What do you think?
Rate this book
Tidal #2
Calm
A love worth the wait.
When Riley Porter-Wright comes out as bisexual and confesses his feelings for Carter Hamilton, it severs their friendship. Carter's rejection forces Riley to move on and he's shocked to learn Carter's marriage has fallen apart.
Overwhelmed by his failure as a husband and father, Carter misses Riley, but feels guilty for disappearing after Riley's coming out. After Riley extends an olive branch, the former friends agree to repair their relationship. Slowly, Carter pieces together a new life, admits his attraction to men and confesses his feelings for Riley.
Leery of Carter's initial rejection, Riley turns his focus to a new man, Will Martin.
Disappointed, Carter fosters new friendships with men like Jesse Murtagh and Kyle McKee, while also navigating new waters with his ex-wife, Kate, as their children learn their parents are dating other people.
As they rebuild their friendship, both Carter and Riley draw strength from each other, hoping the choices they've made are for the best.
When Riley Porter-Wright comes out as bisexual and confesses his feelings for Carter Hamilton, it severs their friendship. Carter's rejection forces Riley to move on and he's shocked to learn Carter's marriage has fallen apart.
Overwhelmed by his failure as a husband and father, Carter misses Riley, but feels guilty for disappearing after Riley's coming out. After Riley extends an olive branch, the former friends agree to repair their relationship. Slowly, Carter pieces together a new life, admits his attraction to men and confesses his feelings for Riley.
Leery of Carter's initial rejection, Riley turns his focus to a new man, Will Martin.
Disappointed, Carter fosters new friendships with men like Jesse Murtagh and Kyle McKee, while also navigating new waters with his ex-wife, Kate, as their children learn their parents are dating other people.
As they rebuild their friendship, both Carter and Riley draw strength from each other, hoping the choices they've made are for the best.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2017
About the author
K. Evan Coles
20 books264 followersK. Evan Coles is a mother and tech pirate by day and a writer by night. She is a dreamer who, with a little hard work and a lot of good coffee, coaxes words out of her head and onto paper.
K. lives in the northeast United States, where she complains bitterly about the winters, but truly loves the region and its diverse, tenacious and deceptively compassionate people. You’ll usually find K. nerding out over books, movies and television with friends and family. She’s especially proud to be raising her son as part of a new generation of unabashed geeks.
K.'s books explore LGBTQ+ romance in contemporary settings.
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/308e1be9c54a/colessignup
K. lives in the northeast United States, where she complains bitterly about the winters, but truly loves the region and its diverse, tenacious and deceptively compassionate people. You’ll usually find K. nerding out over books, movies and television with friends and family. She’s especially proud to be raising her son as part of a new generation of unabashed geeks.
K.'s books explore LGBTQ+ romance in contemporary settings.
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/308e1be9c54a/colessignup
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Read
April 9, 2018Bueno, ahora se porqué me lo recomendaron tanto en tumblr... es que parece calcado del discurso sjw que se lee allí y como tal, lo he encontrado aburrido y manido hasta la médula, diálogos poco reales y oh Dios, qué personajes más poco amigables, no ha habido nada, pero nada que los haga medianamente agradables.
Como leer aún sabiendo que habia muchas posibilidades de que no me gustase es problema de la menda, no voy a puntuar porque creo que sería poco justo. Sin embargo, en mi cabecita le doy un cero patatero.
Como leer aún sabiendo que habia muchas posibilidades de que no me gustase es problema de la menda, no voy a puntuar porque creo que sería poco justo. Sin embargo, en mi cabecita le doy un cero patatero.
August 25, 2017
4.5 stars!
So here we are back with Riley and Carter. And I couldn't wait to dig my teeth in. I had to see what was going to happen next! :D
First things first, I have to praise Brigham and K. Evan's writing. The fact is they had my heart hurting for Riley in Wake, then wanting me to give my heart over to Carter in Calm. It shows their character building is on point and their collaboration of thoughts and plots are wonderful.
Now, onto the book....
The first half gave us Riley and Carter each living and growing into the new chapters of their lives.
First there is Riley with Will, and their relationship. And I'll be honest here, Will was not my favorite. Now maybe it was because I wanted Riley and Carter together, like yesterday, but Will just didn't do anything for me. I wanted him gone. Meeep! I know that's so bad, but it was true. Although, he did do something for Riley. He gave Riley a new look on life.
Then, there's Carter....Oh, Carter. He is living a very, very lonely life on his own. He comes to realize who he is and is trying to grow into it. In time, he meets new friends. They bring him out of his shell, show him life can be good, and get him to have some fun.
One of these guys is my absolute faaaaaaaavorite! Jesse! Omg. Seriously, I love this man! Love him!!!! He is fun, sexy as hell, snarky, and so good for Carter. You will love him too! Guaranteed! And if you don't, that just means more for me!!! ;)
A couple other characters that HAVE to be mentioned are Dan and Kate. Dan is one of their friends- former college buddy and roommate. Just in the few scenes he is in he packs a punch, with his friendship, guidance, and love for these guys. I adore him.
Last but definitely not least is Kate, Carter's ex-wife, who is amazing. Even after everything she's been through with Carter, she supports him through many obstacles. She doesn't take negativity or audacity from others, and she defends Carter and Riley to those who are nasty (*ahem* Carter's parents- Jerks!). They are still teaming together as parents and friends throughout. It was so wonderful to see the care they have for one another after all they've been through.
It took a bit for us to get Ri and Car exclusively. But damn once they did, they are hot AF. And I'm not just talking about sex. I'm talking about their love for one another and their commitment to each other's lives. Their friendship always came first- that is where it all started for them. Where they were throughout.
Their attraction, love, and adoration of each other came next. And boy oh boy do they have those feelings for each other. You see it, feel it, and are cheering them on. At least I was!
I really loved where they ended up. My heart was all a flutter at the end.
Seriously if these two authors decide to write more about Riley and Carter, I will definitely be in line.
K. Evan and Brigham's collaboration is a wonderful, if not angsty, yet fulfilling to read. I can't wait to see what they are gonna give us next!
So here we are back with Riley and Carter. And I couldn't wait to dig my teeth in. I had to see what was going to happen next! :D
First things first, I have to praise Brigham and K. Evan's writing. The fact is they had my heart hurting for Riley in Wake, then wanting me to give my heart over to Carter in Calm. It shows their character building is on point and their collaboration of thoughts and plots are wonderful.
Now, onto the book....
The first half gave us Riley and Carter each living and growing into the new chapters of their lives.
First there is Riley with Will, and their relationship. And I'll be honest here, Will was not my favorite. Now maybe it was because I wanted Riley and Carter together, like yesterday, but Will just didn't do anything for me. I wanted him gone. Meeep! I know that's so bad, but it was true. Although, he did do something for Riley. He gave Riley a new look on life.
Then, there's Carter....Oh, Carter. He is living a very, very lonely life on his own. He comes to realize who he is and is trying to grow into it. In time, he meets new friends. They bring him out of his shell, show him life can be good, and get him to have some fun.
One of these guys is my absolute faaaaaaaavorite! Jesse! Omg. Seriously, I love this man! Love him!!!! He is fun, sexy as hell, snarky, and so good for Carter. You will love him too! Guaranteed! And if you don't, that just means more for me!!! ;)
A couple other characters that HAVE to be mentioned are Dan and Kate. Dan is one of their friends- former college buddy and roommate. Just in the few scenes he is in he packs a punch, with his friendship, guidance, and love for these guys. I adore him.
Last but definitely not least is Kate, Carter's ex-wife, who is amazing. Even after everything she's been through with Carter, she supports him through many obstacles. She doesn't take negativity or audacity from others, and she defends Carter and Riley to those who are nasty (*ahem* Carter's parents- Jerks!). They are still teaming together as parents and friends throughout. It was so wonderful to see the care they have for one another after all they've been through.
It took a bit for us to get Ri and Car exclusively. But damn once they did, they are hot AF. And I'm not just talking about sex. I'm talking about their love for one another and their commitment to each other's lives. Their friendship always came first- that is where it all started for them. Where they were throughout.
Their attraction, love, and adoration of each other came next. And boy oh boy do they have those feelings for each other. You see it, feel it, and are cheering them on. At least I was!
I really loved where they ended up. My heart was all a flutter at the end.
Seriously if these two authors decide to write more about Riley and Carter, I will definitely be in line.
K. Evan and Brigham's collaboration is a wonderful, if not angsty, yet fulfilling to read. I can't wait to see what they are gonna give us next!
September 11, 2017
About a week ago a tweet showed up on my timeline and Twitter feed stating the following:
'Gay culture is being a teenager when you're 30 because your teenage years were not yours to live'.
Today, while reading Calm I was reminded of the tweet again. Not because Riley and Carter act like teenagers so much — they’re actually very grown up and sensible about how they’re dealing with their lives and their relationships — but because of all the things they have to figure out all over again, and for certain developments that closely resemble growing up and moving on to lead your own life.
I apologize, I was horribly vague in that previous paragraph but that is very much on purpose. While I am perfectly comfortable revealing that this book centres around Riley and Carter figuring out who they really are, both as individuals and together, I much prefer not to go into details. Trust me when I say that the journey these two men undertake is beautiful, realistic, and unputdownable.
I’ve said it before and I’m not afraid to say it again: I love books that take me away from the tried and trusted and give me a new (to me) sorta story. Calm, like Wake before it, is such a story and it managed to totally take me by surprise. For example, I had prepared myself for high levels of angst (which, as regular readers will know, I’m not very good with), only to discover that while the story is bursting with emotion it’s not angst-driven at all.
There was so much in this book I absolutely adored I could easily write a novella length review without sharing all the details. I’ll spare you that and will try to limit myself to one or two things that really stood out for me.
First and foremost, the story-lines in these books can all be caught under the same label: realism. All too often in romance novels there are one or two moments when the reader has to suspense disbelieve and just go with the flow. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it was wonderful to read a book in which the story and the character development felt so real that I could almost believe I was reading an (auto) biography or memoir rather than a novel. And, for me, this was most obvious in the way the various relationships played out. Carter building a new relationship with Kate, his ex-wife and the mother of his two children, felt real, not to mention that it closely resembles how I feel divorces should play out, especially when there are kids involved.
Furthermore, I loved that there are no perfect characters or easy solutions in this story. This is a slice of life and while the happily ever after was definitely there when I reached the end of the book, even that was coloured by realism rather than fairytales. And that is what made this book so very special; I not only believed that Carter and Riley would be happy ever after, I’m also convinced theirs is the sort of happy ending all of us can aspire to.
The secondary characters in this book were wonderful and I can’t begin to tell you how delighted I am that the authors are working on a spin-off series in which we’ll get to see more of Jesse, Kyle, and hopefully Will. And the fact that I can’t imagine Riley and Carter not making regular appearances in those new books too only heightens my delight.
Long story short, Calm and Wake are well written, captivating, and truly unique stories featuring characters I came to care for deeply and a story that will stick with me for a very long time. Well done ladies, you created an absolutely stunning two book series! I’m looking forward to any future co-writing you may end up doing.
'Gay culture is being a teenager when you're 30 because your teenage years were not yours to live'.
Today, while reading Calm I was reminded of the tweet again. Not because Riley and Carter act like teenagers so much — they’re actually very grown up and sensible about how they’re dealing with their lives and their relationships — but because of all the things they have to figure out all over again, and for certain developments that closely resemble growing up and moving on to lead your own life.
I apologize, I was horribly vague in that previous paragraph but that is very much on purpose. While I am perfectly comfortable revealing that this book centres around Riley and Carter figuring out who they really are, both as individuals and together, I much prefer not to go into details. Trust me when I say that the journey these two men undertake is beautiful, realistic, and unputdownable.
I’ve said it before and I’m not afraid to say it again: I love books that take me away from the tried and trusted and give me a new (to me) sorta story. Calm, like Wake before it, is such a story and it managed to totally take me by surprise. For example, I had prepared myself for high levels of angst (which, as regular readers will know, I’m not very good with), only to discover that while the story is bursting with emotion it’s not angst-driven at all.
There was so much in this book I absolutely adored I could easily write a novella length review without sharing all the details. I’ll spare you that and will try to limit myself to one or two things that really stood out for me.
First and foremost, the story-lines in these books can all be caught under the same label: realism. All too often in romance novels there are one or two moments when the reader has to suspense disbelieve and just go with the flow. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it was wonderful to read a book in which the story and the character development felt so real that I could almost believe I was reading an (auto) biography or memoir rather than a novel. And, for me, this was most obvious in the way the various relationships played out. Carter building a new relationship with Kate, his ex-wife and the mother of his two children, felt real, not to mention that it closely resembles how I feel divorces should play out, especially when there are kids involved.
Furthermore, I loved that there are no perfect characters or easy solutions in this story. This is a slice of life and while the happily ever after was definitely there when I reached the end of the book, even that was coloured by realism rather than fairytales. And that is what made this book so very special; I not only believed that Carter and Riley would be happy ever after, I’m also convinced theirs is the sort of happy ending all of us can aspire to.
The secondary characters in this book were wonderful and I can’t begin to tell you how delighted I am that the authors are working on a spin-off series in which we’ll get to see more of Jesse, Kyle, and hopefully Will. And the fact that I can’t imagine Riley and Carter not making regular appearances in those new books too only heightens my delight.
