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Foundations
Matt and Ollie are back and stronger than ever.
Matt, a former Navy SEAL, and CEO of his own cybersecurity firm, is still solidly, and stubbornly in the closet. He's come a long way, and still has further to go.
Ollie is as patient as ever, and is the reason their relationship is as solid as it is.
When a ex from Ollie's past resurface, he threatens everything they've worked so hard to conceal.
Will he shake the foundation of Matt & Ollie's relationship so hard it turns to rubble?
TWs: consensual rough sex, a disappearance, presumed unalived.
Matt, a former Navy SEAL, and CEO of his own cybersecurity firm, is still solidly, and stubbornly in the closet. He's come a long way, and still has further to go.
Ollie is as patient as ever, and is the reason their relationship is as solid as it is.
When a ex from Ollie's past resurface, he threatens everything they've worked so hard to conceal.
Will he shake the foundation of Matt & Ollie's relationship so hard it turns to rubble?
TWs: consensual rough sex, a disappearance, presumed unalived.
Hardcover
Published October 31, 2024
6 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
TH Forest
6 books41 followersI write heartfelt queer romance and coming of age stories. I have been an avid reader since age 4 and am currently obsessed with MM Romance :-) Book 3 of my Matt & Ollie series was released in April, and the book that started it all, Descendants of the Gods, the very first book I wrote, will be released later this year!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 14, 2024
4.5⭐️
I will always bitch about Ollie not growing a spine, but, but, hear me out. I absolutely still love these two together 🥺
Is their relationship somewhat toxic? Yes, I hate that Ollie lets Matt get away with things, like being adamant on the topic of Ollie lying to his sister. I try to understand Matt’s fear but at this point he’s intentionally shoving himself deeper into that closet. Everyone that matters in his life already knows about him and Holly, even Bill is one of his biggest supporters, so what will it take?
We’ve come a long way from Book 1 though, and I loved seeing the progression of their relationship in this. Matt might be a big traffic sign but he has his moments. He can be extremely charming, a loving adorable dork when he wants to be, and if we remove the whole being in the closet thing, he is a lover boy at heart. A clingy one at that.
One thing I enjoyed most in this was the scene where Matt handled Andy 😹😹 That boy was getting on my nerves so bad and Matt saved the day. I honestly love his possessiveness for Ollie. The more you read about them, the more you understand they actually do belong together even though their relationship is rocky at best. I might want to throttle Ollie but he is one loyal man. A love like Ollie’s is rare to find.
This is one of those books where it’s not just about reading it. It’s about experiencing the characters.🫶🏻🫶🏻
I will always bitch about Ollie not growing a spine, but, but, hear me out. I absolutely still love these two together 🥺
Is their relationship somewhat toxic? Yes, I hate that Ollie lets Matt get away with things, like being adamant on the topic of Ollie lying to his sister. I try to understand Matt’s fear but at this point he’s intentionally shoving himself deeper into that closet. Everyone that matters in his life already knows about him and Holly, even Bill is one of his biggest supporters, so what will it take?
We’ve come a long way from Book 1 though, and I loved seeing the progression of their relationship in this. Matt might be a big traffic sign but he has his moments. He can be extremely charming, a loving adorable dork when he wants to be, and if we remove the whole being in the closet thing, he is a lover boy at heart. A clingy one at that.
One thing I enjoyed most in this was the scene where Matt handled Andy 😹😹 That boy was getting on my nerves so bad and Matt saved the day. I honestly love his possessiveness for Ollie. The more you read about them, the more you understand they actually do belong together even though their relationship is rocky at best. I might want to throttle Ollie but he is one loyal man. A love like Ollie’s is rare to find.
This is one of those books where it’s not just about reading it. It’s about experiencing the characters.🫶🏻🫶🏻
November 7, 2025
Spoilers. DNF I’m writing this review because I wish someone else had. I would never have started this series. I was invested in Appearances and quite enjoyed it. I read about 50 pages of this book and something occurred to me. I thought Matt isn’t going to change is he?. He’ll stay in the closet, and by association Ollie would too, and only be out to his close circle of friend, Finn, and some family members. I skimmed some of Illusions and read the some of the last 40 pages. Matt doesn’t change he’s still the same controlling b*stard he’s always been. Poor Ollie never gets to be the partner he should have been. Yes they love each other but what sort of a life is it where you’re living a lie?. They will go into their retirement years exactly the same. Some people will be fine with the series, after all they are together and love each other, but, for me I’m left impotent, bereft, cheated and empty. I become emotionally involved in the books I read. I’ve wasted my time and psyche.
December 26, 2024
Someone please tell Ollie that d!!ck is not every thing and there are god men out there,who will treat him better with an even better and bigger d!!$k,for fks sake.He needs to grow a spine and leave that self sabotaging id!!ot of a man.😭I’m so tired.
Yes the characters get of my last nerve,one is spineless and let the toxic one get away with everything he does,but the book is brilliant and the plot is great.I’m even shocked I love this,because normally annoying characters makes me lose interest in a story but just couldn’t book this book down.
OLLIE PLEASE BIG D!!K CAN COME ATTACHED TO A GOOD MAN TOO.LEAVE THIS MAN AND GET YOU A MAN WHO IS NOT HOT TODAY AND COLD TOMORROW.A MAN WHO DOESN’T ACCEPT HIMSELF OR LOVE HIMSELF FULLY,WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOVE ANYONE ELSE.
I DON’T LIKE MATT AND I DON’T THINK I WILL EVER LIKE HIM.
Yes the characters get of my last nerve,one is spineless and let the toxic one get away with everything he does,but the book is brilliant and the plot is great.I’m even shocked I love this,because normally annoying characters makes me lose interest in a story but just couldn’t book this book down.
OLLIE PLEASE BIG D!!K CAN COME ATTACHED TO A GOOD MAN TOO.LEAVE THIS MAN AND GET YOU A MAN WHO IS NOT HOT TODAY AND COLD TOMORROW.A MAN WHO DOESN’T ACCEPT HIMSELF OR LOVE HIMSELF FULLY,WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOVE ANYONE ELSE.
I DON’T LIKE MATT AND I DON’T THINK I WILL EVER LIKE HIM.
October 29, 2025
Okay, so I was still giving Matt some serious side-eye in this one, but I was really satisfied by how much more Ollie was pushing back. Not overtly (well, there was that one scene where he really let him have it, and it was glorious!), but his thinking seemed to change, and those private moments of feeling affronted and let down made the relationship feel more balanced. It feels like we’re building toward something here. I loved the Andy subplot and all the drama it spawned and the way it made Matt go nuclear-protective mode (probably his best side). I would’ve liked more of that and less of them being happy, but that’s probably me being sadistic. I just live for the DRAMA between these two because Matt certainly provides a lot of opportunities for it. Fingers crossed for more soap opera shenanigans in the next ones!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews