Every mile takes us further from who we used to be.
Logan
I've always lived a structured life.
Every box was checked, every decision planned, right down to the color-coded polos in my closet.
Neat, orderly, by the book—just like I was raised.
It's what made Salem and me so good together.
But it didn’t stop her from hating me.
It didn’t stop the news about my adoption from shattering everything I thought I knew.
And it sure as hell didn’t prepare me for the questions rising from the truth; about who I am, what I want, and who I’ve been pretending to be.
I don’t even recognize the man in the mirror anymore.
But maybe I never really knew him at all.
Salem
I see the world in snapshots.
Shadows and light, moments I can control or manipulate with my camera—unlike everything else.
My mother always said I was heartless, yet the one person I let myself love left me behind in Vegas with a ring on my finger and no goodbye.
I’d rather be alone than use a man as a crutch like she did. I thought staying away would save us both the heartache.
He's no longer the guy I knew, and I'm no longer naive.
But the universe has a way of crashing all my plans, and sometimes, the only path out of the wreckage...is through it.
Exposing Colorado is a full-length MF enemies-to-lovers romance containing themes and situations not intended for readers under the age of 18. Both characters are consenting adults. This story features a reluctantly married FMC, second chances, a queer awakening and a non-monogamous HEA.
This is book 3 in the State of Us series and must be read AFTER Crossing Arizona.
Salem is the worst FMC I have ever read. she is mean and cruel and abusive
the way they all treated Devon was horrific. he was made to be their scapegoat for their shitty behavior.
Salem straight up unprovoked, assaulted Devon, with a helmet, a motorcycle helmet.
My husband has a motorcycle, we have 4 children, we have multiple motorcycle helmets to fit all of us when we ride with him. To hit someone with a motorcycle helmet, more than once, is violent. They are heavy and so hard. I cant fathom hitting someone with one because she was annoyed and throwing a tantrum.
So violent. No repentance.
No one cared. They left him basically. Cared more about the motorcycle. He had a concussion. Christian hits him too? But his girl wasn't forced, she wanted it but he gets assaulted though ?
Horrific
Im glossing over things. I could get deeper at how horrific this was.
I was actually triggered by his assault. First trigger I ever encountered. It was unprovoked and violent.
I can do violence, dark romance even pitch black and tragedy endings
this I could not do
Unprovoked, violent, violence I guess I can't do
Salem is not a happy person She is miserable Blames everyone Doesn't take accountability
They left him Blamed him Assaulted him Slut shamed him
Devon doesn't deserve any of them.
None of them deserve him
I cannot see how he and anyone of them will have a hea
The mistreatment of him, the abandonment, the blaming and cruelty, slut shaming.....
where is the found family?
he was excused from that most definitely
The way it left off with Devon...
I can't
Christian can fuck all the way off He doesn't deserve Devon
The next book needs to pitch as a redemption arc, not for Devon, but for any one of them that wants to look in his direction
I think they should have not stayed married (Logan and Salem) Logan is better off with anyone but her Salem can go do whatever she wants
awful
they didn't even seem happy together this didn't even read as a romance, there is no love between them, they went away and found other partners and still want to be married? She doesn't even like Logan
*** violence to a side character is not a correct trigger/content warning. It's way more than that. ***Improper listing of triggers and content warnings harms the reader/ author trust. ***Things should be clearly labelled, not vaguely ***A trigger warning is not a spoiler
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Calling anyone who doesn’t like Salem misogynistic is a lazy cop-out. Full stop. Anyone who reads this book with even a shred of critical thinking can see the serious problems with Salem as a character and with Exposing Colorado as a whole.
Salem married Logan to take his virginity. She admitted to it. She knew he wanted to wait, but she took something from him that wasn’t hers to take. This was not okay.
I was disgusted by how certain characters were treated, Devon in particular. Sexual preferences are shamed, there are so many moral double standards, and violent beatings happen with absolutely no consequences. None. Violence is brushed off, excused, or even implied it is deserved… and we’re just expected to go along with it?! What the hell was the author thinking when they wrote this??
Salem beating Devon with a freaking motorcycle helmet was horrific. There is no excuse for what she did. She had no remorse, she didn’t care she could have killed him. You cannot use trauma as a get out of jail free card. I have never despised a character more in that moment than I did Salem.
Why is violence considered acceptable when the victim is male? Swap the genders in this scenario. If you’re fine with a man being brutally beaten, but outraged when the victim is a woman... well that double standard is the problem.
Salem isn’t “flawed.” She isn’t “complex.” She’s deranged and desperately needs therapy. There is nothing empowering about her behaviour, and there is certainly nothing redeemable about it. When a character is written this unlikable, there is no redemption arc. She was doomed from the start, and Exposing Colorado was the final nail in the coffin.
And that ending? What the hell was that?!
Let’s be honest… the author should have written MMM: Logan, Christian, and Devon. That was the story. That was the chemistry. That was the emotional core readers were responding to. That is the book I wanted. That is the book that would have worked.
Instead, we got this joke of an “open marriage,” which feels slapped on at the last minute when it became clear Salem wasn’t going to sell, MF wasn’t going to sell… especially from an author established in MM. (Did someone say damage control.)
Readers didn't reject this story because they're misogynistic, or because they can't handle a "strong woman." They rejected it because they didn't want her story. Salem is not a strong woman, she is toxic and this story didn’t redeem her. There was no personal growth. Just a bunch of childish tantrums because she didn’t get her way.
And no amount of deflecting criticism, or calling readers misogynistic is going to change that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Am I supposed to care about a character that brutally attacks a person with a helmet unprovoked? The violence in book 1 was forgivable because it was mutual, but this? This is straight up abuse and for what? What was the point of "I'm so sick of men doing whatever they want", so you go ahead and beat one to a pulp just because you don't like that he's annoying? Because he slept with someone? How do you write this and expect people to care about your FMC? I've always liked Salem but this was not ok. I'm so angry I don't even know if I can keep reading after this... I'm so disappointed.
I was really excited for this but ultimately it didn’t hit the mark. Salem was horrid in this. I always knew she was abit on the wild side but I found her to be the complete opposite of a strong woman in this book and actually quite cruel. The way she treated Logan? Yuck. I hate Logan, especially in other books, I think he’s a weak man who has no idea who he is or what he wants but I actually felt sorry for him in this book. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was, whether it was Salem being a total bitch to everyone for no reason or the non monogamous ending which was (in my opinion) really dumb and rushed, or just the way the book flowed itself. I loveeeeeee the other books in this series and I will say I’m very very keen for Devon and Christian’s book which I hope will be good but this one just wasn’t for me unfortunately.
I hate Salem! Always have! She is such a selfish bitch! Logan honestly deserves so much better!
Why is Devon everybody’s punching bag? Literally! Fuck Salem for what she did to him! That’s seriously not ok. Had the roles been reversed he’d be in prison. But, because she’s a girl it’s ok? No! Fuck that! Like why was that even put to paper? Abuse is abuse no matter who does it! Then she fucking brags about doing it! And people are all “good job, it’s about time someone put him in his place!” Really? Ugh! I hate that bitch!
I read Loving Ohio and just adored Devon and just feel so bad for him. I really hope he gets his happy ending! Honestly, I kind of was hoping him and Logan would end up together!
Had Salem redeemed herself and Logan and Devon ended up together this would have been 5 stars! But alas, it ended horribly and for that it gets 1 star! I’m giving 3 for Huck and Taylor though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I honestly don't know what I just read. I read the first two books of the series and liked them. This.one was too out there. The author has changed Logan up so much from the first two books, that he wasn't recognizable. He went from a decent guy to a deviant. It started that way and never got better. I'd give this book 0 stars if I could.
i’ve liked salem in the past books but a lot of her actions in this one were just not okay and i really don’t like how they were just brushed off. she was just cruel and mean and we just never talk about it
This book completely rewired my brain chemistry. The entire friendship group in this series has carved out a permanent space in my heart, but Logan and Salem’s story? It’s something else entirely.
