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Until I Saw You #2
In the Eye of the Beholder
The highly anticipated follow-on to Until I Saw You .
Daniel Ellis trusts no one and love, even less. His longstanding commitment to self-reliance backfires when a series of events finds an unlikely savior offering him assistance at every turn. How can the aggravating widower who’s sat at the end of his bar the past few years be his knight in shining armor?
Reluctantly taking a job as Eric Jordan’s assistant becomes more than just a means of safe haven. Working for his aloof bar patron broadens Daniel’s perspectives, threatening to tear down every wall he’s built around his heart as he begins to learn more about a man he’s always purposely ignored. All Daniel wanted was to hide from the trouble that’s following him, not have the rest of his world turned upside down by the wealthy older man who ends up being nothing he expected and everything he didn’t realize he might need.
An emotional slow burn, age gap, hurt/comfort journey of two broken hearts who find that the road to healing might require joining forces.
Daniel Ellis trusts no one and love, even less. His longstanding commitment to self-reliance backfires when a series of events finds an unlikely savior offering him assistance at every turn. How can the aggravating widower who’s sat at the end of his bar the past few years be his knight in shining armor?
Reluctantly taking a job as Eric Jordan’s assistant becomes more than just a means of safe haven. Working for his aloof bar patron broadens Daniel’s perspectives, threatening to tear down every wall he’s built around his heart as he begins to learn more about a man he’s always purposely ignored. All Daniel wanted was to hide from the trouble that’s following him, not have the rest of his world turned upside down by the wealthy older man who ends up being nothing he expected and everything he didn’t realize he might need.
An emotional slow burn, age gap, hurt/comfort journey of two broken hearts who find that the road to healing might require joining forces.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2023
279 people are currently reading
1176 people want to read
About the author
Dianna Roman
16 books717 followersRomcom author, Dianna Roman, believes in laughter, unsung heroes and heroines, chocolate, talking to yourself, hard work, and above all, love.
She enjoys writing stories set in small and rural towns and about characters who don't have this thing called life quite figured out yet.
Dianna lives in the woods where sunsets and gardening are the reason her house may be a bit messy.
She enjoys writing stories set in small and rural towns and about characters who don't have this thing called life quite figured out yet.
Dianna lives in the woods where sunsets and gardening are the reason her house may be a bit messy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
August 29, 2023
This book is maddening.
The MCs are complex but unlikeable, and the plot careens like a rollercoaster gone off the rails.
There's so much, TOO much, going on here: violence, murder, grief, Russian mafia, transphobia, abusive family members.
Eric and Daniel don't speak the same language. One is always pushing the other away, and the why is hazy.
Daniel is 27 but acts 17. He's emotionally volatile, angry at the world, and downright mean. He blames his terrible behavior on his neglectful parents, but having a not-so-great childhood doesn't give you carte blanche to treat everyone with contempt and rage.
Eric is almost 50 but, despite having been married for a couple decades, has not mastered the art of communication. He does things for Daniel, but he might as well be a statue. He sulks and disappears for days to "protect" Daniel from his moods.
Eric's late wife is a heavy presence in the story, but for how much we're told, we actually know very little. I wanted to know more about Eric's sexuality and how Sam presented when he first met her.
There are several scenes where the line between reality and fantasy blurs. During the New Year's Eve party, for example, Eric approaches Daniel and pecks him on the side of his mouth, then they're alone and devouring each other ... except they're not. It's nothing but Daniel's feverish masturbation session.
I had to reread that scene, and others, because I lost the thread.
Toward the end, Daniel takes Eric to his hometown. They gallivant into a country club, take over a conference room, and make out because Daniel has nothing left to prove.
It's all very film noir, bordering on absurd.
There are moments here, glimpses of something, but the story doesn't read like a romance. The author tries too hard to make this book edgy, but it veers dangerously close to melodrama.
The highlights include Larry and Chanel, the dogs, although like hell do I believe Eddie wouldn't have spayed his precious princess; never mind that Larry is a rescue and one hundred percent would have been neutered.
So that's another pointless bit to throw on the ever growing pile of head-scratchers.
A few interesting secondary characters breathe life into the story and there is a HEA of sorts, but the execution is unnecessarily mired in drama and despair.
P.S. My three star rating feels rather arbitrary but fair.
The MCs are complex but unlikeable, and the plot careens like a rollercoaster gone off the rails.
There's so much, TOO much, going on here: violence, murder, grief, Russian mafia, transphobia, abusive family members.
Eric and Daniel don't speak the same language. One is always pushing the other away, and the why is hazy.
Daniel is 27 but acts 17. He's emotionally volatile, angry at the world, and downright mean. He blames his terrible behavior on his neglectful parents, but having a not-so-great childhood doesn't give you carte blanche to treat everyone with contempt and rage.
Eric is almost 50 but, despite having been married for a couple decades, has not mastered the art of communication. He does things for Daniel, but he might as well be a statue. He sulks and disappears for days to "protect" Daniel from his moods.
Eric's late wife is a heavy presence in the story, but for how much we're told, we actually know very little. I wanted to know more about Eric's sexuality and how Sam presented when he first met her.
There are several scenes where the line between reality and fantasy blurs. During the New Year's Eve party, for example, Eric approaches Daniel and pecks him on the side of his mouth, then they're alone and devouring each other ... except they're not. It's nothing but Daniel's feverish masturbation session.
I had to reread that scene, and others, because I lost the thread.
Toward the end, Daniel takes Eric to his hometown. They gallivant into a country club, take over a conference room, and make out because Daniel has nothing left to prove.
It's all very film noir, bordering on absurd.
There are moments here, glimpses of something, but the story doesn't read like a romance. The author tries too hard to make this book edgy, but it veers dangerously close to melodrama.
The highlights include Larry and Chanel, the dogs, although like hell do I believe Eddie wouldn't have spayed his precious princess; never mind that Larry is a rescue and one hundred percent would have been neutered.
So that's another pointless bit to throw on the ever growing pile of head-scratchers.
A few interesting secondary characters breathe life into the story and there is a HEA of sorts, but the execution is unnecessarily mired in drama and despair.
P.S. My three star rating feels rather arbitrary but fair.
August 13, 2023
DNF @ 58%
*moment of silence for my first dnf review*
I really wanted this to be a five star read because I loved Until I Saw You. But wow this did not work for me
I read up to 15% but I wanted to DNF it at 8% tbh. But then a friend told me what happens and said to skip to 50%. So I did. And that’s as far as I got before I couldn’t handle it anymore. I tried but nothing worked? Eric and Daniel just didn’t make sense. I understand slow burn, I do, but even at 58% these two barely had a conversation and it was just getting annoying at that point.
No, I didn’t finish this but the little I did read I could tell the first half and the second half just didn’t connect? Everything that happens in the first half could have easily been left out or it could have been a completely different book to begin with.
And honestly, it didn’t feel like the same Daniel that was introduced in Until I Saw You.
Such a bummer it didn’t work out for me but it is what it is😬
*moment of silence for my first dnf review*
I really wanted this to be a five star read because I loved Until I Saw You. But wow this did not work for me
I read up to 15% but I wanted to DNF it at 8% tbh. But then a friend told me what happens and said to skip to 50%. So I did. And that’s as far as I got before I couldn’t handle it anymore. I tried but nothing worked? Eric and Daniel just didn’t make sense. I understand slow burn, I do, but even at 58% these two barely had a conversation and it was just getting annoying at that point.
No, I didn’t finish this but the little I did read I could tell the first half and the second half just didn’t connect? Everything that happens in the first half could have easily been left out or it could have been a completely different book to begin with.
And honestly, it didn’t feel like the same Daniel that was introduced in Until I Saw You.
Such a bummer it didn’t work out for me but it is what it is😬
Want to read
March 9, 2023If this is Daniel from Until I Saw You, I definitely want to read it.
July 18, 2023
Dianna has a way of drawing you into a world full of sarcastic humour, and laughter is the best medicine. She creates fun, flawed men who bring lots of emotion and past traumas and turns them into amazing men who like dick as much as me!!
