Ollie & Bash

On Cravenwood Block #2

by A.D. Ellis

*Ollie & On Cravenwood Block is a steamy, opposites-attract, roommates-to-lovers, boss/employee, age-gap M/M romance featuring a man not looking for love and a younger music director with no filter.*

This is book 2 in the Cravenwood Block series. While best read in order, this title can easily be read as a standalone.
Ollie isn’t one to hold back, so when he sees a sexy older man in the Cravenwood diner, he goes right ahead and opens his mouth. Getting shot down doesn’t deter him, but maybe he should focus more on the new boss he’s getting at work before he continues trying to hook up with the stranger.

Sebastian is one bad situation from considering himself washed-up. He took the job on Cravenwood Block as a stepping stone up and out of the hole he’s found himself in, but he has no plans to stick around. If he could just find a place to live and get started on working through this temporary obstacle, he’d be feeling a bit more confident.

Ollie and Sebastian don’t have any business getting involved, but fate seems to have different plans. Too many things keep bringing them together—forcing both men to see maybe there’s more between them than their messed-up pasts.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2022

About the author

Escape into addictive, sexy, emotional M/M romance.
A.D. Ellis is an Indiana girl, born and raised. She spends much of her time in central Indiana as an instructional coach/teacher in the inner city of Indianapolis, being a mom to two amazing teens, and wondering how she and her husband of over two decades haven't driven each other insane yet. A lot of her time is also devoted to phone call avoidance and her hatred of cooking.
She loves chocolate, hot tea, sweet wine with friends, pizza, and naps along with reading and writing romance. These loves don’t leave much time for housework. Who would pick cleaning the house over a nap or a good book? She uses any extra time to increase her fluency in sarcasm.
A.D. uses she/they pronouns.
Sign up at http://www.subscribepage.com/ADEllisN... for a FREE male/male romance book.

A.D. Ellis does not use generative AI to create books or covers.

Reviews

[Penumbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ollie & Bash: On Cravenwood Block is part of what seems like a series called ‘Cravenwood Block’, even though the book isn’t labeled that way. This stars Ollie a teacher at a small private center, and Sebastian aka Bash, the new temporary boss at the center. It’s told in first person from both Ollie and Bash’s povs.



First the cover. I think the cover model is supposed to be Ollie, but he doesn’t look like how I imagined from the description in the book. So, the cover doesn’t match the character.

The blurb does a good job of describing the plot so I won’t go into that much. There’s another book out in the series called Jett and Leighton, which I haven’t read. Both those characters are mentioned in this book. What’s unusual to me, is their book came first, which means they’ve already arrived at their HEA. Well in this book, which is the second book, Jett and Leighton, aren’t together yet even though Jett is working on getting together with Leighton. I don’t care for stories that have simultaneous plots going on at the same time. It’s like jumping back and forth in time when a new book comes out.

Now about the writing style. This is written in first person, and at first, I thought it was in present tense. I don’t think it was, but every so often it felt like the writing switched to present, which I didn’t care for. If anyone has read my reviews before, I dislike lots of monologue, exposition, and telling. This book has loads of it. Readers are constantly being told by the characters about what they’re thinking, about their past, about what they’re going to do, and they keep repeating the same information over and over in different ways. Usually, I don’t read multiple books at a time, but I found the constant telling and repetition in this book boring and I had to set it down numerous times. I decided to start reading a different book while reading this one, and I finished it. One-fourth of this book could have been cut and it would have made this more interesting because the telling and repetition wouldn’t have been monotonous. I’m sure there are readers who don’t mind being told a story, but I prefer to feel a story, its emotions, the environment, and not be fed every little piece of information. Telling doesn’t draw me in or keep me interested, which is what happened in this book.

