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Shore Thing #5
Baiting Burke
Burke Russo
I don’t do lovey dovey. Watching my four best friends trip and fall into their forever person has been both comical and confusing. When a hurricane hits Coral Pointe Inlet, it throws me into a tailspin I didn’t see coming—with a man who lives to drive me crazy. Jared, the sexy—I mean, the snarky fisherman, has been the bane of my existence for the last three years. How I find myself by his side during a difficult situation is beyond me. Realizing I may actually want to be that person for him makes me question a choice I made a long time ago. Which doesn’t make any sense because my decisions are never wrong…right?
Jared Boone
I’ve lived a simple life in Coral Pointe since the day I was born. All I need is my bait shop, my boat, my dog, Brutus, and the home I’ve lived in for the past several years with the only family I have who matters. Unexpectedly, life has thrown a stone into my calm waters. Somehow, I find myself leaning on Burke, the sexy, stubborn chef of Oceanside Bar and Grill. I’ve made it my mission to bait that man every chance I get. The question is, now that I’ve got him on the hook, do I toss him back into murky waters, or is he finally ready to admit he’s been caught?
Baiting Burke is the fifth book in the Shore Thing series. It can be read as a standalone, but if you'd like to truly dive into the shenanigans between these five best friends and love being immersed in a fun, quirky small town, it's suggested the books be read in order.
I don’t do lovey dovey. Watching my four best friends trip and fall into their forever person has been both comical and confusing. When a hurricane hits Coral Pointe Inlet, it throws me into a tailspin I didn’t see coming—with a man who lives to drive me crazy. Jared, the sexy—I mean, the snarky fisherman, has been the bane of my existence for the last three years. How I find myself by his side during a difficult situation is beyond me. Realizing I may actually want to be that person for him makes me question a choice I made a long time ago. Which doesn’t make any sense because my decisions are never wrong…right?
Jared Boone
I’ve lived a simple life in Coral Pointe since the day I was born. All I need is my bait shop, my boat, my dog, Brutus, and the home I’ve lived in for the past several years with the only family I have who matters. Unexpectedly, life has thrown a stone into my calm waters. Somehow, I find myself leaning on Burke, the sexy, stubborn chef of Oceanside Bar and Grill. I’ve made it my mission to bait that man every chance I get. The question is, now that I’ve got him on the hook, do I toss him back into murky waters, or is he finally ready to admit he’s been caught?
Baiting Burke is the fifth book in the Shore Thing series. It can be read as a standalone, but if you'd like to truly dive into the shenanigans between these five best friends and love being immersed in a fun, quirky small town, it's suggested the books be read in order.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 6, 2023
67 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
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July 1, 2023
MM Romance
Frenemies to Lovers
2 Stars ⭐️
I’ve loved this series so much and I have been dying for this book the entire time. Throughout this series Jared and Burke have had this frenemies type vibe going on, always baiting each other with snappy banter while it’s obvious there are deeper feelings at play. They have snarky nicknames for each other and the chemistry between them is just delicious or at least it had been. At the end of the last book, a hurricane rolls into town and these two end up together at Jared’s house until it passes. It’s obvious something happened between them because they are acting oddly around each other afterwards and I just could not wait to get my hands on this. But sadly I was super disappointed ☹️ and I wouldn’t recommend reading this as a stand-alone because it felt like being thrown into the middle of a book. Had I not read this entire series especially Navigating Noah, I would have been so lost. Originally I thought the reason I wasn’t vibing with it was because of my slump but I put it down for a few weeks and then tried again and sadly it’s the book, not me. 😭😭😭
I didn’t have expectations or at least I tried not to but I was hoping this would rewind a bit and overlap the previous timelines and then it would bring us to the present day forced proximity storm but unfortunately this started at the storm and had them giving into their UST by 6% and that just gutted me 😭😭 After they have this one night stand type thing, there’s a lot of denial on Burke’s part that there’s anything between them and after 4 books of this wavering and then learning how smitten Jared has always been with Burke, I just hated the ambivalence. Also, this book focused more on the events happening to Burke and Jared than their actual relationship development and I wanted more of just them! Jared is having a family issue and Burke helps him so they spend time together but then Burke has his own family drama and it was just too much of that when I wanted them to be focusing on each other or at least having hate sex 🤷🏻♀️. Also, Burke’s reason for not being with Jared this whole time was beyond dumb 🙄😭
What held this book together for me though was the friend group and their partners because I loved them so much. My favorite book in this whole series was Navigating Noah much to my surprise because it had tropes I usually don’t like but Noah and Hunter were just so swoony and I loved being reunited with them and the rest of my boys. I like how the author wrapped up this series and I definitely want to start reading her back catalog. Despite being quite disappointed with Burke and Jared, they had some damn hot sex scenes 🥵🥵 The first time they fuck, it’s a flip fucking scene and I could feel the chemistry between them. That’s why this was so fucking disappointing to me because the chemistry was there but it just wasn’t developed properly and had it been, this book would have rocked my world. 💔
Frenemies to Lovers
2 Stars ⭐️
I’ve loved this series so much and I have been dying for this book the entire time. Throughout this series Jared and Burke have had this frenemies type vibe going on, always baiting each other with snappy banter while it’s obvious there are deeper feelings at play. They have snarky nicknames for each other and the chemistry between them is just delicious or at least it had been. At the end of the last book, a hurricane rolls into town and these two end up together at Jared’s house until it passes. It’s obvious something happened between them because they are acting oddly around each other afterwards and I just could not wait to get my hands on this. But sadly I was super disappointed ☹️ and I wouldn’t recommend reading this as a stand-alone because it felt like being thrown into the middle of a book. Had I not read this entire series especially Navigating Noah, I would have been so lost. Originally I thought the reason I wasn’t vibing with it was because of my slump but I put it down for a few weeks and then tried again and sadly it’s the book, not me. 😭😭😭
I didn’t have expectations or at least I tried not to but I was hoping this would rewind a bit and overlap the previous timelines and then it would bring us to the present day forced proximity storm but unfortunately this started at the storm and had them giving into their UST by 6% and that just gutted me 😭😭 After they have this one night stand type thing, there’s a lot of denial on Burke’s part that there’s anything between them and after 4 books of this wavering and then learning how smitten Jared has always been with Burke, I just hated the ambivalence. Also, this book focused more on the events happening to Burke and Jared than their actual relationship development and I wanted more of just them! Jared is having a family issue and Burke helps him so they spend time together but then Burke has his own family drama and it was just too much of that when I wanted them to be focusing on each other or at least having hate sex 🤷🏻♀️. Also, Burke’s reason for not being with Jared this whole time was beyond dumb 🙄😭
What held this book together for me though was the friend group and their partners because I loved them so much. My favorite book in this whole series was Navigating Noah much to my surprise because it had tropes I usually don’t like but Noah and Hunter were just so swoony and I loved being reunited with them and the rest of my boys. I like how the author wrapped up this series and I definitely want to start reading her back catalog. Despite being quite disappointed with Burke and Jared, they had some damn hot sex scenes 🥵🥵 The first time they fuck, it’s a flip fucking scene and I could feel the chemistry between them. That’s why this was so fucking disappointing to me because the chemistry was there but it just wasn’t developed properly and had it been, this book would have rocked my world. 💔
September 14, 2025
If there’s one thing that this series does differently, it’s the depth of its characters 🫶
I mean - we’ve all read our share of romances involving a group of people. Most authors have a pattern of how they develop characters, and their stories, be that the grumpy/sunshine pairing, or the dreaded third act breakup, or the miscommunication.
