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No Good Mitchell

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BRODY

A night on the town after a long workweek at my family's distillery should include shots and dancing--not a hot kiss with a handsome stranger. I'm straight...at least, that's what I figured until I find myself locking lips with a sexy city boy. Now all my circuits are going haywire, and the spark that ignites between us makes me even more curious.

Unfortunately, I kissed the one man who's off-limits: Cohen Mitchell--the sole surviving heir to the Mitchell Creek distillery, a rival neighbor my family has feuded with for nearly a hundred years. Until he arrived in town, no one knew there were any Mitchells left. But the business-savvy city slicker has taken an interest in his legacy. Nothing means more to me than my family, so whether I like it or not, I have to keep my hands off the sexy, green-eyed beauty who Big Daddy has not-so-affectionately dubbed that "No Good Mitchell." Problem is: my hands have other plans...

COHEN

I never expected to inherit a distillery from a father I had never known. That's how I find myself in a tiny Georgia town where everyone knows a family history I've been kept in the dark about. The townsfolk all have a different story about my ancestors, with two things in common: illegal activity and Mitchell vs O'Ralley forever.

Maybe I shouldn't like Brody O'Ralley, but I didn't grow up with this stupid family feud. I enjoy touching him, kissing him and--oops--I'm falling for the man with sweet Southern charm and a big heart. Between the O'Ralley patriarch hating me, getting the Mitchell Creek distillery off the ground, and working through my own family issues, I know I should stay away from Brody.

But I won't, and staying away is not what he wants either. I crave all the time with my country boy as I can get, even if it's breaking the rules. After all, I am a No Good Mitchell.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2020

380 people are currently reading
782 people want to read

About the author

Riley Hart

116 books7,107 followers
Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She's a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her reading.

Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.

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5 stars
604 (41%)
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487 (33%)
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301 (20%)
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64 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
Profile Image for Gabi.
86 reviews21 followers
November 21, 2020
2.5 stars. 5 for the first 83% and no stars for the rest.

I'm so mad. SO MAD. I can't even explain. How the hell can the first 83% of a book deserve 5 stars and the last 17% be SO SO bad it shouldn't be allowed to exist? I cannot believe that in so few little pages a book was ruined. Maybe I'm being a bitch because I like Riley Hard and don't like Devon McCormack books but I'm 100% blaming him for the ending. But maybe that's not fair because Hart loves to write family problems. Goddamn awful.

Because I'm a nice person I will first write about the great 83% and then I will rant about the godawful 17%. There will be spoilers but you should read it anyway to avoid reading this whole damn book and then hating because the authors decided to ruin it. Even the epilogue was awful. It should win an award for worst epilogue ever.

Ok, so. This story is told with double POVs and follows Brody (late twenties) and Cohen (early thirties). Cohen inherited a farm and a distillery from a biological father he never knew. He decides to move to Buckridge, Georgia with his best friend to try and figure what to do with it. What he finds is a 100 year old family field, a whole lot of gossip about his biological family and a gorgeous cowboy named Brody.

I loved both characters. They were complex, both trying to deal with different but sad circumstances regarding family and who they are as a person. The relationship development was beautiful too, how they opened up to each other, trusted each other with their past and their families issues. I liked Isaac and Walker but almost every other character was uniquely annoying. But I really love Cohen's mom. What a nice, good woman. Until 83% I was ready to come here, give five stars and gush about how good this was. Because it really was.

And then the last 17% happened. So I'm gonna rant now. There will be spoilers.

WHY? Why in the universe would Cohen not tell Brody about his grand-grandfather's letter and simply feel guilty and leave? Why? They had been communicating so beautifully from the start! Why the hell would he simply do what Big Daddy wanted? That was so damn out of character! But that's not the worst part, no. That special title goes to Brody's family.

What a bunch of self-centered, selfish, ungrateful assholes. Really. Acting like Brody is this big monster for being justifiably pissed at them after they accused him of not wanting to be a part of the family after he stayed there for them. And let's not forget how they KNEW Brody was miserable after Cohen left but did nothing because protecting Bid Daddy stupid and selfish feelings about a stupid 100 years old feud was more important. God, basically they all should be unhappy just because of family. Cool, so you have 6 unhappy people all together because family. Clearly great.

Now let's talk about Big Daddy and the worst apology ever. So he was such a huge asshole that Cohen was convinced that it was better for Brody to leave. Big Daddy decided that his almost thirty year old son was so damn stupid he would interfere and not tell Brody. Awesome. But family, right? And then he only comes clean AFTER Cohen comes back. What? He makes a whole empty speech about realizing he was wrong and that Cohen wasn't a terrible person but he DID NOTHING. Cohen has already back. He didn't try to fix his mistake. He just felt guilty as he should. That's not enough! So why exactly should Brody forgive him?

And the epilogue. After using the last few chapters on the most stupid fight ever involving a bunch of selfish assholes and only bringing Cohen and Brody together on the last few pages and still focusing on the selfish family the authors decided to use the epilogue to write about Isaac and Walker's wedding? WHAT? Why would you use the epilogue to write about a couple that had almost no page time and we only know they are together in the end? And there is almost no Brody and Cohen. It's once again family, family, family. I was so mad it actually made me dislike Isaac for no fault of his own.

Awful, just awful. It required a herculean effort to read the last few chapters.

I'm done ranting now.

Honestly, don't read this if a lot of stupid family is not what you want. Or read until 83% and then imagine whatever ending you would like. I still CANNOT believe this. The only reason I rounded up was because until 83% it was perfect. Stupid book.

Cheating:
Love triangle:
Strong homophobia:
Triggers:
HEA:
Profile Image for Mir.
1,114 reviews64 followers
November 20, 2020
Five stars up to 85%!

After that? Just kill me.

Do I need a break from romance? Maybe. Because the 80% breakup drama is absolutely killing me.

The first 85% of this book was SO GOOD. It was easy, breezy falling in love. Realistic, beautiful, and heartwarming. Both characters were, simply put, really good people. They meshed well together, had great chemistry, and adorable banter. It felt like a summer love, warm, hazy, and comfortable, that turned into something real.

Then 85% happened. Not only did we get the cliche breakup drama, but we got some martyrdom as well!! I skimmed the rest.

Sigh. Like I said, since this cliche doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, maybe I need to read a few good, long fantasy novels to refresh my palate.
Profile Image for Demon.
207 reviews54 followers
June 14, 2021
Honestly, this made me uncomfortable. I usually like Riley Hart books. And I did like this but the thing is being too attached or involved I a family freaks me out. Cohen was always saying he is a Mitchell and Mitchell's are bad and he doesn't belong here or there bcs he is a Mitchell. And Brody is so fucking involved by his family and everyone around I felt like they forgot They are Cohen and Brody first.

I have always been a very detached person ya know. Always absorbed in my own world. I don't like my family, I like ppl. So it was really uncomfortable for me to read this. I couldn't relate at all.

Now u might think I am whining about the bad things but let me tell you the banter between these two were awesome. Excepted. Thete was a lot of humour and fun time. Even though everything was kind of cheesy and I could see it from a million miles away.... I actually continued reading this story bcs I have never felt like I belonged either, not with my family, not with my mates, not with the ppl. I like to get absorbed in things like reading or writing or overthinking lol. So I related to Mitchell. But well Mitchell did feel home at Buckridge like I feel home at myself. God, I sound self-obsessed.

Anyway this story was a hard to go through but still wanted to finish kinda of a read. It made me feel super creepy at times. But it also made me laugh.
Profile Image for Maartje.
114 reviews
January 29, 2021
This is the (almost) perfect M/M book from Riley and Devon!

The whole story is really captivating from the start. The main characters, Brody and Cohen, meet at a party and they kiss right away while seeing each other for the first time! (Sorry that is the only spoiler I am giving away) They are supposed to be rivals but start to develop a deep emotional connection right away. Cohen is a city boy who moves to the country side to inheret his late father's whiskey distillery. But what he didn't know at first is that there is a rivalry between his own family, the Mitchells and Brody's family, the O'Ralley's. Nevertheless, both men feel instantly connected and slowly fall in love with one another. Also, both Cohen and Brody have a deep character development throughout the book.

Honestly, I was going to give this book a solid 5 star rating. However, the ending and more specifically their reunion felt a bit underwhelming in comparison to their whole story.

