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The Wilde Men #1
Wilde's End
Hudson
Give me the smallest reason to make a bad decision, and I’ll jump in with both feet. Case in point: thinking that drunkenly buying an abandoned town with my brothers is a good idea.
As builders, we plan to renovate and flip the town, maybe turn it into something worth seeing, but the longer we’re here, the more things feel … off.
It’s not until a bearded mountain man breaks into my room in the middle of the night and threatens for us to get out of his town that I realize Wilde’s End isn’t as abandoned as we were told.
But there’s nothing waiting for me in the life I left behind, and in making his demands, Wilde has accidentally tapped into my competitive side.
Terrible decisions? Me?
Wilde can bring it on.
Wilde
I escaped to Wilde’s End twenty years ago, and since then I’ve dedicated my life to the town and the people who live there. Because if I focus on others, I don’t have the time or energy to face everything I’ve been running from.
The Bellamy brothers coming to town is like three horsemen of the goddamn apocalypse. They leave destruction in their wake, and when the eldest, Hudson, ignores my very kind request to leave, it’s time to take things into my own hands. Protecting this town is all I know how to do.
But I’ve never faced someone like Hudson.
His stubbornness matches mine, and his attitude has an irritating way of worming under my skin. The more I push him, the harder he pushes back, until we’re locked in a game neither of us will walk away from.
With his smart mouth, bullheaded recklessness and those damn eyelashes I’m starting to question whether I can win this one.
But if I lose, this town isn’t the only thing on the line.
Give me the smallest reason to make a bad decision, and I’ll jump in with both feet. Case in point: thinking that drunkenly buying an abandoned town with my brothers is a good idea.
As builders, we plan to renovate and flip the town, maybe turn it into something worth seeing, but the longer we’re here, the more things feel … off.
It’s not until a bearded mountain man breaks into my room in the middle of the night and threatens for us to get out of his town that I realize Wilde’s End isn’t as abandoned as we were told.
But there’s nothing waiting for me in the life I left behind, and in making his demands, Wilde has accidentally tapped into my competitive side.
Terrible decisions? Me?
Wilde can bring it on.
Wilde
I escaped to Wilde’s End twenty years ago, and since then I’ve dedicated my life to the town and the people who live there. Because if I focus on others, I don’t have the time or energy to face everything I’ve been running from.
The Bellamy brothers coming to town is like three horsemen of the goddamn apocalypse. They leave destruction in their wake, and when the eldest, Hudson, ignores my very kind request to leave, it’s time to take things into my own hands. Protecting this town is all I know how to do.
But I’ve never faced someone like Hudson.
His stubbornness matches mine, and his attitude has an irritating way of worming under my skin. The more I push him, the harder he pushes back, until we’re locked in a game neither of us will walk away from.
With his smart mouth, bullheaded recklessness and those damn eyelashes I’m starting to question whether I can win this one.
But if I lose, this town isn’t the only thing on the line.
372 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2025
765 people are currently reading
2541 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 628 reviews
September 30, 2025
All the stars!!
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒕.
🥹 I freaking loved Wilde and Hudson's story. ♥️
𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.
What a way to start a new series! I already want more and can’t wait to read Kennedy & Ziggy’s book!
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒕.
🥹 I freaking loved Wilde and Hudson's story. ♥️
𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.
What a way to start a new series! I already want more and can’t wait to read Kennedy & Ziggy’s book!
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September 28, 2025
Slowly, like I’m almost scared how he’ll react, I turn my head and press my lips to his palm. “Come back with me,” I whisper. “I can’t make you any promises other than I want to try. You deserve the world, and I can’t give you that, but I can give you my world. Because it’s been centering around you since the day we met.”
i loved them so much!!! i loved Hudson. i loved Wilde. i loved the romance. i loved the intensity of their banters. i loved the story. i loved the close-knit of people in this town. i loved the complex dynamic between the brothers–Hudson, Kennedy and Hart. i binged this in one sitting and found myself invested in every word and couldn’t put it down. 😭🫠 i also loved the pacing of the romance and how even though it took almost the end for Hudson and Wilde to finally be together, there would be these subtle lil moments that show their development to get there. 🥹 i’m so excited for more of this series and getting everyone’s stories!!
i loved them so much!!! i loved Hudson. i loved Wilde. i loved the romance. i loved the intensity of their banters. i loved the story. i loved the close-knit of people in this town. i loved the complex dynamic between the brothers–Hudson, Kennedy and Hart. i binged this in one sitting and found myself invested in every word and couldn’t put it down. 😭🫠 i also loved the pacing of the romance and how even though it took almost the end for Hudson and Wilde to finally be together, there would be these subtle lil moments that show their development to get there. 🥹 i’m so excited for more of this series and getting everyone’s stories!!
dnf
October 12, 2025dnf @20%
Not vibing with the characters and their immature behaviour. I can already tell that the story won't work for me, so I'm out. I didn't particularly enjoy the audio version, either.
Not vibing with the characters and their immature behaviour. I can already tell that the story won't work for me, so I'm out. I didn't particularly enjoy the audio version, either.
September 29, 2025
~2.5~
Let's break it down:
- Unique setting: tiny abandoned town in California called Wilde's End.
- Mountain man with wild beard (who, appropriately, goes by Wilde) & sassy "medium" brother (Hudson) who stands his ground.
- True enemies-to-lovers: massive conflict of interest, polar opposite personalities, hate sex.
- Some interesting "townies" including a guy who carries a machete and goes everywhere with his giant "pet" bobcat.
What brought my rating down:
- Too many monologues, which served to info-dump background information.
- A lot of meaningless, gratuitous sex (the MCs start fucking early on and never stop).
- Per my previous point, I was mostly indifferent to Wilde and Hudson's relationship because (for me, at least) the emotions just weren't there.
- Predictable third-act breakup and "big gesture" from Wilde, who never leaves town yet chases Hudson back to the city (ho-hum, been there, done that).
- Lukewarm HFN ending (the book ended right as Wilde and Hudson got together for real).
- Certain developments struck me as unbelievable, namely:
^ Why did the brothers put up with the crazy threats and destruction of their property? Legally, Wilde didn't have a leg to stand on. He taunts Hudson with, "Whatcha gonna do, call the police?" and Hudson just huffs.
But, seriously, why didn't they call the police, write a cease & desist letter, or in any other way assert their rights to the property they bought for "high six figures"? Like they just stood there and let their shit be stolen. So fucking weird.
^ The whole of Wilde's End is this amazing utopia, where everything is equitable, and it's all peace and love except no one really knows each other because they're all escaping from something. LOL Come on. People are always going to be people with their own self-interests.
^ The town supposedly supports itself by staging illegal fights, but the matches, as described, sound absurd: two competitors jump from platform to platform hitting each other with poles until one of them falls. And people pay good money to watch this?? Huh.
^ Wilde's backstory is weak.
I may or may not read the second book. Kennedy and Ziggy are kind of boring, but I am curious about the town.
Let's break it down:
- Unique setting: tiny abandoned town in California called Wilde's End.
- Mountain man with wild beard (who, appropriately, goes by Wilde) & sassy "medium" brother (Hudson) who stands his ground.
- True enemies-to-lovers: massive conflict of interest, polar opposite personalities, hate sex.
- Some interesting "townies" including a guy who carries a machete and goes everywhere with his giant "pet" bobcat.
What brought my rating down:
- Too many monologues, which served to info-dump background information.
- A lot of meaningless, gratuitous sex (the MCs start fucking early on and never stop).
- Per my previous point, I was mostly indifferent to Wilde and Hudson's relationship because (for me, at least) the emotions just weren't there.
- Predictable third-act breakup and "big gesture" from Wilde, who never leaves town yet chases Hudson back to the city (ho-hum, been there, done that).
- Lukewarm HFN ending (the book ended right as Wilde and Hudson got together for real).
- Certain developments struck me as unbelievable, namely:
^ Why did the brothers put up with the crazy threats and destruction of their property? Legally, Wilde didn't have a leg to stand on. He taunts Hudson with, "Whatcha gonna do, call the police?" and Hudson just huffs.
But, seriously, why didn't they call the police, write a cease & desist letter, or in any other way assert their rights to the property they bought for "high six figures"? Like they just stood there and let their shit be stolen. So fucking weird.
^ The whole of Wilde's End is this amazing utopia, where everything is equitable, and it's all peace and love except no one really knows each other because they're all escaping from something. LOL Come on. People are always going to be people with their own self-interests.
^ The town supposedly supports itself by staging illegal fights, but the matches, as described, sound absurd: two competitors jump from platform to platform hitting each other with poles until one of them falls. And people pay good money to watch this?? Huh.
^ Wilde's backstory is weak.
I may or may not read the second book. Kennedy and Ziggy are kind of boring, but I am curious about the town.
September 24, 2025
“Why can’t you just leave?” My voice breaks on the word. Hudson’s eyes dull as his gaze searches mine. I catch a glimpse of the demons he’s trying to keep buried. “Because I’m scared of who I’ll become if I do.”
Wilde's End is a genius combination of the millennial urge to ditch everything and move to the woods to start a new life, and the sinking realization that a home in the woods may be the only place you could afford anyway. It's a terrific, creative first book in the new The Wilde Men series. The tone is slightly darker, the stakes are higher, and the characters know exactly what they have to lose.
A whole town all for us. This is exactly what we need. [...] If we can pull this off, we’ll be able to take the foot off the gas for a minute. Living just to work isn’t how it should be. We need this. All three of us.
Brothers Hudson, Kennedy and Hartwell decide to buy the town of Wilde's End on a drunken whim, only to discover that the town isn't exactly as vacant and abandoned as they were led to believe in the listing. A motley crew of 'Wenders' (as they call themselves) show up to sabotage their efforts to revitalize the town in... whatever the rural version of gentrification is called. The Wenders don't want strangers ruining the peaceful lifestyle they've built for themselves, especially their leader, Wilde. Wilde ran away from his past at age 17 and hasn't looked back since. He's found a home in remote Old End, and will protect his solitude at all costs. Wilde's End gives us two sides who are unwilling and unable to compromise, combined with enough sexual tension between their leaders and enemies-at-first-sight Hudson and Wilde. What a great book this is!
Given the way he’s stirred me up to a point where I’m torn on whether I want to fuck him or fight him, I might as well get one of them out of the way to find my answer. Process of elimination or whatever.
Saxon upped the game with this one- an original concept with highly compelling, complex characters...I loved it! Each side has a valid point of view, and there's no easy solution to the problem of which side will prevail in a struggle as old as time: capitalism and the right of ownership vs the right to retreat and refuse to be a part of an unforgiving and often cruel world. Both Hudson and Wilde have been knocked down by life, and are trying to get back on their feet in their own way. Oh and we also get a "crawl to me scene" which is *chef's kiss* smoking hot.
All I need is to know that I’m worth something to you. Because I’ve never been worth something to anyone.”
I'm very excited for grouchy Hart's book, and sunshiney Kenny is next... I'm already hoping there will be more than just 3 books in the series. Saxon has some real magic here and I want as many books as we can get ♥️
ps- is this Novi from Stubborn Puckboy but with more beard??? Dude's hot so I approve the double dipping with cover models 😆
Rating: 4.75
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 4/5
I received an advance copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
September 1, 2025
Woah, now that was something different from the pen of Saxon and I am here for it!
There's a lot of books claim to be enemies to lovers where the enemies bit lasts about two seconds. Not this book!
Hudson and Wilde are at each other like a pair of alley cats from the very beginning and nothing is settled between them until almost the very end of the book and oh boy does it make for a fabulous narrative.
There's so much to unpack in this book. Obviously it's the opener for a new series, so we get a fair bit of groundwork being laid, but it's never boring or done in a way which makes the reader feel they're getting a bunch of exposition.
Instead, the hidden hamlet of Wilde's End slowly reveals its secrets in the same way that Wilde and Hudson's own feelings begin to change the more their sex-charged encounters get deeper.
This book is definitely one of the spiciest Saxon's written, there's something truly delicious about two men who think they have no common ground and who argue and fight at very opportunity, also being so attracted to each other they can't stay apart.
The magnetic pull between them is obvious from the first time they meet, under somewhat unusual circumstances! And it never stops from then on in.
I seriously have no clue where this series is going to go, the more this narrative unfolded, the more potential for different types of story made themselves known.
There's angst and then more angst, deliciously teased out as the book progresses and it affects all three of the Bellamy brothers, as well as pretty much everyone living in Wilde's End.
They've all got their secrets and I cannot wait to discover more of them!
#ARC kindly received from the author via Foreword PR, I am voluntarily leaving a review
There's a lot of books claim to be enemies to lovers where the enemies bit lasts about two seconds. Not this book!
Hudson and Wilde are at each other like a pair of alley cats from the very beginning and nothing is settled between them until almost the very end of the book and oh boy does it make for a fabulous narrative.
There's so much to unpack in this book. Obviously it's the opener for a new series, so we get a fair bit of groundwork being laid, but it's never boring or done in a way which makes the reader feel they're getting a bunch of exposition.
Instead, the hidden hamlet of Wilde's End slowly reveals its secrets in the same way that Wilde and Hudson's own feelings begin to change the more their sex-charged encounters get deeper.
This book is definitely one of the spiciest Saxon's written, there's something truly delicious about two men who think they have no common ground and who argue and fight at very opportunity, also being so attracted to each other they can't stay apart.
The magnetic pull between them is obvious from the first time they meet, under somewhat unusual circumstances! And it never stops from then on in.
I seriously have no clue where this series is going to go, the more this narrative unfolded, the more potential for different types of story made themselves known.
There's angst and then more angst, deliciously teased out as the book progresses and it affects all three of the Bellamy brothers, as well as pretty much everyone living in Wilde's End.
They've all got their secrets and I cannot wait to discover more of them!
#ARC kindly received from the author via Foreword PR, I am voluntarily leaving a review
October 2, 2025
4.25**** stars
Ugh, there is nothing more heart melting for me than two MCs who have been fucking already for some reason and THEN kiss for the first time!!!! Top it off with slow boning in a fucking hammock and I dissolved into a fucking puddle.💀
But this book also made me mad as hell! I WAS READY TO GIVE IT FIVE STARS!! and put it to my favorites but then Saxon ruined it with rushing through the perfectly crafted buildup and made the revelations fall flat.
But, hear me out: this was perfection. The enemies-to-lovers, the tension, the prejudice… it was real and long lasting—which is rare. And it was goooood! And both Hudson and especially Wilde had their reason to play further into it. Despite their stupidly heavy attraction to each other. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!
I was so ready to find out what story Wilde was hiding. What made him flee to Wilde’s End and being so closed off. But I was also already wary and had a gut feeling it would fall flat as there was only 20% left of the book by the time these two started to get their shit together and even less when they finally started talking to each other. I honestly don’t think I’ve gotten the whole story here, so yeah, I’m a bit disappointed.
But maybe that’s just me wanting to dive a little deeper into the heartache and drama than what I got. It was still freaking amazing. And also: It was hot, I loved it.
Looking forward to seeing what else this series has to offer.
********
The Wilde Men Series
Book 1 - Wilde’s End - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Ziggy’s Voice - release 01/26
Ugh, there is nothing more heart melting for me than two MCs who have been fucking already for some reason and THEN kiss for the first time!!!! Top it off with slow boning in a fucking hammock and I dissolved into a fucking puddle.💀
But this book also made me mad as hell! I WAS READY TO GIVE IT FIVE STARS!! and put it to my favorites but then Saxon ruined it with rushing through the perfectly crafted buildup and made the revelations fall flat.
But, hear me out: this was perfection. The enemies-to-lovers, the tension, the prejudice… it was real and long lasting—which is rare. And it was goooood! And both Hudson and especially Wilde had their reason to play further into it. Despite their stupidly heavy attraction to each other. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!
”Then why are you following me?”
“What else am I supposed to do when you’re avoiding me?”
“Take the hint?”
I was so ready to find out what story Wilde was hiding. What made him flee to Wilde’s End and being so closed off. But I was also already wary and had a gut feeling it would fall flat as there was only 20% left of the book by the time these two started to get their shit together and even less when they finally started talking to each other. I honestly don’t think I’ve gotten the whole story here, so yeah, I’m a bit disappointed.
But maybe that’s just me wanting to dive a little deeper into the heartache and drama than what I got. It was still freaking amazing. And also: It was hot, I loved it.
If Wilde doesn’t come back with lube and at least three condoms, he’s going to be wildly unprepared.
Looking forward to seeing what else this series has to offer.
********
The Wilde Men Series
Book 1 - Wilde’s End - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Ziggy’s Voice - release 01/26
September 1, 2025
Loved this new direction from Saxon! So much more serious in tone and much darker in content. It feels like a good bridge between her usual work and the Dashwood Patreon series too.
I really liked Hudson and how volatile he was. He has a lot of self-worth issues but I enjoyed seeing him grow and take a stand for himself.
The relationship between Hudson and his brothers was complex too, with none of the light-hearted banter that we usually see. Kennedy seems to be an eternal optimist, whereas Hart is so apathetic he was giving serious Andrew Minyard vibes, so of course I can't wait to get his story #andreilforever
Wilde has a lot of emotional trauma and his sole focus is on his town and the tight knit community they've built. I really loved the off-grid lifestyle (I play this way on The Sims all the time) and I liked the whole dark and mysterious vibe of both Wilde and the town in general.
There are definitely some side characters that I can't wait to get stories for, but I'm most looking forward to Booker and Foley because I am a chaos gremlin who lives for unhinged characters and drama 😂
Can't wait for more to come from this series!
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Foreword PR, and this is my honest review
I really liked Hudson and how volatile he was. He has a lot of self-worth issues but I enjoyed seeing him grow and take a stand for himself.
The relationship between Hudson and his brothers was complex too, with none of the light-hearted banter that we usually see. Kennedy seems to be an eternal optimist, whereas Hart is so apathetic he was giving serious Andrew Minyard vibes, so of course I can't wait to get his story #andreilforever
Wilde has a lot of emotional trauma and his sole focus is on his town and the tight knit community they've built. I really loved the off-grid lifestyle (I play this way on The Sims all the time) and I liked the whole dark and mysterious vibe of both Wilde and the town in general.
There are definitely some side characters that I can't wait to get stories for, but I'm most looking forward to Booker and Foley because I am a chaos gremlin who lives for unhinged characters and drama 😂
Can't wait for more to come from this series!
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Foreword PR, and this is my honest review
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October 23, 2025
Wilde’s End is book one in The Wilde Men series by Saxon James. The cover first drew me to this book and the blurb was so intriguing. It’s an enemies to lovers story.
Hudson Bellamy is thirty three years old. He and his twin brothers, Hartwell and Kennedy own and run their own construction company in Los Angeles, Bell Building. The company is doing well but since they own it together, they are still all living month to month, never really getting ahead. On a drunken night when they were all together, it might not have been the right time to make a huge decision to buy an abandoned town. But, that’s exactly what they did. Welcome to Wilde’s End!
Wilde is thirty seven years old. He has lived in Wilde’s End for twenty years. His life revolves around keeping the town safe. When three crazy big city brothers come to town, threatening everything he holds dear, he is determined to run them off, any way he can.
I have to admit that in the beginning, Wilde was pretty creepy. The confrontations between he and Hudson were definitely tense. But underneath all that animosity, there was something else lurking, fueling their feelings, attraction. Wilde has a way of life he’s trying to protect. Hudson is definitely running from a life he was worried would eventually destroy both he and his brothers. Now the only question is, who will back down first.
I knew going in to this that it was enemies to lovers. I don’t think I anticipated just how much they would dislike each other. There is plenty of angry sex as well. I guess I hoped feelings would get involved a little sooner. I didn’t feel the emotional connection the way I wanted to. I love this idea of the abandoned town and turning it around into something beautiful. But the story was a lot angstier than I thought it would be and a lot angrier!
Hudson Bellamy is thirty three years old. He and his twin brothers, Hartwell and Kennedy own and run their own construction company in Los Angeles, Bell Building. The company is doing well but since they own it together, they are still all living month to month, never really getting ahead. On a drunken night when they were all together, it might not have been the right time to make a huge decision to buy an abandoned town. But, that’s exactly what they did. Welcome to Wilde’s End!
Wilde is thirty seven years old. He has lived in Wilde’s End for twenty years. His life revolves around keeping the town safe. When three crazy big city brothers come to town, threatening everything he holds dear, he is determined to run them off, any way he can.
I have to admit that in the beginning, Wilde was pretty creepy. The confrontations between he and Hudson were definitely tense. But underneath all that animosity, there was something else lurking, fueling their feelings, attraction. Wilde has a way of life he’s trying to protect. Hudson is definitely running from a life he was worried would eventually destroy both he and his brothers. Now the only question is, who will back down first.
I knew going in to this that it was enemies to lovers. I don’t think I anticipated just how much they would dislike each other. There is plenty of angry sex as well. I guess I hoped feelings would get involved a little sooner. I didn’t feel the emotional connection the way I wanted to. I love this idea of the abandoned town and turning it around into something beautiful. But the story was a lot angstier than I thought it would be and a lot angrier!
September 28, 2025
this is good????? like it has a (semi) reasonable plot, believable characters, good banter and great chemistry????? amazing side characters im ACTUALLY interested about!?????
i genuinely don’t know how to act right now
thank fuck i do have one little complaint: why the fuck there wasn’t a map in the book??? i saw that map. it exists. it’s on saxon’s instagram page.
why is it not also inside my damn book
i genuinely don’t know how to act right now
thank fuck i do have one little complaint: why the fuck there wasn’t a map in the book??? i saw that map. it exists. it’s on saxon’s instagram page.
why is it not also inside my damn book
October 18, 2025
someone finally heard our prayers to give us a
true enemies to lovers
because Wilde’s End was just THAT. A Wilde, territorial, uncivilized man who’ll do just about anything to drive our mmc, Hudson out of his town, which also happens to be the town that Hudson and his brothers bought. it had a delicious blend of challenging, flirting, hate fucking and slow feelings that felt wonderful to read, especially in one day 🤤 I mean once the feelings got involved, I kind of skipped the intimate scenes because it didn’t feel like same for me but still. This book is what I would call a solid read for me
✨💗
“You deserve the world, and I can’t give you that, but I can give you my world. Because it’s been centering around you since the day we met.”
I cannot wait to read every single one of the characters stories. Booker, Hart and LYNX??? That man has to have a story because he’s DAMAGED. 😋😋
✨💗
“You deserve the world, and I can’t give you that, but I can give you my world. Because it’s been centering around you since the day we met.”
I cannot wait to read every single one of the characters stories. Booker, Hart and LYNX??? That man has to have a story because he’s DAMAGED. 😋😋
October 1, 2025
"When I’d drunkenly declared we buy Wilde’s End, all it had taken was half a bottle of vodka, an unexpected call from the Realtor while I was hungover, and Hart giving me that look. The one daring me to prove him wrong. Apparently, I’m more bullheaded than even I thought because here we are."
Well, go on, ask me how I'm liking Saxon's new darker-themed series The Wilde Men? Because I can happily tell you that I am liking it a whole damn lot! Wilde's End is the first book in a linked series, set around the three Bellamy brothers, who buy a remote little town to do-up and sell. I am guessing each book will follow a different brother and their love interest, but there are several residents of Wilde's End who already deserve their own story!
This is Hudson and Wilde's story and I adored them both.
What To Expect:
🛠️MM contemporary romance
🛠️Enemies to lovers (that stay enemies even after they become lovers)
🛠️Small town
🛠️Opposites attract
🛠️Dark themes
🛠️All the steam
🛠️All the banter
🛠️Quirky side characters
🛠️HEA
Loved it!
4-4.5 stars
Well, go on, ask me how I'm liking Saxon's new darker-themed series The Wilde Men? Because I can happily tell you that I am liking it a whole damn lot! Wilde's End is the first book in a linked series, set around the three Bellamy brothers, who buy a remote little town to do-up and sell. I am guessing each book will follow a different brother and their love interest, but there are several residents of Wilde's End who already deserve their own story!
This is Hudson and Wilde's story and I adored them both.
What To Expect:
🛠️MM contemporary romance
🛠️Enemies to lovers (that stay enemies even after they become lovers)
🛠️Small town
🛠️Opposites attract
🛠️Dark themes
🛠️All the steam
🛠️All the banter
🛠️Quirky side characters
🛠️HEA
Loved it!
4-4.5 stars
September 29, 2025
Oh, I'm so excited for this new series.
This ticked all the boxes for me. It actually felt like enemies-to-lovers and did it so well, and the chemistry was off the charts amazing and once they started getting real with each other the romance starts to slowly come into play as well.
Hudson and his twin brothers own a construction company in the city, but all three are drowning in their own problems in some way, and Hudson, the oldest brother, sees a listing to buy a very small abandoned town - and when it says small, it means small. Like one street lines with some shops on one side and some houses on the other and that is IT kind of small - he feels it's just what they all need not only for their business to do up this seemingly abandoned town and make a lot of money from it, but also for all of them to get away from the city and get away for awhile.
Only, this one street might be abandoned, but Wilde's End isn't actually fully abandoned. There's a very small (like 27 people small) community who are so off the grid that they have their own way of living, and kind of basically their own way of governing, the place is so remote. (Also kind of, in a way, gives an interesting view on different political systems. Because the brothers who have lived in the city their whole life are very motivated by making money, meanwhile the Wilde's End community do more of a bartering/you can have this if you help make it/build it kind of way of living. Or a trust that they're good to get whatever they want if they leave some money behind, etc)
They also even have their own doctor (who is his own brand of strange) so they don't have to go so far to get to the doctor (the nearest actual town to where they live is a 2 hours drive away) - although I have no idea what they do if one of them needs surgery in an emergency or something. I guess the doctor can also do surgery too? Must be able to.
Anyway, the community is very self sustaining, and they have an overall great way of life, and the brothers coming into remodel the houses and sell them to rich idiots for a profit and letting more people know of the Wilde's End place and community is a threat, and Wilde himself does not want that. He will do whatever he can to protect his and his community's land, way of living, and peace.
Hudson and his brothers threaten to ruin all that.
When he breaks into one of the run down houses the brothers are staying in while they remodel the houses and stores, to go to Hudson to tell him to leave and stop what they're doing, that starts a hatred between the two men, while also having massive sexual tension.
But Hudson is determined to stay and finish the project, to prove something to himself and his brothers, and he is very stubborn, and doesn't back down as Wilde tries many little ways to try and sabotage Hudson and his brothers' work.
These two go head to head quite a few times, but they also very, very attracted to each other.
Of course, soon enough, even as they 'hate' each other, they start fucking. Their first time was so damn hot too, and some excellent hate sex. Like of course I prefer when characters are head over heels in love and are making passionate love, but hate sex can be hot AF as well, and this definitely was.
While they still don't like each other, they're very drawn to each other and can't escape each other, and just end up bending at some point, of course, and start to stop hating each other and start falling for each other instead.
What I loved about this was that it didn't rush them into love. Like these two felt like they hated each other in the beginning (even as they wanted each other) so to go from that to love when they were so at odds for a good portion of this wouldn't have felt remotely earned.
Plus this takes place over about 2ish months, maybe a bit less than 3. That definitely wasn't enough time for these two go from "hate" to love, even though they let go of any hate by the end. They were definitely in the "falling" stage by the end, though, and the epilogue is clearly some months later, and they're more settled into a relationship by then.
I loved this new world we got introduced to. There were so many characters to have future books about. I definitely bet Kennedy and Ziggy's story is next, and I can't wait. They're both sweethearts and I bet they'll make each other very happy, and they deserve it. Hartwell will be an interesting one - but I bet his LI will be Lynx. I'll be surprised they're not LI's.
As for Hudson and Wilde - what a way to start off this series, it was so so good, they were wonderful together. This was such a strong way to open this new series, and I'm so excited to get more.
Definitely pick this one if you're a Saxon James fan, it was a strong outing by this author, and a bit of a new angle from her. Less fluffy and a bit on the angst-y side. Not totally, but more than this author usually does. I also felt it was more of a strong HFN than a HEA, since these two only just start a real relationship by the end. But it's a solid HFN all the same. I kinda even could have read even more of this already hefty story of these two a few years into their relationship and getting even more serious, to see the whole falling in love process.
But I understand this already long story would have been even longer, so I'll settle for these two being in a very good place at the end of this.
Very much can't wait for more! 😍😘
This ticked all the boxes for me. It actually felt like enemies-to-lovers and did it so well, and the chemistry was off the charts amazing and once they started getting real with each other the romance starts to slowly come into play as well.
Hudson and his twin brothers own a construction company in the city, but all three are drowning in their own problems in some way, and Hudson, the oldest brother, sees a listing to buy a very small abandoned town - and when it says small, it means small. Like one street lines with some shops on one side and some houses on the other and that is IT kind of small - he feels it's just what they all need not only for their business to do up this seemingly abandoned town and make a lot of money from it, but also for all of them to get away from the city and get away for awhile.
Only, this one street might be abandoned, but Wilde's End isn't actually fully abandoned. There's a very small (like 27 people small) community who are so off the grid that they have their own way of living, and kind of basically their own way of governing, the place is so remote. (Also kind of, in a way, gives an interesting view on different political systems. Because the brothers who have lived in the city their whole life are very motivated by making money, meanwhile the Wilde's End community do more of a bartering/you can have this if you help make it/build it kind of way of living. Or a trust that they're good to get whatever they want if they leave some money behind, etc)
They also even have their own doctor (who is his own brand of strange) so they don't have to go so far to get to the doctor (the nearest actual town to where they live is a 2 hours drive away) - although I have no idea what they do if one of them needs surgery in an emergency or something. I guess the doctor can also do surgery too? Must be able to.
Anyway, the community is very self sustaining, and they have an overall great way of life, and the brothers coming into remodel the houses and sell them to rich idiots for a profit and letting more people know of the Wilde's End place and community is a threat, and Wilde himself does not want that. He will do whatever he can to protect his and his community's land, way of living, and peace.
Hudson and his brothers threaten to ruin all that.
When he breaks into one of the run down houses the brothers are staying in while they remodel the houses and stores, to go to Hudson to tell him to leave and stop what they're doing, that starts a hatred between the two men, while also having massive sexual tension.
But Hudson is determined to stay and finish the project, to prove something to himself and his brothers, and he is very stubborn, and doesn't back down as Wilde tries many little ways to try and sabotage Hudson and his brothers' work.
These two go head to head quite a few times, but they also very, very attracted to each other.
Of course, soon enough, even as they 'hate' each other, they start fucking. Their first time was so damn hot too, and some excellent hate sex. Like of course I prefer when characters are head over heels in love and are making passionate love, but hate sex can be hot AF as well, and this definitely was.
While they still don't like each other, they're very drawn to each other and can't escape each other, and just end up bending at some point, of course, and start to stop hating each other and start falling for each other instead.
What I loved about this was that it didn't rush them into love. Like these two felt like they hated each other in the beginning (even as they wanted each other) so to go from that to love when they were so at odds for a good portion of this wouldn't have felt remotely earned.
