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Wild at Heart #3
Haven
“Mike is the painfully straight man who made me realise I was painfully bi.”
After four years away, Mike returns to the Wild at Heart animal sanctuary for Oscar and Ryan’s wedding—only to run straight into Ezra, his old best friend. Dreading facing his ex-girlfriend at the wedding festivities, Mike jumps at the chance when Ezra jokes about going as his date. Little does he know that Ezra’s had a crush on him since more or less the day they met.
Being back in the safe haven of the wildlife sanctuary, Mike finds himself getting close to Ezra—too close, he realises, after an ill-timed kiss makes him panic about what he really wants from the man he once called his best friend. But the connection between them is real, and Mike can’t stop himself from going back for more.
It’s only supposed to be an experiment—a secret Mike’s keeping from the rest of the world. Except there’s always been something between them, and Mike’s just starting to realise what that really is, despite his homophobic, bullying father.
Can he come to terms with who he is in time to keep the best thing that’s ever happened to him? Or will he run away all over again in the face of having to live his truth?
Haven is the third book in the Wild at Heart series, but you can read them in whatever order you like. It has a HEA and does not contain a cliffhanger. It does, however, contain: a kestrel named after the Millennium Falcon, excessive amounts of mistletoe, a glittery pine cone, explicit sex scenes, Christmas lights, and true love conquering all.
After four years away, Mike returns to the Wild at Heart animal sanctuary for Oscar and Ryan’s wedding—only to run straight into Ezra, his old best friend. Dreading facing his ex-girlfriend at the wedding festivities, Mike jumps at the chance when Ezra jokes about going as his date. Little does he know that Ezra’s had a crush on him since more or less the day they met.
Being back in the safe haven of the wildlife sanctuary, Mike finds himself getting close to Ezra—too close, he realises, after an ill-timed kiss makes him panic about what he really wants from the man he once called his best friend. But the connection between them is real, and Mike can’t stop himself from going back for more.
It’s only supposed to be an experiment—a secret Mike’s keeping from the rest of the world. Except there’s always been something between them, and Mike’s just starting to realise what that really is, despite his homophobic, bullying father.
Can he come to terms with who he is in time to keep the best thing that’s ever happened to him? Or will he run away all over again in the face of having to live his truth?
Haven is the third book in the Wild at Heart series, but you can read them in whatever order you like. It has a HEA and does not contain a cliffhanger. It does, however, contain: a kestrel named after the Millennium Falcon, excessive amounts of mistletoe, a glittery pine cone, explicit sex scenes, Christmas lights, and true love conquering all.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2018
About the author
Sean Ashcroft
48 books472 followersSean Ashcroft likes rainy days, white hot chocolates (don't knock it 'til you've tried it!) and boys kissing in books. He currently resides in Australia, all the way down at the bottom of the mainland in a sleepy little seaside town.
He writes sweet, hot books about sweet, hot boys who absolutely deserve each other.
He writes sweet, hot books about sweet, hot boys who absolutely deserve each other.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 2, 2019
This is a sweet friends to lovers story of Mike and Ezra. It is also a bit of a second chance as Mike left town for a while and really left his best friend behind.
I love the cast here and the sitting. We get a nice Christmas romance as well. Mike could be a great deal more self aware and reflective to really make this love story work for me but its a light fun kind read.
I love the cast here and the sitting. We get a nice Christmas romance as well. Mike could be a great deal more self aware and reflective to really make this love story work for me but its a light fun kind read.
December 19, 2018
2 Lovely Birds, Finally Together!💕
Second chance at love explains the Ezra & Mike romantic story. No extra frills, just a tale of how E & M got together. Very sweet, low angst, lovable MCs, plus the comradery of lovely, sweet co-characters. Fun read.
Second chance at love explains the Ezra & Mike romantic story. No extra frills, just a tale of how E & M got together. Very sweet, low angst, lovable MCs, plus the comradery of lovely, sweet co-characters. Fun read.
January 12, 2019
The books in this series have very little angst but they do have heart. I only wish Ezra hadn't have been SO forgiving every time Mike hurt him. But I guess it would have been a different type of story otherwise.
July 14, 2019
Sweet, If Somewhat Contrived, Ending
I gather this is the last book in a splendidly organized, sweetly written and most of the time super hot series.
In this one we have Ezra, the sanctuary's former bird lover who showed up in the second book after roaming the world for a couple of years discovering he was bisexual along the way. Enter Mike (I believe on the cover), who volunteered at the sanctuary four years before and who became Ezra's best friend before suddenly leaving with a female volunteer named Rachel whom he married after a while.
That Ezra had an unspoken crush on super straight Mike before he left for his world tour is the basis for all the teasing and angst and emotionally charged conversations among these two whose backgrounds could not be more different. Ezra lives with his widowed mother, who is a free spirit and whose own life gradually unfolds as quite crucial to the plotline. Mike is bunking nervously with his religious parents which include a homophobic father who is too stereotypical for my taste.
Now their paths cross again as Mike, now divorced from Rachel comes back to town from his wasting away and very lonely life in Virginia to attend the wedding of the first book's couple Oscar and Ryan. They have invited everyone who ever worked at the sanctuary, and that includes not only Mike but also Rachel, who shows up with her new stuffed puppet husband.
After an awkward reunion between Mike and Ezra, they somehow agree that going to the wedding as each other's plus-one will help them support each other and deal with all the likely embarrassing questions about their respective single status.
Of course, that leads to a budding romance which goes back and forth between delicious and at times delusional, IMHO. I say that because when push literally comes to shove between the reticent Ezra, who has been burned in love before, and the absolutely confused Mike, who is coming off a series of dates with women which go absolutely nowhere, Mike's instant flip is just a bit too convenient.
However, author Ashcroft once again comes through with a series of plot twists (including a surprise from Rachel) that get us to the end with a smile. This allows us to close the book on a final chapter in a delightful, and sizzling, series.
I gather this is the last book in a splendidly organized, sweetly written and most of the time super hot series.
In this one we have Ezra, the sanctuary's former bird lover who showed up in the second book after roaming the world for a couple of years discovering he was bisexual along the way. Enter Mike (I believe on the cover), who volunteered at the sanctuary four years before and who became Ezra's best friend before suddenly leaving with a female volunteer named Rachel whom he married after a while.
That Ezra had an unspoken crush on super straight Mike before he left for his world tour is the basis for all the teasing and angst and emotionally charged conversations among these two whose backgrounds could not be more different. Ezra lives with his widowed mother, who is a free spirit and whose own life gradually unfolds as quite crucial to the plotline. Mike is bunking nervously with his religious parents which include a homophobic father who is too stereotypical for my taste.
Now their paths cross again as Mike, now divorced from Rachel comes back to town from his wasting away and very lonely life in Virginia to attend the wedding of the first book's couple Oscar and Ryan. They have invited everyone who ever worked at the sanctuary, and that includes not only Mike but also Rachel, who shows up with her new stuffed puppet husband.
After an awkward reunion between Mike and Ezra, they somehow agree that going to the wedding as each other's plus-one will help them support each other and deal with all the likely embarrassing questions about their respective single status.
Of course, that leads to a budding romance which goes back and forth between delicious and at times delusional, IMHO. I say that because when push literally comes to shove between the reticent Ezra, who has been burned in love before, and the absolutely confused Mike, who is coming off a series of dates with women which go absolutely nowhere, Mike's instant flip is just a bit too convenient.
However, author Ashcroft once again comes through with a series of plot twists (including a surprise from Rachel) that get us to the end with a smile. This allows us to close the book on a final chapter in a delightful, and sizzling, series.
December 18, 2018
Haven
By Sean Ashcroft
Main Characters: Mike and Ezra
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
This is the final book in the 3 book series. Ezra has been in love with his best friend Mike for ages but Mike is straight. They both previously worked at the animal sanctuary until Mike left with Rachel a few years ago. That relationship didn't work out and Mike is back visiting his parents and trying to reconnect his friendship with Ezra. Ezra is hoping for more. This was a sweet, mm, first time gay contemporary romance with a hea ending. I like to see a little more alpha in one of the guys. Sorry to see the series end.
By Sean Ashcroft
Main Characters: Mike and Ezra
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
This is the final book in the 3 book series. Ezra has been in love with his best friend Mike for ages but Mike is straight. They both previously worked at the animal sanctuary until Mike left with Rachel a few years ago. That relationship didn't work out and Mike is back visiting his parents and trying to reconnect his friendship with Ezra. Ezra is hoping for more. This was a sweet, mm, first time gay contemporary romance with a hea ending. I like to see a little more alpha in one of the guys. Sorry to see the series end.
December 12, 2018
Another great addition to a great series. Oscar & Ryan are getting married. Mike a former employee comes back to join the couple & friends to celebrate in their joy. Ezra was Mike's best friend who's been missing Mike since he moved away. They decide to be each others guest for the wedding. Sparks that were hidden come to life. Great chemistry between the 2 MCs. I was offered an "ARC" for an honest review.
December 14, 2018
This is a great friends to lovers story that I really enjoyed. Ezra and Mike's may have started as a joke date to a wedding but turns into so much more! Ezra has always loved Mike but Mike has just realized that he is actually bi. I love watching them come together and how patient Ezra is with Mike as he accepts that he is now bi and has real feelings for Ezra. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
January 2, 2024
Adorable. I love the low-angst way conflict was handled in both this book and the series as a whole. Is it realistic? Gods, I wish. But I'm not reading romance novels for realism, am I? Ezra was everything I wanted him to be and I think I fell in love with his mother there at the end. I'm going to miss the Wild at Heart Animal Sanctuary folks, but it's a relief to know I can always come back and visit them.
January 6, 2019
First time gay...
The fake boyfriend, unrequited love for the straight guy , never disappoints. This had it all in spades. Ezra loves Mike. Mike is oblivious until a mistletoe kiss, then confusion reigns. He runs more times than he should. A sexual awakening for Mike.... despite his homophobic family... I loved it..
The fake boyfriend, unrequited love for the straight guy , never disappoints. This had it all in spades. Ezra loves Mike. Mike is oblivious until a mistletoe kiss, then confusion reigns. He runs more times than he should. A sexual awakening for Mike.... despite his homophobic family... I loved it..
December 16, 2018
Sweet
Another great couple. Sean Ashcroft really is the master of sweet romance. Both main characters were completely loveable. Definitely recommend it.
Another great couple. Sean Ashcroft really is the master of sweet romance. Both main characters were completely loveable. Definitely recommend it.
December 17, 2018
I love all wild at heart series and I'm glad that Ezra found his "one"...
February 11, 2019
Cute love story.
This was my favorite of the 3 books in this series. Ezra was just so damn cute. I'm really glad that Ezra and Mike got together.
This was my favorite of the 3 books in this series. Ezra was just so damn cute. I'm really glad that Ezra and Mike got together.
March 17, 2020
Good end of series
This one is similar to the others, a shy and sweet love story with a tiny bit of drama, steamy yet heartfelt scenes, fluffy but yummy.
This one is similar to the others, a shy and sweet love story with a tiny bit of drama, steamy yet heartfelt scenes, fluffy but yummy.
October 17, 2020
Same story from this author all over again.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews