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Timberline Peak #2
Ruin Me
Book 2 in the Timberline Peak series. Tropes and Characters coming soon!
382 pages, Paperback
Published July 27, 2026
About the author
Lo Everett
9 books195 followersHey! I'm Lo. As an avid reader I love contemporary romance with a side of humor. That's what you'll find in my books. I live for quirky characters that make you fall in love with them and equally intriguing secondary characters.
I sat down to write my first book because I was dying for more sports romance after devouring everything out there.
If I am not writing, you can find me watching my kids play sports, hiking with my girlfriends, or on vacation to a new place.
I sat down to write my first book because I was dying for more sports romance after devouring everything out there.
If I am not writing, you can find me watching my kids play sports, hiking with my girlfriends, or on vacation to a new place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 17, 2026
Who else loves first responders? 🙋♀️
A hotshot & a flight nurse/nurse
Emmett & Aspen
Emmett is my favorite type of MMC, a tad grumpy, a lot closed off
Aspen is little miss fix it
Small town Wyoming
Hurt x comfort
Forced proximity
This dealt with quite a bit of emotional (and physical) trauma but was also sweet with bits of banter.
Arc review ✨
A hotshot & a flight nurse/nurse
Emmett & Aspen
Emmett is my favorite type of MMC, a tad grumpy, a lot closed off
Aspen is little miss fix it
Small town Wyoming
Hurt x comfort
Forced proximity
This dealt with quite a bit of emotional (and physical) trauma but was also sweet with bits of banter.
Arc review ✨
July 27, 2026
4.25 stars.
"Ruin Me" by Lo Everett is *so* good. I am loving the Timberline Peak series! Aspen (FMC), a flight nurse, and Emmett (MMC), a hotshot, meet under awful circumstances when he gets airlifted in her helicopter after he sustained multiple burns and injuries while fighting a fire. Something draws Aspen to Everett, so she continues to check on him while he is in the hospital, and he is the grumpiest, most closed-off, and standoffish person she's ever met... but she's not willing to back down or walk away. He has his reasons for being that way, stemming from a series of traumatic incidents from his childhood. When Emmett is discharged from the hospital, he stays at a loft apartment in Timberline Peak... that just happens to be owned by Aspen! Being in such close proximity, she tells him he can come to her if he ever needs help, and he reluctantly agrees because he wants to see her happy. He only softens around her! The more they get to know each other (however slowly!), the more the feelings between them grow. With an ending date in sight, with Emmett going back to where he lives, can they figure out what they want to be to one another? Aspen is a literal angel, and Emmett sees her as such. She spends her time doing anything and everything she can to help other people, whether it be at work or in her personal life. She is giving, hard-working, passionate, and selfless, but she is also overworked, tired, and frequently taken advantage of for her niceties. Emmett has a hard time getting his feelings and emotions out. His default setting is "grump," but he does so without being overly mean or nasty about it. I loved the banter between the two of them, even when it doesn't come easily, as Everett hates small talk. I also loved the girls' nights Aspen has with her friends, as well as her interactions with other members of the small, close-knit Timberline Peak community. Emmett is volunteered up for forced friendship with Atlas, and that caused a lot of laughs as well. I found this story to be nothing short ot beautiful. It's crafted in a way that makes readers get fully invested in both characters individually, as well as their romantic relationship together. It will run you through a gamut of emotions. It worked on so many levels. I didn't think it was overly long or had a lot of unnecessary plot points. I think it's near perfect!
Thank you to Lo Everett for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Ruin Me" by Lo Everett is *so* good. I am loving the Timberline Peak series! Aspen (FMC), a flight nurse, and Emmett (MMC), a hotshot, meet under awful circumstances when he gets airlifted in her helicopter after he sustained multiple burns and injuries while fighting a fire. Something draws Aspen to Everett, so she continues to check on him while he is in the hospital, and he is the grumpiest, most closed-off, and standoffish person she's ever met... but she's not willing to back down or walk away. He has his reasons for being that way, stemming from a series of traumatic incidents from his childhood. When Emmett is discharged from the hospital, he stays at a loft apartment in Timberline Peak... that just happens to be owned by Aspen! Being in such close proximity, she tells him he can come to her if he ever needs help, and he reluctantly agrees because he wants to see her happy. He only softens around her! The more they get to know each other (however slowly!), the more the feelings between them grow. With an ending date in sight, with Emmett going back to where he lives, can they figure out what they want to be to one another? Aspen is a literal angel, and Emmett sees her as such. She spends her time doing anything and everything she can to help other people, whether it be at work or in her personal life. She is giving, hard-working, passionate, and selfless, but she is also overworked, tired, and frequently taken advantage of for her niceties. Emmett has a hard time getting his feelings and emotions out. His default setting is "grump," but he does so without being overly mean or nasty about it. I loved the banter between the two of them, even when it doesn't come easily, as Everett hates small talk. I also loved the girls' nights Aspen has with her friends, as well as her interactions with other members of the small, close-knit Timberline Peak community. Emmett is volunteered up for forced friendship with Atlas, and that caused a lot of laughs as well. I found this story to be nothing short ot beautiful. It's crafted in a way that makes readers get fully invested in both characters individually, as well as their romantic relationship together. It will run you through a gamut of emotions. It worked on so many levels. I didn't think it was overly long or had a lot of unnecessary plot points. I think it's near perfect!
Thank you to Lo Everett for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
July 29, 2026
I LOVED this one. It was perfectly sweet and spicy and emotional and I thought the character development was amazing. Aspen and Emmett were so great together. His grumpiness and attempts to push her away felt so true and necessary to his past, and I loved that Aspen wouldn’t let him put up those walls. This felt like a mature relationship with great communication when both parties are patient and supportive of how the other is feeling. I just really, really liked it. So much.
Side note…there are some editing issues in my copy that I downloaded from KU. I’m sure they’ll be corrected, and it did not take away from the impact of the story however, it’s frustrating to see spelling errors in something that is written so beautifully. I’m sure it was just a matter of perhaps the wrong copy being uploaded.
Side note…there are some editing issues in my copy that I downloaded from KU. I’m sure they’ll be corrected, and it did not take away from the impact of the story however, it’s frustrating to see spelling errors in something that is written so beautifully. I’m sure it was just a matter of perhaps the wrong copy being uploaded.
Want to Read
June 21, 2025just finished Fool Me & I can’t wait to see who Ruin Me is about - I’m hoping for Tessa & Drake 😍
July 19, 2026
Lo Everett did Aspen and Emmett justice in Ruin Me. She took us on an emotional journey through grief, hardships and love and brought us and Aspen and Emmett out stronger together.
Just like Emmett’s nickname for Aspen, she truly is a selfless Angel; she constantly puts others before herself and is always caring for others until Emmett came along. Emmett caring for Aspen was monumental in many ways and was the first step towards Emmett deciding it was time to start healing and start living again. Aspen truly saw Emmett; his past, the parts of himself he keeps hidden and the armor he shows the world and fell hard for him in a way that settles her soul.
Both Aspen and Emmett opened something deep and meaningful within each other by being together. They strengthen their individual strengths and helped carry each other’s struggles together as they opened up to one another. Emmett found a reason to live again and a place to call home in a helicopter ride when he met his Angel and Aspen found someone who puts her needs first not out of necessity but rather because it brings him joy seeing her cared for and happy.
Thank you @loeverettbooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Just like Emmett’s nickname for Aspen, she truly is a selfless Angel; she constantly puts others before herself and is always caring for others until Emmett came along. Emmett caring for Aspen was monumental in many ways and was the first step towards Emmett deciding it was time to start healing and start living again. Aspen truly saw Emmett; his past, the parts of himself he keeps hidden and the armor he shows the world and fell hard for him in a way that settles her soul.
Both Aspen and Emmett opened something deep and meaningful within each other by being together. They strengthen their individual strengths and helped carry each other’s struggles together as they opened up to one another. Emmett found a reason to live again and a place to call home in a helicopter ride when he met his Angel and Aspen found someone who puts her needs first not out of necessity but rather because it brings him joy seeing her cared for and happy.
Thank you @loeverettbooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
August 23, 2026
read: July 30
review:August 23
My God, this book. This couple. Ugh. I honestly don’t even have the words to describe what an experience this was. Emmett completely ruined me—in the best possible way. Sir, please be my private firefighter. I may not have the money, but I’m sure we can work something out
The story follows Emmett Slate, a hotshot firefighter who has spent years keeping people at a distance. After being seriously injured while fighting the Stillwater Fire, he is airlifted by Aspen Holt, a flight nurse who has a habit of putting everyone else before herself. Their first meeting is far from ideal, but something about Emmett stays with Aspen.
Things get even more complicated when Emmett comes to Timberline Peak to recover and discovers that the loft he’s staying in belongs to Aspen. Suddenly, the two of them have no choice but to spend a lot more time together. What starts as an unlikely connection slowly turns into something neither of them can easily ignore, especially when Emmett’s carefully built walls begin to crack.
Compared to the previous book, this one felt much more intense and emotionally heavy. Mental health, trauma, guilt, and healing are at the heart of Emmett’s story, and I really appreciated how thoughtfully those themes were handled. His PTSD and unresolved trauma have shaped so much of who he is, and his tendency to shut people out never felt random or frustrating just for the sake of the romance. You can understand exactly why he struggles to let anyone close.
And then there’s Aspen. She is genuinely one of the sweetest characters. She is compassionate, hardworking, and constantly trying to take care of everyone around her, even when she’s exhausted herself. I loved the way she challenged Emmett without trying to magically save him. She could support him and be there for him, but she couldn’t do the healing for him—and I thought that was such an important part of their relationship.
Their romance absolutely got me. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic, the forced proximity, the slow emotional opening, the little moments of tenderness… I ate it ALL up. Emmett may have been determined to keep everyone away, but the way he softened around Aspen? My heart. 😭 Their relationship had plenty of push and pull, but underneath it was so much patience, understanding, and genuine care.
They’re both complicated in their own ways, and I loved that their relationship never tried to erase that. They’re two imperfect people carrying their own baggage, yet somehow they find each other and create something that feels safe, genuine, and deeply meaningful. Watching them slowly figure out how to love each other without trying to “fix” one another was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also really enjoyed the banter between them, Aspen’s friendships and girls’ nights, the Timberline Peak community, and the hilarious forced friendship between Emmett and Atlas. While the story does bring back characters from the previous book, it remains very focused on Emmett and Aspen, which I think worked perfectly for the more intimate and emotional nature of their story.
This was such a beautiful mix of hurt and comfort, with plenty of sweetness and spice along the way. It made me laugh, hurt my feelings, and completely invested me in these two. I especially loved the idea that sometimes loving someone means accepting that you can’t make their choices for them. Emmett has to decide for himself that he wants to heal, and Aspen has to learn that loving him doesn’t mean losing herself in the process.
One little warning: definitely check the content warnings before picking this one up. I wouldn’t describe it as a dark romance, but it is heavy, and Emmett spends a large part of the story struggling mentally and emotionally. There’s a lot of pain here, but also hope, growth, healing, and a beautiful happily-ever-after.
I’m officially becoming emotionally attached to the Timberline Peak series, and after this one, I NEED to know what comes next.
Many thanks to Lo Everett for letting me read this one early, and I apologize for taking so long to share my thoughts! I had such a wonderful time with this story and absolutely loved this reading experience.
review:August 23
My God, this book. This couple. Ugh. I honestly don’t even have the words to describe what an experience this was. Emmett completely ruined me—in the best possible way. Sir, please be my private firefighter. I may not have the money, but I’m sure we can work something out
The story follows Emmett Slate, a hotshot firefighter who has spent years keeping people at a distance. After being seriously injured while fighting the Stillwater Fire, he is airlifted by Aspen Holt, a flight nurse who has a habit of putting everyone else before herself. Their first meeting is far from ideal, but something about Emmett stays with Aspen.
Things get even more complicated when Emmett comes to Timberline Peak to recover and discovers that the loft he’s staying in belongs to Aspen. Suddenly, the two of them have no choice but to spend a lot more time together. What starts as an unlikely connection slowly turns into something neither of them can easily ignore, especially when Emmett’s carefully built walls begin to crack.
Compared to the previous book, this one felt much more intense and emotionally heavy. Mental health, trauma, guilt, and healing are at the heart of Emmett’s story, and I really appreciated how thoughtfully those themes were handled. His PTSD and unresolved trauma have shaped so much of who he is, and his tendency to shut people out never felt random or frustrating just for the sake of the romance. You can understand exactly why he struggles to let anyone close.
And then there’s Aspen. She is genuinely one of the sweetest characters. She is compassionate, hardworking, and constantly trying to take care of everyone around her, even when she’s exhausted herself. I loved the way she challenged Emmett without trying to magically save him. She could support him and be there for him, but she couldn’t do the healing for him—and I thought that was such an important part of their relationship.
Their romance absolutely got me. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic, the forced proximity, the slow emotional opening, the little moments of tenderness… I ate it ALL up. Emmett may have been determined to keep everyone away, but the way he softened around Aspen? My heart. 😭 Their relationship had plenty of push and pull, but underneath it was so much patience, understanding, and genuine care.
They’re both complicated in their own ways, and I loved that their relationship never tried to erase that. They’re two imperfect people carrying their own baggage, yet somehow they find each other and create something that feels safe, genuine, and deeply meaningful. Watching them slowly figure out how to love each other without trying to “fix” one another was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also really enjoyed the banter between them, Aspen’s friendships and girls’ nights, the Timberline Peak community, and the hilarious forced friendship between Emmett and Atlas. While the story does bring back characters from the previous book, it remains very focused on Emmett and Aspen, which I think worked perfectly for the more intimate and emotional nature of their story.
This was such a beautiful mix of hurt and comfort, with plenty of sweetness and spice along the way. It made me laugh, hurt my feelings, and completely invested me in these two. I especially loved the idea that sometimes loving someone means accepting that you can’t make their choices for them. Emmett has to decide for himself that he wants to heal, and Aspen has to learn that loving him doesn’t mean losing herself in the process.
One little warning: definitely check the content warnings before picking this one up. I wouldn’t describe it as a dark romance, but it is heavy, and Emmett spends a large part of the story struggling mentally and emotionally. There’s a lot of pain here, but also hope, growth, healing, and a beautiful happily-ever-after.
I’m officially becoming emotionally attached to the Timberline Peak series, and after this one, I NEED to know what comes next.
Many thanks to Lo Everett for letting me read this one early, and I apologize for taking so long to share my thoughts! I had such a wonderful time with this story and absolutely loved this reading experience.
July 21, 2026
4.5 🌟
Aspen and Emmett’s story was one of healing and finding yourself told in such a beautiful way.
Emmett is a hotshot who is injured saving his Commander when a tree branch almost lands on her.
Aspen is the MedVac nurse who he thinks is an angel while being flown out of the injury site.
Emmett is a grump to the staff until Aspen decides to check in on him after shift where the immediate chemistry is palpable in his small hospital room.
When he gets released and his new landlord just happens to be the Angel nurse, he can’t ignore the signs even if he tries to avoid her.
What begins as a friendship soon blossoms into a relationship built on trust, insecurities, fears, and true healing of their own internal battles.
I loved how each of them lean on each other when they’ve never let anyone in that deep. They both fed off what the other needed and took care of each other in the best ways.
Emmett’s grief journey while dealing with his grandmother’s illness had me in tears. I wanted to wrap him in a hug - which Aspen did for me (and more of course)!
The bedroom chemistry was ON POINT! The shower scene - I mean HELLO EMMETT SIR! This man did not mess around in getting what he wanted even when healing from injuries.
I absolutely love these two together!
I did want more of her family dynamic with her brothers. It was a big talking point at the start of the book then it felt like her brothers were a forgotten part of her character’s growth.
Thank you Lo for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
Aspen and Emmett’s story was one of healing and finding yourself told in such a beautiful way.
Emmett is a hotshot who is injured saving his Commander when a tree branch almost lands on her.
Aspen is the MedVac nurse who he thinks is an angel while being flown out of the injury site.
Emmett is a grump to the staff until Aspen decides to check in on him after shift where the immediate chemistry is palpable in his small hospital room.
When he gets released and his new landlord just happens to be the Angel nurse, he can’t ignore the signs even if he tries to avoid her.
What begins as a friendship soon blossoms into a relationship built on trust, insecurities, fears, and true healing of their own internal battles.
I loved how each of them lean on each other when they’ve never let anyone in that deep. They both fed off what the other needed and took care of each other in the best ways.
Emmett’s grief journey while dealing with his grandmother’s illness had me in tears. I wanted to wrap him in a hug - which Aspen did for me (and more of course)!
The bedroom chemistry was ON POINT! The shower scene - I mean HELLO EMMETT SIR! This man did not mess around in getting what he wanted even when healing from injuries.
I absolutely love these two together!
I did want more of her family dynamic with her brothers. It was a big talking point at the start of the book then it felt like her brothers were a forgotten part of her character’s growth.
Thank you Lo for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 9, 2026
4.5 stars!
I devoured Emmett & Aspen! These two have a connection from the start, and I loved how they kept finding themselves in each other’s orbits! I loved Emmett’s grumpiness and how well Aspen balances him out! She calms him, and he gives her a safe space to land, and I love that dynamic! I eat it up every time! I really enjoyed watching Aspen break through Emmett’s walls and to see him share the parts of himself he’s kept hidden from everyone! I really enjoyed this one!
[ARC review]
I devoured Emmett & Aspen! These two have a connection from the start, and I loved how they kept finding themselves in each other’s orbits! I loved Emmett’s grumpiness and how well Aspen balances him out! She calms him, and he gives her a safe space to land, and I love that dynamic! I eat it up every time! I really enjoyed watching Aspen break through Emmett’s walls and to see him share the parts of himself he’s kept hidden from everyone! I really enjoyed this one!
[ARC review]
September 13, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
Emmett and Aspen are two of my new favorite characters. They are so well written and have so many layers I loved them! The hurt/comfort is top tier. I absolutely love them so muchhhhhhh! This book has genuinely become one of my favorite! I was a huge fan of the first book but I didn’t realize it could get better!
Thank you Lo Everett for the opportunity to ARC read this!
Emmett and Aspen are two of my new favorite characters. They are so well written and have so many layers I loved them! The hurt/comfort is top tier. I absolutely love them so muchhhhhhh! This book has genuinely become one of my favorite! I was a huge fan of the first book but I didn’t realize it could get better!
Thank you Lo Everett for the opportunity to ARC read this!
Read
February 15, 2026Alpha.
September 12, 2026
ARC READ
July 27, 2026
4.5⭐️ 2.5🌶
Emotional depth, big hearts, deep love and lots a personal growth make up this beautiful story. I loved how this story unfolds. I also really like how it felt like fate kept putting them together giving them the nudge they need to be together.
Aspen and Emmett both have some big hurdles to overcome but they slowly learn to lean on and support one another beautifully. They have a beautiful connection, their chemistry is instant but their comfort and intimacy come with time, understanding and patience. They heal each other and love each other.
This story deals with some heavy topics but they are handled with such care and thoughtfulness. It can across genuine and showed true through the characters. Please read your triggers but this was done so well.
This was my first Lo Everett book and it will not be my last. I really enjoyed her style and depth. Her characters and story where well thought-out and executed.
Thank you Lo Everett for this ARC. These are my honest opinions and feelings.
Emotional depth, big hearts, deep love and lots a personal growth make up this beautiful story. I loved how this story unfolds. I also really like how it felt like fate kept putting them together giving them the nudge they need to be together.
Aspen and Emmett both have some big hurdles to overcome but they slowly learn to lean on and support one another beautifully. They have a beautiful connection, their chemistry is instant but their comfort and intimacy come with time, understanding and patience. They heal each other and love each other.
This story deals with some heavy topics but they are handled with such care and thoughtfulness. It can across genuine and showed true through the characters. Please read your triggers but this was done so well.
This was my first Lo Everett book and it will not be my last. I really enjoyed her style and depth. Her characters and story where well thought-out and executed.
Thank you Lo Everett for this ARC. These are my honest opinions and feelings.
July 28, 2026
This is definitely a 5 star book. I really did enjoy it. However there were so many weird words added and missing and incorrect that it took me out because I had to stop and read and re-read and figure out what was supposed to be written.
August 14, 2026
This series is criminally underrated and reviewed. I loved this second installment even more than the first, and yes, the typos were noticeable, but all it did was impress me even more that this clearly under-supported indi author still managed to pull off such a lovely and endearing book without the resources she deserves to have it a bit more polished. I keep thinking about these two characters long after finishing the book, and that’s rare for me these days. Their chemistry was perfect. I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time, knowing it’s going to hit this well. This one follows Aspen, a flight and er nurse, and Emmett, a hotshot firefighter, as she helps his heal after he’s badly injured and burned saving Harlow during a wildfire evacuation. He stays in the loft she’s renting while he tries to heal not only from his injuries, but from a traumatic past of losing a family member in a fire he accidentally started as a teen. Aspen was so relatable as a perfectionist “fixer” who always put her needs last, and Emmett’s self-hatred and punishment of himself was heartbreaking. Emmett was a best-of MMC for me and his angst and obsession with Aspen had me hooked deep. The way his instinct was to take care of her and help her take care of herself on such a basic level was so endearing. The plot lost me a little along the way because I thought Jeremiah (an absolute dickweed from Aspen’s work who sexually and otherwise harasses her after she ends a casual relationship with him) was going to play a bigger role in the plot besides side-villain, but it shifted a bit to focus instead on Emmett’s grandmother who suffers from dementia. This relationship dynamic was heartbreaking and another layer to Emmett’s struggle with yet another family member being taken away from him; it just seemed to develop suddenly halfway through. Even with that, it was a lovely story and I ate it up. I wanted more and more of these two, which is rare for me. The spice was absolute perfection and I feel like I could have read another 10 scenes and not gotten bored. I did very much enjoy Aspen confronting Jeremiah independently instead of letting Emmett take the lead, both at the hospital and in her driveway when she realizes he needs to be punched. There was less from the side characters in this one but still enough to keep tabs and confirm there will definitely be more stories and spin offs coming - something I’m not mad about one bit.
******
His knuckles brush my forearm, and I look down to find his eyes open and pinned on me with an intensity that makes my stomach flip. Not wild or panicked. But filled with a trust I haven’t earned. Like he’s decided I’m the one who’s going to help him get through one of the worst days of his life. P22
Life hasn’t been kind to Emmett, but I can be. P44
“No. You don’t like talking so you can listen. Acting like you know better than me is reductive and pathetic. I’m a big girl. I’ll decide who I spend my energy on, thank you very much.” P52
From angel to hellion, her range is captivating. She is captivating. As if she knows exactly how wayward my mind just went, Aspen pulls back her shoulders and locks me in a glare. Oh, yeah, she’s hiding horns under that halo. P83
Concentrating on anything but her lips, legs, or the tight points of her nipples pushing at the thin shirt is a challenge. No one is my type quite like Aspen. P87
I lift her mug to my lips and take a sip. Her mouth drops open. “That was for safekeeping.” “What exactly feels safe about me, Angel?” P88
Only two things give me any hint of who she is when she’s not working: A crisp paperback, the spine unbroken, with a bookmark obscuring the cover, and a pair of crisp white running shoes by the sliding door, like she meant to find time for herself but didn’t. P90
I don’t remember much about the flight other than waking up to her face and knowing as long as I was with Aspen, I’d be okay. It’s the same now, and every time I’ve been near her since—like she gives my nervous system a chance to rest, and I have to remind myself that getting attached is the most dangerous thing of all. P114
“Oh my god.” My eyes squeeze shut. “And then you groaned, and it sounded like . . .” I trail off, mortified beyond repair as I force myself to turn around. Huge mistake. He’s wearing a pair of faded jeans, the button undone, a wet trail of hair leading straight to . . . yep, that. His shirt hangs from his hand like an afterthought, and his wavy hair is pushed back. The effect of him hurrying out here is devastating. Emmett takes control in my moment of weakness, leaning in closer and dropping his head. His gaze falls to the floor between us before crawling back up every inch of me and locking me in place when it catches on my own. “Did it sound like I stole your vibrator and pressed it to my cock until I blew all over my fist while thinking about you? Because that’s exactly what I did.” There it is—that big-dick energy Harlowe mentioned looms over me, and I’m deceased. P166
