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Wildwood Society #2
The Two Week Roommate
We used to be best friends. Now we’re snowed in together.
There are probably worse things than being stuck in a remote cabin with the rugged-yet-grumpy forest ranger who saved my life in a blizzard. Bear maulings, for example, though I might prefer that to eating breakfast with Gideon Bell, the guy who nearly ruined my life when we were kids.
It was twenty years ago. We haven’t spoken since. Our families still hate each other, and our lives are completely different. I’m not sure we’ve got anything in common besides childhood memories.
But when it’s just the two of us for a couple of weeks, none of that really matters.
What matters is the way Gideon grumbles, but makes my tea exactly the way I like it. What matters is how he always gives me the spot on the couch closest to the fireplace. What matters is how he looks at me when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
And those childhood memories? He’s in all my favorites.
Up here, in the cabin, it’s easy to look past all that because it feels so good to kiss him. It’s easy to spend a wild night in front of the fireplace and wake up still wrapped together. But back in the real world, where everything that drove us apart is still alive and kicking? It’s a lot harder.
Can Gideon and I fix what broke twenty years ago, or does what happens in the cabin have to stay in the cabin?
There are probably worse things than being stuck in a remote cabin with the rugged-yet-grumpy forest ranger who saved my life in a blizzard. Bear maulings, for example, though I might prefer that to eating breakfast with Gideon Bell, the guy who nearly ruined my life when we were kids.
It was twenty years ago. We haven’t spoken since. Our families still hate each other, and our lives are completely different. I’m not sure we’ve got anything in common besides childhood memories.
But when it’s just the two of us for a couple of weeks, none of that really matters.
What matters is the way Gideon grumbles, but makes my tea exactly the way I like it. What matters is how he always gives me the spot on the couch closest to the fireplace. What matters is how he looks at me when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
And those childhood memories? He’s in all my favorites.
Up here, in the cabin, it’s easy to look past all that because it feels so good to kiss him. It’s easy to spend a wild night in front of the fireplace and wake up still wrapped together. But back in the real world, where everything that drove us apart is still alive and kicking? It’s a lot harder.
Can Gideon and I fix what broke twenty years ago, or does what happens in the cabin have to stay in the cabin?
436 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2023
163 people are currently reading
8025 people want to read
About the author
Roxie Noir
44 books3,504 followersRoxie is a romance author by day, and also a romance author by night. She lives in Los Angeles with one husband, two cats, far too many books, and a truly alarming pile of used notebooks that she refuses to throw away.
She's the author of the Loveless Brothers series, the upcoming Wildwood Society series, and a bunch of other books that are also delightful.
If you need updates or free stories, you can sign up for her newsletter: http://roxienoir.com/newsletter
She's the author of the Loveless Brothers series, the upcoming Wildwood Society series, and a bunch of other books that are also delightful.
If you need updates or free stories, you can sign up for her newsletter: http://roxienoir.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
September 21, 2023
so the premise is about two ex childhood friends spending time at a cabin alone. sounds good right? and first half of the book delivers that 😌
She was the best part of my childhood, and I was the worst part of hers.
gideon saves andie from a very dangerous and dumb situation. as a result they got stuck in a remote cabin alone 🤭 they haven't spoken for 20 years since gideon revealed a big family secret of andie's. (her dad was secretly gay and gideon told this to his parents, big drama they had to move out from town) 😔 anyways it's been 20 years and obviously andie forgives him.
“You’re smiling,” she says, like I could be doing anything else when she’s this close and this happy.
gideon was really sweet. looking so grumpy but he was shy and blushed easily 🤭 he also had mommy and and daddy issues and every other issue that comes with that weird household ✋🏼🥺
so the first half was really cute when they were trapped in the cabin. but when they get back to the city? i started to get bored 🥱
👨👩👧👦 gideon has a cult like family who are extremely religious and very cult-like(seriously what was that) 😐 but there were SO MANY details about his family. he has 12 siblings and if they aren't getting their own books why did i read about them so much???? 🤨 also the villains of the story(his family) didn't get any punishment in the end so i don't know it didn't satisfy me 😔😔😔
overall i enjoyed the book. but i was expecting something different, maybe more time at the cabin alone😔 the family drama was too much for me and it wasn't going anywhere😶
☣️ no owd/omd, he's a virgin and she's not, no third act. religious trauma, corporal punishment of a child, homophobia, conversion camps, transphobia, slut shaming......(all the trigger warnings come from his family)
~~~~~
aHHHHH she just posted the cover on twitter and it looks AMAZING!!! i'm SO excited for this!!!!
She was the best part of my childhood, and I was the worst part of hers.
gideon saves andie from a very dangerous and dumb situation. as a result they got stuck in a remote cabin alone 🤭 they haven't spoken for 20 years since gideon revealed a big family secret of andie's. (her dad was secretly gay and gideon told this to his parents, big drama they had to move out from town) 😔 anyways it's been 20 years and obviously andie forgives him.
“You’re smiling,” she says, like I could be doing anything else when she’s this close and this happy.
gideon was really sweet. looking so grumpy but he was shy and blushed easily 🤭 he also had mommy and and daddy issues and every other issue that comes with that weird household ✋🏼🥺
so the first half was really cute when they were trapped in the cabin. but when they get back to the city? i started to get bored 🥱
👨👩👧👦 gideon has a cult like family who are extremely religious and very cult-like(seriously what was that) 😐 but there were SO MANY details about his family. he has 12 siblings and if they aren't getting their own books why did i read about them so much???? 🤨 also the villains of the story(his family) didn't get any punishment in the end so i don't know it didn't satisfy me 😔😔😔
overall i enjoyed the book. but i was expecting something different, maybe more time at the cabin alone😔 the family drama was too much for me and it wasn't going anywhere😶
☣️ no owd/omd, he's a virgin and she's not, no third act. religious trauma, corporal punishment of a child, homophobia, conversion camps, transphobia, slut shaming......(all the trigger warnings come from his family)
~~~~~
aHHHHH she just posted the cover on twitter and it looks AMAZING!!! i'm SO excited for this!!!!
September 23, 2023
I had such a fun and emotional time reading this book. There are a lot of family dramatic undercurrents and issues in this story along with religious lifestyle pressures (including mention of family disownment related to coming out as LGBTQ), just FYI.
Andi (h) was all sorts of messy chaos, but with a sunshiney element to her, still with an edge when needed. Gideon (H) was grumpy and blushingly secretly a marshmallow inside, trying to hold everyone he cared about together since he was protective. They were childhood best friends whose friendship ended dramatically because of secrets being shared in a small town. Years later, Gideon rescues Andi during a blizzard and they spend a couple weeks holed up in a cabin, having to deal with tension over the past, differences in personalities, and a new, sexual tension. But of course they can't spend forever at the cabin and when they get back to regular life, some of that drama that affected them as kids adds pressures on them as adults. Gideon and Andi were lovely together though and brought lots of humor in addition to the feels and the steam. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, h not a virgin and H was a virgin (though he had some experience).
My favorite parts of the story were the stranded in the cabin in the woods scenes, which was the first half of the book. I liked both Andi and Gideon so much and the way they fought, but also cared about each other made for an engrossing read. They are very uncertain at first though and not the best with communication. Gideon was also very guilty over the past and awkward. Andi had a certain magic with him though, getting him to loosen up and pushing him to try things he wouldn't normally do. The sexual tension was excellent and the initial overtures into spicy times and romance were great. There are several steamy scenes, with a lot of lead up to the main event and the eventual "deflowering" of Gideon (later in the book) lol.
