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Love Starts Here #1
Without a Doubt
How did the worst date of his life turn in to the man of his dreams?
Carter Winter’s not sure there’s anything worse than watching the man he’s on a date with slip his number to the bartender… except maybe finding out six months later that his bad date is his new boss who doesn't seem to remember Carter or that night. He wants to run, but he also knows he can’t pass up this opportunity. After all, it's been his dream to work at London Enterprise, and he can't turn it down now, even if it means working as a PA for Rhys London.
Fortunately, Rhys seems like an entirely different man. And while Carter doesn’t want to trust him, that isn’t easy when Rhys makes him want to believe in second chances. Carter’s been burned before, but being graced with one of the man’s rare smiles, Carter finds himself absolutely helpless against the racing beat of his heart.
Rhys London has never been a man of feeling. Spending most of his life running his company and cleaning up after his destructive brother, he hasn’t had time for things like love.
Until his business partner hired Carter Winter—a bright, beautiful man who makes Rhys want to feel.
And while Rhys is used to losing out and shutting off his heart, something about Carter makes him want to reach for the unreachable. After all, Carter is the first person he’s ever met that makes him believe in love, without a single doubt.
Without A Doubt is the first book in a romantic, light-hearted, small town trilogy. It contains no cheating, and a happily ever after.
Carter Winter’s not sure there’s anything worse than watching the man he’s on a date with slip his number to the bartender… except maybe finding out six months later that his bad date is his new boss who doesn't seem to remember Carter or that night. He wants to run, but he also knows he can’t pass up this opportunity. After all, it's been his dream to work at London Enterprise, and he can't turn it down now, even if it means working as a PA for Rhys London.
Fortunately, Rhys seems like an entirely different man. And while Carter doesn’t want to trust him, that isn’t easy when Rhys makes him want to believe in second chances. Carter’s been burned before, but being graced with one of the man’s rare smiles, Carter finds himself absolutely helpless against the racing beat of his heart.
Rhys London has never been a man of feeling. Spending most of his life running his company and cleaning up after his destructive brother, he hasn’t had time for things like love.
Until his business partner hired Carter Winter—a bright, beautiful man who makes Rhys want to feel.
And while Rhys is used to losing out and shutting off his heart, something about Carter makes him want to reach for the unreachable. After all, Carter is the first person he’s ever met that makes him believe in love, without a single doubt.
Without A Doubt is the first book in a romantic, light-hearted, small town trilogy. It contains no cheating, and a happily ever after.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2021
199 people are currently reading
603 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Lindsey
143 books1,379 followersE.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
August 25, 2021
i– i don’t know wtf i expected lmao💀 it’s my own damn fault.
the fact it wasn’t until the last page of the seventh chapter that the MCs finally meet... my impatient arse could never.
i feel like i can’t truly talk about this book without going into spoilers... so if you care about me spoiling the big plot twist then you should bow out now.
💀spoilers ahead💀
when Carter and Rhys first ‘meet’ (and i use that term lightly lmao), it’s not actually Rhys but his douchey twin brother, Reed. Carter hooks up with Reed who is selfish, arrogant and ableist. he calls Carter the r-slur while on their date and openly flirts with the bartender.
(it really doesn’t take fucking Sherlock to figure this out either lmao, so don’t know why the big ☠️reveal☠️ was dragged out for like 80% of the goddamn book. i mean i figured it out in chapter two man).
now... firstly the use of the r-slur really, really, REALLY wasnt necessary. you still could have portrayed Reed as an ignorant douche without using it :/// bcos then when Carter starts to fall for Rhys later on, he still thinks Rhys called him the r-slur... so a deaf man falling in love with the guy who called him the r-slur is kinda unbelievable.
so months later when Carter becomes Rhys’ assistant, he...
a) doesn’t confront Rhys (who he thinks is Reed) for being ableist and calling him the r-slur.
b) accepts the job and continues to work for him hoping he’ll forgive Rhys for the way he treated Carter.
c) begins to fall for Rhys... while still thinking Rhys called him a slur...💀
and if this wasn’t bizarre enough, while Reed is presented as the big bad twin , Rhys is the ✨good and noble twin✨
but he’s still a monumental douche to Carter just like his twin
he’s rude and demeaning to Carter at work. shouts at him for no fucking reason. dismisses him. humiliates him. like Carter does nothing but work hard for Rhys, doing what he asks without question and when he barely slips up once Rhys loses his shit and it was awful to read ngl. Carter deserved better than that.
what, just bcos Rhys has the basic human decency to cater to Carter’s disability in the work place, Rhys is Mother fucking Teresa?? lol, no. it’s okay that he’s a dick tho bcos he knows ASL? he’s soooo heroic and noble. treating a disabled person as a human being doesn’t make you noble or praiseworthy. like the bar is literally on the floor lmao.
but it’s okay that Rhys is a dick to Carter bcos he has ✨trauma✨
the death of his husband seven years ago, whom he didn’t even love and was divorcing before his sudden death, on top of his evil twin brother made him super s t r e s s e d so it justified him being a dick to Carter. obviously. get with the programme guys.
because trauma clearly justifies toxic behaviour😘
listening to Rhys whine about his life, one sob story after another, made me realise id rather shit in my hands and proceed to give a standing ovation than to sympathise with Rhys.
i genuinely did not understand whatsoever why the fuck Carter stayed after that sort of treatment. it was just convenient to keep the story going, but most normal people would not have let a man like that talk to them that way and stayed to be their little errand boy. fuck that. Carter hadn’t even established romantic feelings for Rhys at this point either so... i truly could not fathom wtf made him stay.
even the romance was lacklustre and came out of nowhere. i didn’t understand how Carter could fall for Rhys while still thinking he called Carter a slur, especially when he hadn’t done anything particularly profound to earn Carter’s forgiveness or love.
after reading that quote i was so confused. bcos i could not name a single thing Rhys did that redeemed him from calling Carter a slur (even tho it was Reed, but he still thinks it was Rhys). he goes from shouting at Carter in their office to saying he’s gone for Carter within the span of like a chapter and a half? Rhys’ attraction came out of nowhere so the progression of their relationship just confused tf out of me.
pacing? this book does not know that bitch.
