Oh yeah, this goes right for the heartstrings. I'm sure it drew a tear from me when Monroe finally accepts that he and Knox are worth the trouble it is going to cause him with his best friend, whose son Knox is. There's a lot of broody v sunshine between the older man and the 23-year old leading up to this point.

Lots of names mentioned among a supporting cast - I hope these turn up in future books in the series. Especially Worth. ( )

Professor Holden Justice is teaching at the local college, doing his podcast, and hanging out with his friends on trivia night, and drinking questionable coffee at his friend Sam’s coffee house, "The Blessed Bean". Their screwy idea that he needed a roommate was crazy.... wasn't it? He might be an extrovert, but he liked being a bit messy with his house and his life. Of course, cooking for more than one person is always much more fun. So, when the prickly diver gets hurt, and his old RV finally breaks down permanently, Holden decides that maybe he does need a roommate after all....as long as it's that sexy diver. Holden comes home at lunch one day and discovers Cal’s favorite distraction technique to help him relax and rest when his PTSD is overwhelming. To say that he's surprised but intrigued, is an understatement. Cal’s obsession with doing all things solo soon becomes very questionable. Holden understands that it's a release technique for him, plus being alone, having major trust issues, along with being demisexual, complicates things a lot more. He’s determined that he is going to break that hard shell and show Cal that he really can be trusted. I had wondered about Holden's friend from the first book and why he was in a wheelchair that was never fully explained. Seems that it's not a new story. Some people, especially when they are young, think they are invincible, unbreakable...but one unwise choice changes their lives forever and this is what happened to this man. I really liked that both Cal and Holden picked up on cues of the man's discomfort about talking about it, as both men had had trauma in their lives...both physical and mental. Holden dealt with it through humor, while Cal developed "stickily thorns" to keep others as far away as possible. Luckly, Cal saw through Holden’s comical side and Holden found a way to break through Cal’s armor. I have read and always loved everything that Annabeth Albert has ever written. The characters in her books usually start out as friends and slowly develop into something more. Nor are they "kids", but seasoned, often life-challenged, men, that need love and trust in their lives. I also like that these characters don't just disappear from previous books but are allowed to wander throughout each story. In this one we get to see that Monroe and Knox from the first book, have settled nicely into their relationship and Knox is not only accepted but a welcomed member of their group. I am both excited and a bit leery of the next book. Excited because we finally get Sam’s story, and Worth is finally coming home. Leery because this is supposed to be the last book in this wonderful series. I know I can trust Annabeth to come up with something just as good so I'm not too worried. ( )

Monroe recently retired from the Navy’s NCIS unit and returned to Safe Harbor, Oregon to renovate and put up for sale the large Victorian home that his Great-Aunt Henri has left to him. He spent his final years of high school living with her and has a close group of friends that have welcomed him home. Included in that group was his best friend, Rob, who is now Chief of Police and using his skills to look over some of the town’s cold cases, especially the one that involves the death of his good friend, Worth’s parents, the Stapleton’s. Something always felt a bit off that it was Worth’s dad that it was always thought to have caused the disappearance of his mom...and his own death of a massive heart attack had raised some questions also. Rob's son, Knox, is back in town but with Rob's 3-year-old triplet daughters and a new baby expected very soon, there wasn't room for Knox to stay with them. The obvious solution was that since Monroe needed major help fixing up his Aunt Henri's house and Knox needed a place to stay...plus Knox was experienced in renovating... a win/win in Rob’s mind. So, it turns out that the very sexy younger man that Monroe had danced with and kissed at the bachelor party in Portland...who called himself "Rebound", became his new roommate and was his friend Rob's son... Knox. They were both incredibly attracted to one another, and it didn't take long for them to begin to act on it and fall in love...but when and what were they going to tell Rob? I guess I don't understand why a 23-year-old adult would need to worry so much about this. Rob already had Knox's life way too planned out without consulting him. Monroe and Knox didn't need anyone to second guess how they felt for one another, and age certainly wasn’t a factor for them...love had already snuck into their hearts and firmly stuck. Annabeth Albert was one of the authors that aided in advancing my love for the M/M Romance genera. I am always eager for a new Annabeth Albert book because she is such an incredibly talented author. I hope that there is soon going to be more of this series. I know that each story will revolve around a different couple, but I hope that Monroe and Knox, as well as Holden and Sam, will always have a major role in what happens. ( )

Another 3.5 star read

Knox and Monroe is an age gap, grumpy sunshine love with some small intrigue that is integral part of this small town series

Its a semi slow paced read with found family and quirky side characters.

Knox and Monroe did actually communicate about their differences which was cool

However I did have to say the epilogue annoyed me! Why dont we get more of Knox and Monroe instead of the next character! ( )

Such a great connection between Monroe and Knox, so much that the age gap was practically unnecessary besides the drama; I’m also now interested in this town and the small mystery too so will need to read the next books when they come out. I really enjoyed how each guy had big changes and decisions and had to figure how how they’d all work together; it was all very real, and I loved where they both ended up. ( )