Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Endless Winter #2

The Mountain

Rate this book
Lily thought a winter in snowy Utah working as a snowboard instructor would be the perfect break. One season to escape her problems. One season of freedom and hardship and beauty.

She always knew she’d have to go home in the end.

But Lily never expected to fall in love with teaching. And she certainly never expected to fall for five of her roommates.

Or for them to fall for her.

Now, with her career and heart hanging in the balance, one season might not be enough.

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2024

29 people are currently reading
96 people want to read

About the author

Elisha Kemp

16 books136 followers
Elisha Kemp is an author of young adult and new adult fiction who writes in a range of genres, including fantasy, paranormal, contemporary and romance.

Elisha Kemp loves creating worlds you can get lost in and characters you can fall in love with.

She lives with her partner, two human-shaped wolf pups and black cat by the beach in New Zealand.

Her ideal day would be a powder day on the slopes, then relaxing by the fire with a red wine and a good book.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
124 (39%)
4 stars
108 (34%)
3 stars
68 (21%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Jordan Fischer | julietfoxreads.
702 reviews214 followers
March 4, 2024
OMG y'all, no one does a poly romance like Elisha Kemp! I was so excited to get back to the Endless Winter after the cliffhanger ending of The Season, and The Mountain did not disappoint. This series is not erotica disguised as why choose - Lily and her boys take figuring out their complicated relationship very seriously and I love that. Another beautiful low angst read with epic found family that will make you really wish you could go on a skiing holiday RIGHT NOW.

The Mountain is the second book in an ongoing series so I won't go into too much detail about the plot to avoid spoilers. Lily and the guys are trying to feel each other out after the events at the end of The Season, and while things are awkward at first, they do slowly get their dynamic back. And once they do, we really start to see how much they all want to be together and it's just beautiful reading how it unfolds. I love how much Matty stands out in this book - he's SO sweet, willing to do literally anything for Lily and the guys. I definitely wouldn't have minded if there were more POV chapters with Liam and Antoine - I'm most curious how their relationship will work within the group relationship going forward. And Lily has SO much growth in this book. She's an excellent strong but vulnerable FMC, and unlike in some why choose books I've read, she doesn't come off as immature or annoying.

The ending of this one has me VERY excited about the next book. I cannot wait to see where things go with some of the VERY interesting reveals in this book! The Mountain is out on March 21, so you have plenty of time to catch up and read The Season before release day!
Profile Image for Mamie Diemer.
372 reviews
March 6, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
“Love doesn’t have time frames or conditions. There aren’t any rules about how long it takes to fall in love, or how many people you can love.”

“Life is short. You get one chance to follow your dreams, to build the life you want to live. And the whole time, there’s going to be people trying to change your path. People who would rather see you as a brick in whatever dream they’re building for themselves, rather than the architect of your own.”

Holy moly THIS SERIES! I have literally never been skiing, snowboarding, or anything and Elisha writes in a way that makes me confident I could learn. I don’t know what she puts in her books, but I can read spicy books ALL DAY and no one’s books make me blush like Elisha’s.

This book picks up almost exactly where The Season leaves off and get to see the aftermath of things (iykyk) from Lily’s POV.

This book definitely focuses more on character development and relationship building than major plot points which I LOVE. It’s pretty evident that this is Eddie, Lily, and Matty’s book. While I love all 5 of our main guys, Eddie was probably my least favorite at the end of The Season. Now he’s worked his way up to be tied with the rest of them 🥰 Time and care was taken to develop his character and his relationship with Lily. Same with Matty, I love getting inside his head and seeing him figure some things out for himself.

I really appreciate how these characters have SUCH GOOD COMMUNICATION. When reading a Why Choose? book I always hope that the characters can have open and honest communication about the *important* stuff. These guys are AMAZING boyfriends. They are such a close knit family and you can just tell how much they love each other (not that kind of love…yet? 👀)

So why not a full 5 stars?


Once again, I cannot waitttttt to get my hands on the third and final book in this series! Elisha writes great mild cliffhanger that make you want to stop and read those last few chapters one more time.

Thank you so much @elishakemp for sending me an ARC! I am OBSESSED.
Profile Image for Ash (so there’s this book).
607 reviews86 followers
March 7, 2024
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance (Polyamorous)
2.5/5 🌶️

I was honored to receive an eARC of The Mountain. This review is honest and freely given. Thank you, Elisha, for the opportunity!

Tropes & Themes: polyamorous relationship, sports romance, hurt/care, sexy lessons, inexperienced / virgin MCs, LGBTQ+ representation (bisexual, demisexual, asexual), found family, slow burn and more.

Spoiler-free summary:
The Mountain, book two in the Endless Winter Series, picks up after the harrowing ending of book one, The Season. The story begins with Lily’s POV, as we reacquaint ourselves with the characters and where the story ended last time.

***

Lily is trying to figure life out. What does she want to do with her life? Her career? The relationships she’s slowly forged with the men she’s been rooming with? So many choices, so many possible directions. She just needs to listen to the wise words of Seth, and ask herself what it is she really wants.

Thoughts:
This book was a truly heartfelt, loving portrayal of how people can come together and forge a family with love. I greatly enjoyed seeing Lily and her men figure out their relationships and begin to plan for their future.

Seth, my sweet baby boy, continues to be the heart of this family, and I adore the way he pushes everyone to be their absolute best, including his focus on group communication. He is a gem, and I love him. I think Elisha did an amazing job of portraying asexuality and its many facets and difficulties.

I also appreciate the time that Elisha took to explore the different prejudices faced by LGBTQ+ folks and People of Color.

Lily went through a lot of self-reflection in this installment and I enjoyed seeing her come into her own a little. I think her gained confidence was much needed and well earned, and I’m looking forward to what she’ll accomplish in book three.

The light cliffy at the end of this book has me VERY INTRIGUED to see how things end up progressing in book three, and I look forward to all the drama and love to come.

***
There were a few reasons why this didn’t quite hit the five star mark.
I am aware that this is a New Adult aged book, so I try to give the characters a little leeway, as they should be going through the same growing pains as the target readers, but I felt some disconnect with how young these characters felt. I think these characters will resonate better with readers in their age range. However, for me, some of the interactions and dialogue was immature enough to be distracting.

The other major thing was the fade to black on Matty and Lily’s first time together. I did read that it would be bonus content, but I strongly believe it should be main content. So much of the story was focused on their relationship and Matty exploring his sexual awakening. Seeing the culmination of that on page would have been very satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Amy.
287 reviews
March 4, 2024
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchage for an honest review 😊

I love this series SO much. Some of this is just going to be me gushing about stuff relating to the series in general rather than this specific book, so I may repeat stuff from my review of the first book, but fuck it. I have feelings and I'm ready to ramble.

I swear it's like Elisha Kemp got into my head and wrote these books that are everything I've been hoping for in a why choose series.

Firstly, I love the ace/demi representation, and I especially love that even though Lily is now embracing her attraction to the guys, we're not constantly having to read how hot they all are. As an ace person, it's gets so dull reading RHs where the FMC makes a note of how hot the guys are every time they're in a scene together and they get turned on just from being in the same room. This book just does attraction, romance and sex in such a realistic and refreshing way. It's clear Lily is attracted to the guys and there are plenty of spicy scenes, but it all happens in a way that doesn't feel like it's being forced down my throat.

Secondly, I love that the characters are all just... normal people. They're just a group of young people trying to do their best, they have flaws/insecurities that add to their character development without defining them, and they're all unique. Fuck, even the fact that they just have normal everyday names is so refreshing. I particularly love that the guys have genuinely diverse body types, personalities and past experiences. I find myself really wanting to get to know them and see all of their relationships develop.

Which brings me to the poly aspect. I personally love it, and I'm so, so excited to see more of the relationships develop between the guys now that things are pretty established between each of them and Lily. I love the care that Seth & Antoine and Eddie & Matty have for each other, I'm very keen on this blossoming romantic something going on between Matty, Antoine and possibly Liam(?), and I'm keen to see Eddie work through the struggles of feeling like a bit of an outsider and become more involved with the group as a whole. I really enjoy that I'm still not entirely sure who's going to end up with who and in what capacity. God I just love the representation of different types of love and affection.

Similarly, the spicy scenes are some of my favourites I've read in a loooong time. I just really appreciate that they're taking their time to get to "proper sex" and this whole book basically showcases that other acts are valid forms of intimacy, not just something that's done for a couple of minutes before getting to "the real deal".

Though I was disappointed that we didn't get to see Lily and Matty's first time, I appreciate that it's being included as bonus content. I was also sad we didn't get to see the gang celebrate Christmas, I really want to know what Matty got the others. Was it just the sweets he mentioned buying at the pharmacy? How did everyone react? Hopefully we get to see that as a bonus chapter or snippet sometime too 🤞

The only thing that didn't really make sense to me was that everyone made a really big deal out of Lily not being able to take time off work in the week either side of Christmas, yet the guys all managed to find free time to go backcountry together for the avalanche scene? I know Liam says Christmas Eve is usually pretty quiet, but that kind of contradicts what we were told earlier about that time of year being completely hectic, and it just seems unlikely that all 5 guys would get that much free time at the same time? But in the grand scheme of the book it was a very minor issue.

The pacing of this book was very chill, which I was expecting after the first book. I don't mind that it's more character focused than plot motivated when I know what I'm getting myself into, though it has left me feeling like, "what, it can't be over already??" I did love the storyline with Jackie and I really liked the phone conversation Lily got to have with her grandfather, it was very wholesome.

I'm so sad that I'm done with this book already but I'm already so excited for the next one! I'm curious to see if we'll continue the current season or jump ahead to New Zealand. Either way, I can't wait!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kayla.
211 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2024
Solid 3.5⭐ for me!
ARC Reader and Review

The Mountain picks up right where the first book (The Season) ended without missing a beat as we drop in. 

Lily is finally beginning to navigate the world of being a snowboard instructor while trying to adjust to the reality of living with five guys. And possibly (be) with them 🤭.
She is building a found family and hoping to hold onto it. 

Elisha is really giving a series you'll want to devour, because this series has been easy and quick to read.  
I enjoyed the book and assume most would.  
Small snowboard town with winter vibes in the mountains of Utah. 

Similar to the first book, some scenes definitely felt tailored towards a new to spice audience, while still being solidly 18+.  
This would go along with the FMC and MMC(s) ages being 19-23 years old. 

A decent amount of adult content that brings the spice, but tasteful enough for most readers or someone just entering the world of a spicy books to ease into. 

Elisha gives a more in depth personal look at the characters and what makes them the way they are.
Picking up right where book one left off was like we missed nothing and got to see their bonds grow. 
I know I definitely have my favorite(s). 


This book did end on a small cliffhanger, leaving me with questions and excitedly hoping for answers in book three!!
March 18, 2024
Oh goodness this was such a great read!! I loved The Season and getting to grow and learn with Lily, but The Mountain just leveled up!

Lily has so much growth in this book, with dealing with the events from the end of book 1, to navigating her relationships with the guys, and starting to gain confidence and getting to know her worth as a snowboard instructor and what her future may look like. As someone who experienced something very similar to Lily, I can relate to her and how she comes to terms with it. Although I didn’t have these amazing guys to take care of my Tom, I still had a roommate who made sure I was safe and helped me through it.

You also get growth from the guys, not only with their place with Lily as a boyfriend, but to one another as like brothers and possibly more to one another. I loved all the rep in this book (Demi, Ace, Bi, Poly). I am none of these, yet Elisha writes these to where I can feel all of their emotions and POV on their lives and situations. I am so very interested in the group dynamics and without spoiling it, a certain two I am rooting for!

Let me tell you, Elisha brought the best in this book though. Whew, make sure you’re hydrated because she comes in with the sear! And ma’am, you definitely know how to take a book reading session with 6 people and amp it up. Hot tamales! Definitely some super saucy moments in this book for sure!

And that ending, although a slight cliffy, I am here for it! I can’t wait to see what Book 3 brings our way! Thank you so much Elisha for letting me ARC for you again!
Profile Image for Luce.
777 reviews338 followers
May 30, 2024
This book features:
- Slow burn
- Why Choose (5 MMC x 1 FMC)
- Workplace romance (ski village setting)
- Asexual x bisexual x demisexual representation
- Low angst
- Smut

Elisha Kemp has such a magical writing style and I flew through this book. I don't usually enjoy 'why choose' books but Elisha makes this one feel so believable and enjoyable. I adore all of the MMC's and feel they all bring something to the group.

I'm excited for what book 3 will bring!
Profile Image for Katie Southby.
96 reviews3 followers
January 4, 2026
In absolute awe over this book. I could not put it down. I’ve missed Lily and her guys and this book is everything that I needed and more. I cannot wait to continue their journey.
Profile Image for Ally.
437 reviews7 followers
March 14, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a really good addition to Elisha Kemp’s newest series. I like that this series is kinda in its own category. I would classify it in the sports genre, but it’s not about professional athletes or super talented individuals that end up on that path. Even though several of the characters have “privileged” backgrounds, the characters are a lot more real than the contemporary stuff I tend to read. I will also add that the story focuses more on the growing relationships in this polycule, than it does on the winter sports. It gives me a bit of a “lost boys” sort of vibe and I feel like the underlying lesson in the whole series is that you only get one life, so go for what makes you happy and not focus on what others say.

My main pros from this book:
-The intimate scenes are HOT. I’ve actually found myself getting bored lately with the scenes in other books I’ve picked up. That was NOT the case with this book.
-As mentioned above, I like that the characters are a lot more “real”
-While I do feel like maybe the relationship levels happened rather quickly, I like that the FMC doesn’t kowtow to the men. She’s focusing on what makes her happy, but not in a selfish way. She’s also not an overly confident or overly meek individual, which I feel is all I see in the new books these days. Again, real. And written in a non annoying way.
-There isn’t a lot of drama. There is some, but it’s not the focus. Having said that, the book does end on a cliffhanger that will likely bring up drama.
-I feel like this author writes in a way that you can truly feel you’re in the setting.

Cons:
-My only real con about this book and the reason for 4 stars instead of 5, is I’m not feeling super drawn to any of the characters. I enjoy them, but they just don’t grab at me. I do feel there is still chemistry between them though.
-There were a few detail things that were also mentioned in some other reviews, but I don’t feel like it really took away from the story. It does feel like the story skipped some parts too at times and the book felt really short.

Looking forward to the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Eliza.
593 reviews9 followers
March 7, 2024
This was 4.5 stars for me!

I absolutely love Lily and her men. I am feral for a woman who knows what they want and isn't afraid to say it and act on it.

In the continuation of the Endless Winter series, we are still in the mountains with the crew. They each are overcoming obstacles in their individual lives but also as a group. Seeing each of these characters grow since book one was magical. I loved their inner battles but also their mentality to overcome their hardships.

Lily is a character I constantly think about as she has changed so much since book one. Meeting her roommates opened up so much of her personality and it was so refreshing to read.

I absolutely LOVE the men/boys of the Endless Winter series. Antoine, Matty, Eddie, Liam, and Seth each bring something different into their relationship and friendship. They're each so different but perfectly compliment one another. This book is a bit steamer than book one which is a thumbs up from me.

There is so much representation in this series that makes me further fall in love with the story and its characters. Not only are the main characters loveable, but the side characters make it that much better (I'm looking at you, Tessa).

I absolutely loved Book Two of the Endless Winter series and CANNOT wait to see what comes next for the crew.
Profile Image for Ines.
1,350 reviews48 followers
March 11, 2024
"The Mountain" is book two in the "Endless Winter" series, where the relationship building (and spice) really pick up and things become what, to me, feels like a pretty realistic poly relationship. It's a bit messy at times, with awkward conversations and communication errors along the way, and I have to admit I really enjoyed it. There are so many poly books out there where everything always seems to run smoothly, or only infected by influences outside of the polycule, and I really enjoyed the messiness in this second book. It was cute at times, and all of these characters gradually share a bit more of their own insecurities. As a result, they all grow closer together and become that found family so many of them seem to have been looking for.

Besides a ton of relationship building and some fascinating spicy scenes, we see more of the mountain as well with ski lessons during Christmas holidays. I don't know how to ski myself, but I have to admit I'm slowly growing more interested in learning how to ski myself some time...

So yeah, I liked "The Mountain", and the realistic representation of poly relationships with a bunch of different orientations included in them. I'm definitely looking forward to the third and final book in this series.
Profile Image for Vix.
202 reviews10 followers
March 15, 2024
~ honest arc review

so we start the book right where we left off and we finally get Lily to admit she has feelings for all of the guys after an intense and difficult situation from the cliffie in book 1, and we get the ball rolling from there — growth and male character developments which i love

I also like how the guys are meshing better now and we may or may not get some more romantic involvement between them — it’s done so effortlessly that doesn’t put me off bc the focus is not on the fmc, it’s quite beautiful actually! the thought process behind the fact you’re starting to be attracted and liking someone… i resonate haha

i’m giving this 3 stars mainly because of two reasons: 1) i feel like it’s too character focused and i crave plot like a mad woman, so i feel like this is missing something that would make me go feral 2) matty and lily slow burn relationship and the fact that we get a fade to black scene of their first time 😭 WHY! that made me disappointed, not gonna lie

the cliffie is once again mild, so i feel like it’s okay to wait for the next one

8 reviews3 followers
March 20, 2024
I absolutely loved the second book in the Endless Winter series The Mountain. A slow burn at the start then it hooked you! It's my favourite book by her so far. I think the character development is soooo good. Each one uniquely themselves and sweetly endearing, with their own histories, and their connectedness and coming together so beautifully written. Hot and spicy with so much representation and inclusiveness for different sexual identities. On top of this Lily also encompasses female power, and how sexism is played out for woman. Lily is a powerful role model for combating this. There is so much to take away from The Mountain and Elisha's other books, while we are treated to the joy of her beautiful illustrative writing style that draws you in, you can practically feel, touch and taste it even after putting the book down.
Profile Image for Karesha Burgess.
122 reviews
March 21, 2024
This is book 2 in the Endless Winter Series by Elisha Kemp. The Mountain picks up right where the first book (The Season) ended without missing a beat as we drop in.

Lily s dealing with the events from the end of book 1 including how to navigating her relationships and feelings about the guys and being a new snowboard instructor. We really get to see Lily come into her own.

The guys also have lots of growth within their relationships with Lily and with each other. There continues to be lots of representation in this book which being to flush out more (Demi, Ace, Bi, Poly).

The spice in this book kicks up. There are some slow burn moments and hot and heavy moments as 6 relationships are figured out. Elisha knows how to write a s special scene. Whew…

This book ends on a mild cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
Profile Image for Sahel ♡.
206 reviews1 follower
March 19, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
3.0 🌶️

I’ve been so excited to read this book especially after the cliffhanger from the season. It definitely did not disappoint and it was worth the wait!

I loved the development between everyone and how each character was discovering something new about themselves. The guys are so protective over Lily and it is the cutest thing.

Reading this book and the moments Lily had were so empowering. I loved how she faced her obstacles but got through them especially in such a male dominant sport.

I loved how all the guys started to warm up to each even more 😭😭 especially Eddie. He’s such a little brat sometimes but I loved him.

I can’t wait for the next book and see what happens.

Hopefully it’s placed in New Zealand 😊

Thank you for the arc!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cassandra.
206 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2024
With how much I loved book 1, I had high expections for this one and it did not disappoint. I love how Lily doesn't hesitate to go after what she wants, even when some hard discussions need to happen. We're seeing a lot more of how hers and the guys' relationships evolve and settle in this book and it's a truly beautiful thing to witness. We also discover more of each characters' backstories. There were a lot of things that made me really happy to read in this book and I just couldn't put it down. With some of the things that were said towards the end, I have to say I'll be excitedly and impatiently waiting for book 3! I have a feeling it's gonna be epic.
Profile Image for  Jackie.
590 reviews8 followers
March 17, 2024
It was great to dive back into the world of Lily and her guys, this book was full of learning to be yourself and comfortable with who you are. I love Lily’s relationship she has with each of the guys they are all very different and she gives them each something different that they need. Likewise they do the same for her and each give her something different that she needs. They all learn to be vulnerable with each other and you can see the care they give not only to Lily but to the other guys too. I loved the slight cliffhanger at the end and can’t wait to read book 3!
Profile Image for Nicole Levy.
416 reviews4 followers
March 21, 2024
This series has it all for a reverse harem, and I don't even mind reading as it's written because I trust the author in the care of the characters! There's some adventure, so much heart, and some stream, all in a ski town setting.

I am not a skier, but I have friends that live in Utah and it all resonates after visiting them literally once 😅 I'd love a little more steam (can't help it, I read more towards the erotic end of the spectrum, generally), but I can't fault this series for it, either. The characters just so well become an extended family.
Profile Image for Molly.
464 reviews5 followers
March 24, 2024
I love the character and relationship development we got throughout this book! The entire condo becomes closer during the events of book 1 and continue that into book 2. Lily had so much determination and growth in this book it’s incredible. We had some heartwarming moments, highs and lows and left off on a crazy (good) cliffhanger. I’m so excited to see what’s next!!
Profile Image for ₊⋆ Nyxia ☾.
705 reviews54 followers
March 7, 2024
I’m loving this series!
This is the second book, and it’s just amazing.
The relationships are building, there’s spice and drama.

The representation is great in this series!! It’s just a feel good read, I love so much. ♡ I can’t wait for the next!
1,022 reviews8 followers
March 21, 2024
The Mountain is the second in the Endless Winter Series by Elisha Kemp. This picks up right where book one left off. I enjoyed the way everyone's relationships are developing and growing. So much love. Waiting for the next!
Profile Image for Mikayla Peters.
34 reviews
March 12, 2024
Beware of the cliffhanger…. Such a good sequel to The Season! I really want to know what happens next! I frickin love every single character! They’re love story is so beautiful 😁
Profile Image for Nadja 》love.andother.stories .
89 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2024
The Mountain by Elisha Kemp is the sequel to an ongoing series and I loved this book so much.

I already loved The Season, but this book was even better.

There was so much love, and caring, and absolutely amazing characters.
This series is just so wholesome and heartwarming.

It can be hard to make everyone equally important and present in a Why Choose and not leave anyone out. Elisha has done this incredibly well.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't pick a favorite because they were all portrayed so beautifully.

The setting in the mountains was so lovely, and the amount of winter sports was perfect.

I can't wait for the last book because I want so much for them to get their final happy ending!
___
Read if you like:
• found family
• sport romance
• why choose
1.5/5 🌶
Profile Image for Unspokenbooks.
258 reviews15 followers
December 13, 2024
Io AMO così TANTO questa storia!
È super dolce, tenera, lo spicy è fantastico e adoro che per una volta più di un interesse amoroso maschile sia insicuro sul s3ss0.
Voglio una storia come quella di Lily, il mio cuoricino ne ha bisogno
Profile Image for Rae, shutupandbookup.
384 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2024
First and foremost! This series goes in order and ends on cliffhangers! This installment literally picks up right where book one leaves off maybe just a little before the ending of book one!


*



*



*



*


"I like all you guys a lot." - Lily


Lily was just looking for a break from life and the heavy expectations of her family and friends. She wasn't looking for anything long term but this season in Utah is proving her wrong. Life tends to throw you curve balls when you least expect it. Only for Lily she's thrown multiple at once!


How will the flat mates move forward after the statement Lily gave? She likes all of them?! ALL of them! Do the guys like her just as much if not more or was this just a winter fling? Lily is also standing at the crossroads as she realizes maybe she wants to teach snowboarding full time. Make a career out of it, but should she? Can she even afford that life?


". . .life is short. You get one chance to follow your dreams, to build the life you want to live. And the whole time, there's going to be people trying to change your path. People who would rather see you as a brick in whatever dream they're building for themselves, rather than the architect of your own." - Grandpa


Sorry, long quote but the above just really hit home and had me crying! Lily's still struggling with trying to get approval from her parents and it really hits close to my heart. She's already overwhelmed by her future and what path she should take but the parental drama only adds to the load. Telling yourself that you will walk your own path and make your own choices is at times easier said than done. Breaking old habits and thought patterns is a constant battle.


To top everything off Lily is unsure about how the guys will feel or take her confession. She knows the feelings of some of the guys and is a little confident but still most men don't like the idea of sharing their woman. Polyamorous relationships do happen, but not in Lily's small world. Toxic past experiences and negative context revolving around such relationships. But maybe just maybe this could be a thing if just until the end of the season. . .


"If anything, you're a fucking saint trying to date all of these assholes. None of us deserve you." - Eddie


What really draws me to Elisha's characters other than the amazing writing! Is just how organic the individual characters feel. The guys aren't instantly all for the polycule relationship and even the ones who are happy with it still struggle! Yes, this is a work of fiction, but it feels more real and believable! Everyone trying to understand their feelings and how they fit into this dynamic they're forming or have been forming. Different backgrounds and upbringings playing a part.


"Sex isn't what makes a relationship. You can love someone without sleeping with them." - Matty! (say it louder for those in the back)


Seth is our ace rep in this book, and I really love it! I admire and respect how Elisha wrote him and I just want to give the giant man a huge hug! He's so patient especially when it comes to Eddie and his no filter mouth. Explaining how he operates and feels toward sex and things that are more intimate. I was tearing up with a lot of the context revolving around my love and how the group felt about Seth. Healthy boundaries and communication being established! Not just for Seth but for multiple things.


I love all of the MMCs in this series and for different reasons! I was excited to get to know more about them and what made them who they are. I feel like in the third book we will get more background knowledge into a couple of the guys. I like how with each installment we bounce around with different POVs and focuses. Certain characters and their arcs being more prominent than others. I'm enjoying Lily's growth, and it just hits so close to home. I can relate to her in so many ways!


This read has so much COMFORT in it, I can't! A lot of healing arcs and found family realizations that had me crying. Yes, I teared up or cried a lot with this read, I couldn't help it! This series will make you feel an array of emotions, good and bad. Be mindful of the trigger warnings! This installment handles the aftermath of Tom and what he did or tried to do. Lily having to deal with the effects of the drug and people asking her what happened and how she wants to proceed. Elisha kept it respectful and wrote it well, but it still hurts and makes you angry.


We do also have a scene with an older bigot of a man. . . Being homophobic and making it very clear with his words and body language. Some racism as well. A suspenseful sequence of events that includes an avalanche because mother nature can be terrifying! One of the MCs having a past with cancer and unsure of the future. Another MC dealing with war PTSD. Language is prominent in this read, both English and non. Elisha including a glossary at the end of the book.


"I can teach you, if you want to learn." - Liam *smirk*


We have different burn rates in this series, whether burn rates with Lily or others within the group! MM action is present and there's a MM relationship within this polycule! Virgin MCs whether for the opposite gender or the same. There's talk of protection and how to be safe with one another. Age gaps all around, but all of the characters are legal adults! We have group fun, teaching moments, aftercare, sexual awakenings and so much more! Someone being the dominate one and helping to instruct the others and dial up the heat to a thousand! MF, MFMM, MFMMM, plus a voyeur!


I can continue to gush about this series and Elisha's writing all day! I loved seeing Lily teach snowboarding and with one student in particular! Seeing Lily get the support she needs from more people than just her guys is so heartwarming! This is another favorite series from Elisha Kemp for me! This book does end with a cliffhanger but a gentle one.


Enjoy this book with so much to offer and don't forget to give the author some stars and read the bonus scene!


shutupandbookup.com
Profile Image for Helene Tellefsen.
1 review
March 10, 2024
I received this arc in exchange for a review, but this is my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.

⭐️4.5 🌶️2
First of all, I rated this a 4.5 stars and I would say it lands on a 2 on the spice scale.
I have been waiting for this book ever since I finished The season the first time. And I LOVED it. It gave me exactly the same type of vibes as I got from the first book, its just such a wholesome book.

The Mountain starts just as The Season ended, something I appreciate a lot. The first book ended on a mini cliffhanger/revelation sort of thing and I was super excited to see how the story would develope. And let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed.

This book is a character driven book, and don't expect a lot of fast paced action or adventure. There is a plot, but its more about character development, relationships, friendships and such things. It also has such good representation and includes both Demi/ace people, wich doesn't have the best rep.

The mountain is such a wholesome feel good book, but in the same time it tackles subjects and themes that are serious and important. I love how this book made me feel. I had such a warm feeling in my heart and I felt for a lot of the characters. This book is also a lot spicier then the first, but I didn't feel like it was to much or took to much of the story.

"I won't hurt you, that touch seems to say. I would never hurt you.''

I absolutely adore the characters in this series. They are all such complex characters with different backgrounds, sexualities, reactions and everything. In some poly/why choose books its hard to estinguish the different characters and a lot of them just end up sounding the same when you read their chapters. It is not the case in this book. Every voice is different and every character is well developed on their own. In this book we get the know the guys and Lily a little bit more, and I can't wait to learn even more! I feel like we get to know them in a nice pace. Its not just a lot of info dumping, but it happens organical and we learn to know the guys in the same pace as Lily, and vice versa. And if I had to say who my favorite character is it would probably be Matty, he is just so precious and I want to give him the biggest hug. Seth also has a big portion of my heart. SOmething I also loved in the book was the communication! Characters who communicate is such an A+ in my book. The boys relationships also progress a lot in comparison to the previous book.

The Mountain ends on a mini cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the continuation of the story! I will probably re-read it twice before the next comes out.

I highly recommend this book if you like, Poly/why choose, character driven books, friendships, found family and all around a feel good book.
And I also wanted to thank Elisha Kemp for sending me this book, you are amazing!🤍
Profile Image for Kimberlea Richardson.
645 reviews14 followers
March 21, 2024
One Season Will Never Be Enough

There are so many things to like about this book, as well as the one before it. The authentic emotions, diversity of characters, inclusion of a variety of sexual representation, but most of all, the realistic feel of the characters, situations, & conversations that take place. It all adds up to a journey through a chaotic mess of feelings between a group of people who all need each other, even if they never could’ve imagined how much.
Wanna know what else I thoroughly enjoyed??? The way the heat level went up several degrees 👀They started rising pretty quickly too, and I was here for it all 🥵🔥😈
I loved the guys, and seeing the way their relationships progressed with Lily, as well as each other (some more than others 👀🫣🥰). I also liked how we really got to delve deeper into what made everyone tick, it made so many things make a lot more sense…especially with Eddie. Watching everyone let down their guards & lean into the feeling of found family was so sweet & touching.
I really enjoyed watching Lily’s confidence grow within herself. It was a beautiful thing to watch throughout the story, and was only matched by watching her slowly come to terms with embracing that confidence within her new relationships also.
There are so many new feelings & situations that we got a peek at for us to look forward to in the next book. Including that huge twist at the very end 👀😮🤯 Can’t wait to see how that plays out, especially with Matty’s little secret that he’s been holding on to. I’m so excited to see how the relationships & friendships continue to grow & evolve between everyone. You can just tell that the last book is going to be full of huge emotional steps for everyone 🥰 It can’t get here fast enough 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Profile Image for Lira.
253 reviews
March 21, 2024
I was happy to get to experience real winter once again thanks to the second book in this series ❄️ I personally forgot that besides all the beauty, calmness and adrenaline at the same time life there has its sometimes deadly challenges and it was shown in The Mountain.

The book (for me) is not as spicy as it was in The Season even though there is enough group activities in the bedroom and outside of it 😜 I guess it’s because what happened to Lily at the end of the first book and I myself, perhaps, could have been affected differently in a sense of my sexual life afterwards. But the love and affection Lily got was healing for all of them, I think.
Some moments were hilarious, though :)

There was a new and very unexpected development related to Matty (I’m trying not to spill the beans here 😁) who surprised me many times throughout the whole book. And I am soooo intrigued with everything that happened and going to happen next!! 😀✨

The whole process of figuring out how to be polyamorous looks realistic and I am rooting for all of them together and each individual pairing ❤️

What happened to Liam and Antoine made me soo mad.. It’s 21st century but alas. Glad that they have the support they need and deserve 💓

I want to smother Eddie and Seth with hugs. They are so precious ❤️‍🩹

Lily is learning how to stand on her own feet and that inspires to remember your own worth too!

The only thing I didn’t understand was whyyy Matty’s first time is in the bonus scene and not in the book itself? 😅💔

Anyway, I am looking forward to the final book now 😍 Cliffhanger is there (not one but many 😁) but it’s mild and not heartbreaking so I can deal with waiting for this one 🤪

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Profile Image for Sharon McMaster.
320 reviews4 followers
March 20, 2024
This book was amazing and picked right back up where The Seasons (book1) left off jumping right into to all the gooey goodness of Lily and her 5 guys.

I love that you get a more in depth look behind the characters and each of their background situations that contribute to their personalities. There is some stuff from the 1st book that rolls over into the 2nd book that was traumatic to Lily and the guys, but I feel it caused them all to finally admit their feelings. All of them struggle with expressing their interest in each other as well as discussing their sexuality as a group but Seth kind of forces the issue with everyone but also teaches Lily to look deeper and figure out what it is that she wants. Things finally start to pick up with the relationships and become a little more sexual than the first book. They all have their own insecurities and vulnerabilities but also each of them brings something different to the table in the relationship.

I love the building of not only their characters but also the advancement into the storyline with their jobs, their family situations, backstories and thoughts/concerns for the future. Some of the storyline with the job is interesting to me as I don’t personally ski/snowboard and always wondered how people learned. So to get the scoop on the dynamics with the instructors being ranked and then the drama with needing more female instructors for private lessons was really interesting.

The whole book was just fantastic, inspirational and gave me all the feels! Can’t wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.