What do you think?
Rate this book
Pine Cove
Pine Cove: The Complete Series
Welcome to Pine Cove, where true love lives happily ever after! This 2000 page box set contains all six novels as well as all five companion short stories.
-
Safe Harbor
Robin Coal needs a fake boyfriend for his high school reunion. He asks his housemate: a gorgeous, totally straight ex-Marine. What could go wrong? There’s only one bed, and Dair might not be so straight after all... When Robin’s past threatens their future, only Dair can save him.
-
Sweet Spot
It’s Halloween and Robin has prepared a sexy little surprise for his boyfriend Dair when he gets home from work. Hold on to your horses, Marine!
-
Troubled Waters
Bodyguard Scout Duffy doesn’t know what’s worse: the fact that his scorching one-night-stand, Emery Klein, is his bratty new client, or the fact that he doesn’t even remember Scout. But Emery’s life is in danger thanks to his out and proud charity work, and once he finally recognizes Scout, their chemistry in undeniable.
-
Homeward Bound
Swift Coal just found out he’s a father, and his daughter (and her cranky cat) are coming to stay. His best friend’s younger brother, Micha Perkins, has nowhere to go and a wrongfully tattered reputation. He’s relieved when Swift asks him to be a live-in babysitter. He just has to hide his lifelong crush. Easy, because Swift is straight—right?
-
Bright Horizon
With sixteen years between them, baker Ben Turner and lawyer Elias Solomon have no idea their crush is mutual. But when Ben inherits his long-lost family’s estate and becomes an overnight millionaire, Elias swears to protect the innocent younger man from the vultures circling him. To unravel the mystery of the inheritance, they must go to England to confront Ben’s estranged relatives…and their feelings for each other.
-
Crossed Paths
Raj Bhat is done living in the shadows. It’s time for him to take charge of his own destiny and tell the man he’s fallen for how he really feels.
-
Midnight Sky
It’s the night before New Year’s Eve. Taylan Demir is all alone, and he’s just lost his dog. Except when his handsome customer, Hudson Perkins, comes to his rescue, Taylan doesn’t just get his dog back. He’s suddenly got a hot date, and maybe someone to kiss when the clock strikes midnight.
-
Memory Lane
Angel Shields saved Jay Coal’s life in high school, and Jay has secretly loved his straight best friend ever since. Now Angel’s back in town with amnesia after a suspicious work accident and it’s Jay's turn to rescue him. He pretends to be Angel’s fiancé to see him in the hospital, but with his scrambled-up memory, Angel’s not sure it's fictional after all. He just knows he loves Jay more than ever.
-
Thin Ice
Kamran’s ex broke his heart, tricked him into aiding a bank robbery, and now he wants him to do one last job. There’s only one way to say no: seek the protective custody of the biggest, grumpiest FBI agent ever, Lee Marshall. And pretend to be his boyfriend for a week-long family reunion in their giant mansion. Wait, what?
-
Calm Shores
Gorgeous, sophisticated Dante walks into Oliver’s bar and orders…a boyfriend?! Dante needs a man to keep his mother from setting him back up with his awful, cheating ex, and Oliver is up for the challenge.
-
Fresh Snow
Emery Klein is throwing the best Christmas party ever, but his fiancé, Scout Duffy, and all their friends have something more exciting in mind.
-
Each Pine Cove book can be read as a stand alone and has its own happy ever after. But if you read the whole series, you’ll see a lot of familiar faces!
-
Safe Harbor
Robin Coal needs a fake boyfriend for his high school reunion. He asks his housemate: a gorgeous, totally straight ex-Marine. What could go wrong? There’s only one bed, and Dair might not be so straight after all... When Robin’s past threatens their future, only Dair can save him.
-
Sweet Spot
It’s Halloween and Robin has prepared a sexy little surprise for his boyfriend Dair when he gets home from work. Hold on to your horses, Marine!
-
Troubled Waters
Bodyguard Scout Duffy doesn’t know what’s worse: the fact that his scorching one-night-stand, Emery Klein, is his bratty new client, or the fact that he doesn’t even remember Scout. But Emery’s life is in danger thanks to his out and proud charity work, and once he finally recognizes Scout, their chemistry in undeniable.
-
Homeward Bound
Swift Coal just found out he’s a father, and his daughter (and her cranky cat) are coming to stay. His best friend’s younger brother, Micha Perkins, has nowhere to go and a wrongfully tattered reputation. He’s relieved when Swift asks him to be a live-in babysitter. He just has to hide his lifelong crush. Easy, because Swift is straight—right?
-
Bright Horizon
With sixteen years between them, baker Ben Turner and lawyer Elias Solomon have no idea their crush is mutual. But when Ben inherits his long-lost family’s estate and becomes an overnight millionaire, Elias swears to protect the innocent younger man from the vultures circling him. To unravel the mystery of the inheritance, they must go to England to confront Ben’s estranged relatives…and their feelings for each other.
-
Crossed Paths
Raj Bhat is done living in the shadows. It’s time for him to take charge of his own destiny and tell the man he’s fallen for how he really feels.
-
Midnight Sky
It’s the night before New Year’s Eve. Taylan Demir is all alone, and he’s just lost his dog. Except when his handsome customer, Hudson Perkins, comes to his rescue, Taylan doesn’t just get his dog back. He’s suddenly got a hot date, and maybe someone to kiss when the clock strikes midnight.
-
Memory Lane
Angel Shields saved Jay Coal’s life in high school, and Jay has secretly loved his straight best friend ever since. Now Angel’s back in town with amnesia after a suspicious work accident and it’s Jay's turn to rescue him. He pretends to be Angel’s fiancé to see him in the hospital, but with his scrambled-up memory, Angel’s not sure it's fictional after all. He just knows he loves Jay more than ever.
-
Thin Ice
Kamran’s ex broke his heart, tricked him into aiding a bank robbery, and now he wants him to do one last job. There’s only one way to say no: seek the protective custody of the biggest, grumpiest FBI agent ever, Lee Marshall. And pretend to be his boyfriend for a week-long family reunion in their giant mansion. Wait, what?
-
Calm Shores
Gorgeous, sophisticated Dante walks into Oliver’s bar and orders…a boyfriend?! Dante needs a man to keep his mother from setting him back up with his awful, cheating ex, and Oliver is up for the challenge.
-
Fresh Snow
Emery Klein is throwing the best Christmas party ever, but his fiancé, Scout Duffy, and all their friends have something more exciting in mind.
-
Each Pine Cove book can be read as a stand alone and has its own happy ever after. But if you read the whole series, you’ll see a lot of familiar faces!
1933 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2022
About the author
H.J. Welch
41 books301 followersHJ Welch is a British author of contemporary American MM small town series and books in multi authored shared universes, including the international number one bestselling Homecoming Hearts. She lives just outside of London with her husband and three balls of fluff that occasionally pretend to be cats.
She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over half a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s usually dancing, singing, filming music videos, taking long walks, working on jigsaw puzzles, drinking prosecco, or talking about Eurovision.
She also writes contemporary British MM fairy tale adaptation as Helen Juliet, including bestsellers Thorn in His Side, A Right Royal Affair, and Three.
She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over half a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s usually dancing, singing, filming music videos, taking long walks, working on jigsaw puzzles, drinking prosecco, or talking about Eurovision.
She also writes contemporary British MM fairy tale adaptation as Helen Juliet, including bestsellers Thorn in His Side, A Right Royal Affair, and Three.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 7, 2024
Individually, I’d say half of the 6 main stories are pretty good! However books 4-6, plus most of the short stories, got so tiredly formulaic it was a struggle not to DNF as soon as I got the tiniest inkling that one story would play out exactly like the others did. Even most of the bonus novella shorts followed the same structure beat for beat.
If you’re a sucker for the trope of “overprotective masc guy taking the vulnerable self-conscious twink under his wing” then books 2 & 3 had the best execution in my opinion. What gave those stories a leg up over the others is at least one of the MCs were unique & interesting enough to give that story a distinguishable identity. Book 4 had potential, with its premise being so wildly out there in comparison to the others. I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I read it without the others, but since I did, the characters were basically just repurposed templates with the same dynamics, same personalities, same insecurities, hell, even the same body types as all the other characters in all the other stories & short stories throughout this series. It almost felt like all the author did was tweak small insignificant details in accordance to a clone’s change of name and occupation.
Even the antagonists were basically the same cartoonish narcissist in a different skin suit. Same tactics for manipulation, same “cold dark eyes” that immediately intimidate our precious vulnerable MC, and same control issues with the same delusional tirades about how everything sucky in their life is the fault of our poor little damaged MC—sometimes it’s almost verbatim.
Every single one of these stories in a nutshell:
1: MC1 (damsel in distress) is forced into an unfavorable situation either by their overstepping friends or the narcissistic villain.
2: MC2 (muscular knight in shining armor) inserts himself into said situation to make it more palatable for MC1, and anoints himself ever-so-valiantly as MC1’s protector & savior.
3: MC1 and MC2 fall in love in a matter of days or hours, I’m not even joking. But MC2 must tread carefully as not to spook our delicate insecure flower, MC1.
4: MC2 leaves an opening for our villain narcissist to swoop in and effortlessly crush all of MC1’s newfound hopes & self confidence with a tart monologue. Damn…and MC2 worked so hard to build that up.
5: MC1 stupidly runs away or wanders off from the salvation that is their protector, shutting off their phone because they’re SO, SO SAD. MC2 of course goes to track MC1 down, but guess who finds him first?!?!?!?!?
6: MC1 may get in a few biting remarks, but they’re sandwiched in between our villain’s much more cutting (and annoying) diatribes. Our villain at last has MC1 right where they want him.
7: MC2 swoops in and quickly saves the day, maintaining how brave and strong our precious little MC1 is…despite MC1 only being able to stand up for himself if MC2 is right by his side…a pool of courage ready for MC1 to sponge up.
8: Epilogue, where there’s a marriage proposal. Or if we’re lucky, the acceptance of a fate that will eventually lead to a marriage proposal.
The fluff in the first 3 books (and even book 5, to an extent) gave me enough energy and hope to continue pressing on. HJ does the sweet moments very well, I’ll give them that…but the majority of the time I was frustrated while trudging through this series, even when the author was pretending that the dynamic between MC1 & MC2 was somewhat flipped, it really wasn’t.
Book 3 was my favorite out of them all. The most atrocious one was Oliver & Dante’s story. Thank goodness it was only a 7 chapter novella.
If you’re a sucker for the trope of “overprotective masc guy taking the vulnerable self-conscious twink under his wing” then books 2 & 3 had the best execution in my opinion. What gave those stories a leg up over the others is at least one of the MCs were unique & interesting enough to give that story a distinguishable identity. Book 4 had potential, with its premise being so wildly out there in comparison to the others. I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I read it without the others, but since I did, the characters were basically just repurposed templates with the same dynamics, same personalities, same insecurities, hell, even the same body types as all the other characters in all the other stories & short stories throughout this series. It almost felt like all the author did was tweak small insignificant details in accordance to a clone’s change of name and occupation.
Even the antagonists were basically the same cartoonish narcissist in a different skin suit. Same tactics for manipulation, same “cold dark eyes” that immediately intimidate our precious vulnerable MC, and same control issues with the same delusional tirades about how everything sucky in their life is the fault of our poor little damaged MC—sometimes it’s almost verbatim.
Every single one of these stories in a nutshell:
1: MC1 (damsel in distress) is forced into an unfavorable situation either by their overstepping friends or the narcissistic villain.
2: MC2 (muscular knight in shining armor) inserts himself into said situation to make it more palatable for MC1, and anoints himself ever-so-valiantly as MC1’s protector & savior.
3: MC1 and MC2 fall in love in a matter of days or hours, I’m not even joking. But MC2 must tread carefully as not to spook our delicate insecure flower, MC1.
4: MC2 leaves an opening for our villain narcissist to swoop in and effortlessly crush all of MC1’s newfound hopes & self confidence with a tart monologue. Damn…and MC2 worked so hard to build that up.
5: MC1 stupidly runs away or wanders off from the salvation that is their protector, shutting off their phone because they’re SO, SO SAD. MC2 of course goes to track MC1 down, but guess who finds him first?!?!?!?!?
6: MC1 may get in a few biting remarks, but they’re sandwiched in between our villain’s much more cutting (and annoying) diatribes. Our villain at last has MC1 right where they want him.
7: MC2 swoops in and quickly saves the day, maintaining how brave and strong our precious little MC1 is…despite MC1 only being able to stand up for himself if MC2 is right by his side…a pool of courage ready for MC1 to sponge up.
8: Epilogue, where there’s a marriage proposal. Or if we’re lucky, the acceptance of a fate that will eventually lead to a marriage proposal.
The fluff in the first 3 books (and even book 5, to an extent) gave me enough energy and hope to continue pressing on. HJ does the sweet moments very well, I’ll give them that…but the majority of the time I was frustrated while trudging through this series, even when the author was pretending that the dynamic between MC1 & MC2 was somewhat flipped, it really wasn’t.
Book 3 was my favorite out of them all. The most atrocious one was Oliver & Dante’s story. Thank goodness it was only a 7 chapter novella.
May 11, 2022
I bought the bundle well knowing this was quantity not quality. First story was OK, not particularly something to remember.
Second book... OMG it killed me! I could not for for the life of me understand the view point of the blogger. And I really tried! There is nothing more irritating than having to need a bodyguard and NOT LISTENING TO THEM! "OOO I am not afraid of being kidnapped, bad guys are not going to change my life, oh whaaaat? I am being kidnapped why??" "Oh I love you, but to let you do your job, that you are trained to do? NEVER! I will keep information and threats against me secret because" ... I do not get why...
And now I can't get myself to finish the series...
Maybe DFN or DF&R (done forever and returned) I just need a couple of more weeks...
Second book... OMG it killed me! I could not for for the life of me understand the view point of the blogger. And I really tried! There is nothing more irritating than having to need a bodyguard and NOT LISTENING TO THEM! "OOO I am not afraid of being kidnapped, bad guys are not going to change my life, oh whaaaat? I am being kidnapped why??" "Oh I love you, but to let you do your job, that you are trained to do? NEVER! I will keep information and threats against me secret because" ... I do not get why...
And now I can't get myself to finish the series...
Maybe DFN or DF&R (done forever and returned) I just need a couple of more weeks...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2022
All the characters and stories in these books are fantastic! Perfect mix of steam with interesting plots. My favorite has to be Bright Horizon with gentle baler Ben being helped by sharp and sexy lawyer Elias as he goes to England to claim an estate from a great aunt he never knew. The other relatives are shall we say less than welcoming and darned suspicious in their behavior. Elias is the perfect protector for Ben and they are amazing together solving the mystery of the estate and of love. The others in the series are equally good.
November 9, 2024
I bought the "Pine Cove short story" omnibus at the same time as buying the "Pine Cove" omnibus, but I don't necessarily read books as soon as I buy them.
Therefore, I didn't realise that all of the short stories are included in the Pine Cove collection, meaning that whilst I had a double-up, it was too late to return the short story collection.
That said, I have reviewed all books and short stories as standalones, so there has been no novel or novelette missed out. If someone wants my opinion on a particular story, just go to the review sections of each one.
Therefore, I didn't realise that all of the short stories are included in the Pine Cove collection, meaning that whilst I had a double-up, it was too late to return the short story collection.
That said, I have reviewed all books and short stories as standalones, so there has been no novel or novelette missed out. If someone wants my opinion on a particular story, just go to the review sections of each one.
June 20, 2022
This whole series was wonderful!!! It held my attention as each book had its own plot, but it had some of the same cast of characters in it, so it felt more like a tv show. Anyone who enjoys action and love will be definitely happy reading this. It also is something I will reread in the future. Emmry is my all time favorite person though in this series!! I wonder who you all will like?
July 23, 2025
2.5 stars. The series dragged at points, possibly because I was listening to the entire series of audiobooks without any break between titles. I found I wasn’t all that invested in some of the smut and skipped forward through those scenes to focus on plot development. Is that a sign of maturity? Or am I getting boring?
April 12, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ avarage
September 7, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Enjoyment: ❤️❤️
Enjoyment: ❤️❤️
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews