Michael comes home to Ellery to face his past, only his present keeps intruding in the form of his agent Alex Casey, who won’t take no for an answer.
Michael Hardin is back in Ellery to face his past. The victim of a hate crime, he has memories that lie just out of his reach and nightmares that won’t leave him alone.
Alex Casey loves Michael but he completely ruined everything by treating Michael like someone who needed to be wrapped in cotton wool.
Can Michael discover more about his past and find love with Alex?
RJ Scott is a USA TODAY bestselling author of over 140 romance and suspense novels. From bodyguards to hockey stars, princes to millionaires, cowboys to military, she believes that love is love and every man deserves their own happy ending.
It was so strange to read this book. I knew it was a few years after The Barman and the SEAL, but it was still strange to read the past couples more settled and everything else. It was also strange to see Mikey all grown up. He seemed so different from the previous books and yet he was still the same person inside.
I'm a huge fan of the series and this is the final book, I think. So it was even a bit sad to see the ending of these guys. I fell in love with all the couples and their journey's and Mikey and Alex were a great addition to them.
This is a second chance story. The couple in this were together before and they broke up. The reason wasn't silly or stupid, but it wasn't unforgivable either. I liked that about the story. I don't want to spoil it, but let's just say it sort of ties in with what we already knew about Mikey.
Out of the two characters, I really couldn't say which of them I loved more. Alex was all protective and maybe he wasn't perfect, but neither was Mikey. They fit together which was good and they had the history that I liked. I could tell they loved each other and, to me, they were a meant to be couple.
*** Marvelous tale of love ! *** Six years ago Michael Harden was "Mikey" in the previous book. He was targeted and gay bashed where he nearly died. Now he's come home because he needs peace and safety. He was attacked again and feels unbalanced. Michael needs his town of Ellery.
Alexis following Michael's every move, because he wants him safe, but he's going about it the wrong way. As his agent, 30ish Alex, thinks he can just muscle his way back into Michael's life.
We get to see the previous cast members and their updates, now six years later. We see Michael sort out his memories, until they reveal something crucial. Alex and Michael are busy avoiding each other, so how can they resolve anything? When they talk and figure out what is really between them, and they finally come clean.
And yes, we get the sexy times we like so much !
This is the final book in the series of magnificent short stories, and most loose ends are tied. Everything we want in romance is in this set. I have completely devoured each book of this wonderful town's and the people's journeys. I highly recommend them all. ENJOY ! ==============
This is set about 6 years after the last book - The Barman and the SEAL. While Mikey-now-Michael was featured as a townie briefly mentioned in previous books, I’d definitely recommend reading book 5, The Paramedic & the Writer as events in that book heavily featured Mikey and set a foundation for this one.
The beginning was clunky to me and despite being excited for Michael finding love and success after all his trauma - It took me a while to get into this one. Alex is weirdly stalkerish, and while the reasoning behind his behavior is kind of explained, it made him pretty unlikeable as a character. They did finally smooth out their issues, but it felt like very little & an overly quick resolution. More of an HFN than feeling like these two were solid.
I don’t know why but Scott has used the name Zach for a secondary character in four of these books now. It gets confusing because none of them are the same person.
I did like the slight glimpse into the lives of the guys from previous books and how they’re doing.
Being a fan of this series, this was certainly a story I was waiting for to arrive. I feel very lucky that the author offered me an arc to review :)
It is like coming home to this town and his inhabitants. The families made in Ellery are solid and feel like home and that is exactly what Michael wants and needs when he comes back for a vacation.
He’s confused and feeling lost and upset. He has no idea what to do next or where to go from there. He just wants to go home to his Nana and his friends and family.
He’s running from the man he thought he could have forever with, until Alex messed up. He’s treating Michael as a fragile little kid, exactly what he fought to shake off ever since he was attacked at an early age.
But Alex doesn’t easily give up. He follows Michael to his home by hitching a ride, trying to get through to the man he will always love.
Finally Home in Ellery, Michaels becomes Mikey again…just Mikey not model Michael.
His “selfmade family” is there to support him and to have his back and that finally allows him to see things differently. He’s finally able to chase away the demons of his past. And that seems exactly what he (and Alex) need.
R.J Scott created a home made of love and friendship with this Ellery series. What I regret is to not have seen more of all the characters because I could never have enough. I am glad we read about them, I am ecstatic they are still so close and together all of them.
I would have prefered for this story to be longer, as this feels like it might be the last one. It would have been nice to enjoy Mikey and Alex together for a bit more along with their friends I’d like to have seen some more intimacy as I know Miss Scott is very good in making that a reality.
But with all Ellery men together and happy, including “little” Mikey you can say this story definitely came full circle.
And for that I go for a 4.25 star rating instead of a 4 .
