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Camassia Cove Universe #5
Uncomplicated Choices
Comedy Romance | Family | Single Dad | Standalone
Some love stories just want to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling and make you laugh a little. This is one of them.
When life gave you lemons, you found out who stayed and made lemonade with you. Or something to that effect. And the day Ellis kidnapped me—or rather, he borrowed a yacht and didn’t know I was sleeping below deck—he’d definitely been handed too many lemons.
We were practically family, so I owed it to him to stay and make sure he was all right. Apparently he was trying to decide whether or not to divorce his wife, so it was truly not the best time for me to develop a crush.
This story takes place in Cara Dee’s Camassia Cove Universe, a fictional town where all books stand on their own, unless otherwise stated, and the reader can jump in wherever they want.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2017
180 people are currently reading
950 people want to read
About the author
Cara Dee
97 books4,083 followers
I'm often stoically silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there's so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex. There's a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly. Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve. Additionally, I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.
Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.
I'm a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, and geeking. There's time for hockey and cupcakes, too. But mostly, I just love to write.
I'm often stoically silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there's so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex. There's a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly. Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve. Additionally, I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.
Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.
I'm a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, and geeking. There's time for hockey and cupcakes, too. But mostly, I just love to write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
June 25, 2017
5 Stars!
This is going straight on my favourite shelf.
I loved everything about this book,
The writing is so compelling,I couldn't put it down,
The characters,main and secondary completely worked for me,
The feeling of a large family where you wouldn't expect them to fit,but they just did.
I haven't read any of the previous books in this series and while I did find it a bit confusing in the beginning with a lot of characters being introduced,once I worked out who was who,it definitely didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book.The Author did a good job of introducing the characters,especially Lincoln and his story/relationship with Casey.
Casey is around 30 and is in a dating slump.I would say he doesn't really identify being gay/straight or bi....he simply goes with who he's attracted to,regardless of gender.His main priority is his daughter,Haley....
I absolutely loved their relationship.
He's known Ellis for 6 years.Ellis is Lincoln's cousin and his marriage(to a woman) is just about dead and buried.This might be a contentious issue for some people but,personally,I didn't consider it cheating.His wife has made it clear she wants to date other men.
After drinking too much one night Casey decides to crash on Lincoln's yacht...only to wake up in the middle of the ocean.Ellis had a plan to have some alone time,kind of soul searching,what he definitely didn't expect was Casey.....
What follows I found quite beautiful...
I could totally believe the connection Casey and Ellis had.It's not mentioned if Ellis has been attracted to men before and I don't think it's of any importance...it's not about gender or even him being conflicted about being Gay ( which is so often the focus in some books ).My point here is that he's attracted to someone who happens to be a man.
I don't often reread books but this is one I definitely will.
Highly Recommended.
I received an Arc of Uncomplicated Choices in exchange for an honest review.
This is going straight on my favourite shelf.
"You woke me up."
"And you anchored me,"
I loved everything about this book,
The writing is so compelling,I couldn't put it down,
The characters,main and secondary completely worked for me,
The feeling of a large family where you wouldn't expect them to fit,but they just did.
I haven't read any of the previous books in this series and while I did find it a bit confusing in the beginning with a lot of characters being introduced,once I worked out who was who,it definitely didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book.The Author did a good job of introducing the characters,especially Lincoln and his story/relationship with Casey.
Casey is around 30 and is in a dating slump.I would say he doesn't really identify being gay/straight or bi....he simply goes with who he's attracted to,regardless of gender.His main priority is his daughter,Haley....
I absolutely loved their relationship.
He's known Ellis for 6 years.Ellis is Lincoln's cousin and his marriage(to a woman) is just about dead and buried.This might be a contentious issue for some people but,personally,I didn't consider it cheating.His wife has made it clear she wants to date other men.
After drinking too much one night Casey decides to crash on Lincoln's yacht...only to wake up in the middle of the ocean.Ellis had a plan to have some alone time,kind of soul searching,what he definitely didn't expect was Casey.....
What follows I found quite beautiful...
I could totally believe the connection Casey and Ellis had.It's not mentioned if Ellis has been attracted to men before and I don't think it's of any importance...it's not about gender or even him being conflicted about being Gay ( which is so often the focus in some books ).My point here is that he's attracted to someone who happens to be a man.
I don't often reread books but this is one I definitely will.
Highly Recommended.
I received an Arc of Uncomplicated Choices in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2017
Ignore this review.
Really.
There's nothing to see here.
But if you stick around, know this:
I love Cara Dee.
was one of my top reads of 2016.
But I didn't read the other books in the series (books 3 and 4 weren't M/M), and therein lies the rub.
Uncomplicated Choices is NOT a standalone read. That's not to say I couldn't follow the romance or plot, because it's just not that complicated (← see what I did there).
However, the secondary characters (introduced in the previous books) are VERY present in the story. If I read about Lincoln and his wife one more time, I was going to need a shot of vodka. Or three. Because SERIOUSLY. I. Don't. Give. A. Fuck.
ALSO: One of the MCs, Ellis, is married for most of the story, separated but still married. Which no.
AND: His wife as he begins dating Casey. This becomes a blessing in disguise kind of thing, but, holy shit, NO. No. No. Just NO.
In real life, that's called the Jerry Springer Show, not romance, mmmk?
Casey is the first-person narrator of the story, and he's funny and quirky. Some of the banter is truly humorous, and the ending is a HEA—just not my kind of HEA. Ellis's ex-wife was never going away. EVER.
So, yeah, I'm going to be the sole voice of dissent; despite the strong writing and hot sex, this book didn't do it for me.
Really.
There's nothing to see here.
But if you stick around, know this:
I love Cara Dee.
was one of my top reads of 2016.
But I didn't read the other books in the series (books 3 and 4 weren't M/M), and therein lies the rub.
Uncomplicated Choices is NOT a standalone read. That's not to say I couldn't follow the romance or plot, because it's just not that complicated (← see what I did there).
However, the secondary characters (introduced in the previous books) are VERY present in the story. If I read about Lincoln and his wife one more time, I was going to need a shot of vodka. Or three. Because SERIOUSLY. I. Don't. Give. A. Fuck.
ALSO: One of the MCs, Ellis, is married for most of the story, separated but still married. Which no.
AND: His wife as he begins dating Casey. This becomes a blessing in disguise kind of thing, but, holy shit, NO. No. No. Just NO.
In real life, that's called the Jerry Springer Show, not romance, mmmk?
Casey is the first-person narrator of the story, and he's funny and quirky. Some of the banter is truly humorous, and the ending is a HEA—just not my kind of HEA. Ellis's ex-wife was never going away. EVER.
So, yeah, I'm going to be the sole voice of dissent; despite the strong writing and hot sex, this book didn't do it for me.
June 26, 2017
This book had so much potential for becoming a complete and total melodramatical shit-show of suffering and angst, but it never ventured anywhere close to that territory, not even once.