Long story short, Calm and Wake are well written, captivating, and truly unique stories featuring characters I came to care for deeply and a story that will stick with me for a very long time. Well done ladies, you created an absolutely stunning two book series! I’m looking forward to any future co-writing you may end up doing.
September 13, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I am good at waiting. Seriously good at waiting. There is something to be said about the build up to the anticipation of a highly sought after sequel. Calm was that book. The first book in the series, Wake, captivated me on a number of levels and since the story was not complete, this was most certainly one of my most highly anticipated sequels of the year. I had this book for a few weeks before I was able to read it due to scheduling and I could not wait until it was next on my list.
Wake ended with Carter and Riley estranged, Carter needing to have a conversation with his wife, and Riley dating a new man. I like books that reach outside the lines and in the first book the authors added in threesomes, cheating, estrangement, and dating other people, and if it works for the story, bring it on. This book didn’t go quite the way I was expecting or wanting, but let’s talk about where it did go.
As the book opens, Riley is dating Will and Carter is separated from Kate. Riley barely has any connection to his parents after coming out and Carter’s parents are livid that Carter is separated and side against him even before knowing all of the facts, which then further escalates the collapse of their relationship. Riley was incredibly hurt at the way Carter responded to his coming out and while he feels he needs to continue to distance himself from Carter, there is a Carter shaped hole in his life that everyone can see.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I am good at waiting. Seriously good at waiting. There is something to be said about the build up to the anticipation of a highly sought after sequel. Calm was that book. The first book in the series, Wake, captivated me on a number of levels and since the story was not complete, this was most certainly one of my most highly anticipated sequels of the year. I had this book for a few weeks before I was able to read it due to scheduling and I could not wait until it was next on my list.
Wake ended with Carter and Riley estranged, Carter needing to have a conversation with his wife, and Riley dating a new man. I like books that reach outside the lines and in the first book the authors added in threesomes, cheating, estrangement, and dating other people, and if it works for the story, bring it on. This book didn’t go quite the way I was expecting or wanting, but let’s talk about where it did go.
As the book opens, Riley is dating Will and Carter is separated from Kate. Riley barely has any connection to his parents after coming out and Carter’s parents are livid that Carter is separated and side against him even before knowing all of the facts, which then further escalates the collapse of their relationship. Riley was incredibly hurt at the way Carter responded to his coming out and while he feels he needs to continue to distance himself from Carter, there is a Carter shaped hole in his life that everyone can see.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
August 27, 2017
You know when you get so involved in a book at you find yourself yelling at the characters, and wanting to shake the shit out of them and then the next moment you want to just hold them and make it all go away? Yeah, that is what I went through with this book. But it was amazing to see Riley and Carter grow in the ways they needed to in order to finally get it right. Getting divorced is hard enough but when it is because you have been lying to yourself and to the people you love, those are some hardcore issues to work through. I think K Evan Coles and Brigham Vaughn did an EXCELLENT job making the journey these men experienced believably heartbreaking, and rewarding. I loved it so much. What a great way to wrap up my summer reading. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves to be emotionally wrapped up in great writing and superior character development. Kudos to you ladies!!!
January 3, 2018
'CALM,' book 2 of the "Tidal" series, begins after Riley comes out, and loses almost everything he loves, including his friendship with Carter (but not his amazing job in his family's publishing business). It's a longer novel that delves deeply into how Riley mopes a while, then moves on in a way that I truly appreciated, even though I knew the end was inevitable. Carter falls into a hole of depression and misery thanks to the fallout of the cheating, but and again, the authors handle all of this with what I felt was just enough detail to keep it realistic.
This is a romance so the HEA, while long in coming, is gratifying. The books have plenty of secondary characters to prop up the protagonists, including the requisite, cardboard, bitchy ex-wife for Riley--who, frankly, was the only character that I felt wasn't as developed as she could have been, but it's a small complaint. This book contains most of the MM sex and there is a lot of it but it's handled well, not overdone and (something that's rare in this genre I've found) very realistic in terms of the mechanics and variations.
I highly recommend WAKE and CALM (I recommend reading them back to back, don't try to pick this one up without reading WAKE first) if you love a good love story about really rich people (I know I keep saying this but I sort of got to where it bugged me for some reason but it has nothing to do with the author's talents or the overall storyline at all). If it's your first try at a man-love romance, they would be a fabulous introduction to it. I'm guessing there are more books planned for this series, but to me, it ended perfectly and no more books would be necessary. 4.5 stars to both!
This is a romance so the HEA, while long in coming, is gratifying. The books have plenty of secondary characters to prop up the protagonists, including the requisite, cardboard, bitchy ex-wife for Riley--who, frankly, was the only character that I felt wasn't as developed as she could have been, but it's a small complaint. This book contains most of the MM sex and there is a lot of it but it's handled well, not overdone and (something that's rare in this genre I've found) very realistic in terms of the mechanics and variations.
I highly recommend WAKE and CALM (I recommend reading them back to back, don't try to pick this one up without reading WAKE first) if you love a good love story about really rich people (I know I keep saying this but I sort of got to where it bugged me for some reason but it has nothing to do with the author's talents or the overall storyline at all). If it's your first try at a man-love romance, they would be a fabulous introduction to it. I'm guessing there are more books planned for this series, but to me, it ended perfectly and no more books would be necessary. 4.5 stars to both!
September 9, 2017
5 + Stars
I've been anticipating this sequel since the moment I closed Wake, and I wasn't disappointed. All the anticipation, heartache and angst was well worth it to finally see Riley and Carter together and happy.
This story starts us off with Riley moving on after his divorce and dating Will, while Carter, who has moved out of his home and is getting a divorce from his wife, is trying to navigate and explore his attraction to men.
Let's start with Riley and Will. Will had the personality of a wet mop and I cringed at every scene between the two of them. They just did not work together. They had absolutely no chemistry whatsoever and, well, I sometimes cheat when I read, so I peeked and knew ahead of time around the point when things would end between Riley and Will and I kept a close eye on the location of the book in anticipation of them breaking up. I'm such a horrible person. haha I couldn't even bring myself to feel bad for Will. Will was an idiot to enter into a relationship with a Riley, a man who has clearly informed him that he is in love with another man. What did he expect to happen?!
I wanted to smack Riley upside the head. He was brave enough to finally come out and after learning that Carter, the one person he's always wanted, is now available and reciprocates his feelings, he puts him firmly in the friends-zone!! Argh!! I wanted to scream at him and shake him a bit. Hello, would you just open your eyes already, Riley?! Riley totally played it safe instead of going after what his heart truly wanted. But I guess I have to commend him for at least giving it the old college try with Will, or maybe not. Can y'all tell I didn't like Will?
Now on to Carter, as much as I wanted to strangle Carter throughout book one, he stole my heart in this portion of their story. My heart broke for him, but he was so supportive of Riley, stepping aside and letting him make Will his top priority, and when Will and Riley FINALLY split up, he was there by Riley's side to console and support him.
Carter does his best to put his fellings for Riley aside and throws himself into the dating scene. Then he meets Jesse who he really likes, but Jesse is not one for monogamy, so they have fun together and become great friends, who are sometimes friends with benefits. I LOVED Jesse. He is a carefree and snarky. He does what he wants and says what he feels with no apologies. He not only helps Carter explore his sexuality, but becomes one of his closest friends and introduces Carter to a group of friends that turn out to be an amazing support system for Carter, and eventually for Riley. As much as I wanted Carter to be with Riley, I can't deny the chemistry between Carter and Jesse. They were smoking hot together.
Now, Carter and Riley. When Riley finally pulls his head out of his ass, Riley and Carter become the amazing couple I always knew they could be. They had amazing chemistry and I loved that even though they'd known one another for half their lives, they took their time with the progression of their relationship. And once they finally fell into bed they were explosive together.
They worked hard together to build a solid foundation for their relationship. The road was long and bumpy but so worth it in the end. The story was amazing, it's extremely well written, the collaboration is seamless and it kept me enthralled. I couldn't put it down and as much as I wanted to get Riley and Carter to that happy ending, I'm not ready to say goodbye to them. I absolutely loved them and I'm hoping to catch glimpses of them in Jesse's story, which I'm desperately hoping is next and will be waiting impatiently for!! Very enjoyable and highly recommended!!
*copy provided by the authors/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I've been anticipating this sequel since the moment I closed Wake, and I wasn't disappointed. All the anticipation, heartache and angst was well worth it to finally see Riley and Carter together and happy.
This story starts us off with Riley moving on after his divorce and dating Will, while Carter, who has moved out of his home and is getting a divorce from his wife, is trying to navigate and explore his attraction to men.
Let's start with Riley and Will. Will had the personality of a wet mop and I cringed at every scene between the two of them. They just did not work together. They had absolutely no chemistry whatsoever and, well, I sometimes cheat when I read, so I peeked and knew ahead of time around the point when things would end between Riley and Will and I kept a close eye on the location of the book in anticipation of them breaking up. I'm such a horrible person. haha I couldn't even bring myself to feel bad for Will. Will was an idiot to enter into a relationship with a Riley, a man who has clearly informed him that he is in love with another man. What did he expect to happen?!
I wanted to smack Riley upside the head. He was brave enough to finally come out and after learning that Carter, the one person he's always wanted, is now available and reciprocates his feelings, he puts him firmly in the friends-zone!! Argh!! I wanted to scream at him and shake him a bit. Hello, would you just open your eyes already, Riley?! Riley totally played it safe instead of going after what his heart truly wanted. But I guess I have to commend him for at least giving it the old college try with Will, or maybe not. Can y'all tell I didn't like Will?
Now on to Carter, as much as I wanted to strangle Carter throughout book one, he stole my heart in this portion of their story. My heart broke for him, but he was so supportive of Riley, stepping aside and letting him make Will his top priority, and when Will and Riley FINALLY split up, he was there by Riley's side to console and support him.
Carter does his best to put his fellings for Riley aside and throws himself into the dating scene. Then he meets Jesse who he really likes, but Jesse is not one for monogamy, so they have fun together and become great friends, who are sometimes friends with benefits. I LOVED Jesse. He is a carefree and snarky. He does what he wants and says what he feels with no apologies. He not only helps Carter explore his sexuality, but becomes one of his closest friends and introduces Carter to a group of friends that turn out to be an amazing support system for Carter, and eventually for Riley. As much as I wanted Carter to be with Riley, I can't deny the chemistry between Carter and Jesse. They were smoking hot together.
Now, Carter and Riley. When Riley finally pulls his head out of his ass, Riley and Carter become the amazing couple I always knew they could be. They had amazing chemistry and I loved that even though they'd known one another for half their lives, they took their time with the progression of their relationship. And once they finally fell into bed they were explosive together.
They worked hard together to build a solid foundation for their relationship. The road was long and bumpy but so worth it in the end. The story was amazing, it's extremely well written, the collaboration is seamless and it kept me enthralled. I couldn't put it down and as much as I wanted to get Riley and Carter to that happy ending, I'm not ready to say goodbye to them. I absolutely loved them and I'm hoping to catch glimpses of them in Jesse's story, which I'm desperately hoping is next and will be waiting impatiently for!! Very enjoyable and highly recommended!!
*copy provided by the authors/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
September 13, 2017
I will be the first to tell you that when I read Wake, I did not give it a great rating. I was pretty upset at the fact that it basically had a cliffhanger, and there was no information in the ARC that there would be a book 2. (The author responded to my review post stating that there would be a follow up book.) I liked the MC’s, but that cliffhanger just threw me for a loop.
Calm, book 2, is the book that finishes the story for Carter and Riley, best friends from the first day of college, and definitely was a long road for these two to get to their HEA. Riley begins a relationship with a friend of Natalie’s. Meanwhile, Carter and his wife divorce, and work through the new and winding road of exes relearning to be friends, while still parenting two children.
As Carter and Riley drift back into each other’s orbits, they begin to be friends again. This is important for these two men, and honestly is what later is able to drive them into a romantic relationship. As they learn to be their own person without the other (and their ex-wives), they also learn to be friends again, who are there for the other when things become difficult. This was a crucial aspect of their relationship, and carries over later into the beginnings of their romance.
I will say that I was a bit disappointed how long it took to bring Carter and Riley to their romantic relationship. It felt like Riley’s relationship with Will, including sex scenes, was a larger portion of the book than his eventual relationship with Carter. Of course, in the end, after all the pain these two had been through, once the reader was there, it was heartwarming and satisfying, to see how they interacted with each other, as well as with Carter’s children.
The authors do a wonderful job showing us all the characteristics of the events and locations in the book. Their writing is seamless from one author to the next, and gives very rich descriptions that help the reader feel they are in the room with the MC’s.
On the whole, this is a satisfying completion to the epic journey of these two, from best friends to soul mates and future husbands. I will admit, I would love to see a book 3 with a certain secondary character with a snarky attitude, and an aversion to monogamy. 🙂
3.5 pieces of eye candy
**I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review**
Calm, book 2, is the book that finishes the story for Carter and Riley, best friends from the first day of college, and definitely was a long road for these two to get to their HEA. Riley begins a relationship with a friend of Natalie’s. Meanwhile, Carter and his wife divorce, and work through the new and winding road of exes relearning to be friends, while still parenting two children.
