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broomesbooks's review
3.0
I loved a previous book by Jayce Ellis and I fully expected that I would love this one as well. Jeremiah was a good read, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t a memorable read for me.
Jeremiah, a paramedic and still slightly closeted, is figuring life out. He’s facing a potential lay off and finding a new job, but in the process, he stumbles across Collin Galloway in the elevator in his apartment complex. As repayment for helping Collin get his friends home safely, Jeremiah gets help brushing up is resume.
Their attraction between them is clear. It burns steadily and grows the more they get to know each other. What I liked was their stay-cation. I feel like we got to know more about them while they explored DC and explored each other *wink* in the hotel room.
Jeremiah, a paramedic and still slightly closeted, is figuring life out. He’s facing a potential lay off and finding a new job, but in the process, he stumbles across Collin Galloway in the elevator in his apartment complex. As repayment for helping Collin get his friends home safely, Jeremiah gets help brushing up is resume.
Their attraction between them is clear. It burns steadily and grows the more they get to know each other. What I liked was their stay-cation. I feel like we got to know more about them while they explored DC and explored each other *wink* in the hotel room.
sepiareece's review
5.0
This book was well-written, has a good storyline, and likable, well-developed characters. I really enjoyed reading it.
bandherbooks's review
4.0
Sparks fly immediately between Jeremiah and the the cute, sparkly lip-glossed wearing white man Jeremiah meets as he helps get his drunk friends tucked safely away at home. But, duty calls and the overworked EMT doesn't catch the man's name. Well, at least not until the reconnect after one of the friends again needs medical assistance and a trip to the ER on the 4th of July.
Colin and Jeremiah both have huge decisions to make and dreams to catch in this lush debut romance from Jayce Ellis. The conflicts in the story-line are more internal and less about Colin and Jeremiah's romance, which is supremely hot and super sexy when they are on the page together.
A promising start from an author to watch!
CW: Jeremiah worries about coming out to his family, his brother makes homophobic statements. Alcohol use, descriptions of medical gore
Colin and Jeremiah both have huge decisions to make and dreams to catch in this lush debut romance from Jayce Ellis. The conflicts in the story-line are more internal and less about Colin and Jeremiah's romance, which is supremely hot and super sexy when they are on the page together.
A promising start from an author to watch!
CW: Jeremiah worries about coming out to his family, his brother makes homophobic statements. Alcohol use, descriptions of medical gore
endemictoearth's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
I think having this book set in and around DC gave it a little boost for me, but even without the familiarity, I genuinely enjoyed these characters and their dynamic. I liked the little found family that Collin had created with his friends, and how the fact that those friends were acting strangely sort of fueled his relationship with Jeremiah. I figured out why his friend was avoiding him pretty early on, but it was a realistic conflict.
I also appreciated seeing a relationship with a break that felt deliberate and not catastrophic. They had things to figure out, especially Jeremiah, and I liked that they didn't force it. It made their choosing each other seem more careful and considered. I already have the next book in this series on my Kindle.
I also appreciated seeing a relationship with a break that felt deliberate and not catastrophic. They had things to figure out, especially Jeremiah, and I liked that they didn't force it. It made their choosing each other seem more careful and considered. I already have the next book in this series on my Kindle.
octaviaatlas's review
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
shellyzev's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked this one! I was so excited to discover a new-to-me Black queer romance author so I'm glad to say that Ellis did not disappoint at all! I can't wait to binge read the rest of her books immediately.
cakt1991's review
4.0
3.5 stars. While it has a bit of a slow start, I came to enjoy it as it picked up in the second half. This book has a lot going for it, especially in terms of dynamic characters who don’t fall into stereotypes.
I like that while Jeremiah is a paramedic, that’s just one facet of who he is, and the story doesn’t revolve around that. I truly felt for him when it came to trying to live up to his family’s expectations, as well as hiding (or at least neglecting to reveal) an important aspect about who he is: that he’s gay.
Collin was likable too, but I wasn’t as invested in him as a character as I was with Jeremiah. I did like their romance overall, and they do have great chemistry.
And while the story didn’t hold my attention 100% of the time, I thought it was moving to see how homophobia can manifest in the people we’re closest to, whether it be family (Jeremiah) or friends (Collin), and how each copes with that. However, I do feel they both were a little too forgiving of the offenders than they deserved.
This was an interesting story, but I did feel like something was missing. However, the positives do somewhat outweigh the negatives here, and I’m curious to see what Jayce Ellis does next. If you love LGBTQ+ contemporary romance, this is a pretty good one.
I like that while Jeremiah is a paramedic, that’s just one facet of who he is, and the story doesn’t revolve around that. I truly felt for him when it came to trying to live up to his family’s expectations, as well as hiding (or at least neglecting to reveal) an important aspect about who he is: that he’s gay.
Collin was likable too, but I wasn’t as invested in him as a character as I was with Jeremiah. I did like their romance overall, and they do have great chemistry.
And while the story didn’t hold my attention 100% of the time, I thought it was moving to see how homophobia can manifest in the people we’re closest to, whether it be family (Jeremiah) or friends (Collin), and how each copes with that. However, I do feel they both were a little too forgiving of the offenders than they deserved.
This was an interesting story, but I did feel like something was missing. However, the positives do somewhat outweigh the negatives here, and I’m curious to see what Jayce Ellis does next. If you love LGBTQ+ contemporary romance, this is a pretty good one.
cadiva's review
4.0
Full review tomorrow when I'm at the laptop.
I am so glad I persisted with this book because the first quarter of it was a bit of slog through as nothing much really goes on and there's a lot of exposition to set the scene.
However, it really is a fabulous book once it kicks in and I absolutely loved all the dynamics at play in the various different relationships and friends' groups that it explores.
Jeremiah is a complex character and I really felt for him with the weight of his family's expectations pressing on his decisions. He's a good guy, and I bristled at how some of his family behaved towards him. He's not the typical paramedic all action hero type you can get in opposites' attract type stories.
He had layers that I really enjoyed discovering the more the book went on, his relationship with his best friend Chucky and his girlfriend Ronnie added more dimension to the narrative.
Collin was a sweetie, completely mired in the rut of his life, not knowing what he wants to do and hanging onto his two best friends because they're safe and familiar.
When he meets Jeremiah there's sparks and a dancing around which eventually plays off into a very satisfying romance.
I'd certainly read more in this series and it's great to read more interracial romance with people of colour in focus.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
I am so glad I persisted with this book because the first quarter of it was a bit of slog through as nothing much really goes on and there's a lot of exposition to set the scene.
However, it really is a fabulous book once it kicks in and I absolutely loved all the dynamics at play in the various different relationships and friends' groups that it explores.
Jeremiah is a complex character and I really felt for him with the weight of his family's expectations pressing on his decisions. He's a good guy, and I bristled at how some of his family behaved towards him. He's not the typical paramedic all action hero type you can get in opposites' attract type stories.
He had layers that I really enjoyed discovering the more the book went on, his relationship with his best friend Chucky and his girlfriend Ronnie added more dimension to the narrative.
Collin was a sweetie, completely mired in the rut of his life, not knowing what he wants to do and hanging onto his two best friends because they're safe and familiar.
When he meets Jeremiah there's sparks and a dancing around which eventually plays off into a very satisfying romance.
I'd certainly read more in this series and it's great to read more interracial romance with people of colour in focus.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
qace90's review
4.0
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
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