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Reckless Love #0.5
Denial
Rainer:
After an argument with my best friend sets my fight or flight mode into overdrive, I activate my three-step program for abandoning all of life’s responsibilities.
First, book a one-way trip to a tropical island.
Second, consume as much alcohol as my body will allow.
Third, stick my head in the sand until everything blows over.
Completely mature and totally foolproof.
Until I meet Colton. He isn’t part of my three-step program or even my five year plan. Tall, gorgeous, and a diving instructor to boot. He flirts non-stop, acts interested in everything I have to say, and when I give in–and damn do I give in–the man takes me to the stars.
But the worst part about running away from life’s problems, is that there comes a time where you have to run back.
There’s only so long I can ignore my responsibilities.
But when Colton asks me to stay, how do I walk away?
(This title was previously published as Good Times and Tan Lines as part of the Love's A Gamble series. No content has been changed within the book.)
After an argument with my best friend sets my fight or flight mode into overdrive, I activate my three-step program for abandoning all of life’s responsibilities.
First, book a one-way trip to a tropical island.
Second, consume as much alcohol as my body will allow.
Third, stick my head in the sand until everything blows over.
Completely mature and totally foolproof.
Until I meet Colton. He isn’t part of my three-step program or even my five year plan. Tall, gorgeous, and a diving instructor to boot. He flirts non-stop, acts interested in everything I have to say, and when I give in–and damn do I give in–the man takes me to the stars.
But the worst part about running away from life’s problems, is that there comes a time where you have to run back.
There’s only so long I can ignore my responsibilities.
But when Colton asks me to stay, how do I walk away?
(This title was previously published as Good Times and Tan Lines as part of the Love's A Gamble series. No content has been changed within the book.)
59 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
August 8, 2023
2.5/5 stars
February 29, 2020
New to me author. This is a short mm contemporary novella set in Ibiza. Main characters are local Colton and visitor Rainer. Both have troubled pasts to overcome. Such a beautiful location for a story. I’ll read more from this author.
July 1, 2021
I understand that this is a short story. I get that short stories move at a rapid pace and I'm completely okay with that but they usually have an epilogue that gives me that needed HEA. This did not have an epilogue. The last chapter was of them parting ways and Rainer promising to come back 🤷♀️ If someone did not read the next book they would not know that he does in fact move to be with Colton. Even then, we don't get to see them be together.
This just didn't work for me 😶
This just didn't work for me 😶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
This short story had a surprising amount of depth and emotion.
June 7, 2024
old post reposted
Not sure how I skipped an entire series by Saxon James. At. All. Let's remedy that. Here's the prequel to Saxon's "Reckless Love" series, titled "Denial."
(Also, was anyone going to tell me I spend two years spelling Saxon's name wrong?)
["After an argument with my best friend sets my fight or flight mode into overdrive, I activate my three-step program for abandoning all of life’s responsibilities.
First, book a one-way trip to a tropical island.
Second, consume as much alcohol as my body will allow.
Third, stick my head in the sand until everything blows over.
Completely mature and totally foolproof.
Until I meet Colton. He isn’t part of my three-step program or even my five year plan. Tall, gorgeous, and a diving instructor to boot. He flirts non-stop, acts interested in everything I have to say, and when I give in–and damn do I give in–the man takes me to the stars.
But the worst part about running away from life’s problems, is that there comes a time where you have to run back.
There’s only so long I can ignore my responsibilities.
But when Colton asks me to stay, how do I walk away?"]
"Denial" was previous published as "Good Time and Tan Lines" and part of a series previous titled Love's A Gamble (let's go with that being the reason I missed this book/series...).
This novella was sooooo cute!! It was short and sweet and steamy. I kinda wanted a little bit more of them falling in love or a chapter between the last one and the epilogue, but it was beautiful! A great introduction to the series!!
#denial #risky #tempting #recklesslove #recklessloveseries #saxonjames #goodtimesandtanlines #betonme #callingyourbluff #lovesagamble #lovesagambleseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
Not sure how I skipped an entire series by Saxon James. At. All. Let's remedy that. Here's the prequel to Saxon's "Reckless Love" series, titled "Denial."
(Also, was anyone going to tell me I spend two years spelling Saxon's name wrong?)
["After an argument with my best friend sets my fight or flight mode into overdrive, I activate my three-step program for abandoning all of life’s responsibilities.
First, book a one-way trip to a tropical island.
Second, consume as much alcohol as my body will allow.
Third, stick my head in the sand until everything blows over.
Completely mature and totally foolproof.
Until I meet Colton. He isn’t part of my three-step program or even my five year plan. Tall, gorgeous, and a diving instructor to boot. He flirts non-stop, acts interested in everything I have to say, and when I give in–and damn do I give in–the man takes me to the stars.
But the worst part about running away from life’s problems, is that there comes a time where you have to run back.
There’s only so long I can ignore my responsibilities.
But when Colton asks me to stay, how do I walk away?"]
"Denial" was previous published as "Good Time and Tan Lines" and part of a series previous titled Love's A Gamble (let's go with that being the reason I missed this book/series...).
This novella was sooooo cute!! It was short and sweet and steamy. I kinda wanted a little bit more of them falling in love or a chapter between the last one and the epilogue, but it was beautiful! A great introduction to the series!!
#denial #risky #tempting #recklesslove #recklessloveseries #saxonjames #goodtimesandtanlines #betonme #callingyourbluff #lovesagamble #lovesagambleseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
August 7, 2021
GOOD TIMES AND TAN LINES was a sexy and short read that introduces Rainer and Colton. I liked both of these guys and enjoyed the journey, though it's short. The last chapter sweeps up some of the big life changes that Rainer goes through to get his life back on track and while I understood the size of this novella limits content, it still felt a bit like his issues weren't given all the space they needed. However, I liked the author's writing "voice" and I'm looking forward to reading the first in the series.
Content Warning: References to drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and characters being attacked and disowned for being LGBTQ+
Content Warning: References to drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and characters being attacked and disowned for being LGBTQ+
January 22, 2024
This is the only Saxon James book series that I haven’t read yet and it was one of her firsts in the m/m genre. Since I absolutely love her as an author and my absolute favorite I knew I had to read her backlog and make sure I get to it this year. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this book and while it wasn’t the best, it wasn’t the worse novella I’ve ever read either.
We start off the book with meeting Rainer and we learn early on that he was in Ibiza to run away from the mistakes he made back home. He got into a huge fight with his best friend and the only person that seems to really care about him. His best friend Elliot made some tough decisions and told Rainer that if he didn’t get his act together he won’t be seen with him anymore. This really shook him to his core and rather than apologize he ran away to Ibiza to drown his feelings instead.
Since this isn’t a long novella at all he meets Colton really early on and the two of them immediately have a spark of lust between the two of them. Rainer thinks Colton will be the perfect distraction from all his troubles and would have a really good night between them but Colton has other plans. He’s a man that likes to build up the tension before going any further and when he invites Rainer out on his boat to go scuba diving Rainer couldn’t past up the opportunity to get closer to this man.
Even though we don’t get much I did enjoy the stuff we did get out of this. I enjoyed the dynamics between Rainer and Colton and what each other brings out in the other. The way Colton helps steer Rainer is a better direction for himself but also for them. The time they got to spend together was a lot of fun and meant a lot to these two men that don’t really have anyone in their corner. And when the time does come for Rainer to go back home it’s so nice to see him do better for himself so he can be the best version of himself for Colton and give himself a better future.
I overall did enjoy my short time with these men and seeing them be happy in the end but the book could have definitely benefited from at least one or two more chapters just to flush out the ending better. But I still liked seeing them come together and knowing Rainer got to a better place with his friendship with Elliot since we get his book next. This book wasn’t anything special but since this is Saxon James I will jump right into the next book and see what happens with Elliot next.
Side Note : After reading Risky I do believe it might be better to read that book first before jumping into this one. We get glimpses of Rainer in Risky and it gets you wondering about him and just the mystery that surrounds him. I think for me personally I would have enjoyed this book more if I would have read that one first. It would have made me way more curious about him instead of not knowing nothing.
We start off the book with meeting Rainer and we learn early on that he was in Ibiza to run away from the mistakes he made back home. He got into a huge fight with his best friend and the only person that seems to really care about him. His best friend Elliot made some tough decisions and told Rainer that if he didn’t get his act together he won’t be seen with him anymore. This really shook him to his core and rather than apologize he ran away to Ibiza to drown his feelings instead.
Since this isn’t a long novella at all he meets Colton really early on and the two of them immediately have a spark of lust between the two of them. Rainer thinks Colton will be the perfect distraction from all his troubles and would have a really good night between them but Colton has other plans. He’s a man that likes to build up the tension before going any further and when he invites Rainer out on his boat to go scuba diving Rainer couldn’t past up the opportunity to get closer to this man.