That’s not the case here. We have 5 very different friends, all in their early thirties, who co-own Shore Things in Coral Point, a small city by the coast. And each and every one has a different background, a different story - and same goes for the men they end up with.
And while the series progresses, we have the “older” (and future) characters contribute to the story, sometimes with a slightly overlapping time arc.
Still, there books COULD be read as standalone, but I’d definitely recommend to binge read them.
That being said: “cave dweller” Burke, the Italian chef, and “fisher boy” Jared have been popping in and out in the previous books, and I admit I’ve been slightly annoyed with Burke. What an ass, pushing Jared away again and again. I even was annoyed with him at the beginning of this book for around 15-20%. Did I fall in love with him nevertheless? Absolutely. His “redemption arc” was well done, and dare I say: realistic.
And that’s one of the things I love about the characters in this series: They feel real. While there are some “evil exes” or “toxic family members” that feel a bit overdone, the rest feel like people you might know in real life, lovable, but far from perfect.
Not going into detail here, that’s not the point and I don’t think many of you appreciate overly long reviews - they DO get their HEA ofc, and the epilogue brings a cute ending to series, with all of them together, celebrating.
Definitely recommend, and if you like Kirt Graves, then definitely go for the audio, he’s doing a great job.
I mean - we’ve all read our share of romances involving a group of people. Most authors have a pattern of how they develop characters, and their stories, be that the grumpy/sunshine pairing, or the dreaded third act breakup, or the miscommunication.
That’s not the case here. We have 5 very different friends, all in their early thirties, who co-own Shore Things in Coral Point, a small city by the coast. And each and every one has a different background, a different story - and same goes for the men they end up with.
And while the series progresses, we have the “older” (and future) characters contribute to the story, sometimes with a slightly overlapping time arc.
Still, there books COULD be read as standalone, but I’d definitely recommend to binge read them.
That being said: “cave dweller” Burke, the Italian chef, and “fisher boy” Jared have been popping in and out in the previous books, and I admit I’ve been slightly annoyed with Burke. What an ass, pushing Jared away again and again. I even was annoyed with him at the beginning of this book for around 15-20%. Did I fall in love with him nevertheless? Absolutely. His “redemption arc” was well done, and dare I say: realistic.
And that’s one of the things I love about the characters in this series: They feel real. While there are some “evil exes” or “toxic family members” that feel a bit overdone, the rest feel like people you might know in real life, lovable, but far from perfect.
Not going into detail here, that’s not the point and I don’t think many of you appreciate overly long reviews - they DO get their HEA ofc, and the epilogue brings a cute ending to series, with all of them together, celebrating.
Definitely recommend, and if you like Kirt Graves, then definitely go for the audio, he’s doing a great job.
June 5, 2025
Burke Russo: I don’t do lovey-dovey. Watching my four best friends' trip and fall into their forever person has been both comical and confusing. When a hurricane hits Coral Pointe Inlet, it throws me into a tailspin I didn’t see coming—with a man who lives to drive me crazy. Jared, the sexy...I mean, the snarky fisherman.
Jared Boone: I’ve lived a simple life in Coral Pointe since the day I was born. All I need is my bait shop, my boat, my dog, and the home I’ve lived in for the past several years with the only family I have who matters. Unexpectedly, life has thrown a stone into my calm waters. Somehow, I find myself leaning on Burke, the sexy, stubborn chef of Oceanside Bar and Grill. I’ve made it my mission to bait that man every chance I get. The question is, now that I’ve got him on the hook, do I toss him back into murky waters, or is he finally ready to admit he’s been caught?
FINALLY...AT LAST...These two have been baiting each other since the first book. It was becoming both hilarious and frustrating. It took a hurricane, but whatever it took was fine by me! During the hurricane the two guys were trapped in Jared's house, and all bets were off for the entire night. The attraction and chemistry were just too big, way too much, for either of them to ignore any longer.
Jared's world will soon fall apart, but Burke will be there to catch him. It shouldn't have surprised either of them as much as it did. The more time they spend together, the more the walls come crumbling down. In its wake...all that is left, is the realization that too much time has been wasted. In the end, all anyone can want is to be hooked by the one person you know you just can't or want to live without.
I'm a bit sad to say goodbye to the boys of Coral Pointe...but I own the books and that's what rereads are for.
Jared Boone: I’ve lived a simple life in Coral Pointe since the day I was born. All I need is my bait shop, my boat, my dog, and the home I’ve lived in for the past several years with the only family I have who matters. Unexpectedly, life has thrown a stone into my calm waters. Somehow, I find myself leaning on Burke, the sexy, stubborn chef of Oceanside Bar and Grill. I’ve made it my mission to bait that man every chance I get. The question is, now that I’ve got him on the hook, do I toss him back into murky waters, or is he finally ready to admit he’s been caught?
FINALLY...AT LAST...These two have been baiting each other since the first book. It was becoming both hilarious and frustrating. It took a hurricane, but whatever it took was fine by me! During the hurricane the two guys were trapped in Jared's house, and all bets were off for the entire night. The attraction and chemistry were just too big, way too much, for either of them to ignore any longer.
Jared's world will soon fall apart, but Burke will be there to catch him. It shouldn't have surprised either of them as much as it did. The more time they spend together, the more the walls come crumbling down. In its wake...all that is left, is the realization that too much time has been wasted. In the end, all anyone can want is to be hooked by the one person you know you just can't or want to live without.
I'm a bit sad to say goodbye to the boys of Coral Pointe...but I own the books and that's what rereads are for.
March 5, 2023
I have loved every book in this series but it's been no surprise that I was waiting for Burke and Jared's story and Jaclyn delivered on all counts.
When you find out the main reason for why these two men have been fratching with each other for the past three years, everything falls into place.
It's not really an enemies or even frenemies to lovers romance, these two have been dancing around their attraction and the UST has been flying high each time they're in the same space.
But they both have a combination of stubbornness and an independent streak a mile wide which has stopped them from trying to resolve their issues until it all boils over during a hurricane.
I think what I loved the most about this book is how there are multiple different threads which draw the two men together bit by bit as they slowly start to bring down the walls both hold tight to.
Burke's dawning awareness that how his relationship with his family has driven his own stubborn determination to do the opposite of what he might really want is a painful journey for him but a delightful one for the reader.
Similarly, Jared's barely holding on as he prepares to lose the only member of his family left who's ever given a damn and his stubborn pride is holding him back from reaching out for support in the town that doesn't know the full history of what led his grandfather to sell his marina.
There's some painful hard truths to learn on the way, but this is still a fairly low angst read which doesn't rely on throwing in drama for the sake of it.
And, of course, when the walls finally do drop, these two are as explosive as you'd expect!
Seeing them start to lean on each other for more than just the sexual release is a really beautiful thing and when Burke's Mama and Pop descend on the small town to offer Jared more support, I may have got a bit teary.
Of course, the next moment I was laughing my head off as Mama Russo gives all "her boys" their own cute nickname to go alongside her Little Gnocchi - who isn't at all impressed with how often it pops out of her mouth when there are other people about to take the mickey!
I really hope Jaclyn comes back to Coral Pointe in the future as these are just the perfect "feel good" reads for me.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
When you find out the main reason for why these two men have been fratching with each other for the past three years, everything falls into place.
It's not really an enemies or even frenemies to lovers romance, these two have been dancing around their attraction and the UST has been flying high each time they're in the same space.
But they both have a combination of stubbornness and an independent streak a mile wide which has stopped them from trying to resolve their issues until it all boils over during a hurricane.
I think what I loved the most about this book is how there are multiple different threads which draw the two men together bit by bit as they slowly start to bring down the walls both hold tight to.
Burke's dawning awareness that how his relationship with his family has driven his own stubborn determination to do the opposite of what he might really want is a painful journey for him but a delightful one for the reader.
Similarly, Jared's barely holding on as he prepares to lose the only member of his family left who's ever given a damn and his stubborn pride is holding him back from reaching out for support in the town that doesn't know the full history of what led his grandfather to sell his marina.
There's some painful hard truths to learn on the way, but this is still a fairly low angst read which doesn't rely on throwing in drama for the sake of it.
And, of course, when the walls finally do drop, these two are as explosive as you'd expect!
Seeing them start to lean on each other for more than just the sexual release is a really beautiful thing and when Burke's Mama and Pop descend on the small town to offer Jared more support, I may have got a bit teary.
Of course, the next moment I was laughing my head off as Mama Russo gives all "her boys" their own cute nickname to go alongside her Little Gnocchi - who isn't at all impressed with how often it pops out of her mouth when there are other people about to take the mickey!
I really hope Jaclyn comes back to Coral Pointe in the future as these are just the perfect "feel good" reads for me.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
March 7, 2023
4.5
I knew Burke and Jared would end up my favourite couple and I was not disappointed!
I knew Burke and Jared would end up my favourite couple and I was not disappointed!
March 15, 2023
Książki Jaclyn Quinn wyjątkowo dobrze mi się czyta. Choć nie wnoszą nic nowego i na pewno nigdy nie wygrają w kategorii najlepsza książka roku w kategorii LGBT czy romans MM jakiegokolwiek portalu - ba, nawet nie zostaną wzięte pod uwagę przy nominacjach do nominacji - to zawsze chętnie po nie sięgam. Zazwyczaj jest mało lub bardzo mało dramy, niezły, dobry lub nawet bardzo dobry drugi plan, w seriach zawsze można liczyć na to, że bohaterowie z wcześniejszych tomów pojawią się w kolejnych - i to nie wspomniani w jednym zdaniu, tylko czynnie będą brali udział w historii. Pomimo, że to książki raczej lekkie i nie ma się w nich co doszukiwać nie wiadomo jakiej głębi czy drugiego lub piątego dna, to inteligencji nie obrażają 😁
Czasami tylko jakiś bohater i jego motywacja mnie wkurzy - jak tutaj Burke 😜 Jak jeszcze byłam w stanie zrozumieć jego zachowanie w stosunku do rodziny (zresztą kochającej go bardzo - i vice versa), to jednak jego zachowanie w stosunku do Jareda przez 3 lata - zaprzeczanie chemii i wzajemnej fascynacji - było po prostu idiotyczne. Powody to były najzwyczajniej w świecie pierdoły niewarte nawet wspominania, które powstały tylko w jego zakutym, upartym łbie. Zatem tiaaa... tej części historii nie łyknęłam 😜
Ale jak zwykle czytało mi się super, to leci bezproblemowa czwóreczka 😁
Czasami tylko jakiś bohater i jego motywacja mnie wkurzy - jak tutaj Burke 😜 Jak jeszcze byłam w stanie zrozumieć jego zachowanie w stosunku do rodziny (zresztą kochającej go bardzo - i vice versa), to jednak jego zachowanie w stosunku do Jareda przez 3 lata - zaprzeczanie chemii i wzajemnej fascynacji - było po prostu idiotyczne. Powody to były najzwyczajniej w świecie pierdoły niewarte nawet wspominania, które powstały tylko w jego zakutym, upartym łbie. Zatem tiaaa... tej części historii nie łyknęłam 😜
Ale jak zwykle czytało mi się super, to leci bezproblemowa czwóreczka 😁
December 27, 2023
4 stars for the series
Another series binge-read from this author.
Another series binge-read from this author.
June 21, 2023
I seem to be in the minority here but I was expecting more from these two seeing that they had so much chemistry in other people’s books. If I hadn’t read the other books this book would have been hard to read because these guys are having sex within the first 5% so we see absolutely no build up. It definitely takes away from the chemistry I thought was there.
I feel like these guys only liked each other for sex. Every time their monologue spoke about the other it had nothing to do with how they felt about one another and everything to do with how horny they made each other. Every time Burke went to Jared it felt like he was using him for sex and Jared just took it.
Burke had way too many different reasons for not being with Jared. First it was because he didn’t think Jared would be a good fit and then it was because he wasn’t Italian and oh “what will my mom think” and then a few other ridiculous reasons but he never did settle on one.
I felt like this book mainly focused on Burke and Jared’s issues with their families rather than the romance between the two. I skimmed so much of this book because I just didn’t care about the drama, I wanted to see these two do some cute things together. But we didn’t see them together much. Not gonna lie I was disappointed but I will keep reading books by this author.
I feel like these guys only liked each other for sex. Every time their monologue spoke about the other it had nothing to do with how they felt about one another and everything to do with how horny they made each other. Every time Burke went to Jared it felt like he was using him for sex and Jared just took it.
Burke had way too many different reasons for not being with Jared. First it was because he didn’t think Jared would be a good fit and then it was because he wasn’t Italian and oh “what will my mom think” and then a few other ridiculous reasons but he never did settle on one.