The one part the author did well was with the characters. They all had different personalities and mannerisms which the author kept consistent throughout the story. Ollie was especially funny and I liked his sense of humor. Bash’s aunt was also funny. Bash came across as a worrier, always concerned about appearances and what others would think of him. What I didn’t like about him, was that he refused to call Ollie by the name Ollie preferred, which is like refusing to use a person’s preferred pronouns. Instead, Bash called him ‘Oliver’. I’m sure there are people who would think that it’s sweet, like calling someone ‘babe’ or ‘honey’ etc. But when a person refuses to call someone by their preferred name, that’s a big ‘NO’ from me. It’s disrespectful and arrogant. A, ‘What I want is more important than what you want,’ sign. I had no respect for Bash once he did that, and continued to do it. I didn’t like Bash.

Ollie and Bash had a nice plot with interesting characters, but it had way too much telling and repetition. The story would’ve been more interesting by removing one-fourth of its pages. I’d like to read about Ollie’s brother and his love interest, but I don’t think I could read this author’s writing style again if that book is written the same way as this one. I give this book, 3 Stars.



I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

STEAMY AGE GAP WITH MYSTERY!

In the second book of the series we learn what happened between Ollie and Bash during the first book!

The last thing Sebastian Thomas Evens aka Bash ever expected to find on Cravenwood Block after being cheated on and accused of wrong doing was love.....

The minute sassy, cute but persistent flirty Oliver Alexander Meyer aka Ollie set his eyes on the hot, funky wise owl at the Cravenwood Diner he just knew this older man was different to his normal "type"....

I liked the dynamic between them as they started to know each other as roommates and then it changed when they became boss and employee but as they had so much more in common then they thought and they balanced each other out it seems it was meant to be if Bash will just let Ollie break down his walls and not worry about the age difference....

"You destroyed me in the very best way, You knocked down walls and helped me see what was really important, what i really needed."

A mystery regarding the education centre and Lulu will sure add to the angst factor of the story!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A.D. Ellis]

I love that readers are going to get to meet Ollie & Bash on August 1!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM - Age-Gap - Boss-employee.

We meet Ollie, a loudmouth 20-something with no filter who chats up this older, sexy newcomer in the diner but gets turned down flat.

Sebastian is new to Gaynor Beach. He has a new job and a new start. His first stop before his new job gets chatted up by a kid half his age; he's not getting involved again, especially with someone so young.

The narrative beautifully brings these two characters together, allowing a genuine friendship to blossom. The story is a testament to the fact that age gap, opposites, and boss/employee dynamics can indeed work.

Oliver Young-Apstein's narration was very good and very easy to listen to. I didn't need to speed him up like most other narrators, so I got a full four and a half hours. I would listen to this audio again and recommend it.

Ollie & Bash
On Cravenwood Block, Book 2
By: A.D. Ellis
Narrated by: Oliver Young-Apstein
Series: On Cravenwood Block Series, Book 2
Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚 📚📚 Story
Read at 1.00 on Audible

I received this audiobook for free from the author at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - nor did the author influence my opinion.

[DJ McCready · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series I have read. While it is exciting to have many of the same characters populate this book, there are two things about this book that make it pop out. Character development for both the main characters, and the introduction of Lulu and Ollie's father, all of whom you can feel you know. The second revolves around the fact that even though these two meet before they know they work with each other, it raises flags of professional versus personal, faced in many professions such as medicine, education, and most corporations. The Professional in this case involves discovering fraud and how it affects the personal. Thus, the book has lots of meat in the plot.

[Lori Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age gap perfection

Love Ollie and Bash's story. Both men with hard and troubled childhoods. Meeting and completing each other. With an almost 20 year age gap Sebastian wants nothing to do with the flirty over the top Ollie. Turns out Bash is Ollies new boss and the fireworks fly.
With persistence and care they slowly find their connection in this second book on Cravenwood Block.
5/5 stars

[Sarah Mitcham · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than They Had Ever Hoped For.