Even though we don’t get much I did enjoy the stuff we did get out of this. I enjoyed the dynamics between Rainer and Colton and what each other brings out in the other. The way Colton helps steer Rainer is a better direction for himself but also for them. The time they got to spend together was a lot of fun and meant a lot to these two men that don’t really have anyone in their corner. And when the time does come for Rainer to go back home it’s so nice to see him do better for himself so he can be the best version of himself for Colton and give himself a better future.
I overall did enjoy my short time with these men and seeing them be happy in the end but the book could have definitely benefited from at least one or two more chapters just to flush out the ending better. But I still liked seeing them come together and knowing Rainer got to a better place with his friendship with Elliot since we get his book next. This book wasn’t anything special but since this is Saxon James I will jump right into the next book and see what happens with Elliot next.
Side Note : After reading Risky I do believe it might be better to read that book first before jumping into this one. We get glimpses of Rainer in Risky and it gets you wondering about him and just the mystery that surrounds him. I think for me personally I would have enjoyed this book more if I would have read that one first. It would have made me way more curious about him instead of not knowing nothing.
September 29, 2022
Rainer was one of my favorite things about Bet on Me, so when I saw his romance (such as it was) that was mentioned briefly a few times in book one of the series was a novella, I knew I had to check it out.
Rainer has some serious problems, and is trying to chase them away with alcohol. Is it bad that I already don't even remember what problems he was trying to drink away? I think maybe it was drugs and them making him act like a turd, but then going and drinking himself to death doesn't seem like a great response... idk, anyway, he is very sad and drunk basically all the time.
And then comes Colton.
I do wish this had been a full length novel instead of a novella, because I feel like it didn't quite do Colton and Rainer's story justice. And I wish we'd gotten more of a character arc for Colton.
Still, the chemistry between Colton and Rainer is great, and I love the way Colton just keeps coming back and giving Rainer the chance to make some better choices. They're so sweet together.
This is a prequel to the Love's a Gamble series, though the ending happens sometime after the first book, Bet on Me, ends. I don't feel like the timing totally lines up? Unless the talk about Rainer being all about the physical and not about the relationships ever was before this book happened, and he only recently returned home just before the events of book one. I don't know, I am just trying not to think about it too hard, haha. You can read this one completely as a stand-alone without reading any of the rest of the series.
Rainer has some serious problems, and is trying to chase them away with alcohol. Is it bad that I already don't even remember what problems he was trying to drink away? I think maybe it was drugs and them making him act like a turd, but then going and drinking himself to death doesn't seem like a great response... idk, anyway, he is very sad and drunk basically all the time.
And then comes Colton.
I do wish this had been a full length novel instead of a novella, because I feel like it didn't quite do Colton and Rainer's story justice. And I wish we'd gotten more of a character arc for Colton.
Still, the chemistry between Colton and Rainer is great, and I love the way Colton just keeps coming back and giving Rainer the chance to make some better choices. They're so sweet together.
This is a prequel to the Love's a Gamble series, though the ending happens sometime after the first book, Bet on Me, ends. I don't feel like the timing totally lines up? Unless the talk about Rainer being all about the physical and not about the relationships ever was before this book happened, and he only recently returned home just before the events of book one. I don't know, I am just trying not to think about it too hard, haha. You can read this one completely as a stand-alone without reading any of the rest of the series.
May 1, 2020
I enjoyed this short story on so many levels. What starts as a cute summer fling rapidely develops into deep feelings between the MCs. Surprisingly (as it is a short story) Saxon James gave both characters a lot of depth and she managed to show a great development in them. Naturally this has to be cut short somehow but the author makes it absolutely plausible by working in a certain time gap in between. The love story is sweet and hot and doesn´t leave us missing anything we like in MM romance. Loved it!
September 17, 2022
This was short and sweet overall, but dealt with some tough topics too. Trigger warnings for mentioned drug use, alcohol abuse, homophobia, stabbing, etc. I’m glad that Rainer faced his past and became a better person in the end. The epilogue was a nice wrap up to this novella. This didn’t exactly move fast since it really only showed like 3-4 days and did a couple time jumps, but it felt a bit unresolved on Colton’s side. He didn’t get a character arc like Rainer did in my opinion. Maybe 3-3.5 stars even though I did enjoy both characters and thought they were a good match.
March 10, 2023
A Short, sweet, Smexy insta Love Story Novella. After I finished it I realized that the Friend Rainer had a "massive" Fight with was Elliott, I was so confused because when did this fight happened like hä... but still cute novella.
