This was really cute. There wasn’t enough Roland and Sairis time at the end of the trilogy (though it is an HEA) so I’m glad to have this for just the right amount of time with Sairis and Roland in (mostly) “happy couple” land.

This book should have ended right about 85% because the actual ending we’re given is awful and frustrating.

Up until that point, this wasn’t bad. Probably would have been a solid three star read that I didn’t have much to say about and I might have given it an extra star (or at least half a star) for great narration.

And then, the first plot line kind of comes to a resolution, I forget exactly when. Then the second plot line mostly resolves right about 84-85%. There’s some more resolution about things. All in all, I would have been okay with this book had it ended right about 88%. It would have been about the ending I had expected from a 3-star read.

I’M PISSED OFF BECAUSE DRAMA HAPPENS with characters we’re not particularly invested in (idk maybe I should have been) and someone else finally deals with a problem in the absolute worst way possible and somehow this is all Kian’s fault as though other people responsible here have no agency of their own. And Kian just takes it and gets a very weak-ass, “Okay, I’m sorry but you understand why I was upset right?” type apology from one relevant party and virtually no grovel or apology from Hudson at all. Also, how the reconciliation happens just goes to prove that no one here has grown or learned anything and we’re all just due for Hudson and Kian to break up at the end because they’re still essentially where they were the first time they broke up.

Ugh. Excuse me while I sink into Book Lovers (by Emily Henry) to cleanse my palate.

Okay so Kirt Graves just works for me on massive levels, so maybe I’m a little biased when I say this, but the narration was great. I was so engrossed in the story, I got to chapter 20 and was SHOCKED to find out the story was almost over. More on that in a second. My point being that I was so into this, I forgot to check how far along in the book I was.

I loved so many things about this. The characters are great. I loved Stone and August, both as separate distinct characters and together as a couple. Theres great side characters, as well. I enjoyed Stone’s relationship with his brothers, and August’s friendship with his assistant. The sex positivity was great to read - and Stone providing nonsexual services made my little ace heart leap for joy. I found the depiction of anxiety really well done (which I say as someone with an anxiety disorder). I thought disability was portrayed very well here, but I don’t have a disability so take that for what you will.

The only real strikes against it this has is that 1. It’s a little overly cheesy at times. Kirt Graves saves it for me. And 2. As I mentioned before, the ending is a little sudden. But when I realized it was ending, I went back and relistened to the last two chapters and in the context of “this book is ending”, it makes more sense as an ending. It’s just a quieter ending with very low drama, low stakes and - as strange as this is so say about this book - a more realistic, true to life ending of this story. And I appreciate that about this book.

So, in it’s a cute, sweet, low drama story with light kink. Listen to the audiobook if you can.

So, after reading Wilsner’s first book, I was expecting this to be something more along those lines - very slow burn, low steam, FTB. Holy light of Lathander, was I ever wrong. This starts off with a sex scene, and from there, the chemistry between Cassie and Erin is almost tangible. On top of that, Cassie and Erin’s friendship has a real depth to it. Between all their dates and conversations and everything they do for each other, it’s really clear that Cassie and Erin aren’t just super compatible sexually, but also in a calm, relaxed life partner sort of way.

On top of that, I love the way this book was plotted and the pacing. By the last 25%, you better believe I was gripping my phone so hard, I was in danger of cracking the screen. It got tense and I was honestly nervous about how it would all resolve. I do like how it the ended. I can’t say too much about it because it’s all *spoilers* but it all came together well. I do think the ending is the weakest link in the chain, but only in comparison to how strong the rest of the book is and none of that is nearly enough for me to knock off so much as half a star.

I have no idea what to expect now of Wilsner, but holy crackers, Batman, I am super in on whatever Wilsner writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

They got together at 45%, not really but enough where I don’t have any more desire to continue with the book.