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The Formicary #1
Chrysalis
A gunshot to the head is bad enough. Waking up with amnesia is far worse. I learn that the hard way when I wake up in the hospital, my memory practically wiped. I don’t know why someone wants me dead. Hell, I don’t even know my name. They say my name is Christian Cross. Too bad that name means nothing to me.
I haven’t forgotten everything, though. Grayson Laurie has always been my kryptonite, and it would take more than a bullet to the brain to forget him. He assures me that I’m imagining the distance between us, but I know better. I just don’t know how to fix it. I console myself that at least I've reached rock bottom and things can’t get worse…until they do.
My life is a tangled mess of lies and deceit. The more I learn about myself, the less I want to know. I want nothing more than an honest future with Gray, but the past isn't about to let me go without a fight.
Fortunately, I’m starting to realize that fighting is my specialty.
I haven’t forgotten everything, though. Grayson Laurie has always been my kryptonite, and it would take more than a bullet to the brain to forget him. He assures me that I’m imagining the distance between us, but I know better. I just don’t know how to fix it. I console myself that at least I've reached rock bottom and things can’t get worse…until they do.
My life is a tangled mess of lies and deceit. The more I learn about myself, the less I want to know. I want nothing more than an honest future with Gray, but the past isn't about to let me go without a fight.
Fortunately, I’m starting to realize that fighting is my specialty.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2021
155 people are currently reading
1210 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Harmon
21 books1,688 followersS.E. Harmon has had a lifelong love affair with writing. It's been both wonderful and rocky (they've divorced several times), but they always manage to come back together. She's a native Floridian with a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters in Fine Arts, and used to spend her time writing educational grants. She now splits her days between voraciously reading romance novels and squirreling away someplace to write them. Her current beta reader is a nosy American Eskimo who begrudgingly accepts payment in the form of dog biscuits.
http://seharmon.weebly.com/
http://seharmon.weebly.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
September 6, 2021
This one was hard to rate. I love the amnesia trope and I really liked the first part of the story or so, but it went downhill for me in the second part.
When it comes to romance, it worked for me for the most part. I really liked Chris and Gray as characters, the banter between them was great and I could feel their connection. I kind of wish this was just a contemporary romance, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
The rest of the story didn't work so well for me. There were too many plot holes, inconsistencies, actions that didn't make sense and humor that felt out of place. I'm not sure if we're supposed to take this story seriously or not, because it's very unrealistic and unbelievable. Especially the last few chapters.
This book is a part of a duology and it ends with a cliffhanger, so I'll probably read book 2, even though I'm not too happy with where the story is going.
When it comes to romance, it worked for me for the most part. I really liked Chris and Gray as characters, the banter between them was great and I could feel their connection. I kind of wish this was just a contemporary romance, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
The rest of the story didn't work so well for me. There were too many plot holes, inconsistencies, actions that didn't make sense and humor that felt out of place. I'm not sure if we're supposed to take this story seriously or not, because it's very unrealistic and unbelievable. Especially the last few chapters.
This book is a part of a duology and it ends with a cliffhanger, so I'll probably read book 2, even though I'm not too happy with where the story is going.
July 18, 2022
I love me some S.E Harmon, but this is not it.
September 9, 2021
2 stars
Trigger warnings: A lot of the plot of this book revolves around the possibility of cheating. Also there is a scene that gets really close to cheating at some point and some emotional cheating. Also mentions of self harm. There is no trigger warning in this book and they would have been really appreciated. I will admit I skimmed the scenes close to cheating as I absolutely cannot read about anything related to cheating, so I really would have appreciated knowing that it would be coming.
As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I just had to read it. I was so interested in the idea of it and I love amnesia plot lines in books because I just love unreliable narrators that have no idea about many things in the world and have to figure everything out based on the clues given to them. And the blurb of this book promised me a lot of deceit, which is one of my favourite trope in books. Sadly the execution of this book just wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
Brief summary
Christian Cross wakes up in the hospital, he was shot and had parts of his body modified (like they removed his finger prints and changed his teeth around so they wouldn’t be indenfied and they changed his face too) and he cannot remember most of his life, the only thing he remembers is his boyfriend, Grayson. Grayson comes to see him in the hospital and he is very cold, turns out they had broken up 4 years ago and that Grayson is angry with Christian and that Grayson has a new boyfriend. Christian escapes from the hospital and Grayson brings him to live with him. They banter and try to find who wants to hurt Christian, but mostly, they banter.
First, the blurb of this book promised me an amnesiac guy figuring out his life through lies and deceit and instead of that, I got an amnesiac guy trying to figure out one side plot as the rest of the informations needed were easily supplied by different side characters and he didn’t have to work to find them. I just wanted more of the amnesiac trope. When I read a book about a character being amnesiac, I want it to be focused on that and the guy having to dig deep and find all the clues so he can piece who he really is and sadly thats just not what I got here.
Second, I’ve been on a massive second chance romance kick lately and at first I really enjoyed the romance aspect in this book. I liked their dynamic and I liked their banter. But Grayson very mad at Christian because before he became amnesiac, because Grayson thought that Christian cheated on him and also Christian was the one who broke up with Grayson the first time and he didn’t tell Grayson why. I got a little annoyed at that part because Christian was amnesiac and had no way to know those things. I felt like it was a situation that could never be fixed by the plot since they will never be sure of what happened, since Christian doesn’t remember. So I got annoyed at Grayson for always bringing it up because to me it felt like we would never get a clear answer on the topic. Also Grayson just forgives Christian without any proof towards the end of the book, which didn’t work for me as the situation didn’t change, so I didn’t get why he would forgive him at 95% but not at 60%, it was the same situation and nothing had changed. I don’t really enjoy when main characters are angry at their love interest for the entire book, so this part just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t really feel the connection between the main characters since Grayson spent most of the book being mad at Christian. Grayson was so hot and cold, he was either really angry at Christian or acting like Christian is the love of his life and I got whiplash trying to understand his feelings. Also this is probably just a me thing but I thought it was very jaring to have Grayson be so mad for most of the book because this book is only told in Christian’s point of view, so having Grayson act cold and distant didn’t make me like him or see why he would be a good love interest for Christian, because I was reading the thoughts in Christian’s head and in his head Grayson wasn’t the nicest person ever.
Third, I liked the ratio of suspense and romance scenes in the book, I felt like it was a nice balance and it worked really well. My only issue is that I didn’t really enjoy the suspense plot. There was so many inconsistensies in regards of that part of the plot. Christian never seemed to have many side effects from being shot in the head. Random people barged in Christian’s hospital room at all time and Christian was able to escape the hospital like it’s a shopping centre. I really enjoyed the start of the this book and it really hooked me into the story but it promised me action and a suspense plot about who shot Christian is and Christian not remembering anything. And one of the big plot point was Christian being kidnaped and getting his body modified and I was really excited to see how that would go. But I feel like thats not really what I got at all. The book was about 90% snark and 10% dedicated to the actual suspense plot and I just wanted more. Also the resolution to the suspense plot was very underwelming and I wanted more from it, I feel like the topic wasn’t explored as much as I wanted it to be.
Fourth, there is a side plot about how Grayson has a boyfriend and he has that boyfriend for almost 60% of the book. That boyfriend only exists to make Christian jealous to speed the plot along. Also, I just don’t enjoy having side characters who take such a big place in a book, I prefer only reading about the main characters. Also there was definitely some emotional cheating going on from Grayson’s side, which is one of my triggers and something I just don’t enjoy reading about in books.
I do have to say that my favourite part of the book was the snark, I love snark in books so that really worked for me. I just wish I enjoyed the plot of the book, because I think I really could have loved this book if I did, I really loved the idea for the plot, I just didn’t enjoy the execution of it. Also don’t mind me when you see me reading the second book in this series just because this ends on a cliffhanger and I must know what happens next.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
Trigger warnings: A lot of the plot of this book revolves around the possibility of cheating. Also there is a scene that gets really close to cheating at some point and some emotional cheating. Also mentions of self harm. There is no trigger warning in this book and they would have been really appreciated. I will admit I skimmed the scenes close to cheating as I absolutely cannot read about anything related to cheating, so I really would have appreciated knowing that it would be coming.
As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I just had to read it. I was so interested in the idea of it and I love amnesia plot lines in books because I just love unreliable narrators that have no idea about many things in the world and have to figure everything out based on the clues given to them. And the blurb of this book promised me a lot of deceit, which is one of my favourite trope in books. Sadly the execution of this book just wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
Brief summary
Christian Cross wakes up in the hospital, he was shot and had parts of his body modified (like they removed his finger prints and changed his teeth around so they wouldn’t be indenfied and they changed his face too) and he cannot remember most of his life, the only thing he remembers is his boyfriend, Grayson. Grayson comes to see him in the hospital and he is very cold, turns out they had broken up 4 years ago and that Grayson is angry with Christian and that Grayson has a new boyfriend. Christian escapes from the hospital and Grayson brings him to live with him. They banter and try to find who wants to hurt Christian, but mostly, they banter.
First, the blurb of this book promised me an amnesiac guy figuring out his life through lies and deceit and instead of that, I got an amnesiac guy trying to figure out one side plot as the rest of the informations needed were easily supplied by different side characters and he didn’t have to work to find them. I just wanted more of the amnesiac trope. When I read a book about a character being amnesiac, I want it to be focused on that and the guy having to dig deep and find all the clues so he can piece who he really is and sadly thats just not what I got here.
Second, I’ve been on a massive second chance romance kick lately and at first I really enjoyed the romance aspect in this book. I liked their dynamic and I liked their banter. But Grayson very mad at Christian because before he became amnesiac, because Grayson thought that Christian cheated on him and also Christian was the one who broke up with Grayson the first time and he didn’t tell Grayson why. I got a little annoyed at that part because Christian was amnesiac and had no way to know those things. I felt like it was a situation that could never be fixed by the plot since they will never be sure of what happened, since Christian doesn’t remember. So I got annoyed at Grayson for always bringing it up because to me it felt like we would never get a clear answer on the topic. Also Grayson just forgives Christian without any proof towards the end of the book, which didn’t work for me as the situation didn’t change, so I didn’t get why he would forgive him at 95% but not at 60%, it was the same situation and nothing had changed. I don’t really enjoy when main characters are angry at their love interest for the entire book, so this part just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t really feel the connection between the main characters since Grayson spent most of the book being mad at Christian. Grayson was so hot and cold, he was either really angry at Christian or acting like Christian is the love of his life and I got whiplash trying to understand his feelings. Also this is probably just a me thing but I thought it was very jaring to have Grayson be so mad for most of the book because this book is only told in Christian’s point of view, so having Grayson act cold and distant didn’t make me like him or see why he would be a good love interest for Christian, because I was reading the thoughts in Christian’s head and in his head Grayson wasn’t the nicest person ever.
Third, I liked the ratio of suspense and romance scenes in the book, I felt like it was a nice balance and it worked really well. My only issue is that I didn’t really enjoy the suspense plot. There was so many inconsistensies in regards of that part of the plot. Christian never seemed to have many side effects from being shot in the head. Random people barged in Christian’s hospital room at all time and Christian was able to escape the hospital like it’s a shopping centre. I really enjoyed the start of the this book and it really hooked me into the story but it promised me action and a suspense plot about who shot Christian is and Christian not remembering anything. And one of the big plot point was Christian being kidnaped and getting his body modified and I was really excited to see how that would go. But I feel like thats not really what I got at all. The book was about 90% snark and 10% dedicated to the actual suspense plot and I just wanted more. Also the resolution to the suspense plot was very underwelming and I wanted more from it, I feel like the topic wasn’t explored as much as I wanted it to be.
Fourth, there is a side plot about how Grayson has a boyfriend and he has that boyfriend for almost 60% of the book. That boyfriend only exists to make Christian jealous to speed the plot along. Also, I just don’t enjoy having side characters who take such a big place in a book, I prefer only reading about the main characters. Also there was definitely some emotional cheating going on from Grayson’s side, which is one of my triggers and something I just don’t enjoy reading about in books.
I do have to say that my favourite part of the book was the snark, I love snark in books so that really worked for me. I just wish I enjoyed the plot of the book, because I think I really could have loved this book if I did, I really loved the idea for the plot, I just didn’t enjoy the execution of it. Also don’t mind me when you see me reading the second book in this series just because this ends on a cliffhanger and I must know what happens next.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
Read
September 1, 2021DNF 30-ish%
Realistic plots are a MUST for me.
The MC is constantly trying to be funny and snarky, which makes me cringe. It doesn't fit the seriousness of his situation. In fact, it makes the story sounds far-fetched.
Now, it could be that I have no sense of humour tho.
Other niggles:
Peace, folks!!
Realistic plots are a MUST for me.
The MC is constantly trying to be funny and snarky, which makes me cringe. It doesn't fit the seriousness of his situation. In fact, it makes the story sounds far-fetched.
Now, it could be that I have no sense of humour tho.
Other niggles:
Peace, folks!!
January 24, 2025
4.5
This was so fun to read - Bourne Identity but make it MM, add in some biotech and give the MC an actual sense of humour!
I really liked Chris, his snark and inner monologues had me laughing but there was also a really good balance with more emotional scenes too.
Gray made my heart hurt and that man just deserves the best.
As much as Chaos was an absolute twat, near the end he was less of a robot and some personality was starting to come through. I'm kinda torn over whether I want him to still be around at the end of book two...
So intrigued to see how this story finishes.
This was so fun to read - Bourne Identity but make it MM, add in some biotech and give the MC an actual sense of humour!
I really liked Chris, his snark and inner monologues had me laughing but there was also a really good balance with more emotional scenes too.
Gray made my heart hurt and that man just deserves the best.
As much as Chaos was an absolute twat, near the end he was less of a robot and some personality was starting to come through. I'm kinda torn over whether I want him to still be around at the end of book two...
So intrigued to see how this story finishes.
September 7, 2021
3.5 stars
I received an ARC from GRR and this my honest review.