“Pleading again. So pretty when you’re letting me take care of you. I could get used to that.” P209
“These—can I take them off?” “If you want.” Yes, please is more like it, but I manage not to appear too eager. “If I—” He takes my hand in his, and when he places it over his hard cock, it jumps in my hand. “You make me this fucking hard without even trying. You should never have to question it.” Heat floods every inch of me. No one’s ever looked at me the way Emmett does, but he makes wanting me look like the easiest thing in the world. “It’s deeply unfair,” I whisper, “that you say things like that and expect me to function afterwards.” His mouth curves slowly, eyes fixed on mine like he’s enjoying every second of my unraveling “I’ve been barely functioning around you for weeks. Feels fair.” P228
“Words, Angel,” I demand, slowing my thrusts as if that will clear her mind. “I’m so full.” I lean over her, dusting kisses up her sternum and neck to the corner of her mouth where I whisper, “You can take it.” Her mouth falls open when I bury myself inside her, a little rough. “Can’t you?” Strands of hair fall across her face as she nods. “Yes. I want it.” Here, I can give her all of me. My hands move her hair to the side, and my mouth finds her neck. “You look like a dream taking me.” P263
She melts into the table, putty under me as I strum her clit and drive her higher. “Only thing better is the sweet noises you make when you let go for me.” Those I’ve committed memory. “I’m close,” she warns. “I know.” I grit my teeth, heat coiling down my spine and I try to hold back, but she’s too perfect, and it’s all too much, pushing up, up, up until it’s all I can do to hold on and get her there. “Angel.” I push rough circles with the pad of my thumb. “You need to come for me. Barely hanging on here.” She nods erratically, and squeezes her eyes shut. I slap her clit., and her eyes shoot open, a garbled noise leaving her as she squeezes around me. “Need those eyes when you’re coming on my cock, Angel.” P263
Gran studies her. Really studies her. Then, out of nowhere, her hand reaches for Aspen’s. “You’re good for him.” There’s nothing foggy about the way she says that. “He carries too much. Always has. You make him . . . lighter.” My grandma’s thumb brushes Aspen’s knuckles like she’s grounding herself there. “Plus, you call him out on his shit, and lord knows he needs that the most.” My chest tightens in a way I don’t fight. Aspen’s voice is gentle. “I like him heavy too.” That earns her a crooked smile from my other favorite woman. “Of course you do,” she says. “Love’s not meant to be easy. It’s meant to be honest.” P306
His gaze flips back and forth over my face. I can tell he’s at war with himself. “I love you, and I’m not taking it back because you’re scared. But you have to decide, because being so afraid of losing me that you never let yourself have me? That’s still losing me.” P362
******
His knuckles brush my forearm, and I look down to find his eyes open and pinned on me with an intensity that makes my stomach flip. Not wild or panicked. But filled with a trust I haven’t earned. Like he’s decided I’m the one who’s going to help him get through one of the worst days of his life. P22
Life hasn’t been kind to Emmett, but I can be. P44
“No. You don’t like talking so you can listen. Acting like you know better than me is reductive and pathetic. I’m a big girl. I’ll decide who I spend my energy on, thank you very much.” P52
From angel to hellion, her range is captivating. She is captivating. As if she knows exactly how wayward my mind just went, Aspen pulls back her shoulders and locks me in a glare. Oh, yeah, she’s hiding horns under that halo. P83
Concentrating on anything but her lips, legs, or the tight points of her nipples pushing at the thin shirt is a challenge. No one is my type quite like Aspen. P87
I lift her mug to my lips and take a sip. Her mouth drops open. “That was for safekeeping.” “What exactly feels safe about me, Angel?” P88
Only two things give me any hint of who she is when she’s not working: A crisp paperback, the spine unbroken, with a bookmark obscuring the cover, and a pair of crisp white running shoes by the sliding door, like she meant to find time for herself but didn’t. P90
I don’t remember much about the flight other than waking up to her face and knowing as long as I was with Aspen, I’d be okay. It’s the same now, and every time I’ve been near her since—like she gives my nervous system a chance to rest, and I have to remind myself that getting attached is the most dangerous thing of all. P114
“Oh my god.” My eyes squeeze shut. “And then you groaned, and it sounded like . . .” I trail off, mortified beyond repair as I force myself to turn around. Huge mistake. He’s wearing a pair of faded jeans, the button undone, a wet trail of hair leading straight to . . . yep, that. His shirt hangs from his hand like an afterthought, and his wavy hair is pushed back. The effect of him hurrying out here is devastating. Emmett takes control in my moment of weakness, leaning in closer and dropping his head. His gaze falls to the floor between us before crawling back up every inch of me and locking me in place when it catches on my own. “Did it sound like I stole your vibrator and pressed it to my cock until I blew all over my fist while thinking about you? Because that’s exactly what I did.” There it is—that big-dick energy Harlowe mentioned looms over me, and I’m deceased. P166
“Pleading again. So pretty when you’re letting me take care of you. I could get used to that.” P209
“These—can I take them off?” “If you want.” Yes, please is more like it, but I manage not to appear too eager. “If I—” He takes my hand in his, and when he places it over his hard cock, it jumps in my hand. “You make me this fucking hard without even trying. You should never have to question it.” Heat floods every inch of me. No one’s ever looked at me the way Emmett does, but he makes wanting me look like the easiest thing in the world. “It’s deeply unfair,” I whisper, “that you say things like that and expect me to function afterwards.” His mouth curves slowly, eyes fixed on mine like he’s enjoying every second of my unraveling “I’ve been barely functioning around you for weeks. Feels fair.” P228
“Words, Angel,” I demand, slowing my thrusts as if that will clear her mind. “I’m so full.” I lean over her, dusting kisses up her sternum and neck to the corner of her mouth where I whisper, “You can take it.” Her mouth falls open when I bury myself inside her, a little rough. “Can’t you?” Strands of hair fall across her face as she nods. “Yes. I want it.” Here, I can give her all of me. My hands move her hair to the side, and my mouth finds her neck. “You look like a dream taking me.” P263
She melts into the table, putty under me as I strum her clit and drive her higher. “Only thing better is the sweet noises you make when you let go for me.” Those I’ve committed memory. “I’m close,” she warns. “I know.” I grit my teeth, heat coiling down my spine and I try to hold back, but she’s too perfect, and it’s all too much, pushing up, up, up until it’s all I can do to hold on and get her there. “Angel.” I push rough circles with the pad of my thumb. “You need to come for me. Barely hanging on here.” She nods erratically, and squeezes her eyes shut. I slap her clit., and her eyes shoot open, a garbled noise leaving her as she squeezes around me. “Need those eyes when you’re coming on my cock, Angel.” P263
Gran studies her. Really studies her. Then, out of nowhere, her hand reaches for Aspen’s. “You’re good for him.” There’s nothing foggy about the way she says that. “He carries too much. Always has. You make him . . . lighter.” My grandma’s thumb brushes Aspen’s knuckles like she’s grounding herself there. “Plus, you call him out on his shit, and lord knows he needs that the most.” My chest tightens in a way I don’t fight. Aspen’s voice is gentle. “I like him heavy too.” That earns her a crooked smile from my other favorite woman. “Of course you do,” she says. “Love’s not meant to be easy. It’s meant to be honest.” P306
His gaze flips back and forth over my face. I can tell he’s at war with himself. “I love you, and I’m not taking it back because you’re scared. But you have to decide, because being so afraid of losing me that you never let yourself have me? That’s still losing me.” P362
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I haven’t been whole in a long time. Anything you take from me is yours to keep. I’d rather walk this world a fraction of who I was before I met you than take them back.”
✔️small town
✔️grumpy x sunshine
✔️forced proximity
✔️hotshot firefighter MMC x flight nurse FMC
✔️hurt x comfort
✔️mental health rep (PTSD, depression)
✔️no 3rd act breakup
4.75⭐️ rounded up
Emmett (MMC) and Aspen (FMC) are perfectly imperfect. This book is emotional, and those emotions get messy at times, but it is apparent from the start that these two would make an excellent couple if the MMC was able to let that happen. However, he has PTSD that hasn’t been treated, is recovering from a pretty serious injury that is adding to his mental health struggles, and he doesn’t believe that he is worthy of love after an accident caused major destruction in his life when he was a teen. Aspen is a flight nurse and she is overworked, exhausted, and feels responsible for things she has no business trying to fix. They meet when she was the nurse treating him in the medical helicopter after his most recent injury on the job, and though she tells herself she needs to let him go and move on with her life there is something about him that just won’t let her. It doesn’t help that they are going to be in very close proximity, as he is renting her loft/short term rental while he recovers.
