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Only Colorado #3

Only Need You

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"I am still trying to prove that I am not a hot mess. The last thing I want is to attach myself to someone in even greater need of a personalized TED talk than me."

Kieran Jones is perpetually ten steps behind in life. Whether it's his best friend's advice on how-to-gay properly since he was a little late to the coming out party, another friend giving him a discount on rent so he could escape his horrible roommate situation, or his best friend's boss rescuing him when his car won't start, Kieran's life isn't just a hot mess. It's a blazing disaster.

"I don't think I've been giving off greater sad sack vibes than normal, but the more time I spend around Kieran, the more I want things that I can't have."

Ted Olson may not be the life of the party, but he is steadfast and dependable, and that will have to do. He's always looking out for others - his employees, his nephew, and the adorable redhead who hangs out at the store and is way too young for him. It has been almost a decade since his last serious relationship, and Ted is tired of being alone.

When Kieran and Ted end up on a blind date together courtesy of a dating app, they realize a mutual attraction has been lurking behind their growing friendship. But Ted can't believe someone as young and pretty as Kieran would want a boring, old, video game store owner. And Kieran has never been with a man before and doesn't trust his own instincts. Both men will have to break free from their insecurities if they want to be what the other needs.

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2018

30 people are currently reading
114 people want to read

About the author

J.D. Chambers

14 books87 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Profile Image for Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~.
2,250 reviews259 followers
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June 16, 2018
3.5 stars

This is another good entry in the Colorado series. This one has about a 15 year age gap between the newly out and timid Kieran and Ted, the owner of Game Over. We’ve met both men in the previous books – though this could be read as a standalone. Kieran and Ted have a twink-bear dynamic and it’s a slower build than in the prior books. Kieran hasn’t been with a man before and Ted wants to be certain that Kieran really wants to be with him.

I enjoyed their relationship. Ted is always looking out for everyone and with Kieran it’s even more of a need. Kieran is having issues with his job, his living arrangements and just life in general. He hates being treated like a clueless kid, but hasn’t really had any luck changing things. Their relationship runs pretty smoothly and they really are cute together.

There was something different here than in the first books though. It felt like something just didn’t click as well. Maybe it was the lack of drama. There was a storyline about Kieran being harassed on the job and a bit of conflict when Ted gets some unexpected news, but neither one of those completely grabbed me. I also found Kieran’s younger sister to be annoying every time she opened her mouth.

There were a few more secondary characters introduced that made an impact and I’m really excited to finally know who Ben will be matched up with. Hopefully that will be coming pretty soon.

Overall, this was the sweetest of the stories so far, with no real kink – although maybe naked board games is a new one? I enjoyed it, but was just missing a little something that made it not quite stack up to the first two.
Profile Image for SoCalBookReviews.
602 reviews20 followers
April 16, 2018
This book is a Stand-alone with an entirely new couple. However, I highly recommend reading the first two books before this one, in order to understand some of the backstory and who some of the supporting characters are. And, well, the first two books are great so you should check them out anyways. Lol
Ted is a sweet older dependable bear of a man who helps everyone out when he can. Kieran is a sweet red-headed twink who’s life is a total mess in every part. They meet at the video game store that Ted owns, when Kieran comes in to hang out and play games with his friends/roommates Ben & Craig (from previous books). This book is on the sweeter side. Not much Drama or Angst, also not as much kink is mentioned compared to books 1-2. The storyline is decent and I really like how Ted and Kieran’s relationship develops in this book, shows that they really do compliment each other even though they are opposites in a lot of ways. It’s a cute addition to this series!! And I look forward to the next one.
*But Zach and Craig’s book #1 Only With You is still my favorite*
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,149 reviews520 followers
January 9, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars


Only Need You is the third book in J.D. Chambers Only Colorado series. The series follows a group of close friends (and some family) in books that are filled with a lot of warmth, as well as a lot of heat. The books interconnect in that characters tend to appear in each other’s stories. In this case, we have met both Ted and Kieran before as Ted is Craig’s boss from Only With You, and Kieran is friends with a lot of the other characters. However, while Zach and Craig appear here, and perpetual roommate Ben has a large side roll (as does Ted’s nephew, Jonathan), you could pretty easily read this one as a stand alone from a plot perspective. It helps to know how everyone is connected, but definitely not essential.

