I needed something light and short while waiting for the newest episode of YOI (it is killing meeeee... I am avoiding spoilers but it is hardddd). I hate voyeurism but after reading so many good reviews, I decided to read it. The voyeurism thing didn't bother me so much, since Cory has his face hidden and it is about him only, not him and Flynn together (that happens after). It begins kinda cute actually; Flynn seemed a perky, innocent guy and Cory finds him adorable since day 1. I like this kind of attraction. They do get together pretty fast for my liking. But still, they were cute together.

Unfortunately later on I find Flynn a bit too strange. I don't get why he was soooo innocent. Instead of perky, I think he was kinda creepy. Both of them have MEH past, MEH traumas. And the whole thing with Luke got on my nerves. I hated him. He is Cory's uncle (around 40s), and he will have his own book since he is also an attractive gay guy. BUT... he is also the father of 2 boys. One of the boys' mother is a girl of a one night stand. The other of a wife. BUT he cheated on his fiancee with a guy, reason why Cory lost all contact with him (but forgives him at the end since he is family, blah blah). This is the main reason why I couldn't like this book. Cheater Luke is going to have his own book? No thanks.

And honestly, by half of the book, I did not even care about Cory and Flynn anymore and their so-called love. I just wanted to finish the book and refresh my page to watch the newest episode of my anime :(

I liked that Simon and Paul get to know each other, and that Paul bonds with Simon-wolf first. There may be an insta-love (after 4 days only) but since they get to know each other, and talk, and be friends first, it didn't feel like it. I like the pack, although there were too many names, and it is an all-male world only (females cannot be werewolves). Simon and Paul don't rush into sex (full-sex) until the mating. And at least, the pack isn't all gay like it is common in paranormal MM.

I can say it was a good book because I actually felt some chemistry between the leads, and because I didn't feel like, when Kage came out to his family, it was forced. I liked how his family accepted him, with open arms, without being a cheesy scene; it felt quite realistic.

The beginning, though, almost made me drop it, but since it is such a short book, I decided to finish it. The reason was because, on the night they meet, Kage and Zach hook up on the beach. Not ALL THE WAY, but I hate hook ups in my (MM) romances, more now since I am in the mood for an actual ROMANCE. At least, both of them develop a quick crush, there are no third wheels and in the whole, it was super hot.

As far as I know, the original story ended there. My copy was the extended one, where Kage and Zach decide to stick together and they go together to California and then, live together.

My advice would have been, to not continue the story if the author was going to be so vague about everything. First, it seemed like there was something else behind Zach's story, about his scare of being a bottom, and what about his former dates that treated him like he needed protection? It seemed like something was going to be developed long those lines, but nope, nothing. They had sex and that's it. Zach actually didn't have any issues nor a traumatic story about anything.

Then it seemed like the author was going to go along the lines of bdsm. Something about Kage liking to dominate and Zach to be submissive. They had a hot moment of bdsm(ish) and then, nothing.

Once they come to California, Zach's bff Ashley and Matt were nowhere to be seen. Why give them such an important role (it seemed) in the first half, to make them disappear in the second half?

In the first part Kage has some issues about being an Marine and having witnessed and experienced terrible things in Irak. Such as being in the crowd, sleeping at night, etc. Then, in the 2nd half (and after 3 months have passed, out of nowhere) he is having mental letdowns, needing all the help he could need, being violent, getting drunk, being impotent, etc. And Zach being understanding, supportive, etc. I don't know, it was a total "wait, what happened? did I miss something?" thing. I know marines/soldiers have a difficult time, etc, but to put it on the story after having a mild problem in the first part of the story didn't help. I almost wished Zach quit on them, get help for Kage and get the hell out of their apartment.

The final "sexy" time was sad and nothing sexy at all. I wish the author didn't write the 2nd half if she was going to be "3 months later they were living together; 2 months later Kage was a big mess, and a year later, Kage was recovering and having sex with Zach for the first time over a year".

Overall, beach time: good, enjoyable. California time: MEH, please skip this.

Maybe 2.5 but since it is KJ Charles, I round it up to 3. It has too many political issues for my taste, and also my pet peeve, which is: almost everyone is gay. I like Harry and Julius together and I did see that they love each other; however, I wasn't too invested in them.

Rikker is out, Graham isn't. In the world of sport it is not easy, that's why Graham is a jerk most of the times, in public. Honestly, I dislike mm books where one of the guys is the little dirty secret of the other. Thank God it is not a little dirty sex secret (where the closeted is happy and nice in the bedroom only, outside of it is an a**hole). I mean, Graham did love Rikker, he just wasn't ready to come out. Hated himself, for that he have done and for what he was doing. But didn't make an effort to change the situation. 95% of the book is about it. When he is slowly starting to change, I have lost interest a long time ago.