As Carter and Riley drift back into each other’s orbits, they begin to be friends again. This is important for these two men, and honestly is what later is able to drive them into a romantic relationship. As they learn to be their own person without the other (and their ex-wives), they also learn to be friends again, who are there for the other when things become difficult. This was a crucial aspect of their relationship, and carries over later into the beginnings of their romance.
I will say that I was a bit disappointed how long it took to bring Carter and Riley to their romantic relationship. It felt like Riley’s relationship with Will, including sex scenes, was a larger portion of the book than his eventual relationship with Carter. Of course, in the end, after all the pain these two had been through, once the reader was there, it was heartwarming and satisfying, to see how they interacted with each other, as well as with Carter’s children.
The authors do a wonderful job showing us all the characteristics of the events and locations in the book. Their writing is seamless from one author to the next, and gives very rich descriptions that help the reader feel they are in the room with the MC’s.
On the whole, this is a satisfying completion to the epic journey of these two, from best friends to soul mates and future husbands. I will admit, I would love to see a book 3 with a certain secondary character with a snarky attitude, and an aversion to monogamy. 🙂
3.5 pieces of eye candy
**I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review**
September 20, 2017
After reading Wake, I was so very ready to jump right into Calm to see what was in store for Riley and Carter since everything was left unresolved at the end of the first book. And just like in Wake, there's no quick answers and there's plenty for them to go through separately before they'll even get their turn.
For me, knowing from the blurb that they will eventually get their time together made it hard to see them each having separate relationships before that could happen. It was difficult because as a reader you KNOW Riley and Carter really belong together, so watching them with other people was hard when all you want is for them to get to the point when it is THEM together, not them with other men.
But as with the first book, the journey for them to get to that point was needed...and while at times it was a bit frustrating, it all made up who these men were. Be prepared for just as much angst and tension this time around, even knowing from the blurb that Riley and Carter do get their chance together eventually--the authors are just not going to make it easy to get there for the characters or us readers, because honestly real life just isn't that easy.
Calm was another 5-star read for me, even with just as much wanting and frustration here the second time around. Getting to experience the growth and development of the characters, and seeing their journey from start to finish was quite satisfying, and I hope we get to see more of the supporting characters in a future story as I'd really like to see them find their own happiness. This story is for readers 18+, again for adult language and situations, and sexual content.
For me, knowing from the blurb that they will eventually get their time together made it hard to see them each having separate relationships before that could happen. It was difficult because as a reader you KNOW Riley and Carter really belong together, so watching them with other people was hard when all you want is for them to get to the point when it is THEM together, not them with other men.
But as with the first book, the journey for them to get to that point was needed...and while at times it was a bit frustrating, it all made up who these men were. Be prepared for just as much angst and tension this time around, even knowing from the blurb that Riley and Carter do get their chance together eventually--the authors are just not going to make it easy to get there for the characters or us readers, because honestly real life just isn't that easy.
Calm was another 5-star read for me, even with just as much wanting and frustration here the second time around. Getting to experience the growth and development of the characters, and seeing their journey from start to finish was quite satisfying, and I hope we get to see more of the supporting characters in a future story as I'd really like to see them find their own happiness. This story is for readers 18+, again for adult language and situations, and sexual content.
September 14, 2017
After "Wake," I couldn't wait to get back to Carter and Riley and find out how they would work it out. This sequel was a beautiful, patient, honest take on unwinding the wrong lives before coming to the right one. There are marriages to deal with, children to consider, careers, appearances, parents... and K. Evan Coles and Brigham Vaughn pay their characters and readers the proper respect in handling all of these threads with depth and care.
And can we talk about those yummy side characters for just a minute please? Earnest, patient, hubba-hubba Will, who couldn't possibly have tried any harder but never stood a chance. And sexy, confident Jesse, whose smart mouth and easygoing style play the perfect light to Carter's heavy. Rumor is, the authors are planning to treat us to more of the side dishes in an upcoming spinoff. I AM READY!
Back to our mains, what a delicious friendship develops between Carter and Riley before they trust each other enough to go for it alone, together. Sigh. It's not easy or quick getting there, but once they do find each other as lovers, the story is beyond satisfying. I adored these two together. Plotlines aside, these authors write fantastic dialogue. I found myself grinning while reading the snappy comebacks and surprisingly sweet spots that snuck up on me. Bring me more words, ladies!
And can we talk about those yummy side characters for just a minute please? Earnest, patient, hubba-hubba Will, who couldn't possibly have tried any harder but never stood a chance. And sexy, confident Jesse, whose smart mouth and easygoing style play the perfect light to Carter's heavy. Rumor is, the authors are planning to treat us to more of the side dishes in an upcoming spinoff. I AM READY!
Back to our mains, what a delicious friendship develops between Carter and Riley before they trust each other enough to go for it alone, together. Sigh. It's not easy or quick getting there, but once they do find each other as lovers, the story is beyond satisfying. I adored these two together. Plotlines aside, these authors write fantastic dialogue. I found myself grinning while reading the snappy comebacks and surprisingly sweet spots that snuck up on me. Bring me more words, ladies!
August 25, 2017
We're back with Carter and Riley once again, and their story continues to amaze me. These two are so real to me that I find myself yelling right back at them when one of them does something not too smart....
This is the story of their journey after coming out and divorcing their spouses, and finding their way back to each other. It's Riley's time spent with Will, while Carter finds a fantastic group of friends through the hilarious Jesse Murtaugh. It's not an easy journey for either of them, but it's one that you won't regret taking with them.
This is the story of their journey after coming out and divorcing their spouses, and finding their way back to each other. It's Riley's time spent with Will, while Carter finds a fantastic group of friends through the hilarious Jesse Murtaugh. It's not an easy journey for either of them, but it's one that you won't regret taking with them.
Did Not Finish
December 14, 2023At like 50% and I just don't care anymore. I know the characters are going to end up back together but I kind of hate them both for cheating on their wives. The dialogue and plot is so tedious at this point.
August 24, 2017
This fantastic, gripping, raw, engrossing, and powerful tale continues the riveting story started in Wake. The utter chaos left by the choices Riley and Carter made is still swirling around them and their loved ones. Watching as Riley and Carter navigated the slow, painful, awkward, obstacle strewn minefield of rebuilding their lives kept me hooked from beginning to end, reading it in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. Get this fascinating book ASAP!!