We first meet Daniel in Until I Saw You, and I knew I had to read his story!! You think he’s this larger than life bartender with big dreams who’s got all his shit figured out, but that’s not the case! We get to see his struggles, how he deals with a stalker at the end of the bar, how he protects his friend at all cost, we see him learn to be loved and accept compliments he is worthy off, even though his family have made him think otherwise. He makes a mean Manhattan, maybe one day he’ll get to love one too!
Eric finds himself sitting at the end of a bar just watching the bartender who he’s become slightly obsessed with! Late one night seeing his muse in trouble, he steps in to help out, this In turn requires Daniel to go stay with him. The feelings of having Daniel in his house is getting harder to hide, but he finds a kinship in him as he continues to grieve.
This book is about healing, understanding, found friends and family, about accepting people for who they are with no judgments. It’s about overcoming the negative in the world we live in and just to be yourself. It’s full of humour and a horny dog, a blind potato chip eater, old friends and new family, it’s two men learning how to love with lots of lace thrown which I am here for!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content warning in book
🥃Fashion designer MC
🥃Loud mouth bartender
🥃Widower
🥃Forced proximity
🥃Lots of lace
🥃Hurt/Comfort
🥃Slow burn
🥃Age Gap
We first meet Daniel in Until I Saw You, and I knew I had to read his story!! You think he’s this larger than life bartender with big dreams who’s got all his shit figured out, but that’s not the case! We get to see his struggles, how he deals with a stalker at the end of the bar, how he protects his friend at all cost, we see him learn to be loved and accept compliments he is worthy off, even though his family have made him think otherwise. He makes a mean Manhattan, maybe one day he’ll get to love one too!
Eric finds himself sitting at the end of a bar just watching the bartender who he’s become slightly obsessed with! Late one night seeing his muse in trouble, he steps in to help out, this In turn requires Daniel to go stay with him. The feelings of having Daniel in his house is getting harder to hide, but he finds a kinship in him as he continues to grieve.
This book is about healing, understanding, found friends and family, about accepting people for who they are with no judgments. It’s about overcoming the negative in the world we live in and just to be yourself. It’s full of humour and a horny dog, a blind potato chip eater, old friends and new family, it’s two men learning how to love with lots of lace thrown which I am here for!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content warning in book
🥃Fashion designer MC
🥃Loud mouth bartender
🥃Widower
🥃Forced proximity
🥃Lots of lace
🥃Hurt/Comfort
🥃Slow burn
🥃Age Gap
August 11, 2023
3.9⭐
So much better than Until I Saw You.
This is Daniel's story and I'm really impressed here. The writing was so different and much improved, the plot was more developed, although still lacking and both MMCs were vivid characters with depth.
🔵 Age gap - 22 years
🟣 Both MMCs are gay
🔴 Older MMC was married to a transwoman, but Daniel is unaware for a longer time
🟡 The world of high fashion, although not that prominent
🟢 Great side characters
🌶️ Good spice, but scarce
🟠 Slow burn, the story is more romantic than passionate
This was Harper's friend Daniel's story. Daniel is 27 years old, gay, works in a bar he wants to own and has a sad past behind him, kicked out of his family for having an affair with a married man and being ignored even years later.
Daniel has had a regular guest at the bar for the past 3 years - Eric is the 49-year old man who's been coming to the bar Daniel's working at and sitting there quietly, drinking his drink and as we later find out, has started doing so when his wife died.
Eric found inspiration and consolation in being near Daniel and observing him, so he comes to the rescue when Dallas, Harper's bully ex-boyfriend, drags Daniel into his dealings with the mafia.
"I... don't want to be alone. And I don't know what it is about this guy that makes everything seem handled, but I want to pretend that everything is. Just for once. Just for tonight, I want to not be kicking and growling through life on my own."
With having to escape his current life, Daniel finds his sanctuary in Eric's house, getting to know the man, his life and eventually starting to work for him, considering Eric is a very known lingerie designer for men.
Men in lingerie are my weaknesssssss. 😏
Eric and Daniel slowly start developing feelings for each other, but we don't really get Eric's side of the story as much. It wasn't clear what exactly he felt towards Daniel since the very beginning.
The feelings and sensations with them coming together were really well written, I absolutely loved the describing of what was all the time in the air between Daniel and Eric and anticipating what it could become, since Eric was out of a 20-year old marriage with a broken heart and Daniel never let anyone near.
"I'll never get over a man calling me beautiful, over anyone thinking i'm beautiful, but Eric? When Eric Jordan tells me i'm beautiful, I believe him."
I loved the build-up in their love story, how we slowly got to small little details that uncovered there's a lot more to Eric and Daniel that meets the eye, the slow burn was at its most powerful here, nothing was rushed.
🌶️ Even though we got an amazing first sexual encounter that ticked all my boxes, I'm afraid the momentum didn't continue.
I was hoping we were getting a strong start into their intimacy, but from that point on it looked like they were trying to understand each other - and somehow couldn't.
They were dancing around each other, instead of finally strongly coming together.
They had good intimacy, but it was blurred by them not openly and strongly coming together, there should be more of it, I think.
I really wanted more of Eric's POV , to be honest, I didn't get the full, in-depth Eric experience and I'm sure the author wanted to make him very mature, but it was almost boring by the end of it, considering there's an age gap, a new love and a perfect opportunity to make the story really passionate.
🔵 So many things were also going on around them that didn't get a closure, I thought too little page time was there for Eric and Daniel, but even so, other events were left unfinished.
For example, I was badly missing the resolve with Daniel's family. So much was said about the way he was treated, I honestly expected he was going to go to that small town and show up with Eric, putting them all in their place.
The relationship between Daniel and Harper was... cringey in this book, to put it mildly. It almost seemed like Daniel was inconvenienced with Harper and Riley's presence, not to mention Riley's character took another dive into weirdo waters.
Eric late wife's parents and their blackmail also went underground, it vanished, no closure.
So many things just left hanging out there and at the end of it I was wondering why were so many issues mentioned in the first place?
The last 25-30% is where the book lost me, so the conflicts unresolved and the love story losing its big potential, but it was definitely better than the first installment.
That being said, I loved the setting, the side characters and I was hoping the author would stay in this world, there were so many potential stories I saw, but Rob's story is next and i'm hoping it gets even better than this one.
So much better than Until I Saw You.
This is Daniel's story and I'm really impressed here. The writing was so different and much improved, the plot was more developed, although still lacking and both MMCs were vivid characters with depth.
🔵 Age gap - 22 years
🟣 Both MMCs are gay
🔴 Older MMC was married to a transwoman, but Daniel is unaware for a longer time
🟡 The world of high fashion, although not that prominent
🟢 Great side characters
🌶️ Good spice, but scarce
🟠 Slow burn, the story is more romantic than passionate
This was Harper's friend Daniel's story. Daniel is 27 years old, gay, works in a bar he wants to own and has a sad past behind him, kicked out of his family for having an affair with a married man and being ignored even years later.
Daniel has had a regular guest at the bar for the past 3 years - Eric is the 49-year old man who's been coming to the bar Daniel's working at and sitting there quietly, drinking his drink and as we later find out, has started doing so when his wife died.
Eric found inspiration and consolation in being near Daniel and observing him, so he comes to the rescue when Dallas, Harper's bully ex-boyfriend, drags Daniel into his dealings with the mafia.
"I... don't want to be alone. And I don't know what it is about this guy that makes everything seem handled, but I want to pretend that everything is. Just for once. Just for tonight, I want to not be kicking and growling through life on my own."
With having to escape his current life, Daniel finds his sanctuary in Eric's house, getting to know the man, his life and eventually starting to work for him, considering Eric is a very known lingerie designer for men.
Men in lingerie are my weaknesssssss. 😏
Eric and Daniel slowly start developing feelings for each other, but we don't really get Eric's side of the story as much. It wasn't clear what exactly he felt towards Daniel since the very beginning.
The feelings and sensations with them coming together were really well written, I absolutely loved the describing of what was all the time in the air between Daniel and Eric and anticipating what it could become, since Eric was out of a 20-year old marriage with a broken heart and Daniel never let anyone near.
