him to think of what life was like for him in high school. I applaud the author for going in this direction. I think it was realistic and made sense given our MCs and the people they grew up with. And our MCs! Loved Tally and Lex. Sweet, sexy guys. Great secondary characters. Drew was a jerk and not sure I want to read his book but may cave just to re-visit Lex and Tally.
tora's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the first 40% of this book and then it rapidly became more and more frustrating. The introduction of the characters and the romance was sweet and engaging but as soon as they started sleeping together, it turned into melodrama.
The narrators repeatedly contradicted themselves and spent most of the book unsure of their own motivations which led to a very frustrated me yelling 'well stop being so stupid, then!' repeatedly at the page. The antagonists are cliches and the female characters are disappointingly written.
Having said that, the only characters who I really cared about (two very minor characters who aren't introduced until late in the book) apparently have their own spin-off book now, so I'm going to give that a go. Here's hoping it's less uneven.
The narrators repeatedly contradicted themselves and spent most of the book unsure of their own motivations which led to a very frustrated me yelling 'well stop being so stupid, then!' repeatedly at the page. The antagonists are cliches and the female characters are disappointingly written.
Having said that, the only characters who I really cared about (two very minor characters who aren't introduced until late in the book) apparently have their own spin-off book now, so I'm going to give that a go. Here's hoping it's less uneven.
lauraadriana78's review
4.0
MJ O'Shea is the Queen of Sweetness in the Gay Boys In Love World...These boys were ADORABLE, sweet, cute and just GAH! super frustrating at times, but I rolled with it, I loved them so...
Tallis Carrington was the Big Man On Campus in Rock Bay, Washington during his High School days, his dad was the Major of his town and he pretty much ruled the school. He was also a bully and with his posse of cronies he would terrorize the kids that couldn't stand up for themselves, kids like Lex Barry. Who still bore the emotional scars (even if they were mostly faded) of what Tallis put him through.
So, imagine Lex's surprise when 10 years later a down on his luck and almost desperate looking Tallis Carrington comes begging for a job as a barrista in Lex's coffee shop. Lex against his better judgement hires the man and to his amazement discovers that the man that came back to Rock Bay after leaving for Seattle in shame from family scandal was not only a very different man...He was a gay man (a beautiful one at that) that kept looking at Lex with an interest that went far and beyond professional.
Lex and Tallis begin to fall for each other and little by little heal each other from the the past. The past that they had in common and all also the hardships that beat out the arrogance from Tallis when at the age of 17 he had to make it on his own.
These men were so sweet with each other and so loving it was hard for me to begrudge much. I some times was puzzled by Tallis and his family history, but he was so earnest and so in love with Lex and the home he make with him that I kinda just let go. Even when Tallis let his insecurities and chilsish need to relive a bit of the good old days made me want to choke him, I still wanted more for them.
This is a sweet love story, with nice characters you want a happy ending for, the group of friends held up too, they were interesting and made the story richer.
The kind of Romance I love to read.
Tallis Carrington was the Big Man On Campus in Rock Bay, Washington during his High School days, his dad was the Major of his town and he pretty much ruled the school. He was also a bully and with his posse of cronies he would terrorize the kids that couldn't stand up for themselves, kids like Lex Barry. Who still bore the emotional scars (even if they were mostly faded) of what Tallis put him through.
So, imagine Lex's surprise when 10 years later a down on his luck and almost desperate looking Tallis Carrington comes begging for a job as a barrista in Lex's coffee shop. Lex against his better judgement hires the man and to his amazement discovers that the man that came back to Rock Bay after leaving for Seattle in shame from family scandal was not only a very different man...He was a gay man (a beautiful one at that) that kept looking at Lex with an interest that went far and beyond professional.
Lex and Tallis begin to fall for each other and little by little heal each other from the the past. The past that they had in common and all also the hardships that beat out the arrogance from Tallis when at the age of 17 he had to make it on his own.
These men were so sweet with each other and so loving it was hard for me to begrudge much. I some times was puzzled by Tallis and his family history, but he was so earnest and so in love with Lex and the home he make with him that I kinda just let go. Even when Tallis let his insecurities and chilsish need to relive a bit of the good old days made me want to choke him, I still wanted more for them.
This is a sweet love story, with nice characters you want a happy ending for, the group of friends held up too, they were interesting and made the story richer.
The kind of Romance I love to read.
kaindi's review
3.0
A nice fast read that I mostly enjoyed. I just really missed the progression of the two main characters from "enemies" (for a lack of a better word) to boyfriends. Everything just moved very fast and left no time to really get emotionally invested.
One of the supporting characters (Drew)) was actually a lot more interesting than the main pairing and I wanted to read more about him.
One of the supporting characters (Drew)) was actually a lot more interesting than the main pairing and I wanted to read more about him.
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