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Rig Bros #1
Dirty Rotten Love: MM Awakening Romance
Looks like the oil isn’t the only thing getting drilled.
Life on an oil rig in the North Sea is no joke.
Add in a supervisor who is as grumpy as hell and making our lives a nightmare because he’s not been laid in months, and you get…
Well, you get a drunken card game with the crew, where the loser has to go offer himself to the supervisor and take one for the team.
I’ve never been a loser, but apparently there is a first time for everything.
So here I am, knocking on the boss’s door.
When he answers wearing just a towel, my mind measures my manliness against his and concludes, yep. Time to roll over.
FML.
Dirty Rotten Love is a MM romance about a very hot awakening, within an age gap, boss / employee, secret relationship, that grows between a grumpy sunshine pairing.
Expect brilliant banter, laugh out loud moments, and a love story that packs a punch.
This book is book 1 of the Rig Bros series of interconnected standalones. Each book follows a different couple, with no cliffhangers, and happy ever after always guaranteed.
Life on an oil rig in the North Sea is no joke.
Add in a supervisor who is as grumpy as hell and making our lives a nightmare because he’s not been laid in months, and you get…
Well, you get a drunken card game with the crew, where the loser has to go offer himself to the supervisor and take one for the team.
I’ve never been a loser, but apparently there is a first time for everything.
So here I am, knocking on the boss’s door.
When he answers wearing just a towel, my mind measures my manliness against his and concludes, yep. Time to roll over.
FML.
Dirty Rotten Love is a MM romance about a very hot awakening, within an age gap, boss / employee, secret relationship, that grows between a grumpy sunshine pairing.
Expect brilliant banter, laugh out loud moments, and a love story that packs a punch.
This book is book 1 of the Rig Bros series of interconnected standalones. Each book follows a different couple, with no cliffhangers, and happy ever after always guaranteed.
235 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2026
About the author
Jessica Jackman
12 books70 followersCoffee, spicy books, and a profound disrespect for tomorrow (aka reading until four in the morning). My three favorite things.
I aim to write the kind of stories that keep you up way too late, while squealing, kicking your feet, and falling hopelessly in love with your new book boyfriend (or two... I don’t judge).
Grab that triple-shot brown sugar shaken espresso. Trust me, we’re both going to need it.
Let’s spread those pages.
Love,
Jessica Jackman.
I aim to write the kind of stories that keep you up way too late, while squealing, kicking your feet, and falling hopelessly in love with your new book boyfriend (or two... I don’t judge).
Grab that triple-shot brown sugar shaken espresso. Trust me, we’re both going to need it.
Let’s spread those pages.
Love,
Jessica Jackman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
June 16, 2026
3.25*** stars
GODDDDDDD, THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY HERE!!!!!!!!!!
there is a lot to love here but also SO MUCH TO COMPLAIN about! this book almost feels like rage bait, ngl.
i loved Mac and Rory and i loved their love story. i loved the setup on this oil rig in the North Sea, i loved the crew and camaraderie.
but hell, this author doesn’t seem in the business of explaining things to her readers. i thought about making a list about all the stuff that didn’t make sense or just left a lot of question marks in my head.
oftentimes we readers complain about a book being way too long for its story, things being over-explained or over-described and a hundred pages could’ve easily been chopped off. not here though. you would assume that the author is aware that most readers are not familiar with the world of and the work on an oil rig and you have to set this up properly. but not this one.
you know what, I’m just making that list after all.
♖ how many people are in crew green?
♖ what are their jobs?
♖ how long is a rotation?
♖ how does an oil rig work in simple terms?
♖ how many people are there on this rig and where the hell are they?
♖ why does this rig feel so empty besides the few people of crew green?
♖ why does Mac seem like the only person with responsibility and authority on that rig?
♖ where is the mentioned crew red?
♖ who’s responsible when crew green is off duty?
♖ how was the rest on the rig preparing for that storm?
♖ what happened to that storm?
♖ how did Rory get back to his cabin that first night?
(list is very likely incomplete)
i tried googling a lot of that, but what i found did not add up with the vague information we got from the author during the book. nothing really made sense.
which is especially sad because i love when authors find new and exciting settings to place their romances. probably why i will still cling to this series and will read on if there is more to come. (even if the author’s writing style is… unique and takes some getting used to.)
i really wished the author would’ve made this the story it deserved to be.
thank you, Gaby, for buddy reading with me. ♡
***************
Rig Bros Series
Book 1 - Dirty Rotten Love - 3.25 stars
Book 2 - tbd (Brockie and Spanner?)
GODDDDDDD, THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY HERE!!!!!!!!!!
there is a lot to love here but also SO MUCH TO COMPLAIN about! this book almost feels like rage bait, ngl.
i loved Mac and Rory and i loved their love story. i loved the setup on this oil rig in the North Sea, i loved the crew and camaraderie.
but hell, this author doesn’t seem in the business of explaining things to her readers. i thought about making a list about all the stuff that didn’t make sense or just left a lot of question marks in my head.
oftentimes we readers complain about a book being way too long for its story, things being over-explained or over-described and a hundred pages could’ve easily been chopped off. not here though. you would assume that the author is aware that most readers are not familiar with the world of and the work on an oil rig and you have to set this up properly. but not this one.
you know what, I’m just making that list after all.
♖ how many people are in crew green?
♖ what are their jobs?
♖ how long is a rotation?
♖ how does an oil rig work in simple terms?
♖ how many people are there on this rig and where the hell are they?
♖ why does this rig feel so empty besides the few people of crew green?
♖ why does Mac seem like the only person with responsibility and authority on that rig?
♖ where is the mentioned crew red?
♖ who’s responsible when crew green is off duty?
♖ how was the rest on the rig preparing for that storm?
♖ what happened to that storm?
♖ how did Rory get back to his cabin that first night?
(list is very likely incomplete)
i tried googling a lot of that, but what i found did not add up with the vague information we got from the author during the book. nothing really made sense.
which is especially sad because i love when authors find new and exciting settings to place their romances. probably why i will still cling to this series and will read on if there is more to come. (even if the author’s writing style is… unique and takes some getting used to.)
Rory will finish his rotation and go home, but he will come back for the next one, and I will be here, and that will be enough, I have decided that it will be enough, and if there is a voice somewhere underneath that decision that says it won’t be, that more has already happened here than enough can contain, I am not listening to it.
Not today.
Today I watch Rory work against the backdrop of the North Sea in the late afternoon light, and I let myself have it, all of it, the warmth and the want and the quiet devastating hope of it, for exactly as long as the light lasts.
The light holds for a little longer.
I let myself have it.
i really wished the author would’ve made this the story it deserved to be.
thank you, Gaby, for buddy reading with me. ♡
***************
Rig Bros Series
Book 1 - Dirty Rotten Love - 3.25 stars
Book 2 - tbd (Brockie and Spanner?)
July 19, 2026
“A MacLeod mood management rota.” He nods. “I’ve heard worse ideas.”
Reader, you have not heard worse ideas.
I expected this to be a total hornfest but it ended up being surprisingly sweet.
A harebrained scheme by a crew on an oil rig where they decide someone has to fuck their supervisor so he can chill out a bit and not be a bitter pill all the time.
Until the unlucky someone starts liking it a little more than he anticipated, especially as he thought he was straight.
Did I think it was ridiculous that one MC knew they were in love 37% in?
Yes.
Did I think the way the love declaration came about was dramatic for the sake of drama?
Absolutely.
Did I eat it up regardless and love them and their ridiculous near instant falling in love journey even though I hate instalove and workplace romance AND dares as a plot device?
Also surprisingly, yes.
Kind of loved how they'd each go momentarily offline when the other would do or say something they didn't expect (and which hinted at them being more than just two guys 'broadening their horizons' lmao).
Love when MCs are giddy for each other and doing their damnest to hide it.
Colleagues with benefits continues to be a nightmare trope but this one got past my defenses, can't lie.
Enough that I'd be open to reading something about Spanner and Brockie. Stop orbiting that man like a planet and shoot the damn shot.
Reader, you have not heard worse ideas.
I expected this to be a total hornfest but it ended up being surprisingly sweet.
A harebrained scheme by a crew on an oil rig where they decide someone has to fuck their supervisor so he can chill out a bit and not be a bitter pill all the time.
Until the unlucky someone starts liking it a little more than he anticipated, especially as he thought he was straight.
Did I think it was ridiculous that one MC knew they were in love 37% in?
Yes.
Did I think the way the love declaration came about was dramatic for the sake of drama?
Absolutely.
Did I eat it up regardless and love them and their ridiculous near instant falling in love journey even though I hate instalove and workplace romance AND dares as a plot device?
Also surprisingly, yes.
Kind of loved how they'd each go momentarily offline when the other would do or say something they didn't expect (and which hinted at them being more than just two guys 'broadening their horizons' lmao).
Love when MCs are giddy for each other and doing their damnest to hide it.
Colleagues with benefits continues to be a nightmare trope but this one got past my defenses, can't lie.
Enough that I'd be open to reading something about Spanner and Brockie. Stop orbiting that man like a planet and shoot the damn shot.
June 16, 2026
What a wasted opportunity, the idea was there, but the execution flopped. This was such a meh book, and that's the best I can say to describe it.
This rig is in a space-time continuum where time passes differently because there’s no other explanation as to why the days keep changing, and there’s a moment where it’s been weeks, but also the rotation has gone on just for 10 days and for forever at the same time. The math just wasn’t mathing.
Is Mac the ONLY supervisor in this rig? What does the green crew do? Are there more workers here? Nothing made sense. Where were all the HSA supervisors?
The instalove wasn’t believable in the slightest. The love declaration was extremely cheesy, and the whole “You are half of my soul” made me laugh and angry at the same time. What in the SOA is this? These guys have barely spent any time together.
It just seems the author didn’t even try to research properly how Oil Rigs work. Like, she could have at least watched the Mark Wahlberg movie
This rig is in a space-time continuum where time passes differently because there’s no other explanation as to why the days keep changing, and there’s a moment where it’s been weeks, but also the rotation has gone on just for 10 days and for forever at the same time. The math just wasn’t mathing.
Is Mac the ONLY supervisor in this rig? What does the green crew do? Are there more workers here? Nothing made sense. Where were all the HSA supervisors?
The instalove wasn’t believable in the slightest. The love declaration was extremely cheesy, and the whole “You are half of my soul” made me laugh and angry at the same time. What in the SOA is this? These guys have barely spent any time together.
It just seems the author didn’t even try to research properly how Oil Rigs work. Like, she could have at least watched the Mark Wahlberg movie
July 23, 2026
i expected a little horny snack and got a knife in my chest instead. thank you very much.
(when you keep refusing to read serious, emotional books, so they start disguising themselves as trashy, smutty ones 🙄🙄🙄)
shit, the pining in this is so, so intense. and painful. and beautiful!
I should end it. I should, and I will, and it will be the sensible thing and the right thing and the professional thing, and Rory will be fine, Rory is always fine, Rory has that quality of resilience that looks like sunshine and is actually something much tougher underneath and he will land on his feet and go on and be magnificent. I will be fine too. Eventually.
the writing style is very unusual, and it might not be for everyone, but i enjoyed it immensely. it’s sharp and genuine and builds these intense waves of emotion that leave you breathless. i honestly don’t even know how to describe it. it also slightly changes from pov to pov, which completely charmed me and made the characters feel very real.
it’s also hilarious.
until it’s not 😐
until you get stabbed by another paragraph of pining.
He belongs here. Not just on this rig but here, in the shape of things, in the space the North Sea makes when it is gray and the light goes silver and something that has been alone for a long time suddenly has company.
and another.
I am reliable and constant and sufficient. Tonight I lie in the dark and I let myself know, just once, just tonight, that sufficient is not the same as enough, and has never been, and never will be.
🚬
(when you keep refusing to read serious, emotional books, so they start disguising themselves as trashy, smutty ones 🙄🙄🙄)
shit, the pining in this is so, so intense. and painful. and beautiful!
I should end it. I should, and I will, and it will be the sensible thing and the right thing and the professional thing, and Rory will be fine, Rory is always fine, Rory has that quality of resilience that looks like sunshine and is actually something much tougher underneath and he will land on his feet and go on and be magnificent. I will be fine too. Eventually.
the writing style is very unusual, and it might not be for everyone, but i enjoyed it immensely. it’s sharp and genuine and builds these intense waves of emotion that leave you breathless. i honestly don’t even know how to describe it. it also slightly changes from pov to pov, which completely charmed me and made the characters feel very real.
it’s also hilarious.
until it’s not 😐
until you get stabbed by another paragraph of pining.
He belongs here. Not just on this rig but here, in the shape of things, in the space the North Sea makes when it is gray and the light goes silver and something that has been alone for a long time suddenly has company.
and another.
I am reliable and constant and sufficient. Tonight I lie in the dark and I let myself know, just once, just tonight, that sufficient is not the same as enough, and has never been, and never will be.
🚬
June 20, 2026
Rory + Mac (MacLeod) 🖤
Boss/employee | Grumpy/sunshine | Age gap | Misunderstood MC
"How did you know to bring me up here?"
"Clear sky doesn't last long out here. I checked the forecast."
"But how did you know I'd never seen them?"
"You mentioned it. Your first day."
To be loved is to be seen.
I loved Rory and Mac so this is getting a good rating but I did struggle with aspects of the book. If you're the author this is your warning to stop reading if you dont want to see negatives on an otherwise positive review.
The negative:
They never once said I love you to each other. You knew they did because of their monologues but they never said it to each other.
This book has a very unique writing style that took a bit to get used to. Made the 200 page book feel more like 400.
It needed some editing as well. There were quite a few repeated lines that took me out of the story. Sometimes a paragraph apart but there would be two sentences verbatim at the beginning of two separate paragraphs.
Also:
What the hell is that cover and title. I could see a play on words with the "dirty" since they're oil workers. But rotten? Their love and tenderness was anything but. I dont understand the thought process there.
It's okay to just have a sweet romantic book without trying to cater to the crowd that needs to be punched in the face to cum.
⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Oil rig workers
Boss + employee
Age gap (16 years)
22 and 38
Started with a bet and a dare
Grumpy sunshine
First time with a guy
Ass virgin
Good boy
Rimming
Surprising gentleness from the grump
First kiss in front of the northern lights on the rigs helicopter pad
Mac hasn't kissed anyone in 9 years
Mac has basically been secretly in love with the sunshine that is Rory since he first stepped foot on the rig
Eye contact soul binding sex
Tenderness
Misunderstood MC
Strict roles
HFN, maybe HEA - we dont really see a glimpse into their future. No epilogue.
Warnings/icks:
Other crew members joking about going to take turns sleeping with Mac but they dont. Mac only had eyes for Rory anyway.
Mac's ex husband cheated on him with his best friend
3rd act breakup - Mac finds out it all started with a dare and it breaks him
Major storm on the rig resulting in dangerous rescue between MCs and the crew
Boss/employee | Grumpy/sunshine | Age gap | Misunderstood MC
"How did you know to bring me up here?"
"Clear sky doesn't last long out here. I checked the forecast."
"But how did you know I'd never seen them?"
"You mentioned it. Your first day."
To be loved is to be seen.
I loved Rory and Mac so this is getting a good rating but I did struggle with aspects of the book. If you're the author this is your warning to stop reading if you dont want to see negatives on an otherwise positive review.
The negative:
They never once said I love you to each other. You knew they did because of their monologues but they never said it to each other.
This book has a very unique writing style that took a bit to get used to. Made the 200 page book feel more like 400.
It needed some editing as well. There were quite a few repeated lines that took me out of the story. Sometimes a paragraph apart but there would be two sentences verbatim at the beginning of two separate paragraphs.
Also:
What the hell is that cover and title. I could see a play on words with the "dirty" since they're oil workers. But rotten? Their love and tenderness was anything but. I dont understand the thought process there.
It's okay to just have a sweet romantic book without trying to cater to the crowd that needs to be punched in the face to cum.
⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Oil rig workers
Boss + employee
Age gap (16 years)
22 and 38
Started with a bet and a dare
Grumpy sunshine
First time with a guy
Ass virgin
Good boy
Rimming
Surprising gentleness from the grump
First kiss in front of the northern lights on the rigs helicopter pad
Mac hasn't kissed anyone in 9 years
Mac has basically been secretly in love with the sunshine that is Rory since he first stepped foot on the rig
Eye contact soul binding sex
Tenderness
Misunderstood MC
Strict roles
HFN, maybe HEA - we dont really see a glimpse into their future. No epilogue.
Warnings/icks:
Other crew members joking about going to take turns sleeping with Mac but they dont. Mac only had eyes for Rory anyway.
Mac's ex husband cheated on him with his best friend
3rd act breakup - Mac finds out it all started with a dare and it breaks him
Major storm on the rig resulting in dangerous rescue between MCs and the crew
September 12, 2026
I adored this! I could not stop reading and I basically inhaled this book, which is a big thing for me lately because so much does not keep my attention anymore.
I loved Rory, he is impossible not to love and I understood why Mac as drawn to him. Mac was quiet and so lonely and he just was beautiful.
The writing was lyrical and gorgeous. I am checking out this authors other books and I hope we get Brockie and Strapper’s story soon!
I loved Rory, he is impossible not to love and I understood why Mac as drawn to him. Mac was quiet and so lonely and he just was beautiful.
The writing was lyrical and gorgeous. I am checking out this authors other books and I hope we get Brockie and Strapper’s story soon!
August 22, 2026
¿Por qué repite lo mismo hasta 5 veces en un mismo párrafo? Sin esa narrativa tan pesada y un poco más de tiempo desarrollando la relación y la trama hubiera sido mucho mejor.
Buena idea y personajes muy buenos, pero se pierden entre monólogos internos eternos.
2.5 ⭐️
Buena idea y personajes muy buenos, pero se pierden entre monólogos internos eternos.
2.5 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2026
There's only so many times I can read a variation of the sentence "with the (x) of a man/someone who (x)". Sometimes it happens 3 times in 1 paragraph. Ultimately, this narrative style was not for me. Short and snappy sentences paired with very long, repetitive ones. I was willing to accept maybe it was just Rory who had a slightly annoying inner monologue, but Mac was no different in that regard.
Overall disappointed. Was intrigued by the premise, as I know very little about oil rigs and the dynamic is something I often enjoy. Despite being a short book, I still learn nothing about the setting, what anybody does, and the rig feels empty, as others have said. Half the words that are used on repeating the same monologuing sentences in different ways could've been used on expanding its premise.
Dynamic between Rory and Mac was fine. Personally in a book this long, I don't always expect believability - I'm here to have fun - but narrative style ruined most of the enjoyment. Don't think I'll be reading from this author again.
Overall disappointed. Was intrigued by the premise, as I know very little about oil rigs and the dynamic is something I often enjoy. Despite being a short book, I still learn nothing about the setting, what anybody does, and the rig feels empty, as others have said. Half the words that are used on repeating the same monologuing sentences in different ways could've been used on expanding its premise.
Dynamic between Rory and Mac was fine. Personally in a book this long, I don't always expect believability - I'm here to have fun - but narrative style ruined most of the enjoyment. Don't think I'll be reading from this author again.
July 28, 2026
Sooo cute
Necesito más páginas de ellos dos😭
Necesito más páginas de ellos dos😭
June 15, 2026
I had a hard time rating this. I really enjoyed it but there are some things that kept me from giving it 5 stars.
It honestly started out as 5 stars. I was loving it so much but ultimately by the end I just really liked it instead of loved it.
I absolutely loved the characters. Both of them! Rory is just a ray of sunshine and he’s so funny and easy to be around. And then you have Mac who is seen as such a grump but when you get to his POV you see this man is like the sweetest guy ever. Ugh I loved Mac so much. I felt so bad for him throughout the book. Not for his past but just the way he thought about himself. And how he was treated by people who didn’t know the real him. These two were so sweet together I wish we could have seen them together more or even gotten an epilogue.
Okay so for the reasons I couldn’t give it 5 stars:
So I loved the writing at first. I found it super witty and funny and I couldn’t put the book down. But after a while the writing started to get annoying. It became very repetitive! Also this book was like 80% monologue and 20% dialogue which was rough to read. Being in the characters head chapter after chapter without any dialogue became quite draining.
Another thing was the conflict and third act break up. I get it needed to happen, I wasn’t mad about that but I did feel like Rory should have made more of an effort to talk to Mac about it. He tried once after it happened and then just let it go…I didn’t like that. I also wasn’t a fan of Dazza. I have major beef with him. He owed Rory an apology and he never gave it to him. He’s also a grown man and needs to learn to think before he speaks. I hated how they kept making excuses for him like oh that’s just Dazza being Dazza. Like no he needs to be called out!!
Also what’s up with them not saying I love you to each other? They both said they love the other in their monologues but they never said it to each other. I don’t get that. Such a missed opportunity.
There was a feeling of this being somewhat unfinished and left with a few questions.
Anyway I’m definitely going to be reading more from this author and hopefully we get Brockie and Spanner next!!
No cheating between characters (past cheating on MC) no OM drama at all!! Third act break up. Age gap 22/38
It honestly started out as 5 stars. I was loving it so much but ultimately by the end I just really liked it instead of loved it.
I absolutely loved the characters. Both of them! Rory is just a ray of sunshine and he’s so funny and easy to be around. And then you have Mac who is seen as such a grump but when you get to his POV you see this man is like the sweetest guy ever. Ugh I loved Mac so much. I felt so bad for him throughout the book. Not for his past but just the way he thought about himself. And how he was treated by people who didn’t know the real him. These two were so sweet together I wish we could have seen them together more or even gotten an epilogue.
Okay so for the reasons I couldn’t give it 5 stars:
So I loved the writing at first. I found it super witty and funny and I couldn’t put the book down. But after a while the writing started to get annoying. It became very repetitive! Also this book was like 80% monologue and 20% dialogue which was rough to read. Being in the characters head chapter after chapter without any dialogue became quite draining.
Another thing was the conflict and third act break up. I get it needed to happen, I wasn’t mad about that but I did feel like Rory should have made more of an effort to talk to Mac about it. He tried once after it happened and then just let it go…I didn’t like that. I also wasn’t a fan of Dazza. I have major beef with him. He owed Rory an apology and he never gave it to him. He’s also a grown man and needs to learn to think before he speaks. I hated how they kept making excuses for him like oh that’s just Dazza being Dazza. Like no he needs to be called out!!
Also what’s up with them not saying I love you to each other? They both said they love the other in their monologues but they never said it to each other. I don’t get that. Such a missed opportunity.
There was a feeling of this being somewhat unfinished and left with a few questions.
Anyway I’m definitely going to be reading more from this author and hopefully we get Brockie and Spanner next!!
No cheating between characters (past cheating on MC) no OM drama at all!! Third act break up. Age gap 22/38
June 16, 2026
I adored this so much **Sigh**
Macleod and Rory were wonderful and I loved all the characters on the rig. Cannot wait for the next one
Macleod and Rory were wonderful and I loved all the characters on the rig. Cannot wait for the next one
June 16, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up
October 18, 2026
S. I wish I could give this book 10 stars. I do not even know why it hit me so hard and I loved it the way that I did. everything about this book was just perfect to me. from the moment I read the first chapter with Rory, I knew there was some denial going on about his feelings towards Mac. And I loved that Mac eventually came to the realization that the dare was just what was needed to get Rory to step into his arms. He didn’t do it because of the day, he did it because of his feelings, and the dare gave him courage. I connected strongly to both characters and they both put something tender in my heart. The masks they wear and the burdens they carry.. I immediately purchased the physical book after reading the ebook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2026
4.5 STARS | BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN and SPICY, this M/M Grumpy/Sunshine Romance between a boss and his employee at a oil rig was worth every page read! I loved the relationship between Mac & Rory, and how one dare can change anything for finding the perfect match! Would definitely recommend if you want a QUICK and SWEET read!
November 7, 2026
I actually loved this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🔥🔥/5
Spoilers ahead
I don't understand why some reviews are so low for this. I mean, there is A LOT of telling. And when I say a lot, I mean there is only telling and little to no showing basically but whatever I enjoyed this. It was nice and short anyway.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🔥🔥/5
Spoilers ahead
I don't understand why some reviews are so low for this. I mean, there is A LOT of telling. And when I say a lot, I mean there is only telling and little to no showing basically but whatever I enjoyed this. It was nice and short anyway.
June 20, 2026
I’m disappointed. I thought this was going to be a really cool story with a totally new setting and instead feel really let down.
These guys don’t know each other, and really neither do we. They’re strangers, boss and employee. Sleeping together for a dare and then 2 weeks later completely in love, soul mates.
(Or it could’ve been longer than 2 weeks the time line was difficult to follow, no more than a month though.)
Rory was written with a lot of repetition, we were told over and over that he was the jokester, that he had a strong personality and so happy to fit in with the guys. Repeatedly. Mac internal monologue (which is a whole book issue, a lot is happening internally for these guys) even constantly touches on the same points about Rory, every time he sees him it’s written again how personable he is, how friendly and fun.
There were a few content warnings that I feel like were unnecessary because I don’t think they ever actually came up. Ableism, hospitalization, bullying/social exclusion, these were just not really present enough in the book to be warning readers prior.
I think if this author is planning to write more novels about oil rigs they should do a bit more research. The only way I was able to visualize this book or even understand what was being referenced is because I’ve seen Deep Water Horizon and that’s a fictionalized movie about an oil rig so who knows what’s right or wrong. They need to flesh out a lot more details about life on an oil rig.
I was intrigued by Spanner and Brockie but I don’t know that I want to read their book, if it’s coming out, just because this one was so blah.
These guys don’t know each other, and really neither do we. They’re strangers, boss and employee. Sleeping together for a dare and then 2 weeks later completely in love, soul mates.
(Or it could’ve been longer than 2 weeks the time line was difficult to follow, no more than a month though.)
Rory was written with a lot of repetition, we were told over and over that he was the jokester, that he had a strong personality and so happy to fit in with the guys. Repeatedly. Mac internal monologue (which is a whole book issue, a lot is happening internally for these guys) even constantly touches on the same points about Rory, every time he sees him it’s written again how personable he is, how friendly and fun.
There were a few content warnings that I feel like were unnecessary because I don’t think they ever actually came up. Ableism, hospitalization, bullying/social exclusion, these were just not really present enough in the book to be warning readers prior.
I think if this author is planning to write more novels about oil rigs they should do a bit more research. The only way I was able to visualize this book or even understand what was being referenced is because I’ve seen Deep Water Horizon and that’s a fictionalized movie about an oil rig so who knows what’s right or wrong. They need to flesh out a lot more details about life on an oil rig.
I was intrigued by Spanner and Brockie but I don’t know that I want to read their book, if it’s coming out, just because this one was so blah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Rory lights up rooms. I bring the shadows.
That encapsulates the exceptional, exquisite emotional and romantic journey that is the story of a quiet, feared, respected man who is revealed to be intensely lonely, falling for a much younger breath of sunshine who shares joy wherever he can, and that sunshiney man looking back and falling just as deeply. 🥹
Note…this is also a book for those, like me, with a competency kink. Ooooo competent men! 🥰
Don’t be fooled by the cover and title, which suggest a different kind of intense and raunchy read. Yes, the story includes wonderful filthy good steam, but, it would have been well-served by an Eve Holmes Northern Roots style cover. The descriptions of light on the waters of the North Sea alone…and then how the older hero sees the younger hero in comparison…this has some of the most beautiful romantic writing, showing a deeply lonely and inured to it man with a true “ghost” (not a literal one) that haunts his self-esteem, falling for a younger man who lights up everyone’s world while revealing shades of imposter syndrome…and it isn’t maudlin or overdone at all. The wistful moodiness of it is broken up with genuine friendship and humor and light moments…I fell in love with this book. Another title could have been The Scale of Water, because the meaning behind that phrase resonates throughout. Or North Sea Storm or Something Extraordinary. Because it is.
I was going along enjoying this strong age-gap (16 years), blue collar, grumpy supervisor and sunshine rookie on his first rotation on an oil rig romance, engaged in the situation as the younger man who always thought he was straight loses a game with his colleagues and actually goes through with accepting the dare that the loser has to go cheer up their intense and scary moody supervisor by offering to have sex with him.
Sounds a bit silly and unlikely, doesn’t it?
I was not prepared. For the grabbing of the shirt, the drawing into the room, the utter absolute steam heat as the tightly controlled MacLeod (I know! I know! MACLEOD!) took the younger Rory apart, piece by piece, reordered all he knew about himself and his body, and then let him go back to his bunk hours later a different man. Still sunny. Still the best guy on this rig. But with a different outlook on sex and his own self. Talk about bi-awakening.
Despite getting ribbed and questioned by all his co-workers, who notice that MacLeod is whistling the next morning…MacLeod! Whistling!...Rory, a true hero, does not kiss and tell.
With one whispered invitation, Rory agrees to meet MacLeod again…and what seems to be a casual (if incredibly intense) hookups for convenience situation seems to be starting. But oh, friends, this is SO much more.
Chapter 10 happens. In MacLeod’s POV, after, while he’s alone. In which he thinks about all he’s learned about Rory. All he’s seen about who Rory is. Selfless. Dedicated. Competent. Provider for his mum. Sunshine with the right thing to say to make people feel better. And what MacLeod has already realized about his feelings for this unexpected man…and where this entire thing will go, which, he assumes, is nowhere.
My heart was lost. Just gone. I was crying at the end of this chapter. And it’s chapter 10 of 30! This author’s work isn’t always the most polished or well developed I’ve read, but I tell you, she infuses a raw honesty of emotion into her books that captivates me. And this is the strongest book of hers yet; she’s improving book over book. Here’s a taste of what got me:
I am a chapter. I know this.
I know it the way I know the rig. Thoroughly and without sentiment. Rory will finish his rotation and go home to Edinburgh and think about this with a kind of fond bewilderment, and maybe it will help him understand something about himself, and that will be good. I want that for him. I want good things for Rory Gallacher with a fervency that is slightly alarming and that I have no intention of examining too closely.
I just also want, privately and without any expectation of it being granted, for Rory to look at me the way he looked at the rig on day five. With that unguarded unperformed delight. I love it here. Said like he meant it all the way down.
If that quote doesn’t appeal to you, this isn’t a book for you. But if it does, dive right in, because it delivers. Over and over again.
And then, chapter 11 happens. And Rory is contemplating the things he has learned about MacLeod, what Rory has been fascinated by and drawn to. And then…MacLeod shows up and takes him somewhere to show him something…and it. Is. Magical.
And THEN, chapter 12 happens…and we learn the true depths of MacLeod’s loneliness and heartbreak, his dedication to his job, his belief that he will stay alone…
This is one of the most romantic books I have read. Not overdone, not OTT, not flowery. Just raw, authentic, powerful, honest, poignant romance, including emotional and sensual intimacy.
Chapter 20…Oof. I highlighted nearly every line. And thank you for this hero who assumed he faced ultimate heartbreak…and decided NOT to break it off. To embrace this gift and live it while he had it.
And finally…the most organic and inevitable third act breakup of breakups. I promise, this one you will understand. The intensity of that moment was…crushing. 😭 But I also promise they and you will heal and rejoice. 🥹😃🥰🥰 (And if the way it happens has a hand from nature and is probably the least believable moment in the book because how on earth could they hear anything at that time let alone…all that? Forgive it, because we can allow this suspension of disbelief even under the circumstances!)
The book never stopped delivering. I was moved and enchanted. More please, Jessica Jackman. 💞💖💞🥰
HEA. Age gap. Supervisor and rookie on an oil rig. Hookup due to losing a game, developing to fierce true love. No OM action or drama (apart from other workers joking…or maybe not so much joking… they want to be next with MacLeod). Totally safe for me. Wonderful, powerful emotions, wonderful competency/skilled at what they’re doing, unique job, authentic sensibility of what it would really be like isolated with a gregarious and friendly crew of men on an oil rig in the cold unforgiving North Sea. Highly recommended.
