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lollymac's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Car accident
tinkcourtney's review
5.0
All the feels
I read Charles first and had to go back to find out more about Kier and Mitch. This author is amazing at writing multifaceted characters that have such incredible depth. I was so drawn in that I could barely put the book down. Even though the book’s entirely from Kier’s perspective, Mitch is open enough that I felt like I got to know him too. I’m definitely going to continue reading Con’s books… what a treasure I’ve been missing!
I read Charles first and had to go back to find out more about Kier and Mitch. This author is amazing at writing multifaceted characters that have such incredible depth. I was so drawn in that I could barely put the book down. Even though the book’s entirely from Kier’s perspective, Mitch is open enough that I felt like I got to know him too. I’m definitely going to continue reading Con’s books… what a treasure I’ve been missing!
k_a_r_e_n_b's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The combination of Con Riley’s storytelling and Cornell Collins narration always manages to put me in a very good place. The characters, locations and plot are all top notch. I love stories that take place in Cornwall and love found family and this book has both. This will definitely be on the reread list.
aboulle's review
5.0
I liked this book but I didn't love it. Mitch is a sweetheart of a guy and almost too nice while Keir has so much baggage to work through. I loved Charles the supporting character he was wonderful. A solid read that I would recommend that is heavy on healing and feelings and lower on heat.
ofbooksandromance's review
4.0
4 “My taste can’t be that bad, can it?” [...] “I chose you, didn’t I?” stars
None of that felt temporary. Not any of the promises he’d heard Mitch make, nor the gut feeling Keir had that he’d keep every last one of them.
This one will be really short, i’m crying too much to type. Damn this book made me feel so many things and the ending was so fufilling it just made me cry, so much.
Brief summary:Kier’s fiance didn’t show up at their wedding almost a year ago and he’s still grieving. He has to do a job and while doing it he meets Mitch. They starts a friends with benefits agreement but fall in love instead.
I loved most things about this book. I loved how guarded Kier was at first and how he wasn’t sure if he watched Mitch. I loved how Mitch kept proving to Kier that he was the right guy for him. I loved how Kier’s grief was shown and he dealt with it, all of it was portrayed so well and I loved how his panic attacks were portrayed too. I also loved how we got to see him live through his grief. It was so rewarding when we got to see him finally be happy again. His transformation was just the best. Mitch was so damn good, he wasso understanding, so patient and he was always there for Keir, he made sure that Kier was always right. I loved how the book that it was important for Kier to get over his grief before he got with Mitch. I also loved how Kier finding someone new didn’t fix all of his grief and that he actually had to deal with it. I loved how their love and chemistry was described, it was pooring out of the pages and it was just so good. Also the sex scenes were really fucking hot and I loved them, they fit so well within the story. I also really loved the story progression, it flowed really well and everything made sense, I loved the ending so much, so much that i’m still crying about it. It was just a journey to get to that ending, but such a rewarding journey.
The only reason why this is four stars is because I wanted them to communicate better, it got so bad that they just never talked to each other and fixed all of their problems with big romantic gestures when they could just have been talked and they wouldn’t have had any problems in the first place.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
None of that felt temporary. Not any of the promises he’d heard Mitch make, nor the gut feeling Keir had that he’d keep every last one of them.
This one will be really short, i’m crying too much to type. Damn this book made me feel so many things and the ending was so fufilling it just made me cry, so much.
Brief summary:Kier’s fiance didn’t show up at their wedding almost a year ago and he’s still grieving. He has to do a job and while doing it he meets Mitch. They starts a friends with benefits agreement but fall in love instead.
I loved most things about this book. I loved how guarded Kier was at first and how he wasn’t sure if he watched Mitch. I loved how Mitch kept proving to Kier that he was the right guy for him. I loved how Kier’s grief was shown and he dealt with it, all of it was portrayed so well and I loved how his panic attacks were portrayed too. I also loved how we got to see him live through his grief. It was so rewarding when we got to see him finally be happy again. His transformation was just the best. Mitch was so damn good, he wasso understanding, so patient and he was always there for Keir, he made sure that Kier was always right. I loved how the book that it was important for Kier to get over his grief before he got with Mitch. I also loved how Kier finding someone new didn’t fix all of his grief and that he actually had to deal with it. I loved how their love and chemistry was described, it was pooring out of the pages and it was just so good. Also the sex scenes were really fucking hot and I loved them, they fit so well within the story. I also really loved the story progression, it flowed really well and everything made sense, I loved the ending so much, so much that i’m still crying about it. It was just a journey to get to that ending, but such a rewarding journey.