Once they had to leave the cabin though, Gideon's family causes problems, just like in the past. His parents (along with a couple of siblings) were awful and reminded me of quite a few individuals I've known previously. Gideon desperately wanted to keep the peace and ride a fine line so he could have relationships with all of his family, but it was complicated. I personally had a lot of empathy for Gideon and have had to ride a fine line with family in a similar way so the latter part of the story with the family drama really resonated with me and I think made me still enjoy what might otherwise have been too much drama. I actually thought it was realistic that while there's direct conflict and a showdown happens, there's not a tidy resolution. Feelings remain complicated unfortunately, even if Gideon and Andi don't feel complicated about each other, instead they choose and support each other (no third act breakup).
The rest of the Wildwood Society make appearances (Gideon's friends) and some of Gideon's enormous family. He lives with a brother and is known as the mediator for other members of his family. I still think Gideon's friendships are so healthy and sweet. Andi has an amazing family support system in contrast to Gideon's less loving one, although hers is a bit smothering (in a cute way). Animal friends are also highlights, Gideon has a murder cat who was hilarious, in addition to rescuing and working with animals.
The epilogue is a bit of a time jump ahead that was fun and sweet. There's an additional bonus scene you can get for signing up for the author's newsletter that's more fun and sweetness. Overall, I enjoyed this one just as much as the first book, but I do think some readers may have a hard time with some of the themes and with all of the family drama in the second half of the book, along with the fact that there's no direct comeuppance for Gideon's family.
Andi (h) was all sorts of messy chaos, but with a sunshiney element to her, still with an edge when needed. Gideon (H) was grumpy and blushingly secretly a marshmallow inside, trying to hold everyone he cared about together since he was protective. They were childhood best friends whose friendship ended dramatically because of secrets being shared in a small town. Years later, Gideon rescues Andi during a blizzard and they spend a couple weeks holed up in a cabin, having to deal with tension over the past, differences in personalities, and a new, sexual tension. But of course they can't spend forever at the cabin and when they get back to regular life, some of that drama that affected them as kids adds pressures on them as adults. Gideon and Andi were lovely together though and brought lots of humor in addition to the feels and the steam. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, h not a virgin and H was a virgin (though he had some experience).
My favorite parts of the story were the stranded in the cabin in the woods scenes, which was the first half of the book. I liked both Andi and Gideon so much and the way they fought, but also cared about each other made for an engrossing read. They are very uncertain at first though and not the best with communication. Gideon was also very guilty over the past and awkward. Andi had a certain magic with him though, getting him to loosen up and pushing him to try things he wouldn't normally do. The sexual tension was excellent and the initial overtures into spicy times and romance were great. There are several steamy scenes, with a lot of lead up to the main event and the eventual "deflowering" of Gideon (later in the book) lol.
Once they had to leave the cabin though, Gideon's family causes problems, just like in the past. His parents (along with a couple of siblings) were awful and reminded me of quite a few individuals I've known previously. Gideon desperately wanted to keep the peace and ride a fine line so he could have relationships with all of his family, but it was complicated. I personally had a lot of empathy for Gideon and have had to ride a fine line with family in a similar way so the latter part of the story with the family drama really resonated with me and I think made me still enjoy what might otherwise have been too much drama. I actually thought it was realistic that while there's direct conflict and a showdown happens, there's not a tidy resolution. Feelings remain complicated unfortunately, even if Gideon and Andi don't feel complicated about each other, instead they choose and support each other (no third act breakup).
The rest of the Wildwood Society make appearances (Gideon's friends) and some of Gideon's enormous family. He lives with a brother and is known as the mediator for other members of his family. I still think Gideon's friendships are so healthy and sweet. Andi has an amazing family support system in contrast to Gideon's less loving one, although hers is a bit smothering (in a cute way). Animal friends are also highlights, Gideon has a murder cat who was hilarious, in addition to rescuing and working with animals.
The epilogue is a bit of a time jump ahead that was fun and sweet. There's an additional bonus scene you can get for signing up for the author's newsletter that's more fun and sweetness. Overall, I enjoyed this one just as much as the first book, but I do think some readers may have a hard time with some of the themes and with all of the family drama in the second half of the book, along with the fact that there's no direct comeuppance for Gideon's family.
February 15, 2025
I love me a blushing hero
And he’s a grump too… but I love that his blushing gets intense when it’s her 🥹.
Andi (32) has tied herself to a tree because she’s protesting mining and Gideon (32), now a forest ranger, has to go and rescue her because of the intense storm going on 😅. Neither of them can believe their luck- it’s been 20 years since they’ve been around each other 😬 and it’s tense 😅. They’re forced to seek refuge in a cabin, and a loooot of emotions they have been buried surface.
They have to face their feelings and the reasons why they had a falling out. Gideon’s family is HIGHLY religious, and THATS what caused the rift between their families ☹️.
Even though it’s been twenty years, their connection’s there, and with their forced proximity, they’re about to find out how intense it’s gonna get 😉.
What I liked/loved:
—how cute Gideon is 🥹. Yes. He’s a grump. But come on, he blushes too 🫠 ESPECIALLY when it came to their 🔥
—how sweet and protective he came be 🫶 sure he’s a grump, but he can become a puddle of goo for her ❤️
—the 🔥. I love a good build to it. We get some 🔥 related to their hands before 50% and their mouths by 60%. But the grand finale happens at about 70% when Gideon finally loses his 🔥 v
—the fact that Gideon remained a v (for the most part because he did some other stuff before). Why does this matter? Because he’s EAGER (🔥🫠😮💨🥵💦) to learn and asks question 👏🏻. He doesn’t shy with asking for directions or what makes her tick 💦
—the times I laughed 🤣. ERMAGOD the way these two play monopoly is the way my family plays Uno 🤣 intensely and ruthlessly 🤣🤣🤣🔥🤡💀
—Gideon standing up for his sibling 🫶
—the cats 🤣
—the 🌈 repping ❤️🫶 love is love 🫶
What I didn’t like/wanted more of: SPOILERS
—some of Gideon’s family 😑 especially considering the reasons why they had their falling out two decades before
—the fact that Gideon got a vasectomy 😭. I mean. They’re reversible, but still 😭 he doesn’t wanna have kids 😭
—a better epilogue 😭. The only in the book is the wedding one. I sighed up for the bonus epilogue so I might change this 👀
Overall, I loved it
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-homophobia/transphobia
-slut shaming
-religious trauma/mentions of corporal punishment
-the H’s parents try to send their friends daughters to the H 🙄. He turns them down
-biting
-virgin H (more like a nonvirgin virgin)had a vasectomy at 29/h isn’t a virgin
-condoms then none. Both clean
And he’s a grump too… but I love that his blushing gets intense when it’s her 🥹.
Andi (32) has tied herself to a tree because she’s protesting mining and Gideon (32), now a forest ranger, has to go and rescue her because of the intense storm going on 😅. Neither of them can believe their luck- it’s been 20 years since they’ve been around each other 😬 and it’s tense 😅. They’re forced to seek refuge in a cabin, and a loooot of emotions they have been buried surface.
They have to face their feelings and the reasons why they had a falling out. Gideon’s family is HIGHLY religious, and THATS what caused the rift between their families ☹️.
Even though it’s been twenty years, their connection’s there, and with their forced proximity, they’re about to find out how intense it’s gonna get 😉.
