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The Flophouse #2
Constantly Cotton
When Jason Constance rescued a busload of kidnapped children, he didn’t expect a parade. He didn’t expect to be hunted by mobsters and the military either. Wounded and half out of his mind, Jason finds himself at the tender mercies of an angel-faced nurse named Cotton.
Cotton has just flunked out of porn, and as far as he can tell, he’s flunking life too. Having an injured colonel in his bed seems par for the course, but he’s too busy keeping Jason alive to question how fate brought him there.
But fate isn’t done with them. When they go on the run from the mobsters who shot Jason, there should be no time to fall in love, but neither man seems suited for an average life—or relationship. Jason and Cotton can probably survive homicidal mobsters and rogue military operations. The question is, can they survive the work they’ll have to do to forge a place just for them?
Cotton has just flunked out of porn, and as far as he can tell, he’s flunking life too. Having an injured colonel in his bed seems par for the course, but he’s too busy keeping Jason alive to question how fate brought him there.
But fate isn’t done with them. When they go on the run from the mobsters who shot Jason, there should be no time to fall in love, but neither man seems suited for an average life—or relationship. Jason and Cotton can probably survive homicidal mobsters and rogue military operations. The question is, can they survive the work they’ll have to do to forge a place just for them?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2022
47 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lane
203 books3,488 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 12, 2022
I read the first book Shades of Henry a few years ago and didn't realize that it was the first book of a series so I was pleasantly surprised to see so many characters from that book as well as characters from the Johnnies series, and the Fish Out of Water series which was the series that really turned me on to Amy Lane. I loved Cotton and Jason. Jason was exactly what Cotton needed to get his shattered life back on track and pursue his schooling to become a nurse. I didn't quiet see how they were going to get their "happy ever after", but the story was so sweet. I hope there is many more books yet to be "born" in this series and my other favorite characters keep appearing.
April 6, 2022
I receive ARC of this book for honest review.
I had a glance at a comment saying that this is an Orange level angst. This is a correct assessment of this book. I was a bit doubtful at first. Not sure why… Even though the synopsis was clear about the what’s going be covered and the shared universe with Fish series as well as Racing for the Sun.
The story picked up almost immediately after… I forgot which book… Now we see, Jason, the colonel friend of Burton being treated at the flophouse after the escapade. At first, I thought he might get together with Billy, the porn star he recognised. But I would say that Cotton was a good choice. And Billy did get his own man.
We got a pretty detailed telling of Jason’s difficult and arduous recovery. They can’t put him in hospital, for obvious reasons, and was forced to make do with one new doctor and a group of armatures.
Cotton, whose self-esteem was very low and still looking for a purpose in life, took to caring for Jason instantly, competently and loyally.
The rest were about Cotton and Jason, tentatively getting to know each other. And, perhaps more importantly, Jason slowly, almost agonizingly slow, accepting the fact that he really really like Cotton. Learning each other’s baggage, damages and demons.
The way Jason handle his relationship with Cotton was reasonable and understandable. Beyond the age gap and the potential danger. They met when both were at rock bottom, albeit in different way. Jason pushed for Cotton to return to normalcy was the right choice for them.
Personally, I feel that the way the crisis was resolved was rather anti-climactic, after all the tensions from the buildup. There were still a few loose threads left. Perhaps it’s for future books.
This book also have Crullers, a series of interconnected vignettes that let us see what happen with the situations and circumstances that lead to the beginning of this book. It's nice to see those characters again. With some characters growth to boot.
I had a glance at a comment saying that this is an Orange level angst. This is a correct assessment of this book. I was a bit doubtful at first. Not sure why… Even though the synopsis was clear about the what’s going be covered and the shared universe with Fish series as well as Racing for the Sun.
The story picked up almost immediately after… I forgot which book… Now we see, Jason, the colonel friend of Burton being treated at the flophouse after the escapade. At first, I thought he might get together with Billy, the porn star he recognised. But I would say that Cotton was a good choice. And Billy did get his own man.
We got a pretty detailed telling of Jason’s difficult and arduous recovery. They can’t put him in hospital, for obvious reasons, and was forced to make do with one new doctor and a group of armatures.
Cotton, whose self-esteem was very low and still looking for a purpose in life, took to caring for Jason instantly, competently and loyally.
The rest were about Cotton and Jason, tentatively getting to know each other. And, perhaps more importantly, Jason slowly, almost agonizingly slow, accepting the fact that he really really like Cotton. Learning each other’s baggage, damages and demons.
The way Jason handle his relationship with Cotton was reasonable and understandable. Beyond the age gap and the potential danger. They met when both were at rock bottom, albeit in different way. Jason pushed for Cotton to return to normalcy was the right choice for them.
Personally, I feel that the way the crisis was resolved was rather anti-climactic, after all the tensions from the buildup. There were still a few loose threads left. Perhaps it’s for future books.
This book also have Crullers, a series of interconnected vignettes that let us see what happen with the situations and circumstances that lead to the beginning of this book. It's nice to see those characters again. With some characters growth to boot.
July 21, 2022
I like the emotional honesty that characterises Amy Lane's MCs. I buy into the hope and tolerance she weaves into her plots.
But.
But I do like those plots to have some passing acquaintance with Real Life. "Constantly Cotton" doesn't.
But.
But I do like those plots to have some passing acquaintance with Real Life. "Constantly Cotton" doesn't.
April 6, 2022
The Flophouse Boys Are Back!!
Amy Lane is a master writer of ALL genres, but my favorite is her suspense/actions series writing. Most notably, the Fish Out of Water series is one of my favorite book series. There is a spin-off from the Johnnies series, called the Flophouse Series, where the actors from adult entertainment have found a safe haven to live, work from, and get their lives together while they are trying to figure out what they want to do in life. It is transitional housing, and a person can stay as long as they need.
It’s here we meet Cotton, who no longer works as a porn star, and is struggling to find his path in life. The events from School of Fish, book 6 pick up immediately where they left off, so you will need to have read the previous book to completely understand what’s happening. Jackson Rivers, Henry, Earnie and Burton (from the Fish Out of Water series) all play prominent roles in this fast paced story.
What I loved about this book is the developing organic love between Lt. Colonel Jason Constance, and Cotton, the “beautiful angel” that takes care of the severely injured Jason.
Amy Lane does a fantastic job of describing the setting of the cabin in Lake Tahoe. I felt like I was there, in the baking heat of the day, and the cool sparkling waters of the lake.
One of the best parts of this fantastic spinoff, is the inclusion of the CODA stories from her Cruller snipets. These are little slices of life that occur between the action, and fill in the gaps of the stories from Burton, Ace, Sonny, Earnie and Jai. We are gifted with the back stories Mrs Lane has given her patreon readers. All the books are included in small interlude chapters after the conclusion of the book.
To me, these brief stories are the best part of Constantly Cotton.
If you enjoy mild angst, exciting action and adventure, and a continuing storyline between novels, you definitely need to read this book. It has everything this reader has come to love about M/M romance: characters that work hard to get their HEA, funny characters that make me love them, well written dialogue, beautiful scenery, dual POV, and steamy sexy times.
Simply put, it’s an enjoyable read that will allow an escape to a fictional world I feel like I already know and love.
Amy Lane is a master writer of ALL genres, but my favorite is her suspense/actions series writing. Most notably, the Fish Out of Water series is one of my favorite book series. There is a spin-off from the Johnnies series, called the Flophouse Series, where the actors from adult entertainment have found a safe haven to live, work from, and get their lives together while they are trying to figure out what they want to do in life. It is transitional housing, and a person can stay as long as they need.
It’s here we meet Cotton, who no longer works as a porn star, and is struggling to find his path in life. The events from School of Fish, book 6 pick up immediately where they left off, so you will need to have read the previous book to completely understand what’s happening. Jackson Rivers, Henry, Earnie and Burton (from the Fish Out of Water series) all play prominent roles in this fast paced story.
What I loved about this book is the developing organic love between Lt. Colonel Jason Constance, and Cotton, the “beautiful angel” that takes care of the severely injured Jason.
Amy Lane does a fantastic job of describing the setting of the cabin in Lake Tahoe. I felt like I was there, in the baking heat of the day, and the cool sparkling waters of the lake.
One of the best parts of this fantastic spinoff, is the inclusion of the CODA stories from her Cruller snipets. These are little slices of life that occur between the action, and fill in the gaps of the stories from Burton, Ace, Sonny, Earnie and Jai. We are gifted with the back stories Mrs Lane has given her patreon readers. All the books are included in small interlude chapters after the conclusion of the book.
To me, these brief stories are the best part of Constantly Cotton.
If you enjoy mild angst, exciting action and adventure, and a continuing storyline between novels, you definitely need to read this book. It has everything this reader has come to love about M/M romance: characters that work hard to get their HEA, funny characters that make me love them, well written dialogue, beautiful scenery, dual POV, and steamy sexy times.
Simply put, it’s an enjoyable read that will allow an escape to a fictional world I feel like I already know and love.
October 16, 2024
This was a fun read and a good reminder book as well since a lot of the action of this story is concurrent with books I've already read in the linked series. I liked Cotton and Jason as a couple. Cotton being tasked with functioning as Jason's nurse after he was shot rescuing the children gives him a new focus and really opens up Cotton's world to what more he can be. He had such a rough spot after being kicked out of his childhood home as a kid and working at Johnnies saved him, but ultimately porn wasn't going to be a great long term fit for him. Jason has spent years putting his own needs aside in order to be the best commander for his men. He has been a bulwark against the awful for them all, but it's meant he hasn't slowed down or had any down time to call his own. The forced rest and recovery of his injuries has him reevaluating his own needs and wants.
I love all of these characters and was excited to get back into this world. These stories push the boundaries of grounded believability as the action is intense and we spice in a teeny tiny bit of the psychic, but ultimately the characters are so fantastic that I'm always quickly sucked back into their lives. I cheer for them as they struggle with their personal demons while also fighting against the bad guys. Another great addition with this book.
I love all of these characters and was excited to get back into this world. These stories push the boundaries of grounded believability as the action is intense and we spice in a teeny tiny bit of the psychic, but ultimately the characters are so fantastic that I'm always quickly sucked back into their lives. I cheer for them as they struggle with their personal demons while also fighting against the bad guys. Another great addition with this book.
March 22, 2022
On the one hand, it was so lovely to catch up with the guys in the flop-house. I mean, these guys have held a special place in my heart ever since they were initially introduced, especially with their individual quirks and stories that just beg to be told.
Cotton just about broke my heart. His view of himself is so twisted and messed up that just hearing some of his inner thoughts made me want to wrap him up in a huge blanket and cuddle the life out of him. And Jason! Whoa, Jason was action man and Captain America wrapped up in one package! I loved him when he was first introduced and when I realised this was his story, I was seriously psyched!
Their relationship was hot, tender with understanding and appreciation on both sides. They really seemed to understand just how fragile the other person was and did their absolute best to be upfront, honest and just really raw and open with each other. I love their dynamic, how Cotton took care of Jason and protected him, when Jason was so obviously used to always being the one doing the protecting. I also really liked how Jason wasn’t instantly healed – he was shot and he had to recover, which took time, and there were some seriously gross bits (I’m talking about the lancing here!)
I also really loved meeting the guys from Jason’s unit, as well as the continuation of the story from the Fish out of Water series and Racing the Sun – again, there was no convenient ending to the storylines and Jason and his crew were responsible for sorting out the loose ends.
What I didn’t like – or struggled with if you like – was the sheer number of threads I was trying to keep hold of. I don’t know how Amy Lane does it – there are so many characters, with their own stories and issues, and there were times when it got a little bewildering and confusing. Not helped by there being Jason, Jackson and Jai in the same story. I found that sometimes I had to turn back to check who I was reading about because I’d registered the J initial but not who it was!