One of the major themes of this book is meeting people where they are emotionally and that love isn’t enough no matter how much we want it to be. Emmett doesn’t want to be a burden to Aspen, but he has to learn to respect the fact that she knows what she can handle. On the flip side, Aspen has to realize that loving Emmett means that he may never accept that he is worthy of her and her love, and she has to be okay with that. He needs to make the choice to heal or not, she can’t decide that for him and he can’t do it for her (he has to do it for himself). Though we see glimpses of the couple from book one in this series (Fool Me) and their friend group, this book really just revolves around the couple since there is so much going on with them internally and Emmett isn’t one for socializing. This can definitely be read as a standalone if desired.
Please check the content warnings and take them seriously before diving into this one, your mental health is important. From my perspective this isn’t a dark book but it is heavy. There is a fair bit of push/pull and Emmett isn’t in a good place mentally for the vast majority of the story. Though parts are difficult to read, there is also healing and a happily ever after. It’s an excellent book that I enjoyed, I just think readers need to go in emotionally prepared.
*Thank you so much to the author (Lo Everett) and her team for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*
✔️small town
✔️grumpy x sunshine
✔️forced proximity
✔️hotshot firefighter MMC x flight nurse FMC
✔️hurt x comfort
✔️mental health rep (PTSD, depression)
✔️no 3rd act breakup
4.75⭐️ rounded up
Emmett (MMC) and Aspen (FMC) are perfectly imperfect. This book is emotional, and those emotions get messy at times, but it is apparent from the start that these two would make an excellent couple if the MMC was able to let that happen. However, he has PTSD that hasn’t been treated, is recovering from a pretty serious injury that is adding to his mental health struggles, and he doesn’t believe that he is worthy of love after an accident caused major destruction in his life when he was a teen. Aspen is a flight nurse and she is overworked, exhausted, and feels responsible for things she has no business trying to fix. They meet when she was the nurse treating him in the medical helicopter after his most recent injury on the job, and though she tells herself she needs to let him go and move on with her life there is something about him that just won’t let her. It doesn’t help that they are going to be in very close proximity, as he is renting her loft/short term rental while he recovers.
One of the major themes of this book is meeting people where they are emotionally and that love isn’t enough no matter how much we want it to be. Emmett doesn’t want to be a burden to Aspen, but he has to learn to respect the fact that she knows what she can handle. On the flip side, Aspen has to realize that loving Emmett means that he may never accept that he is worthy of her and her love, and she has to be okay with that. He needs to make the choice to heal or not, she can’t decide that for him and he can’t do it for her (he has to do it for himself). Though we see glimpses of the couple from book one in this series (Fool Me) and their friend group, this book really just revolves around the couple since there is so much going on with them internally and Emmett isn’t one for socializing. This can definitely be read as a standalone if desired.
Please check the content warnings and take them seriously before diving into this one, your mental health is important. From my perspective this isn’t a dark book but it is heavy. There is a fair bit of push/pull and Emmett isn’t in a good place mentally for the vast majority of the story. Though parts are difficult to read, there is also healing and a happily ever after. It’s an excellent book that I enjoyed, I just think readers need to go in emotionally prepared.
*Thank you so much to the author (Lo Everett) and her team for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*
August 13, 2026
This second book in the Timberline Peak series was incredible. Lo Everett has a way of writing trauma and recovery in such a real and emotional way but handles the topics with the care and respect they deserve. It is brilliantly executed and I loved every bit of this story.
Aspen Holt is a flight nurse who ends up with Emmett Slate on her helicopter after a burning tree fell on him and there is an immediate bond. Aspen feels drawn to her newest patient on a deeply personal level. She checks in on him while he is healing in the hospital and keeps talking to him even when he does not respond with much more than a single word. She shows up over and over as they build somewhat of a friendship.
Emmett Slate is a hotshot firefighter with more than just his recent trauma messing with his mind. He has been carrying events from his childhood for many years and has yet to defeat his personal demons. Aspen is forcing him to face his life and his self-loathing despite trying very hard not to. He continually tries to discourage her from coming to see him with his grumpy words and behavior but she is persistent. She gets under his skin and he actually begins to appreciate her visits and conversations. But when he is discharged from the hospital it looks like they will never see each other again.
Until he rents a room with an Air BnB which just happens to be owned by Aspen. With him staying in the rental right on her property, they are in such close proximity there is no avoiding each other, or her friends, or the town welcome committee. He is quickly brought into the fold and finds he enjoys the forced company with Atlas and the gang, even if he does not want to admit it. Their interactions are so much fun, as are the ones between Aspen and her group of friends.
Aspen is a loving and giving person, dedicated to her job and taking care of others to the point of exhausting herself. Emmett sees this and starts doing little things to take care of her. It is the sweetest thing. And when that little spark they have been ignoring from the start ignites, the heat is like a four alarm fire.
I loved their interactions, the way they both grow so much emotionally, the support they give one another. It was all beautiful and inspiring and a joy to read. There is nothing I did not enjoy about this book and one hundred percent recommend giving this a try. It is part of a series, but is not necessary to read book one in order to enjoy this one.
Thank you to Lo Everett for the advanced copy to read and review.
Aspen Holt is a flight nurse who ends up with Emmett Slate on her helicopter after a burning tree fell on him and there is an immediate bond. Aspen feels drawn to her newest patient on a deeply personal level. She checks in on him while he is healing in the hospital and keeps talking to him even when he does not respond with much more than a single word. She shows up over and over as they build somewhat of a friendship.
Emmett Slate is a hotshot firefighter with more than just his recent trauma messing with his mind. He has been carrying events from his childhood for many years and has yet to defeat his personal demons. Aspen is forcing him to face his life and his self-loathing despite trying very hard not to. He continually tries to discourage her from coming to see him with his grumpy words and behavior but she is persistent. She gets under his skin and he actually begins to appreciate her visits and conversations. But when he is discharged from the hospital it looks like they will never see each other again.
Until he rents a room with an Air BnB which just happens to be owned by Aspen. With him staying in the rental right on her property, they are in such close proximity there is no avoiding each other, or her friends, or the town welcome committee. He is quickly brought into the fold and finds he enjoys the forced company with Atlas and the gang, even if he does not want to admit it. Their interactions are so much fun, as are the ones between Aspen and her group of friends.
Aspen is a loving and giving person, dedicated to her job and taking care of others to the point of exhausting herself. Emmett sees this and starts doing little things to take care of her. It is the sweetest thing. And when that little spark they have been ignoring from the start ignites, the heat is like a four alarm fire.
I loved their interactions, the way they both grow so much emotionally, the support they give one another. It was all beautiful and inspiring and a joy to read. There is nothing I did not enjoy about this book and one hundred percent recommend giving this a try. It is part of a series, but is not necessary to read book one in order to enjoy this one.
Thank you to Lo Everett for the advanced copy to read and review.
July 27, 2026
ARC REVIEW
When Hotshot Emmett Slate is injured during a forest fire, he has to be transported to hospital via medevac. The flight nurse, Aspen Holt finds herself unable to stay away and the pair form a tentative friendship that eventually turns into something more.
On top of his injuries, Emmett also went through something pretty traumatic as a teen and we get little bits and pieces of this story throughout the book. His mental health is a significant part of the plot. We got to see Emmett really process his grief and PTSD for the first time with Aspen by his side.
Aspen really is an angel. She is one of the most selfless, hard-working and kind characters I have ever come across. She’ll do anything to help, even at the expense of herself which isn’t always healthy.
Aspen was exactly what Emmett needed during his recovery. She really tried to see the good in him when others gave up. The “break out scene” was probably my favorite in the whole book as Emmett was trying SO hard to be nonchalant but Aspen saw through his act immediately.
These two are definitely slowwww burn. But that’s why they’re so good. I think it would’ve been hard to buy into the relationship if it happened earlier because it takes a while for Emmett to trust Aspen, first as a friend and then something more. Emmett’s love langue is definitely acts of service. While he wasn’t good with words he did show it by his gestures.
Of course when they do get together is it Hot Hot HOT. The chemistry was definitely there and I thought the spice was really well done.
There is a lot of healing done during this book, by both characters. Both of them deserved a happy ending and I think they deserved the one they got together!
One of my only gripes with this book was the timeline of Emmett's past. At one point it's 16 years, then it's 20 years etc. I couldn't get a good gauge of how old he was. I also thought there were a few blanks in the narrative especially around his grandparents.
Thank you so much to Lo Everett for the ARC!
When Hotshot Emmett Slate is injured during a forest fire, he has to be transported to hospital via medevac. The flight nurse, Aspen Holt finds herself unable to stay away and the pair form a tentative friendship that eventually turns into something more.
On top of his injuries, Emmett also went through something pretty traumatic as a teen and we get little bits and pieces of this story throughout the book. His mental health is a significant part of the plot. We got to see Emmett really process his grief and PTSD for the first time with Aspen by his side.
Aspen really is an angel. She is one of the most selfless, hard-working and kind characters I have ever come across. She’ll do anything to help, even at the expense of herself which isn’t always healthy.
Aspen was exactly what Emmett needed during his recovery. She really tried to see the good in him when others gave up. The “break out scene” was probably my favorite in the whole book as Emmett was trying SO hard to be nonchalant but Aspen saw through his act immediately.
These two are definitely slowwww burn. But that’s why they’re so good. I think it would’ve been hard to buy into the relationship if it happened earlier because it takes a while for Emmett to trust Aspen, first as a friend and then something more. Emmett’s love langue is definitely acts of service. While he wasn’t good with words he did show it by his gestures.
Of course when they do get together is it Hot Hot HOT. The chemistry was definitely there and I thought the spice was really well done.
There is a lot of healing done during this book, by both characters. Both of them deserved a happy ending and I think they deserved the one they got together!
One of my only gripes with this book was the timeline of Emmett's past. At one point it's 16 years, then it's 20 years etc. I couldn't get a good gauge of how old he was. I also thought there were a few blanks in the narrative especially around his grandparents.
Thank you so much to Lo Everett for the ARC!
July 16, 2026
I loved this and it was SO good and I was so looking forward to it because Fool Me was AMAZING!
And Lo, if you ever read this: don't apologize for how long this book took to write. The care you put into every page shows, and it was absolutely worth the wait.
I saw the content warnings for the house fire and PTSD, and as someone who has personally been through a house fire and also has PTSD from my military service, it's really important to me that those experiences are handled with care. Lo Everett absolutely nailed it, and treated them with the utmost care and respect and also nuance. Not just those topics, but also anxiety, panic attacks, therapy, and mental health as a whole. Everything felt so real, raw, and authentic, and I appreciated that more than I can say. She is an incredibly talented writer who really gives her all and pours passion into this book and it really shows.
The romance was just as incredible. The chemistry between Aspen and Emmett was amazing, and I loved that they healed both individually and together. They truly brought out the best in each other. The forced proximity aspect and nurse/patient dynamic was my favorite part, and I really loved the hurt/comfort moments that happened between them. There was also a lot of yearning and longing and tension that really was the cherry on top. I love them so much, almost as much as Atlas and Harlowe and I did not think that was possible.
The spice was SO good! It was hot, but it was also tender and sweet in a way and was just a true testament to their chemistry. I thought it was well done and wasn't too much or too little, and was perfect for the story.
This was just so good and I am so honored I was able to read it early, and I want everyone to read this (and Fool Me) because they are AMAZING books!
I'm already so excited for Tessa, Drake, Trace, and the rest of this series!
Thank you to Lo Everett for the eARC of this book.
And Lo, if you ever read this: don't apologize for how long this book took to write. The care you put into every page shows, and it was absolutely worth the wait.
I saw the content warnings for the house fire and PTSD, and as someone who has personally been through a house fire and also has PTSD from my military service, it's really important to me that those experiences are handled with care. Lo Everett absolutely nailed it, and treated them with the utmost care and respect and also nuance. Not just those topics, but also anxiety, panic attacks, therapy, and mental health as a whole. Everything felt so real, raw, and authentic, and I appreciated that more than I can say. She is an incredibly talented writer who really gives her all and pours passion into this book and it really shows.
The romance was just as incredible. The chemistry between Aspen and Emmett was amazing, and I loved that they healed both individually and together. They truly brought out the best in each other. The forced proximity aspect and nurse/patient dynamic was my favorite part, and I really loved the hurt/comfort moments that happened between them. There was also a lot of yearning and longing and tension that really was the cherry on top. I love them so much, almost as much as Atlas and Harlowe and I did not think that was possible.
The spice was SO good! It was hot, but it was also tender and sweet in a way and was just a true testament to their chemistry. I thought it was well done and wasn't too much or too little, and was perfect for the story.
This was just so good and I am so honored I was able to read it early, and I want everyone to read this (and Fool Me) because they are AMAZING books!
I'm already so excited for Tessa, Drake, Trace, and the rest of this series!
Thank you to Lo Everett for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first Lo Everett book and, babes, I'm in love. (Also, it's a 4.5* for me, gimme my half stars, Goodreads!)
I loved the pacing of this book - the big action happens in the opening scenes, and then the characters have this beautiful slow-build / unraveling growth (individually and together), and I was SO READY for a story like this one. I loved seeing the process of healing and watching Emmett and Aspen choose one another over and over again (until they also had the confidence to choose themselves AND each other).
The parts that'll pull your heartstrings are the pain and the longing and the loneliness combined with both main characters' need to be useful and make everyone around them safe. So, they meet in the forest while it's on fire - he's the Hotshot firefighter who saves her best friend, and she's the flight nurse who saves him. She's the youngest sister who is sunshine, and he's the traumatized man who has shut off his feelings after losing everyone who loved him, or was supposed to care. But she cares, and he cares, and their chemistry surprised them both.
The PTSD and dementia (his grandmother) rep is so vulnerable and real, and both characters spend the book healing - and I love that work is still in progress at the end - because the healing isn't ever done, but the choice to stay - to stick around through the hard parts is what makes these two special.
I'm heading back to book 1 because I really want Harlowe's story too! The whole friend group is fabulous - I can't wait to read the rest of them because I love a group of friends who aren't afraid to tease one another, laugh with each other, and dole out the tough love when necessary.
*opinions are my own, and I am grateful to the author for an eARC of this book.
I loved the pacing of this book - the big action happens in the opening scenes, and then the characters have this beautiful slow-build / unraveling growth (individually and together), and I was SO READY for a story like this one. I loved seeing the process of healing and watching Emmett and Aspen choose one another over and over again (until they also had the confidence to choose themselves AND each other).
The parts that'll pull your heartstrings are the pain and the longing and the loneliness combined with both main characters' need to be useful and make everyone around them safe. So, they meet in the forest while it's on fire - he's the Hotshot firefighter who saves her best friend, and she's the flight nurse who saves him. She's the youngest sister who is sunshine, and he's the traumatized man who has shut off his feelings after losing everyone who loved him, or was supposed to care. But she cares, and he cares, and their chemistry surprised them both.
The PTSD and dementia (his grandmother) rep is so vulnerable and real, and both characters spend the book healing - and I love that work is still in progress at the end - because the healing isn't ever done, but the choice to stay - to stick around through the hard parts is what makes these two special.
I'm heading back to book 1 because I really want Harlowe's story too! The whole friend group is fabulous - I can't wait to read the rest of them because I love a group of friends who aren't afraid to tease one another, laugh with each other, and dole out the tough love when necessary.
*opinions are my own, and I am grateful to the author for an eARC of this book.
August 19, 2026
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Ruin Me (Book 2)
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Lo Everett
𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Timberline Peak
𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Emmett Slate & Aspen Holt
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
- Small Town
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Hotshot x Flight Nurse
- Forced Proximity
- Mental Health Rep (PTSD)
- Hurt/Comfort
- Found Family
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
- Cute Nicknames
- Toys as Teammates
- Mirror Scene
- Hair Washing
- 🍑 Play
- “Ride my face”
- Mutual Masturbation
- He Whimpers
- He pushes it back in
- She catches him in the act
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:
I am loving this series so far!! Aspen & Emmett meet under horrible circumstances when he was airlifted out of forest fire after sustaining multiple burns and injuries while fight the fire. Aspen was the flight nurse on the helicopter ride to the hospital. Something draws Aspen to Emmett, so as he was recovering in the hospital she used all her free time to check on him and visit him. Emmett was so closed off and wanted nothing to do with Aspen. When he was discharged from the hospital, he ended up renting a loft near by which happened to be above Aspens garage.
The forced proximity between Aspen and Emmett really starts to play a role in the tension that was developed at the hospital. Aspen is a huge people pleaser. She wants to help everyone she cares about, and there’s something about Emmett that she’s drawn to. Emmett can’t help but feel that pull too but due to his traumatic childhood he feels like he doesn’t deserve to have a happy life.
I loved the banter between these two!! The witty comebacks and comments had me giggling. Emmett was so grumpy, and I loved the softer side that came out with Aspen. These two were the perfect match for one another. This story had the perfect amount of spice, emotion, and character development. I really enjoyed this and I highly recommend you guys check it out!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Lo Everett
𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Timberline Peak
𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Emmett Slate & Aspen Holt
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
- Small Town
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Hotshot x Flight Nurse
- Forced Proximity
- Mental Health Rep (PTSD)
- Hurt/Comfort
- Found Family
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
- Cute Nicknames
- Toys as Teammates
- Mirror Scene
- Hair Washing
- 🍑 Play
- “Ride my face”
- Mutual Masturbation
- He Whimpers
- He pushes it back in
- She catches him in the act
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:
I am loving this series so far!! Aspen & Emmett meet under horrible circumstances when he was airlifted out of forest fire after sustaining multiple burns and injuries while fight the fire. Aspen was the flight nurse on the helicopter ride to the hospital. Something draws Aspen to Emmett, so as he was recovering in the hospital she used all her free time to check on him and visit him. Emmett was so closed off and wanted nothing to do with Aspen. When he was discharged from the hospital, he ended up renting a loft near by which happened to be above Aspens garage.
The forced proximity between Aspen and Emmett really starts to play a role in the tension that was developed at the hospital. Aspen is a huge people pleaser. She wants to help everyone she cares about, and there’s something about Emmett that she’s drawn to. Emmett can’t help but feel that pull too but due to his traumatic childhood he feels like he doesn’t deserve to have a happy life.
I loved the banter between these two!! The witty comebacks and comments had me giggling. Emmett was so grumpy, and I loved the softer side that came out with Aspen. These two were the perfect match for one another. This story had the perfect amount of spice, emotion, and character development. I really enjoyed this and I highly recommend you guys check it out!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
July 26, 2026
Ruin Me
Book 2 in the Timberline Peak Series
By: Lo Everett
⭐ Overall: 4/5
📖 Plot: 4/5
👥 Character Development: 4/5
⏩ Pace: 4/5
🌎 World Building: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5
I really enjoyed Aspen and Emmett's story and watching them slowly break down each other's walls. Both carried emotional baggage in different ways, and seeing them learn to lean on one another instead of facing everything alone made their relationship feel heartfelt and genuine.
The attraction between them was immediate, and while the transition from attraction to a deeper connection felt a little quick at first, once their relationship settled in, I was completely invested. The story had a great balance of angst, emotional depth, comfort, and banter that kept me turning the pages.
One of my favorite parts was Aspen's growth. Watching her finally stand up for herself after spending so much of her life putting everyone else first was incredibly satisfying. Emmett, in turn, learned that letting someone in doesn't always mean they'll leave. Their healing journeys complemented each other beautifully.
If you love emotionally driven romances with protective heroes, found family, and characters learning that vulnerability can be their greatest strength, Ruin Me is definitely worth picking up.
Tropes:
💜 Hurt x Comfort
💚 Forced Proximity
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
💚 Flight Nurse x Hotshot
💜 Found Family
💚 Anxiety & PTSD Representation
Book 2 in the Timberline Peak Series
By: Lo Everett
⭐ Overall: 4/5
📖 Plot: 4/5
👥 Character Development: 4/5
⏩ Pace: 4/5
🌎 World Building: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5
I really enjoyed Aspen and Emmett's story and watching them slowly break down each other's walls. Both carried emotional baggage in different ways, and seeing them learn to lean on one another instead of facing everything alone made their relationship feel heartfelt and genuine.
The attraction between them was immediate, and while the transition from attraction to a deeper connection felt a little quick at first, once their relationship settled in, I was completely invested. The story had a great balance of angst, emotional depth, comfort, and banter that kept me turning the pages.
One of my favorite parts was Aspen's growth. Watching her finally stand up for herself after spending so much of her life putting everyone else first was incredibly satisfying. Emmett, in turn, learned that letting someone in doesn't always mean they'll leave. Their healing journeys complemented each other beautifully.
If you love emotionally driven romances with protective heroes, found family, and characters learning that vulnerability can be their greatest strength, Ruin Me is definitely worth picking up.
Tropes:
💜 Hurt x Comfort
💚 Forced Proximity
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
💚 Flight Nurse x Hotshot
💜 Found Family
💚 Anxiety & PTSD Representation
July 20, 2026
I was lucky enough to get this as an eARC for an honest review. I did not read the first one *YET* but I absolutely will be. This book resonated and healed me in a way I wasn’t ready but definitely due for.
Aspen is a flight nurse that gets a call to help someone that was caught under a burning branch. Emmett is the “hotshot” trying to evacuate a mountain during a fire. What starts as following up on a patient turns into a missed call and with a little small town meddling … you know what happens.
I love that Em was grumpy without being mean. Aspen was sassy without being a brat. Their friendships and dynamics felt real to me. Emmett’s reaction to trauma made me reflect on how I handled my own and even never meeting Aspen - the grace she shows. The sweetness through actions not words and the growth they both have from listening not just hearing the other. Take those beautiful characters and then make the chemistry off the charts and a little devious.
UGH I love this book and can’t wait to see more from this author. TBR be damned. 🔥🌲🚁👩🏻⚕️🦽☕️🍕🛍️👵🏼🥰
Aspen is a flight nurse that gets a call to help someone that was caught under a burning branch. Emmett is the “hotshot” trying to evacuate a mountain during a fire. What starts as following up on a patient turns into a missed call and with a little small town meddling … you know what happens.
I love that Em was grumpy without being mean. Aspen was sassy without being a brat. Their friendships and dynamics felt real to me. Emmett’s reaction to trauma made me reflect on how I handled my own and even never meeting Aspen - the grace she shows. The sweetness through actions not words and the growth they both have from listening not just hearing the other. Take those beautiful characters and then make the chemistry off the charts and a little devious.
UGH I love this book and can’t wait to see more from this author. TBR be damned. 🔥🌲🚁👩🏻⚕️🦽☕️🍕🛍️👵🏼🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Aspen and Emmett’s emotional and heartfelt story had me falling in love alongside them in Ruin Me! This book was full of heart and so many feelings as well as incredible chemistry between Aspen and Emmett. There wasn’t a moment where their connection was anything besides beautiful and deep, even when they weren’t necessarily aware of it!
It was a joy to return to Timberline Peak and to reconnect with the small town & wonderful characters I was introduced to in Fool Me! Aspen and Emmett have such a unique and powerful journey on their path to find love. The love & patience between them was so admirable and something we all can aspire to reach.
Emmett’s mental health plays a big role in his own journey in Ruin Me, and I would be remiss to not mention it. It was so powerful to watch him learn that he does deserve to be happy and to heal from his past. His struggles were real and valid and I loved how Aspen never loved him any less when he was struggling.
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
It was a joy to return to Timberline Peak and to reconnect with the small town & wonderful characters I was introduced to in Fool Me! Aspen and Emmett have such a unique and powerful journey on their path to find love. The love & patience between them was so admirable and something we all can aspire to reach.
Emmett’s mental health plays a big role in his own journey in Ruin Me, and I would be remiss to not mention it. It was so powerful to watch him learn that he does deserve to be happy and to heal from his past. His struggles were real and valid and I loved how Aspen never loved him any less when he was struggling.
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lo Everett always knocks it out of the park. Thank you to her for the eARC. The wait for this book was long but entirely worth it. These characters were amazing! I was so sucked in so quickly and didn’t want to say goodbye when it was over.
Our main characters meet when Emmett gets severely hurt at work and Aspen is the flight nurse that rescues him. Right from the start Aspen feels a kinship with the grump. Emmett is good at pushing people away, but he can’t seem to shake the flight nurse that helped save his life.
I loved that nothing he does seems to rattle her. Even when all her coworkers run the other way, she actively sees him out and they form an unlikely friendship. With his injuries keeping him stuck in town, he has no choice but to let Aspen slowly work her way into his heart.
This book was great. I felt so hard for these two. They really tugged at my heart, and had me in tears by the end. The side characters were just as enjoyable. I’m so ready to dive into everyone’s story. I’m so excited for more!
Our main characters meet when Emmett gets severely hurt at work and Aspen is the flight nurse that rescues him. Right from the start Aspen feels a kinship with the grump. Emmett is good at pushing people away, but he can’t seem to shake the flight nurse that helped save his life.
I loved that nothing he does seems to rattle her. Even when all her coworkers run the other way, she actively sees him out and they form an unlikely friendship. With his injuries keeping him stuck in town, he has no choice but to let Aspen slowly work her way into his heart.
This book was great. I felt so hard for these two. They really tugged at my heart, and had me in tears by the end. The side characters were just as enjoyable. I’m so ready to dive into everyone’s story. I’m so excited for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝗥𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝗼 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁 (𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗸 #𝟮).
“𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹—𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜’𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀, 𝗜’𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿.”🔥🔥
It’s forest fire season & honestly the best time to read this small town/first responders romance. 🥰
Emmett has kept everyone at bay for so long he is not prepared for Aspen to enter his life. But when she is the flight nurse who literally rescues him and his new landlord his careful walls begins to unravel.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
* 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘅 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲. 🚁
* 𝗣𝗧𝗦𝗗 𝗿𝗲𝗽.
* 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝘅 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 🩹
* 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻.
* 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.
* 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆.
* 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. ❤️🩹
This book explores a lot of trauma, our boy Emmett is recovering from physical injuries but also held back by his past trauma. But Aspen doesn’t scare easily and she has not meant anything or anyone she won’t try to fix. The banter & spice kept this one from getting too heavy.
A big thank you to the author Lo Everett I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to read & review this. 🫶🏼
“𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹—𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜’𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀, 𝗜’𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿.”🔥🔥
It’s forest fire season & honestly the best time to read this small town/first responders romance. 🥰
Emmett has kept everyone at bay for so long he is not prepared for Aspen to enter his life. But when she is the flight nurse who literally rescues him and his new landlord his careful walls begins to unravel.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
* 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘅 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲. 🚁
* 𝗣𝗧𝗦𝗗 𝗿𝗲𝗽.
* 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝘅 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 🩹
* 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻.
* 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.
* 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆.
* 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. ❤️🩹
This book explores a lot of trauma, our boy Emmett is recovering from physical injuries but also held back by his past trauma. But Aspen doesn’t scare easily and she has not meant anything or anyone she won’t try to fix. The banter & spice kept this one from getting too heavy.
A big thank you to the author Lo Everett I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to read & review this. 🫶🏼
August 5, 2026
Hotshot Emmett meets flight nurse Aspen when he gets injured. While recovering, he finds a place close to the hospital, which turns out to be a loft where Aspen lives. He’s grumpy and wants to be alone, and she’s a people pleaser who has a “I can fix it” attitude.
“Life hasn’t been kind to Emmett, but I can be.” Aspen has a heart of gold, and I resonated hard with her need to fix others and only feeling useful when helping others. Her determination and work ethic was so human.
My favorite thing about Emmett was him working on the jeep and how he so fiercely fell for Aspen, caring about her well being. He was right for calling her out for taking care of everyone but herself.
They both worked on themselves and helped each other grow - it was beautiful to see.
Monica had my heart immediately, and all the side friendships like Carl & the girls nights. I feel so attached to each and every person!!
This book made me so emotional. I loved it. Also, 10/10 spice!!
Thank you Lo Everett for allowing me to ARC read in exchange for an honest review!!
“Life hasn’t been kind to Emmett, but I can be.” Aspen has a heart of gold, and I resonated hard with her need to fix others and only feeling useful when helping others. Her determination and work ethic was so human.
My favorite thing about Emmett was him working on the jeep and how he so fiercely fell for Aspen, caring about her well being. He was right for calling her out for taking care of everyone but herself.
They both worked on themselves and helped each other grow - it was beautiful to see.
Monica had my heart immediately, and all the side friendships like Carl & the girls nights. I feel so attached to each and every person!!
This book made me so emotional. I loved it. Also, 10/10 spice!!
Thank you Lo Everett for allowing me to ARC read in exchange for an honest review!!
September 13, 2026
We’re back in Timberland Peak, and this time, we’re falling in love with Emmett and Aspen.
I think the thing I loved most about these two was how Emmett is obviously super grumpy, while Aspen appears to be full of sunshine—but she has some things going on that you’ll have to read the book to find out about.
I also loved how they each took care of one another, just in completely different ways. Emmett needed to open up, realize that his past is exactly that the past and understand that he deserves good things. Aspen, on the other hand, really needed to learn that she doesn’t have to fix everyone else’s problems and that it’s okay to focus on herself and make sure she’s truly happy, too.
Overall, I loved this one! Of course, the found family aspect was one of my favorite things, but watching Emmett heal and learn to trust again was both heartbreaking and healing at the same time, and when he took Aspen to visit ( redacted.. no spoilers here lol) I was smiling so hard!
Can’t wait to visit this town again
I think the thing I loved most about these two was how Emmett is obviously super grumpy, while Aspen appears to be full of sunshine—but she has some things going on that you’ll have to read the book to find out about.
I also loved how they each took care of one another, just in completely different ways. Emmett needed to open up, realize that his past is exactly that the past and understand that he deserves good things. Aspen, on the other hand, really needed to learn that she doesn’t have to fix everyone else’s problems and that it’s okay to focus on herself and make sure she’s truly happy, too.
Overall, I loved this one! Of course, the found family aspect was one of my favorite things, but watching Emmett heal and learn to trust again was both heartbreaking and healing at the same time, and when he took Aspen to visit ( redacted.. no spoilers here lol) I was smiling so hard!
Can’t wait to visit this town again
July 19, 2026
This is book 2 in the Timberline Peak series. Ruin Me delivers a heartfelt small-town romance packed with emotional depth, slow-burning chemistry, and plenty of hurt/comfort moments. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Emmett and Aspen was easy to root for, and I enjoyed watching two emotionally guarded people slowly learn to lean on each other.
One of my favorite aspects was seeing Emmett’s tough exterior slowly crack as Aspen refused to give up on him. Their connection felt genuine, built through quiet moments, vulnerability, and unwavering support rather than instant attraction. Aspen’s compassionate nature perfectly complemented Emmett’s emotional walls, making their journey toward trust and healing feel both believable and rewarding.
If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine romances, emotionally wounded heroes, caring heroines, forced proximity, and stories that blend healing with romance, Ruin Me is definitely worth picking up.
One of my favorite aspects was seeing Emmett’s tough exterior slowly crack as Aspen refused to give up on him. Their connection felt genuine, built through quiet moments, vulnerability, and unwavering support rather than instant attraction. Aspen’s compassionate nature perfectly complemented Emmett’s emotional walls, making their journey toward trust and healing feel both believable and rewarding.
If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine romances, emotionally wounded heroes, caring heroines, forced proximity, and stories that blend healing with romance, Ruin Me is definitely worth picking up.
July 21, 2026
Ruin Me by Lo Everett
Timberline Peak book 2
Just wow! Ruin Me did just that, it ruined me in the best possible way and then it slowly pieced it all back together! What an absolute masterpiece of an emotional journey!
Emmett slate the recluse, hot shot. He’s more broken than he ever lets on. This mans life has been sheer devastation, just so much grief.
Aspen the flight nurse and badass in general. Is the type that heals everyone before herself. I loved her, like complete adoration for this FMC. While rescuing Emmett she instantly has a weird pull towards him and just NEEDS to help him. And she really does. Even while being a grumpy bastard (in the hottest way possible) and trying to push Aspen away she just keeps showing up for him. Watching these 2 let their guards down and slowly get to know each other and fall in love way just devastatingly beautiful and steamy too 😏 ahhh I just love them so much! What a fantastic book this was I highly recommend this one!
Timberline Peak book 2
Just wow! Ruin Me did just that, it ruined me in the best possible way and then it slowly pieced it all back together! What an absolute masterpiece of an emotional journey!
Emmett slate the recluse, hot shot. He’s more broken than he ever lets on. This mans life has been sheer devastation, just so much grief.
Aspen the flight nurse and badass in general. Is the type that heals everyone before herself. I loved her, like complete adoration for this FMC. While rescuing Emmett she instantly has a weird pull towards him and just NEEDS to help him. And she really does. Even while being a grumpy bastard (in the hottest way possible) and trying to push Aspen away she just keeps showing up for him. Watching these 2 let their guards down and slowly get to know each other and fall in love way just devastatingly beautiful and steamy too 😏 ahhh I just love them so much! What a fantastic book this was I highly recommend this one!
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