"I'll never get over a man calling me beautiful, over anyone thinking i'm beautiful, but Eric? When Eric Jordan tells me i'm beautiful, I believe him."
I loved the build-up in their love story, how we slowly got to small little details that uncovered there's a lot more to Eric and Daniel that meets the eye, the slow burn was at its most powerful here, nothing was rushed.
🌶️ Even though we got an amazing first sexual encounter that ticked all my boxes, I'm afraid the momentum didn't continue.
I was hoping we were getting a strong start into their intimacy, but from that point on it looked like they were trying to understand each other - and somehow couldn't.
They were dancing around each other, instead of finally strongly coming together.
They had good intimacy, but it was blurred by them not openly and strongly coming together, there should be more of it, I think.
I really wanted more of Eric's POV , to be honest, I didn't get the full, in-depth Eric experience and I'm sure the author wanted to make him very mature, but it was almost boring by the end of it, considering there's an age gap, a new love and a perfect opportunity to make the story really passionate.
🔵 So many things were also going on around them that didn't get a closure, I thought too little page time was there for Eric and Daniel, but even so, other events were left unfinished.
For example, I was badly missing the resolve with Daniel's family. So much was said about the way he was treated, I honestly expected he was going to go to that small town and show up with Eric, putting them all in their place.
The relationship between Daniel and Harper was... cringey in this book, to put it mildly. It almost seemed like Daniel was inconvenienced with Harper and Riley's presence, not to mention Riley's character took another dive into weirdo waters.
Eric late wife's parents and their blackmail also went underground, it vanished, no closure.
So many things just left hanging out there and at the end of it I was wondering why were so many issues mentioned in the first place?
The last 25-30% is where the book lost me, so the conflicts unresolved and the love story losing its big potential, but it was definitely better than the first installment.
That being said, I loved the setting, the side characters and I was hoping the author would stay in this world, there were so many potential stories I saw, but Rob's story is next and i'm hoping it gets even better than this one.
August 9, 2023
”My eyes don’t have to be open for me to see you.”
- Eric to Daniel
Another gripping and emotional read from Dianna Roman.
I could tell a few chapters in that I wouldn't be able to put it down. This time we dive into Daniel’s story, (Harper’s best friend from Until I Saw You) and Eric, a regular customer in the bar where Daniel works.
When something unexpected happens and Eric saves Daniels's life, they form a bond and both learn that what they see in each other on the surface is all smoke and mirrors.
From being strangers to boss/employee to a fragile friendship to lovers, Daniel and Eric navigate their budding connection beautifully.
I love how the relationship developed between the two men, Eric’s patience and genuine care for Daniel was remarkable.
Even how Daniel covers his emotional wounds and trauma by donning the perfect mask of sass and cheeriness in front of everyone is heartbreaking. Eric’s feeling of emptiness and how he grapples with his own demons stirred all of my emotions and made me tear up.
I also adore how the secondary characters showed support in their own ways throughout the book. Nothing was rushed, everything was well thought out. When Daniel and Eric eventually come together it had me gripping my Kindle with how hot and sexy they were together. That cover says it all!
In the end, their path was not easy but they went through it together. This was a story of overcoming and surviving the bad and painful things and turning them into a second chance of well-deserved happiness.
Thank you Dianna for this early copy, loved it!
- Eric to Daniel
Another gripping and emotional read from Dianna Roman.
I could tell a few chapters in that I wouldn't be able to put it down. This time we dive into Daniel’s story, (Harper’s best friend from Until I Saw You) and Eric, a regular customer in the bar where Daniel works.
When something unexpected happens and Eric saves Daniels's life, they form a bond and both learn that what they see in each other on the surface is all smoke and mirrors.
From being strangers to boss/employee to a fragile friendship to lovers, Daniel and Eric navigate their budding connection beautifully.
I love how the relationship developed between the two men, Eric’s patience and genuine care for Daniel was remarkable.
Even how Daniel covers his emotional wounds and trauma by donning the perfect mask of sass and cheeriness in front of everyone is heartbreaking. Eric’s feeling of emptiness and how he grapples with his own demons stirred all of my emotions and made me tear up.
I also adore how the secondary characters showed support in their own ways throughout the book. Nothing was rushed, everything was well thought out. When Daniel and Eric eventually come together it had me gripping my Kindle with how hot and sexy they were together. That cover says it all!
In the end, their path was not easy but they went through it together. This was a story of overcoming and surviving the bad and painful things and turning them into a second chance of well-deserved happiness.
Thank you Dianna for this early copy, loved it!
August 11, 2023
Really wanted to love this but I just really dislike Mafia stories! Even though it was confined to the first part of the book, it put me off from the get go.
I found Daniel to be so unlikeable, I couldn't empathise with him at all and he just came across as immature to me. I liked Eric slightly more, but I didn't feel the longing he had for Daniel at all, it was like he talks himself into the relationship more than anything?
It also seemed to go on forever, yet not all that much really happened.
Was also not a fan of how Riley seems to have been changed from a character that I loved in his book, to just some wandering guy always seeking food, like gluttony is his only personality trait now?
I am looking forward to Rob's book though because I really liked him in Riley and Harper's story and I'm intrigued to see the relationship between him and Dylan.
I found Daniel to be so unlikeable, I couldn't empathise with him at all and he just came across as immature to me. I liked Eric slightly more, but I didn't feel the longing he had for Daniel at all, it was like he talks himself into the relationship more than anything?
It also seemed to go on forever, yet not all that much really happened.
Was also not a fan of how Riley seems to have been changed from a character that I loved in his book, to just some wandering guy always seeking food, like gluttony is his only personality trait now?
I am looking forward to Rob's book though because I really liked him in Riley and Harper's story and I'm intrigued to see the relationship between him and Dylan.
August 30, 2025
I cannot believe I’ve only just read this.
I went in blind so I expected similar vibes to “Until I Saw You” but boy was I wrong…(I’ll say it again, do not expect “Until I Saw You”)
Daniel has a very skewed view on relationships and love because of his parents. He’s lonely and bitter but keeps trying to convince himself that meaningless hook ups is all he needs.
Eric lost his wife to cancer and with that, he lost his passion to design clothes. After seeing Daniel working behind the bar, he becomes a regular customer with a mild obsession.
One night Daniel is attacked behind the bar he works at and Eric is the one who saves him. There are other dangers that cause Eric to offer his home to Daniel.
When I tell you, I had no idea how this story will unravel.
Daniel was so very lost and stuck in his ways. He had such a flamboyant personality and tried to rile up Eric at every turn, while being oblivious that Eric would give him the world!
And Eric? The meticulous way he does everything? The love he had to give to every single person in his life? His way of thinking? The way he is absolutely sure of himself and what he wants? And the way he would have waited forever for Daniel to be ready for him? Just…😌
There was an age gap between the two but the way they connect and the palpable longing just screamed that they were made for each other. It took a while for them to even start having normal/proper conversations but it made sense when you learn that Daniel has no idea how to handle someone being nice to him, just because.
The whole book was a rollercoaster full of little plot twists, surprises, feels and two men who were meant to find each other. The slow burn had me almost throwing my kindle a few times but it was so worth it. The character development was chef’s kiss…
The writing wasn’t as refined as the first book but the plot more than makes up for it. This story will stay with me for a while…and Eric? Eric has made the list of absolute green flag MCs😌
I went in blind so I expected similar vibes to “Until I Saw You” but boy was I wrong…(I’ll say it again, do not expect “Until I Saw You”)
Daniel has a very skewed view on relationships and love because of his parents. He’s lonely and bitter but keeps trying to convince himself that meaningless hook ups is all he needs.
Eric lost his wife to cancer and with that, he lost his passion to design clothes. After seeing Daniel working behind the bar, he becomes a regular customer with a mild obsession.
One night Daniel is attacked behind the bar he works at and Eric is the one who saves him. There are other dangers that cause Eric to offer his home to Daniel.
When I tell you, I had no idea how this story will unravel.
Daniel was so very lost and stuck in his ways. He had such a flamboyant personality and tried to rile up Eric at every turn, while being oblivious that Eric would give him the world!
And Eric? The meticulous way he does everything? The love he had to give to every single person in his life? His way of thinking? The way he is absolutely sure of himself and what he wants? And the way he would have waited forever for Daniel to be ready for him? Just…😌
There was an age gap between the two but the way they connect and the palpable longing just screamed that they were made for each other. It took a while for them to even start having normal/proper conversations but it made sense when you learn that Daniel has no idea how to handle someone being nice to him, just because.
The whole book was a rollercoaster full of little plot twists, surprises, feels and two men who were meant to find each other. The slow burn had me almost throwing my kindle a few times but it was so worth it. The character development was chef’s kiss…
The writing wasn’t as refined as the first book but the plot more than makes up for it. This story will stay with me for a while…and Eric? Eric has made the list of absolute green flag MCs😌
March 1, 2024
Daniel was honestly quite unlikable until 85% in. Yes, he’s been hurt before but that does not make hurting and using others okay. If you hurt others to make yourself feel better, it’s time to take a thorough look in the mirror. He acts like a 17 year old, not a 27 year old. I think he was meant to come across as a hurt person with a defence mechanism but he gave off petulant child.
Beside Eric’s stupidity, I liked him well enough. I liked his family and friends.
The (I dont’ even know if you can call it that) push and pull was so ridiculous and annoying. Instead of talking to each other, they took for granted they had each other figured out. Communication? What’s that?
They just walked in circles around each other.
The pacing was off. Absolutely no relationship development happened the first 65% of the book.
I enjoyed seeing Harper, Daniel and Larry again but Daniel was doing too much. He took ”make yourself at home” a little too seriously. He had no manners what so ever.
Their first intimate time together>>
I thought the book was about to take a turn for the better but no, it was just as much a mess after as before.
I was so heterophobic. I don’t care if he’s not anymore. Judging and hating on someone because of their sexuality is never okay. It’s not ”quirky” like I think it was meant to come off as.
What even happened with Eric’s ex-wife’s family in the end? And Eric’s dad just left planet earth or something. The plot didn’t seem all that thought out.
- Age gap (27,49)
- Boss/employee
- Lingerie
- 2,5/5 spice
Tw/Cw: Transphobia, homophobia, violence, murder, death of loved one(cancer, off page)
3 stars
Beside Eric’s stupidity, I liked him well enough. I liked his family and friends.
The (I dont’ even know if you can call it that) push and pull was so ridiculous and annoying. Instead of talking to each other, they took for granted they had each other figured out. Communication? What’s that?
They just walked in circles around each other.
The pacing was off. Absolutely no relationship development happened the first 65% of the book.
I enjoyed seeing Harper, Daniel and Larry again but Daniel was doing too much. He took ”make yourself at home” a little too seriously. He had no manners what so ever.
Their first intimate time together>>
I thought the book was about to take a turn for the better but no, it was just as much a mess after as before.
I was so heterophobic. I don’t care if he’s not anymore. Judging and hating on someone because of their sexuality is never okay. It’s not ”quirky” like I think it was meant to come off as.
What even happened with Eric’s ex-wife’s family in the end? And Eric’s dad just left planet earth or something. The plot didn’t seem all that thought out.
- Age gap (27,49)
- Boss/employee
- Lingerie
- 2,5/5 spice
Tw/Cw: Transphobia, homophobia, violence, murder, death of loved one(cancer, off page)
3 stars
January 19, 2025
I can usually predict stories but I was surprised that this was different and I enjoyed the plot a lot.
I LOVED Eric way more than Daniel, what a beautiful man.
I want to make it clear that part of my rating is because of Riley’s cameos, he is one of my favorite characters and I’m glad I got to read more about him in this book, he is a hoot!
I LOVED Eric way more than Daniel, what a beautiful man.
I want to make it clear that part of my rating is because of Riley’s cameos, he is one of my favorite characters and I’m glad I got to read more about him in this book, he is a hoot!
August 10, 2023
In The Eye of the Beholder is an amazing book. One with special meaning to me because even though these 2 men don't technically communicate in the standard fashion of speech throughout most of the book, what I've come to learn since having my daughter is that all behavior is a form of communication we just have to be willing and open to hearing the unsaid. I love Eric and Daniel's love story and even though they misinterpreted many of the behaviors the other exuded seeing them finally get it was so worth it!
This is a story of two men both in need of a second chance. Eric and Daniel need to learn to let others in, to let themselves be loved. One to know life can be full again after loss and the other for the first time.
Daniel is a grumpy, dog hating( secretly loves them), independent, bartender who struggles to accept help from anyone. His life lens continues to blur what's right in front of him. He has always done life on his own but is forced into a position where he must accept help from the one person he would least expect it and in doing so opens his eyes to all kinds of new possibilities.
Eric a stoic, self-sacrificing, giving, fighter of everyone's battles, lingerie designer has found himself lost after losing his wife. His give-a-fucks, his creativity, his ability to let others love him all gone. Until he unknowingly put himself in a position to face his past and help the man behind the bar. The one man who sparks something inside him that no one or thing has in years.
Their story makes my heart happy. In true Dianna fashion even in the angst we have hysterical moments that made me laugh out loud! We get a hard earned HEA with these 2 MCs. Their struggle to understand each other and the truth of who each other is comes from a deep need to protect themselves from being hurt but in doing so they take forever to get their act together but when they do it's perfection!
This slow-burn, age gap, hurt/comfort, found family is a
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is a story of two men both in need of a second chance. Eric and Daniel need to learn to let others in, to let themselves be loved. One to know life can be full again after loss and the other for the first time.
Daniel is a grumpy, dog hating( secretly loves them), independent, bartender who struggles to accept help from anyone. His life lens continues to blur what's right in front of him. He has always done life on his own but is forced into a position where he must accept help from the one person he would least expect it and in doing so opens his eyes to all kinds of new possibilities.
Eric a stoic, self-sacrificing, giving, fighter of everyone's battles, lingerie designer has found himself lost after losing his wife. His give-a-fucks, his creativity, his ability to let others love him all gone. Until he unknowingly put himself in a position to face his past and help the man behind the bar. The one man who sparks something inside him that no one or thing has in years.
Their story makes my heart happy. In true Dianna fashion even in the angst we have hysterical moments that made me laugh out loud! We get a hard earned HEA with these 2 MCs. Their struggle to understand each other and the truth of who each other is comes from a deep need to protect themselves from being hurt but in doing so they take forever to get their act together but when they do it's perfection!
This slow-burn, age gap, hurt/comfort, found family is a
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
March 2, 2025
It's been several days since I finished this and I'm still not entirely sure how much I liked it 😭 First of all, it was so slooooow. Stuff happened in the first half, but it didn't feel like it. There was supposed to be all this accidentally getting involved with the mafia drama, but it sort of just happened. I don't even know how to explain it. I didn't feel any investment in it. You know how when you are really immersed in a book and you can feel the stakes and it matters? This wasn't that. It's hard to explain. It was like I was having an out of body fever dream, floating above the action and not really caring what was going on down below. It was very unsatisfying knowing I was watching the main event but feeling like it was background noise 😔 Things eventually started to click for me in the second half once Daniel and Eric got together, but it was a long road getting there, and by that point, I felt like a weary traveler 🫠
There were two bright spots in the whole thing - Greg B's narration and Eric. Everything else just sort of happened and I didn't care much. Daniel simply didn't click for me. I couldn't bring myself to like him, which was pretty disappointing tbh. I didn't hate him, but I wanted to love him so that sucked. Eric though 😭 OMG what a gem of a man!!! He stole my heart early on and I loved him throughout. The more I found out about him and his past, the more I loved him. He was almost too precious 🥹 I'd be tempted to read this again just for Eric.
There were two bright spots in the whole thing - Greg B's narration and Eric. Everything else just sort of happened and I didn't care much. Daniel simply didn't click for me. I couldn't bring myself to like him, which was pretty disappointing tbh. I didn't hate him, but I wanted to love him so that sucked. Eric though 😭 OMG what a gem of a man!!! He stole my heart early on and I loved him throughout. The more I found out about him and his past, the more I loved him. He was almost too precious 🥹 I'd be tempted to read this again just for Eric.