I love SE Harmon's writing. It's always witty and smooth amd easy to read. This book fit the bill perfectly for me, for the most part.
But... there were some parts that I didn't like as well.
What I loved:
1. The amnesia trope which I'm always intrigued with.
2. The second-chance romance, partly linked to the amnesia, but also to the reason they broke up in the first place.
3. The banter between the MCs which SE always delivers on.
4. Both characters were likable for the most part.
5. The sex scenes were steamy and well written. Not overly explicit though fyi.
6. The thruller/mystery aspect was intriguing for sure.
Niggles:
Plot holes made very apparent by the fact that some aspects and situations in the book were not really fleshed out well.
For example... the boyfriend angle which was lacking in effect and detail. It could have been taken out from the book and it wouldn't have changed the plot. On the contrary, I would've liked if the boyfriend WAS taken out or at least given a more substantial plot point.
The thriller aspect could have also used some more work but maybe that was intentional for book 2? Nevertheless, it needed more tightening up imo.
Also, Christian staying with Gray and putting him in danger qith that fact, while knowing it was risky was too unbelievable. This part was the one I disliked most and I felt it showed naivety and irresponsibility on Christian's part.
I received an ARC from GRR and this my honest review.
I love SE Harmon's writing. It's always witty and smooth amd easy to read. This book fit the bill perfectly for me, for the most part.
But... there were some parts that I didn't like as well.
What I loved:
1. The amnesia trope which I'm always intrigued with.
2. The second-chance romance, partly linked to the amnesia, but also to the reason they broke up in the first place.
3. The banter between the MCs which SE always delivers on.
4. Both characters were likable for the most part.
5. The sex scenes were steamy and well written. Not overly explicit though fyi.
6. The thruller/mystery aspect was intriguing for sure.
Niggles:
Plot holes made very apparent by the fact that some aspects and situations in the book were not really fleshed out well.
For example... the boyfriend angle which was lacking in effect and detail. It could have been taken out from the book and it wouldn't have changed the plot. On the contrary, I would've liked if the boyfriend WAS taken out or at least given a more substantial plot point.
The thriller aspect could have also used some more work but maybe that was intentional for book 2? Nevertheless, it needed more tightening up imo.
Also, Christian staying with Gray and putting him in danger qith that fact, while knowing it was risky was too unbelievable. This part was the one I disliked most and I felt it showed naivety and irresponsibility on Christian's part.
December 8, 2021
Wow ok
I really enjoyed reading this book, the amnesia part was written in a believable manner. The chemistry between the MCs was just so good, i was upset by the implied cheating but that was cleared up later. I’m looking forward to reading book two
I really enjoyed reading this book, the amnesia part was written in a believable manner. The chemistry between the MCs was just so good, i was upset by the implied cheating but that was cleared up later. I’m looking forward to reading book two
September 2, 2021
if you've come seeking S.E. Harmon's iconic snark and banter, rest assured--you're about to get it in spades! but in my unfortunate case, the dark & unforgiving atmosphere i surmised from the gorgeous cover and intriguing blurb that i was more than ready to submerge myself in worked against me as the excessive snark oftentimes felt out of place, taking me out of the story rather than dragging me further into its clutches. (go into this expecting more of an Alice Winters-esque book! if you like that narrative style, this will probably be right up your alley!)
before i start making lists as my brain is apt to do, i do want to say that the premise of this story is intense! i love a good amnesia trope (topped with a second chance romance too, yum) that kicks off from the very get-go because we're just as clueless as the mc is and get to uncover truths at the same time they do (versus oh no amnesia in the middle of the story and feeling like everything up until that point was for naught 🙄😂). it was fun to accompany Mr. Chris the Amnesiac as he gradually realizes things aren't what they seem...... how spooky 👻
in terms of what aspects took away from my reading experience, read ahead (⚠️ with some spoilers mainly surrounding the first half of the book, major spoilers hidden under the spoiler tag. proceed with caution!! ⚠️):
- this could totally just be me overthinking things but the inconsistencies were a bit jarring. examples include: (1) the ease with which Chris escapes the hospital after only waking up two weeks ago from being shot in the head with no lingering symptoms whatsoever is nothing short of miraculous. an injury like that is sure to warrant more treatment and rehab, right? (2) stuff like [still in the hospital] Chris describing a blinding pain through his head, and then a few paragraphs later, he's shaking his head in frustration 🤔 (3) has crazy reflexes, like enough to catch a wine glass in midair, and yet can't react to a grown man ducking under his arm lol
- now i'm obviously not an expert by any stretch of the imagination so please correct me if i'm mistaken, but was it just me or did it feel like hospital & detective/police protocol was thrown out the window? Detective Myers, the one i'm assuming who's in charge of Chris's case and handcuffs him to his hospital bed while he's unconscious (did she ever state what crime he was in custody for? i guess they could use the excuse that it's "for public safety" but the hospital staff's already constantly injecting him with sedatives so it sounds like flimsy reasoning to me), didn't seem to care that Chris had escaped even though she treated him like a huge threat before, and then poof! she basically never shows up again after warning him not to skip town. ummm nice detective work....? i'd also like to note that when she issues that warning, Chris is roaming freely out in public without any disguise whatsoever even though he's technically in hiding. color me confuzzled 😆
as for the hospital in question, this is only from my limited clinical experience but they're lacking a bit in the patient safety protocol department 😅 bed alarms (as annoying as they are when set off) are practically ubiquitous in U.S. hospitals to alert nurses when a patient gets out of bed when they shouldn't be so it was strange they didn't make an appearance here. raising all the bed rails with the intent of preventing Chris from attempting to exit the bed is also considered restraining the patient which is a big no-no. i believe he mentioned asking people to close the door on their way out of his hospital room too, but at least at the few select hospitals that i've been, it was against protocol to keep doors closed unless for isolation precautions. THAT'S JUST ME DOE.
- the slow, perplexing lull in the story post-hospital escape: i didn't realize the story would temporarily shift to an account of cooking misadventures, shopping sprees, and his love for spice when i was eagerly waiting for more investigation and reveals!!
- the lack of tension: the build-up and unlocking of past Chris's choices and mysteries had me enraptured for the short snippets of time they lasted, but i personally wished there was less joking around when it came to the nitty gritty parts. i'll admit i had a good laugh when, in the middle of a showdown, he was suddenly busy discussing IKEA furniture with one of the thugs, but most of the time, the humor came across misplaced and lowered the stakes to the point where i was left with only a weak buzz where i had anticipated an electrifying thrill instead.
- couldn't feel the chemistry between Chris and Gray: i thought they were cute and i'll always eat up mcs acting all domestic and cute and sh*t, but for some reason i couldn't convince myself to be invested in the couple's reconciliation? the first time they engage in a rough & frantic locking of lips, i couldn't say i necessarily felt anything, and once more truths came out of the woodwork, everything went so smoothly that it was a bit of a letdown. Gray is a sweetheart though, plus he's total sugar daddy material (not me revealing my true intentions 😩🤣).
that all being said, i'll still be reading the next book in the duology so take my rating with a grain of salt! i'm sure it'll work better for the majority of readers, it just fell short of my personal (& pesky) expectations this time around 😔 (i still love your writing, S.E. Harmon!!!)
before i start making lists as my brain is apt to do, i do want to say that the premise of this story is intense! i love a good amnesia trope (topped with a second chance romance too, yum) that kicks off from the very get-go because we're just as clueless as the mc is and get to uncover truths at the same time they do (versus oh no amnesia in the middle of the story and feeling like everything up until that point was for naught 🙄😂). it was fun to accompany Mr. Chris the Amnesiac as he gradually realizes things aren't what they seem...... how spooky 👻
in terms of what aspects took away from my reading experience, read ahead (⚠️ with some spoilers mainly surrounding the first half of the book, major spoilers hidden under the spoiler tag. proceed with caution!! ⚠️):
- this could totally just be me overthinking things but the inconsistencies were a bit jarring. examples include: (1) the ease with which Chris escapes the hospital after only waking up two weeks ago from being shot in the head with no lingering symptoms whatsoever is nothing short of miraculous. an injury like that is sure to warrant more treatment and rehab, right? (2) stuff like [still in the hospital] Chris describing a blinding pain through his head, and then a few paragraphs later, he's shaking his head in frustration 🤔 (3) has crazy reflexes, like enough to catch a wine glass in midair, and yet can't react to a grown man ducking under his arm lol
- now i'm obviously not an expert by any stretch of the imagination so please correct me if i'm mistaken, but was it just me or did it feel like hospital & detective/police protocol was thrown out the window? Detective Myers, the one i'm assuming who's in charge of Chris's case and handcuffs him to his hospital bed while he's unconscious (did she ever state what crime he was in custody for? i guess they could use the excuse that it's "for public safety" but the hospital staff's already constantly injecting him with sedatives so it sounds like flimsy reasoning to me), didn't seem to care that Chris had escaped even though she treated him like a huge threat before, and then poof! she basically never shows up again after warning him not to skip town. ummm nice detective work....? i'd also like to note that when she issues that warning, Chris is roaming freely out in public without any disguise whatsoever even though he's technically in hiding. color me confuzzled 😆
as for the hospital in question, this is only from my limited clinical experience but they're lacking a bit in the patient safety protocol department 😅 bed alarms (as annoying as they are when set off) are practically ubiquitous in U.S. hospitals to alert nurses when a patient gets out of bed when they shouldn't be so it was strange they didn't make an appearance here. raising all the bed rails with the intent of preventing Chris from attempting to exit the bed is also considered restraining the patient which is a big no-no. i believe he mentioned asking people to close the door on their way out of his hospital room too, but at least at the few select hospitals that i've been, it was against protocol to keep doors closed unless for isolation precautions. THAT'S JUST ME DOE.
- the slow, perplexing lull in the story post-hospital escape: i didn't realize the story would temporarily shift to an account of cooking misadventures, shopping sprees, and his love for spice when i was eagerly waiting for more investigation and reveals!!
- the lack of tension: the build-up and unlocking of past Chris's choices and mysteries had me enraptured for the short snippets of time they lasted, but i personally wished there was less joking around when it came to the nitty gritty parts. i'll admit i had a good laugh when, in the middle of a showdown, he was suddenly busy discussing IKEA furniture with one of the thugs, but most of the time, the humor came across misplaced and lowered the stakes to the point where i was left with only a weak buzz where i had anticipated an electrifying thrill instead.
- couldn't feel the chemistry between Chris and Gray: i thought they were cute and i'll always eat up mcs acting all domestic and cute and sh*t, but for some reason i couldn't convince myself to be invested in the couple's reconciliation? the first time they engage in a rough & frantic locking of lips, i couldn't say i necessarily felt anything, and once more truths came out of the woodwork, everything went so smoothly that it was a bit of a letdown. Gray is a sweetheart though, plus he's total sugar daddy material (not me revealing my true intentions 😩🤣).
that all being said, i'll still be reading the next book in the duology so take my rating with a grain of salt! i'm sure it'll work better for the majority of readers, it just fell short of my personal (& pesky) expectations this time around 😔 (i still love your writing, S.E. Harmon!!!)
September 4, 2021
4.5 stars ✨ Holy shit! I love this story. I know we cannot expect everything from a book that satisfies our every feeling. But, man I don't know this story made me keep at the edge of my chair its whole journey without giving me a break and ended with a cliffhanger. I could not put the book down until I read the last word of the story.
You already know I like the amnesia trope. no, I love it. Here, Christian Cross got admitted to the hospital being shot by someone, and the problem is he doesn't remember anything, at least his own name. The only name he remembers is his ex's name who happens to be Gray. He remembers that Gray is the kindest soul Chris knows in his whole life apart from his father but the fact that he broke up with him four years ago makes him wonder what kind of a person he was before his past life.
So, this is the journey of him gathering memories that he failed to remember and unraveling his past life step by step. Finally, he knows that he is not the person he should be in the first place and Gray doesn't know half of his life.
The book ends with a cliffhanger since there will be a second book coming on the way in November. I can't wait to read the rest of the journey Chris and Gray are going to make.
Highly recommended! ❤️
You already know I like the amnesia trope. no, I love it. Here, Christian Cross got admitted to the hospital being shot by someone, and the problem is he doesn't remember anything, at least his own name. The only name he remembers is his ex's name who happens to be Gray. He remembers that Gray is the kindest soul Chris knows in his whole life apart from his father but the fact that he broke up with him four years ago makes him wonder what kind of a person he was before his past life.
So, this is the journey of him gathering memories that he failed to remember and unraveling his past life step by step. Finally, he knows that he is not the person he should be in the first place and Gray doesn't know half of his life.
The book ends with a cliffhanger since there will be a second book coming on the way in November. I can't wait to read the rest of the journey Chris and Gray are going to make.
Highly recommended! ❤️
August 25, 2021
This book just left me speechless.
So yes, it really did. When I requested the ARC of this book, all I saw was 'S.E. Harmon' and I just clicked, because I love EVERYTHING she writes. I didn't really know what I was getting into when I started reading, and that's SO not me! 😆 I'm usually too organized and in need of control to allow myself to be surprised.
Well, to say I was surprised by this book might not completely cover what I felt, specially when I still had Coddiwomple in mind. Okay, to be honest, I wasn't really expecting something similar, because from the cover and the title I already had a slight idea this was going to be different. I love that cover, by the way. It has something sinister, and the guy on it is exactly how I pictured Christian.
Christian Cross wakes up in a hospital bed. He's been shot in the head, and though his physical recovery is going well, his mind leaves huge gaps in his memory. He keeps asking for Gray Laurie, whose a doctor in the hospital, and whom he assumes is his boyfriend. But his mind is a tricky thing.
"You come in here, half-dead and out of your mind calling my name. You disrupt my relationship and my life, and I let you because you're Christian fucking Cross, and I always drop everything for Christian fucking Cross."
So yes, it really did. When I requested the ARC of this book, all I saw was 'S.E. Harmon' and I just clicked, because I love EVERYTHING she writes. I didn't really know what I was getting into when I started reading, and that's SO not me! 😆 I'm usually too organized and in need of control to allow myself to be surprised.
Well, to say I was surprised by this book might not completely cover what I felt, specially when I still had Coddiwomple in mind. Okay, to be honest, I wasn't really expecting something similar, because from the cover and the title I already had a slight idea this was going to be different. I love that cover, by the way. It has something sinister, and the guy on it is exactly how I pictured Christian.
Christian Cross wakes up in a hospital bed. He's been shot in the head, and though his physical recovery is going well, his mind leaves huge gaps in his memory. He keeps asking for Gray Laurie, whose a doctor in the hospital, and whom he assumes is his boyfriend. But his mind is a tricky thing.
"You come in here, half-dead and out of your mind calling my name. You disrupt my relationship and my life, and I let you because you're Christian fucking Cross, and I always drop everything for Christian fucking Cross."
I loved the longing that was there between them from the first moment they see each other again. You can feel it every time they are in the same room, in every conversation, every touch. And even though you know there's something mysteriously about Chris, the turns this story takes, are surprising and not my usual trope at all. But, as with all of this author's book, I found myself bookmarking and highlighting almost the entire book.
I think it's the combination of her trademark humor and banter and, in this case, the suspense, which is perfectly balanced. It's a way of writing I enjoy tremendously.
The story that unfolds here kept me on the edge of my seat. Just could not put this book down before I knew what was going on. What was Chris' story? Why did he break up with Gray 4 years ago when it's so evident he still loves him? What happened to him in those 4 years? The mystery unfolds at a perfect pace, even though I have to admit that the first chapters were a bit slow. You're just waiting for something to happen - the bubble to burst, someone evil showing up to give us SOMETHING.
"You don't owe me any apologies." My voice was decidedly glum. "You've already gone above and beyond for, let's face it, someone that you used to know."
(...)Once again, he looked like he was struggling with words better left unspoken. He swore under his breath. It was getting to be quite a habit. "Christian."
"Yeah?"
"You'll never be just somebody that I used to know." He looked like he hated to admit it. "And God knows I've tried."
The story is told solely from Christian's pov. We're there when fragments of his memory come back, when he is able to put the puzzle pieces of his former life together. And while he does, not only does he slowly find the answers to why he is in danger, but also to what his life was like. Fragments from his unusual childhood, his family. His loyalty to them.
Who shot him.
And it's a hell of a ride to accompany him in his search for those answers. It’s painful at times, as Christian is a guy you fall for quite easily - his humor and self-mockery make it even a pleasure to be inside his head, but that’s also the reason you don’t want his life threatened,for him to be in danger. As a reader you want to find the answers just as badly as he does.
I loved Christian, this tough guy, but who is also more vulnerable than he wants to be. I loved Gray, who went above and beyond to take care of the love of his life, until he couldn't take it anymore and had to protect himself. I ached for them, I rooted for them, I just wanted them together.
I wanted Christian to find his answers and to live a life away from the dangers that kept threatening him.
This book ends with a promise that things are going to be all right. It's not a happy ever after or a happy for now. There is a second book coming (this is a duet, after all), and I can't wait for it to be here! But when I closed the book, I sort of went speechless. What a rollercoaster ride this was! And I have had two days to think about my review and still it feels like it's just a ramble of incoherent thoughts, not making much sense, but that's what this book did to me.
I kindly received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review
February 7, 2025
Re-read February 2025
4.5 stars
My rating for this hasn’t changed but I did bump the stars up to 5 instead of 4 because I enjoyed this much more the second time around. I want to read the next book in this duet so I needed to reacquaint myself with Christian Cross. I am so glad I did because I forgot a lot the story.
I did notice that the Formicary is not the best group of assassins, how did they not take Christian from either the hospital or Gray’s house? Christian lounged around Gray’s house for weeks on end and he went out a bunch of times and they never searched there? I didn’t quite understand why the tracker wasn’t used earlier. Big plot hole there. They could’ve lured him in using Gray much sooner too.
I’m still very interested in Chaos. I’ll have to see what happens in the next book. He may not survive it for all I know!
***********************************************************
4.5 stars
You think you know what a book about amnesia is going to be about, right? You’ve read one and it seems like you’ve read them all. I will admit the whole amnesia storyline isn’t my favorite but this book is unlike any other story I’ve ever encountered with this storyline. I am not going to say too much because this is one you need to read and let everything unfold.
Christian Cross has been shot in the head and wakes up in the hospital to find he can’t remember anything except his boyfriend, Grey. When he finally sees Grey he doesn’t understand why he’s acting so strange. When he finds out a few facts he realizes he’s lost more than his memory.
I found this story to be a great read with an exciting storyline that made you feel as in the dark as Christian is. The first half of the book is almost a complete 180 from the second half. Christian finds out so many things about himself and he’s left wondering who he was and questioning why would he ever do the things he did.
I did find the first part of the story almost sweet but a little slow because I knew something was coming but I couldn’t get there fast enough. You do have to suspend belief for this one and I am almost at a loss on how to characterize it. It is just so different and the change comes and you are really taken for a loop. But it’s a really good change. It sped the story up and I settled into the book even more.
Christian is funny and witty from the moment he wakes up in the hospital. He’s a character that doesn’t give up and is extremely loyal to those he loves. He has snippets of memories and through these we see small glimpses of what his life had been like. A lot of the memories revolve around the memory of his mother and Grey.
This will be a two part series and I am just going to be over here waiting for the next book. I think it will move at a much faster pace since we just scratch the surface on so much in this one. One character I’m very interested in? Chaos.
SE Harmon writes so many different stories. I love that about her. You can read a book or series from her and you get something completely different every time. I love that she went with this idea and made this into a well crafted and interesting story.
**ARC received in exchange for review
**All thoughts and opinions are my own
i-m-a-quitter
September 7, 2021DNF - around the 50% mark
This one just did not work for me.
Felt off right from the very beginning. The humor felt akward and forced almost.
And while I was mildly curious as to who Christian really was, not enough to get past everything else.
A lot of things that happened or were said seemed unrealistic.
And the first half was really slow and boring with all of the cooking and this and that. And then the whole conversation about IKEA with the intruders at Christian's apartment. Yeah, no.
Still an SE Hermon fan, just not a fan of this series!
This one just did not work for me.
Felt off right from the very beginning. The humor felt akward and forced almost.
And while I was mildly curious as to who Christian really was, not enough to get past everything else.
A lot of things that happened or were said seemed unrealistic.
And the first half was really slow and boring with all of the cooking and this and that. And then the whole conversation about IKEA with the intruders at Christian's apartment. Yeah, no.
Still an SE Hermon fan, just not a fan of this series!
September 5, 2021
Some books have potential. The mysterious plot, likable characters and even an amazing cover! This book could be one of those good books. But I'm sorry to say it just wasn't.
It went down completely a couple of times and I had to revive it with good faith and a bit of seasoning. I picked it up again with the hope of a better future!
Alas, chapters went on and what I was looking for never came.
I had issues with this book. My problem was with the plot holes, unnecessary jokes, unbelievable development of the story and finally the relationship between the main characters.
I'm not an expert but can you use your fingerprints as a biometrics passcode if they’ve been removed? Or can all the scans and MRIs on a patient with gunshot in the head miss a tracking chipset in the neck?
As I said I'm not an expert and I'm also an extremely easy to convince reader!! Sometimes only acknowledging the facts would be enough for me! Tell me it was an undetectable chipset and I'll stop thinking about it! But don't expect me to ignore questions that I think are reasonable.
And then there was those easy to avoid mistakes here and there that got me even more disappointed and though I did like the story, unfortunately, I couldn't take the book seriously anymore.
I wish the book was written with more focus on characters. I wish it was more honest to them. I liked Gray until I realized he has no brain of his own and what he says about learning his lessons from the past heartbreak with Chris is bullshit! One arch of an eyebrow and he's back to square one with no resistance, falling again for the one who claims had hurt him so badly.
Of course, after satisfying his momentary craving for the ex-lover, he's back on the “we are not getting back together” horse again!
I usually enjoy reading from S.E. Harmon and I don't think this one book stops me from reading again from their work. Let's just hope for a better one next time.
It went down completely a couple of times and I had to revive it with good faith and a bit of seasoning. I picked it up again with the hope of a better future!
Alas, chapters went on and what I was looking for never came.
I had issues with this book. My problem was with the plot holes, unnecessary jokes, unbelievable development of the story and finally the relationship between the main characters.
I'm not an expert but can you use your fingerprints as a biometrics passcode if they’ve been removed? Or can all the scans and MRIs on a patient with gunshot in the head miss a tracking chipset in the neck?
As I said I'm not an expert and I'm also an extremely easy to convince reader!! Sometimes only acknowledging the facts would be enough for me! Tell me it was an undetectable chipset and I'll stop thinking about it! But don't expect me to ignore questions that I think are reasonable.
And then there was those easy to avoid mistakes here and there that got me even more disappointed and though I did like the story, unfortunately, I couldn't take the book seriously anymore.
I wish the book was written with more focus on characters. I wish it was more honest to them. I liked Gray until I realized he has no brain of his own and what he says about learning his lessons from the past heartbreak with Chris is bullshit! One arch of an eyebrow and he's back to square one with no resistance, falling again for the one who claims had hurt him so badly.
Of course, after satisfying his momentary craving for the ex-lover, he's back on the “we are not getting back together” horse again!
I usually enjoy reading from S.E. Harmon and I don't think this one book stops me from reading again from their work. Let's just hope for a better one next time.
September 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this! I like a good mystery where the romance takes a back seat. There were some things that didn’t make sense. Especially near the end when . But all in all it was good and I can’t wait to read the next one.
September 5, 2021
* 5 stars *
The first thing you need to know about this book, is that it's book #1 of a series and the story continues in the next book, both for the general arc and the romantic one. It also ends at a point where nothing is resolved and Chris keeps finding out new stuff about his past, without yet having all the pieces of his puzzle. I wasn't disappointed about that, because I already knew it was a series when I started reading.
So, the story revolves around a man waking up in a hospital and remembering only the name of his boyfriend, or who he thought was his boyfriend... I'm not going to lie: it was difficult seeing Chris trying to come to terms with how much his life had shifted romantically from the last thing he remembered until now. It was even more difficult to watch him struggle with every new discovery that took him on a different road than what he imagined for himself. He even reached a point where he was afraid of what he would discover next about his past.
The mystery about what happened to him, what's in his past, why he did the things that he did, everything played a part in keeping me engaged in the story. The common factor in all of S.E. Harmon's books - humor - is very present here as well, even if the story can in no way be categorized as a comedy. It's more of a mystery and action story, but it also had its light moments.
I'm, very impatiently, waiting for the next book in the series!
* I read an ARC of this book. *
The first thing you need to know about this book, is that it's book #1 of a series and the story continues in the next book, both for the general arc and the romantic one. It also ends at a point where nothing is resolved and Chris keeps finding out new stuff about his past, without yet having all the pieces of his puzzle. I wasn't disappointed about that, because I already knew it was a series when I started reading.
So, the story revolves around a man waking up in a hospital and remembering only the name of his boyfriend, or who he thought was his boyfriend... I'm not going to lie: it was difficult seeing Chris trying to come to terms with how much his life had shifted romantically from the last thing he remembered until now. It was even more difficult to watch him struggle with every new discovery that took him on a different road than what he imagined for himself. He even reached a point where he was afraid of what he would discover next about his past.
The mystery about what happened to him, what's in his past, why he did the things that he did, everything played a part in keeping me engaged in the story. The common factor in all of S.E. Harmon's books - humor - is very present here as well, even if the story can in no way be categorized as a comedy. It's more of a mystery and action story, but it also had its light moments.
I'm, very impatiently, waiting for the next book in the series!
* I read an ARC of this book. *
November 12, 2021
Wow, am I glad I waited for the second book to come out. After that cliffhanger, I would have wanted more and to know how these two get their HEA, and it would have been frustrating to have to wait.
I can also say that I am definitely in the "I loved this" camp.
This pulled me in right away, the story, the romance, the characters, all grabbed my attention and I couldn't put this book down.
Christian Cross aka Chrysalis, wakes up in a hospital not really remembering anything about who he is. Except he remember Gray Laurie, his ex-boyfriend who is definitely the love of his life.
But Christian doesn't even know his name, and he thinks he and Gray are still boyfriends. Gray is a doctor at the hospital he's at, and when they meet, Gray is a little cold and standoffish, and Christian wonders why.
It soon becomes clear that they aren't together, especially when some man comes in and says he and Christian have been together for 5 years - when he and Gray had broken up only 4 years ago.
Christian is devastated to learn that he could have cheated on the love of his life - but he isn't quite sure he believe it, because something is off with the guy who comes to the hospital. He's especially cold, and Christian gets some bad vibes form him.
When he escapes the hospital after a number of weeks, he still doesn't remember who he is or what his life was before he lost his memory, so he only has the clothes off his back and nothing else. He doesn't know where to go for shelter, even.
But then Gray drives up, and offers to let him stay at his place, and Christian doesn't really have any other option.
Except it's clear that there's still something between them, and it's hard for Christian not to give in and kiss Gray when for him, in his mind, they were still together.
But Gray has a boyfriend, and he's still justifiably angry and upset over how Christian just up and left him and broke his heart 4 years ago.
And as Christian starts to learn more and more about himself, and how very not normal his life was, the crazier things start to get. Especially when guys come to his old apartment he was able to track down and he discovers how well he can fight. Yes, things definitely weren't normal in his life.
I think Harmon is especially good at second chance type romances, because I definitely felt the chemistry between these two, so much. It was like...how could they love anyone else, when they love each other so completely? I felt that coming off the pages.
Also the humor was on point. I did not expect to laugh so much, especially in a book about assassins, dark themes, all that good stuff. But I did, and I loved it. Christian might have been a deadly assassin, but he also has a sense of humor, that's for sure.
The plot was so good. It's one of those kinda half spy type deal/half conspiracy that is very real type deal with
And imagine being Gray. You meet and fall for this man, and he leaves you without you knowing why, and years later he comes back, having been shot in the head with basically no memory - except for the earliest, happiest years of you being together - and oh yeah, he's also secretly an assassin and there's some conspiracy type shit going on and you're basically just dragged along for the ride.
I understood Gray well, even though we didn't get his POV. I always love when a book can make me understand a character even if we don't get their POV. But he fell in love with part of Christian, because Christian didn't allow him to see everything, and kept his assassin life a secret from him while they were together, and eventually Gray and now he has to deal with that knowledge and get to know all of Christian. Which I'm sure we'll get more of in the second book, which I am happy I get to dive right into - and to maybe get all the answers to questions still left unanswered ;)
I also loved how while not even knowing everything about Christian, Gray couldn't help but love him anyway, because love is a tricky bitch and we can't help who we fall in love with.
I highly recommend this. It was so so good, and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for book two. Two massive thumbs up from me! ❤️
I can also say that I am definitely in the "I loved this" camp.
This pulled me in right away, the story, the romance, the characters, all grabbed my attention and I couldn't put this book down.
Christian Cross aka Chrysalis, wakes up in a hospital not really remembering anything about who he is. Except he remember Gray Laurie, his ex-boyfriend who is definitely the love of his life.
But Christian doesn't even know his name, and he thinks he and Gray are still boyfriends. Gray is a doctor at the hospital he's at, and when they meet, Gray is a little cold and standoffish, and Christian wonders why.
It soon becomes clear that they aren't together, especially when some man comes in and says he and Christian have been together for 5 years - when he and Gray had broken up only 4 years ago.
Christian is devastated to learn that he could have cheated on the love of his life - but he isn't quite sure he believe it, because something is off with the guy who comes to the hospital. He's especially cold, and Christian gets some bad vibes form him.
When he escapes the hospital after a number of weeks, he still doesn't remember who he is or what his life was before he lost his memory, so he only has the clothes off his back and nothing else. He doesn't know where to go for shelter, even.
But then Gray drives up, and offers to let him stay at his place, and Christian doesn't really have any other option.
Except it's clear that there's still something between them, and it's hard for Christian not to give in and kiss Gray when for him, in his mind, they were still together.
But Gray has a boyfriend, and he's still justifiably angry and upset over how Christian just up and left him and broke his heart 4 years ago.
And as Christian starts to learn more and more about himself, and how very not normal his life was, the crazier things start to get. Especially when guys come to his old apartment he was able to track down and he discovers how well he can fight. Yes, things definitely weren't normal in his life.
I think Harmon is especially good at second chance type romances, because I definitely felt the chemistry between these two, so much. It was like...how could they love anyone else, when they love each other so completely? I felt that coming off the pages.
Also the humor was on point. I did not expect to laugh so much, especially in a book about assassins, dark themes, all that good stuff. But I did, and I loved it. Christian might have been a deadly assassin, but he also has a sense of humor, that's for sure.
The plot was so good. It's one of those kinda half spy type deal/half conspiracy that is very real type deal with
And imagine being Gray. You meet and fall for this man, and he leaves you without you knowing why, and years later he comes back, having been shot in the head with basically no memory - except for the earliest, happiest years of you being together - and oh yeah, he's also secretly an assassin and there's some conspiracy type shit going on and you're basically just dragged along for the ride.
I understood Gray well, even though we didn't get his POV. I always love when a book can make me understand a character even if we don't get their POV. But he fell in love with part of Christian, because Christian didn't allow him to see everything, and kept his assassin life a secret from him while they were together, and eventually Gray and now he has to deal with that knowledge and get to know all of Christian. Which I'm sure we'll get more of in the second book, which I am happy I get to dive right into - and to maybe get all the answers to questions still left unanswered ;)
I also loved how while not even knowing everything about Christian, Gray couldn't help but love him anyway, because love is a tricky bitch and we can't help who we fall in love with.
I highly recommend this. It was so so good, and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for book two. Two massive thumbs up from me! ❤️
September 2, 2021
This was different from Harmon's previous stories, but I enjoyed it!
October 7, 2021
5 Stars!!!!!
I haven't left a review in a really long time, BUT! BUT, I haven't been quite glued to a book and so interested in a story and where it was gonna go in a while. Until now.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down and when I had to, I was itching to pick it back up again. Every free moment I had was curled up somewhere reading this. Sadly it went by way too fast. I really can not wait to get my hands on the next one.
I definitely recommend this one.
Happy reading dolls! xx
I haven't left a review in a really long time, BUT! BUT, I haven't been quite glued to a book and so interested in a story and where it was gonna go in a while. Until now.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down and when I had to, I was itching to pick it back up again. Every free moment I had was curled up somewhere reading this. Sadly it went by way too fast. I really can not wait to get my hands on the next one.
I definitely recommend this one.
Happy reading dolls! xx
August 13, 2022
Audiobook-5+++ stars
Story-2.5stars
Usually, I enjoy reading SE Harmon's books because of how well she writes snarky MCs. My fav so far is Rain who use to love making self-deprecating jokes even at the gunpoint.😁😁Still, I was not sure about this one. I feel it's too tricky to pull off amnesia trope without complete suspension of belief from readers. So far I have liked only one book/novella with this trope and that's maybe because it's written by Josh Lanyon (Don't look back).
This one though was hella predictable from the very 1st page. I think actually if you have ever watched any movie/read a book with this trope you probably know whatever is going to happen next. Or let me rephrase- if you have watched even a single instalment of Matt Damon's Jason Bourne series or read anything about genetics modifications, think this one as the cliche version of them.
I should say romance was the only saving grace though I stopped caring about the love interest Gray after 40-50%. Because everything was so predictable and shows plotholes and that author has definitely written it without any research. However, the deep voice of Kai Rubio forced me to continue.😁😁 Do you think it's a good idea to tell my husband that I love deep male voices???? I think he will just laugh and say, "Deep voice mostly comes with a beard too". 😂😂😂
Anyway, I am sure as hell not going to read/listen to the sequel. Byeee Cross.......
Story-2.5stars
Usually, I enjoy reading SE Harmon's books because of how well she writes snarky MCs. My fav so far is Rain who use to love making self-deprecating jokes even at the gunpoint.😁😁Still, I was not sure about this one. I feel it's too tricky to pull off amnesia trope without complete suspension of belief from readers. So far I have liked only one book/novella with this trope and that's maybe because it's written by Josh Lanyon (Don't look back).
This one though was hella predictable from the very 1st page. I think actually if you have ever watched any movie/read a book with this trope you probably know whatever is going to happen next. Or let me rephrase- if you have watched even a single instalment of Matt Damon's Jason Bourne series or read anything about genetics modifications, think this one as the cliche version of them.
I should say romance was the only saving grace though I stopped caring about the love interest Gray after 40-50%. Because everything was so predictable and shows plotholes and that author has definitely written it without any research. However, the deep voice of Kai Rubio forced me to continue.😁😁 Do you think it's a good idea to tell my husband that I love deep male voices???? I think he will just laugh and say, "Deep voice mostly comes with a beard too". 😂😂😂
Anyway, I am sure as hell not going to read/listen to the sequel. Byeee Cross.......
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
Good, but ends in a cliffy! RTC
October 8, 2021
*4.5 stars*
I loved it. Had this been a complete story I would have probably rounded up. The ending was freaking brilliant. Can't wait for the second book!
I loved it. Had this been a complete story I would have probably rounded up. The ending was freaking brilliant. Can't wait for the second book!
September 30, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
So first off, there is a lot I can’t say here because the fun of this story is discovering what is going on along with Chris. Often in amnesia stories, we either get dual POV, or we are in the head of the partner without amnesia, giving us some hints as to what’s going on. In this case, we are solely in Chris’ head, so we don’t know anything before he does. We also learn that Chris had been keeping secrets from Gray, particularly about his job and what he did all day, so Gray isn’t able to help Chris much with remembering parts of his background. This makes for a really fascinating and engaging story as, little by little, Chris uncovers more about his life, who he is, what has been done to him, and why.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
So first off, there is a lot I can’t say here because the fun of this story is discovering what is going on along with Chris. Often in amnesia stories, we either get dual POV, or we are in the head of the partner without amnesia, giving us some hints as to what’s going on. In this case, we are solely in Chris’ head, so we don’t know anything before he does. We also learn that Chris had been keeping secrets from Gray, particularly about his job and what he did all day, so Gray isn’t able to help Chris much with remembering parts of his background. This makes for a really fascinating and engaging story as, little by little, Chris uncovers more about his life, who he is, what has been done to him, and why.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
September 10, 2021
Look, there was a lot of things I really liked about this book. I really liked both Christian and Gray and the premise of this book. However, there's the little fact that this is part of a duo and the second book is not coming out until November. I suck at waiting. I should've waited until that one was released to read this one. So now I'm a little mad at myself that I didn't and got invested in the story.
Anyway. Basically this felt a lot like it was one long build up for the events tat are going to go down in the next book. Both for the mystery part and for the romance part. Which means Grayson walked around being mad at Christian for most of the book while Christian did some stupid and some not so stupid stuff to get his memories back. Or at least something. This would've bothered me if I hadn't read some of the reviews beforehand. As it was now, I didn't find it at all as bad as I thought I would.
As expected from this author there was tons of banter and humor which was a nice break from the heavier stuff from the amnesia and mystery part.
Can November come faster please? I need Christian and Gray to get their HEA.
Anyway. Basically this felt a lot like it was one long build up for the events tat are going to go down in the next book. Both for the mystery part and for the romance part. Which means Grayson walked around being mad at Christian for most of the book while Christian did some stupid and some not so stupid stuff to get his memories back. Or at least something. This would've bothered me if I hadn't read some of the reviews beforehand. As it was now, I didn't find it at all as bad as I thought I would.
As expected from this author there was tons of banter and humor which was a nice break from the heavier stuff from the amnesia and mystery part.
Can November come faster please? I need Christian and Gray to get their HEA.
September 27, 2021
I have read several books by this author and by now I learned to recognize her style. I really appreciate that her narrator is usually a wise ass and often cracks jokes . I also like that she usually does amusing banter between the main couple really well and I think this book really delivered on that front. For the most part that is, because at times Christian's jokes felt out of place for me . I however understand that if this is part the character's personality, in his head he will always be like that, regardless of whether the reader finds his humor appropriate for the occasion or not.
I also really really appreciated suspense storyline was a significant part of the story. As I said many times, I like the men in m/m romance book I am reading to be occupied with something else besides the romance and man occupied they were.
If we were to go back to what I came to expect from this writer, this would be a second chance romance trope and besides being a suspense story this book sure has a second chance romance. I did enjoy Christian and Gray together , romance mostly worked well for me, or should I say the clear showing that they will get back together after all the danger they would have to go through.
Christian as blurb tells you wakes up in the hospital, being shot in the head with amnesia and tries to figure out what happened. And here comes the big warning CHECK YOUR BRAIN AT THE DOOR. Trust me it will help you enjoy this story, because plot holes kept mounting in the suspense storylines one on top of the each other . I cannot really talk about it because I try not to do spoilers, but go read some critical reviews on good reads, some do mention it.
Not only there are technical plot holes, but some characters' motivations and reactions just did not make sense . I was still entertained quite a lot though and thought guys had a nice chemistry.
Hence grade is 3.5 stars. Remember though don't use brain . We shall see what the second book brings.
I also really really appreciated suspense storyline was a significant part of the story. As I said many times, I like the men in m/m romance book I am reading to be occupied with something else besides the romance and man occupied they were.
If we were to go back to what I came to expect from this writer, this would be a second chance romance trope and besides being a suspense story this book sure has a second chance romance. I did enjoy Christian and Gray together , romance mostly worked well for me, or should I say the clear showing that they will get back together after all the danger they would have to go through.
Christian as blurb tells you wakes up in the hospital, being shot in the head with amnesia and tries to figure out what happened. And here comes the big warning CHECK YOUR BRAIN AT THE DOOR. Trust me it will help you enjoy this story, because plot holes kept mounting in the suspense storylines one on top of the each other . I cannot really talk about it because I try not to do spoilers, but go read some critical reviews on good reads, some do mention it.
Not only there are technical plot holes, but some characters' motivations and reactions just did not make sense . I was still entertained quite a lot though and thought guys had a nice chemistry.
Hence grade is 3.5 stars. Remember though don't use brain . We shall see what the second book brings.
May 13, 2022
I enjoyed the first person POV and discovering what was going on. I lost a little bit of interest after figuring it out though.
February 4, 2024
Incredible book! Stunning plot twist. I did not see that coming. Just wow! I love Christian and Gray and cannot wait for more.
May 24, 2022
This is literally the best book I've come across in a while. i should really start listening to Goodreads recommendations because this has been on my recommended for months now and i kinda maybe probably ignored it💀.
November 12, 2021
4.5 Stars
November 13, 2021
Wow it was good
I liked it a lot! •amnesia •second chance •assassin MC with upgrades •doctor MC and a cliffhanger but the relationship part has hfn-hea.
I liked it a lot! •amnesia •second chance •assassin MC with upgrades •doctor MC and a cliffhanger but the relationship part has hfn-hea.
November 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this. Every word held my attention.
There is definitely plot holes and things that don’t make sense but it was so fun I just didn’t care. I can pick apart several things easily but I just don’t want to.
I love this author, and they’re pretty much the only second-chance romance author I’ll auto buy, as that trope is not my favourite.
I really liked the balance of romance vs. suspense in this. I loved how Christian works on figuring out who he is and how supportive Gray is. They’re clearly each other’s one and only so I’m very much looking forward to more romance in book two.
There is definitely plot holes and things that don’t make sense but it was so fun I just didn’t care. I can pick apart several things easily but I just don’t want to.
I love this author, and they’re pretty much the only second-chance romance author I’ll auto buy, as that trope is not my favourite.
I really liked the balance of romance vs. suspense in this. I loved how Christian works on figuring out who he is and how supportive Gray is. They’re clearly each other’s one and only so I’m very much looking forward to more romance in book two.
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