What I liked/loved:
—how cute Gideon is 🥹. Yes. He’s a grump. But come on, he blushes too 🫠 ESPECIALLY when it came to their 🔥
—how sweet and protective he came be 🫶 sure he’s a grump, but he can become a puddle of goo for her ❤️
—the 🔥. I love a good build to it. We get some 🔥 related to their hands before 50% and their mouths by 60%. But the grand finale happens at about 70% when Gideon finally loses his 🔥 v
—the fact that Gideon remained a v (for the most part because he did some other stuff before). Why does this matter? Because he’s EAGER (🔥🫠😮💨🥵💦) to learn and asks question 👏🏻. He doesn’t shy with asking for directions or what makes her tick 💦
—the times I laughed 🤣. ERMAGOD the way these two play monopoly is the way my family plays Uno 🤣 intensely and ruthlessly 🤣🤣🤣🔥🤡💀
—Gideon standing up for his sibling 🫶
—the cats 🤣
—the 🌈 repping ❤️🫶 love is love 🫶
What I didn’t like/wanted more of: SPOILERS
—some of Gideon’s family 😑 especially considering the reasons why they had their falling out two decades before
—the fact that Gideon got a vasectomy 😭. I mean. They’re reversible, but still 😭 he doesn’t wanna have kids 😭
—a better epilogue 😭. The only in the book is the wedding one. I sighed up for the bonus epilogue so I might change this 👀
Overall, I loved it
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-homophobia/transphobia
-slut shaming
-religious trauma/mentions of corporal punishment
-the H’s parents try to send their friends daughters to the H 🙄. He turns them down
-biting
-virgin H (more like a nonvirgin virgin)had a vasectomy at 29/h isn’t a virgin
-condoms then none. Both clean
February 18, 2024
3.5 stars. This book was a mixed bag. The first half was really fun and light and mostly sweet. The second half wasn’t as good. There were some really questionable decisions made by the author that made little sense to me, and I wish she had handled some parts of this story differently.
The hero and heroine were best friends as kids, until middle school, when the hero outed the heroine’s dads, a gay couple. The small southern town where they lived was, unsurprisingly, pretty hostile towards them. So the heroine and her dads moved away. They are separated for about twenty years, when the heroine comes back and lives with her aunt. The first half of the book the MCs are trapped together in a cabin, getting to know each other again. They quickly reconnect and resume their friendship, but also feel a new attraction to each other that never existed when they were kids.
The hero has a lot of issues with his family, and with his religious upbringing. His family are mostly all very hardcore religious fanatics - who seemingly have nothing but hate in their hearts for anything that doesn’t align with their world view. They are divided into factions, on the one side are those who toe the line, and on the other are the few siblings who have been disowned for various reasons (being gay, transgender, having premarital sex). The hero tries hard to be the neutral party between all of them, and his neutrality is pretty frustrating in the second half of the book. He has a lot of issues trying to seperate the things he had beaten into him from what he knows is right.
I think my biggest issue with this book is HOW the hero overcame his problems. This guy needed therapy. Badly. But was it ever mentioned or suggested? No. He had a lot of guilt surrounding sex, but instead of trying to work through it with a therapist, he goes from feeling guilty at every small interaction with the heroine… to having nearly public sex with her a few times. It’s all just too much to believe, way too unrealistic imo. The same can be said about how he deals with his family. He spent years appeasing them, only to magically find the backbone to cut them off finally? I’m definitely oversimplifying how this all went down, but it really isn’t too far off from what happened in the story. The bottom line, it all felt a little too simplified and easy, and a lot was left unresolved. Also, the various conflicts with the hero’s family just left both MCs seeming pretty immature and juvenile. Not really a light I want to see my MCs in. I was hoping for some better comeuppance or something for the religious nut jobs.
Anyways, this book could have been so much better, but the second half just totally went off the rails.
Safe
-Heroine not a virgin, her past isn’t really discussed in detail except for a couple throwaway lines
-Hero is a virgin but he had been with women in other ways besides actually losing his v-card, this part didn’t get too specific and was kinda hard to understand because he spoke a lot about feeling guilt after the acts and being drunk sometimes beforehand just to be willing to do anything. But then there were some lines that kinda contradicted that too. Not sure what the author was fully trying to convey here. Probably just that he had a complicated relationship with sex because of his upbringing.
- No scenes with OM/OW
- No OM drama
-Mild OW drama because there are many of his parents friends who try to throw their daughters at the hero and set him up with OW, but the hero isn’t interested. The heroine does feel some uncertainty because of it.
-No cheating
The hero and heroine were best friends as kids, until middle school, when the hero outed the heroine’s dads, a gay couple. The small southern town where they lived was, unsurprisingly, pretty hostile towards them. So the heroine and her dads moved away. They are separated for about twenty years, when the heroine comes back and lives with her aunt. The first half of the book the MCs are trapped together in a cabin, getting to know each other again. They quickly reconnect and resume their friendship, but also feel a new attraction to each other that never existed when they were kids.
The hero has a lot of issues with his family, and with his religious upbringing. His family are mostly all very hardcore religious fanatics - who seemingly have nothing but hate in their hearts for anything that doesn’t align with their world view. They are divided into factions, on the one side are those who toe the line, and on the other are the few siblings who have been disowned for various reasons (being gay, transgender, having premarital sex). The hero tries hard to be the neutral party between all of them, and his neutrality is pretty frustrating in the second half of the book. He has a lot of issues trying to seperate the things he had beaten into him from what he knows is right.
I think my biggest issue with this book is HOW the hero overcame his problems. This guy needed therapy. Badly. But was it ever mentioned or suggested? No. He had a lot of guilt surrounding sex, but instead of trying to work through it with a therapist, he goes from feeling guilty at every small interaction with the heroine… to having nearly public sex with her a few times. It’s all just too much to believe, way too unrealistic imo. The same can be said about how he deals with his family. He spent years appeasing them, only to magically find the backbone to cut them off finally? I’m definitely oversimplifying how this all went down, but it really isn’t too far off from what happened in the story. The bottom line, it all felt a little too simplified and easy, and a lot was left unresolved. Also, the various conflicts with the hero’s family just left both MCs seeming pretty immature and juvenile. Not really a light I want to see my MCs in. I was hoping for some better comeuppance or something for the religious nut jobs.
Anyways, this book could have been so much better, but the second half just totally went off the rails.
Safe
-Heroine not a virgin, her past isn’t really discussed in detail except for a couple throwaway lines
-Hero is a virgin but he had been with women in other ways besides actually losing his v-card, this part didn’t get too specific and was kinda hard to understand because he spoke a lot about feeling guilt after the acts and being drunk sometimes beforehand just to be willing to do anything. But then there were some lines that kinda contradicted that too. Not sure what the author was fully trying to convey here. Probably just that he had a complicated relationship with sex because of his upbringing.
- No scenes with OM/OW
- No OM drama
-Mild OW drama because there are many of his parents friends who try to throw their daughters at the hero and set him up with OW, but the hero isn’t interested. The heroine does feel some uncertainty because of it.
-No cheating
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2024
Started out super cute but the last 40% felt like a completely different book.
August 21, 2023
Thanks to the author for the ARC! I’m such a huge Roxie Noir fan, she never fails to bring humor as well as heat. This book was touching and also a lot of fun.
Gideon was a really unique hero as an older virgin still recovering from some religious trauma in his upbringing. I loved that he was decidedly grumpy and awkward while still managing to convey so much love for his siblings and his friends, not to mention his cat and the wild animal recovery he ran.
Andi was complete chaos and I loved her too - from the random questions in her head to her spontaneous decisions (not always good ones) and her bluntness. I thought the way she’d been directly affected by Gideon’s upbringing was fascinating and yet it was good they’d both had plenty of time to grow and process their history.
If I had one bone to pick, it’s that the book just kind of ends - it feels right for the characters, but I wish there could have been more closure with Gideon’s horrible parents. This felt true to life as villains don’t always get come-uppance and especially when villains are family members, it’s complicated to navigate, but I was left wishing they’d drive off a cliff or something.
Gideon was a really unique hero as an older virgin still recovering from some religious trauma in his upbringing. I loved that he was decidedly grumpy and awkward while still managing to convey so much love for his siblings and his friends, not to mention his cat and the wild animal recovery he ran.
