When Brian “Brin” Schubert’s condo floods, he takes his co-worker up on the offer to stay on his crappy futon for a while. The last thing he expects is for his friend’s roommate to be the one guy he despises the most. The same guy who stomped on his heart senior year of high school. And by the looks of the girl on his arm, the same man who’s still deep inside the closet. 

Nicholas Dell never predicted that eleven years later, one of his greatest regrets would show up on his doorstep down on his luck. Nick has made some terrible mistakes—story of his life—and he’s been paying for them ever since. And if the guilt and shame aren’t enough, his first crush had to turn into one of the sexiest men he’s ever laid eyes on. 

Nick and Brin have weeks to steer clear of each other. Weeks to avoid strangling each other. But when stubbornness leads to skyrocketing sexual tension, hate-sex doesn’t seem like such an awful way to work through their frustration. Except hate is a powerful emotion, especially when it’s turned inward. And in Nick’s case he’s been drowning in a sea of self-loathing for so long, he can’t see his way out. 

As Brin reconnects with Nick, his perception of what really happened in their past begins to change. He’s finally ready to forgive him and take a second chance on the one guy who stirs him like no other. But Nick’s demons are complicated, heart-wrenching…demanding. So devastating, he might never allow himself true happiness—even with the one man who’s always owned his heart. 

When Brin Schubert needs a temporary place to stay, he never expected his friend's roommate to be someone he knows...Nick Dell...the boy in High School who humiliated and hurt him.

These two have a strong reaction to each other swirling with unresolved feelings of anger, pain, guilt, and regret. Brin wants to continue to hate Nick, but it gets harder the more time he is around him. Nick wants to apologize and make amends  for what he did to Brin. But Nick also has so many more demons causing him pain and guilt 

Brin is the sensitive, smart, caring man who just wants to be loved and have a real connection. Nick is the damaged and broken man who is punishing himself for past mistakes. He is troubled and tormented, but so vulnerable and in need of love, acceptance, and support. But he won't ask for it and does not think he is worthy of it.

The sexual tension, attraction, and want it still there. But Brin has had his share of emotionally unavailable guys, and Nick's self loathing makes him think he does not deserve happiness. He puts up walls and pushes people away. But when nightmares reappear and Brin can ease Nick's torment, their connection and needs grow. But so do their fears and worries. Brin is afraid of getting hurt and Nick is afraid of losing someone else he cares about and he truly believe he is unworthy of love.

They cycle through Hate--Lust--Love--Emotional Truths. They react strongly and get under each other's skin like no other. Their chemistry is intense and hard to ignore. But there are secrets and issues in their way. Can they admit how they feel and break down their barriers? Will Brin be the person to stand by Nick when his secrets are revealed? And can Nick let his guard down and let love in?

This is an emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers and second chance love story about hope, fate, and forgiveness. This is not only about them revisiting their past and beginning a relationship, but also about Nick facing his past guilt and dealing with his self loathing. He never thought anyone could accept his ugly parts. But he was only really allowing himself to exist and not truly live. My heart broke for him because it was obvious he craved more and wanted to be happy, but truly did not feel like he deserved it. And Brin did not have all of the information to truly understand him, but wanted to soothe him and make him see what a great guy he was. And they both had some family dynamics situations going on that affected them. I liked Nick's roommate, Elijah and their widowed boss, Tristan. 

This book was engaging and flowed well in dual points of view. Nick's past issues were a mystery that were gradually revealed and we found out as Brin did. The characters were complex, and well developed. It was emotional and heartbreaking, but also funny, passionate, and swoony at times. I really liked both of them and could feel their vulnerability and intensity. Although will admit that Nick's negativity could get a bit overwhelming at times, and it was a long process towards acceptance and finding some hope to grasp onto.

I was surprised when it ended, but it did leave with an impact. I was expecting an epilogue and a bit more with them, but I am hoping we will see more of them in future books in this series. I would love to get a book about Tristan since here was a tease of a story that piqued my interest. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Tally pawed at the pillow for a few seconds before finally sinking down, apparently resigned to her position. I straightened to back out of the room, only then allowing my gaze to slide over Brin’s sleeping form. My pulse spiked when I noticed his eyes on me.
“Not sure Tally will want to sleep without you,” he rasped out. The words were like a thunderbolt to my chest. As if he was referring to more than the dog finding her way to my bed.
“Not sure I’ll want to sleep without her,” I replied in a hoarse voice, attempting to get my emotions under control.
Without you. Because you’ve taken up residence inside my heart once again. But maybe you’ve always been there, winding inside my rib cage, coiling around my lungs. Making it impossible to breathe, to think, to stop wanting.
As I turned to leave, his warm fingers curled around my wrist, searing into my skin. My breath caught in my throat. It was the first time he made the first move and my heart bloomed into an impossibly large bouquet of hope and aching desire inside my chest.
Our gazes snagged and held as his other hand slowly reached for the edge of the blanket and pulled it aside.

Christina Lee 
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram