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Possum Hollow #2
68 Whiskey
Tristan just wants to live out the rest of his life in peace in Possum Hollow. There’s a reason he ran to the middle of nowhere to escape his past. Ford didn’t even bother running from his own past, but a little peace and quiet is all he’s looking for, too. It’s a shame that when they first meet, sparks fly and all that peace threatens to burn itself down around them.
68 Whiskey is Book 2 in the Possum Hollow series but can be read as a standalone. It contains mature themes and explicit sexual content, and is not suitable for readers under 18.
68 Whiskey is Book 2 in the Possum Hollow series but can be read as a standalone. It contains mature themes and explicit sexual content, and is not suitable for readers under 18.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2024
443 people are currently reading
1673 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
July 14, 2024
I want a refund of the hours of my life I WASTED reading this book.
Tristan was an insufferable cunt, and considering
I hate this book.
I hate Tristan.
Ford was nothing special.
A tree involved in a sexy scene, randomly becomes a wall, because ✨great editing✨
The character building came in weird sporadic trauma dumps (some of which were in italics and some which were not 🤢)
The term "hole" and "good hole" deserve a special front row seat... in hell. 🤢
There's a time and place for the word "hole" and this book was NOT that time or place.
There is NO chemistry until MAYBE (and I use the word MAYBE IN CAPITALS because I'm trying to be nice) like 75%??? when they just decide to be out and boyfriends with minimal convo about it.
These two MC's are flatter than fucking mountain bread.
I swear if Tristan said "bestie" one more time, I was going to YEET my kindle into the pacific ocean.
The first 35% of this book is PURE TELLING, and not one fucking ounce of SHOWING.
Tristan will inform you, as the reader, of his 34567890987654 personality traits, and none of them will make coherent sense.
Tristan really fucking tries hard to prove his "queerness" with his TELLING YOU "I joined the army after the queer laws were lifted" but then pushing it down our throats he sleeps with and prefers women and the occasional twink... But mentions only a few blowjobs between him and men and mentioning his inexperience?? BUT also mentions he is strictly only a top??? and always figured he'd settle down with the right woman. Because he likes them petite. (I think this points were all super shoved down your throat, so you really know that he likes SMALL PETITE WOMEN... because it makes it so much more shocking he's into BIG BEEFY FORD......... 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄) NONE OF THESE FACTS MADE COHERENT SENSE. BE GAY. BE BI. BE 90% STRAIGHT. NO ONE CARES, so why are you telling us all these dumb cunt facts about yourself.
I'm surprised I didn't have a seizure with the amount of eye rolling and the amount of times my face looked like this whilst reading
Why did his mum even need to exist?
Why did the plot solve itself off page???
Horrendous ending.
I have so many feelings.
Tristan was an insufferable cunt, and considering
I hate this book.
I hate Tristan.
Ford was nothing special.
A tree involved in a sexy scene, randomly becomes a wall, because ✨great editing✨
The character building came in weird sporadic trauma dumps (some of which were in italics and some which were not 🤢)
The term "hole" and "good hole" deserve a special front row seat... in hell. 🤢
There's a time and place for the word "hole" and this book was NOT that time or place.
There is NO chemistry until MAYBE (and I use the word MAYBE IN CAPITALS because I'm trying to be nice) like 75%??? when they just decide to be out and boyfriends with minimal convo about it.
These two MC's are flatter than fucking mountain bread.
I swear if Tristan said "bestie" one more time, I was going to YEET my kindle into the pacific ocean.
The first 35% of this book is PURE TELLING, and not one fucking ounce of SHOWING.
Tristan will inform you, as the reader, of his 34567890987654 personality traits, and none of them will make coherent sense.
Tristan really fucking tries hard to prove his "queerness" with his TELLING YOU "I joined the army after the queer laws were lifted" but then pushing it down our throats he sleeps with and prefers women and the occasional twink... But mentions only a few blowjobs between him and men and mentioning his inexperience?? BUT also mentions he is strictly only a top??? and always figured he'd settle down with the right woman. Because he likes them petite. (I think this points were all super shoved down your throat, so you really know that he likes SMALL PETITE WOMEN... because it makes it so much more shocking he's into BIG BEEFY FORD......... 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄) NONE OF THESE FACTS MADE COHERENT SENSE. BE GAY. BE BI. BE 90% STRAIGHT. NO ONE CARES, so why are you telling us all these dumb cunt facts about yourself.
I'm surprised I didn't have a seizure with the amount of eye rolling and the amount of times my face looked like this whilst reading
Why did his mum even need to exist?
Why did the plot solve itself off page???
Horrendous ending.
I have so many feelings.
June 27, 2024
⭐️ 5 stars ⭐️
✘ Back again in the small town of Possum Hollow, where a bratty & chatty paramedic tries to domesticate the silent and broody junkyard dog mechanic. ✘
Ok, let’s start off with how fucking cute and perfect the nickname Cujo is for Ford. Give me a silent growly giant and I melt.
Every. Single. Time.
Add in some good hurt/comfort, broken boys, a little bit of suspense — 68 Whiskey was concocted to perfection for my messy brain.
While this was still a super win for me, I did have less of an emotional attachment than with Stupid Dirty. I connected with Silas’ story on a personal and raw level, whereas here I got to enjoy Tristan and Ford falling for each other bit by bit. Even without that personal component, their story was still sweet and healing, sexy and explosive.
I wanted so much more of them — of them breaking down their brick walls, of them trying to heal their broken pasts, of their fiery and passionate love. Because, let’s be honest, how often do you get to see a masculine top become submissive and whimper-y for an even bigger top? Iwant need more.
Even so, this was perfectly imperfect, flawed humans trying to find happiness and love and someone who cares about them, and I just LOVE seeing broken characters find all those things.
Heals all my broken parts.
I’m so in love with Erin Russell’s writing style, and I really can’t wait for more installments of this amazing series.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Themes of drug and alcohol abuse
- Poverty
- Mentions/flashbacks of family violence & domestic violence
- Parental neglect
- MC w/ selective mutism
- Depiction of self-harm (cutting, on page)
- Death of side characters (off page)
- Untreated mental illness
- MC w/ dissociation and paranoia
- Panic attacks
- Top bottoms for the first time
- Vers MCs (one switch scene)
- Snowballing
- Face-fucking
- Spanking
- Docking
- Light humiliation/degradation kink
- Coming hands-free
- Intercrural
- Rimming
- Light restraints (epilogue)
- Edging (epilogue)
“I get it. You’re a feral junkyard dog who doesn’t need human contact. Consider me suitably intimidated, Cujo,” he says, throwing his hands up but not looking intimidated in the least.
✘ Back again in the small town of Possum Hollow, where a bratty & chatty paramedic tries to domesticate the silent and broody junkyard dog mechanic. ✘
Ok, let’s start off with how fucking cute and perfect the nickname Cujo is for Ford. Give me a silent growly giant and I melt.
Every. Single. Time.
Add in some good hurt/comfort, broken boys, a little bit of suspense — 68 Whiskey was concocted to perfection for my messy brain.
“I’ll fill all your brooding silences for as long as you’ll let me.”
While this was still a super win for me, I did have less of an emotional attachment than with Stupid Dirty. I connected with Silas’ story on a personal and raw level, whereas here I got to enjoy Tristan and Ford falling for each other bit by bit. Even without that personal component, their story was still sweet and healing, sexy and explosive.
I wanted so much more of them — of them breaking down their brick walls, of them trying to heal their broken pasts, of their fiery and passionate love. Because, let’s be honest, how often do you get to see a masculine top become submissive and whimper-y for an even bigger top? I
Even so, this was perfectly imperfect, flawed humans trying to find happiness and love and someone who cares about them, and I just LOVE seeing broken characters find all those things.
Heals all my broken parts.
«The ground could crack open underneath us right now, and I wouldn’t notice as long as Tristan was still in my arms.»
I’m so in love with Erin Russell’s writing style, and I really can’t wait for more installments of this amazing series.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Themes of drug and alcohol abuse
- Poverty
- Mentions/flashbacks of family violence & domestic violence
- Parental neglect
- MC w/ selective mutism
- Depiction of self-harm (cutting, on page)
- Death of side characters (off page)
- Untreated mental illness
- MC w/ dissociation and paranoia
- Panic attacks
- Top bottoms for the first time
- Vers MCs (one switch scene)
- Snowballing
- Face-fucking
- Spanking
- Docking
- Light humiliation/degradation kink
- Coming hands-free
- Intercrural
- Rimming
- Light restraints (epilogue)
- Edging (epilogue)
July 9, 2024
4.5***** stars
Ford, you filthy fucker. I absolutely did not expect you to be so, so… man, no I don’t wanna ruin the surprise for anyone who’s still about to read it. But let me tell ya, this was de-fucking-liciuos. I. LOVED. IT!!
The whole book really, not only being totally surprised by Ford. We’ve come to know him as a man of few words. And not only because he’s mute but also because he generally doesn’t like people.
Haha, and then Tristan, the cocky fucker. A match made in heaven. *lol He just steam-rolls into Ford’s life and decides that there are besties now.
Up until we learn that his cockyness really is only a façade he hides behind. But Ford is on to him. Intrigued. As much as Tristan is by him.
These two men hide so fucking much. So much about their true selves it was heartwarming to watch when they start letting each other in.
And man, it was heartwrenching at times too.
Such a freaking good book. I loved the first one already and I loved this one all the same. I’m super hyped for the next one now.
But you know what? This book’s title made even less sense to me than the first one did. Or maybe I’m just not getting it. *lmaooo
************
Possum Hollow Series
Book 1 - Stupid Dirty - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - 68 Whiskey - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Running Feral - release 11/24
Book 4 - tbd sequel to Stupid Dirty - release 2025
Book 4.5 - tbd sapphic romance - release 2025
Complete spin-off series “Sins of the Banna” - coming soon
Ford, you filthy fucker. I absolutely did not expect you to be so, so… man, no I don’t wanna ruin the surprise for anyone who’s still about to read it. But let me tell ya, this was de-fucking-liciuos. I. LOVED. IT!!
The whole book really, not only being totally surprised by Ford. We’ve come to know him as a man of few words. And not only because he’s mute but also because he generally doesn’t like people.
Haha, and then Tristan, the cocky fucker. A match made in heaven. *lol He just steam-rolls into Ford’s life and decides that there are besties now.
“So sad that we’ll never have to interact again. Please feel free to lose my number,” I sign with an obviously fake smile.
“There’s no need to pretend, Cujo. I can see the heartbreak in your eyes. Don’t worry though, I’m not going anywhere. I’m like a penguin. I bond for life. I’ll be back.”
With another unfairly handsome smile, he pulls his sunglasses back down, turns and leaves me feeling like a tornado passed through.
Tornado Tristan.
Up until we learn that his cockyness really is only a façade he hides behind. But Ford is on to him. Intrigued. As much as Tristan is by him.
These two men hide so fucking much. So much about their true selves it was heartwarming to watch when they start letting each other in.
And man, it was heartwrenching at times too.
Such a freaking good book. I loved the first one already and I loved this one all the same. I’m super hyped for the next one now.
But you know what? This book’s title made even less sense to me than the first one did. Or maybe I’m just not getting it. *lmaooo
************
Possum Hollow Series
Book 1 - Stupid Dirty - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - 68 Whiskey - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Running Feral - release 11/24
Book 4 - tbd sequel to Stupid Dirty - release 2025
Book 4.5 - tbd sapphic romance - release 2025
Complete spin-off series “Sins of the Banna” - coming soon
June 26, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
From the moment we met, he’s put an almost pathological amount of energy into trying to take care of me. Even if it’s in the most unpredictable, chaotic and ill-advised ways possible, most of the time.
Wow, this book took me on a ride. Erin has a really impressive way of writing about tough subjects like mental illness. It’s not romanticized, it’s not spelled out in specifics, and there’s no easy ‘fix’ where everyone is automatically no longer struggling at the end of the book. You live and experience everything with the characters, and sometimes that’s really uncomfortable. That’s also what makes it so special, though.
I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t really enjoy books with ‘fuck-buddies’, as I’m all about that romantic connection, but sometimes you latch onto someone, maybe without knowing why, and it slowly turns into more. That’s exactly what happens here, and it was a lot of fun to see that slow development at the same time as the characters experienced it. It felt genuine and real.
Having someone genuinely give a shit about whether I live or die is like a wet rag over my mouth, and I’m on the cusp of suffocating.
Tristan an absolute hoot, and the trope ‘psychotic sunshine’ is 100% apt. He is also struggling way more than you might think initially, and I adored seeing both him and Ford find a safe place with each other.
This was a really impressive follow-up to the debut Stupid Dirty, and I can’t wait to see what the author does next.
“Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re an asshole wearing a person-suit or a person wearing an asshole-suit.” I stare at Cade, trying to filter through what the hell he means by that. “I beg your fucking pardon?”
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Grumpy/psychotic sunshine
Small town
Rural America
Selective mutism
Paramedic MC
Mechanic MC
Military veteran MC
One-sided enemies to lovers (mild)
Hookups to more
Snowballing
Fuckbuddies
Reluctant friends
Docking
Edging
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
On page:
* MC briefly detained by police
* Minor injury to MC (off page, medically treated on page)
* Detailed emergency medical treatment (gunshot wounds, complications from diabetes, stabbing)
* Nightmares and flashbacks to childhood trauma (domestic abuse)
* Grief (loss of a parent, past, off page)
* Binge-drinking to deal with emotional problems and trauma (MC intoxicated on page, not a recurring issue)
* Feelings of guilt and grief from past death of a sibling (off page)
* Mild objectifying and degrading name-calling (e.g. hole)
* Facefucking
* Details of past self harm
* Body scarring from self harm
* Emotional manipulation by parent (past and present
* Explicit sexual content
* Physical violence
* On-page gun violence
* Injured MC (gunshot wound, hospital and medical treatment)
* PTSD symptoms (nightmares, flashbacks)
* Parent killed by abusive partner (past, off page, some details)
* Graphic self harm (on page, cutting)
* MC almost killed as a child (detailed nightmare/flashback)
* Spanking during sex
* Detailed cravings of self harm
* Altercation between MC and parent (MC shoved)
* Restraints during sex (epilogue)
* Organized crime/gang activity
* Toxic masculinity and homophobia
* Exercise used as self harm (present time)
* Brief discussion of suicide
* Symptoms of depression
Referenced/off page:
* Domestic abuse (past, off page but detailed, MC and parent victims)
* Fighting used as self harm (past)
* Brief mentions of child/teenage pregnancy (MCs parent, 14 years old)
* Minor stabbing of side character (off page)
* References to living with a parent with an undiagnosed mental illness
* Mentions of drug-addicted parent and related problems (past, off page, some details)
* Off-page gun violence (no MC involved)
* Mentions of severe accident and CPR (unknown victims, off page, few details)
* Death of family members (off page, past)
* Very brief mention of past drug use (mushrooms, one time)
* Themes of poverty
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: 26 and 32/33
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 334
Happy ending: Yes
The thing that really gets me is his eyes. He has husky eyes. Light blue and totally fucking crazed. I love it. Something about that raw, feral intensity sparks my own crazy in response.
Intensity hangs between us like the spit-trail after a really dirty kiss.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
From the moment we met, he’s put an almost pathological amount of energy into trying to take care of me. Even if it’s in the most unpredictable, chaotic and ill-advised ways possible, most of the time.
Wow, this book took me on a ride. Erin has a really impressive way of writing about tough subjects like mental illness. It’s not romanticized, it’s not spelled out in specifics, and there’s no easy ‘fix’ where everyone is automatically no longer struggling at the end of the book. You live and experience everything with the characters, and sometimes that’s really uncomfortable. That’s also what makes it so special, though.
I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t really enjoy books with ‘fuck-buddies’, as I’m all about that romantic connection, but sometimes you latch onto someone, maybe without knowing why, and it slowly turns into more. That’s exactly what happens here, and it was a lot of fun to see that slow development at the same time as the characters experienced it. It felt genuine and real.
Having someone genuinely give a shit about whether I live or die is like a wet rag over my mouth, and I’m on the cusp of suffocating.
Tristan an absolute hoot, and the trope ‘psychotic sunshine’ is 100% apt. He is also struggling way more than you might think initially, and I adored seeing both him and Ford find a safe place with each other.
This was a really impressive follow-up to the debut Stupid Dirty, and I can’t wait to see what the author does next.
“Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re an asshole wearing a person-suit or a person wearing an asshole-suit.” I stare at Cade, trying to filter through what the hell he means by that. “I beg your fucking pardon?”
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Grumpy/psychotic sunshine
Small town
Rural America
Selective mutism
Paramedic MC
Mechanic MC
Military veteran MC
One-sided enemies to lovers (mild)
Hookups to more
Snowballing
Fuckbuddies
Reluctant friends
Docking
Edging
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
On page:
* MC briefly detained by police
* Minor injury to MC (off page, medically treated on page)
* Detailed emergency medical treatment (gunshot wounds, complications from diabetes, stabbing)
* Nightmares and flashbacks to childhood trauma (domestic abuse)
* Grief (loss of a parent, past, off page)
* Binge-drinking to deal with emotional problems and trauma (MC intoxicated on page, not a recurring issue)
* Feelings of guilt and grief from past death of a sibling (off page)
* Mild objectifying and degrading name-calling (e.g. hole)
* Facefucking
* Details of past self harm
* Body scarring from self harm
* Emotional manipulation by parent (past and present
* Explicit sexual content
* Physical violence
* On-page gun violence
* Injured MC (gunshot wound, hospital and medical treatment)
* PTSD symptoms (nightmares, flashbacks)
* Parent killed by abusive partner (past, off page, some details)
* Graphic self harm (on page, cutting)
* MC almost killed as a child (detailed nightmare/flashback)
* Spanking during sex
* Detailed cravings of self harm
* Altercation between MC and parent (MC shoved)
* Restraints during sex (epilogue)
* Organized crime/gang activity
* Toxic masculinity and homophobia
* Exercise used as self harm (present time)
* Brief discussion of suicide
* Symptoms of depression
Referenced/off page:
* Domestic abuse (past, off page but detailed, MC and parent victims)
* Fighting used as self harm (past)
* Brief mentions of child/teenage pregnancy (MCs parent, 14 years old)
* Minor stabbing of side character (off page)
* References to living with a parent with an undiagnosed mental illness
* Mentions of drug-addicted parent and related problems (past, off page, some details)
* Off-page gun violence (no MC involved)
* Mentions of severe accident and CPR (unknown victims, off page, few details)
* Death of family members (off page, past)
* Very brief mention of past drug use (mushrooms, one time)
* Themes of poverty
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: 26 and 32/33
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 334
Happy ending: Yes
The thing that really gets me is his eyes. He has husky eyes. Light blue and totally fucking crazed. I love it. Something about that raw, feral intensity sparks my own crazy in response.
Intensity hangs between us like the spit-trail after a really dirty kiss.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
June 23, 2024
Not at all what I was expecting but in the absolute best way.
I did not get brat vibes from Tristan in the previous book, but he was so funny when he realised that he is in fact a submissive brat 😂 Ford was also a surprise - I think this was the first time I've read dirty talk that's signed and I loved it! Their dynamic just really worked for me.
Although Tristan is older than Ford, as well as Cade and Silas, he actually had the emotional maturity of a teenager so they're all on the same wavelength with emoting - eww!!
The backstories were emotional and fairly dark, and the plot was interesting - a good amount of setup for the Banna mafia type series which I'm definitely intrigued by.
Overall this was less intense than book one and the pacing was much better, but these characters still have a lot to deal with and a lot of emotional growth to go through. I'd say it's a HEA but also that the relationships develop throughout the series too so it's not the 'end' completely - Cade and Silas had a good amount of content in this story.
I also love how sign language was so prominently referenced. In my opinion it should be taught to everyone throughout their schooling, not just as a one off 'fun' topic when you're a kid, or not even taught at all. I know that my Makaton signing is much more useful to me than the French and German I had to learn throughout school, and I'm planning to learn more BSL to communicate with my son, especially as he grows up. I always love to see alternative communication methods being used because people need to understand how vital they are to so many people who are otherwise isolated from conversation and communicating their needs.
Looking forward to Tobias's book next!
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
I did not get brat vibes from Tristan in the previous book, but he was so funny when he realised that he is in fact a submissive brat 😂 Ford was also a surprise - I think this was the first time I've read dirty talk that's signed and I loved it! Their dynamic just really worked for me.
Although Tristan is older than Ford, as well as Cade and Silas, he actually had the emotional maturity of a teenager so they're all on the same wavelength with emoting - eww!!
The backstories were emotional and fairly dark, and the plot was interesting - a good amount of setup for the Banna mafia type series which I'm definitely intrigued by.
Overall this was less intense than book one and the pacing was much better, but these characters still have a lot to deal with and a lot of emotional growth to go through. I'd say it's a HEA but also that the relationships develop throughout the series too so it's not the 'end' completely - Cade and Silas had a good amount of content in this story.
I also love how sign language was so prominently referenced. In my opinion it should be taught to everyone throughout their schooling, not just as a one off 'fun' topic when you're a kid, or not even taught at all. I know that my Makaton signing is much more useful to me than the French and German I had to learn throughout school, and I'm planning to learn more BSL to communicate with my son, especially as he grows up. I always love to see alternative communication methods being used because people need to understand how vital they are to so many people who are otherwise isolated from conversation and communicating their needs.
Looking forward to Tobias's book next!
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
August 2, 2024
"sMuT iS jUsT poRN, iT's NOt inTElLecTuALly stIMulATiNg nOr dOeS iT hAVe tRuE suBStAnCe blah blah blah" Well TODAY, I learned what docking is, so you can go fuck yourself (the vanilla way, you square). Just cause it's porn doesn't mean you can't LEARN somethin'. Alexa, play A Whole New World on max volume.
If you think I DIDN'T google it immediately to get a visual on what the fuck I just read (and to make sure it's physically possible), GUESS AGAIN, BITCH AHAHAHAH
If nothing else, I did it so you don't have to. You're welcome.
OKAY FINE, we like Tristan. Love him, actually. Fuckin' adorable ass psycho. AND WHO BETTER to be paired with this emotionally stunted jack-of-trades-you've-never-even-heard-of (WHY DOES HE KNOW THAT THE POSSUM IS AMERICA'S ONLY NATIVE MARSUPIAL LOL) than an even more emotionally stunted scarily large and scarily hot mute mechanic whose maladaptive coping mechanisms seem to match his JUST RIGHT!?
Lord have mercy, the way in which a "Your crazy matches my crazy, let's be crazy together" plotline gets me off is fucking unreal. Signed with my blood, Sealed with my tongue, and Delivered straight to the little folder marked "NOT PORN" in my brain that hides all my weird quirks and kinks.
AND AS IF ERIN RUSSELL WASN'T ALREADY SPEAKING MY KINK-LANGUAGE, we're gonna throw in emergency med references left and right!? Hi, my name is Sarah, BSN, RN and THIS IS MY SHIT. Every reference to trauma-induced compartmentalization, constant dehydration, and THE FUCKING BANE OF MY EXISTENCE THAT IS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE spoke straight to my fucking soul. Erin...lovebug...my sibling in Christ - if there's a hill you chose to die on in this book, I was right there with you, babe. Blood in, blood out.
Maybe will come back to write a legit non-word-vomit review, but until then I hope you enjoyed the ravings of a mad woman. Til next time, sluts.
✧While I received a free e-arc from GRR, all thoughts are my own (clearly lol).✧
If you think I DIDN'T google it immediately to get a visual on what the fuck I just read (and to make sure it's physically possible), GUESS AGAIN, BITCH AHAHAHAH
If nothing else, I did it so you don't have to. You're welcome.
OKAY FINE, we like Tristan. Love him, actually. Fuckin' adorable ass psycho. AND WHO BETTER to be paired with this emotionally stunted jack-of-trades-you've-never-even-heard-of (WHY DOES HE KNOW THAT THE POSSUM IS AMERICA'S ONLY NATIVE MARSUPIAL LOL) than an even more emotionally stunted scarily large and scarily hot mute mechanic whose maladaptive coping mechanisms seem to match his JUST RIGHT!?
Lord have mercy, the way in which a "Your crazy matches my crazy, let's be crazy together" plotline gets me off is fucking unreal. Signed with my blood, Sealed with my tongue, and Delivered straight to the little folder marked "NOT PORN" in my brain that hides all my weird quirks and kinks.
AND AS IF ERIN RUSSELL WASN'T ALREADY SPEAKING MY KINK-LANGUAGE, we're gonna throw in emergency med references left and right!? Hi, my name is Sarah, BSN, RN and THIS IS MY SHIT. Every reference to trauma-induced compartmentalization, constant dehydration, and THE FUCKING BANE OF MY EXISTENCE THAT IS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE spoke straight to my fucking soul. Erin...lovebug...my sibling in Christ - if there's a hill you chose to die on in this book, I was right there with you, babe. Blood in, blood out.
Maybe will come back to write a legit non-word-vomit review, but until then I hope you enjoyed the ravings of a mad woman. Til next time, sluts.
✧While I received a free e-arc from GRR, all thoughts are my own (clearly lol).✧
July 21, 2024
update: I feel like having sat on this a little longer and reflecting on what I’ve seen from other reviews, that while there was bits of this I enjoyed, the ending and the messy characterization probably drops this down a star for me
This was so much more fun than I expected it to be. I missed the boat when everyone was reading Stupid Dirty so I didn’t quite know what to expect, but this was very silly time and the two brain cells I had engaged had a great time. Although that being said there are some heavy content warnings that should be checked if needed.
I imagine that having the background of book 1 made every time Silas and Cade pop up a delight. They were pretty adorable and it’s made me keen to read book one myself now. Tristan and Ford had a very fun little snarky dynamic going on, their chemistry was pretty spicy, and it made me all emotionally soft when they started to cave and care about each other. Some of the kinks here weren’t my jam (the whole calling your partner a hole thing does nothing for me) but it wasn’t hard to just read on. On the flip side Cujo as a pet name? Adorable, love that.
I did find Tristan’s characterization to sometimes feel a bit inconsistent? Like Ford referring to him as a brat, but he didn’t really read as particularly bratty to me? Just kind of flirty and antagonistic? Or at times is meant to be the responsible older brother vibe but then was spoken about being erratic and impulsive? Again, nothing to detract from the overall enjoyment but I did question it a little. Also I wonder if Tristan’s mother will play a bigger role in future books cause that whole story line kind of felt it was unnecessary to the narrative in this book.
Grumpy, hot, traumatized mechanic accidentally situationships himself into hooking up with an overactive, hot, veteran, traumatized paramedic. Good times were had by all.
This was so much more fun than I expected it to be. I missed the boat when everyone was reading Stupid Dirty so I didn’t quite know what to expect, but this was very silly time and the two brain cells I had engaged had a great time. Although that being said there are some heavy content warnings that should be checked if needed.
I imagine that having the background of book 1 made every time Silas and Cade pop up a delight. They were pretty adorable and it’s made me keen to read book one myself now. Tristan and Ford had a very fun little snarky dynamic going on, their chemistry was pretty spicy, and it made me all emotionally soft when they started to cave and care about each other. Some of the kinks here weren’t my jam (the whole calling your partner a hole thing does nothing for me) but it wasn’t hard to just read on. On the flip side Cujo as a pet name? Adorable, love that.
I did find Tristan’s characterization to sometimes feel a bit inconsistent? Like Ford referring to him as a brat, but he didn’t really read as particularly bratty to me? Just kind of flirty and antagonistic? Or at times is meant to be the responsible older brother vibe but then was spoken about being erratic and impulsive? Again, nothing to detract from the overall enjoyment but I did question it a little. Also I wonder if Tristan’s mother will play a bigger role in future books cause that whole story line kind of felt it was unnecessary to the narrative in this book.
Grumpy, hot, traumatized mechanic accidentally situationships himself into hooking up with an overactive, hot, veteran, traumatized paramedic. Good times were had by all.
June 20, 2024
I love Erin’s writing style. It’s so clever and darkly funny. They could write a menu and I’d ask for the ARC (like I did for this book, bc I’m ✨shameless✨).
THE PREMISE: two enormous hotties with severe childhood trauma get cute and co-dependent in small town Missouri. Also: gangs.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Sexy 🤝 Sad
- Angsty small town MM romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Hurt x comfort / nightmare x comfort
- All the trauma. Just, buckets of it
- *the first word I’ve spoken out loud in 20 years was your name* 🫠🫠🫠
4.25⭐️ 3-3.5🌶️
THE PREMISE: two enormous hotties with severe childhood trauma get cute and co-dependent in small town Missouri. Also: gangs.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Sexy 🤝 Sad
- Angsty small town MM romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Hurt x comfort / nightmare x comfort
- All the trauma. Just, buckets of it
- *the first word I’ve spoken out loud in 20 years was your name* 🫠🫠🫠
4.25⭐️ 3-3.5🌶️
July 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this! (It would have been five stars if not for the epilogue)
I loved Tristan & Ford (especially Ford) Loved both their character growth and seeing them slowly open up to each other. I liked this much more than book 1, the characters felt more grown up and mature. I wasn't a huge fan of the gang storyline, but I can overlook that because I still overall enjoyed the book.
But I did not like how it ended at all. In fact, when I turned the page and it said "the end" I was a bit shocked. It changed my rating from a 5 to a 4, I could even possibly argue that the end barely qualified as a happy ever after, because it wasn't that happy. (spoilers below)
**spoilers**
The book ends with Tristan owing a debt to a gang. And he has to go perform medical procedures for them whenever they want. It even says how whenever he leaves to pay his debt to the gang Ford spends the whole time worried. That is not a happy ending to me, it just made me feel so bad for Ford, he never asked for that at all.
And Tristan had such a good storyline with good character growth and cutting contact with his mom and setting boundaries, but in the epilogue she is still there in his life. That is also not a happy ending to me. Not only that, but his mom was the one who came to his house to let him know its time to go do medical procedures for the gang, so I guess she is a go-between between him and the gang? A big part of his story was escaping from his mom who used him and put him and his brother in dangerous situations with gangs, but in the epilogue he is right back there? It felt like it undid a lot of his character growth and it pretty much sucked as an ending.
Having your abusive mom back in your life and being indebted to a gang is not a good ending at all. Shame because I really liked the book up until that point.
I loved Tristan & Ford (especially Ford) Loved both their character growth and seeing them slowly open up to each other. I liked this much more than book 1, the characters felt more grown up and mature. I wasn't a huge fan of the gang storyline, but I can overlook that because I still overall enjoyed the book.
But I did not like how it ended at all. In fact, when I turned the page and it said "the end" I was a bit shocked. It changed my rating from a 5 to a 4, I could even possibly argue that the end barely qualified as a happy ever after, because it wasn't that happy. (spoilers below)
**spoilers**
The book ends with Tristan owing a debt to a gang. And he has to go perform medical procedures for them whenever they want. It even says how whenever he leaves to pay his debt to the gang Ford spends the whole time worried. That is not a happy ending to me, it just made me feel so bad for Ford, he never asked for that at all.
And Tristan had such a good storyline with good character growth and cutting contact with his mom and setting boundaries, but in the epilogue she is still there in his life. That is also not a happy ending to me. Not only that, but his mom was the one who came to his house to let him know its time to go do medical procedures for the gang, so I guess she is a go-between between him and the gang? A big part of his story was escaping from his mom who used him and put him and his brother in dangerous situations with gangs, but in the epilogue he is right back there? It felt like it undid a lot of his character growth and it pretty much sucked as an ending.
Having your abusive mom back in your life and being indebted to a gang is not a good ending at all. Shame because I really liked the book up until that point.
July 1, 2024
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, small town, failed one night stand, found family
Feels: 4.25/5
Steam*: 3.75/5
Kinks: brat, dominance, snowballing, spanking
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: gang violence, grifting in childhood, Army medic/vet, ptsd, traumatic childhood, permanent disability/mute MC, grief over dead parent and sibling, gun violence, self-harm
4.5 stars
Ford is 26. He's gay but closeted for the most part. He is mute and communicates via ASL and texts. When he was 8 years old or so his mother was murdered by an ex-boyfriend of hers and Ford himself was nearly killed, he was choked so badly that he suffered severe damage. He hasn't been able to talk since, though if he struggles he can force out some sounds and the occasional word. But it doesn't sound right and he's self-conscious about it. He was raised without his father but after his mother's death the state found his dad and his dad raised him. His dad was a bit of a loner, he suffered PTSD from being a war of veteran but he was a loving dad for the most part and he tried hard. His dad passed away a year ago suddenly at the age of 52 of a stroke. Ford has been struggling to make the car repair business that he took over from his father successful since then.
Tristan is 32ish. He's bi or pan. He was raised by a bipolar mother who had him at 14 and she struggled with her mental health, addictions, horrible choice in men, and she was a grifter and criminal herself. He had a brother Conor who was deaf and quite a few years younger than him, who he raised for the most part. Tristan joined the military when he turned 18 so he could work as a medic and earn money, his intent was to try to provide for his brother once his brother turned 18 and could leave home. Unfortunately, the mother drew the son into some criminal shenanigans and he ended up killed at age 17. This haunts Tristan. Tristan eventually ended his military career and took a job as a paramedic in a small town to start over after some drama with his mother.
They meet when Ford's shop gets robbed and his employee Silas gets stabbed. Tristan and Silas's boyfriend Cade are the responding paramedic and emt. Tristan is an extroverted flirt and he's instantly attracted to Ford who is a big built guy with startlingly attractive features to him. He flirts, he looks for excuses to spend time with him and it works. They both think that this could be a one and done hookup, but they want more so they start a casual FWB relationship but they care so much about each other that they slip into an actual relationship, even though neither of them are really ready or emotionally mature. They have some kinky hot times. But they are also starved for affection and they latch on to each other in a sweet way, they are each other's comfort. I'm so weak for that kind of dynamic! I was sold.
I enjoyed this story. Like I said I'm so weak for this kind of dynamic that they shared. I loved all the times that they were soft with each other and just needed the other person and settled their wild emotions when they had that person near them. They're both very vulnerable characters even though they had very different personalities. I loved how protective Ford was even though he was so traumatized himself. And Tristan was so cool in times of crisis and he was such a solid person for Ford to have in his corner. He also really brought forward out of his shell. And I absolutely loved all of the appearances that Silas and Cade made. I had to hold myself back from quoting every funny moment with them, but there was a lot of moments where they stole the scene with their hilarious reactions. No other man or other woman drama.
Things I didn't love: it was a little weird to me that Tristan spent $2,000 to have Ford repair his car. Is he made of money? It seemed like he brought that job up out of nowhere as an excuse to be closer to Ford, $2,000 is a pretty big commitment to spend time with a stranger you want to get to know, I'd rather have spent money on his broken down house then the car which seemed to be a second mode of transport as he also had a motorcycle. I also didn't love the trip they made to try to find Ford's dad's car, it was anti-climactic that they just returned home with nothing and really Tristan didn't have as solid of a lead to make it worth their time. Though he ended up being completely on the right track about where that car was.
Some notable moments:
This was a great description of intimacy. "There’s something incredibly intimate about it. Like we’ve created our own arousal echo chamber with nothing more than the sound of our breath: his raspy, throaty panting and grunts, and my hoarse, pitchy gasps that he punches out, one after the other, with every thrust."
Cade and Silas were great! I loved the silent and judgy communication they shared without any words exchanged. "“I feel dizzy as fuck, Cujo. You might have to carry me.” Ford wraps his arms around my torso and lifts me like I’m a lot lighter than I am, which is dizzying in and of itself. But I don’t miss Cade and Silas turning to each other, Cade mouthing the word “Cujo?” and both of them sharing yet another look."
I loved them just wanting to be close. "Without hesitation, he reaches over his shoulder to grab his shirt and whip it off before shimmying out of his pants and boxers in one movement. Before I know it, he’s slipping under the covers next to me and wrapping all his limbs around my body with a slight shudder. His face gets mushed into my shoulder, where I can’t see his eyes. That’s okay, though. I wrap my arms around him, careful not to disturb the bandage he just did, and squeeze him as tightly as I can."
Cade exploding because he can't hold it in anymore and he needs the gossip was perfect. "Silas elbows him very subtly, but it’s not subtle when Cade flinches and scowls at his boyfriend. “No! You said I couldn’t say anything as long as they were pretending they weren’t together. They’re not pretending anymore.” He flaps his hands at both of us, where we’re leaning against the counter, shoulders pressed together but otherwise not touching. “This is bullshit. I’ve been patient. I need the tea!”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 4.25/5
Steam*: 3.75/5
Kinks: brat, dominance, snowballing, spanking
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: gang violence, grifting in childhood, Army medic/vet, ptsd, traumatic childhood, permanent disability/mute MC, grief over dead parent and sibling, gun violence, self-harm
4.5 stars
Ford is 26. He's gay but closeted for the most part. He is mute and communicates via ASL and texts. When he was 8 years old or so his mother was murdered by an ex-boyfriend of hers and Ford himself was nearly killed, he was choked so badly that he suffered severe damage. He hasn't been able to talk since, though if he struggles he can force out some sounds and the occasional word. But it doesn't sound right and he's self-conscious about it. He was raised without his father but after his mother's death the state found his dad and his dad raised him. His dad was a bit of a loner, he suffered PTSD from being a war of veteran but he was a loving dad for the most part and he tried hard. His dad passed away a year ago suddenly at the age of 52 of a stroke. Ford has been struggling to make the car repair business that he took over from his father successful since then.
Tristan is 32ish. He's bi or pan. He was raised by a bipolar mother who had him at 14 and she struggled with her mental health, addictions, horrible choice in men, and she was a grifter and criminal herself. He had a brother Conor who was deaf and quite a few years younger than him, who he raised for the most part. Tristan joined the military when he turned 18 so he could work as a medic and earn money, his intent was to try to provide for his brother once his brother turned 18 and could leave home. Unfortunately, the mother drew the son into some criminal shenanigans and he ended up killed at age 17. This haunts Tristan. Tristan eventually ended his military career and took a job as a paramedic in a small town to start over after some drama with his mother.
They meet when Ford's shop gets robbed and his employee Silas gets stabbed. Tristan and Silas's boyfriend Cade are the responding paramedic and emt. Tristan is an extroverted flirt and he's instantly attracted to Ford who is a big built guy with startlingly attractive features to him. He flirts, he looks for excuses to spend time with him and it works. They both think that this could be a one and done hookup, but they want more so they start a casual FWB relationship but they care so much about each other that they slip into an actual relationship, even though neither of them are really ready or emotionally mature. They have some kinky hot times. But they are also starved for affection and they latch on to each other in a sweet way, they are each other's comfort. I'm so weak for that kind of dynamic! I was sold.
I enjoyed this story. Like I said I'm so weak for this kind of dynamic that they shared. I loved all the times that they were soft with each other and just needed the other person and settled their wild emotions when they had that person near them. They're both very vulnerable characters even though they had very different personalities. I loved how protective Ford was even though he was so traumatized himself. And Tristan was so cool in times of crisis and he was such a solid person for Ford to have in his corner. He also really brought forward out of his shell. And I absolutely loved all of the appearances that Silas and Cade made. I had to hold myself back from quoting every funny moment with them, but there was a lot of moments where they stole the scene with their hilarious reactions. No other man or other woman drama.
Things I didn't love: it was a little weird to me that Tristan spent $2,000 to have Ford repair his car. Is he made of money? It seemed like he brought that job up out of nowhere as an excuse to be closer to Ford, $2,000 is a pretty big commitment to spend time with a stranger you want to get to know, I'd rather have spent money on his broken down house then the car which seemed to be a second mode of transport as he also had a motorcycle. I also didn't love the trip they made to try to find Ford's dad's car, it was anti-climactic that they just returned home with nothing and really Tristan didn't have as solid of a lead to make it worth their time. Though he ended up being completely on the right track about where that car was.
Some notable moments:
This was a great description of intimacy. "There’s something incredibly intimate about it. Like we’ve created our own arousal echo chamber with nothing more than the sound of our breath: his raspy, throaty panting and grunts, and my hoarse, pitchy gasps that he punches out, one after the other, with every thrust."
Cade and Silas were great! I loved the silent and judgy communication they shared without any words exchanged. "“I feel dizzy as fuck, Cujo. You might have to carry me.” Ford wraps his arms around my torso and lifts me like I’m a lot lighter than I am, which is dizzying in and of itself. But I don’t miss Cade and Silas turning to each other, Cade mouthing the word “Cujo?” and both of them sharing yet another look."
I loved them just wanting to be close. "Without hesitation, he reaches over his shoulder to grab his shirt and whip it off before shimmying out of his pants and boxers in one movement. Before I know it, he’s slipping under the covers next to me and wrapping all his limbs around my body with a slight shudder. His face gets mushed into my shoulder, where I can’t see his eyes. That’s okay, though. I wrap my arms around him, careful not to disturb the bandage he just did, and squeeze him as tightly as I can."
Cade exploding because he can't hold it in anymore and he needs the gossip was perfect. "Silas elbows him very subtly, but it’s not subtle when Cade flinches and scowls at his boyfriend. “No! You said I couldn’t say anything as long as they were pretending they weren’t together. They’re not pretending anymore.” He flaps his hands at both of us, where we’re leaning against the counter, shoulders pressed together but otherwise not touching. “This is bullshit. I’ve been patient. I need the tea!”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2024
I honestly don’t even know where to begin. This was not all what I was expecting, but I’m not mad about it 🤣
I don’t wanna say that this is lighter than Cade & Silas’s story, because both Tristan and Ford have a lot of trauma, but it’s a bit less intense, I guess. I think that’s mostly because Tristan is a giant unhinged goofball and uses humor as a coping mechanism.
Plus I found it much more interesting and faster paced than Stupid Dirty, and I was intrigued by their story laying down the foundation for The Banna spinoff.
So, if the idea of two giant sad boys (a psychotic golden retriever and a mute grumpy mechanic) both with PTSD from their childhood traumas, a heavy dose of codependency (a common theme in Possum Hollow relationships lol), and gang shenanigans sounds like a good time then I highly recommend.
I don’t wanna say that this is lighter than Cade & Silas’s story, because both Tristan and Ford have a lot of trauma, but it’s a bit less intense, I guess. I think that’s mostly because Tristan is a giant unhinged goofball and uses humor as a coping mechanism.
Plus I found it much more interesting and faster paced than Stupid Dirty, and I was intrigued by their story laying down the foundation for The Banna spinoff.
So, if the idea of two giant sad boys (a psychotic golden retriever and a mute grumpy mechanic) both with PTSD from their childhood traumas, a heavy dose of codependency (a common theme in Possum Hollow relationships lol), and gang shenanigans sounds like a good time then I highly recommend.
June 29, 2025
68 Whiskey builds on everything that made Stupid Dirty great and somehow makes it even better. The world of Possum Hollow expands in all the right ways with richer side characters, a compelling crime subplot, and two MMCs I absolutely adored. Tristan, especially, is chaotic and flawed in the best way, and still manages to light up every page he’s on.
What I love most about Erin Russell’s writing is how joy always comes first. The stories hold space for trauma and healing, but never at the expense of happiness. That balance is rare and beautifully done here.
Erin Russell has me in a chokehold, and honestly, I don’t want out. Obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m emotionally invested in Possum Hollow at a dangerous level.
What I love most about Erin Russell’s writing is how joy always comes first. The stories hold space for trauma and healing, but never at the expense of happiness. That balance is rare and beautifully done here.
Erin Russell has me in a chokehold, and honestly, I don’t want out. Obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m emotionally invested in Possum Hollow at a dangerous level.
August 2, 2024
This book was such a waste of my time, just to say it took me 6 days to finish it and usually I would have read it in a day.
It is for sure in my Top 5 of most hated books ever and I've read some very awful books so that should say it all.
I hated so many things about this book that I don't even know if I'll be able to organize my thoughts and explain them, so spoilers ahead I guess.
-Why is Tristan a 30-something-year-old dude who is supposed to be the macho-army archetype suddenly acting like a teenager pouting and whining all the time?
- Tristan saying he is a top, then saying he only has experience with hand jobs and blow jobs with his bros, then saying he prefers twinks and small women, then saying he waited until DADT dropped to join the army but also saying he is not queer when asked?
-Ford's non-existent personality
-Tristan multiple personalities
- Tristan and Ford falling in love with each other after maybe interacting 10 times
- Ford being a Dom Daddy out of the blue and saying the must cringy phrases in existence like "good hole" just EW
- The whole random mafia subplot being fixed without telling us or showing us how
There are a thousand more things I hated about this book, it for sure reads as if it was not edited properly and as if the characters were not defined before the book was written, but mainly I hate this book exists and that I spent so much time reading it.
It is for sure in my Top 5 of most hated books ever and I've read some very awful books so that should say it all.
I hated so many things about this book that I don't even know if I'll be able to organize my thoughts and explain them, so spoilers ahead I guess.
-Why is Tristan a 30-something-year-old dude who is supposed to be the macho-army archetype suddenly acting like a teenager pouting and whining all the time?
- Tristan saying he is a top, then saying he only has experience with hand jobs and blow jobs with his bros, then saying he prefers twinks and small women, then saying he waited until DADT dropped to join the army but also saying he is not queer when asked?
