Picked Fresh

Naked Organics #2

by Posy Roberts

Hudson dreads going back home to deal with affairs of the family he ran away from. When Jude tags along, they end up on a road trip toward healing. Is five thousand miles far enough for Hudson to finally tell Jude he’s in love with him?

Hudson Oliva loves stability. Jude Garrity makes his life crazy. Better, but Hudson craves more. He knows he has to be satisfied with their temporary exclusive status and that Jude will eventually navigate his full sexual awakening with their other housemates.

Despite the chaos, Hudson has a journey of his own to make, to settle his grandmother’s estate and face demons from his past. He plans to use his time away to figure out how to temper his feelings for Jude, but when Jude joins him on his trip, Hudson falls even deeper in love.

If he wants a chance at a stable future with Jude, he has to tell him the truth about his feelings, even if it ruins the harmony he’s tried so hard to preserve.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, M M Contemporary, Menage

308 pages, ebook

First published June 23, 2016

About the author

Posy Roberts started reading romance when she was young, but textbooks eventually replaced the novels, and she somehow existed without reading for fun. When she finally picked up a romance years later, it was like slipping on a soft hoodie . . . that didn’t quite fit right. She wanted something more.

Now she wanted to read about queer people falling in love. She wanted to explore beyond the happily ever after and watch characters navigate the unpredictability of life as they create their happy homes. So Posy sat down at her keyboard to write the books she wanted to read.

Her stories have been USA Today’s “Happily Ever After” Must-Reads and Rainbow Award finalists. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s spending time with loved ones and doing anything possible to get out of grocery shopping and cooking.

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - Jude & Hudson's story is about two men who were lost, until they found a new way of living and loving at Kaleidoscope gardens - during a cross country trip they both face demons from the past and come out stronger on the other side.

I enjoyed getting to know more about both Jude and Hudson which we met in book one Farm Fresh, you do need to read book one in order to fully understand this story. In this story we follow Hudson and Jude as they leave the safety of the commune and travel across the country to deal with family issues. Some of the stuff mentioned in this story is pretty horrific to think a parent would treat their child this way, however - I applaud the author for shedding light on some difficult subject matter. This book is very sexual. Sex is a part of life for Hudson and Jude and wouldn't be uncommon for them to have sex in front of others on the commune. Watching them have to reign in their interactions around people not of their way of life was different. Both of these men faced coming out to their families in this book and dealing with hatred and abuse by family members and in that aspect alone this is a very emotional book.

I am happy to say that our boys to make it back to Kaleidoscope Gardens and their relationship is stronger after they faced their issues together. I recommend this series if you are looking for a story-line that is nothing like you have read before and one that can open your eyes to commune style living. #sexcommune

❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roadtrip! Roadtrip! We're going on a roadtrip!!!!

Oh yeah!!! I love a good road trip and for me this definitely turned into a good road trip and a rather interesting one.

In the previous book, Picked Fresh. Hudson received a letter from his mom and found out that his 'Grammy' (his mother's mom) had passed away and he needs to go back to help settle the estate and get the inheritance she left him. Finally deciding that now's the time because he needs some space from Jude to figure out how to get his feelings for Jude under control...see, Hudson he want's Jude all to himself and while they're doing the exclusive thing it's only temporary and he want's it to be a forever thing and doesn't think he has the right to ask this of Jude. So Hudson's all set to go back and face his mom on his own...get in, get it done, get out and got home, back to Kaleidoscope Gardens the only place that's ever truly felt like home for him. It's going to be hard and he's going to miss Jude, Leo, Charlie and all his extended family and friends but he knows he needs to do this. What he doesn't know is...that Jude has no freaking intentions of letting him do this alone.

So when it comes time to leave Hudson finds that the one person he wanted to leave the least but thought he needed the most space from is packed and ready to go. I loved Jude in that moment because his determination to be there for Hudson to help him get through what was clearly going to be a difficult and possibly heartbreaking time was such an obvious sign of love. Sadly Hudson didn't see it because his past has definitely left him with issues about his self worth.

I really enjoyed that for the most part this story was just Hudson and Jude. It gave them the time they needed to get to know each other and find out more about one another without the buffer of or interference from others in the commune.

Their trip back to Hudson's Grammy's wasn't all easy, peasy hearts and flowers but it was them, just the two of them having to deal with and resolve problems and just generally face the world together. There were sexy times, fun, happy times, moments of enlightenment about each other and themselves, an unexpected side-trip that brought them closer together as Jude was forced to confront his own past, news from the commune that threatened the future of everyone there and ultimately the arrival at their destination, Grammy's ranch and the reunion with his mother that Hudson was dreading.

I have to admit Hudson's mother...not my favorite person and I was nervous about how this was going to be played out but in the end I was also really surprised by how well I felt it was done. It wasn't a hearts and flowers 'oh you're my mother so I forgive you for abandoning me.' scenario which is what I was honestly afraid of. That or something in the other extreme to the tune of 'f#@k-you and the horse you rode in on. You tossed me out like a piece of garbage' because sometimes things aren't always black or white and so much of life falls into the gray zone. I'm not saying that I agree with what Hudson's parents did to him when he was younger. Nope, I'm not ok with any of it. But I am ok with the fact that Hudson got to have his say over it and how it made him feel. I'm ok the fact that he got resolution, he got to make peace with himself, his mother, his father and his past in general. He more than deserved to have that and I know in the real world it rarely plays out that way so having it here in this story for me was a balm to my soul.

In 'Picked Fresh' I ended up being a little upset with Hudson's behavior but this time around Hudson had me wanting to stand up and cheer more than once. Two of the most memorable occurred when he was talking with his mother. The first time was when he confronted his mom about finding out he was gay...

“I could do no right after you found out I was gay. That tainted everything. But you see, Mom? I never believed all the crap pounded into my head about being gay. Do you wanna know why?”
Anita had the brains to nod, even if she seemed speechless.
“When I was a little boy, not even in school yet, you told me I was made in God’s image. He formed me, made me who I was, and it was my job to make sure I followed his plan. Well, part of his plan was that I was sexually attracted to men, not women. You told me God made me and that God doesn’t make mistakes,..."

The second time that Hudson made me want to stand up and cheer he was again talking to his mother about faith...