August 27, 2017
When last we saw Riley Porter-Wright and Carter Hamilton, Riley had recently come out and admitted he was bisexual but Carter wasn't open to Riley's new found freedom and in the process wasn't there when his best friend needed his support. Now, as Carter's marriage has fallen apart, as disappointed as Riley was by the lack of support from his friend he decides to reach out to Carter and together they decide to rebuild their friendship. Calm focuses on Carter's acceptance of his sexuality and explores his attraction to men all while repairing his much loved friendship with Riley. As well, we see Riley himself has a new man in his life, Will Martin. Will the boys' new found self-acceptance lead them to a better direction, not only in love but also with family, friends, and each other?
I am just going to start by saying WOW!!! As much as I loved Wake, Calm surpasses it. I pretty much touched on as much of the plot as I am going to in the above paragraph so let me just say that there is so much heart in this story, frankly I can't think of a more appropriate word to describe it than "heart". As with Wake, there is a little bit of everything in here: family(both good and bad), heat, passion, and even though this duology is a love story, for me it's even more a tale about friendship and discovery.
I won't lie, I was not overly happy with Carter when book one ended but the author's assured me that his journey was really only beginning and they were right of course. I love both men but I do think Riley tugged on my heart a little more, simply because he was the first to accept himself and a part of me just can't forget how Carter basically turned his back on his friend. Having said that, Carter will break your heart with the struggle he faces but he doesn't let himself get beaten down, he's a fighter even when he doesn't see it in himself.
Not only are you getting an amazingly well written story with intriguing characters but you may walk away learning something about yourself or at the very least, be reminded of what's really important in life. It may seem a cliche but happiness is not about the things or the stature but the people and emotions they fire up within you. Calm will leave you breathless, will leave you in tears, will break your heart but it also warms you, makes you smile, and can open your mind and heart to the possibilities out there, not to mention showing you just how important friendship truly is.
I can't wait to see what these two bring us in the future, both solo and combined efforts. Brigham Vaughn has firmly set her place on my favorite author's list and K Evan Coles is well on her way to being there too. When I first decided to go from reading slash fanfiction to published work, I asked some of my reading BFFs where to start, well it was K that first suggested I start with RJ Scott's Texas series and it has come full circle because now I am loving K's own work.
I am just going to start by saying WOW!!! As much as I loved Wake, Calm surpasses it. I pretty much touched on as much of the plot as I am going to in the above paragraph so let me just say that there is so much heart in this story, frankly I can't think of a more appropriate word to describe it than "heart". As with Wake, there is a little bit of everything in here: family(both good and bad), heat, passion, and even though this duology is a love story, for me it's even more a tale about friendship and discovery.
I won't lie, I was not overly happy with Carter when book one ended but the author's assured me that his journey was really only beginning and they were right of course. I love both men but I do think Riley tugged on my heart a little more, simply because he was the first to accept himself and a part of me just can't forget how Carter basically turned his back on his friend. Having said that, Carter will break your heart with the struggle he faces but he doesn't let himself get beaten down, he's a fighter even when he doesn't see it in himself.
Not only are you getting an amazingly well written story with intriguing characters but you may walk away learning something about yourself or at the very least, be reminded of what's really important in life. It may seem a cliche but happiness is not about the things or the stature but the people and emotions they fire up within you. Calm will leave you breathless, will leave you in tears, will break your heart but it also warms you, makes you smile, and can open your mind and heart to the possibilities out there, not to mention showing you just how important friendship truly is.
I can't wait to see what these two bring us in the future, both solo and combined efforts. Brigham Vaughn has firmly set her place on my favorite author's list and K Evan Coles is well on her way to being there too. When I first decided to go from reading slash fanfiction to published work, I asked some of my reading BFFs where to start, well it was K that first suggested I start with RJ Scott's Texas series and it has come full circle because now I am loving K's own work.
September 11, 2017
Returning to Riley and Carte in this sequel to Wake was amazing! I loved theses characters so much and felt so bad with how things ended for them in Wake.
Now in Calm, both Riley and Carter are dealing with the ramifications of their choices. both now divorced, they are trying to find out who they are and how to finally be themselves.
I hurt so much for each of them as they had become estranged. only to then reunite, but remain only friends as Riley was in a relationship with Will and Carter was making new friends like Jesse. And while Riley may have hurt Will, I was thrilled when Riley and Carter finally decided to try to have a romantic relationship. And while they still faced some obstacles, it was great to see how they could come together in their relationship and how they worked to create a new family that included Carter's kids, as well as Carter's ex-wife. The story is beautifully written and the ending left you even more hopeful for Riley and Carter's future.
Now in Calm, both Riley and Carter are dealing with the ramifications of their choices. both now divorced, they are trying to find out who they are and how to finally be themselves.
I hurt so much for each of them as they had become estranged. only to then reunite, but remain only friends as Riley was in a relationship with Will and Carter was making new friends like Jesse. And while Riley may have hurt Will, I was thrilled when Riley and Carter finally decided to try to have a romantic relationship. And while they still faced some obstacles, it was great to see how they could come together in their relationship and how they worked to create a new family that included Carter's kids, as well as Carter's ex-wife. The story is beautifully written and the ending left you even more hopeful for Riley and Carter's future.
September 10, 2017
This is a wonderful sequel to “Wake.” We get so much more depth into Riley and Carter with this book. We get to meet new friends and lovers who are so easy to fall in love with along with these two amazing men. There are still some big ups and downs along this journey they are on to finding themselves again and each other. At times, I wanted to feel horrible for feeling sorry for Riley's new flame, Will. He really is a nice guy; he’s just not the right guy for Riley. And, the friends Carter gathers along the way are so intriguing, especially Jesse—definitely need more about him.
Once again, these authors have taken me on a journey I have not regretted. I look forward to reading more from them in the future.
Once again, these authors have taken me on a journey I have not regretted. I look forward to reading more from them in the future.
September 26, 2017
I have been waiting for this book. The first of the series, Wake, introduces us to Riley and Carter as roommates starting college. In this book, with a lot more of life behind these two, they have had many ups and down, individually and separately. Riley came out, but Carter lived in denial a while longer. While they both married and divorced women, Carter stayed longer trying to make that work for him. He did get 2 children out of his marriage, but his journey was slower and more agonizing. This book finds him coming to terms with who he is and what he wants, in a BIG way. There is no mention of a third book in the "Tidal" series, but I hope there is one. Maybe their journey leaves us readers here as we don't get to take it further with them, but I hope not. I hope we get to see more. I truly love these characters and care what happens to them.. I want to see the good stuff too! Still, if we don't get to see more, I am left to think it happens anyway...
Read
August 15, 2017Rating & review to come
September 3, 2026
Really loved this duet. The angst and the characters were fantastic! The ending could have been condensed somewhat but I still loved it.
August 17, 2017
The first half of Calm picks up very shortly after Wake.
Riley is moving on with his life after his coming out and in the beginning stages a relationship with Will.
Carter is dealing with his divorce and newly single life as he navigates dating with men.