This was not the usual Ellery Mountain story which made it refreshing in its own way. Six years after his attack, Mikey, now Michael, has returned to Ellery to witness Jason and Kieran's wedding. Angry with his boss and almost boyfriend, Alex, Michael is looking to leave the modeling world. Unfortunately, Alex is also in Ellery along with a tremendous amount of memories that need sorting through before Michael can heal. It was good to return to Ellery which is quickly becoming a gay mecca. I enjoyed the tension between Michael and Alex. Just who's fault the attack in Paris belonged to really did not matter. What this well written, easy read dwelled on was communication or the lack thereof. I felt bad for Zach and all the other gays and lesbians who take their own lives. I'm on the rail's about Ryan's mother. She could have saved her son and saved Michael years of anguish. I'm surprised that all of the upstanding gay men of Ellery haven't gentrified the town as the ever growing Friday night group needs somewhere decent to shop.
I’ve read this author before and only book 1 of this series. This is a mm contemporary story set in the USA. Main characters are Michael, the male model and Alex his modelling agent. I had no real connection to Micheal and felt sorry for poor Alex, as he tried everything to rekindle their love. Great side characters.
The Ellery Mountain series consistently delivers, each book emotional and heartwarming. I have enjoyed each of the pairings and loved all the characters, from the very first book to this, the seventh in the series.
This is the story of Mikey, now all grown up, a successful model who no longer lives in Ellery, instead Michael (as he is now called) travels the world modelling for designer labels, only returning to town infrequently. He has found success, fame and fortune but he is still haunted by the attack on his life six years before.
Recent events have further shaken Michael and he finds himself with some choices to make. His contract is up for renewal and he needs to decide what his future holds - more modelling or a return to study? He is also running from Alex, his agent and the man he had started to fall in love with. Michael returns to his Nan and friends in Ellery while he makes some decisions. Luckily Alex is a determined man and isn't going to give up on Michael and visiting his friend Jason (the actor and old client) gives him reason to stay in Ellery.
I must admit that I found Michael's response to Alex's actions in Paris frustrating - obviously he was still severely traumatised by his original attack, otherwise he was totally overreacting - one of those situation's where you just want to shake the character and make them listen to what the other character has to say!
This book gives opportunity for the men of Ellery to help Mikey overcome his fears and put his past behind him. It is a story of friendship and support and healing. There are some warm and emotional moments, some romantic moments (one of the couples has some big news) and happy endings all round.
Best line from the book......
"Ellery is like some kind of hot bed for gay men, and I'm sure Jason will be able to hook me up."
Most amusing....picturing two grown men with overnight bags, two wheeled cases and a dog, traveling for hours in a Porsche - the boot (trunk) and interior space must be a lot bigger than I remember!
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review.
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
Mikey! OMG! How strange it is to have him all grown up and in the profession that the reluctant teenager always dreamed of being.
I probably won't say this adequately; I don't have the way with words that RJ does. But Mikey always seemed to be on the outskirts of the Ellery stories. Almost a filler or an interlude even; not quite the center of attention but still Oh So Easy to fall in love with, even as a secondary character. Now, as the main attraction, well let's just say that even though I was thoroughly engulfed with all the previous stories from start to finish, Mikey's story had me in tears just about every other page. We finally learn his secrets and the identity of the demons that have haunted him since that tragic night in the park which seems a lifetime ago.
If you haven't fallen for Mikey by now, this story should bring you to that brink. Without being a spoiler, I am envious of Alex and am saddened that we have to bid a final farewell to the tight and tough League Of Friends on Ellery Mountain.
I was looking forward to reading Mikey's story, but after starting it is probably going into my meagre DNF pile. First of all, I couldn't connect with Alex. His POW seemed detached to me. Also failing to notify Mikey about a stalker on purpose is NOT overprotecting, but incaution, if not gross negligence. It is f...ing dangerous in a situation like that! OMG, this is beyond stupidity, it is irresponsibility in a dangerous situation that really does not show caring and protectiveness, it shows total lack of care. I do not buy Alex as an overprotective guy, but an irresponsible, reckless and careless one, and frankly, I do not want to read about him and neither do I care whether or not he gets his HEA. Just my opinion
I was happy that we got to have Mickey's story and things turned out well for him. I am kind of sad that this is the end, but this book was a nice wrap up to the series.
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the seventh book in the series, and I would definitely recommend that you read the previous stories first, as characters and events are key to the understanding of this story.
We are a number of years on from the attack on Mikey, and he has had much success as a model - however as he drives back to Ellery to visit, he is being followed by Alex, his agent. The story of these two men and the strange relationship that we get to see at the beginning unfolds through the book, and is both fascinating and frustrating.
I love that we get to see these two men come to terms with what happened in Paris, how the attack in the park still haunts Michael, and how their friends are supportive, but also brutally honest! I also smiled at the 'party' reason. Always good to catch up with how everyone is living their lives together.
Surrounded by the friends and family in Ellery, Michael has grown up understanding that his homosexuality is not a negative thing. But after he is beaten up and almost killed he decides to leave the safety of home and begin his modeling career. When his partner Alex keeps vital information about a stalker form Michael the relationship is ended and Michael walks away. But did Alex keep it from him so that he could be the one to protect him? Or was it because Alex felt that Michael was too sot to take care of himself? When Alex follows Michael to Ellery will the two be able to mend their issues or will it be the last nail in the coffin? Highly emotional and highly entertaining this was a great addition to the series. I loved seeing Michael make something of himself even though he had baggage from his past that could have locked him into never leaving Ellery.
In an effort to protect Michael, the man he loves, Alex, of 'The Agent and The Model' by RJ Scott, makes the mistake of not remaining objective about a serious situation involving his ability to keep Michael safe. He fails in this attempt because he doesn't take all possible scenarios into account. His plan backfires, leaving Michael in an even more precarious position than before. When the inevitable happens Michael is understandably upset, but when he learns that he was kept in the dark, he is furious because Alex treated him like a child and didn't think he could handle the truth. If Michael can't get past these feelings, he and Alex have no chance of being together in the future.
Mikey, as we who have followed the series know, is now Michael, a successful model and all grown up. He thinks he's put his past attack behind him until another attack shatters that idea, and brings back, with force and fury, his fears and anxieties. Michael is incensed because he thinks that Alex considers him weak and unable to protect himself. Across the years Michael has learned several kinds of self-defense so he can protect himself, but when the time comes that he needs to use this knowledge, he freezes, exacerbating his insecurities. Michael really loves Alex, but is struggling to resolve his inner conflicts before he can even begin to deal with Alex's. The key to being able to put the attack behind him lies in finding the person who so violently assaulted him all those years ago. Only then will Mikey be able to be comfortable in his hometown with people he loves, particularly his Nan.
At first Alex comes across as a conceited, pushy boss, who is practically harassing Michael, but when I realized what was actually happening, I began to feel sorry for him. His love for Michael, his desire to protect him, is so strong that he has a false sense of security about his ability to take care of him by himself. It's a classic case of trying too hard to take responsibility for someone without telling them what is happening so they wouldn't be upset, hopefully, needlessly. If Michael had known he had a stalker, then he could have been prepared, but that's not what happened. Alex tries so hard to make it up to Michael, who won't even give him a chance to tell him how he feels. Alex is lost without the closeness they were cultivating and desperately wants it back. Being in Ellery at the same time as Michael seems convenient, but in some ways, it's even harder. There are lots of people around running interference for Michael; they've known and loved him for a long time. When Alex convinces Mikey's friends that he is sincere, they do what they can to help; the rest is up to Mikey.
This is another enjoyable addition to the Ellery Mountain stories featuring not only Michael and Alex, but incorporating many of the other characters I've grown fond of, into the action. RJ has a great way of combining angst and tribulation with love and hope and finding a happy ending for all her very special men. I recommend this story to those who have read and love the Ellery Mountain series, along with those who may be new to it, who like sexy men, intrigue, strong female characters, small town ambiance, passion, loyalty, and strong friendships. Thanks, RJ, for giving Mikey and Alex their happily ever after.
NOTE: This book was provided by Love lane Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars...this was unfortunately my less favorite book in the series. There were so many holes in this story...the word "sieve" comes to mind! Yes...it was great to get Mickey/Michael's story...but things just didn't click for some reason! This just felt so rushed and incomplete...but the last few chapters were perfect...I wish the whole book had been like that...we finally got to see Michael and Alex connect and start to work out their problems and it was good to see the first attack in the park resolved....but really...no Mother...no matter how much she was grieving would have moved back into town...and then just "waited"...she had no one left to protect...she would have came forward long before and made things right. Now with all that being said...I must say this has been one of my favorite series to read and I just love the way this author writes...she really brings to life everyone she puts in her stories and you feel like they just live down the street from you and you have known them for years!!! Sorry to see that this is the end of the road...as it were...for all these guys...they will be missed...or...I could just read all the books again!!! Ain't life grand that way!!!
First it is important to know that this book is best read as part of the series. Much of the back story concerning Michael’s attack and the reasons behind Avery and Travis nearly running Alex out of town when he comes asking Michael to forgive him would be lost if you have not read the other novellas. Plus, in my opinion, this is a sweet little series that has sexy men finding their partners and making hard relationships somehow work out, so I would encourage you to read them all in order to get the best feel for this ongoing series.
I was very excited to see more of Michael. His story was never resolved, the attacker never found, and the effects of the trauma left dangling while other characters’ stories were focused on. Alex is a perfect counterpart for the quieter Michael. Brash and undaunted by his model’s rebuff, Alex tears along after Michael determined to make him see just how much he cares for him. Michael is not easily won over and I enjoyed how much this character had grown since his first introduction in the series.
Another Amazing part of the Ellery Mountain series. This is Mikey`s story. The cute boy that was the victim of a horrible hate crime in Ellery, but moved on and became Michael the poster model. His agent Alex is in love with Michael, and Michael was with him... Until some crazy person attacked Michael in Paris, and Alex thought he was protecting Michael, and Michael thought he was not. When Mikey is going back to Ellery and Alex is too, due to Kieran and Jason’s news, a lot of thoughts and memories are getting back to Mikey. Sometimes more than you think he can handle….but then you remember that; Finn and Max, Daniel and Luke, Kieran and Jason, Liam and Mitchell, Jamie and Ian and Avery and Travis have Mikey´s back…so he will be safe no matter what happens..and what happens is SOOOOOO hot and sweet♥ Lovely lovely story♥
Six years after the events in Avery and Travis' story we go back to Ellery Mountain as Mikey, now a top model, goes home after a distressing incident in Paris.
His almost lover and agent Alex follows him, desperately trying to put right a horrendous mistake which stalled their relationship just as things were getting serious (don't worry it's not cheating)
The tone of this one was different, it's not quite a wrapping up of everyone's stories but there is an element to that too.
What was great to see was two men who actually knew they needed to talk to people about their issues and, eventually, to each other too.
The resolution, when it came, was truly sweet. It would be nice if RJ went back to Ellery for one final catch up otherwise I'll just happily imagine all seven of our couples happily living their lives in the cabins around the Smokey's.
#7 in the Ellery Mountain story is Mikey's story. Has it been 6 years since Mikey was attacked in the park?
Mikey has left Ellery for the life of modeling. An incident in Paris has left him on the outs with his agent Alex, who is now his ex. Home to Ellery is all he can think about, but Alex is coming along.
Alex has been invited to the wedding of Jason, his long time friend. Alex hopes that this will be the way to repair the damage done to their relationship, Alex, after all is still deeply in love with Micheal. All Alex wants to do is protect Micheal, but Micheal says he is not a victim. He should be treated as an adult, a man who can take care of himself.
Here's to new beginnings and a runway full of stars.
I really enjoy this book! It was beautiful and well written, but then the whole Ellery Mountain series was excellent. I wonder if this is the last installement in this series? I hope not! I am glad Michael "Mikey" finally found closure to his demons, and be able to be who he is and have a life together with Alex. If you are interested to read this book, please star from the beginning. You will get much more of the stories and all the memorable characters in each one. I would love to have live in a place like Ellery Mountain, and be friend and neighbor to these guys. It was such a sweet, touching story. Ms. Scott, you are a wonderful writer and I am glad to have the privilege of discovering your books. Thank you for such a beautiful story and series.
Is this really the last book in the series? I wish that if it was, that there had been more interaction with the pervious couples, like a big multi-couple finale type of story for the series, rather than what was just another story with a new couple. I liked this one and enjoyed it, but it was just OK…not my favorite in the series I don't think. I have really enjoyed this series, so if it is the last one, I look forward to whatever RJ Scott thinks up next!
This book could be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the whole series so you get a true feeling for the small mountain town of Ellery. I would highly recommend this title to anyone who loves a happy ending that is well earned, and a true feeling of family and community to go along with it.
Huh. What I thought would be my favorite book of the series ended up being the one I liked the least. I didn't really connect with the characters and it didn't help that they had met years ago and were previously involved. One of my favorite parts of a romance is to see the two (or more) MCs meet, get to know each other and fall in love. I didn't get that here and never really got to know either of the characters at all.
The cherry on the sundae, I really enjoyed this series and read them over a very short period of time. As I couldn't wait to see what happened next. It was great to see of the stories tied up and a HEA, which I admit I do prefer. It was great to see Mikey resolve some of the traumas in his life, though it was a tiny bit rushed for me; though would be my only criticism in an otherwise great story.
Wow, poor Michael, to have so much bad shit happen to him would be hard for anyone to overcome. I'm glad that he didn't write Alex off completely. It was so obvious that Alex loved Michael with his entire being, which in turn caused him to make some horrible mistakes, but in the end they managed to talk and it was sweet. Way too short, but sweet.
Mikeys back and trying to put the past behind him and also a certain agent. There is a little angst and then things are sorted out and Mikey learns who assaulted him all those years ago.
Only thing is at the end of the last book, Travis buys the garage in this book he is a full time counsellor but nothing is said about the garage.
Michael is coming home and Alex seems to be on his tail. They were headed for love but circumstances appears to have thrown them off track. But maybe communication and the help of their friends will save the day.