“Good, because untested faith is as good as ice to the Inuit.” That got her to laugh, so he dared, “It’s when it’s been tested and you come back and rework all your assumptions, that’s when you discover your truth.”

I still can't say that I like who Hudson's mother was or how she behaved but what I can say is that I might like the person that it seems she's trying to become because that person might actually deserve to have Hudson as their son.

I know there's more to come from this series and I'm hoping that it involves Charlie and Leo. These two men are both good and caring people who have tried to be both loving and supportive of Hudson and Jude. I'm not saying they've been perfect about it, but then who is. I just think they both deserve their own slice of happiness and what form that happiness comes in is for them to determine. I'm just thinking that I'll definitely stick around to see how things play out.

************************
A copy of 'Farm Fresh' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release day review posted at Sinfully

I really enjoyed the first book, Farm Fresh, which introduced the members of the commune at Kaleidoscope Gardens and this picks up right where the first story left off, with everyone on their own bit of shaky ground. Hudson is about to head off to visit with his estranged mother to settle his grandmother’s estate and is holding back his feelings when it comes to Jude; Jude is exhausted from school, counseling and his duties on the commune and is also emotionally exhausted trying to figure out what’s going on with Hudson; and Leo is pondering what to do with his future as he worries about everyone else around him and Charlie worries about him.

Jude has been making great strides with both his therapy to deal with the damage his parents inflicted and with his sexual awakening, aided by the three other men in his house and the commune as a whole. Unfortunately, what Jude really wants is time with Hudson and that hasn’t been happening through both their faults. Lately Jude has been spending long days trying to get ahead with his schoolwork and keep up with his work on the commune, resulting in little time with Hudson. It’s really hitting Hudson hard as he feels their relationship is in limbo, with Hudson wanting so much, but afraid to push Jude or do anything that would make him feel trapped. Hudson is trying to stand by Jude and allow him to have his sexual awakening without getting in the way, even if it means Jude finds what he really needs with Leo and Charlie or someone else, but he can’t help the feelings of jealousy that are also arising. These thoughts always lead to Hudson’s fears of abandonment and losing his home rearing their ugly heads, especially with the tension he feels in the house and the impending trip to clear up the estate of the grandmother he barely knew, and deal with the mother who he hasn’t seen since running away at eighteen years old. When Jude surprises Hudson by insisting he accompany him on his trip, how could he possibly say no?

Picked Fresh really needs to be read after Farm Fresh and I would also urge you to read the free short origin story about Hudson (see link below). Although Posy Roberts gives enough backstory to understand his fears and why the commune is so important, I think you need his story to get the full effect of just how difficult life was for Hudson as a teen. Since the majority of the story takes place on the road, life on the commune takes a backseat here, but it’s never forgotten and Charlie and Leo still play a large part in supporting Jude and Hudson. For those who have read the first book and wanted more focus on Jude and Hudson, you will be very happy.

There are a lot of emotions at play in this book for Jude and Hudson. They both have opportunities to face those who treated them so badly when they should have been giving them love and support, and they do so in two very different ways. They also both have the opportunity to be open and honest with each other, to explore what they already know is great sexual chemistry and to find out if there is more than just that in store for their future. Jude and Hudson have so much in common, despite the gap in their age and experience, which is possibly why they find it hard at first to open up and communicate with each other about what they want going forward.

I really fell for Hudson in this story. While at times he seems so insecure and needy, he has plenty of inner strength and is really very self-assured. That’s never more apparent than when he finally is face-to-face with the mother who failed him so long ago. Hudson has become a man who will never compromise who he is and will fiercely defend those who mean so much to him and I absolutely loved the way he handled things.

Outside of the family drama, the biggest question is how does Hudson deal with his intense feelings towards Jude and how will he deal if Jude decides to move on with someone else. Hudson wrestles with that quite a bit as Jude continues his sexual awakening and discovery of just what he likes and how to get it without shame. This trip provides Jude with plenty of time to explore some kinks and Hudson is more than willing to give Jude anything he wants. That works both ways though as Jude has come so far since the start of book one and he is just as willing and determined to be there for Hudson in any way he can, even if Hudson doesn’t or won’t realize it.

I’ve really enjoyed Posy Roberts’ writing in these two books. Just like the first story, I could picture myself right there in the rainbow bus on the road with Jude and Hudson. I love a good road trip romance since it offers endless opportunities for the characters to get close and open up quicker than during their day-to-day existence. This story did not disappoint and the trip was just what Jude and Hudson needed in more ways than one. I’d recommend this series to anyone who has an open mind when it comes to non-monogamous relationships and wants a setting that’s a little different from the usual. There is definitely a happy ending here, but I’m hoping this isn’t the last visit to Kaleidoscope Gardens.

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel to Farm Fresh. This was the story primarily of both Jude's and Hudson's healing. Both from horrible home lives, the two men overcame their personal demons to find the freedom to just be at Kaleidoscope Farms. I personally love the idea of communal living. Something that this story brought out were the roles given to both men and women in our society and how we are forced into those roles whether they fit our nature or not. Life on the farm was in peril while Jude and Hudson but things mysteriously worked out. The ending was beautifully done. I hope that Ms Roberts continues this wonderful series.

[Tamika♥RBF MOOD♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, another good book from Posy Roberts! I really adore her writing style and the amount of emotions that she produces with her characters. This isn't an ordinary series with just romance. Her stories are realistic fiction. They are for the obscenely normal folks. I didn't know what to expect with this book. Having book Hudson and Jude go through their pass together was great. I think it was a good learning curve for both. It shows each one of them, why the other is the way he is.

Hudson's emotional journey for hard for me to read. All these years later, his coming out sort to speak still hunts him. His relationship with his parents still enrage him. His father's departure from his life leaves him feeling inadequate in his masculinity where he has to keep saying "that's not what a man is". For all the good things his Papi did for him, not accepting him during those years devastated and destroyed his confidence. He's working through his feelings of inadequacy, vulnerability and jealousy. I really like Hudson on this journey. We can see the affect meeting his mother after 12 years is doing to him on page. They may have been some resolves with him and her. But I'm still so pissed at her. And yeah, maybe she's a victim of her own. It was painful to read those parts, but I love Jude for being there.


Jude who has had his own issues. His issues with wanting sex and exploring it. He's lived a hard life as well, has overcame it in a way. He's 21 so he's still growing. Seeing his parents about did me in. But I loved how his siblings rallied around him and the younger ones to do what's right for each other. I cannot wait for the little brother to get a book.(<-- See what I did Posy, I put it out their in the universe :)) Seeing Jude and Hudson together were beautiful. Both loving each other but not knowing how to say it to one another. I found those scenes very beautiful and at times felt like a voyeur for reading them.

The unexpected for me was the Leo & Charlie point of views. Poor Leo, I think he felt like apart of him was missing instead of traveling. I get it, Hudson has been apart of his life for all these years and the first time he's left for a period of time. I really like Charlie's character and want his character study as well.

This book is about redemption, self-discovery, self-love and acceptance. At the end of the day, Hudson & Jude has something so powerful that they needed to know that they can overcome anything as long as they are working together. Life on the commune is going to be different now with the expansion, but I look forward to reading the next in the series. I really do love Posy's words. I think this book was no different.

[Diverse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 from Posy Robert’s Naked Organics series. I want to start off by saying these are not stand alones. You need to read them in order.
I was so excited to see Hudson, Leo, Charlie, and Jude again. When book one ended I knew there was still so much story left to tell. I also felt that way at the end of this book as well. I love how Posy closes up each book but leaves it open for more.
In the warnings the author explains this is a free love book. Just like in book one that remains true but Leo, Charlie, Hudson, and Jude (which all have POV’s in this) aren’t together for pretty much the whole book. Hudson and Jude have ends that they need tied. Ends that are actually new beginnings.
Now, I don’t live an organic lifestyle. I’m not vegetarian and I know very little about nature. That said, this book makes me want to garden, and eat better, and connect with the earth. Kaleidoscope Gardens has 80 people. They are a community that supports and thrives on love. We would all live better lives if we had that.
When their home is threatened they work together to make sure they don’t lose what they’ve built.
That’s the other thing. They don’t just build homes or plant gardens, or live organically. They build people, plant roots, and they simply live!
This is a wonderful series. So refreshing and beautiful. It’s a new take on love and I love every second of it.

[Sammy Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pickled Fresh, the sequel to Farm Fresh, the Naked Organics series by Posy Roberts takes up the story from where it left off—Jude is closing in on his degree and exploring a monogamous relationship with Hudson who is facing a trip home to Kentucky in order to meet with his estranged mother to bury his grandmother—a clause in her will that must be completed if either want to inherit her fortune. Be forewarned while this may focus on Jude and Hudson and their growing affections, this is still based on the free love commune that its predecessor introduced us to in the first installment. Therefore, we are not assured that Jude and Hudson will remain a “couple”. In fact, Hudson feels strongly that Jude needs to test his wings so to speak and needs the ability to love anyone he chooses rather than be tied to just one lover.

The trip they take together will be rich in experiences that will both draw them together and allow them to finally bury some of the past that haunts them so completely. Added to this journey is the threat that comes in the form of a potential sale of the adjoining farm that borders their commune that may prove to be a near death knell for the commune itself. No doubt about it this novel is action packed and had a sense of urgency about it that left me near breathless at times.

This story really explores the past that holds both Hudson and Jude in its grip—and fills them both with self-doubt and a sense of shame and low self-worth. Both men were abused by their parents and as this story expands we realize the depth to which both Jude and Hudson remained scarred by the treatment they received at the hands of those who should have loved them unconditionally. However, as they journey—first to Jude’s home and then to Hudson’s, some old hurts are laid to rest while others are simply (and sadly) left unaddressed due to no change of heart on their family’s part. But it is the exploration of the sexual and mental needs that these men can give to each other that really surfaces as the main thrust in this novel.

Once again I was amazed by the sensitivity that author Posy Roberts used when writing about intimate sexual details that were often flavored with hints of BDSM or kink. For instance, I am not sure I have ever read a fisting scene that drew so fully on the idea of release and trust. For Jude to do such an intimate thing to Hudson after his own struggles with being sexually intimate with another man due to his father’s abuse was staggering to read. Hudson was in such pain—such need and this was the way in which he could find his release—and it was an incredibly well done scene in the book. Also, you could actually track the growth of their love for each other as the trip progressed. Watching these two fall more deeply in love was a very emotional experience at times and the author laid it all out for the reader to experience without it becoming too sweet or unrealistic. No, these guys fought for each foot of relational ground won—and they fought hard for each other. As barriers fell and walls were breached, their need for each other became more apparent and their love grew stronger.

[Sadonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review and much more can be found at The Novel Approach

Series note: This is the second book in the Naked Organics series. I don’t recommend reading this without reading Farm Fresh first, as there are too many complex relationships and histories covered in the first book that are meaningful to this story.

Picked Fresh picks up where Farm Fresh left Off. Jude and Hudson have decided that they need to be exclusive for a while to figure out their relationship. Hudson has a lot of guilt about this that he’s trying to work through, but his jealousy over Jude has resulted in hurt on both sides, and they agree to go this way for bit. Hudson has also made the decision that he has to see his mother and fulfill the terms of his grandmother’s will. He remembers his grandmother fondly—he spent several summers at her horse farm in Kentucky. He’s not sure what will transpire when seeing his mother after more than a decade, but it’s something he needs to get closure on. He’s set to take the camper and go, but Jude is just as determined to join him.

They leave Oregon, but soon after their start, there is a call from Jude’s brother. They need to make a detour to Jude’s family farm in Washington to try to make sure that his younger siblings are removed from the family farm and placed with an older brother and his wife. We finally learn the reason that Jude is so protective of his younger brother, and why he’s still so worried about what could happen to his siblings. Luckily, Jude and Hudson are there to help with the bureaucracy and help the younger kids pack and get out of the house. Jude opens up more to Hudson about what happened to him and why he has had so many issues with his sexuality.

Once the issues with Jude’s family are resolved, they get back underway on their trip to Kentucky. The closer they get, the more the tension in Hudson escalates. He remembers his awful flight from his family home and what he had to do to get to Oregon in the first place. Jude does his best to try to calm and soothe him. Jude also is becoming more open and brave about his sexual desires, and how he thinks he can help Hudson as well. Charlie and Leo are very helpful during their calls home.

But, of course, there are other impending disaster that come up, specifically around the farm and the obnoxious neighbor who has been nothing but a thorn in their side. If Ray gets his way, the entire community will be threatened and endangered. Hudson is distraught about the possibility of losing the only stable home he’s known. And he still has to face his mother, which he’s not looking forward to either.

When the guys arrive at the farm, they are both rather amazed by the warm welcome they receive from Hudson’s mother. However, they can see that things are not going well at the farm. His mother has had to let go all the help, and she can’t really keep up with all the work that is required. She’s down to two horses and she needs a lot of help. Of course, Jude and Hudson volunteer to assist while there, but the settlement of the estate and their quick return to Oregon is going be tough to negotiate.

Hudson feels that he has to confront his mother about what he went through at the conversion camp, and his flight from their home when he was eighteen, and the complete lack of contact or seeming care of his parents in the intervening years. She tries to rationalize everything, but Hudson is angry and hurt. Jude is somehow able to speak with her, much to his own amazement, and in the end, things work out better than expected.

The return trip to Oregon is stressful because of the issues going on back at the commune. Both guys are worried that they are not going to be able to get things done in time, but they are racing to save their way of life. Leo and Charlie are stressed but doing their best to hold it all together. And there are a few other interesting surprises along the way.

All in all, I enjoyed this second story with this group, although there were some parts in the middle that dragged a little for me. Personally, I have a hard time with parents who show such wretched disregard for their children, like both Jude’s and Hudson’s families do in this series, so that part of the story is always hard for me to read. I just don’t get it, but I know it happens far too often as evidenced by the numbers of homeless LGBT youth. It was interesting to see how the author presented Hudson’s relationship with his mother, and how she tried to explain her behavior. I also really liked the way Jude was able to process his family dynamic with the help of his friends and, most importantly, the right therapist. He was able to make such great strides in his personal growth and his relationship with Hudson. The progression of their relationship was so lovely to watch as they were able to leave their past family histories behind them. They really have come such a long way as a couple. I don’t know what the plans are from the author, but it would be nice to visit them again in the future.

[Les Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhhhh ... it was so SO nice to get back to Kaleidoscope Gardens and see Hudson, Jude, Leo, Charlie, Freya, Molly and the rest. I love this place; I would love to visit. No lie. I don't know that I could live there, but oh man, it's so much fun reading about it. If you've read, Farm Fresh, book one in the Naked Organics series, then you know that Kaleidoscope Gardens, located in Washington, is the commune where Hudson, Jude, Leo, Charlie and the others make their home. It's a magical place. Full of love and acceptance and family. A thing that both Hudson and Jude need desperately. That family is threatened in the newest installment.

A letter from Hudson's estranged mother sends him into a tailspin ... and has him planning a cross country trip, in the commune's psychedelic VW bus, to Kentucky to settle his grandmother's estate. To say he doesn't want to leave the peace and safety of the Gardens is an understatement, but it's a journey he must make, if only to get closure and move on from the family that discarded him so many years before. He also doesn't want to leave Jude, now that they've both agreed to be in a relationship. Hudson's heart is heavy at the prospect of leaving Jude for the two weeks he's planning on being away, but when Jude surprises him to say he's going with him to Kentucky, the two head out on their adventure.

Things don't always go smoothly along the way, especially when Jude has to face his own estranged family when an emergency comes up and Hudson and Jude have to make an unexpected stop to help. However as the miles add up as they make their way across the country, you can see Hudson and Jude becoming even closer the more time they spend together talking ... and having sex.

The Naked Organics series as a whole is both bold and beautiful, and will challenge your beliefs of love and sexuality. Sex positive stories are few and far between, especially ones written as exquisitely as Posy's Farm Fresh and Picked Fresh. Watching Jude overcome his sexual hang ups was both satisfying and joyful to watch. Hudson and Jude connect in such a spiritual, sensual way that it's just breathtaking. I love these two together. I love Jude's almost insatiable need for Hudson, and Hudson's absolute willingness to give Jude everything he wants. Their connection goes much deeper than just sexual though, and it's so beautiful.

Picked Fresh is not all happiness and light though, especially when Hudson and Jude arrive in Kentucky and have to deal with Hudson's mom and the pain she inflicted on him before he fled to Washington. Hudson and Jude also find out that their home is being threatened in the worst way, news that sends both of them into a panic and a wish to be back at the commune with the people and the place that means so much to them both. Because there are multiple POV's throughout the story, we also get to see Leo and Charlie, and Posy's storytelling is so engrossing, I couldn't put this book down and read it from start to finish in one sitting. And then didn't want it to end.

We need more books like this. Ones that show body and sex positive people in a way that will make you rethink any preconceived notions you might have. Love is beautiful in all its forms and I can't wait to see what comes next for the lovely residents of Kaleidoscope Gardens.

*This review will also be posted on http://www.diversereader.blogspot.com*

[Gabis Laberladen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darum geht's:

Hudsons vor einem Jahr verstorbene Großmutter hat verfügt, dass ihre Tochter und deren Sohn Hudson zusammen Omas Asche auf ihrer Pferdefarm beisetzen sollen. Erst dann werden sie ihr Erbe bekommen. Da Hudsons Mutter dringend Geld braucht, macht sich Hudson auf die schwere Reise quer durchs Land. Er hat schon viele Jahre keinen Kontakt mehr zu seinen Eltern, seit sie auf seine Homosexualität mit Unverständnis und radikalen Maßnahmen reagierten. Zum Glück ist sein Liebster Jude mit ihm unterwegs, der unerwartet eigene Familienprobleme zu lösen hat.

So fand ich's:

Auf diesem Roadtrip quer durch die USA spürt man die ganze Zeit, wie groß die Liebe (und auch die erotische Anziehungskraft) zwischen Jude und Hudson ist. Auch wenn sie sich noch nicht wirklich lange kennen, begleiten sie den anderen dabei, sich mit der düsteren Vergangenheit auseinanderzusetzen und lernen dabei neue Dinge über den anderen, sich selbst und ihre Beziehung.

Während Jude und Hudson unterwegs sind, brauen sich dunkle Wolken über der Kommune zusammen, denn der boshafte Nachbar Ray hat sich etwas Neues ausgedacht, das die ganze Gemeinschaft und ihren Öko-Gemüseanbau gefährdet.

Trotz der Gefahr für die Kommune und der Konfrontation mit Judes und Hudsons schwierigen Familien ist die Geschichte insgesamt positiv und optimistisch, weil man deutlich vorgeführt bekommt, was für ein erfülltes, soziales und liebevolles Leben man trotz schlimmer Erlebnisse in der Kindheit führen kann. Auch wenn es manchmal Jahre dauert, darüber hinwegzukommen, am Ende liegt es in der Hand jedes Einzelnen, sein Leben zu gestalten. Und dass sowohl Jude als auch Hudson hart daran arbeiten müssen, der jeweils andere dabei aber eine große Hilfe ist, wird ebenfalls sehr deutlich. Nicht zu vergessen, dass die beiden total wild auf einander sind und die Finger nicht vom anderen lassen können ;-)

"Picked Fresh" ist eine eine echte Fortsetzung von "Farm Fresh" mit den gleichen Personen, hauptsächlich Jude und Hudson, aber in größeren Nebenrollen auch Leo und Charlie, die im ersten Band ebenfalls schon eine wichtige Rolle spielten. Deshalb empfehle ich auch, die Reihenfolge einzuhalten, und zuerst das sehr lesenswerte "Farm Fesh" zu lesen und dann erst "Picked Fresh", das mir sogar noch besser gefallen hat. Das Zusammenleben in der Kommune fand ich wieder sehr hippiehaft, naturnah und beneidenswert offen, tolerant und friedlich. Es macht Spaß, auch über die Lebensphilosphie der Kommunenbewohner zu lesen, die so nebenbei eingeflochten wird, aber in erster Linie ist "Farm Fresh" ein wunderbarer Liebesroman über zwei Männer, die einander immer wichtiger werden und miteinander wachsen.

Ich kann es gar nicht abwarten, mehr über die Kommune und ihre Bewohner zu lesen, auch wenn noch kein konkretes Datum für die Veröffentlichung des nächsten Bandes bekannt ist.

[Carra · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, be sure you've read Farm Fresh before starting Picked Fresh otherwise you'll probably be a bit lost as it builds on the events from the first story. That said, the Naked Organics series is a glimpse into what most people would classify as an unconventional living situation where a sustainable agriculture organic farm is the setting for what many would call a hippie sex commune. Yep, you read that right-and as atypical as this setting may be for a romance story, it's actually a perfect fit in the context of this series.

Here in Picked Fresh, we pick up right where the first book left off with Hudson and Jude heading off to confront both of their respective families (well, really their parents) to not only tie up loose ends from the past, but to also address some current issues that have cropped up. The unconditional support they show each other is amazing, and shows just how deeply both of their feelings are becoming. Their relationship has evolved from a menage-style with Charlie and Leo in the first story into just Hudson and Jude becoming totally wrapped up in just each other, falling deeper and deeper as the story continues on.

To watch both of their journeys is extremely satisfying as they search for answers and closure from their difficult and sometimes abusive pasts. As they each find the resolution they seek, their relationship becomes deeper and more intense both emotionally and sexually, leading to scenes that are continually more passionate and even a bit edgy, kinky and a bit unconventional.

There's a bit of extra drama when the farm they call home (as well as other organic farms in their area) is threatened by an outside company's interest in a neighboring farm, injecting tension into the story as Hudson and Jude are racing to help figure out a solution to protect the home they love.

Picked Fresh is a tremendously gratifying story that shows extensive character growth and development, giving us a much deeper look into not just Hudson and Jude, but Leo and Charlie as well (even though for most of the story they are thousands of miles away). There's plenty of heat and a bit of kink to spice things up, and in the end...well, it's really all about the love that develops between Hudson and Jude-which is honestly plenty to put a smile on readers' faces all on its own.

4.5 stars for Picked Fresh, and I'd highly recommend it to M/M romance fans 18+ (for adult language/situations, explicit sexual content and some kinkier sexual practices). Me? I'm excited about the future titles that were listed at the end for this series, I can't wait to see where things go from here!

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW @Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

I’m sure I already said this but I want to repeat myself, Posy Roberts never disappoints me. I don’t know, I just love what she writes. Simple. I was waiting for Picked Fresh since January when I first read Farm Fresh. I was dying to know how the story between Hudson and Jude would evolve. I got my wish fulfilled.

Picked Fresh is very different from the first book, because the majority of the story develops on the journey Hudson needs to begin in order to come back to his grandmother’s land and settle her property after her death. Journey that will lead him to his mum, the one who did nothing to forbid her husband from throwing out her son from their house. Moreover it is unbearable to Hudson to leave behind the commune, Leo and Charlie, most of all Jude, the young man who took his heart in the previous months. The same man who is working like crazy on his school assignments so he can join Hudson aboard on a peculiar VW camper. Unexpectedly this journey will lead Jade to his family too and he will finally get some closure and some love from his brothers and sister.

The book is really well done and written, I liked the plot, I loved how both characters were able to be so close and open to each other, on so many levels their journey is so intense and strong, it was very simple to connect and relate with their happiness and all the fears they are afraid of meeting at the end of the journey. But no worries, there is an HEA, sweet, brave and needed.

I’m very satisfied with Picked Fresh and I can’t wait for the next book in the Naked Organics series, I’m ready to leave Hudson and Jude’s love behind, and follow a new couple and their life in Kaleidoscope Gardens commune.

Just a note, the series needs to be read in order.

The cover art by Natasha Snow follows the style of the cover of Farm Fresh and it is simply and beautiful

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars

Pickled Fresh, the sequel to Farm Fresh in the Naked Organics series by Posy Roberts, takes up the story from where it left off—Jude is closing in on his degree and exploring a monogamous relationship with Hudson who is facing a trip home to Kentucky in order to meet with his estranged mother to bury his grandmother—a clause in her will that must be completed if either want to inherit her fortune. Be forewarned that while this story may focus on Jude and Hudson and their growing affections, this is still based on the free love commune that its predecessor introduced us to in the first installment. Therefore, we are not assured that Jude and Hudson will remain a “couple.” In fact, Hudson feels strongly that Jude needs to test his wings, so to speak, and needs the ability to love anyone he chooses rather than be tied to just one lover.

The trip they take together will be rich in experiences that will both draw them together and allow them to finally bury some of the past that haunts them so completely. Added to this journey is the threat that comes in the form of a potential sale of the adjoining farm that borders their commune that may prove to be a near death knell for the commune itself. No doubt about it this novel is action packed and had a sense of urgency about it that left me near breathless at times.

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked Fresh follows straight on from Farm Fresh. Hudson and Jude go on a road trip in a fabulous VW Microbus. They deal with the past demons that plagued them in Book 1 as they tackle family issues and the parents who treated them badly, but at least they have each other for support as they seek closure. The guys have plenty of alone time too as they travel on this long journey across many states, getting to know each other better, even though they still struggle to express their true feelings. Jude also has a chance to explore his sexuality further, leaving Hudson to worry whether he’ll be enough for Jude in the future.

We still get a glimpse of what’s happening at Kaleidoscope Gardens while the Hudson and Jude are on their road trip. After deciding to become an exclusive couple within the commune, Leo is feeling off kilter and is definitely missing the guys while they are away, especially Hudson who he’s known and loved for many years. He’s also tired and feeling his age as he ponders his future and the commune as a whole.

I enjoyed this story and Posy’s fluent and emotion-packed writing. I loved reading more about Jude and Hudson’s intense relationship and how they offered each other such unconditional support. Their intimate scenes are beautifully expressed and reflect the deep feelings they now share. There’s plenty of character growth as the story unfolds and we find out more about their respective pasts.

[Morgan Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and Posy Roberts’ writing. Like I felt with the first book, what makes this series so special is how “normal” everyone is and also what a unique spin she has taken on the ménage trope.

I can’t really even call it a ménage – but I don’t want to spoil what happens – because it’s more than three or more guys – it’s couples and families and more – coming together as one to support one another. And be naked and smexy sometimes ;)

Without telling the meat of the story – which is riveting and captivating – all our favorite characters have some MAJOR emotional development here. The ending absolutely surprised me – but I was “squeeeing” with excitement afterward.

It’s almost like a happy cliff hanger and I can’t wait for the third book.

If you’re a fan of the first book you’ll have to pick this up, but I don’t recommend it as a standalone – the first was too good to miss!

Highly recommended!

5 of 5 stars

Copy Generously Provided by Author for Honest Review

[Cindra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was even better than Farm Fresh, and I hope that Posy Roberts continues with this series. Love the relationships, and really appreciate the organic-and-sustainable-living aspects of the stories. (Actually got a couple of great ideas that our household plans to utilize)

[Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
I liked Picked Fresh even more than Farm Fresh. I just adore Hudson and Jude. I hope there are more stories to come set in Kaleidoscope Gardens.

[Kristian Erdmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved!!

I loved this book. I feel like you got to know the characters so much better. Their past and present. I loved how Jude came into his own and truly found his place. All of these people love each other so much and I loved reading about something that is not the norm!! Love Kaleidoscope Gardens and can't wait for more!!

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series note: This is the second book in the Naked Organics series. I don’t recommend reading this without reading Farm Fresh first, as there are too many complex relationships and histories covered in the first book that are meaningful to this story.

Picked Fresh picks up where Farm Fresh left Off. Jude and Hudson have decided that they need to be exclusive for a while to figure out their relationship. Hudson has a lot of guilt about this that he’s trying to work through, but his jealousy over Jude has resulted in hurt on both sides, and they agree to go this way for bit. Hudson has also made the decision that he has to see his mother and fulfill the terms of his grandmother’s will. He remembers his grandmother fondly—he spent several summers at her horse farm in Kentucky. He’s not sure what will transpire when seeing his mother after more than a decade, but it’s something he needs to get closure on. He’s set to take the camper and go, but Jude is just as determined to join him.

They leave Oregon, but soon after their start, there is a call from Jude’s brother. They need to make a detour to Jude’s family farm in Washington to try to make sure that his younger siblings are removed from the family farm and placed with an older brother and his wife. We finally learn the reason that Jude is so protective of his younger brother, and why he’s still so worried about what could happen to his siblings. Luckily, Jude and Hudson are there to help with the bureaucracy and help the younger kids pack and get out of the house. Jude opens up more to Hudson about what happened to him and why he has had so many issues with his sexuality.

Once the issues with Jude’s family are resolved, they get back underway on their trip to Kentucky. The closer they get, the more the tension in Hudson escalates. He remembers his awful flight from his family home and what he had to do to get to Oregon in the first place. Jude does his best to try to calm and soothe him. Jude also is becoming more open and brave about his sexual desires, and how he thinks he can help Hudson as well. Charlie and Leo are very helpful during their calls home.

But, of course, there are other impending disaster that come up, specifically around the farm and the obnoxious neighbor who has been nothing but a thorn in their side. If Ray gets his way, the entire community will be threatened and endangered. Hudson is distraught about the possibility of losing the only stable home he’s known. And he still has to face his mother, which he’s not looking forward to either.

When the guys arrive at the farm, they are both rather amazed by the warm welcome they receive from Hudson’s mother. However, they can see that things are not going well at the farm. His mother has had to let go all the help, and she can’t really keep up with all the work that is required. She’s down to two horses and she needs a lot of help. Of course, Jude and Hudson volunteer to assist while there, but the settlement of the estate and their quick return to Oregon is going be tough to negotiate.

Hudson feels that he has to confront his mother about what he went through at the conversion camp, and his flight from their home when he was eighteen, and the complete lack of contact or seeming care of his parents in the intervening years. She tries to rationalize everything, but Hudson is angry and hurt. Jude is somehow able to speak with her, much to his own amazement, and in the end, things work out better than expected.

The return trip to Oregon is stressful because of the issues going on back at the commune. Both guys are worried that they are not going to be able to get things done in time, but they are racing to save their way of life. Leo and Charlie are stressed but doing their best to hold it all together. And there are a few other interesting surprises along the way.

All in all, I enjoyed this second story with this group, although there were some parts in the middle that dragged a little for me. Personally, I have a hard time with parents who show such wretched disregard for their children, like both Jude’s and Hudson’s families do in this series, so that part of the story is always hard for me to read. I just don’t get it, but I know it happens far too often as evidenced by the numbers of homeless LGBT youth. It was interesting to see how the author presented Hudson’s relationship with his mother, and how she tried to explain her behavior. I also really liked the way Jude was able to process his family dynamic with the help of his friends and, most importantly, the right therapist. He was able to make such great strides in his personal growth and his relationship with Hudson. The progression of their relationship was so lovely to watch as they were able to leave their past family histories behind them. They really have come such a long way as a couple. I don’t know what the plans are from the author, but it would be nice to visit them again in the future.

Reviewed by Sadonna for The Novel Approach Reviews

[Michael Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my review of “Picked Fresh” at my web site.

[GlamLawyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed parts of that story a lot but there were also parts I skipped. I wanted to love it more.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the sweetness of the first book, but with higher stakes. I love it!

[Jennifer Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great journey Jude and Hudson took to find closure and happiness

[Tanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I was actually devastated when I finished this book as I didn’t want it to be over.....I love love love Jude and Hudson and the rest of the commune folk. I can’t wait for Leo and Charlie’s books

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars

Description ~

Is five thousand miles far enough to say I love you?

Hudson Oliva loves stability. He was a throwaway teen before finding Kaleidoscope Gardens, but has since thrived at the commune. When Jude Garrity moves in, life gets even better, but Hudson still craves more. He knows he has to be satisfied with their exclusive status being temporary and that Jude will eventually navigate his full sexual awakening with their other housemates.

Hudson has a journey of his own to make. It might only require going home to settle his grandmother’s estate, but he plans to use his time away to figure out how to temper his feelings for Jude and bury his jealousy once and for all. But when Jude joins him on his trip, Hudson falls even deeper in love, especially after Jude stands by his side when he finally confronts his mother for rejecting him.

However, it’s not all hearts and flowers while they travel. They’re over two thousand miles from home when Hudson learns a ruthless corporate farm threatens the commune they both love. In order to save their way of life, Hudson must ask his mother for help. And if he wants a chance at a stable future with Jude, he has to tell him the truth about his feelings, no matter if it ruins the harmony he’s tried so hard to preserve.

My Review ~

Picked Fresh is the second in Posy Roberts' Naked Organics series, and it's important to read the books in order. The first book in the series, Farm Fresh, sets up the relationship between Jude and Hudson and introduces you to life at Kaleidoscope Gardens and all the secondary characters who live there.

The story literally picks up where Farm Fresh ended, with Hudson having to go settle things with his mom for his Grandmother's will. To say he's trepidatious is being mild after what his family had put in through. We saw glimpses of what had happened to Hudson as a young teen but going back to his family has him all tied in knots and bringing the memories to the surface. Since he's going alone back to his mom, he's even more uncomfortable.

Jude is still settling into his relationship with Hudson even though they've been together for a little while. He's made pretty big strides with his therapy to work through what his parents did to him growing up but he's worried about his younger brother and sister still being near their parents. Jude's also secretly trying to fix everything so he can go along with Hudson back to his Grandmother's farm so he's not alone. Unfortunately his keeping quiet kind of backfires a bit because Hudson interprets this as Jude is pulling away from Hudson.

I enjoyed watching Hudson and Jude's relationship grow and them explore their boundaries as a couple. Jude still has a lot of sexual hang-ups but he is working on them. He actually goes into a sex shop while Hudson is napping on their roadtrip. His reaction and experience in there is very cute and also a bit humorous because it is a first experience for him and all the blushes and awkwardness that comes with it. My biggest drawback with both books in this series so far is the lack of communication that goes on both between the housemates, and then specifically between Hudson and Jude, and Charlie and Leo. I know Charlie, Jude, and Hudson have dealt or are dealing with therapy worthy issues but they also forget that communicating with their partners is a big part of working through therapy. Plus it also causes more stress on each of them that tends to help make issues snowball.

There is a lot more of the outside world in this book and very little of the commune and the secondary characters from the first book so the dynamics of the story are much different. All in all I enjoyed it but really missed the addition of the secondary characters. They really made the relationships feel more 'organic' and less focused on just two people. I recommend this for anyone that read the first book and those that like their love from all shades and shapes of the rainbow.

[A.M. Leibowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent follow up to Farm Fresh, the first book in the series. It’s the best of both worlds: While it should probably be read in sequence and is most enjoyable after reading the first part, it’s also an entirely stand-alone novel. It’s not plagued by any of the usual second-part problems, chiefly in that it doesn’t try to recreate the magic of part one. It makes its own magic.

I often find road trip stories not to my liking—they try to do too much or they end up not doing enough. This isn’t either of those; it’s a perfect balance. I loved seeing Jude and Hudson come alive with each other, taking their relationship to a deeper place. Their increasing emotional nakedness takes a parallel trajectory with their physical explorations, and the pacing of both is perfect.

I still struggle to really like Hudson. I don’t dislike him, and I did feel like he grew much more in this story, but he still seems less mature than he should be at this stage of his life. Part of my difficulty is that there was something I’d been hoping would happen regarding his relationship with Jude, only it didn’t, and I was a bit disappointed. That’s on me, not on the writing or the storytelling, and I can’t say more without spoilers for both books. It looks like it will be resolved in a completely different way than I’d anticipated, but I’ll wait to see what happens in the next part.

I loved the interactions with Hudson and Jude’s respective families. Both situations felt as though they achieved closure in satisfying ways. I was pleasantly surprised in each situation because they didn’t conclude the way I expected them to. For the most part, I don’t feel any special need to read about their families any further, though I do want to know what becomes of Henry. It would be fantastic to find out he too fits in at Kaleidoscope Gardens.

There were a few moments with this one, as with the first, which felt a bit…preachy, I suppose. Not with the ex-religious aspects, actually—those were handled nicely, and there was clearly only judgment against the religious people’s vile acts. It was more the organic snobbery that I found slightly annoying. I absolutely agree that commercial farms cause issues, but some of the characters have a “more wholesome than thou” attitude which grates, and there are some unfortunate parallels with religious fundamentalism in the sense of only being as free as the rules, unstated and not, allow. It’s not constant, but there’s a mild tone of superiority. Hudson actually does this a bit, though Jude is an excellent balance for him. I don’t think this is entirely intentional; I think it’s more a function of trying to help readers understand why this is the best place for these particular people. It just makes me uncomfortable in the way it comes across.

Readers should be aware that there are a lot of heavy issues Hudson and Jude deal with, and while nothing actually happens on-page, they do both describe in some detail the horrors they endured. Some people might find that hard to read, especially if they’ve been through anything similar. The same goes for the often very graphic sex—both the level of detail and the fact that pretty much all the characters have some level of psychosexual dysfunction as a result of trauma.

Overall, this is an excellent read. I felt less emotionally engaged than with the first book, but I still loved it and am looking forward to the next part of the series.

For a well-written road trip, a multi-layered love story, and an emotionally satisfying conclusion, this gets 5 stars.

**I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review**

[Helena Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Farm Fresh, I fell for Jude and Hudson. I read their individual and combined struggle to overcome their issues and learn to trust each other and themselves enough to open up to each other and the attraction between, them with bated breath.

I’m so delighted that Picked Fresh continued their story. While Farm Fresh may have brought the two men together, they still have some way to travel before they recognise that the feelings they have for each other are mirror images. So how appropriate is it that most of the story in this book takes place while the two men are on a road trip; a journey that will force both of them to reconnect with a past that has left them hurt and bruised but may also provide them with closure and answers to questions they were too afraid to ask.

We get to know both Jude and Hudson a lot better in this book. In fact, Picked Fresh could be seen as the book we usually don’t get to read; the story of what happens after two characters reach their happy for now. Since I’d fallen hard for these two characters in the first book, I was only too delighted to reconnect with them and join them on their journey closer to each other. I loved that Posy Roberts gave both Jude and Hudson the opportunity to face their past, find closure as well as new ways forward without making it feel too good to be true. And I’m especially glad that she did this without making the story overly angsty. I could say a lot more about that, but that would mean spoilers, so I’ll leave it at this: you really want to read it—trust me.

Jude and Hudson are so very beautiful together. Even while neither of them is completely honest with the other about the depth of their feelings and what they really want from the relationship between them, they’re there for each other when it matters; putting their own issues aside if it means an opportunity to help the other. And, since this is a sex positive series, their bodies often do the talking when words fail them.

The sex and intimacy between these two men is hot as well as selfless and glorious. From Hudson making himself totally vulnerable to Jude pushing himself a long way out of his comfort zone to give Hudson what he needs, their interactions were breathtakingly beautiful.

Posy Roberts’ writing is wonderful. Her sentences flow with ease and the story almost reads itself. I’m so glad I started the book on a day I had lots of time to read because I don’t think I would have been able to put it down even if something important had demanded my attention. From Jude and Hudson finding themselves and then each other to both men working to save the commune, I had to keep on reading until I was sure all would be right in their universe.

With Hudson and Jude resolving most, if not all, of their issues in this book I wonder whether or not it is time for Charlie and Leo’s story now. While we get little more than glimpses of their relationship and issues in the first two books, it is obvious there’s a lot more to them and I can’t help feeling they have a journey ahead of them at least as intriguing and touching as Hudson and Jude’s has been. I have to admit though that regardless of who will end up being the main players in the next Naked Organics book, I will devour it as soon as it becomes available. With this series, Posy Roberts has created an intriguing world and inhabited it with fascinating and endearing characters. It is safe to say I am well and truly hooked.

[Cornelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good series. I felt this book offered more in-depth look at Hudson and Jude's emotional scars.

[Gretchen Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmmm one one hand a lot of people would call this a hippy dippy book all about free love and sex. However, it’s the other hand, full of finding yourself and romance that’s the most important part.

Hudson and Jude. Wow!!! What a dynamic duo!!! I imagine Hudson to be a bit more manly, enjoying working with plants and using his hands to build things. Jude is smart, like crazy smart, and is finishing up his college career in just three years.

They both have similar backgrounds, being shunned by people that are supposed to love and protect them. In the first book we learn quite a bit about Jude - his background and personality and what brought him to Kaleidoscope Gardens. How he finds himself on his journey to living on the commune. In some respects, he fits there like a glove, but the sex part.....he has a hard time with that.

Just about the time Jude comes around Hudson freaks out. Jude stirs up a lot of feelings that he has to come to terms with.

In this second book, we learn more about this couple and their families and where they came from. They are on a road trip and the things that come up......well it's like you are right there with them in the hippie mobile. Will they both find a way to let the other know how much they mean to each other?

There's also a lot about the relationship of Leo & Charlie back at Kaleidoscope Gardens that I enjoyed very much. Leo is a sex therapist and the fact that, even after all this time, goes through some personal enlightenment was refreshing. Plus it keeps the story at the commune in the background.

When I started this series it wasn't what I thought it was going to be about. I did the "wow a commune? Really?" type of thing. But I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed this series very much. The author keeps the commune as the "setting" and not the "plot" very well. I think for that reason we learn about the people and not so much about commune life. There is some of that but it's the complex characters and the dynamic of the setting that makes this series really amazing.

I've not read anything by this author before but that will be changing. Loved!!!!

Highly Recommend!!!

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked Fresh starts up right where Farm Fresh (Naked Organics #1) ended. Here, we really get to know Hudson and Jude as they travel across the country together to handle family matters. It was really nice to see these two in new settings and watch their relationship grow. Together, they work through not only current struggles and issues but those from their respective pasts as well. There is a lot of character growth in this book and it's really great to see it all unfold.

Since we already know Jude and Hudson from book one, it was great to jump right in to the story, knowing who these guys are and a lot of their background. As they cross the country in a (super awesome) VW Microbus, they grow together in a way that is really heartwarming to follow. Everything isn't sunshine and roses for them on the trip, but together they get through it all.

We haven't forgotten about Leo and Charlie, either. Their chapters are a really nice break from Hudson and Jude's trip. They keep us connected to the commune while Jude and Hudson are away. The kink and steam from these guys keeps the heat rating up, though the love developing between Hudson and Jude is really the main attraction here.

This was a good follow-up to the first book, and I look forward to seeing what happens next with their stories!