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Keep Me Still
Travis thinks his life is out of control—until the night he crashes into Cody. That's when he learns what it truly means to surrender everything. Cody is strong, sexy, and more generous than Travis believed possible. He takes him in and begins unraveling all the pain and secrets that led to Travis being alone, homeless, and running for his life with an envelope of stolen cash.
With such a sweet, fragile heart, Travis has never let his guard down with anyone, but he can’t resist falling deeper and deeper into Cody’s effortless dominance and possessive touch. Over stormy summer nights in Cody’s isolated cabin, Travis discovers the euphoric passion of giving in to the desires Cody draws out of him.
Heart. Mind. Body. Travis hands over everything to the man who taught him to trust. The only problem is... Cody isn’t who he says he is—and his own dangerous secrets may shatter the faith Travis put in him.
This is a 70,000 word stand-alone novel which contains intensely intimate scenes between two men, and a happily ever after with no cliffhangers.
With such a sweet, fragile heart, Travis has never let his guard down with anyone, but he can’t resist falling deeper and deeper into Cody’s effortless dominance and possessive touch. Over stormy summer nights in Cody’s isolated cabin, Travis discovers the euphoric passion of giving in to the desires Cody draws out of him.
Heart. Mind. Body. Travis hands over everything to the man who taught him to trust. The only problem is... Cody isn’t who he says he is—and his own dangerous secrets may shatter the faith Travis put in him.
This is a 70,000 word stand-alone novel which contains intensely intimate scenes between two men, and a happily ever after with no cliffhangers.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 14, 2018
Reread January 2018
4 Stars
I decided to reread this because I honestly didn’t remember what it was about. It was a lot more angsty than I thought but I think I liked it better this time. Both of these guys are broken just in different ways. They’re both lost and just need someone to heal them. They get that from each other.
I still loved the epilogue and bonus chapter. And I still felt like there were things that needed fleshing out more. For example, why Cody does what he does (I would have liked a bit more detail there) and Travis’ home life. But overall, I did enjoy it even if it was angsty.
Originally read November 2016
3 Stars
The best part was the epilogue and the bonus chapter from Cody's POV. There were many things that needed fleshing out more but I did enjoy it.
4 Stars
I decided to reread this because I honestly didn’t remember what it was about. It was a lot more angsty than I thought but I think I liked it better this time. Both of these guys are broken just in different ways. They’re both lost and just need someone to heal them. They get that from each other.
I still loved the epilogue and bonus chapter. And I still felt like there were things that needed fleshing out more. For example, why Cody does what he does (I would have liked a bit more detail there) and Travis’ home life. But overall, I did enjoy it even if it was angsty.
Originally read November 2016
3 Stars
The best part was the epilogue and the bonus chapter from Cody's POV. There were many things that needed fleshing out more but I did enjoy it.
October 4, 2017
3 stars -- very predictable and really fast moving relationship with no depth
July 1, 2019
Si bien la trama es un poco manida, lo tiene todo para funcionar, pero no lo hace.
Quizás es la forma de narrar que no engancha, o quizás es que al tener un sólo POV, y por parte del más débil de los protagonistas, no acabas metiendote en la historia del todo o al menos en mi caso no funcionó.
Quizás es la forma de narrar que no engancha, o quizás es que al tener un sólo POV, y por parte del más débil de los protagonistas, no acabas metiendote en la historia del todo o al menos en mi caso no funcionó.
June 9, 2016
Great start to a beautiful friendship!
This is the first in a long line of Stephen Hoopa's books I want to read. I loved the interaction between the character. They played well off of each other. Also the lite D/s vibe was great.
This is the first in a long line of Stephen Hoopa's books I want to read. I loved the interaction between the character. They played well off of each other. Also the lite D/s vibe was great.
March 20, 2019
Stephen Hoppa is an excellent writer, but I just didn’t feel that this book was a good fit for me. The story is so full of anger, bitterness and angst that it just wore me down. I gave it three stars instead of 2 because I thought it was so well written and I did want to know how things turned out.
I spent the first part of the book hating Travis. He was so ungrateful for the help Cody was giving him and he made some very stupid decisions that almost cost him his life.
I spent the first part of the book hating Travis. He was so ungrateful for the help Cody was giving him and he made some very stupid decisions that almost cost him his life.
March 6, 2019
It was sweet, I guess. Their conversations felt circular and often repetitive. Not a fave.
May 18, 2016
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars, because I love this author. *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book*
This was a rough-edged falling-in-love story that had me hooked from the start. Stephen Hoppa has a way of creating and delivering characters that deeply resonate with me. This story follows two men, both flawed and trying to function as they deal with every-day life.
Travis is a little-boy-lost, running from a past that has broken his spirit, and hiding from the darkest elements of that past. Some of the ghosts of his former life haunt his mind, some physically haunt him as they attempt to hunt him down and destroy him.
Cody is a bear of a man, living alone as he tries to reconcile who he once was with the person he has become. He's left his loving foster family in search of his natural parents. What he learns about the origins of his birth sends him into a tailspin, resulting in some very damaging and detrimental behavior.
Despite the fact that both men are troubled by shadows from their pasts, Travis and Cody have the capacity to be kind and loving men. If they'd only allow it, their inherent goodness can help them overcome the pain they bear, which is a result of the difficulties fate has thrown in their way.
Travis literally bursts into Cody's life when he crashes into the very large bear-statue in Cody's front yard. From the moment he pulls him from the car, Cody has a mission--to save Travis, who is obviously injured and sick in both body and spirit. He sees rescuing Travis as a way to save and redeem himself.
As the men unravel the lies they've told themselves and each other, something becomes apparent. Neither Cody or Travis are who they say they are or who they think they've become. As they fight their way through more obstacles, they question the possibility of a future together. They begin to understand the ability that they have to love each other will help them love themselves...just as they are...with no lies and no barriers.
This book had so many of the components I love; angst and acceptance, mayhem and mystery, a lot of hurt, and a lot of heat. These men deserve the HEA they are fighting for.
This was a rough-edged falling-in-love story that had me hooked from the start. Stephen Hoppa has a way of creating and delivering characters that deeply resonate with me. This story follows two men, both flawed and trying to function as they deal with every-day life.
Travis is a little-boy-lost, running from a past that has broken his spirit, and hiding from the darkest elements of that past. Some of the ghosts of his former life haunt his mind, some physically haunt him as they attempt to hunt him down and destroy him.
Cody is a bear of a man, living alone as he tries to reconcile who he once was with the person he has become. He's left his loving foster family in search of his natural parents. What he learns about the origins of his birth sends him into a tailspin, resulting in some very damaging and detrimental behavior.
Despite the fact that both men are troubled by shadows from their pasts, Travis and Cody have the capacity to be kind and loving men. If they'd only allow it, their inherent goodness can help them overcome the pain they bear, which is a result of the difficulties fate has thrown in their way.
Travis literally bursts into Cody's life when he crashes into the very large bear-statue in Cody's front yard. From the moment he pulls him from the car, Cody has a mission--to save Travis, who is obviously injured and sick in both body and spirit. He sees rescuing Travis as a way to save and redeem himself.
As the men unravel the lies they've told themselves and each other, something becomes apparent. Neither Cody or Travis are who they say they are or who they think they've become. As they fight their way through more obstacles, they question the possibility of a future together. They begin to understand the ability that they have to love each other will help them love themselves...just as they are...with no lies and no barriers.
This book had so many of the components I love; angst and acceptance, mayhem and mystery, a lot of hurt, and a lot of heat. These men deserve the HEA they are fighting for.
January 2, 2018
3 stars. This actually started off really well and then I'm not too sure what happened.
The writing is decent, not the best but tolerable. I liked the setting and the characters Cody and Travis were pretty interesting and I liked their relationship well enough. One of the things that bothered me was that it was kind of insta-love which I cannot stand. I wish their relationship had developed a bit slower. I also didn't like the last half of the book. It just seemed to fall apart and was a big mess. The epilogue was cute and I enjoyed that but the actual ending before that could've been so much better.
Overall, this was a really quick and steamy read but it left a lot to be desired. I think it would've benefitted greatly if it had been a bit longer.
The writing is decent, not the best but tolerable. I liked the setting and the characters Cody and Travis were pretty interesting and I liked their relationship well enough. One of the things that bothered me was that it was kind of insta-love which I cannot stand. I wish their relationship had developed a bit slower. I also didn't like the last half of the book. It just seemed to fall apart and was a big mess. The epilogue was cute and I enjoyed that but the actual ending before that could've been so much better.
Overall, this was a really quick and steamy read but it left a lot to be desired. I think it would've benefitted greatly if it had been a bit longer.
April 16, 2017
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Both guys were so broken and I knew Cody was involved in something bad, but I also knew that he loved Travis more than anything and those two contrasting facts worried at my guts for the last half of the book.I
The epilogue was super sweet. And as an extra we got the first chapter again from Cody's pov.
The epilogue was super sweet. And as an extra we got the first chapter again from Cody's pov.
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June 3, 2016
Okay....
This one was tricky for me..... It literally kept me up until 6 this morning trying to figure it all out.
First.... we have Travis... He's running from some dude named Axel, but it takes a while to figure out who he is and why... he broke my heart a little in the beginning but I didn't like his attitude, especially when it came to Cody, who tried everything in his power to help him. I kind of wish it would have been alternating POV's that way we could see why Cody was so intent to helping him even after all the times he was endlessly patient and calm.. I'm not even gonna lie, there were times when he was creepily calm or creepily patient.....I thought a time or two, is this dude a serial killer or something?
The whole "You're just clumsy" part, where Travis loses control and he just makes excuses for him, smiling and muttering "you're just clumsy... so clumsy." I was like dude.... he just head butted you in the nose and you're smiling and telling him he's clumsy.... so clumsy... I dunno, maybe cuz I was up til the sun came up reading it and I got a little crazy myself but it just didin't make sense to me and I didn't get to see where his head was at since we only had the POV from Travis.
I know some people don't like dual POV's, but I think they're a big part of getting to know both characters, it would have been nice in this instance.
Oh yea, and he cover is hot right? Not exactly how I pictured them but, still really good!
Like I mentioned, my heart broke for Travis and the way he grew up, it was no wonder he was the way he was. He had anger issue's and problems of losing control when he got mad.... he was also running from his "step dad" who wasn't his real step-dad but you need to read it to understand it all.... The chemistry between them was hot,and it seemed to come out of nowhere but... it worked...
Overall, it was a good angsty read and by the time it all came down to everything I couldn't put it down. I should have started it a lot earlier than I did that's for sure, i'm really draggin today, but... it was worth it!
This is my first read by this author but after reading this one, I'll definitely read more. The ending surprised me too but I loved it! very sweet and it ended on the best note.
Great read!
This one was tricky for me..... It literally kept me up until 6 this morning trying to figure it all out.
First.... we have Travis... He's running from some dude named Axel, but it takes a while to figure out who he is and why... he broke my heart a little in the beginning but I didn't like his attitude, especially when it came to Cody, who tried everything in his power to help him. I kind of wish it would have been alternating POV's that way we could see why Cody was so intent to helping him even after all the times he was endlessly patient and calm.. I'm not even gonna lie, there were times when he was creepily calm or creepily patient.....I thought a time or two, is this dude a serial killer or something?
The whole "You're just clumsy" part, where Travis loses control and he just makes excuses for him, smiling and muttering "you're just clumsy... so clumsy." I was like dude.... he just head butted you in the nose and you're smiling and telling him he's clumsy.... so clumsy... I dunno, maybe cuz I was up til the sun came up reading it and I got a little crazy myself but it just didin't make sense to me and I didn't get to see where his head was at since we only had the POV from Travis.
I know some people don't like dual POV's, but I think they're a big part of getting to know both characters, it would have been nice in this instance.
Oh yea, and he cover is hot right? Not exactly how I pictured them but, still really good!
Like I mentioned, my heart broke for Travis and the way he grew up, it was no wonder he was the way he was. He had anger issue's and problems of losing control when he got mad.... he was also running from his "step dad" who wasn't his real step-dad but you need to read it to understand it all.... The chemistry between them was hot,and it seemed to come out of nowhere but... it worked...
Overall, it was a good angsty read and by the time it all came down to everything I couldn't put it down. I should have started it a lot earlier than I did that's for sure, i'm really draggin today, but... it was worth it!
This is my first read by this author but after reading this one, I'll definitely read more. The ending surprised me too but I loved it! very sweet and it ended on the best note.
Great read!
March 31, 2017
I'm honestly not sure why.
This story was kind of strange in places but I couldn't stop reading. Travis is running, both from his past and his present. While trying to deliver pizza, while he's ill, he crashes into a bear statue in the road to the house. Cody is the customer who takes him in and tries to take care of him. It's the start of a rather unusual relationship. Cody takes care of Travis and encourages Travis to open up and talk. Travis begins to trust him and shares his history. They eventually begin a physical relationship. Cody is keeping secrets though, and when Travis learns the worst part, he runs again and finds out his own past has caught him.
I never really understood how Cody was so quickly certain that Travis was attracted to him, as there was no real indication. Travis even mentions an ex girlfriend but not any interest in men. I'm not sure if I missed something. Cody was so hard to figure out until he has no choice about telling Travis the truth. But that's what kept me reading, since I had to know what was driving them both. Their characters built slowly over the story. The narrative and dialogue also had a dark feeling to me. It was intriguing and absorbing.
I do feel the ending was not quite true to the way the story was told. It seemed much too simple and easy after the convoluted details that came before it. I disliked the epilogue, as it only told of details that would have been more interesting to read. This was also not any real BDSM, just a little kink.
This story was kind of strange in places but I couldn't stop reading. Travis is running, both from his past and his present. While trying to deliver pizza, while he's ill, he crashes into a bear statue in the road to the house. Cody is the customer who takes him in and tries to take care of him. It's the start of a rather unusual relationship. Cody takes care of Travis and encourages Travis to open up and talk. Travis begins to trust him and shares his history. They eventually begin a physical relationship. Cody is keeping secrets though, and when Travis learns the worst part, he runs again and finds out his own past has caught him.
I never really understood how Cody was so quickly certain that Travis was attracted to him, as there was no real indication. Travis even mentions an ex girlfriend but not any interest in men. I'm not sure if I missed something. Cody was so hard to figure out until he has no choice about telling Travis the truth. But that's what kept me reading, since I had to know what was driving them both. Their characters built slowly over the story. The narrative and dialogue also had a dark feeling to me. It was intriguing and absorbing.
I do feel the ending was not quite true to the way the story was told. It seemed much too simple and easy after the convoluted details that came before it. I disliked the epilogue, as it only told of details that would have been more interesting to read. This was also not any real BDSM, just a little kink.
May 12, 2016
Love discovering new authors!
Stephen Hoppa is a relatively new author to me. I am not dissapointed when it comes to reading his books. This is the first actual book by him that I read, having previously read his short stories.
Keep Me Still had two broken souls just trying to survive in a horrid world. Travis, who lost everything when he ran away is hiding from his ex step dad who is after him. Travis, working at a pizza place as a delivery driver, literally crashes into Cody's life, or more accurately, crashes into his bear status. Semantics.
Cody takes Travis in and decides to keep him. Literally. Travis begins to fall for Cody and together, they start to heal each other and grow closer, falling in love.
I really loved the story. I had a fantastic time watching these two stumble around trying to figure everything out and I look forward to more books by Mr. Hoppa!
Stephen Hoppa is a relatively new author to me. I am not dissapointed when it comes to reading his books. This is the first actual book by him that I read, having previously read his short stories.
Keep Me Still had two broken souls just trying to survive in a horrid world. Travis, who lost everything when he ran away is hiding from his ex step dad who is after him. Travis, working at a pizza place as a delivery driver, literally crashes into Cody's life, or more accurately, crashes into his bear status. Semantics.
Cody takes Travis in and decides to keep him. Literally. Travis begins to fall for Cody and together, they start to heal each other and grow closer, falling in love.
I really loved the story. I had a fantastic time watching these two stumble around trying to figure everything out and I look forward to more books by Mr. Hoppa!
August 14, 2016
This one wasn't for me. The best parts were the chapter titles which were interesting and made me want to see what was going to happen. And then I'd read the chapter and be disappointed again. All of the conversations were circular and repetitive. And I couldn't stand Cody. It just did not work for me.
May 21, 2016
Travis and Cody were so hot together I love how the book flows the connection between the main character was great. I never got bored reading this book. No spoilers here I was given this copy for an honest review
May 31, 2016
It’s a cute story and I loved that there was something darker to both these characters. Perhaps one or two too many make out scenes but the plot is dynamic and the characters are strong. Read it twice and enjoyed it both times!
June 5, 2016
That story and even the writing style were boring. I just could not connect with whole story plot.
June 24, 2016
Not bad. It got a little repetitive at parts but still it kept me interested.
September 1, 2016
3.5 stars. Review to come. I really thought I came back and wrote a review. I hate when I forget to do that and also forget what I wanted to say. I get it figured out
November 30, 2018
Bdsm lite, wild goats and buckets full of angst what’s not to enjoy?
December 14, 2020
There’s a time and a place for dark romance, you know? I’m no stranger to them and DO read them pretty regularly? But if a book isn’t poblicized as one and the love interest is described as “sweet” in the blurb when he’s anything but. Well, that’s when I have a problem. Make no mistake, this is dark romance.
I read this book as part of the boxset containing books 1 through 3 and I read about 50% of book 1 and skimmed the rest because there was a lot of repetition going on.
Trigger warnings include mentions of alcoholism, mentions of drug overdose, mentions of suicide, homelessness, mentions of emotional abuse, gaslighting, violence, abandonment, kids in the epilogue, and Stockholm syndrome.
Our MC is Travis, a 23-year-old who is on the run, sleeping in his car, and doing pizza deliveries to make some honest money. He’s sick at the beginning of this book, and crashes his cat on Cody’s property. Cody is 28 and a bear of a man who lives by himself in the middle of nowhere. Like, he seems well intentioned at first, but the instant he forced Travis to eat fish and eggs after Travis explaining to him he won’t eat meat because he feels bad for the animals, I was basically done with Cody. And it never got better.
Cody does NOT understand consent and pushes Travis to do things he’s never comfortable with and Travis SAYS THIS IN THE TEXT. Are we supposed to be okay with this??? Cody ties up Travis without asking for consent and never hears a verbal okay. If you’re a dark romance, just say so!!!
Cody comes on very strong and even if Travis wants to back out or feels apprehensive or doesn’t give consent to Cody masturbating in the same room, Cody just pushes and PUSHES and does what he wants anyways? Travis says he doesn’t have money (well he does but that’s a whole other situation) and can’t have his truck towed, and Cody calls a tow truck anyways? Respect and LISTEN to what Travis tells you. Please.
So, we do get Cody’s perspective. Eventually. As in, we get it in the epilogue and a bonus chapter of the first chapter in the book from Cody’s POV. It’s literally too little, too late in my opinion.
I love dark romance but not when it’s not advertised as one and we’re supposed to just go along with the story like what Cody is doing is consensual when it’s very clearly not? Forcing Travis to eat fish and eggs when he clearly doesn’t want to was just the beginning of the end for Cody’s character for me. I eat meat and I know you shouldn’t force people to eat what they clearly said they don’t want to for personal reasons? I like Travis, but Cody was awful.
I don’t plan on continuing on with the series.
I read this book as part of the boxset containing books 1 through 3 and I read about 50% of book 1 and skimmed the rest because there was a lot of repetition going on.
Trigger warnings include mentions of alcoholism, mentions of drug overdose, mentions of suicide, homelessness, mentions of emotional abuse, gaslighting, violence, abandonment, kids in the epilogue, and Stockholm syndrome.
Our MC is Travis, a 23-year-old who is on the run, sleeping in his car, and doing pizza deliveries to make some honest money. He’s sick at the beginning of this book, and crashes his cat on Cody’s property. Cody is 28 and a bear of a man who lives by himself in the middle of nowhere. Like, he seems well intentioned at first, but the instant he forced Travis to eat fish and eggs after Travis explaining to him he won’t eat meat because he feels bad for the animals, I was basically done with Cody. And it never got better.
Cody does NOT understand consent and pushes Travis to do things he’s never comfortable with and Travis SAYS THIS IN THE TEXT. Are we supposed to be okay with this??? Cody ties up Travis without asking for consent and never hears a verbal okay. If you’re a dark romance, just say so!!!
Cody comes on very strong and even if Travis wants to back out or feels apprehensive or doesn’t give consent to Cody masturbating in the same room, Cody just pushes and PUSHES and does what he wants anyways? Travis says he doesn’t have money (well he does but that’s a whole other situation) and can’t have his truck towed, and Cody calls a tow truck anyways? Respect and LISTEN to what Travis tells you. Please.
So, we do get Cody’s perspective. Eventually. As in, we get it in the epilogue and a bonus chapter of the first chapter in the book from Cody’s POV. It’s literally too little, too late in my opinion.
I love dark romance but not when it’s not advertised as one and we’re supposed to just go along with the story like what Cody is doing is consensual when it’s very clearly not? Forcing Travis to eat fish and eggs when he clearly doesn’t want to was just the beginning of the end for Cody’s character for me. I eat meat and I know you shouldn’t force people to eat what they clearly said they don’t want to for personal reasons? I like Travis, but Cody was awful.
I don’t plan on continuing on with the series.
January 22, 2017
So much emotion. Travis has been so traumatized and Cody is strong. Watching them heal and the surprising twists was so moving. What an amazing journey from beginning to end.
Read
April 23, 2019DNF @ 21%
April 25, 2019
A wonderful love story.
January 26, 2021
I loved this!
Read
August 18, 2022Trigger & Content Warnings:
Alcoholism mentioned
Suicide mentioned
Drug overdose mentioned
Homelessness
Alcoholism mentioned
Suicide mentioned
Drug overdose mentioned
Homelessness
January 16, 2026
Good book. At times somewhat repetitive. Likable main characters. Bit of a plot twist. Do have to concentrate because a lot of info. Recommend.
February 22, 2017
3.5 Stars ~ It doesn’t seem to matter how connected I think I am to this genre, all it takes is a single Amazon recommendation to put me back in my place. No offense to Stephen Hoppa meant, but I’d never heard of the author until I ran across Keep Me Still in my recs, and then went on to discover he has a reasonably prolific body of work. So, I took a chance on this novel, and I liked it.
In a purely escapist way, Keep Me Still delivers on several levels. First off, the author offers his readers two flawed characters in Travis and Cody, characters I fell for almost instantly, which is always a tick in the reading win column for me. Their backstories are heartstring pluckers, if not unfamiliar in the realms of fiction, and Hoppa in no way attempts to be subtle about playing his readers like the proverbial violin. Travis is dragging rock bottom when Cody finds him in a state of semi-consciousness, and through his suffering, Travis reaches out and grabs you by the feels in such a blatant way that I wanted to wrap him up in cotton fluff myself. It’s for this reason that I understood why Cody took on the job of caring for Travis, even though we get the story in its entirety from Travis’s point of view and only know what Cody wants us to by what he’s willing to reveal in dialogue.
The first-person storytelling worked well in this novel as it allowed Cody to remain a bit of an enigma, which was the author’s intent given how things played out; though, I will say here that there’s a bonus chapter at the end of the book, told from Cody’s perspective, that made me wish Cody’d had a narrative voice too—the omniscient third, dual third or first person, it wouldn’t have mattered to me. That said, however, the sense that there was more to Cody than meets the eye was an undercurrent to everything kind and compassionate we saw on page, and I appreciated the contrast of that and the intense chemistry between him and Travis. This is the second way in which the story delivers—its erotic elements, about which there was absolutely nothing subtle, offered some nice sexual tension to go with the danger from which Travis was attempting to escape. A past which, of course, is foundational to why he is where he is.
As twists go, the climax of the story delivered some intensity along with some of the things I was led to anticipate through Travis’s narration. There are a few clues that lead you toward the big reveal, but that didn’t blunt the impact of it even as it added some eleventh-hour melodrama to the story–which you just have to go with as a part of the disbelief fiction often begs us to suspend. In the end I was so invested in Travis and Cody as a couple that by the time everything imploded, I might have even got a little choked up for a page or two. When a book can achieve that level of emotional connection, I can overlook a lot of its basic construction issues. This book isn’t perfect, could’ve used a heavier-handed editor, but it worked for me as a sexy and suspenseful bit of escapism.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
In a purely escapist way, Keep Me Still delivers on several levels. First off, the author offers his readers two flawed characters in Travis and Cody, characters I fell for almost instantly, which is always a tick in the reading win column for me. Their backstories are heartstring pluckers, if not unfamiliar in the realms of fiction, and Hoppa in no way attempts to be subtle about playing his readers like the proverbial violin. Travis is dragging rock bottom when Cody finds him in a state of semi-consciousness, and through his suffering, Travis reaches out and grabs you by the feels in such a blatant way that I wanted to wrap him up in cotton fluff myself. It’s for this reason that I understood why Cody took on the job of caring for Travis, even though we get the story in its entirety from Travis’s point of view and only know what Cody wants us to by what he’s willing to reveal in dialogue.
The first-person storytelling worked well in this novel as it allowed Cody to remain a bit of an enigma, which was the author’s intent given how things played out; though, I will say here that there’s a bonus chapter at the end of the book, told from Cody’s perspective, that made me wish Cody’d had a narrative voice too—the omniscient third, dual third or first person, it wouldn’t have mattered to me. That said, however, the sense that there was more to Cody than meets the eye was an undercurrent to everything kind and compassionate we saw on page, and I appreciated the contrast of that and the intense chemistry between him and Travis. This is the second way in which the story delivers—its erotic elements, about which there was absolutely nothing subtle, offered some nice sexual tension to go with the danger from which Travis was attempting to escape. A past which, of course, is foundational to why he is where he is.
As twists go, the climax of the story delivered some intensity along with some of the things I was led to anticipate through Travis’s narration. There are a few clues that lead you toward the big reveal, but that didn’t blunt the impact of it even as it added some eleventh-hour melodrama to the story–which you just have to go with as a part of the disbelief fiction often begs us to suspend. In the end I was so invested in Travis and Cody as a couple that by the time everything imploded, I might have even got a little choked up for a page or two. When a book can achieve that level of emotional connection, I can overlook a lot of its basic construction issues. This book isn’t perfect, could’ve used a heavier-handed editor, but it worked for me as a sexy and suspenseful bit of escapism.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
October 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I thought the dialogue between the two main characters was repetitive at times. And I would have liked the mystery of who this handsome savior really is was dragged out a little longer. They fell into each other's laps quite quickly, there was a missed opportunity to really build the sexual tension between these guys. Also I would have liked a bit more action and adventure, there were so many places the author could have taken us given the circumstances of these characters and the secrets they kept, the ending was tied up so quickly and neatly. And both these characters were so human and so emtionallly messy that there should have been more of that element. Easily a 2nd book could have been done, maybe even a third. And then tie the story up in a nice bow, moving to Alaska to meet the parents and start their own family. But I digress, I enjoyed the book, maybe so much that I'm disappointed that there wasn't more.
March 27, 2018
A dark second chance with a bright journey and a warm happy end
It’s difficult to find a thing that’s worth living when you see all dark around you but as always when you touch the bottom you start resurfacing, and this is what Cody and Travis go through this story, it’s a dark second chance with a lot of bright and passionate moments in the middle with an intense final rush and a warm and happy end, never give up if you don’t see the the end in every story especially yours...
It’s difficult to find a thing that’s worth living when you see all dark around you but as always when you touch the bottom you start resurfacing, and this is what Cody and Travis go through this story, it’s a dark second chance with a lot of bright and passionate moments in the middle with an intense final rush and a warm and happy end, never give up if you don’t see the the end in every story especially yours...
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