My thanks to BookSirens for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
Now. Give me Spanner and Brockie’s story. I demand it.
That encapsulates the exceptional, exquisite emotional and romantic journey that is the story of a quiet, feared, respected man who is revealed to be intensely lonely, falling for a much younger breath of sunshine who shares joy wherever he can, and that sunshiney man looking back and falling just as deeply. 🥹
Note…this is also a book for those, like me, with a competency kink. Ooooo competent men! 🥰
Don’t be fooled by the cover and title, which suggest a different kind of intense and raunchy read. Yes, the story includes wonderful filthy good steam, but, it would have been well-served by an Eve Holmes Northern Roots style cover. The descriptions of light on the waters of the North Sea alone…and then how the older hero sees the younger hero in comparison…this has some of the most beautiful romantic writing, showing a deeply lonely and inured to it man with a true “ghost” (not a literal one) that haunts his self-esteem, falling for a younger man who lights up everyone’s world while revealing shades of imposter syndrome…and it isn’t maudlin or overdone at all. The wistful moodiness of it is broken up with genuine friendship and humor and light moments…I fell in love with this book. Another title could have been The Scale of Water, because the meaning behind that phrase resonates throughout. Or North Sea Storm or Something Extraordinary. Because it is.
I was going along enjoying this strong age-gap (16 years), blue collar, grumpy supervisor and sunshine rookie on his first rotation on an oil rig romance, engaged in the situation as the younger man who always thought he was straight loses a game with his colleagues and actually goes through with accepting the dare that the loser has to go cheer up their intense and scary moody supervisor by offering to have sex with him.
Sounds a bit silly and unlikely, doesn’t it?
I was not prepared. For the grabbing of the shirt, the drawing into the room, the utter absolute steam heat as the tightly controlled MacLeod (I know! I know! MACLEOD!) took the younger Rory apart, piece by piece, reordered all he knew about himself and his body, and then let him go back to his bunk hours later a different man. Still sunny. Still the best guy on this rig. But with a different outlook on sex and his own self. Talk about bi-awakening.
Despite getting ribbed and questioned by all his co-workers, who notice that MacLeod is whistling the next morning…MacLeod! Whistling!...Rory, a true hero, does not kiss and tell.
With one whispered invitation, Rory agrees to meet MacLeod again…and what seems to be a casual (if incredibly intense) hookups for convenience situation seems to be starting. But oh, friends, this is SO much more.
Chapter 10 happens. In MacLeod’s POV, after, while he’s alone. In which he thinks about all he’s learned about Rory. All he’s seen about who Rory is. Selfless. Dedicated. Competent. Provider for his mum. Sunshine with the right thing to say to make people feel better. And what MacLeod has already realized about his feelings for this unexpected man…and where this entire thing will go, which, he assumes, is nowhere.
My heart was lost. Just gone. I was crying at the end of this chapter. And it’s chapter 10 of 30! This author’s work isn’t always the most polished or well developed I’ve read, but I tell you, she infuses a raw honesty of emotion into her books that captivates me. And this is the strongest book of hers yet; she’s improving book over book. Here’s a taste of what got me:
I am a chapter. I know this.
I know it the way I know the rig. Thoroughly and without sentiment. Rory will finish his rotation and go home to Edinburgh and think about this with a kind of fond bewilderment, and maybe it will help him understand something about himself, and that will be good. I want that for him. I want good things for Rory Gallacher with a fervency that is slightly alarming and that I have no intention of examining too closely.
I just also want, privately and without any expectation of it being granted, for Rory to look at me the way he looked at the rig on day five. With that unguarded unperformed delight. I love it here. Said like he meant it all the way down.
If that quote doesn’t appeal to you, this isn’t a book for you. But if it does, dive right in, because it delivers. Over and over again.
And then, chapter 11 happens. And Rory is contemplating the things he has learned about MacLeod, what Rory has been fascinated by and drawn to. And then…MacLeod shows up and takes him somewhere to show him something…and it. Is. Magical.
And THEN, chapter 12 happens…and we learn the true depths of MacLeod’s loneliness and heartbreak, his dedication to his job, his belief that he will stay alone…
This is one of the most romantic books I have read. Not overdone, not OTT, not flowery. Just raw, authentic, powerful, honest, poignant romance, including emotional and sensual intimacy.
Chapter 20…Oof. I highlighted nearly every line. And thank you for this hero who assumed he faced ultimate heartbreak…and decided NOT to break it off. To embrace this gift and live it while he had it.
And finally…the most organic and inevitable third act breakup of breakups. I promise, this one you will understand. The intensity of that moment was…crushing. 😭 But I also promise they and you will heal and rejoice. 🥹😃🥰🥰 (And if the way it happens has a hand from nature and is probably the least believable moment in the book because how on earth could they hear anything at that time let alone…all that? Forgive it, because we can allow this suspension of disbelief even under the circumstances!)
The book never stopped delivering. I was moved and enchanted. More please, Jessica Jackman. 💞💖💞🥰
HEA. Age gap. Supervisor and rookie on an oil rig. Hookup due to losing a game, developing to fierce true love. No OM action or drama (apart from other workers joking…or maybe not so much joking… they want to be next with MacLeod). Totally safe for me. Wonderful, powerful emotions, wonderful competency/skilled at what they’re doing, unique job, authentic sensibility of what it would really be like isolated with a gregarious and friendly crew of men on an oil rig in the cold unforgiving North Sea. Highly recommended.
My thanks to BookSirens for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
Now. Give me Spanner and Brockie’s story. I demand it.
June 16, 2026
The blurb sets this book up very nicely, and the satisfaction of the tale is in the details. When Rory steps off the helicopter onto the oil rig, he is in a new environment, and he finds he loves it. There are routines, the Green Crew has a group of varied personalities on their shifts together, and it is all overseen by MacLeod, the surly, strict, structured supervisor — also the hot supervisor in Rory’s opinion. When Rory loses at a hand of cards and finds himself the owner of the dare to offer himself to his supervisor as a stress relief, he falls back on his”I never back down from bets and I don’t back down from dares” mentality, and is soon on his way to MacLeod’s room to follow through. Rory isn’t sure if Macleod will take him up on it, but is surprised, and a bit apprehensive when he is yanked into the room and things progress from there. Rory doesn’t think he is gay, but things go better than expected, and regular visits become the norm. Macleod seems to have evened out and Rory is coming across as really happy. Things are going very well until a truth is exposed and things change drastically for Rory and Mac, further heightened by an upcoming event on the rig that will challenge them all. Will Rory be able to explain, and will Mac be able to let it go? You’ll need to read to find out.
I really enjoyed all the characters on the rig. They were quite a mixed bag of personalities, a close-knit group in a closed environment where potential danger is the norm and strict adherence to protocol is expected from all. The world building to help readers become familiar with the rig was good, and the suspense and tension with the challenge at the end raised my blood pressure, and I am sure other readers also.
I thought the situation with Mac could be a realistic one, with only men in a closed environment for months at a time, frustration could become a problem. I thought the crew’s possible solution didn’t seem too far fetched, especially with the teasing and banter between the team members. Rory, as the newest and “prettiest” seemed plausible, too, Mac’s reaction being the wildcard. I liked the way the relationship developed, how both Rory and Mac second-guessed their feelings, and didn’t see themselves as worthy of something real developing between them, but feelings kept building anyway, leading to hope for more. I was satisfied with the outcome at the end, and wonder if there may be more stories coming from the rig. I would really like to know what the story is with Spanner and Brockie. Hopefully, their story will get a telling, too. The book kept me engaged and held my interest, reading it in one sitting. The setting was unique, and offered a variety of situations for the crew.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want a quirky group of rig workers and an unusual setting with a grumpy supervisor and a sunshiny crew member finding their HEA in an unusual way. I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review.
I really enjoyed all the characters on the rig. They were quite a mixed bag of personalities, a close-knit group in a closed environment where potential danger is the norm and strict adherence to protocol is expected from all. The world building to help readers become familiar with the rig was good, and the suspense and tension with the challenge at the end raised my blood pressure, and I am sure other readers also.
I thought the situation with Mac could be a realistic one, with only men in a closed environment for months at a time, frustration could become a problem. I thought the crew’s possible solution didn’t seem too far fetched, especially with the teasing and banter between the team members. Rory, as the newest and “prettiest” seemed plausible, too, Mac’s reaction being the wildcard. I liked the way the relationship developed, how both Rory and Mac second-guessed their feelings, and didn’t see themselves as worthy of something real developing between them, but feelings kept building anyway, leading to hope for more. I was satisfied with the outcome at the end, and wonder if there may be more stories coming from the rig. I would really like to know what the story is with Spanner and Brockie. Hopefully, their story will get a telling, too. The book kept me engaged and held my interest, reading it in one sitting. The setting was unique, and offered a variety of situations for the crew.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want a quirky group of rig workers and an unusual setting with a grumpy supervisor and a sunshiny crew member finding their HEA in an unusual way. I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review.
Review of advance copy
Arc Review: Dirty Rotten Love by Jessica Jackman
MC:Rory&Macleod 4.5⭐
Tropes & tags
Bi Awakening
Age-gap relationship (16 years - 22 & 38)
Boss / employee relationship
Grumpy/ Sunshine
Grumpy fall hard first
Fast and furious
First of all, thank you Sandy for putting this on my radar, you rock girl!! ❤️
This book completely pulled me in. In theory, these two barely knew each other before the feelings became massive and the “I love you” happened, and normally I would struggle with that… but I didn’t care here. At all. I was completely invested in Rory and Mac from the start.
Rory is pure sunshine without feeling childish or overdone, and Mac is this deeply lonely, gruff man who falls HARD and doesn’t even realize how gone he is until it’s too late. The gentle worship between them absolutely carried this story for me. Their moments together felt intimate in a way that kept me glued to the pages even when the book leaned heavily into internal thoughts instead of actual conversations.
And the romance? God.
The Northern Lights scene.
Porridge in bed.
The quiet tenderness mixed with the filthy steam.
The steam in this book is genuinely incredible, but what surprised me most was how soft it could feel underneath all the intensity. Mac especially loved Rory in such a quiet but consuming way that I couldn’t stop reading.
I do think the book could’ve used more actual dialogue and relationship development on page because sometimes it felt like we were told about their emotional connection more than we saw it naturally build. The inner monologues were VERY heavy, and I definitely missed more conversations between them. But somehow the emotional pull still worked on me completely.
I also loved the meddling crew/friends dynamics and the final chapter/epilogue felt like a genuinely satisfying conclusion for them. I closed the book feeling full and emotional in the best way.
Messy? A little.
Completely addictive? Absolutely.
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens, and this is my honest review.
⚠️Author Content Warnings
Ableisim
Bullying / social exclusion (Not between main characters.)
Emotional abuse (Prior relationship.)
Falling from height
Hospitalisation
Infidelity (Not between MCs.)
Marriage abandonment (Prior relationship.)
Relationship breakdown
Storm preparation & danger
Threat to life
❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama: No
Third-Act Breakup: Temporary
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium / High heat
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining: Mutual
MC:Rory&Macleod 4.5⭐
There can be only one!
Tropes & tags
Bi Awakening
Age-gap relationship (16 years - 22 & 38)
Boss / employee relationship
Grumpy/ Sunshine
Grumpy fall hard first
Fast and furious
First of all, thank you Sandy for putting this on my radar, you rock girl!! ❤️
This book completely pulled me in. In theory, these two barely knew each other before the feelings became massive and the “I love you” happened, and normally I would struggle with that… but I didn’t care here. At all. I was completely invested in Rory and Mac from the start.
Rory is pure sunshine without feeling childish or overdone, and Mac is this deeply lonely, gruff man who falls HARD and doesn’t even realize how gone he is until it’s too late. The gentle worship between them absolutely carried this story for me. Their moments together felt intimate in a way that kept me glued to the pages even when the book leaned heavily into internal thoughts instead of actual conversations.
And the romance? God.
The Northern Lights scene.
Porridge in bed.
The quiet tenderness mixed with the filthy steam.
The steam in this book is genuinely incredible, but what surprised me most was how soft it could feel underneath all the intensity. Mac especially loved Rory in such a quiet but consuming way that I couldn’t stop reading.
I do think the book could’ve used more actual dialogue and relationship development on page because sometimes it felt like we were told about their emotional connection more than we saw it naturally build. The inner monologues were VERY heavy, and I definitely missed more conversations between them. But somehow the emotional pull still worked on me completely.
I also loved the meddling crew/friends dynamics and the final chapter/epilogue felt like a genuinely satisfying conclusion for them. I closed the book feeling full and emotional in the best way.
Messy? A little.
Completely addictive? Absolutely.
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens, and this is my honest review.
⚠️Author Content Warnings
Ableisim
Bullying / social exclusion (Not between main characters.)
Emotional abuse (Prior relationship.)
Falling from height
Hospitalisation
Infidelity (Not between MCs.)
Marriage abandonment (Prior relationship.)
Relationship breakdown
Storm preparation & danger
Threat to life
❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama: No
Third-Act Breakup: Temporary
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium / High heat
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining: Mutual
Review of advance copy
This book is a quick read that has a lot of laughs, a bit of danger, some significant or profound moments, and some wonderful characters, both main and secondary. Underneath the fun, are Rory and Mac, two men who have opposite personalities but manage to find love that feels genuine and meaningful in a short amount of time.
McLeod is 38, he is the boss, he is quiet, calm, and controlled.
Rory is 22, this is his first time on a rig, he is sunshine, laughs, and chaos. He is described as 'agressively cheerful' and that is very accurate.
There is a fun group of guys that work together who all get along, and there is a hint of a possible relationship brewing between two of them - one of them being Brockie, a very sweet young man that makes you feel like he needs a hug and/or protecting.
A dare brings Rory to McLeod's door late one night and leads to a sexual awakening for him. But each successive, secret encounter is eagerly awaited - be it for more sexy times, a surprise breakfast, or quiet moments together. There aren't a lot of conversations between Rory and Mac, but the few they have are meaningful. We learn more about their growing affection from their internal thoughts - and Rory's are often hilarious and as chaotic as he can be.
Both men have constructed an outward persona that they use to protect themselves because they each feel - or have been made to feel - like who they truly are isn't enough. I love the way that Rory and Mac can see the man beneath the persona, that they can connect with that part of them and help them heal and know that they are accepted for all of who they are.
The author did a great job conveying the start of a deep connection between Rory and Mac, but I would have liked a little more to their story as it didn't quite feel finished. Perhaps an epilogue would have helped.
Despite this being a quick read, there is quite a bit of repetitiveness that I found frustrating. Some of it was necessary to convey things like chaotic thoughts, but there was just too much. So the repetitiveness, the lack of conversation, feeling like there should be a bit more to the ending, and a couple of inconsistencies are why I deducted one star.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining book.
I received an ARC from BookSirens, this review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
McLeod is 38, he is the boss, he is quiet, calm, and controlled.
Rory is 22, this is his first time on a rig, he is sunshine, laughs, and chaos. He is described as 'agressively cheerful' and that is very accurate.
There is a fun group of guys that work together who all get along, and there is a hint of a possible relationship brewing between two of them - one of them being Brockie, a very sweet young man that makes you feel like he needs a hug and/or protecting.
A dare brings Rory to McLeod's door late one night and leads to a sexual awakening for him. But each successive, secret encounter is eagerly awaited - be it for more sexy times, a surprise breakfast, or quiet moments together. There aren't a lot of conversations between Rory and Mac, but the few they have are meaningful. We learn more about their growing affection from their internal thoughts - and Rory's are often hilarious and as chaotic as he can be.
Both men have constructed an outward persona that they use to protect themselves because they each feel - or have been made to feel - like who they truly are isn't enough. I love the way that Rory and Mac can see the man beneath the persona, that they can connect with that part of them and help them heal and know that they are accepted for all of who they are.
