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Victim of Love
Young lab scientist Olsen Westergard has worked long and hard to create order and stability in his life, and believes he’s finally content. But when he goes on a summer holiday trip with his friends, they try to rouse him from his customary caution, urging him to remedy his extended sexual dry spell. Their fumbled efforts to hook him up validate Olsen’s guess that he likely won’t meet the type of guy he’s looking for on this trip. Or rather, the type of guy he thinks he’s looking for.
But when a solo late night beach walk leads to a heated encounter with a drunken stranger, Olsen unexpectedly finds himself overwhelmed with turbulent desires—made worse when he later discovers the stranger’s surprising identity, and that ready or not, they’re about to get to know each other a whole lot better.
But when a solo late night beach walk leads to a heated encounter with a drunken stranger, Olsen unexpectedly finds himself overwhelmed with turbulent desires—made worse when he later discovers the stranger’s surprising identity, and that ready or not, they’re about to get to know each other a whole lot better.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2015
20 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Darien Cox
26 books345 followersAuthor Darien Cox lives in New England and enjoys using romantic fiction to explore the intensity, insanity, humor, and chaos that accompanies cupid’s arrow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
July 27, 2015
2 stars. DNF @80%. Review posted July 27, 2015
"I'm not trying to reason with a drunk."
He held a hand up, a calming gesture, like I was the one being out of control. "And I will give it back. You just have to give me a kiss first."
The breath left my lungs as though I'd been punched in the gut. My voice came out a whisper. "What?"
White teeth shone in the darkness as he grinned. "One kiss. Then you can have your phone."
"I…I'm not kissing you!"
He shrugged a bare shoulder. "Why not?"
It was a simple, straightforward question, but for some reason it scrambled my brain. Why not? "Because…because I…" I stammered. "I don't want to!" Even as I said it, my gaze dropped to his heart-shaped lips. I quickly turned my head and focused on the water. "Just give me my phone."
"Ah," he said. "So you are gay."
My head whipped around. "Why would you draw that conclusion from me saying I don't want to?"
"Because…" He shuffled closer to me, his damp thigh pressing against mine. "A straight man would have punched me by now."
It was suddenly hard to breathe. "You're nuts."
His grin disappeared, eyes serious suddenly. "I know," he whispered. "Believe me, I know."
"No, Olsen. By all means, tell me what you think."
"All right. I think that you don't like biscuits at all."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Beck shook his head. "Okay, I'm confused now. Are the biscuits vaginas in this metaphor?"
"What I'm saying is--"
"I know what you're saying, Olsen." He pointed to his temple. "My little brain managed to read between the lines of your oh-so-subtle accusation."
I stared into his eyes, suddenly recalling one of Kamal's past pearls of wisdom to me.
'Olsen, you can't fuck the crazy out of someone. Remember that.'
82 x grin, grinned, grinning
155 x smile smiled, smiles
109 x laughing, laughed, laugh, laughter
Victim of Love started off a bit crazy and weird and I wasn't sure where this was going. But it was actually quite entertaining nonetheless--until it wasn't fun anymore and became very annoying. As I said already, I liked the author's writing. However, it is increasingly hard to enjoy a story when you neither like the main characters nor the "plot". As for the sex, I read the first hand job and the next sex scene. The rest of the smexy times I hardly skimmed because they (or, rather the main leads) left me indifferent. To top everything off, I felt bored after a while because nothing substantial happened. I mean a closeted and somewhat "tortured" guy isn't that exciting anymore. One could argue that Beck's "problem" was oh-so interesting, but you know what? I'm tired of all the delaying tactics.
When I abandoned ship at 80%, dull Olsen for this grinning jerk. WHY? What.The.Hell? Does it get any more trite? Anyway, poor Olsen was ready to gobble up all the little bread crumbs that Beck was throwing so "generously" at him. *cue eye roll* Oh, and don't get me started on that irritating interlude and that little dumb between Beck and Olsen. Just no. By the way, the meddlesome Kamal wasn't my cup of tea either.
Be that as it may, I'm sure everything was resolved nicely. I assume that Laurie …probably between 90% and 100%. I was just past caring to make that 'sensational' discovery because I was already annoyed at 50% and my resentment transcended to being really pissed off at 80%.
Movin' on…
"I'm not trying to reason with a drunk."
He held a hand up, a calming gesture, like I was the one being out of control. "And I will give it back. You just have to give me a kiss first."
The breath left my lungs as though I'd been punched in the gut. My voice came out a whisper. "What?"
White teeth shone in the darkness as he grinned. "One kiss. Then you can have your phone."
"I…I'm not kissing you!"
He shrugged a bare shoulder. "Why not?"
It was a simple, straightforward question, but for some reason it scrambled my brain. Why not? "Because…because I…" I stammered. "I don't want to!" Even as I said it, my gaze dropped to his heart-shaped lips. I quickly turned my head and focused on the water. "Just give me my phone."
"Ah," he said. "So you are gay."
My head whipped around. "Why would you draw that conclusion from me saying I don't want to?"
"Because…" He shuffled closer to me, his damp thigh pressing against mine. "A straight man would have punched me by now."
It was suddenly hard to breathe. "You're nuts."
His grin disappeared, eyes serious suddenly. "I know," he whispered. "Believe me, I know."
"No, Olsen. By all means, tell me what you think."
"All right. I think that you don't like biscuits at all."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Beck shook his head. "Okay, I'm confused now. Are the biscuits vaginas in this metaphor?"
"What I'm saying is--"
"I know what you're saying, Olsen." He pointed to his temple. "My little brain managed to read between the lines of your oh-so-subtle accusation."
I stared into his eyes, suddenly recalling one of Kamal's past pearls of wisdom to me.
'Olsen, you can't fuck the crazy out of someone. Remember that.'
82 x grin, grinned, grinning
155 x smile smiled, smiles
109 x laughing, laughed, laugh, laughter
Victim of Love started off a bit crazy and weird and I wasn't sure where this was going. But it was actually quite entertaining nonetheless--until it wasn't fun anymore and became very annoying. As I said already, I liked the author's writing. However, it is increasingly hard to enjoy a story when you neither like the main characters nor the "plot". As for the sex, I read the first hand job and the next sex scene. The rest of the smexy times I hardly skimmed because they (or, rather the main leads) left me indifferent. To top everything off, I felt bored after a while because nothing substantial happened. I mean a closeted and somewhat "tortured" guy isn't that exciting anymore. One could argue that Beck's "problem" was oh-so interesting, but you know what? I'm tired of all the delaying tactics.
When I abandoned ship at 80%, dull Olsen for this grinning jerk. WHY? What.The.Hell? Does it get any more trite? Anyway, poor Olsen was ready to gobble up all the little bread crumbs that Beck was throwing so "generously" at him. *cue eye roll* Oh, and don't get me started on that irritating interlude and that little dumb between Beck and Olsen. Just no. By the way, the meddlesome Kamal wasn't my cup of tea either.
Be that as it may, I'm sure everything was resolved nicely. I assume that Laurie …probably between 90% and 100%. I was just past caring to make that 'sensational' discovery because I was already annoyed at 50% and my resentment transcended to being really pissed off at 80%.
Movin' on…
July 2, 2020
4.25 stars
This was a pleasant suprise. 😍
An easy feel good mm romance. I was happy when i discovered this one doesn't conform to the overused romance formula. Phew! What a relief.
MC 1- Olsen
MC 2- Beck
I loved both characters. They were well developed and had an amazing chemistry. The way Olsen and Beck met was so hilarious.
The story is told from the POV of Olsen. I loved his voice, through his eyes we get to see and know Beck and lawd did i love Beck and all his demoms and Waywardness, hippy ways.
The secondary characters were also well devoloped. They fit perfectly into the story. And their interactions got me loling hard sometimes. 😂
The sex scenes were hot. Olsen and Beck sexual chemistry is out of these world. 🔥 🔥
Overall it was an entertaining story. 😍
This was a pleasant suprise. 😍
An easy feel good mm romance. I was happy when i discovered this one doesn't conform to the overused romance formula. Phew! What a relief.
MC 1- Olsen
MC 2- Beck
I loved both characters. They were well developed and had an amazing chemistry. The way Olsen and Beck met was so hilarious.
The story is told from the POV of Olsen. I loved his voice, through his eyes we get to see and know Beck and lawd did i love Beck and all his demoms and Waywardness, hippy ways.
The secondary characters were also well devoloped. They fit perfectly into the story. And their interactions got me loling hard sometimes. 😂
The sex scenes were hot. Olsen and Beck sexual chemistry is out of these world. 🔥 🔥
Overall it was an entertaining story. 😍
August 10, 2016
Where to begin, where to begin? Let me start by setting a bit of a scene.
Remember when you were head over heels for that one guy who just completely made your toes curl from a simple smirk?Well, then congratulations, you've had your very own 'Beck'.
Remember how he treated you like complete crap? Sometimes.
Remember how at other times, with just a look, you could light up his world? Just less often than you'd hoped.
Remember how he was both caring and careless? Sadly, in equal measure.
Remember how when he looked at you, you could barely breathe? Only to later realize that his actions were, at times, suffocating your very soul?
Remember how he was a complete and utter train wreck of an emotional mess? More often than not.
Remember how no matter what anyone said, not even your own inner voice of reason, could dissuade you from the gravity of his pull? Your own counter pull back.
So beautiful and charming outside. So fucked inside.
There are plenty of reviews that will go through the highlights of the plot, as I normally do myself, but this book felt a bit different than most for me, so I'll leave you to other reviews for the plot rundown this time.
I'm sure that a lot of people became extremely frustrated with Beck's actions, but for some very strange reason, he just clicked for me from the start, with his mask to hide his deep, crippling pain.
When we first meet Beck, he's passed out drunk in the surf only to be found by the quiet and lonely Olsen, then proceeds to mischievously torment the younger man with his childish, frustrating and slightly manic antics.
But when they next meet and Beck pretends not to know the young man he kissed late the night before, I highly suspected that Olsen had somehow gotten his hooks into Beck, although he desperately tried to deny it.
For me, when Olsen's heart was quietly in pursuit of Beck's, there was a subtlety to the story that told me Beck had already lost this game of cat and mouse. And he knew it.
What I really enjoyed about the book was the complete honesty in Beck's words, the ones that were actually voiced, as he let Olsen know that his life was in shambles and he honestly didn't have it in him emotionally to be the person that Olsen needed.
So no, I was never pissed at Beck, only saddened by what I knew had been some soul killing event that he'd only barely survived by acid washing away the person that he'd been before, in order to become the person he had to be to move forward at all.
Fortunately though, Olsen was persistent, which paid off for them both in the end. He also saw past the pretty mask and the games, to something worth excavating beneath all of the rubble of Beck's past.
The story was as equally touching as it was heartbreaking, especially the scene where Olsen agreed to "pretend". I'd read the book for that very powerful chapter alone.
I should also mention that the book is full of steam and the primary way that Beck and Olsen begin to connect. First physically and then by slowly beginning to tear down very rigid emotional walls, one small brick at a time.
My only criticism of the book would be that I felt the level of banter could have been kicked up a notch or two, so I would have loved to have seen a bit more of that.
So a very solid 4.25 *pretend-until-you're-strong-enough* stars for this unique, very worthwhile read for me.
September 20, 2015
~3.5~
Olsen's last name is Westergard? The fuck, you say? The entire book I kept wondering if Olsen was his first or last name.
But that's not important.
At around 40 percent, I had the following conversation with my friend Catherine.
Me: "Holy shit but Beck is bugging the living hell out of me."
Cat: "He had his moments, but I liked him overall. I think I just fell in love with him so quickly at the beginning, I was willing to overlook some flaws later on."
Me: "I am so not in love with him. Like at all. He's selfish and annoying, and I'm sure he has some deep dark secret/life trauma, but whatever."
Cat: "I like Beck & Olsen's dynamic together, but I still thought Olsen deserved more than what he was getting. I mean ... I still wanted these two to end up together, but their shit was undeniably unhealthy. Still, I loved the book. Beck's character felt unique and fresh ...."
I fold. CAT WINS.
Because Beck IS unique.
And this story is hella sexy.
So much dirty sex, a mire of despair and anger and pure passion. Licking. Pretending. Kissing.
Intense head games, but with a PURPOSE.
Olsen is a pushover. And Beck is insanely fucked up and emotionally crippled.
But when I got to Beck's "confession," which undeniably came late in the game, I understood. Mostly.
I still think Beck treated Olsen poorly. But Olsen LET him.
Because it was only ever Beck for Olsen, not some cute nerd named Evan, no matter how much Olsen tried.
Sometimes you meet the love of your life when he steals your phone and makes you run up a sandy hill. Then he kisses you senseless. And denies knowing you in the morning.
Sometimes he's your friend's brother who buys morbid antique "junk." Sometimes he's volatile. And secretive. And seemingly all wrong for you.
