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The Greening of Thaddeus Grey
The day begins like any other—canoodling with my live-in boyfriend, making weekend plans over breakfast, and arguing about the apartment renovation list. Then my best friend and business partner texts, begging me to ditch Thad so we can meet for a lunchtime quickie in our usual spot.
Small problem: I’m Thad. Oops.
By midday, I’ve lost one ratface boyfriend, my best mate, the company I built from scratch, and the courage to hire a hitman—although I’m not ruling that last one out just yet. The future I had neatly mapped out is now toast. In its place, a laundry list of awkward questions, rumours, and pitying looks.
And so, I do what I do best. I run—my crumbling life fading in the rearview mirror. No plan. No destination. Just a road. Through a forest. In a storm. To a dog. And a shed. And a towering man who smells of pine, rain, and, mercifully, bacon.
There’s dirt under my nails, something growing in my heart, and suddenly I’m breathing again. Breathing and smiling and lying, lying, lying. To the man I’m falling for. To the people I care about. To myself, most of all.
But for every lie, there’s a reckoning. And when the truth catches up, and the heart is truly at stake, there’s no running anymore.
Small problem: I’m Thad. Oops.
By midday, I’ve lost one ratface boyfriend, my best mate, the company I built from scratch, and the courage to hire a hitman—although I’m not ruling that last one out just yet. The future I had neatly mapped out is now toast. In its place, a laundry list of awkward questions, rumours, and pitying looks.
And so, I do what I do best. I run—my crumbling life fading in the rearview mirror. No plan. No destination. Just a road. Through a forest. In a storm. To a dog. And a shed. And a towering man who smells of pine, rain, and, mercifully, bacon.
There’s dirt under my nails, something growing in my heart, and suddenly I’m breathing again. Breathing and smiling and lying, lying, lying. To the man I’m falling for. To the people I care about. To myself, most of all.
But for every lie, there’s a reckoning. And when the truth catches up, and the heart is truly at stake, there’s no running anymore.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2026
About the author
Jay Hogan
30 books961 followersHeart, humour and keeping it real.
I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.
Join my reader group to keep up with my news.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hogan...
You can also find me at:
https://www.jayhoganauthor.com where you can buy my audiobooks direct at a discount.
https://www.facebook.com/JayHoganAuthor
I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.
Join my reader group to keep up with my news.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hogan...
You can also find me at:
https://www.jayhoganauthor.com where you can buy my audiobooks direct at a discount.
https://www.facebook.com/JayHoganAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
June 3, 2026
In theory, this book is my catnip. But for some reason, I just couldn’t fully get on board with it. I suspect my cranky, grumpy reading mood played a part, but it never completely clicked for me.
The thing is, I’ve read this book before. Probably a lot of times. The cheating-with-the-best-friend trope. The mother who is so blind she actually suggests he stay with the cheating boyfriend. 💤💤💤💤💤
Maybe that's part of why it didn't completely work for me. Nothing about the plot really surprised me, and I found myself connecting more to the cozy atmosphere than to the actual conflict.
It also moved way too fast for me. The attraction was super insta-love/insta-lust, and I couldn't understand why everyone around them was cheering for a hookup practically the next day. The man's entire life had just imploded. Maybe let him process that for five minutes first? There were also a lot of meddling best friends, which isn't usually my favourite thing. That said I ADORE TAD!!!!!!!!
Phillip and Judd felt completely one-dimensional. They were so awful that it almost stopped feeling believable. Sometimes they felt less like actual people and more like plot devices whose only job was to make Ryder look even better.
I also don't understand why Thaddeus took so long to tell Ryder about his company or do something about the situation. Then, at the end, he leaves, and it's Ryder who sends the first message and thinks he should apologize? The emotional math wasn't mathing for me. I kept waiting for a bigger reckoning and a more satisfying grovel, and it never quite got there.
But... The cottage. The garden. The dachshund. The banter. The hens. And them. 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠
In the end, I was far more invested in the cottage, the garden, the hens, and the dachshund than I was in the actual drama.
Those parts absolutely got me.
The thing is, I’ve read this book before. Probably a lot of times. The cheating-with-the-best-friend trope. The mother who is so blind she actually suggests he stay with the cheating boyfriend. 💤💤💤💤💤
Maybe that's part of why it didn't completely work for me. Nothing about the plot really surprised me, and I found myself connecting more to the cozy atmosphere than to the actual conflict.
It also moved way too fast for me. The attraction was super insta-love/insta-lust, and I couldn't understand why everyone around them was cheering for a hookup practically the next day. The man's entire life had just imploded. Maybe let him process that for five minutes first? There were also a lot of meddling best friends, which isn't usually my favourite thing. That said I ADORE TAD!!!!!!!!
Phillip and Judd felt completely one-dimensional. They were so awful that it almost stopped feeling believable. Sometimes they felt less like actual people and more like plot devices whose only job was to make Ryder look even better.
I also don't understand why Thaddeus took so long to tell Ryder about his company or do something about the situation. Then, at the end, he leaves, and it's Ryder who sends the first message and thinks he should apologize? The emotional math wasn't mathing for me. I kept waiting for a bigger reckoning and a more satisfying grovel, and it never quite got there.
But... The cottage. The garden. The dachshund. The banter. The hens. And them. 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠
In the end, I was far more invested in the cottage, the garden, the hens, and the dachshund than I was in the actual drama.
Those parts absolutely got me.
June 3, 2026
To read my rundown of updates, you might think I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did.
I did! I loved so much of it. In particular…
The arc of Thad…Thaddeus…waking up and seeing more and more of the world outside his coding tunnel vision…realizing his talent and company aren’t just about the immediate satisfaction of winning a contract and doing the work, but that his creations have wider impact and repercussions beyond what he immediately sees…some of it quite negative. His “greening” is a strong metaphor for him waking up and doing better, and I loved that.
His time with Ryder, in Ryder’s beautiful, peaceful wooded garden property, gives him space to breathe, to appreciate, to wake up to the fact that the current thing he’s working on could destroy this gift of a paradise he found on one of the worst days of his life.
Let me backup.
Fantastic “meet cute” in Thad fleeing from finding out his ex (Judd) cheated on him with his lifelong best friend and co-company owner (Phillip). Instincts take him to an area connected to a current project they’re putting in a bid on, but he doesn’t really think about that when he drives through a storm, swerves to avoid—or does he hit?—a dog, and careens off a tree into a pile of. Who knows what, it’s dark, pouring, and wow, wherever he landed smells. Really. Bad.
Stumbling through darkness and rain he taks shelter in what seems to be a shed of some sort.
Ryder wakes the next day and finds a stranger curled up with his old dachshund Ziggy in his chicken shed. WTF?
Adorable confrontation…(except thing that bugged me #1—when you find out someone crashed their car into your manure pile and had to take shelter from the storm in your shed, perhaps your first question shouldn’t be oh, my god, how much damage did you do to my compost? Perhaps it should be, oh god, are you okay? Do you need a hospital, did you hit your head?!)
Things lead to Thad staying with Ryder on the beautiful farm, recovering, confiding in Ryder about his awful breakup, learning about Ryder’s of years ago, and just…being together. Breathing. Trying to ignore the simmering tension of Something Growing between them (sorry this book lends itself to gardening puns/references/metaphors…!)
Honestly at times the first half slipped into cliché and familiar territory, but, it’s well done, and despite my snarky updates, I was soon charmed. Any man who loves his chickens and dog and plants as much as Ryder does will win my heart in no time. And Thad needed someone to listen, to support with no judgment.
Too bad Thad doesn’t know Ryder and vice versa well enough to open up about more, because Thad leaves out some crucial info that he eventually realizes will majorly screw Ryder over…and it’s too late to fess up by the time he realizes he has to.
But that’s for future Thad to worry about. This is a story of two men, one in current rebound stage, one who’s quietly missed romantic companionship and love for years due to how things fell out with his own ex, getting to know each other in soft encounters, opening up and sharing things that bring them (mostly Ryder, it’s his special home) joy, and just…being together, day after day, Thad recovering emotionally, and Ryder trying not to get too involved wmotionally with another city boy (Wellington in this case) who’ll leave soon. Ryder doesn’t want Thad to take his heart when he goes.
Heh heh it’s too late probably from the time he comes home from his landscaping job/business to find Thad has worked hard all day to fix that damn manure pile.
Conflict looms with the local council insisting they won’t honor Ryder’s lease to buy land status and are going to plow a road through his property to start building the data/power center who want to have a location there, and some of the best parts are Thad, who has long avoided confrontation (hence fleeing from cheating bf and bff and doing his best to ignore their texts and having a couple fraught fuck off calls only)…point is, Thad thinks he’s weak, but for Ryder, he sits in front of a bulldozer without blinking (he may have wet his pants) to prevent work from starting, and stops a violent truck driver from doing the same later, finding something within himself that stops putting up with being walked all over, even if it’s on someone else’s behalf and not yet his own.
Then Thad starts to realize that the contract bid he’s working on is for the company who will eventually destroy Ryder’s land and force him from his home. Oh 💩.
With beautiful developing feelings and a relationship, a true seemingly insurmountable obstacle, Thad dealing with the fallout of the cheaters and figuring out how to extract himself from his company and best friend, Ryder trying and failing to protect himself from falling for this quixotic and complex man…it’s another lovely Jay Hogan story of two souls who are a wonderful complementary match falling in love and learning to do better and enjoy the gift their hearts have given them. Sigh.
Yes, yes, Things that bothered me (a LOT in some cases):
--Why the F did we need the out of nowhere breakfast discussion about Ryder and his own BFF Tap (too close to Thad, honestly, why do that?!) having fucked in the past? And after Tap body shames Ryder? Maybe that’s funny to some, or a cultural thing, but commenting on anyone’s body is just sooo two decades ago, please stopit.
--I did a search, and Ryder calls Thad that “young man” (Thad is 29!!!) 10 times and that was 10 too many. Maybe if he’d said “younger man” it wouldn’t have felt so weird. Ryder is 37. Thad has a fully formed prefrontal cortex. I started calling Ryder “Grandpa” because he was so weird about Thad’s age, it started standing out in a weird way that I didn’t get.
--there are a couple weird proofreading errors, like one of the council construction guys suddenly having a name in Thad’s POV when Thad had no way of knowing it. Minor errors I’m not used to having bump me out of a read by this author.
--The sex safety discussion, timing and importance. Right conversation, off timing. Ryder’s situation was complicated, and poignant, but Thad understands it no problem, phew. But then they Epically Fail to discuss Thad’s status at all. Thad was just cheated on. For FIVE MONTHS. Has not had an STI test. Do we not also care about his potential status? Of course they use condoms, and probably always will, but, c’mon. Even if Thad thinks Judd only cheated on him with Phillip, who knows who else Phillip’s been with and what his status is? Ryder’s story should make them both FAR more aware of this. Not ignore it entirely. WTF?
--Ryder’s friends got on my nerves. They should have been cool (stupid “we fucked once!” convo out of nowhere/not necessary notwithstanding), but instead they were those nosy pushy types who chose to push Ryder at Thad in front of Thad, who they barely know. Why embarrass Ryder and do that when they don’t even know Thad’s level of tolerance for teasing/how that will impact him? F-ing RUDE and thoughtless. I am sick of friends who push their friends to have sex with people again and again when the friends are saying hey, no, not there yet, not ready, you don’t know the circumstances. If your friend says lay off…LAY OFF. Respect them. You DON’T know best. (PSA rant over.)
--I didn’t get why Thad cared about Ryder finding out he owns his own company. Have people tried to trick Thad out of money, date him for money or something? It didn’t seem so. Hiding that seemed weird once Thad admitted he wasn’t staying because he had nowhere to go but rather appreciated the time and space away from his life to figure things out. ???
--Phillip. This guy has been Thad’s lifelong best friend and now co-owns his company. But the author chose to make him into a 2-D douchebag and not explore why on earth he would have fucked Thad’s boyfriend for months. Usually the author does much more nuanced, realistic characters, and the Judd/Phillip situation felt like it was made into a stereotype to not have to deal with them/make them throwaway characters.
--Thad’s mom. Her response to learning Judd cheated on Thad and they broke up was gross. She redeems herself later, but, I was already too put off to ever like her. I did appreciate how Thad finally confronted her and they resolved and started a better relationship though, thank you. Grown ups are good. But man that woman had a lot to answer for for the type of pressure she put on Thad before that.
--James, Ryder's ex. OF 8 YEARS ago. How often does James come up? TOO OFTEN. JFC. Ryder didn't fall into comparing them in bed, thank god, but, the refrain of James used to, James did, James wore that first...just got really, really old really fast.
But one more "I loved this" note to leave you with...that evening/night at the pond...sheer, romantic perfection. Aaah. And let's hear it for Boris the eel. 😂
Overall I enjoyed reading this book a lot, and loved loved loved the grand gesture and sacrifice that really isn’t a sacrifice but a move to a much better life at the end. Perfection. This author knows how to end-scene a book. Go Thad and Ryder! May you have many, many happy times together.
HEA. Strangers to lovers, rebound from breakup, impossible opposing goals situation for real tension and conflict. No OM action; OM drama from the appalling Phillip showing up and messing everything up and being a 2-D dick. Justice is served, but, honestly, I wish that entire situation had held more emotional weight. Safe for me! Recommended, especially if you like this author already. Nice stand alone.
I did! I loved so much of it. In particular…
The arc of Thad…Thaddeus…waking up and seeing more and more of the world outside his coding tunnel vision…realizing his talent and company aren’t just about the immediate satisfaction of winning a contract and doing the work, but that his creations have wider impact and repercussions beyond what he immediately sees…some of it quite negative. His “greening” is a strong metaphor for him waking up and doing better, and I loved that.
His time with Ryder, in Ryder’s beautiful, peaceful wooded garden property, gives him space to breathe, to appreciate, to wake up to the fact that the current thing he’s working on could destroy this gift of a paradise he found on one of the worst days of his life.
Let me backup.
Fantastic “meet cute” in Thad fleeing from finding out his ex (Judd) cheated on him with his lifelong best friend and co-company owner (Phillip). Instincts take him to an area connected to a current project they’re putting in a bid on, but he doesn’t really think about that when he drives through a storm, swerves to avoid—or does he hit?—a dog, and careens off a tree into a pile of. Who knows what, it’s dark, pouring, and wow, wherever he landed smells. Really. Bad.
Stumbling through darkness and rain he taks shelter in what seems to be a shed of some sort.
Ryder wakes the next day and finds a stranger curled up with his old dachshund Ziggy in his chicken shed. WTF?
Adorable confrontation…(except thing that bugged me #1—when you find out someone crashed their car into your manure pile and had to take shelter from the storm in your shed, perhaps your first question shouldn’t be oh, my god, how much damage did you do to my compost? Perhaps it should be, oh god, are you okay? Do you need a hospital, did you hit your head?!)
Things lead to Thad staying with Ryder on the beautiful farm, recovering, confiding in Ryder about his awful breakup, learning about Ryder’s of years ago, and just…being together. Breathing. Trying to ignore the simmering tension of Something Growing between them (sorry this book lends itself to gardening puns/references/metaphors…!)
Honestly at times the first half slipped into cliché and familiar territory, but, it’s well done, and despite my snarky updates, I was soon charmed. Any man who loves his chickens and dog and plants as much as Ryder does will win my heart in no time. And Thad needed someone to listen, to support with no judgment.
Too bad Thad doesn’t know Ryder and vice versa well enough to open up about more, because Thad leaves out some crucial info that he eventually realizes will majorly screw Ryder over…and it’s too late to fess up by the time he realizes he has to.
But that’s for future Thad to worry about. This is a story of two men, one in current rebound stage, one who’s quietly missed romantic companionship and love for years due to how things fell out with his own ex, getting to know each other in soft encounters, opening up and sharing things that bring them (mostly Ryder, it’s his special home) joy, and just…being together, day after day, Thad recovering emotionally, and Ryder trying not to get too involved wmotionally with another city boy (Wellington in this case) who’ll leave soon. Ryder doesn’t want Thad to take his heart when he goes.
Heh heh it’s too late probably from the time he comes home from his landscaping job/business to find Thad has worked hard all day to fix that damn manure pile.
Conflict looms with the local council insisting they won’t honor Ryder’s lease to buy land status and are going to plow a road through his property to start building the data/power center who want to have a location there, and some of the best parts are Thad, who has long avoided confrontation (hence fleeing from cheating bf and bff and doing his best to ignore their texts and having a couple fraught fuck off calls only)…point is, Thad thinks he’s weak, but for Ryder, he sits in front of a bulldozer without blinking (he may have wet his pants) to prevent work from starting, and stops a violent truck driver from doing the same later, finding something within himself that stops putting up with being walked all over, even if it’s on someone else’s behalf and not yet his own.
Then Thad starts to realize that the contract bid he’s working on is for the company who will eventually destroy Ryder’s land and force him from his home. Oh 💩.
With beautiful developing feelings and a relationship, a true seemingly insurmountable obstacle, Thad dealing with the fallout of the cheaters and figuring out how to extract himself from his company and best friend, Ryder trying and failing to protect himself from falling for this quixotic and complex man…it’s another lovely Jay Hogan story of two souls who are a wonderful complementary match falling in love and learning to do better and enjoy the gift their hearts have given them. Sigh.
Yes, yes, Things that bothered me (a LOT in some cases):
--Why the F did we need the out of nowhere breakfast discussion about Ryder and his own BFF Tap (too close to Thad, honestly, why do that?!) having fucked in the past? And after Tap body shames Ryder? Maybe that’s funny to some, or a cultural thing, but commenting on anyone’s body is just sooo two decades ago, please stopit.
--I did a search, and Ryder calls Thad that “young man” (Thad is 29!!!) 10 times and that was 10 too many. Maybe if he’d said “younger man” it wouldn’t have felt so weird. Ryder is 37. Thad has a fully formed prefrontal cortex. I started calling Ryder “Grandpa” because he was so weird about Thad’s age, it started standing out in a weird way that I didn’t get.
--there are a couple weird proofreading errors, like one of the council construction guys suddenly having a name in Thad’s POV when Thad had no way of knowing it. Minor errors I’m not used to having bump me out of a read by this author.
--The sex safety discussion, timing and importance. Right conversation, off timing. Ryder’s situation was complicated, and poignant, but Thad understands it no problem, phew. But then they Epically Fail to discuss Thad’s status at all. Thad was just cheated on. For FIVE MONTHS. Has not had an STI test. Do we not also care about his potential status? Of course they use condoms, and probably always will, but, c’mon. Even if Thad thinks Judd only cheated on him with Phillip, who knows who else Phillip’s been with and what his status is? Ryder’s story should make them both FAR more aware of this. Not ignore it entirely. WTF?
--Ryder’s friends got on my nerves. They should have been cool (stupid “we fucked once!” convo out of nowhere/not necessary notwithstanding), but instead they were those nosy pushy types who chose to push Ryder at Thad in front of Thad, who they barely know. Why embarrass Ryder and do that when they don’t even know Thad’s level of tolerance for teasing/how that will impact him? F-ing RUDE and thoughtless. I am sick of friends who push their friends to have sex with people again and again when the friends are saying hey, no, not there yet, not ready, you don’t know the circumstances. If your friend says lay off…LAY OFF. Respect them. You DON’T know best. (PSA rant over.)
--I didn’t get why Thad cared about Ryder finding out he owns his own company. Have people tried to trick Thad out of money, date him for money or something? It didn’t seem so. Hiding that seemed weird once Thad admitted he wasn’t staying because he had nowhere to go but rather appreciated the time and space away from his life to figure things out. ???
--Phillip. This guy has been Thad’s lifelong best friend and now co-owns his company. But the author chose to make him into a 2-D douchebag and not explore why on earth he would have fucked Thad’s boyfriend for months. Usually the author does much more nuanced, realistic characters, and the Judd/Phillip situation felt like it was made into a stereotype to not have to deal with them/make them throwaway characters.
--Thad’s mom. Her response to learning Judd cheated on Thad and they broke up was gross. She redeems herself later, but, I was already too put off to ever like her. I did appreciate how Thad finally confronted her and they resolved and started a better relationship though, thank you. Grown ups are good. But man that woman had a lot to answer for for the type of pressure she put on Thad before that.
--James, Ryder's ex. OF 8 YEARS ago. How often does James come up? TOO OFTEN. JFC. Ryder didn't fall into comparing them in bed, thank god, but, the refrain of James used to, James did, James wore that first...just got really, really old really fast.
But one more "I loved this" note to leave you with...that evening/night at the pond...sheer, romantic perfection. Aaah. And let's hear it for Boris the eel. 😂
Overall I enjoyed reading this book a lot, and loved loved loved the grand gesture and sacrifice that really isn’t a sacrifice but a move to a much better life at the end. Perfection. This author knows how to end-scene a book. Go Thad and Ryder! May you have many, many happy times together.
HEA. Strangers to lovers, rebound from breakup, impossible opposing goals situation for real tension and conflict. No OM action; OM drama from the appalling Phillip showing up and messing everything up and being a 2-D dick. Justice is served, but, honestly, I wish that entire situation had held more emotional weight. Safe for me! Recommended, especially if you like this author already. Nice stand alone.
May 30, 2026
4,25 stars
I love the titles Jay Hogan always comes up with.
Very clever. Very fitting. Very much catching my attention.
And I really enjoyed the book, too.😂
Ryder and Thad are fun together. Their banter made grin, and the budding of feelings is well done, even if the time frame for it is questionable, imo. Two weeks is a really really short time for what happens. But then … sometimes people simply click, and it works out!
These two guys try to stay away from each other so hard, it is almost comical. Thad’s lack of heart break about the end of his relationship is telling, but I felt a teeny uneasy about him jumping into something more serious with Ryder so quickly.
Ryder is the one who has more to lose, I think, particularly considering how his previous relationship went.
Both men are very likeable and relatable, and I enjoyed the heck out of them.
Yes, the plot about the Council is a bit predictable, but tbh, I didn’t care too much.
A light, fun novel by this author I like very much.
I love the titles Jay Hogan always comes up with.
Very clever. Very fitting. Very much catching my attention.
And I really enjoyed the book, too.😂
Ryder and Thad are fun together. Their banter made grin, and the budding of feelings is well done, even if the time frame for it is questionable, imo. Two weeks is a really really short time for what happens. But then … sometimes people simply click, and it works out!
These two guys try to stay away from each other so hard, it is almost comical. Thad’s lack of heart break about the end of his relationship is telling, but I felt a teeny uneasy about him jumping into something more serious with Ryder so quickly.
Ryder is the one who has more to lose, I think, particularly considering how his previous relationship went.
Both men are very likeable and relatable, and I enjoyed the heck out of them.
Yes, the plot about the Council is a bit predictable, but tbh, I didn’t care too much.
A light, fun novel by this author I like very much.
May 31, 2026
4.5 stars.
This was mostly fantastic. A lovely escapism romance about preventing the build of a data center. Fuck data centers oh my god I wasn’t sure I’d make it through this one!
There were a few things that bugged me, like the speedy timeline and the first sex scene happening after one character was in an altercation and Ryder’s dog was kicked (he was okay). Nobody checked on the poor dog and made sure he was okay and calm from the altercation. They just fucked off to fuck. All I could think about during the sex scene was poor Ziggy!
The rest was super lovely and adorable and it is always a treat to read something from a competent author.
This was mostly fantastic. A lovely escapism romance about preventing the build of a data center. Fuck data centers oh my god I wasn’t sure I’d make it through this one!
There were a few things that bugged me, like the speedy timeline and the first sex scene happening after one character was in an altercation and Ryder’s dog was kicked (he was okay). Nobody checked on the poor dog and made sure he was okay and calm from the altercation. They just fucked off to fuck. All I could think about during the sex scene was poor Ziggy!
The rest was super lovely and adorable and it is always a treat to read something from a competent author.
May 22, 2026
3.5 stars
It was the quick timeframe that I disliked the most! I don't care if it said that Thaddeus realized he wasn't completely in love with his ex-boyfriend - everything that happened between Thaddeus and Ryder in the farm happened in matter of DAYS!! In total, less than a month! I am sorry, that just ruined my mood. I guess I prefer that I could see Thaddeus regretting / grieving about the betrayal. The whole concept of quick relationship after a break-up just didn't work well for me.
Aside from that, I did enjoy the whole life on the farm. Thaddeus being a plant killer was funny considering whom he ended up falling for. There was good enough banters and conversation between the two. The side plot regarding Ryder's land was also enjoyable.
But yes, go back to that timeline which influeced my reading experience the most.
DISCLAIMER:Bought this book directly from the author's website so I got it a week early. So, no, this is NOT an advance copy whatsoever
It was the quick timeframe that I disliked the most! I don't care if it said that Thaddeus realized he wasn't completely in love with his ex-boyfriend - everything that happened between Thaddeus and Ryder in the farm happened in matter of DAYS!! In total, less than a month! I am sorry, that just ruined my mood. I guess I prefer that I could see Thaddeus regretting / grieving about the betrayal. The whole concept of quick relationship after a break-up just didn't work well for me.
Aside from that, I did enjoy the whole life on the farm. Thaddeus being a plant killer was funny considering whom he ended up falling for. There was good enough banters and conversation between the two. The side plot regarding Ryder's land was also enjoyable.
But yes, go back to that timeline which influeced my reading experience the most.
DISCLAIMER:Bought this book directly from the author's website so I got it a week early. So, no, this is NOT an advance copy whatsoever
May 24, 2026
Thaddeus is my kind of people!! Ryder is goals. Tap and Will are phenomenal as is Delia and JB is iconic.
This book is chock full of amazing characters and also some you want to kick to the curb- looking at you Judd and Philip!! I think you heart will break for Thad being surrounded by these dicks for so long - hiding away- logic planning his happiness. Mine certainly did. Ryder is also hiding in some ways after what happened 8 years ago. That’s the beautiful part these two coax each other out, aspects of themselves that need the light
The council is a worthy villain not just the two aforementioned dicks. The way our main protagonist meet is too cute. Ziggy is the star of the show. And that bulldozer scene - man I didn’t know what would happen but I wanted to cheer when the dust settled.. sorry rambled there a bit
This book has a bit of everything but is much larger than the sum of its addictive parts. Slow burn, pining, swoony, funny, meet cute, found family, small town, David and Goliath oh and did I mention there are secrets and a little mystery too and also a big FU to AI!! All in all an amazing read highly recommended!
This book is chock full of amazing characters and also some you want to kick to the curb- looking at you Judd and Philip!! I think you heart will break for Thad being surrounded by these dicks for so long - hiding away- logic planning his happiness. Mine certainly did. Ryder is also hiding in some ways after what happened 8 years ago. That’s the beautiful part these two coax each other out, aspects of themselves that need the light
The council is a worthy villain not just the two aforementioned dicks. The way our main protagonist meet is too cute. Ziggy is the star of the show. And that bulldozer scene - man I didn’t know what would happen but I wanted to cheer when the dust settled.. sorry rambled there a bit
This book has a bit of everything but is much larger than the sum of its addictive parts. Slow burn, pining, swoony, funny, meet cute, found family, small town, David and Goliath oh and did I mention there are secrets and a little mystery too and also a big FU to AI!! All in all an amazing read highly recommended!
Read
June 1, 2026DNF at ~25%. Everyone is too…nice. There are challenges happening to our MCs, but the dilemmas are pretty clear cut—the bad guys do shitty things, and our MCs are the wronged and innocent parties. The attraction between the MCs is clear, and their personalities compatible.
On the plus side, it’s well written and the setting is lovely. I would love to be out in the woods with someone who has an amazing garden and a sweet dog.
If you want an easy, angst free read, I’d definitely recommend this book. If you’re a slightly twisted soul like myself and want things to be more complicated for your MCs, it’s maybe not for you. There are some authors I don’t read anymore because of how easy the road to relationship is between the MCs. Unfortunately, I’ve been reading romance prolifically for so many years and not keeping track of what I read for most of them, so I don’t necessarily remember who they are.
On the plus side, it’s well written and the setting is lovely. I would love to be out in the woods with someone who has an amazing garden and a sweet dog.
If you want an easy, angst free read, I’d definitely recommend this book. If you’re a slightly twisted soul like myself and want things to be more complicated for your MCs, it’s maybe not for you. There are some authors I don’t read anymore because of how easy the road to relationship is between the MCs. Unfortunately, I’ve been reading romance prolifically for so many years and not keeping track of what I read for most of them, so I don’t necessarily remember who they are.
May 25, 2026
I would put this at 3.5 stars. Although I am a fan of Jay Hogan, I haven't read one of her books in a while. Her writing is very smooth, her characterizations are excellent, and this was the case in The Greening of Thaddeus Grey. However, I had several quibbles. For anyone familiar with romance novels, this plot was very predictable, right up until the very end. The entire relationship also moved very fast - in about 2 months, Thad went from having a live-in boyfriend that he was considering marrying to living with someone else completely! I also presume from the title that this is Jay Hogan's "ecological" book. Although it wasn't terribly in-your-face, it was very much a book about learning to appreciate, value and save the natural world. Thad's decision about his work and role in conservation felt like a major and abrupt about-face. Jay Hogan is such a good author that I don't regret reading the book but it is not one that I would recommend to someone new to her work.
May 27, 2026
Thaddeus • Ryder
….
“Being in the cottage felt good. It felt safe. And it felt oddly right.”
….
Oh this story. It had a bit of everything I love while picking up a book. A meet cute you’ll remember, a slow burn that’s done so right, pining, so much delicious pining, a found family and finding solace.
After a disaster of a message from his best friend, involving his boyfriend, betrayed by the two most important people in his life - Thaddeus runs away - doing a legendary of all runs - which makes him end up in another disaster that leads him in a place he never should end up in but turned out to be his savior, his freedom, his new self, his solace. His Ryder.
The Greening Of Thaddeus Grey is a love story about trusting again, being vulnerable and giving life a chance to bloom like the gardens… like gardens need sunshine, water, nutrient-rich soil and seedlings - love needs warmth, purpose, trust, communication, respect, commitment - active nourishment… like Ryder needed a Thad in his life, Thad needed to be loved and understood by Ryder.
Maybe this story might feel like another book but I love, love. This book is filled with pages and words of love. Once again I was proven, some things happen for us to grow.
….
“So yes, overall, Thaddeus Grey was pretty much my kryptonite, which should be enough on its own to set all my alarm bells ringing.” // “Being in the cottage felt good. It felt safe. And it felt oddly right.” // “Like that’s not patently obvious already. You’re a wicked temptation… Something I believe you’re well aware of.” // “I never looked around. Never listened. Never stopped. It was something I’d noticed about Ryder in the short time I’d been at the cottage. He often stopped whatever he was doing to pay attention to something that I’d missed.” // “His arms encircled my waist, his hard-muscled body wrapping around mine until all I could feel was him, Ryder, the world beginning and ending with his flesh burning against mine, every nerve in my body bursting into flame.” // “I’d pulled my pillow against my chest and decided it had been the best Sunday I’d spent in a long time…” // “Home. I wasn’t sure what the word meant anymore…” // “I felt like two different men. The man I was before Ryder and the man I was becoming after.” …
….
*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
….
….
“Being in the cottage felt good. It felt safe. And it felt oddly right.”
….
Oh this story. It had a bit of everything I love while picking up a book. A meet cute you’ll remember, a slow burn that’s done so right, pining, so much delicious pining, a found family and finding solace.
After a disaster of a message from his best friend, involving his boyfriend, betrayed by the two most important people in his life - Thaddeus runs away - doing a legendary of all runs - which makes him end up in another disaster that leads him in a place he never should end up in but turned out to be his savior, his freedom, his new self, his solace. His Ryder.
The Greening Of Thaddeus Grey is a love story about trusting again, being vulnerable and giving life a chance to bloom like the gardens… like gardens need sunshine, water, nutrient-rich soil and seedlings - love needs warmth, purpose, trust, communication, respect, commitment - active nourishment… like Ryder needed a Thad in his life, Thad needed to be loved and understood by Ryder.
Maybe this story might feel like another book but I love, love. This book is filled with pages and words of love. Once again I was proven, some things happen for us to grow.
….
“So yes, overall, Thaddeus Grey was pretty much my kryptonite, which should be enough on its own to set all my alarm bells ringing.” // “Being in the cottage felt good. It felt safe. And it felt oddly right.” // “Like that’s not patently obvious already. You’re a wicked temptation… Something I believe you’re well aware of.” // “I never looked around. Never listened. Never stopped. It was something I’d noticed about Ryder in the short time I’d been at the cottage. He often stopped whatever he was doing to pay attention to something that I’d missed.” // “His arms encircled my waist, his hard-muscled body wrapping around mine until all I could feel was him, Ryder, the world beginning and ending with his flesh burning against mine, every nerve in my body bursting into flame.” // “I’d pulled my pillow against my chest and decided it had been the best Sunday I’d spent in a long time…” // “Home. I wasn’t sure what the word meant anymore…” // “I felt like two different men. The man I was before Ryder and the man I was becoming after.” …
….
*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
….
May 26, 2026
Well what can I say but that The Greening of Thaddeus Grey is a beautiful story?
It’s all about recovery and growth after a bitter betrayal, of learning to trust again. It’s about resetting your life and re-prioritising what is important to you. It’s about found family, and honesty with biological family. It’s about those quiet moments with just the birds and Boris for company. It’s about the healing of those quiet moments, of solid support, a miniature Daschund and the role of a ghost dog in setting you on your path. It’s about fate, love, and second chances at life.
Highly Recommended!