MM, Opposites Attract, Roommates to Lovers, Boss/Employee, Age Gap, Contemporary, Romance. Easy to read page-turner with insta attract, humour, heat, drama and intrigue. A great read with lots of ahhh and lol moments, can be read as a stand-alone with a guaranteed HEA

[ANNBOOKSHELF · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you need the walls broken down & find true reward and happiness!

Ollie is a champion to match making for others and avoid any relationship for himself. Bash is looking the part but doesn't realize he built up barricades no one can break down. Seeing these two is comical but common. Finding their "one" is sweet as honey. MM Romance!

[Kelli D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure if it was more or less than the first one. I liked it more cause the storyline wasn't crazy repetitive, and the MCs didn't hide their feelings the whole time. Although, it was a tad boring, too little angst even though the author tried. But wow, that first scene in Ollie's room....whoosh, still recovering from that one!

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ollie & Bash

This is a good age gap story. It wasn't quite as good as the first book in the series but it was still worth reading.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Altivo Overo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, fun characters

I could do with less irrelevant sexual detail though. Let the characters have their privacy please, it just distracts from the cleverly constructed plot line.

[Lindy Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Another fun read, Ollie and Bash's aunt Lulu were comical together, embarrassing conversations with no filter - loved it. Sweet story with a little bit of intrigue, ready for the next book.

[S.S. Scott | Romance Author and Fiction Story Coach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a cavity now

Talk about sickeningly sweet tooth-rotting fluff. It's been a LONG while since I finished a queer romance book in less than 12 hours. A.D. Ellis makes it easy to get lost on Cravenwood Block. Take a trip. Stay a while. If Bash found his forever, you will, too.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ollie & Bash

The Cravenwood Block crew are so much fun to read/listen to! Ollie & Bash's story is so sweet overall, and their connection and relationship soars over the age gap that Bash seems to think should matter. The guys discover they both had rough childhoods in one way or another. And come to discover a fascinating fate-like coincidence between their remaining families. This story just kept giving more and more reasons to love these two! There were some tense moments that encourages the guys to confess their feelings--to themselves, and one another, but very low on the angst overall.

The added side characters for each of our MCs were wonderful additions to the crew in this story as well. They all add a small element of humor and meld in well with all the love shared between the guys.

I received an authorized copy of this story/audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this read
This is the second book in the series called on Cravenwood block. I would say these are standalone books although I admit I did enjoy first book in the series and then to read about them now in this one cause I think they kinda happen side-by-side.
Ollie is one-of-a-kind and if honest I don’t think we could handle two of them. He is vibrant he is a lovely man who speaks his mind he doesn’t own a filter but you know where you stand. As he is with his best friend Leighton and his brother Julian grabbing something to eat he sees an extremely hot older man sat by himself and Ollie is instantly attracted to him and tells them both he won’t be leaving without his phone number. But Ollie being Ollie doesn’t just ask for a phone number he offers to make the man’s day a bit happier. But he turned him down and that just makes Ollie more determined to find out who he is and to get that date or hook up. Ollie has never had a relationship before always hook ups maybe a few dates but nothing that you would class as a relationship. So why has this wise owl tempted him.??
Sebastian or Bash as he likes to be known had had a hard few years. First he was in a relationship, it wasn’t a relationship of the heart he never gave him his heart but to come home and find him in bed with the pool boy would put a dampener on anything. Then a student makes accusations against him and although they are proven to be lies the rumours have gone around the college and all Bash wants to do is get out of there. Even though he’s done nothing wrong so now he finds himself starting a new job and looking for somewhere to live. He stops for a bite to eat only for a young lad who must be half his age come up and propositions him for a good time he quickly turned him down but for some reason Bash can’t get this guy out of his head. But he didn’t pass his phone number on so he’ll never see him again so concentrate on finding somewhere to live. Only to bump into him the next night at the bar . Where Ollie proposition Bash again and this time he finds it even harder to say no but they get talking and because the drink is flowing he tells Ollie nearly everything and Ollie says he knows somewhere that is going vacant so they exchange numbers. And it seems that there is a place going in the towers which would mean Work was just around the corner so Bash quickly agrees to the lease and can’t wait to get moving. But first he has to meet the staff of his new job and that is when he’s worked out that he must’ve done something really wrong in a previous life because who would be one of the teachers none other than Ollie . Even though Bash insist nothing will happen Ollie has different ideas and keeps flirting with him. Will Bash ever given in??
I thoroughly enjoyed this read honestly I found myself smiling nearly the whole way through I thoroughly enjoyed Ollie I just thought I wish I was more like him didn’t hold back just told people what I thought and enjoyed life. But I understand Bash. I understand his struggles to work out if they would make a good couple if people would think he was taking advantage of a young man or because he was taking advantage because he was his boss so many reasons but what they couldn’t play down was the attraction between these two and I tell you who else I liked? Lulu oh I nearly gave the game away then because that’s one thing I found utterly frustrating was throughout the beginning of the book until you find out who Lulu is it drove me crazy not knowing. I am super excited now for the third book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Georgette B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.D.Ellis creates a lovely age gap story of two wounded men who find friendship and love with easy other. Sebastian “Bash” Evans is a man looking for a break as he regroups from a few life disappointments. After a bad break-up and a lie that cost him his career, Bash takes a job he intends to be a resume builder, in Cravenwood. He did not expect to meet Oliver “Ollie” Meyer, a man nearly twenty years younger with a tornado personality. He also does not expect to become smitten or allow his carefully built wall to toppled over by said tornado. What did they say about making plans😂😂😬?

Ollie, his brother Julian, and his best friend Leighton, share an apartment in the building managed by Julian. The apartment, which can house up to eight people, just happens to have a vacancy. Ollie knows what he wants and that happens to be Bash. A chance meeting leads to a conversation where Bash tells Ollie that he is new to the area and looking for a place to live. Well isn’t this perfect?? Why not take advantage of this opportunity to have Bash close? After some relentless flirting by Ollie, Bash decides to call Julian about the apartment. What neither man knew when they exchanged information, was that Bash would be Ollie’s new boss 😬😬! Whoops, living with the man you are low-key crushing on who happens to be your staff member, this doesn’t have trouble written on it, does it?

A few arguments, even more misguided assumptions, lots more flirting, some danger, and a friendship building road-trip later, we have a HFN. This story is chock full of all the things you expect and a little more. Although this is the second book in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

What I liked about this book:
1. First person narrative
2. Great characters
3. Interesting plot twist
4. This story and the first book in the series exist on a similar timeline-but don’t let that dissuade you from reading book one, there are no repeats in the stories (believe me, I checked)
5. HFN ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story but Bash drove me nuts

I loved Jett and Leighton's story and this one is set in the same time frame, but you do not have to read the first book to understand this one.
I loved Ollie, cut from the same no filter cloth as his best friend Leighton. His runaway mouth covered up his childhood issues, but at least he was working on them.
Bash was nearly two decades older and also had childhood issues but his way of dealing with them was to concentrate on how things looked to everyone else instead of living a real and honest life.
Events threw Bash into Ollie's path and there was an instant attraction but Bash kept denying his feelings and that's what drove me nuts. He kept using the excuses of age, working together, and not staying around in Cravenwood for long, but it got so old so quickly and I got fed up of hearing those three things lobbed at Ollie on every page. To be honest, that's why the three stars.
Once Bash got over himself, the story heated up and got better. The Education Centre thread of the story was woven in throughout and I didn't foresee the events at the end, which were a good payoff.
Seeing the camaraderie building between the eight men thrown together as roommates was nice and I'm desperate to know what poor Shaw has been through.
Honours for the best characters goes to LuLu. She was an absolute scream and I adored her. Julian and Ollie's dad, Roger, took second place. Ollie's description of how supportive his dad was and the lengths he went to when Ollie came out to him made me crack up. What a wonderful man.

[GhostMMreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I found Bash extremely annoying. For months he constantly repeated to himself and others that nothing could have happen between him and Ollie because he was too old, he wouldn’t have stayed long enough at his new job and he had been cheated on by his former lover. All groundless excuses, and Ollie had to show great patience to prove Bash wrong.

The dynamic between the two MCs is well summarised in this statement by Bash: “Until I met you, I had no idea. I thought if I had the right look, the right job, the right superficial relationship, I’d have it, or eventually find it. Then you barreled into my life, my own little human wrecking ball, and destroyed me.”

Overall I preferred the character of Ollie because he grew throughout the story from overexhuberant annoying (apparently) superficial to over-the-top sweet caring, but always determined to break Bash’s façade. Bash was more bi-dimensional.

Fortunately at the end Bash gave in and accepted that all his bad experiences and fate have brought him to the right place at the right time to meet Ollie and fall in love for the first time.

It was nice to read also how the other three couples of Cravenwood Block are developing. This story partially overlaps the events of the first book of the series. Even though reading the first book is not essential, Jett and Leighton play an important part in this story so why not read their book?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ollie and Bash's Story . . .

Sebastian Evans (“Bash”) has had a rough time lately. A break-up and loss of his job means he has to move away and start over. The job just to hold him over until he finds something that is a better fit for his talents. Appearances are important to him, so he won’t be staying here for long.

At a diner, Bash meets Oliver Meyer (“Ollie”). Ollie is a firecracker, high energy kind of guy. There is probably not a shy bone in his body. So he tries to proposition Bash as soon as he sees him. And it won’t be the first time, because Ollie doesn’t believe in failure and will eagerly keep trying the next time he sees him. In fact, when he hears Bash just moved here and needs a place to stay, he puts him in touch with Julian who manages the 8-room apartment where Ollie lives.

Because the surprises never end, Ollie meets his new boss who turns out to be Bash! Will that put the brakes on any potential relationship for these two? The potential for more scandal might scare Bash away.

Ollie is so much fun. He has an unquenchable spirit and I enjoyed his antics. Bash can be a downer, but he has had some tough experiences, one right after the other. So I can understand his attitude. Will the two of them get to know each other and eventually take a chance on a relationship? Or will Bash choose to be much more careful this time about getting in troublesome situations?

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music director Ollie doesn't hold back as he has no filter and so drives right in and propositions the sexy older man he sees in the Crawnwood diner and isn't deterred when he gets shot down. Then he remembers he needs to think about tomorrow and the new boss he will get at work and focuses on that. School manager Sebastian is in a hole and so takes the job at Cravenwood Block as a stepping stone to getting up and out of the hole he is in but has no plans to stick around. If he could find a place to live and get started on working through this temporary obstacle can start to feel more confident. Ollie and Bash don't have any business getting involved by fate have a different plan as too many things bring them back together again showing that they have much more in common than their messy pasts.

I enjoyed this story with the older Bash who is very uptight and restrained and the younger Ollie who is just delightful with his total lack of filter and exuberant nature. They truly were opposites and yet they were also made for each other as together they created a balance. I loved the way that Bash's elderly relative helped Ollie to break down some of the barriers that were stopping him from involvement and commitment. It was easy to read, feel and understand so I was fully engaged with and behind the characters. This MM story contains mature content in a steamy, opposites attract roommates to lovers age-gap romance.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ollie and Bash is a great addition to this series by A.D. Ellis. It's a fun, sweet and sexy read that's also a slow burner as Bash is really reluctant to get involved with someone younger than him, burned by events in recent years and not sure on his future. Ollie is entertaining, saying what's on his mind, really quite forward in all of their interactions whilst also respecting Bash's limits.
When it's discovered they work together as well, Bash is quite horrified and just adds that to his reasons it wouldn't be a good idea but Ollie is quite a hard man to refuse, especially when he only grows to like him more and more as a person as he gets to know him. Both men have a bad history when it comes to their childhoods which have in turn affected their relationships but this may be the one person meant for them, it at least seems that fate thinks so with all of the ways it throws them together.
There are a great cast of characters here, I especially love Lulu! It's great that we get more time with the roommates from Cravenwood Block. They come together even more, feeling like a found family and showing the bonds that form between them all and all possible and established couples.
An entertaining read from the start. A slow burn romance with very little angst but there is a slightly dramatic end in the plot of the story.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Roger R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the 2nd book in the “On Cravenwood Block” series! This one was definitely a page-turner for me because of the thriller plot. A great reading!!!! It’s not necessary to read the book prior to this one but always nice. I love how the author would combine the books in the series all at the same time rather than at different times.

The story focuses on Ollie, a musical director for a private school and his quest to seduce this hot older guy he saw sitting at a bar one evening over the weekend. After letting his friends (characters from the other books in the series) know he was going to go up to that hot guy and make a proposition. He did so but the guy turned him down. That guy was Sebastian “Bash” who was trying to find a place close to the job he was recently hired for at the nearby private school. The next night, Ollie bumped into him and offered again but once again was turned down. However, they got to talking and Ollie found out Bash was looking for a place to live in the area. He quickly offered Bash to contact his brother who was the apartment manager since they had some rooms available for rent and cheap. Bash was able to secure a room right in the same unit as Ollie. That’s where I’m going to stop and have you pick up the book to read to find out what happens. 5 stars from me!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed parts of this story more than others, but I have to say that I enjoyed the actual MCs better in the first book better. I was leery going into this story after meeting Ollie in book one, but it is actually a cute story with a bit of (non-sexy) action.

Ollie lives loud and in your face, and comes across as quite conceited and obnoxious at first, IMO. Learning his background and emotions does soften his rough edges, and allowed me to warm up to his character.

Seth is older and a bit cynical and jaded at the beginning. He comes across as a bit snobby and conceited, but the story allowed his personality room to grow. These two are an unlikely pair, but it's almost like they are made for each other there are so many coincidences.

One thing I will say is that the sexy times are hot. There's one scene in particular near the beginning that will stay in my memory for a while to come. Overall, I did enjoy the book. It is well written and edited well. I do recommend reading Jett and Leighton, book one of the series, first,; however it is not actually necessary to the main story. Of course, our characters get their HEA.

Happy reading!

* I received a review copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review. *

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 of the On Cravenwood Block series. You don't have to have read the previous one to enjoy this one. Each book features a different couple. This time is Ollie and Bash. Ollie is the brother of Julian and a music teacher. He has no filter and is outgoing. But it is a facade hiding the pain he still feels from his mother's treatment and lifestyle while growing up. Bash is a divorced university professor who is reeling from yet another bump in the road. His ex cheated on him and then a student made false accusations against him. The accusations went away but the stain lingers. So Bash has decided to take a job that he is perhaps overqualified for, to reset his life and find his real perfect job. After all, it is only a year. The first time they meet, you will laugh out loud. Fate keeps throwing the two of them together. Both have had a lot of knocks in life. They have armour coated their hearts. This is their story. I enjoyed this book. It is well written and very easy to read. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Romantic888 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really fun read in this series
Wow! I laughed so hard with this one. Ollie is completely over the top yet incredibly endearing, much like Leighton but in a surprisingly different way. The story starts with Ollie being stressed about meeting a new boss and hitting on a much older Bash at a bar not realizing that Bash is actually that new boss he’s been worried about. Ollie propositions Bash, and with Bash’s history of being cheated on and then having his reputation tarnished by a student, he turns Ollie down even though he really doesn’t want to. Ollie doesn’t give up, and the way he engages with Bash is just hilarious. Of course, they end up rooming together at Cravenwood apartments, and their story is very well told, with great chemistry between the main characters and a wonderful supporting cast, especially Lulu. Ollie is adorably sincere, and Bash can’t help being drawn in. This is another heartwarming story, and I love this group of men already. I can’t wait to read Julian and Shaw’s story next. Highly recommend!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy M. (Amy Loves Reading Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t help but devour these books as quickly as I am because I am so in love with this little group of friends!! I am so swept up in each story and need more from each!!

