Everything Between Us

by Stephen Hoppa

Ethan is confused about more than just his sexuality the night he wanders into a white-trash bar after breaking up with his fiance. When he's dragged outside the bar and beaten by leather-clad thugs, he's rescued by the last man he needs in his life. Raw, dominating, and dangerously unpredictable, this dark stranger won't even tell Ethan his name. The enigma only draws Ethan in more as he finds himself unable to resist this man or the power he holds over him. Secrets are slowly uncovered. The bond between the two men deepens as scars of the past reveal themselves. But Ethan finds he's learning more about himself than he ever imagined as a new word finds it's way onto his lips: submission. *This is a 65,000 word stand-alone novel which contains intensely intimate scenes between two men, and a happily ever after with no cliffhangers.*

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Adult, Contemporary, Steamy, LGBT

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2016

Reviews

[Kristan]

DNF @ 68%



I mean, I could keep reading, because there is something about this book that makes me want to, if only to answer the million questions bouncing around in my head.

But I’m not going to.

Because life is too fucking short, and this book is too fucking long for me to be this far into it and still not know bupkis about either of the main characters.

This book is surreal. And if you think that’s a compliment, it’s not.

Nate is infuriating and Ethan is… one dimensional…? Okay, so I’m not entirely clueless. I do know a few things.

I know that what essentially begins as a tame one night stand sleep becomes a strange relationship where Ethan never knows where he stands, and Nate inserts himself, rather lazily, into Ethan's life.

I know that Nate is as arrogant as he is spoiled, mysterious, possessive, douchy, and easily bored with everything in life. He gives literally nothing of himself. Neither I, nor the other MC in this story, even knew his name until 28% in.

At 68% I still knew nothing of him.

And even though there’s something about him that makes me want to continue reading, just to find out what the fuck his problem is, it’s just not worth it.



Nate stole breath, kisses, what have you, 14 times, and was bored just as many.
73 variations of the word moan.
50 groan/groans.
A whopping 418 uses of the word FUCK/FUCKING.
And 122 shits - of which I have no more left to give.

This needs a good pass with an editor. Tenses are muddled, punctuation is missing, and sometimes sentences are just incomplete.

“No wonder he looked like could model. His mother had been an actress, and a fucking gorgeous one at that. I did.”

You did what? Stole the "he" between like and could?

Or this:

"I glanced at my eyes in the rearview mirror. They stared back."

I don't know whether to be relieved about that, or concerned.

So yeah, I’m being critical. I spent a weekend trying to get through this, and I’m pissed at myself for having the urge to pick it back up to finish it.

Essentially, it all comes down to this; there’s something functional about Ethan and Nate’s dysfunction, and I can see this being attractive to other readers. Hell, it's what kept me going for 68%, even though dysfunction is not my cuppa. I think those that like to strap in and go for a ride will LOVE this.

Ethan came to two conclusions about Nate that sum up the core of this book for me:

With Nate, every moment feels incomplete. And,

"Everything about him was another fucking puzzle. Every answer brought a thousand new questions to the table."

And I just don’t have it in me to find out what they are.

[nemo ☠️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC AND I'M DEAD

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is tough for me to review because the sudden shift in Nate's personality was too abrupt and left way too many unanswered questions regarding why he was so fucking weird for 85% of the book. I mean, I thought he was on the autism spectrum, and that's cool, I would've found that interesting...but then he just starts acting...well, "normal". It was jarring and I'm not sure I appreciated it.

That being said, the relationship dynamic between Nate and Ethan was interesting as hell, and kept me wanting to read.

[Bookishcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is insanity. One of the heroes has some definite mental issues and it makes him extremely intriguing. Throughout this book I kept trying to think what exactly is wrong with him and it is impossible. He's just...him. I enjoyed this book because it's not your usual story. The characters are broken and mentally unstable in the best way possible. I reccomend to those who love some crazy in a story.

[♣️ Lynda ♣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you're with me, you focus on me.

This book befuddled me. I'm having difficulty reviewing it.

Until 85% I hated Nate and thought he was a spoiled rich brat. Then we finally get his POV and I loved him.

This was chaos and love. Owning and withholding. Confusing at times but a HEA nonetheless.

[Feliz · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars on prismbookalliance.com

Going from the blurb, this book should’ve been right up my alley. Flawed heroes, scars of the past, self-discovery, angst, secrets and mystery, and all that garnished with a touch of D/s? Count me in.

However, once I started reading, the “huh?” and “WTH?”- moments started to assault me, soon piling up to a steaming heap of bewilderment which I had a hard time getting over. In fact, I’m still wondering how I ever made it through to the end.

This certainly wasn’t a nice and easy read, but it didn’t have a lot of depth either, not in the way it might’ve been intended to have, anyway. There was some blood and gore, probably supposed to lend the story grittiness, but those elements read like cheap grandstand play to me. And the characters? Ethan, who tells most of the story from his 1st person POV still remains rather flat, and Nate (whose name figures as one of those “slowly uncovered secrets” for about a quarter of the book) is plainly unappealing, his behavior bordering on sociopathic most of the time. In fact, both main characters are so dysfunctional they’d need quite a lot of loose screws tightened just to get from today to tomorrow without falling apart.

I guess that’s what their relationship is supposed to do, in a weird, toxic way–fixing them, sort of, healing the wounds of past self-denial, poor-rich-boy-syndrome, stranger-in-a-strange-world-pains, what have you. And I suppose the way this even sort of works might be rather appealing to other readers, even though I just couldn’t get behind the whole concept. I found the story in its entirety just so far-fetched it bordered on ridiculous, from premise to solution. Which, given all the curveballs the plot took me, felt all too conveniently wrapped up in a HEA that actually solved nothing–as if they’d simply swapped one kind of messed-up with a different, more socially acceptable kind.

To sum it up, I really didn’t like this book, but it evoked strong enough feelings in me to keep me soldiering on to the end. Hence the rating. It fell sort of halfway between morbidly fascinating and disgusting for me; I can’t in good conscience recommend it, but I can’t dismiss it out of hand either. I guess this is just the kind of book that tends to leave me thinking “What did I just read??” and mildly annoyed with devoting so much time to something so unsatisfactory.

[Rebecca Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this book was stupid. Then I thought it should be named "The word game". Believe me, the irritation was high. Halfway through the book it began to make sense. In some weird way I understood. The story wasn't action packed or sappy, fluff. It was confusing, stupid, ugly and all the parts of love that we never really pay attention to. Most people think that love is a happily ever after with no bumps and bruises. You forget how you got there. To me this was a story of how two people got there without any outside influence. No friends to screw it up. No family members to come between them, just the two of them almost screwing it up. This isn't a romanctic love story but yet it is. This isn't a passionate erotica, but yet it is. Not everyone will like it because 98% of it is written from one point of view but when it is time for Nathan to talk, it is well worth the wait. I give this story 4.5 stars. I'm withholding a half a star because even though it seems boring, you just gotta stick with it.

[Beckie Rousseau Sloan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of crazy, angst, and almost too much for me to follow. I hated it yet I really liked it. No idea what to think.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. That being said I will be the first to admit this book is not for everyone. It is full of angst, ridiculous at times, and Nate's behavior teeters between absurd and mentally unstable. Underneath all of the disastrous behavior lies the story of two men who are looking for something in life, and scared of how to react to it. Sometimes finding what you are looking for is hard to accept and if you as the reader can believe and accept that then this story makes a lot more sense.
Both Ethan and Nate are damaged in their own way and they both see that thing in each other that completes them. Torn between accepting that and pushing it away they both spend the majority of the book in a back in forth of games and absurdity, each questioning what they mean and are to each other instead of communicating.
I'm summing this all up but in the book it's played up to a more chaotic degree. The books flaw as I see it is that it takes to long to hear Nate's POV. We don't get that until about 80% into that book. On the surface it makes it look like Nate's personality has done a 180. If you really pay attention there are signs leading up to his POV that show that he was hiding who he really was and how he felt. However I think the book would have benefited from incorporating his POV earlier in the read.
This is not a cookie cutter romance and should not be read by those looking for that. Their relationship has D/S aspects to it, their love for each other is messy, at times unhealthy, and chaos reigns supreme in their courtship. If you don't mind obsessive, compulsive behavior and you like hot sex filled with desperation and need this might be the one for you. I'm all over the board in terms of what I like in a book so this fit perfectly somewhere in my spectrum of turn ons.

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times reads almost like a stream of consciousness. I felt like I was swimming in a bog - or navigating in fog. Neither character was endearing to me and, as another reviewer has noted, this is entirely a character driven book. In fact I'd be hard pressed to really describe anything else other then the characters (the houses and open space office area perhaps being the only other thing). Nate, his past and his actions, are completely off the wall weird. It's like running around in someone else's head that has ADD/ADHD. Ethan being so drawn to him is understandable to a limit - but boy do limits get stretched in this one. There is BDSM but it's not really a focus - other than the obsession Ethan has with Nate.

I needed a little more realism here for the reader - because, in the end, I didn't really believe Nate could function normally without meds and his wanderings were very tough to follow. Why someone would stay with him was not really clear. There is angst yes - but everything felt pretty shrouded for me in this web of weirdness. There were many times when I was like "WTH?" but I really did want to know how this whole thing turned out. The epilogue was both great and bewildering, given how I felt about Nate. If you like getting in someone's head that cannot focus - this is your book.

This review probably makes as much sense at times as the book. It might be my own quirkiness but I'd of done better if there was a bit more tell in terms of Nate and a bit less show - and that's a pretty rare statement for me. I'd definitely read a sequel and the author again - but this is one strange novel.

[ConM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was different, and I enjoyed that. I read it compulsively.

It finished at 84% and has bonus material. I decided not to read them, you can have too much of a good thing.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Ethan and Nate. The book starts out with Ethan's engagement ending to a girl and jumps right into him meeting a dark and mysterious guy (Nate). It was basically insant obsession/attraction. Lots of dirty talk, some mild humiliation, dom/sub, rough sex etc and romance. Parts of the story seemed a bit unrealistic but not too much and it didn't really bother me. I really liked that the couple knew they were kind of dysfunctional together, but truly cared for each other and were always working to make their relationship better.
Overall it was an easy read with lots of hot sex and a good love story with a HEA. The author has added epilogue and some extra scenes as the original book ended kind of abrubtly. I read this story which was book 2 in the Love and Chaos bundle and they were included.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars ~ Boy howdy, kids, this book is a wee bit filthy and I loved it.

First off, let me start by stating unequivocally that if you’re looking for a sweet and tender romance, this is not that book. Author Stephen Hoppa not only offers up a wildly dysfunctional relationship in the making in Everything Between Us, but there’s a bit of humiliation kink at play in Nate and Ethan’s dominance and submission as well. The beauty of it, though, is that while it doesn’t fit the traditional definition of romantic, these characters still managed to touch my heart in myriad ways, and I have to give the author much respect for his ability to write around some of the darker themes and elements in a way that still allowed me to see this couple as deserving of a happy ending.

Much like the author did in his novel Keep Me Still, Hoppa engaged me from the start by creating intriguing characters and then placing them into situations that test their resolve—as well as my own, if I’m being honest. Nate’s and Ethan’s backstories are each fraught with familial issues which, rather than being reductive, are integral to who they are. It’s clear at the point these two meet—when Nate rescues Ethan from a gay bashing outside a dive bar—that what Ethan is looking for and what Nate has to offer is going to be a point of contention between them. Everywhere, that is, but the bedroom. Sex is the one area where these guys have no problems communicating whatsoever.

I have to say, and I mean this as a compliment, that I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel in which the characters say so much and yet so little to each other. Much of the language Nate and Ethan use is meant to deviate, deflect, direct and, in some cases, flat out hurt each other because they don’t know how else to communicate. Fear is a powerful motivator in so much of their actions and interactions that when they don’t know what else to do or say, “fuck me” is their default answer. Or, at least it’s Ethan’s default, and Nate is happy to oblige. When they strike out at each other, their words and actions cut to the bone; from an emotional standpoint, these guys are so monotone that it’s often painful to witness. At one point Ethan narrates, “I grabbed him by the neck and kissed him like I was looking for more than just sad, empty pleasure. He kissed me back like he was looking for more than he would ever find.” These two sentences are derivative of their relationship—they’re both so in need, but of what, neither can articulate, and they can’t be what each other needs without knowing what they both want.

Another way this story works with such subtle precision is in Ethan as narrator. Throughout the story, we see Nate through Ethan’s eyes as an almost monstrous lover—spoiled, aloof, demeaning and dismissive of Ethan (although, that feeds Ethan’s kink)—which ultimately allows the reader to see Ethan as…not necessarily a victim but certainly as a sympathetic character. It’s not until much later that Hoppa feeds readers a POV shift and we get some of this story from Nate’s perspective, which caused me to shift my own perspective of Ethan as a reliable narrator. Don’t get me wrong, Nate isn’t a saint by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s not until we see Ethan through his eyes that we begin to see that Ethan’s issues run far deeper than he himself has allowed us to see.

Everything Between Us is a character driven novel, so there isn’t a lot of action and flash in the storytelling—if I were to use any term for it, I’d call it literotica. While the focus is on the progression of the characters and their relationship, it’s also very much inclined towards their sexual connection and interactions. It’s also an opposites attract story, and Nate’s and Ethan’s differences—in upbringing and education and finances—are all thrown into sharp relief alongside the fact that the older Ethan’s submission to a younger Nate is a trope that I love to run across because it breathes something a little different into the D/s dynamic.

One of the things I appreciated about Hoppa’s crafting of this novel, and something I could see being a point of contention for some readers, is his choice to wrap it up with a six year time leap between the final combustive and combative moment that enables Nate and Ethan to turn the corner on their relationship, and an Epilogue that shows us a vastly different Nate and Ethan, a grownup and stable couple who have earned and found their happily ever after. I didn’t need it pointed out to me that “I love you” wouldn’t magically cure these two men of their various dysfunctions, but I can say I appreciate that Hoppa made the decision to offer readers some of those lost scenes as bonus material, not only at the end of the book, but as separate novellas as well.

Once again, as was the case with Keep Me Still, the characters are able to transcend and overcome any minor imperfections in the book’s editing. Hoppa’s writing is fluid and powerful; his narrative voice speaks to me on a level that goes beyond simple reading and veers into experiencing a total investment in the lives of his characters. Honestly, this story is Psych 101 with an erotic twist. I became entrenched in Nate and Ethan’s battles and wanted their happy ending, and it’s that level of engagement that makes me appreciate this author as a storyteller and allows me to focus beyond my inner proofreader to enjoy his stories for what they are.

Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a real trip and I really liked the ride. It's not your typical MM romance and I appreciated reading something unique with a side of dirty and a healthy dose of mind fuckery.

The author describes this story as a “dark” romance, I agree and disagree. It’s definitely not your typical M/M romance, there is nothing cookie cutter happening here, but at the same time there are some very charming and humorous parts plus some real feelings that evolve throughout. So, “dark” in this case definitely does not mean typical pain and angst that can run rampant in romance, but the story is grittier and rougher than most.

I would liken reading Everything Between Us to getting sucked into a great Indie film. It’s kinda surreal and the what-the-fuckery is acceptable because it just felt like it belonged there. The initial meeting between Ethan and Restricted Caller (more on that in a mo) made little sense in the real world but at the same time set an interesting tone. I was thinking, we’ll this will be a ride, let’s see where I end up.

I went a lot of places with these guys and it was more than just the kinky escapades, these guys really do get off on each other, but it was also a lot of Ethan figuring his shit out. I found that really interesting. His life hasn’t really gone to hell, no major tragedies, but he’s floundering big time and he’s gotten to the “fuck it” stage that really only works when you’re young. He rode that Fuck It Dragon hard and went with everything that felt right in his gut when he met Restricted Caller.
Restricted Caller is our other MC and he’s a big mystery through quite a chunk of the book. But I found myself figuring him out along with Ethan as RC started leaving little crumbs of clues as he wove his way into Ethan’s life. They ended up being oddly dependent on each other without ever actually defining what they were. As the story progressed, these seeming opposites were more alike than it seemed on the surface and their differences were very complimentary.

So much of the story revolved around identity, protecting it, sharing it and the value of giving yourself to someone else. Ethan just handed it all over to RC as he explored his submissive side and RC gave up nothing. The relationship evolves and Ethan discovers the value of what he’s giving away and RC gifts Ethan with more trust and more bits of his life.

“The word that described him perfectly was almost. The word that described me perfectly was more.”

The kink was pretty delicious and had a taste of sweetness to it. It’s during these interludes that RC let his guard down and Ethan lost his filters. It wasn’t just sex, it was discovery about themselves and each other.

“You can’t stop thinking about me. I fucking love it.”

---So it really was the beginning of love. Sweet, twisted, fucked up love.

“I know you love it.” I kissed him back, breathing in heavy gasps against his lips. “I’ve got you all figured out, poor little rich boy.”

As I said, the journey these two went on was off the path from your typical MM fare and I liked that a lot. I love reading a story that surprises me and takes me somewhere completely different. The author doesn’t let you get away without an HEA and while it was a little conveniently wrapped up, I needed that at the end. I would have liked a little bit more of them as “grown ups” to reconcile who they became with who they had been but I was happy with more than just than being together, I was happy with the men they became.

And the delicious dirty bits, can’t forget those.



**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved this book. So many feels! It was angsty, but the angst felt more "real" than contrived. And the leads work hard to get better, which I love. It touches on mental illness, kink, self-worth and so many other issues. I was disappointed when I started the epilogue because it jumped ahead so much and I wanted to know more about the journey the characters took. So, I was delighted to find that the author had already thought of that and included some bonus short stories that document that period in their lives. Love!!

I think my favorite thing about this book was how much empathy I felt for both characters. I identified with how they were feeling and what they went through. There was one part of the story where I burst into tears and started chanting "no!" while pacing around the house, reading. I very rarely cry about book plots or talk to my Kindle, but this book was an exception.

Overall it was just a really juicy, emotional read and was exactly what I was in the mood for, even though I didn't know it when I started it. I will definitely check out more by Stephen Hoppa!

[Kendra T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

I have to admit this is very hard for me to rate. At moments I enjoyed the book, at other moments it drove me so insane I wanted to throw it out the window. At times I struggled to like the MC's at all; things didn't always seem to make sense and the characters acted in ways that I don't typically enjoy. Ethan and Nate come from different walks of life and appear in the beginning to have nothing in common.

In the end, though, it was a nice glimpse into 2 relatively dysfunctional men and their eventual growth into mature individuals and a mature relationship. I would have liked a little more of the self-discovery/growth part, but the majority of the book was the dysfunction and once they got it all figured out, it was a quick revelation and then an epilogue. I would love to see a bit more of the time in between the figuring things out and the epilogue. Just when I was really finally getting to like the characters more, it ended.

[Cee Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in a state of WTF for more than 75% of this book. The other 25%, I was like, "these friggin' men are gonna kill me."
When Ethan called it off with his girlfriend, he had an idea he was gay. What he never expected was to fall HARD for the one guy who would change his life forever.
Nate wanted to forget life when he rescued Ethan and drown the boredom and useless that was whom he had become.
None expected to be drawn into something they had no idea about, nor did they think life would take them down the road they travelled.
I was highly intrigued, (one particular scene I cringed), though afterward I realized without that scene the storyline would not have congealed.
Cudos to Mr Hoppa for taking me on a journey that had my nodding at the epilogue. It all made sense. Love does conquer all.

[Anthea · Rating 2 out of 5]

My word! It's rare to read a book where one or more of the main characters are that irritating. The story itself was ok, I guess, but crikey, Nate would not have made it to the end of the story alive if I'd been writing it. Their shenanigans were nothing short of juvenile, they acted like school boys and Nate (spoilt, irrational, unsettled, daddy issues, annoying, needed a kick up the butt - need I go on?) ran so hot and cold that I don't believe anyone in their right minds would put up with that in a relationship. It had a happy ending but that's about all that's good about it.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I chose this book, I thought it would be one of those 20 pgs. Quick sexy reads. I was wrong. It was sexy but it was a novel packed with so much passion and emotion I could not put it down. The book read as if the emotions were your own. This is the first time I read this author and it will not be the last. Mind blowingly erotic yet it didn't make you feel dirty reading it because the love of the MC's oozed throughout. A book I will read again and again.

[lisa walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland

Bit to bland for me . The start seemed ok as I thought Ethan was going to be funny but he was just so stupid. Also considering he had just realised he was gay he didn't seem at all fazed his first time. Think after reading shattered glass.... which I would definitely recommend if your looking for a really good mm book. it's hard to find another one as good. This definitely was not it.

[Oaken · Rating 1 out of 5]

Backbuttoned when I get tired of the "Raw, dominating, and dangerously unpredictable, this dark stranger won't even tell Ethan his name." character being raw, dominating, and dangerously unpredictable. I believe it was at the point where he dragged the seriously confused and unintelligent MC to a cockfight (fowl not dicks)

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I liked it and I didn't like it
The relationship between the Mc's was very intense like an obsession.
Nate was weird with his i'm just gonna call them his "quirks" and Ethan hmm I just didn't like him much.
Good story though.

[Andrew Riccardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointed

This was a really screwed up story. I found it really hard to keep reading but I had to keep going, hoping it would get better. It had a nice ending but in between it was borderline sick.

[Aneta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy fucking shit... it was sooo good.

[Tiffaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romantic story was a chaotic mess and I absolutely loved it.

Sometimes a book comes along and you feel like it was written just for you. This is that book. I love romance stories that a fucked up. With fucked up people.

Ethan is living a very unhappy life until the night he decided to break up with his fiance. He meets a strange man and the two embark on a wild ride of Lust, love and hate. The two men become addicted to one another and have a very strange romance. My only main issue with the story is that about 80% into the story we get a POV chapter from Nathaniel when previously the story was told through Ethan eyes. It definitely took me a bit out of the story but made the reader understand Nate more as a character. There's also some "bonus" chapters at the end of the novel that stops me from giving it a full five star rating. Overall I really enjoyed it.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sample was too short and the book was only 2 dollars, so why not. After I got through the first chapter or two it was hard to continue reading but I pushed on hoping it would get better. I was very perplexed at what the hell was going on. The main leads meet at least three times before any names are really ascertained. The story does get better after the first few chapters. Nates point of view isnt given until almost the end and then its kind of jarring after all the mystery. Overall some parts were enjoyable but it wasn't my favorite. I kinda feel like the there were 3 parts to this book and I don't know how well I thought they all fit together.

[EfuaGitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just what I needed. The God of Chaos and Ethan. It’s both an extremely frustrating and extremely sweet read. Even after the little bits after the epilogue I don’t feel ready to leave them. I am sure they’ll be fine. More than fine. I just want to get to know more.

I love that it never gets easy. The young madness is strong with these two, and Hoppa writes this so well. The fighting, the hurting, and then the hotness where we can both feel the wildness and the sweetness at the same time. Yummie.

[ChiiChii · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads! The authors expanded chapters after the epilogue are to die for!

[Maggie]

Bx,Rokp

[Storm Caywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Read it in the “love and chaos” book and glad o did, the extra material really enhanced it for me.