I flat out loved Casey's sense of humor and banter in this one. Plus, if Casey had a thought, it popped right out of his big ole' mouth, completely honest and unfiltered. I *love* a good blurter and Casey reminded me a lot of Cole from Jaime Reese's "A Restored Man," my all-time favorite blurter, ever.
I also loved how level-headed and open Ellis was to his newly-discovered attraction to men. That's generally a huge point for drama (and fleeing), but I was thrilled to not have that happen this time around. For Ellis, being with Casey was truly an "Uncomplicated Choice."
The whole 'kidnapping' aspect of the story was funny, but slightly off-base, as said kidnapper (Ellis) didn't even know that Casey was aboard the yacht. It did, however, effectively put the MC's living in one another pockets during the entire time that their relationship took form and began to flourish. I'm a huge fan of that scenario. : )
I must say the one thing that did surprise me a bit, though, was after they docked back in Camassia, when Ellis was working things out, the *complete* lack of communication, after their openness and connection on the boat, was fairly shocking.
There was a huuuuuuge "WTAF??? Did I just fall into a very clichéd M/F plot line?" point at around 70% in the story. My jaw dropped and I even e-mailed my friends to piss and moan about it.
But nope! It was all handled with skill and with a minimum of theatrics. That plot point actually allowed the story to finish up *exactly* as I'd hoped it would. Love that!
In regards to the steamy bits, those didn't disappoint, either. There were enough sexy scenes to help convey the growing attraction, but not so many that I wanted to scream, "Jesus, Ladies! Can you put your dicks away for 2 goddamn minutes?" ;- )
I was pretty thrilled with the HEA that played out in the epilogue and also should mention that the kids were 'present', but not omnipresent. I'd actually be thrilled to find myself in a parenting arrangement much like Casey had with Lincoln and Ade.
I would like to bring up a point that my friend Dani mentioned in her review about this being a standalone book. While in theory, yes, the plot in this story does *not* require you to know anything from the previous books, I'd skipped the 3rd and 4th (M/F) books and *did* feel a bit lost at times at the mention of some characters from the books that I missed. Not to the detriment of the story, but it definitely fueled some confusion.
So between the humor, banter, and the feels, I'd have to rate this one a solid 4.25 stars and highly recommend it, especially if you've already read all (or even some) of the previous books.
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My ARC copy of the book was graciously provided by the author in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)
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March 27, 2024
Reread of a favorite.
Uncomplicated Choices is Book 5 in a series that includes both MM and MF pairings. Because the last couple of books were MF, I didn't read them. But please read Books 1 and 2 because they're brilliant!
Since I missed the last two books, I was a little bit confused at the very beginning. I didn't know these characters, in particular the major side characters. Apparently Casey, our MC, is the pseudo-son of Lincoln, unofficially adopted after they spent time in jail together. Ellis, Casey's eventual love interest, is the cousin/nephew/something of Lincoln's dad. Just know that Casey and Ellis are part of the same "family" who see each other fairly regularly, with Lincoln and his wife (Book 3) serving as the patriarch/matriarch of this group.
Casey is thirty-ish and stuck in a dating rut. He's honest to the point of being blunt, and so tries to get the fact that he spent time in jail out of the way early......as in First Date early. He thinks he'd rather know if they're gonna bolt right away instead of getting attached and watching them bolt.
Casey is one of my favorite characters that I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing their POV. His thoughts were refreshing, his wit made me laugh out loud multiple times, and he's just one of those people that you root for. He lives for his daughter. He needed his happy ending.
Ellis is simply Casey's straight friend/family member who's going through a rocky ending to a rocky marriage. Casey doesn't think about him much since Ellis is so quiet and reserved. Ellis doesn't share much, and he's a tough nut to crack.
After a night out with friends, Casey decides to sleep on Lincoln's yacht, since it's closer than his own place. He wakes up in the middle of the water with Ellis steering the boat, already hours away from home. Neither man knew the other was on the boat, and Casey is miffed at Ellis for "kidnapping" him.
This short trip was the turning point for our guys. They've been thrown together, first by family, and now by proximity. The bond that they form while boating was really smooth and natural. As their deepening friendship unfolds, Ellis blossoms right before our eyes. There are so many layers to him, and I honestly fell in love with this rock of a man. After sharing the situation with his wife, you just want to wrap him in a hard hug.
The vulnerability that each man is able to evoke from the other was magic. Casey is the strong but sensitive type. He wants so much for someone to want him for him. And Ellis...Ellis hasn't experienced life in so long, it's heartbreaking.
Back on land, Casey and Ellis have a lot to think about. They've both fallen for each other, but real life is here. Ellis has a failing marriage to finally put out to pasture, while trying to forget the image of Casey in his Date Pants, and Casey has to concentrate on the next chapter of his life with his daughter. It's not easy on either of them, after spending 24/7 together for a while.
Then came the dramatic climax which sort of came from nowhere, and I was cursing Dee so hard. But I needn't have worried. It played out exactly as I would've wished it to.
The fallout was a hard won HFN, and I loved, loved, loved this book. I will definitely be reading Casey and Ellis's story again. Highly recommended.
“Whatever you do, don’t wake up one day with regrets.”
Uncomplicated Choices is Book 5 in a series that includes both MM and MF pairings. Because the last couple of books were MF, I didn't read them. But please read Books 1 and 2 because they're brilliant!
Since I missed the last two books, I was a little bit confused at the very beginning. I didn't know these characters, in particular the major side characters. Apparently Casey, our MC, is the pseudo-son of Lincoln, unofficially adopted after they spent time in jail together. Ellis, Casey's eventual love interest, is the cousin/nephew/something of Lincoln's dad. Just know that Casey and Ellis are part of the same "family" who see each other fairly regularly, with Lincoln and his wife (Book 3) serving as the patriarch/matriarch of this group.
Casey is thirty-ish and stuck in a dating rut. He's honest to the point of being blunt, and so tries to get the fact that he spent time in jail out of the way early......as in First Date early. He thinks he'd rather know if they're gonna bolt right away instead of getting attached and watching them bolt.
Casey is one of my favorite characters that I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing their POV. His thoughts were refreshing, his wit made me laugh out loud multiple times, and he's just one of those people that you root for. He lives for his daughter. He needed his happy ending.
I had dirty thoughts about licking the glaze off my fingers. That was my love life in a nutshell.
Ellis is simply Casey's straight friend/family member who's going through a rocky ending to a rocky marriage. Casey doesn't think about him much since Ellis is so quiet and reserved. Ellis doesn't share much, and he's a tough nut to crack.
After a night out with friends, Casey decides to sleep on Lincoln's yacht, since it's closer than his own place. He wakes up in the middle of the water with Ellis steering the boat, already hours away from home. Neither man knew the other was on the boat, and Casey is miffed at Ellis for "kidnapping" him.
I did remember him expressing he wanted to get away. Was this it? Was the yacht his white Bronco?
This short trip was the turning point for our guys. They've been thrown together, first by family, and now by proximity. The bond that they form while boating was really smooth and natural. As their deepening friendship unfolds, Ellis blossoms right before our eyes. There are so many layers to him, and I honestly fell in love with this rock of a man. After sharing the situation with his wife, you just want to wrap him in a hard hug.
“I haven’t been honest with myself in so long that I’ve forgotten who I am.”
The vulnerability that each man is able to evoke from the other was magic. Casey is the strong but sensitive type. He wants so much for someone to want him for him. And Ellis...Ellis hasn't experienced life in so long, it's heartbreaking.
“I need you again.”
Back on land, Casey and Ellis have a lot to think about. They've both fallen for each other, but real life is here. Ellis has a failing marriage to finally put out to pasture, while trying to forget the image of Casey in his Date Pants, and Casey has to concentrate on the next chapter of his life with his daughter. It's not easy on either of them, after spending 24/7 together for a while.
“Thing is, I already like you a crapload, so if you could minimize the damage if you change your mind, that’d be great.”
Then came the dramatic climax which sort of came from nowhere, and I was cursing Dee so hard. But I needn't have worried. It played out exactly as I would've wished it to.
The fallout was a hard won HFN, and I loved, loved, loved this book. I will definitely be reading Casey and Ellis's story again. Highly recommended.
“Choosing you would complicate everything in my everyday life, yet it’s the most uncomplicated choice I’ve ever made.”
April 14, 2020
Family.
That one word sums up a huge part of Uncomplicated Choices. Casey's family is a band of misfits, not unlike my own. You don't have to be blood related to be family and when I find a novel that uses that theme so strongly, I seldom dislike it. And let me tell you, I absolutely loved this book. Cara Dee got so many things right, I just loved it straight to my favorites shelf!
Firstly, I've been asked a time or two if this book reads well as a stand alone. In my opinion, it does. While there are a couple secondary characters that play heavily in the story that were in a previous book (Lincoln and Ade are the MCs from Path of Destruction), I haven't read that book and I had zero issues following their roll in Uncomplicated Choices. Casey's connection to Lincoln is explained and it worked for me. I really liked both Lincoln and Ade, as well, but especially Lincoln, and now that I've finished Uncomplicated Choices, I want to go back and read Path of Destruction, even though I don't read much M/F anymore.
Casey -- he was a breath of fresh air, to me. He's young, around 30, but he's seen a bit of mileage and he's wise beyond his years. Or maybe he just grew up, and considering everything he has faced in his life, he could easily be a bitter person -- but he's not. He got caught up with the wrong crowd when he was in his teens and did some time in prison (it's how he met Lincoln), he grew up in a wealthy family, but his parents disowned him when he got sentenced and he's a single father of a 4 year old girl whose mother is no where in the picture. Casey has come out of all that and managed to make something of his life. Yeah, he had Lincoln and Ade helping him get on his feet, but he still had to do the work, himself.
Casey is bisexual and has had a really tough time with dating. Refreshingly, the reason for the troubles is not his bisexuality, however, but a combination of him being an ex-con and having a kid as well as him not fitting squarely into a masculine or a feminine mold. He is simply who he is and he's unapologetic about it. He hates stereotypes and the need that people have to put everything into a nice neat box. Casey is unfailingly honest, his past not withstanding, and he's more open than I would consider myself to be. And he's blurty. FSM, I loved that about him.
And Ellis is exploring his bisexuality for the first time. He's in a not-so-good place when the story starts, since he and his wife of 11 years are separated and are working on figuring out if their marriage is even worth saving. And, yes, he is still married for the entire book, but I can't say he is cheating, either. When they separated, his wife made it clear she was going to date -- and she did. Ellis acting on his attraction to Casey came after that. Ellis is reserved, but once he decides to go for something, he does so with everything he has.
Ellis and Casey just fit. Their romance was strong and they actually communicated! That one thing is so refreshing to me, I can't even tell you. There was also a bit of a plot twist that played out in ways I truly never expected. There was no melodrama and wow, I just loved it. That piece took an element that I normally hate in romance novels and made it so I not only didn't mind it, but I actually liked it. Thank you, Cara Dee!
And, happily, Ellis's (ex) wife only came into the story a couple times and while the first time I started to get my claws out, after that she was a reasonable person and also surprisingly self-aware. I found that I didn't mind her role in the story nearly as much as I thought I would. I like how real Cara Dee's stories are and how nothing is ever easy, but at the same time there is no melodrama to drag you down. Her stories always feel so genuine and real and the feelz!! Truly gorgeous.
So, back to family. Family are those people who will always have your back and who will always help you grow. I saw so much of that in Uncomplicated Choices that it brought me joy. Ellis and Casey get a satisfying HEA and form a family of their own.
I've loved each book I've read in this series and Uncomplicated Choices easily made my favorites list. I'm looking forward to reading more in the world of Camassia Cove and it's rather eclectic inhabitants.
Recommended!
-------------------
ARC of Uncomplicated Choices was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
That one word sums up a huge part of Uncomplicated Choices. Casey's family is a band of misfits, not unlike my own. You don't have to be blood related to be family and when I find a novel that uses that theme so strongly, I seldom dislike it. And let me tell you, I absolutely loved this book. Cara Dee got so many things right, I just loved it straight to my favorites shelf!
Firstly, I've been asked a time or two if this book reads well as a stand alone. In my opinion, it does. While there are a couple secondary characters that play heavily in the story that were in a previous book (Lincoln and Ade are the MCs from Path of Destruction), I haven't read that book and I had zero issues following their roll in Uncomplicated Choices. Casey's connection to Lincoln is explained and it worked for me. I really liked both Lincoln and Ade, as well, but especially Lincoln, and now that I've finished Uncomplicated Choices, I want to go back and read Path of Destruction, even though I don't read much M/F anymore.
Casey -- he was a breath of fresh air, to me. He's young, around 30, but he's seen a bit of mileage and he's wise beyond his years. Or maybe he just grew up, and considering everything he has faced in his life, he could easily be a bitter person -- but he's not. He got caught up with the wrong crowd when he was in his teens and did some time in prison (it's how he met Lincoln), he grew up in a wealthy family, but his parents disowned him when he got sentenced and he's a single father of a 4 year old girl whose mother is no where in the picture. Casey has come out of all that and managed to make something of his life. Yeah, he had Lincoln and Ade helping him get on his feet, but he still had to do the work, himself.
Casey is bisexual and has had a really tough time with dating. Refreshingly, the reason for the troubles is not his bisexuality, however, but a combination of him being an ex-con and having a kid as well as him not fitting squarely into a masculine or a feminine mold. He is simply who he is and he's unapologetic about it. He hates stereotypes and the need that people have to put everything into a nice neat box. Casey is unfailingly honest, his past not withstanding, and he's more open than I would consider myself to be. And he's blurty. FSM, I loved that about him.
And Ellis is exploring his bisexuality for the first time. He's in a not-so-good place when the story starts, since he and his wife of 11 years are separated and are working on figuring out if their marriage is even worth saving. And, yes, he is still married for the entire book, but I can't say he is cheating, either. When they separated, his wife made it clear she was going to date -- and she did. Ellis acting on his attraction to Casey came after that. Ellis is reserved, but once he decides to go for something, he does so with everything he has.
Ellis and Casey just fit. Their romance was strong and they actually communicated! That one thing is so refreshing to me, I can't even tell you. There was also a bit of a plot twist that played out in ways I truly never expected. There was no melodrama and wow, I just loved it. That piece took an element that I normally hate in romance novels and made it so I not only didn't mind it, but I actually liked it. Thank you, Cara Dee!
And, happily, Ellis's (ex) wife only came into the story a couple times and while the first time I started to get my claws out, after that she was a reasonable person and also surprisingly self-aware. I found that I didn't mind her role in the story nearly as much as I thought I would. I like how real Cara Dee's stories are and how nothing is ever easy, but at the same time there is no melodrama to drag you down. Her stories always feel so genuine and real and the feelz!! Truly gorgeous.
So, back to family. Family are those people who will always have your back and who will always help you grow. I saw so much of that in Uncomplicated Choices that it brought me joy. Ellis and Casey get a satisfying HEA and form a family of their own.
I've loved each book I've read in this series and Uncomplicated Choices easily made my favorites list. I'm looking forward to reading more in the world of Camassia Cove and it's rather eclectic inhabitants.
Recommended!
-------------------
ARC of Uncomplicated Choices was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
lgbtq-to-read
May 8, 2019I'm going to put this one back on the shelf for now.
It's not "bad" but there are a whole lot of secondary characters that are making me feel overwhelmed and judging from the minimal sleuthing I did to get on track I'd have to go back to book 1 in this series plus read Power Play AND Out & Out For the Holidays to get in the know.
That's a bit more of a commitment than I'm looking to make right now so...
Til we meet again, book.
It's not "bad" but there are a whole lot of secondary characters that are making me feel overwhelmed and judging from the minimal sleuthing I did to get on track I'd have to go back to book 1 in this series plus read Power Play AND Out & Out For the Holidays to get in the know.
That's a bit more of a commitment than I'm looking to make right now so...
Til we meet again, book.
May 5, 2019
Re-read in May 2019 : sooooooo good...again :-) Read in just a day : yes, that engaging !!
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I enjoy reading Cara Dee and this is no exception. It can be read as a standalone : books 3 and 4 of this series are MF so I skipped them and didn’t have issue following track, even tough characters from the previous books are there.
Casey is a single Dad, getting his life straight after time served in prison, known for his fun attitude and his honesty to himself and the others. However, he has no success on the dating pool but is in need of a real relationship.
Speaking of meaningful relationship, it’s not better for Ellis, a quiet and nice guy, raised in a too religious family and in the process of divorcing his wife.
Ellis and Casey know each other for quite a while, Ellis being the cousin of Lincoln, Casey’s best friend. They see each other at the numerous gatherings held by Lincoln, but nothing prepares them to the closeness and attraction they share while spending a few days on a boat, just the both of them.
I really enjoyed the writing, the characters, the development of the relationship that felt real and like a fairy tale at the same, because lets’ face it : I can’t resist two guys aware that there’s no such thing as a bubble and face the bumps of life heads on in the sake of building a family.
Of course, Casey’s sense of humor and antics, his care for his daughter, the careful way Cara Dee handled the drama, and the delicious steam from these two guys were more than welcome.
Another win for me from this author and I’m so ready to get to the next book "Out".
------------------
I enjoy reading Cara Dee and this is no exception. It can be read as a standalone : books 3 and 4 of this series are MF so I skipped them and didn’t have issue following track, even tough characters from the previous books are there.
Casey is a single Dad, getting his life straight after time served in prison, known for his fun attitude and his honesty to himself and the others. However, he has no success on the dating pool but is in need of a real relationship.
Speaking of meaningful relationship, it’s not better for Ellis, a quiet and nice guy, raised in a too religious family and in the process of divorcing his wife.
Ellis and Casey know each other for quite a while, Ellis being the cousin of Lincoln, Casey’s best friend. They see each other at the numerous gatherings held by Lincoln, but nothing prepares them to the closeness and attraction they share while spending a few days on a boat, just the both of them.
I really enjoyed the writing, the characters, the development of the relationship that felt real and like a fairy tale at the same, because lets’ face it : I can’t resist two guys aware that there’s no such thing as a bubble and face the bumps of life heads on in the sake of building a family.
Of course, Casey’s sense of humor and antics, his care for his daughter, the careful way Cara Dee handled the drama, and the delicious steam from these two guys were more than welcome.
Another win for me from this author and I’m so ready to get to the next book "Out".
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September 2, 2021
Ellis wasn’t done, and he gathered my hands in his. "Choosing you would complicate everything in my everyday life, yet it's the most uncomplicated choice I've ever made." Fuck me. "I don’t want anyone else, and though it wouldn’t do me any good to rush into anything new, I need it to be clear that it's ultimately what I want.”
these two!! 🥺 If We Could Go Back was my first Cara Dee book and that one had angst so i expected something a bit similar going into this and i was surprised when it was so sweet?? but i adored every second of their story 😩 my fav parts were definitely the moments when they were away from Camassia Cove and in their own little escape from reality; i loved it when they were getting to know one another. i loved how Ellis paid attention to Casey and he remembered even the simplest things about him. there was a little angst towards the end with .
im honestly pretty curious about Jameson and would love to know more about him 👀 but the side characters were pretty great, and i loved each of their interactions with the MCs. 🤍
these two!! 🥺 If We Could Go Back was my first Cara Dee book and that one had angst so i expected something a bit similar going into this and i was surprised when it was so sweet?? but i adored every second of their story 😩 my fav parts were definitely the moments when they were away from Camassia Cove and in their own little escape from reality; i loved it when they were getting to know one another. i loved how Ellis paid attention to Casey and he remembered even the simplest things about him. there was a little angst towards the end with .
im honestly pretty curious about Jameson and would love to know more about him 👀 but the side characters were pretty great, and i loved each of their interactions with the MCs. 🤍
July 2, 2017
4.5 Stars!
Loved this one.
I agree with some other reviews - this one almost cannot be read as a standalone. And sadly several of the other books in the series are MF. :)
I struggled especially in the beginning. Trying to figure out how everyone was connected. But things eventually smoothed out.
This one had the potential to be angst and drama filled given some of the plot points. But thankfully it never went there. This one was relatively low angst.
We got some niiiiiice dirty talk. And that epilogue - swoon-worthy for sure.
Loved this one.
I agree with some other reviews - this one almost cannot be read as a standalone. And sadly several of the other books in the series are MF. :)
I struggled especially in the beginning. Trying to figure out how everyone was connected. But things eventually smoothed out.
This one had the potential to be angst and drama filled given some of the plot points. But thankfully it never went there. This one was relatively low angst.
We got some niiiiiice dirty talk. And that epilogue - swoon-worthy for sure.
May 8, 2019
In my mind, this story has three parts: before the yacht, during and after. And I could rate each part differently.
Getting into the story was a bit of a struggle because I didn't get Casey's character. I haven't read any of the previous books and it did feel like something was missing. Lincoln plays an important part in his life, so I guess there's a lot of Casey in his book. But as the story progressed, I got to know him better and I really started liking him.
The time that Ellis and Casey spent on the yacht was my favourite part of the book. It was so beautiful. They talked a lot and really got to know each other well. I loved that. Loved the connection between them.
And then the thing happened. I didn't enjoy or care about this part of the story at all, it's not what I like to read about in MM books. In the end everything wrapped up nicely, but I didn't find it believable, it was too convenient.
Getting into the story was a bit of a struggle because I didn't get Casey's character. I haven't read any of the previous books and it did feel like something was missing. Lincoln plays an important part in his life, so I guess there's a lot of Casey in his book. But as the story progressed, I got to know him better and I really started liking him.
The time that Ellis and Casey spent on the yacht was my favourite part of the book. It was so beautiful. They talked a lot and really got to know each other well. I loved that. Loved the connection between them.
And then the thing happened. I didn't enjoy or care about this part of the story at all, it's not what I like to read about in MM books. In the end everything wrapped up nicely, but I didn't find it believable, it was too convenient.
August 30, 2020
"Choosing you would complicate everything in my everyday life, yet it's the most uncomplicated choice I've ever made."
I haven't read the third and fourth book in the series, so this addition introduced me to some new faces. However, I'm sure that Uncomplicated Choices is a perfect standalone, I just had to pay attention at first. In fact, I can't wait for some of these new people to get their own story.
The best part of this book for me, was Casey. His voice was so refreshing, he's one of those characters that had he been a real life person, I'd love to be his BFF. He's brutally honest, witty, self-sarcastic, great friend and amazing dad.
It took a while to connect with Ellis. Ellis was used to existing instead of living, so he was pretty closed off at first. But watching him experiencing things for the first time, like fighting, being jealous, or having amazeballs sex, was pretty damn awesome.
My favorite -and longest- part of the book was the time Casey and Ellis spent on the boat. You know, when Casey became "a kidnapping slut".
"What the hell are you doing here, Casey?"
"You kidnapped me?" I yelled.
"I did what? For God's sake, I'm borrowing the boat from Lincoln. You're not supposed to be here."
"I agree!"
But that trip was like being in a bubble, and, as expected, it burst when they came home.
Extra points for the kids of the story. They were important, but they didn't overtake in any way. Also, they acted like their age instead of grown ups in little people's bodies.
Another thing that I loved was the sense of family among the close knit group of friends. When blood disappoints and rejects you, that's where you turn to.
One star deduction for the sole reason that I'm not a fan of the plot twist at 72%. Granted, Care Dee handles it in the best possible way, and the outcome is in favor of the main couple. There is no melodrama and the characters' actions surprised me in a very positive way, right from the second it happened. But, it's a trope I loath, and just its presence in the book was a turn off for me. But don't let that stop you.
I'm glad that life finally cut Casey and Ellis some slack, and that I was there to read their HEA.
Recommended!
P.S. If you haven't already, I strongly advise you go to the author's website, and take a look at the fabulous world she has created.
May 15, 2019
Despite a couple of niggles (back stories coming way to late and what did come felt rather glossed over) I really liked this book. It could have been an angst-fest of epic proportions, but instead I got a gorgeous love story paced to perfection and not even the damn blip at 71% took away from it. The author kept it real, without the melodramatics.
Loved it
4.5 stars
Loved it
4.5 stars
June 30, 2023
I’ve reread it after… idk few years. It was a 5 stars then now it would be a 3,5.
This book is one of the rare angst free books by Cara Dee. Close proximity- friends to lovers- bi awakening holiday book with found family and a lot of sex. It has the most cameos from the series, which is nice if you have hangover from the series, currently I wasn’t so I got bored sometimes. I liked that while it was a light read is still has some hurt comfort in it, what I really enjoy to read.
This book is one of the rare angst free books by Cara Dee. Close proximity- friends to lovers- bi awakening holiday book with found family and a lot of sex. It has the most cameos from the series, which is nice if you have hangover from the series, currently I wasn’t so I got bored sometimes. I liked that while it was a light read is still has some hurt comfort in it, what I really enjoy to read.
November 10, 2018
I have NO clue, now, why it took me so long to read this book.
I think one of the reasons is, that the blurb is quite misleading and simplified -IMO.
BEFORE Casey wakes up hungover on the ocean, we have an actual, interesting build-up.
We meet his daughter, we see Casey interact with Ade and Lincoln, we get an insight into his every-day-life.
And THEN he wakes up hungover on the ocean with his 'married'-straight-guy-crush Ellis.
First things first though: Ellis is technically married, but there is NO cheating, since they're seperated and they have agreed to 'see other people'.
What follows the 'wake-up-on-the-ocean' is a FUCKING wonderful, funny, realistic, romantic story of Casey and Ellis. It's not steeped in angst and miscommunication, and I have placed it on my: 'low-angst-high-cozyness-shelf', since their relationship is realistic and SOLID when they actually get to it.
I LOVED the slow build-up.
I LOVED Casey's relationship with/love for his daughter.
And I LOVED that Casey was a bumbling, rambling MC, but STILL believed in Ellis.
My only issues, were the quite extensive cast of characters and names thrown about, and the long LONG time it took to get both Ellis and Casey's back stories.
In regards to the former: I am one of those that will not leave my MM-hole *snicker*, for MF, so Ade ad Lincoln and all their "children" and friends and "family" were quite overwhelming, because they were just 'thrown' in.
I also wish that the backgrounds of Ellis and Casey were presented earlier and more in-depth.
It definitely still has a taste of: 'you-need-to-read-the-other-books-to-understand-everything', because I still don't feel like I have a comprehensive background story for them both. Though I do know enough to love them independently AND as a couple.
In the end, I decided to ignore these, relatively, little (for the story of Casey and Ellis) things, and just ENJOY this freaking hilarious, lovely story.
It really, REALLY ended up working for me! And Cara Dee is fast approaching 'one-click-buy-status' for me (for her MM-titles) because the PASSION and the grit and the love is out of this world.
I think one of the reasons is, that the blurb is quite misleading and simplified -IMO.
BEFORE Casey wakes up hungover on the ocean, we have an actual, interesting build-up.
We meet his daughter, we see Casey interact with Ade and Lincoln, we get an insight into his every-day-life.
And THEN he wakes up hungover on the ocean with his 'married'-straight-guy-crush Ellis.
First things first though: Ellis is technically married, but there is NO cheating, since they're seperated and they have agreed to 'see other people'.
What follows the 'wake-up-on-the-ocean' is a FUCKING wonderful, funny, realistic, romantic story of Casey and Ellis. It's not steeped in angst and miscommunication, and I have placed it on my: 'low-angst-high-cozyness-shelf', since their relationship is realistic and SOLID when they actually get to it.
I LOVED the slow build-up.
That reminded me: "We gotta buy rubbers," I blurted out. His eyebrows shot up, and I cleared my throat. "Don't look so surprised. You have to realize I'm putting out tonight."
I LOVED Casey's relationship with/love for his daughter.
Being a parent meant I was indestructible and a sitting duck all at once. Never had I felt this strong yet vulnerable at the same time. Ten feet tall, yet on my knees. I all but crushed her in my hug and peppered her face with kisses, and she giggled breathlessly.
And I LOVED that Casey was a bumbling, rambling MC, but STILL believed in Ellis.
I cut her off again, this time genuinely angry. "Do you hear yourself? It's insulting as fuck. You're basically saying we need to make a decision for him because he might not be able to do it himself." I pointed to her car. "I won't be part of some manipulation game, so you can leave. If or when Ellis reaches out to me, I'll be as honest as I've always been."
My only issues, were the quite extensive cast of characters and names thrown about, and the long LONG time it took to get both Ellis and Casey's back stories.
In regards to the former: I am one of those that will not leave my MM-hole *snicker*, for MF, so Ade ad Lincoln and all their "children" and friends and "family" were quite overwhelming, because they were just 'thrown' in.
I also wish that the backgrounds of Ellis and Casey were presented earlier and more in-depth.
It definitely still has a taste of: 'you-need-to-read-the-other-books-to-understand-everything', because I still don't feel like I have a comprehensive background story for them both. Though I do know enough to love them independently AND as a couple.
In the end, I decided to ignore these, relatively, little (for the story of Casey and Ellis) things, and just ENJOY this freaking hilarious, lovely story.
It really, REALLY ended up working for me! And Cara Dee is fast approaching 'one-click-buy-status' for me (for her MM-titles) because the PASSION and the grit and the love is out of this world.
July 6, 2021
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I read in reviews and the blurb that this is a standalone and I don’t need the other books to follow along. While that is true to an extent, I think it would’ve been much more enjoyable if I had the backstory of these characters from the other books. I love experiencing the development of feelings in my romance books, so when books begin with that being already done I’m always let down. I understand that this is a personal preference and others probably won’t have an issue with that. This was low angst, instalove, sweetness overload — so if that’s your jam, then this is a book for you! I just needed more...it was just alright.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Casey and Ellis’ story. They’ve known each other for years and Casey has recently formed a crush on the straight Ellis that is going through a rough patch in his marriage. Casey wakes up after a night of drinking on his friend’s boat to find it out to sea with Ellis in control and they end up spending time together, crossing some lines, and falling in love. There are some big reveals, some slight drama, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Casey’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:Kind of. They’ve known each other for years.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Casey. I liked him but I felt like I could’ve connected with him more if I read the other books in the series.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3 stars. Ellis. I liked how he was with the H1’s daughter, but I don’t think I really got deep into his character.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not IMO
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place for the couple but with what I would still call a HFN ending.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Overall Opinion: I read in reviews and the blurb that this is a standalone and I don’t need the other books to follow along. While that is true to an extent, I think it would’ve been much more enjoyable if I had the backstory of these characters from the other books. I love experiencing the development of feelings in my romance books, so when books begin with that being already done I’m always let down. I understand that this is a personal preference and others probably won’t have an issue with that. This was low angst, instalove, sweetness overload — so if that’s your jam, then this is a book for you! I just needed more...it was just alright.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Casey and Ellis’ story. They’ve known each other for years and Casey has recently formed a crush on the straight Ellis that is going through a rough patch in his marriage. Casey wakes up after a night of drinking on his friend’s boat to find it out to sea with Ellis in control and they end up spending time together, crossing some lines, and falling in love. There are some big reveals, some slight drama, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Casey’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:Kind of. They’ve known each other for years.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Casey. I liked him but I felt like I could’ve connected with him more if I read the other books in the series.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3 stars. Ellis. I liked how he was with the H1’s daughter, but I don’t think I really got deep into his character.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not IMO
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place for the couple but with what I would still call a HFN ending.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
July 7, 2017
Starting over...second chances...finding love...
'Uncomplicated Choices' has it all.
This is my third book in this series...it's the author's fifth and I have to admit my only regret with this one is that I didn't take the time to read books 3 and 4, but in spite of that I didn't have any trouble following the story or making the connections as far as relationships were concerned. I admit I did peek at the blurbs for books 3 and 4 as well as sneaking a look at a review or two. Of course I also admit that in spite of the fact that both books are m/f which is not my normal genre these days, I hope to find the time to read both of them one day soon.
Casey is a single dad and he's awesome. As well as being a terrific father, he's witty and funny with his own unique brand of charm. Life's given him, his share of problems and he's managed to keep his humor and rise above things. He's got a strong family but it's not the one he was born with, it's the one he's made with his friends. It's forged from having each other's backs when life tries to knock you down.
Ellis and Casey have known each other for a long time. Ellis is one of the members of the eclectic family that Casey calls his own and while he's by no means one of Casey's closest friends, they've shared a few meals together. They've seen good time and bad and been there for each other.
But when Ellis borrows a mutual friends yacht to get away for some alone time the last thing he expects to find on board is a hung over Casey. Stuck with just each other for company it doesn't take long for these two men to realize that the attraction they've felt for each other is reciprocated and strong. The more time they spend together the stronger their feelings become, but life not always as easy as we'd like it to be and Ellis's alone time was intended to allow him to sort out his feelings for his soon to be ex-wife not complicate things by starting a relationship with someone new. However, sometimes life is what happens when we're busy making other plans and sometimes it's messy and complicated no matter how many plans we make.
While I'm not a fan of cheating...sadly it happens and it was the circumstances surrounding Ellis's marriage that mitigated things for me and there were just so many things about the ending of this one that worked for me. I loved that in the end Ellis and Casey were able to find a way to work with Ellis's wife to create a family that would ultimately be what was in the best interest of not just the children but he adults in their life. Sometimes relationships do have to end, they just need to be redefined and allowed to change.
I loved how seamlessly Casey and Ellis brought what the other needed to their relationship. While i do wish I'd had the time to read the third and fourth books for me between what was in the blurbs and what I found in a few reviews there was enough background that I was able to read this one and totally enjoy it without feeling lost or confused. Along with catching up on the stories I missed I'm looking forward to more from this series. Camassia Cove is definitely a place I want to visit again soon.
********************
An ARC of 'Uncomplicated Choices' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
'Uncomplicated Choices' has it all.
This is my third book in this series...it's the author's fifth and I have to admit my only regret with this one is that I didn't take the time to read books 3 and 4, but in spite of that I didn't have any trouble following the story or making the connections as far as relationships were concerned. I admit I did peek at the blurbs for books 3 and 4 as well as sneaking a look at a review or two. Of course I also admit that in spite of the fact that both books are m/f which is not my normal genre these days, I hope to find the time to read both of them one day soon.
Casey is a single dad and he's awesome. As well as being a terrific father, he's witty and funny with his own unique brand of charm. Life's given him, his share of problems and he's managed to keep his humor and rise above things. He's got a strong family but it's not the one he was born with, it's the one he's made with his friends. It's forged from having each other's backs when life tries to knock you down.
Ellis and Casey have known each other for a long time. Ellis is one of the members of the eclectic family that Casey calls his own and while he's by no means one of Casey's closest friends, they've shared a few meals together. They've seen good time and bad and been there for each other.
But when Ellis borrows a mutual friends yacht to get away for some alone time the last thing he expects to find on board is a hung over Casey. Stuck with just each other for company it doesn't take long for these two men to realize that the attraction they've felt for each other is reciprocated and strong. The more time they spend together the stronger their feelings become, but life not always as easy as we'd like it to be and Ellis's alone time was intended to allow him to sort out his feelings for his soon to be ex-wife not complicate things by starting a relationship with someone new. However, sometimes life is what happens when we're busy making other plans and sometimes it's messy and complicated no matter how many plans we make.
While I'm not a fan of cheating...sadly it happens and it was the circumstances surrounding Ellis's marriage that mitigated things for me and there were just so many things about the ending of this one that worked for me. I loved that in the end Ellis and Casey were able to find a way to work with Ellis's wife to create a family that would ultimately be what was in the best interest of not just the children but he adults in their life. Sometimes relationships do have to end, they just need to be redefined and allowed to change.
I loved how seamlessly Casey and Ellis brought what the other needed to their relationship. While i do wish I'd had the time to read the third and fourth books for me between what was in the blurbs and what I found in a few reviews there was enough background that I was able to read this one and totally enjoy it without feeling lost or confused. Along with catching up on the stories I missed I'm looking forward to more from this series. Camassia Cove is definitely a place I want to visit again soon.
********************
An ARC of 'Uncomplicated Choices' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2017
A lot of people are going to say that there is cheating in this book. I disagree. There was a separation, a divorce in the making and the mutual decision to "see what else is out there". There is no sneaking around, at least not behind the soon-to-be ex-wife's back. Because of all those reasons I don't see what happened in this story as cheating. It was just two people starting a relationship while one of them was in the middle of getting a divorce.
Uncomplicated Choices is light-hearted and funny at times, but also packs some emotional conversations. There is a lot of honesty and communication between the main couple, as well as between them and the ex-wife. The way those three handled the situation they found themselves in was very mature. I was happy to read about it and imagine how their future would look like. They found a way for their little family to work in the best possible way and it was a way that made me excited to learn more about how their lives turned out in the years to come.
I liked the way Casey, Lincoln and Ade raised their two girls together. They had managed to co-parent them and have a happy, unconventional family that worked. I liked the dynamic of that family. Even though most of the members weren't related by blood but by choice, their bond was real and their connection one that withstood time and struggles. Both Ellis and Casey had struggled in their upbringing so they didn't have a lot of fond memories from their biological family. Because of that, their chosen family was a that-much-more important part of their lives and one they cherished.
5 stars for an epic family story!
* This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews. *
Uncomplicated Choices is light-hearted and funny at times, but also packs some emotional conversations. There is a lot of honesty and communication between the main couple, as well as between them and the ex-wife. The way those three handled the situation they found themselves in was very mature. I was happy to read about it and imagine how their future would look like. They found a way for their little family to work in the best possible way and it was a way that made me excited to learn more about how their lives turned out in the years to come.
I liked the way Casey, Lincoln and Ade raised their two girls together. They had managed to co-parent them and have a happy, unconventional family that worked. I liked the dynamic of that family. Even though most of the members weren't related by blood but by choice, their bond was real and their connection one that withstood time and struggles. Both Ellis and Casey had struggled in their upbringing so they didn't have a lot of fond memories from their biological family. Because of that, their chosen family was a that-much-more important part of their lives and one they cherished.
5 stars for an epic family story!
* This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews. *
July 8, 2017
Just read Dani' s review. I agree with her 100%
2.5 Stars
Want to read
September 23, 2017FREE ON AMAZON 9-23-17
May 8, 2019
Aaah I enjoyed this so much! Ellis and Casey are so hot together. It's another light-hearted read perfect for a rainy day. I'd only read Adrian's book (I think the first book) in this series and I didn't feel too lost. Maybe if you first read the MF story starring Lincoln, it would be better. But I didn't and it was still great.
January 14, 2018
Awwww another sweet Cara Dee read. She sure knows how to make her characters lovable and genuine. Casey was the ultimate Dad, he loved his friends as family and he worked hard to be honest about his past. He made no excuses and planned for a great future. After a night of drinking he crashes on Lincoln’s boat only to wake in the morning somewhere in the middle of the ocean - accidentally kidnapped by Ellis. Ahhh Ellis !!! Casey had admired him for so long and now they were together. Ellis having a marriage crisis, Casey wanting to find a way forward. The path was right there in front of them all along. What unfolded was sweet and romantic... these two, along with Hayley and eventually Theo, were adorable, but only one thing lacked - I really wanted to see that last date !!!! No doubt a proposal was on hand ❤️❤️❤️
May 4, 2019
Reread May 2019
Original Review
4.5 stars
This was wonderful. Casey has a refreshingly unique POV which made this so enjoyable to read. And Ellis? *happy sigh*
Cara Dee is amazing. Her stories are amazing. Her characters are amazing. The only issue I have is the abrupt ending. I hope she lets us in on it during the next book.
Original Review
4.5 stars
This was wonderful. Casey has a refreshingly unique POV which made this so enjoyable to read. And Ellis? *happy sigh*
Cara Dee is amazing. Her stories are amazing. Her characters are amazing. The only issue I have is the abrupt ending. I hope she lets us in on it during the next book.
January 28, 2018
I didn't love that Ellis and his wife were still married throughout the entire novel, but I did love watching Ellis' self-discovery, Casey's utter devotion to his daughter, and the copious moments of affection and connection and communication between the main characters. I felt totally satisfied by their HEA.
January 17, 2023
First this book IS NOT a standalone. You really need to read book 1 that has lots of Casey in it. You don’t get his full backstory in this book, read book 1. OR don’t read book 1 or this book and avoid all of this cringy mess. 🫣😬🤪😆😆
I’ve been on a Cara binge and I finally reached her lemon 🍋 book. I’m sad it’s Casey’s though.
It was going so well and then it went straight to shit and became a MF-like soap opera. 🤮🤮🤮
My rant… ok let me get this straight after 11+ years of fucking as husband and wife, Ellis and Marilyn, had no kids BUT once they decide to divorce she suddenly becomes pregnant. UGH 😣
This type of bullshit plot device was the reason I stopped reading MF and the irony here is this is an MM book! UGH. Casey takes this better than most.
At least the point doesn’t become beleaguered. Resolution ✅
The Jameson plot should have been edited out too because ugh and ick
The fact that Lincoln and Adeline are so clueless too. Totally unbelievable.