Gabriel, his best friend, was the only character with a backbone and more than two brain cells. he told Carter to just pack it up with being Rhys’ little lapdog and i agreed wholeheartedly. get you a bestie like Gabriel. too bad he all but disappeared later in the book when he was the only character that deserved rights.
and i also didn’t understand how quickly Rhys got over the fact the love of his life fucked his brother first ://// talk about sharing is caring...
and the side plot of Rhys trying to save the poor was just eyeroll inducing. i skimmed almost all of it except the confrontation between Reed and Carter— and even that was underwhelming since Reed was still a remorseless, unapologetic dick. i expected some kind of remorse or regret, but he was still an ableist prick and after that... the book just suddenly ended without wrapping up the side plot of saving all those people?
so suffice to say this was a waste of my time✌🏻
the fact it wasn’t until the last page of the seventh chapter that the MCs finally meet... my impatient arse could never.
i feel like i can’t truly talk about this book without going into spoilers... so if you care about me spoiling the big plot twist then you should bow out now.
💀spoilers ahead💀
when Carter and Rhys first ‘meet’ (and i use that term lightly lmao), it’s not actually Rhys but his douchey twin brother, Reed. Carter hooks up with Reed who is selfish, arrogant and ableist. he calls Carter the r-slur while on their date and openly flirts with the bartender.
(it really doesn’t take fucking Sherlock to figure this out either lmao, so don’t know why the big ☠️reveal☠️ was dragged out for like 80% of the goddamn book. i mean i figured it out in chapter two man).
now... firstly the use of the r-slur really, really, REALLY wasnt necessary. you still could have portrayed Reed as an ignorant douche without using it :/// bcos then when Carter starts to fall for Rhys later on, he still thinks Rhys called him the r-slur... so a deaf man falling in love with the guy who called him the r-slur is kinda unbelievable.
so months later when Carter becomes Rhys’ assistant, he...
a) doesn’t confront Rhys (who he thinks is Reed) for being ableist and calling him the r-slur.
b) accepts the job and continues to work for him hoping he’ll forgive Rhys for the way he treated Carter.
c) begins to fall for Rhys... while still thinking Rhys called him a slur...💀
and if this wasn’t bizarre enough, while Reed is presented as the big bad twin , Rhys is the ✨good and noble twin✨
but he’s still a monumental douche to Carter just like his twin
he’s rude and demeaning to Carter at work. shouts at him for no fucking reason. dismisses him. humiliates him. like Carter does nothing but work hard for Rhys, doing what he asks without question and when he barely slips up once Rhys loses his shit and it was awful to read ngl. Carter deserved better than that.
what, just bcos Rhys has the basic human decency to cater to Carter’s disability in the work place, Rhys is Mother fucking Teresa?? lol, no. it’s okay that he’s a dick tho bcos he knows ASL? he’s soooo heroic and noble. treating a disabled person as a human being doesn’t make you noble or praiseworthy. like the bar is literally on the floor lmao.
but it’s okay that Rhys is a dick to Carter bcos he has ✨trauma✨
the death of his husband seven years ago, whom he didn’t even love and was divorcing before his sudden death, on top of his evil twin brother made him super s t r e s s e d so it justified him being a dick to Carter. obviously. get with the programme guys.
because trauma clearly justifies toxic behaviour😘
listening to Rhys whine about his life, one sob story after another, made me realise id rather shit in my hands and proceed to give a standing ovation than to sympathise with Rhys.
i genuinely did not understand whatsoever why the fuck Carter stayed after that sort of treatment. it was just convenient to keep the story going, but most normal people would not have let a man like that talk to them that way and stayed to be their little errand boy. fuck that. Carter hadn’t even established romantic feelings for Rhys at this point either so... i truly could not fathom wtf made him stay.
even the romance was lacklustre and came out of nowhere. i didn’t understand how Carter could fall for Rhys while still thinking he called Carter a slur, especially when he hadn’t done anything particularly profound to earn Carter’s forgiveness or love.
The word no disappeared from his vocabulary in that moment, along with the word regret. And in its place stood Rhys, a man who had redeemed himself more than any man ever had in Carter’s life.
And he was ready to forgive any and every manner of sin.
after reading that quote i was so confused. bcos i could not name a single thing Rhys did that redeemed him from calling Carter a slur (even tho it was Reed, but he still thinks it was Rhys). he goes from shouting at Carter in their office to saying he’s gone for Carter within the span of like a chapter and a half? Rhys’ attraction came out of nowhere so the progression of their relationship just confused tf out of me.
pacing? this book does not know that bitch.
Gabriel, his best friend, was the only character with a backbone and more than two brain cells. he told Carter to just pack it up with being Rhys’ little lapdog and i agreed wholeheartedly. get you a bestie like Gabriel. too bad he all but disappeared later in the book when he was the only character that deserved rights.
and i also didn’t understand how quickly Rhys got over the fact the love of his life fucked his brother first ://// talk about sharing is caring...
and the side plot of Rhys trying to save the poor was just eyeroll inducing. i skimmed almost all of it except the confrontation between Reed and Carter— and even that was underwhelming since Reed was still a remorseless, unapologetic dick. i expected some kind of remorse or regret, but he was still an ableist prick and after that... the book just suddenly ended without wrapping up the side plot of saving all those people?
so suffice to say this was a waste of my time✌🏻
July 10, 2021
1.5 stars
Sometimes I wish I knew how to DNF a book but clearly I don’t, because if I did, I would have DNF this at about 20% and avoided reading about a lot of things I don’t enjoy.
I read one E.M. Lindsey book before and didn’t really like it so never read more of their books. But I always want to read their books because they always include disabilities and trauma and those are my two favourite things in books. Maybe picking this book as her redemption book wasn’t a good idea, but thats not like I knew that before I picked it up.
This book is marketed as a redemption story which is one of my favourite trope of all time. I love seeing an asshole character growel and being redeemed throughout a book. So imagine how sad I was when I discovered that this isn’t a redemption story at all. I felt so cheated.
Side note, if anyone has good redemption books to recommend to me, please do it. I will need some after this one.
Let me just mention now that Rhys has an evil twin. I’m sure you can realize on your own where that comes into play in the story. Hopefully better than the other main character, who was so clueless that i’m sure that he would have believed that the earth is flat if anyone told him that.
Brief summary
Rhys and Carter go on a date. Rhys realizes that Carter is deaf and calls him an ableist slur. Rhys employs Carter as his personal assistant and they fall in love.
First, the set up of this book is just strange. Nothing about it worked for me. We’re meant to believe that Rhys is an asshole who needs to be redeemed, but there is no redemption because he has no clue what happened on that first date. So he never apologizes, or anything. And Carter just forgives him and gives him a second chance, no question asked. I just don’t understand how you can forgive and fall in love with someone who called you a slur. Also before Carter learns the truth, he says how Rhys has redeemed himself but he legit hadn’t done anything to. He didn’t even apologize. All Rhys had done was kiss Carter, so I guess one kiss is enough to redeem someone now?
Second, when i’m at 10% in your book and I can already guess what the big reveal at 75% will be, it’s not a good sign for things to come. If you’re going to do a suspense reveal at 75%, please do not make it this easy to guess. Because not only will I guess it really fast but it will also make your main characters seem so clueless for not realizing anything before the 75% mark, when all the information needed was right there.
Third, I didn’t appreciate how Carter was portrayed, is it possible to show someone as more clueless? All the clues were there and very easy to figure out and he never even questioned anything. Rhys tells Carter that he has a brother who’s an asshole and likes to play tricks on people. Rhys tells Carter that the car he remembers from the date belongs to his brother. Rhys knowns sign language, he learnt it to be able to talk to someone he works with because she is deaf. Rhys doesn’t mind when Carter removes the procesors of his cochelar implants. How can you not realize that thats not the man who called you an abliest slur because he learnt you’re deaf? Also, after Carter learns the truth, he mentions how he could have googled them to know who is who. Yeah why couldn’t you do that before, maybe that way the plot of this book could have made a little more sense.
Fourth, Rhys was grumpy and closed off and thats my favourite type of characters to read about. I loved seeing them transform and open up. Also he hadn’t had sex in 7 years, which could have led to some very lovely sexual exploration. But sadly, that barely happened, which is just a shame. There was so much potential there and none of it was exploited.
Fifth, the way the book portrayed Rhys didn’t work for me. He was meant to be an asshole who used an ableist word because he realized that Carter is deaf. But Rhys was portrayed as perfect. The book showed him as a fair and good business man who has a charity and who makes sure that everyone has affordable housing. Like sure he was a little bit of an asshole to Carter one time but not enough for me to want to hate him, although I can tell the book was trying really hard to make me hate him. Rhys was portrayed as overwhelmed and not being able to deal with everything happening in his life, I expected him to not be the nicest. If you want me to believe that the man is an asshole, make him do something bad. Or I just can’t believe how he’s an asshole, because he’s not never shown doing anything bad.
Sixth, Carter says he forgives Rhys for his past wrongs. But 10 minutes after they have sex and after that, Carter yells at Rhys that he needs to remember his past wrongs and atone for them. I was so confused I gave up trying to understand what was happening. What I really disliked about that was that Rhys told Carter that that was the first time he had sex since his husband died 7 years ago and Carter turned it on him and ruined the moment. I know that Carter thought that Rhys was an asshole who called him a slur but that doesn’t justify what he did. Doing that was such an unforgivable low blow to me. If you’re still mad at the guy, don’t sleep with him. Don’t sleep with him and then ruin the moment for him. Thats just mean.
Seventh, Carter is Rhys’s personal assistant. So when Rhys wants to fuck Carter, he arranges it so Carter gets another job in the company so that there is conflict of interest, all of this without consulting with Carter first. Shouldn’t we ask Carter if he wants to change job before just changing his job?
Eight, The pacing of this book really didn’t work for me. It was paced like a slow burn, as in it took ages (in book pages) for the main characters to get together, but the book was happening during a very short timeline. Those people had spent time together about 5 times and I would guess it had been a week or two before they had their first kiss. Their first kiss happened at 64%.
Ninth, I was ready to tie everyone down to their office chair so that they would stay in place and talk to each other instead of just runing away at the first sign of trouble.
If this was an actual redemption story and the characters were more likable and actually communicated with each other, I would have been in love with this book. I just didn’t enjoy how those tropes were executed in the book.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
Sometimes I wish I knew how to DNF a book but clearly I don’t, because if I did, I would have DNF this at about 20% and avoided reading about a lot of things I don’t enjoy.
I read one E.M. Lindsey book before and didn’t really like it so never read more of their books. But I always want to read their books because they always include disabilities and trauma and those are my two favourite things in books. Maybe picking this book as her redemption book wasn’t a good idea, but thats not like I knew that before I picked it up.
This book is marketed as a redemption story which is one of my favourite trope of all time. I love seeing an asshole character growel and being redeemed throughout a book. So imagine how sad I was when I discovered that this isn’t a redemption story at all. I felt so cheated.
Side note, if anyone has good redemption books to recommend to me, please do it. I will need some after this one.
Let me just mention now that Rhys has an evil twin. I’m sure you can realize on your own where that comes into play in the story. Hopefully better than the other main character, who was so clueless that i’m sure that he would have believed that the earth is flat if anyone told him that.
Brief summary
First, the set up of this book is just strange. Nothing about it worked for me. We’re meant to believe that Rhys is an asshole who needs to be redeemed, but there is no redemption because he has no clue what happened on that first date. So he never apologizes, or anything. And Carter just forgives him and gives him a second chance, no question asked. I just don’t understand how you can forgive and fall in love with someone who called you a slur. Also before Carter learns the truth, he says how Rhys has redeemed himself but he legit hadn’t done anything to. He didn’t even apologize. All Rhys had done was kiss Carter, so I guess one kiss is enough to redeem someone now?
Second, when i’m at 10% in your book and I can already guess what the big reveal at 75% will be, it’s not a good sign for things to come. If you’re going to do a suspense reveal at 75%, please do not make it this easy to guess. Because not only will I guess it really fast but it will also make your main characters seem so clueless for not realizing anything before the 75% mark, when all the information needed was right there.
