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tifftaffany's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Good concept for a book. Liked the plot a lot but will not read again due to poor writing. A lot of the time I was rereading because I couldn’t comprehend the first time who was talking.
notruse's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
avrilpa's review
5.0
the final book in this series, and it did not disappoint. I loved taking this journey with Reef & Ford. Sad to see it end but well worth the trip!
earthtokurt's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
faysmmbooks's review against another edition
5.0
💖 I'm a fan of this author, with her books easily to love. I loved this one for the start of Reef and Ford beginnings. Lots of beautiful scenes included and well written love, danger and ending with a HFN to continue in the next book.
Includes adventures in a new town, two straight dudes stuck in a cabin, hot chemistry, 8 yrs difference, funny banter, danger a few little time jumps but a gorgeous story.
Reef 33 yrs was a pro-snowboarder on a vacation to relax in more snow a mix-up instead of sand. Newly split from a cheating girlfriend he wanted fun.
Stratford aka Ford was a mountain rescue medic loved skiing for his work.
Includes adventures in a new town, two straight dudes stuck in a cabin, hot chemistry, 8 yrs difference, funny banter, danger a few little time jumps but a gorgeous story.
Reef 33 yrs was a pro-snowboarder on a vacation to relax in more snow a mix-up instead of sand. Newly split from a cheating girlfriend he wanted fun.
Stratford aka Ford was a mountain rescue medic loved skiing for his work.
write_of_passages's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A solid "I liked it" read. A free book on kindle that doesn't have much substance to it and requires a healthy suspension of disbelief. This is the type of book I read when my dog is having major surgery in two days and this simply puts my mind somewhere else. Quite short, very easy to read, low stakes, low tension, with characters just likeable enough to want to just let them have a happy ending, as cheesy as it sometimes seems to be for how it comes about.
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Sure.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: I'll admit, it was hard not to giggle at their names: "Reef" and "Ford." I think simply their names lends to the reduced degree of intensity in this story. There really isn't much to them, except that they are likeable and universal in just wanting to be happy.
PLOT: Essentially the two boys meet at a ski resort where they accidentally get caught up in a storm and have to huddle away in a cabin until the storm passes. The first half of the book deals with that and their extremely-insta-lust feelings for each other from two supposedly-always-been-straight guys. It's fine. Again, just a healthy suspension of disbelief because it really isn't meant to be super intense at all. They get out of it, and then have a couple of quick hiccups before deciding they want to be together. The end.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
1:5/low. A beach read (pun intended). No frills, no strings attached, just two boys falling in love nice and quickly.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
100%. I mean, again, I wasn't expecting any sort of fulfillment in this one. It's a HEA and there wasn't much by way of stakes. I finished just as I started: happy to take my mind somewhere else for a few hours.
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Sure.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: I'll admit, it was hard not to giggle at their names: "Reef" and "Ford." I think simply their names lends to the reduced degree of intensity in this story. There really isn't much to them, except that they are likeable and universal in just wanting to be happy.
PLOT: Essentially the two boys meet at a ski resort where they accidentally get caught up in a storm and have to huddle away in a cabin until the storm passes. The first half of the book deals with that and their extremely-insta-lust feelings for each other from two supposedly-always-been-straight guys. It's fine. Again, just a healthy suspension of disbelief because it really isn't meant to be super intense at all. They get out of it, and then have a couple of quick hiccups before deciding they want to be together. The end.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
1:5/low. A beach read (pun intended). No frills, no strings attached, just two boys falling in love nice and quickly.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
100%. I mean, again, I wasn't expecting any sort of fulfillment in this one. It's a HEA and there wasn't much by way of stakes. I finished just as I started: happy to take my mind somewhere else for a few hours.
catastrojb's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
djmcewen's review against another edition
3.0
How straight can you be?
It's obviously an m/m romance so there's no pretense about how it turns out. One thing that bugged me were the names (Reef, Petal and River). My thoughts always went to "Reed" which forced me to correct myself and be pulled out of the story. The other major issue was how the story took great pains to show just how straight these guys were. I have no issue with people not having figured things out but their straightness was really driven home. "Warm brown eyes" was used three times and once when a character did a double take over having the thought? who actually thinks that way? No matter how beautiful the eyes are, I've never once had the phrase cross my mind. Not even once.
Reef is very introspective and it constantly leads Ford to second guess himself. That leads to pointless drama. It's a good thing Reef finally told Ford to shut up when he was going to downplay his feel is so Reef didn't think he was overly attached - the same Reef who's made it clear he isn't interested in hookups.
Despite these faults, I thought it was okay. Nothing special. Want a quick read on the beach where you can easily put it down and not be overly concerned with getting to the exact spot you left off? This is the book for you.
It's obviously an m/m romance so there's no pretense about how it turns out. One thing that bugged me were the names (Reef, Petal and River). My thoughts always went to "Reed" which forced me to correct myself and be pulled out of the story. The other major issue was how the story took great pains to show just how straight these guys were. I have no issue with people not having figured things out but their straightness was really driven home. "Warm brown eyes" was used three times and once when a character did a double take over having the thought? who actually thinks that way? No matter how beautiful the eyes are, I've never once had the phrase cross my mind. Not even once.
Reef is very introspective and it constantly leads Ford to second guess himself. That leads to pointless drama. It's a good thing Reef finally told Ford to shut up when he was going to downplay his feel is so Reef didn't think he was overly attached - the same Reef who's made it clear he isn't interested in hookups.
Despite these faults, I thought it was okay. Nothing special. Want a quick read on the beach where you can easily put it down and not be overly concerned with getting to the exact spot you left off? This is the book for you.
kelsbookreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
This was such a fun and hot read! The anticipation of the two men tiptoeing around their attraction really pulls you in and I found myself grinning like a dork when things started to fall into place...
This is a great read if you're dipping your toe into MM for the first time - there is more to the series but this ends as a stand alone if you want to stay in this particular world!
This is a great read if you're dipping your toe into MM for the first time - there is more to the series but this ends as a stand alone if you want to stay in this particular world!