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Foggy Basin Season Three
Dreams and Reptiles
From the award-winning author of Under His Sheets and Once Upon a Goth Dog Solstice comes an age-gap, hurt/comfort romance between two men with bruised and battered hearts ready for a second chance at happiness in small-town California.
Francis
I refer to the events of the past year as My Demise, and now that I’ve received a significant settlement, I’m ready to move on with my life. While visiting the town of Foggy Basin for their Pride Festival, I fell in love with the vibe. Lots of folks move there to start over, so why shouldn’t I? My cousin Derek shows me a quirky property for sale just outside of town, and once I see it, inspiration hits. Why not create a retreat where folks can make their dreams a reality? I ignored mine for way too long, but not anymore, and if I happen to run into the hot firefighter I shared a kiss with at Pride, well, I’ll take it as a sign.
Kendall
My entire adult life, I’ve taken care of others, and now I’m ready to start the next phase of my journey in California. I’ve spent years learning about various species of reptiles, and it just so happens that Grandma left me the perfect place to build a sanctuary. Only, I soon discover that my passion project is a bit trickier than I thought it would be. My spirits lift, however, when the saucy young guy I met at Pride moves in next door to me. At first, I worry perhaps he’s one of those wealthy people who come to town and throw their money around, but when I learn the truth about his past, I’m determined to make him see just how deserving of love he is.
For Mature Readers due to sexual content, frisky aunties, reptilian escape artists, and meddling polyamorous firefighters.
Welcome to Foggy Basin. Nestled at the base of the foothills in Northern California, this small town is full of characters just waiting to tell you their story. Whether you’re just passing through or you decide to stay a while longer, you’ll always find a warm welcome from the townsfolk. From farmers and animal rescues to artists and small business owners. Foggy Basin has it all.
Francis
I refer to the events of the past year as My Demise, and now that I’ve received a significant settlement, I’m ready to move on with my life. While visiting the town of Foggy Basin for their Pride Festival, I fell in love with the vibe. Lots of folks move there to start over, so why shouldn’t I? My cousin Derek shows me a quirky property for sale just outside of town, and once I see it, inspiration hits. Why not create a retreat where folks can make their dreams a reality? I ignored mine for way too long, but not anymore, and if I happen to run into the hot firefighter I shared a kiss with at Pride, well, I’ll take it as a sign.
Kendall
My entire adult life, I’ve taken care of others, and now I’m ready to start the next phase of my journey in California. I’ve spent years learning about various species of reptiles, and it just so happens that Grandma left me the perfect place to build a sanctuary. Only, I soon discover that my passion project is a bit trickier than I thought it would be. My spirits lift, however, when the saucy young guy I met at Pride moves in next door to me. At first, I worry perhaps he’s one of those wealthy people who come to town and throw their money around, but when I learn the truth about his past, I’m determined to make him see just how deserving of love he is.
For Mature Readers due to sexual content, frisky aunties, reptilian escape artists, and meddling polyamorous firefighters.
Welcome to Foggy Basin. Nestled at the base of the foothills in Northern California, this small town is full of characters just waiting to tell you their story. Whether you’re just passing through or you decide to stay a while longer, you’ll always find a warm welcome from the townsfolk. From farmers and animal rescues to artists and small business owners. Foggy Basin has it all.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2026
About the author
R.L. Merrill
87 books716 followersWhether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky, queer, and relatable characters or diving deep into the supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after closing the book. Ro writes inclusive romance for the Happily Ever After collective, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Peterman’s Magic and Mayhem Universe, and pens horror-inspired tales and music reviews for HorrorAddicts.net. A mom, wife, daughter, and former educator, you can find her rocking out in her Bronco with Great Dane pup Velma, being terrorized by feline twins Dracula and Frankenstein, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…
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August 13, 2026Another great story set in the Foggy Basin multi-verse... I truly enjoyed getting to know more about Francis and Kendall and watching them navigate living side-by-side along with Kendall's menagerie of reptiles and a revolving door of side characters I think my favourite side characters were Francis' mother and auntie! The love story was a slow burn, building as the two men discovered new layers about each other and build trust. It was lovely to watch the evolution of their relationship and also what their businesses become...
August 16, 2026
sweet contemporary romance
Rating: 3.75🌈
Dreams and Reptiles (Foggy Basin Season 3) by R L Merrill is a sweet contemporary small town romance. It’s one of a multi-author series now in its third called Foggy Basin, set in a California small town.
Dreams and Reptiles is an age gap, hurt/comfort, multicultural romance that includes characters who have been through many traumatizing experiences, including work place assault.
There’s a lot to like about this story. The characters are engaging. Francis, who has been through a traumatic experience with his work and his father, has bought a new home that will allow him to live his dream of a having artists retreat.
Next door is an older firefighter, Kendall, who runs a reptile sanctuary. Kendall’s a divorced father, who is trying to deal with his own family issues of a daughter in college, a demanding job and a sanctuary full of animals needing him.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters of Francis’s mother and aunt, and his cousin, Derek, the real estate agent who is soon to be involved in a throuple storyline in the next book.
Things that I would have liked to have seen more exploration here was the traumatic event that sent Francis to Foggy Basin and the aftermath with his father. That resolution was over in a couple of sentences. Plus the fact that the father continued to call Francis’ mother “his wife “ despite being divorced, that was a big flag here. Nothing about that aspect of the story felt particularly satisfying.
And to be honest, the entire relationship felt rushed between Francis, who was trying to set boundaries because of his trauma, and Kendall, who didn’t really deal well with his daughter’s return from college.
So, while the animals were adorable. The relationship between them sweet, I was left with a HFN and a timeline that sped forward without answering questions.
It’s was good reading. But not anything I’d revisit.
Foggy Basin Season Three (11 book series)
Keystrokes and Kittens by Gabbi Grey
Boss and Brat by Brina Brady
Silk and Honey by Kota Quinn
Fruit and Flash by R.A Frick
Dreams and Reptiles by R L Merrill
Flights and Sights by Riley Long
Bales and Brawn by Jem Wendal
Fibre and Ink by Jamie Sands
Herds and Hooves by B L Maxwell
Hammer and Hops by Lynn Michaels
Nicks and Cuts by TJ Nichols
Rating: 3.75🌈
Dreams and Reptiles (Foggy Basin Season 3) by R L Merrill is a sweet contemporary small town romance. It’s one of a multi-author series now in its third called Foggy Basin, set in a California small town.
Dreams and Reptiles is an age gap, hurt/comfort, multicultural romance that includes characters who have been through many traumatizing experiences, including work place assault.
There’s a lot to like about this story. The characters are engaging. Francis, who has been through a traumatic experience with his work and his father, has bought a new home that will allow him to live his dream of a having artists retreat.
Next door is an older firefighter, Kendall, who runs a reptile sanctuary. Kendall’s a divorced father, who is trying to deal with his own family issues of a daughter in college, a demanding job and a sanctuary full of animals needing him.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters of Francis’s mother and aunt, and his cousin, Derek, the real estate agent who is soon to be involved in a throuple storyline in the next book.
Things that I would have liked to have seen more exploration here was the traumatic event that sent Francis to Foggy Basin and the aftermath with his father. That resolution was over in a couple of sentences. Plus the fact that the father continued to call Francis’ mother “his wife “ despite being divorced, that was a big flag here. Nothing about that aspect of the story felt particularly satisfying.
And to be honest, the entire relationship felt rushed between Francis, who was trying to set boundaries because of his trauma, and Kendall, who didn’t really deal well with his daughter’s return from college.
So, while the animals were adorable. The relationship between them sweet, I was left with a HFN and a timeline that sped forward without answering questions.
It’s was good reading. But not anything I’d revisit.
Foggy Basin Season Three (11 book series)
Keystrokes and Kittens by Gabbi Grey
Boss and Brat by Brina Brady
Silk and Honey by Kota Quinn
Fruit and Flash by R.A Frick
Dreams and Reptiles by R L Merrill
Flights and Sights by Riley Long
Bales and Brawn by Jem Wendal
Fibre and Ink by Jamie Sands
Herds and Hooves by B L Maxwell
Hammer and Hops by Lynn Michaels
Nicks and Cuts by TJ Nichols
August 14, 2026
Francis heads to Foggy Basin for a fresh start after My Demise, finds a quirky property that inspires him to build a retreat, and reconnects with the firefighter he kissed at Pride. Next door, Kendall works to create a reptile sanctuary and quickly realizes Francis isn’t a wealthy newcomer but someone who deserves care and love — something Kendall is more than ready to give.
This was a great feel‑good story that’s guaranteed to make you smile. I loved watching Francis turn his life around after some awful experiences and build a place where other people could chase their dreams too — it gave the whole book a warm, hopeful core. Francis and Kendall choosing to slow down and truly get to know each other before anything physical was a lovely touch, and it made their connection feel even more genuine. Their pull toward each other was immediate and undeniable, and the emotions throughout were easy to feel and understand. The ending did slip into a bit of farce, even though everything wrapped up well. Still, the charm, heart, and sweetness of their journey made this a delightful read. This was an MM story with mature content.
This was a great feel‑good story that’s guaranteed to make you smile. I loved watching Francis turn his life around after some awful experiences and build a place where other people could chase their dreams too — it gave the whole book a warm, hopeful core. Francis and Kendall choosing to slow down and truly get to know each other before anything physical was a lovely touch, and it made their connection feel even more genuine. Their pull toward each other was immediate and undeniable, and the emotions throughout were easy to feel and understand. The ending did slip into a bit of farce, even though everything wrapped up well. Still, the charm, heart, and sweetness of their journey made this a delightful read. This was an MM story with mature content.
August 16, 2026
Amazing
Confession time: RL Merrill is an automatic buy for me. I don’t read the blurb, the title, nothing, new book, it’s mine! Why? Because RL Merrill shows the characters as flawed, works in progress, persons who make mistakes and suffer “demises”, and still move on, move forward, keep on trying to build a better tomorrow for themselves, and they find love in the most unexpected of places, in the most unexplored of persons, and they choose to be together with that person, and work on themselves together, and love each other while building a better future together. And that’s why every time a new book comes out, I have to read it, because I need the hope, the boundless joy and happiness, but most of all, the hope that things get better. Life might be bleak, we might be suffering “Demise after Demise” and see no better future, but there is hope, we just have to hold on, and the Ascent will eventually happen. Thank you RL Merrill for giving me hope, once again, that My Demise doesn’t mean the end, it’s just a chapter closing to make room for a new beginning.
(Read via KU)
Confession time: RL Merrill is an automatic buy for me. I don’t read the blurb, the title, nothing, new book, it’s mine! Why? Because RL Merrill shows the characters as flawed, works in progress, persons who make mistakes and suffer “demises”, and still move on, move forward, keep on trying to build a better tomorrow for themselves, and they find love in the most unexpected of places, in the most unexplored of persons, and they choose to be together with that person, and work on themselves together, and love each other while building a better future together. And that’s why every time a new book comes out, I have to read it, because I need the hope, the boundless joy and happiness, but most of all, the hope that things get better. Life might be bleak, we might be suffering “Demise after Demise” and see no better future, but there is hope, we just have to hold on, and the Ascent will eventually happen. Thank you RL Merrill for giving me hope, once again, that My Demise doesn’t mean the end, it’s just a chapter closing to make room for a new beginning.
(Read via KU)
August 18, 2026
This book is part of the multi-author Foggy Basin Season Three series. Each book is a standalone read and features a different couple. This is the story of Kendall and Francis. Kendall is a firefighter whose grandma left him the perfect property to start his long wanted reptile sanctuary. Worried about the new neighbor next door, he is happy to see that it the same man that he kissed at Pride. Time to open up those lines of communication. Francis refers to the past year as "his demise". When a cousin shows him a quirky property in Foggy Basin he knows it it just the place for him to start anew. He is planning on building an artist retreat and wedding location. The big bonus is his new next door neighbor is the man he kissed at Pride. This is their story. The book is well written and easy to read. I really enjoyed the characters and the Foggy Basin residents who just can't seem to keep their nose out of other peoples business (but in a good way). This is a slow burn romance. I liked how their relationship slowly grew with trust and time. A sweet read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 18, 2026
Whilst passing through Foggy Basin, Francis falls in love with it and decides to buy a big spread that he wants to turn into an artists retreat as well as somewhere to host events.
Kendell is a fireman who lives next store to him. They get to know each other and slowly they develop their relationship.
Only thing for me though was at one point the bathroom is flooding and the water gets turned off and then soon after Francis is washing up.
Kendell is a fireman who lives next store to him. They get to know each other and slowly they develop their relationship.
Only thing for me though was at one point the bathroom is flooding and the water gets turned off and then soon after Francis is washing up.
August 17, 2026
Francis and Kendall met during the pride festival in Foggy Basin, and later discovered that they were neighbours. The story was quite low in angst, although there were some definite heavy topics in the pasts of both MCs. The reptiles were well described and had great names. A very satisfying story with a lot of enjoyable characters.
Thanks for the advance copy via Booksprout, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
Thanks for the advance copy via Booksprout, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
Review of advance copy
Slow Burn with Turtles
As previewed in Merrill’s short piece, “That’s What Pride is Made Of,” Francis Liang and Kendall the Firefighter are back for their full-length story. You do not have to have read “That’s What Pride…” though it’s nice to get a picture of the main characters ahead of time. Here Merrill delivers a humorous, sweet, romance with a recovery from trauma aspect.
After the event which left Francis jobless and wealthy (really!), he decides to leave the Bay Area for the small town of Soggy Bottoms, er, Foggy Basin. His realtor cousin helps him buy a huge property, which Francis dreams of converting into an artistic retreat space/occasional wedding venue. His residence begins with a visit from John Wayne. A giant tortoise named John Wayne, that is, who has escaped from his enclosure next door – where Kendall the Firefighter happens to live. Kendall has an extensive collection of tortoises and other reptiles – but no snakes.
Both Francis and Kendall are very busy, and both come with baggage. Francis still thinks about his “Demise” which resulted in his winning a multimillion-dollar settlement. Kendall has an ex-wife, a daughter, and a lot of grief. There’s a lot of interaction between Francis and Kendall at the fence between their properties, as their slow burn romance progresses.
These small town romances are light, and this one is no exception. There’s lots of humor from Francis’s mother and aunt, as well as his cousin Derek and the hot firefighters pursuing him. Still, there’s an unfortunate incident where Francis has to give Kendall the story of his past trauma (his Demise), before they’re able to fully embrace a future together.
Do read for the great humor – the escape artist tortoises, and firefighter shenanigans – but don’t discount the sweet moments that happen at a scheduled wedding, and a possible reconciliation near the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As previewed in Merrill’s short piece, “That’s What Pride is Made Of,” Francis Liang and Kendall the Firefighter are back for their full-length story. You do not have to have read “That’s What Pride…” though it’s nice to get a picture of the main characters ahead of time. Here Merrill delivers a humorous, sweet, romance with a recovery from trauma aspect.
After the event which left Francis jobless and wealthy (really!), he decides to leave the Bay Area for the small town of Soggy Bottoms, er, Foggy Basin. His realtor cousin helps him buy a huge property, which Francis dreams of converting into an artistic retreat space/occasional wedding venue. His residence begins with a visit from John Wayne. A giant tortoise named John Wayne, that is, who has escaped from his enclosure next door – where Kendall the Firefighter happens to live. Kendall has an extensive collection of tortoises and other reptiles – but no snakes.
Both Francis and Kendall are very busy, and both come with baggage. Francis still thinks about his “Demise” which resulted in his winning a multimillion-dollar settlement. Kendall has an ex-wife, a daughter, and a lot of grief. There’s a lot of interaction between Francis and Kendall at the fence between their properties, as their slow burn romance progresses.
These small town romances are light, and this one is no exception. There’s lots of humor from Francis’s mother and aunt, as well as his cousin Derek and the hot firefighters pursuing him. Still, there’s an unfortunate incident where Francis has to give Kendall the story of his past trauma (his Demise), before they’re able to fully embrace a future together.
Do read for the great humor – the escape artist tortoises, and firefighter shenanigans – but don’t discount the sweet moments that happen at a scheduled wedding, and a possible reconciliation near the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
This book encapsulates me being in a relationship.
Francis bought a huge property in hopes in making it as some kind of an artists' retreat house. What he doesn't expect was his neighbor's reptile sactuary is owned by the person he kissed during Pride, Kendall.
Ngl, I initially not gonna read this book but I found the idea intriguing, and it's a very short book aka less than 300 pages so why not?
Best decision ever.
Francis' looking for a fresh start, and he got the money so he decided to pursue his passion and let out his creativity in ways he didn't before. Now, set on making his passion and income merge together, he opted to buy a huge property. And I love to see that, like the whole business venture of making an event space. Kendall, on the otherhand, is working as a firefighter and also taking care of his rescue reptiles. Now that is refreshing to me because wdym he got some iguanas, chameleons, tortoises and more?
The age gap was a bit prominent but it's really not an issue considering Francis is in his thirties and Kendall nearing fifties. And they joked about it, and talked about it in the book.
It's a very slow burn book, and I love me some slow burn. This book had great characters who are adults about their relationship, they took their time, they talk and communicates about what they want and where their relationship is going. The physical aspect happens after they started dating, and I really love that. They are literally there for each other, giving each other space, and they complement each other so well.
This book was so refreshing to read, and I am so glad I did give this book a chance.
Francis bought a huge property in hopes in making it as some kind of an artists' retreat house. What he doesn't expect was his neighbor's reptile sactuary is owned by the person he kissed during Pride, Kendall.
Ngl, I initially not gonna read this book but I found the idea intriguing, and it's a very short book aka less than 300 pages so why not?
Best decision ever.
Francis' looking for a fresh start, and he got the money so he decided to pursue his passion and let out his creativity in ways he didn't before. Now, set on making his passion and income merge together, he opted to buy a huge property. And I love to see that, like the whole business venture of making an event space. Kendall, on the otherhand, is working as a firefighter and also taking care of his rescue reptiles. Now that is refreshing to me because wdym he got some iguanas, chameleons, tortoises and more?
The age gap was a bit prominent but it's really not an issue considering Francis is in his thirties and Kendall nearing fifties. And they joked about it, and talked about it in the book.
It's a very slow burn book, and I love me some slow burn. This book had great characters who are adults about their relationship, they took their time, they talk and communicates about what they want and where their relationship is going. The physical aspect happens after they started dating, and I really love that. They are literally there for each other, giving each other space, and they complement each other so well.
This book was so refreshing to read, and I am so glad I did give this book a chance.
August 13, 2026
DREAMS AND REPTILES is part of the Foggy Basin Season 3, although I will say I loved Francis' pet names for the place.
Kendall inherited his grandma's house and land, which he is turning into a reptile sanctuary. Think tortoises, iguanas, chameleons, maybe a water monitor or two, but no snakes. After a rough time, Francis, helped by his cousin Derek, buys a house and land and dreams of an artist retreat destination, with the occasional wedding. These two knew each other from Pride, but not that they would be living next to each other.
There is angst in this story, but none of it is really between our two MCs, unless you count being sensitive about the age gap as angst. It does talk about other sensitive topics, including assault and the death of a child, so if these are triggers for you, please be careful.
The story is quite fast-paced, as most of it takes place over a couple of months or more. And the relationship between Kendall and Francis is both slow and sweet, as well as fast and spicy. I adored how they described the old-fashioned courtship and how important touch is for some people.
This is the second book in the Foggy Basin set of series that I have read, and I enjoyed returning to the friendly town. A low-key, easy-to-read story with plenty of humour. 4 great stars and definitely recommended by me.
** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Aug 13, 2026
Kendall inherited his grandma's house and land, which he is turning into a reptile sanctuary. Think tortoises, iguanas, chameleons, maybe a water monitor or two, but no snakes. After a rough time, Francis, helped by his cousin Derek, buys a house and land and dreams of an artist retreat destination, with the occasional wedding. These two knew each other from Pride, but not that they would be living next to each other.
There is angst in this story, but none of it is really between our two MCs, unless you count being sensitive about the age gap as angst. It does talk about other sensitive topics, including assault and the death of a child, so if these are triggers for you, please be careful.
The story is quite fast-paced, as most of it takes place over a couple of months or more. And the relationship between Kendall and Francis is both slow and sweet, as well as fast and spicy. I adored how they described the old-fashioned courtship and how important touch is for some people.
This is the second book in the Foggy Basin set of series that I have read, and I enjoyed returning to the friendly town. A low-key, easy-to-read story with plenty of humour. 4 great stars and definitely recommended by me.
** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Aug 13, 2026
August 22, 2026
Cozy sweet romance with an amazing family & friends, hurt/comfort dynamic
This was my introduction to the Foggy Basin series, and no matter how well written it can be challenging to appreciate the well crafted cameos and established relationships when your first taste of a series is 30 books in. Even with that missing shared experience from the first 2 seasons plus pride books, RL Merrill drew me in and made me not only enjoy the shared world of Foggy Basin from the beginning, but left me wanting to read the series from start to finish… and enticing me to commit to a 40+ book read? Yeah, that takes something.
I wouldn’t be me if I weren’t completely honest, and I admit I struggled a bit with this cozy romance… something I don’t normally do. While the interactions and dialog with all the other characters made me smile and slip deeper into the Foggy Basin world, investing myself in the lives of these amazing characters, the love-dialogue between the MCs kept making me flinch. My mind rebelled at some of the words coming out of their mouths and it caused me to step away because the sweetness left an aftertaste. It wasn’t that it was poorly written, but simply didn’t work for me. Which is why I will say with all confidence that if you are a fan of well written characters, great relationship dynamics, an interesting cast of supporting characters, and love language between MCs that is sweet enough to make your teeth itch, you can’t go wrong with Dreams & Reptiles. HEA absolutely worth it!
#bookreview #gayromancereviews #grr #mmromancebooks
This was my introduction to the Foggy Basin series, and no matter how well written it can be challenging to appreciate the well crafted cameos and established relationships when your first taste of a series is 30 books in. Even with that missing shared experience from the first 2 seasons plus pride books, RL Merrill drew me in and made me not only enjoy the shared world of Foggy Basin from the beginning, but left me wanting to read the series from start to finish… and enticing me to commit to a 40+ book read? Yeah, that takes something.
I wouldn’t be me if I weren’t completely honest, and I admit I struggled a bit with this cozy romance… something I don’t normally do. While the interactions and dialog with all the other characters made me smile and slip deeper into the Foggy Basin world, investing myself in the lives of these amazing characters, the love-dialogue between the MCs kept making me flinch. My mind rebelled at some of the words coming out of their mouths and it caused me to step away because the sweetness left an aftertaste. It wasn’t that it was poorly written, but simply didn’t work for me. Which is why I will say with all confidence that if you are a fan of well written characters, great relationship dynamics, an interesting cast of supporting characters, and love language between MCs that is sweet enough to make your teeth itch, you can’t go wrong with Dreams & Reptiles. HEA absolutely worth it!
#bookreview #gayromancereviews #grr #mmromancebooks
August 18, 2026
4.25 stars
“Dreams and Reptiles” by R.L. Merrill is part of the ‘Foggy Basin, Season Three’ series and centers around Francis, who is rebuilding his life and manages to buy a house next door to Kendall, the hottie firefighter he met when he visited earlier. Now to figure out how to balance his attraction to Kendall with an antipathy toward the dinosaurs—no, reptiles—the man evidently has a passion for rescuing.
This adult contemporary gay small-town romance is such a fun story and great addition to an entertaining series. I was entertained by Francis’s snark and sauciness and now have trouble remembering the “true” name of Foggy Basin. I love his tenderness toward his relatives and the unwavering support they offer him, even as I ache for the events that led Francis to upend his previous life. The fact that both men have been through so much in their history yet they both still have such a positive outlook on life is inspirational, especially during these dark times. The use of famous Hollywood couples as names for the various reptiles tickled me, and I was uplifted by the end of the story, although I am very anxious to read about Cousin Derek getting his HEA with the sexy men who are pursuing him. I have added this talented author to my list of those to be on the lookout for and I look forward to reading more captivating and enjoyable tales.
A copy of this title was provided for review
“Dreams and Reptiles” by R.L. Merrill is part of the ‘Foggy Basin, Season Three’ series and centers around Francis, who is rebuilding his life and manages to buy a house next door to Kendall, the hottie firefighter he met when he visited earlier. Now to figure out how to balance his attraction to Kendall with an antipathy toward the dinosaurs—no, reptiles—the man evidently has a passion for rescuing.
This adult contemporary gay small-town romance is such a fun story and great addition to an entertaining series. I was entertained by Francis’s snark and sauciness and now have trouble remembering the “true” name of Foggy Basin. I love his tenderness toward his relatives and the unwavering support they offer him, even as I ache for the events that led Francis to upend his previous life. The fact that both men have been through so much in their history yet they both still have such a positive outlook on life is inspirational, especially during these dark times. The use of famous Hollywood couples as names for the various reptiles tickled me, and I was uplifted by the end of the story, although I am very anxious to read about Cousin Derek getting his HEA with the sexy men who are pursuing him. I have added this talented author to my list of those to be on the lookout for and I look forward to reading more captivating and enjoyable tales.
A copy of this title was provided for review
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Gosh, I REALLY enjoyed this.
I really LIKED both mains - Kendall, reptile farmer, and Francis, owner of a event center. When Francis comes to Foggy Basin, after a really bad experience in the city at his uncle's firm, he buys a large plot of land with a large house and outbuildings, in order to turn it into an event center/retreat. His neighbor is Kendall, fireman and reptile farmer, who he'd met at a Pride event several months previously. The attraction is still there. I loved how they talked about everything, I loved how they negotiated things first. It's a romance between two very kind, mature adults who get exactly what they need from each other. Even the side characters were fun - both moms and the daughter were well-written female characters with actual interests and plans of their own.
All the detail about the reptile farm, and how Francis was setting up his business were really interesting too.
There is an age gap, but everyone here is an adult making adult decisions. Francis is the sunshine in the romance, although I don't think I'd call Kendall a 'grump'. There's plenty of real family here - people who are related and get along with each other - that's a nice thing to find. Overall really entertaining read - I was sorry to see it end because these guys were just so INTERESTING.
I really LIKED both mains - Kendall, reptile farmer, and Francis, owner of a event center. When Francis comes to Foggy Basin, after a really bad experience in the city at his uncle's firm, he buys a large plot of land with a large house and outbuildings, in order to turn it into an event center/retreat. His neighbor is Kendall, fireman and reptile farmer, who he'd met at a Pride event several months previously. The attraction is still there. I loved how they talked about everything, I loved how they negotiated things first. It's a romance between two very kind, mature adults who get exactly what they need from each other. Even the side characters were fun - both moms and the daughter were well-written female characters with actual interests and plans of their own.
All the detail about the reptile farm, and how Francis was setting up his business were really interesting too.