Despite it being a story about convalescence, it was fast-paced and kept me engrossed, and the ending made me give a happy sigh! However, there is not a chance in heck that anyone could dive into this book without at least having read the Johnnie’s books. Ideally, you would have read the Racing the Sun books and the Fish out of Water ones too. To be honest, it’s just a bit much for my brain to keep hold of, which is a damned shame because I loved each of these series in their own right.
I would heartily recommend this to anyone who has read the rest of Ms Lane’s impressive back-catalogue as you won’t be disappointed. If you are new to her, however, roll back and read the other series first so that you don’t get lost and can enjoy the hotness that is Constantly Cotton!
4/5 from me, and maybe I need to re-read all of these books myself, for research purposes obviously! – I received an ARC from the author but all views/opinions are my own.
Cotton just about broke my heart. His view of himself is so twisted and messed up that just hearing some of his inner thoughts made me want to wrap him up in a huge blanket and cuddle the life out of him. And Jason! Whoa, Jason was action man and Captain America wrapped up in one package! I loved him when he was first introduced and when I realised this was his story, I was seriously psyched!
Their relationship was hot, tender with understanding and appreciation on both sides. They really seemed to understand just how fragile the other person was and did their absolute best to be upfront, honest and just really raw and open with each other. I love their dynamic, how Cotton took care of Jason and protected him, when Jason was so obviously used to always being the one doing the protecting. I also really liked how Jason wasn’t instantly healed – he was shot and he had to recover, which took time, and there were some seriously gross bits (I’m talking about the lancing here!)
I also really loved meeting the guys from Jason’s unit, as well as the continuation of the story from the Fish out of Water series and Racing the Sun – again, there was no convenient ending to the storylines and Jason and his crew were responsible for sorting out the loose ends.
What I didn’t like – or struggled with if you like – was the sheer number of threads I was trying to keep hold of. I don’t know how Amy Lane does it – there are so many characters, with their own stories and issues, and there were times when it got a little bewildering and confusing. Not helped by there being Jason, Jackson and Jai in the same story. I found that sometimes I had to turn back to check who I was reading about because I’d registered the J initial but not who it was!
Despite it being a story about convalescence, it was fast-paced and kept me engrossed, and the ending made me give a happy sigh! However, there is not a chance in heck that anyone could dive into this book without at least having read the Johnnie’s books. Ideally, you would have read the Racing the Sun books and the Fish out of Water ones too. To be honest, it’s just a bit much for my brain to keep hold of, which is a damned shame because I loved each of these series in their own right.
I would heartily recommend this to anyone who has read the rest of Ms Lane’s impressive back-catalogue as you won’t be disappointed. If you are new to her, however, roll back and read the other series first so that you don’t get lost and can enjoy the hotness that is Constantly Cotton!
4/5 from me, and maybe I need to re-read all of these books myself, for research purposes obviously! – I received an ARC from the author but all views/opinions are my own.
April 16, 2022
Sorry Amy Lane but this time, maybe for the first time I didn't like very much your book. I had problems to remember all names by many characters and their roles in the past and different story. I have found the story a bit long, overflowing of facts more about the operating job of James &Co. than James and Cotton. Overall I had difficulty to recognize your style, your fluent river of words to portray every soul. I'm waiting to read the next though.
April 9, 2022
This one was really good. Operation Dead Fish is aptly named.
Read
April 14, 2022Sorry but I just didn't like the writing style in this book. I skimmed most of it after I was about 1/4 of the way through.
March 14, 2023
There's a world, like, five years ago, where Ms. Lane would've written a book about Cotton, and thought, "huh, this kid got thrown out of his family because of being gay, and then wound up turning tricks on the street, and then got into porn, and then had a breakdown. I can hang a whole novel on that. Maybe his beau will be some nice optometrist who just loves him to bits, and we'll have a lot of eating disorder content, and the side plot will be, like, him reuniting with his sister."
But that world is long gone. Now we have psychics and weirdo military ops that operate inside the US (because, meh, who ever said the FBI and the military were different), and trained murderers who have gone bad, and child sex trafficking and guns trafficking and our poor porn star has to nurse someone who's nearly died back to health in the flophouse before they get shipped off to Tahoe to recover at a cabin until the murderers and criminals show up again.
All told, I'm not convinced things are better now. Because now we have:
“Let’s say there’s a gas station out in the godsforsaken stretch of highway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles that’s almost a hellmouth for weird shit and gay men with a special set of skills. My boyfriend works there, my best friend runs the place, and all sorts of interesting people have gravitated that way, including Rivers and Cramer. And the people there may not always do things the legal way, but I’d trust pretty much all of them to do the right thing.”
So, see, we're back to "no, see, these are thebadgood guys" who break the law on all kinds of things and break the rules because, you know, the rest of the world is morally evil but these are the ones who are actually good and inspire loyalty.
Oh, right, and good goddamn, they have The Perfect Sex. Like, it's so perfect that they routinely dissociate while they're having it. Thank goodness they're all pretty, since they're porn stars or ex-porn stars, or military-but-not-chubby (except the one guy who provides comic relief! he's balding and chubby! I guess he doesn't get a book...).
(About Lance, who got to be the star of Book 1, Cotton has this to say:
“Lance, one of the most beautiful men he’d ever seen in porn or out of it, with coal black hair, delicately gold-toned features, and almond-shaped brown eyes, sliced through the stranger’s black T-shirt and heavy-duty uniform cargo pants”.)
Like, I think I liked Old Amy Lane more, and I wish she didn't have to be like this now, because she has to keep track of all of the ridiculousness she's built, and be like, "oh, but what if there were ALIENS. And, uh, KRAKENS. WITH SPACE LASERS."
That's my prediction for the next series, friends. Alien krakens with space lasers.
But that world is long gone. Now we have psychics and weirdo military ops that operate inside the US (because, meh, who ever said the FBI and the military were different), and trained murderers who have gone bad, and child sex trafficking and guns trafficking and our poor porn star has to nurse someone who's nearly died back to health in the flophouse before they get shipped off to Tahoe to recover at a cabin until the murderers and criminals show up again.
All told, I'm not convinced things are better now. Because now we have:
“Let’s say there’s a gas station out in the godsforsaken stretch of highway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles that’s almost a hellmouth for weird shit and gay men with a special set of skills. My boyfriend works there, my best friend runs the place, and all sorts of interesting people have gravitated that way, including Rivers and Cramer. And the people there may not always do things the legal way, but I’d trust pretty much all of them to do the right thing.”
So, see, we're back to "no, see, these are the
Oh, right, and good goddamn, they have The Perfect Sex. Like, it's so perfect that they routinely dissociate while they're having it. Thank goodness they're all pretty, since they're porn stars or ex-porn stars, or military-but-not-chubby (except the one guy who provides comic relief! he's balding and chubby! I guess he doesn't get a book...).
(About Lance, who got to be the star of Book 1, Cotton has this to say:
“Lance, one of the most beautiful men he’d ever seen in porn or out of it, with coal black hair, delicately gold-toned features, and almond-shaped brown eyes, sliced through the stranger’s black T-shirt and heavy-duty uniform cargo pants”.)
Like, I think I liked Old Amy Lane more, and I wish she didn't have to be like this now, because she has to keep track of all of the ridiculousness she's built, and be like, "oh, but what if there were ALIENS. And, uh, KRAKENS. WITH SPACE LASERS."
That's my prediction for the next series, friends. Alien krakens with space lasers.
July 17, 2023
Order (at a minimum) for Amy Lane's world including crossover characters from: Johnnie's, Fish Out of Water, Flophouse, and Racing the Sun SERIES.
As of July 2023
1st read,
Johnnie's #2 - "Dex in Blue" = Henry's brother & eventually helps run Jonnie's
First published September 30, 2012
2nd read,
Johnnie's #4 - Black John = Owner of Johnnie's & With Galen who hires Henry & later joins Ellery's start up law firm.
First published January 26, 2015
* (might want to read Johnnie's #5 which is Reg & Bobby's story they appear in multiple books in various series but are not as vital to the timeline as say Galen, Johnny, and Dex. Reg and Bobby make a great couple, plus Reg is not your typical m/c. Wonderful story)
3rd and 4th books that should probably be read,
Fish Out of Water (Fish) #1 & #2 = Ellery & Jackson are featured in nearly all the books in this world)
First published July 29, 2016 for book 1.
(FYI, I actually started at book#3 and was mostly fine. )
These next two could be flip flopped in order, but are the order I would have chosen if I had known what I know now before I had started down this "Rabbit Hole" of a world. Many of the timelines from Fish overlap with ones from other series; you get more details or other perspectives etc...
5th read,
Racing The Sun (Race) #1
(Sonny & Ace are featured prominently in upcoming Fish and Flop books)
First published April 25, 2013
6th read,
Flophouse (Flop) #1 Shades of Henry
(Henry and sometimes Lance are featured prominently in upcoming Fish and Flop books)
First published March 31, 2020
7th read,
Fish #3 A few Good Fish
First published August 28, 2018
8th read,
Only Official Crossover which is Fish#4 and Race#2 "Hiding the Moon"
(Burt and Ernie feature prominently...)
First published October 23, 2018
9th and 10th read,
Fish #5 and #6 = Fish on a Bicycle and School of Fish
#5 - First published October 15, 2019
#6 - First published December 15, 2020
11th and 12th read, (12th and 13th can also be flip flopped)
Flophouse #2 and #3 = Constantly Cotton and Sean's Sunshine
#2 - First published April 5, 2022
#3 - First published March 7, 2023
13th read and final as of July 2023,
Fish#7 = Fish in a Barrel
First published July 26, 2022
As of July 2023
1st read,
Johnnie's #2 - "Dex in Blue" = Henry's brother & eventually helps run Jonnie's
First published September 30, 2012
2nd read,
Johnnie's #4 - Black John = Owner of Johnnie's & With Galen who hires Henry & later joins Ellery's start up law firm.
First published January 26, 2015
* (might want to read Johnnie's #5 which is Reg & Bobby's story they appear in multiple books in various series but are not as vital to the timeline as say Galen, Johnny, and Dex. Reg and Bobby make a great couple, plus Reg is not your typical m/c. Wonderful story)
3rd and 4th books that should probably be read,
Fish Out of Water (Fish) #1 & #2 = Ellery & Jackson are featured in nearly all the books in this world)
First published July 29, 2016 for book 1.
(FYI, I actually started at book#3 and was mostly fine. )
These next two could be flip flopped in order, but are the order I would have chosen if I had known what I know now before I had started down this "Rabbit Hole" of a world. Many of the timelines from Fish overlap with ones from other series; you get more details or other perspectives etc...
5th read,
Racing The Sun (Race) #1
(Sonny & Ace are featured prominently in upcoming Fish and Flop books)
First published April 25, 2013
6th read,
Flophouse (Flop) #1 Shades of Henry
(Henry and sometimes Lance are featured prominently in upcoming Fish and Flop books)
First published March 31, 2020
7th read,
Fish #3 A few Good Fish
First published August 28, 2018
8th read,
Only Official Crossover which is Fish#4 and Race#2 "Hiding the Moon"
(Burt and Ernie feature prominently...)
First published October 23, 2018
9th and 10th read,
Fish #5 and #6 = Fish on a Bicycle and School of Fish
#5 - First published October 15, 2019
#6 - First published December 15, 2020
11th and 12th read, (12th and 13th can also be flip flopped)
Flophouse #2 and #3 = Constantly Cotton and Sean's Sunshine
#2 - First published April 5, 2022
#3 - First published March 7, 2023
13th read and final as of July 2023,
Fish#7 = Fish in a Barrel
First published July 26, 2022
February 2, 2023
What I Think: I’m very certain Mme. Amy concocted this series to arouse all my Mama Bear instincts. In this instalment of the Flophouse Series, we get to Cotton, and boy, did I need a 180° change! If remembered from Henry’s tale, Cotton is one of the most fragile of the boys and that affected my mental image of him. But, as I should know personally, nothing physical gives away the trauma, and size has nothing to do with it – no pun intended, so kindly get your minds out of the gutter.