Andi was complete chaos and I loved her too - from the random questions in her head to her spontaneous decisions (not always good ones) and her bluntness. I thought the way she’d been directly affected by Gideon’s upbringing was fascinating and yet it was good they’d both had plenty of time to grow and process their history.
If I had one bone to pick, it’s that the book just kind of ends - it feels right for the characters, but I wish there could have been more closure with Gideon’s horrible parents. This felt true to life as villains don’t always get come-uppance and especially when villains are family members, it’s complicated to navigate, but I was left wishing they’d drive off a cliff or something.
August 21, 2023
3.75⭐️!! This gave me all the cozy winter vibes and I really liked it. Two ex best friends are now forced to spend two weeks in a cabin in the middle of the woods snowed in. Nothing could go wrong right? Right….?
There were lots of things I enjoyed about this and a few things I struggled with BUT!! What I enjoyed was the honest conversations and chemistry between the two characters. They were both so precious and innocent (at times 😉) while doing any thing they could to spend time together. The aspect of being snowed in was so fun. And the banter was AMAZING!!
The ending felt a little anti climactic and rushed. I needed a little more clarity on a few things and wished they had wrapped up a bit better. Unless, there’s plans for other books with characters from this book.
A lot of this book revolves around religious extremism. The main character Gideon comes from a family very similar to the Duggar’s lmao. While I think it was a interesting topic, I needed a little more clarity of these relationships toward the end. I also think their needed to be more conversations about Gideon going to therapy and it being an ongoing thing and pretty much every character in this). He had troubles opening up (to the FMC especially) and being honest and had so much trauma it would’ve been nice to see how he’s working to overcome that professionally a little more.
Someone here explained that this is fun but weird and i agree in the best way possible. It’s quirky, unique and stands out from other romance books I’ve read.
Overall, a fun spicy book!
Thanks to the Author and PR team for the ARC!!
There were lots of things I enjoyed about this and a few things I struggled with BUT!! What I enjoyed was the honest conversations and chemistry between the two characters. They were both so precious and innocent (at times 😉) while doing any thing they could to spend time together. The aspect of being snowed in was so fun. And the banter was AMAZING!!
The ending felt a little anti climactic and rushed. I needed a little more clarity on a few things and wished they had wrapped up a bit better. Unless, there’s plans for other books with characters from this book.
A lot of this book revolves around religious extremism. The main character Gideon comes from a family very similar to the Duggar’s lmao. While I think it was a interesting topic, I needed a little more clarity of these relationships toward the end. I also think their needed to be more conversations about Gideon going to therapy and it being an ongoing thing and pretty much every character in this). He had troubles opening up (to the FMC especially) and being honest and had so much trauma it would’ve been nice to see how he’s working to overcome that professionally a little more.
Someone here explained that this is fun but weird and i agree in the best way possible. It’s quirky, unique and stands out from other romance books I’ve read.
Overall, a fun spicy book!
Thanks to the Author and PR team for the ARC!!
December 19, 2024
Cute, but was a little longer than it had to be.
September 21, 2024
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me I guess.
I really liked the MCs (even tho, I still don't understand why she was chained to that tree), but I didn't care about this story. Great banter and no miscommunication shit happening for a 3rd act break-up. That's what I love the most about Roxie Noir's books.
But the whole religious family bothered me.
I really liked the MCs (even tho, I still don't understand why she was chained to that tree), but I didn't care about this story. Great banter and no miscommunication shit happening for a 3rd act break-up. That's what I love the most about Roxie Noir's books.
But the whole religious family bothered me.
September 12, 2023
Dnf’d at 51%. Started great, loved Andi and Gideon was growing on me but I just got so bored zzzzzzz
May 11, 2025
4.5⭐
Basic Premise:
- Estranged childhood friends to lovers.
- Forced proximity.
- Family trauma.
I really enjoyed this novel and Roxie Noir is fast becoming one of my fave authors. It's the way she writes- how it's filled with so much emotion and so much heart. Her characters have their own struggles and trauma, and Roxie Noir handles them respectfully without sounding preachy.
It was just a really great read, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were Scott Rose and Nara Austen. Scott had such a thick accent for Gideon and I really liked it! Nara had a cute bubbly voice for Andi too. It's just too bad they both cannot do voices for the opposite gender well. 😂 I would've liked the audiobook better if it was truly a dual narration as this book is dialogue-heavy.
Quotes I love:
What I liked:
- The romance is written so well in this novel. I love how the relationship progressed from awkward to OH DAMN in that 2 weeks they were stuck together. I half expected them to be going at it like bunnies in the cabin BUT THEY DIDN'T. Roxie Noir doesn't just write the spice for the sake of it, it actually helps in the plot progression. I loveeee that.
- And when they finally did the deed, HOLY- it was HOT. 🥵🔥 Gideon, the MMC crawls to Andi, the FMC at one point and I was blown away by the intensity of it. I love how Gideon is all grump but with a soft, soft heart and so friskyyyy. They have a very toy-friendly relationship iykyk, and wow, I need more spice about them.
- NO BREAKUP ARC. Roxie Noir knows what to do to give that tension in a novel and she doesn't just throw in a breakup to further the plot. There are other things that causes a sorta rift between Gideon and Andi, and it was handled so well.
- I actually really like the external conflict that causes the issues between Gideon's and Andi's relationship. It's related to Gideon's backstory and family and I hadn't quite expected that. I like how his trauma is shown in the way he holds himself, the way he tenses when he faces his parents. I adore how Gideon finally cut off the toxic relationship even if he hadn't wanted to, and is stepping forward.
I like how his struggles was thoughtfully and carefully written.
What I hadn't really liked:
- Sometimes, the sentences used during a hot spicy scene can be so weird that it takes me right off. I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and hearing it said out loud makes the scene more funny than hot. It's usually Andi's thoughts running off in a tangent.
- There were a LOT of side characters because Gideon has 12 siblings and I lost track of them all. A family tree would've been great lol! Also I would've liked more about Reid because it seemed as if Reid was just a plot point and not really developed enough.
A great read and I'll be listening and reading to the rest of Roxie Noir's books!
Basic Premise:
- Estranged childhood friends to lovers.
- Forced proximity.
- Family trauma.
I really enjoyed this novel and Roxie Noir is fast becoming one of my fave authors. It's the way she writes- how it's filled with so much emotion and so much heart. Her characters have their own struggles and trauma, and Roxie Noir handles them respectfully without sounding preachy.
It was just a really great read, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were Scott Rose and Nara Austen. Scott had such a thick accent for Gideon and I really liked it! Nara had a cute bubbly voice for Andi too. It's just too bad they both cannot do voices for the opposite gender well. 😂 I would've liked the audiobook better if it was truly a dual narration as this book is dialogue-heavy.
Quotes I love:
"I love you for all the good reasons- I love you because my life's better with you in it, not because I'm supposed to. Remember that."
"And I love you for who you've become, not despite it."
What I liked:
- The romance is written so well in this novel. I love how the relationship progressed from awkward to OH DAMN in that 2 weeks they were stuck together. I half expected them to be going at it like bunnies in the cabin BUT THEY DIDN'T. Roxie Noir doesn't just write the spice for the sake of it, it actually helps in the plot progression. I loveeee that.
- And when they finally did the deed, HOLY- it was HOT. 🥵🔥 Gideon, the MMC crawls to Andi, the FMC at one point and I was blown away by the intensity of it. I love how Gideon is all grump but with a soft, soft heart and so friskyyyy. They have a very toy-friendly relationship iykyk, and wow, I need more spice about them.
- NO BREAKUP ARC. Roxie Noir knows what to do to give that tension in a novel and she doesn't just throw in a breakup to further the plot. There are other things that causes a sorta rift between Gideon and Andi, and it was handled so well.
- I actually really like the external conflict that causes the issues between Gideon's and Andi's relationship. It's related to Gideon's backstory and family and I hadn't quite expected that. I like how his trauma is shown in the way he holds himself, the way he tenses when he faces his parents. I adore how Gideon finally cut off the toxic relationship even if he hadn't wanted to, and is stepping forward.
"Things can get so ingrained in you as wrong that after a while, you forget to think about why it's wrong and it just is."
"And even after you know better, even after you've learned, that wrong feeling isn't gone. It fades but it's always this- this dread in the back of your mind, and it'll disappear when you shine a light on it, but the second you look away, it's back."
I like how his struggles was thoughtfully and carefully written.
What I hadn't really liked:
- Sometimes, the sentences used during a hot spicy scene can be so weird that it takes me right off. I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and hearing it said out loud makes the scene more funny than hot. It's usually Andi's thoughts running off in a tangent.
- There were a LOT of side characters because Gideon has 12 siblings and I lost track of them all. A family tree would've been great lol! Also I would've liked more about Reid because it seemed as if Reid was just a plot point and not really developed enough.
A great read and I'll be listening and reading to the rest of Roxie Noir's books!
June 29, 2024
Roxie is my romance writer soulmate. What can I say? She gets me. And so I was a little concerned when I very much did not love the first book in the Wildwood Society series. It was fine, but the FMC was so consistently unpleasant that she was hard to connect to and the story drilled down so far into her sensory and mental health issues that there wasn't much fun left to be had. There was no such problem here. The MMC in this book has a lot of challenges having come out of a fundamentalist home where he was made to feel ashamed of most everything and was burdened with the care of his 11 siblings for most of his life. Additionally, there was constant and harsh physical punishment. This is all relevant to what parted him from the FMC when they were 12-year-old best friends. No spoilers, but it is an interesting story. Roxie comes out swinging for these people who think they speak the word of god and spend their time looking to police how others live (including book-banning missions) and who cast off their children who do not live by their rules and commandments. This book ties neatly into the themes of another Roxie book I loved, Slow Burn. (The books are unconnected other than shared themes re religious indoctrination and control.) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
I appreciated the nods to the Loveless Brothers series, roller derby badasses, small-town newspapers, childlessness by choice, sexy sex, wildlife rescue and forest conservation. Also three cheers for the correct and biting use of the term "bless your heart." I could have lived without the extensive cat discussion, groups of straight men getting together for potlucks, and repeated references to the sexiness of the elastic biting into skin at the top of a pair of leggings and the ridges left in skin by a bra. (Really? I don't want to kink shame but that is a weird thing to be super attracted to.)
The narrators for this audiobook were not great, but it is the same duo that narrated the first book in the series, and I will say they have clearly been working on their skills. This was much better! Still not good, but I appreciate the hustle.
I appreciated the nods to the Loveless Brothers series, roller derby badasses, small-town newspapers, childlessness by choice, sexy sex, wildlife rescue and forest conservation. Also three cheers for the correct and biting use of the term "bless your heart." I could have lived without the extensive cat discussion, groups of straight men getting together for potlucks, and repeated references to the sexiness of the elastic biting into skin at the top of a pair of leggings and the ridges left in skin by a bra. (Really? I don't want to kink shame but that is a weird thing to be super attracted to.)
The narrators for this audiobook were not great, but it is the same duo that narrated the first book in the series, and I will say they have clearly been working on their skills. This was much better! Still not good, but I appreciate the hustle.
August 9, 2025
Not necessarily a bad book, I was just pretty consistently bored throughout.
September 10, 2023
Well, I guess this whole Wildwood series is going to be dealing with heavy subjects. Not sure if I will continue, we'll see (and, yes, I read the content warnings but the only "warnings" I heed are when it's secret babies or love triangles {{{shudder}}}... well most of the time).
So, here goes...
---------------------------
The Good:
*the sexy, sensual, slow-burn between Gideon and Andie while they were trapped in the cabin. I thought it was hot.
*the Grumpy Sunshine vibes - especially in the cabin (and Gideon is really a big softie)
*the banter between Gideon and Andie -especially in the cabin (sensing a cabin trend here?)
* Dolly the cat - "Mrrp"
* glimpses of Silas
--------------------------
The "Not My Cup of Tea" parts:
*it's a long book and once they leave the cabin, at the 56% mark, it's not as much fun as the forced proximity the cabin provides, and it gets more into the part that is not my thing
*I didn't like the religious aspects. It's just my personal preference not to have religion mixed with my romance stories. I am also tired of the stereotypical narrow-minded religious fanatic characters. I know they exist but I also know that not all church people are like that. I will say, though, that some of these parts were so nuanced it left me feeling like this was something the author had actually experienced or witnessed first-hand.
* it's a little over the top with the social issues (child abuse, LGBTQ-related issues, book banning, slut shaming, sex education in schools... maybe more)
* I don't particularly care for the virgin trope, doesn't matter if it's the male or female lead.
* Why does Gideon have so many damn siblings? I couldn't keep them all straight. Was the author insinuating that they belonged to one of those "quiver full" churches like the Duggars? It's too many characters for me.
So, here goes...
---------------------------
The Good:
*the sexy, sensual, slow-burn between Gideon and Andie while they were trapped in the cabin. I thought it was hot.
*the Grumpy Sunshine vibes - especially in the cabin (and Gideon is really a big softie)
*the banter between Gideon and Andie -especially in the cabin (sensing a cabin trend here?)
* Dolly the cat - "Mrrp"
* glimpses of Silas
--------------------------
The "Not My Cup of Tea" parts:
*it's a long book and once they leave the cabin, at the 56% mark, it's not as much fun as the forced proximity the cabin provides, and it gets more into the part that is not my thing
*I didn't like the religious aspects. It's just my personal preference not to have religion mixed with my romance stories. I am also tired of the stereotypical narrow-minded religious fanatic characters. I know they exist but I also know that not all church people are like that. I will say, though, that some of these parts were so nuanced it left me feeling like this was something the author had actually experienced or witnessed first-hand.
* it's a little over the top with the social issues (child abuse, LGBTQ-related issues, book banning, slut shaming, sex education in schools... maybe more)
* I don't particularly care for the virgin trope, doesn't matter if it's the male or female lead.
* Why does Gideon have so many damn siblings? I couldn't keep them all straight. Was the author insinuating that they belonged to one of those "quiver full" churches like the Duggars? It's too many characters for me.
June 22, 2024
2nd: 20/01/2024 (audio ver)
Reading this book twice (Kindle & Audio) was an experience I always want to have, watching these narrators bring Andi and Gideon to life, bringing to life the story I fell in love with was one of the best moments of the month.
The story of this couple is one of my favorites, from when they were best friends when they were little, to when they stopped talking, to when they were trapped in a cabin under the snow, it was good to read, the author wrote it in a way that everything flows.
Of course you have to check the trigger warning because although it is a story that reads itself and is even fun to read, it has themes that can be heavy for some people.
The narrators Scott Rose and Nara Austen were very good, I understood them and they knew how to give emotions to the characters!!!
📌 I received an advanced listener’s copy , and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
---
Leer este libro dos veces (kindle & audio) fue una experiencia que siempre quiero tener, ver a estos narradores darle vida a Andi y Gideon, darle vida a la historia que me enamoró fue de los mejores momentos del mes.
La historia de este par es de mis favoritas, desde que fueron los mejores amigos cuando pequeños, a dejarse de hablar hasta quedarse atrapados en una cabaña bajo la nieve fue bueno de leer, la autora lo escribió de una manera que todo fluye.
Claro que tienen que revisar las advertencias de contenido porque si bien es una historia que se lee sola y hasta divertida de leer, tiene temas que pueden ser pesados para algunas personas.
Los narradores Scott Rose y Nara Austen estuvieron muy bien, los entendí y supieron cómo darle las emociones a los personajes!!