88% in and you just find out what happened to make Casey a single dad to Haley. Cara’s books have a common theme. Parental abandonment.
The HEA is there but meh and honestly I found I really didn’t care. The hearts and rainbows seemed fake AF.
Side note: to add insult to injury… the 1st time they has penetrative sex it was off page 😵💫😵💫😵💫🤬
TWs self harm, cheating and drunkenness
I’ve been on a Cara binge and I finally reached her lemon 🍋 book. I’m sad it’s Casey’s though.
It was going so well and then it went straight to shit and became a MF-like soap opera. 🤮🤮🤮
My rant… ok let me get this straight after 11+ years of fucking as husband and wife, Ellis and Marilyn, had no kids BUT once they decide to divorce she suddenly becomes pregnant. UGH 😣
This type of bullshit plot device was the reason I stopped reading MF and the irony here is this is an MM book! UGH. Casey takes this better than most.
At least the point doesn’t become beleaguered. Resolution ✅
The Jameson plot should have been edited out too because ugh and ick
The fact that Lincoln and Adeline are so clueless too. Totally unbelievable.
88% in and you just find out what happened to make Casey a single dad to Haley. Cara’s books have a common theme. Parental abandonment.
The HEA is there but meh and honestly I found I really didn’t care. The hearts and rainbows seemed fake AF.
Side note: to add insult to injury… the 1st time they has penetrative sex it was off page 😵💫😵💫😵💫🤬
TWs self harm, cheating and drunkenness
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2023
reread Oct. 2023
4/5 stars
This was so cute and fluffy compared to If We Could Go Back!? It was just so adorable and fun to read!
4/5 stars
This was so cute and fluffy compared to If We Could Go Back!? It was just so adorable and fun to read!
April 18, 2020
4,5 stars
Another total winner by Cara Dee!
I loved pretty much everything here:
• the rather funny kidnap story (even if I couldn’t help feeling a bit envious of a guy who can simply clock off work for almost two weeks at the drop of a hat!)
• the chemistry between Casey and Ellis
• the way these two simply click and ‘get on with it’
• the heartwarming and cute conversations
• and the sizzle these two create
Mostly, it amazed me (again) that Cara Dee manages to pack kids and family related ‘stuff’ into a romantic novel without alienating me. Kids in romance are a tricky issue for me (particularly when they take over the story lines), but it certainly works here.
What I missed was Ellis’s POV. As a guy who’s been ‘labelled’ straight his ‘conversion’ to liking guys seems to come from nowhere. I would have really liked to know how that happened. Just attraction is maybe not quite enough to explain it?
However, I loved how the main problems between Ellis and his wife are resolved. And how the author succeeds in not vilifying the woman and looking at the 'cheating' question from a very different angle. This does not condone cheating in any way, but shows us that sometimes circumstances aren't all black and white.
Super writing and highly enjoyable!
Another total winner by Cara Dee!
I loved pretty much everything here:
• the rather funny kidnap story (even if I couldn’t help feeling a bit envious of a guy who can simply clock off work for almost two weeks at the drop of a hat!)
• the chemistry between Casey and Ellis
• the way these two simply click and ‘get on with it’
• the heartwarming and cute conversations
• and the sizzle these two create
Mostly, it amazed me (again) that Cara Dee manages to pack kids and family related ‘stuff’ into a romantic novel without alienating me. Kids in romance are a tricky issue for me (particularly when they take over the story lines), but it certainly works here.
What I missed was Ellis’s POV. As a guy who’s been ‘labelled’ straight his ‘conversion’ to liking guys seems to come from nowhere. I would have really liked to know how that happened. Just attraction is maybe not quite enough to explain it?
However, I loved how the main problems between Ellis and his wife are resolved. And how the author succeeds in not vilifying the woman and looking at the 'cheating' question from a very different angle. This does not condone cheating in any way, but shows us that sometimes circumstances aren't all black and white.
Super writing and highly enjoyable!
August 12, 2018
And I pretty much LOVED this. There were a few issues, and to be honest, I don't think I have read this series in order or all of them or whatever- in fact, I think I just read the first one? Anyhoo...
I loved Casey! Loved him! Although I would rather have alternating POVs, being in his head wasn't a bad place to be. He was sweet and honest and he made me laugh. He loves his daughter and takes care of the people that matter to him and he's pretty blunt, but he's also a guy who doesn't want his heart broken, who is a little afraid of promises and I just couldn't get enough of him.
I liked Ellis a lot. I had some issues in here with his status...that being "married" and yes, I know his wife is off dating other people and they're basically already resigned to getting a divorce, but...I don't know, I don't really like that. He didn't come across as some sleazy guy or anything and I felt for him, especially when
I had one other issue
Overall this was cute and sweet and moments of hotness and I really enjoyed it
I loved Casey! Loved him! Although I would rather have alternating POVs, being in his head wasn't a bad place to be. He was sweet and honest and he made me laugh. He loves his daughter and takes care of the people that matter to him and he's pretty blunt, but he's also a guy who doesn't want his heart broken, who is a little afraid of promises and I just couldn't get enough of him.
I liked Ellis a lot. I had some issues in here with his status...that being "married" and yes, I know his wife is off dating other people and they're basically already resigned to getting a divorce, but...I don't know, I don't really like that. He didn't come across as some sleazy guy or anything and I felt for him, especially when
I had one other issue
Overall this was cute and sweet and moments of hotness and I really enjoyed it
June 20, 2019
Smart, Sweet & Sexy Love Story!
Funny banter, a kidnapping and, a little tiny surprise are all pieces of the Casey & Ellis love story. Good storytelling, likable MCs and side characters. The author has a knack for writing sweet caring Daddy and kid interactions. I also enjoyed the premise of the status quo marriage vs finding adventurous love with a same-sex man. Finally, I loved the Casey Comebacks, especially with Marilyn! You Go Boy!😆
Funny banter, a kidnapping and, a little tiny surprise are all pieces of the Casey & Ellis love story. Good storytelling, likable MCs and side characters. The author has a knack for writing sweet caring Daddy and kid interactions. I also enjoyed the premise of the status quo marriage vs finding adventurous love with a same-sex man. Finally, I loved the Casey Comebacks, especially with Marilyn! You Go Boy!😆
June 15, 2019
Después de morir de amor con Kennet me lancé directa a la siguiente entrega de la serie... Y buenoooo... Se trata de un giro total, la historia de Casey y Ellis es, pues eso, uncomplicated.
Todo muuuuy fácil (sobretodo el final, que es de rolling eyes de 360º) y demasiada corrección para mi gusto (amigos millonarios enrollados que te dejan su yate chipichipi, quién no los tiene...) aunque la historia me entró bien pese a todo. Mona y entretenida, y ya está.
Todo muuuuy fácil (sobretodo el final, que es de rolling eyes de 360º) y demasiada corrección para mi gusto (amigos millonarios enrollados que te dejan su yate chipichipi, quién no los tiene...) aunque la historia me entró bien pese a todo. Mona y entretenida, y ya está.
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