Foundations

by TH Forest

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.

Genres: M M Romance

Hardcover

Published October 31, 2024

About the author

I 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!

Reviews

[Thay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two and everything is stressing me out in the best and worst way possible. The writing is still incredible and painfully good, but these characters? They are driving me crazy.

Matt especially… what is actually wrong with him? I went into this book hoping for closure, for growth, for something to finally give BUT no. This closet is so tightly nailed shut it would take a thousand hammers to pry it open. The tension, the denial, the emotional repression? Exhausting.

And yet, I can’t stop reading. The frustration just proves how invested I am. This author knows exactly what they’re doing and they’re doing it too well. ❤️

[Manic killer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to first apologize about my review. I am not good with words and probably a little all of the place!
I am going to write this review on the series as a whole. I really am not sure what to say because honestly, I am pissed off by the whole series. If you are going to start this and hope for some growth in any of the characters in the book, just walk away from it now. There is none. Not with Matt, who is the biggest asshole. He is controlling, abusive... He... I am not sure I have disliked a character more. I wanted to have some empathy for him with how he was raised and his father. So much internal homophobia. It was so ingrained in who he is.. he will never change and will always keep Ollie hidden. Gosh, and Ollie. He has to sit in the shadows, watching the man he loves, while acting like they are nothing but friends/co-workers. Watch Matt with Finn. I just hoped as the series progressed that there were be growth but they all remained so stagnant. Then with the baby and Finn. All three books are basically the same book. I have seen some reviews saying that Ollie pushed back more and more each book, but really.. he doesn't. Especially in this book. He has no input on the new house or even any true say on moving. He just agrees because Matt controls the whole situation. He has to live apart from Matt while Matt and Finn make decisions regarding the house. Matt is the biggest walking red flag and most definitely not a romantic hero. He may love bomb and throw his money at Ollie but there are parts were he makes sure Ollie doesn't forget it, even though Ollie is an integral part of the company. Ollie deserves better. His family knows he deserves better even though they act just as passive about the whole thing. I won't read any other books related or beyond this last book. I also wasn't interest in the sort of Supernatural turn the book took, though I guess it was always there with them being "destined by the Gods" or whatever.
I will say. The books are written well but I can't get passed Matt - Ollie just wanting to be with Matt so much that he will settle for nothing. His sister doesn't even know. His friends. It's all really so sad.

[Ali · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Bernice Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sasha Avice · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!