I adore these two, but their journey is raw and messy. A rollercoaster of hurt, healing, and hope that I couldn’t put down. Logan is grappling with the crushing weight of expectations from his religious upbringing, while Salem is determined not to repeat her mother’s mistakes. They love each other deeply, but they don’t know how to love in the way the other needs. That tension makes every page ache.
When they finally reach their happily-ever-after, it’s unconventional, because they’re unconventional. But it’s perfect for them. Watching Logan slowly peel back the layers of who he thought he was and embrace who he truly is? Absolutely beautiful.
And Salem, her strength, her vulnerability, her refusal to settle for less than what she deserves, made me root for her every step of the way.
Also, shout out to my baby Devon. I finished this book and immediately started obsessing over him. I need his story yesterday.
Vibes: -MF and MM -Hurt/Comfort -Reluctantly Married -Enemies to Lovers -'My Wife' -Betrayal/Redemption -Second Chance -'Good Boy' -Safe Words -Forced Proximity -Virgin/Experienced
Rating: 5 ⭐️ Spice: 2.5🌶
If you love romances that dig deep into identity, forgiveness, and second chances, with a side of emotional chaos, you need this book. It’s not just a love story; it’s a journey of self-discovery and resilience.
Fuck Salem , I genuinely have never wished so much harm on a MC ever in my life
She is hands down one of the worst most self absorbed people ever! Let alone she lets every fuck her and then gets mad if someone even kisses someone else
Omg this book was so fuckin bad Why did Owen come into play 20 pages left!?!
Read and loved!!! This is a book that it kinda hard to review without spoiling to much, in my opinion 💛
But we’re yet again with the guys and the girls, on a roadtrip and there’s some close proximity 💛
I just love everything about this book, and how it made me feel while reading it 💛
The pacing, the writing, the characters, the emotional and spicy parts 💛 There’s just something about broken characters and their way to healing themselves 💛 In my personal opinion the unconventional HEA is perfect for Logan and Salem! They build their own happiness, eventually 💛
I have absolutely nothing against non MM romances in an MM series, but what the fuck was this?
Salem is one of the worst FMC ever made, probably. Which is disappointing because I really liked her in the other books. She blames being an absolutely diabolically bad person on trauma, which I could understand if it was justifiable.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
She beat a man almost to death with a bike helmet. For having consensual sex with somebody. A man that hadn't really done anything wrong but be a bit of an asshat got concussed, had teeth knocked out, and was left for dead by her.
The reaction from the group? Well, he deserved it. Go, Salem!
Genuinely, what the hell is wrong with these characters getting flanderized more and more with every iteration? Free my man Devon already because no one deserves him in this story.
He gets slut-shamed constantly even though the whole group has slept around. It's especially hypocritical when Salem does it and uses it as an excuse to abuse him verbally and physically.
And Logan! She doesn't give a flying shit that he's severely depressed. They talk about connection, and she couldn't see her husband was depressed enough to have the life drained out of him, or if she did, she didn't give a singular flying fuck. Come on!
Logan's story should have hit closer to home considering my experiences as someone in his same predicament (religious background forced on, internalized homophobia, depression...), and sometimes it did, but it was mostly poorly written in the sense that it didn't scratch more than the surface in any of his POVs.
Also, 4 minutes dead and no brain damage? 4 months after muscle atrophy and injuries, and he can fuck like a stallion?! Seriously, come on!
What the absolute hell happened to Arya? She was just banished from the story and didn't even talk to Salem again or join the group in seeing her, even though their connection was incredibly tight.
And that ending.
Jesus Christ. Sequel baiting for symbiosis and not much else. I understand what the author was trying to do for open marriage, equating to freedom for Logan to finally be himself and Salem to break free from the norm she expected. But it was a cop-out, a badly written one too.
Giving it more stars than I would've because Logan's "death" almost made me cry and I still enjoy the dynamic of the group. But everything else is just… disappointing. If I ever reread this series, this one is a solid skip, not for being an FMC but because it's bad.