Reading Calm requires a lot of patience as did with Wake. I don't mean that in a bad way. These two men don't get together right away. There's a lot more character growth and development of these men that I really appreciated. In the first book my heart ached more for Riley but in this one I began to warm up more to Carter.
There's a lot of awkwardness and them trying to build their friendship back together. And when they finally do get together as a couple there's a tenderness that they take their time with that I enjoyed. Carter and Riley could have easily gotten their shit together at about the 50% mark but where's the fun in that. ;) These authors do an excellent job of making them work for it.
Of course there's homophobia/biphobia here but I really liked that there wasn't a big villain looming over the story ready to pounce on the relationship. Another thing I liked was the realistic portrayal of women and their feelings (Riley and Carter's ex wives.) They weren't bad people. They were just in a bad situation.
I know a lot of people probably didn't care for Will. Yes he was boring and didn't have chemistry with Riley but I thought their relationship was sweet and I did feel bad for him when they ended.
Jesse! I loved Jesse! I hope we get a book on Jesse.
5+ stars!
Riley is moving on with his life after his coming out and in the beginning stages a relationship with Will.
Carter is dealing with his divorce and newly single life as he navigates dating with men.
Reading Calm requires a lot of patience as did with Wake. I don't mean that in a bad way. These two men don't get together right away. There's a lot more character growth and development of these men that I really appreciated. In the first book my heart ached more for Riley but in this one I began to warm up more to Carter.
There's a lot of awkwardness and them trying to build their friendship back together. And when they finally do get together as a couple there's a tenderness that they take their time with that I enjoyed. Carter and Riley could have easily gotten their shit together at about the 50% mark but where's the fun in that. ;) These authors do an excellent job of making them work for it.
Of course there's homophobia/biphobia here but I really liked that there wasn't a big villain looming over the story ready to pounce on the relationship. Another thing I liked was the realistic portrayal of women and their feelings (Riley and Carter's ex wives.) They weren't bad people. They were just in a bad situation.
I know a lot of people probably didn't care for Will. Yes he was boring and didn't have chemistry with Riley but I thought their relationship was sweet and I did feel bad for him when they ended.
Jesse! I loved Jesse! I hope we get a book on Jesse.
5+ stars!
May 25, 2018
I read Wake, the prequel to Calm, what feels like a long time ago, and then work and life got in the way. and I didn’t do as much reading or reviewing for a while. But with summer approaching, the books I’ve been neglecting have been calling out to me. On that list was this book, one I’ve been anticipating reading for the better part of a year. The story picks up seamlessly from where the last left off. Even after such a long time, I was able to quickly immerse myself back into the lives of Riley and Carter.
I remember being a bit miffed at the end of Book One, frustrated that the authors had left so much up in the air (see my review of that book on this site). I wrote the authors about this, and they let me know that the book was too long to put into one story and that the two-book release was supposed to have occurred closer together to avoid my reaction.
Well, I forgave them immediately because they gave the promise of how the story of these two guys I had gotten to know would end. And I was not disappointed with that ending.
In the first book, there was an issue of cheating that I cautioned readers about. I know some people find that element of a story to be off-putting. In Calm, the authors do a fantastic job of avoiding cheating, while portraying the very real situation of being in a relationship with one person while wanting to be with another person. Perhaps, if you consider emotional cheating a thing, there is an element of that, but we all have eyes and our bodies and hearts want what they want. This is true and real, and the authors portray that reality with sensitivity.
In fact, they pay a great deal of attention to the struggle of heart and head. Not just in terms of Riley and Carter dating other people instead of each other, but in all areas of the characters’ lives. First there’s Riley, who’s known all along that he wants Carter but found something great in Will. Was it fair to him to deny himself a wonderful man? Was it fair to Will for him to pursue a relationship when he knew he was still in love with Carter? Next there is Carter, who has a family and an ex-wife to consider as he figures out who he is impacting more than just himself. And finally, there’s Kate, adjusting not only to divorce and the fact her ex-husband is gay but that he’d cheated on her during their marriage and loved their best friend. These complications made for a rich and believable story; one which does a great job of exploring the pains and trials of being human and seeking happiness.
There are several characters who add depth to the story. Some add sweetness and innocence such as Carter’s kids. They see the world as children do, believing in goodness and feeling with pure, inexperienced hearts. On the other side of the spectrum, we experience hateful parents who say and do things that make the reader wish explosive diarrhea upon them. These characters strengthen the story and add a richness to what Riley and Carter must overcome to find a happy ending for themselves and everyone they care about.
After completing Calm, I can say with confidence that this two-book set is well worth the time and emotional toll it takes to read.
Reviewed by Taz for The Novel Approach
I remember being a bit miffed at the end of Book One, frustrated that the authors had left so much up in the air (see my review of that book on this site). I wrote the authors about this, and they let me know that the book was too long to put into one story and that the two-book release was supposed to have occurred closer together to avoid my reaction.
Well, I forgave them immediately because they gave the promise of how the story of these two guys I had gotten to know would end. And I was not disappointed with that ending.
In the first book, there was an issue of cheating that I cautioned readers about. I know some people find that element of a story to be off-putting. In Calm, the authors do a fantastic job of avoiding cheating, while portraying the very real situation of being in a relationship with one person while wanting to be with another person. Perhaps, if you consider emotional cheating a thing, there is an element of that, but we all have eyes and our bodies and hearts want what they want. This is true and real, and the authors portray that reality with sensitivity.
In fact, they pay a great deal of attention to the struggle of heart and head. Not just in terms of Riley and Carter dating other people instead of each other, but in all areas of the characters’ lives. First there’s Riley, who’s known all along that he wants Carter but found something great in Will. Was it fair to him to deny himself a wonderful man? Was it fair to Will for him to pursue a relationship when he knew he was still in love with Carter? Next there is Carter, who has a family and an ex-wife to consider as he figures out who he is impacting more than just himself. And finally, there’s Kate, adjusting not only to divorce and the fact her ex-husband is gay but that he’d cheated on her during their marriage and loved their best friend. These complications made for a rich and believable story; one which does a great job of exploring the pains and trials of being human and seeking happiness.
There are several characters who add depth to the story. Some add sweetness and innocence such as Carter’s kids. They see the world as children do, believing in goodness and feeling with pure, inexperienced hearts. On the other side of the spectrum, we experience hateful parents who say and do things that make the reader wish explosive diarrhea upon them. These characters strengthen the story and add a richness to what Riley and Carter must overcome to find a happy ending for themselves and everyone they care about.
After completing Calm, I can say with confidence that this two-book set is well worth the time and emotional toll it takes to read.