But so VERY RIGHT.
This book is frustrating. And real.
It has an awesome cast of secondary characters.
And a fairly solid HEA .
As Olsen says, "Very Officer and a Gentleman."
And that's worth swooning about.
Olsen's last name is Westergard? The fuck, you say? The entire book I kept wondering if Olsen was his first or last name.
But that's not important.
At around 40 percent, I had the following conversation with my friend Catherine.
Me: "Holy shit but Beck is bugging the living hell out of me."
Cat: "He had his moments, but I liked him overall. I think I just fell in love with him so quickly at the beginning, I was willing to overlook some flaws later on."
Me: "I am so not in love with him. Like at all. He's selfish and annoying, and I'm sure he has some deep dark secret/life trauma, but whatever."
Cat: "I like Beck & Olsen's dynamic together, but I still thought Olsen deserved more than what he was getting. I mean ... I still wanted these two to end up together, but their shit was undeniably unhealthy. Still, I loved the book. Beck's character felt unique and fresh ...."
I fold. CAT WINS.
Because Beck IS unique.
And this story is hella sexy.
So much dirty sex, a mire of despair and anger and pure passion. Licking. Pretending. Kissing.
Intense head games, but with a PURPOSE.
Olsen is a pushover. And Beck is insanely fucked up and emotionally crippled.
But when I got to Beck's "confession," which undeniably came late in the game, I understood. Mostly.
I still think Beck treated Olsen poorly. But Olsen LET him.
Because it was only ever Beck for Olsen, not some cute nerd named Evan, no matter how much Olsen tried.
Sometimes you meet the love of your life when he steals your phone and makes you run up a sandy hill. Then he kisses you senseless. And denies knowing you in the morning.
Sometimes he's your friend's brother who buys morbid antique "junk." Sometimes he's volatile. And secretive. And seemingly all wrong for you.
But so VERY RIGHT.
This book is frustrating. And real.
It has an awesome cast of secondary characters.
And a fairly solid HEA .
As Olsen says, "Very Officer and a Gentleman."
And that's worth swooning about.
July 26, 2015
This is one that I started of thinking was just ok,but the more I read the more I really enjoyed it.
Olsen is on vacation with friends from work when he meets a drunk stranger on the beach one night...
He is very surprised when he learns the identity of the stranger...
The story is told from Olsen's POV and I just loved him and his inner dialogue was brilliant.He is more than happy with his organized life.The only thing missing is a man to share it with.However the last thing he was expecting was to have his life turned upside down in the form of Beckett Turner.
Now,like I said,I loved Olsen but my God,I just adored Beck!!
Beck obviously has daemons from his past which he was struggling to move on from...until he meets Olsen.
I thought Olsen and Beck were great together and I could totally feel their sexual chemistry.
There's humour,angst,drama and my God the sex scenes are smoking hot and not overdone.
So,despite a wobble at the start this is one I could not put down!!!
January 27, 2021
This book. What a roller coaster!
I absolutely love this author's writing style. I loved the humor, reading from Olsen's POV was so much fun. Olsen and Beck were such unique characters, I really loved them both. The chemistry between them was amazing.
Another thing I really liked about reading this story is that I never knew what to expect next. I truly enjoyed it.
*******
Re-read 1/2021: I enjoyed it even more than the first time I read it. Beautifully written, so emotional. I love Olsen so much. 🥰 Wonderful cast of characters! 4.5 stars
I absolutely love this author's writing style. I loved the humor, reading from Olsen's POV was so much fun. Olsen and Beck were such unique characters, I really loved them both. The chemistry between them was amazing.
Another thing I really liked about reading this story is that I never knew what to expect next. I truly enjoyed it.
*******
Re-read 1/2021: I enjoyed it even more than the first time I read it. Beautifully written, so emotional. I love Olsen so much. 🥰 Wonderful cast of characters! 4.5 stars
July 21, 2015
Oh boy, this one didn't work for me.
Pretty sure I spent the majority of the book with my eyes rolled to the back of my head.
I felt like this one had very little actual romance. I didn't feel a connection between Olsen and Beck. At all.
And frankly I found them both annoying.
Sadly, I skimmed the majority of the book.
Pretty sure I spent the majority of the book with my eyes rolled to the back of my head.
I felt like this one had very little actual romance. I didn't feel a connection between Olsen and Beck. At all.
And frankly I found them both annoying.
Sadly, I skimmed the majority of the book.
September 1, 2024
I stayed up until 1:00am finishing this book. And then proceeded to think about it all the next day. And why? Because it was so UNIQUE! It was utterly, deliciously different. I think this is the most creatively spun MC in a traditional contemporary m/m romance I have ever read. Beck, ladies and gentlemen. I will never, in my life, forget the FORCE of nature that is Beckett Turner.
Beck is batshit crazy. Not just a bit. He is literally certifiable. Olsen (our other MC) meets Beck on the beach when Beck appears dead (but isn't), steals Olsen's phone and runs away with it, only to force Olsen to climb a sand dune to get it back from him. I honestly spent the first part of this book waiting for the straight jacket.
But then the masterful Darien Cox strikes. There is a reason I drop everything when one of his books hits! You begin to see behind all the layers that make up Beck. And the ROMANCE is there suddenly, and then your heart is bleeding on the floor, and all I wanted to do was push Beck against my chest and squeeze the shit out of him in a hug.
This book had it all for me. Laugh out loud moments from the get go. Olsen's POV throughout the book, and he's snarky and flippin hysterical! True what-the-ever-lovin-FUCK moments of Beck's crazy. Holy-shit-I-need-a-cold-shower from the smexy parts. OMG this is the cutest romance ever after I inevitably (and you will too - I DARE you not to) fall in love with Beck.
Even though it was all over the place, I was on the edge of my seat. I stayed up until 1:00am for a reason. I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened next with all the crazy!
You won't know what hit you. So entertaining. Read this book!
Beck is batshit crazy. Not just a bit. He is literally certifiable. Olsen (our other MC) meets Beck on the beach when Beck appears dead (but isn't), steals Olsen's phone and runs away with it, only to force Olsen to climb a sand dune to get it back from him. I honestly spent the first part of this book waiting for the straight jacket.
But then the masterful Darien Cox strikes. There is a reason I drop everything when one of his books hits! You begin to see behind all the layers that make up Beck. And the ROMANCE is there suddenly, and then your heart is bleeding on the floor, and all I wanted to do was push Beck against my chest and squeeze the shit out of him in a hug.
This book had it all for me. Laugh out loud moments from the get go. Olsen's POV throughout the book, and he's snarky and flippin hysterical! True what-the-ever-lovin-FUCK moments of Beck's crazy. Holy-shit-I-need-a-cold-shower from the smexy parts. OMG this is the cutest romance ever after I inevitably (and you will too - I DARE you not to) fall in love with Beck.
Even though it was all over the place, I was on the edge of my seat. I stayed up until 1:00am for a reason. I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened next with all the crazy!
You won't know what hit you. So entertaining. Read this book!
April 12, 2020
Rating still stands!
................................
*5 stars*
Thank you, thank you, thank you Darien Cox for this. You can't possibly know how desperately I needed a story that good to keep me hooked and invested until the end, right now.
The entire time I was reading this, there was a little devil on my soulder, wispering reasons why I shouldn't like this so much. I shut the fucker down each and every time.
-Beck is crazy. He stole Olsen's phone and made him chase him around. Do you know anyone who meets the love of his life that way?
-Best first meeting ever! I was as speechless as Olsen.The first 10% of the book had me totally hooked.
-Beck is an asshole. He pretended not knowing Olsen and then yelled at the ladies and the hipster guy by the pool.
-HAHAHA...I laughed so hard during that scene...I loved Beck, the asshole...
“Real Fishwives of Cape Cod. Can you keep it down please? Some of us are trying to relax, here."
"And what the hell are you looking at?” he snapped at the hipster with the notebook, whose focus was now on Beck. “Turn around, Dostoyevsky, nothing to see here.”
-He's not good for Olsen, he treats him bad
*sigh* Sadly, he is. And he knows it.It's pretty obvious something really bad has happened to him that made him an asshole
"I hope one day I won’t have to wear a mask just to function, and when that day comes, I selfishly hope I can hunt you down and that you’re not shacked up with some great guy and want nothing to do with me."
-He forced Olsen back in the closet for a while.
I'll let Olsen answer this:
"If the goal is passion, the kind of passion that leads to love, you can pretty much guarantee that the journey is going to change you. But the one thing that never changes is the heart. And since the heart wants what the damn heart wants, be prepared to probably get the shit kicked out of you for a while to make it happen.
Amazingly hot and intense sex scenes, original plot, solid writing, snarky dialogue and an ending that made me swoon. Yep, you can say I really liked the book.
Highly recommended!
................................
*5 stars*
Thank you, thank you, thank you Darien Cox for this. You can't possibly know how desperately I needed a story that good to keep me hooked and invested until the end, right now.
The entire time I was reading this, there was a little devil on my soulder, wispering reasons why I shouldn't like this so much. I shut the fucker down each and every time.
-Beck is crazy. He stole Olsen's phone and made him chase him around. Do you know anyone who meets the love of his life that way?
-Best first meeting ever! I was as speechless as Olsen.The first 10% of the book had me totally hooked.
-Beck is an asshole. He pretended not knowing Olsen and then yelled at the ladies and the hipster guy by the pool.
-HAHAHA...I laughed so hard during that scene...I loved Beck, the asshole...
“Real Fishwives of Cape Cod. Can you keep it down please? Some of us are trying to relax, here."
"And what the hell are you looking at?” he snapped at the hipster with the notebook, whose focus was now on Beck. “Turn around, Dostoyevsky, nothing to see here.”
-He's not good for Olsen, he treats him bad
*sigh* Sadly, he is. And he knows it.It's pretty obvious something really bad has happened to him that made him an asshole
"I hope one day I won’t have to wear a mask just to function, and when that day comes, I selfishly hope I can hunt you down and that you’re not shacked up with some great guy and want nothing to do with me."
-He forced Olsen back in the closet for a while.
I'll let Olsen answer this:
"If the goal is passion, the kind of passion that leads to love, you can pretty much guarantee that the journey is going to change you. But the one thing that never changes is the heart. And since the heart wants what the damn heart wants, be prepared to probably get the shit kicked out of you for a while to make it happen.
Amazingly hot and intense sex scenes, original plot, solid writing, snarky dialogue and an ending that made me swoon. Yep, you can say I really liked the book.
Highly recommended!
July 21, 2015
*** 4.5 Stars ***
This book really had it all.
During the first few pages I felt like Cox had just opened up my brain and spilled all my thoughts onto the page for everyone else to read. A few pages later I was laughing constantly at Olsen's inner snark. ...and then there was Beck. Even drunk as a skunk, the man exuded charm and sex appeal and this... magnetism; I felt myself drawn into him just as quickly and uncontrollably as Olsen was.
And my god! The sex! *blushes and goes back to re-read some scenes*
But the thing that kept me reading this book far into the night, was the uniqueness of Beck and his dynamic with Olsen. It was crazy and intense - definitely a little dark and unhealthy around the edges - but I couldn't help but root for them to sort their shit out and be together. When Beck finally does unburden himself and start to sort his shit, he does it in his own undeniably Beck way (which is to say that it's a little dark, a little over the top, but sincere enough to make me believe that he and Olsen would make it in the long run).
This book wasn't flawless, but it's been a long while since an MC has gripped my attention so thoroughly.
This book really had it all.
During the first few pages I felt like Cox had just opened up my brain and spilled all my thoughts onto the page for everyone else to read. A few pages later I was laughing constantly at Olsen's inner snark. ...and then there was Beck. Even drunk as a skunk, the man exuded charm and sex appeal and this... magnetism; I felt myself drawn into him just as quickly and uncontrollably as Olsen was.
And my god! The sex! *blushes and goes back to re-read some scenes*
But the thing that kept me reading this book far into the night, was the uniqueness of Beck and his dynamic with Olsen. It was crazy and intense - definitely a little dark and unhealthy around the edges - but I couldn't help but root for them to sort their shit out and be together. When Beck finally does unburden himself and start to sort his shit, he does it in his own undeniably Beck way (which is to say that it's a little dark, a little over the top, but sincere enough to make me believe that he and Olsen would make it in the long run).
This book wasn't flawless, but it's been a long while since an MC has gripped my attention so thoroughly.
July 19, 2015
What an amazing story, with wonderfully complicated characters. Never read about a guy like Beck before. ❤️❤️❤️ Where did you hide him so long, Darien? After finishing the story I needed a few days to calm down… Beck simply overwhelmed me!
All these feelings!
