A review by katemc7
The History Between Us by Ashley James

hopeful lighthearted tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I am REALLY enjoying this series. It's got this found family vibe with cowboys/bull riders and SPICE! I was lucky enough to get an ARC and was beyond excited. While I have only read book 1, I felt comfortable reading this one out of order and did not feel like I was missing on any of previous plots. This book was HOT! We have dad's best friend, steamy one night stand, a hot young bull rider, an older put together doctor, the temptress if you will and of course all of the side characters. I LOVED Colt. He had so much swagger. Not an ounce of self doubt. Just confident in his abilities and himself. He has been around. He doesn't think about settling down until he can't stop thinking about it. Then we have William. His exact opposite. The "older" man who has been married and divorced. The new town doctor who has settled with where he is in life. Colt's dad's best friend. GAHHH the tension between these two was palpable. The build up was done WELL Ashley! We kept getting these snippets of William about to give in and then he wouldn't. I think Ashley did a really good job describing the emotions both of these guys were feeling throughout all of this as well. Colt has been injured and is not able to do what he loves most. While William is feeling shameful for his behavior and not sure how to get around that.

Colt is going crazy. He had to have surgery after falling off of a bull and is having a hard time relearning how to do everything with his other hands. He can't drive. He can't get dressed. He feels helpless. All of his buddies are off for the rodeo while he is stuck at his parent's house. The one shiny thing is that William has moved back to town and is his new doctor. The same William who has none literally his whole life. The same William who he had a STEAMY drunken night with two years ago. The same William who he now wants to see unravel again. But William has drawn a line in the sand. He won't go there again with Colt. It was a mistake is what he says, but Colt can read people pretty well. And the way that William's body is responding is saying other things. Which is why Colt makes it his mission to explore more with William. But when William turns him down again the self doubt comes into play. Maybe he cared about him more than William did. Maybe he isn't worth it, but then William surprises him by making an effort. They are going to have a go at this and see what happens. But will that last if Colt's dad finds out before they tell him? Will William stick to his promises given the history between them?

William feels like a terrible person. He had a moment a few years ago with the one person he shouldn't have...his best friend's son. And MAN what a moment it was. And now, two years later, he finds himself back in Colt's orbit. William has moved home to take care of his dad. He absolutely will NOT go down the road that is Colt. Even if his body is telling him something different. He will be strong in this one thing. But Colt is trying REALLY hard to break down his walls. And William is only a man so he decides one night. One night to get this tension out. Then he will be able to move on but he can't...move on that is. He finds himself thinking a lot about Colt and what he feels for him. He wants more but can he get over himself in order to be who Colt deserves? Can he look Colt's dad in the eye and not feel ashamed over his feelings?

I really enjoyed watching both of these characters navigate uncharted territory. Their feelings. The taboo that is their relationship. Their friends. It was all sooo juicy. The spice in this one was off the charts. Just HOT yall. I loved watching William be there for Colt after he had been pushing him away for so long. I loved watching Colt embrace that. They were just so great together! I can't wait to read the other books in this series. But I REALLY can't wait for Whit and Conrad. I just KNOW their book is going to break my heart and then mend it right along with those two.

Thank you to Ashley for the ARC for this one in exchange for an honest review! It was truly a pleasure :)