I’m in awe of Cotton for not only being brave enough to know his limits, – people tend to keep pushing just to prove to themselves that they’re strong enough – but because when it’s his turn to jump into the fray, ma boy dives in, following his heart Like he was born to do this. And, if there’s one man that deserves a break, it’s Jason. How strong can someone be to want to do the right thing by cleaning up the mess twisted minds have left behind because they can’t fix them? If only my tale portal was done – sigh- the katana usage would be epic and oh so necessary!
I watched love bloom in rather impossible circumstances, with my heart travelling to my mouth often, in a situation that would have had every normal person marching with no shame through the door. The glorious part when it became solid to me and not just an action/adventure movie was watching those beautiful, lovely changes that make love so possible. It’s watching 2 people who could not be more different on the outside become one because their souls are the same. The honesty, loyalty, and the need to be righteous in an otherwise filthy world that doesn’t deserve them, but man, someone’s got to do it.
And there’s nothing as soul-lifting as those who are already battered and besieged still having the strength to step on stage and make things go right. But the part that made the waterworks overflow? Cotton got what he wanted and was so certain he could never have. And, no, it wasn’t just love. Now, you’ll just have to find out!
Verdict? A blooming fairytale of a love story replete with action and all the comfort one could want!
I’m in awe of Cotton for not only being brave enough to know his limits, – people tend to keep pushing just to prove to themselves that they’re strong enough – but because when it’s his turn to jump into the fray, ma boy dives in, following his heart Like he was born to do this. And, if there’s one man that deserves a break, it’s Jason. How strong can someone be to want to do the right thing by cleaning up the mess twisted minds have left behind because they can’t fix them? If only my tale portal was done – sigh- the katana usage would be epic and oh so necessary!
I watched love bloom in rather impossible circumstances, with my heart travelling to my mouth often, in a situation that would have had every normal person marching with no shame through the door. The glorious part when it became solid to me and not just an action/adventure movie was watching those beautiful, lovely changes that make love so possible. It’s watching 2 people who could not be more different on the outside become one because their souls are the same. The honesty, loyalty, and the need to be righteous in an otherwise filthy world that doesn’t deserve them, but man, someone’s got to do it.
And there’s nothing as soul-lifting as those who are already battered and besieged still having the strength to step on stage and make things go right. But the part that made the waterworks overflow? Cotton got what he wanted and was so certain he could never have. And, no, it wasn’t just love. Now, you’ll just have to find out!
Verdict? A blooming fairytale of a love story replete with action and all the comfort one could want!
August 3, 2023
4.5 Stars ~ A man, a lonely man, disillusioned by life and his part in it, and a young man trying to figure out who he is amongst a lifetime of pain, make up this second novel in Amy Lane’s ‘The Flophouse’ series. Jason and Cotton shouldn’t work, to be honest. At least at first glance. Jason is a Marine Corps colonel who leads a group of covert agents against the worst that is out there. Cotton is a retired porn model trying to figure out who he is and what he wants out of life. And yet, together, these two broken men find depths of strength neither even knew they possessed.
“Jason hadn’t had the nerve to ask where exactly he’d been taken to recover, but he was really close to having a heart-to-heart with God and inquiring pointedly to see if the big guy was having him on.
He’d been celibate for ten years and he woke up here? Wherever here was, if it wasn’t a cosmic joke, it should have been.”
Jason is severely injured rescuing a busload of young children on their way to Las Vegas to be sold. He careens into Sacramento at the buttcrack of dawn in a stolen church bus that is all shot to hell being chased by mobsters and members of his own military. He is quickly and quietly taken to the flophouse to be treated by Lance and nursed by the young men living there. The bulk of the work falls on Cotton as he is no longer doing scenes for Johnnies and when Jason finally regains consciousness, he thinks this beautiful man is his angel. Well, Cotton doesn’t feel like much of an angel, more like a useless human being with no value to anyone.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
“Jason hadn’t had the nerve to ask where exactly he’d been taken to recover, but he was really close to having a heart-to-heart with God and inquiring pointedly to see if the big guy was having him on.
He’d been celibate for ten years and he woke up here? Wherever here was, if it wasn’t a cosmic joke, it should have been.”
Jason is severely injured rescuing a busload of young children on their way to Las Vegas to be sold. He careens into Sacramento at the buttcrack of dawn in a stolen church bus that is all shot to hell being chased by mobsters and members of his own military. He is quickly and quietly taken to the flophouse to be treated by Lance and nursed by the young men living there. The bulk of the work falls on Cotton as he is no longer doing scenes for Johnnies and when Jason finally regains consciousness, he thinks this beautiful man is his angel. Well, Cotton doesn’t feel like much of an angel, more like a useless human being with no value to anyone.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
April 5, 2022
Two years. I didn't realize it had been that long since the first Flophouse book, but this was like coming home. I dove in and didn't come up for air until I was done. This book is everything I love (and didn't know I missed since the last book set in this world) about this author--classic Amy Lane. Whether I was smiling, laughing, or crying (OMG that dialogue), I was feeling every bit of it. When it's on point, there is something about the way she writes that speaks volumes to me, draws me in like no other.
While I was engrossed from beginning to end, I highly recommend reading all the books set in this world (Johnnies, Fish, Flophouse) for maximum enjoyment. It’s a burst of happiness seeing these characters pop up and interact. Just the mention of Lucy Satan (you know who she is if you read the Fish books) made me smile from ear to ear.
Amy has a talent for putting together perfect puzzle pieces. Broken people who fit together just so. And they are still broken when together (no magic love pill), but they FIT. And it WORKS. And I fall in love with them and want more, whether in their books/series, or others.
So thank you, Amy. For Cotton and Constance. For Ellery and Jackson and Burton and Ernie and Ace and Sonny, and yes, for Lucy Satan. Yes, and for Ellery’s cat. For all the Johnnies. Because even if they didn’t pop up in the story, if they were mentioned, talked about, it made the story richer and this reader happier. Can't wait for the next book set in this world. It cannot possibly come out soon enough for me.
****ARC for review****
While I was engrossed from beginning to end, I highly recommend reading all the books set in this world (Johnnies, Fish, Flophouse) for maximum enjoyment. It’s a burst of happiness seeing these characters pop up and interact. Just the mention of Lucy Satan (you know who she is if you read the Fish books) made me smile from ear to ear.
Amy has a talent for putting together perfect puzzle pieces. Broken people who fit together just so. And they are still broken when together (no magic love pill), but they FIT. And it WORKS. And I fall in love with them and want more, whether in their books/series, or others.
So thank you, Amy. For Cotton and Constance. For Ellery and Jackson and Burton and Ernie and Ace and Sonny, and yes, for Lucy Satan. Yes, and for Ellery’s cat. For all the Johnnies. Because even if they didn’t pop up in the story, if they were mentioned, talked about, it made the story richer and this reader happier. Can't wait for the next book set in this world. It cannot possibly come out soon enough for me.
****ARC for review****
April 6, 2022
4 Stars but wished it was 5...
Years ago, I cut off reading AL because her work had become so triggeresque...Lots of sexual assault/rape & child rape. That isn't something that I want to read. This however, brushes over Cotton's time on the streets. It acknowledges it but doesn't get explicit.
I guess the real issue I have with this book is the fact that its love in a hurry...The events of School of Fish are reviewed then its Jason has an infection, Jason is delirious, Rivers, Rivers, Rivers, than Jason is saved. The relationship hits warp speed at one point with love on the table and Jason is sending Cotton out the door to find a forever person that is closer to his age. Boooo …. While Cotton dies alone and unloved.
New crop of boys at the Flophouse! Since most of them left after book #1, Johnnies hired a few who have moved in.. YaY! More books! I think the next Fish book will be Operation Dead Fish.. Just a thought.
The whole defcon thing.. Defcon 1 is critical mass issues, kids juggling knives and rats taking over the world to make cheese a national holiday. Defcon 5 is the Prez forgets where he is & calls the VP the first lady. The writing left the rails in places… it was almost as if AL had a thought but her fingers staged a mutiny to write something else. It happens with her books, I don’t Know why….
Billy & K-ski… OMG.. Billy has to move out for a while because Jason takes over his bed. He goes to live with K-ski while he recovers…loveeee
Years ago, I cut off reading AL because her work had become so triggeresque...Lots of sexual assault/rape & child rape. That isn't something that I want to read. This however, brushes over Cotton's time on the streets. It acknowledges it but doesn't get explicit.
I guess the real issue I have with this book is the fact that its love in a hurry...The events of School of Fish are reviewed then its Jason has an infection, Jason is delirious, Rivers, Rivers, Rivers, than Jason is saved. The relationship hits warp speed at one point with love on the table and Jason is sending Cotton out the door to find a forever person that is closer to his age. Boooo …. While Cotton dies alone and unloved.
New crop of boys at the Flophouse! Since most of them left after book #1, Johnnies hired a few who have moved in.. YaY! More books! I think the next Fish book will be Operation Dead Fish.. Just a thought.
The whole defcon thing.. Defcon 1 is critical mass issues, kids juggling knives and rats taking over the world to make cheese a national holiday. Defcon 5 is the Prez forgets where he is & calls the VP the first lady. The writing left the rails in places… it was almost as if AL had a thought but her fingers staged a mutiny to write something else. It happens with her books, I don’t Know why….
Billy & K-ski… OMG.. Billy has to move out for a while because Jason takes over his bed. He goes to live with K-ski while he recovers…loveeee
April 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this story! It's tightly woven with both the Johnnies series and the Fish Out of Water series, both of which I've read, so the interconnectivity didn't bother me at all. Jason is the covert ops leader, Burton's friend, who was injured when he helped rescue a busload of child trafficking victims and got them back to Jackson and Ellery (FOW series).
Cotton is one of the Johnnies but hasn't done porn for the last three months, ever since he had a meltdown in a scene when he flashed back to a bad memory on the streets. He's the perfect volunteer to help Jackson and Henry when they get Jason to the flophouse to hide him from both the military, who think he's a deserter, and from the mob, whose deal he stopped when he rescued the kids.
The story is complex and very heaviiy intertwined as I said before but the love that grows between Jason and Cotton and the way they find a way to ultimately be together is amazing. With advice from Burton and some predictions from psychic Ernie, and a lot of good luck and help from all their friends, they do indeed have an HEA or at least a HFN (because one never knows what Amy Lane has in store for her characters!)
This is not a romance that spends the entire story focused on the MCs but the time they get to spend together and the character growth each undergoes is beautiful to watch and they really do make a perfect couple, IMO. I hope there's more to come!
Cotton is one of the Johnnies but hasn't done porn for the last three months, ever since he had a meltdown in a scene when he flashed back to a bad memory on the streets. He's the perfect volunteer to help Jackson and Henry when they get Jason to the flophouse to hide him from both the military, who think he's a deserter, and from the mob, whose deal he stopped when he rescued the kids.
The story is complex and very heaviiy intertwined as I said before but the love that grows between Jason and Cotton and the way they find a way to ultimately be together is amazing. With advice from Burton and some predictions from psychic Ernie, and a lot of good luck and help from all their friends, they do indeed have an HEA or at least a HFN (because one never knows what Amy Lane has in store for her characters!)
This is not a romance that spends the entire story focused on the MCs but the time they get to spend together and the character growth each undergoes is beautiful to watch and they really do make a perfect couple, IMO. I hope there's more to come!
July 3, 2023
When Jason Constance rescued a busload of kidnapped children, he didn’t expect a parade. He didn’t expect to be hunted by mobsters and the military either. Wounded and half out of his mind, Jason finds himself at the tender mercies of an angel-faced nurse named Cotton.
Cotton has just flunked out of porn, and as far as he can tell, he’s flunking life too. Having an injured colonel in his bed seems par for the course, but he’s too busy keeping Jason alive to question how fate brought him there.
But fate isn’t done with them. When they go on the run from the mobsters who shot Jason, there should be no time to fall in love, but neither man seems suited for an average life—or relationship. Jason and Cotton can probably survive homicidal mobsters and rogue military operations. The question is, can they survive the work they’ll have to do to forge a place just for them?
Heather's Notes
I have to say I didn't really enjoy this book as much as the others. It is not that it wasn't good, the characters just didn't really connect with me. I am not sure why, since I wanted Jason to have an HEA, maybe it was because I didn't know Cotton from previous books? Not that really makes since so most books you don't know the characters ahead of time. Not sure why this book was not as good as the others IMO, but it wasn't bad either. Just seemed to be missing .... something.
Cotton has just flunked out of porn, and as far as he can tell, he’s flunking life too. Having an injured colonel in his bed seems par for the course, but he’s too busy keeping Jason alive to question how fate brought him there.
But fate isn’t done with them. When they go on the run from the mobsters who shot Jason, there should be no time to fall in love, but neither man seems suited for an average life—or relationship. Jason and Cotton can probably survive homicidal mobsters and rogue military operations. The question is, can they survive the work they’ll have to do to forge a place just for them?
Heather's Notes
I have to say I didn't really enjoy this book as much as the others. It is not that it wasn't good, the characters just didn't really connect with me. I am not sure why, since I wanted Jason to have an HEA, maybe it was because I didn't know Cotton from previous books? Not that really makes since so most books you don't know the characters ahead of time. Not sure why this book was not as good as the others IMO, but it wasn't bad either. Just seemed to be missing .... something.
March 20, 2022
This is such a satisfying story! Cotton sees himself as broken, and so do the people who love him. They treat him like he's fragile because they worry so much about him.
When Jason comes into Cotton's life, the hero is near death. Cotton becomes Jason's angel, helping to keep him alive and make sure he heals from his injuries and infection. Jason sees strength in Cotton, and begins to help the younger man learn to believe in himself.
I love this couple and the way they care for each other in so many ways. Seeing Cotton's confidence grow is wonderful! The two fall in love easily, without fighting it, even though they don't believe they will end up together. It's better to have loved and lost, and all that.
The secondary characters are a mix of those we've already met and fallen for, and Jason's team members who come to guard him and Cotton. They are all likable, funny, and strong.
This is a great addition to the series, which itself is a great spinoff of both the Fish Out of Water and Johnnies series. I can't get enough of all these people, and I hope they keep speaking to the author. There are still more adventures and love to be found, I'm sure!
When Jason comes into Cotton's life, the hero is near death. Cotton becomes Jason's angel, helping to keep him alive and make sure he heals from his injuries and infection. Jason sees strength in Cotton, and begins to help the younger man learn to believe in himself.
I love this couple and the way they care for each other in so many ways. Seeing Cotton's confidence grow is wonderful! The two fall in love easily, without fighting it, even though they don't believe they will end up together. It's better to have loved and lost, and all that.
The secondary characters are a mix of those we've already met and fallen for, and Jason's team members who come to guard him and Cotton. They are all likable, funny, and strong.
This is a great addition to the series, which itself is a great spinoff of both the Fish Out of Water and Johnnies series. I can't get enough of all these people, and I hope they keep speaking to the author. There are still more adventures and love to be found, I'm sure!
April 5, 2022
Loved it! We met Jason in a couple of the recent Fishverse books and this book picks up with the aftermath of his part in saving a group of trafficked kids. Jason is injured and ends up hiding out in the flophouse. Cotton, who we met in the first Flophouse book, helps take care of him. It was nice to see the soft side of Jason, who has to deal with his recovery, and the strong side of Cotton, who sort of imploded in the first Flophouse book. The are a perfect match for each other and many of their interactions were so heartwarming. This book has a bit of everything - hurt/comfort, age gap, sweet romance, and some action. And, if you are an avid Amy Lane reader, you will appreciate Jackson making an appearance and the other mentions of characters from the Fishverse and Johnnies. I loved the bonus ficlit at the end of the book that fills in some details of this larger mob/mafia storyline from the other Fishverse character's perspectives. Overall, this story is a great addition to this Fishverse/Flophouse world. We get a pretty good feel for whose story will be next, and I can't wait!
April 7, 2022
This novel ends 74% in, and then there's an author's note about this complex world she's built including the Fish books and these two Flophouse books (with the Johnnie's series in the same universe). She's written smaller pieces (on Patreon) for dedicated series readers that don't fit into the books, but can be tucked in afterward. There are two here, and a third is promised after the next Fish novel YAY. I'm reading them after I post this review.
This story is about Jason, who has a hard job and dedicated people but has run himself into the ground, and Cotton, who's no longer doing Johnnies videos and is at a loss what to do next. It's about survival, and kindness, and truths & lies, vengeance and hiding and recovery, and what makes someone feel like home. I loved it. I wish I could've made it last longer. I cried through enough of the tender scenes to be glad allergies demand I always have tissues handy.
You do not have to have read all the books, although you'll understand who Burton and Jackson are much better if you have. I envy new readers. But I re-read all these books over lockdown, and they're even better the second time through.
This story is about Jason, who has a hard job and dedicated people but has run himself into the ground, and Cotton, who's no longer doing Johnnies videos and is at a loss what to do next. It's about survival, and kindness, and truths & lies, vengeance and hiding and recovery, and what makes someone feel like home. I loved it. I wish I could've made it last longer. I cried through enough of the tender scenes to be glad allergies demand I always have tissues handy.
You do not have to have read all the books, although you'll understand who Burton and Jackson are much better if you have. I envy new readers. But I re-read all these books over lockdown, and they're even better the second time through.
March 21, 2022
What a great read. Old favorites showed up and it was a fun ride. It had a bit of everything. Action, suspense, Love, laughter and tears - happy and a little sad. It was wonderful seeing more of Constantine and Cotton was perfect for him. Well, they were perfect for each other.
This story could be a standalone, but I think you'd like it better if you've read at least the last two, Fish Out of Water books and the first Flophouse book. I love that this story wraps around to other series. It makes for such a rich background of characters that we get to know and love.
Cotton had it rough and Constantine is the perfect man to make him see that Cotton is a great man and will do great things. That the past doesn't define who you are.
Like I said above, it's a great read and I really enjoyed every minute. Enough so, that I stopped school work to finish it! And... I need to make up some time to my work... oops.
This story could be a standalone, but I think you'd like it better if you've read at least the last two, Fish Out of Water books and the first Flophouse book. I love that this story wraps around to other series. It makes for such a rich background of characters that we get to know and love.
Cotton had it rough and Constantine is the perfect man to make him see that Cotton is a great man and will do great things. That the past doesn't define who you are.
Like I said above, it's a great read and I really enjoyed every minute. Enough so, that I stopped school work to finish it! And... I need to make up some time to my work... oops.
April 5, 2022
Amy Lane's "Fish" and "Flophouse" series involve you in an exciting world of detectives, military men, porn stars, mechanics, psychics and various bad guys, stirred in with a big helping of dudes falling in love and friends being supportive. "Constantly Cotton" is a great new entry into the series, picking up from previous events (though you can start here), with super-competent special ops Jason laid low from battle injuries, and needs-to-find-himself Cotton suddenly finding he's really good at taking care of this poor guy. Their story is heartwarming, exciting and frequently funny, as all of these are. Highly recommended, as are all of these.
April 8, 2022
I was excited to read this one. It was one of the most anticipated reads for 2022. I loved the first book and expected to feel the same about this one. After a little over ten years of reading books by Amy Lane, she doesn't disappoint. I like the natural humor, but more importantly, I like displaying intimacy outside of sex. As always, I'm jealous of fictional characters. The found family dynamic is always a highlight for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and am excited by the possible opportunity to read about Billy and K Ski's story.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and am excited by the possible opportunity to read about Billy and K Ski's story.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2022
The extras at the end belayed the length of the book. I stopped about 2/3 of the way through for a couple days because I thought it was about to get more convoluted because of how much book was left, but imagine my surprise when I sat down to finish and had, maybe, another 40 pages of actual novel and then 60 pages of extras.
It's weird to think when the first Fish book came out a few years ago, my first thought was "I don't know if this is Amy's genre..." but now this is arguably one of her most popular universes. I always look forward to these, and this one didnt' disappoint.
It's weird to think when the first Fish book came out a few years ago, my first thought was "I don't know if this is Amy's genre..." but now this is arguably one of her most popular universes. I always look forward to these, and this one didnt' disappoint.
April 5, 2022
Rating 4.5 stars
This is the second book in the Flophouse series. This is a combination of romance and romantic suspense, it has enough action to not be labeled as just a romance. I really enjoyed seeing characters from the authors other series interacting with the characters of this book. It is also fun seeing characters from earlier books get their own story. The characters were wonderful, and the pace was excellent. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series. In my opinion, this book can be read as a stand-alone book.
This is the second book in the Flophouse series. This is a combination of romance and romantic suspense, it has enough action to not be labeled as just a romance. I really enjoyed seeing characters from the authors other series interacting with the characters of this book. It is also fun seeing characters from earlier books get their own story. The characters were wonderful, and the pace was excellent. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series. In my opinion, this book can be read as a stand-alone book.
April 5, 2022
This is book 2 in n the Flophouse series however I’d suggest reading the Fish Out Of Water series as well for more background. Not required I don’t think but it gives a fuller picture of what was going on. I really enjoyed reading this story of Jason and Cotton. Jason is an officer in the military for a special ops unit. He is on the run from mobsters and the military, and ends up hurt. Cotton is asked to help care for him, and struggles with his self worth. I love all the side characters and the humor, and I especially loved the ending!
April 5, 2022
Another Great Flophouse Read!
Book 2 of the series and it's just as awesome as the first
I could not wait for this story, I'd been hoping Jason got a guy since reading Hiding the Moon (Burton & Ernie's story), and seeing Cotton finding himself. They are so sweet together.
I really loved this story so much that I have to re-read it again asap, I hope there's many more stories in this series.
I also loved the short story called Crullers after the end.
Book 2 of the series and it's just as awesome as the first
I could not wait for this story, I'd been hoping Jason got a guy since reading Hiding the Moon (Burton & Ernie's story), and seeing Cotton finding himself. They are so sweet together.
I really loved this story so much that I have to re-read it again asap, I hope there's many more stories in this series.
I also loved the short story called Crullers after the end.
April 16, 2022
I love Amy’s Fish series and I’m excited to see Jason Constance get his book! The intersection with the flophouse guys is fantastic. Cotton is such a sweetheart and needed to fall in love for real with someone worth keeping around! And Jason definitely needed some saving after being a hero in the last Fish book! I can’t wait to see how they figure it out for the long term—hopefully, we’ll get glimpses in future books!
April 5, 2022
Excellent! This book included nods to earlier books and introduced new plot ideas that I hope will lead to new stories. The book flowed really well and I loved the ending as it suited the personalities of the two characters.
This was a good mix of adventure and romance - to me they fell into love so naturally - I really enjoyed Jason and Cotton and hope they make cameos in future books.
This was a good mix of adventure and romance - to me they fell into love so naturally - I really enjoyed Jason and Cotton and hope they make cameos in future books.
October 1, 2024
4.75 stars
I love these fish/flophouse/Johnnies stories and how everything is tied together finally, and I liked this one better than Henry's book. Even though I've already read a lot of the action in the fish books, this one filled in Jason's story beautifully. I'm so excited to read K-ski and Billy's part!
I love these fish/flophouse/Johnnies stories and how everything is tied together finally, and I liked this one better than Henry's book. Even though I've already read a lot of the action in the fish books, this one filled in Jason's story beautifully. I'm so excited to read K-ski and Billy's part!
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