As always, I loved Darien’s writing style, it’s unique and full of emotions; humor and angst are well-balanced. The story is an entertaining mix of heartache, love, hurt and passion, and Beck and Olson’s journey to love is terrific and beautiful. How they managed to overcome their challenges to form a deep and everlasting love and build such a strong relationship touched me deeply.
My boyfriend, the hot guy. The sweet guy. The crazy guy. The nurturing guy. The chaotic guy. The guy who’d turned my life upside down, broken it, and then put it back together again. It was perhaps a little lopsided now, had a few cracks where the glue showed through. But he’d gotten it done.
Btw, I loved the sappy ending, I’m a sucker for HEAs!
Darien...
July 17, 2015
The book went from ok to awesome. The story just sucked me in. I love how the sex scenes were written, hot and full of passion. I thought the whole story was just sexy. Ive gotta read more from this author. Excellent read! 5 stars
July 13, 2015
Gah! Darien never disappoints. First book that's held my attention so much in weeks. So well done. And OH MY GAWD I LOVE BECK! Read this!
That is all.
That is all.
October 13, 2021
DNF @ 84%
I like this author’s writing style. But this story didn't work out for me. I wanted to like the story, desperately. But I neither like the characters nor the plot and not to mention, I didn't connect with both Beck and Olsen in the first place.
Beck doesn't meet my standard of the impression of a character. He is too smooth, easy-going, and everything in his life is too mysterious and untrustworthy. He is in the closet, and I don't buy the reason why he is still in the closet. His sister gives no homophobic vibes. He can easily come out to his sister, Laurie.
On the other hand, Olsen is too pushy. He has no dignity when it comes to Beck. I mean he is just so easy for Beck, and easily fell for him. I don't like it much, and it reflects that how less matures he is as a character.
I like this author’s writing style. But this story didn't work out for me. I wanted to like the story, desperately. But I neither like the characters nor the plot and not to mention, I didn't connect with both Beck and Olsen in the first place.
Beck doesn't meet my standard of the impression of a character. He is too smooth, easy-going, and everything in his life is too mysterious and untrustworthy. He is in the closet, and I don't buy the reason why he is still in the closet. His sister gives no homophobic vibes. He can easily come out to his sister, Laurie.
On the other hand, Olsen is too pushy. He has no dignity when it comes to Beck. I mean he is just so easy for Beck, and easily fell for him. I don't like it much, and it reflects that how less matures he is as a character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2015
It seems somewhere along the way I gave up on giving anything ½★'s. I don't know why or when but I just did. Normally I round down. So, 3½★'s I just leave as a 3★ read. Do you care about this? Probably not. I do have a point though. Here it is, and no, it isn't just so I can put ★'s all over my review because they are pretty.
So, I just finished this book and I immediately thought, well, I can't just give this 4★'s because it was better than a 4★ read. So, do I break out the ½★'s again or do I just say fuck it and give it a solid 5★'s? Yep, you guessed it. It's getting all the ★'s.
This was just such a different read. I couldn't put it down. It wasn't something I would think normally I would enjoy, normally I think something like this would drive me bat-shit crazy, but it didn't. It completely worked for me and I think honestly it is because it was just so different. The characters at the start were different. I mean, none of them were perfect and beautiful and over the top. These were all just a bunch of real working people and I liked that set up. Beck? Of course, he is nowhere near normal and yeah, he's a good looking guy but he was from the gate not described as perfect. If anything, what people were mostly attracted to when it came to Beck was his energy and man, he had that in spades. He made me laugh my ass off and curl up in a ball in utter pain. He was an amazing character. Olsen is believable in his insecurity and not in anyway annoying because of it. Matching him with Beck and letting him see who he is and can be was also believable and fun. He is quite clever when he is comfortable and watching his confidence grow and then well, go away truly had me turning the pages as quickly as I could. But anyway, I don't normally review like this and feel I have already lost my train of thought and can't sit here and describe what was so cool about everyone, just know that they all had something about them that made this book interesting.
Some of the shit in this book is a major turn off to me. Just stupid shit that is normally thrown into a romance to give it the added angst that a lot of authors think is needed and a lot, a lot of readers crave. Guess what? I loved it in this. It made sense and made me feel more about the characters because of it. It wasn't stupid and it wasn't just an add on to fill the space.
So, what I guess I want to say is that although this book breaks the mold of what I normally enjoy it did it in such a new and refreshing way that it totally worked for me.
Now, that does not mean I think everyone will love this book the way I did? I seriously doubt it. I think some people might get annoyed and maybe not see the connection that I felt to the core, but hey! That is the best part about reading with peeps and sharing on Goodreads.
I really recommend this one though, just to read a cool, funny, smoking hot but unconventional romance. A book that at the end made me fucking swoon and I hate to swoon, lol. A book that isn't perfect at all but deserves, at least from me, all the ★'s.
So, I just finished this book and I immediately thought, well, I can't just give this 4★'s because it was better than a 4★ read. So, do I break out the ½★'s again or do I just say fuck it and give it a solid 5★'s? Yep, you guessed it. It's getting all the ★'s.
This was just such a different read. I couldn't put it down. It wasn't something I would think normally I would enjoy, normally I think something like this would drive me bat-shit crazy, but it didn't. It completely worked for me and I think honestly it is because it was just so different. The characters at the start were different. I mean, none of them were perfect and beautiful and over the top. These were all just a bunch of real working people and I liked that set up. Beck? Of course, he is nowhere near normal and yeah, he's a good looking guy but he was from the gate not described as perfect. If anything, what people were mostly attracted to when it came to Beck was his energy and man, he had that in spades. He made me laugh my ass off and curl up in a ball in utter pain. He was an amazing character. Olsen is believable in his insecurity and not in anyway annoying because of it. Matching him with Beck and letting him see who he is and can be was also believable and fun. He is quite clever when he is comfortable and watching his confidence grow and then well, go away truly had me turning the pages as quickly as I could. But anyway, I don't normally review like this and feel I have already lost my train of thought and can't sit here and describe what was so cool about everyone, just know that they all had something about them that made this book interesting.
Some of the shit in this book is a major turn off to me. Just stupid shit that is normally thrown into a romance to give it the added angst that a lot of authors think is needed and a lot, a lot of readers crave. Guess what? I loved it in this. It made sense and made me feel more about the characters because of it. It wasn't stupid and it wasn't just an add on to fill the space.
So, what I guess I want to say is that although this book breaks the mold of what I normally enjoy it did it in such a new and refreshing way that it totally worked for me.
Now, that does not mean I think everyone will love this book the way I did? I seriously doubt it. I think some people might get annoyed and maybe not see the connection that I felt to the core, but hey! That is the best part about reading with peeps and sharing on Goodreads.
I really recommend this one though, just to read a cool, funny, smoking hot but unconventional romance. A book that at the end made me fucking swoon and I hate to swoon, lol. A book that isn't perfect at all but deserves, at least from me, all the ★'s.
January 28, 2021
This was a crazy ride. Hilarious banter, hot sex, angst, love, obsession.
When Olsen meets Beck, he is mesmerized. Beck is crazy, intense, flamboyant, charming. Everybody loves him. Or hates him. There is no in-between. Olsen’s life is serious and clean and lonely and boring. And Beck shows up and basically sets it all on fire.
“I wanted passion. I wanted Beck. This man I wanted had issues. Bags and buckets and clown cars full of issues. But I still wanted the crazy son of a bitch.”
They push and pull in a crazy toxic way. But they can’t stay away from each other. Olsen is obsessed with Beck. He can’t live without him. We only get Olsen’s POV, and I love how we learn little things about Beck as we go. The author keeps surprising us with twists and turns.
I loved the banter between Olsen and Beck.
“Wildly romantic, even. The way I marched in there and just took you away in front of everyone.” I patted his shoulder. “Absolutely. Very Officer and a Gentleman.” Beck grabbed me around the waist as we walked, snickering, rubbing his nose against my cheek. “Did you swoon?” “I swooned. There was definitely swooning.” “Did I give you the vapors? Did you almost faint?”
I swooned. ❤️❤️❤️
POTENTIAL SPOILER. TRIGGER WARNING: graphic suicide description.
When Olsen meets Beck, he is mesmerized. Beck is crazy, intense, flamboyant, charming. Everybody loves him. Or hates him. There is no in-between. Olsen’s life is serious and clean and lonely and boring. And Beck shows up and basically sets it all on fire.
“I wanted passion. I wanted Beck. This man I wanted had issues. Bags and buckets and clown cars full of issues. But I still wanted the crazy son of a bitch.”
They push and pull in a crazy toxic way. But they can’t stay away from each other. Olsen is obsessed with Beck. He can’t live without him. We only get Olsen’s POV, and I love how we learn little things about Beck as we go. The author keeps surprising us with twists and turns.
I loved the banter between Olsen and Beck.
“Wildly romantic, even. The way I marched in there and just took you away in front of everyone.” I patted his shoulder. “Absolutely. Very Officer and a Gentleman.” Beck grabbed me around the waist as we walked, snickering, rubbing his nose against my cheek. “Did you swoon?” “I swooned. There was definitely swooning.” “Did I give you the vapors? Did you almost faint?”
I swooned. ❤️❤️❤️
POTENTIAL SPOILER. TRIGGER WARNING: graphic suicide description.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2017
Thank you so much, Helpful Elf, for this gift! I'm very happy :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was an awesome book which had it all! It had me laughing out loud, hurting, excited, scratching my head because of WTF-is-happening-right-now-moments, and I felt like I needed a cold shower more than once because OMG, these two men were hot together.
Above all, this was a story that felt so real, honest, and intense with so many emotions on display that I couldn't help but feel them myself. I fell in love with Beck and was so happy when Olsen didn't give up on him even when it was hard for him to keep 'pretending'.
I couldn't stop reading, it had me captivated from beginning to end, and I was sad when it was over. Definitely one of my favorites that I'm going to re-read when I need a truly amazing, unique book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was an awesome book which had it all! It had me laughing out loud, hurting, excited, scratching my head because of WTF-is-happening-right-now-moments, and I felt like I needed a cold shower more than once because OMG, these two men were hot together.
Above all, this was a story that felt so real, honest, and intense with so many emotions on display that I couldn't help but feel them myself. I fell in love with Beck and was so happy when Olsen didn't give up on him even when it was hard for him to keep 'pretending'.
I couldn't stop reading, it had me captivated from beginning to end, and I was sad when it was over. Definitely one of my favorites that I'm going to re-read when I need a truly amazing, unique book.
January 6, 2016
All the stars for Beck and Olsen!! I freaking *loved* this book. I loved the main characters, their group of friends, the storyline, the writing style. Perfection!! Beck and Olsen were so well written. Just the right mix of charm, snark and angst. And don't get me started on the sexy times. Hottest hand job ever. That's all I'm gonna say.
This is my first book from Darien Cox, but you can bet I'm going to go through and add all his back catalogue to my TBR.
This is my first book from Darien Cox, but you can bet I'm going to go through and add all his back catalogue to my TBR.
July 22, 2015
I was totally drawn to Beck from the first time that he slapped Olsen's ass! Not your run of the mill romance, but a really fun read!
I think Olsen had a lot of patience with Beck, but it was well worth it in the end. This was my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it!
I think Olsen had a lot of patience with Beck, but it was well worth it in the end. This was my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it!
July 21, 2015
All the stars. I might steal other people's to give it more. Beck was a force of nature. I freaking loved him. The whole group was great in fact. But Olsen and beck just wow. And n holy crap the sex was out of this world hot. It had cuteness and laughs, I just adored this book.
July 15, 2015
Holy shit, Darien!! You #KILLED that one!
Such an amazing....everything.
I have no words.
#inLOVEwithBECK <3
God, Olsen & Beck. Oh God, So bloody yum yum.
I want to shout it from the sand dunes!
Or just go read it all over again. *sigh*
Such an amazing....everything.
I have no words.
#inLOVEwithBECK <3
God, Olsen & Beck. Oh God, So bloody yum yum.
I want to shout it from the sand dunes!
Or just go read it all over again. *sigh*
March 26, 2017
Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants...
Maybe not an original line but truer words have rarely been spoken. I decided to sneak off and quietly read this book because a lot of my friends have given it really good reviews so I got it and then my friend, Eleftheria gave it an awesome review that had my brain muttering 'gotta read this, come on Karen, you know you want to.' and my damned brain wouldn't leave me alone. So I loaded this baby onto my e-reader and started reading it. I liked it. It was good and I was reading it every chance I got but I wasn't getting great from it. I figured whatever, it's good, I'm enjoying it, what else matters? Then somewhere around the last 15 to 20% things kicked up a notch and I was going, holy hell, what just happened here? I literally stopped what I was doing, grabbed my muttster (he's my fav reading buddy) and curled up to finish reading this sucker.
Now let me tell you what that last 15 to 20ish percent did...
