Nicole Dykes

Author, Nicole Dykes does not hold anything back. She starts this book out with a nice "How you doing", and in the next moment she is pulling the rug out from under your feet. Yet, Nicole makes up for it with Cooper and Everly.

I could feel all of the emotions coming from Cooper and Everly. There is the fear, loss, friendship, sexual tension, and love. I did not know how much I craved an emotional, steamy romance until I read this book. There is a lot of sex happening in this story but it show more never felt over the top or too much. This is because of where Cooper and Everly were coming from. A place of deep emotions that were real. All that I can say is that author, Nicole Dykes left me "stranded" with emotions reading this book in a good way. show less

Nicole Dykes actually did it, It's a standalone and a really freaking good one. I loved Ashlyn and Garrett. They broke my heart and made me want to throw my kindle in frustration. I loved this book and literally didn't put it down, until I was finished (at nearly 2 freaking am

Heck, I think I'm going through a jaded phase. There was nothing wrong with this novel but it didn't have anything uniquely its own. It's incredible to think how hard it must be to come up with something new, but most of what I read does have something special enough for me to give it 4 stars ... fortunately. Otherwise life seems wasted.

Colby leaves an abusive relationship - this is a worthy topic but I've been there a few too many times, even if this is done well enough. Fortunately, show more there's only one scene with the particularly obnoxious abuser, Christopher.

Ben has his own trauma. When Colby comes to Ben's gym seeking a job, there is an immediate connection, which is put down to Ben's need to save people in need. They end up saving each other.

The narrators were Michael Dean and Stephen Dexter - both very good as usual, but if only they'd switched places! I might be wrong but I think Michael Dean is Ben and Stephen Dexter is Colby. Bottomline: Dexter's deep resonant voice seemed better suited to the large, heavily muscled Ben. I've loved many a book narrated by Michael Dean but each time it was Ben's POV, it jarred that it was Michael narrating for him and not Dexter. show less

What dilemma that Sebastian was facing with either keep his celebrity image or be his true self did feel real. I felt for him and his struggle. When it came to Axel, I did think he came off as a jerk in the beginning; especially when it came to how he reacted to Sebastian's situation. they were supposed to be a couple and he did not come off as very supportive. However, when it was revealed as to Axel's own personal demons that he was struggling with, I came to understand him better.

While I show more did like this book, I did find that I missed the more emotional side of Sebastian and Axel. It seemed like the story just jumped right into their relationship. Not that I need a lot of back story as Nicole's writing style does not involve lots of details. I just wanted a little more of the struggle to happen earlier in the story versus the wham bam, thank you sir right off the bat. Still a fan of Nicole's. show less