The author did a great job conveying the start of a deep connection between Rory and Mac, but I would have liked a little more to their story as it didn't quite feel finished. Perhaps an epilogue would have helped.
Despite this being a quick read, there is quite a bit of repetitiveness that I found frustrating. Some of it was necessary to convey things like chaotic thoughts, but there was just too much. So the repetitiveness, the lack of conversation, feeling like there should be a bit more to the ending, and a couple of inconsistencies are why I deducted one star.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining book.
I received an ARC from BookSirens, this review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
July 30, 2026
2,5 estrellas
⚪ M/M Romance
⚪ Age Gap
⚪ Bi Awakening
⚪ Boss x Employee
Para Rory, un chico de 22 años, esta es su primera temporada trabajando en una plataforma petrolífera del Mar del Norte. Lo que no espera es que una noche tras perder una apuesta en una partida de cartas con sus compañeros le toque ofrecerse a su malhumorado jefe, Mac, y éste acepte. Mac es un hombre de 38 años bastante callado y centrado en su trabajo después de que hace 9 años su marido le abandonara para irse con el mejor amigo de Mac. Rory nunca se había planteado que podía sentir atracción por un hombre ni que Mac aceptaría su oferta, pero tras pasar la noche juntos tiene que admitir que le gusta.
Me ha gustado el planteamiento de la trama y creo que la historia (una relación entre jefe y empleado con diferencia de edad y despertar bisexual de uno de los protagonistas en una plataforma petrolífera en medio de la nada) tenía mucho potencial pero, por desgracia, creo que la ejecución ha quedado un poco pobre. Me ha faltado contenido y detalles en muchos momentos y se ha sentido todo como apresurado. Puedo perdonar que la premisa de la apuesta fuese un poco forzada y que su enamoramiento fuese rápido, pero me han faltado tantos datos de cómo se va desarrollando su relación que me ha dado pena.
⚪ M/M Romance
⚪ Age Gap
⚪ Bi Awakening
⚪ Boss x Employee
Para Rory, un chico de 22 años, esta es su primera temporada trabajando en una plataforma petrolífera del Mar del Norte. Lo que no espera es que una noche tras perder una apuesta en una partida de cartas con sus compañeros le toque ofrecerse a su malhumorado jefe, Mac, y éste acepte. Mac es un hombre de 38 años bastante callado y centrado en su trabajo después de que hace 9 años su marido le abandonara para irse con el mejor amigo de Mac. Rory nunca se había planteado que podía sentir atracción por un hombre ni que Mac aceptaría su oferta, pero tras pasar la noche juntos tiene que admitir que le gusta.
Me ha gustado el planteamiento de la trama y creo que la historia (una relación entre jefe y empleado con diferencia de edad y despertar bisexual de uno de los protagonistas en una plataforma petrolífera en medio de la nada) tenía mucho potencial pero, por desgracia, creo que la ejecución ha quedado un poco pobre. Me ha faltado contenido y detalles en muchos momentos y se ha sentido todo como apresurado. Puedo perdonar que la premisa de la apuesta fuese un poco forzada y que su enamoramiento fuese rápido, pero me han faltado tantos datos de cómo se va desarrollando su relación que me ha dado pena.
August 19, 2026
Creo que fue una de mis lecturas favoritas del año.
Pensé que iba a ser una trama sencilla de "me acosté con mi jefe por una apuesta" y terminó siendo una lectura más profunda y tierna. Rory es un muchacho que necesita encajar y volverse amigo o compañero de todos. Bajo toda su fachada alegre y optimista se siente inseguro y no le gusta pensar demasiado las cosas.
Macleod por otro lado sobreabaliza todo y aún así le cuesta relacionarse con la gente de manera normal. Tiene que ser el supervisor que da las órdenes y sigue los manuales para que todo funcione.
Los dos juntos son una pareja que se complementan y pueden apreciar al otro de una manera especial. Los pensamientos de Macleod aceptando que sería sólo una etapa en la vida de Rory me daban ganas de llorar.
El final fue muy inesperado (no leí las advertencias) y me encantó.
Creo que hubo dos cosas malas en el libro, que espero que la autora pueda mejorar en los siguientes. Los pensamientos de Rory y Macleod eran un poco repetitivos. Fue muy graciosa la escena del desayuno en la cama, pero lo mencionaron como seis veces en distintos momentos. También siento que faltó mostrar más cómo era el trabajo en la plataforma petrolífera. Solo mencionan reuniones, revisar cables/cloacas y cumplir horarios de turnos. Pero nunca se entiende qué tareas hacen, sino que parece una pantomima.
Pensé que iba a ser una trama sencilla de "me acosté con mi jefe por una apuesta" y terminó siendo una lectura más profunda y tierna. Rory es un muchacho que necesita encajar y volverse amigo o compañero de todos. Bajo toda su fachada alegre y optimista se siente inseguro y no le gusta pensar demasiado las cosas.
Macleod por otro lado sobreabaliza todo y aún así le cuesta relacionarse con la gente de manera normal. Tiene que ser el supervisor que da las órdenes y sigue los manuales para que todo funcione.
Los dos juntos son una pareja que se complementan y pueden apreciar al otro de una manera especial. Los pensamientos de Macleod aceptando que sería sólo una etapa en la vida de Rory me daban ganas de llorar.
El final fue muy inesperado (no leí las advertencias) y me encantó.
Creo que hubo dos cosas malas en el libro, que espero que la autora pueda mejorar en los siguientes. Los pensamientos de Rory y Macleod eran un poco repetitivos. Fue muy graciosa la escena del desayuno en la cama, pero lo mencionaron como seis veces en distintos momentos. También siento que faltó mostrar más cómo era el trabajo en la plataforma petrolífera. Solo mencionan reuniones, revisar cables/cloacas y cumplir horarios de turnos. Pero nunca se entiende qué tareas hacen, sino que parece una pantomima.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2026
This was such a sweet, feel-good read that left me smiling from beginning to end.
Rory was an absolute ray of sunshine. Kind, optimistic, and impossible not to love.
Mac, on the other hand, was the classic grump, carrying the weight of old hurts and painful memories from his past. But beneath that tough exterior was someone incredibly caring, and with Rory, his softer side shone through. He was patient, gentle, and completely devoted in a way that melted my heart.
What started as a simple dare quickly grew into something much deeper. Watching their relationship develop was so sweet, with every interaction bringing them closer together. Their chemistry was effortless, and while the spice isn't overly explicit, the attraction between them is undeniable.
Some of my favourite moments were the quiet ones that showed just how much they cared for each other. Mac checking the weather so he could share the Northern Lights with Rory and Rory bringing breakfast to Mac's room were such thoughtful gestures that made their connection feel real. It was those small acts that made me fall for them as a couple.
A charming, heartfelt romance filled with tenderness, laughter, and two characters who bring out the very best in each other. An absolute pleasure to read.
Rory was an absolute ray of sunshine. Kind, optimistic, and impossible not to love.
Mac, on the other hand, was the classic grump, carrying the weight of old hurts and painful memories from his past. But beneath that tough exterior was someone incredibly caring, and with Rory, his softer side shone through. He was patient, gentle, and completely devoted in a way that melted my heart.
What started as a simple dare quickly grew into something much deeper. Watching their relationship develop was so sweet, with every interaction bringing them closer together. Their chemistry was effortless, and while the spice isn't overly explicit, the attraction between them is undeniable.
Some of my favourite moments were the quiet ones that showed just how much they cared for each other. Mac checking the weather so he could share the Northern Lights with Rory and Rory bringing breakfast to Mac's room were such thoughtful gestures that made their connection feel real. It was those small acts that made me fall for them as a couple.
A charming, heartfelt romance filled with tenderness, laughter, and two characters who bring out the very best in each other. An absolute pleasure to read.
August 17, 2026
Super super early DNF @ 3% but I've read enough. This is like the fifth author I've read overuse incredibly short, snappy, repetitive sentences/phrases followed by excessively wordy imagery with 5+ full length books released within a year.
Short sentence. short sentence/phrase x 2, long wordy description. Literally every single paragraph of the 9 pages I read.
"This is why I love it here. This. This exact thing. [Proceeds to give long description about why Rory loves the people around]"
"I become about seventy percent more focused on whatever I'm supposed to be doing. Obviously. For the same reasons as everyone else."
"He is looking at his clipboard. This is good. [Proceeds to describe why MacLeod looking at his clipboard is good]"
"Just look at him. In a completely normal way. The way you'd look at anyone who walked into a room."
"He is tall. Genuinely impressively tall, and built in way that [excessively long phrase about MacLeod's build]." Repeat for his hair, jaw, face.
It's so formulaic and unnatural, it's insane. If this is their writing style, then they're very much not for me.
Short sentence. short sentence/phrase x 2, long wordy description. Literally every single paragraph of the 9 pages I read.
"This is why I love it here. This. This exact thing. [Proceeds to give long description about why Rory loves the people around]"
"I become about seventy percent more focused on whatever I'm supposed to be doing. Obviously. For the same reasons as everyone else."
"He is looking at his clipboard. This is good. [Proceeds to describe why MacLeod looking at his clipboard is good]"
"Just look at him. In a completely normal way. The way you'd look at anyone who walked into a room."
"He is tall. Genuinely impressively tall, and built in way that [excessively long phrase about MacLeod's build]." Repeat for his hair, jaw, face.
It's so formulaic and unnatural, it's insane. If this is their writing style, then they're very much not for me.
June 19, 2026
Rory loses a drunken card game on a North Sea oil rig and has to approach his grumpy boss, Macleod, as a dare. What should’ve been a disaster turns into something surprisingly tender. Macleod is thoughtful, steady, and unexpectedly perfect for Rory’s chaos. A joke challenge becomes Northern Lights, quiet moments, and a connection Rory never saw coming.
I really liked the plot of this story, and some of the moments between the two men were genuinely romantic and heartfelt. But the book was weighed down by constant internal monologues, to the point where it felt like very little was actually happening on the page. The ending also left me confused — the men who were supposed to fix the problem simply bailed and left Rory to deal with it, with no explanation or consequences for their incompetence. Overall, a good premise with some lovely scenes, but the execution didn’t quite land for me. This was an MM story with mature content.
I really liked the plot of this story, and some of the moments between the two men were genuinely romantic and heartfelt. But the book was weighed down by constant internal monologues, to the point where it felt like very little was actually happening on the page. The ending also left me confused — the men who were supposed to fix the problem simply bailed and left Rory to deal with it, with no explanation or consequences for their incompetence. Overall, a good premise with some lovely scenes, but the execution didn’t quite land for me. This was an MM story with mature content.
June 21, 2026
Going into this, I had read all 4 other books from Jackman, and was 2:2 for enjoyment, so I wasn’t sure which way this one would go.
Thankfully, it went great. This didn’t have the pacing issues I had with most of the others… which makes sense as this is almost half the length of the other books. I personally don’t think most romance books need to be exceeding the 200s in page count.
I really liked Rory as a character. I also enjoyed Mac. I’m interested in the peeks we saw of other characters, too. Spanner especially.
I enjoyed how the sex scenes were done. There was a lot of sex, but we didn’t see every second of it. I personally don’t want to read about the 3 hours of sex they had. I really enjoyed the glimpses. If I had one thing I would change, it would be seeing a bit more of the praise kink coming into play. It was teased but didn’t get touched on, and I am a sucker for praise kink.
Thankfully, it went great. This didn’t have the pacing issues I had with most of the others… which makes sense as this is almost half the length of the other books. I personally don’t think most romance books need to be exceeding the 200s in page count.
I really liked Rory as a character. I also enjoyed Mac. I’m interested in the peeks we saw of other characters, too. Spanner especially.
I enjoyed how the sex scenes were done. There was a lot of sex, but we didn’t see every second of it. I personally don’t want to read about the 3 hours of sex they had. I really enjoyed the glimpses. If I had one thing I would change, it would be seeing a bit more of the praise kink coming into play. It was teased but didn’t get touched on, and I am a sucker for praise kink.
July 5, 2026
This is exactly my type of book. One quiet stoic grumpy MC and another just as strong but more cheerful. Together they were PERFECT. I couldn’t get enough of Mac.
Mac has been through a lot and his past has made him build up walls so high he can’t get out of them. Along comes this golden retriever Rory who slowly pulls him out and who is so lost and doesn’t see what is happening right in front of him.
The slow burn was fire and the tension on point. Watching these two try to work it out was like watching a slo-mo train crash coming right at you with no time to jump out of the way.
The ending was just so deliciously predictable and we know it’s coming (come on just from the blurb we know what is coming) but it’s still hurt so good. The yearning at the third act was out of this world.
The ending was just not long enough. I needed so much more of Mac and Rory - like Mory (sorry. Couldn’t help myself)
Mac has been through a lot and his past has made him build up walls so high he can’t get out of them. Along comes this golden retriever Rory who slowly pulls him out and who is so lost and doesn’t see what is happening right in front of him.
The slow burn was fire and the tension on point. Watching these two try to work it out was like watching a slo-mo train crash coming right at you with no time to jump out of the way.
The ending was just so deliciously predictable and we know it’s coming (come on just from the blurb we know what is coming) but it’s still hurt so good. The yearning at the third act was out of this world.
The ending was just not long enough. I needed so much more of Mac and Rory - like Mory (sorry. Couldn’t help myself)
Review of advance copy
I really loved this book from start to finish. Rory was such a sweetheart and he was the perfect match for Mac. Most of the book was about their relationship developing and I was absolutely there for it; they had smoking hot chemistry but so many small, sweet moments too. I enjoyed getting to know more about what made Mac the stoic figure he appeared to others but also seeing how Rory changed things for him. The only reason I've not gone with 5 stars is because I thought that occasionally it seemed like they repeated their thoughts a few too many times but it was a very minor thing. The world building was good and I loved all the secondary characters too. Glad these two got their HEA and I'm excited for more from this group! Overall, a great mm romance that I'd definitely recommend.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
September 18, 2026
Cheating: No
HEA: Yes
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
OW/OM: No
This was a quick sweet funny read. I love Rory and Mac. I think Rory is such a sweet, kindhearted, free spirited soul. I liked being in his thoughts. He really just went with the flow and processed things as they happened.
And Mac who is seemingly cold, strict and closed off (well he actually is), he is also very sensitive, sweet and attentive. The poor guy was just trying to protect his once broken heart. And I really felt for him when a certain situation happened.
I loved reading about the other characters and how they engaged and interacted with Rory. They were funny and I actually looked forward to scenes with them. Hell, I’m looking forward to the next book because I’m positive who the next couple in the making are.
Overall, this book was a pleasant read.
HEA: Yes
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
OW/OM: No
This was a quick sweet funny read. I love Rory and Mac. I think Rory is such a sweet, kindhearted, free spirited soul. I liked being in his thoughts. He really just went with the flow and processed things as they happened.
And Mac who is seemingly cold, strict and closed off (well he actually is), he is also very sensitive, sweet and attentive. The poor guy was just trying to protect his once broken heart. And I really felt for him when a certain situation happened.
I loved reading about the other characters and how they engaged and interacted with Rory. They were funny and I actually looked forward to scenes with them. Hell, I’m looking forward to the next book because I’m positive who the next couple in the making are.
Overall, this book was a pleasant read.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This is the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last! On the North Sea, working on an oil rig, Rory has found himself a home. A home on the sea, a home among the men, and a home doing the job he loves. But he knew he'd love the job and the men- this work is what he's always wanted. What he didn't expect was to fall in love with his boss, McLeod. 16 years older than Rory, Mac is everything Rory isn't - self-contained, quiet, deliberate and careful to Rory's chaos and sunshine. They shouldn't work- but they do.
I devoured this book - it's a quick read full of heart and quick wit and surprising insights on what makes us all human. It was great and I was sad to see it end. I hope we get more of the men on this rig!
I devoured this book - it's a quick read full of heart and quick wit and surprising insights on what makes us all human. It was great and I was sad to see it end. I hope we get more of the men on this rig!
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