July 28, 2023
Daniel Ellis has severe trust issues to the point there's only one person that he trusts in his life, and even then he has issues fully trusting his best friend. He loves working as a bartender, but the handsome older man that has been a regular for the last few years is as charming as he is infuriating. They shared one heated exchange, and that's it, but it doesn't stop Daniel from trying. After leaving work one night and getting into a situation. The last person he expects to rescue him is Mr. Manhattan.
Eric Jordan doesn't know what convinced him to help out the handsome bartender that he can't quite seem to let go or get over. But he's bound and determined to save Daniel as best as he can. Little did he know that saving Daniel from an attacker would lead to a much larger (and much more dangerous) situation, which would inevitable land Daniel a job as Eric's assistant. But without a bar to separate the two men only a few hours a night, their relationship changes in ways that neither of the men would have expected.
Thanks to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!
I had the pleasure of reading Until I Saw You at the end of last year, and I fell in love with Dianna's writing and characters. I knew I had to get my hands on this book as soon as I heard that Daniel was getting his own book. It took me a bit to get into it because, just like any other Dianna Roman book, the romance in this is the slowest of slow burns, but it was so worth it in the end. Daniel and Eric are both incredibly flawed characters that each carry their fair share of baggage, so there is a lot for them to work through before they can even consider the other person. There were several times I wanted to either wrap Daniel up in a hug or punch him in the mouth hoping it knocked some sense into him, but I loved him and Eric both by the end of it.
In the Eye of the Beholder releases August 8th!
Eric Jordan doesn't know what convinced him to help out the handsome bartender that he can't quite seem to let go or get over. But he's bound and determined to save Daniel as best as he can. Little did he know that saving Daniel from an attacker would lead to a much larger (and much more dangerous) situation, which would inevitable land Daniel a job as Eric's assistant. But without a bar to separate the two men only a few hours a night, their relationship changes in ways that neither of the men would have expected.
Thanks to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!
I had the pleasure of reading Until I Saw You at the end of last year, and I fell in love with Dianna's writing and characters. I knew I had to get my hands on this book as soon as I heard that Daniel was getting his own book. It took me a bit to get into it because, just like any other Dianna Roman book, the romance in this is the slowest of slow burns, but it was so worth it in the end. Daniel and Eric are both incredibly flawed characters that each carry their fair share of baggage, so there is a lot for them to work through before they can even consider the other person. There were several times I wanted to either wrap Daniel up in a hug or punch him in the mouth hoping it knocked some sense into him, but I loved him and Eric both by the end of it.
In the Eye of the Beholder releases August 8th!
May 27, 2024
Audio - 5 Stars!
Story - 4.5 Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
August 3, 2023
The author gives us a stunning love story that shows the transformation out of pain and hurt that these men are living in. Completely opposite in many ways and very similar in others the two men find their way to each other and the HEA they have to work for.
Daniel has been taught repeatedly to build very solid walls for the soft sensitive centre he possesses and Eric is reeling from a loss of epic proportions choosing to exist in numbness, except for the bartender he watches. Giving us Layered complex characters with rich history to get completely invested in these two, the author shows us how this awareness from a distance for years comes to a head with one supreme crisis, inexorably putting them in each others path where they have no choice but to cede control to the attachment they have formed.
The story is so immersive and beautifully written with romance dripping from the pages, explosive chemistry underlined with the resistant push and pull, sprinkled with humour, warmth and loads of surprising reveals and twists you don’t see coming at all, all adding to the experience of this journey that’s paced in a way it’s impossible to put down, culminating in a gorgeous ending
Expect:
- Beautifully ugly dogs
- Delicious pining
- Slow burn
- Age gap (20+ years)
- Found family
- Boss employee
- The bratva
- Gorgeous lingerie
This story literally made me feel giddy, get goosebumps, laugh and made me weep while I was reading it. I found it to be insightful in the profound vulnerability it lends its characterisations which allows for more of an equal footing than the tropes may suggest. I highly recommend reading this, it’s going to be another favourite for me (I am having the best reading week 😄) please check the content warning the author has provided.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Swoon: ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥.5
Angst: ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹.5
Humour: 🤣🤣🤣
Daniel has been taught repeatedly to build very solid walls for the soft sensitive centre he possesses and Eric is reeling from a loss of epic proportions choosing to exist in numbness, except for the bartender he watches. Giving us Layered complex characters with rich history to get completely invested in these two, the author shows us how this awareness from a distance for years comes to a head with one supreme crisis, inexorably putting them in each others path where they have no choice but to cede control to the attachment they have formed.
The story is so immersive and beautifully written with romance dripping from the pages, explosive chemistry underlined with the resistant push and pull, sprinkled with humour, warmth and loads of surprising reveals and twists you don’t see coming at all, all adding to the experience of this journey that’s paced in a way it’s impossible to put down, culminating in a gorgeous ending
Expect:
- Beautifully ugly dogs
- Delicious pining
- Slow burn
- Age gap (20+ years)
- Found family
- Boss employee
- The bratva
- Gorgeous lingerie
This story literally made me feel giddy, get goosebumps, laugh and made me weep while I was reading it. I found it to be insightful in the profound vulnerability it lends its characterisations which allows for more of an equal footing than the tropes may suggest. I highly recommend reading this, it’s going to be another favourite for me (I am having the best reading week 😄) please check the content warning the author has provided.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Swoon: ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥.5
Angst: ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹.5
Humour: 🤣🤣🤣
August 1, 2025
Daniel Ellis trusts no one and he trusts love even less. His longstanding commitment to self-reliance backfires when a series of events finds an unlikely savior offering him assistance at every turn. How can the aggravating widower who's sat at the end of his bar the past few years be his "knight in shining armor"?
Daniel is a bartender with plans to one day own his own club. He's saving every penny that he can and has built up quiet a "nest egg", but nowhere near enough to realize his dream. He had originally planned on buying and taking over the bar he currently works at until the owner turned over the running of it to a relative.
Eric is a frequent customer at the bar where Daniel works. He's a widower who finds himself very attracted to Daniel. Since there is a twenty-two-year age gap, he feels this attraction is most likely impossible...but he continues to patronize the bar while sitting and staring at Daniel the entire time. Then one evening, something happens that finds Daniel in need of help...and Eric is immediately there to offer that help.
I loved Daniel's sassiness, even if it did become a bit over-whelming sometimes. The interactions between these two characters frequently causes laughter. Eric proves that he is able to deal with Daniel and is enjoying the job of doing just that. At the same time, you will wonder what could happen to Daniel if he isn't very careful with the good thing he has starting with Eric. Sometimes it appeared that Daniel was completely unaware...but when he is aware, it's not so much the age difference that bothers Daniel, but the differences in their lifestyles and bank balances.
There are several twists and turns in this story, and there is another book, Before I Saw You, before this one, that some of the characters that are in this one are also in that one. They frequent the bar from time to time...like Harper and Riley. These two together also add so much to Daniel and Eric's story. Both stories will grab and hold your attention from the very beginning. If you want a book that'll make you laugh, cry, sigh, smile, and become something you can relate to...then I highly recommend you read Until I Saw You before this one. While both books can easily be read as standalones, In the Eye of the Beholder is so much more if it's read after Until I Saw you.
Daniel is a bartender with plans to one day own his own club. He's saving every penny that he can and has built up quiet a "nest egg", but nowhere near enough to realize his dream. He had originally planned on buying and taking over the bar he currently works at until the owner turned over the running of it to a relative.
Eric is a frequent customer at the bar where Daniel works. He's a widower who finds himself very attracted to Daniel. Since there is a twenty-two-year age gap, he feels this attraction is most likely impossible...but he continues to patronize the bar while sitting and staring at Daniel the entire time. Then one evening, something happens that finds Daniel in need of help...and Eric is immediately there to offer that help.