1. It made me like Olsen who was getting on my nerves a teensy, weensy bit until then.
2. It made me quit thinking that no matter what his issue was Beck was a douche and nothing would change that. Wrong! Beck is not a douche, yes he acted a bit like one, but all things considered I at least see where those actions were coming from.
3. It made me like Olsen and Beck as a couple.
4. It left me feeling really glad that I read this book and it took a 3 star read (as in it's ok, I like it but it's not fantastic) and made me want to give it 4 stars because for me the last part of this book was definitely 5 stars so I averaged and gave it 4 'If I was a dog, I'd be wagging my tail' stars.
Maybe not an original line but truer words have rarely been spoken. I decided to sneak off and quietly read this book because a lot of my friends have given it really good reviews so I got it and then my friend, Eleftheria gave it an awesome review that had my brain muttering 'gotta read this, come on Karen, you know you want to.' and my damned brain wouldn't leave me alone. So I loaded this baby onto my e-reader and started reading it. I liked it. It was good and I was reading it every chance I got but I wasn't getting great from it. I figured whatever, it's good, I'm enjoying it, what else matters? Then somewhere around the last 15 to 20% things kicked up a notch and I was going, holy hell, what just happened here? I literally stopped what I was doing, grabbed my muttster (he's my fav reading buddy) and curled up to finish reading this sucker.
Now let me tell you what that last 15 to 20ish percent did...
1. It made me like Olsen who was getting on my nerves a teensy, weensy bit until then.
2. It made me quit thinking that no matter what his issue was Beck was a douche and nothing would change that. Wrong! Beck is not a douche, yes he acted a bit like one, but all things considered I at least see where those actions were coming from.
3. It made me like Olsen and Beck as a couple.
4. It left me feeling really glad that I read this book and it took a 3 star read (as in it's ok, I like it but it's not fantastic) and made me want to give it 4 stars because for me the last part of this book was definitely 5 stars so I averaged and gave it 4 'If I was a dog, I'd be wagging my tail' stars.
October 23, 2015
Everyone loved it but me….
There were some funny moments, really. The writing was pretty good and I did laugh a couple of times.
But I had such a difficult time liking Beck. And Olsen too actually. He was such a doormat. He did anything Beck wanted.
Beck had issues. And I love books where people have issues. But the reason I like reading about these people is because I want them to deal with those issues. I want them to figure out for themselves that things just don’t go away.
And that is a thing Beck never did. Not even at the end. Everything was just suddenly okay after he told Olsen what happened and why he acted the way he did. No, Beck, you are not okay!
Kids hide, grown-ups talk about things.
The push and pull in this also really bothered me. ‘Oh, Olsen, come here and pretend you love me, no go away, I don’t want you. Come back, I need you. No go away, I have issues.’
And the reason Beck was in the closet, because he just feels it is private, oh come on! You are hiding a big part of yourself from the people that love you. And Olsen just went back in the closet with him. As I said, doormat.
I felt Beck was such an incredibly selfish person, I wanted to smack him. He asked Olsen to play pretend with him and to tell Beck he loved him. But did he ever think what that would do to Olsen? Beck took and Olsen just gave.
I’m so tired after reading this.
There were some funny moments, really. The writing was pretty good and I did laugh a couple of times.
But I had such a difficult time liking Beck. And Olsen too actually. He was such a doormat. He did anything Beck wanted.
Beck had issues. And I love books where people have issues. But the reason I like reading about these people is because I want them to deal with those issues. I want them to figure out for themselves that things just don’t go away.
And that is a thing Beck never did. Not even at the end. Everything was just suddenly okay after he told Olsen what happened and why he acted the way he did. No, Beck, you are not okay!
Kids hide, grown-ups talk about things.
The push and pull in this also really bothered me. ‘Oh, Olsen, come here and pretend you love me, no go away, I don’t want you. Come back, I need you. No go away, I have issues.’
And the reason Beck was in the closet, because he just feels it is private, oh come on! You are hiding a big part of yourself from the people that love you. And Olsen just went back in the closet with him. As I said, doormat.
I felt Beck was such an incredibly selfish person, I wanted to smack him. He asked Olsen to play pretend with him and to tell Beck he loved him. But did he ever think what that would do to Olsen? Beck took and Olsen just gave.
I’m so tired after reading this.
May 31, 2016
4.5 stars
My first ever Darien Cox experience and, oh yeah, I'll come back for more!
The dynamic between Olsen and Beck had that extra something that hit all my magic buttons. I'm learning that I've got a thing for situations when there's a bit of a power imbalance between the two MCs!
There were lots of other delicious aspects of this: complex and multi-dimensional MCs (especially Beck), a protagonist that I connected so well with, a perfect amount of sexual tension, great secondary characters and a thread of humour that ran throughout, like:
I also loved the writing style and how the author wove in science (Olsen's a lab scientist) to so many of the descriptions:
and
Overall, a very enjoyable, compelling read!
My first ever Darien Cox experience and, oh yeah, I'll come back for more!
The dynamic between Olsen and Beck had that extra something that hit all my magic buttons. I'm learning that I've got a thing for situations when there's a bit of a power imbalance between the two MCs!
There were lots of other delicious aspects of this: complex and multi-dimensional MCs (especially Beck), a protagonist that I connected so well with, a perfect amount of sexual tension, great secondary characters and a thread of humour that ran throughout, like:
"Turning his head toward me, Beck laughed: 'You did a number on that pillow.'
'I know.' I tossed the pillow down onto the floor. 'I feel like I should buy it dinner or something.'"
I also loved the writing style and how the author wove in science (Olsen's a lab scientist) to so many of the descriptions:
"There was just something about him that intrigued me. He was an unknown sample, and I wanted to stick him under a microscope and examine him until I figured out exactly what he was, probe and prod him until he made sense to me"
and
"Beck's chemistry was a perfect match for mine. I could feel it swirling and commingling, the same but different, attracted but in perfect opposition, heading for big bang combustion."
Overall, a very enjoyable, compelling read!
dnf
July 24, 2015Dnf @51%
January 23, 2016
*** 3,5 stars ***
---------------------------------------
And since the heart wants what the damn heart wants, be prepared to probably get the shit kicked out of you for a while to make it happen.
But if you can hold tight and white-knuckle the turbulence, it's usually a worthwhile trip.
Because the destination is fucking fabulous.
---------------------------------------
And that is an accurate descriptions of this book.
Olsen falls head of heels in love with the charismatic Beck during group of friends vacation at a resort. Beck certainly was a unique and fresh character!
There were somethings that I loved about this book, there were something I liked and some I didn't like.
I liked Olsen and Beck's chemistry. Their romance wasn't a traditional one. And it mostly seemed it was Olsen who was more invested in the two of them then Beck ever was.
There was only Olsen's POV in this book, which made Beck even more of an enigma.
---------------------------------------
He was an unknown sample, and I wanted to stick him under a microscope and examine him until I figured out exactly what he was, probe and prod him until he made sense to me.
~Olsen~
---------------------------------------
There were funny moments and a great secondary cast, which actually stayed with the MC throughout the book.
What made me less enthusiastic towards the end was the push and pull throughout the book. Beck had lots of issues, and he never really did handle them! Beck's issues came between Olsen and Beck several times and every time Beck just walked off or ran away.
I read Susan's review and she described it like this: "Oh, Olsen, come here and pretend you love me, no go away, I don't want you. Come back, I need you. No go away, I have issues." And it's spot on! (thanks, hon ;))
So while I loved Beck and Olsen together, I wish Beck would have made more sense. This was good, but it had potential to be really great.
However, love can make you crazy. Crazy in love. Love "crazy" people. Love doesn't always have to make sense.
Recap of first quote:
---------------------------------------
And since the heart wants what the damn heart wants, be prepared to probably get the shit kicked out of you for a while to make it happen.
But if you can hold tight and white-knuckle the turbulence, it's usually a worthwhile trip.
Because the destination is fucking fabulous.
---------------------------------------
August 7, 2015
Another super solid story by Darien Cox. In fact it keeps getting better and better.
There is angst but it is not ridiculous or melodramatic. There is sweetness but not nauseating. Lots of sexual tension and crazy passion, loved it!
There is angst but it is not ridiculous or melodramatic. There is sweetness but not nauseating. Lots of sexual tension and crazy passion, loved it!
July 21, 2015
This book was just what I needed! Perfect, awesome and a beautiful love story!
July 20, 2015
4.5 Stars
Darien Cox hasn't left me disappointed so far and this book is no exception. He's one of those authors I go to when I'm in a book funk, and it's really too bad he doesn't write more. I loved this book a lot; action packed, mystery books are all fun and entertaining, but nothing beats a book where a character has an emotional war going on. This was more about issues of the heart than anything else. If you're looking for crazy car chases, and heroes getting shot or tortured, this book is not for you.
Victim of Love is told in 1st person Pov, and I absolutely adored Olsen's voice. He's funny and witty, and I found myself snort-laughing at some of his thoughts; he was a total delight! Olsen is not the one going through an emotional war, complete with PTSD, but Cox did such a wonderful job expressing the MCs' emotions, that Beck's pain came through loud and clear. What I loved the most is that even though we can sense from the first moment we meet Beck that he's got plenty of issues, he wasn't a dark, morose character. Yeah, I hurt for him, but he wasn't a basket case running around with a blade attached to his wrist, making me all depressed. And he wasn't over the top dramatic for the sole purpose of making the reader feel some sort of angst. His situation was subtle but I felt it nonetheless.
The sex between Olsen and Beck....... HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!! It's been a long time since I've read anything as intense and as sexy as the sex scenes between those two. Fuck the porn, read this and I guarantee you it's better than any cheesy porn you've ever watched.
Olsen and Beck are both very complex, interesting characters, both lovable and easy to connect with, and Olsen is a red-head, and I have a serious weakness for red-heads. The relationship between those two felt real and the struggles were not overdone. Beck's PTSD was also successfully showed without making him a total basket case. And that ending put a big smile on my face, so there's nothing else I could possibly need.
One thing I found to reproach was the predictability of what happened to Beck. Literally after the first night he spent with Olsen, I thought I knew exactly what happened, and I was exactly right. That's not a bad thing, but it did ruin any surprise or shock I would've felt otherwise.
I can't recommend this book enough, read it!
Darien Cox hasn't left me disappointed so far and this book is no exception. He's one of those authors I go to when I'm in a book funk, and it's really too bad he doesn't write more. I loved this book a lot; action packed, mystery books are all fun and entertaining, but nothing beats a book where a character has an emotional war going on. This was more about issues of the heart than anything else. If you're looking for crazy car chases, and heroes getting shot or tortured, this book is not for you.
Victim of Love is told in 1st person Pov, and I absolutely adored Olsen's voice. He's funny and witty, and I found myself snort-laughing at some of his thoughts; he was a total delight! Olsen is not the one going through an emotional war, complete with PTSD, but Cox did such a wonderful job expressing the MCs' emotions, that Beck's pain came through loud and clear. What I loved the most is that even though we can sense from the first moment we meet Beck that he's got plenty of issues, he wasn't a dark, morose character. Yeah, I hurt for him, but he wasn't a basket case running around with a blade attached to his wrist, making me all depressed. And he wasn't over the top dramatic for the sole purpose of making the reader feel some sort of angst. His situation was subtle but I felt it nonetheless.
The sex between Olsen and Beck....... HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!! It's been a long time since I've read anything as intense and as sexy as the sex scenes between those two. Fuck the porn, read this and I guarantee you it's better than any cheesy porn you've ever watched.
Olsen and Beck are both very complex, interesting characters, both lovable and easy to connect with, and Olsen is a red-head, and I have a serious weakness for red-heads. The relationship between those two felt real and the struggles were not overdone. Beck's PTSD was also successfully showed without making him a total basket case. And that ending put a big smile on my face, so there's nothing else I could possibly need.
One thing I found to reproach was the predictability of what happened to Beck. Literally after the first night he spent with Olsen, I thought I knew exactly what happened, and I was exactly right. That's not a bad thing, but it did ruin any surprise or shock I would've felt otherwise.
I can't recommend this book enough, read it!
July 27, 2015
BR, July 26th with Julie.
This was delicious… I ATE THIS STORY UP!!!
Olsen is on vacation with his collegues where one night he meets this stranger on the beach.
He is surprised when he learns who this stranger is.
This is told in Olsen’s POV. His innervoice was wonderful.
I loved Olsen but my gawd I adored Beck!! These guys had great chemistry, great characters. ♡♡♡
Beck has obviously issues from his past. He hasn't been able to put them behind him and he didn’t care to…. He was fine with the mask he put on every day. Until he meets Olsen. Olsen, who wants the “real” him.
Can Beck let his past go and be real with Olzen?
“Sometimes, in order to achieve our goals, we have to change ourselves. Sometimes we have to change ourselves just to survive. We might worry that we’re becoming an entirely different person. But this is often what’s required to move on to the place we want to be.”
Highly recommended!!
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