My basic facts
Genre: MM Contemporary Novella Romance
Series: yes
Love triangle? No
Cheating? No
HEA? Yes
Favorite character? Colton
Would I read more by this author/or of the series? Yes
Would I recommend this book/series? Yes
Will / Would I read this again in the future? NO
Star rating? 3,0
My basic facts
Genre: MM Contemporary Novella Romance
Series: yes
Love triangle? No
Cheating? No
HEA? Yes
Favorite character? Colton
Would I read more by this author/or of the series? Yes
Would I recommend this book/series? Yes
Will / Would I read this again in the future? NO
Star rating? 3,0
March 7, 2024
2.5 stars
“You’re way too drunk, and you clearly need someone to talk to. So get your sweet ass back on that stool and spill.” He shakes his head a little. “You don’t want to know, trust me.” “Well if you can’t talk to a complete stranger about your problems, who can you talk to?”
Unfortunately this missed the. I didn’t connect with either of the main characters. Not sure if it’s because novellas are rushed and there is no time for any depth of character or if it was because Rainier was wishy washy.
“You’re way too drunk, and you clearly need someone to talk to. So get your sweet ass back on that stool and spill.” He shakes his head a little. “You don’t want to know, trust me.” “Well if you can’t talk to a complete stranger about your problems, who can you talk to?”
Unfortunately this missed the. I didn’t connect with either of the main characters. Not sure if it’s because novellas are rushed and there is no time for any depth of character or if it was because Rainier was wishy washy.
July 9, 2020
Cute story. Could be a standalone.
Short and kinda sweet. Written in dual first person POV. Could be a standalone as it mostly takes place before Love’s Gamble book 1 but I read books 1 and 2 first. Decent amount of sexy times given the book’s length. Some humor. My only issue is that some of the book doesn’t make sense with the details in book 1 but it’s not really a big deal.
Short and kinda sweet. Written in dual first person POV. Could be a standalone as it mostly takes place before Love’s Gamble book 1 but I read books 1 and 2 first. Decent amount of sexy times given the book’s length. Some humor. My only issue is that some of the book doesn’t make sense with the details in book 1 but it’s not really a big deal.
October 21, 2023
Ok so I thought this was book 3 when I went into reading and and quickly realised it's book 0.5 so I already knew these guys were end game. I've got to say that what I read in here re Rainer didn't necessarily tie up to book 1 Rainer (who didn't seem quite as much as a screw up in book 1 and the drama with Elliott I don't remember happening there either, so it felt like the books didn't quite align.) It was cute enough but no depth to it.
May 28, 2024
4 stars
This is a good, short, sweet, and spicy novella. There isn't too much going on here, but we get a decent enough look into who Rainer and Colton are. They are running away from their pasts but learn that they might need to come to terms with that and move forward so they can run towards each other. Everything happens pretty fast here, but it's to be expected in a novella. This was an overall fun and easy read that I quite enjoyed.
This is a good, short, sweet, and spicy novella. There isn't too much going on here, but we get a decent enough look into who Rainer and Colton are. They are running away from their pasts but learn that they might need to come to terms with that and move forward so they can run towards each other. Everything happens pretty fast here, but it's to be expected in a novella. This was an overall fun and easy read that I quite enjoyed.
January 11, 2025
“I know that anyone who gets that excited over seeing an animal can’t be all bad.”
4⭐️ Loved this spicy holiday one shot! Great intro to these characters and I’m looking forward to learning more about the others in this series.
I liked the beachy vibes and the holiday fling setting which turns into more. They were really lovely together and I liked how they helped each other to heal. Quick and easy read!
4⭐️ Loved this spicy holiday one shot! Great intro to these characters and I’m looking forward to learning more about the others in this series.
I liked the beachy vibes and the holiday fling setting which turns into more. They were really lovely together and I liked how they helped each other to heal. Quick and easy read!
October 26, 2020
Sweet and sexy novella. Moved a smidge fast but never veered into instalove. I did find it really confusing that, having read the first book before this prequel, I didn't get *any* sense that Rainer and Elliot had had a massive fight and *that* was what had prompted Rainer to go to Ibiza. It was just a bit confusing ...
July 8, 2023
Me gusta casi todo lo que escribe Saxon James, por lo que la historia de Colton y Rainer con sus pasados turbios y la ambientación veraniega en Ibiza me ha gustado. Sé que es una precuela y que es un relato corto que sirve como introducción de la saga Reckless Love, pero creo que se merecían un final más desarrollado y la historia se me ha quedado un poco insípida.
#M-M-romance
#M-M-romance
September 5, 2023
Rainer & Colton
Short, sweet novella about finding love in an unexpected place at an unexpected time. Rainer has run away from his life trying to hide from the mess he’s made. Colton ran from his but is decidedly more settled. Together they find love and Rainer finds the strength to make amends and come back to Colton.
Short, sweet novella about finding love in an unexpected place at an unexpected time. Rainer has run away from his life trying to hide from the mess he’s made. Colton ran from his but is decidedly more settled. Together they find love and Rainer finds the strength to make amends and come back to Colton.
March 3, 2025
I don't know why, but I wasn't expecting much from this story. Turns out I was wrong in the best possible way. While I didn't care much for Rainer at the start of the story, by the end I was rooting for him and Colton to find their HEA. And I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. I look forward to reading the rest of the Reckless Love series!
January 19, 2020
3.5 stars.
Short and sweet, but more HFN than HEA. I hope the author is going to write more about these 2, because it wasn’t nearly enough. It was a vacation fling with both obviously wanting more, but not able to take it to more.
Short and sweet, but more HFN than HEA. I hope the author is going to write more about these 2, because it wasn’t nearly enough. It was a vacation fling with both obviously wanting more, but not able to take it to more.
May 13, 2020
Rainer and Colton
Neither Rainer nor Colton were looking for more than a fling when they first met but their chemistry was undeniable and while both had painful pasts, they brought out the fun and lightness in each other. This was a short and sweet novella.
Neither Rainer nor Colton were looking for more than a fling when they first met but their chemistry was undeniable and while both had painful pasts, they brought out the fun and lightness in each other. This was a short and sweet novella.
May 17, 2020
Short but great
It was great to see Rainer and Colton since we only got a glimpse of what Rainer had left on vacation in Elliot and Taryns book.
A short, hot and sweet book with the sun, beach and blue skies as a background.
It was great to see Rainer and Colton since we only got a glimpse of what Rainer had left on vacation in Elliot and Taryns book.
A short, hot and sweet book with the sun, beach and blue skies as a background.
May 21, 2020
I kept reading b/c I wanted to make sure I had all the characters in my head for when they'll be mentioned in the next book. but honestly as soon as the main character let a completely untrained person go on a SCUBA dive and then did it again at night time I kinda checked out...
January 18, 2021
Started skimming at 44% and I kinda never stopped.
As I said in my review of Bet on Me, the story goes on and on without really moving and this happened here and I'm tired of Rainer's whining of what a bad person he is and what bad habits he has but does absolutely nothing to change till the hunk of beef appears and he is willing to change.
For now I think I'll take a break from the author.
As I said in my review of Bet on Me, the story goes on and on without really moving and this happened here and I'm tired of Rainer's whining of what a bad person he is and what bad habits he has but does absolutely nothing to change till the hunk of beef appears and he is willing to change.
For now I think I'll take a break from the author.
April 29, 2022
4 stars
I was very excited to read about Colton and Rainer's story, and we weren't disappointed!
What was supposed to be a vacation fling quickly became something more, but Rainer needed to better himself and his friendships before he could commit to a relationship with Colton - which I loved! Seeing characters work on themselves in order to love themselves and be loved by another is so heartwarming.
Being a novella, we didn't get to experience as much depth with these characters as we would have in a full-length novel, but we got enough of a backstory that they didn't feel two dimensional which was great.
I was very excited to read about Colton and Rainer's story, and we weren't disappointed!
What was supposed to be a vacation fling quickly became something more, but Rainer needed to better himself and his friendships before he could commit to a relationship with Colton - which I loved! Seeing characters work on themselves in order to love themselves and be loved by another is so heartwarming.
Being a novella, we didn't get to experience as much depth with these characters as we would have in a full-length novel, but we got enough of a backstory that they didn't feel two dimensional which was great.
June 22, 2022
It was a sweet story but I'm a bit confused? I assumed it was a prequel for the next book, but then looked up the next in the series, and it is not. So I guess it is simply a short story? Would like it to continue...
August 6, 2023
cute fast read
I read this first out of the reckless love series. This was cute though I personally think it could have been much longer with more of Colton and Rainier’s story. Saxon James does it again.
I read this first out of the reckless love series. This was cute though I personally think it could have been much longer with more of Colton and Rainier’s story. Saxon James does it again.
October 27, 2025
I liked this book, I think my biggest critique is it was too short. Which i get that’s the whole point, but i think if it was a 120-150 page prequel rather than 70 pages, it still would’ve felt like a short prequel but you wouldn’t feel like the characters didn’t get developed at all
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews