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Star Crossed #3
Only for Ollie
Xander Finch is a top-ranked MotoGP rider, desperate to get back to the circuit after an injury. He’s going stir-crazy in his parents’ house in Ventura while he works on his recovery. Xander has tunnel vision when it comes to his sport—it’s all he’s ever wanted to do in life. When he hires a massage therapist to help speed up his recovery, he’s not expecting the guy to completely flip his universe on its head.
Ollie Baker is living in his car after a disastrous break-up, and jumps at the chance to earn some extra cash through massage. Xander Finch might be hot as hell, but Ollie’s not going there. He’s never going to let some rich guy screw him over again. Besides, Xander’s straight. Isn’t he?
When their friendship deepens into something more, Xander discovers that Ollie makes him feel a way that nobody ever has before, and maybe motorbikes aren’t his only passion after all. Navigating Xander’s newly discovered demisexuality isn’t the only challenge they’ll have to face if they’re going to be together, because Ollie’s been burned before. It’s hard for him to trust Xander, to believe that he’s really willing to make room in his life for Ollie as well as his racing—assuming he recovers enough to race at all.
Only for Ollie is the third book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.
Ollie Baker is living in his car after a disastrous break-up, and jumps at the chance to earn some extra cash through massage. Xander Finch might be hot as hell, but Ollie’s not going there. He’s never going to let some rich guy screw him over again. Besides, Xander’s straight. Isn’t he?
When their friendship deepens into something more, Xander discovers that Ollie makes him feel a way that nobody ever has before, and maybe motorbikes aren’t his only passion after all. Navigating Xander’s newly discovered demisexuality isn’t the only challenge they’ll have to face if they’re going to be together, because Ollie’s been burned before. It’s hard for him to trust Xander, to believe that he’s really willing to make room in his life for Ollie as well as his racing—assuming he recovers enough to race at all.
Only for Ollie is the third book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2022
53 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Henry
99 books2,269 followersI like to tell stories. Mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters. They gotta work for it though. No free lunches on my watch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
November 28, 2023
This was pretty good. I really liked the set up of massage therapist/client I want to find more books like this it made for a really great meeting and getting to know you phase- I loved the first half of the book because of that.
I skimmed a bit of the detailed race descriptions of the book, but didn’t miss anything I still enjoyed it.
I wish the epilogue was a bit more - I like my HEAs to have a bit more H to them lol
I skimmed a bit of the detailed race descriptions of the book, but didn’t miss anything I still enjoyed it.
I wish the epilogue was a bit more - I like my HEAs to have a bit more H to them lol
July 8, 2023
Ok, I'll start by saying I'm a huge MotoGP fan, like I never miss a race even if it's the middle of the night for me, so whenever I find a book with it featured I get overly excited.
However, this was such a huge disappointment! It felt like someone had just googled MotoGP and thrown in a few Wikipedia 'facts' and called it a day.
Is there a reason Luca Marini is now Luca Marino, but you use his brother's real name - although only his surname, Rossi? Why was Marc Marquez, arguably one of the best riders of all time, only referred to by his bike number? Yet Johann Zarco is ok to say? Super weird.
Also the whole accident would NEVER have happened like that! It's like the writer has never watched an entire MotoGP event from Thursday to Sunday. Free practice and qualifying sessions DO NOT start from a grid formation, that would be ridiculous! The entire point of qualifying is to determine grid position!! They start from their garages and go up pit lane when the light there says they can. The only time there's a grid formation is for the start of the actual race or a sprint race. This is basic MotoGP information! Xander could have easily been shown to have an accident in practice or qualifying because there are other riders on track at the same time, but it would not have happened the way it was written.
There was just so much relating to MotoGP that made no sense - can you tell it really bugged me? 😂
There was also endless self-pity and self-doubt again, and talking in circles with so much repetition and rewording of the same statement.
This whole series has been really underwhelming and the only characters I've actually liked are the kid in book 1, and Marco! Everyone else is just so negative and whiny 🫣
However, this was such a huge disappointment! It felt like someone had just googled MotoGP and thrown in a few Wikipedia 'facts' and called it a day.
Is there a reason Luca Marini is now Luca Marino, but you use his brother's real name - although only his surname, Rossi? Why was Marc Marquez, arguably one of the best riders of all time, only referred to by his bike number? Yet Johann Zarco is ok to say? Super weird.
Also the whole accident would NEVER have happened like that! It's like the writer has never watched an entire MotoGP event from Thursday to Sunday. Free practice and qualifying sessions DO NOT start from a grid formation, that would be ridiculous! The entire point of qualifying is to determine grid position!! They start from their garages and go up pit lane when the light there says they can. The only time there's a grid formation is for the start of the actual race or a sprint race. This is basic MotoGP information! Xander could have easily been shown to have an accident in practice or qualifying because there are other riders on track at the same time, but it would not have happened the way it was written.
There was just so much relating to MotoGP that made no sense - can you tell it really bugged me? 😂
There was also endless self-pity and self-doubt again, and talking in circles with so much repetition and rewording of the same statement.
This whole series has been really underwhelming and the only characters I've actually liked are the kid in book 1, and Marco! Everyone else is just so negative and whiny 🫣
Read
August 30, 2022DNF at 22%
The MCs are spending all their time in their own heads and they are boring me to death.
The whole series is instalove between stars and regular people. But this one takes it up the next level.
They met once. Xander is straight. Ollie gave him a massage. Professionally. Ollie’s brain: It would be way too easy to fall for Xander Finch, and not just because he was hot, but because of the way he’d melted under his touch.
Really? Can we at least try to make it believable?
GOODBYE
The MCs are spending all their time in their own heads and they are boring me to death.
The whole series is instalove between stars and regular people. But this one takes it up the next level.
They met once. Xander is straight. Ollie gave him a massage. Professionally. Ollie’s brain: It would be way too easy to fall for Xander Finch, and not just because he was hot, but because of the way he’d melted under his touch.
Really? Can we at least try to make it believable?
GOODBYE
August 13, 2022
Ollie gets ALL the stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved him. I loved Xander.
I loved their slow build and sweet passion.
I was curious about Xander from the beginning.
But Ollie? I quickly fell for Ollie.
Xander is recovering from an accident that has put his career on hold. Which comes at the worst possible timing. He can't be laid up now. He's about to break through doors he's only ever dreamed of. But then falling off a stupid ladder and painting a stupid wall messed everything up.
Or did it?
His recovery led him to Ollie.
And possibly a future better than he could have imagined. Because Xander discovers there's more to life than racing. *sigh*
I loved every tentative step along the way.
I loved him. I loved Xander.
I loved their slow build and sweet passion.
I was curious about Xander from the beginning.
But Ollie? I quickly fell for Ollie.
Xander is recovering from an accident that has put his career on hold. Which comes at the worst possible timing. He can't be laid up now. He's about to break through doors he's only ever dreamed of. But then falling off a stupid ladder and painting a stupid wall messed everything up.
Or did it?
His recovery led him to Ollie.
And possibly a future better than he could have imagined. Because Xander discovers there's more to life than racing. *sigh*
I loved every tentative step along the way.
March 8, 2022
Eeehhh….ok? Nothing Earth-shattering. It’s a sweet book although it could have been better. It didn’t hold my interest but I finished it because I liked the idea of a Moto GP racer for an MC but it was all so .. bland. Dull. Not bad .. just not enough. I wanted Xander to be more of a badass -even his name is kind of cool-but the tone of the book was subdued and Xander and Ollie were a couple of snoozers.
April 12, 2022
3.5 stars rounding up because of my relief that LH seems to back to writing that I recognize as hers.
Lisa Henry has been a bedrock of reliably good writing in m/m even if I didn’t always enjoy some of her darker stories. Until Not Until Noah. And it was like someone completely different had written the story. I couldn’t even finish because I cared so little. Granted, for another author I wouldn’t have been so disappointed. The second book in the series Because of Ben was definitely better, though not really with the same timbre of other LH books.
In this book there were turns of phrase and writing that harkened to the best of LH’s writing. She writes real things.
For example,
he knew he was nothing special. But when Xander looked at him, he felt beautiful. He’d never say that aloud because the word was weird and uncomfortable and fit wrong like a shirt a size too small, but it took root in a hidden place in his heart, and he nurtured it in secret.
And
The point was, there were no happy endings in real life, just happy-in-progresses, and that sounded even more miraculous than a swelling orchestral score and end credits. It sounded pretty perfect actually, making the choice every day to be with this person, and to love them.
Xander makes some bad choices later in the book and there’s no easy forgiveness for him. He has to make amends and there are discussions of how Ollie can forgive him and what changes Xander will make. How refreshing that the reader gets to see the work and there’s no magic writer wand whisking away the bad things so the story leaps directly into an HEA.
Lisa Henry has been a bedrock of reliably good writing in m/m even if I didn’t always enjoy some of her darker stories. Until Not Until Noah. And it was like someone completely different had written the story. I couldn’t even finish because I cared so little. Granted, for another author I wouldn’t have been so disappointed. The second book in the series Because of Ben was definitely better, though not really with the same timbre of other LH books.
In this book there were turns of phrase and writing that harkened to the best of LH’s writing. She writes real things.
For example,
he knew he was nothing special. But when Xander looked at him, he felt beautiful. He’d never say that aloud because the word was weird and uncomfortable and fit wrong like a shirt a size too small, but it took root in a hidden place in his heart, and he nurtured it in secret.
And
The point was, there were no happy endings in real life, just happy-in-progresses, and that sounded even more miraculous than a swelling orchestral score and end credits. It sounded pretty perfect actually, making the choice every day to be with this person, and to love them.
Xander makes some bad choices later in the book and there’s no easy forgiveness for him. He has to make amends and there are discussions of how Ollie can forgive him and what changes Xander will make. How refreshing that the reader gets to see the work and there’s no magic writer wand whisking away the bad things so the story leaps directly into an HEA.
April 15, 2022
Nice to see a demi-sexual male lead in an upcoming book because I see a lot of demi-sexual men in my practice but people always think men will 'go anything that moves,' and that's stereotyping, and that's simply not true.
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July 24, 2024
Surprisingly, after enjoying the previous two books in the series this one fell flat when it came to both the romance and the storyline. There just wasn't enough chemistry between the two MCs. Oh well, I consider enjoying two out of the three books in the series a win.
March 7, 2022
"Want wasn't a space. Want was an action. Want was every goddamn love song in the world, and not a single one of them, it turned out, had been exaggerating."
Only for Ollie by Lisa Henry is book three in the Star Crossed series and I have loved each one of them so far. This is a linked series, but each book can be read as a standalone.
This is Xander and Ollie's story. Xander is a MotoGP superstar going through rehab, following an accident. Ollie is a down-on-his-luck college student and part-time masseur who treats him. Ollie is gay and out, and Xander is straight. Maybe. It doesn't take too long before sparks start to fly....💥
You will love Only for Ollie, if you enjoy:
🌶 MM romance
🌶 Opposites attract
🌶 Demi-sexual awakening
🌶 Found family
🌶 Steamy scenes
🌶 Cute couples
🌶 HEA
Recommended 4 ✨✨✨✨ read.
Only for Ollie by Lisa Henry is book three in the Star Crossed series and I have loved each one of them so far. This is a linked series, but each book can be read as a standalone.
This is Xander and Ollie's story. Xander is a MotoGP superstar going through rehab, following an accident. Ollie is a down-on-his-luck college student and part-time masseur who treats him. Ollie is gay and out, and Xander is straight. Maybe. It doesn't take too long before sparks start to fly....💥
You will love Only for Ollie, if you enjoy:
🌶 MM romance
🌶 Opposites attract
🌶 Demi-sexual awakening
🌶 Found family
🌶 Steamy scenes
🌶 Cute couples
🌶 HEA
Recommended 4 ✨✨✨✨ read.
March 25, 2022
My favorite in the series.
Loved it. Good story, great characters, and I adored the demisexual representation. Absolutely my favorite in the series hands down. My only complaint is I wish it were longer.
Loved it. Good story, great characters, and I adored the demisexual representation. Absolutely my favorite in the series hands down. My only complaint is I wish it were longer.
March 28, 2022
3,5 stars.
March 11, 2022
I wanted to know better about Xander since he appeared in Marco's book, and who's he's going to have romance.
Ollie came into his life unexpectedly. A little accident while painting Zane's baby room, earned him Ollie. A broke college student, a part time massage therapist for Xander, the famous MotoGP star.
I liked the slow burn romance between them, and how easy Xander's parents accepted Ollie in their lives and Xander's coming out to them.
This is a very sweet, very low angst except some things happened near the end.
I think this last installment was my favorite of the series.
March 17, 2022
The books in this series stand alone well; this is the story of Zane's twin brother Xander - a top-ranked MotoGP rider who is nonetheless sometimes annoyed by being mistaken for his even more famous rock-star sibling. After defying death at two hundred miles an hour on a bike, what does Xander in is a fall off a ladder while painting a nursery for his brother. The fall is a bad one - not just a broken leg but post-concussion signs - and he's afraid of what it might mean to his career. Still, he's all the more determined to get back into shape to ride.
A suggestion from a nurse for a massage to ease his muscle pain turns into a meeting with Ollie. Ollie's hoping to eventually become a fully qualified therapist, but after splitting with his cheating rich boyfriend, he's stuck living in his car in his nurse-friend's driveway. Broke and struggling, he's hoping to afford to finish his semester at school, and doing massage in a sketchy parlor on the side for cash.
Despite setbacks, Ollie's determined, cheerful, and doesn't hide his light under a bushel. He turns out to be exactly what Xander needs. Not just for the benefit of the massages, but for his kindness, his take-no-nonsense positivity, and his honesty.
Xander had never understood what people really saw in sex and relationships. But as he slowly comes to trust Ollie, he feels real powerful attraction for the first time. He thought he was straight and had a low libido, but now he comes to realize he's demisexual and far from straight. He tries to balance unfamiliar attraction and sex with his drive to get back on his bike, especially when the sponsorship of a lifetime is being dangled under his nose, if only he can heal fast enough. Slow and careful has never been Xander's motto.
I really liked this portrayal of a demisexual guy, with a progression that felt nicely judged, not instant and not too slow burn. The bisexual awakening hit a sweet spot where Xander is caught by surprise but not too resistant. Ollie is great, and the moment of story crisis is handled with balance and not too much angst. This is my favorite of the series so far.
A suggestion from a nurse for a massage to ease his muscle pain turns into a meeting with Ollie. Ollie's hoping to eventually become a fully qualified therapist, but after splitting with his cheating rich boyfriend, he's stuck living in his car in his nurse-friend's driveway. Broke and struggling, he's hoping to afford to finish his semester at school, and doing massage in a sketchy parlor on the side for cash.
Despite setbacks, Ollie's determined, cheerful, and doesn't hide his light under a bushel. He turns out to be exactly what Xander needs. Not just for the benefit of the massages, but for his kindness, his take-no-nonsense positivity, and his honesty.
Xander had never understood what people really saw in sex and relationships. But as he slowly comes to trust Ollie, he feels real powerful attraction for the first time. He thought he was straight and had a low libido, but now he comes to realize he's demisexual and far from straight. He tries to balance unfamiliar attraction and sex with his drive to get back on his bike, especially when the sponsorship of a lifetime is being dangled under his nose, if only he can heal fast enough. Slow and careful has never been Xander's motto.
I really liked this portrayal of a demisexual guy, with a progression that felt nicely judged, not instant and not too slow burn. The bisexual awakening hit a sweet spot where Xander is caught by surprise but not too resistant. Ollie is great, and the moment of story crisis is handled with balance and not too much angst. This is my favorite of the series so far.
April 13, 2022
thank you!
I just need to take a moment to thank you. Thank you for doing this justice. I was so incredibly worried when I read that Xan was demi sexual that it would turn into not what demi really is. I’ve read other books where it seemed like the author didn’t do research. I can say that reading Xan explain himself made me weep. Weep with joy, weep at being seen, weep at being so grateful that someone did it correctly and didn’t just put it in there because they happen to come across the word.
Demi-sexual is a part of the asexual spectrum. For those who don’t know but anyone can be demi. That’s including non queer people. Demi doesn’t explain away or push away one’s queer or non queer identity. It explains one’s attraction to a person. Which Xan did so beautifully when he was talking to Zan.
So thank you to the author for the wonderful representation. I love this series and this one I love just as as much. I love the Journey of the characters and how even though they have conflict it's not this huge thing that they don't sit down and talk about and work out like adults. I love that they actually want to work it out that they talk about their feelings and don't hide them and that they fight for their love. The writing was amazing the smexy was hawt and I loved all of the side characters. You can read this book as a standalone but knowing the other books does kind of help with this book. I don't know if this is the last book of the series I hope not but I can't wait to see what happens next.
I just need to take a moment to thank you. Thank you for doing this justice. I was so incredibly worried when I read that Xan was demi sexual that it would turn into not what demi really is. I’ve read other books where it seemed like the author didn’t do research. I can say that reading Xan explain himself made me weep. Weep with joy, weep at being seen, weep at being so grateful that someone did it correctly and didn’t just put it in there because they happen to come across the word.
Demi-sexual is a part of the asexual spectrum. For those who don’t know but anyone can be demi. That’s including non queer people. Demi doesn’t explain away or push away one’s queer or non queer identity. It explains one’s attraction to a person. Which Xan did so beautifully when he was talking to Zan.
So thank you to the author for the wonderful representation. I love this series and this one I love just as as much. I love the Journey of the characters and how even though they have conflict it's not this huge thing that they don't sit down and talk about and work out like adults. I love that they actually want to work it out that they talk about their feelings and don't hide them and that they fight for their love. The writing was amazing the smexy was hawt and I loved all of the side characters. You can read this book as a standalone but knowing the other books does kind of help with this book. I don't know if this is the last book of the series I hope not but I can't wait to see what happens next.
dnf
August 5, 2024I’m calling it with this book. It’s so 🥱😴. When I have to talk myself into picking a book back up to continue it, I know it’s time to DNF. Xander falls off a ladder and breaks his leg and gets a bad concussion. It makes zero sense to me why he would get a massage therapist to help him heal faster. It seems to me that a physical therapist would be who he’d need.
I also read a review that said this author has no idea about MotoGP and the story is really inaccurate. TBH, I have no clue about MotoGP myself, but I don’t want to read a book (even a fictional one) about the sport and get all kinds of misinformation. Did the author just assume her US readers wouldn’t question this since the sport isn’t big here? 🤷🏻♀️ I expect authors to have a working knowledge of the subject they’re writing about. So, with that plus the medical stuff, I’m out.
I also read a review that said this author has no idea about MotoGP and the story is really inaccurate. TBH, I have no clue about MotoGP myself, but I don’t want to read a book (even a fictional one) about the sport and get all kinds of misinformation. Did the author just assume her US readers wouldn’t question this since the sport isn’t big here? 🤷🏻♀️ I expect authors to have a working knowledge of the subject they’re writing about. So, with that plus the medical stuff, I’m out.
September 22, 2023
FINALLY!
The third book in Lisa Henry's Star Crossed series is definitely my favorite of the three. After feeling blah with the first book and totally uninspired by the second, Only for Ollie was the one that made me feel satisfied.
First of all, I was happy with a demisexual representation in this book. As an asexual person myself, the way that Xander explained about he just didn't get all those desperation because someone was hot... yeah, I was with him all the way. I enjoyed reading how Xander learned about himself. I also loved him for being completely adamant on making Ollie part of his world - that he didn't really falter about his reputation of being a "gay" MotoGP racer.
Ollie was such a sweetheart, of course. But what I loved the most about him, was when he called Xander's bullsh*t near the end. I loved how Ollie "handled" Xander, so to speak.
And of course, the Finch family was GOLDEN while Ollie's best friend, Maria, was a gem!
The third book in Lisa Henry's Star Crossed series is definitely my favorite of the three. After feeling blah with the first book and totally uninspired by the second, Only for Ollie was the one that made me feel satisfied.
First of all, I was happy with a demisexual representation in this book. As an asexual person myself, the way that Xander explained about he just didn't get all those desperation because someone was hot... yeah, I was with him all the way. I enjoyed reading how Xander learned about himself. I also loved him for being completely adamant on making Ollie part of his world - that he didn't really falter about his reputation of being a "gay" MotoGP racer.
Ollie was such a sweetheart, of course. But what I loved the most about him, was when he called Xander's bullsh*t near the end. I loved how Ollie "handled" Xander, so to speak.
And of course, the Finch family was GOLDEN while Ollie's best friend, Maria, was a gem!
October 6, 2022
Lovely. I just adored this. How Zander can be so chill and easily accepting about one part of his life and such an idiot about another is astounding. And his conversations with Zane were priceless. And Ollie was such a sweetheart.
* demisexual awakening
* opposites attract
* hurt/comfort
I think this one is my favourite.
* demisexual awakening
* opposites attract
* hurt/comfort
I think this one is my favourite.
June 15, 2022
this will be confusing because i have a LOTS of mixed feelings on this..
I don’t know what to say about Xander because he seems so angry all the time in the beginning. I don’t know whether the author is trying to describe him as a grumpy MC because he is NOT at all grumpy. He’s angry. There’s a huge difference to that and I don’t like him that much. His monologues were full of “fuck”, “whatever the fuck” , “shit”, “hell” all the time and it was boring. And he was rude to everyone too - I was so annoyed. At first, I thought he behaved like that because of the accident-that he’s upset, but after a while I noticed that was just his personality and I don’t like it. However, once he settle down for Ollie, we get to see his soft side. Again, I think the author is trying to make Xander looks grumpy-but-not-for-Ollie, but no. I didn’t get that. It was a turn off :/
Xander’s sexuality get me confused too but it makes sense because he’s actually demi. he’s never attracted to anyone sexually or romantically until Ollie. but he’s confusion was meh. He was never attracted to someone that way, but how suddenly he’s attracted to Ollie was told with no depth. It wasn’t satisfying.
Ollie was fine I guess. I didn’t feel a connection with him and there’s nothing interesting about his personality so there’s not much to say here.
The plot and writing were decent, even though I didn’t like some part of this book, it wasn’t boring and I can still read and enjoy it.
Of course I have to talk about the MotoGP scenario here. As a huge obsessive fan, I was really looking forward to this. It was the only reason I picked this up. I couldn’t find any MotoGP romance yet so this is my first and I was pretty excited. But of course this book focus more on the romance side and I’m okay with that. I just had some minor issues with Xander, the biker himself. His story that revolve around MotoGP world didn’t really grab me. I mean, he got injured and couldn’t get on the track anymore, but there were not much feelings to that. I need more longing on how lost he felt and how much he desperately want to be on track again. There were just flashbacks and boring monologues that didn’t offer any feelings to it. “bikes are amazing.” “I missed it.” “Incredible. Best feeling in the world.” - yeah no.I can’t feel it. I imagined myself as Ollie in this book and I was pretty damn excited to see Xander and his successful career, but it was disappointing when it was told so, so briefly. But at the end, I got a glimpse of him on the tracks (credits to that) even though it didn’t excite me anymore.
The romance was okay I guess, I started to love this book only when the fluffy times after they established their relationship. It was funny and cute I liked it :) There was this one time where Xander and Ollie ride a bike together and I loved it. And where Xander fixes his helmet strap. So cute! That was what I wanted to see more. But of course that happened by 80% in and I didn’t get more..
then the angst happen. I don’t know what to feel about that because it seems so off. i understand both of their feelings, but that incident was a little unnecessary. it seemed so forced. and it happen like what 3 pages (?) smh 🤦🏻♀️
I don’t know if I could look at this book in a better way because I tried, I really do. I give this one 3 stars because it wasn’t boring and there are some cute and funny moments I giggled at LOL
I don’t know what to say about Xander because he seems so angry all the time in the beginning. I don’t know whether the author is trying to describe him as a grumpy MC because he is NOT at all grumpy. He’s angry. There’s a huge difference to that and I don’t like him that much. His monologues were full of “fuck”, “whatever the fuck” , “shit”, “hell” all the time and it was boring. And he was rude to everyone too - I was so annoyed. At first, I thought he behaved like that because of the accident-that he’s upset, but after a while I noticed that was just his personality and I don’t like it. However, once he settle down for Ollie, we get to see his soft side. Again, I think the author is trying to make Xander looks grumpy-but-not-for-Ollie, but no. I didn’t get that. It was a turn off :/
Xander’s sexuality get me confused too but it makes sense because he’s actually demi. he’s never attracted to anyone sexually or romantically until Ollie. but he’s confusion was meh. He was never attracted to someone that way, but how suddenly he’s attracted to Ollie was told with no depth. It wasn’t satisfying.
Ollie was fine I guess. I didn’t feel a connection with him and there’s nothing interesting about his personality so there’s not much to say here.
The plot and writing were decent, even though I didn’t like some part of this book, it wasn’t boring and I can still read and enjoy it.
Of course I have to talk about the MotoGP scenario here. As a huge obsessive fan, I was really looking forward to this. It was the only reason I picked this up. I couldn’t find any MotoGP romance yet so this is my first and I was pretty excited. But of course this book focus more on the romance side and I’m okay with that. I just had some minor issues with Xander, the biker himself. His story that revolve around MotoGP world didn’t really grab me. I mean, he got injured and couldn’t get on the track anymore, but there were not much feelings to that. I need more longing on how lost he felt and how much he desperately want to be on track again. There were just flashbacks and boring monologues that didn’t offer any feelings to it. “bikes are amazing.” “I missed it.” “Incredible. Best feeling in the world.” - yeah no.I can’t feel it. I imagined myself as Ollie in this book and I was pretty damn excited to see Xander and his successful career, but it was disappointing when it was told so, so briefly. But at the end, I got a glimpse of him on the tracks (credits to that) even though it didn’t excite me anymore.
The romance was okay I guess, I started to love this book only when the fluffy times after they established their relationship. It was funny and cute I liked it :) There was this one time where Xander and Ollie ride a bike together and I loved it. And where Xander fixes his helmet strap. So cute! That was what I wanted to see more. But of course that happened by 80% in and I didn’t get more..
then the angst happen. I don’t know what to feel about that because it seems so off. i understand both of their feelings, but that incident was a little unnecessary. it seemed so forced. and it happen like what 3 pages (?) smh 🤦🏻♀️
I don’t know if I could look at this book in a better way because I tried, I really do. I give this one 3 stars because it wasn’t boring and there are some cute and funny moments I giggled at LOL
March 11, 2022
RTC but damn did I enjoy reading this one, this was just so sweet and I had such a good time reading it.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
May 2, 2023
I read this for demisexual rep. Although the characters were sweet, I felt no chemistry between the MC’s. The storyline was okay, although I would have loved a wee bit more resolution for Ollie’s character in the latter half of the story.
March 8, 2022
Only For Ollie is such a lovely story! Xander, a famous motorcycle racer, falls and injures himself while helping his brother paint. Frustrated with the healing process, he hires Ollie as a massage therapist to help with his recovery. Xander has dated people before, but he never understood why people wrote love songs or were so into sex. Ollie is the first person to awaken those feelings in him and leads him on a journey of self-discovery to understand what it means to be demisexual. Ollie is in a tough place in his life. His boyfriend dumped him, which left him homeless, his mother disowned him for being gay, and he’s sleeping in his car in his best friend’s driveway when he meets Xander. He has a difficult time trusting people and accepting help, so the kindness and friendship from Xander and his family seem too good to be true. They’re adorable together, and Henry does an amazing job of creating romantic tension and of describing those early moments in a relationship when all you see is that special person. They’re both really good for each other. Xander helps Ollie see his own worth, and Ollie forces Xander to find an identity outside of racing. There are some communication challenges, but overall, it’s light on angst, super sexy, and really sweet.
August 20, 2024
Voto: 4.5
RECENSIONE A CURA DI ELVINO 1831
In questo che è il terzo e ultimo volume della serie “Star Crossed“, conosciamo in maniera più approfondita Xander Finch, li gemello di Zane Finch, membro nonché fondatore degli Static, che abbiamo avuto modo di conoscere nel precedente volume.
Xander, che è un campione di MotoGP, subisce un infortunio rompendosi una gamba mentre sta dando una mano a suo fratello aiutandolo a dipingere la cameretta del futuro nipote. Dovendo riprendersi dall’infortunio, torna nella casa dei suoi genitori a Ventura, in California, dove potrà riposarsi e svolgere tutte le attività prescrittegli dai medici e dai terapisti per poter riprendere quanto prima a correre nel circuito di MotoGP. Consigliato da Maria. l’infermiera che lo segue al centro di fisioterapia dove svolge le sue sessioni per rimettersi dalle conseguenze del suo infortunio e avendo conferma anche dalla sua terapista Chelsea dell’effetto benefico del massaggio terapeutico, assume Ollie, migliore amico di Maria, un giovane ragazzo che sta ultimando la sua preparazione in chinesiologia.
I nostri due protagonisti instaurano da subito un rapporto che va oltre quello di terapista e paziente.
Xander, di solito poco propenso ad aprirsi agli altri e tutto concentrato solo sul correre in motocicletta, scopre che gli viene naturale parlare e confidarsi con l’altro e sente nascere per la prima volta nella sua vita una vera attrazione sessuale, una bramosia per Ollie e per il suo tocco su di sé. Confidandosi con il fratello e dopo aver cercato informazioni su internet, scoprirà di potersi definire Demisessuale e capirà per la prima volta nella sua vita cosa significa avere la voglia e il desiderio di un altro essere umano.
Ollie si sta faticosamente riprendendo dalla rottura della sua relazione con Jeffrey, una persona gretta e meschina che lo ha sempre prevaricato e trattato come se fosse un oggetto di sua proprietà, fino a quando non si è stancato di lui e lo ha sostituito con un altro ragazzo, lasciandolo letteralmente in mezzo a una strada, costringendolo a vivere in macchina nel vialetto della casa della sua migliore amica Maria. Il giovane uomo è attratto da subito dal sexy motociclista, ma non è solo l’aspetto fisico dell’altro ad attrarlo; si sente bene e al sicuro quando è insieme a Xander, gli piace tutto dell’altro uomo, ma non sa se potrà fidarsi di nuovo di un altro uomo con una disponibilità finanziaria enorme rispetto alla sua, dopo che la sua precedente relazione è andata a rotoli proprio per questioni legate all’aspetto finanziario della stessa.
Quando Xander, venuto a conoscenza delle difficoltà economiche dell’altro si offre di aiutarlo dandogli un posto in cui vivere nella stessa proprietà dei genitori, il rapporto dei due evolverà in qualcosa di decisamente più intimo e profondo, portandoli a intraprendere una relazione.
Continua sul nostro blog!
RECENSIONE A CURA DI ELVINO 1831
In questo che è il terzo e ultimo volume della serie “Star Crossed“, conosciamo in maniera più approfondita Xander Finch, li gemello di Zane Finch, membro nonché fondatore degli Static, che abbiamo avuto modo di conoscere nel precedente volume.
Xander, che è un campione di MotoGP, subisce un infortunio rompendosi una gamba mentre sta dando una mano a suo fratello aiutandolo a dipingere la cameretta del futuro nipote. Dovendo riprendersi dall’infortunio, torna nella casa dei suoi genitori a Ventura, in California, dove potrà riposarsi e svolgere tutte le attività prescrittegli dai medici e dai terapisti per poter riprendere quanto prima a correre nel circuito di MotoGP. Consigliato da Maria. l’infermiera che lo segue al centro di fisioterapia dove svolge le sue sessioni per rimettersi dalle conseguenze del suo infortunio e avendo conferma anche dalla sua terapista Chelsea dell’effetto benefico del massaggio terapeutico, assume Ollie, migliore amico di Maria, un giovane ragazzo che sta ultimando la sua preparazione in chinesiologia.
I nostri due protagonisti instaurano da subito un rapporto che va oltre quello di terapista e paziente.
Xander, di solito poco propenso ad aprirsi agli altri e tutto concentrato solo sul correre in motocicletta, scopre che gli viene naturale parlare e confidarsi con l’altro e sente nascere per la prima volta nella sua vita una vera attrazione sessuale, una bramosia per Ollie e per il suo tocco su di sé. Confidandosi con il fratello e dopo aver cercato informazioni su internet, scoprirà di potersi definire Demisessuale e capirà per la prima volta nella sua vita cosa significa avere la voglia e il desiderio di un altro essere umano.
Ollie si sta faticosamente riprendendo dalla rottura della sua relazione con Jeffrey, una persona gretta e meschina che lo ha sempre prevaricato e trattato come se fosse un oggetto di sua proprietà, fino a quando non si è stancato di lui e lo ha sostituito con un altro ragazzo, lasciandolo letteralmente in mezzo a una strada, costringendolo a vivere in macchina nel vialetto della casa della sua migliore amica Maria. Il giovane uomo è attratto da subito dal sexy motociclista, ma non è solo l’aspetto fisico dell’altro ad attrarlo; si sente bene e al sicuro quando è insieme a Xander, gli piace tutto dell’altro uomo, ma non sa se potrà fidarsi di nuovo di un altro uomo con una disponibilità finanziaria enorme rispetto alla sua, dopo che la sua precedente relazione è andata a rotoli proprio per questioni legate all’aspetto finanziario della stessa.
Quando Xander, venuto a conoscenza delle difficoltà economiche dell’altro si offre di aiutarlo dandogli un posto in cui vivere nella stessa proprietà dei genitori, il rapporto dei due evolverà in qualcosa di decisamente più intimo e profondo, portandoli a intraprendere una relazione.
Continua sul nostro blog!
March 7, 2022
4.5 Stars!
First of all, this is the first book in the series I've read, but it seems they're are all standalones, so you won't feel lost reading Only for Ollie on its own.
Xander is a top-ranked MotoGP driver, tall and handsome and with enough money to buy whatever he wants, other than his health back after a freak accident where he fell from a ladder. Ollie is sweet and down-on-his-luck after he found his boyfriend (with whom he lived and who paid for his classes) with another guy. Now living in his car in his friend's carport, working part-time at a massage parlor, he finally catches a break when his friend Maria gets him a job with Xander. Xander is charmed by Ollie and after a few sessions, he's downright smitten even if he's never been attracted to another man or woman as much as he is to Ollie. But they have some obstacles to overcome, Xander wants to get back to compete as soon as possible and Ollie, while also attracted to Xander, is wary of falling for yet another man who holds any kind of financial hold over him.
Ollie and Xander were awesome and as opposite from one another as one can get, but they are great together. It was lovely seeing Xander's realization that he was demisexual and attracted to Ollie and that training and competing weren't the only things he needed now.
I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, so I'll just say Ms. Henry took the rather refreshing route of having Ollie and Xander talk things out, and that made me love this book even more. I also loved Xander's parents and how supportive they were of their son and Ollie's relationship, and I was ecstatic that Maria got her HEA with Julio as well, they were so sweet together.
This was such a great read, I was riveted to my Kindle all day wanting to find out how everything was going to play out for Ollie and Xander and I couldn't be happier with how it ended. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
First of all, this is the first book in the series I've read, but it seems they're are all standalones, so you won't feel lost reading Only for Ollie on its own.
Xander is a top-ranked MotoGP driver, tall and handsome and with enough money to buy whatever he wants, other than his health back after a freak accident where he fell from a ladder. Ollie is sweet and down-on-his-luck after he found his boyfriend (with whom he lived and who paid for his classes) with another guy. Now living in his car in his friend's carport, working part-time at a massage parlor, he finally catches a break when his friend Maria gets him a job with Xander. Xander is charmed by Ollie and after a few sessions, he's downright smitten even if he's never been attracted to another man or woman as much as he is to Ollie. But they have some obstacles to overcome, Xander wants to get back to compete as soon as possible and Ollie, while also attracted to Xander, is wary of falling for yet another man who holds any kind of financial hold over him.
Ollie and Xander were awesome and as opposite from one another as one can get, but they are great together. It was lovely seeing Xander's realization that he was demisexual and attracted to Ollie and that training and competing weren't the only things he needed now.
I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, so I'll just say Ms. Henry took the rather refreshing route of having Ollie and Xander talk things out, and that made me love this book even more. I also loved Xander's parents and how supportive they were of their son and Ollie's relationship, and I was ecstatic that Maria got her HEA with Julio as well, they were so sweet together.
This was such a great read, I was riveted to my Kindle all day wanting to find out how everything was going to play out for Ollie and Xander and I couldn't be happier with how it ended. Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
March 5, 2022
4.5 stars
Ollie and Xander are adorable, separately and together. Ollie’s life is a mess: with the exception of his stalwart best friend Maria, everyone from his mother to his awful ex-boyfriend have let him down, and he starts the novel sleeping in his car and trying desperately to figure out how he can find a place to live and pay his tuition. Despite his determination, these things have started to wear on him, and Ollie is, himself, a bit of a hot mess: he’s a talented healer and also an adorkable klutz with the sweetest heart and a tendency to trip over everything that’s not nailed down– I challenge anyone not to like Ollie. Xander, too, is super likable. He’s determined and driven and really sweet underneath all his professional focus. Like Ollie, Xander is at something of a low point when the story begins, and worrying that he might lose the sport that has defined his life since he was 9 pushes him to make some not-great (ok, very bad) decisions, but it’s impossible not to like him too. Together, they’re so sweetly supportive of each other that watching them navigate Ollie’s financial woes and Xander’s newly discovered demisexuality is seriously heartwarming. They also have lovely chemistry and some solid banter– it makes for a great reading experience to see them get their happily ever after.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ollie and Xander are adorable, separately and together. Ollie’s life is a mess: with the exception of his stalwart best friend Maria, everyone from his mother to his awful ex-boyfriend have let him down, and he starts the novel sleeping in his car and trying desperately to figure out how he can find a place to live and pay his tuition. Despite his determination, these things have started to wear on him, and Ollie is, himself, a bit of a hot mess: he’s a talented healer and also an adorkable klutz with the sweetest heart and a tendency to trip over everything that’s not nailed down– I challenge anyone not to like Ollie. Xander, too, is super likable. He’s determined and driven and really sweet underneath all his professional focus. Like Ollie, Xander is at something of a low point when the story begins, and worrying that he might lose the sport that has defined his life since he was 9 pushes him to make some not-great (ok, very bad) decisions, but it’s impossible not to like him too. Together, they’re so sweetly supportive of each other that watching them navigate Ollie’s financial woes and Xander’s newly discovered demisexuality is seriously heartwarming. They also have lovely chemistry and some solid banter– it makes for a great reading experience to see them get their happily ever after.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2022
Wow, this series just gets better and better! This is the third book in the Star Crossed series but you can read this as a standalone if you wish. Xander is a MotoGP rider who is injured when helping his twin brother out. Ollie is down on his luck and living in his car outside his friends house but will his luck change when he starts providing sports massages for Xander to help with his injuries.
This book was just amazing. I loved Ollie and he is just so sweet and I kind of want to give him a hug! I loved how the characters from the first two books were mentioned through the book and that this was done in such a way that you wouldn't miss anything if you haven't read them. I found it really great to see a MC who is demi as well as that isn't common and I thought it was done really well. I loved the easy acceptance of this by Ollie and the way it was depicted by Xander. The whole series has been amazing so far but I think this one might be my favourite!
This book was just amazing. I loved Ollie and he is just so sweet and I kind of want to give him a hug! I loved how the characters from the first two books were mentioned through the book and that this was done in such a way that you wouldn't miss anything if you haven't read them. I found it really great to see a MC who is demi as well as that isn't common and I thought it was done really well. I loved the easy acceptance of this by Ollie and the way it was depicted by Xander. The whole series has been amazing so far but I think this one might be my favourite!
March 8, 2022
Loved it!
I am such a sucker for hurt-comfort stories and this is a really good one. I enjoyed the first two books in the series and recommend them, but it is not necessary to read them to enjoy this book.
I got so caught up in Xander's injury and recovery, I wanted to yell at him to go talk to Dale Earnhardt Jr and get advice on what it he needed to do and how to go about it.
That was before the reveal that Xander hates stock cars.
Anyway, Ollie was perfect for him and I loved the family.
If you are looking for a book without a breakup at 75%, here you go!
I'll be reading more of Lisa Henry's work!
I am such a sucker for hurt-comfort stories and this is a really good one. I enjoyed the first two books in the series and recommend them, but it is not necessary to read them to enjoy this book.
I got so caught up in Xander's injury and recovery, I wanted to yell at him to go talk to Dale Earnhardt Jr and get advice on what it he needed to do and how to go about it.
That was before the reveal that Xander hates stock cars.
Anyway, Ollie was perfect for him and I loved the family.
If you are looking for a book without a breakup at 75%, here you go!
I'll be reading more of Lisa Henry's work!
September 30, 2025
This is one of those stories I lost interest in once the couple got together.
Took me forever to finish because of that. I don't know. The writing is good, those two are made and super good for each other. They are able to communicate (yay!) and are a solid couple.
I love mc's with unusual professions (here: motoGP racer and PT/Massage therapist) but it still dragged a little bit for me.
3.5 stars rounded down
Took me forever to finish because of that. I don't know. The writing is good, those two are made and super good for each other. They are able to communicate (yay!) and are a solid couple.
I love mc's with unusual professions (here: motoGP racer and PT/Massage therapist) but it still dragged a little bit for me.
3.5 stars rounded down
June 3, 2024
4.5 stars
March 14, 2022
*ARC provided by the author via Gay Romance Reviews*
THIS WAS AMAZING.
I'm not feeling articulate enough to say much more than that.
It was really interesting to dive into Xander's world, bikes always fascinated me, even though I don't know the first thing about the professional side of the sport (or much else about bikes, really lmao). I can still appreciate the passion and the fire such an activity can ignite in a human soul. Xander, I feel, was a fabulous reflection of that.
Not only that, but his character was of personal significance also because of the respectful, realistic and all around wonderful representation of demisexuality. Being demi myself, I could relate to Xander to a frighteningly close level.
Don't get me wrong, my rambling about Xander doesn't mean I didn't appreciate Ollie- poor thing was so achingly human, and his insecurities were so relatable (as well as other aspects of his character, but that shouldn't come as a surprise, he's been given the role of the most realistic side of the story, after all).
On top of that, a special mention for the side characters, who were pretty much the icing on an already yummy cake.
What can I say? I really do wish that the future will bring more stories like this one, and that this kind of representation will be praised one day without the extra comment of having to explain that we sing our praises extra loudly because of how rare it is to come across a story that makes us feel seen like this.
THIS WAS AMAZING.
I'm not feeling articulate enough to say much more than that.
It was really interesting to dive into Xander's world, bikes always fascinated me, even though I don't know the first thing about the professional side of the sport (or much else about bikes, really lmao). I can still appreciate the passion and the fire such an activity can ignite in a human soul. Xander, I feel, was a fabulous reflection of that.
Not only that, but his character was of personal significance also because of the respectful, realistic and all around wonderful representation of demisexuality. Being demi myself, I could relate to Xander to a frighteningly close level.
Don't get me wrong, my rambling about Xander doesn't mean I didn't appreciate Ollie- poor thing was so achingly human, and his insecurities were so relatable (as well as other aspects of his character, but that shouldn't come as a surprise, he's been given the role of the most realistic side of the story, after all).
On top of that, a special mention for the side characters, who were pretty much the icing on an already yummy cake.
What can I say? I really do wish that the future will bring more stories like this one, and that this kind of representation will be praised one day without the extra comment of having to explain that we sing our praises extra loudly because of how rare it is to come across a story that makes us feel seen like this.
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