Third, I didn’t appreciate how Carter was portrayed, is it possible to show someone as more clueless? All the clues were there and very easy to figure out and he never even questioned anything. Rhys tells Carter that he has a brother who’s an asshole and likes to play tricks on people. Rhys tells Carter that the car he remembers from the date belongs to his brother. Rhys knowns sign language, he learnt it to be able to talk to someone he works with because she is deaf. Rhys doesn’t mind when Carter removes the procesors of his cochelar implants. How can you not realize that thats not the man who called you an abliest slur because he learnt you’re deaf? Also, after Carter learns the truth, he mentions how he could have googled them to know who is who. Yeah why couldn’t you do that before, maybe that way the plot of this book could have made a little more sense.
Fourth, Rhys was grumpy and closed off and thats my favourite type of characters to read about. I loved seeing them transform and open up. Also he hadn’t had sex in 7 years, which could have led to some very lovely sexual exploration. But sadly, that barely happened, which is just a shame. There was so much potential there and none of it was exploited.
Fifth, the way the book portrayed Rhys didn’t work for me. He was meant to be an asshole who used an ableist word because he realized that Carter is deaf. But Rhys was portrayed as perfect. The book showed him as a fair and good business man who has a charity and who makes sure that everyone has affordable housing. Like sure he was a little bit of an asshole to Carter one time but not enough for me to want to hate him, although I can tell the book was trying really hard to make me hate him. Rhys was portrayed as overwhelmed and not being able to deal with everything happening in his life, I expected him to not be the nicest. If you want me to believe that the man is an asshole, make him do something bad. Or I just can’t believe how he’s an asshole, because he’s not never shown doing anything bad.
Sixth, Carter says he forgives Rhys for his past wrongs. But 10 minutes after they have sex and after that, Carter yells at Rhys that he needs to remember his past wrongs and atone for them. I was so confused I gave up trying to understand what was happening. What I really disliked about that was that Rhys told Carter that that was the first time he had sex since his husband died 7 years ago and Carter turned it on him and ruined the moment. I know that Carter thought that Rhys was an asshole who called him a slur but that doesn’t justify what he did. Doing that was such an unforgivable low blow to me. If you’re still mad at the guy, don’t sleep with him. Don’t sleep with him and then ruin the moment for him. Thats just mean.
Seventh, Carter is Rhys’s personal assistant. So when Rhys wants to fuck Carter, he arranges it so Carter gets another job in the company so that there is conflict of interest, all of this without consulting with Carter first. Shouldn’t we ask Carter if he wants to change job before just changing his job?
Eight, The pacing of this book really didn’t work for me. It was paced like a slow burn, as in it took ages (in book pages) for the main characters to get together, but the book was happening during a very short timeline. Those people had spent time together about 5 times and I would guess it had been a week or two before they had their first kiss. Their first kiss happened at 64%.
Ninth, I was ready to tie everyone down to their office chair so that they would stay in place and talk to each other instead of just runing away at the first sign of trouble.
If this was an actual redemption story and the characters were more likable and actually communicated with each other, I would have been in love with this book. I just didn’t enjoy how those tropes were executed in the book.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
June 22, 2021
2.5 stars
[TW: r-slur is used against a deaf person in a derogatory way ]
Let me give you a rundown of the beginning of the book which I don't think gives much away but I guess read-only if you don't mind mini spoilers:
So the book starts out with Carter, a sweet guy who is convinced by his best friend to go on a date to help him move on from his bad break-up. He goes on a date with Rhys, who from the jump gives off major douche vibes but since the date is casual, Carter decides to just have fun. The date starts out a bit rough, but they end up hooking up when Rhys accidentally pulls on Carter's cochlear implant and discovers he is deaf. Rhy's whole demeanour changes *MAJOR RED FLAG* which leaves Carter uneasy. When they arrive at the restaurant, Carter goes to the bathroom but when he returns sees Rhys flirting with the bartender and complaining about Carter's disability using a slur. Hurt and embarrassed, Carter leaves immediately without saying anything
Fast forward six months, Carter gets a job and discovers that Rhys is his boss. Carter is upset and scared that he will lose the job but Rhys doesn't seem to remember him and instead of giving off douche vibes like on the date, he is kind and understanding with Carter... Their work relationship soon becomes more...
***** I will preface this with the story does have an *understandable* reason for what happened that allows you to root for the couple ****
Issues with the story:
Secondly, I love dual POVs and enjoy reading them way more than single POV books since I find you can really get to know both MCs better but I think this book did a disservice to the storyline by being dual POV. Since we see Rhys' perspective, readers are able to piece together the real reasoning for the disaster date really quickly, within the first couple of chapters, so instead of that mystery being part of the story, I was just left impatiently waiting for Carter to figure it out which was annoying.
Near the end, I had kind of gotten over some of my misgivings and this was going to be a 3-star read but the ending had me 😐. r u serious
The book has a secondary storyline that has to do with the housing crisis (very much rich guilt and oh no poor people need our help only we can save them, but I digress). This plotline is a BIG part of the story, Rhys wants to save people and is trying to find a way to do so. This issue is built up throughout the story and the last bit of the book is focused on solving the problem. So as a reader I thought it would be actually resolved?! There is a supposed big meeting that decides the fate of this issue but the story just ends before it? It was very abrupt and I was so confused when I realized the last scene was the last scene so I'm assuming that the next story will have the conclusion to that? Also, no epilogue :( 💔
Random last negative thought lol:
- Why did they introduce Gabriel, Carter's best friend, his biggest support system and confidante etc in the beginning of the book only for him to move away and never be heard from for the second half of the book? Lol what was the point
I will end with things I enjoyed :
- I love the representation of a deaf person. It was interesting to see from Carter's POV when he talks about his childhood as a child of hearing parents who saw his deafness as a disability. I think that is a sad reality for many hearing people who don't see the beautiful culture of the deaf community.
- Rhys' (eventual) full acceptance of Carter and his encouragement of Carter to feel comfortable not wearing his cochlear implant and signing instead when he needed to
- How everyone who met Carter loved him and found him amazing even though in his own POV he described himself as nothing special (which goes to show how your own view of yourself is not always accurate!)
So this may be just a me-problem and nitpicking but overall I'm disappointed in this story but it may work for you so don't let my problems deter you!
[TW: r-slur is used against a deaf person in a derogatory way ]
Let me give you a rundown of the beginning of the book which I don't think gives much away but I guess read-only if you don't mind mini spoilers:
So the book starts out with Carter, a sweet guy who is convinced by his best friend to go on a date to help him move on from his bad break-up. He goes on a date with Rhys, who from the jump gives off major douche vibes but since the date is casual, Carter decides to just have fun. The date starts out a bit rough, but they end up hooking up when Rhys accidentally pulls on Carter's cochlear implant and discovers he is deaf. Rhy's whole demeanour changes *MAJOR RED FLAG* which leaves Carter uneasy. When they arrive at the restaurant, Carter goes to the bathroom but when he returns sees Rhys flirting with the bartender and complaining about Carter's disability using a slur. Hurt and embarrassed, Carter leaves immediately without saying anything
Fast forward six months, Carter gets a job and discovers that Rhys is his boss. Carter is upset and scared that he will lose the job but Rhys doesn't seem to remember him and instead of giving off douche vibes like on the date, he is kind and understanding with Carter... Their work relationship soon becomes more...
***** I will preface this with the story does have an *understandable* reason for what happened that allows you to root for the couple ****
Issues with the story:
My problem is that I think it took WAY too long for the reasoning to come to light. Initially, Carter doesn't confront Rhys about the date since he doesn't want to get fired (understandably, a guy's gotta eat) but then they become friends and start hanging out... catching feelings but Carter still doesn't ask?! Which frankly I did NOT understand at all, I don't care how sweet a person is to me after the fact, I'm not going to want to hang out or fall for someone who once called me a SLUR. Excuse me?!!!
Secondly, I love dual POVs and enjoy reading them way more than single POV books since I find you can really get to know both MCs better but I think this book did a disservice to the storyline by being dual POV. Since we see Rhys' perspective, readers are able to piece together the real reasoning for the disaster date really quickly, within the first couple of chapters, so instead of that mystery being part of the story, I was just left impatiently waiting for Carter to figure it out which was annoying.
Near the end, I had kind of gotten over some of my misgivings and this was going to be a 3-star read but the ending had me 😐. r u serious
The book has a secondary storyline that has to do with the housing crisis (very much rich guilt and oh no poor people need our help only we can save them, but I digress). This plotline is a BIG part of the story, Rhys wants to save people and is trying to find a way to do so. This issue is built up throughout the story and the last bit of the book is focused on solving the problem. So as a reader I thought it would be actually resolved?! There is a supposed big meeting that decides the fate of this issue but the story just ends before it? It was very abrupt and I was so confused when I realized the last scene was the last scene so I'm assuming that the next story will have the conclusion to that? Also, no epilogue :( 💔
Random last negative thought lol:
- Why did they introduce Gabriel, Carter's best friend, his biggest support system and confidante etc in the beginning of the book only for him to move away and never be heard from for the second half of the book? Lol what was the point
I will end with things I enjoyed :
- I love the representation of a deaf person. It was interesting to see from Carter's POV when he talks about his childhood as a child of hearing parents who saw his deafness as a disability. I think that is a sad reality for many hearing people who don't see the beautiful culture of the deaf community.
- Rhys' (eventual) full acceptance of Carter and his encouragement of Carter to feel comfortable not wearing his cochlear implant and signing instead when he needed to
- How everyone who met Carter loved him and found him amazing even though in his own POV he described himself as nothing special (which goes to show how your own view of yourself is not always accurate!)
So this may be just a me-problem and nitpicking but overall I'm disappointed in this story but it may work for you so don't let my problems deter you!
June 20, 2023
I don't know how to feel about this one.
July 3, 2024
When Carter’s love life crashes, his best friend, Gabriel convinces him to try a hook-up on Grindr. When his gorgeous “date” arrives in a Jaguar to whisk him away for the dinner that became so much more in a secluded parking structure, he couldn't believe his good luck. Maybe this was a good idea after all.
The date is going great until the man knocks off one of Carter's CI's in the aftermath of the "so much more". Carter tells him that he’s deaf and explains the CI...but then later when he is on his way to the restroom, he lip-reads the gorgeous date, who is now no longer quiet so gorgeous... complaining about his deafness and making a major slur about him to the cute bartender that he's now hitting on. Instead of confronting the "date", Carter runs off.
Six months later Carter finally gets his chance to work at London Enterprises as a PA to the CEO. He hopes this will be the steppingstone to a bright future with the company he's been hoping to work for. Then he's introduced to his new boss...and what are the chances??? The new boss turns out to be none other than Rhys London, the jerk from the horrendous humiliating date. When Rhys chases Carter down to help him when he has a severe case of vertigo... he can't believe that Rhys doesn’t remember him. Carter wants this job so he's willing to give the jerk a second chance.... but can he really overcome the way he was treated?
Carter and Rhys were such a sweet "mistaken identity" story that pin-pointed some of the challenges that deaf people often face in a society that often takes the ability to hear for granted. I also liked the idea that Rhys had taken sign language as his second/foreign language in college. It allowed the readers to know that this was an actual thing that students could do if they wanted.
By now you have probably also figured out what had actually happened...what the difference was between the man on the date and the man that is Carter's boss in the office, and the reason why Rhys doesn't remember him. I hope Rhys and Carter make a least a slight appearance in the next book.
The date is going great until the man knocks off one of Carter's CI's in the aftermath of the "so much more". Carter tells him that he’s deaf and explains the CI...but then later when he is on his way to the restroom, he lip-reads the gorgeous date, who is now no longer quiet so gorgeous... complaining about his deafness and making a major slur about him to the cute bartender that he's now hitting on. Instead of confronting the "date", Carter runs off.
Six months later Carter finally gets his chance to work at London Enterprises as a PA to the CEO. He hopes this will be the steppingstone to a bright future with the company he's been hoping to work for. Then he's introduced to his new boss...and what are the chances??? The new boss turns out to be none other than Rhys London, the jerk from the horrendous humiliating date. When Rhys chases Carter down to help him when he has a severe case of vertigo... he can't believe that Rhys doesn’t remember him. Carter wants this job so he's willing to give the jerk a second chance.... but can he really overcome the way he was treated?
Carter and Rhys were such a sweet "mistaken identity" story that pin-pointed some of the challenges that deaf people often face in a society that often takes the ability to hear for granted. I also liked the idea that Rhys had taken sign language as his second/foreign language in college. It allowed the readers to know that this was an actual thing that students could do if they wanted.
By now you have probably also figured out what had actually happened...what the difference was between the man on the date and the man that is Carter's boss in the office, and the reason why Rhys doesn't remember him. I hope Rhys and Carter make a least a slight appearance in the next book.
Read
November 26, 2021DNF@ 26% I just couldn’t take the amount of swearing 🤬 it’s just too much. Adults behaving like 18 year olds ( Even most 18 year olds don’t behave like that). The writing sucked I’m sorry
Read
July 5, 20215-6% in and I've already guessed the big reveal
17% in and the two MCs haven't even actually met.. 😬
I loved Carter's POV at the start of the book but found it dragged so much from being introduced to Rhys then going back to Carter's POV...
I think for what the author was trying to do we should have only seen Carter's POV in this one. I can already tell I won't like this so I'm bowing out early.... Respectfully
DNF 17%
17% in and the two MCs haven't even actually met.. 😬
I loved Carter's POV at the start of the book but found it dragged so much from being introduced to Rhys then going back to Carter's POV...
I think for what the author was trying to do we should have only seen Carter's POV in this one. I can already tell I won't like this so I'm bowing out early.... Respectfully
DNF 17%
June 19, 2021
Not one of my favourites from E.M. Lindsey.
I think that the only way this wouldn’t have been glaringly obvious from the second chapter as to why Rhys seemed so different would have been if this was told just from Carter’s POV. But it wasn’t, so I spent most of the time reading this waiting for the inevitable.
I did find Carter to be interesting, but I feel like I didn’t get to see as much of his personality once Rhys came into the picture. Rhys, I can’t say I overly cared for. He lost his husband seven years ago, but has closed himself off, even though he says multiple times that Viggo and him weren’t a big romantic love story.
And this whole “I have to save this town” complex/plot is not my cuppa. I don’t want to read about acquisitions and housing crisis…. I can read my local newspaper if I wanted to read about that.
The romance itself was pretty much instalove. I would have liked to see it slowly happen, not just a matter of weeks and them both being like, I’ve felt this from from the day we met.
I’m on the fence if I’ll continue with this series, but I’m leaning more towards ‘no’.
I think that the only way this wouldn’t have been glaringly obvious from the second chapter as to why Rhys seemed so different would have been if this was told just from Carter’s POV. But it wasn’t, so I spent most of the time reading this waiting for the inevitable.
I did find Carter to be interesting, but I feel like I didn’t get to see as much of his personality once Rhys came into the picture. Rhys, I can’t say I overly cared for. He lost his husband seven years ago, but has closed himself off, even though he says multiple times that Viggo and him weren’t a big romantic love story.
And this whole “I have to save this town” complex/plot is not my cuppa. I don’t want to read about acquisitions and housing crisis…. I can read my local newspaper if I wanted to read about that.
The romance itself was pretty much instalove. I would have liked to see it slowly happen, not just a matter of weeks and them both being like, I’ve felt this from from the day we met.
I’m on the fence if I’ll continue with this series, but I’m leaning more towards ‘no’.
June 8, 2021
So so so good! I think this is my first EM Lindsey book and I loved it! Can't wait for the next book :)
Am now off to check out their backlist!!
Am now off to check out their backlist!!
March 9, 2023
Finally DNF @ 49%
Not as enjoyable as some of this authors other stories.
Not as enjoyable as some of this authors other stories.
June 20, 2021
This was an okay read for me but I didn’t completely love it, and I’m not even sure I even liked it.
Because there is one thing I really don’t like and that is:
The Big Misunderstanding That Could Have Easily Been Avoided If They Just Would Have Talked With Each other.
It was clear early on what had happened, because of the dual POV, but the writer waited a long time to resolve the issue.
I admire the writer’s ability to write interesting characters who have a disability, but in this book they didn’t feel completely developed.
They stayed shallow, it didn’t feel like I got to know them enough.
I liked Henrik the most and he was a side character!
The plot was dragging in one way (the work issues) I think because it will be a plot in the next books as well, but the romance part went too quick. Insta- love and talk about marriage/ ILY after one or two dates.
Because there is one thing I really don’t like and that is:
The Big Misunderstanding That Could Have Easily Been Avoided If They Just Would Have Talked With Each other.
It was clear early on what had happened, because of the dual POV, but the writer waited a long time to resolve the issue.
I admire the writer’s ability to write interesting characters who have a disability, but in this book they didn’t feel completely developed.
They stayed shallow, it didn’t feel like I got to know them enough.
I liked Henrik the most and he was a side character!
The plot was dragging in one way (the work issues) I think because it will be a plot in the next books as well, but the romance part went too quick. Insta- love and talk about marriage/ ILY after one or two dates.
June 12, 2021
Carter and Rhys are a great start to a fun new contemporary MM romance series by E.M. Lindsey. Whilst it is fairly low in angst, both Carter and Rhys are dealing with a multitude past hurts. Rhys is a workaholic; he’s lonely and numb from feeling anything, still grieving over his late husband and the kind of passion they were missing in their lives. And Carter, well he’s been used and hurt too many times in the past to think he’ll ever find that someone who will love him just the way he is. The last place he expects to find that is with his new boss - the same guy he went on a date with months earlier and has now apparently forgotten who he is...
Although there is some miscommunication what with Carter not telling Rhys about their precious connection, I found myself really enjoying this aspect. It wasn’t unnecessary at all. In fact, I could easily empathise with Carter’s reluctance not to lose this new Rhys he had found. Of course this means there will be a bit of drama, as well as a dash of angst, followed by some tender intimacy and a declaration of feelings that will tug on your heartstrings.
Without a Doubt is not a completely fluffy read, but it is lighthearted and romantic, with genuine and likeable characters. I can’t wait for the next one!
Although there is some miscommunication what with Carter not telling Rhys about their precious connection, I found myself really enjoying this aspect. It wasn’t unnecessary at all. In fact, I could easily empathise with Carter’s reluctance not to lose this new Rhys he had found. Of course this means there will be a bit of drama, as well as a dash of angst, followed by some tender intimacy and a declaration of feelings that will tug on your heartstrings.
Without a Doubt is not a completely fluffy read, but it is lighthearted and romantic, with genuine and likeable characters. I can’t wait for the next one!
November 29, 2021
Very soapy and predictable premise that I struggled with since it hinged completely on weird misunderstandings, lack of communication and Carter not thinking critically or doing basic research for his job. The long internal monologue tangents and the way most POV changes started with a recap of what just happened but from the other person's perspective made this book feel tedious to read.
I also didn't really get the self-flagellating anti-rich/anti-corporate sentiments coming from the rich corporate guy. It felt pretty disingenuous and out of place, as if the author wanted to have their wealthy boss romance cookie and eat the rich too. The ending (which I skimmed since ) felt very unsatisfactory since it started up this whole plot thread that then just went unresolved and threw off the pacing for no good reason.
I also didn't really get the self-flagellating anti-rich/anti-corporate sentiments coming from the rich corporate guy. It felt pretty disingenuous and out of place, as if the author wanted to have their wealthy boss romance cookie and eat the rich too. The ending (which I skimmed since ) felt very unsatisfactory since it started up this whole plot thread that then just went unresolved and threw off the pacing for no good reason.
January 8, 2022
It took them an age to be in the same room together and their first meeting was awful. Seriously awful. If you could put that aside then you I could see them together but they didn't address their "date" until after they'd been intimate.
That aside, I like the writing, the side characters and the great narration (all Audiobook)
That aside, I like the writing, the side characters and the great narration (all Audiobook)
June 18, 2021
Without A Doubt is a perfect E.M. Lindsey book. Carter’s self-confidence takes a hit after breaking up with his boyfriend, so his best friend suggests hooking up with someone from an app in order to get back out into the dating world. After a steamy hookup that turns into a disastrous date, Carter feels even worse. He’s also dissatisfied with his job, so he applies for a job as a PA at his dream company. He’s pretty embarrassed to realize that he’s going to be working for Rhys, the man from his terrible date. Rhys gives no indication that he knows Carter, which is pretty confusing. Rhys has sworn off relationships after the death of his husband and tries to fight his attraction to Carter. They have a wonderful connection that progresses really beautifully, but Carter has a hard time reconciling the thoughtful and romantic Rhys with the callous man who mocked his deafness. The explanation for Rhys’s behavior is a little far-fetched, and there’s some miscommunication between the two men, but their relationship is really special once they’re on the same page. I love the secondary characters as well and hope Lindsey gives Carter’s best friend Gabriel his own happy ending. Lindsey writes such complex characters and captures Carter’s struggles as a person with cochlear implants really well. It’s a gorgeous book with a lot of emotion.
December 30, 2021
took me long to warm up to the mcs. it was slow paced. then everything was instalove and i find it hard to believe that the mcs weren't communicating just for the sake of dragging the plot cause carter already mentioned he's ready to ask rhys about the past. yeah he can change his mind but neh and also i feel like the author just dragged the trope and plot just for the sake of it. like most of the time i was begging for them talk, act like adults or do something but it's so weird how everything was crammed at the last few chapters. anyway i find it hard to believe rhys not mentioning he has a TWIN and carter not knowing it is so weird. considering the office gossip. like i said the author just made the plot longer. carter acted so stupid and doormat when he didnt figure out that he has a brother too or whatever. and the only reason i didn't dnf the book is because i have nothing better to do. but hey id give it four stars when the ending wasn't rushed.
June 24, 2021
Without a Doubt is the first book in EM Lindsey's Love Starts Here series. Omg. I love this book.
It starts with a horrible date, followed by the more awkward of job interviews. And then it gets good.
Carter's in a messy situation. His friend wants him to get laid, which ends up with him on a date from hell. And when he finally gets a new job, that bad date is his boss, who doesn't remember him. Of course, there's a reason for that.
Rhys, oh poor Rhys has so much on his plate. His brother's an out of control ass. But it's his grief that had me wanting to hug him. Since losing his husband, he can't get past his pain.
Everything about this story had me mesmerized. I couldn't put it down. At all.
The mistaken identity. The boss/employee situation. The confusion. The doubts. The misunderstandings.
But what keeps it all awesome are the feelings. I love the connection between Carter and Rhys.
As for Carter's hearing loss, I love how it's written. Best of all is the way that's it's a huge aspect of Carter's life. Yet, with Rhys, it isn't at all. I love it!
Overall, Without a Doubt is a wonderful read. This EM Lindsey romance had me invested throughout.
It starts with a horrible date, followed by the more awkward of job interviews. And then it gets good.
Carter's in a messy situation. His friend wants him to get laid, which ends up with him on a date from hell. And when he finally gets a new job, that bad date is his boss, who doesn't remember him. Of course, there's a reason for that.
Rhys, oh poor Rhys has so much on his plate. His brother's an out of control ass. But it's his grief that had me wanting to hug him. Since losing his husband, he can't get past his pain.
Everything about this story had me mesmerized. I couldn't put it down. At all.
The mistaken identity. The boss/employee situation. The confusion. The doubts. The misunderstandings.
But what keeps it all awesome are the feelings. I love the connection between Carter and Rhys.
As for Carter's hearing loss, I love how it's written. Best of all is the way that's it's a huge aspect of Carter's life. Yet, with Rhys, it isn't at all. I love it!
Overall, Without a Doubt is a wonderful read. This EM Lindsey romance had me invested throughout.
June 19, 2021
Plot twist!
From the blurb, I expected this to be a one night stand followed by having to work together and it’s sort of that but with a twist. Low-angst and sweet dynamics.
From the blurb, I expected this to be a one night stand followed by having to work together and it’s sort of that but with a twist. Low-angst and sweet dynamics.
January 26, 2023
3.5*
Liked the story. Always like to read books that deals with a "disability", which isn't always a disadvantage in my opinion.
It was also refreshing to read that swallowing cum "wasn't entirely pleasant". Because be honest, it is a bit unrealistic that everyone can deepthroat from the first attempt and thinks swallowing is the best thing they ever did/tasted...
Liked the story. Always like to read books that deals with a "disability", which isn't always a disadvantage in my opinion.
It was also refreshing to read that swallowing cum "wasn't entirely pleasant". Because be honest, it is a bit unrealistic that everyone can deepthroat from the first attempt and thinks swallowing is the best thing they ever did/tasted...
did-not-finish
December 16, 2025DNF at 6%.
No. Absolutely not
Thank you to reviewers who have saved me from continuing this.
No. Absolutely not
Thank you to reviewers who have saved me from continuing this.
August 8, 2021
This was a tough one to rate. The pacing was pretty poor (way too slow reveal), but I liked Carter and the general tension. The premise was intriguing, but Jordan/Reed seemed almost too villainous (ie, pretty one dimensional). Also, it doesn't really end, per se, but just kind of cuts off once Carter and Rhys resolve their personal issues (which was also a little too dramatic for my taste with ).
All in all, I ended up skipping/skimming the bulk of it (probably from ~20% to 80%). So yes, I liked it, but it had some flaws. I don't know if I'll try the next one or not. :/
All in all, I ended up skipping/skimming the bulk of it (probably from ~20% to 80%). So yes, I liked it, but it had some flaws. I don't know if I'll try the next one or not. :/
Read
November 28, 2021so I've made it to 80 percent which counts as "read" in this case because I have struggled to get here!
I dnf about 1/200 books so this shows just how boring this was
I should have read the comments before reading
- characters meet too late like the first thirty percent of the book need to be cut down to ten!
- one date = love of my life
- too much unnecessary side stuff
- sex is boring
just very underwhelmed and not finishing the book
I dnf about 1/200 books so this shows just how boring this was
I should have read the comments before reading
- characters meet too late like the first thirty percent of the book need to be cut down to ten!
- one date = love of my life
- too much unnecessary side stuff
- sex is boring
just very underwhelmed and not finishing the book
November 7, 2021
2.5 stars
This was just the flimsiest of conflicts/plot points in the history of romance novels. Come on, please respect my intelligence just a touch, won't you?
I still felt that it was ok, considering I love Lindsey's disability rep. Makes me want to pick up AUSLAN every single time I read a book of hers. <3
This was just the flimsiest of conflicts/plot points in the history of romance novels. Come on, please respect my intelligence just a touch, won't you?
I still felt that it was ok, considering I love Lindsey's disability rep. Makes me want to pick up AUSLAN every single time I read a book of hers. <3
July 14, 2021
I got bored. I LOVED the synopsis, very much up my ally. But the two main characters had absolutely no chemistry. We are constantly being told they find eachother attractive, but there's nothing there.
July 23, 2021
I think that book should’ve been a DNF for me put I pushed and pushed and finished it.
It was not effortless. It was a bit bland. I think it had potential but … no.
I’m weirdly sorry that I couldn’t like it. Some pieces were good but the whole was bland and felt like something just wasn’t right.
It was not effortless. It was a bit bland. I think it had potential but … no.
I’m weirdly sorry that I couldn’t like it. Some pieces were good but the whole was bland and felt like something just wasn’t right.
January 17, 2022
It's very rare I don't finish a book but this novel just didn't do anything for me. I got about halfway through and thought I just don't care what happens to the main characters so I stopped reading it.
August 2, 2021
Don't know if it was me or the book but this was pretty much a snoozefest for me. Great premise but nothing about the execution grabbed me.
Read
November 22, 2021DNF 80%
I'm really glad this one was free because I didn't like it. This is the second dud I've read by this author so I'm going to conclude that their writing is not for me.
I'm really glad this one was free because I didn't like it. This is the second dud I've read by this author so I'm going to conclude that their writing is not for me.
December 24, 2021
Back and forth on if it’s 1 or 2 stars, so let’s say 1.5. I liked the two MCs, but after about 50% I started to skim. Lots of repetitive passages. A few of the secondary characters were great.
January 2, 2022
5 stars!
Starting this year off on a very high note. When I tell you I loved everything about this book, I mean EVERYTHING. There were so many fun tropes including my absolute fave, mistaken identity!
This is such a cute but also really heartwarming start to the series and I will be returning to find out what else goes on in the town of St James.
Ok, so how darling was Carter? Darling, adorable, deaf and a little down on his luck. He survives due to the constant encouragement of his best friend since high school, Gabriel, and their unique understanding of one another. I loved Carter because he was exactly as he was described, absolutely charming in the best of ways! He made you fall for him, root for him and want everything to work out well for him. When he takes Gabriel’s advice and goes on a date just to get the stress out of his system, well, so begins the adventure of a lifetime!
I liked but sometimes wanted to smack Rhys. He was a little bit too woe is me sometimes. Like, I’m rich, look at all the problems money couldn’t solve for me. BUT what I really loved was that the author kept him from being unlovable by having Carter call him out on it and Rhys actually admit that his cardinal sin was being born rich and that he would spend the rest of his life trying to make up for it. I have to say, he did his best and really gave of himself trying to save people’s homes and I really appreciated that about him. I just wished he was a little less sad about the heavy juggling act of it all!
The cast of supporting characters was a treat! From Jordan (insert scowl), to Henrik and his wife and kids, everyone was just the perfect level of evil, supportive, funny and cute! I really enjoyed this one and hope the rest of the series comes even a bit close to it!
Starting this year off on a very high note. When I tell you I loved everything about this book, I mean EVERYTHING. There were so many fun tropes including my absolute fave, mistaken identity!
This is such a cute but also really heartwarming start to the series and I will be returning to find out what else goes on in the town of St James.
Ok, so how darling was Carter? Darling, adorable, deaf and a little down on his luck. He survives due to the constant encouragement of his best friend since high school, Gabriel, and their unique understanding of one another. I loved Carter because he was exactly as he was described, absolutely charming in the best of ways! He made you fall for him, root for him and want everything to work out well for him. When he takes Gabriel’s advice and goes on a date just to get the stress out of his system, well, so begins the adventure of a lifetime!
I liked but sometimes wanted to smack Rhys. He was a little bit too woe is me sometimes. Like, I’m rich, look at all the problems money couldn’t solve for me. BUT what I really loved was that the author kept him from being unlovable by having Carter call him out on it and Rhys actually admit that his cardinal sin was being born rich and that he would spend the rest of his life trying to make up for it. I have to say, he did his best and really gave of himself trying to save people’s homes and I really appreciated that about him. I just wished he was a little less sad about the heavy juggling act of it all!
The cast of supporting characters was a treat! From Jordan (insert scowl), to Henrik and his wife and kids, everyone was just the perfect level of evil, supportive, funny and cute! I really enjoyed this one and hope the rest of the series comes even a bit close to it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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