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jamieb_19's Reviews (277)
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“You’ve always been too good for me,” he mutters.
“Eh, I’m just a messy person falling for an equally messy person.”
Five years ago, Rowan and Circus had a falling out (a pretty massive one), after which Rowan promptly left town. Now he's back and hoping to get Circus to forgive him. But Circus isn't going to make it easy on him. He's also not going to let himself fall for Rowan again because it's clear that Rowan is still very much hiding who he really is. It's just too bad his heart didn't get the memo.
Oof, this one was fairly angsty! I gasped when I learned what happened between Rowan and Circus 5 years ago. I wasn't sure how you'd come back from something like that. But once you understand all Rowan's been dealing with his whole life, I could see why Circus would be willing to forgive him. Any hatred Circus had toward him would pale in comparison to the level of self-loathing Rowan had, anyway.
While I don't condone what Rowan did when they were in high school, my heart broke for him now. The internalized homophobia and the awful things he had to grow up listening to his family say about queer people would be hard for anyone to deal with. My heart broke for Circus, too; he was so lonely and wanted more than anything a family to love. I enjoyed seeing them find their way back to each other and seeing Rowan slowly accept himself and finally be brave enough to pursue something with the one guy he's always wanted.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I’ll be the best wingman Joey has ever had. Mark my words. By the time I’m through with him, he’ll be head over heels in love.
My original plan was to read the Elite 8 series before I read this book so I could meet Brad before reading his book. But after seeing so many friends reading and raving about it, I threw that plan out the window and dove in. I’m so glad I didn’t wait because I adored this book! It was just the perfect, lighthearted rom-com. There was virtually no angst and I laughed and swooned so much while reading it. It was silly and sexy and left me with happy tears and a huge smile on my face by the time I was done.
“I don’t have a perfect answer,” he says. “All I know is I understand cum gutters now because of you, and I’m pretty sure I’d like to test yours out if you’d let me.”
Brad!!! My beloved. We must protect this man at all costs. I completely see why everyone fell in love with him and wanted him to star in his own book. He was the sweetest, most big-hearted, genuine character I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about. He may have been a himbo but he was also smart, thoughtful, driven, and fearless. Honestly, Joey never stood a chance against him. He just has the energy that draws people in and he’s so endearing that once you’re in his orbit, you never want to leave it.
The things that went through Brad’s head and the things that came out of his mouth cracked me up. The amount of double entendres in this book is seriously impressive and highly entertaining! I’m not sure what I enjoyed more, Brad saying all these things and having no idea how he came across or Brad’s inner dialogue when he finally started to hear it. The guy was a hoot and I highlighted so many things.
He’s everything I didn’t know I wanted, never thought I’d get, and can’t bear to let go of.
Joey was the perfect match for him. He was down bad for Brad from the get-go and was even willing to just be friends once he found out Brad was straight if it meant keeping him in his life. Fortunately for Joey, Brad undergoes the sweetest and funniest bi-awakening. I loved Brad discovering his attraction to Joey and Joey’s reaction when he learned that more than friends was an option for them. These two had the best chemistry. They were so sweet and open; I loved how well they understood each other and only wanted the best for one another. This book was plenty spicy with Brad learning the ropes of being with a man, but the spicy scenes even managed to be funny and endearing, staying true to these characters.
He’s the first. The first person I’ve fallen in love with.
If I’m lucky, he’ll be my last.
Honestly, I loved every single thing about this book. Joey and Brad will always hold a special place in my heart. I can see myself returning to their book whenever I need a dose of pure happiness. This book is 100% a feel-good, fluffy read and I could ramble about it forever. But rather than subjecting you to that, I’ll just say - if you need some good vibes, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book. Brad and Joey will have you covered!
I guess in the end, I really crushed this whole wingman thing, didn’t I? I found Joey his guy. The one who will love him for all he is and all he will be.
And, as it turns out, I found my person, too.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trying to make my way through the few Saxon James books I haven’t read yet so I decided to finally read this series. Tanner and Roo were very sweet together. I loved their friendship and how affectionate and open they were with each other. Which of course led to the entire town assuming they were dating, even back when there were in high school. I love when the people in the relationship are the last to know!
Tanner’s sexual awakening was fun to read. Roo knew he was in love with Tanner and wanted to be with him and Tanner loved Roo but didn’t realize the feelings were actually more than friendly. I’m glad he finally figured it out and it wasn’t a big issue for him.
Tanner and Roo were meant to be and I’m glad they finally got on the same page!
Tanner’s sexual awakening was fun to read. Roo knew he was in love with Tanner and wanted to be with him and Tanner loved Roo but didn’t realize the feelings were actually more than friendly. I’m glad he finally figured it out and it wasn’t a big issue for him.
Tanner and Roo were meant to be and I’m glad they finally got on the same page!
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A sexy little romp and a nice intro to the upcoming Comebacks series!
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I love Archie and Dash! I’m so glad Saxon gave us their story. This may only be a novella but it was packed with so much goodness. Archie and Dash were so cute together and this book was plenty spicy! I loved all the early 2000s references, especially since that was the time I was also in college. There was a bit of angst before we get to the sweetest ending. This was the perfect addition to the Frat Wars series!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ethan is everything that I’ve avoided for years. He’s everything that’s dangerous and risky and terrifying with his perfectly muscled shoulders and eyes as green as deep wood ferns.
Ethan had been in love once when he was a teenager but after things didn’t work out, he’s spent the years since chasing that feeling. But with every failed attempt he’s more and more convinced that there’s something broken inside him. Despite all that, he still harbors a kernel of hope that one day he’ll find love again.
Blue, on the other hand, has sworn off love and relationships completely after having had his heart broken time and again. Occasional hookups suit him just fine. But then he sees a cute guy in the coffee shop and finds himself looking for any excuse to spend time with him. The more they get to know each other, the more Blue begins to reconsider his stance on love and he’s just got to hope that this time is different than all the other times that left him hurt and alone.
He makes me want to be happy. Not just existing, but deeply and truly happy.
This book got off to a bit of a slow start. Ethan and Blue didn’t even speak to one another until around the 25% mark. But once they did, things picked up for me. I enjoyed seeing their friendship form. They were so sweet together and Blue was so good to Ethan. The middle part of the book was just lovely as these two grew closer and fell in love. It was understandably a slow burn being that Ethan was demisexual. I enjoyed that part of his journey too. The poor guy spent so many years convinced that something was broken inside him but then Blue came in and helped him understand his sexuality and realize that the way he experienced attraction was completely normal.
The book gets quite angsty toward the end. I figured this would happen, given the threads that were carried over from the first book, but I was not expecting it to go over quite how it did. I won’t spoil anything but there was a different aspect that I wished had gotten more focus during this period. Sorry for being vague, but I think you can guess what I mean once you’ve read it. To that end - even though this is about a new couple, you’re going to want to read Beneath the Indigo Sky before you read this since there are overarching storylines that are best appreciated if you read them in order. I almost wish there had been a little more overlap (or maybe having it happen sooner so certain things could have been explored more).
Anyway, I’m curious to see where the story goes next in the last book of the series!
All the years I’ve spent searching and clinging to slowly fading hope have fallen away, and this is what I have been looking for all of my life.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“One day you’ll kiss me in the middle of the street.”
My insides jolt. I want that. More than anything. “Promise?” I ask.
He smiles. “Not just a promise.” He lifts our joined hands. “Pinkie promise.”
Aww Lake and Ryker! As readers, it's not very often that we are gifted with a full-length second novel about characters that we know and love. But Briar Prescott gave us that with this novel and it was delightful. Lake and Ryker have been together for 2 years now and are in NYC, living together and so in love. Lake is in med school and Ryker's dreams of playing in the NHL have been realized. Life is good, except for the fact that their relationship is still largely a secret. But as long as they have each other, they can get through anything life throws at them.
It’s me and him.
Us against the world.
I can do it all when he’s mine and I’m his.
It’s impossibly sappy to feel this way.
I do anyway.
As promised, this book was all about the vibes. There was very little angst and it was mostly just a nice little slice of their life. I loved how rock-solid their relationship was, I never had a single doubt that they'd make it through whatever life threw at them. Time and Ryker had helped to smooth some of Lake's edges but I liked that he didn't lose them completely (once again, the banter in this book was impeccable). He was still a little distrustful and closed off with other people but he was open and completely vulnerable with Ryker. Their bond was truly special.
I found you. Out of the billions of people in the world, I found you, and you found me. How stupidly lucky did we get?
I read this book over Valentine's Day and it was the perfect book for the occasion because these two were so adorably, disgustingly in love - I couldn't get enough! Overall the book felt like a wonderful extended epilogue for this couple. This book plus the bonus scene available from Briar's newsletter was the perfect way to cap off Lake and Ryker's love story. I'm going to miss these guys!
Here we are, him and me. Lake and Ryker. Ryker and Lake. And we’ll be fine no matter what happens. The knowledge is a solid ground under our feet. The inescapable gravity of us.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I bought this audiobook on a whim during the last big Audible sale because Cooper North was one of the narrators. I'd never read anything from this author before and I hadn't read any other books in this series so I had no idea what to expect but oh boy did I love this book! First off, the narration was fantastic. Cooper North is one of my favs. This was the first time listening to anything Declan Winters did and I loved his narration too. Together, they brought Devin and Jarrod to life so perfectly.
I loved the story too. Devin and Jarrod were friends from high school who hadn't seen each other in many years but ended up reuniting at the Black Diamond resort where they both escaped to for a break from their everyday lives. Devin is a prominent adult film star and Jarrod is a star NHL goalie, they don't have much in common but they struck up such an easy friendship from that first chance encounter. Devin always had a crush on Jarrod, and the crush comes back in full force the more time they spend together. He's always figured his crush was unrequited so he's quite surprised then it seems Jarrod may be into him too. But could they ever make a relationship work once they're out of the seclusion Black Diamond offers?
The slow burn was so good. Their friendship was the sweetest all while this delicious sexual tension was building. I also thought Jarrod's bi-panic was portrayed well. These feelings were all so new to him and he was naturally very confused by it all. Devin was so great with him though, helping him through it all. Once they finally made that leap, things got very hot! I loved all the "teach me" moments.
While most of the book was sweet and spicy, there were pockets of angst throughout. Mainly surrounding their careers and if it would be feasible for them to ever be able to have a relationship. I won't get into the details but everything was handled so realistically.
These guys didn't have an easy road. They both wanted to be together so badly (the pining in the second part of the book was so good!) but they had a lot to work out before that could happen. But some things are just meant to be and Jarrod and Devin were meant to be. I loved seeing them find their way back together and fight for their HEA!
I loved the story too. Devin and Jarrod were friends from high school who hadn't seen each other in many years but ended up reuniting at the Black Diamond resort where they both escaped to for a break from their everyday lives. Devin is a prominent adult film star and Jarrod is a star NHL goalie, they don't have much in common but they struck up such an easy friendship from that first chance encounter. Devin always had a crush on Jarrod, and the crush comes back in full force the more time they spend together. He's always figured his crush was unrequited so he's quite surprised then it seems Jarrod may be into him too. But could they ever make a relationship work once they're out of the seclusion Black Diamond offers?
The slow burn was so good. Their friendship was the sweetest all while this delicious sexual tension was building. I also thought Jarrod's bi-panic was portrayed well. These feelings were all so new to him and he was naturally very confused by it all. Devin was so great with him though, helping him through it all. Once they finally made that leap, things got very hot! I loved all the "teach me" moments.
While most of the book was sweet and spicy, there were pockets of angst throughout. Mainly surrounding their careers and if it would be feasible for them to ever be able to have a relationship. I won't get into the details but everything was handled so realistically.
These guys didn't have an easy road. They both wanted to be together so badly (the pining in the second part of the book was so good!) but they had a lot to work out before that could happen. But some things are just meant to be and Jarrod and Devin were meant to be. I loved seeing them find their way back together and fight for their HEA!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
No
I’ve survived a lot of unpleasant situations in my life. Surely, I can endure a plane trip with Toby Webley. After all, it’s only for a short time.
Toby and Harry have been political rivals for many years. Their verbal sparring has become a cornerstone of Parliamentary sessions. After the small plane that was supposed to take them to a climate conference crashes somewhere in the Scandinavian wilderness, they’re forced to work together if they have any hopes of surviving long enough to hopefully be rescued. All they have is each other and the longer they’re together in the wilderness, the more they begin to bond. There’s no way they could have a real relationship if they manage to get rescued - their heads know that but they have a harder time convincing their hearts of that fact.
Is my survival instinct stronger than my hatred of Harry? It’s going to be a difficult test.
I had a great time reading this book! Rivals/enemies to lovers is always fun. Throwing them into a survival situation? Even better! I don’t know if the survival aspect was completely believable but I didn’t care, it kept me on the edge of my seat as they were thrown into perilous situations. Then there was the added suspense of being hunted by the terrorist group. You’re going to be turning those pages to see how they were going to get out of the next obstacle.
Having to put your full trust in another person to ensure your survival is a sure way to become bonded to that person. I loved seeing the animosity and constant barbs between Toby and Harry begin to soften as the days pressed on. And in its place was a newfound respect for each other. The transformation in their relationship felt realistic to me. When you strip away all the other noise, they begin to see under the masks and get to know each other on a deeper level. It was a combination of this new appreciation of each other and a bit of “living in the moment” that led them to leap into a physical relationship. And from that moment, things really took off.
These two were surprisingly sweet together. Once they got past the initial danger, they fell into a nice rhythm, making the most of their days together. It was simple and it was peaceful and unexpectedly romantic. I found myself swooning as these two grew ever closer. I also loved how their return to civilization was handled. Living through an ordeal like that, for as long as they did, changes a person and I thought their struggles to fall back into their previous lives were portrayed well. Not to mention all the pining that tugged at my heartstrings.
What does one say to their nemesis—whom they’re stranded alone with in the wilderness—after having just engaged in a spectacular, out-of-this-world sexual encounter?
All the etiquette training my mother provided me with never covered this particular scenario.
I loved how everything came together. There was a twist that I hadn’t expected that added an interesting wrinkle to their relationship. I was surprised about one thing that wasn’t resolved but it seems that’ll be carried into the upcoming 3rd book (which sounds like it’s going to be good!). Harry and Toby may have been an unlikely pair (I’ll admit I was skeptical when their pairing was first announced) but they totally won me over and I loved seeing them find their way together!
As we kiss properly, I realize I don’t just love him. I love him past what love should be. It shouldn’t be this craving, this complete and utter desire to be consumed by someone and to consume them in return.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Clay Powers and I have a past together. A distant past, but it’s still messy.
Fifteen years ago in the small town of Busker, NY two newcomers to pro hockey became roommates and bonded over food and finding their place in the hockey world. Their friendship blossomed into more and they had a secret love affair for much of the season until it all came to a screeching halt. The two men hadn’t spoken in the years since it all ended until the day legendary goalie, Jethro Hale, landed in Colorado thanks to a shocking trade. Now, Clay Powers, the youngest coach in the league, is forced to not only face the man who broke his heart but he’s got to figure out a way to put their personal history aside and be the coach the team needs him to be. The attraction between them still burns after all this time but even after clearing the air, it’s still an impossible situation for a coach and player to ever be together. Will Clay have to watch the love of his life walk away again or will he finally be able to have everything he ever wanted?
I would have given you everything. I always thought you were worth it.
Hello to my new favorite book in this series! This book was excellent. I was intrigued about Clay and Jethro after learning of Jethro’s trade in I’m Your Guy. A coach and a player? Talk about forbidden. Plus add in the fact that these two have quite the history together and you have the makings of a really great story. Clay and Jethro were so perfect for one another. I’m not always a fan of second chance romances but this one was executed so well. For the first half of the book, every few chapters was a glimpse of their relationship from 15 years ago and it was the perfect way to understand their history and see how things went sideways so we could appreciate how they felt in the present day. I loved seeing these two work their way back to each other amid all the things stacked against them. They were so sweet together.
“You’re the best person who ever walked into my life, and I can’t believe it ever made sense to let you walk out of it.”
My heart went out to Jethro. He had a lot going on in his personal life and was barely keeping all that together when he was unceremoniously traded to a new team in a new state after giving so many years of his life to his old team. I could understand his grumpiness and standoffishness when he got to Colorado. Especially after overhearing Clay’s reaction to the news. But you know what I loved the most? Clay and Jethro were mature adults who communicated so well. Things could have gone horribly wrong after the reunion they had but they actually talked and worked through things. It was so refreshing. Who knows what would have happened to them if they had given it a real go back when they were in their early 20s? Maybe it would have worked but more likely they would have crashed and burned. Even if it was a tough road to get there, I think they needed the added maturity to get to the place they ultimately landed.
There was also prime hockey content in this book. As a hockey fan, I appreciated that. It was exciting and kept me engaged the whole time. I think I was as invested in the outcome of the Cougar’s season as I was with the outcome of Clay and Jethro’s relationship! There was a certain scene later in the book that had me crying like a baby. When I tell you I was invested - I was really invested!
I’ve loved this entire series and I’m not sure if we’ll get more but if this is where it ends, it’s a great note to go out on. I think hockey romance fans will really enjoy this one!
“You gave me a whole fricking PowerPoint about why you can’t fool around with a player. So how do you think this ends?”
I screw my eyes shut and say, “I don’t know, Jetty. I just wish I could be twenty-four again for one night. I want to love you and not think about the consequences.”