Once again, Bree writes these beautiful emotional stories that tear you apart but puts you back together. Salem and Logan's story is full of tragedy and healing. They love each other but can't make it work. Devon is so emotionally unavailable, he's never been out first and feels like he never will be. Their story takes place over several months on a road trip for the Twins of Terror that ends with a hospital stay. When all seems lost, Salem runs away this time. There is a hard fought happily ever after.
I’ve never felt compelled to leave a review but Salem honestly was an awful fmc i absolutely hated her I had to push to finish the story mostly wanting to see what would become of Logan. Salem used her shitty up bringing as an excuse to treat everyone around her like garbage and did nothing but lead Logan on just to turn around and make him feel bad for caring about her. Her assaulting Devon almost made me dnf after reading loving Ohio my heart was broken for Devon. Logan deserves better it pissed me off everytime he would swoon over her and allow her to treat him like shit. Was definitely hoping he would end up with Dev. Owen coming out of left field with not even a quarter of the book left? Idk I really loved the other books in this series but this one seems like a flop
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is hard because I REALLY love this author and this whole series but this book felt completely disconnected from the first 2. I feel like as much as the gang was together it also didnt feel like that while reading it. Salem was always a hard-core girly but this book kind of villianized her in a way. Beating Devon, UNPROVOKED, with a motorcycle helmet was so horrid. My heart completely broke for him. I really really REALLY enjoyed him with Logan. In another life, I feel like Logan and Devon would have been endgame. They understood each other on a different level. I do love Devon with Christian but I feel like you dont really see any chemistry between them in this book. If you didnt read their novella before this than you would never know that the next book is about them just by reading this one. We barely got any Taylor and Huck scenes. And im sorry this group is codependent AF so you mean to tell me Salem is okay with completely shutting down all communication with her friends for 4 months??? Ughhhh, tbh im just really looking forward to Devon's book. I just know its gonna be so good.
Also, both of them randomly entering a poly relationship was just so random. Especially since Salem says she is not into women and now she's involved in a marriage? It came out of the woodworks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really, really wanted to love this, but unfortunately, it didn't hit the mark.
Salem was absolutely awful. She was miserable and never took accountability. Logan was also a miserable person and just a whiny bitch. I never felt any love between the two of them and the fact they stayed married at the end was just so weird.. They should have just divorced and became friends. I felt more love between Logan and Owen in those last few pages than I felt between Logan and Salem in the last few books! There was even more love and tenderness felt between Logan and Devon!
And don't even get me started on poor Devon. I absolutely HATE the way he was treated. Salem slut shaming him when she literally had slept with everyone they were traveling with also. The unprovoked assault was brutal, and I can handle A LOT in books. But this was messed up.
I'm looking forward to Devon's book, but it needs to be a redemption arc for Christian. He needs to do a lot of work to make me love his character again. He was my favorite side character up until this book. Devon deserves to be loved and cared for, and not used and thrown away like trash.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Well the author does love to rip us to shreds and try to put us back together. Logan and Salem have definitely been favorites, not only as the loyal best friends but as solid characters on their own. Their love story may not be conventional but it does have honesty to it. It has a lot of truth that women fear to it, that loss of self. This series has definitely been a journey and these characters are full lot life and love.
-reluctant marriage -enemies to lovers -hurt/comfort -”my wife” -”good boy” -ethical non-monogamous hea
this is BY FAR the absolute most accurate depiction of REAL LIFE enm & it made me sooooo happy to see!! tho JESUSSSS these people REALLYYY have the worst knack at saying shit in the heat of the moment to really hurt the other! & damn…devon really just out here looking for someone to choose him first…but he really making it hard by ruining everyones relationships 😂 😂
Not sure where to start my review…so many emotions and feelings. The self hate, the longing, the fights, everything has your heart in a fist and not knowing what’s going to happen. Towards the end with Dev & Logan had my heart broken and it hurts to see everyone hurting. But I’m really glad to see everything work out between Logan & Salem with some new additions. Such a great read with so much feelings.
oh that was a disappointment. I re-read the first 2 books because i love this series so much, but this one was not it. Salem and Logan had already great backrounds and story to go thought and we made this mess.
The first part of the book was really repetitive, "oh she wont talk to me" "we talk/have sex" "we go back" and then again and again.
I missed Xed and Matty. I loved the group but this one made me think, ok maybe its time for everybody to seperate.
And then we have Devon, hes kinda like the "villain" in the second book and then he does all the shit in this one and he said "oh you gonna use me like everybody" and we are suposed to support him? come on. I think that Salem beat him was amazing. But right after he was kissing Logan with no pain and Salem and him talking normally, It was a mess.
The end of them just being together but not was not it. They are on separate places with separate couples. Am i suposed to love this? The only book WHy choose/poly i loved it was MAKE ME because we know all the guys. WHO IS OWEN? WHO IS THE BAND COUPLE? i dont know them. I dont care about them.
And then the last "straight" Chris its gonna have a book with Devon, after breaking up with arya? come on, I loved Arya. Cris and her were already kinda poly and i was fine with that, why this happend? hahhahhahha
I dont care about Devon, i miss Arya. Chris and her were great together. Im sad about this one, really make me think that the family i loved in the 2 books dont exist anymore.
I was gonna be a 3 star, now writing this its gonna be a 2. Only because of the other guys and the acident scene until the unplug were great.
Holy angst Batman. I’m honestly struggling here with how I feel about this one because I really enjoyed the first two. Everyone is so damn miserable in this book, and I totally understand why but no one has any redeeming qualities.
Salem was infuriating. She doesn’t take responsibility for any of her actions. She’s an abuser, plain and simple. She beats the shit out of Devon and for what. Begs Logan to marry her to take his virginity when she knows he’s drunk? Excuse me?? And gets mad he leaves AFTER HE FINDS OUT SHE SLEPT WITH HIS “UNCLE” AND FINDS OUT HES ADOPTED??? AND SHES MAD ABOUT THAT?? That’s quite literally the only thing that happened. Salem embodies “woe is me” perfectly.
Logan was a lost puppy. Like please get a grip. This woman does not love him and I wished I could’ve grabbed him through the pages and shook him. Also proposing to her just because his parents wanted him to KNOWING she didn’t want to get married, horrible. I understand he’s struggling with his sexuality but god damn.
Christian and Arya just…????? And the ending? Don’t get me wrong I love a poly relationship but like we don’t find out about them until the epilogue? Poly relationships need to be developed. The ending felt like a cop out for them not working on any of their issues. We don’t see Logan or Salem work on any of their issues at all. They hate each other. Logan “dies” and then they just magically figure it all out?
Devon is the only person in this book I even cared about. Logan and Devon had more chemistry than Logan and Salem. They literally all just leave Devon like he’s an afterthought, he’s absolutely valid in how he feels. Idk this one just didn’t do it for me. Devon and Huckslee are the only actual victims in this entire world.
Edit: the longer I sit with it the more confused I feel. Like what happened with Logan and his parents after the hospital? Salem was m*lested as a child and never says how it affects her? All she says is she doesn’t want to be like her mom. So much was glossed over in this one and I just keep having more and more questions lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I just couldn’t stand Salem. At all. She annoyed me to the point where I couldn’t sympathize or empathize with her, no matter how hard I tried (ok I didn’t try that hard). She completely lost me early on and never won me back.
Logan… I’m not even sure what I felt there. I didn’t feel bad for him so much as I felt pity, and even that was a little detached.
Ironically, the person my heart actually hurt for? Devon. And that surprised me. Even with him being the asshole that he is, he was the only one I genuinely felt something for and didn’t deserve what they did to him.
Overall vibe? Meh. This one just didn’t work for me.
What a horrible horrible book. Salem deserved therapy and to stay the fuck away from Logan, whilst he deserved some heavy therapy and to drop the church guilt. I can’t believe this book made me feel good ways about Devon, but really I only read this book because it was announced that Devon was going to be the MC of the next one. The ending of this was shit too, overall a crappy book.