-Ford's non-existent personality
-Tristan multiple personalities
- Tristan and Ford falling in love with each other after maybe interacting 10 times
- Ford being a Dom Daddy out of the blue and saying the must cringy phrases in existence like "good hole" just EW
- The whole random mafia subplot being fixed without telling us or showing us how
There are a thousand more things I hated about this book, it for sure reads as if it was not edited properly and as if the characters were not defined before the book was written, but mainly I hate this book exists and that I spent so much time reading it.
June 24, 2024
I have been looking forward to this book ever since I finished Stupid Dirty at the beginning of the year, particularly because I immediately loved Ford and that element of the story didn’t disappoint.
I struggled with the first 20%. It was heavy on the inner monologue and there was so much telling over showing that it took me a while to get into it.
My other main issue with this story was Tristan. I felt like he flip flopped between being the more serious character we met in book 1 to being a sort of ‘sunshine twink’ and it just often felt like he didn’t totally make sense as a person although he was pretty funny and I liked him a lot by the end.
The story really picked up for me as it went on. I loved Ford, him and Tristan had great chemistry. Learning both of their back stories was sad but also helped you understand why they clicked.
Cade and Silas were excellent side characters. I don’t know if there’s a plan to continue Ford and Tristan’s story but elements of the plot definitely felt like it could be carried on even if we got a satisfying hea for the couple.
Thank you GRR for an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
I struggled with the first 20%. It was heavy on the inner monologue and there was so much telling over showing that it took me a while to get into it.
My other main issue with this story was Tristan. I felt like he flip flopped between being the more serious character we met in book 1 to being a sort of ‘sunshine twink’ and it just often felt like he didn’t totally make sense as a person although he was pretty funny and I liked him a lot by the end.
The story really picked up for me as it went on. I loved Ford, him and Tristan had great chemistry. Learning both of their back stories was sad but also helped you understand why they clicked.
Cade and Silas were excellent side characters. I don’t know if there’s a plan to continue Ford and Tristan’s story but elements of the plot definitely felt like it could be carried on even if we got a satisfying hea for the couple.
Thank you GRR for an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Read
July 1, 2024🟢 NO RATING 🟢
DNF -- death at 40%
I can't see it.
I can't see Tristan and Ford together.
I don't feel it.
There's no palpable chemistry or connection.
40% into the story and I still can't seem to put Tristan and Ford together.
I thought Tristan was going to be the problem for me since I didn't like him in the previous installment, but I actually really liked Tristan in this one.
"Inappropriate flirting and inappropriate aggression are the only real weapons I have. How the fuck else are you supposed to interact with other men? If fucking and fighting are off the table, what’s left?"
BUT
It's Ford that I didn't quite like. I don't care that he's mute or has scars or whatever, that's not it, but he doesn't seem like the right person for the hot army vet and the chemistry just wasn't happening.
Ford's character's personality is off, at least for me.
Something rubs me the wrong way here and I just can't seem to put my finger on it, but I really don't like this match.
I tried, I really did. 🤷
DNF -- death at 40%
I can't see it.
I can't see Tristan and Ford together.
I don't feel it.
There's no palpable chemistry or connection.
40% into the story and I still can't seem to put Tristan and Ford together.
I thought Tristan was going to be the problem for me since I didn't like him in the previous installment, but I actually really liked Tristan in this one.
"Inappropriate flirting and inappropriate aggression are the only real weapons I have. How the fuck else are you supposed to interact with other men? If fucking and fighting are off the table, what’s left?"
BUT
It's Ford that I didn't quite like. I don't care that he's mute or has scars or whatever, that's not it, but he doesn't seem like the right person for the hot army vet and the chemistry just wasn't happening.
Ford's character's personality is off, at least for me.
Something rubs me the wrong way here and I just can't seem to put my finger on it, but I really don't like this match.
I tried, I really did. 🤷
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August 18, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐. 75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️. 5
This story had everything I like: hurt/comfort, broken boys, mental health representation, grumpy-sunshine vibes, and a touch of suspense. It was absolute perfection.
But first, let's talk about the characters, and by characters, I mean Tristan, our insufferable brat. My thoughts on this character can best be summed up by a line from Cade himself: “Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re an asshole wearing a person-suit or a person wearing an asshole-suit.” Yup, this is how I felt for the longest time. But once you start getting bits and pieces of his past, all his assholeness starts to make sense. After that, it's really hard to stay annoyed with him.
And then there is Ford. I don't want to choose between the two, but he has to be my favorite. What can I say? Give me a brooding gentle giant and I'm a puddle on the floor. Ford initially comes across as very unapproachable with his stoic attitude and nonchalance, but underneath all that hard exterior, he is just a big marshmallow. He is riddled with trauma, but eventually, Tristan’s persistence helps break down his walls.
In the story, we see both Tristan and Cade grappling with unresolved mental health issues that influence their behavior—Tristan tends to escape his problems, while Ford isolates himself. Yet, somehow throughout the story, they find solace in each other. Honestly, they are the perfect match. Erin Russell’s portrayal of their mental health struggles was realistic and raw, which makes it even more impactful.
The plot itself was also very fast-paced and exciting, and I couldn't put it down even for a second. I loved this so much, and I hope you give it a try.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️. 5
This story had everything I like: hurt/comfort, broken boys, mental health representation, grumpy-sunshine vibes, and a touch of suspense. It was absolute perfection.
But first, let's talk about the characters, and by characters, I mean Tristan, our insufferable brat. My thoughts on this character can best be summed up by a line from Cade himself: “Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re an asshole wearing a person-suit or a person wearing an asshole-suit.” Yup, this is how I felt for the longest time. But once you start getting bits and pieces of his past, all his assholeness starts to make sense. After that, it's really hard to stay annoyed with him.
And then there is Ford. I don't want to choose between the two, but he has to be my favorite. What can I say? Give me a brooding gentle giant and I'm a puddle on the floor. Ford initially comes across as very unapproachable with his stoic attitude and nonchalance, but underneath all that hard exterior, he is just a big marshmallow. He is riddled with trauma, but eventually, Tristan’s persistence helps break down his walls.
In the story, we see both Tristan and Cade grappling with unresolved mental health issues that influence their behavior—Tristan tends to escape his problems, while Ford isolates himself. Yet, somehow throughout the story, they find solace in each other. Honestly, they are the perfect match. Erin Russell’s portrayal of their mental health struggles was realistic and raw, which makes it even more impactful.
The plot itself was also very fast-paced and exciting, and I couldn't put it down even for a second. I loved this so much, and I hope you give it a try.
July 10, 2024
So I did enjoy reading this but wtf is with that ending?
***********Major spoilers *****************
I enjoyed this but didn’t love the gang situation at the end. This series is going in a direction I didn’t expect. I don’t think Tristan being forced to be indebted as the underground medic for a criminal bikie gang is really the blissful HEA I was expecting for him. Poor Ford - it even says how anxious he is waiting at for him when he goes out to help them. And the abusive mum situation?? I thought that her being the go between in the bikie gang and being involved in such a negative way in Tristan’s life is going against all the character growth he has done and everything he spent his life trying to get away from. He is going backwards! Very confused.
Also just saying I feel it’s unnecessary for a second book about the first 2 characters. Their story felt happily done and I don’t need to revisit them as main characters.
***********Major spoilers *****************
I enjoyed this but didn’t love the gang situation at the end. This series is going in a direction I didn’t expect. I don’t think Tristan being forced to be indebted as the underground medic for a criminal bikie gang is really the blissful HEA I was expecting for him. Poor Ford - it even says how anxious he is waiting at for him when he goes out to help them. And the abusive mum situation?? I thought that her being the go between in the bikie gang and being involved in such a negative way in Tristan’s life is going against all the character growth he has done and everything he spent his life trying to get away from. He is going backwards! Very confused.
Also just saying I feel it’s unnecessary for a second book about the first 2 characters. Their story felt happily done and I don’t need to revisit them as main characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2024
That was the ending? You bring his estranged mom back who he had nightmares about and its just “ok fine”? And then end it without any conclusion to their issues? Lame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2024
68 Whiskey is the second book in the Possum Hollow series by Erin Russel and if you loved Stupid Dirty, you’re gonna love this one even more!
Tristan is an ambulance paramedic and Cade’s boss. He has served time in the military after a difficult childhood in the midst of Boston gang warfare, and now he’s just trying to live quietly in Possum Hollow… that is until him and Cade are called to a stabbing and he is thrown into contact with the big, stoic mechanic Ford.
Ford’s world is turned upside down when his apprentice Silas is stabbed in a seemingly gang-related hit. As Cade fusses over Silas (his boyfriend) Ford is left to the mercy of Tristan, the world’s most annoying human. As time passes, this human equivalent of a tornado is clearly obsessed with him - teasing, flirting and generally being a nuisance. But Possum Hollow is on the edge of a gang turf war and Ford finds himself, and by extension Tristan, being drawn in and the two will have to work together to save the people they care about.
Tristan and Ford are basically Cade and Silas a bit more grown up! They both have come from absolutely shitty backgrounds, have piles of unresolved trauma and just want to be loved. Ford is also mute - he doesn’t speak, so a lot of the book is him communicating via ASL, which Tristan understands due to having had a deaf brother. I really enjoyed this representation as it’s not something that I’ve read before and it just added an extra layer to these two characters.
The guys’ push/pull grumpy/sunshine relationship was absolutely glorious and I’m so excited to read more in this series! Although this can be read as a standalone, I absolutely recommend reading Stupid Dirty first, as Cade & Silas feature heavily in this book, and Stupid Dirty is absolutely amazing!
Read 68 Whiskey for:
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Paramedic x Mechanic
✨ Brat vs Brat Tamer
✨ Disability rep; muteness
✨ Mental health rep; self harm, panic attacks
✨ Small town
✨ Found family
Thank you to the author and GRR for an ARC of this book! It’s available 26th June 2024.
Tristan is an ambulance paramedic and Cade’s boss. He has served time in the military after a difficult childhood in the midst of Boston gang warfare, and now he’s just trying to live quietly in Possum Hollow… that is until him and Cade are called to a stabbing and he is thrown into contact with the big, stoic mechanic Ford.
Ford’s world is turned upside down when his apprentice Silas is stabbed in a seemingly gang-related hit. As Cade fusses over Silas (his boyfriend) Ford is left to the mercy of Tristan, the world’s most annoying human. As time passes, this human equivalent of a tornado is clearly obsessed with him - teasing, flirting and generally being a nuisance. But Possum Hollow is on the edge of a gang turf war and Ford finds himself, and by extension Tristan, being drawn in and the two will have to work together to save the people they care about.
Tristan and Ford are basically Cade and Silas a bit more grown up! They both have come from absolutely shitty backgrounds, have piles of unresolved trauma and just want to be loved. Ford is also mute - he doesn’t speak, so a lot of the book is him communicating via ASL, which Tristan understands due to having had a deaf brother. I really enjoyed this representation as it’s not something that I’ve read before and it just added an extra layer to these two characters.
The guys’ push/pull grumpy/sunshine relationship was absolutely glorious and I’m so excited to read more in this series! Although this can be read as a standalone, I absolutely recommend reading Stupid Dirty first, as Cade & Silas feature heavily in this book, and Stupid Dirty is absolutely amazing!
Read 68 Whiskey for:
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Paramedic x Mechanic
✨ Brat vs Brat Tamer
✨ Disability rep; muteness
✨ Mental health rep; self harm, panic attacks
✨ Small town
✨ Found family
Thank you to the author and GRR for an ARC of this book! It’s available 26th June 2024.
June 22, 2024
Loved it. I’ve been so excited for this book, I loved both Tristan and Ford from the first book so I was so happy to read their story. I loved them together, Ford is just so grumpy, but that doesn’t scare off Tristan at all. I finished this one in a couple hours because I couldn’t put it down. I’m already excited about the next book.
October 23, 2024
5 stars audio
4 stars story. I would have preferred more on page relationship development that didn't involve sex sex sex
Looking forward to book 3
4 stars story. I would have preferred more on page relationship development that didn't involve sex sex sex
Looking forward to book 3
October 2, 2025
Struggled with this one, really didn’t feel their connection.
June 23, 2024
"As much as we are a shitshow and have a bunch of the same flaws, we also complement each other in the weirdest possible way."
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. (Although I was already planning on reading this when it came out; it's been on my TBR since February! I'll read anything Erin Russell writes at this point.)
I was so happy to return to Possum Hollow for Ford and Tristan's story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their fucked up little situationship that, despite their best efforts, blossomed into an actual relationship. And boy does Erin Russell know how to traumatize their characters!
I appreciate Russell's comprehensive list of triggers at the beginning of the book, as some pretty heavy topics are covered here. Also, at the start of the book, Russell notes that ASL is a separate language and that direct translation wouldn't make much sense in context. They also note that Ford is not a member of the deaf community. I appreciate the acknowledgment and the distinction, as well as the positive representation shown here.
68 Whiskey is the second book in the series and takes place following the events of Stupid Dirty. It's basically prickly junkyard dog mechanic x unhinged adrenaline junky medic. Add a heap of trauma and presto!
The book is set in the fictional town of Possum Hollow, Missouri. Although Possum Hollow is not a real place, if you've ever visited rural MO, you know exactly where this is.
The book starts with a traumatic, dramatic meet-cute where Cade and Tristan are called to the scene of a stabbing--which just so happens to be at Ford's garage, where Cade's boyfriend Silas works. Poor Silas caught the business end of a knife in a robbery (don't worry, he's fine!), and while Cade attends to Silas, Tristan settles in to work on a very agitated Ford, who has been detained by the officers on scene. This is very inconvenient as Ford needs his hands to talk given that he is mute. Tristan, being the rational human in this situation, gets them to uncuff him so he can check him over as he took a wrench to the noggin during the attack. That's where we start.
"He has husky eyes. Light blue and totally fucking crazed. I love it. Something about that raw, feral intensity sparks my own crazy in response."
Ford and Tristan have had difficult lives, which have left them both with physical, emotional, and mental scars that they desperately try to bury underneath unhealthy coping mechanisms.
"Having someone genuinely give a shit about whether I live for die is like a wet rag over my mouth, and I'm on the cusp of suffocating."
These guys are not the poster children for mental health, but somehow, they smooth each other's ragged edges.
I loved seeing them go from allergic to feelings to declarations of love. Russell has a way with dark humor that had me giggling throughout this book. And when I was done for. It was such a beautiful, important moment.
My only complaint is that this wasn't longer. I could have read 333+ more pages of Ford and Tristan. I have a feeling that we aren't done with them yet, and I can't wait to see what else Erin Russell has in store for the small town of Possum Hollow.
4.75/5 Stars
June 4, 2025
“You talk to me in all the ways that matter. And I talk enough for the both of us. That’s balance, or something. Right? I’ll fill all your brooding silences for as long as you’ll let me.”
4.25 ⭐
I think I’m honestly surprised that I enjoyed this book.
Based on some of the reviews I saw, I was wary about reading it. I only picked it up because it was the first book that came up on my Wheel of Doom (yes, I made one), and I’m actually glad I did.
I can totally see why some people might not like this one—especially if they’ve read Stupid Dirty. It’s nothing like that. Stupid Dirty is more “poor trailer-trash dirt bike riding gay romance,” while this one is more “poor trauma with weird mob vibes gay romance.” I didn’t see the whole gangster/mob subplot coming at all—it gave me a little whiplash—but honestly? I didn’t mind. I enjoyed it.
I’ve liked Ford and Tristan since the first book, and seeing them finally together was nice. Their sex life is definitely kinkier than in book one, but hey, it be like that sometimes. And while I’m not usually into kink or BDSM (I actually try to avoid books with that), I’m also like—if someone wants to be dominated in bed? Go off, bro. Talk about his hole. I’m not gonna stop you. I’m not gonna get turned on by it, but if that’s what Ford and Tristan want, then so be it.
What I liked most was their relationship. I liked that they could be open with each other in ways they couldn’t be with anyone else, and I really appreciated their backstory. I also liked the little found family they’re building with the boys from the first book.
So yeah, I liked it. I liked them. I didn’t love it as much as Stupid Dirty, but this was far from a bad book. It was a good time—and a good read.
4.25 ⭐
I think I’m honestly surprised that I enjoyed this book.
Based on some of the reviews I saw, I was wary about reading it. I only picked it up because it was the first book that came up on my Wheel of Doom (yes, I made one), and I’m actually glad I did.
I can totally see why some people might not like this one—especially if they’ve read Stupid Dirty. It’s nothing like that. Stupid Dirty is more “poor trailer-trash dirt bike riding gay romance,” while this one is more “poor trauma with weird mob vibes gay romance.” I didn’t see the whole gangster/mob subplot coming at all—it gave me a little whiplash—but honestly? I didn’t mind. I enjoyed it.
I’ve liked Ford and Tristan since the first book, and seeing them finally together was nice. Their sex life is definitely kinkier than in book one, but hey, it be like that sometimes. And while I’m not usually into kink or BDSM (I actually try to avoid books with that), I’m also like—if someone wants to be dominated in bed? Go off, bro. Talk about his hole. I’m not gonna stop you. I’m not gonna get turned on by it, but if that’s what Ford and Tristan want, then so be it.
What I liked most was their relationship. I liked that they could be open with each other in ways they couldn’t be with anyone else, and I really appreciated their backstory. I also liked the little found family they’re building with the boys from the first book.
So yeah, I liked it. I liked them. I didn’t love it as much as Stupid Dirty, but this was far from a bad book. It was a good time—and a good read.
dnf
September 21, 2024dnf 35%
it just wasn’t holding my attention :/
it just wasn’t holding my attention :/
Currently reading
January 11, 2026
TBR
Possum Hollow:
1. Stupid Dirty - Silas & Cade's Story
2. 68 Whiskey - Tristan & Ford's Story
Next Gunnar & Tobias's Story :
3. Running Feral
Expected On 26/03/2025:
4. Hollow Point
👇👇👇👇
Interconnected Series - Sins Of The Banna Series:
1. Savage - Micah & Savage's Story - 4 stars
Possum Hollow:
1. Stupid Dirty - Silas & Cade's Story
2. 68 Whiskey - Tristan & Ford's Story
Next Gunnar & Tobias's Story :
3. Running Feral
Expected On 26/03/2025:
4. Hollow Point
👇👇👇👇
Interconnected Series - Sins Of The Banna Series:
1. Savage - Micah & Savage's Story - 4 stars
July 4, 2024
3.5
I was waiting for this one to be released because I was so excited about Tristan and Ford.
But I didn’t quite feel their connection.
They were cute but it could have been more.
I think I’m gonna stop this series here because it’s getting too big for my liking (too much side plot and connected stories).
Not a universe I wanna explore more.
I was waiting for this one to be released because I was so excited about Tristan and Ford.
But I didn’t quite feel their connection.
They were cute but it could have been more.
I think I’m gonna stop this series here because it’s getting too big for my liking (too much side plot and connected stories).
Not a universe I wanna explore more.
February 25, 2025
This book was everything I wanted and yet nothing that I expected. Tristan was almost a father figure in Stupid Dirty, a bit overbearing, but serious and closed off. So when his bratty nature was revealed in this book it totally took me by surprise and I was all for it! I just knew there had to be more to this man. And the fact that he instantly glued himself to Ford?! The strong, silent man that was such an intriguing enigma to me? Color me interested. When I first learned these two were going to be the MCs of this book it was like a little lightbulb lit up in my heart because somehow it didn’t make any sense and yet it made all the sense in the world. And that pretty much sums up how I felt about this book. 😂🤣
Much like the first book, this was a story of two broken men with rough backgrounds and familial trauma. The author doesn’t shy away from the mental struggles they deal with and I love how raw and real these characters are portrayed. There is no easy solution nor is there always a pretty ending because that’s not exactly how life works, but yet there is still happiness to be found despite the crap that happens.
We learn quickly that Tristan uses his bratty humor to cover up the deep hurts he carries inside. Ford’s silence comes from not only a physical injury, but an emotional one and he too is a deep well of pain that he locked up alongside his voice. So you’d think their story would be heavy and angsty, but it really wasn’t. There was a lightness to this story that made me smile so much. There was some definite push/pull with Tristan pushing his way into Ford’s life and Ford trying to fight him each step of the way, but they had such a magnetic connection. Tristan completely melting for Ford and omg Ford’s dirty talk?! 🔥🔥 Oh I was on board for that! They may have been a bit codependent, but they were also genuine and actually quite sweet. In fact, the quiet moments between them were so soft and warm that you just wanted to protect these two at all costs because in a life full of harsh realities, they definitely deserved to have something this precious.
I have come to truly love and appreciate Erin’s writing, each character is so well fleshed out that you’re honestly invested in each and every one, even the side characters. And I cannot wait for what they come up with next.
Also can I just give a shoutout to Erin for that amazing dedication that already made me fall in love with this book?! 🙌🏻 to a fellow human that obviously has a heart full of dark humor after working in the medical field. 🤣
“Dedicated to all my trauma-fueled, commitment-phobic emergency med brethren. We give the best fucking advice, but run away from our own relationships like it’s an Olympic sport.
(If you identify with anything I just said, please drink some water you dehydrated beast. I can hear your kidneys screaming from here.)”
Much like the first book, this was a story of two broken men with rough backgrounds and familial trauma. The author doesn’t shy away from the mental struggles they deal with and I love how raw and real these characters are portrayed. There is no easy solution nor is there always a pretty ending because that’s not exactly how life works, but yet there is still happiness to be found despite the crap that happens.
We learn quickly that Tristan uses his bratty humor to cover up the deep hurts he carries inside. Ford’s silence comes from not only a physical injury, but an emotional one and he too is a deep well of pain that he locked up alongside his voice. So you’d think their story would be heavy and angsty, but it really wasn’t. There was a lightness to this story that made me smile so much. There was some definite push/pull with Tristan pushing his way into Ford’s life and Ford trying to fight him each step of the way, but they had such a magnetic connection. Tristan completely melting for Ford and omg Ford’s dirty talk?! 🔥🔥 Oh I was on board for that! They may have been a bit codependent, but they were also genuine and actually quite sweet. In fact, the quiet moments between them were so soft and warm that you just wanted to protect these two at all costs because in a life full of harsh realities, they definitely deserved to have something this precious.
I have come to truly love and appreciate Erin’s writing, each character is so well fleshed out that you’re honestly invested in each and every one, even the side characters. And I cannot wait for what they come up with next.
Also can I just give a shoutout to Erin for that amazing dedication that already made me fall in love with this book?! 🙌🏻 to a fellow human that obviously has a heart full of dark humor after working in the medical field. 🤣
“Dedicated to all my trauma-fueled, commitment-phobic emergency med brethren. We give the best fucking advice, but run away from our own relationships like it’s an Olympic sport.
(If you identify with anything I just said, please drink some water you dehydrated beast. I can hear your kidneys screaming from here.)”
June 26, 2024
Erin Russell delivers a gritty sequel to Stupid Dirty, with 68 WHISKEY. We finally get Ford and Tristan, and it's not at all what I expected it to be, which feels pretty on brand for Possum Hollow.
Tristan works with Cade on the ambulance. He's a medic. He also has what feels like a busload of baggage.
Ford is the nontalking, broody, but with a heart of gold mechanic who gave Silas a job.
Tristan and Ford connect on a call, and as hard as Ford pushes away... Tristan happily follows.
This book was heavy. It was entertaining as hell. The spicy scenes were stupid hot, and the stories were heartbreaking. But it really was a lot heavier than I was expecting.
What I think Erin excels at, more than anything, is writing a character/s that make you INVESTED. I want Cade and Silas to be okay. I want Ford to be safe. I want Tristan to open up and feel things like a grown-up. I want to know if the nurse at the hospital is okay. Or that Tobias and his grandma are okay. I genuinely feel like each of the mcs and EVEN the side characters are all real - and I wanna know how they're doing. That's good writing.
This story was a bit bonkers, but it's totally on brand for these characters AND this town.
I'm not going into details as far as my review because it's best going in blind I think.
But I WILL say:
The dirty talk was 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Ford, you kinky man.
We love to see it
This book was great.
This series is great.
This author is great.
Nothing but positive, and emotionally wrung out feelings. 68 WHISKEY comes out JUNE 26. Don't miss it!
Tristan works with Cade on the ambulance. He's a medic. He also has what feels like a busload of baggage.
Ford is the nontalking, broody, but with a heart of gold mechanic who gave Silas a job.
Tristan and Ford connect on a call, and as hard as Ford pushes away... Tristan happily follows.
This book was heavy. It was entertaining as hell. The spicy scenes were stupid hot, and the stories were heartbreaking. But it really was a lot heavier than I was expecting.
What I think Erin excels at, more than anything, is writing a character/s that make you INVESTED. I want Cade and Silas to be okay. I want Ford to be safe. I want Tristan to open up and feel things like a grown-up. I want to know if the nurse at the hospital is okay. Or that Tobias and his grandma are okay. I genuinely feel like each of the mcs and EVEN the side characters are all real - and I wanna know how they're doing. That's good writing.
This story was a bit bonkers, but it's totally on brand for these characters AND this town.
I'm not going into details as far as my review because it's best going in blind I think.
But I WILL say:
The dirty talk was 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Ford, you kinky man.
We love to see it
This book was great.
This series is great.
This author is great.
Nothing but positive, and emotionally wrung out feelings. 68 WHISKEY comes out JUNE 26. Don't miss it!
July 5, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I’m in a bad reading mood, so while I used to focus on the positive, now I am just irritated with everything I don’t like and let that feed my rage… So I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it.
Adored sassy “overgrown twink playing dress-up. A bratty bottom” Tristan. Immature and impulsive? Oh yeah. But extremely caring and feral. Loved Ford quiet Shh. But I don’t think I liked their sex dynamic very much… also the Cujo and the good/ bad hole didn’t grow on me.
Loved to see Cade and Silas showing up so much and sharing intimacy like an old married couple.
While I was internally complaining about the lack of action and plot at 50% , after that there’s a bit of everything, mafia, family, relationships, secrets you name it. The amount of drama that was added was good, it shuffled this a bit, but then it was resolved within 2 seconds and off page… and really, all good with Tristan’s mother? Just like that ? 🙄
I don’t think this is a HEA, the epilogue didn’t show safety… so I believe it’s a HFN.
I’m in a bad reading mood, so while I used to focus on the positive, now I am just irritated with everything I don’t like and let that feed my rage… So I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it.
Adored sassy “overgrown twink playing dress-up. A bratty bottom” Tristan. Immature and impulsive? Oh yeah. But extremely caring and feral. Loved Ford quiet Shh. But I don’t think I liked their sex dynamic very much… also the Cujo and the good/ bad hole didn’t grow on me.
Loved to see Cade and Silas showing up so much and sharing intimacy like an old married couple.
While I was internally complaining about the lack of action and plot at 50% , after that there’s a bit of everything, mafia, family, relationships, secrets you name it. The amount of drama that was added was good, it shuffled this a bit, but then it was resolved within 2 seconds and off page… and really, all good with Tristan’s mother? Just like that ? 🙄
I don’t think this is a HEA, the epilogue didn’t show safety… so I believe it’s a HFN.
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