I felt like this book mainly focused on Burke and Jared’s issues with their families rather than the romance between the two. I skimmed so much of this book because I just didn’t care about the drama, I wanted to see these two do some cute things together. But we didn’t see them together much. Not gonna lie I was disappointed but I will keep reading books by this author.
January 25, 2024
3.5 Stars
I really loved Jared. His struggles with his family and his deep love for his grandpa gave me all the feels. This man deserves the world ❤️
I felt the chemistry between him and Burke but God Burke was frustrating. I'm so glad they got together and it was sexy and sweet but Burke's motives (in most areas of his life) are flimsy and ridiculous.
Overall this series was fun and it gave me lots of listening hours while I worked but it's nothing groundbreaking. Perfect for those who like low-angst, fluffy romances with a big group of characters.
I really loved Jared. His struggles with his family and his deep love for his grandpa gave me all the feels. This man deserves the world ❤️
I felt the chemistry between him and Burke but God Burke was frustrating. I'm so glad they got together and it was sexy and sweet but Burke's motives (in most areas of his life) are flimsy and ridiculous.
Overall this series was fun and it gave me lots of listening hours while I worked but it's nothing groundbreaking. Perfect for those who like low-angst, fluffy romances with a big group of characters.
June 16, 2024
The moment I read the first book in this series, Convincing Cole, and was introduced to Jared and Burke and their dynamic, I knew they'd have a book. And as I went through the series and watched the others in this amazing friend group fall in love and find their HEA, that dynamic became more and more intense. Not gonna lie, this is the book I was looking forward to the most. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the other ones as well. They're fun and swoony and steamy and give me all the feels, but man... This is absolutely my favorite.
When Jared's world starts crumbling as his biggest fear comes true, these two finally come together in the most amazing way. It's definitely not a smooth ride because these two love to challenge each other but they also support each other beautifully. And the steam? My god, it's explosive. But what I didn't expect was that this book would make me cry. I don't cry easily with books, but this one really had me sniffling and my heart broke. Luckily it was then stitched back together as well.
Baiting Burke, and the Shore Thing series as a whole, is full off quirky small beach town shenanigans, a found family friend group you wish was more than fiction and all the feels. I whole-heartedly recommend it and I am sad that it's almost time to say goodbye to this amazing group of friends from Coral Pointe that I've come to love.
When Jared's world starts crumbling as his biggest fear comes true, these two finally come together in the most amazing way. It's definitely not a smooth ride because these two love to challenge each other but they also support each other beautifully. And the steam? My god, it's explosive. But what I didn't expect was that this book would make me cry. I don't cry easily with books, but this one really had me sniffling and my heart broke. Luckily it was then stitched back together as well.
Baiting Burke, and the Shore Thing series as a whole, is full off quirky small beach town shenanigans, a found family friend group you wish was more than fiction and all the feels. I whole-heartedly recommend it and I am sad that it's almost time to say goodbye to this amazing group of friends from Coral Pointe that I've come to love.
March 11, 2023
I have really enjoyed this series and have been waiting for Burke and Jared to finally get their HEA. This had all the things I’ve loved about this series—found family, laughter, and feels. Burke and Jared didn’t disappoint in their back and forth and I loved watching Burke flounder In his sappy awkwardness. I do wish we could have gotten a little more relationship build in with them, but I had a smile on my face the whole time so really no complaints.
I can definitely see myself coming back to this series when I’m in need of a comfort read. I’ll miss these boys until I visit them again.
I can definitely see myself coming back to this series when I’m in need of a comfort read. I’ll miss these boys until I visit them again.
March 11, 2023
I've been waiting for us together Burke's story and I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed following along as Burke and Jared both finally got the life they deserved.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
dnf
April 1, 2023No fault DNF at Ch 4. I was excited to read about the hurricane / survival, but that was over way too quickly and I’m just not super excited about the rest of the book. The parts I read were enjoyable though.
March 14, 2023
Is there anything better than an enemies-to-lovers story? What if the enemies aren’t really enemies, but have an attraction to one another so strong, but so against what one of them thinks his family will expect of him that they end up trading barbs and ignoring said attraction for years? Whew! That was quite a sentence! Burke and Jared have been circling one another for years, refusing to admit that their sparks could light the entirety of Coral Pointe for millennia.
When a hurricane traps them in Jared’s house, they wind up sharing a couch, some tequila and a sturdy kitchen table… and that was quite a scene! The two of them refuse to admit that anything has changed between them, but the. Jared’s grandfather passes away and Burke springs into action, dealing with Jared’s horrific DNA sharers, the food for the wake after the funeral and even drove Jared to see his grandfather to be there before he passed away.
The addition of a Boone family showdown, many welcome appearances by our other Pointer boys and Mama Russo coming to help her Little Gnocchi see that Jared is the Little Cannoli for her Burcardo. Italian or not, she and the family have claimed him, given Burke their blessing and shut down the town’s gossip for believing anything less than complimentary about Jared Boone.
Saying Goodbye to Cole, Sage, Ford, Noah and Burke is hard enough as it is, but saying Ciao to Aiden, Levi, Abe, Hunter & Logan and Boone makes it that much more bittersweet. Jaclyn Quinn gave her boys quite the send off and I’m going to be lost without another Coral Pointe book to look forward to.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is unpaid and honest.
When a hurricane traps them in Jared’s house, they wind up sharing a couch, some tequila and a sturdy kitchen table… and that was quite a scene! The two of them refuse to admit that anything has changed between them, but the. Jared’s grandfather passes away and Burke springs into action, dealing with Jared’s horrific DNA sharers, the food for the wake after the funeral and even drove Jared to see his grandfather to be there before he passed away.
The addition of a Boone family showdown, many welcome appearances by our other Pointer boys and Mama Russo coming to help her Little Gnocchi see that Jared is the Little Cannoli for her Burcardo. Italian or not, she and the family have claimed him, given Burke their blessing and shut down the town’s gossip for believing anything less than complimentary about Jared Boone.
Saying Goodbye to Cole, Sage, Ford, Noah and Burke is hard enough as it is, but saying Ciao to Aiden, Levi, Abe, Hunter & Logan and Boone makes it that much more bittersweet. Jaclyn Quinn gave her boys quite the send off and I’m going to be lost without another Coral Pointe book to look forward to.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is unpaid and honest.
June 11, 2023
Three weddings and a funeral?
This series is the best storytelling of found family and real family adventures that I have ever found, and I read a lot of books.
The original five friends built a real world fantasy through supporting each other and their community. All had some issues with real family, money, opportunities, and distractions. Yet the balance of skills, abilities, knowledge from college together into business together, and eventually paradise in Coral Pointe together while adding new friends and relationships to grow the wild thrill of sharing love together as a family and with real family, it is somehow the ideal mix of love, friendship, and family, only with water, boats, hurricanes, houses, hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, fishing, kites, sand, surf, dice, and Boardwalk!
Planes, trains, U-Hauls, surfboards, golf carts, walking, swimming, fishing, cookouts, sunshine, festivals, storms, parties, bars, menus, Bat-Signals, kissing booths, and marvelous family times make Coral Pointe the perfect place for weddings and snark. Even Fred likes to get caught by the Fisherboy.
This series is the best storytelling of found family and real family adventures that I have ever found, and I read a lot of books.
The original five friends built a real world fantasy through supporting each other and their community. All had some issues with real family, money, opportunities, and distractions. Yet the balance of skills, abilities, knowledge from college together into business together, and eventually paradise in Coral Pointe together while adding new friends and relationships to grow the wild thrill of sharing love together as a family and with real family, it is somehow the ideal mix of love, friendship, and family, only with water, boats, hurricanes, houses, hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, fishing, kites, sand, surf, dice, and Boardwalk!
Planes, trains, U-Hauls, surfboards, golf carts, walking, swimming, fishing, cookouts, sunshine, festivals, storms, parties, bars, menus, Bat-Signals, kissing booths, and marvelous family times make Coral Pointe the perfect place for weddings and snark. Even Fred likes to get caught by the Fisherboy.
January 17, 2024
Just a couple of niggles stopped this from being a 5 star read.
Loved the antagonism, the nicknames and the banter between them.
Loved Burke showing up for Jared constantly. Being his support and making sure their friend and even Burke's family were there to support him in need.
Flip f**ks? Awesome. Loved it.
My main niggle and this is going to sound super petty, I'm really sorry, but it bugged me - the dog. Jared has a german shepherd that loves to run up and stick his nose into crotches. Cool. What isn't cool is constantly leaving the dog on his own. Jared appears on Burke's doorstep late one night and then just doesn't go home for probably 12hrs. A german shepherd would have you coming back to a destroyed house. They are dogs that need a lot of mental stimulation. Stupid to get annoyed about, but I don't think he took that dog for a walk once.
Other than that, I did like this book as I've enjoyed the series. There are 2 novellas that I'm going to read to get Sage's wedding hopefully.
Loved the antagonism, the nicknames and the banter between them.
Loved Burke showing up for Jared constantly. Being his support and making sure their friend and even Burke's family were there to support him in need.
Flip f**ks? Awesome. Loved it.
My main niggle and this is going to sound super petty, I'm really sorry, but it bugged me - the dog. Jared has a german shepherd that loves to run up and stick his nose into crotches. Cool. What isn't cool is constantly leaving the dog on his own. Jared appears on Burke's doorstep late one night and then just doesn't go home for probably 12hrs. A german shepherd would have you coming back to a destroyed house. They are dogs that need a lot of mental stimulation. Stupid to get annoyed about, but I don't think he took that dog for a walk once.
Other than that, I did like this book as I've enjoyed the series. There are 2 novellas that I'm going to read to get Sage's wedding hopefully.
March 5, 2023
The end has come and I don't want to let go.
But having read that the stubborn Burke has finally let his walls down and took a chance with our beloved Fisherboy aka Jared has my heat at ease.
These two were baiting each other since book one. It was both hilarious as it was frustrating. But when a hurricane traps them inside Jared's house, all bets are off for a night. But the attraction and chemistry is too big to ignore. And when Jared's world falls apart, Burke is there to catch him, surprising them both.
The more time spent in each other's company, the more the walls that have been up, come crumbling down. And in its wake all that is left, is the realization that too much time was wasted and all one can want is to be hooked, lined and sinkered by the one person you can't live without.
But having read that the stubborn Burke has finally let his walls down and took a chance with our beloved Fisherboy aka Jared has my heat at ease.
These two were baiting each other since book one. It was both hilarious as it was frustrating. But when a hurricane traps them inside Jared's house, all bets are off for a night. But the attraction and chemistry is too big to ignore. And when Jared's world falls apart, Burke is there to catch him, surprising them both.
The more time spent in each other's company, the more the walls that have been up, come crumbling down. And in its wake all that is left, is the realization that too much time was wasted and all one can want is to be hooked, lined and sinkered by the one person you can't live without.
March 15, 2023
Finally!! Finally!!!! Fishery and the caveman Finally gave into the sexual tension. I have loved this series! I have loved getting to know the best friends/no brothers!! I loved seeing more about Burke in this and Jared and of course the best part! The puppers!!!
March 18, 2023
Emotional constipation at it's finest
I loved the other books in this series. This one started off-putting, and didn't get any better by the time I got to 40%. I just can't follow Burke's emotional journey. He doesn't think about how he feels, even as he pushes people away. I hate when characters hint at a deeper problem but never think about what that problem is just to create some kind of mystery to be revealed later in the book.
If you've read previous books in the series, you've met Burke and Jared. They have obvious sexual chemistry, but Burke has always denied it. You'd think being stuck in a house together during a hurricane would lead to some revelations. Nope! Just sex.
After reading almost half the book, these guys have less chemistry than they did before. It doesn't seem like they even like each other. There's nothing fun or sexy about the way Burke jerks Jared around, or the way Jared drools over Burke but only insults and teases him instead of making space for real conversation.
I loved the other books in this series. This one started off-putting, and didn't get any better by the time I got to 40%. I just can't follow Burke's emotional journey. He doesn't think about how he feels, even as he pushes people away. I hate when characters hint at a deeper problem but never think about what that problem is just to create some kind of mystery to be revealed later in the book.
If you've read previous books in the series, you've met Burke and Jared. They have obvious sexual chemistry, but Burke has always denied it. You'd think being stuck in a house together during a hurricane would lead to some revelations. Nope! Just sex.
After reading almost half the book, these guys have less chemistry than they did before. It doesn't seem like they even like each other. There's nothing fun or sexy about the way Burke jerks Jared around, or the way Jared drools over Burke but only insults and teases him instead of making space for real conversation.
March 17, 2023
A really good finish for the series. My only issue was the amount of will they or won't they. Both Jared and Burke spent a lot of time trying to fight their attraction. Jared worked through some familial issues with added depth to the book. Good read, just a little long. I received an arc from Gay Romance Reviews, this is my review.
March 8, 2023
Such a great series from Jaclyn Quinn! A great finish, rounding out the 5 friends' romances with Burke and Jared.
Burke is the grumpiest grouch of the 5 friends that include Cole, Levi, Ford, Noah, and Burke. Each of these friends for life has their own book and this is the 5th in the series. It's not my favorite of the series, but it's a strong addition. In order, I rank the books in this order:
1. Convincing Cole
2. Navigating Noah
3 Landing Levi
4. Baiting Burke
5. Flustering Ford
In Baiting Burke, Burke and Jared have been dancing around one another for 3 years. They poke and prod each other, competing to see who can get under the other's skin and have the last word. It must be exhausting for them because I was getting a little exhausted by it just reading about it! I knew it would be good once we got past the fighting and it totally was!
Jared has some issues with his family in this book - it's our first glimpse into him as more than a side character. Burke finds himself in the position of having to make the decision if he's going to continue to fight his attraction to Jared, or to finally give in and be there for him when he needs someone. Burke's family also makes a big appearance in this book for the first time - and Mama Russo is not to be trifled with! She was fantastic - loved reading about her!
While I was getting impatient waiting for them to get over themselves (mostly it was Burke holding back), I was correct in the fact that it was going to be oh so good when they came together. Breaking down a grump's hard exterior is so satisfying! I love seeing a big tough guy shock himself by showing vulnerability and emotional connection. Burke does that in spades here... eventually! These two are on fire together - they have an attraction that cannot be ignored and is so fun to read about. Very hot, descriptive scenes of their escapades together, as well as some really emotional moments when Jared NEEDS Burke. And Burke steps right up. I was so proud of him!
This book is a must read if you've loved this series so far! It completes the picture for all the wonderful men, and gives a special epilogue that is a sweet farewell to these guys. I loved this series so much - awesome writing by Jaclyn Quinn!
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
Burke is the grumpiest grouch of the 5 friends that include Cole, Levi, Ford, Noah, and Burke. Each of these friends for life has their own book and this is the 5th in the series. It's not my favorite of the series, but it's a strong addition. In order, I rank the books in this order:
1. Convincing Cole
2. Navigating Noah
3 Landing Levi
4. Baiting Burke
5. Flustering Ford
In Baiting Burke, Burke and Jared have been dancing around one another for 3 years. They poke and prod each other, competing to see who can get under the other's skin and have the last word. It must be exhausting for them because I was getting a little exhausted by it just reading about it! I knew it would be good once we got past the fighting and it totally was!
Jared has some issues with his family in this book - it's our first glimpse into him as more than a side character. Burke finds himself in the position of having to make the decision if he's going to continue to fight his attraction to Jared, or to finally give in and be there for him when he needs someone. Burke's family also makes a big appearance in this book for the first time - and Mama Russo is not to be trifled with! She was fantastic - loved reading about her!
While I was getting impatient waiting for them to get over themselves (mostly it was Burke holding back), I was correct in the fact that it was going to be oh so good when they came together. Breaking down a grump's hard exterior is so satisfying! I love seeing a big tough guy shock himself by showing vulnerability and emotional connection. Burke does that in spades here... eventually! These two are on fire together - they have an attraction that cannot be ignored and is so fun to read about. Very hot, descriptive scenes of their escapades together, as well as some really emotional moments when Jared NEEDS Burke. And Burke steps right up. I was so proud of him!
This book is a must read if you've loved this series so far! It completes the picture for all the wonderful men, and gives a special epilogue that is a sweet farewell to these guys. I loved this series so much - awesome writing by Jaclyn Quinn!
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
March 15, 2023
Jared and Burke have been teased since the first Shore Things book. Meaning I have been waiting since Convincing Cole to read their story, and Jaclyn Quinn made it worth the wait. Which is a massive compliment to both the author and the book, because my expectations were HIGH given my enjoyment of the rest of the series.
So why do I think this is a five star read?
First, the characters. Jared and Burke have had an intense chemistry in all of their interactions and it just exploded off the page the moment the spotlight was on them. But it wasn't just that chemistry that made them good. It was the softer moments. It was Burke refusing to let Jared be alone at the hardest moment of his life. It was Jared breaking through all of Burke's walls, walls that were constructed purely of stubbornness. It was the fact that Jared was unafraid to call Burke out when he needed it - and he needed it on several instances and it was the fact that Burke showed how much he cared for Jared even as his mouth said something completely different.
And of course, the found family aspect of it all. The Shore Things boys are one of my favorite found families. Their friendship is incredibly believable. The way their lives are completely interwoven. The way their partners have become a part of this found family but also give the main group their space to have their own time, which sometimes gets overlooked in stories like this. It allows the friendship to keep a central and very important part of the narrative, because it is also a kind of true love.
The other side characters were delightful as always, and I may or may not have rejoiced at a scene later in the book regarding local Walkie Talkie, Edna. I loved Burke's friendship with his sous chef especially. It was great to see someone else willing to kick his ass into line when needed. The town really felt alive, like it typically does, with the same cameo characters popping up from time to time.
There are a few content warnings to be advised of. The biggest is terminal illness and loss of a relative. Its a driving part of the story, so if you're sensitive to that, I'd recommend doing a mental check in before diving into this one.
So why do I think this is a five star read?
First, the characters. Jared and Burke have had an intense chemistry in all of their interactions and it just exploded off the page the moment the spotlight was on them. But it wasn't just that chemistry that made them good. It was the softer moments. It was Burke refusing to let Jared be alone at the hardest moment of his life. It was Jared breaking through all of Burke's walls, walls that were constructed purely of stubbornness. It was the fact that Jared was unafraid to call Burke out when he needed it - and he needed it on several instances and it was the fact that Burke showed how much he cared for Jared even as his mouth said something completely different.
And of course, the found family aspect of it all. The Shore Things boys are one of my favorite found families. Their friendship is incredibly believable. The way their lives are completely interwoven. The way their partners have become a part of this found family but also give the main group their space to have their own time, which sometimes gets overlooked in stories like this. It allows the friendship to keep a central and very important part of the narrative, because it is also a kind of true love.
The other side characters were delightful as always, and I may or may not have rejoiced at a scene later in the book regarding local Walkie Talkie, Edna. I loved Burke's friendship with his sous chef especially. It was great to see someone else willing to kick his ass into line when needed. The town really felt alive, like it typically does, with the same cameo characters popping up from time to time.
There are a few content warnings to be advised of. The biggest is terminal illness and loss of a relative. Its a driving part of the story, so if you're sensitive to that, I'd recommend doing a mental check in before diving into this one.
March 10, 2023
Burke and Jared have been nipping and baiting at each other since we first met them in book 1 (Convincing Cole). And I have loved every snippet we got of their charged snarky encounters, sparks of every kind flying every time they met. And the anticipation of getting their full story is finally over, it was soooo worth the wait.
Right from the beginning we get hit with all the feels and begin a ride full of emotions that will break your heart and then slowly and tenderly put it back together, with much laughter and steam included. Jared's close guarded secrets are revealed and his pain spills out. However, the person he least expects to gather him close, provide emotional support, and help ease the pain is Mr Caveman, aka the stubborn but so sexy Burke. Burke has so many walls and excuses for not falling in love, but love always has its own plans and will sneak in and blossom. Burke did not stand a chance, especially after seeing a very vulnerable Jared. However, the feistiness in their relationship did not stop, which I loved, since baiting each other is their form of foreplay, lol. But it now also included sharing sweet feelings/expressions and being able to explore their explosive chemistry (couldn't keep their hands off each other), along with their usual snarky comments. And meeting Burke's family was the unexpected sweet story I didn't know I needed. While meeting Jared's was...ugh...let's just say I'm glad Burke's family was there.
I am so sad this is the last book in this fabulous series, but so happy that I finally got to read the stories of each of these loveable, sexy, funny, and memorable guys.
Right from the beginning we get hit with all the feels and begin a ride full of emotions that will break your heart and then slowly and tenderly put it back together, with much laughter and steam included. Jared's close guarded secrets are revealed and his pain spills out. However, the person he least expects to gather him close, provide emotional support, and help ease the pain is Mr Caveman, aka the stubborn but so sexy Burke. Burke has so many walls and excuses for not falling in love, but love always has its own plans and will sneak in and blossom. Burke did not stand a chance, especially after seeing a very vulnerable Jared. However, the feistiness in their relationship did not stop, which I loved, since baiting each other is their form of foreplay, lol. But it now also included sharing sweet feelings/expressions and being able to explore their explosive chemistry (couldn't keep their hands off each other), along with their usual snarky comments. And meeting Burke's family was the unexpected sweet story I didn't know I needed. While meeting Jared's was...ugh...let's just say I'm glad Burke's family was there.
I am so sad this is the last book in this fabulous series, but so happy that I finally got to read the stories of each of these loveable, sexy, funny, and memorable guys.
March 5, 2023
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I have been dying for this final story in the Shore Thing series for months now, but I have to admit, the closer we got to the release date, the sadder I got, because I absolutely adore this group of friends, and I really, really don’t want it to be over!
That being said, it’s hard not to be excited about the book that’s been teased in every other novel. Jared and Burke have been hate flirting since they met, and we just knew our tall beefy anti-love chef was going to fall hard when he finally had to face his feelings for the sexy bait shop owner.
And boy they did not disappoint in Baiting Burke. It’s hard to hide from the sexual tension when you are stuck together waiting out a hurricane. And that one night sets them down a path of discovering that there is more to the other and that their happy life, is missing something. Each other.
I adored the push and pull of these two. But I also loved how the crisis in Jared’s life brought out the protective and caring side of Burke. And Jared calling Burke out on his stubborn behaviour…perfect.
Together they are fun and sexy, but they are also sweet, and oh-so-lovely. They are the perfect goodbye to this group of best friends who have made us laugh and cry, and wish we were a part of their group.
I have been dying for this final story in the Shore Thing series for months now, but I have to admit, the closer we got to the release date, the sadder I got, because I absolutely adore this group of friends, and I really, really don’t want it to be over!
That being said, it’s hard not to be excited about the book that’s been teased in every other novel. Jared and Burke have been hate flirting since they met, and we just knew our tall beefy anti-love chef was going to fall hard when he finally had to face his feelings for the sexy bait shop owner.
And boy they did not disappoint in Baiting Burke. It’s hard to hide from the sexual tension when you are stuck together waiting out a hurricane. And that one night sets them down a path of discovering that there is more to the other and that their happy life, is missing something. Each other.
I adored the push and pull of these two. But I also loved how the crisis in Jared’s life brought out the protective and caring side of Burke. And Jared calling Burke out on his stubborn behaviour…perfect.
Together they are fun and sexy, but they are also sweet, and oh-so-lovely. They are the perfect goodbye to this group of best friends who have made us laugh and cry, and wish we were a part of their group.
May 8, 2023
In one word - basic. I know it sounds mean, but I think I have good reason to call it that, I'm also aware it's totally a me thing. This book was filled to the brim with brows quirking, smirks, hands flexing, Adam’s apple, someone's voice causing a shiver down a spine, oh yeah, more brow quirking and smirking, I swear all I could picture was the Rock and his stupid eyebrow. I think all of these things happened at least twice in every chapter. It's the same stuff I see in other books over and over again, so then what makes this book special, what makes it stand out above those others? Yeah, exactly. I honestly wasn't too hyped on the whole "I like you, but I'm gonna be super immature about it", all the back & forth between the two main characters just felt dumb, it didn't come off as sexy banter or foreplay or anything of the sort. Oh and let's not forget the fact that every time they thought of each other was just to remember when they hooked up, so there was really nothing of substance when it came to their relationship.
This is also a prime example of what I said in my review of book 4 in this series, it's the influence of all her author beta readers. I mean sure, it has some cool scenes here and there but it's still not really enough for me to give it a higher rating. This book just reads like the other MM books out there right now, one more of the same.
This is also a prime example of what I said in my review of book 4 in this series, it's the influence of all her author beta readers. I mean sure, it has some cool scenes here and there but it's still not really enough for me to give it a higher rating. This book just reads like the other MM books out there right now, one more of the same.
March 6, 2023
This was a great end to the series…actually had me wanting more from this group of friends! I loved Burke and Jared and I’m glad they got their happily ever after but there were some things I didn’t like.
In the beginning, it felt a little repetitive. It seemed like Burke and Jared kept saying they wouldn’t let the other know how he was being affected or kept saying they now knew how the other tasted. I was like I get it there’s sexual tension there. I also didn’t like that more than half the book they were still playing this cat and mouse game. Three years is a long time to play that game. I don’t think I’d play more than three mos. Anyway, in that first half of the book I really wish there was more of Burke and Jared being together, working it out…I say that, but I also loved the second half of the book…where the first half led! It was so funny and sappy and funny! I loved how Burke “grew”! He became so protective and supportive of Jared. I really smiled a lot reading the second half. The first half, a little frustrating, but necessary. I just wish it was maybe 25-30% of that and more of them being together…not the steam but the sarcasm and intimacy and tender moments!
Again, great end to the series! Loved Jared and Burke and of course the rest of the guys! I really hope to see them again…maybe a holiday special!
***Received an advanced reader copy…so grateful!***
In the beginning, it felt a little repetitive. It seemed like Burke and Jared kept saying they wouldn’t let the other know how he was being affected or kept saying they now knew how the other tasted. I was like I get it there’s sexual tension there. I also didn’t like that more than half the book they were still playing this cat and mouse game. Three years is a long time to play that game. I don’t think I’d play more than three mos. Anyway, in that first half of the book I really wish there was more of Burke and Jared being together, working it out…I say that, but I also loved the second half of the book…where the first half led! It was so funny and sappy and funny! I loved how Burke “grew”! He became so protective and supportive of Jared. I really smiled a lot reading the second half. The first half, a little frustrating, but necessary. I just wish it was maybe 25-30% of that and more of them being together…not the steam but the sarcasm and intimacy and tender moments!
Again, great end to the series! Loved Jared and Burke and of course the rest of the guys! I really hope to see them again…maybe a holiday special!
***Received an advanced reader copy…so grateful!***
March 28, 2023
What a wonderful book 5 in the “Shore Thing” series! I’ve enjoyed piggybacking these wonderful characters in the first couple books. I’ll be sad to see this series end! I love reading book series with a local town feeling. This one did not disappoint! I love how this story would be part of this multi-threads that is interwoven in a way at a particular time. The minor characters such as Burke’s Italian mother sure makes for funny/chocolate warmth feelings with her comments and behavior. I could totally see this series being made into a Gay Hallmark tv movie series! More than 5 allocated stars reading from me!
The story starts with Jared, a bait shop owner who was outside in the beginning of a hurricane looking for some surfers who decided it’d be fun to surf during a hurricane. This drove Burke, the chef/owner of the Oceanside Bar/Grill crazy so he decided to go help Jared. There seems to be some animosity but yet…heat vibes between the two guys. Burke and Jared were able to find the surfers and got them to safety. Then they barely got to Jared’s place before the hurricane wrecked havoc on the town. This is where things actually started to happen between the guys who loves to drive each others crazy! Now, I’m going to stop right there and have you pick up the book to find out what happens and why I love Mama Russo!!!
The story starts with Jared, a bait shop owner who was outside in the beginning of a hurricane looking for some surfers who decided it’d be fun to surf during a hurricane. This drove Burke, the chef/owner of the Oceanside Bar/Grill crazy so he decided to go help Jared. There seems to be some animosity but yet…heat vibes between the two guys. Burke and Jared were able to find the surfers and got them to safety. Then they barely got to Jared’s place before the hurricane wrecked havoc on the town. This is where things actually started to happen between the guys who loves to drive each others crazy! Now, I’m going to stop right there and have you pick up the book to find out what happens and why I love Mama Russo!!!
March 18, 2023
Alright, let's do this.
I received an ARC for my honest and rambling review.
Not really spoilers, but I speak to the essence of the story.
So, I've been waiting for this story since I stumbled upon the series, and I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. I thought it would be more of a dramatic story, but I'm happy that it wasn't. It was like someone was writing a dynamic account of...life. And stories don't have that realistic, comforting, and relatable aspect anymore. Jared's pain was so fucking palpable that I could've physically touched it, and it was real and harsh and...how it be sometimes, yo.
I fancy myself a writer--even though I no longer write jack shit--and my favorite thing in the world is realistic dialogue. I want to see that someone fucked up on their words and that it didn't serve a purpose to the plot. I love the reality of some stories. This story had that for me. There was just a layer of reality with this one that make me overwhelmingly happy, because it made the love, connection and joyous pieces feel possible.
Okay, so, there's a great deal of life happening to Jared and Burke in these pages, but I could've easily read 300 more pages about them and what their day to day looks like after the events we read about.
I'm always worried about the most anticipated stories and the most anticipated written persons, and I was worried about this one--to be honest--but I didn't need to.
Quinn delivered a thoughtful and genuine story of love and loss. And the little gnocchi and little cannoli are so well written that I'm not even sad that their story ended--I feel like I know them so well that I know that they're currently having drinks after the family style meal they had with their friends earlier this evening. Noah and Hunter ducked out early because they wanted to put Logan down together.
I received an ARC for my honest and rambling review.
Not really spoilers, but I speak to the essence of the story.
So, I've been waiting for this story since I stumbled upon the series, and I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. I thought it would be more of a dramatic story, but I'm happy that it wasn't. It was like someone was writing a dynamic account of...life. And stories don't have that realistic, comforting, and relatable aspect anymore. Jared's pain was so fucking palpable that I could've physically touched it, and it was real and harsh and...how it be sometimes, yo.
I fancy myself a writer--even though I no longer write jack shit--and my favorite thing in the world is realistic dialogue. I want to see that someone fucked up on their words and that it didn't serve a purpose to the plot. I love the reality of some stories. This story had that for me. There was just a layer of reality with this one that make me overwhelmingly happy, because it made the love, connection and joyous pieces feel possible.
Okay, so, there's a great deal of life happening to Jared and Burke in these pages, but I could've easily read 300 more pages about them and what their day to day looks like after the events we read about.
I'm always worried about the most anticipated stories and the most anticipated written persons, and I was worried about this one--to be honest--but I didn't need to.
Quinn delivered a thoughtful and genuine story of love and loss. And the little gnocchi and little cannoli are so well written that I'm not even sad that their story ended--I feel like I know them so well that I know that they're currently having drinks after the family style meal they had with their friends earlier this evening. Noah and Hunter ducked out early because they wanted to put Logan down together.
March 4, 2023
Gnocchi & Cannoli
Something’s biting and it’s not the the fish. I never knew baiting could be such foreplay but Burke and Jared have it down to an art, a sexy, sizzling art.
“Mine. He was mine. Honestly, he always had been on some level. My frustrating challenge. My occupier of thoughts. The tenant who’d taken up permanent residence under my skin. Just…mine.”
I will never get enough of these two. They’ve reeled me in, they cast their nets, and I’m happily caught and theirs forever. You know who else I fell in love with? The fabulous Mama Russo! We all need someone to love us like she loves her boys. Speaking of, I think stubborn may need to add another definition, or two: one beginning with B and the other J. I can only thank the goddesses of gnocchi and cannoli for their friends, their family, and for the delicious chemistry, the irresistible pull that Jared and Burke have.
Yabba dabba do, I love this amazing found family. The whole series is epic but the last parts of this book are pure gold. If I could have one wish it would be to become a Pointer and spend my days surrounded by these fantastic men and their love.
Something’s biting and it’s not the the fish. I never knew baiting could be such foreplay but Burke and Jared have it down to an art, a sexy, sizzling art.
“Mine. He was mine. Honestly, he always had been on some level. My frustrating challenge. My occupier of thoughts. The tenant who’d taken up permanent residence under my skin. Just…mine.”
I will never get enough of these two. They’ve reeled me in, they cast their nets, and I’m happily caught and theirs forever. You know who else I fell in love with? The fabulous Mama Russo! We all need someone to love us like she loves her boys. Speaking of, I think stubborn may need to add another definition, or two: one beginning with B and the other J. I can only thank the goddesses of gnocchi and cannoli for their friends, their family, and for the delicious chemistry, the irresistible pull that Jared and Burke have.
Yabba dabba do, I love this amazing found family. The whole series is epic but the last parts of this book are pure gold. If I could have one wish it would be to become a Pointer and spend my days surrounded by these fantastic men and their love.
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