Plus this takes place over about 2ish months, maybe a bit less than 3. That definitely wasn't enough time for these two go from "hate" to love, even though they let go of any hate by the end. They were definitely in the "falling" stage by the end, though, and the epilogue is clearly some months later, and they're more settled into a relationship by then.
I loved this new world we got introduced to. There were so many characters to have future books about. I definitely bet Kennedy and Ziggy's story is next, and I can't wait. They're both sweethearts and I bet they'll make each other very happy, and they deserve it. Hartwell will be an interesting one - but I bet his LI will be Lynx. I'll be surprised they're not LI's.
As for Hudson and Wilde - what a way to start off this series, it was so so good, they were wonderful together. This was such a strong way to open this new series, and I'm so excited to get more.
Definitely pick this one if you're a Saxon James fan, it was a strong outing by this author, and a bit of a new angle from her. Less fluffy and a bit on the angst-y side. Not totally, but more than this author usually does. I also felt it was more of a strong HFN than a HEA, since these two only just start a real relationship by the end. But it's a solid HFN all the same. I kinda even could have read even more of this already hefty story of these two a few years into their relationship and getting even more serious, to see the whole falling in love process.
But I understand this already long story would have been even longer, so I'll settle for these two being in a very good place at the end of this.
Very much can't wait for more! 😍😘
December 23, 2025
I’m not sure the premise of this book is realistic. I’m pretty sure if you buy a town there would be lawyers and walk throughs and tons of paperwork involved. And if you show up to the town you bought to find squatters, you get lawyers and law enforcement involved. But what do I know, I’m just a girl who’s never bought a town before.
And honestly I don’t even need my romance novels to be realistic anyway haha.
I feel like this book spent way too much time on enemies and not enough time on the lovers portion.
And I really hate when authors do the whole “we can have sex but not kiss” thing. I hate it and don’t want it in my books.
And also-
Spoiler
But I also hate when they don’t say I love you until the epilogue. It should happen in the book, not the epilogue in my opinion.
And honestly I don’t even need my romance novels to be realistic anyway haha.
I feel like this book spent way too much time on enemies and not enough time on the lovers portion.
And I really hate when authors do the whole “we can have sex but not kiss” thing. I hate it and don’t want it in my books.
And also-
Spoiler
But I also hate when they don’t say I love you until the epilogue. It should happen in the book, not the epilogue in my opinion.
August 30, 2025
4.25⭐️
The smallest of small town romances that is absolutely not conventional. Wilde and Hudson aren’t romantic…unless you count a good ol’ breaking and entering meet-cute romantic 😂
Hudson and his twin brothers are contractors, and their next big project is restoring some homes in Wilde’s End, a remote mountain town far from civilization. At first everything is as they’d expect: dilapidated houses, abandoned buildings, and a whole lot of forest. That’s when Wilde steps in, and makes sure Hudson knows that Wilde’s End isn’t a ghost town, and Hudson and his brothers aren’t welcome.
You’re going to get:
-city man / bearded and scarred mountain main
-enemies to lovers (yes, that includes hate s*x, and yes, it’s fire!)
-remote town setting
-MCs that have a hard time opening up
-themes of addiction / recovery
-sabotage or flirting? (Unclear) 😂
This book manages to be cozy but entertaining all at once. Though it’s definitely a different flavour than Saxon James’ other books, it still has a lot of the charms that you’d expect from her. We’ve got an interesting set-up, and the characters’ motivations are clear. I loved the lowkey but also kind of mysterious setting of Wilde’s End, and the glimpses of other characters living there are so intriguing. Saxon James ALWAYS gets me excited for the next book to come by giving us a taste of the next couple! (Ziggy was my favourite in this book!!)
I’m getting ahead of myself here! Let’s talk about Wilde and Hudson. These two had physical chemistry for sure, and the hate 🌶️ was great! The interesting thing about them is that they are absolutely NOT romantic, and they even acknowledge this. This makes the progress of their relationship unconventional, showing their affections with actions instead. It wasn’t typical, but it worked for them!
This is definitely a series I’ll want to continue. Make sure to pick it up on September 25th! 🌲🏔️
The smallest of small town romances that is absolutely not conventional. Wilde and Hudson aren’t romantic…unless you count a good ol’ breaking and entering meet-cute romantic 😂
Hudson and his twin brothers are contractors, and their next big project is restoring some homes in Wilde’s End, a remote mountain town far from civilization. At first everything is as they’d expect: dilapidated houses, abandoned buildings, and a whole lot of forest. That’s when Wilde steps in, and makes sure Hudson knows that Wilde’s End isn’t a ghost town, and Hudson and his brothers aren’t welcome.
You’re going to get:
-city man / bearded and scarred mountain main
-enemies to lovers (yes, that includes hate s*x, and yes, it’s fire!)
-remote town setting
-MCs that have a hard time opening up
-themes of addiction / recovery
-sabotage or flirting? (Unclear) 😂
This book manages to be cozy but entertaining all at once. Though it’s definitely a different flavour than Saxon James’ other books, it still has a lot of the charms that you’d expect from her. We’ve got an interesting set-up, and the characters’ motivations are clear. I loved the lowkey but also kind of mysterious setting of Wilde’s End, and the glimpses of other characters living there are so intriguing. Saxon James ALWAYS gets me excited for the next book to come by giving us a taste of the next couple! (Ziggy was my favourite in this book!!)
I’m getting ahead of myself here! Let’s talk about Wilde and Hudson. These two had physical chemistry for sure, and the hate 🌶️ was great! The interesting thing about them is that they are absolutely NOT romantic, and they even acknowledge this. This makes the progress of their relationship unconventional, showing their affections with actions instead. It wasn’t typical, but it worked for them!
This is definitely a series I’ll want to continue. Make sure to pick it up on September 25th! 🌲🏔️
September 25, 2025
OK wow, Wilde's End was so unexpected in the BEST way! I've read quite a few of Saxon James' books, and this one has SUCH a different vibe, definitely grittier and angstier. There's SO much tension - this is TRUE enemies to lovers y'all. And while I wouldn't call this dark romance at all, it's definitely got a darkness to it that I haven't seen in Saxon's other books. Very interesting change of pace, and SO worth reading.
Wilde's End is a study in opposites attract. Wilde is a grumpy mountain man who just wants to be left alone, whereas golden boy Hudson LOVES pushing his buttons. They REALLY get off on the wrong foot, and their every interaction is filled with barely contained violence... until the tension breaks and they start hooking up. The spice y'all, it's *chef's kiss* - these guys don't actually like each other for a long time but they are SO compatible otherwise! And I always love a fast burn spice, slow burn love situation - it takes them a while to figure it out, but they really are better together.
While I did love this book, I'm SO freaking excited for the follow-up based on two side characters in this one - Wilde's friend Ziggy and Hudson's brother Kennedy! They were my FAVORITES throughout the book and I'm THRILLED that their book is next.
Wilde's End is a study in opposites attract. Wilde is a grumpy mountain man who just wants to be left alone, whereas golden boy Hudson LOVES pushing his buttons. They REALLY get off on the wrong foot, and their every interaction is filled with barely contained violence... until the tension breaks and they start hooking up. The spice y'all, it's *chef's kiss* - these guys don't actually like each other for a long time but they are SO compatible otherwise! And I always love a fast burn spice, slow burn love situation - it takes them a while to figure it out, but they really are better together.
While I did love this book, I'm SO freaking excited for the follow-up based on two side characters in this one - Wilde's friend Ziggy and Hudson's brother Kennedy! They were my FAVORITES throughout the book and I'm THRILLED that their book is next.
October 12, 2025
4.25 ⭐️ | 3.5 🌶️
- underground fight club
- enemies to lovers and all its goodness
- city boy x wilderness man
- found family
A breath of fresh air from Saxon James. I like that they are enemies for a good amount of time and not just for the first few chapters of the story. A great escape, something every millennial would like to do. I find the romance quite lacking at times, but the overall plot and world-building makes up for it. A feel-good novel that hits the spot.
- underground fight club
- enemies to lovers and all its goodness
- city boy x wilderness man
- found family
A breath of fresh air from Saxon James. I like that they are enemies for a good amount of time and not just for the first few chapters of the story. A great escape, something every millennial would like to do. I find the romance quite lacking at times, but the overall plot and world-building makes up for it. A feel-good novel that hits the spot.
September 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Okkkaayyyy, Saxon!!! I’m here for your darker side girl!
Wilde’s End follows Hudson (and Wilde) after he and his brothers drunkenly buy an abandoned town they intend on renovating and flipping, only to find the town is not as empty as it appears.
I’m an absolute sucker for enemies to lovers (and hate fucking, lets be real), and I ate up the tension an animosity between Hudson and Wilde.
I love the new direction Saxon is going in, and cannot wait for more of this series!
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- city boy + wild man
- “abandoned”/secret town
- enemies to lovers
- hate fucking
- grumpy x snarky
- fight club
- found family
Okkkaayyyy, Saxon!!! I’m here for your darker side girl!
Wilde’s End follows Hudson (and Wilde) after he and his brothers drunkenly buy an abandoned town they intend on renovating and flipping, only to find the town is not as empty as it appears.
I’m an absolute sucker for enemies to lovers (and hate fucking, lets be real), and I ate up the tension an animosity between Hudson and Wilde.
I love the new direction Saxon is going in, and cannot wait for more of this series!
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- city boy + wild man
- “abandoned”/secret town
- enemies to lovers
- hate fucking
- grumpy x snarky
- fight club
- found family
September 17, 2025
I absolutely devoured this one. Wilde and Hudson’s book had me completely hooked from the very start. This is exactly the kind of enemies to lovers story I’ve been looking for, I loved everything about it and I’m already dying to have the next one!
October 16, 2025
Wilde’s End is book one in the Wilde Men series. This MM romance story about is about Wilde and Hudson.
Hudson and his twin brothers drunkenly buy an abandoned town. They are builders and plan to renovate the town, but things don’t go as planned. Wilde had escaped to Wilde’s End twenty years ago, and he will do whatever it takes to protect it, including trying to drive Hudson and his brothers out.
I do have to say I felt the beginning of the book was a little slow going for me, so I did struggle a bit to get into the story. I also thought the back and forth with Hudson and Wilde went on a little too long. But as we learned more about these characters and we finally see Wilde and Hudson give into their attraction, things started looking up. From that point on, I didn’t want to put the book down.
Wilde and Hudson were not perfect and both definitely had their issues, but they ended up being what each other needed. With the town renovations ongoing, it is still to be determined what will happen when they are finished. I do look forward to getting more in the next book in this series.
Hudson and his twin brothers drunkenly buy an abandoned town. They are builders and plan to renovate the town, but things don’t go as planned. Wilde had escaped to Wilde’s End twenty years ago, and he will do whatever it takes to protect it, including trying to drive Hudson and his brothers out.
I do have to say I felt the beginning of the book was a little slow going for me, so I did struggle a bit to get into the story. I also thought the back and forth with Hudson and Wilde went on a little too long. But as we learned more about these characters and we finally see Wilde and Hudson give into their attraction, things started looking up. From that point on, I didn’t want to put the book down.
Wilde and Hudson were not perfect and both definitely had their issues, but they ended up being what each other needed. With the town renovations ongoing, it is still to be determined what will happen when they are finished. I do look forward to getting more in the next book in this series.
September 26, 2025
ARC Review
4.25⭐
This book was not what I expected—it’s very different from what we’re used to from Saxon James, and I really liked it! 🔥
The relationship between Wilde and Hudson is packed with tension—a true enemies-to-lovers! 🤭🔥 This one’s a slow burn, so don’t expect them to be in love by 40% or you’ll be disappointed. 😅 Nope, that’s not what this book is about. Their relationship is complicated, raw, and beautiful. 🥹
Wilde is a broken man who’s been living in the woods with a group of others. Something in his past made him retreat from the world. 🫣 Everything changes when three brothers (equally as broken as Wilde) from the city decide to buy a town—because of course, who doesn’t do that? 😅 Welcome to Wilde’s End. Their plan is to renovate the houses and sell them… except the town isn’t abandoned like they thought. And Wilde and his people? Yeah, they’re not letting this happen. Oh, hell no. 🤭
The banter is everything. 🤭 The story is fun and fast-paced, but also has just enough raw, darker edges to keep things interesting. 💙
🏍️ MM
🌲 Enemies to lovers
🏍️ Grumpy x snarky
🌲 Hate fúcking
🏍️ Small town
4.25⭐
This book was not what I expected—it’s very different from what we’re used to from Saxon James, and I really liked it! 🔥
The relationship between Wilde and Hudson is packed with tension—a true enemies-to-lovers! 🤭🔥 This one’s a slow burn, so don’t expect them to be in love by 40% or you’ll be disappointed. 😅 Nope, that’s not what this book is about. Their relationship is complicated, raw, and beautiful. 🥹
Wilde is a broken man who’s been living in the woods with a group of others. Something in his past made him retreat from the world. 🫣 Everything changes when three brothers (equally as broken as Wilde) from the city decide to buy a town—because of course, who doesn’t do that? 😅 Welcome to Wilde’s End. Their plan is to renovate the houses and sell them… except the town isn’t abandoned like they thought. And Wilde and his people? Yeah, they’re not letting this happen. Oh, hell no. 🤭
The banter is everything. 🤭 The story is fun and fast-paced, but also has just enough raw, darker edges to keep things interesting. 💙
🏍️ MM
🌲 Enemies to lovers
🏍️ Grumpy x snarky
🌲 Hate fúcking
🏍️ Small town
October 3, 2025
3.5⭐️
October 13, 2025
Impulse read and I am glad I did because I liked it a lot. 3 brothers, like the 3 goldilock bears buy a town intending to remodel, and clash with the people who have an off grid camp there and count two enemies to lovers all settled up here.
This is clearly the setup for a series (and I can guess the pairing for the next book) because there are 3 other pairings already left dangling and that slowed down the book a bit ("wait, who was this again?") but it was still very tolerable and first books in series are a lot less annoying for me than the 74th book in a series...
It is being tagged as a dark romance, and it ticks enough boxes for it (edgy sex, primal play almost, characters with back story trauma) but it does not feel "dark" as in being a more difficult or angsty read. It's also not over the top cartoon character dark, it's pretty realistic and cozy almost, which was absolutely fine, more than fine with me. The big conflict is modern real estate unaffordability particularly California which is certainly scary and relatable and a real conflict. I think a few other of the implied pairings might be darker than this one.
Rating it just 4 stars with no real flaws to point, but still I think it missed some specialness which would make me hit that 5 star rating - I will probably check more of the series.
This is clearly the setup for a series (and I can guess the pairing for the next book) because there are 3 other pairings already left dangling and that slowed down the book a bit ("wait, who was this again?") but it was still very tolerable and first books in series are a lot less annoying for me than the 74th book in a series...
It is being tagged as a dark romance, and it ticks enough boxes for it (edgy sex, primal play almost, characters with back story trauma) but it does not feel "dark" as in being a more difficult or angsty read. It's also not over the top cartoon character dark, it's pretty realistic and cozy almost, which was absolutely fine, more than fine with me. The big conflict is modern real estate unaffordability particularly California which is certainly scary and relatable and a real conflict. I think a few other of the implied pairings might be darker than this one.
Rating it just 4 stars with no real flaws to point, but still I think it missed some specialness which would make me hit that 5 star rating - I will probably check more of the series.
September 27, 2025
One of my favorite Saxon James books to date!
•enemies to lovers
•wild man x city boy
•secret fright club
•they take care of each other when hurt
I can’t wait for the rest of this series and to see what happens with this town!
•enemies to lovers
•wild man x city boy
•secret fright club
•they take care of each other when hurt
I can’t wait for the rest of this series and to see what happens with this town!
September 26, 2025
I HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME WITH THIS BOOK. The tension and animosity between them was well fleshed out and their backgrounds made everything fall into place and made it so believable on why they were both so stubborn and set in their ways. Even with that their chemistry was so palpable so it really was the best of both worlds of I hate you but I hate that I don’t actually hate you because I want you so much.
This really set the tone for the series and I can’t wait for the rest of the books to come
This really set the tone for the series and I can’t wait for the rest of the books to come
September 30, 2025
Tropes: enemies to lovers, small town
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 2.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: recovering addict mmc, addict mom, philandering father, trauma, scars, past death of sibling, third act break up
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: once they meet, neither of them are with anyone else. There are references to ex hookups, and there are moments where there's kind of this threat that they'll go hook up with other people.
3.5 stars
Hudson is 33, gay. He is the oldest brother, his two brothers are twins. They work together in a property/construction business. None of them are doing well in life, no one's happy. And they need a change. So when they stumble across a real estate listing for a whole town for sale for cheap, they decide to buy it and develop it and make a financial killing. The town is abandoned, it has 27 residents on the other side that aren't happy to have property developers around. They live off grid, they are self-reliant, a bit of a commune type.
The unofficial leader is Wilde, a 37 year old wild burly man. Wilde fights in an illegal fighting ring to earn money for the town residents. He's gay too, doesn't do relationships, just goes out to hook up after his fights once a month. He's been living in the town for 20 years, a secret trauma wrecked his life and sent him running.
They cross paths and Wilde wants to run the brothers out of town, he tries his best to. But he ends up attracted to Hudson and spending more time f****** him than trying to run him off. Neither of them think they can do anything approximating a healthy relationship, so they both think this is just sex until they are forced to confront what they've been doing at 85%.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. It wasn't bad. It was a well told story. The characters were vibrant and endearing and you could feel their vulnerabilities. Some of the side characters are promising for their own books. The chemistry between the characters was hot and it was fun for a while. But it didn't quite deliver what I like to see in a romance novel. I felt like the characters were too casual about each other for too long, when I read a romance novel I want you to see romance and love developing, and that was extremely slow in this book. Yeah Wilde liked Hudson's eyelashes but they didn't seem all that hung up on each other. They didn't even really start getting to know each other until after the 75% mark, they were f****** throughout the book but their first kiss was at 81% and the first time they slept over was at 82%. Every time they got together they would leave either right away or in less than 30 minutes. We didn't really get to know Wilde until 90% when he finally revealed a bit of his backstory. Even at 92%, they were saying they weren't in love yet. The first I love you was at 95% and it was in the epilogue. When I read a romance I do want to see more of them being in love. I know that's just my personal taste so I can't judge too hard. But the book is a romance, and not erotica or plain old fiction, so I had higher expectations.
A random minor complaint, I didn't love Wilde suddenly bottoming at 91%. I wish we had got some hint that he was interested in bottoming before then, because it kind of feels like a box to be ticked instead of something he actually wants or something that makes sense given what we knew about him. It was out of place, came out of nowhere.
Some notable moments:
"His bullish snort is music to my ears. “Says the man who couldn’t keep his eyes off my cock earlier.” His … “What?” “Don’t get all shy about it now.” “What do you mean I saw your cock?” When he glances over, it’s less angry and more guarded. “You don’t remember?” I moan and cover my face with my good arm. “No. Bring it back … bring it back …”"
"“Fuck it, I’m going anyway.” Kennedy trails me to the bike. “Don’t fight him.” “I won’t.” “Your fingers are still broken.” “Well aware.” He hovers in front of the bike as I climb onto it. “Don’t sleep with him either.” I tug on the helmet, already hating myself. “Don’t need to. He got me off last night.” “Hudson!”"
*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: 2/5
Steam*: 2.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: recovering addict mmc, addict mom, philandering father, trauma, scars, past death of sibling, third act break up
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: once they meet, neither of them are with anyone else. There are references to ex hookups, and there are moments where there's kind of this threat that they'll go hook up with other people.
3.5 stars
Hudson is 33, gay. He is the oldest brother, his two brothers are twins. They work together in a property/construction business. None of them are doing well in life, no one's happy. And they need a change. So when they stumble across a real estate listing for a whole town for sale for cheap, they decide to buy it and develop it and make a financial killing. The town is abandoned, it has 27 residents on the other side that aren't happy to have property developers around. They live off grid, they are self-reliant, a bit of a commune type.
The unofficial leader is Wilde, a 37 year old wild burly man. Wilde fights in an illegal fighting ring to earn money for the town residents. He's gay too, doesn't do relationships, just goes out to hook up after his fights once a month. He's been living in the town for 20 years, a secret trauma wrecked his life and sent him running.
They cross paths and Wilde wants to run the brothers out of town, he tries his best to. But he ends up attracted to Hudson and spending more time f****** him than trying to run him off. Neither of them think they can do anything approximating a healthy relationship, so they both think this is just sex until they are forced to confront what they've been doing at 85%.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. It wasn't bad. It was a well told story. The characters were vibrant and endearing and you could feel their vulnerabilities. Some of the side characters are promising for their own books. The chemistry between the characters was hot and it was fun for a while. But it didn't quite deliver what I like to see in a romance novel. I felt like the characters were too casual about each other for too long, when I read a romance novel I want you to see romance and love developing, and that was extremely slow in this book. Yeah Wilde liked Hudson's eyelashes but they didn't seem all that hung up on each other. They didn't even really start getting to know each other until after the 75% mark, they were f****** throughout the book but their first kiss was at 81% and the first time they slept over was at 82%. Every time they got together they would leave either right away or in less than 30 minutes. We didn't really get to know Wilde until 90% when he finally revealed a bit of his backstory. Even at 92%, they were saying they weren't in love yet. The first I love you was at 95% and it was in the epilogue. When I read a romance I do want to see more of them being in love. I know that's just my personal taste so I can't judge too hard. But the book is a romance, and not erotica or plain old fiction, so I had higher expectations.
A random minor complaint, I didn't love Wilde suddenly bottoming at 91%. I wish we had got some hint that he was interested in bottoming before then, because it kind of feels like a box to be ticked instead of something he actually wants or something that makes sense given what we knew about him. It was out of place, came out of nowhere.
Some notable moments:
"His bullish snort is music to my ears. “Says the man who couldn’t keep his eyes off my cock earlier.” His … “What?” “Don’t get all shy about it now.” “What do you mean I saw your cock?” When he glances over, it’s less angry and more guarded. “You don’t remember?” I moan and cover my face with my good arm. “No. Bring it back … bring it back …”"
"“Fuck it, I’m going anyway.” Kennedy trails me to the bike. “Don’t fight him.” “I won’t.” “Your fingers are still broken.” “Well aware.” He hovers in front of the bike as I climb onto it. “Don’t sleep with him either.” I tug on the helmet, already hating myself. “Don’t need to. He got me off last night.” “Hudson!”"
*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.
October 25, 2025
This was fun!!! I loved mountain man Wilde, and Hudson was fun and I loved their banter and chemistry, and can’t WAIT to read about Ziggy and Kennedy, Hart better find somebody to warm his ice cold heart to and hell let’s give the doctor his own little spin off novella to!
October 3, 2025
3.5 stars
September 5, 2025
god this is easily one of my favorite fucking books of the YEARRRRRR IM SO OBSESSED WITH THESE CHARACTERS ALREADY. wilde and hudson had the best banter and THE HOTTEST SEX FUCKKKKKK. i cant wait for ziggy and kennedy. I CANT WAIT
December 12, 2025
this was actually quite entertaining, albeit less developed than i would have preferred, but i had a really good time and pretty much flew through it in one sitting after work. i couldn’t put it down! it was a great mix of snark, sarcasm, dark humour and hijincks, with an ominous and gritty setting with just that little bit of danger to add some intrigue until you get to learn more about wilde’s end and its people…
hudson and wilde were at each other’s throats and on each other’s asses, figuratively speaking…and…well lol. the tension between them and their banter and back-and-forth made me giggle and while they kept insisting on being adversaries, these two wanted each other so bad 🤭. i liked their dynamic quite a bit and the hint of depth to each of their back stories made them dimensional enough for me to enjoy their characters as well. they had good sexual chemistry, and the spice was pretty decent too.
what i REALLY enjoyed about this book (probably more than the romance actually) was the side characters, particularly the brothers and ziggy. the dynamic between the 3 brothers was great. i love hart’s sarcastic and deadpan antics - he’s just like me with my morbid jokes irl 😂, kennedy was such a big teddy bear sweetheart and ziggy was so interesting and adorable in his own way too. booker was an intriguing one as well - i kind of want him to be paired with hart since i’m assuming the author plans to give all three brothers a book in this series, but a third installment has not yet been confirmed. i’ll definitely be tuning in for the confirmed book 2 though, because i want to see how ziggy and kennedy’s romance will play out - the crumbs for these two were making me giddy and i like both of them individually quite a lot!
i also have such a soft spot for this town. i loved how wilde’s end was set up and how it was its own little ecosystem that functioned so well, independent of the world beyond it. i wish the book actually gave me more on the town’s folk because while we do get to know (of) a few people outside of wilde and ziggy (and booker) from more than 1-2 scenes or mentions, there was room for more showcasing of the town’s society beyond some of the telling that was delivered in this book to give SOMETHING. but the things and the little bit i learned about some people, i loved 🥹
the main reasons why i didn’t rate this higher were:
1) while i did enjoy the main characters and the story, i didn’t find myself getting attached to either of the mcs, emotionally or otherwise, to the point where i’d be thinking about either of them or the romance for a few days after finishing. i think this connects back to my point on how parts of this book felt very underdeveloped - particularly 1) their emotional connection (the author left it too late in the book and then tried to cram it in in the last stretch but then it didn’t feel all the way convincing that the characters actually fell in love by the end because of this ill-pacing) and 2) the development of wilde’s character. again, with this last one, i feel like the author didn’t really make use of the real estate of the book to give us a proper fleshed out arc for him, which was kind of disappointing considering this book has his pov. we only learn substantial things about him in the last few chapters, and it’s very rushed and all quickly told to get it in. actually, the entire ending of this book was rushed af - not only for the romance, but also for the plot outside of it and for hudson’s sibling situation (things were heavily glossed over and quickly wrapped up for convenience rather than meticulously carried out);
2) i thought that their attraction (particularly in the first half) was told more than it was shown (even if they were already a couple of sex scenes in at this point). but the writing itself didn’t really demonstrate it elaborately enough when they would be in their respective povs in the presence of or thinking about the other. it was more straightforward telling (plus it’s easy to infer since they couldn’t stay away from each other), but the lack of descriptive writing undermined their chemistry (like it was good - and the banter helped with this the most, more than the prose outside of the dialogue - but it could have been great, and it wasn’t quite there because emotions weren’t written descriptively enough). related to this, i think what hurt the emotional connection between the mcs was not only the pacing issue i mention in point 1, but also this descriptive writing issue; and
3) i wish there was a bit more story before the smut starts - it felt like we accelerated to that point. i get that it was going to be a hate fucking trope (i knew that going in) and therefore, that implies that sex would start early before the characters even like one another, and i know i should stop going into some books expecting slower burns when the expectation set by the tropes is transparent enough and should be dissuading me of that misguided notion, but i’m just a slow burn girlie at heart and it’s what i enjoy best and think makes for the best pace and best circumstances for tension to really build deliciously - it’s hard to shake this preference 😂 there are spice heavy or spice accelerated books that circumvent this preference for me because they excel or connect to me in other ways, but this isn’t one of them.
this was still (definitely) one of those i liked it for the good times in the moment but the book was not a love when i think back on everything overall type situations - so that’s why it wasn’t quite 4 star material. but all in all, i still had fun though!
hudson and wilde were at each other’s throats and on each other’s asses, figuratively speaking…and…well lol. the tension between them and their banter and back-and-forth made me giggle and while they kept insisting on being adversaries, these two wanted each other so bad 🤭. i liked their dynamic quite a bit and the hint of depth to each of their back stories made them dimensional enough for me to enjoy their characters as well. they had good sexual chemistry, and the spice was pretty decent too.
what i REALLY enjoyed about this book (probably more than the romance actually) was the side characters, particularly the brothers and ziggy. the dynamic between the 3 brothers was great. i love hart’s sarcastic and deadpan antics - he’s just like me with my morbid jokes irl 😂, kennedy was such a big teddy bear sweetheart and ziggy was so interesting and adorable in his own way too. booker was an intriguing one as well - i kind of want him to be paired with hart since i’m assuming the author plans to give all three brothers a book in this series, but a third installment has not yet been confirmed. i’ll definitely be tuning in for the confirmed book 2 though, because i want to see how ziggy and kennedy’s romance will play out - the crumbs for these two were making me giddy and i like both of them individually quite a lot!
i also have such a soft spot for this town. i loved how wilde’s end was set up and how it was its own little ecosystem that functioned so well, independent of the world beyond it. i wish the book actually gave me more on the town’s folk because while we do get to know (of) a few people outside of wilde and ziggy (and booker) from more than 1-2 scenes or mentions, there was room for more showcasing of the town’s society beyond some of the telling that was delivered in this book to give SOMETHING. but the things and the little bit i learned about some people, i loved 🥹
the main reasons why i didn’t rate this higher were:
1) while i did enjoy the main characters and the story, i didn’t find myself getting attached to either of the mcs, emotionally or otherwise, to the point where i’d be thinking about either of them or the romance for a few days after finishing. i think this connects back to my point on how parts of this book felt very underdeveloped - particularly 1) their emotional connection (the author left it too late in the book and then tried to cram it in in the last stretch but then it didn’t feel all the way convincing that the characters actually fell in love by the end because of this ill-pacing) and 2) the development of wilde’s character. again, with this last one, i feel like the author didn’t really make use of the real estate of the book to give us a proper fleshed out arc for him, which was kind of disappointing considering this book has his pov. we only learn substantial things about him in the last few chapters, and it’s very rushed and all quickly told to get it in. actually, the entire ending of this book was rushed af - not only for the romance, but also for the plot outside of it and for hudson’s sibling situation (things were heavily glossed over and quickly wrapped up for convenience rather than meticulously carried out);
2) i thought that their attraction (particularly in the first half) was told more than it was shown (even if they were already a couple of sex scenes in at this point). but the writing itself didn’t really demonstrate it elaborately enough when they would be in their respective povs in the presence of or thinking about the other. it was more straightforward telling (plus it’s easy to infer since they couldn’t stay away from each other), but the lack of descriptive writing undermined their chemistry (like it was good - and the banter helped with this the most, more than the prose outside of the dialogue - but it could have been great, and it wasn’t quite there because emotions weren’t written descriptively enough). related to this, i think what hurt the emotional connection between the mcs was not only the pacing issue i mention in point 1, but also this descriptive writing issue; and
3) i wish there was a bit more story before the smut starts - it felt like we accelerated to that point. i get that it was going to be a hate fucking trope (i knew that going in) and therefore, that implies that sex would start early before the characters even like one another, and i know i should stop going into some books expecting slower burns when the expectation set by the tropes is transparent enough and should be dissuading me of that misguided notion, but i’m just a slow burn girlie at heart and it’s what i enjoy best and think makes for the best pace and best circumstances for tension to really build deliciously - it’s hard to shake this preference 😂 there are spice heavy or spice accelerated books that circumvent this preference for me because they excel or connect to me in other ways, but this isn’t one of them.
this was still (definitely) one of those i liked it for the good times in the moment but the book was not a love when i think back on everything overall type situations - so that’s why it wasn’t quite 4 star material. but all in all, i still had fun though!
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