I knew how much I already thought of Ollie and I thought he may have a past but nothing prepared me for the explosion of emotions they both had pent up! I felt so horrible about things that happened to Ollie in the past and present!

I had a feeling Bash would be harder to crack and let his feelings shine but with each thing that led them to be more intertwined together made me that much more giddy! I had so many questions about Bash than Ollie because he was so secretive but I also respected he’d been hurt before.

I love this pair so much and the way they were around each other. Could Ollie be a bit much a times, yes; but Leighton was a bit much too and it seemed to work for each of them. The over the top was just who they were and it was some times funny as heck, others annoyingish but mostly I loved this group! Doesn’t matter about other things, what matters is that they find and figure their happily ever afters!

[Dear Reader 0801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the prior book in the series and getting a nice intro to the series and characters, I was glad I got to read Ollie and Bash’s story. Ollie seemed like a fun character in Leighton and Jett’s story and his character was a blast. His personality is similar to Leighton is some ways.

Ollie is a force to be reckoned with and has such a strong personality. He seems so sure of himself and is a lot to handle. Compare that to Bash who is coming out of a series of bad situations and it’s overwhelming. He is less sure of himself, more reserved. His reluctance to take any interest any further due to his concerns about age, workplace is a fair share of the book for this slow burn romance. There are some witty moments, a mystery subplot and a bigger look at some of the other characters in the series. I look forward to reading Julian and Shaw’s book. I think this can definitely be read as a stand-alone but think reading the prior book is helpful.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamie Plume · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new series from A.D. Ellis is really starting to make me feel like I know all of these characters like family. Ollie was always the loyal and supportive friend in the first book in this series. It is awesome to see what makes him tick and what in his past molded him to the man he is today. Ollie is probably one of my favorite characters because while he is responsible and loyal there is also a fun and flirty side to him. Sebastian (Bash to his friends) comes off as more serious and withdrawn. As we start to learn about what brings him to Cravenwood block we start to realize that is how he is because of different things that happened to him over time. I absolutely love that Ollie is able to break though those walls and show Bash what fun can be. Watching the two of them over come so many different barriers makes me smile and feel as if I am a good friend watching this all unfold. As the story processes and we get to see other characters it also makes me impatient to read their stories and see how their relationships play out.

[Shelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I fully understand why Julian thinks Ollie & Leighton need supervision! Ollie is a handful but paired up with Leighton, it is an entirely new level. We saw some of his personality in Lee and Jett's book but seeing all of his over-the-top style in everything and understand why, he is amazing! Love me some Ollie.
Bash is also very impressive. While he is trying to get his life together again after several setbacks, he meets the very flirtatious Ollie. Little do they know that they are about to start working together and living in the same unit.
The two of them are super sweet together with both of them offering support to the other while working through personal issues past and present. All while trying to stay professional at work. Will they be able to handle all the changes? Well, dive into the book and see, you will not be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness - Bash and Ollie together were like your favorite loud sweater and favorite comfy jeans. Ollie was over the top, which took me a couple of chapters to get comfortable with him, and Bash was adorably subdued. Together, they were a perfect combo.

This book contains great tropes - age gap, boss/employee romance - with a side helping of mystery, Bash and Ollie have more similar backgrounds than they realize at first and they both protect their hearts in different ways. It was so lovely to see them come together - not to mention super hot! They were so perfect together and I could feel their emotional connection coming right off the page.

I love how Bash called Ollie "Oliver" - swoon. I love how they snuggled together when they slept. I love how Bash came to realize he loved Ollie. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read about Julian and Shaw next!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.