Reviewed by Taz for The Novel Approach
September 8, 2017
Okay, so straight up, I loved Wake. Calm, not so much and I think it was because it was sooo long, with way too much being said that I felt was kind of unnecessary. I was super excited about Wake so much so I pre-ordered Calm and felt kinda ripped off.
Calm could have been a fabulous love story, it had all the makings of one. Two young men meet as teens, become best friends and love each other. As they age, they journey through their own sexual awakening where finally almost mid-life, they realise and admit they need, desire, and are desperately IN love with each other, enough to destroy their safe, unfulfilled lives.
Totally rock that premise. Yep= tick, tick, tick. Gimme, gimme, gimme.
But to me Calm felt flat, simply because it took soooo long for the boys to get to where they needed to be. It made for a slow, boggy plot. A bit like getting rid of last Tuesdays spaghetti.
I don't mind a good slow burn, because honestly that's what Wake was. Told over fifteen years this was no 100 meter dash, this was a marathon and that was fine because it was interesting, engaging emotional reading. I also don't mind an intricate plot as long as it clips along at a steady pace, but I felt that Calm got so boring, overly chatty with irrelevant chapters and people that it felt bogged down, enough that I nearly needed to tie myself to my chair so I could pull myself out from under the weight of the words.
What should have been a snappy sexy ride, was far from it. I didn't even mind Will and Jesse, cause they played an intrinsic part to Carter and Riley's development, but even with those two secondary characters I couldn't muster much enthusiasm and was so impatient to get to where I wanted to be.
I mean we already knew the guys loved each other, had suffered for each other, in finally being true to themselves they had essentially lost families and friends and were paying the price, socially, economically and romantically, so what was the hold up? And I think that's where Calm died in the arse a little. It was more than a little painful reading, so much so I was flipping pages to try and hurry it along, something I didn't do in Wake.
Really kinda bummed that Calm wasn't the book I was hoping it to be. I struggled right to the end, when I really DNWTF but forced myself to. Such a shame.
Calm could have been a fabulous love story, it had all the makings of one. Two young men meet as teens, become best friends and love each other. As they age, they journey through their own sexual awakening where finally almost mid-life, they realise and admit they need, desire, and are desperately IN love with each other, enough to destroy their safe, unfulfilled lives.
Totally rock that premise. Yep= tick, tick, tick. Gimme, gimme, gimme.
But to me Calm felt flat, simply because it took soooo long for the boys to get to where they needed to be. It made for a slow, boggy plot. A bit like getting rid of last Tuesdays spaghetti.
I don't mind a good slow burn, because honestly that's what Wake was. Told over fifteen years this was no 100 meter dash, this was a marathon and that was fine because it was interesting, engaging emotional reading. I also don't mind an intricate plot as long as it clips along at a steady pace, but I felt that Calm got so boring, overly chatty with irrelevant chapters and people that it felt bogged down, enough that I nearly needed to tie myself to my chair so I could pull myself out from under the weight of the words.
What should have been a snappy sexy ride, was far from it. I didn't even mind Will and Jesse, cause they played an intrinsic part to Carter and Riley's development, but even with those two secondary characters I couldn't muster much enthusiasm and was so impatient to get to where I wanted to be.
I mean we already knew the guys loved each other, had suffered for each other, in finally being true to themselves they had essentially lost families and friends and were paying the price, socially, economically and romantically, so what was the hold up? And I think that's where Calm died in the arse a little. It was more than a little painful reading, so much so I was flipping pages to try and hurry it along, something I didn't do in Wake.
Really kinda bummed that Calm wasn't the book I was hoping it to be. I struggled right to the end, when I really DNWTF but forced myself to. Such a shame.
September 22, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.I liked this two book series (that easily could have been one book) but it might not be for everyone. There is cheating by the MC's on wives they had initially (a threesome with a female prostitute which I guess allowed each of the MC's to not admit that they were gay and loved each other because there was a female present) and then each of the MC's as they started to come to grips with their sexuality dated other guys even though they knew they loved the other MC. I really can't stand that in my romances. Violence, assaults, etc. are par for the course but don't go messing around when you've already given your heart away to someone I care about!!!
February 24, 2022
DNF 62%
This book would have been incredible had it been kept to one book. There is absolutely no reason for this to be a series, and its maddening that the authors have dragged out this very simple story into two books.
This read was beyond tedious. There was no emotion at all, it was just so flat and sooo boring. The main characters are so immature and stupid, and I was rooting for nobody because I didnt grow to care for any of them. The secondary characters and scenes with them were literally so unnecessary, and the repetitive scenes and inner monologues were beyond annoying. I tried to stick it out until the main characters finally got together but with the lack of conflict or valid reason for them not being together + the lack of chemistry and the disdain for them as people, I gave up. Waste of potential.
This book would have been incredible had it been kept to one book. There is absolutely no reason for this to be a series, and its maddening that the authors have dragged out this very simple story into two books.
This read was beyond tedious. There was no emotion at all, it was just so flat and sooo boring. The main characters are so immature and stupid, and I was rooting for nobody because I didnt grow to care for any of them. The secondary characters and scenes with them were literally so unnecessary, and the repetitive scenes and inner monologues were beyond annoying. I tried to stick it out until the main characters finally got together but with the lack of conflict or valid reason for them not being together + the lack of chemistry and the disdain for them as people, I gave up. Waste of potential.
May 22, 2019
Riley and Carter at the end of WAKE (Tidal #1) reached a turning point in their relationship as best friends who have always felt more for each other, but have never known quite how to act upon it. This is the rest of the story, and it is amazing. These two books really turned me inside out; as characters they become fully realized in CALM, growing into their awareness as adults of who they are to themselves, to their families but especially to each other. I give both books the highest possible recommendation.
June 17, 2018
You know what's weird?
Putting Chapter One of the first book as a preview at the end of the second book.
Like, yeah, I know about that book. I just read it. And it's sequel.
Also, there was no ending to this story. It just sort of stopped after 700 pages. Is there going to be a third? Good god, how many years will that one span? It's been like 20 years already!
Putting Chapter One of the first book as a preview at the end of the second book.
Like, yeah, I know about that book. I just read it. And it's sequel.
Also, there was no ending to this story. It just sort of stopped after 700 pages. Is there going to be a third? Good god, how many years will that one span? It's been like 20 years already!
June 20, 2020
Love This Book
A wonderful story, I loved the main characters, Carter, and Riliey. Also the secondary characters were great too. It had a good storyline. Also it was well-written.
A wonderful story, I loved the main characters, Carter, and Riliey. Also the secondary characters were great too. It had a good storyline. Also it was well-written.
Currently Reading
October 5, 202575%
Did Not Finish
September 20, 2026Why was this one so much more boring?
DNF at 25%
DNF at 25%
November 27, 2020
Shelved/ lost interest at 77%
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews