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Kinley Island #1
Come Home
Gavin:
Hunter is my best friend. Nothing more.
Sure, he’s a hot, charming, scatterbrained little ball of perfect, and he protected me when I needed it most. But to him, I’m just an old friend. I moved to the city long ago to try to forget that I’m a little bit completely in love with him. But when work pulls me back to our small island hometown, it’s like stepping into a time machine to ten years ago.
Suddenly, Hunter is my entire world again. His eyes, his lips, his mischievous smile. He’s ten times more irresistible, and a million times more trouble.
He doesn’t think anything of it when he kisses me one late summer night. Forbidden for years, and now he’s right in my lap.
To him, it’s just reckless fun. But I’m done for.
Because he’s the only thing that feels like home.
Hunter:
Ever since Gavin became a successful hot shot in the city, he felt more like a stranger than my best friend. Where was the shy, sweet guy I used to stick up for in school? The person who could tell me anything?
Now he’s swooped back into our hometown, threatening to change the island forever. But we like our small town just the way it is. I should be fighting against Gavin and everything his company wants to do.
...But I’m no good at “should.” Instead, I end up with my lips on his.
...And then pulling him into bed.
And God, now I only want more.
Everyone in town tells me to stay away, but Gavin hits a spot that no one else has. A little secret, wicked-hot fun with a friend never hurt anything. Right?
Come Home is a 70,000-word gay romance about two friends who should be enemies but fall in love instead. It features summer nights by the water, boozy milkshakes, bad decisions, and a very good dog named Meatball.
Hunter is my best friend. Nothing more.
Sure, he’s a hot, charming, scatterbrained little ball of perfect, and he protected me when I needed it most. But to him, I’m just an old friend. I moved to the city long ago to try to forget that I’m a little bit completely in love with him. But when work pulls me back to our small island hometown, it’s like stepping into a time machine to ten years ago.
Suddenly, Hunter is my entire world again. His eyes, his lips, his mischievous smile. He’s ten times more irresistible, and a million times more trouble.
He doesn’t think anything of it when he kisses me one late summer night. Forbidden for years, and now he’s right in my lap.
To him, it’s just reckless fun. But I’m done for.
Because he’s the only thing that feels like home.
Hunter:
Ever since Gavin became a successful hot shot in the city, he felt more like a stranger than my best friend. Where was the shy, sweet guy I used to stick up for in school? The person who could tell me anything?
Now he’s swooped back into our hometown, threatening to change the island forever. But we like our small town just the way it is. I should be fighting against Gavin and everything his company wants to do.
...But I’m no good at “should.” Instead, I end up with my lips on his.
...And then pulling him into bed.
And God, now I only want more.
Everyone in town tells me to stay away, but Gavin hits a spot that no one else has. A little secret, wicked-hot fun with a friend never hurt anything. Right?
Come Home is a 70,000-word gay romance about two friends who should be enemies but fall in love instead. It features summer nights by the water, boozy milkshakes, bad decisions, and a very good dog named Meatball.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2019
325 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
January 30, 2021
I liked it but hated it I guess??
...and I'm sorry but I can't write any more of a review at 1.50 in the morning...
...and I'm sorry but I can't write any more of a review at 1.50 in the morning...
September 6, 2020
2 stars for Basenjis!
And that probably makes no sense to anyone, but the Basenji is my favorite dog breed ever. I squealed when I read it. Literally.
Anyway, this book was so slow. So very slow. Most of it was about building a freaking bridge and the towns people being against it. The romance between Gavin and Hunter was almost a side thing. And it got so very boring.
I liked both Gavin and Hunter well enough. Them going from friends to lovers felt very natural. They were very well figured out. That can't be said about the side characters though. The buildup for some of the actions didn't make any sense.
Gavin and Hunter would've needed a lot more communication going on and the drama was just there for the sake of drama. It didn't add a lot to the story.
I would've needed more focus on the relationship and less focus on that bridge for this to be a hit.
And that probably makes no sense to anyone, but the Basenji is my favorite dog breed ever. I squealed when I read it. Literally.
Anyway, this book was so slow. So very slow. Most of it was about building a freaking bridge and the towns people being against it. The romance between Gavin and Hunter was almost a side thing. And it got so very boring.
I liked both Gavin and Hunter well enough. Them going from friends to lovers felt very natural. They were very well figured out. That can't be said about the side characters though. The buildup for some of the actions didn't make any sense.
Gavin and Hunter would've needed a lot more communication going on and the drama was just there for the sake of drama. It didn't add a lot to the story.
I would've needed more focus on the relationship and less focus on that bridge for this to be a hit.
October 24, 2025
Childhood friends grow apart until one returns with unwelcome news.
5 connecting stars. ***Mild spoilers!!***
Welcome to Kinley Island, Washington. Just off the coast from Seattle. Where life is extremely less hectic, polluted and the people respect their heritage and the island.
Now meet Hunter, who grew up on Kinley and never left. And his best childhood friend, Gavin, who did leave the island, went to college and became a very successful Real Estate Developer and Investment Advisor. Once BFFs, now they have grown apart as Gavin's career skyrocketed. In the past two years, Gavin has all but ceased all communication with Hunter.
But when Gavin finally returns to the island, it isn't for a reunion with Hunter. In fact, he dreads seeing him again. It's for something that will create tremendous animosity between Gavin, Hunter and the entire island's population.
(Sorry, to reveal what that thing is would be a major spoiler!)
Once word spreads of Gavin's plans for Kinley Island, Hunter begins to doubt his ethics and moral compass. Both men still have feelings for each other, but Hunter feels used by Gavin.
What follows is a brilliantly written story of revelations, environmental concerns, undeniable heat, and the consequences of one's blinding ambition. I despise using this word, but I found the main plotline "sweet." The world building is exceptional, as most of the story takes place on the island. The dialogue is presice, humorous and apt for every scene. The supporting characters are very diverse and set in their ways, particularly Hunter's older brother, Caleb.
I absolutely loved this book and it's complex, yet simple, theme and prose. It actually made me want a relationship like Hunter and Gavin finally achieve. And the huge twist at the two-thirds timeline was marvelous! I highly recommend this book for those who believe that love possibly can conquer all!
5 connecting stars. ***Mild spoilers!!***
Welcome to Kinley Island, Washington. Just off the coast from Seattle. Where life is extremely less hectic, polluted and the people respect their heritage and the island.
Now meet Hunter, who grew up on Kinley and never left. And his best childhood friend, Gavin, who did leave the island, went to college and became a very successful Real Estate Developer and Investment Advisor. Once BFFs, now they have grown apart as Gavin's career skyrocketed. In the past two years, Gavin has all but ceased all communication with Hunter.
But when Gavin finally returns to the island, it isn't for a reunion with Hunter. In fact, he dreads seeing him again. It's for something that will create tremendous animosity between Gavin, Hunter and the entire island's population.
(Sorry, to reveal what that thing is would be a major spoiler!)
Once word spreads of Gavin's plans for Kinley Island, Hunter begins to doubt his ethics and moral compass. Both men still have feelings for each other, but Hunter feels used by Gavin.
What follows is a brilliantly written story of revelations, environmental concerns, undeniable heat, and the consequences of one's blinding ambition. I despise using this word, but I found the main plotline "sweet." The world building is exceptional, as most of the story takes place on the island. The dialogue is presice, humorous and apt for every scene. The supporting characters are very diverse and set in their ways, particularly Hunter's older brother, Caleb.
I absolutely loved this book and it's complex, yet simple, theme and prose. It actually made me want a relationship like Hunter and Gavin finally achieve. And the huge twist at the two-thirds timeline was marvelous! I highly recommend this book for those who believe that love possibly can conquer all!
April 12, 2020
(3.5)
Rep: gay mcs, bi side character
Rep: gay mcs, bi side character
August 12, 2020
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was more than ok, but just not quite enough either. That about sums up the 3 star rating. It had so much promise early on, great premise and setting of a quaint little island, but it somehow fell flat midway through the story, and it became a bit of a struggle to finish.
This was a best friends to lovers story, but somehow I didn't feel it. Their best friend-ship wasn't at all believable and they just felt like two normal friends. Back story was given though, but I wished more would have been peppered in to make their best friend-ship more plausible, There was sexual tension, but it's not smoldering or scorching, just felt like it was bubbling under the surface always, and not fully reaching boiling point. The blowjobs they gave each other 10 chapters in just felt lacking and that was considerably hotter than the after-thought of a sex scene at the very last chapter.
I liked both Gavin and Hunter in the beginning, but as the book went on, they exhausted me somewhat. We can see that Gavin is always hiding under a mask of positivity and faux good nature, but I felt like even at the end I didn't get to see that layer fully peeled back. There was still a hazy, gauzy film over what I wanted to fully see revealed from him, even when we finally see him do right by Hunter and Kinley Island, and I was still left wanting. I did sympathise with him though, for trying to do the right thing for all the wrong reasons, but I can't help thinking how someone so intelligent would have missed out on building a hospital instead of a bridge to begin with, when he fully knew that the response would have been as bad as it got.
As for Hunter, I liked him alot at first. Funny, snarky at times and has a great sense of humour to boot when we first see him. But slowly and steadily I felt like I was losing him over the course of the book. His voice just sort of thinned out for me, and it was like his life and personality was being drained by the reappearance of Gavin, when it should have been otherwise. And since he was Gavin's best friend since young, I can't help but rage on him for stupidly believing that Gavin would ever use him to get ahead. He should have known him better than that.
The writing was good though. More than competent, with great flow and cadence, and the homey, quaint island was brought to life quite nicely. The story though was a little rough starting midway through. It was kinda like the author kinda lost a little steam and just wanted to finish, throwing in the standard misunderstanding, realisation, hero-moment, making up, making out and final proposal route for good measure. Shame though, as it had quite the promising first half of the book.
This was a best friends to lovers story, but somehow I didn't feel it. Their best friend-ship wasn't at all believable and they just felt like two normal friends. Back story was given though, but I wished more would have been peppered in to make their best friend-ship more plausible, There was sexual tension, but it's not smoldering or scorching, just felt like it was bubbling under the surface always, and not fully reaching boiling point. The blowjobs they gave each other 10 chapters in just felt lacking and that was considerably hotter than the after-thought of a sex scene at the very last chapter.
I liked both Gavin and Hunter in the beginning, but as the book went on, they exhausted me somewhat. We can see that Gavin is always hiding under a mask of positivity and faux good nature, but I felt like even at the end I didn't get to see that layer fully peeled back. There was still a hazy, gauzy film over what I wanted to fully see revealed from him, even when we finally see him do right by Hunter and Kinley Island, and I was still left wanting. I did sympathise with him though, for trying to do the right thing for all the wrong reasons, but I can't help thinking how someone so intelligent would have missed out on building a hospital instead of a bridge to begin with, when he fully knew that the response would have been as bad as it got.
As for Hunter, I liked him alot at first. Funny, snarky at times and has a great sense of humour to boot when we first see him. But slowly and steadily I felt like I was losing him over the course of the book. His voice just sort of thinned out for me, and it was like his life and personality was being drained by the reappearance of Gavin, when it should have been otherwise. And since he was Gavin's best friend since young, I can't help but rage on him for stupidly believing that Gavin would ever use him to get ahead. He should have known him better than that.
The writing was good though. More than competent, with great flow and cadence, and the homey, quaint island was brought to life quite nicely. The story though was a little rough starting midway through. It was kinda like the author kinda lost a little steam and just wanted to finish, throwing in the standard misunderstanding, realisation, hero-moment, making up, making out and final proposal route for good measure. Shame though, as it had quite the promising first half of the book.
June 12, 2019
4.5/5⭐
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
"The first rule of Kinley Island is that all you can talk about is Kinley Island."
Coming Home is the first book in Raleigh Ruebins new series Kinsley Island. It was a great feel good, friends to lovers romance with the perfect small town setting.
Kinley Island is small, tight-knit and the only access to it is by ferry. It's so very far removed from the Seattle city life and that's exactly how the residents like it and want it to stay. Gavin left the island two years ago, leaving behind is best friend Hunter, and is now back with the not so grand idea to connect the island to the mainland with a brand-new bridge. The people are not happy and Hunter is one of them. Things get even more tricky when Hunter starts discovering new feelings toward Gavin that Gavin himself has had for a very long time. Hunter struggles to support Gavin in a project he strongly disapproves of. Gavin has to take a good look at himself and find what's more important, his business or the man he can't live without.
"It wouldn't have mattered if we were in Kinley or Seattle or on goddamn Mars -- I was at home when I was with Hunter."
I adored this book so much and devoured it in one sitting. The story has the quintessential small town feel. Kinsley is a place where everyone knows everyone else moves. When they love you, you know it, and when they aren't happy with you they aren't afraid to let you know. The supporting characters were great, especially Hunter's goofy parents and his blunt and honest brother.
"I figured now I've done my good dead, so for the rest of the day I can rob banks, deal drugs, and jaywalk guilt free."
Hunter is a bit of a mess. Our first impression is of him doing the walk of shame and joking about it. He is kindhearted and personable, you just can't help but love him. Gavin seems to be on the opposite side of the scale compared to him with his career focus, health regime and seriousness. Hunter mellows him out and brings out a lighter side to him. Their friendship is honest and caring. They didn't sugar coat things for each other and didn't let their differences inter with their relationship. I loved their sexual chemistry when they finally gave into it. The passion was intense, and they couldn't get enough of each other. Their whole dynamic flowed and was believable.
"I'd just kissed Gavin. The enemy. My best friend. Someone I really wasn't allowed to be kissing."
Coming Home was a fantastic to start to a new series. Raleigh Ruebins is a new to me author but I will definitely be reading the rest of this series as it releases and checking out her previous work.
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
"The first rule of Kinley Island is that all you can talk about is Kinley Island."
Coming Home is the first book in Raleigh Ruebins new series Kinsley Island. It was a great feel good, friends to lovers romance with the perfect small town setting.
Kinley Island is small, tight-knit and the only access to it is by ferry. It's so very far removed from the Seattle city life and that's exactly how the residents like it and want it to stay. Gavin left the island two years ago, leaving behind is best friend Hunter, and is now back with the not so grand idea to connect the island to the mainland with a brand-new bridge. The people are not happy and Hunter is one of them. Things get even more tricky when Hunter starts discovering new feelings toward Gavin that Gavin himself has had for a very long time. Hunter struggles to support Gavin in a project he strongly disapproves of. Gavin has to take a good look at himself and find what's more important, his business or the man he can't live without.
"It wouldn't have mattered if we were in Kinley or Seattle or on goddamn Mars -- I was at home when I was with Hunter."
I adored this book so much and devoured it in one sitting. The story has the quintessential small town feel. Kinsley is a place where everyone knows everyone else moves. When they love you, you know it, and when they aren't happy with you they aren't afraid to let you know. The supporting characters were great, especially Hunter's goofy parents and his blunt and honest brother.
"I figured now I've done my good dead, so for the rest of the day I can rob banks, deal drugs, and jaywalk guilt free."
Hunter is a bit of a mess. Our first impression is of him doing the walk of shame and joking about it. He is kindhearted and personable, you just can't help but love him. Gavin seems to be on the opposite side of the scale compared to him with his career focus, health regime and seriousness. Hunter mellows him out and brings out a lighter side to him. Their friendship is honest and caring. They didn't sugar coat things for each other and didn't let their differences inter with their relationship. I loved their sexual chemistry when they finally gave into it. The passion was intense, and they couldn't get enough of each other. Their whole dynamic flowed and was believable.
"I'd just kissed Gavin. The enemy. My best friend. Someone I really wasn't allowed to be kissing."
Coming Home was a fantastic to start to a new series. Raleigh Ruebins is a new to me author but I will definitely be reading the rest of this series as it releases and checking out her previous work.
June 13, 2019
cute story.. interesting.. good characters.. good storyline.. and good writing. it is all wonderful. i will admit that in the beginning i wasnt feeling it as much as i wanted to. i felt like this couple wasnt feeling it.. but then it got aligned right and i felt them.. very good
August 21, 2025
Childhood friends reunited years later but all is not happiness, one comes to town with a plan, a plan that sets a fire of anger throughout the close-knit town and a rift between these two friends. A wonderful but angsty tale that kept me glued to my Kindle late into the night.
June 13, 2019
I was really looking forward to reading this book as the blurb is amazing but unfortunately it ended up being just an okay read for me. Hunter is great and I love how much he cares about his family and his community. Gavin is not very likeable for most of the book and I never really understood him. I wish that they had a stronger connection and that Gavin had listened to Hunter in the beginning when he tried to help him understand why his project would not be welcomed by the residents of Kinley Island. Gavin's lack of insight and bullheadedness may cost him everything if he doesn't change his ways. Overall the story is entertaining, I love Hunter's family, the setting is beautiful, I like the ending and I am looking forward to finding out who will be in the next book in this new series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
June 10, 2019
Gavin returned to his home town (Island) to make it over, into a better place. What he got was shot down, knocked down, and close to losing the man he’d loved for years.
I gave this book 3 stars. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. I just had a few issues with it. The main characters didn’t click for me as a couple at the beginning of the book. They were nice on their own and I didn’t feel that them getting together would make them better which is an important element for me. Also Gavin’s insistence that he alone knew what was best for the island was extremely egotistical.
The story did get better and I enjoyed it overall.
I received an arc of this book.
I gave this book 3 stars. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. I just had a few issues with it. The main characters didn’t click for me as a couple at the beginning of the book. They were nice on their own and I didn’t feel that them getting together would make them better which is an important element for me. Also Gavin’s insistence that he alone knew what was best for the island was extremely egotistical.
The story did get better and I enjoyed it overall.
I received an arc of this book.
March 21, 2021
This was a cute book. Hunter and Gavin were best friends who grew apart a little over the past couple of years because Gavin was determined to be successful in his career and get over his feelings for Hunter. When Gavin has the boneheaded idea to bring unwanted development to the community, things don’t go very smooth. It was a little slow at first with Hunter and Gavin denying their feelings, but once they did it got a lot better. The story was interesting and I liked the resolution, even if it did seem a little too easy. I loved the epilogue. Super cute.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
June 11, 2019
With dreams of changing his hometown Gavin didn’t expect to reconnect with his best friend. They get their opportunity to become something more as they try to improve their home. The plot idea was good but I felt that it lacked in its execution. Gavins know it all attitude was a bit much and I felt that the characters just never had that deeper connection. It’s an okay read, it just needed more.
June 13, 2019
i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the story of Gavin and Hunter. They have been best friends since they were children and grew up together on Kinley Island, a small island outside of Seattle. Gavin left the island and made his fortune in real estate, while Hunter is now a biology teacher on the island. Gavin is returning to the island and it has been about 2 years since Hunter saw him. Gavin is excited to be back because he wants to build a bridge to the island and develop around it. Hunter is horrified to learn of Gavin's plans and knows he will be facing a strong opposition to building a bridge. Gavin is determined to build the bridge, but the locals don't want it and soon Gavin is threatened, leading to Hunter telling him to stay with him to keep him safe. Hunter and Gavin are both attracted to each other, but Hunter doesn't want to lose the friendship, so he tries to deny his feelings. Gavin has been in love with Hunter since high school and Hunter never knew. The more Gavin faces opposition, the more Hunter wants to protect him. Gavin wants Hunter to support the bridge because he think others will eventually agree with Hunter, but Hunter doesn't want the bridge. I loved this story. I laughed, i wanted to cry. I loved Hunter and thought he was adorable. He was funny and everyone loved him. The island was its own character in this story. Gavin needed to return to the island and face his past. Gavin never thought Hunter would love him, but i think he always did. Great one.
June 12, 2019
I'm always delighted to read from my favorite, "feel good" author, Raleigh Ruebins. Regardless of the topic, or drama and angst endured by her characters, there's always a sweet positivity about her characters and their stories. Relatable people, that charm and endear - I find myself invested in their stories, from the start. "Come Home," is great start to the Kinley Island series. I have to confess, when I first saw the book, my tired old eyes saw - Kinky Island - Woah! That's not to say, that this story isn't filled with steamy, hotness, but KINLEY Island, is a lovely place, and it's easy to see why Hunter made up his mind, as a young man, that THIS is where he wanted to live out his life. In this friends-to-lovers, second chance, and unrequitted crush, romance, we see two friends, reunited, when they went their separate ways, after graduating from college. I enjoyed many things about this story, but I especially enjoyed that Hunter and Gaving find love, despite their differences. They don't seem to have all that much in common, anymore, they don't see eye-to-eye, yet they care for each other, based on a lifetime of experiences, and a solid foundation of trust. The secondary characters are nicely developed and I can't wait to hear their stories, soon. A captivating read. I received this book as an ARC from the author, and I volunteered this review.
June 15, 2019
I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.
In this book we meet Gavin Bell and Hunter Wilson. Gavin is a man with a plan. His plan to build a bridge that would make it quicker to allow people to get the help they need in a life or death situation. This bring would run from Seattle to his childhood island of Kenley Island. There is just one problem the people from the island don't want the bridge. He wonders though if he can get his best friend on board will this work? Hunter hasn't seen Gavin much in the last 2 years but they text daily. Seeing him now though gives him mixed feelings. There is a part of him that misses his friend and their is another part that thinks he is nuts for what he is proposing. Can these two find that what they are fighting against is more than just the bridge or will it all be more than they can handle?
This is an amazing story. It does have its ups and downs that I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin the story for any other readers. I will say this book will have you hooked from the first word to the very end. I would also say this book could be any couple. We all just want someone who will love us for us not what we can do for them. I will say I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
In this book we meet Gavin Bell and Hunter Wilson. Gavin is a man with a plan. His plan to build a bridge that would make it quicker to allow people to get the help they need in a life or death situation. This bring would run from Seattle to his childhood island of Kenley Island. There is just one problem the people from the island don't want the bridge. He wonders though if he can get his best friend on board will this work? Hunter hasn't seen Gavin much in the last 2 years but they text daily. Seeing him now though gives him mixed feelings. There is a part of him that misses his friend and their is another part that thinks he is nuts for what he is proposing. Can these two find that what they are fighting against is more than just the bridge or will it all be more than they can handle?
This is an amazing story. It does have its ups and downs that I really want to tell you about. However I don't want to ruin the story for any other readers. I will say this book will have you hooked from the first word to the very end. I would also say this book could be any couple. We all just want someone who will love us for us not what we can do for them. I will say I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
June 13, 2019
A battle of wills over the fate of a sleepy island community; will it tear them apart?😟
June 10, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
👍4-4.5🌟stars
The plot and the conflict set-up in this story were good as was the writing. Of the two heroes, Hunter was my favorite because he sticks to his convictions and he is so attuned to what others need. Gavin's confidence in his business savvy is a bit egotistical and off-putting; it's no surprise he's got a prize greedy and heartless jerk on his management team. Gavin's whole health and positivity fixation also seemed a bit extreme and almost laughable, but it made for some odd moments like healthy eating facing off to spiked milkshakes! The heat is fairly mild in this romance. I have read ten or more books by Raleigh Ruebins and, though this was not my favorite, I liked the small-town setting and the way Gavin finally honors his mother's memory and makes Kinley a safer place.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 10, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
👍4-4.5🌟stars
The plot and the conflict set-up in this story were good as was the writing. Of the two heroes, Hunter was my favorite because he sticks to his convictions and he is so attuned to what others need. Gavin's confidence in his business savvy is a bit egotistical and off-putting; it's no surprise he's got a prize greedy and heartless jerk on his management team. Gavin's whole health and positivity fixation also seemed a bit extreme and almost laughable, but it made for some odd moments like healthy eating facing off to spiked milkshakes! The heat is fairly mild in this romance. I have read ten or more books by Raleigh Ruebins and, though this was not my favorite, I liked the small-town setting and the way Gavin finally honors his mother's memory and makes Kinley a safer place.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 16, 2019
This was a really good story, and it revolved around two characters I loved. Gavin and Hunter were each successful in their chosen career, but they were also each a big mess in some ways. Hunter wanted to find a forever love, but he kept making the mistake of ending up sleeping with the absolute wrong people. Meanwhile, Gavin had been in love with Hunter for years, but was afraid of telling Hunter and ruining their friendship if things went wrong.
It looked like Gavin might ruin the friendship, and any hope for more, when he pushed to build a bridge to Kinley Island that none of the residents, including Gavin, was in favor of. The townspeople were so angry with Gavin, who wanted the bridge built for good reasons, and my heart hurt for him several times.
These men were so sweet together, and I their story kept me involved from page one. The other characters were interesting and sometimes quirky, and I loved the humorous moments. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more stories set on Kinley Island.
It looked like Gavin might ruin the friendship, and any hope for more, when he pushed to build a bridge to Kinley Island that none of the residents, including Gavin, was in favor of. The townspeople were so angry with Gavin, who wanted the bridge built for good reasons, and my heart hurt for him several times.
These men were so sweet together, and I their story kept me involved from page one. The other characters were interesting and sometimes quirky, and I loved the humorous moments. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more stories set on Kinley Island.
October 2, 2019
Kinley Island is an island close to Seattle. There's no bridge, so people take the ferry boats to get there. Gavin, businessman and former inhabitant of Kinley Island, wants to change that. For profit, of course, but also because he still remembers the day his mom died because they couldn't get her to a hospital fast enough. He wants his best friend and crush Hunter - a social butterfly - to win people over. But Hunter doesn't want that bridge either...
This book was really cute and I enjoyed it quite much, even though I don't get why they just can't sent help via emergency rescue helicopter... that's what they do in my country when there's no real doctor or hospital on an island. (They usually have a medically schooled person there who can tell if someone needs urgent help or not...)
Gavin sometimes read like a 13-year old girl to me and I really don't know who that guy on the cover is supposed to be (he looks like the missing doctor...), but well... :D I think out of all books by Ruebins I've read so far, I liked this one the most.
This book was really cute and I enjoyed it quite much, even though I don't get why they just can't sent help via emergency rescue helicopter... that's what they do in my country when there's no real doctor or hospital on an island. (They usually have a medically schooled person there who can tell if someone needs urgent help or not...)
Gavin sometimes read like a 13-year old girl to me and I really don't know who that guy on the cover is supposed to be (he looks like the missing doctor...), but well... :D I think out of all books by Ruebins I've read so far, I liked this one the most.
September 11, 2025
I have previously read several of this author's books and truly enjoyed them. This one was not quite at a par with the others. The two main characters could be better developed. They had been close friends in high school and University but one (Hunter) stayed home to teach at the high school while the other (Gavin) had gone off to make a name for himself in business. Thus a contrast between the quiet individual who enjoyed the peace and quiet of Kinley Island and the businessman who saw profit in building a bridge so the Island could be developed.
There was another reason for the bridge - Gavin's mother had died of a heart attack when she could not get to medical treatment without waiting for the ferry.
The two reconnected and found they still cared for each other (I had an experience like that so related) and in time and with the assistance of a friend of Gavin's mother, Gavin saw that Hunter meant more to him than his business venture which could be done in other ways as he also found out his mother had fought before against a bridge.
There was another reason for the bridge - Gavin's mother had died of a heart attack when she could not get to medical treatment without waiting for the ferry.
The two reconnected and found they still cared for each other (I had an experience like that so related) and in time and with the assistance of a friend of Gavin's mother, Gavin saw that Hunter meant more to him than his business venture which could be done in other ways as he also found out his mother had fought before against a bridge.
June 11, 2019
Come Home by Raleigh Ruebins is a great start to a new series. While I consider myself an urban person (I used to live in NYC), I’ve wondered what it would be like to live on an island away from big cities. Thus I can relate to Gavin, who could not leave Kinley Island fast enough, and Hunter, who only left for college but knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life on Kinley. I tend to be critical of stories where the protagonists meet in high school and at least one of them falls irrevocably in love with the other, but the author made it believable in this book. I especially enjoyed watching Gavin undergo a metamorphosis, thanks in part to Hunter, but also a fun secondary character who I hope reappears in future books. Ruebins does a good job of making his settings an important part of his stories, and that is certainly true in Come Home. There’s plenty of angst to move the plot, but overall this is a sweet read.
June 14, 2019
Raleigh Ruebins' Come Home is the first book in a new series, Kinley Island.
The romance is sweet, with two best friends who never acted on their feelings before. The conflict storyline was okay. It certainly represents the small town feeling and adds to the atmosphere. But for some reason I just didn't love it. I found myself more upset with Gavin for his opinions, despite him having good motivation. I think I was just annoyed with the whole project.
In the end though, it's really sweet. And the ending is fantastic. Best scavenger hunt ever!
I love most of the writing, but there are times were the author drove me crazy with the repeated use of "he said", "I said." The strange thing is that it certainly isn't throughout the book, but rather in certain scenes.
Overall, I really enjoyed Come Home despite the couple of issues I had with it. It's definitely a sweet small-town romance. I'm excited to read the next book in the series.
00-mm-horrible-disaster-fail-dnf
November 20, 2019A really formulaic and annoying signature move this author can't resist is having EVERY MC who does the proposing tell the other MC that he fashioned the engagement ring after that MC's "class ring"!! Fucking hell: Author, GET NEW MATERIAL!!! Not everyone has a fucking class ring, and enough is enough with the copy and paste mentality! I swear, EVERY spiel is the same with this author ... and THAT is what separates great authors from authors who're really just not anything to write anyone about; this author, if it wasn't clear, belongs in the latter group!!! Just NOT good :-/ and definitely not for me!! Shame, because the actual writing STYLE in terms of the technicalities is actually pretty great!! She knows how to write, she just doesn't execute the story, the plot decisions, etc. well at all!! The talent for writing is there [which is good], the talent for storytelling is definitely NOT there [it seriously sucks]!!! This is where we part ways for good!!!
June 11, 2019
I love books like that, sweet, slow romance stories with likable characters.
Here we have a really good story about Hunter who has spent all his life on Kinley Island and his best childhood friend Gavin, who left to live in the city. Even though they used to be very close as kids, it seems like they have nothing in common now, as adults.
I loved Hunter, he is caring, funny, hard-working guy, who loves his family and his little Island. On the other hand, it took me some time to understand Gavin and his actions. They are a super cute couple :)
The book is well written, fast paced and full of plot twists (it's impossible to predict what will happen with the bridge or what kind of secrets Gavin's kept for YEARS).
It is a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, second chance type of a story with a very happy ending. I'd love to read more about Gav and Hunter life together!
Here we have a really good story about Hunter who has spent all his life on Kinley Island and his best childhood friend Gavin, who left to live in the city. Even though they used to be very close as kids, it seems like they have nothing in common now, as adults.
I loved Hunter, he is caring, funny, hard-working guy, who loves his family and his little Island. On the other hand, it took me some time to understand Gavin and his actions. They are a super cute couple :)
The book is well written, fast paced and full of plot twists (it's impossible to predict what will happen with the bridge or what kind of secrets Gavin's kept for YEARS).
It is a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, second chance type of a story with a very happy ending. I'd love to read more about Gav and Hunter life together!
June 14, 2019
Fantastic small-town friends to lovers story! Believable, heartwarming, and sexy, with an entertaining dilemma at its core. This book was an especially enjoyable read for me. I think it was because the chemistry between Gavin and Hunter was so authentic, honest, and organic - exactly the way it should flow between two people who’ve been friends forever. But when the friendship grew into more, it was downright electric. I loved the world-building of the little island town with its unique cast of characters, too.
Raleigh Ruebins is a new author to me and I am now adding the rest of her back list to the top of my TBR pile. I can’t wait for the next book in this series - crossing my fingers that it will be Caleb!
*ARC received for an honest and unbiased review.*
Raleigh Ruebins is a new author to me and I am now adding the rest of her back list to the top of my TBR pile. I can’t wait for the next book in this series - crossing my fingers that it will be Caleb!
*ARC received for an honest and unbiased review.*
June 14, 2019
This is the story of two friends who grew up on Kinley Island and while Hunter went off to college and came back to be a part of the community he loved, Gavin moved to Seattle and became a bit of a egotistical, greedy real estate agent. And when Gavin returns, he's determined to convince the town to build a bridge that no one wants.
As much as I liked Hunter, his family, and the community of Kinley Island in general, Gavin was really hard to like in the long run. Despite his attitude, Hunter wants to protect him from the negativity his idea brings while dealing with his less than stellar personality.
In the end, Hunter made me start to like the story and by the end, I could kinda see what he saw in Gavin. That and the wonderful HEA!
As much as I liked Hunter, his family, and the community of Kinley Island in general, Gavin was really hard to like in the long run. Despite his attitude, Hunter wants to protect him from the negativity his idea brings while dealing with his less than stellar personality.
In the end, Hunter made me start to like the story and by the end, I could kinda see what he saw in Gavin. That and the wonderful HEA!
June 12, 2019
This was a decent read. The blurb sets the scene so I had a good idea what the book was about, and I don't want to give anything away. The storyline was good, the MCs, Hunter especially, believable, Gavin was a little 'out there', and took me longer to warm to him.
This is a story about becoming a better person and learning what is important in life. Gavin grew on me throughout the story, and as I got to know his back story better, I came to understand him more. It's a slow burn romance, all about character development, you'll find it a little emotional in places. A good ending. Ultimately a sweet read, recommended.
This is a story about becoming a better person and learning what is important in life. Gavin grew on me throughout the story, and as I got to know his back story better, I came to understand him more. It's a slow burn romance, all about character development, you'll find it a little emotional in places. A good ending. Ultimately a sweet read, recommended.
June 17, 2019
Coming home for all the wrong reasons…
This story is about so much more than Hunter and Gavin connecting again. It is about finding things you didn’t know were missing in your life.
While the part of this book that focuses on Gavin and Hunter while they mend and grow their relationship is great, what I really love is watching Gavin grow as a person. Watching him discover what is really important in life and who he really is gives him a depth of character I wasn’t expecting.
This is a good coming back home, small island romance that has characters that will make you truly want to see them not only together but succeed.
This story is about so much more than Hunter and Gavin connecting again. It is about finding things you didn’t know were missing in your life.
While the part of this book that focuses on Gavin and Hunter while they mend and grow their relationship is great, what I really love is watching Gavin grow as a person. Watching him discover what is really important in life and who he really is gives him a depth of character I wasn’t expecting.
This is a good coming back home, small island romance that has characters that will make you truly want to see them not only together but succeed.
June 11, 2019
Loved it! Another great book from the author. Once started reading couldn't stop till the end. I loved Gavin and Hunter's characters. I thought the story was well written and characters were developed.
Hope to read from the author for a long time. I enjoy the author's stories so much, that I feel like I am apart of the family or friends in the story. Love how the story plays out and hate when the story comes to a end.
Thank you for sharing your book with us.
I received the arc copy for an honest review.
Hope to read from the author for a long time. I enjoy the author's stories so much, that I feel like I am apart of the family or friends in the story. Love how the story plays out and hate when the story comes to a end.
Thank you for sharing your book with us.
I received the arc copy for an honest review.
June 11, 2019
Come Home by Raleigh Ruebins is the first book in the Kinley Island series. I really enjoyed this best friends to lovers story. The story is well written and kept my interest. It has some drama, misunderstandings, revelations, sexytimes, romance and sweetness. I really liked the characters, not just as a couple but as individual characters. The supporting characters were also great, building up my excitement for more from this series.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
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