So I really loved Ted and Kieran together. I am a sucker for an age gap story, especially one with a more inexperienced partner. I think Chambers gets the balance just right here between Kieran needing time to get comfortable in a relationship and the idea of sex, and seeing Kieran really come into his own as he figures out what he wants with Ted and reaches for it. There are some great (steamy) scenes where Kieran explores sex with Ted and I loved the mix of playfulness and heat Chambers manages. In fact, there is just a nice bit of humor and some quirky fun to this whole series and I just find the tone really fun and entertaining.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
Profile Image for Lelyana's Reviews.
3,426 reviews399 followers
April 7, 2018

I managed to finished this story. I liked Ted and Kieran but didn't really love the story. While I liked the previous story and expected I would like this one as well, it didn't work that way, unfortunately.
It was an okay read with some ex problem, sexual harassment issue at work, a little daddy kink and an awkward twink. I hoped that I found a strong chemistry between Ted and Kieran, but something was missing. I was a bit struggled finishing this. I hope the next book is a winner.Sorry.
Profile Image for Tanja.
575 reviews19 followers
April 17, 2018
4.5 stars
Sigh. Why does a book have to end? I just wanted to keep on reading. This was such a sweet, romantic, funny, and sexy story. One minor drawback was the beginning. It was a bit vague and rambled and relied heavily on the previous books, but the minute you got past that, it was one joyful read to the end.
Kieran and Ted are just perfect for each other. There is a significant age gap, but it is more that I read it than that I felt it. They didn’t shy away from it. They could joke about it, but at the same time, it was no issue at all. It felt just right. And it comes in very handy that Ted is the more experienced guy to ease Kieran into having sex with a man. And those scenes are hot.
Kieran has some trouble at work, and Ted gets a call about his ex-boyfriend, but that is about all in the drama department. I liked the board games, even with the Princess outfits. That was so adorable. One of the best characters is Jonathan, Ted’s nephew. It is touching to see their easy love and friendship and how they use ASL to communicate as he has a hearing impairment.
And the more I read, the more I felt their connection growing, and the more I fell in love with them. Yes, there is that one misunderstanding. Who wouldn’t have in a new relationship? But nothing major and it is was totally in line with the story.
This story left me with a warm feeling in my heart.
Profile Image for TL Travis.
Author 94 books625 followers
June 11, 2018
Such a sweet story

I love the family this group is building. How they come together in each other’s times of need. I can’t wait to see who’s lives we learn about next.
Profile Image for Annie.
1,715 reviews26 followers
April 17, 2018
Only Need You is the third book from the Only Colorado series. Though each book features a new couple and can be read as a standalone, there’s significant overlap of characters and references to past storylines, making these best read in order. I have to admit going in I was a little nervous about Only Need You. I really enjoyed the second book and that couple, so I knew this one would have a lot to live up to. After seeing who the main characters in Only Need You were, my hesitation increased. While I liked Ted and Kieran as secondary characters in the first two books, I hadn’t been especially eager for either of their stories and I knew, even subconsciously, I would be making a lot of comparisons to the previous couples. In general, I enjoyed this May-December romance and the couple was a cute pairing who worked well together. And yet…I just never connected with either of them.

As in the other books from the series the writing is smooth, the pacing brisk, and the dialogue fun. Some of the minor conflicts/subplots had a bit more dramatic flair- an intensely aggressive boss, an overtly flirtatious bank teller, and a little sister lacking any sort of filter- but all conflicts had believable resolutions. Once again, the sexy scenes were pretty steamy and offered some surprises and a touch of "kink" I wouldn't have anticipated from this couple. I just never really felt the spark between the couple. That isn’t to say that Kieran and Ted didn’t work together, they did. Maybe I was unfairly comparing this couple to the others, but for me that special something to draw me to their story was missing. That said, I still like this group of friends and enjoy the easy tone of this author, so I’ll definitely be continuing the series; Only Need You simply wasn’t my favorite book of the series.

Reviewed by Annie from Alpha Book Club
description description
402 reviews6 followers
April 17, 2018
The start of this book was a bit fast paced at the beginning and I was slightly confused but after the first two chapters I really got into the story. Kieran and Ted are just SO ADORABLE TOGETHER!!!!! Gosh, they are just funny, and sweet, and sexy, the more they got to know each other the more I fell in love with them. The book had some issues, I did not like the writing style as much but the story totally pulled me through the minor issues and I enjoyed it very much. The geeky, nerdy vibe is perfect, the characters very specific and unique. I loved Ted's nephew, how he incorporated him into his life, the easy love they share. The fact he has a hearing impairment and that they use ASL is also very touching. I really liked all the relationships in the book, the friendships and romantic ones as well.
Some parts were a bit cliché and I would change a few things but all in all even the dramatic parts remained down to earth.
I also liked that Ted, being 40, is not as spry and feel his age, something not all M/M books talk about. The scene where Ted and Kieran play board games was so funny and yet, the Prettiest Princess bit at the end was oddly emotional and not silly at all.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and would only say that the beginning was too vague because it relied on the previous books and I felt a bit out of sorts until I got the general relationships between the characters.
Profile Image for Nanna Mørk-Sander.
711 reviews43 followers
April 21, 2018
I enjoy reading about the characters in the Colorado universe, and I thought the pairing of Ted and Kieran had a lot of potential. I mean, the big bear mooning over the twink? Heart-eyes.

Unfortunately, I was left feeling a little meh about it. A lot of things we're set up; sexual harassment; a little bit of daddy kink; leather; dom/sub dynamic; but there wasn't a lot of follow-through with any of it, so it fell a little flat for me, and the story became an okay one, but nothing super spectacular.
Profile Image for Cheri.
92 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2018
This was a fun book. Older Ted and younger Kieran know each other through friends, and then they end up on a date via Tinder. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. Kieran was nervous because he didn't have any real experience with men, being the "Baby Gay" of their group. Ted had been in a previous relationship that lasted for over a decade before ending leaving him nervous about new relationships.

I enjoyed the characters quite a bit. I enjoyed the story. 4.25 stars from me.
Profile Image for namericanwordcat.
2,440 reviews439 followers
April 22, 2018
This is a sweet and hot romance between Ted, who is older and owns a gaming store, and Kieran who is younger and works as an assistant.

They are both really great guys. They have an age difference between them and self esteem issues but both have massive crushes on each other.

Its a cute read with a little mayhem thrown in.
Profile Image for Jenn (not Lily).
4,831 reviews28 followers
March 10, 2019
Ted is absolutely adorable. I couldn't wish for a better guy for Kieran! And Andrew -- my daughter was concerned with how I was growling at my poor Kindle while I struggled to not curse a blue streak. On to the next book!
Profile Image for Crystal Lacy.
Author 19 books330 followers
June 23, 2018
Sexy slow burn with age gap that’s wonderfully executed. Super adorable and sweet.
Profile Image for JD Crittendon.
1,170 reviews11 followers
September 14, 2018
Age is But a Number!

A May-December Romance describes Ted & Kieran story. This a simple love story with a bit of angst and topping of sexy times! A bit boring but readable.
Profile Image for R.
2,126 reviews
April 17, 2018
Kieran is a shy redhead. Wants to find love like his friends have. Ted is an older man, interested in Kieran but afraid he is to old for him. They finally get together when an app pairs them up. Because Kieran is younger and still a virgin, they agree to take a month to get to know each before they have sex. The time that follows is hot and sweet as they figure out they are made for each other.

This is the third book in the series. Different from the others with a slower burn. All the characters in the series are likable, but these guys are my favorite so far. I just liked the pace of the book. How they learned each other before they dived into the relationship. Once they dived though, it got very hot!

I received an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for jazmin.
367 reviews73 followers
February 17, 2019
Friends to lovers, slow burn, age gap, first time being with a man? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Also, conversation through text messages. For some reason, I'm weak for that.

I loved this book. Some books try to hard to be funny, so that it ends up being ridiculous, but then there's books that has a kind of subtle humour, that suddenly makes you laugh out loud on the bus when you don't expect it. This is that kind of book. But it also has serious moments and handles important topics.

Also, Ted and Kieran are so fucking sweet I actually can't. It's beautifully written too.

This book was so much more than I expected, in the best way possible.
Profile Image for JenMcJ.
2,608 reviews325 followers
April 23, 2018
Just couldn't get into this one. By 22% I was ready to abandon it to something more quick paced and less oddly written.

Could be me, could be the author. I really couldn't say. Too many books to spend to much time analyzing why I had no curiosity or compulsion to finish the book.
Profile Image for Badh.
3,311 reviews66 followers
October 28, 2018
Oh these guys.

JD Chambers has created such a great group of people and friends in her world. I love them all so much.
Profile Image for Amanda.
384 reviews10 followers
April 17, 2018
Gah, this series just gets better and better with each book. I can't even tell you how much I loved Kieran and Ted's story! I will do my best though, so here goes ;)

Kieran is an adorable 25-year old ginger twink who is just starting to explore life as a gay man. He is a little naïve and innocent in that sense and thinks he is a hot mess, but has a serious business side when it comes to his job at an architectural firm. Ted, on the other hand, is a not-yet-forty bear who owns the video game store Craig (from Only With You) manages. He has a huge heart and is protective of Craig, Kieran, and the rest of their group, so much so he considers them his family. Seriously guys, Ted is just a big teddy bear and I love him so much!

Ted has a thing for Kieran and has since they met, and he wants to take care of him.. but he thinks Kieran deserves better than him. He doesn't see himself as young enough, good-looking enough, or successful enough for the younger Kieran. But as they start to develop a deeper friendship, they find it difficult to ignore the connection they seem to have. Until, of course, they end up on a surprising date...

I can't express enough how much I love the relationship that develops between Ted and Kieran, and the way they grow as a couple into a true and equal partnership as the story continues. And their sex life? Oh. My. Gods. So freaking HOT. Both of them surprised me and each other, I think, in the best ways. The leather bar. That's all I am going to say as I sit here fanning myself just thinking about it. You WANT to read this. Trust me.

This story is about more than just their beautiful, sizzling (!!) relationship, though. Seeing Kieran grow as a person and become more confident is a high point for me in this book. I enjoyed seeing the characters from the previous books, but what I really loved about the peripheral characters are the ones we are just meeting or still getting to know. Ted's nephew Jonathan quickly became an absolute favorite of mine. He is so adorably mischievous and spirited, and I CANNOT wait to see how his story with a certain stubborn character plays out!! Like, seriously.. I am DYING for it. And Ben? We get to see a whole new side of Ben in this book with how he supports Kieran and helps him when he needs it.. I knew he would be a sweetheart deep down, and I can't wait to get to know him more with the next book. I also *need* to know what happened with Jay and that salesman, and Arthur and Dave.. and especially Cameron, who you will meet in this book. My heart hurts for Cameron, but I want to see him find love and happiness in Fort Collins.

I know I just rambled on and on about this forever, but guys - this book (and this series) is one you do not want to miss. JD Chambers has quickly become a favorite author of mine in the MM genre, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for us in the future. I will leave you with one final and extremely important message from this book: DUCK POPSICLE.

