Well this was…something. I guessed a lot of the twists and turns so it wasn’t as OMG as I was hoping for. Nico was such a jerk and I hated that Lux had zero self esteem to see that. It seemed too contrived to have people already on that island, Meroe, so I knew something was up already. Amma was a horrible person too. Just all of it was not great. Then I got total Lord of the Flies vibes in the last third of the book and I HATE Lord of the Flies so much that turned me off of the rest of the book. At that point, I could not have cared less about any of those characters. This was a very meh book for me. 🤷🏽‍♀️ 3/5 stars

Am I…into cowboy romance now??? Holy HOT. Author Amber Palmer wasted NO TIME in getting to the spice. The very beginning was hot hot HOT! Josie is running away from another man cheating on her, and runs to her family’s cabin in Tennessee. On the way, she stops at a dive bar and meets barkeep Lincoln…hot barkeep Lincoln. What transpires is 5 days of bliss, before Josie gets scared and leaves in the middle of the night. Their chemistry is off the charts…Also, pretty sure I imagined Jensen Ackles as Lincoln the entire time. *swoon*

One year later, Josie is working with her family on their ranch in Texas, and who should show up but Lincoln Carter himself…to work for the summer on her family ranch. But this time, Josie has a boyfriend, Ellis, that she’s been dating for a few months. But their heat, hers and Lincoln’s, is one for the ages. I’m not kidding when I say their chemistry was amazing. Lincoln was the epitome of gentleman and devil. He wants her and lets her know it, but is also just an amazing man, someone who was kind and gentle and ready to walk away if Josie said the words. Josie has a lot of self doubt, so sometimes watching her self-deprecate and sabotage herself was painful, but the mental health representation was really well done here.

Fantastic story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! 5/5 stars

OH. MY. GOD. I think I am in heaven. This book. THIS. BOOK. Had me in a chokehold the whole time. I am obsessed with Jake, Caleb is the bestie I didn’t know I needed and Mars??? MARS??? Please, crush me with your whole body, I BEG you. The spice was S-P-I-C-Y in here, had me sweating and wishing I was reading alone….with some electronic help, if you know what I mean whew.

Outside of that, though, this was such a thoughtful and provocative book about polyamory, bi-sexuality, demisexuality, and every kind of queerness in between. It was about finding out who you are as a person, not just sexually but professionally. Emily Rath states it in the beginning of the book, that the book is going to be like 3 love stories in one, and she is SO SO right. Seeing the relationship between Rachel and her paramours bloom was so beautiful. Them all learning to lean on each other, to be secure in the relationship was so breathtaking. They communicate ALL THE TIME, which is, quite frankly, how ANY relationship will work, much less a poly one.

I just…I didn’t know how much I needed to read this, especially during Pride Month, especially as an ally. This opened up so many new ways for me to see, REALLY SEE, my friends and neighbors who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I see you, and I love you.