Eden Finley

The book opens when Remy is left at the altar. The cad's groomsman, Sanden, decides to join Remy on the honeymoon, to look out for him and ensure he doesn't sink under the stress of this abandonment. Sanden also happens to have had 3 years of regret that he didn't claim Remy before his friend the cad did.

This is romcom territory. But this rather long romance (8 hours) is in fact much more concerned to make a point about coercive control. Such a very important topic, but at times I felt the show more novel was a bit didactic, the author's hand was too obviously revealed as having a message agenda.

Of course, it's Eden Finley and Saxon James, so it's done very well, and I shed a tear more than once. The pain Remy goes through as he comes to understand how badly he was treated by his fiancé - so much more than being left at the altar - is sobering and heartbreaking. show less

The story is a cute fake honeymoon romance between two first responders. It is a standalone spinoff of [Foolish Puckboy] where Remy has been stood up at the altar by his fiancé, Eman, who was really a sorry excuse for a human being, and I thought that Remy was actually lucky...but that wouldn't have been much of a story:) Eman’s childhood friend and groomsman, Sanden, has to break the news to Remy and then encourages him to hold the reception party anyway and still go on his honeymoon. show more Somehow, Sanden ends up on the Hawaiian vacation, too. I was in hopes that Sanden would have his own story ever since we met him as a Gabe’s friend and fellow firefighter in [Foolish Puckboy]....and it really isn't necessary to have read that book to really enjoy this one. Sanden is a sweet, goofy, lovable man and a selfless hero. He used to be closer friends with Remy until Eman came between them. Remy is uneasy about being married. He finally realizes that it’s the wrong move and when he’s left standing at the front of the church alone, he realizes he dodged a bullet. No need to waste a great honeymoon in a gorgeous place so Remy and Sanden enjoy the luxurious vacation...living in a state of suspended reality... where of course they are mistaken for newlyweds. Once they return home to Seattle, however, their actual reality becomes more of a reality. They can't seem to return to b normal…who are they now? Are they lovers, colleagues, friends with benefits? All of these things? There’s a strong attraction between them but Sanden knows Remy is not in the right headspace for a rebound fling or a more serious relationship. He badly wants more so he’ll wait until Remy has time to heal, trust him, and is ready for more. But Eman left Remy with deep emotional scars he won’t overcome easily. I really hated Eman. He was a truly vile character. He’s a conniving, manipulative, emotionally abusive psycho who have received a great deal of pleasure from simply strangling him and hiding the body. Sanden, wasn't without his own trauma from his childhood so they both needed time and each other to heal. In spite of the dark tone that the story sometimes took, it was still full of enjoyable banter and sexy fun. show less

I had never read a book that related so much on the body positive message like this book did. All bodies are beautiful…muscled or soft, slender or plump. It's how the person they belong to handles their lives and how they relate to others. The banter between these characters is something I was always drawn to in the other books in the series. These guys...the 5 members of Eleve, have the ease of having known each other for so many years and having performed side by side throughout all of show more it. They know each other on and off-stage. When all five of them finally get together, in one room, it’s an experience that sparks clarity…almost like coming home. I found myself lost in Denver and Mason’s story. This book was a little angstier than we’re normally used to from this author, yet it still contained everything we’ve come to love about her books. It was well written with lovable characters. We’ve seen Denver and Mason before and heard about them as well. In this book, we get to really know them better. They are great characters that are so easy to like. I look forward to seeing where Eden Finley goes next with this series. We really need Blake’s book and I believe it may be out there, I just haven't searched enough. I wasn’t sure I was going to love Mason and Denver’s story as much as I did. They wasted so much time skating around one another and hiding their feelings from the others that already knew how they felt. I really liked Denver; your heart will break for everything he’d gone through since he was little. I liked Mason, too, although I wanted to shake some sense into him on a fairly regular basis. The sparks flew whenever they were close to each other, and I loved how natural the progression of their relationship was. This was an angstier read than the prior two books, even though it was well-balanced with Eden Finley’s particular brand of hot snarky, banter. It's about a well-deserved second chances, how love can happen between best friends...it's an angsty, sweet, and fun story. If you've read the first two books you will love seeing all the Eleven guys together at last at last. show less

I should just stop making assumptions about the next books in this series. Because every time I do, I find myself having to backtrack.

"I'm not sure I will continue with the series - I liked Jacobs but I'm not sure I particularly care enough to read his story - but I may pick up Seth's book with the hopes of seeing more Zach/Foster. " ... I ended up loving Jacobs and Beck as much if not slightly more than Zach and Foster.

"I also didn't really like Asher so if he's the subject of the next show more one, I'm not sure I'll continue." ... OMFG ASHER!!!! I had no idea. None. Of what was coming my way.

Asher is incredible. The layers people, the layers. Almost immediately Finley and Saxon changed my mind. Having the narration from Asher's POV was ideal because straight away we see that for all Asher talks a big game, he's an absolute mess. He knows he's a mess but he can't seem to help it. I felt so sorry for him. I felt sorry for that whole family - they've been through so much and no 20 year olds should have to be responsible for 5 kids - family or not. Any kids would be a lot - five? Fk.

Kole was a bit harder to get a read on. I would say if this book had any weaknesses, Kole's character development would be it. We know and learn a lot about Asher but I don't really feel we got to know Kole quite as well. That said, I still loved them both.

And together they were perfect. Much like Jacobs and Beck, Asher and Kole's chemistry was off the charts. I loved both the friendship and the romance between them and adored the banter between them - the banter between them was snarky and had me cackling away.

I love the hockey aspect of these books and I love that Asher got closer to his teammates in this one. I love that very little can shock the team as well.

I grab my coffee and follow him to the table where Rossi, Simms, Kaplan, and Stalberg are already sitting. Asher steals a chair from another table, and before I can grab one of my own, he sits down and pulls me onto his lap. I tense, and Asher’s holding his breath. But there’s barely a break in the conversation. Slowly, I relax in Asher’s hold and chance a quick look at him. He’s confused, and I can’t blame him. Are they ignoring us on purpose? Asher steals a quick sip of my coffee and loops his arm tighter around my waist. “Really not going to say anything, huh?” he finally asks.

Rossi looks over. “What, are we supposed to act surprised?” “You knew?” The four of them exchange looks, and Simms cocks his head. “Wait, did you guys think you were subtle?” “Well, yeah.” Don’t they realize how painful it’s been to keep our hands to ourselves?

“Let’s review,” Rossi says, clearly amused. “Asher waits for you after every practice, you arrive together, you study together, you share a room at away games—where you really could try to be more quiet, by the way—West treats Kole like another brother, Coach can’t look at Asher without scowling, more so than usual, and if I have to hear the phrase Kole said one more time, my brain will start leaking out of my ears.”

I’m … kinda shocked. “And people say jocks are stupid.”
“You forget I was friends with Foster, and Beck and Jacobs, and Cohen. I’ve given up assuming people are straight, and you two have been behaving just like those other idiots.”

It’s the first time I think I’ve actually been glad to be outsmarted by jocks. “Who else knows?” Asher asks. “Literally the whole team,” Simms says. “We’ve known for ages.” “And no one said anything?” Stalberg screws up his face. “No offense, man, but none of us want to know about your sex life. That’s a strictly kiss and don’t tell situation.”

Finley, Eden; James, Saxon. Line Mates & Study Dates (CU Hockey Book 4) (pp. 284-285). Kindle Edition. LMFAO. Poor Asher going for the shock factor and ending with being shocked himself.

Overall it was fantastic and I loved it. I'll definitely be reading West's story. I can't wait to find out what happens there. 4.5 stars. show less