1st: 17/09/2023
Feliz, así me siento luego de terminar este libro.
Reading this book twice (Kindle & Audio) was an experience I always want to have, watching these narrators bring Andi and Gideon to life, bringing to life the story I fell in love with was one of the best moments of the month.
The story of this couple is one of my favorites, from when they were best friends when they were little, to when they stopped talking, to when they were trapped in a cabin under the snow, it was good to read, the author wrote it in a way that everything flows.
Of course you have to check the trigger warning because although it is a story that reads itself and is even fun to read, it has themes that can be heavy for some people.
The narrators Scott Rose and Nara Austen were very good, I understood them and they knew how to give emotions to the characters!!!
📌 I received an advanced listener’s copy , and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
---
Leer este libro dos veces (kindle & audio) fue una experiencia que siempre quiero tener, ver a estos narradores darle vida a Andi y Gideon, darle vida a la historia que me enamoró fue de los mejores momentos del mes.
La historia de este par es de mis favoritas, desde que fueron los mejores amigos cuando pequeños, a dejarse de hablar hasta quedarse atrapados en una cabaña bajo la nieve fue bueno de leer, la autora lo escribió de una manera que todo fluye.
Claro que tienen que revisar las advertencias de contenido porque si bien es una historia que se lee sola y hasta divertida de leer, tiene temas que pueden ser pesados para algunas personas.
Los narradores Scott Rose y Nara Austen estuvieron muy bien, los entendí y supieron cómo darle las emociones a los personajes!!
1st: 17/09/2023
Feliz, así me siento luego de terminar este libro.
March 13, 2024
2.5. In the most polite way possible this was thoroughly mid and wholly forgettable
September 1, 2023
This is the second book in Roxie Noir’s Wildwood Society series, a spin-off from her Loveless Brothers series, and can be read as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, One Month Boyfriend, and how can I not read a book when the FMC has my name, right?
Gideon (friends with Silas from book one) works for a forest service in Virginia. He’s kinda a loner who has distanced himself from much of his family, for good reason. To stay away from them during Christmas, he volunteers for grouse observation.
Andi has just moved back into the local town. Gideon finds her Protesting Beaumont Minerals for mining by chaining herself to a tree in the snow. Gideon comes to her rescue because it’s about to blizzard and realizes they know each other. She’s his childhood best friend and the last time they saw each other, it didn’t end on the best terms, but now they're stuck together for two weeks, in a tiny cabin.
The book is kinda divided into two parts. The first half is fun and bantery, filled with shenanigans and chaos. It’s the re getting to know you and then realizing their feelings about one another. Something in their past has kept them apart. For the second part of the book, once they’re back in civilization, it’s a lot more serious. Will the past come back to haunt them?
This book touches a lot on religion (in the extreme) and shame and how much Gideon has grown up to realize how heavily influenced he and his siblings were by his parents and how harmful they’ve been.
I’m really enjoying this series. It’s low angst and steamy. It did feel a bit rushed at the end, but nothing that will put me off from reading the rest of the series.
Thank you to Literally Yours PR. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
4.25 stars
Gideon (friends with Silas from book one) works for a forest service in Virginia. He’s kinda a loner who has distanced himself from much of his family, for good reason. To stay away from them during Christmas, he volunteers for grouse observation.
Andi has just moved back into the local town. Gideon finds her Protesting Beaumont Minerals for mining by chaining herself to a tree in the snow. Gideon comes to her rescue because it’s about to blizzard and realizes they know each other. She’s his childhood best friend and the last time they saw each other, it didn’t end on the best terms, but now they're stuck together for two weeks, in a tiny cabin.
The book is kinda divided into two parts. The first half is fun and bantery, filled with shenanigans and chaos. It’s the re getting to know you and then realizing their feelings about one another. Something in their past has kept them apart. For the second part of the book, once they’re back in civilization, it’s a lot more serious. Will the past come back to haunt them?
This book touches a lot on religion (in the extreme) and shame and how much Gideon has grown up to realize how heavily influenced he and his siblings were by his parents and how harmful they’ve been.
I’m really enjoying this series. It’s low angst and steamy. It did feel a bit rushed at the end, but nothing that will put me off from reading the rest of the series.
Thank you to Literally Yours PR. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
4.25 stars
August 29, 2023
Laugh out loud, quirky, thought provoking, heartbreaking, steamy, anger inducing….this story has it all and so much more and I absolutely loved it!
Gideon is a fantastic character. He has the most beautiful heart, he’s gentle and kind but he is also awkward so he hides himself within a grumpy shell of protection.
Andi is unashamedly quirky, she has no problem saying and doing exactly what she wants. However, she has a unique ability to see Gideon and accept him for who he is without the need to change or shame him. They are complete opposites, yet complement each other perfectly…..which is quite possibly the whole reason they were best friends when they were children!
Their lives couldn’t have been more different. Their upbringings are poles apart with Gideon living in an extremely sheltered and religious household, forced to take care of his eleven younger siblings….you can draw your own conclusions but I wouldn’t tire of slapping his parents…and Andi’s home being loving, supportive and open.
I loved the way the author staged this story…. Having not spoken for twenty years they find themselves stranded together….forced to spend Christmas together in a forest ranger cabin. There we learn all about their childhood and what ripped their friendship apart. We go on a journey of healing and reflection with them both as they rekindle their friendship and find out so much more about each other.
Then we follow them back into the ‘real world’ can they keep their bubble and each other or will the outside world once again force them apart?
I enjoyed this book so much. It’s honest, I fell instantly for Gideon and his innocence, I loved Andi with her acceptance and easy going nature. These two were perfect together and the more I read from this author the more I can’t wait for the next story from her!
Gideon is a fantastic character. He has the most beautiful heart, he’s gentle and kind but he is also awkward so he hides himself within a grumpy shell of protection.
Andi is unashamedly quirky, she has no problem saying and doing exactly what she wants. However, she has a unique ability to see Gideon and accept him for who he is without the need to change or shame him. They are complete opposites, yet complement each other perfectly…..which is quite possibly the whole reason they were best friends when they were children!
Their lives couldn’t have been more different. Their upbringings are poles apart with Gideon living in an extremely sheltered and religious household, forced to take care of his eleven younger siblings….you can draw your own conclusions but I wouldn’t tire of slapping his parents…and Andi’s home being loving, supportive and open.
I loved the way the author staged this story…. Having not spoken for twenty years they find themselves stranded together….forced to spend Christmas together in a forest ranger cabin. There we learn all about their childhood and what ripped their friendship apart. We go on a journey of healing and reflection with them both as they rekindle their friendship and find out so much more about each other.
Then we follow them back into the ‘real world’ can they keep their bubble and each other or will the outside world once again force them apart?
I enjoyed this book so much. It’s honest, I fell instantly for Gideon and his innocence, I loved Andi with her acceptance and easy going nature. These two were perfect together and the more I read from this author the more I can’t wait for the next story from her!
August 29, 2023
4.5/5 - Gideon, a grumpy forest ranger, has to rescue a woman who has chained herself to a tree during a blizzard. What he didn't expect was it to be his former best friend, Andie. Gideon feels terrible guilt for having nearly ruined Andie's life 20 years ago, but a lot has changed since then. Now they are stuck in a cabin together for two weeks because of the blizzard, cutting them off from the world. They get to know each other, and learn who the other is and how they have grown in the last 20 years. The only question is, what will they be to each other once they leave the safety of the cabin.
Andie and Gideon were a wonderfully written couple. They had banter that was top notch, turning into understanding and deep emotions for the other. With the banter and some of the funny things Andie did, this book also tackled a lot of tough subjects. Roxie Noir dealt with these in a kind and gentle manner. I loved how Gideon stood up for his brother and was there for him in all the ways his parents were not. I also loved how Andie approached the situation that happened with her family in the past.
The pacing of the book worked. We got a lot of the two week period they were in the cabin, but we also got a lot of the "after" to see how Gideon and Andie worked together outside of the cabin. I thought it was interesting to get to know Gideon's family, but also the friends that had become his family over the years.
If you love a friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance, this is for you! This was a great book that covered a lot of potentially sensitive subjects, if you need information about that, please check out potential warnings. Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
Read if you love: virgin hero, forced proximity, second chance romance, friends to enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine
Andie and Gideon were a wonderfully written couple. They had banter that was top notch, turning into understanding and deep emotions for the other. With the banter and some of the funny things Andie did, this book also tackled a lot of tough subjects. Roxie Noir dealt with these in a kind and gentle manner. I loved how Gideon stood up for his brother and was there for him in all the ways his parents were not. I also loved how Andie approached the situation that happened with her family in the past.
The pacing of the book worked. We got a lot of the two week period they were in the cabin, but we also got a lot of the "after" to see how Gideon and Andie worked together outside of the cabin. I thought it was interesting to get to know Gideon's family, but also the friends that had become his family over the years.
If you love a friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance, this is for you! This was a great book that covered a lot of potentially sensitive subjects, if you need information about that, please check out potential warnings. Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
Read if you love: virgin hero, forced proximity, second chance romance, friends to enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine
August 30, 2023
The Two Week Roommate from Roxie Noir was a great addition to the Wildwood Society series.
Being snowed in at a remote cabin with someone can be difficult, but imagine if it's with your former best friend you haven't seen in twenty years. When Gideon rescues Andi during a snowstorm the two of them end up having to stay together in a cabin. I liked that the forced proximity forced some conversation and for them to move forward a bit. They had great chemistry and a connection that never really went away despite years apart. While being stranded together did move their relationship forward, I liked that they had to also face real life to see if they could truly get an HEA together.
The story and relationship development were nicely paced. It did feel a bit rushed at the end, but I still enjoyed the story and characters. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series!
Being snowed in at a remote cabin with someone can be difficult, but imagine if it's with your former best friend you haven't seen in twenty years. When Gideon rescues Andi during a snowstorm the two of them end up having to stay together in a cabin. I liked that the forced proximity forced some conversation and for them to move forward a bit. They had great chemistry and a connection that never really went away despite years apart. While being stranded together did move their relationship forward, I liked that they had to also face real life to see if they could truly get an HEA together.
The story and relationship development were nicely paced. It did feel a bit rushed at the end, but I still enjoyed the story and characters. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series!
April 15, 2024
I can’t explain it, but I found Gideon especially swoon-worthy. Something in my unconscious brain found him specifically super hot.
It might be that Andy reminded me of myself at times - super chatty and impulsive and a little reckless.
It might be my baser hindbrain noting that he rescued her from probable death and certain injury.
It might be my personal (shameful) bias against Christianity that cheered him on rejecting and growing past his worst-of-the-worst hyper religious family.
Maybe I just think the guy on the cover art is attractive, even though he is a cartoon :p
Honestly…. Maybe I just really like the name Gideon?
Either way, I liked this one even more than the first instalment.
It might be that Andy reminded me of myself at times - super chatty and impulsive and a little reckless.
It might be my baser hindbrain noting that he rescued her from probable death and certain injury.
It might be my personal (shameful) bias against Christianity that cheered him on rejecting and growing past his worst-of-the-worst hyper religious family.
Maybe I just think the guy on the cover art is attractive, even though he is a cartoon :p
Honestly…. Maybe I just really like the name Gideon?
Either way, I liked this one even more than the first instalment.
August 31, 2023
So Good
This book was incredible. It somehow managed to deal with some very serious, important issues, while also regularly making me laugh. This just blew me away.
This book was incredible. It somehow managed to deal with some very serious, important issues, while also regularly making me laugh. This just blew me away.
August 29, 2023
super Fantastic!
I have been waiting with bated breath for this book to come out! I must let you know in advance that I love all things Roxie Noir, and this was no exception.
You have the grumpy sunshine trope and you have the second chance trope. The heroine starts out by changing her self to tree at the beginning of a blizzard, and the hero comes to rescue her and finds out it’s someone that he knew when he was a kid The hero did something unforgivable to the heroine when they were young, and they have to see if they can overcome it. They are stranded together for two weeks. There are a lot of emotions in this book, a lot for them to overcome and a lot of love. I definitely recommend this book!
I have been waiting with bated breath for this book to come out! I must let you know in advance that I love all things Roxie Noir, and this was no exception.
You have the grumpy sunshine trope and you have the second chance trope. The heroine starts out by changing her self to tree at the beginning of a blizzard, and the hero comes to rescue her and finds out it’s someone that he knew when he was a kid The hero did something unforgivable to the heroine when they were young, and they have to see if they can overcome it. They are stranded together for two weeks. There are a lot of emotions in this book, a lot for them to overcome and a lot of love. I definitely recommend this book!
September 21, 2023
Started out decent but lost interest
The beginning of the book started out pretty good but somewhere around 50-60% I started losing interest. The stuff with his parents and siblings was focused on way too much and I hate reading about toxic families so I was DONE with it already.
I don’t want to give too many spoilers so I won’t go into details but I struggled hard to like Andi after the first half. She was annoying, pushy and I am not even a religious person but I was starting to side with his family that she was not good for him at all. There’s a difference in pulling a person out of their comfort zone and just being a terrible influence.
The last chapter of the book I honestly skimmed it because I was so bored by this point.
****SPOILER ****
I don’t want to blame everything on this book because the writing was great, I just had a hard time connecting with these characters. Especially after learning that Gideon never wanted kids and she agreed but didn’t seem sure of her answer and the end is HFN not a HEA basically since you don’t get any glimpse into their future past 6 months.
The beginning of the book started out pretty good but somewhere around 50-60% I started losing interest. The stuff with his parents and siblings was focused on way too much and I hate reading about toxic families so I was DONE with it already.
I don’t want to give too many spoilers so I won’t go into details but I struggled hard to like Andi after the first half. She was annoying, pushy and I am not even a religious person but I was starting to side with his family that she was not good for him at all. There’s a difference in pulling a person out of their comfort zone and just being a terrible influence.
The last chapter of the book I honestly skimmed it because I was so bored by this point.
****SPOILER ****
I don’t want to blame everything on this book because the writing was great, I just had a hard time connecting with these characters. Especially after learning that Gideon never wanted kids and she agreed but didn’t seem sure of her answer and the end is HFN not a HEA basically since you don’t get any glimpse into their future past 6 months.
August 29, 2023
Today is the release day for my favorite read of the year so far, and my favorite book from one of my favorite authors. Yes, that's a lot of favorites!
Roxie Noir writes hilarious, very steamy small town romances and the unofficial tagline for this one is "Snowed in and eaten out."
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of this book and Gideon is the unexpected hero we, romancelandia, never knew we needed. He's inexperienced, raised in an extremely religious household, and when I say that he's grumpy I mean that Gideon holds back his words with intention and care. He wants a quiet life and when chaos machine Andi needs rescuing, Gideon is reminded all over again of one of his biggest failings.
I love Roxie's sense of humor. It's witty and clever without being slapstick or over the top.
If you read the book, drop me a note and let me know what you think. Hopefully you love it as much as I do.
Roxie Noir writes hilarious, very steamy small town romances and the unofficial tagline for this one is "Snowed in and eaten out."
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of this book and Gideon is the unexpected hero we, romancelandia, never knew we needed. He's inexperienced, raised in an extremely religious household, and when I say that he's grumpy I mean that Gideon holds back his words with intention and care. He wants a quiet life and when chaos machine Andi needs rescuing, Gideon is reminded all over again of one of his biggest failings.
I love Roxie's sense of humor. It's witty and clever without being slapstick or over the top.
If you read the book, drop me a note and let me know what you think. Hopefully you love it as much as I do.
March 19, 2024
I received an ARC from the author today.
Gideon is wonderful. I didn't think anyone could come close to Silas and yet he did. This was a beautiful love story. It touched on some many important topics. I loved how these two characters found their happily ever after despite everything and everyone that tried to get in their way. I look forward to the next book in this series. This author never disappoints.
I received an audio ARC from the author today. 1.10.24.
The audio version was wonderful. The narrators were wonderful. I am enjoying this series.
Gideon is wonderful. I didn't think anyone could come close to Silas and yet he did. This was a beautiful love story. It touched on some many important topics. I loved how these two characters found their happily ever after despite everything and everyone that tried to get in their way. I look forward to the next book in this series. This author never disappoints.
I received an audio ARC from the author today. 1.10.24.
The audio version was wonderful. The narrators were wonderful. I am enjoying this series.
February 25, 2024
1.5 rounded up
Good: handling of heavy themes surrounding MMC
Meh: had hard time staying engaged towards final act in story and would’ve liked to see scene of MMC interacting with FMC’s parents directly written instead of glossed over towards the end — felt like an integral part of his arc to face them, speak about and put some sort of resolution on their past but we just never really got that satisfaction as readers.
Good: handling of heavy themes surrounding MMC
Meh: had hard time staying engaged towards final act in story and would’ve liked to see scene of MMC interacting with FMC’s parents directly written instead of glossed over towards the end — felt like an integral part of his arc to face them, speak about and put some sort of resolution on their past but we just never really got that satisfaction as readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2024
This really missed the mark for me.
August 23, 2023
(I received an ARC for this book)
Trigger Warnings include:
religious trauma, non-detailed description of corporal punishment of a child, references to homophobia, references to transphobia, misgendering & deadnaming (mentioned), slut-shaming (on the page), mention of conversion camp
Even with all those trigger warnings included, this was still a fun read! I was worried about seeing them listed, but I’m glad I read it! I loved spending time with Gideon. He was such an unknown in the first book. Now I know why! After rescuing his childhood best friend in the middle of a blizzard, Gideon and Andi are forced to re-examine not just what happened in their past, but the people they’ve become because of it. And the beauty of it? It brought them closer. Though, being snowed in together for two weeks helped! I loved that the “grudge” was removed at the start. Andi doesn’t know how the last 20 years has gone, but still gives him the benefit of the doubt based on who he is at the present. Something I loved about her! Her and the beat of her own drum! In a lot of ways, it felt refreshing. Especially up against everything else going on! Gideon felt comfort in her presence, and it gave him the strength to do something he rarely gets to do: stand up for himself. My lord my heart broke for him! By the time we got to the declaration of love, I was a MESS! I’m really glad I read the first book before reading this! Spending more time with the society boy band was SO much fun! And the perfect comedic relief! Because this is a HEAVY read!
My Favorite Quotes:
• “You make it easy.”
• “It's really hot when you wear nothing but my sweater.”
• “I didn’t want rose petals and candles. I wanted you.”
• “You are anything but a waste of time.”
• “And then I liked being with you.”
• “You look like—a painting. A sculpture.”
• “Don’t ever fix it. Please, don’t ever fix it.”
• “I want to see what I missed.”
• “I like it when you put on a show for me. I like being your only audience.”
• “I love you for who you've become, not despite it.”
• “It just felt like… us.”
8/10 Dirty Birdy
8/10 Forced Proximity
7/10 Friends to Lovers
7/10 Slow Burn
7/10 Series
This is my review for Textual Relations
This is my review for The One Month Boyfriend
Trigger Warnings include:
religious trauma, non-detailed description of corporal punishment of a child, references to homophobia, references to transphobia, misgendering & deadnaming (mentioned), slut-shaming (on the page), mention of conversion camp
Even with all those trigger warnings included, this was still a fun read! I was worried about seeing them listed, but I’m glad I read it! I loved spending time with Gideon. He was such an unknown in the first book. Now I know why! After rescuing his childhood best friend in the middle of a blizzard, Gideon and Andi are forced to re-examine not just what happened in their past, but the people they’ve become because of it. And the beauty of it? It brought them closer. Though, being snowed in together for two weeks helped! I loved that the “grudge” was removed at the start. Andi doesn’t know how the last 20 years has gone, but still gives him the benefit of the doubt based on who he is at the present. Something I loved about her! Her and the beat of her own drum! In a lot of ways, it felt refreshing. Especially up against everything else going on! Gideon felt comfort in her presence, and it gave him the strength to do something he rarely gets to do: stand up for himself. My lord my heart broke for him! By the time we got to the declaration of love, I was a MESS! I’m really glad I read the first book before reading this! Spending more time with the society boy band was SO much fun! And the perfect comedic relief! Because this is a HEAVY read!
My Favorite Quotes:
• “You make it easy.”
• “It's really hot when you wear nothing but my sweater.”
• “I didn’t want rose petals and candles. I wanted you.”
• “You are anything but a waste of time.”
• “And then I liked being with you.”
• “You look like—a painting. A sculpture.”
• “Don’t ever fix it. Please, don’t ever fix it.”
• “I want to see what I missed.”
• “I like it when you put on a show for me. I like being your only audience.”
• “I love you for who you've become, not despite it.”
• “It just felt like… us.”
8/10 Dirty Birdy
8/10 Forced Proximity
7/10 Friends to Lovers
7/10 Slow Burn
7/10 Series
This is my review for Textual Relations
This is my review for The One Month Boyfriend
August 31, 2023
This was a fun friends to lovers and second chance romance all balled up in one. An unusual pairing of tropes because usually it's one or the other, but Roxie Noir did an excellent job of taking two childhood friends, bringing them just to the point where they were able to tip to young lovers, pull them apart, angst the He77 out the MMC and use his overly controlling religious parents to pull them apart, and then reunite them to become lovers. Honestly, this book needs to be its own trope because the storyline is beyond amazing and the writing takes that word soup I wrote above and creates one of THE BEST Second Chance Romances I have read this year!
This book explores so many different heavy dramatic elements, but always keeps the story fresh and light. The flirty banter and reemerging feelings between Gideon and Andi will leave you laughing. And, added to that this also has a very unique twist on the virgin trope, because he’s the virgin. How will this pair face their pasts and demons? What is the real backstory behind Andi’s leaving and Gideon’s guilt? How will they face his parents? And, at what age can you finally get the love you deserve?
If you like grumpy strong silent sulky MMCs and sunshine idealistic jump in with both feet first before looking FMCs then you don’t want to miss the fun, the drama, and the sighs of this book. You will not ugly cry with this book but you will sniffle and then laugh out loud at the twists and turns in this perfectly balanced, wonderfully paced, joyfully romantic book!
I received this book as an ARC and the review is my own reactions and thoughts
This book explores so many different heavy dramatic elements, but always keeps the story fresh and light. The flirty banter and reemerging feelings between Gideon and Andi will leave you laughing. And, added to that this also has a very unique twist on the virgin trope, because he’s the virgin. How will this pair face their pasts and demons? What is the real backstory behind Andi’s leaving and Gideon’s guilt? How will they face his parents? And, at what age can you finally get the love you deserve?
If you like grumpy strong silent sulky MMCs and sunshine idealistic jump in with both feet first before looking FMCs then you don’t want to miss the fun, the drama, and the sighs of this book. You will not ugly cry with this book but you will sniffle and then laugh out loud at the twists and turns in this perfectly balanced, wonderfully paced, joyfully romantic book!
I received this book as an ARC and the review is my own reactions and thoughts
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