What do you think?
Rate this book
Cell Mates #1
Behind Bars
Arrested for a crime he didn't commit, eighteen year old Riley Parker is forced to carry out his sentence in prison. He expects a cold, hard life, filled with danger and uncertainty. What he doesn't expect is his cell mate Nathaniel Greyson. Nathan is gorgeous and more than a little frightening, but Riley soon finds himself feeling much more than attraction for this hard man, but you can't fall in love in prison..can you?
Paperback
First published August 13, 2014
96 people are currently reading
982 people want to read
About the author
Alana Henry
6 books95 followersAlana Henry is a lover of music and funny YouTube videos, she loves to travel and has a slight obsession with just about anything cute and fluffy. Alana is a past swimming coach and chess team captain and spends her free time surfing the internet and interacting with her fans. While she writes because it's something that has been ingrained in her since birth, she chooses to use her books as a way to show her unwavering support for the LGBT community.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 25, 2017
What a frustrating book!!
It started out really strong and I was loving it, but as the story progressed I had a feeling the author was just making things up as she went along.
Things that bothered me:
- This book has 3 POVs, Riley, Nathan and a fellow inmate/friend. I have no idea why we gotten so much of John’s POV, I didn’t care for him at all. And why would someone choose to write it like this? No head hopping, just these 3 POVs. It was weird.
- The sex scenes were awful. They were not detailed, but the things we got were terrible. Either give us a full sex scene filled with intimacy or skip it all together, but do not write it like this: I felt pain, pleasure and then it was over. Well, okay then.
- The plotholes! It was ridiculous. I can understand some artistic license to get a story going, but this was absolutely ridiculous.
- And then the thing that bothered me most and still puzzles me.
There is no background story for Riley, our main MC. He is sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, but we never learn what really happened (just bits and pieces)! I can understand some build up to the moment he tells Nate, but what we got was: ‘Riley told him.’ Wait, what did he tell him?
This happens a lot throughout the story.
And so with another deep breath I began, to tell him everything I’d told Nate and even a few more bits and pieces about my life before my father’s death that I hadn’t mentioned to Nathan out in the woods.
What was his life with his father then??? I want to know this! I want to know why Riley was sent to prison, but it is all left vague. I don’t get this for a 353 pages book.
And there is this guy Jerry, who is someone who visits Riley and who Riley is close to, but we never learn who he is! Is he a stepfather, an uncle, a brother? I have no idea??
It is also said in the last 10 pages that Riley’s little brother comes to visit him. He has a little brother?? Why just drop that info there?
And I often felt that the pacing was off. We gotten pages of nothing and when we finally got an action scene, I would expect some peace and quiet after that, but no, it just kept going. It was weird.
My feelings for this book are all over the place. I mostly feel sad for what this book could have been. It had so much potential.
Oh, and for people who are worrying this is a romance between two hardened criminals, here is a little spoiler,
It started out really strong and I was loving it, but as the story progressed I had a feeling the author was just making things up as she went along.
Things that bothered me:
- This book has 3 POVs, Riley, Nathan and a fellow inmate/friend. I have no idea why we gotten so much of John’s POV, I didn’t care for him at all. And why would someone choose to write it like this? No head hopping, just these 3 POVs. It was weird.
- The sex scenes were awful. They were not detailed, but the things we got were terrible. Either give us a full sex scene filled with intimacy or skip it all together, but do not write it like this: I felt pain, pleasure and then it was over. Well, okay then.
- The plotholes! It was ridiculous. I can understand some artistic license to get a story going, but this was absolutely ridiculous.
- And then the thing that bothered me most and still puzzles me.
There is no background story for Riley, our main MC. He is sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, but we never learn what really happened (just bits and pieces)! I can understand some build up to the moment he tells Nate, but what we got was: ‘Riley told him.’ Wait, what did he tell him?
This happens a lot throughout the story.
And so with another deep breath I began, to tell him everything I’d told Nate and even a few more bits and pieces about my life before my father’s death that I hadn’t mentioned to Nathan out in the woods.
What was his life with his father then??? I want to know this! I want to know why Riley was sent to prison, but it is all left vague. I don’t get this for a 353 pages book.
And there is this guy Jerry, who is someone who visits Riley and who Riley is close to, but we never learn who he is! Is he a stepfather, an uncle, a brother? I have no idea??
It is also said in the last 10 pages that Riley’s little brother comes to visit him. He has a little brother?? Why just drop that info there?
And I often felt that the pacing was off. We gotten pages of nothing and when we finally got an action scene, I would expect some peace and quiet after that, but no, it just kept going. It was weird.
My feelings for this book are all over the place. I mostly feel sad for what this book could have been. It had so much potential.
Oh, and for people who are worrying this is a romance between two hardened criminals, here is a little spoiler,
August 13, 2014
My love for this book is unfathomable.
I found it through searching the boyxboy tag on Wattpad looking for some cheesy high school romances to nurse my broken heart from a previous book. I saw it and read the description and was like "sure why not?" I started reading it after I got this kind of gravitational pull to read it like I was meant to and my life was forever changed.
I sat down and read the story (it was only up to Chapter 28 at that point) in a 2 day sitting during spring break and was awed. The author (who's real name I now know (it's so friggin pretty)) told the story in great detail, and right from the start I was hooked. Her attention to detail was immaculate from the sights to tastes to touches, I felt as if I was Riley falling for Nate or befriending Kyle (who is the best character ever written ever) and Eddie, or was there during all the chaos and plot twists (there were some really great and unexpected ones). Her writings of emotions and reactions are so real and legit it's as if this is a biography or something (like a twisted guy version of Orange is the new Black).
My only complaint about is a lack of character description (like I still don't know most of the characters age or hair color and small things like that) But that is quickly regarded in the sense that I can still perfectly imagine a figure for each character.
I've read this damn book 4 times (re-reading for a fifth now). Definitely one of my favorites in eBook AND printed. It's taken over my life that I run a blog for other readers to share thoughts and headcanons here and had my two best friends cry over it with me.
This book is utter perfection if you want a story filled with suspense, learning, plot twists, and adorable gay love that can be quite frustrating at some points- even if you don't. I literally cried when it was over. Now I patiently wait as the sequel updates.
I found it through searching the boyxboy tag on Wattpad looking for some cheesy high school romances to nurse my broken heart from a previous book. I saw it and read the description and was like "sure why not?" I started reading it after I got this kind of gravitational pull to read it like I was meant to and my life was forever changed.
I sat down and read the story (it was only up to Chapter 28 at that point) in a 2 day sitting during spring break and was awed. The author (who's real name I now know (it's so friggin pretty)) told the story in great detail, and right from the start I was hooked. Her attention to detail was immaculate from the sights to tastes to touches, I felt as if I was Riley falling for Nate or befriending Kyle (who is the best character ever written ever) and Eddie, or was there during all the chaos and plot twists (there were some really great and unexpected ones). Her writings of emotions and reactions are so real and legit it's as if this is a biography or something (like a twisted guy version of Orange is the new Black).
My only complaint about is a lack of character description (like I still don't know most of the characters age or hair color and small things like that) But that is quickly regarded in the sense that I can still perfectly imagine a figure for each character.
I've read this damn book 4 times (re-reading for a fifth now). Definitely one of my favorites in eBook AND printed. It's taken over my life that I run a blog for other readers to share thoughts and headcanons here and had my two best friends cry over it with me.
This book is utter perfection if you want a story filled with suspense, learning, plot twists, and adorable gay love that can be quite frustrating at some points- even if you don't. I literally cried when it was over. Now I patiently wait as the sequel updates.
November 2, 2015
This book had a bit of everything in it. Murder, prison time, an FBI investigation, hot prison sex, romance, gun fights, car chases, you name it. I was expecting a simple prison story but came away with a very entertaining story that was so much more. The guys were great and Nate was just smokin hot. The blurb was a little misleading which made the story sound simple. Simple it was not. It was a roller coaster ride through the criminal justice system. Highly recommended.
July 29, 2015
Enjoyed this book. After the twist at 50% I was ready to bail, because I felt Riley turned into a whiny, selfish brat and the fact that everyone was pulled into his mess kind of pissed me off but all's well that ends well. Towards the end Riley and Kyle got a bit too bratty and I was ready to strangle them, but I loved Nate and John, and even the brats were great in medium sized doses. Kyle's confidence in John's love for him was both hilarious and wonderful to see...before he started to get on my nerves. The crime/mystery angle was really well done! I usually don't like mysteries in my romances, and this was new for a prison romance, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to Book 2. Eddie and Simon, yasssss. I want to be front and center!
Houskeeping wise, there were typos and incorrect words, but not enough to distract me. Overall, a solid effort. 3.75
Houskeeping wise, there were typos and incorrect words, but not enough to distract me. Overall, a solid effort. 3.75
April 23, 2022
The story was good overall. Some parts a bit unrealistic but liked it nevertheless
March 10, 2018
This is not a bad story. If it was not of the million (at least) mistakes it could be a better one. Just to give you an idea of how many and stupid the mistakes are:
- "cause of action" instead of "course of action";
- "relived breath" instead of "relieved breath". I didn't notice that it was a book about vampires or other living deads;
- "the say the least" instead of "to say the least";
- "blowup in or faces" instead of "blowup in our faces";
- "Nathan’s lips found mind again" instead of "Nathan’s lips found mine again";
- "I sais in exasperation" instead of "I said in exasperation";
- "when I felt my matrass dip" instead of "when I felt my mattress dip";
- "it has nothing to do with my our bank accounts" instead of "it has nothing to do with my bank accounts";
- "I said told him" instead of "I told him";
- "the other end of the matrass" instead of "the other end of the mattress";
- "I titled the chair back" instead of "I tilted the chair back";
- "Nate went off the look around" instead of "Nate went off to look around";
- "on the back on Kyle’s head" instead of "on the back of Kyle’s head";
The two last sentences were consecutive in the book.
- "I wasn’t every optimistic" instead of "I wasn’t very optimistic";
- "your terrified of me" instead of "you're terrified of me";
- "Hey Johnn!" instead of "Hey John!"
- "even if I hsve to shake it out of him" instead of "even if I have to shake it out of him";
- "You’ve been kind a quiet" instead of "You’ve been kind of quiet" (o.k. here, maybe it was written like the guy pronounced it);
- "his hand was still gripped mine" instead of "his hand was still gripping mine";
- "There had been no exit would" instead of "There had been no exit wound";
- "We’ll keep his safe" instead of "We’ll keep him safe".
I gave up noting the mistakes then and I jumped many others while noting the ones above (I didn't note half of them). This is as if the author spelled by sounds or this was a bad speech recognition software that wrote what she told. Anyway, she is desperately in need of an editor or beta readers. She must at least have revised her book once before publishing it. But I must say that I had this book for a long time. Maybe my version is an old one and the author revised it after I bought it. I don't know.
MCs:
Riley Menza (alias Parker): The young and vulnerable guy who was framed up to be convicted for the killing of his father. His father was named Joseph Menza.
Nathaniel (Nate) Greyson: Really, the son of Grey? Why not Fifty Shades of Grey's Son while we're at it? He is an FBI Agent, undercover for 2 years at the prison where Riley is imprisoned.
John: FBI agent. Nate's friend. At the prison for the same 2-year undercover operation. He falls in love with Kyle but doesn't want to admit it.
Kyle: A young brat convicted for a hit and run who befriends Riley and falls in love with John.
Edward Kelly: Joseph Menza's unwilling murderer.
James Kelly: Edward Kelly's son.
Eddie: Another FBI agent undercover at the same prison.
Simon: FBI agent and computer geek.
Lisa Henry - The Island versus Alana Henry - Cell Mates
While reading Alana Henry's story, I wondered if these two authors where sisters. Their stories have much in common.
Two different sorts of prison: jail and island, which you can't leave without the guards noticing it and preventing you from fleeing.
Lee - Riley: Young innocent men abused by hardened criminals.