I loved Daniel's sassiness, even if it did become a bit over-whelming sometimes. The interactions between these two characters frequently causes laughter. Eric proves that he is able to deal with Daniel and is enjoying the job of doing just that. At the same time, you will wonder what could happen to Daniel if he isn't very careful with the good thing he has starting with Eric. Sometimes it appeared that Daniel was completely unaware...but when he is aware, it's not so much the age difference that bothers Daniel, but the differences in their lifestyles and bank balances.
There are several twists and turns in this story, and there is another book, Before I Saw You, before this one, that some of the characters that are in this one are also in that one. They frequent the bar from time to time...like Harper and Riley. These two together also add so much to Daniel and Eric's story. Both stories will grab and hold your attention from the very beginning. If you want a book that'll make you laugh, cry, sigh, smile, and become something you can relate to...then I highly recommend you read Until I Saw You before this one. While both books can easily be read as standalones, In the Eye of the Beholder is so much more if it's read after Until I Saw you.
July 21, 2023
In the Eye of the Beholder is a companion novel to Until I Saw You, and it is Daniel's story. We first meet Daniel as Harper's best friend in Until I Saw You. Daniel is prickly, guarded, and finds himself in a situation where he needs the help of Eric Jordan, who has occupied Daniel's mind for 3 years. Eric is a common patron of the bar that Daniel works at. Nicknamed "Manhattan" because that is his drink of choice, Daniel has never actually spoken to Eric besides when taking his order crazy circumstances bring them together and Daniel finds himself working for Eric because it is no longer safe for Daniel to continue his work at the bar. Eric is a wealthy fashion designer who has suffered his own version of tragedy but finds himself wanting to help and protect Daniel despite Daniels reluctance for accepting any kind of help.
What I liked:
- I liked Daniel's prickliness. I thought his short temper made him a little chaotic but usually with good intentions, especially if he was protecting himself or someone he cared for like Harper. I also liked how his prickliness was such a contrast to his praise kink that he most definitely had.
- Eric's heart. Eric lost his wife Samantha and since her death has been merely going through the motions. Despite this he is so caring of his staff, his friends, and even strangers. He barely knows Daniel and he still steps in to try to help him.
-There is a pretty important reveal that the author has requested to keep a secret so I won't go into it but it definitely changes the whole vibe of the story and just made me feel for Eric even more than I already did.
-Harper and Riley cameos!
- I thought the smut was good, especially their first time together.
What didn't work for me:
- The slow burn was too slow, and I felt like there were parts that dragged a bit.
- The circumstances that lead to Daniel and Eric finally talking felt like it didn't match the rest of the story. It felt almost random and like it didn't need to be the way that it was and the story would have still made sense.
- Because there was so much going on a lot of the conflict was resolved super quickly or sort of brushed off? Daniel has some issues with his family yet he still attempts to speak to his brother and father, and the issues are a large part of why he is the way that he is that it ended up for me feeling a bit unrealistic that by the end Daniel no longer cares about having a relationship with any of them
- Daniel and Eric really just didn't talk to each other about what they were each going through. They were very careful with each other which made sense at the beginning when they didn't really know each other, but I wanted them to have more moments of confiding in the other and putting their guards down.
Overall, I did like Daniel and Eric as a couple, I love age gap - it's one of my all time favorite tropes. I love when prickly characters get to just relax and allow someone else to take care of them. But the slow burn didn't slow burn in the right way for me here, I just felt impatient for them to get together.
I received an arc from the author and this is my honest review.
What I liked:
- I liked Daniel's prickliness. I thought his short temper made him a little chaotic but usually with good intentions, especially if he was protecting himself or someone he cared for like Harper. I also liked how his prickliness was such a contrast to his praise kink that he most definitely had.
- Eric's heart. Eric lost his wife Samantha and since her death has been merely going through the motions. Despite this he is so caring of his staff, his friends, and even strangers. He barely knows Daniel and he still steps in to try to help him.
-There is a pretty important reveal that the author has requested to keep a secret so I won't go into it but it definitely changes the whole vibe of the story and just made me feel for Eric even more than I already did.
-Harper and Riley cameos!
- I thought the smut was good, especially their first time together.
What didn't work for me:
- The slow burn was too slow, and I felt like there were parts that dragged a bit.
- The circumstances that lead to Daniel and Eric finally talking felt like it didn't match the rest of the story. It felt almost random and like it didn't need to be the way that it was and the story would have still made sense.
- Because there was so much going on a lot of the conflict was resolved super quickly or sort of brushed off? Daniel has some issues with his family yet he still attempts to speak to his brother and father, and the issues are a large part of why he is the way that he is that it ended up for me feeling a bit unrealistic that by the end Daniel no longer cares about having a relationship with any of them
- Daniel and Eric really just didn't talk to each other about what they were each going through. They were very careful with each other which made sense at the beginning when they didn't really know each other, but I wanted them to have more moments of confiding in the other and putting their guards down.
Overall, I did like Daniel and Eric as a couple, I love age gap - it's one of my all time favorite tropes. I love when prickly characters get to just relax and allow someone else to take care of them. But the slow burn didn't slow burn in the right way for me here, I just felt impatient for them to get together.
I received an arc from the author and this is my honest review.
Read
March 26, 2024DNF @ 28%.
July 18, 2023
Dianna could never write a bad book!!
After reading until I saw you and falling in love with the characters, I probably physically screamed when I heard we were getting Daniels book. She definitely teased me with all the little snippets she was posting all over social media and I knew from the one liners I saw that this was going to be one of those books I re read multiple times.
This was a one sit read for me, I think I took one tea break and powered through this whole book, the characters honestly suck you in and there were lots of secrets, twists and turns that will have you unable to look away from this novel for even a second.
I don’t know how you couldn’t fall in love with the characters this author writes, every time she gets me, her hurt comfort books hit you right in the feels. This was also such a unique plot as usual, I liked how we got to see Harper and Riley from book one and we kind of continue on where that books left off.
I can’t wait to read more by Dianna!
After reading until I saw you and falling in love with the characters, I probably physically screamed when I heard we were getting Daniels book. She definitely teased me with all the little snippets she was posting all over social media and I knew from the one liners I saw that this was going to be one of those books I re read multiple times.
This was a one sit read for me, I think I took one tea break and powered through this whole book, the characters honestly suck you in and there were lots of secrets, twists and turns that will have you unable to look away from this novel for even a second.
I don’t know how you couldn’t fall in love with the characters this author writes, every time she gets me, her hurt comfort books hit you right in the feels. This was also such a unique plot as usual, I liked how we got to see Harper and Riley from book one and we kind of continue on where that books left off.
I can’t wait to read more by Dianna!
August 10, 2023
Oh my god!
There is nothing better than watching/reading about 2 broken and lonely people healing and falling in love. Daniel and Eric’s story is emotional and their book is very aptly named.
The dedication for this book is “To the person looking at the ugly person in the mirror— throw the damn thing away, it’s obviously fucking broken” and I think that’s just an amazing way to start this book.
This is a slow-burn amazing and emotional book and I’m just obsessed with it. It’s definitely something that people need to read. I love the connection to Until I Saw You and the crossover we see.
There is nothing better than watching/reading about 2 broken and lonely people healing and falling in love. Daniel and Eric’s story is emotional and their book is very aptly named.
The dedication for this book is “To the person looking at the ugly person in the mirror— throw the damn thing away, it’s obviously fucking broken” and I think that’s just an amazing way to start this book.
This is a slow-burn amazing and emotional book and I’m just obsessed with it. It’s definitely something that people need to read. I love the connection to Until I Saw You and the crossover we see.
August 17, 2023
Daniel (Harper’s friend from Until I Saw You) is being harassed by Dallas (Harper’s abusive ex-boyfriend). Dallas owes money to Chicago’s Russia Mafia and tells them that Daniel is his boyfriend. After Daniel leaves the bar where he works one night he is attacked by Dallas. A man from the bar that Daniel calls ‘Manhattan’ because of the drink he orders steps in to help. The events of that night bring ‘Manhattan’, whose name is actually Eric, and Daniel together.
I have zero interest in Mafia romances, so I was quite worried about where the story was going, but it’s essentially a way to force proximity on the two main characters as Eric whisks Daniel off to his country house to keep him safe from the Russian mafiosos. The Mafia stuff gets conveniently brushed aside part way through the book and forgotten.
I’m not really into age gap romances (Eric is 49 and Daniel is 27), but this wasn’t too awful. However, this and the (brief) Mafia sub-theme didn’t do it for me. On top of that, I found neither of the main characters to be very likeable, especially Daniel. I couldn’t really muster much sympathy for him.
(Really minor niggle, but the spelling of one of the very minor character’s names changed part way through which was a bit weird - Isabel/Isabell.)
The story wasn’t as tightly plotted as the previous book and paled in comparison. I really liked the previous book, Until I Saw You, I liked this one a lot less.
I have zero interest in Mafia romances, so I was quite worried about where the story was going, but it’s essentially a way to force proximity on the two main characters as Eric whisks Daniel off to his country house to keep him safe from the Russian mafiosos. The Mafia stuff gets conveniently brushed aside part way through the book and forgotten.
I’m not really into age gap romances (Eric is 49 and Daniel is 27), but this wasn’t too awful. However, this and the (brief) Mafia sub-theme didn’t do it for me. On top of that, I found neither of the main characters to be very likeable, especially Daniel. I couldn’t really muster much sympathy for him.
(Really minor niggle, but the spelling of one of the very minor character’s names changed part way through which was a bit weird - Isabel/Isabell.)
The story wasn’t as tightly plotted as the previous book and paled in comparison. I really liked the previous book, Until I Saw You, I liked this one a lot less.
July 31, 2023
ARC Review
I really wanted to love this book. I loved the first one (Until I Saw You). I love Dianna Roman's writing style, and this book was very well written! It just fell flat for me.
We met Daniel in 'Until I Saw You', where he was the supportive and tough best friend. In this book we get to dive into his story, which is so fitting for his character and I fell in love with him.
Unfortunately, Eric was... meh. I loved his backstory, and everything about his wife, but other than that he felt very two dimensional. I just didn't believe in their relationship. It seemed like 3 years of pining from afar just... became love? Eric's weird hot/cold attitude was a huge turn off. I had a hard time believing that Daniel, with everything we knew of his character, would stick around for what Eric offered.
I loved the plot twists and surprises throughout the book, but the multiple points of conflict didn't really go anywhere, which was a bit disorienting. It felt like there were three separate sections of book, each with their own conflict, that didn't tie together very well, and had very abrupt resolutions.
Overall, I am happy to have read it, and if you liked the first one, you should give it a try!
I really wanted to love this book. I loved the first one (Until I Saw You). I love Dianna Roman's writing style, and this book was very well written! It just fell flat for me.
We met Daniel in 'Until I Saw You', where he was the supportive and tough best friend. In this book we get to dive into his story, which is so fitting for his character and I fell in love with him.
Unfortunately, Eric was... meh. I loved his backstory, and everything about his wife, but other than that he felt very two dimensional. I just didn't believe in their relationship. It seemed like 3 years of pining from afar just... became love? Eric's weird hot/cold attitude was a huge turn off. I had a hard time believing that Daniel, with everything we knew of his character, would stick around for what Eric offered.
I loved the plot twists and surprises throughout the book, but the multiple points of conflict didn't really go anywhere, which was a bit disorienting. It felt like there were three separate sections of book, each with their own conflict, that didn't tie together very well, and had very abrupt resolutions.
Overall, I am happy to have read it, and if you liked the first one, you should give it a try!
August 9, 2023
This was a big disappointment. Daniel was kind and such a good friend in the first book and is an immature jerk in this one. It’s a long, drawn out series of miscommunication and angst. The book is also poorly edited with extra words in some sentences and wrong words dropped in randomly. The author does not seem to know that humility and humiliation are two different words and feelings and uses the word humility for both. I had such a high hopes and it was a big letdown. Also, Riley is so annoying in this book. Ugh. Total bummer. I’m still giving it 3 stars because I got through it but I’m definitely rounding up.
August 2, 2023
4.5
Daniel has had a very difficult life, growing up his parents and brother always pretended he didn't exist when he did something they couldn't capitalize on. And when he thought he found a man who loved him, he turned out to be just as bad as his parents. After that he's been jaded and has stayed far from any type of intimacy ever since. It doesn't matter that the man at the end of the bar has been coming in for the past 3 years, or never takes his eyes off him. 'Manhattan' never says anything more to Daniel aside from ordering his drink... Until Daniel gets attacked by a man and 'Manhattan' saves his life, that moment changes everything between these two men. That night propelled Daniel into danger and right into Eric's arms, but Daniel fights Eric's help tooth and nail, until one day Daniel realizes he can't keep doing that anymore.
Oh, sweet, butter, jaded, Daniel. His character I think a lot of people could relate to, being hurt over and over again, to the point where you just close yourself off? Yeah, pretty sure there are quite a few people out there who can relate. So aside from him being relatable, he was also a great character. His character... Was a difficult character to like at first, especially considering how combative he was and how.. ungrateful he acted. I understand he didn't want to owe anything to anyone but I mean.. he could have been more appreciative of the help that Eric offered with no strings. But! Over the course of the story I got to know and understand Daniel's character better, I understand why he is the way he is, I get way he has walls that are sky high around his heart. I love that Dianna made me understand, she made me like him because she gave him such a terrific backstory! Not to mention how well written his character was. Along with Eric's character and his backstory, everything was just so beautifully written.
I felt compassionate towards Eric when he was trying to deal with Sam's horrible family. I have family members who... Unfortunately are a lot like the ones that are depicted in this story, and even when you try to give them grace and keep giving them the benefit of the doubt, they just keep taking advantage of that. So, in that way I understand how he was conflicted with how to handle them, and with how his wife wanted him to handle them.
I really enjoyed all the scenes of the process behind Eric's company. The sketching, and how they turned the sketch into fabric, to the modeling, and then lastly the show! I thought it was so cool that we went on that journey with these characters.
When I read Until I Saw You I fell in love with Dianna's writing, and after reading this, I fell even more in love with her storytelling. She doesn't create characters/situations and then sugarcoats them, she makes realistic and relatable characters that are gritty, and sad, and jaded, but who also learn how to let themselves be happy and how it's okay to ask for help. She makes realistic books, yeah the stories are a work of fiction, but the stories themselves? Pure reality.
I adored how we got to see Riley, Harper, and of course, Larry in this book, and not just a quick cameo they were in this WHOLE book!! Isn't that awesome?!
If you want a book that'll make you laugh, cry, sigh exasperatedly, smile, and something you can relate to.. then I highly recommend you get yourself Until I Saw You and this book and read the both of them. Cause while this could be red as a standalone, it's so much more enjoyable to read Until I Saw you first.
Daniel has had a very difficult life, growing up his parents and brother always pretended he didn't exist when he did something they couldn't capitalize on. And when he thought he found a man who loved him, he turned out to be just as bad as his parents. After that he's been jaded and has stayed far from any type of intimacy ever since. It doesn't matter that the man at the end of the bar has been coming in for the past 3 years, or never takes his eyes off him. 'Manhattan' never says anything more to Daniel aside from ordering his drink... Until Daniel gets attacked by a man and 'Manhattan' saves his life, that moment changes everything between these two men. That night propelled Daniel into danger and right into Eric's arms, but Daniel fights Eric's help tooth and nail, until one day Daniel realizes he can't keep doing that anymore.
Oh, sweet, butter, jaded, Daniel. His character I think a lot of people could relate to, being hurt over and over again, to the point where you just close yourself off? Yeah, pretty sure there are quite a few people out there who can relate. So aside from him being relatable, he was also a great character. His character... Was a difficult character to like at first, especially considering how combative he was and how.. ungrateful he acted. I understand he didn't want to owe anything to anyone but I mean.. he could have been more appreciative of the help that Eric offered with no strings. But! Over the course of the story I got to know and understand Daniel's character better, I understand why he is the way he is, I get way he has walls that are sky high around his heart. I love that Dianna made me understand, she made me like him because she gave him such a terrific backstory! Not to mention how well written his character was. Along with Eric's character and his backstory, everything was just so beautifully written.
I felt compassionate towards Eric when he was trying to deal with Sam's horrible family. I have family members who... Unfortunately are a lot like the ones that are depicted in this story, and even when you try to give them grace and keep giving them the benefit of the doubt, they just keep taking advantage of that. So, in that way I understand how he was conflicted with how to handle them, and with how his wife wanted him to handle them.
I really enjoyed all the scenes of the process behind Eric's company. The sketching, and how they turned the sketch into fabric, to the modeling, and then lastly the show! I thought it was so cool that we went on that journey with these characters.
When I read Until I Saw You I fell in love with Dianna's writing, and after reading this, I fell even more in love with her storytelling. She doesn't create characters/situations and then sugarcoats them, she makes realistic and relatable characters that are gritty, and sad, and jaded, but who also learn how to let themselves be happy and how it's okay to ask for help. She makes realistic books, yeah the stories are a work of fiction, but the stories themselves? Pure reality.
I adored how we got to see Riley, Harper, and of course, Larry in this book, and not just a quick cameo they were in this WHOLE book!! Isn't that awesome?!
If you want a book that'll make you laugh, cry, sigh exasperatedly, smile, and something you can relate to.. then I highly recommend you get yourself Until I Saw You and this book and read the both of them. Cause while this could be red as a standalone, it's so much more enjoyable to read Until I Saw you first.
August 9, 2023
What a beautiful and unexpected story. After reading Until I saw you a couple of months ago, I had an idea in my head of what Daniel’s story would be and this was the complete opposite in a great way! Daniel was deeply hurt in the past by the people who should have loved him the most and struggles to give his heart to anyone. For the past nine years, he only had hook-ups without emotional attachments and now he met Eric, aka Manhattan, who not only wants his body but his soul and heart as well.
“To have you body and soul. Anything short of that would be a torture I couldn’t possibly survive.”
Eric went through a great loss three years ago and lost his desire to create, apart from where Daniel is concerned. For a long time, they only knew each other as bartender and client, but an eventful and traumatic night brings them together.
I would be ashamed of the hours I’ve spent thinking about how much delight it brings me to ponder all the designs I could adorn that youthful frame of his with, but decided I’m too damn old to be ashamed, and my business is bodies after all, or it was. Mostly, I’m just grateful, grateful that something inspires me. I’ve spent the last few years questioning everything. This is the one thing I refuse to question.
This book was a very slow burn, but I enjoyed seeing Daniel slowly open himself up to the idea of wanting more for himself and realizing how much he isolated himself from any emotional connections. Eric was very patient and understanding of Daniel’s past and it was beautiful to see their bond grow.
Just that little bit and I feel so full, but not in the sense of an intrusion. It’s…I…I’m not alone. For the first time in a decade, I don’t feel alone. Sex has never done that for me before.
We had fun little glimpses of Harper and Riley, who still enjoys goofing around as much as in the first book.
“Where’s Chanel?” “How the hell am I supposed to know? You see the way it works is, the dogs find the blind guy, not the other way around.”
**I received an advanced copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts**
“To have you body and soul. Anything short of that would be a torture I couldn’t possibly survive.”
Eric went through a great loss three years ago and lost his desire to create, apart from where Daniel is concerned. For a long time, they only knew each other as bartender and client, but an eventful and traumatic night brings them together.
I would be ashamed of the hours I’ve spent thinking about how much delight it brings me to ponder all the designs I could adorn that youthful frame of his with, but decided I’m too damn old to be ashamed, and my business is bodies after all, or it was. Mostly, I’m just grateful, grateful that something inspires me. I’ve spent the last few years questioning everything. This is the one thing I refuse to question.
This book was a very slow burn, but I enjoyed seeing Daniel slowly open himself up to the idea of wanting more for himself and realizing how much he isolated himself from any emotional connections. Eric was very patient and understanding of Daniel’s past and it was beautiful to see their bond grow.
Just that little bit and I feel so full, but not in the sense of an intrusion. It’s…I…I’m not alone. For the first time in a decade, I don’t feel alone. Sex has never done that for me before.
We had fun little glimpses of Harper and Riley, who still enjoys goofing around as much as in the first book.
“Where’s Chanel?” “How the hell am I supposed to know? You see the way it works is, the dogs find the blind guy, not the other way around.”
**I received an advanced copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts**
March 13, 2025
WOW, y'all, I have a new favorite author. As soon as I finished Until I Saw You, I KNEW I was going to need to read more of Dianna Roman's backlist, and now I'm not sure which book I love more. In The Eye of the Beholder is very different from the first book in the series, but it still has all of the elements that I loved from the first that I'm finding are Dianna's signatures. This book deals with tough topics with sensitivity, has interesting, introspective characters who truly grow by throughout the story, and all of the tongue in cheek humor and swoon that you could want. Add in a few Harper and Riley cameos and I am a very happy reader.
In the Eye of the Beholder could have been a very dark book - one MMC, Daniel, ends up being targeted by the mafia for a debt, and the other MMC, Eric, tries to shield him with his money and by basically forcing him to stay at his mansion. However, there's so much more nuance to the story - Daniel is basically a secret muse for Eric, a famous lingerie designer with a hidden past. I freaking LOVED Daniel - he's sassy, doesn't care about what anyone else thinks, and just desperately wants to live his dreams without anyone hassling him. He REALLY doesn't like Eric initially, so it really takes a lot for him to soften towards him - this book is a GREAT slow burn. In the Eye of the Beholder has a different kind of caretaking that I love - LOTS of gift-giving, including some lingerie samples that had me fanning myself. Suffice to say, this book has some REALLY hot spice. Eric is a total softie on the inside, and it was so sweet watching him slowly start to open up more to Daniel after being wrapped up in grief for so long.
I absolutely devoured this book - there's never a dull moment, and it legitimately had me both laughing out loud AND crying. If you haven't tried Dianna's books yet YOU NEED TO. I'm so tempted to just go binge her entire backlist - these are just that good.
In the Eye of the Beholder could have been a very dark book - one MMC, Daniel, ends up being targeted by the mafia for a debt, and the other MMC, Eric, tries to shield him with his money and by basically forcing him to stay at his mansion. However, there's so much more nuance to the story - Daniel is basically a secret muse for Eric, a famous lingerie designer with a hidden past. I freaking LOVED Daniel - he's sassy, doesn't care about what anyone else thinks, and just desperately wants to live his dreams without anyone hassling him. He REALLY doesn't like Eric initially, so it really takes a lot for him to soften towards him - this book is a GREAT slow burn. In the Eye of the Beholder has a different kind of caretaking that I love - LOTS of gift-giving, including some lingerie samples that had me fanning myself. Suffice to say, this book has some REALLY hot spice. Eric is a total softie on the inside, and it was so sweet watching him slowly start to open up more to Daniel after being wrapped up in grief for so long.
I absolutely devoured this book - there's never a dull moment, and it legitimately had me both laughing out loud AND crying. If you haven't tried Dianna's books yet YOU NEED TO. I'm so tempted to just go binge her entire backlist - these are just that good.
May 18, 2024
I didn’t hate this but I didn’t love it either. The first halfish felt like it didn’t matter or was part of a separate story esp the mafia bit. I liked the romance but it was sooooo slow getting there. And wtf was Riley’s character even in this book??? This is the first time I haven’t lost my mind over a Dianna Roman book and it feels weird AF. :/
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June 18, 2024I don’t really know what to rate this. It was just meh
Strange considering how much I love the first book
I didn’t do much for me. It was very slow.
Strange considering how much I love the first book
I didn’t do much for me. It was very slow.
August 13, 2023
Sadly, In the eye of the beholder didn't work for me. This is why I don't usually read the follow-ups. As the first book was all kind of perfect, this one is a letdown. It feels like it was written by another Dianna Roman, I'm so disappointed, I don't want to write a single word more about this book. That's it.
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