There is an age gap, but everyone here is an adult making adult decisions. Francis is the sunshine in the romance, although I don't think I'd call Kendall a 'grump'. There's plenty of real family here - people who are related and get along with each other - that's a nice thing to find. Overall really entertaining read - I was sorry to see it end because these guys were just so INTERESTING.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed this story. After reading the short about Francis and Kendall's first meeting I was looking forward to more. There were 2 things that kept this from being a 5 star read for me (I gave it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5). First, the running joke of Francis always saying the name of the town wrong got really old for me. Second, there were a couple places where the wrong person's name was used which confused me about who had the point of view for a bit until I realised. In the grand scheme of things these are minor quibbles though and watching Francis and Kendall build a relationship around communication and being true to themselves was lovely. The supporting cast was a delight as well and the entire story had a very found family vibe to it which I'm always a fan of. I also liked that the baggage both men were carrying was dealt with realistically. I'll be keeping an eye out for Derek's story for sure as I'd love to catch up with this cast of characters. Definitely worth checking out if you want to read about two men being wonderfully supportive of each other as they form a relationship.
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.***
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.***
Review of advance copy
This story continues where “That’s What Pride is Made of” left off (technically you don’t need to read that one first but I think it works better with it than without). After taking some time to wallow following a traumatic event, Francis has begun the process of rebuilding himself in a delightful mix of sassy and vulnerable. His plan to create an artist/writer retreat begins with moving in next door to Kendall, the firefighter with the breathtaking smile and an escape-artist giant tortoise. The way that the two of them looked after and encouraged each other was beautiful. There is some angst due to both of them having not-pretty pasts, but it is dealt with well and the overall feeling/tone of the book is light. There were a few odd turns of phrase at the start (i.e. the look he looked my way) but either I got used to them or they were only at the beginning of the book.
As part of the Foggy Basin series, there is some mention of what I’m assuming are couples from other books, however this book does stand alone just fine. That being said, I will keep an eye out for Francis’ cousin Derek’s story as I wouldn’t mind reading about his firefighter sandwich.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As part of the Foggy Basin series, there is some mention of what I’m assuming are couples from other books, however this book does stand alone just fine. That being said, I will keep an eye out for Francis’ cousin Derek’s story as I wouldn’t mind reading about his firefighter sandwich.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5* rounded up.
This is now the full story which started with the author's short introduction “That’s What Pride is Made Of" a couple of months ago.
I really enjoyed reading the full story, firefighters, escape tortoises, a man who is rebuilding his life by helping others, meddling family members and plenty of small town.
Both guys have plenty of baggage and I love how both are helping each other working through it and building their own life together.
Kendall is always the caretaker, always the one looking out for others. It is just so great to see how Francis is realising it an ensuring that for him, Kendall is the one who needs taken care off.
There is plenty of chemistry between these two, there is a significant age gap but it really works for both of them, it's not a a cradle snatching story, Francis has plenty of life experience. They talk, they accept that it's better to date instead of jumping straight into bed and they behave like adult.
Sometimes it dragged a bit and I am not 100% sure about the event in the last 20% but overall I really enjoyed the story.
This is now the full story which started with the author's short introduction “That’s What Pride is Made Of" a couple of months ago.
I really enjoyed reading the full story, firefighters, escape tortoises, a man who is rebuilding his life by helping others, meddling family members and plenty of small town.
Both guys have plenty of baggage and I love how both are helping each other working through it and building their own life together.
Kendall is always the caretaker, always the one looking out for others. It is just so great to see how Francis is realising it an ensuring that for him, Kendall is the one who needs taken care off.
There is plenty of chemistry between these two, there is a significant age gap but it really works for both of them, it's not a a cradle snatching story, Francis has plenty of life experience. They talk, they accept that it's better to date instead of jumping straight into bed and they behave like adult.
Sometimes it dragged a bit and I am not 100% sure about the event in the last 20% but overall I really enjoyed the story.
August 14, 2026
Running gags, an escape artist giant tortice, and happy endings - oh my! This book brings out all the warm fuzzy feelings expected from R.L. Merrill. A pride-day meet-cute becomes the opportunity for Francis and Kendall to get to know one another differently than most new neighbors would. Add in Kendall's herpetarium of all kinds of reptiles (except snakes - No snakes!), meddling firefighter buddies, and an auntie who knows best, and you have a recipie for a super sweet slow burn romance.
While the romance is slow burn, the pacing is not. The dialog is engaging, the side characters are a delight, and the descriptions of the sancturary and event areas are so vivid. And everyone needs a well meaning but frustrating auntie or two. A lovely addition to a series that is fast becoming a favorite.
Recommended for fans of V.L. Locey, Rory Maxwell, and Fae Quin.
* I received an eARC via GRR in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and are posted without compensation. *
While the romance is slow burn, the pacing is not. The dialog is engaging, the side characters are a delight, and the descriptions of the sancturary and event areas are so vivid. And everyone needs a well meaning but frustrating auntie or two. A lovely addition to a series that is fast becoming a favorite.
Recommended for fans of V.L. Locey, Rory Maxwell, and Fae Quin.
* I received an eARC via GRR in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and are posted without compensation. *
August 16, 2026
DREAMS AND REPTILES by RL Merrill is a small-town m/m romance set in season three of the multi-author Foggy Basin series. Former finance worker bee Francis Liang leaves the big city behind when he's voluntold by his cousin Derek to help at the town's inaugural Pride event, and falls in love with the beautiful town and gets to know some of its residents. He's inspired to rediscover his inner confidence and talents and decides to acquire a property to create a haven for others to do the same. It doesn't hurt that hunky firefighter Kendall Warren is one of the welcoming residents...
RL Merrill's characters are engaging and the town is warmly appealing. I loved seeing Francis and Kendall not only get to know one another and build a solid friendship and partnership, but also loved how integral they are a part of building a community that helps bring out the best in themselves and generates hope. An ultimately joyful story, and I look forward to more from the talented Ms Merrill.
RL Merrill's characters are engaging and the town is warmly appealing. I loved seeing Francis and Kendall not only get to know one another and build a solid friendship and partnership, but also loved how integral they are a part of building a community that helps bring out the best in themselves and generates hope. An ultimately joyful story, and I look forward to more from the talented Ms Merrill.
Review of advance copy
I was never bored with this fun romance. Be warned, this is a mostly squishy romance, there is a description of prior assault of a main character. It’s referenced throughout in a very general way, but gets revealed in more detail. It is extremely important for the story.
I enjoyed both snarky Francis and mostly serious Kendall. R.L. Merrill has done a wonderful job building back stories for each. Even secondary characters of a Francis’ mother and aunt as well as Kendall’s daughter have back stories wound within the main plot.
Part of an eleven book, multi-author series, Dreams and Reptiles was my first read in the series and of this author. I’m looking forward to others in the series to discover more about the other characters. There is an introduction of a throuple I’d love to read more about.
All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed both snarky Francis and mostly serious Kendall. R.L. Merrill has done a wonderful job building back stories for each. Even secondary characters of a Francis’ mother and aunt as well as Kendall’s daughter have back stories wound within the main plot.
Part of an eleven book, multi-author series, Dreams and Reptiles was my first read in the series and of this author. I’m looking forward to others in the series to discover more about the other characters. There is an introduction of a throuple I’d love to read more about.
All opinions are my own.
August 15, 2026
Kendall has had a lot to deal with in a relatively short period of time and found Foggy Basin to be a refuge. Francis has endured some very heavy things and needs a change. A chance trip to Foggy Basin for Francis and his cousin proves fateful indeed. He met Kendall and shared a fun dance and spectacular kiss that changed both their lives.
What is then set in motion is a series of decisions that Francis & Kendall will come to appreciate more and more as time goes on. Their love grows out of mutual respect and understanding. The HEA is joyful and well-earned.
The sometimes heavy themes are offset by the comic relief of all the substitute names of Foggy Basin that Francis comes up with. I think my favorite was Froggy Buttons. I bet the author had such a great time dreaming up all of them.
What is then set in motion is a series of decisions that Francis & Kendall will come to appreciate more and more as time goes on. Their love grows out of mutual respect and understanding. The HEA is joyful and well-earned.
The sometimes heavy themes are offset by the comic relief of all the substitute names of Foggy Basin that Francis comes up with. I think my favorite was Froggy Buttons. I bet the author had such a great time dreaming up all of them.
August 17, 2026
I really enjoyed Francis and Kendall’s story. Their relationship had a lovely gradual build, with plenty of time for them to learn about each other and let trust develop naturally rather than rushing into things.
I especially liked the way their new lives in Foggy Basin came together alongside their respective projects. Kendall’s reptile sanctuary adds something different to the usual small-town setting, and the various animals and colourful side characters brought plenty of charm to the story.
There’s a nice balance of romance, humour and emotional healing here, with two men who have both been through a lot finally finding someone who makes the future feel a little brighter. A sweet addition to the Foggy Basin world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I especially liked the way their new lives in Foggy Basin came together alongside their respective projects. Kendall’s reptile sanctuary adds something different to the usual small-town setting, and the various animals and colourful side characters brought plenty of charm to the story.
There’s a nice balance of romance, humour and emotional healing here, with two men who have both been through a lot finally finding someone who makes the future feel a little brighter. A sweet addition to the Foggy Basin world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2026
Review of ARC received from GRR.
Another lovely visit to Foggy Basin. This one is the story of Francis, who had a few bad things happen to him last year, the least of which was losing his job. But he has got a settlement from that and he needs to move on with his life. So he heads to Foggy Basin for Pride and his cousin Derek who lives there shows him a property where he can do what he would love to do, give others a chance to make their dreams come true, one way and another. Kendall is a firefighter making his own non firefighter dreams come true by opening a reptile sanctuary (for turtles and lizards, not snakes) in his home town of Foggy Basin. They are also neighbours. Who end up exchanging a lot more than cups of sugar. A lovely story, and I love the supporting characters and family in this one a lot. Hope to read Derek's story very soon.
Another lovely visit to Foggy Basin. This one is the story of Francis, who had a few bad things happen to him last year, the least of which was losing his job. But he has got a settlement from that and he needs to move on with his life. So he heads to Foggy Basin for Pride and his cousin Derek who lives there shows him a property where he can do what he would love to do, give others a chance to make their dreams come true, one way and another. Kendall is a firefighter making his own non firefighter dreams come true by opening a reptile sanctuary (for turtles and lizards, not snakes) in his home town of Foggy Basin. They are also neighbours. Who end up exchanging a lot more than cups of sugar. A lovely story, and I love the supporting characters and family in this one a lot. Hope to read Derek's story very soon.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
4.5 rounded up-
The book was super cute!! Another hallmark contender for sure! Kendall and Francis are absolutely adorable together, their connection from the very first meet (in That’s What Pride Is Made Of) is unlike any other. My favorite thing about them is their ability to communicate their wants and needs and all the difficult things. There is absolutely no angst between them and I love of. I also enjoyed how supportive they were of each other, Francis getting over his fear of the “dinosaurs” and even learning how to properly care for them was so sweet. And Kendall always being there as an extra set of hands to help when there was an event.
This series has been great so far and I cannot wait to read more of it.
I received this ARC from GRR and these are my honest opinions!!
The book was super cute!! Another hallmark contender for sure! Kendall and Francis are absolutely adorable together, their connection from the very first meet (in That’s What Pride Is Made Of) is unlike any other. My favorite thing about them is their ability to communicate their wants and needs and all the difficult things. There is absolutely no angst between them and I love of. I also enjoyed how supportive they were of each other, Francis getting over his fear of the “dinosaurs” and even learning how to properly care for them was so sweet. And Kendall always being there as an extra set of hands to help when there was an event.
This series has been great so far and I cannot wait to read more of it.
I received this ARC from GRR and these are my honest opinions!!
Review of advance copy
This is a great story about Francis, a former financer, and Kendall, a fire fighter. Francis and Kendall met at Pride and shared an amazing kiss. Francis had been stuck in a rut until he went to Foggy Basin Pride but found a place for a fresh start. Both Francis and Kendall have tragedies in their past (divorce, death of loved ones, physical assaults, and parental disownment/rejection- if these are triggers be aware), but their love story is so sweet and amazing. I love how this couple becomes neighbors then friends then lovers. I highly recommend this book as long as certain subjects are not triggering. The fun and happiness these two have is worth the read.
Story 4.5, Spice 3
I received a free copy of this book via Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Story 4.5, Spice 3
I received a free copy of this book via Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 23, 2026
I love stories where we get to read about characters building something both emotionally and in the read world and I love the Foggy Basin universe so I figured from the blurb this was going to be a winner and it definitely was. Watching Francis fall in love with Foggy Basin during Pride and then figure out that he wants to renovate a place outside town and help others realize their dreams when his life had been so torn apart was beautiful. Then to also get to see Kendall work on building his dream of a reptile sanctuary right next door while building a relationship with Francis was extra special. The reptiles added some extra fun to the story that was definitely different from the usual dogs or cats. A definite winner in this series.
Review of advance copy
Dreams and Reptiles is part of the multi author Foggy Basin Season Three series. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the whole series. This is the story of Francis and Kendall. This is a slow burn romance that I really enjoyed. I loved the characters and watching them build a relationship while working through their issues. I loved the humor , sweet moments and escape artist tortoises. This was a wonderful low angst story that is perfect as a pallet cleanser between heavier stuff. I can't wait to see what R.L. Merrill writes next. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
received a free review copy
received a free review copy
August 7, 2026
During Foggy Basins first ever Pride event Francis visits his cousin Derek and falls in love with the small town and decides this will be the place to start his life over. Kendall a local FB firefighter and reptile sanctuary owner has an amazing first kiss and cannot get the cousin of his realtor out of his head. They once again cross paths when Francis happens to move next door to Kendall. Both men have been burned in their pasts each have trouble being vulnerable again. With a beautiful slow burn over a shared fence, our two men learn what is like to love and trust again. Both men show a deep understanding and need to show their partner unnerving support for the people allow in their lives. These two have a steady courtship in letting the other understand what makes them tick and make the others dreams come to fruition. With a cast of amazing side characters that you are sure to fall for just as hard as you do for Francis and Kendall. RL does a brilliant job in combing snark, animal shenanigans with just right amount of past trauma to keep you griped on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This was my first story from RL and can say that it will not be my last.
August 19, 2026
Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
This author is so, so good - with a unique ability to craft truly demential characters, authenticity flawed and realistically lovely. I love an age gap romance and Francis and Kendall definitely deliver on the romance, these two have a really appealing and natural chemistry. It’s super slow burn, which honestly m isn’t my favorite but the characters and setting were exceptional. I love that these two found each other while creating their own perfect sanctuary, one for reptiles and one for people. It really made it easy to root for these two.
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This author is so, so good - with a unique ability to craft truly demential characters, authenticity flawed and realistically lovely. I love an age gap romance and Francis and Kendall definitely deliver on the romance, these two have a really appealing and natural chemistry. It’s super slow burn, which honestly m isn’t my favorite but the characters and setting were exceptional. I love that these two found each other while creating their own perfect sanctuary, one for reptiles and one for people. It really made it easy to root for these two.
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August 13, 2026
If you are like me, and love small town age gay romances this book is for you. It was so fun sweet and cute. Francis and Kendall share a kiss at pride and suddenly become neighbors and love starts. Both men are afraid to commit but cannot fight the heart and what the heart wants. I want to live on Foggy Basin and hang with all these fun characters. This is the type of book you grab a glass of your favorite beverage and sit back in your favorite chair and smile as you fall in love with these men and their town.
August 14, 2026
This is a fun, sweet romance. Small town, cute characters, a few just the right amount of quirky. An amusing meet-cute.
I really liked both guys. They were both kind, passionate, and generally just good people.
These two neighbours end up forging a friendship and romance while supporting each other in their passions and plans, which is really quite lovely. There are a number of shenanigans involving escaping reptiles, misbehaved guests, and nosy neighbours, but it’s mostly all fun, and reminds of how wonderful the town of Foggy Basin is.
I really liked both guys. They were both kind, passionate, and generally just good people.
These two neighbours end up forging a friendship and romance while supporting each other in their passions and plans, which is really quite lovely. There are a number of shenanigans involving escaping reptiles, misbehaved guests, and nosy neighbours, but it’s mostly all fun, and reminds of how wonderful the town of Foggy Basin is.
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