The only reason why this is four stars is because I wanted them to communicate better, it got so bad that they just never talked to each other and fixed all of their problems with big romantic gestures when they could just have been talked and they wouldn’t have had any problems in the first place.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
READ: Jun 2023
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance, Keir is set with the task of finding a home for Tom’s brother Justin and his full-time caretaker Mitch. To Keir, though, Mitch sets off so many alarm bells that he can’t help but be suspicious of the man’s motives, convincing himself that his client is in danger of being taken advantage of. Being forced to spend time with Mitch (who knows what Justin needs in a home more than anybody else would) might be the only way for Keir to see past the fences protecting his jilted heart to who Mitch truly is.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 5 / 5⭐
Ignoring the story for a moment, I want to say that in all of Riley’s books that I’ve read up until now, Mitch has been the most interesting recurring character to me. I’ve read the books from the His series and the Learning to love series interspersed with one another and without regard to reading order, meaning the first exposure I had to Mitch was in Sol, then later on in His Compass (technically, first was in Charles, but his role was so minor that I didn’t even assign him head space; I didn’t even realize Keir was Charles’ bestie until the latter’s first appearance in this book, missing that connection through my read of His Compass, too). I remember multiple occasions where I strongly hoped Mitch would get a book of his own, then when I finally read the synopsis of His Haven, I think I actually rejoiced.
Keir was stood up at the altar by his ex who ran off into the sunset with another trusted person in Keir’s life, and a year later, the pain and heartbreak is just beginning to ease up on him. When Mitch bursts on the scene, oozing confidence, sex appeal, and unflinching interest in Keir, his defenses go back into overdrive to protect himself from yet another manipulative liar just out to get the most from the world. Somehow, he seems to be the only person not taken in by Mitch’s act of kindness, caring, and compassion. Spending time in Mitch’s proximity, however, begins to soften Keir’s edges as he starts to see that his assessment might have been unfair and misguided.
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4.75 / 5⭐
Out of all of Riley’s romances that I’ve read so far, this one scores second-best out of them all, snugly fitting right underneath Charles. Riley is a damn natural, and I absolutely can’t get enough. I typically balk against series depending so strongly on cameos of pairings from other books (especially where MM books are concerned because Oops! All Gay can easily turn a world unrealistic for me). The Cornwall collection appears to be the one case where I’m happy to make an exception.
When it comes to world building, I tend to find authors excel either through strong setting or through strong characters. Riley absolutely kills it on both fronts. My love for the stretch of Cornwall from Porthperrin to Glynn Harber has grown such that I want to find my way to live in this fictitious world. More than that, I grow to absolutely adore almost every single character introduced. There have been some love interests where they’ve more or less sat back and supported our main characters through their arcs and have been less memorable as a result of that, but in the case of this book, Mitch felt much more like a key player than an audience member to Keir’s journey.
When it comes to world building, I tend to find authors excel either through strong setting or through strong characters. Riley absolutely kills it on both fronts. My love for the stretch of Cornwall from Porthperrin to Glynn Harber has grown such that I want to find my way to live in this fictitious world. More than that, I grow to absolutely adore almost every single character introduced. There have been some love interests where they’ve more or less sat back and supported our main characters through their arcs and have been less memorable as a result of that, but in the case of this book, Mitch felt much more like a key player than an audience member to Keir’s journey.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 5 / 5⭐
Look, it’s not impossible that my adoration for Mitch’s character may have coloured my rating this time around. He is a magnificent specimen, he knows it, he deserves all the happiness in the world, and Keir somehow managed to measure up to my expectations for him. I think this book is a strong ending for the His series, and I also think you can read it as a standalone, although it would be much better read after His Compass to understand Tom and Justin’s situation, and to get a far better foundational appreciation for Mitch and what he does at Haven.
I also want to note that the very moment I finished this book, I borrowed Charles from the library and immediately re-read it. Charles is an absolute gem of a character, too, and I can't recommend his book enough - it's my only other 5-star Riley book.
I also want to note that the very moment I finished this book, I borrowed Charles from the library and immediately re-read it. Charles is an absolute gem of a character, too, and I can't recommend his book enough - it's my only other 5-star Riley book.
This book has representation for gays. The love interest is a plus-sized man without supermodel good looks. A couple of characters are portrayed with cognitive disabilities of varying severity. There is not much else in the way of diversity.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Chronic illness, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
bee_thebibliophile's review
4.0
Keir is suspicious of Mitch...he thinks his nice guy persona is an act and he’s trying to pull one over on his client, Nick, who wants to buy him a house. When the two of them have to work together to find the perfect house for Mitch and Justin, they’re forced to spend time together and really get to know one another.
Keir is trying to recover from being left at the altar almost a year ago, but he hasn’t dealt with any of his anxiety about what happened, he just keeps running away or burying himself in work. Mitch sees him running, even seeing him at his lowest point, and finally gets him to take a deep breath (literally) and start to talk through what’s going on in his brain. Mitch’s job helps him to bring Keir out of his shell and encourages him to start living again by showing him Haven. What starts out as a friends with benefits relationship quickly becomes more once they both finally get over their hang ups about long-term relationships.
Keir and Mitch together shouldn’t work, but it 100% does. I really love these two together. Mitch knows exactly how to read Keir and anticipate what he needs to support him or force him to face his feelings and Keir make Mitch feel again and be open to a relationship with someone after all the time he’s spent only getting involved in one-night arrangements. They both bring something to the relationship that the other needs and seeing them work together to bring out the best in each other and help them to move on from their traumas was perfect.
One of my biggest pet peeves with romance novels is when the two main characters don’t communicate with each other. Keir and Mitch were so great at it when they were together or when it wasn’t about anything important, but once it got to being more serious, they clammed up and had to resort to grand gestures to fix things that could have been fixed with a simple conversation.
Charles is a joy in this book and now I feel like I need to go back and re-read his book now that I know more about him - he’s the perfect best friend for Keir and I love how he and Mitch are so alike. I really enjoyed this last book in the His series - we got an HEA for Keir and Mitch and also got to see Jude and Rob and Tom and Nick all happy together and all part of each other’s lives in Cornwall - what more could I ask for?!
Keir is trying to recover from being left at the altar almost a year ago, but he hasn’t dealt with any of his anxiety about what happened, he just keeps running away or burying himself in work. Mitch sees him running, even seeing him at his lowest point, and finally gets him to take a deep breath (literally) and start to talk through what’s going on in his brain. Mitch’s job helps him to bring Keir out of his shell and encourages him to start living again by showing him Haven. What starts out as a friends with benefits relationship quickly becomes more once they both finally get over their hang ups about long-term relationships.
Keir and Mitch together shouldn’t work, but it 100% does. I really love these two together. Mitch knows exactly how to read Keir and anticipate what he needs to support him or force him to face his feelings and Keir make Mitch feel again and be open to a relationship with someone after all the time he’s spent only getting involved in one-night arrangements. They both bring something to the relationship that the other needs and seeing them work together to bring out the best in each other and help them to move on from their traumas was perfect.
One of my biggest pet peeves with romance novels is when the two main characters don’t communicate with each other. Keir and Mitch were so great at it when they were together or when it wasn’t about anything important, but once it got to being more serious, they clammed up and had to resort to grand gestures to fix things that could have been fixed with a simple conversation.
Charles is a joy in this book and now I feel like I need to go back and re-read his book now that I know more about him - he’s the perfect best friend for Keir and I love how he and Mitch are so alike. I really enjoyed this last book in the His series - we got an HEA for Keir and Mitch and also got to see Jude and Rob and Tom and Nick all happy together and all part of each other’s lives in Cornwall - what more could I ask for?!
roguesmith's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest review.
His Haven is the 3rd in a series, but the first for me. I enjoyed it as a standalone but I have to admit to being curious about Tom and Nick in particular, and I liked this one so I may go back and read Tom and Nick's story.
What I liked: Keir, I liked him very much. He went through something horrible that almost broke him, and I understood that. Throwing yourself into work as a distraction is something a lot of us do, I think. Also liked Mitch, his relationship with Justin and the banter with Keir. He's Keir's polar opposite and that's a great thing, I loved how empathetic he was and how good he was at dealing with Keir (who admittedly is quite highly strung at the start). Being a nurse is the perfect profession for someone like Mitch.
Also really liked Charles - he was such fun and I loved his relationship and banter with Keir. I think there's a lot more to Charles than we saw and I will definitely look out for his book.
I enjoyed the whole story, it's a high 4.5 stars. I liked the setting - even though I've never been to Cornwall I could imagine the whole village and see it in my minds eye. It also boasts two of the most heart warming romantic scenes involving Mitch and Keir which I won't spoil, because honestly they're swoon-worthy.
Can't wait for Charles next.
His Haven is the 3rd in a series, but the first for me. I enjoyed it as a standalone but I have to admit to being curious about Tom and Nick in particular, and I liked this one so I may go back and read Tom and Nick's story.
What I liked: Keir, I liked him very much. He went through something horrible that almost broke him, and I understood that. Throwing yourself into work as a distraction is something a lot of us do, I think. Also liked Mitch, his relationship with Justin and the banter with Keir. He's Keir's polar opposite and that's a great thing, I loved how empathetic he was and how good he was at dealing with Keir (who admittedly is quite highly strung at the start). Being a nurse is the perfect profession for someone like Mitch.
Also really liked Charles - he was such fun and I loved his relationship and banter with Keir. I think there's a lot more to Charles than we saw and I will definitely look out for his book.
I enjoyed the whole story, it's a high 4.5 stars. I liked the setting - even though I've never been to Cornwall I could imagine the whole village and see it in my minds eye. It also boasts two of the most heart warming romantic scenes involving Mitch and Keir which I won't spoil, because honestly they're swoon-worthy.
Can't wait for Charles next.