If you LOVE M/M novels, this might be the perfect read for you!
Profile Image for Donna.
493 reviews29 followers
December 14, 2020
Dnf @ 71%. I could have finished it. I think I am in a mood and no book is good right now.
1,034 reviews20 followers
November 19, 2020
What sweet perfection was this?! Such an incredibly enjoyable romance! There was so much going on, a fascinating family history, a feud, smalltown warmth & gossip, a surprising meet-cute, sexual discovery, and the most lovable, charming MC’s ever. I loved that the authors managed to get so much emotional depth and even some heavier themes into this story (loss/grief, finding oneself) while also keeping it low angst, enchanting, and plain fun. I loved the dynamics in Brody’s family, the love that was unmistakenly there even if there were misunderstandings, secrets, hidden hurts, and slight resentment. It felt real. Imperfect, but warm and genuine. All of the secondary characters (family, friends, and townspeople) brought added authenticity to the story and raised the charm & intrigue levels considerably. They brought some heartache as well as love and support to Brody and Cohen and were invaluable. I loved Cohen and Isaac’s strong friendship and how Isaac found happiness of his very own as well in Buckridge. Brody and Cohen were both wonderful MC’s, well-rounded, sharing great chemistry and banter. I loved how sweet they were together, even with the feud and interfering family members trying to keep them apart, and how natural it felt as they grew closer. Recommend. Recommend. Recommend … you get the drift, right?
Profile Image for Sharing The Book Love.
913 reviews17 followers
December 2, 2020
Another awesome collaboration from Riley and Devon.

Cohen and Brody have a snarky .fun relationship that made this book super fun to read. I did have some tears as there is some poignant moments, but in the end love, family and friendships win
Profile Image for Justin Chen.
637 reviews570 followers
August 5, 2021
2 stars

What a train wreck of a story! No Good Mitchell is an amalgamation of derivative romantic cliché and 'humor' suffering from severe secondhand embarrassment.

Having read (and enjoyed) The Endgame from Riley Hart recently, it is a bit of a shock to discover how poorly conceived No Good Mitchell is in comparison (and this was even co-written with another author): from the 'why even bother?' premise (why set up a character as straight when he's already lusting for another male character in Chapter 1? This can easily be a story about 2 queer characters without using 'straightness' to bait readers), to over-reaction to the littlest conflicts (I'm sick of the 'I was told by a third party I'm not good enough, so I'll see myself out without telling you' trope). And as a rotting cherry on top, what passes as 'banter' is just characters constantly call out the obvious double entendre at every mention of hole, hardness, cream, and pole-like objects. No Good Mitchell is possibly the most excruciating thing I've read this year.

I think I'm traumatized from picking up another Riley Hart (or Devon McCormack) ever again.
Profile Image for Aimee Lou.
762 reviews219 followers
March 29, 2021
These two authors KNOW how to write a book together.

Cohen Mitchell never knew his father. He lost his mother at a very young age and was raised by his adoptive parents. He learns that his father did know about him, but never came to get him. And now his father has died and left him with a home and a distillery. As well as a 100 year old feud with the O'Ralley's.

Brody O'Ralley was just out having a good time trying to get away from a girl he does not want to have relations with anymore. So what does he do? He kisses a hot stranger he sees which happens to be a guy. Now Brody can't get his mind off said guy. Soon he finds out his sexy kisser is no other than Cohen Mitchell. Who he definitely can't bring home to meet Big Daddy.

Cohen could care less about this family feud he knows nothing about. But he does care about Brody. And as they become friends and better acquainted with each other, he can't be the one to come between Brody and his family.

I really enjoyed the whole feud thing and finding out about the two families and what happen all those years ago. And I absolutely loved how our guys didn't care about that feud and only wanted each other. There is also the fact that Brody has never been with a guy. I'm a sucker for first timers.
Profile Image for Elle Kay.
382 reviews
November 18, 2020
How can I be laughing out loud and then almost immediately sucking in breath at how hot things just got? Hart & McCormack teamed up again, that’s how.

Just as effortlessly, the authors had me moving between giggles and tears. I was really feeling seen as my emotions were played expertly.

And these characters . . . not just Cohen and Brody but Isaac and the whole O’Ralley clan . . . it was so much fun to read. Somehow they made small-town Georgia living appealing, despite the humidity.

No Good Mitchell is a rollicking fun read not to be missed.
Profile Image for ML.
1,601 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2020
Sexy and sweet small town romance

Brody and Cohen had a lot working against them but love wins everything. I’m glad we got an HEA out of it because at times it looked pretty bleak.
Both characters were very endearing and love was inevitable. Great side characters as well so maybe this won’t be a stand-alone 🤔🤔🤔
I hope for more books in this universe.
Profile Image for Paula.
110 reviews18 followers
November 22, 2020
This is one of those books that manages the right balance between sweet, amusing and hot!
That scene with the ice cubes was super hot!
Only reason I didn't give it a 5star rating is that it felt like there should have been something more at the end!
Profile Image for M.
1,198 reviews172 followers
November 6, 2021
This book was somewhere between mediocre and ...not great. It was an extremely formulaic romance between the scions of famous rival whiskey makers in Georgia. Everything just felt so forced - from the rivalry to the romance to the completely unnecessary drama. It's a miss for me.
Profile Image for Aki.
1,008 reviews
September 19, 2021
Die Rivalität war dann doch ganz okay...ohne wäre es aber auch gegangen...
Profile Image for Layla .
1,468 reviews76 followers
December 27, 2020
****SPOILER FREE****
*****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FEUDS*****
For fans of #GFY #CountryBoyCityBoy #LowAngst #Banter

Why read this book...

1. The characters:
- Cohen: Out and proud, gets a surprise inheritance, moves with his best friend to Georgia for said inheritance and meets Brody... #ColorMeSurprised

- Brody: Straight? Drowning in family problems and the legacy his dad is desperate to cling to. In comes Cohen who turns his world upside down. #wherehaveyoubeenallmylife

2. The Plot:
Cohen and Brody should hate each other, but the opposite actually happens. They gravitate towards each other and a comradery starts to take shape. Through it all, secrets are uncovered while feelings blossom. #Unexpected

3. The Romance:
The romance unfolds over a period of time. It starts of as a friendship and goes from there. These guys are sweet AF and both invoke new feelings in the other. #LetMeRomanceYou

4. The Banter:
These guys banter back and forth and it was equal parts funny and sweet. #ComfortableWithYou

5. The Heat:
From kisses and fooling around to the full on love scenes... these guys heated up the pages in every way. #ItsGettingHotInHere

6. The HEA:
Contradicting the title of the book... it was #SoGoodMichell!

#HapyyReading
Profile Image for Heather.
873 reviews6 followers
November 19, 2020
I loved Cohen and Brody! I’m a big fan of sexual awakening and first times. I love when these two authors collaborate, so this was a must read for me! Cohen and Brody’s story really had it all: laughs, sexy first times, skinny dipping, whiskey, and the feels too. I loved the great feud their family shared, which threw a lot of roadblocks in their developing friendship and relationship. I loved how in tune they were with each other despite their city/country boy upbringings. I enjoyed all the side characters we met along the way, including two familiar faces which brought a smile to my face. I loved the crazy town of Buckridge. They were so invested in the Mitchell-O’Ralley feud, and they were fun and generated some good laughs. I enjoyed how their story unfolded and how Cohen really seemed to find his place in the end. This was a fun, sweet, s day and fun read!
189 reviews2 followers
November 29, 2020
It wasn’t bad, it was just a book that’s been written a thousand times by thousand different authors. It lacked originality and authenticity. The characters where okay, the story pretty boring. I had a hard time finishing the book and not skimming. Not a book I will remember a week from now.

The most important part of a story for me is the connection. The need to be together. If an author can make me feel that, then it’s an automatic higher rating for me. But in this story the authors just didn’t make me feel it and want for their happy ending.
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews138 followers
November 22, 2020
No Good Mitchell is a fantastic small town romance by Riley Hart and Devon McCormack. These two can do no wrong when working separately or together.

It's hard to explain how damn wonderful this book is. This isn't just a romance. Not at all. Instead, it's a tale of family, heartache, wounds, and love. It's a story of things discovered as a result of love. Yes, love is the guiding factor, but it's all about the family dynamics through the years that make this tale so damn messy and addictive.

It's riveting from the start, as Cohen comes to town as the long lost Mitchell boy, aka the No Good Mitchell boy. He never knew his father, always assuming he wasn't loved. But upon returning to the land and business he inherited, his journey is full of discoveries and romance.

The forbidden romance aspect is ever present. If his coming here wasn't complicated enough, Cohen's attraction to Brody just adds to the problems. He and Brody can't keep their hands off one another. But they also can't be together. Their families hate one another and have caused one another pain through the generations. Until Cohen and Brody meet.

Their journey includes the family feud that's fueled by jealous, love, lies, and secrets. It's complicated with multi-layered issues and a whole lot of fear and problems. I find myself both impressed and fascinated by the layers upon layers of history that's unveiled. It's one hell of mess and Cohen has no idea how he fits into everything.

As for the romance, Cohen and Brody are great together, despite everything working against them. Both are just trying to do right, for both themselves and their family legacies. The make for a wonderful, heartfelt couple.

The small town aspect is evident throughout, with everyone knowing everyone else's business. I love that the men can't be seen together in town, unless they want everyone to gossip. That is small town at it's finest.

The secondary characters are plentiful, well developed, and constantly contributing to the storyline. There's lots of banter and gossip to be had. Big Daddy is one of their largest obstacles, but in the end, he is nothing that I expected.

And then there's Isaac. His friendship with Cohen is a thing of beauty. He's always there for him, always supporting him, and ultimately finds some answers for himself. The ending is fabulous and had me cheering!

No Good Mitchell is an amazing tale. This Riley Hart and Devon McCormack collaboration is stellar with it's complexity and the emotional rollercoaster throughout. It's full of sweetness, guilt, and grief, all while keeping things low angst and charming. It's an amazing mix and I can't recommend it enough.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,632 reviews132 followers
December 9, 2020
I’m a Mitchell. But a good Mitchell. Throw my name on a book title give me a blurb that makes me want to read it and I’m in. Shame about the cover though. If I was that kind of person, the cover would really have stopped me from buying the book.

Story is ok, although first chapter was a bit too much tell and not enough show but it got better. I l really liked the funny easy going attitude of both Cohen and Brody. They were lovely together. The sex was quite hot until there was a really awkward exchange on a table; sex with 2 hefty men both kneeling on a table has disaster written all over it.

The name Big Daddy in a book would usually have me running for the hills, but he is just the daddy and he’s big. Not quite sure why people in the village other than his kids would call him Big Daddy though, because he’s not their daddy and until he had his kids he would have been known by his actual name.

I’ve wavered between 2 or 3 stars because there was lots of things that niggled me.
Profile Image for Danna Iuliana.
1,102 reviews2 followers
November 29, 2020
3.5
I enjoyed this very much the MC's were great. I love unapologetic characters who just like/love who they will without having existential crisis about it. Brody and Cohen were fun and sexy and the banter was funny. I understand it s probably a country/cowboy thing but calling the parents big daddy and big momma is just ridiculous. I m from Europe, if not for the MC'S being so cool I would have DNF this just for that. I can t take grown ups seriously when they call their father daddy, much less big daddy. I understand keeping it authentic but when you have an international audience maybe find a balance.
Profile Image for Mai.
152 reviews4 followers
Read
February 4, 2021
DNF at 38%

I don’t know, it kinda got boring. The banter turned annoying, the feud didn’t make me feel compelled to keep reading because both MCs were at it without caring, Isaac’s character was too much, and I got the feeling that some scenes werent put together smoothly, they felt forced.

And also, the characterization started to be weird, with Cohen acting not as I imagined him to act. I don’t know how to explain it, but yeah... so I stopped
Profile Image for Sarah.
630 reviews10 followers
August 3, 2021
It tried to have conflict, but kind of did not really... Very good meet cute though!
Profile Image for Bati.
462 reviews25 followers
March 12, 2023
2.5

Przeczytać przeczytałam, ale coś tu nie grało.
Profile Image for Valerie.
229 reviews7 followers
November 20, 2020
No Good Mitchell is a pleasure to read with its well-rounded characters, …. humor, and an interesting setting brought to life. It's all tied together into a compelling story written by duo Riley Hart and Devon McCormack. They are accustomed to writing together and their synergy as a writing pair is seamless. This novel shines from the combination of their skills.

Allow me to introduce the Hatfields and McCoys. I mean, the Mitchells and O'Ralleys. Their feud is of monumental, Montague and Capulet proportions. It stretches back generations and is the result of a stolen whiskey recipe and stolen women. This feud drives the plot and sets up the conflict for Cohen Mitchell and Brody O'Ralley.

Despite that teeny tiny inconvenience, Cohen and Brody are a wonderful couple with strong chemistry. Individually, they have been thoughtfully developed as characters with depth. Cohen calls Brody his sweet Southern boy. Brody is a kind man who’s extremely devoted to his father, three brothers, and sister; mom died several years earlier, devastating the family. They all work the O'Ralley Distillery together in Buckridge, Georgia.

Brody thinks Cohen is “intriguing and beguiling”. Cohen is a business whiz and a loyal friend. Like Brody, he still suffers from the death of his biological mother who died when he was a young child. He never knew his father and feels abandoned and unwanted. He’s struggling to figure out who he is and where he belongs, which is an important theme in the book. Beneath a cocky façade is vulnerability and waning confidence. Now, at the age of thirty-three, he’s notified that his father died and left him an inheritance, specifically, The Mitchell Creek Distillery in rural Georgia. Cohen and his best friend/almost-brother, Isaac, travel to tiny Buckridge to check it all out. What Cohen isn’t planning on is meeting country boy Brody and feeling mutual attraction on his first night in town. Brody is caught even more unaware, considering he always thought he was straight. What neither knows is that their families are arch enemies.

What boosts this novel to a 5 heart/star rating is the humor. It’s all about the banter, which is flirty and playful, not snarky, It feels very realistic for the early stages of a relationship between men with strong personalities like Cohen and Brody. Their dynamic is highly entertaining. In chapter after chapter you’ll enjoy their one-upmanship of cockiness and a faux competition of sexual prowess. These two – especially Cohen – are as smug as all get out in their banter. They even compete to see who can make the other come first.

As we both seemed determined to impress the other, we found ourselves shifting into one position after another, as though we were filming a Kama Sutra documentary.

One of the funniest discussions of “feelings” I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading occurs in Chapter 24. I just have to know which author wrote it so I can bow to them.

The supporting cast is full of strong personalities, including Isaac and Brody’s family. Tertiary characters, such as the Buckridge townsfolk who know all of poor Cohen's business, provide plenty of amusement. The town itself is animated through the pens of Hart and McCormack. I could drop in for a day and feel right at home at the Mitchell Creek swimming hole or Murray's grocery store. I just need to brush up on my Southern accent from when I went to college in South Carolina years ago.

My only complaint about the book is with the ending, and it’s a matter of my personal preference which other readers might not share. Cohen and Brody work hard for a well-deserved happily ever after but I was disappointed that other characters got the HEA I would’ve preferred for the leading men. However, this is no way whatsoever dissuades me from highly recommending No Good Mitchell. And I have to say, I love the title, based on Cohen's unfortunate nickname. This is a sweet love story with smart humor, substance, and strong writing. Expect to be smiling a lot. Enjoy!
Profile Image for the kevin (vaguely alive).
969 reviews177 followers
December 19, 2020
This was...hm.

I liked how this book started off, with the mystery of the distillery and how Cohen was sort of thrown into a big mess he knew nothing about. I liked his and Isaac's dynamic, and their determination to take over and get the distillery up and running again. The small town feud added a bit of interest, though that wasn't sustained throughout the book. In fact, it was very minimal influence - it just kept them out of town, and introduced minor tension with Big Daddy (lol)

Brody was sweet, though I was surprised how quickly he was accepting of his fluid sexuality. This book was very low angst though, so that's not terribly surprising.

My issues:

1. I couldn't tell the characters apart after a while. Or honestly, much in the beginning either. I wasn't sure whose chapter I was in half the time, because Cohen and Brody both sounded like the same person.

2. There was also such a lack of tension, that the inevitable breakup drama at like 83% or whatever just did not fit. It was needlessly dramatic, and didn't really even make sense. Why wouldn't Cohen tell Brody about the thing he found, when they clearly had very open lines of communication? I'm sure there could have been tension and relationship struggles added in without going full bore breakup/run away style, which did not fit this book at all.

3. The involvement of all the siblings - there were a lot of minor characters, but they were more distracting and confusing than enriching the plot at all. I didn't remember who Lee was at the end. The family drama also felt like more of a distraction, as it wasn't really explored much until the very end either, where Brody has conflict with his siblings over their mother and his being gone etc etc. Things that (imo) should have introduced much more tension earlier in the book, but didn't.

4. The lame ass apology by Big Daddy - he causes the breakup drama and Cohen running away, but doesn't do anything but have an apology speech after Cohen is already back and things are being resolved? It was weak timing - it would have better fit while Cohen was still gone, so that it actually meant something.

5. the epilogue? why would we want to see Isaac and Walker's wedding? Isaac started off as a fairly involved character, and then just sort of...disappeared. I would have preferred to see more of Cohen and Brody together as the epilogue.

6. The feud didn't have as much of an effect as I expected, no one really seemed to care that much and there wasn't much blowback from it. It could have been used to much better potential, and it was there as such an easy source of tension that it was kind of disappointing how little it truly was used.

7. the relationship in general - it was so fluffy it wasn't even interesting. I got pretty bored by 50% because it flowed too easily. There was a big chunk of the book where I felt like I should be seeing the relationship actively develop, but I never felt like that came to fruition, despite them talking like it was developing.

8. the distillery...guess I thought it would play a much larger part in the book, but it was background dressing in my opinion. It could have served as a great framework, but it was more like fine netting here.

Clearly overall I had a lot more problems than positives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡.
1,542 reviews104 followers
December 6, 2020
As usual I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed this new book from Hart and McCormack. My only hope is that it doesn't end up being a standalone and we get to see the other brothers get the HEA. I find myself strangely drawn to Lee, the quiet O'Ralley brother who says about 2 words the entire book. Not to mention I would like to know what went on behind the scenes with Isaac and Walker. But back to the main MCs of this book Cohen and Brody.

I loved the dynamic between these two. Both have ego's the size of Texas and clashed at many an opportunity. I'm surprised they could fit their heads through the bedroom door. All this fire lead to some crazy chemistry between the sheets...and in the distillery tasting room...and maybe in some kind of tree house thing on the back of Mitchell property. But no matter how much chemistry these two had there was still the big black cloud hanging over their relationship. The O'Ralley-Mitchell Feud. These two may have had no part in the 100 year old feud between their families, but in Brody's fathers eyes and some of his family it was very much alive. Brody may have started to fall for Cohen, but the man adored his family.

With that in mind they both know what they have started has an expiration date. It could never be anything more. Unfortunately, their hearts didn't get that memo which leads to an abundance of family drama, broken hearts, and a short separation. Thankfully, Brogan's family smartens up and redeems themselves in the end. The epilogue is surprising and adorable all at once. We also got to see a cameo of some old Metropolis friends via a trip to Flirt which I truly enjoyed. Fans of this author duo will definitely enjoy this one.
Profile Image for Eleanor.
1,446 reviews64 followers
December 9, 2020
I've read this one in one gulp (ok, slept a few hours between).
It. Was. Awesome.
Love the banters, love the feud, love the characters and loved the fabulous developments throughout.
Profile Image for Mia.
365 reviews
December 24, 2020
I think it would be easier to point out what I didn’t like about this book, as I could be here all night otherwise if I were to write about what I liked. Because I like it all. So what didn’t I like? That Brody refers to his dad as Big Daddy. Like, what the actual fuck? Everyone calls him that! Why?!?
Profile Image for Ashley Carrillo.
296 reviews
June 4, 2025
Title should be so good not no good

Another good book by Riley and Devon! I loved Brody and Cohen even when I wanted to smack them and tell them to stop being so stubborn! But alas emotions are complicated especially when you add trauma to the mix that both men have dealt with. Brody has experienced the loss of his mom and turning his back on the life he dreamed for himself that his mom encouraged so he can be there for his family and to help run their distillery. Cohen also has experience losing a mother at a young age and being placed in foster care and adopted. He never really felt like he fit anywhere and was lost for a good portion of his life. And when he finds out his bio dad died and left him the family distillery and his house in Georgia he's floored. His father knew about him but never went looking for him. He has more questions than ever and after being betrayed in business he thinks now is the perfect time to travel to Georgia with his best friend Isaac and figure out his next steps. What he walks into is a lifelong feud between his family and the sexy country boy's who locked lips with him at a bar. Brody is straight but he can't deny his attraction to Cohen and Cohen isn't exactly complaining. Although the feud between their families is a sore spot as Brody's dad is still keeping the feud alive and finding out that a long lost Mitchell has come into town makes their chemistry less than ideal but they don't want to stop whatever is going on between them. At first it's fun banter and sexy escapades but the more they open up to each other and actually talk and let their walls down to let the other in they know they're in trouble and their hearts are on the line. There's plenty stacked against them and they almost let it all fall apart but in the end, something so rare and genuine is just meant to be and instead of making the same mistakes as their ancestors before them they decide to stick it out together. This was such a fun book and I really enjoyed reading their love story. I also loved Isaac and Walker and would honestly love to read their story so much! Isaac is the realest friend to Cohen and Walker is such a good brother to Brody. I'm so happy they ended up together as well! That epilogue was perfection I swear. It gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings! Such a satisfying ending. I can't wait to read more by these authors separately and together.
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