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Whoever convinced me that quitting my job as an interpreter to take over my dead aunt’s farm should be covered in honey and left for the ants.
Oh wait…that was me.
I was burnt out and ready for a change, but I didn’t expect what came with it.
An orchard full of fruit I’m allergic to.
A bunch of farm equipment I don’t know how to use.
And a vindictive, vicious groundhog who has made it his life’s mission to drive me to the brink of madness.
But in my quest to find a permanent solution for Michael, I’ve also acquired something else I didn’t expect: a stalker.
I should be more concerned that the man offering to sell me TNT has followed me home, but Thorne is the most gorgeous thing I have ever laid eyes on, and we communicate well.
With our hands in ASL, yeah, but also with our lips, tongues, hips…and other parts of the body.
It’s also increasingly obvious that Thorne is much more than a stalker. With my focus on trying to stop Michael from using his little paws to dig my grave, though, it’s hard to worry about his secrets.
But skeletons never stay buried for long, and when everything comes to light, I can’t help but wonder if Thorne is the best thing that will ever happen to me, or the worst.
ILY is the second book in the Deaf Hearts series and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. It’s a spicy, MM, strangers to lovers rom-com featuring a burnt out, not-quite farmer, a tall, dark, and handsome man with a mission and a secret, a groundhog that knows more than everyone else, and a toe-curling, feet-kicking happily ever after.
Oh wait…that was me.
I was burnt out and ready for a change, but I didn’t expect what came with it.
An orchard full of fruit I’m allergic to.
A bunch of farm equipment I don’t know how to use.
And a vindictive, vicious groundhog who has made it his life’s mission to drive me to the brink of madness.
But in my quest to find a permanent solution for Michael, I’ve also acquired something else I didn’t expect: a stalker.
I should be more concerned that the man offering to sell me TNT has followed me home, but Thorne is the most gorgeous thing I have ever laid eyes on, and we communicate well.
With our hands in ASL, yeah, but also with our lips, tongues, hips…and other parts of the body.
It’s also increasingly obvious that Thorne is much more than a stalker. With my focus on trying to stop Michael from using his little paws to dig my grave, though, it’s hard to worry about his secrets.
But skeletons never stay buried for long, and when everything comes to light, I can’t help but wonder if Thorne is the best thing that will ever happen to me, or the worst.
ILY is the second book in the Deaf Hearts series and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. It’s a spicy, MM, strangers to lovers rom-com featuring a burnt out, not-quite farmer, a tall, dark, and handsome man with a mission and a secret, a groundhog that knows more than everyone else, and a toe-curling, feet-kicking happily ever after.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2025
287 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
Cora Rose
42 books2,634 followersCora Rose loves any kind of romance and consumes way too many books each year. She currently lives in the U.S. and spends her days daydreaming about the characters inside her head.
You can email her at CoraRoseRomance@gmail.com or visit her website at www.coraroseromance.com
You can email her at CoraRoseRomance@gmail.com or visit her website at www.coraroseromance.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
November 26, 2025
Kiss Fist's kooky sibling.
This was a HOOT. It was over the top in the best way a solid rom com. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
I will be reading this one again whenever I need a pick me up.
This was a HOOT. It was over the top in the best way a solid rom com. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
I will be reading this one again whenever I need a pick me up.
November 8, 2025
ILY is a sweet romantic comedy between Leif and Thorne. These two meet after a bizarre string of completely hilarious events. One misunderstanding after another creates the perfect backdrop for this opposites-attract romance that I found adorably sweet and earnest.
I really enjoyed being back in this world and look forward to seeing what comes next. The little teaser at the end was exciting, and I look forward to seeing what that story develops into further.
* I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
I really enjoyed being back in this world and look forward to seeing what comes next. The little teaser at the end was exciting, and I look forward to seeing what that story develops into further.
* I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
November 18, 2025
Tropes: small town, miscommunication (but in a good way!), hurt/comfort, found family
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 2.5/5
Kinks: toys
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: serial killer, MMC with meniere's disease (progressive hearing loss and vertigo)
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: they've both been single for a while and have no other love interests in this book. Once they meet, neither of them are with anyone else.
3.75 stars
Thorne is nearing 40. He works as an FBI agent. He is suffering from meniere's disease and has pretty bad hearing loss that is only going to get worse. His job is not adaptive enough, he knows he's going to have to retire soon. He wants to go out with a bang because he's been feeling relegated to a desk and made to feel useless / burdensome. So he does a little dark web surfing and he finds a guy searching on the dark web to buy TNT, going on about wanting to kill Michael. The guy says Michael is a groundhog, but Thorne is suspicious and thinks it's a human. He decides to go to the town and meet with Leaf, the guy.
Leaf, is 32 and gay. He grew up with a cousin who is deaf and he decided to go into business as an interpreter. He's burned out from his job, so he's left it. He inherited a farm from his weird aunt, and he is trying to make a success of it, but things aren't going his way. He's allergic to the crop of apples, he's a klutz, and a groundhog he's named Michael is eating all his garden vegetables and tormenting him. Leaf is on the edge of a psychotic break and getting desperate to get rid of Michael. Thorne goes undercover and meets Leaf and doesn't tell him at first that he is FBI.
When Thorne follows him home, he thinks he's interested in him. And Thorne is. He's never been with a man before, but he's suspected he was bi. They start hooking up and talking, Thorne quickly realizes Michael is a groundhog and Leaf is completely innocent, guileless. Thorne tells Leaf why he's there, and while there's no case about michael, Thorne has reason to believe Leaf's aunt was a serial killer and there may be a case here after all.
This was a nice story. I liked that both mmcs were really nice guys who deserved to get lucky in love and were kind to each other/were what the other person needed. They had a emotionally mature relationship. They both wanted and accepted each other so easily and any insecurities/reasons why they thought they couldn't do a relationship just evaporated because they were such a good fit, it was so natural to love each other. I know this book has the miscommunication trope but trust me it's not the bad type of miscommunication (where characters who are supposed to love and trust each other are too stupid to communicate, and let dumb misunderstandings separate them), it's that there was a misunderstanding over Michael and Thorne rightly had to keep his identity a secret until the suspicion over Michael was gone. I thought this was a great representation of the deaf/hard of hearing community, it was handled very respectfully. It was also funny at times, but they could have been a little bit wilder with the humour. Cora Rose has had me howling with laughter before, but this one wasn't as much of a good time.
I had a few complaints though...
- It was a little too convenient how Michael kept uncovering clues and that box that solved the problems at the end of the book. It just was a bit cheesy to keep bringing Michael in to save the day.
- I really would have liked them to uncover what the aunt's motivation was, because it was a huge plot line that she was a serial killer, and you didn't get any satisfying closure about why the heck she did it. That was a big disappointment.
- Page 160 - the authors said something that was accidentally offensive. I don't think they meant it the way that it came out, but because they put the two sentences so close together of them talking about being negative and that Leaf is Thorne's first time with a man, it sounded like Thorne was saying that he's a safe person to have unprotected sex with because he's never been with a man before. And I don't like the unintentional implication that sex with women is cleaner / more STI free. It doesn't seem fair to the LGBTQ community. I'm sure the authors didn't mean it that way, but they need to be aware of their words.
Some notable moments:
"He winces at that. “I wouldn’t have shot you. I would have disarmed you.” “With a bullet?” I demand. He swallows thickly. “Only if I had to.” I glower at him. Who the fuck does this guy think he is, anyway? I don’t hang out with people who own guns. “Well, fuck you, then. That is terrible and not romantic at all. I shall not be offering up my ass to you after that proclamation.” Those words make Thorne sigh, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Yeah, don’t blame you. I really don’t deserve your ass.”"
"Tonight felt like I was reclaiming everything the younger me had always wanted. Leaf stayed close, touched me a lot, wasn’t ashamed to be with me. He pulled me into his little bubble of friends who communicated with me easily and without looking at me like I was shit on the bottom of a shoe for not being able to follow along."
*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: 3.5/5
Steam*: 2.5/5
Kinks: toys
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: serial killer, MMC with meniere's disease (progressive hearing loss and vertigo)
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: they've both been single for a while and have no other love interests in this book. Once they meet, neither of them are with anyone else.
3.75 stars
Thorne is nearing 40. He works as an FBI agent. He is suffering from meniere's disease and has pretty bad hearing loss that is only going to get worse. His job is not adaptive enough, he knows he's going to have to retire soon. He wants to go out with a bang because he's been feeling relegated to a desk and made to feel useless / burdensome. So he does a little dark web surfing and he finds a guy searching on the dark web to buy TNT, going on about wanting to kill Michael. The guy says Michael is a groundhog, but Thorne is suspicious and thinks it's a human. He decides to go to the town and meet with Leaf, the guy.
Leaf, is 32 and gay. He grew up with a cousin who is deaf and he decided to go into business as an interpreter. He's burned out from his job, so he's left it. He inherited a farm from his weird aunt, and he is trying to make a success of it, but things aren't going his way. He's allergic to the crop of apples, he's a klutz, and a groundhog he's named Michael is eating all his garden vegetables and tormenting him. Leaf is on the edge of a psychotic break and getting desperate to get rid of Michael. Thorne goes undercover and meets Leaf and doesn't tell him at first that he is FBI.
When Thorne follows him home, he thinks he's interested in him. And Thorne is. He's never been with a man before, but he's suspected he was bi. They start hooking up and talking, Thorne quickly realizes Michael is a groundhog and Leaf is completely innocent, guileless. Thorne tells Leaf why he's there, and while there's no case about michael, Thorne has reason to believe Leaf's aunt was a serial killer and there may be a case here after all.
This was a nice story. I liked that both mmcs were really nice guys who deserved to get lucky in love and were kind to each other/were what the other person needed. They had a emotionally mature relationship. They both wanted and accepted each other so easily and any insecurities/reasons why they thought they couldn't do a relationship just evaporated because they were such a good fit, it was so natural to love each other. I know this book has the miscommunication trope but trust me it's not the bad type of miscommunication (where characters who are supposed to love and trust each other are too stupid to communicate, and let dumb misunderstandings separate them), it's that there was a misunderstanding over Michael and Thorne rightly had to keep his identity a secret until the suspicion over Michael was gone. I thought this was a great representation of the deaf/hard of hearing community, it was handled very respectfully. It was also funny at times, but they could have been a little bit wilder with the humour. Cora Rose has had me howling with laughter before, but this one wasn't as much of a good time.
I had a few complaints though...
- It was a little too convenient how Michael kept uncovering clues and that box that solved the problems at the end of the book. It just was a bit cheesy to keep bringing Michael in to save the day.
- I really would have liked them to uncover what the aunt's motivation was, because it was a huge plot line that she was a serial killer, and you didn't get any satisfying closure about why the heck she did it. That was a big disappointment.
- Page 160 - the authors said something that was accidentally offensive. I don't think they meant it the way that it came out, but because they put the two sentences so close together of them talking about being negative and that Leaf is Thorne's first time with a man, it sounded like Thorne was saying that he's a safe person to have unprotected sex with because he's never been with a man before. And I don't like the unintentional implication that sex with women is cleaner / more STI free. It doesn't seem fair to the LGBTQ community. I'm sure the authors didn't mean it that way, but they need to be aware of their words.
Some notable moments:
"He winces at that. “I wouldn’t have shot you. I would have disarmed you.” “With a bullet?” I demand. He swallows thickly. “Only if I had to.” I glower at him. Who the fuck does this guy think he is, anyway? I don’t hang out with people who own guns. “Well, fuck you, then. That is terrible and not romantic at all. I shall not be offering up my ass to you after that proclamation.” Those words make Thorne sigh, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Yeah, don’t blame you. I really don’t deserve your ass.”"
"Tonight felt like I was reclaiming everything the younger me had always wanted. Leaf stayed close, touched me a lot, wasn’t ashamed to be with me. He pulled me into his little bubble of friends who communicated with me easily and without looking at me like I was shit on the bottom of a shoe for not being able to follow along."
*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.
November 22, 2025
This was so sweet and cute 😭 (and hilarious)
November 19, 2025
ILY
Deaf Heart’s Book 2
Cora Rose & E.M. Lindsey
Thorne & Leaf
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Mistaken Identity
Hookups to lovers
Farmer/ FBI agent
High Heat
Rom Com
Found Family
So I can’t lol, the hilarity of this book was ridiculous in the best possible way. SO funny but also sweet, tender and swoony with a side or seriousness.
We saw Leaf in the First book and I could not wait to read his book.
He is literally consumed with the evil groundhog Michael lol. He has become obsessed and has been trying to rid Michael of his thieving ways… eating his veggies from his garden.
Taking matters into his own hands, and making an incredibly rash decision he decides to buy TNT on the dark web lol thus he meets Thorne, a hard of hearing FBI agent soon to retire.
They meet up in a seedy hotel to do the “exchange” and well the shenanigans are on lol
I laughed so hard at this. Leaf is such a sweet, sassy, precious human.
“Because with Thorne, in moments like this, he feels like everything. He feels like home.”
Thorne wants one last hurrah with his work. Thinking Leaf is set to kill Michael, a human, not a groundhog, he follows him home, and they become …. Lovers ? Lol
This was incredible. The side characters are incredible, the found family vibe is amazing.
The sweetness between these two is everything, They just fit, they just work so well together. Thorne was so willing to do anything for Leaf. He was so sweet and protective.
Leaf is the first man he has been with, he sure made up for lost time lol These two were so hot, sheesh.
“Just tell me you love me, then kiss me and say we’ll figure it out together.”
Thorne has some health issues and Leaf was so tender with him. I think Thorne finally felt seen, I think they both did really.
They both found the one.
They found home in each other.
I loved this, the murder mystery was a great plot point too, and kept the story going well.
I can’t wait for the next book. This was a great read, super fun, sweet and spicy
So thankful for this arc
Deaf Heart’s Book 2
Cora Rose & E.M. Lindsey
Thorne & Leaf
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Mistaken Identity
Hookups to lovers
Farmer/ FBI agent
High Heat
Rom Com
Found Family
So I can’t lol, the hilarity of this book was ridiculous in the best possible way. SO funny but also sweet, tender and swoony with a side or seriousness.
We saw Leaf in the First book and I could not wait to read his book.
He is literally consumed with the evil groundhog Michael lol. He has become obsessed and has been trying to rid Michael of his thieving ways… eating his veggies from his garden.
Taking matters into his own hands, and making an incredibly rash decision he decides to buy TNT on the dark web lol thus he meets Thorne, a hard of hearing FBI agent soon to retire.
They meet up in a seedy hotel to do the “exchange” and well the shenanigans are on lol
I laughed so hard at this. Leaf is such a sweet, sassy, precious human.
“Because with Thorne, in moments like this, he feels like everything. He feels like home.”
Thorne wants one last hurrah with his work. Thinking Leaf is set to kill Michael, a human, not a groundhog, he follows him home, and they become …. Lovers ? Lol
This was incredible. The side characters are incredible, the found family vibe is amazing.
The sweetness between these two is everything, They just fit, they just work so well together. Thorne was so willing to do anything for Leaf. He was so sweet and protective.
Leaf is the first man he has been with, he sure made up for lost time lol These two were so hot, sheesh.
“Just tell me you love me, then kiss me and say we’ll figure it out together.”
Thorne has some health issues and Leaf was so tender with him. I think Thorne finally felt seen, I think they both did really.
They both found the one.
They found home in each other.
I loved this, the murder mystery was a great plot point too, and kept the story going well.
I can’t wait for the next book. This was a great read, super fun, sweet and spicy
So thankful for this arc
December 3, 2025
3.25 ⭐️
🥬 FBI Agent/Former ASL Interpreter
🕳️ Hard of Hearing/Former ASL Interpreter
🥬 Instalove
🕳️ Biawakening
🥬 Mystery-ish
🖤 No break up
🩶 No OP drama
🤍 Honestly can’t remember but I’m pretty sure it’s strict roles.
I need to come back and add review. My OCD doesn’t like that they’re empty.
But I will say that Thorne is legit bad at his job. The groundhog plot was too far to suspend disbelief. It was funny for the first 60% of the book.
The brief conversation (if you can call it that) around being negative/tested was poorly written and made me feel icky when it could’ve been solved with an additional sentence or even a word.
I guess I’ve said most of what I needed to say. It was really funny but eventually I felt they were hitting me over the head with it and it was too goofy. The mystery aspect could’ve been great but it wasn’t fleshed out. Like… why? Why Aunt Lynda? We have literally no clue.
Lastly, I HATE when authors make the epilogue another POV, ESPECIALLY when it’s an intro to another characters book. I signed up to read about Thorne and Leaf, not the next book’s characters. They deserve their own epilogue. At least call it a bonus chapter because it’s not part of this story.
I’m actually excited for Roman’s redemption arc though.
The end.
🥬 FBI Agent/Former ASL Interpreter
🕳️ Hard of Hearing/Former ASL Interpreter
🥬 Instalove
🕳️ Biawakening
🥬 Mystery-ish
🖤 No break up
🩶 No OP drama
🤍 Honestly can’t remember but I’m pretty sure it’s strict roles.
I need to come back and add review. My OCD doesn’t like that they’re empty.
But I will say that Thorne is legit bad at his job. The groundhog plot was too far to suspend disbelief. It was funny for the first 60% of the book.
The brief conversation (if you can call it that) around being negative/tested was poorly written and made me feel icky when it could’ve been solved with an additional sentence or even a word.
I guess I’ve said most of what I needed to say. It was really funny but eventually I felt they were hitting me over the head with it and it was too goofy. The mystery aspect could’ve been great but it wasn’t fleshed out. Like… why? Why Aunt Lynda? We have literally no clue.
Lastly, I HATE when authors make the epilogue another POV, ESPECIALLY when it’s an intro to another characters book. I signed up to read about Thorne and Leaf, not the next book’s characters. They deserve their own epilogue. At least call it a bonus chapter because it’s not part of this story.
I’m actually excited for Roman’s redemption arc though.
The end.
November 3, 2025
Loved it! I feel like this is going to be one of those series that I love more and more with each new book, and I’m so here for it! I already knew going into this book that I loved Leaf, so I was super excited to get his story, and Thorne was just perfect for him. This book had me laughing out loud so many times, I didn’t want to put it down. To say I’m excited for the next book would be a huge understatement, I absolutely can’t wait for it!!
November 9, 2025
This book is a riot, I loved every minute I got to spend reading it. I adored Leaf - he is a hilarious chaotic man who is slowly loosing his mind because of Michael. I find I love Michael for his sheer audacity, his joi de verve, his mastermind. I obviously love Thorne, hunk of man, struggling with the big changes coming his way with grace and I loveeeee how he falls for the ball of chaos that is Leaf. I also have to say I loved how fearless Leaf is and how hyper fixated letting nothing stand in his way.
These two meet in the most comic of ways, I could not stop laughing it was hilarious and that humour carries through the book, I had the best day reading this - the sex was hot, the chemistry effortless and the extra dose of mystery we got just tipped it for into an absolutely favourite read. I also adored the found family, community and disability rep so perfectly done.
If you want a good time reading a great book highly recommend picking this one.
These two meet in the most comic of ways, I could not stop laughing it was hilarious and that humour carries through the book, I had the best day reading this - the sex was hot, the chemistry effortless and the extra dose of mystery we got just tipped it for into an absolutely favourite read. I also adored the found family, community and disability rep so perfectly done.
If you want a good time reading a great book highly recommend picking this one.
November 24, 2025
***ARC Review***
This is my honest and voluntary review.
E.M. Lindsey and Cora Rose have done it again. They have written a stellar book (and series)! ILY is the second book in the Deaf Hearts series, but can be read as a standalone. Leaf and Thorne are fantastic characters and I am so happy they get their HEA in this book.
Thorne works for the FBI cybercrimes division. He is losing his hearing due to a medical diagnosis. Thorne comes across a post that Leaf makes on the web. Thorne tries to investigate/intercept a bad decision Leaf gears towards Michael - the groundhog bane in Leaf’s existence. Who knew that Michael the groundhog would bring these two together? It was intriguing watching Leaf spiral out of control over this pest in the first book in the series. It’s even more entertaining in this one.
Thorne and Leaf forge a connection that neither man anticipates. Thorne crosses lines he doesn’t expect to cross, and Leaf navigates the possibility of someone accepting him as he is, flaws and all. These two are a perfect match. They have immense chemistry and their concern for one another’s wellbeing is sincere. It’s incredibly sweet watching them fall for one another. I love their journey together.
Lindsey and Rose weave a humorous, yet heartfelt tale. It’s full of genuine connection, vulnerable conversations, and slightly unhinged moments. There’s also a big reveal that I wasn’t expecting, but works well for the story.
Seeing other characters from the series is a welcome delight in this book. I am absolutely thrilled for the next book in this series. I cannot wait to see how Lindsey and Rose craft the progression of Dex and Roman’s pending relationship. It’s going to be a good one!
This is my honest and voluntary review.
E.M. Lindsey and Cora Rose have done it again. They have written a stellar book (and series)! ILY is the second book in the Deaf Hearts series, but can be read as a standalone. Leaf and Thorne are fantastic characters and I am so happy they get their HEA in this book.
Thorne works for the FBI cybercrimes division. He is losing his hearing due to a medical diagnosis. Thorne comes across a post that Leaf makes on the web. Thorne tries to investigate/intercept a bad decision Leaf gears towards Michael - the groundhog bane in Leaf’s existence. Who knew that Michael the groundhog would bring these two together? It was intriguing watching Leaf spiral out of control over this pest in the first book in the series. It’s even more entertaining in this one.
Thorne and Leaf forge a connection that neither man anticipates. Thorne crosses lines he doesn’t expect to cross, and Leaf navigates the possibility of someone accepting him as he is, flaws and all. These two are a perfect match. They have immense chemistry and their concern for one another’s wellbeing is sincere. It’s incredibly sweet watching them fall for one another. I love their journey together.
Lindsey and Rose weave a humorous, yet heartfelt tale. It’s full of genuine connection, vulnerable conversations, and slightly unhinged moments. There’s also a big reveal that I wasn’t expecting, but works well for the story.
Seeing other characters from the series is a welcome delight in this book. I am absolutely thrilled for the next book in this series. I cannot wait to see how Lindsey and Rose craft the progression of Dex and Roman’s pending relationship. It’s going to be a good one!
November 9, 2025
ILY is book two in the Deaf Hearts series. This MM rom-com story is about Leaf and Thorne.
We first met Leaf in book one as Thom’s friend. Leaf was burnt out and quit his job as a nationally certified ASL-English interpreter. He inherited his aunt’s farmhouse and moved into it even though he knew nothing about farming. Now he has become slightly unhinged because of Michael, the groundhog living on his property. Leaf starts searching the dark web for explosives to deal with Michael, and this leads to Leaf meeting Thorne.
Thorne is losing his hearing and on the verge of a forced early retirement. Thorne has some secrets, and we see him struggle with it all because he wants Leaf and starts to really care about him. I wasn’t sure how the miscommunication and secrets were going to affect them, but I was happy to see it didn’t stop Leaf and Thorne from wanting to be together.
This story was very entertaining and at times ridiculous in the best way. It was also interesting to see Thorne discover there was a lot more going at Leaf’s property than just Michael. I really enjoyed the found family and was happy to see characters from the previous book. And after reading the epilogue, I definitely can’t wait for Dex and Roman’s book next.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
We first met Leaf in book one as Thom’s friend. Leaf was burnt out and quit his job as a nationally certified ASL-English interpreter. He inherited his aunt’s farmhouse and moved into it even though he knew nothing about farming. Now he has become slightly unhinged because of Michael, the groundhog living on his property. Leaf starts searching the dark web for explosives to deal with Michael, and this leads to Leaf meeting Thorne.
Thorne is losing his hearing and on the verge of a forced early retirement. Thorne has some secrets, and we see him struggle with it all because he wants Leaf and starts to really care about him. I wasn’t sure how the miscommunication and secrets were going to affect them, but I was happy to see it didn’t stop Leaf and Thorne from wanting to be together.
This story was very entertaining and at times ridiculous in the best way. It was also interesting to see Thorne discover there was a lot more going at Leaf’s property than just Michael. I really enjoyed the found family and was happy to see characters from the previous book. And after reading the epilogue, I definitely can’t wait for Dex and Roman’s book next.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
November 14, 2025
I’m just throwing this out there, but holy hell, this book is hilarious. I adored it. It’s pure chaos, unfiltered wildness, and messy perfection. It worked so well it took me out at least nine times. If I were a cat, I’d be toast right now. And Michael. Sweet, unhinged, groundhog-ruining-leafs-life Michael. I love him. I love this book. I love everything about it.
Let’s talk about Leaf. That man should never own a farm. It’s a full-blown war zone out there. He’s got fruit he’s allergic to, farm tools he shouldn’t be trusted with, and a groundhog slowly plotting his downfall one vegetable at a time. It’s less “country life” and more “live-action cartoon featuring emotional damage and antihistamines.”
And then there’s Thorne. The man shows up, follows you home, offers to sell you TNT, and somehow makes it hot. They start off communicating in voices then in ASL, but pretty quickly it turns into lip reading, tongue tangling, and a whole lot of body language that definitely isn’t in any dictionary. It’s pure chaos with a side of sexual tension and a sprinkle of groundhog terrorism.
This book is everything. It’s ridiculous and heartfelt and thorny (like what I did there?) in equal measure. I will never move on, and yes, I now want a groundhog. I’m feral for the next book it’s going to be hot as sin and I am so ready.
Let’s talk about Leaf. That man should never own a farm. It’s a full-blown war zone out there. He’s got fruit he’s allergic to, farm tools he shouldn’t be trusted with, and a groundhog slowly plotting his downfall one vegetable at a time. It’s less “country life” and more “live-action cartoon featuring emotional damage and antihistamines.”
And then there’s Thorne. The man shows up, follows you home, offers to sell you TNT, and somehow makes it hot. They start off communicating in voices then in ASL, but pretty quickly it turns into lip reading, tongue tangling, and a whole lot of body language that definitely isn’t in any dictionary. It’s pure chaos with a side of sexual tension and a sprinkle of groundhog terrorism.
This book is everything. It’s ridiculous and heartfelt and thorny (like what I did there?) in equal measure. I will never move on, and yes, I now want a groundhog. I’m feral for the next book it’s going to be hot as sin and I am so ready.
November 2, 2025
4 ⭐
3.5 🌶️
Thorne & Leaf were delulu and over the top in the best way. Their connection was instant and very sweet. They had me laughing & giggling. You could tell this was definitely interwoven with Cora's brand of humor and snark.
I enjoyed Kiss-Fist much more. I think the connection Robbie and Thom had was way stronger and had more of the emotional elements I enjoy.
It was really nice to see some familiar faces from Kiss-Fist in ILY. I love the entire friend group and am super excited for the next book!
WHAT TO EXPECT
❤️Mistaken Identity
❤️Hookups to Lovers
❤️High Heat
❤️Mxrder Mystery
❤️Hearing/HoH
❤️Farmer/FBI Agent
❤️Found Family
❤️Romcom
Cheating: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
3.5 🌶️
Thorne & Leaf were delulu and over the top in the best way. Their connection was instant and very sweet. They had me laughing & giggling. You could tell this was definitely interwoven with Cora's brand of humor and snark.
I enjoyed Kiss-Fist much more. I think the connection Robbie and Thom had was way stronger and had more of the emotional elements I enjoy.
It was really nice to see some familiar faces from Kiss-Fist in ILY. I love the entire friend group and am super excited for the next book!
WHAT TO EXPECT
❤️Mistaken Identity
❤️Hookups to Lovers
❤️High Heat
❤️Mxrder Mystery
❤️Hearing/HoH
❤️Farmer/FBI Agent
❤️Found Family
❤️Romcom
Cheating: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
November 5, 2025
The humour this book delivers is everything 🤣It's such a fantastic, light yet enthralling romcom story and I am so here for that 💖
Leaf reminded me a little bit of Emery from the Unexpected series by Cora, and I loved him so much, so automatically, I love Leaf, too 🤭
Thorne is an FBI agent. When he gets a track of the activity of Leaf, he thinks he is some kind of unaliver, since he wants to buy stuff that for sure isn't legal to buy 😅
The story took some turns I definitely did not expect, so it really captivated me. Leaf's mind for sure is an interesting, unusual one for sure and the way he acted was so entertaining 🤣
I need book three now 🥰
Leaf reminded me a little bit of Emery from the Unexpected series by Cora, and I loved him so much, so automatically, I love Leaf, too 🤭
Thorne is an FBI agent. When he gets a track of the activity of Leaf, he thinks he is some kind of unaliver, since he wants to buy stuff that for sure isn't legal to buy 😅
The story took some turns I definitely did not expect, so it really captivated me. Leaf's mind for sure is an interesting, unusual one for sure and the way he acted was so entertaining 🤣
I need book three now 🥰
November 10, 2025
Leaf + Thorne
-mm romance
-mistaken identity
-hookups to lovers
-farmer x fbi agent
-hearing/HoH
-found family
-murder mystery
yooo hahah this plot story was actually so intriguing & crazy!! but cora & em executed in such a great way, i was laughing & entertained the whole time!! i love them!!
-mm romance
-mistaken identity
-hookups to lovers
-farmer x fbi agent
-hearing/HoH
-found family
-murder mystery
yooo hahah this plot story was actually so intriguing & crazy!! but cora & em executed in such a great way, i was laughing & entertained the whole time!! i love them!!
November 20, 2025
DNF at 67%…. To me this book had potential but it was way too hard to actually enjoy or take seriously
November 24, 2025
DNF’d around the 50% mark. It wasn’t necessarily bad but it was just kind of meh?
November 18, 2025
I skimmed so much of this book. I became much more interested in the mystery than the relationship/romance, which is very unlike me. The MCs together were fine, but Leaf was too much. I wanted to know more about what the FBI found than anything and I think they’d want to investigate a ton of money under the mattress. The Michael storyline was funny until it wasn’t. I don’t know. This one left me annoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2025
This book was so good and I laughed so many times! I think Thorne and Leaf we absolutely completed each other in every way! I definitely recommend reading this series!
December 14, 2025
ILY is the second book in Cora Rose and E.M. Lindsey's Deaf Hearts series. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone. Here's what you can expect from Leaf and Thorne:
🩷 MM contemporary romance
🩷 First person dual point of view
🩷 Guaranteed happily ever after
🩷 Open door spice
🩷 Mistaken identity
🩷 Hookups to lovers
🩷 Murder mystery
🩷 Hearing/Hard of Hearing
🩷 Farmer/FBI agent
🩷 Found family
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note these warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
I've been looking forward to ILY since we met the chaos that was Leaf in Kiss-Fist, and I'm so happy he got his own happily ever after! Although these books are romantic comedies, they give a great insight into the Deaf community and their unique culture which I've enjoyed experiencing through each unique character's viewpoint. I will say that this book is quite over the top, and you'll definitely want to suspend your disbelief while enjoying it. I did find it slightly too chaotic for my liking, and although I did have a good time reading it I probably wouldn't go back and read it again. However, it did set up the third book in the series nicely and I'm so curious to see whether Rome will get a redemption, as he has definitely been one of the least favourite characters in the series so far! I also found the addition of the murder mystery plot a bit haphazard, and I wasn't totally satisfied with the conclusion. I would've liked to know more about that.
I really enjoyed getting to know Leaf better. His connection with Thorne was so fiery. We also get another look at the Deaf community through Thorne, who is losing his hearing quickly and starting to learn ASL. Watching him and Leaf shift their communication styles was so cool. Of course, the found family in this small town was great, and the spice was incredible. Overall, this was a fun read but it did border on overly chaotic and over-the-top for my liking. Looking forward to PAH! coming our way next year!
🩷 MM contemporary romance
🩷 First person dual point of view
🩷 Guaranteed happily ever after
🩷 Open door spice
🩷 Mistaken identity
🩷 Hookups to lovers
🩷 Murder mystery
🩷 Hearing/Hard of Hearing
🩷 Farmer/FBI agent
🩷 Found family
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note these warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
I've been looking forward to ILY since we met the chaos that was Leaf in Kiss-Fist, and I'm so happy he got his own happily ever after! Although these books are romantic comedies, they give a great insight into the Deaf community and their unique culture which I've enjoyed experiencing through each unique character's viewpoint. I will say that this book is quite over the top, and you'll definitely want to suspend your disbelief while enjoying it. I did find it slightly too chaotic for my liking, and although I did have a good time reading it I probably wouldn't go back and read it again. However, it did set up the third book in the series nicely and I'm so curious to see whether Rome will get a redemption, as he has definitely been one of the least favourite characters in the series so far! I also found the addition of the murder mystery plot a bit haphazard, and I wasn't totally satisfied with the conclusion. I would've liked to know more about that.
I really enjoyed getting to know Leaf better. His connection with Thorne was so fiery. We also get another look at the Deaf community through Thorne, who is losing his hearing quickly and starting to learn ASL. Watching him and Leaf shift their communication styles was so cool. Of course, the found family in this small town was great, and the spice was incredible. Overall, this was a fun read but it did border on overly chaotic and over-the-top for my liking. Looking forward to PAH! coming our way next year!
November 17, 2025
This was a super silly light hearted read. There is a marauding groundhog, a sweet FBI agent, a cute and chaotic ‘farmer’, a mysterious deceased aunt w her own dark past, and tons of spice.
I found this one much lighter than the first in the series. It maintained the humor throughout and was a little different and fun.
Thorne is an undercover FBI agent working his last case when he comes across Leaf, who is trying to buy explosives on the dark web to kill Michael.
- No third act breakup
- Low angst
- Communication - These two communicate about what matters. There is the whole mistaken identity in the beginning when Thorne thinks Leaf is a murderer, but it’s resolved in the first 1/2 and is done in a very sweet way. The 2nd half of the story revolves around the aunt’s crimes.
- No age gap; both are early 30’s I think. Thorne is retiring bc of his hearing difficulties
- Insta: these two want each other instantly. Bi - awakening - Thorne; Gay - Leaf
- No OM - both have been alone for a while, neither are virgins, but Leaf is Thorne’s first man. There is no angst around this lol.
- Michael - the groundhog, with a purpose, who is driving Leaf insane.
- Hard of hearing rep: Thorne has meniers disease and is slowly losing his hearing. They speak to each other vocally and use sign language.
- Dual POV; I love you’s and living together in epilogue, restoring his aunts house.
A great read for in between more serious books. 📕
I found this one much lighter than the first in the series. It maintained the humor throughout and was a little different and fun.
Thorne is an undercover FBI agent working his last case when he comes across Leaf, who is trying to buy explosives on the dark web to kill Michael.
- No third act breakup
- Low angst
- Communication - These two communicate about what matters. There is the whole mistaken identity in the beginning when Thorne thinks Leaf is a murderer, but it’s resolved in the first 1/2 and is done in a very sweet way. The 2nd half of the story revolves around the aunt’s crimes.
- No age gap; both are early 30’s I think. Thorne is retiring bc of his hearing difficulties
- Insta: these two want each other instantly. Bi - awakening - Thorne; Gay - Leaf
- No OM - both have been alone for a while, neither are virgins, but Leaf is Thorne’s first man. There is no angst around this lol.
- Michael - the groundhog, with a purpose, who is driving Leaf insane.
- Hard of hearing rep: Thorne has meniers disease and is slowly losing his hearing. They speak to each other vocally and use sign language.
- Dual POV; I love you’s and living together in epilogue, restoring his aunts house.
A great read for in between more serious books. 📕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
3.5/5 stars 3/5 spice
Leaf was such an unhinged, clumsy, no filter character that I found absolutely endearing. He made me laugh so many times and he really brought out Thorne’s playful side. Thorne was more of stoic character but Leaf made his life chaotic in the best way. They really appreciated each other’s differences and embraced them, never wanting to change a thing. I think they complimented each other well.
I’m glad the misunderstanding of Michael not being a person but a groundhog didn’t last the whole length of the book and that we got a cold case investigation added in. I just wish we knew more about why they killed them because I’m nosey, but I guess that can’t be answered.
Seeing previous characters and others that were introduced was fun. I’m really curious about Salem, Leaf’s neighbour, and my god the tension between Dex and Roman, woah. I’m so glad that their book is next, especially with what we know about Roman’s past.
This is a great read if you’re looking for something light that will make you laugh. I’m enjoying the series so far and I’m excited for more characters to get their own books.
- Struggling farmer, ex ASL interpreter, unhinged, clumsy MMC
- FBI agent gone rogue, hard of hearing MMC
- Ménière’s disease rep
- Romcom
- Queer awakening
- Cold case investigation
- Small town
Leaf was such an unhinged, clumsy, no filter character that I found absolutely endearing. He made me laugh so many times and he really brought out Thorne’s playful side. Thorne was more of stoic character but Leaf made his life chaotic in the best way. They really appreciated each other’s differences and embraced them, never wanting to change a thing. I think they complimented each other well.
I’m glad the misunderstanding of Michael not being a person but a groundhog didn’t last the whole length of the book and that we got a cold case investigation added in. I just wish we knew more about why they killed them because I’m nosey, but I guess that can’t be answered.
Seeing previous characters and others that were introduced was fun. I’m really curious about Salem, Leaf’s neighbour, and my god the tension between Dex and Roman, woah. I’m so glad that their book is next, especially with what we know about Roman’s past.
This is a great read if you’re looking for something light that will make you laugh. I’m enjoying the series so far and I’m excited for more characters to get their own books.
- Struggling farmer, ex ASL interpreter, unhinged, clumsy MMC
- FBI agent gone rogue, hard of hearing MMC
- Ménière’s disease rep
- Romcom
- Queer awakening
- Cold case investigation
- Small town
November 19, 2025
This was wild! Like crazy and so ott, even for Cora Rose. Leaf is an ex asl interpreter so burnt out from past work and the house he inherited from his dead aunt that he makes the great decision to buy tnt from the dark web to kill a groundhog pest. 🤦♀️ He meets with Thorne the fbi agent, who intercepted this criminal and the insanity begins. Mind you Thorne believes Leaf is a potential murderer or some sort of criminal till the third of the book. That doesn’t stop him to experience his bi awakening with Leaf. 😄 From their very first meeting. Anywho there is lots of asl friends, from the previous book we even get a glimpse from the next book where Dex and the all hated Roman will get their hea hopefully. I have to say that I think Leaf was very well written character, he was so neurotic and hectic that I felt it and become jittery. So there’s that I don’t know if I’ll remember this book, but it was certainly wild.
November 11, 2025
Rating: 4/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Thorne & Leaf
This was a fun and wild ride. It's one of those books that you need to go into just looking for a good time and knowing it's going to be a bit out there and over the top.
Leaf is looking for dynamite and uses the dark web to find someone to purchase it from. He agrees to meet them in a seedy motel for the purchase. Of course, he's using it to try and get rid of a groundhog and not actually hurt anyone. But Thorne doesn't realize that. He is the undercover FBI agent that is meeting him. Thorne is hoping to get one last case closed up so he can retire with a bang rather than riding the desk because of his condition deteriorating and his boss forcing him out of the field. That meeting goes completely awry. Thorne starts to lightly stalk Leaf and show up at his house. His plan is to find out more about Michael, thinking Michael is an actual person and not a groundhog. It's hilarious as they spend more time together and fall for one another.
I am having a lot of fun with this series. This one didn't feel as emotionally charged as book one and leaned a bit more into the humor. The characters are both lovable and the steam is great. I can't wait until the next one!
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Thorne & Leaf
This was a fun and wild ride. It's one of those books that you need to go into just looking for a good time and knowing it's going to be a bit out there and over the top.
Leaf is looking for dynamite and uses the dark web to find someone to purchase it from. He agrees to meet them in a seedy motel for the purchase. Of course, he's using it to try and get rid of a groundhog and not actually hurt anyone. But Thorne doesn't realize that. He is the undercover FBI agent that is meeting him. Thorne is hoping to get one last case closed up so he can retire with a bang rather than riding the desk because of his condition deteriorating and his boss forcing him out of the field. That meeting goes completely awry. Thorne starts to lightly stalk Leaf and show up at his house. His plan is to find out more about Michael, thinking Michael is an actual person and not a groundhog. It's hilarious as they spend more time together and fall for one another.
I am having a lot of fun with this series. This one didn't feel as emotionally charged as book one and leaned a bit more into the humor. The characters are both lovable and the steam is great. I can't wait until the next one!
November 2, 2025
4.25⭐️
Leaf is SICK and TIRED of Michael the groundhog. This groundhog just won’t stop eating all the vegetables on the farm he’s inherited after his strange aunt’s passing. When all else fails, Leaf decides that buying TNT on the dark web is the only way to get rid of Michael once and for all. When he finally meets up with someone willing to sell him the goods, he’s actually met by Thorne—an undercover FBI agent who’s eager to get one final big case under his belt before being forced into retirement. Queue a funny, spicy, and wild adventure, as Leaf tries to get his pest issue under control, and Thorne does his best to figure out who this “Michael” is, and why the seemingly innocent Leaf is so obsessed with him.
Rapid fire content:
-hilarious rivalry with a groundhog
-HoH FBI agent / ex interpreter disaster farmer
-bi-awakening
-making decisions with brain ❌
-making decisions with 🍆 ✅
-a murder mystery
-miscommunication (funny)
-fun with toys
-supportive friends
-hookup to lovers
This book is absolutely more of a romcom than just a romance— it’s campy, the plot is WILD, and the characters are over the top! Go in expecting chaos and high spice, and you’re going to eat this up.
With the second book in the Deaf Hearts series, we get even deeper into the Deaf culture, which I loved. The amount of diversity and attention to detail put into this series is phenomenal! To add—there is definitely action with the other side characters which I loved! This book definitely did a great job hyping for the next book.
Very fun and enjoyable read! Don’t miss it November 14!
Leaf is SICK and TIRED of Michael the groundhog. This groundhog just won’t stop eating all the vegetables on the farm he’s inherited after his strange aunt’s passing. When all else fails, Leaf decides that buying TNT on the dark web is the only way to get rid of Michael once and for all. When he finally meets up with someone willing to sell him the goods, he’s actually met by Thorne—an undercover FBI agent who’s eager to get one final big case under his belt before being forced into retirement. Queue a funny, spicy, and wild adventure, as Leaf tries to get his pest issue under control, and Thorne does his best to figure out who this “Michael” is, and why the seemingly innocent Leaf is so obsessed with him.
Rapid fire content:
-hilarious rivalry with a groundhog
-HoH FBI agent / ex interpreter disaster farmer
-bi-awakening
-making decisions with brain ❌
-making decisions with 🍆 ✅
-a murder mystery
-miscommunication (funny)
-fun with toys
-supportive friends
-hookup to lovers
This book is absolutely more of a romcom than just a romance— it’s campy, the plot is WILD, and the characters are over the top! Go in expecting chaos and high spice, and you’re going to eat this up.
With the second book in the Deaf Hearts series, we get even deeper into the Deaf culture, which I loved. The amount of diversity and attention to detail put into this series is phenomenal! To add—there is definitely action with the other side characters which I loved! This book definitely did a great job hyping for the next book.
Very fun and enjoyable read! Don’t miss it November 14!
November 8, 2025
Leaf and Thorne are crazy in so many ways. I love Leaf's fight against Michael :D Those interactions had me giggling so many times during my read.
I enjoyed Kiss-Fist more than ILY mostly because the connection between the MMC's in that book felt more real and in-depth. ILY had me laughing and rooting for Michael ;) Leaf is so over-the-top and all over the place, and so much fun. He's lucky he got Thorne to take care of him :D
ILY an easy and funny read with some spicy moments and a lot of craziness.
I love this group of friends and I am very exited for the next book in this series!
Thank you for the arc. My review is honest and voluntary.
I enjoyed Kiss-Fist more than ILY mostly because the connection between the MMC's in that book felt more real and in-depth. ILY had me laughing and rooting for Michael ;) Leaf is so over-the-top and all over the place, and so much fun. He's lucky he got Thorne to take care of him :D
ILY an easy and funny read with some spicy moments and a lot of craziness.
I love this group of friends and I am very exited for the next book in this series!
Thank you for the arc. My review is honest and voluntary.
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November 13, 2025I wish I had read book 1 first because then I would have known this just wasn’t a series for me. A lot of the plot was interesting, and I actually like a neurotic clumsy mess of an MC, but the humor just didn’t mesh well with me at all. Humor is so subjective, and I hate when this happens. Definitely think every one who is interested should still check it out though because it’s going to be amazing for so many people.
November 14, 2025
I loved the laughter that erupted from my chest earnestly. This was such a cute book that it was easy to stay in the pages.
November 19, 2025
4.25 ✨
This was so fun! It was chaotic and silly but also sweet and romantic and exactly what I wanted it to be. I love when a book just hits exactly how I wanted it to 🙂↕️
This was so fun! It was chaotic and silly but also sweet and romantic and exactly what I wanted it to be. I love when a book just hits exactly how I wanted it to 🙂↕️
November 28, 2025
Перша була краща, в цій був такий шикарний потенціал, але не склалося. Пара смішних моментів, але персонажі не були розкриті для мене, нажаль
November 18, 2025
4☆
🅢🅟🅘🅒🅔:🌶🌶🌶
🅛🅐🅤🅖🅗🅢:🤣🤣🤣
🅣🅔🅐🅡🅢:🥲
🅜🅒🅢: Leaf, Thorne
🅟🅞🅥: Dual PoV, 1st Person
🅣🅡🅞🅟🅔🅢: Found Family, RomCom, Farmer/FBI Agent, Hookups to Lovers
Thorne 🫶🏻
🅢🅟🅘🅒🅔:🌶🌶🌶
🅛🅐🅤🅖🅗🅢:🤣🤣🤣
🅣🅔🅐🅡🅢:🥲
🅜🅒🅢: Leaf, Thorne
🅟🅞🅥: Dual PoV, 1st Person
🅣🅡🅞🅟🅔🅢: Found Family, RomCom, Farmer/FBI Agent, Hookups to Lovers
Thorne 🫶🏻
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