Bam.
Profile Image for J.L..
Author 14 books70 followers
June 3, 2021
Plot twists can be fun, but I find trope inversions make for more fascinating reads. This book, which appears on the surface to be a standard age-gap romance with a sprinkling of Daddy kink, fulfills that desire completely. Yes, there is a not insignificant age difference between Ted and Kieren, but this leads to conflict that is much more related to where they are in their individual lives rather than the standard angst of “I’m too old/young for you.” Ted initially feels that he’s too old for Kieren, but the connection between them grows so naturally that I love how they roll with it once they find themselves on a blind date together. (And Ted’s reaction every time someone jokes about a “Daddy” is utterly delightful.)

Kieren’s youth isn’t a specific draw to Ted, but he does take care not to pressure Kieren for anything beyond what he’s ready for. What starts as a romantic agreement takes a delightfully sexy turn that had me giggling as much as I swooned.

Once again, the secondary characters bring this world to life. I appreciate meeting future heroes of this series as much as I loved having more interactions with previous couples (especially Zach and Craig). Chambers balances humor and legitimate external conflict beautifully, as both men deal with some pretty devastating issues in a way that doesn’t drag the entire story down. I felt for them as much as I laughed out loud in equal measure, making for an overall excellent romance and lovely story in general. This series started amazing right out of the gate; I have yet to be disappointed, and I look forward to reading more now that I’m halfway through.
253 reviews
April 20, 2018
3.5* This is the 3rd book in the series but can be read as a complete standalone as it focuses on a new couple. Ted is the older owner of a video game store that characters from previous books worked and hung out in. Kieran is 25 and believes that he is a hot mess. Though honestly, he has his life together pretty well and has a great job (minus the terrible boss!). They “meet” on a dating app and begin to see each other as dating material.

Only Need You has a little bit of everything - May/December, vegan leather daddy, geeky characters, meddling little sisters, dating apps, coming of age, and so much more.

There were a few things that I really liked about the characters in this book. Neither of them really struggled with the age difference between them. They worked to communicate with each other and joked about their ages instead. This book includes Ted’s nephew who is hearing impaired and shows the use of ASL. I LOVED how they are both completely willing to be nerdy with and around each other without showing judgement (princess game anyone??)!!

The one part of the book I wasn’t sold on was the office harassment shown by Kieran’s boss. Kieran seemed to be able to brush it off / overlook it, which didn’t seem realistic to me (but that is just my personal thought).

This book is on the sweeter side with a slow relationship start and without as much angst as some of the others. Great addition to the series and well written!
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews140 followers
April 17, 2018
Only Need You is the 3rd book in the Only Colorado Series by JD Chambers. It can easily be read as a standalone. But I will warn you, I found myself wanting to read the rest of the series.

First of all, I loved the characters in the book, both the main characters, Ted and Kieran, as well as their friends and family. I found them all to be a group I'd want to hang out with, thus reading about them was fun.

In this book, the story centers around Ted and Kieran.
And for a great Bonus - Ted is turning 40 and Kieran is much younger. I always love a good May to Sept book!

Ted is an older man who runs a Video game Store. Kieran spend a lot of time there since his friend works there. Ted tries to fight his attraction to the younger man, thinking he has nothing to offer Kieran.

Meanwhile, Kieran is struggling in many areas. His car has problems. He needs a new apartment. He works for a Horrific boss who tries to exchange sex for work security. Oh, and he's also newly out of the closet.

When they meet up via a dating app, they realize that they are both attracted to each other. But Ted wants to make Kieran wait a while before things get physical.

Add in some entertaining friends, some work issues for Kieran, a deaf nephew of Ted's and you get a wonderful, fun, love story.
871 reviews2 followers
April 18, 2018
This is the third book in The Only Colorado Series. A captivating book the writing was great. I loved this story, I read it in one sitting. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters wonderful. The characters were developed and thought out. Kieran Jones and Ted Olson are the MC’s of this book. There was humor, a gaming store, roommate issues, a vegan, friends, a nasty boss, a leather bar, dating apps, a piercing and so much more in this book.

Here is a quote from the book, “But he is a nice guy. He would definitely be a way to ease into the dating scene. Not too clingy. Lots of fun.” GameBoi22: Well I think it looks great. “If that’s how you flirt, no wonder you haven’t had any action in years.” “Hey. Just because I’m not feeling him doesn’t mean we couldn’t be friends.” Ben clucks his tongue at me with a worried look. “Oh sweetie, I’m throwing you to the wolves, aren’t I?”. There is more but you will need to read the book which I can highly recommend. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.




Profile Image for Amy Aislin.
Author 38 books924 followers
April 11, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I really enjoyed this book and liked how well Kieran and Ted's personalities meshed together. I loved that neither one of them really dwelt on the age difference between them. The age difference was pretty much a non-issue and it was a breath fresh air compared to many age gap romances out there.

I wasn't a fan of how it devolved into a bit of a sex-a-thon there in the middle, but that's because I don't enjoy reading sex scenes. So if you like smut, you're in the right place! I also didn't like Kieran's sister, but that's another personal preference: I hate annoying siblings. Thankfully she wasn't in the book too much.

The book was well-written and funny. The blurb describes Kieran's life as being a hot mess, but I didn't get that impression of Kieran at all. I thought he was actually pretty put together for the most part. Sure his life isn't perfect, but whose is?

Anyway, all in all it was an entertaining book I'd recommend to anyone looking for a low-angst read with a great cast of side characters.
Profile Image for Georgiana.
683 reviews12 followers
April 23, 2018
“Are you sure you’re okay with waiting?”

Kieran and Ted are the sweetest couple. Ted owns a game shop and Kieran is always around with his best friend Craig who happens to work there. Just recently coming out as gay, Kieran signs up on a dating app. Deciding maybe its time to date again, Ted also signs up. Kieran just happens to message Ted not knowing who each other are as there are no face pictures. The morning after the first date the two come to a deal,

“Perfectly prudish behavior. Kissing at most. Hand holding, if you’ll let me. But sex in any form is completely off the table"

Ted is about 15 years older then Kieran. I love how patient, sweet and caring Ted is. Kieran is a little naive, but also very sweet. I found myself laughing and smiling most of the story.

The only thing that bothered me was the writing style at times. I felt like I was being told something in more detail like I might not have understood what was coming across the sentence before. Unfortunately because of this I couldn't give it 5 stars. Despite this little detail I would recommend this book.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
Profile Image for Sarita Chapdelaine.
1,252 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2018
This is another amazing book in this great series. It is a fun, entertaining and hot May/December romance with a bit of vegan leather kink. The attraction between Kieran and Ted is not acknowledged by either of them until they are matched on a dating app. The inexperienced Kieran wants to be with Ted but he needs time to get used to being in a relationship and they agree to spend a month getting to know each other. Ted is a big friendly bear who has not been in a relationship for more than ten years but he wants Kieran. I love Kieran and Ted together and how their age gap does not cause angst for them or anyone else. The secondary characters are great and make the story even more enjoyable. I love the ending and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I was given an ARC to review.
1,386 reviews6 followers
April 1, 2018
I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

I loved Kieran and Ted. They are great together and compliment each other so well. Kieran has some insecurities about dating an older man, but once Ted figures out his issues, he is there right away to wipe his doubt away. They put each other first and know their weaknesses and strengths.

There is a lot of games going on in the book and the interactions between everyone is fun to read. I like how they get so involved in the games and the prizes/outcomes. There are definitely some laugh out loud moments.

This book is a great addition to this series and I can't wait for the next book release. I highly recommend this book and the whole series.
3,021 reviews46 followers
April 17, 2018
Only Need You is a low angst, sweet and sexy read. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Ted and Kieran. Ted is the older, more experienced one. Kieran was the "baby gay", as his friends referred to him.

I loved the semi slow buildup. They agree to take things slow for the first month, to get to know each other. Things heat up pretty quickly! This May/December romance works on so many levels. Ted and Kieran are such a great couple that the age difference is unimportant. I really enjoyed what they find in each other! Another great read by J.D. Chambers. She has quickly become an auto buy for me!
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