It’s all about recovery and growth after a bitter betrayal, of learning to trust again. It’s about resetting your life and re-prioritising what is important to you. It’s about found family, and honesty with biological family. It’s about those quiet moments with just the birds and Boris for company. It’s about the healing of those quiet moments, of solid support, a miniature Daschund and the role of a ghost dog in setting you on your path. It’s about fate, love, and second chances at life.
Highly Recommended!
May 26, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
This is a standalone book from author Jay Hogan as Thad crashes into Ryder’s life. Thad couldn’t honestly say he was completely happy with his life and his relationship, but he had a successful business and his mother was happy with him. He’s devastated by the betrayal and, as he works with both his now ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, he has a lot to figure out.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
This is a standalone book from author Jay Hogan as Thad crashes into Ryder’s life. Thad couldn’t honestly say he was completely happy with his life and his relationship, but he had a successful business and his mother was happy with him. He’s devastated by the betrayal and, as he works with both his now ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, he has a lot to figure out.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
May 24, 2026
Thad finds his reason for moving forward in his life after the storm bring him to his fated soul mate after the horrible events with his Ex and his business partner. Secrets or the lack of telling of all the information puts Thad and Ryder’s relationship on rock ground near the ending, which Thad corrects in a fantastic finish for an HEA.
My Full Blog Review Link
*I received an Advance Reader copy and this is my honest thoughts.
My Full Blog Review Link
*I received an Advance Reader copy and this is my honest thoughts.
May 24, 2026
i especially enjoyed the middle
Read
May 25, 2026I too wish to run away to the forest with a sexy landscaper and a dachshund.
May 26, 2026
A romance pur sang! Reading a story by this author never ever disappoints!
The characters are real, mature, flawed, funny, with scars from life on their souls.
The scenery is so wonderful. The conversations were more than great! The flirting and intimacy are just downright enthralling.
Ryder and Thaddeus’ story had just everything I could ask for in a romance!
In short, it was a well-developed romance, after my own heart!
The characters are real, mature, flawed, funny, with scars from life on their souls.
The scenery is so wonderful. The conversations were more than great! The flirting and intimacy are just downright enthralling.
Ryder and Thaddeus’ story had just everything I could ask for in a romance!
In short, it was a well-developed romance, after my own heart!
Review of advance copy received from Author
B+ / 4.5 stars
The Greening of Thaddeus Gray is a new, standalone contemporary romance from Jay Hogan, a low angst but heartfelt opposites-attract romance with country-boy/city-boy vibes about finding yourself (and finding love) in unexpected places, about the need to be true to oneself, to actively live life rather than just letting things happen, and to face problems rather than running from them.
Software designer Thaddeus Grey runs a successful business with Philip, his best friend since childhood. They’re a good fit – Thad may be a genius with coding but he’s not so good with the more social side of the business (he prefers to just keep his head down and get the job done), whereas Philip is charming and outgoing and the kind of guy who could sell a fridge to an Eskimo, so their partnership works well. Until the morning a wrongly-addressed text shatters everything and reveals that Philip and Thad’s long-term boyfriend, Judd, have been having an affair. Furious and devastated by hurt and betrayal, Thad immediately tells Judd to clear out of his apartment and then just gets in his car and drives. He has no real destination in mind, he just needs to get out of the city to avoid his apartment and office and all the questions he knows will be incoming from friends, family and colleagues.
In increasingly bad weather conditions, Thad finds himself driving up a winding road in the Remutaka Hills and realises, after an almost-collision with a truck, that he needs to stop and wait out the storm. Having located the nearest stopping place, he’s heading down the muddy lane towards it when something – a dog maybe? – darts out in front of his car; slamming on the brakes causes the car to skid and start sliding down a slick slope before it hits a tree, spins around and then hits something that stops it dead in its tracks. Shaken but uninjured, Thad decides to look for the animal to check on it, simultaneously worried that he might have killed it and angry that its owner would have left it out in such awful conditions. He doesn’t find anything and heads back to his car, knowing the sensible thing would be to call a tow truck and just sit and wait for it. But this is clearly not a day for being sensible; Thad starts walking (or stumbling) through the mud until he comes across an old shed with a metal roof, full of gardening equipment and… chickens. Hunkering down on some straw bales for the night, he decides he’ll call for the tow truck in the morning.
Landscaper Ryder Nelson lives in a small cottage amid several hectares of beautifully landscaped garden ‘rooms’ with his excitable dachshund, Ziggy, and his chickens and, mostly, only himself for company. On this particular morning, he’s just started to make breakfast when he realises Ziggy hasn’t come back from his morning ramble and sets off to find him. He makes his way through his gardens and eventually arrives at the chicken shed where he finds not only Ziggy, but Ziggy comfortably curled up with a bedraggled (but good-looking) stranger who appears to have spent the night there. Angry at finding a trespasser on his property, Ryder proceeds to tear the guy off a strip – but calms down when he realises how rude he’s being and allows the man to explain how he’s come to be in Ryder’s chicken shed. After Thaddeus explains the way his life just imploded, Ryder can’t help but think what a miserable time of it he must’ve had and invites him to the house for breakfast and to clean up.
Over breakfast with Ryder and his friend and colleague, Tap, Thad learns about about the dispute he’s engaged in with the local council; they want to give planning permission to a large tech company to build a data centre on the land that adjoins his, but Ryder’s house and gardens are in the way. A legal battle is currently underway, but if the scheme gets the green light, Ryder will lose his home. But it’s only after an antagonistic visit from some council workers that Thad realises what a mess he’s landed himself in. His own company is bidding on the software contract for the data centre – and he’s going to need to win it if he’s to be able to be free of Philip, by either buying him out or selling his own shares and starting up anew.
Thaddeus and Ryder’s romance develops over a relatively short space of time (around three weeks), but there’s the feel of a slow-burn with the chemistry fizzing right from the start, and the relationship develops at a sensible pace and is so well done that it doesn’t feel rushed. Thaddeus experiences the most character growth in the story; he’s spent so much of his life trying to be someone he’s not, doing things to make other people happy while pushing his own wants and needs aside - even trying to forget he has them - and the time he spends holed up at Ryder’s place gives him the necessary breathing space to be able to realise that he’s been running away from life and to work out how to be the person he really wants to be. Recalling that Judd had called him ‘emotionally unavailable’ as a partner, Thad finally realises that he’d been just as emotionally unavailable to himself, unwilling to face up to things because that would mean having to do something about them. Being around Ryder, who really sees him and likes what he sees, gives Thaddeus the push he needs to start looking at and thinking of himself differently, to realise that much as he loves the kind of work he does, it’s not as fulfilling as it once was, and that he needs to make some changes there, too.
Ryder’s last serious relationship ended seven years earlier when the man he’d thought he’d spend his life with just up and left and moved to Europe to be with someone else. It hurt, but Ryder has been okay on his own, happy in his home and his work, and hasn’t really wanted anyone else in his life until Thad came along to remind him what desire felt like. Both Thad and Ryder have been called too work-focused and unsociable – when what they both want is a home and someone to come home to.
The story is pretty low angst with most of the conflict coming from external pressures, and while readers can see the crisis moment coming a mile off, the author handles it really well. Such moments can feel overly contrived, but that’s not the case here because Thad’s situation – torn between a job that will pay him enough to make a fresh start and ditching the project that is threatening Ryder’s home and the local environment - is very believable. Perhaps he hides the truth for too long, but even that makes some sense given he and Ryder have only just met, their connection is in the very early stages and neither of them yet knows what they’re going to be to each other.
The Greening of Thaddeus Grey is another very entertaining read from the always-reliable Jay Hogan. As with all her books, she does a great job with the setting – here it’s around the Remutaka Hills near Wellington - her trademark snark and humour always works for me, the characters – leads and supporting cast – are vivid and three-dimensional, and the central romance is sexy, funny, poignant and nicely done. The author’s fans will need no urging to pick this one up, and if you haven’t read Jay Hogan’s contemporary romances before, this might be a good place to start.
The Greening of Thaddeus Gray is a new, standalone contemporary romance from Jay Hogan, a low angst but heartfelt opposites-attract romance with country-boy/city-boy vibes about finding yourself (and finding love) in unexpected places, about the need to be true to oneself, to actively live life rather than just letting things happen, and to face problems rather than running from them.
Software designer Thaddeus Grey runs a successful business with Philip, his best friend since childhood. They’re a good fit – Thad may be a genius with coding but he’s not so good with the more social side of the business (he prefers to just keep his head down and get the job done), whereas Philip is charming and outgoing and the kind of guy who could sell a fridge to an Eskimo, so their partnership works well. Until the morning a wrongly-addressed text shatters everything and reveals that Philip and Thad’s long-term boyfriend, Judd, have been having an affair. Furious and devastated by hurt and betrayal, Thad immediately tells Judd to clear out of his apartment and then just gets in his car and drives. He has no real destination in mind, he just needs to get out of the city to avoid his apartment and office and all the questions he knows will be incoming from friends, family and colleagues.
In increasingly bad weather conditions, Thad finds himself driving up a winding road in the Remutaka Hills and realises, after an almost-collision with a truck, that he needs to stop and wait out the storm. Having located the nearest stopping place, he’s heading down the muddy lane towards it when something – a dog maybe? – darts out in front of his car; slamming on the brakes causes the car to skid and start sliding down a slick slope before it hits a tree, spins around and then hits something that stops it dead in its tracks. Shaken but uninjured, Thad decides to look for the animal to check on it, simultaneously worried that he might have killed it and angry that its owner would have left it out in such awful conditions. He doesn’t find anything and heads back to his car, knowing the sensible thing would be to call a tow truck and just sit and wait for it. But this is clearly not a day for being sensible; Thad starts walking (or stumbling) through the mud until he comes across an old shed with a metal roof, full of gardening equipment and… chickens. Hunkering down on some straw bales for the night, he decides he’ll call for the tow truck in the morning.
Landscaper Ryder Nelson lives in a small cottage amid several hectares of beautifully landscaped garden ‘rooms’ with his excitable dachshund, Ziggy, and his chickens and, mostly, only himself for company. On this particular morning, he’s just started to make breakfast when he realises Ziggy hasn’t come back from his morning ramble and sets off to find him. He makes his way through his gardens and eventually arrives at the chicken shed where he finds not only Ziggy, but Ziggy comfortably curled up with a bedraggled (but good-looking) stranger who appears to have spent the night there. Angry at finding a trespasser on his property, Ryder proceeds to tear the guy off a strip – but calms down when he realises how rude he’s being and allows the man to explain how he’s come to be in Ryder’s chicken shed. After Thaddeus explains the way his life just imploded, Ryder can’t help but think what a miserable time of it he must’ve had and invites him to the house for breakfast and to clean up.
Over breakfast with Ryder and his friend and colleague, Tap, Thad learns about about the dispute he’s engaged in with the local council; they want to give planning permission to a large tech company to build a data centre on the land that adjoins his, but Ryder’s house and gardens are in the way. A legal battle is currently underway, but if the scheme gets the green light, Ryder will lose his home. But it’s only after an antagonistic visit from some council workers that Thad realises what a mess he’s landed himself in. His own company is bidding on the software contract for the data centre – and he’s going to need to win it if he’s to be able to be free of Philip, by either buying him out or selling his own shares and starting up anew.
Thaddeus and Ryder’s romance develops over a relatively short space of time (around three weeks), but there’s the feel of a slow-burn with the chemistry fizzing right from the start, and the relationship develops at a sensible pace and is so well done that it doesn’t feel rushed. Thaddeus experiences the most character growth in the story; he’s spent so much of his life trying to be someone he’s not, doing things to make other people happy while pushing his own wants and needs aside - even trying to forget he has them - and the time he spends holed up at Ryder’s place gives him the necessary breathing space to be able to realise that he’s been running away from life and to work out how to be the person he really wants to be. Recalling that Judd had called him ‘emotionally unavailable’ as a partner, Thad finally realises that he’d been just as emotionally unavailable to himself, unwilling to face up to things because that would mean having to do something about them. Being around Ryder, who really sees him and likes what he sees, gives Thaddeus the push he needs to start looking at and thinking of himself differently, to realise that much as he loves the kind of work he does, it’s not as fulfilling as it once was, and that he needs to make some changes there, too.
Ryder’s last serious relationship ended seven years earlier when the man he’d thought he’d spend his life with just up and left and moved to Europe to be with someone else. It hurt, but Ryder has been okay on his own, happy in his home and his work, and hasn’t really wanted anyone else in his life until Thad came along to remind him what desire felt like. Both Thad and Ryder have been called too work-focused and unsociable – when what they both want is a home and someone to come home to.
The story is pretty low angst with most of the conflict coming from external pressures, and while readers can see the crisis moment coming a mile off, the author handles it really well. Such moments can feel overly contrived, but that’s not the case here because Thad’s situation – torn between a job that will pay him enough to make a fresh start and ditching the project that is threatening Ryder’s home and the local environment - is very believable. Perhaps he hides the truth for too long, but even that makes some sense given he and Ryder have only just met, their connection is in the very early stages and neither of them yet knows what they’re going to be to each other.
The Greening of Thaddeus Grey is another very entertaining read from the always-reliable Jay Hogan. As with all her books, she does a great job with the setting – here it’s around the Remutaka Hills near Wellington - her trademark snark and humour always works for me, the characters – leads and supporting cast – are vivid and three-dimensional, and the central romance is sexy, funny, poignant and nicely done. The author’s fans will need no urging to pick this one up, and if you haven’t read Jay Hogan’s contemporary romances before, this might be a good place to start.
May 23, 2026
The Greening of Thaddeus Grey by Jay Hogan is a romance that will tug on your heart strings . I loved so much about this one ! Thaddeus goes through such wonderful character growth . Everything about Ryder 🥰 his love of his flowers, his sweet pup, his gentleness and patience , and his best friend. I loved the slow burn between them , the banter in and out of the bedroom , their domestic moments, and even though their connection was fast the feelings were believable
Favorite Quotes:
Favorite Quotes:
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 stars
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Jay Hogan and I definitely missed her writing. I loved all about this book: the romance, the main and side characters, the setting, it was that kind of story that you miss as soon as it’s over and you’re left wondering what happened to the MCs next.
Thaddeus lives a simple life: he works a lot and he loves that he can do the job of his dreams, he’s successful and runs his own company, he has a best friend, Phillip, who’s been his ride or die for years. He could do better in the boyfriend department, since he and Judd are not exactly the best match (Thad is a loner while Judd is a social butterfly) but he doesn’t complain.
Until he received a text from Phillip that was clearly meant for Judd and he realises that they were having a five months long affair.
Thad’s world implodes: he kicks Judd out of his apartment, cuts ties with Phillip, hops in his car and drives away until he gets stranded in the middle of nowhere and spends the night in a chicken shed.
Ryder is a landscaper, he manages his own business and he, like Thad, lives a simple life (except that Ryder’s partner, the dachshund Ziggy, is a much better company than Judd!). Ryder has serious problems with the council regarding the land he’s renting and he’s seriously at risk of losing it.
Despite his own problems, Ryder immediately becomes Thaddeus’ safe place, he gives him the serenity and the peace to breathe and reflect on his next moves.
But Ryder doesn’t know that Thad’s internal turmoil is much bigger than getting over his friend and his boyfriend’s betrayal: in fact, it turns out that the proposal Thad was working on, the big project that could land him a lot of money and push Phillip out of his life, it’s a project that will assure the Company that’s threatening Ryder’s land to thrive and destroy the environment.
I liked very much how the author handled Thad’s conflict: I found it perfectly believable that he was torn between protecting his company and saving Ryder’s home, because the foundations of their connection are new and fragile and both of them seem to live very different lives and how will it work? Too many variables to consider during the day, especially because Ryder has his own difficulties in believing that a city boy like Thaddeus could enjoy a simple life in the countryside.
But the nights spent in Ryder’s bed have a strong pull on both of them: shutting the world out while snuggling and cuddling with Ziggy sleeping at their feet, that looks like heaven.
The physical scenes were highly intimate and it was clear from the first time they had sex that there wasn’t anything casual between them and that strong feelings were very much involved. I think that all that came next for them was necessary to the development of their relationship, even if it hurt.
I absolutely have to mention Tap, one of the best side characters ever! I hope the author will consider giving him at least a novella because he and his boyfriend’s story needs to be told!
And I found oh so very satisfying how Phillip and Judd’s lives turned out to be: finally a story where the villains get their rewards.
Lastly, the epilogue is perfection and I loved how Thad and his mom’s relationship improved with time.
This was a wonderful story, surely one of the best reads of this year.
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow and this is my honest review.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Jay Hogan and I definitely missed her writing. I loved all about this book: the romance, the main and side characters, the setting, it was that kind of story that you miss as soon as it’s over and you’re left wondering what happened to the MCs next.
Thaddeus lives a simple life: he works a lot and he loves that he can do the job of his dreams, he’s successful and runs his own company, he has a best friend, Phillip, who’s been his ride or die for years. He could do better in the boyfriend department, since he and Judd are not exactly the best match (Thad is a loner while Judd is a social butterfly) but he doesn’t complain.
Until he received a text from Phillip that was clearly meant for Judd and he realises that they were having a five months long affair.
Thad’s world implodes: he kicks Judd out of his apartment, cuts ties with Phillip, hops in his car and drives away until he gets stranded in the middle of nowhere and spends the night in a chicken shed.
Ryder is a landscaper, he manages his own business and he, like Thad, lives a simple life (except that Ryder’s partner, the dachshund Ziggy, is a much better company than Judd!). Ryder has serious problems with the council regarding the land he’s renting and he’s seriously at risk of losing it.
Despite his own problems, Ryder immediately becomes Thaddeus’ safe place, he gives him the serenity and the peace to breathe and reflect on his next moves.
But Ryder doesn’t know that Thad’s internal turmoil is much bigger than getting over his friend and his boyfriend’s betrayal: in fact, it turns out that the proposal Thad was working on, the big project that could land him a lot of money and push Phillip out of his life, it’s a project that will assure the Company that’s threatening Ryder’s land to thrive and destroy the environment.
I liked very much how the author handled Thad’s conflict: I found it perfectly believable that he was torn between protecting his company and saving Ryder’s home, because the foundations of their connection are new and fragile and both of them seem to live very different lives and how will it work? Too many variables to consider during the day, especially because Ryder has his own difficulties in believing that a city boy like Thaddeus could enjoy a simple life in the countryside.
But the nights spent in Ryder’s bed have a strong pull on both of them: shutting the world out while snuggling and cuddling with Ziggy sleeping at their feet, that looks like heaven.
The physical scenes were highly intimate and it was clear from the first time they had sex that there wasn’t anything casual between them and that strong feelings were very much involved. I think that all that came next for them was necessary to the development of their relationship, even if it hurt.
I absolutely have to mention Tap, one of the best side characters ever! I hope the author will consider giving him at least a novella because he and his boyfriend’s story needs to be told!
And I found oh so very satisfying how Phillip and Judd’s lives turned out to be: finally a story where the villains get their rewards.
Lastly, the epilogue is perfection and I loved how Thad and his mom’s relationship improved with time.
This was a wonderful story, surely one of the best reads of this year.
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 stars for this bingeable, swoony romance!
Jay Hogan NEVER MISSES for me. She is one of my all-time favorite authors, and the minute I saw the blurb for this one, I have been dying to read it. And it was everything I had hoped for!
I saw some comps comparing it to a few other MM romances, but the one that kept coming to my mind over and over again as I was reading was "How To Say I Do" by Tal Bauer. Thaddeus and Ryder gave me some massive Wyatt and Noel vibes-- and that is a massive compliment, considering HTSID is one of my favorite romances.
Thaddeus is having a BAD, BAD DAY. The worst kind- the kind where you find out your boyfriend is cheating on you with your best friend. The best friend that you co-own your company with. So yeah, pretty much the WORST DAY OF ALL DAYS. He pulls a legendary-style runner, and takes off in a rainstorm, crashing his car into the side of a forest in nothing other than... a GIANT COMPOST HEAP. Bad day, indeed.
I really, really love an "opposites attract" kind of romance. Thaddeus, who is a twinky tech geek, has never been the outdoorsy kind of guy. Ryder, who finds the poor Thad on his property the morning after, is the MOST OUTDOORSY GUY you can imagine. He lives for his plants- his entire property is the work of his heart's calling- landscaping, cultivating gardens, growing rare and exotic flowers, raising animals, tending to birds. This man is one with nature. And he looks like a lumberjack dream, with the long blond hair and beard to boot. SWOOOOOOON.
"I was living with f*cking Doctor Dolittle."
The storyline isn't anything super unique, but it is seriously entertaining. I couldn't put the book down after I started- I ended up binging it over the course of one day. I was giggling at Thaddeus' predicament, totally enthralled by the landscape/environment at Ryder's cottage, and head over heels for Ryder himself.
The cast of supporting characters here was a lot of fun too-- from Ziggy the dog, Myrtle the sassy chicken, Delia the rich ole bat with a heart of gold, to ALL of Ryder's meddling family and friends-- they were just written so well, and I had such a great time immersing myself into this world for the past day. I could not have asked for a better way to spend my time.
The romance itself was so delicious- we have some push/pull happening as both men are going through past trauma (in Thad's case- VERY RECENT PAST TRAUMA-) and we are absolutely reading this knowing there will be a third act drama coming for us. Jay set this story up so we know this is coming- it is no surprise- and while many readers hate that in a book, in this case it was PERFECTLY DONE-- it needed to be there in order to set up the grand gesture of all gestures that takes place at the end.
I would endure any and all third-act drama to read about the epic and swoony way things were made right. It was so sweet, so perfect- I could picture it playing out as a movie in my mind.
Bravo, Jay Hogan- another banger from you to add to my collection! This is not one you will want to miss!
Jay Hogan NEVER MISSES for me. She is one of my all-time favorite authors, and the minute I saw the blurb for this one, I have been dying to read it. And it was everything I had hoped for!
I saw some comps comparing it to a few other MM romances, but the one that kept coming to my mind over and over again as I was reading was "How To Say I Do" by Tal Bauer. Thaddeus and Ryder gave me some massive Wyatt and Noel vibes-- and that is a massive compliment, considering HTSID is one of my favorite romances.
Thaddeus is having a BAD, BAD DAY. The worst kind- the kind where you find out your boyfriend is cheating on you with your best friend. The best friend that you co-own your company with. So yeah, pretty much the WORST DAY OF ALL DAYS. He pulls a legendary-style runner, and takes off in a rainstorm, crashing his car into the side of a forest in nothing other than... a GIANT COMPOST HEAP. Bad day, indeed.
I really, really love an "opposites attract" kind of romance. Thaddeus, who is a twinky tech geek, has never been the outdoorsy kind of guy. Ryder, who finds the poor Thad on his property the morning after, is the MOST OUTDOORSY GUY you can imagine. He lives for his plants- his entire property is the work of his heart's calling- landscaping, cultivating gardens, growing rare and exotic flowers, raising animals, tending to birds. This man is one with nature. And he looks like a lumberjack dream, with the long blond hair and beard to boot. SWOOOOOOON.
"I was living with f*cking Doctor Dolittle."
The storyline isn't anything super unique, but it is seriously entertaining. I couldn't put the book down after I started- I ended up binging it over the course of one day. I was giggling at Thaddeus' predicament, totally enthralled by the landscape/environment at Ryder's cottage, and head over heels for Ryder himself.
The cast of supporting characters here was a lot of fun too-- from Ziggy the dog, Myrtle the sassy chicken, Delia the rich ole bat with a heart of gold, to ALL of Ryder's meddling family and friends-- they were just written so well, and I had such a great time immersing myself into this world for the past day. I could not have asked for a better way to spend my time.
The romance itself was so delicious- we have some push/pull happening as both men are going through past trauma (in Thad's case- VERY RECENT PAST TRAUMA-) and we are absolutely reading this knowing there will be a third act drama coming for us. Jay set this story up so we know this is coming- it is no surprise- and while many readers hate that in a book, in this case it was PERFECTLY DONE-- it needed to be there in order to set up the grand gesture of all gestures that takes place at the end.
I would endure any and all third-act drama to read about the epic and swoony way things were made right. It was so sweet, so perfect- I could picture it playing out as a movie in my mind.
Bravo, Jay Hogan- another banger from you to add to my collection! This is not one you will want to miss!
May 22, 2026
THE GREENING OF THADDEUS GREY – JAY HOGAN
This was an interesting read. I have only read one series by Jay Hogan and enjoyed it a lot, but I knew what to expect, this time I did not.
Thaddeus Grey was having an awful day. When you find out your boyfriend is cheating on you with your best friend, what is the protocol. Thaddeus kicked the boyfriend out of his apartment, got into his car and drove out of the city. Which in itself would not have been bad, but then the weather took a turn for the awful, and he ended up missing his turn and crashing into a pile of manure after turning the wheel too sharp to avoid an animal in the road. After making sure he was not hurt, he grabbed his briefcase from his car and walked towards what ended up being some type of garden shed, where he took shelter for the night.
The next morning, Ryder is making breakfast and realizes his dog Ziggy has not returned from his morning walkabout, so he sets off to find him and discovers Thaddeus in the shed with Ziggy keeping him company. After starting off with an attitude at finding a stranger in his midst along with his dog, Ryder apologizes and lets Ryder explain how he ended up there. Ryder excuses his poor manners and invites Thad to his house for breakfast before he decides what his next step will be. Thad is amazed to discover the beautiful garden and the fact that Ryder appears to be the landscaper who designed it. When Tap arrives to pick up Ryder to head to their job for the day, he is thrilled to discover Thad and cannot help but cause a bit of mischief. Once he hears the reason for the vehicle in the manure heap, and what a bad day Thad had, he encourages Ryder to invite him to stay a few days.
Unfortunately, a bit of drama begins before the guys leave in the form of a bulldozer sent by the council to try and take over part of Ryder’s land. The men work together to get a reprieve, and Ryder’s attorney is trying to get the paperwork needed to delay their work order. Thad gets pulled in, and manages to get the driver to back down, and eventually leave, but he realizes this location is where the proposed data center is supposed to be built that his software company is going to be bidding on. Instead of admitting this to Ryder, Thad keeps the information to himself and continues to offer his help in fighting the council.
There are a lot of wonderful scenery descriptions, and fantastic side characters in addition to Tap that will make you laugh out loud. And you will be taken on a journey with Thad and Ryder as they discover what is important in their lives, and how to let go of memories that are holding them back from the love they know they can eventually have together. It is considered a slow burn romance, with some angst and humor along the way, but it is very heartwarming as well and this author is a must read.
This was an interesting read. I have only read one series by Jay Hogan and enjoyed it a lot, but I knew what to expect, this time I did not.
Thaddeus Grey was having an awful day. When you find out your boyfriend is cheating on you with your best friend, what is the protocol. Thaddeus kicked the boyfriend out of his apartment, got into his car and drove out of the city. Which in itself would not have been bad, but then the weather took a turn for the awful, and he ended up missing his turn and crashing into a pile of manure after turning the wheel too sharp to avoid an animal in the road. After making sure he was not hurt, he grabbed his briefcase from his car and walked towards what ended up being some type of garden shed, where he took shelter for the night.
The next morning, Ryder is making breakfast and realizes his dog Ziggy has not returned from his morning walkabout, so he sets off to find him and discovers Thaddeus in the shed with Ziggy keeping him company. After starting off with an attitude at finding a stranger in his midst along with his dog, Ryder apologizes and lets Ryder explain how he ended up there. Ryder excuses his poor manners and invites Thad to his house for breakfast before he decides what his next step will be. Thad is amazed to discover the beautiful garden and the fact that Ryder appears to be the landscaper who designed it. When Tap arrives to pick up Ryder to head to their job for the day, he is thrilled to discover Thad and cannot help but cause a bit of mischief. Once he hears the reason for the vehicle in the manure heap, and what a bad day Thad had, he encourages Ryder to invite him to stay a few days.
Unfortunately, a bit of drama begins before the guys leave in the form of a bulldozer sent by the council to try and take over part of Ryder’s land. The men work together to get a reprieve, and Ryder’s attorney is trying to get the paperwork needed to delay their work order. Thad gets pulled in, and manages to get the driver to back down, and eventually leave, but he realizes this location is where the proposed data center is supposed to be built that his software company is going to be bidding on. Instead of admitting this to Ryder, Thad keeps the information to himself and continues to offer his help in fighting the council.
There are a lot of wonderful scenery descriptions, and fantastic side characters in addition to Tap that will make you laugh out loud. And you will be taken on a journey with Thad and Ryder as they discover what is important in their lives, and how to let go of memories that are holding them back from the love they know they can eventually have together. It is considered a slow burn romance, with some angst and humor along the way, but it is very heartwarming as well and this author is a must read.
May 22, 2026
Sunshine streams through “The Greening of Thaddeus Grey,” even though it follows a well-worn trope. Why does Jay Hogan’s novel flower, while other versions wither?
I was immediately dragged into the peril of an unknown forest road in a thunderstorm at night, as Thaddeus flees his humiliating circumstances. That morning a mis-directed text had revealed an affair between his life-long bestie and his partner, a fact that endangers their joint business venture. The next morning when soon-to-be love interest, Ryder discovers Thaddeus in his chicken coop, their interchange sparkles as comedy relief. But Thaddeus holds a secret, which would harm Ryder’s business. Except, the men fill one another’s empty spaces. The repeated pairing of light and shadow keeps tension simmering.
In Ms. Hogan’s creative hands, nature shines as its own character, one who seduces Thaddeus as thoroughly as Ryder. “As I took in the thundering space, an excited thrill ran up my spine. The energy was exhilarating, and it wasn’t long before I noticed a strange hum running through my body. I set my palm on the stone beside my hip, my eyes widening at the power of the river’s current passing through it like a shallow tremor. Passing through me.” The prose shimmers.
Told from both men’s POV, each man’s insights into the other reflect back on both of them. Ryder thinks of Thaddeus, “His life felt incredibly top-heavy with work, an anxiety to please and not much else, and yet, in the three days I’d known him, he’d shown himself to be much more than that. It felt almost like his work was the stopper in a bottle that was ready to explode, but not in a bad way. Because the really good stuff was fizzing beneath.” The observation illuminates because it is equally true for Ryder. And don’t most happy couples share parallel traits?
As Ryder avoids pressuring Thaddeus, whose while life is in tumult, Ms. Hogan shows how acceptance feeds love. “I’m not asking for anything from you right now. I’m just hoping you’ll keep the door open.” That’s when I knew these two men could make it together, because their circumstances might be overwhelming, but they offered one another freedom to find their own ways.
Fully formed side characters, come and go, leaving the story to Ryder and Thaddeus, while inching their romantic progress forward, and offering many smiles along the way. Ms. Hogan demonstrates deep understanding of mankind.
My greatest compliment to an author is when much of the review is offered in quotes. The book speaks for itself! In short, each element of “The Greening of Thaddeus Grey” blooms, from the personalities, to plot, arc, language and scenery!
I was immediately dragged into the peril of an unknown forest road in a thunderstorm at night, as Thaddeus flees his humiliating circumstances. That morning a mis-directed text had revealed an affair between his life-long bestie and his partner, a fact that endangers their joint business venture. The next morning when soon-to-be love interest, Ryder discovers Thaddeus in his chicken coop, their interchange sparkles as comedy relief. But Thaddeus holds a secret, which would harm Ryder’s business. Except, the men fill one another’s empty spaces. The repeated pairing of light and shadow keeps tension simmering.
In Ms. Hogan’s creative hands, nature shines as its own character, one who seduces Thaddeus as thoroughly as Ryder. “As I took in the thundering space, an excited thrill ran up my spine. The energy was exhilarating, and it wasn’t long before I noticed a strange hum running through my body. I set my palm on the stone beside my hip, my eyes widening at the power of the river’s current passing through it like a shallow tremor. Passing through me.” The prose shimmers.
Told from both men’s POV, each man’s insights into the other reflect back on both of them. Ryder thinks of Thaddeus, “His life felt incredibly top-heavy with work, an anxiety to please and not much else, and yet, in the three days I’d known him, he’d shown himself to be much more than that. It felt almost like his work was the stopper in a bottle that was ready to explode, but not in a bad way. Because the really good stuff was fizzing beneath.” The observation illuminates because it is equally true for Ryder. And don’t most happy couples share parallel traits?
As Ryder avoids pressuring Thaddeus, whose while life is in tumult, Ms. Hogan shows how acceptance feeds love. “I’m not asking for anything from you right now. I’m just hoping you’ll keep the door open.” That’s when I knew these two men could make it together, because their circumstances might be overwhelming, but they offered one another freedom to find their own ways.
Fully formed side characters, come and go, leaving the story to Ryder and Thaddeus, while inching their romantic progress forward, and offering many smiles along the way. Ms. Hogan demonstrates deep understanding of mankind.
My greatest compliment to an author is when much of the review is offered in quotes. The book speaks for itself! In short, each element of “The Greening of Thaddeus Grey” blooms, from the personalities, to plot, arc, language and scenery!
May 22, 2026
This story starts off pretty disastrously for Thaddeus. A text mistakenly sent to the wrong person reveals that his boyfriend has been cheating with Thad's best friend and business partner. His attempt to just get away from everything for a bit takes an even rougher turn when bad weather and poorly marked country roads and a giant pile of manure ultimately end with Thad sleeping in a chicken coop overnight - which is where the coop's owner, Ryder, finds him the next morning.
Thad and Ryder hit it off immediately (or at least as soon as Ryder figures out the half naked guy in his chicken coop isn't a threat). Their banter is effortless and the chemistry evident from the start, but they stay in the "friends who flirt" stage for a while (at least in terms of the book - it's really a few days) as both guys come with baggage and fear of getting hurt again. As much as the story is the romance between Thad and Ryder, it's also a story of Thad, in particular, finding himself and figuring out what makes him happy. He's spent so much of his life trying to live up to what others, (especially his mother and now ex-boyfriend) expect success to look like (in all aspects of his life - career, relationships, housing, car, etc.) that he hasn't given enough consideration to what HE wants.
One of Jay's unique talents is creating the environments where her stories take place. The landscapes are often as much a part of her stories as the actual characters. While this book may not have had the more dramatic setting of her Mackenzie Country series, it was no less impactful. As a plant lover and someone who spends a lot of time on her own landscaping and gardening, I'm more than ready to pack my things and move to Ryder's garden cottage. I completely understand how spending a couple weeks in that environment could completely change Thad's outlook on his life.
This book has it all - humor, feels, some spice, great side characters, an adorable dog, and plenty going on outside of "just" the relationship between Thad and Ryder to keep the story moving and interesting. I really feel like people are sleeping on this author, I don't see her talked about NEARLY enough. Check out all of her books, including this one, on KU!
Thad and Ryder hit it off immediately (or at least as soon as Ryder figures out the half naked guy in his chicken coop isn't a threat). Their banter is effortless and the chemistry evident from the start, but they stay in the "friends who flirt" stage for a while (at least in terms of the book - it's really a few days) as both guys come with baggage and fear of getting hurt again. As much as the story is the romance between Thad and Ryder, it's also a story of Thad, in particular, finding himself and figuring out what makes him happy. He's spent so much of his life trying to live up to what others, (especially his mother and now ex-boyfriend) expect success to look like (in all aspects of his life - career, relationships, housing, car, etc.) that he hasn't given enough consideration to what HE wants.
One of Jay's unique talents is creating the environments where her stories take place. The landscapes are often as much a part of her stories as the actual characters. While this book may not have had the more dramatic setting of her Mackenzie Country series, it was no less impactful. As a plant lover and someone who spends a lot of time on her own landscaping and gardening, I'm more than ready to pack my things and move to Ryder's garden cottage. I completely understand how spending a couple weeks in that environment could completely change Thad's outlook on his life.
This book has it all - humor, feels, some spice, great side characters, an adorable dog, and plenty going on outside of "just" the relationship between Thad and Ryder to keep the story moving and interesting. I really feel like people are sleeping on this author, I don't see her talked about NEARLY enough. Check out all of her books, including this one, on KU!
Review of advance copy received from Author
In a single day Thaddeus learns his boyfriend and best friend are having an affair, and that means he’ll also need to dissolve his partnership with said best friend.
Not ready to deal with it all, he kicks out his ex and leaves to get away from everyone, including his Mom, who doesn’t understand him. He ends up crashing during a rainstorm, finds a shed and sleeps in it, where he’s discovered in the morning.
Ryder discovers Thad and hears his story, and he offers Thaddeus a place for some respite from his life. He has a cottage and is a landscaper with a gorgeous garden, which he’s leasing with an option to buy at the end of his lease, but the council wants his land to sell to a data storage company.
Thaddeus prevents the council from coming onto Ryder’s land while he’s out working, and Ryder shares his love of growing things and his travels to visit gardens across the world.
Thaddeus realizes his company is bidding on a contract for the data compsny and feels guilty not telling Ryder, at first because he doesn’t know him well.
But they sleep together and can’t stop wanting more, eventually starting a relationship. Thaddeus learns how this company could damage the ecosystem that’s thriving with the river Ryder and his neighbours have on their land.
His ex friend shows up and they argue, then the friend tells Ryder the truth, which makes him doubt Thaddeus. This is the final straw, and Thaddeus sells his company and decides to work on regeneration of water used for electricity and contributing to saving the earth in his small way.
At a council meeting he speaks about the financial and environmental costs of the data company coming in and the citizens become outraged, making the council back down, eventually letting Ryder buy his property. Thad and Ryder acknowledge their mistakes and commit to working hard to love each other and not run.
I absolutely loved this book, it contains descriptions of beauty in nature, emotions that grow and fears that are challenged. Jay Hogan’s writing always strikes a chord with me, and this time is no different.
I received this ARC for free and am pleased to provide my honest review in appreciation.
Not ready to deal with it all, he kicks out his ex and leaves to get away from everyone, including his Mom, who doesn’t understand him. He ends up crashing during a rainstorm, finds a shed and sleeps in it, where he’s discovered in the morning.
Ryder discovers Thad and hears his story, and he offers Thaddeus a place for some respite from his life. He has a cottage and is a landscaper with a gorgeous garden, which he’s leasing with an option to buy at the end of his lease, but the council wants his land to sell to a data storage company.
Thaddeus prevents the council from coming onto Ryder’s land while he’s out working, and Ryder shares his love of growing things and his travels to visit gardens across the world.
Thaddeus realizes his company is bidding on a contract for the data compsny and feels guilty not telling Ryder, at first because he doesn’t know him well.
But they sleep together and can’t stop wanting more, eventually starting a relationship. Thaddeus learns how this company could damage the ecosystem that’s thriving with the river Ryder and his neighbours have on their land.
His ex friend shows up and they argue, then the friend tells Ryder the truth, which makes him doubt Thaddeus. This is the final straw, and Thaddeus sells his company and decides to work on regeneration of water used for electricity and contributing to saving the earth in his small way.
At a council meeting he speaks about the financial and environmental costs of the data company coming in and the citizens become outraged, making the council back down, eventually letting Ryder buy his property. Thad and Ryder acknowledge their mistakes and commit to working hard to love each other and not run.
I absolutely loved this book, it contains descriptions of beauty in nature, emotions that grow and fears that are challenged. Jay Hogan’s writing always strikes a chord with me, and this time is no different.
I received this ARC for free and am pleased to provide my honest review in appreciation.
June 5, 2026
DNF @ 37%
The intro was a little too heavy on exposition for my tastes. That, coupled with Thad's refusal to block his ex and ex-best friend, made his chapter generally annoying to read.
"I rarely thought twice about any man other than whether I could hook with him..." It's really a nice coincidence that Ryder didn't do that with Thad on their very first meeting then huh? How romantic for him to suddenly find himself wishing to rub Thad's beard despite usually never wanting to do that to other men 🙄. I HATE when characters act contrary to what they usually act like for no reason other than the author wrote them so. I hate it even more when it's just told to us rather than shown (aka Ryder just tells us he's only into hooking up and tells us he's attracted to Thad beyond just his usual level of attraction). It's lazy insta-feeling (Ryder already expressing that he thinks Thad is different from all the other men he sees) on top of lazy characterization (telling instead of showing). It would've been more satisfying if he started gaining feelings after since that meaningful display would've made Thad more than just a pretty face.
I liked the set up here for Thad keeping a big secret from Ryder that would come back to bite him in the ass in the future. Unfortunately, I don't think the book leveraged that enough to create tension since most of the chapters really just focused on Thad and Ryder's current troubles (Thad's relationships and Ryder's land issues) rather than their dynamic and how the deliberate withholding of info was a powder keg with a lit fuse.
Ultimately, the book just couldn't hold my attention. The writing was way too reliant on long monologues to give exposition. The long winded conversation between Thad and Ryder was the main tipping point for me. Them both just telling each other their entire life stories in one go was super boring and the fact that it was then followed by Thad giving another internal monologue about how his feelings on being betrayed by Judd and Philip sealed the deal for me.
2 stars.
The intro was a little too heavy on exposition for my tastes. That, coupled with Thad's refusal to block his ex and ex-best friend, made his chapter generally annoying to read.
"I rarely thought twice about any man other than whether I could hook with him..." It's really a nice coincidence that Ryder didn't do that with Thad on their very first meeting then huh? How romantic for him to suddenly find himself wishing to rub Thad's beard despite usually never wanting to do that to other men 🙄. I HATE when characters act contrary to what they usually act like for no reason other than the author wrote them so. I hate it even more when it's just told to us rather than shown (aka Ryder just tells us he's only into hooking up and tells us he's attracted to Thad beyond just his usual level of attraction). It's lazy insta-feeling (Ryder already expressing that he thinks Thad is different from all the other men he sees) on top of lazy characterization (telling instead of showing). It would've been more satisfying if he started gaining feelings after since that meaningful display would've made Thad more than just a pretty face.
I liked the set up here for Thad keeping a big secret from Ryder that would come back to bite him in the ass in the future. Unfortunately, I don't think the book leveraged that enough to create tension since most of the chapters really just focused on Thad and Ryder's current troubles (Thad's relationships and Ryder's land issues) rather than their dynamic and how the deliberate withholding of info was a powder keg with a lit fuse.
Ultimately, the book just couldn't hold my attention. The writing was way too reliant on long monologues to give exposition. The long winded conversation between Thad and Ryder was the main tipping point for me. Them both just telling each other their entire life stories in one go was super boring and the fact that it was then followed by Thad giving another internal monologue about how his feelings on being betrayed by Judd and Philip sealed the deal for me.
2 stars.
June 2, 2026
I always know I am going on an emotional journey with a Jay Hogan book and the emotions were high from the first chapter.
We see how one text message can change the whole course of your life. When Thad’s best friend and business partner accidentally sends a text to Thad that should have gone to Thad’s live in boyfriend Judd, Thad discovers that they have been having an affair for months. The heartbreak and betrayal makes his first reaction to run and without thinking things through ends up in an isolated area in the midst of a terrible storm and when an animal appears out of nowhere and he swerves to avoid it he wrecks his car, ends up sleeping in a shed and meets the love of his life!
Obviously he doesn’t realise that and when Ryder offers hospitality Thad hopes he is not a serial killer. They are opposites in every way but actually perfect for each other and as Thad begins to work through everything he finds himself making excuses not to go home because he has unwittingly found his home with Ryder, his beautiful isolated cottage, amazing gardens, chickens, cute dog and a peace he has not known before.
I was glad when Thad developed a backbone and actually stood up to Phillip and Judd and stopped letting his mom shape his life with her expectations, and the fact that Thad was working on a contract that could destroy Ryder’s life and had no idea how to tell him was a nice touch and although Ryder was falling for Thad he was devastated and rightly so. Thad had to step up and right wrongs and hope that Ryder could forgive him.
There were some interesting side characters and I loved Ryder’s best friend Tap and his teasing humour and of course Ziggy the excitable miniature dachshund tried to steal every scene.
I really enjoyed this book, the tenderness between Thad and Ryder, the two cheating unfeeling men who got their comeuppance, the fight with an unscrupulous council and Thad finding himself, healing and changing the course of his life, all laced with a gentle humour.
Highly recommend.
We see how one text message can change the whole course of your life. When Thad’s best friend and business partner accidentally sends a text to Thad that should have gone to Thad’s live in boyfriend Judd, Thad discovers that they have been having an affair for months. The heartbreak and betrayal makes his first reaction to run and without thinking things through ends up in an isolated area in the midst of a terrible storm and when an animal appears out of nowhere and he swerves to avoid it he wrecks his car, ends up sleeping in a shed and meets the love of his life!
Obviously he doesn’t realise that and when Ryder offers hospitality Thad hopes he is not a serial killer. They are opposites in every way but actually perfect for each other and as Thad begins to work through everything he finds himself making excuses not to go home because he has unwittingly found his home with Ryder, his beautiful isolated cottage, amazing gardens, chickens, cute dog and a peace he has not known before.
I was glad when Thad developed a backbone and actually stood up to Phillip and Judd and stopped letting his mom shape his life with her expectations, and the fact that Thad was working on a contract that could destroy Ryder’s life and had no idea how to tell him was a nice touch and although Ryder was falling for Thad he was devastated and rightly so. Thad had to step up and right wrongs and hope that Ryder could forgive him.
There were some interesting side characters and I loved Ryder’s best friend Tap and his teasing humour and of course Ziggy the excitable miniature dachshund tried to steal every scene.
I really enjoyed this book, the tenderness between Thad and Ryder, the two cheating unfeeling men who got their comeuppance, the fight with an unscrupulous council and Thad finding himself, healing and changing the course of his life, all laced with a gentle humour.
Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I was in big trouble with this man, and I knew it. I slid my fingers under his chin and tipped his head back to kiss him."
The Greening of Thaddeus Grey by Brigham Vaughn, totally had me hooked. I didn’t expect it and I loved every single page in this book.
Thaddeus (Thad) Grey’s life completely blows up when his best friend accidentally texts him instead of his boyfriend, and he realizes that they’ve been sleeping together. Within minutes Thad kicks the cheating boyfriend out of his apartment, cuts ties with his now ex-best friend and business partner, hops into his dad’s old car, and fleets Wellington. As if his day wasn’t bad enough, he drives into a small country road leading to a forest, swerves to miss an animal, crashes his car into a manure pile, and seeks shelter into a tiny chicken shed to hide from a brutal storm. Enter Ryder, the guy who owns the property. He lives on this gorgeous farm with a miniature Dachshund (Ziggy) and a bunch of chickens with an attitude.
The book is an absolute delight from start to finish. From the storm and the animal in the woods, to the accident into the manure pile, sleeping in the chicken shed, Ziggy, and Ryder… all of that, and later, much, much more, make this book a total wonder. It’s a total disaster of a start, but it ends up setting Thad up for an unexpected journey of healing, self-discovery, and a brand-new romance.
“This last week has been the best week of my life. I’m not the same guy who slept in your shed. You, this cottage, the river, all of it has changed me.”
I’m going to put The Greening of Thaddeus Grey in my pile of comfort read books ASAP. Watching Thad transition from a toxic, unfulfilling city life to a peaceful, eco-conscious reality alongside Ryder, Ziggy and the chickens was incredibly delightful. I also loved the genuine yearning and witty dialogues. Highly recommended.
Thank you, Brigham Vaughn for this free eARC. This is my honest review and recommendation.
Review of advance copy
4.5*
While I wished the 75% Act Three drama element hadn't happened, because I'd seen it coming in some shape or form from a mile away, the rest of this multi-layered romance was an absolute joy.
Thaddeus Grey thinks his life's going pretty well until it's rocked when a mistakenly sent text from his best friend asking his boyfriend to meet up for their regular sex session lands on his phone.
Five minutes later he's told the boyfriend to leave the apartment Thad owns, he's told the ex-best friend their business partnership is in ruins and he's got in his dad's old car and driven out of Wellington and off into the back of beyond.
Things only get worse when a mysterious encounter with an animal sees him crashing his car into a manure pile and a storm has him hiding in a tin shed to shelter from the disaster his day has been.
Cue Ryder, owner of said manure pile, a cute miniature Dachshund called Ziggy, some chickens with attitudes, and a beautiful garden that ranges for acres and utterly captivates Thad and sends him on a journey to happiness.
I loved the many different layers of this narrative, not only Ryder opening Thad's eyes to a new way of looking at himself and finding he liked that version, but the awakening of how unfulfilled he was with how his career path was going.
The "greening" element of the story is also multi-faceted, with the obvious way in which Ryder nurtures the space around him, but also in how Thad's viewpoint on what we're doing to the only planet we've got, is slowly changed.
The irritating drama moment at the 75% of the book aside, everything else about this story is beautifully told with the rich language and emotions that Jay's books always bring to the reader.
#ARC kindly received from the author via NeonRainbow Reviews, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
While I wished the 75% Act Three drama element hadn't happened, because I'd seen it coming in some shape or form from a mile away, the rest of this multi-layered romance was an absolute joy.
Thaddeus Grey thinks his life's going pretty well until it's rocked when a mistakenly sent text from his best friend asking his boyfriend to meet up for their regular sex session lands on his phone.
Five minutes later he's told the boyfriend to leave the apartment Thad owns, he's told the ex-best friend their business partnership is in ruins and he's got in his dad's old car and driven out of Wellington and off into the back of beyond.
Things only get worse when a mysterious encounter with an animal sees him crashing his car into a manure pile and a storm has him hiding in a tin shed to shelter from the disaster his day has been.
Cue Ryder, owner of said manure pile, a cute miniature Dachshund called Ziggy, some chickens with attitudes, and a beautiful garden that ranges for acres and utterly captivates Thad and sends him on a journey to happiness.
I loved the many different layers of this narrative, not only Ryder opening Thad's eyes to a new way of looking at himself and finding he liked that version, but the awakening of how unfulfilled he was with how his career path was going.
The "greening" element of the story is also multi-faceted, with the obvious way in which Ryder nurtures the space around him, but also in how Thad's viewpoint on what we're doing to the only planet we've got, is slowly changed.
The irritating drama moment at the 75% of the book aside, everything else about this story is beautifully told with the rich language and emotions that Jay's books always bring to the reader.
#ARC kindly received from the author via NeonRainbow Reviews, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was one of my most anticipated release of the year so far, and it ended up being exactly what I wanted to be reading at this moment in time. I just had such a wonderful time reading this book.
You know these books where you read about 7 pages and you’re already super invested in the story and are ready to do everything to keep reading? This was one of these for me, for which I am very grateful. I’ve been nearing a reading slump for weeks now, but I had nothing to fear with this book because I was so invested I could not put it down.
From their first conversation until their last one, Ryder and Thad just had the best banter. I kept reading their interactions while giggling and kicking my feet and it was such a lovely reading experience.
Also there was so much yearning in this book, and that’s one of my favourite thing to read about so I was very much thrieving. Ryder and Thad both had a lot of emotional scars that made them really reluctant to try to start a relationship at first, but they still spent all of their time together, admiring the other and doing a shit load of pining and it was just the best to read about.
The atmosphere in this book was just the best. I truly just lost myself to the peaceful world and life that was described in the book and it was so fun.
You know those books that feel like sunshine in book form and that as you’re reading you feel like you’ve been wraped in a warm blanket made of love? This was one of those for me. This was just such a good reading experience. It was very tender and soft, with a little angst and really lovely vibes and I loved every seconds I spent reading it.
You know these books where you read about 7 pages and you’re already super invested in the story and are ready to do everything to keep reading? This was one of these for me, for which I am very grateful. I’ve been nearing a reading slump for weeks now, but I had nothing to fear with this book because I was so invested I could not put it down.
From their first conversation until their last one, Ryder and Thad just had the best banter. I kept reading their interactions while giggling and kicking my feet and it was such a lovely reading experience.
Also there was so much yearning in this book, and that’s one of my favourite thing to read about so I was very much thrieving. Ryder and Thad both had a lot of emotional scars that made them really reluctant to try to start a relationship at first, but they still spent all of their time together, admiring the other and doing a shit load of pining and it was just the best to read about.
The atmosphere in this book was just the best. I truly just lost myself to the peaceful world and life that was described in the book and it was so fun.
You know those books that feel like sunshine in book form and that as you’re reading you feel like you’ve been wraped in a warm blanket made of love? This was one of those for me. This was just such a good reading experience. It was very tender and soft, with a little angst and really lovely vibes and I loved every seconds I spent reading it.
May 29, 2026
What a delight this book was to read! Jay and her magic pen whipped up a story of two men who meet under very unusual circumstances. Both MCs had a full plate of issues and problems, yet they simply gelled perfectly.
Thaddeus is having the worst day of his life when he discovers his best friend and business partner has been having an affair with his live-in boyfriend. Thad is a coding expert, while Phillip, his now ex-best friend, is the face of the company that Thad created.
Fleeing his boyfriend Judd and his current life in the city, Thad has an accident that leaves him filthy, smelly and exhausted. He takes refuge in a shed and gets discovered by Ryder, the property owner.
A series of humorous and quirky events brings the two men together. Rather than go back to his home in the city, Thad chooses to stay with Ryder, who may think he has no other place to go. The admission of several crucial truths, combined with the nastiness of his past partners, puts poor Thad in a tailspin.
The town council wants the land where Ryder has his home and business to allow a data factory to be built. As luck would have it, Thad was the creator of the coding for this project. This adds to the drama of the story, along with a complex set of personalities from friends, family and townspeople.
I highly recommend this story full of heart and grit, and hope you fall in love with it as I did. Happy reading.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement*
Thaddeus is having the worst day of his life when he discovers his best friend and business partner has been having an affair with his live-in boyfriend. Thad is a coding expert, while Phillip, his now ex-best friend, is the face of the company that Thad created.
Fleeing his boyfriend Judd and his current life in the city, Thad has an accident that leaves him filthy, smelly and exhausted. He takes refuge in a shed and gets discovered by Ryder, the property owner.
A series of humorous and quirky events brings the two men together. Rather than go back to his home in the city, Thad chooses to stay with Ryder, who may think he has no other place to go. The admission of several crucial truths, combined with the nastiness of his past partners, puts poor Thad in a tailspin.
The town council wants the land where Ryder has his home and business to allow a data factory to be built. As luck would have it, Thad was the creator of the coding for this project. This adds to the drama of the story, along with a complex set of personalities from friends, family and townspeople.
I highly recommend this story full of heart and grit, and hope you fall in love with it as I did. Happy reading.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement*
May 22, 2026
I am always so excited when Jay brings out a new book as I know i am going to go on an emotional journey. This book didnt disappoint and completely pulled me in from the first chapter. Watching Thad’s perfectly organised life implode in the span of a single text message was both heartbreaking and strangely satisfying, and I loved seeing him leave everything behind to figure out who he really was outside of all the betrayal and expectations.
The contrast between Thad and Ryder worked so well. Ryder’s quiet, steady presence felt like exactly what Thad needed, and their growing relationship felt natural and deeply comforting. The small-town setting, the stormy atmosphere, the shed, the dog, the slow rebuilding of trust and happiness, it all created such a cozy, emotional vibe.
What I appreciated most was that the story didn’t shy away from the difficult choices. Thad’s conflict between his career and Ryder’s home felt realistic, and it added real emotional weight to their romance. Their connection was tender, intimate, and impossible not to root for.
The side characters added so much charm too, and deserve their own story.
A heartfelt, emotional romance about betrayal, healing, and finding the courage to build a completely different kind of life than the one you planned. An outstanding read!
I received a free arc and this is my honest review
The contrast between Thad and Ryder worked so well. Ryder’s quiet, steady presence felt like exactly what Thad needed, and their growing relationship felt natural and deeply comforting. The small-town setting, the stormy atmosphere, the shed, the dog, the slow rebuilding of trust and happiness, it all created such a cozy, emotional vibe.
What I appreciated most was that the story didn’t shy away from the difficult choices. Thad’s conflict between his career and Ryder’s home felt realistic, and it added real emotional weight to their romance. Their connection was tender, intimate, and impossible not to root for.
The side characters added so much charm too, and deserve their own story.
A heartfelt, emotional romance about betrayal, healing, and finding the courage to build a completely different kind of life than the one you planned. An outstanding read!
I received a free arc and this is my honest review
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