Shaw - Nathan: Undercover agents who don't want to make a mess of their multiple-year undercover mission just to save these young men; yet the cops fall in love with them. And eventually the cops save the young men. Shaw's and Nathan's mission are about illegal drugs sales (dismantling a large-scale drug ring).
Lisa's story is better written, but Alana's is more human.
Alana's story alternates from Riley's to Nathan's and sometimes from John's to Eddie's POV. I'm not a fan of alternate points of view. But at least, it was clear who was describing his feelings and the events since the author tells us who is speaking at the beginning of every change of POV.
As you surely guess, the story needs an editor and to be tightened (some passage were tedious and could have been shortened). I like it but it could be improved.
Note that if you like prison stories because there are rapes in them, you'll be disappointed here.
See other reviews here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?tag=D...
- "cause of action" instead of "course of action";
- "relived breath" instead of "relieved breath". I didn't notice that it was a book about vampires or other living deads;
- "the say the least" instead of "to say the least";
- "blowup in or faces" instead of "blowup in our faces";
- "Nathan’s lips found mind again" instead of "Nathan’s lips found mine again";
- "I sais in exasperation" instead of "I said in exasperation";
- "when I felt my matrass dip" instead of "when I felt my mattress dip";
- "it has nothing to do with my our bank accounts" instead of "it has nothing to do with my bank accounts";
- "I said told him" instead of "I told him";
- "the other end of the matrass" instead of "the other end of the mattress";
- "I titled the chair back" instead of "I tilted the chair back";
- "Nate went off the look around" instead of "Nate went off to look around";
- "on the back on Kyle’s head" instead of "on the back of Kyle’s head";
The two last sentences were consecutive in the book.
- "I wasn’t every optimistic" instead of "I wasn’t very optimistic";
- "your terrified of me" instead of "you're terrified of me";
- "Hey Johnn!" instead of "Hey John!"
- "even if I hsve to shake it out of him" instead of "even if I have to shake it out of him";
- "You’ve been kind a quiet" instead of "You’ve been kind of quiet" (o.k. here, maybe it was written like the guy pronounced it);
- "his hand was still gripped mine" instead of "his hand was still gripping mine";
- "There had been no exit would" instead of "There had been no exit wound";
- "We’ll keep his safe" instead of "We’ll keep him safe".
I gave up noting the mistakes then and I jumped many others while noting the ones above (I didn't note half of them). This is as if the author spelled by sounds or this was a bad speech recognition software that wrote what she told. Anyway, she is desperately in need of an editor or beta readers. She must at least have revised her book once before publishing it. But I must say that I had this book for a long time. Maybe my version is an old one and the author revised it after I bought it. I don't know.
MCs:
Riley Menza (alias Parker): The young and vulnerable guy who was framed up to be convicted for the killing of his father. His father was named Joseph Menza.
Nathaniel (Nate) Greyson: Really, the son of Grey? Why not Fifty Shades of Grey's Son while we're at it? He is an FBI Agent, undercover for 2 years at the prison where Riley is imprisoned.
John: FBI agent. Nate's friend. At the prison for the same 2-year undercover operation. He falls in love with Kyle but doesn't want to admit it.
Kyle: A young brat convicted for a hit and run who befriends Riley and falls in love with John.
Edward Kelly: Joseph Menza's unwilling murderer.
James Kelly: Edward Kelly's son.
Eddie: Another FBI agent undercover at the same prison.
Simon: FBI agent and computer geek.
Lisa Henry - The Island versus Alana Henry - Cell Mates
While reading Alana Henry's story, I wondered if these two authors where sisters. Their stories have much in common.
Two different sorts of prison: jail and island, which you can't leave without the guards noticing it and preventing you from fleeing.
Lee - Riley: Young innocent men abused by hardened criminals.
Shaw - Nathan: Undercover agents who don't want to make a mess of their multiple-year undercover mission just to save these young men; yet the cops fall in love with them. And eventually the cops save the young men. Shaw's and Nathan's mission are about illegal drugs sales (dismantling a large-scale drug ring).
Lisa's story is better written, but Alana's is more human.
Alana's story alternates from Riley's to Nathan's and sometimes from John's to Eddie's POV. I'm not a fan of alternate points of view. But at least, it was clear who was describing his feelings and the events since the author tells us who is speaking at the beginning of every change of POV.
As you surely guess, the story needs an editor and to be tightened (some passage were tedious and could have been shortened). I like it but it could be improved.
Note that if you like prison stories because there are rapes in them, you'll be disappointed here.
See other reviews here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?tag=D...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2014
....Behind bars we are captives of the expression of our emotions.... and boy, were there plenty of emotions in this. And pov's, lots of stories and thoughts going on all at once ..... and I flippin' loved it! Prison Break within the pages of a fast paced story. It was intense and fun, and I really cared for these characters even when there was a typo or 2.
(NB: It was only 346ish pages long)
February 26, 2015
Unreadably bad. The foreword was just weird, why preach about how terrible homophobia is at the beginning of a book about gay love? Talk about preaching to the choir.
Then the book just gets more and more unbelievable. I couldn't even finish it.
Then the book just gets more and more unbelievable. I couldn't even finish it.
August 24, 2014
Boring story plot.
June 5, 2021
It started off really good until (talk about suspended belief) then it all kinda went down hill from there. So 2.5 stars it is.
November 19, 2019
4.5 Stars!
August 19, 2015
I’m reading Cell Mates online and it’s a really interesting book.
What I love about it?
The connection between the two main characters and how it develops. Actually, the whole plot is well-planned and well-written. I enjoy the author’s descriptions, her way of giving just enough information to keep you guessing and how she manages to surprise me and I’m sure, other readers.
What I dislike about Cell Mates?
Some of the characters. Not because they lack credibility, but because they are meant to be loathed.
I’d recommend this book to people who are not only looking for some steamy guy on guy action, but are actually seeking a story with a strong plot and well-developed characters.
What I love about it?
The connection between the two main characters and how it develops. Actually, the whole plot is well-planned and well-written. I enjoy the author’s descriptions, her way of giving just enough information to keep you guessing and how she manages to surprise me and I’m sure, other readers.
What I dislike about Cell Mates?
Some of the characters. Not because they lack credibility, but because they are meant to be loathed.
I’d recommend this book to people who are not only looking for some steamy guy on guy action, but are actually seeking a story with a strong plot and well-developed characters.
August 14, 2014
Loved the attention to detail and the way the story flowed. It was definitely an enjoyable read from start to finish, so much so that i couldn't put it down.I also loved the fact that the characters were so real and human; each with their own flaws yet so easy to fall in love with... I would recommend it to anyone looking for a something exciting to bite into.
February 11, 2025
it was weirdly good
December 19, 2019
The 'cellmates' trope is not my personal favorite trope to read about but I decided to give it a go because there was something in the synopsis that caught my eye.
The story itself started very well. Both MCs were promising as characters and I couldn't wait to read more about them. There was also a very strong instant attraction and a lot of questions we had to receive the answer to. After a few chapters, as I said very interesting, something went wrong for me. There was a lot of information I didn't care about and a lot of information that came without a proper answer. We also had a third POV which I thought was unnecessary. And I just lost the connection I had with both MCs. A few things that happened in the prison felt absolutely unbelievable and at some point, I even felt irritated.
There were secondary characters in the story who I neither understood nor liked. In the end, I just felt lost. I think the book had a lot of potential, but I needed more intense scenes, more details on both MCs which were so important in order to understand the characters fully and less details on unnecessary things.
And I will say it again, the story was very promising but something went entirely wrong and ruined it all.
The story itself started very well. Both MCs were promising as characters and I couldn't wait to read more about them. There was also a very strong instant attraction and a lot of questions we had to receive the answer to. After a few chapters, as I said very interesting, something went wrong for me. There was a lot of information I didn't care about and a lot of information that came without a proper answer. We also had a third POV which I thought was unnecessary. And I just lost the connection I had with both MCs. A few things that happened in the prison felt absolutely unbelievable and at some point, I even felt irritated.
There were secondary characters in the story who I neither understood nor liked. In the end, I just felt lost. I think the book had a lot of potential, but I needed more intense scenes, more details on both MCs which were so important in order to understand the characters fully and less details on unnecessary things.
And I will say it again, the story was very promising but something went entirely wrong and ruined it all.
gave-up
August 28, 2014There was a foreword. I'm sure it was very touching. Sorry not sorry; didn't read it.
Eh. The writing's...kinda clunky. Chap 1 wasn't bad. Chap 2...cracks started to show.
Actually, the entire conception is rather juvenile. I mean, the author tries, and you can feel it, but it's not quite sophisticated and not quite finessed enough to be really that engaging.
The MC professes to want to lie low, yet just ups and challenges Nate? Why the melodramatic hissy fit, other than to fulfill the author's Mary Sue needs to making her MC Strong Enough to Stand Up for Himself?
I'd like to say that's when any bite the LI seems to have is lost, but honestly, it was gone before then. Something about the way it's written failed to quite build up tension in the plot.
By the end of Chap 3, I was done. Any sort of momentum was gone and it all sort of devolved into banality for me. Personally, I'd recommend you go read Protection, by S.A. Reid over this one.
I'm just not in the mood to sit through what I perceive to be subpar writing. I might have been able to get through more in a different mood, but as is, 3 chapters was more than enough for me. YMMV.
Eh. The writing's...kinda clunky. Chap 1 wasn't bad. Chap 2...cracks started to show.
Actually, the entire conception is rather juvenile. I mean, the author tries, and you can feel it, but it's not quite sophisticated and not quite finessed enough to be really that engaging.
The MC professes to want to lie low, yet just ups and challenges Nate? Why the melodramatic hissy fit, other than to fulfill the author's Mary Sue needs to making her MC Strong Enough to Stand Up for Himself?
I'd like to say that's when any bite the LI seems to have is lost, but honestly, it was gone before then. Something about the way it's written failed to quite build up tension in the plot.
By the end of Chap 3, I was done. Any sort of momentum was gone and it all sort of devolved into banality for me. Personally, I'd recommend you go read Protection, by S.A. Reid over this one.
I'm just not in the mood to sit through what I perceive to be subpar writing. I might have been able to get through more in a different mood, but as is, 3 chapters was more than enough for me. YMMV.
October 1, 2014
3,5
It could have been amazing, but... There were quite a few WTF moments, actions, which I tried to ignore so I could finish the book. For example, you are stupid enough, so "caring" that you
I loved the beginning so much, the characters but when it just went downhill and I basically skimmed the last 40 % of the book. It got so over the top and so banal and perfect.
I also didn't really like Riley he looked a little weak, selfish, stupid and only getting everyone in trouble.
It could have been amazing, but... There were quite a few WTF moments, actions, which I tried to ignore so I could finish the book. For example, you are stupid enough, so "caring" that you
I loved the beginning so much, the characters but when it just went downhill and I basically skimmed the last 40 % of the book. It got so over the top and so banal and perfect.
I also didn't really like Riley he looked a little weak, selfish, stupid and only getting everyone in trouble.
September 24, 2014
I got the sample first because I learned my lesson with just buying the book without reading it, but it looks like it is still a risk. I read the sample, debated if I should buy it (because it was 7 bucks!), and in the end, my curiosity of the book won out because, to be honest, I kind of liked the sample. Bought it, read to about 22% in and I was just devastated that I bought this book. Maybe I should try finishing it first, but I'm sorry, I can't. The MC, Riley, is such a whiner. He's in prison, but then he throws tantrums and treats it like it's some high school, trying to make friends and all. And as for Nathaniel...first page in where we meet him and I already knew who he was .
I believe this book also didn't have an editor; there was way too many typos that could easily be caught. Sadly, I don't think I will be finishing this book. It will be shelved away (on my kindle), and never to be opened again.
I believe this book also didn't have an editor; there was way too many typos that could easily be caught. Sadly, I don't think I will be finishing this book. It will be shelved away (on my kindle), and never to be opened again.
August 23, 2014
First book I'm gonna rate on here and that's because I loved it so much I have to. Where to begin....I'm not gonna lie, it started off as merely interesting, but then the more I read, the more I fell in love with it. The main characters... Riley, Nate, John and OMG KYLE...I love him to death. At first I was a bit worried because I don't usually like books in first person, but now that I've read this book..i've had a change of heart..I loved how she described everything and I loved the plot and all its twists, you just can't ever guess what's coming next.It was just... WOW. This is definitely something i'll read again and again and now i'm here dyingggg for book two!!!!!...great job Author!
August 15, 2014
What can I say..I loved it! The characters, the descriptions, the plot line, the length...I can't wait for book two!
January 5, 2020
Wow.. the MC was just so stupid.. DNF
April 16, 2021
2.5 stars - Will Review it later
February 18, 2025
Read this as a ff 😔
February 28, 2021
Whew! I did not realize this book was so long before getting into it.
The beginning was pretty good. I did have some issues in the middle to end, however. Firstly, Kyle. I really didn't like Kyle because he was an idiot! I felt like his character could have been cut completely and I wouldn't have minded one bit. He was childish and pushy with John. I know that John supposedly loved him back, but dude was seriously annoying with his affection. Riley got annoying towards the end, too. I felt like they were kids who kept getting into trouble and it wasn't cute. When they rode along with Simon to the warehouse to save Nate and John, then Kyle decided he was going to leave their safe spot to run through the woods for literally no reason..then, of course Nate and John had to rescue them while also trying not to die themselves. Seriously???
The whole prison escape bit really bugged me, too. Riley and Kyle both acted like idiots and it was unrealistic that two "top FBI agents" would just go along with the escape and even the chief supposedly was like, "yeah, Nate. This has nothing to do with our actual investigation, but take your boyfriends to my secret cabin and I'll cover for you."
That would literally never happen.
On the subject of Nate and John, for being "top" FBI agents, they were also kind of dumb. Just some of the things they did and said seemed silly and amateur.
It's not that I disliked the book, but these things brought my rating down a lot. Overall, it was too long, but not terrible.
The beginning was pretty good. I did have some issues in the middle to end, however. Firstly, Kyle. I really didn't like Kyle because he was an idiot! I felt like his character could have been cut completely and I wouldn't have minded one bit. He was childish and pushy with John. I know that John supposedly loved him back, but dude was seriously annoying with his affection. Riley got annoying towards the end, too. I felt like they were kids who kept getting into trouble and it wasn't cute. When they rode along with Simon to the warehouse to save Nate and John, then Kyle decided he was going to leave their safe spot to run through the woods for literally no reason..then, of course Nate and John had to rescue them while also trying not to die themselves. Seriously???
The whole prison escape bit really bugged me, too. Riley and Kyle both acted like idiots and it was unrealistic that two "top FBI agents" would just go along with the escape and even the chief supposedly was like, "yeah, Nate. This has nothing to do with our actual investigation, but take your boyfriends to my secret cabin and I'll cover for you."
That would literally never happen.
On the subject of Nate and John, for being "top" FBI agents, they were also kind of dumb. Just some of the things they did and said seemed silly and amateur.
It's not that I disliked the book, but these things brought my rating down a lot. Overall, it was too long, but not terrible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2019
DNF, I read about 70% but I just couldn't deal with it anymore.
This book started of so good, strong, very intriguing. Then it all just fell apart, from the massive gaps in the plot, major details unexplained, weirdest writing style with a mix of 3 POV's? Not to mention that the main character, Riley is one of the worst characters I've read about in a long time. I couldn't deal with him, he's ridiculously selfish, ruining peoples lives without much care for his own innocence, not caring about any of the consequences of his childish stupid actions. Then he keeps crying over every little thing, like everything, it's one of the most annoying characters I've ever read about, and it comes across really manipulative. And we're suppose to feel sorry for him? Because he's innocent? Hard pass. The author keeps going on how everyone is assholes, when the only asshole in this book is the main character. 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
This book started of so good, strong, very intriguing. Then it all just fell apart, from the massive gaps in the plot, major details unexplained, weirdest writing style with a mix of 3 POV's? Not to mention that the main character, Riley is one of the worst characters I've read about in a long time. I couldn't deal with him, he's ridiculously selfish, ruining peoples lives without much care for his own innocence, not caring about any of the consequences of his childish stupid actions. Then he keeps crying over every little thing, like everything, it's one of the most annoying characters I've ever read about, and it comes across really manipulative. And we're suppose to feel sorry for him? Because he's innocent? Hard pass. The author keeps going on how everyone is assholes, when the only asshole in this book is the main character. 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
January 23, 2015
This has a very interesting blurb but the book was actually way too long - good thing though, because it's quick-paced. It was a prison-haven story if I were to describe the setting. Nate and Riley are two characters too good to be true.
Sometimes I just want to punch Riley for his stupidity and Kyle oh Kyle - if he's not freaking adorable, I'd like to have his ass ^&*^ in prison. I thought the whole prison system was utterly unrealistic but yeah - prison haven right? I'd consider this a low-angst novel despite its setting and its over the top twists.
I'd definitely read the next book in line here which I'm expecting to be John and Kyle's story.
Sometimes I just want to punch Riley for his stupidity and Kyle oh Kyle - if he's not freaking adorable, I'd like to have his ass ^&*^ in prison. I thought the whole prison system was utterly unrealistic but yeah - prison haven right? I'd consider this a low-angst novel despite its setting and its over the top twists.
I'd definitely read the next book in line here which I'm expecting to be John and Kyle's story.
January 27, 2019
This book started of strong and then read like a soap opera.
Riley became annoying and whining. His interactions with nate were cringe worthy.
The story was not executed well and had numerous typos. The carried on as their romance was the be all and end all but man u guys are in prison! Prison. Too fluffy.
One thing that bugged me was the author use of "special place" and "member" to describe ass and dick. Sigh....we're all adults here.
The sex was poorly described in this book...the author spent paragraphs describing kissing and yet the scene went as such " Then he was inside me and i was losing myself to him. Ah!. Many minutes mater and we lay sated..."
The rest of the book was the same.
This wasnt for me.
Riley became annoying and whining. His interactions with nate were cringe worthy.
The story was not executed well and had numerous typos. The carried on as their romance was the be all and end all but man u guys are in prison! Prison. Too fluffy.
One thing that bugged me was the author use of "special place" and "member" to describe ass and dick. Sigh....we're all adults here.
The sex was poorly described in this book...the author spent paragraphs describing kissing and yet the scene went as such " Then he was inside me and i was losing myself to him. Ah!. Many minutes mater and we lay sated..."
The rest of the book was the same.
This wasnt for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2016
I love prison stories, and this one started out strong. In fact, for the first 30% or so it was 4 stars (am basing my final rating on that fact). But then it went downhill for me and kept going. I became less, not more, connected to the characters. It became very hard to suspend disbelief. There were things that were left unexplained or dropped, and there were many editing errors. Overall, this was not what I expected based on the blurb and reviews, and I was disappointed.
Was this originally online serial fiction? Wondering as it sorta read like others that I've read.
Was this originally online serial fiction? Wondering as it sorta read like others that I've read.
dnf
December 28, 2018DNF
I just can't stand Riley's POV. He's such an annoying and childish character. He doesn't do anything, complain all the time. Everyone is in trouble because of him and he doesn't seem to understand it or care.
I've read more than half of it, still have a lot to read from it but I don't want to force myself to finish this book. I won't put a rating on it because I haven't finished it, but since I doubt the rest of it would improve a lot I think it would have been a 1 or 2 stars.
I just can't stand Riley's POV. He's such an annoying and childish character. He doesn't do anything, complain all the time. Everyone is in trouble because of him and he doesn't seem to understand it or care.
I've read more than half of it, still have a lot to read from it but I don't want to force myself to finish this book. I won't put a rating on it because I haven't finished it, but since I doubt the rest of it would improve a lot I think it would have been a 1 or 2 stars.
could-not-finish
July 31, 2016My dnf list is getting dangerously long.. but I just do not want anything to do with pansy ass useless slutty crybaby bottoms and weak minded tops. Multiply that by two and add the glaring loopholes in the story.. and I am out of here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews