James:
My assignment is simple: go to the Cape and seal the real estate deal for my most important client. No problem. I’m good at my job, I know how to close a sale, and this time won’t be any different.
Until I meet Sawyer, the sexy young bartender I accidentally kiss in the broom closet. Turns out, he’s one of the owners I’m here to negotiate with.
Okay, so that complicates things. As does … with.
Okay, so that complicates things. As does the fact that he doesn’t want to sell. Or that we can’t keep our hands off each other despite being on opposite sides. And most of all… that I might be falling for him even though I know better. I’ve made the mistake of falling for a younger man before and I won’t do it again.
Sawyer:
For me, family is everything, and nothing represents ours more than the Sea Sprite, the motel that’s been in my family for eighty years. Sure, others (*cough*James*cough*) may describe it as rundown or derelict or in desperate need of a wrecking ball. But I call it our legacy.
I’ve got plans — big plans to renovate the motel back to its vintage glory. The only thing standing in my way is James Allen, the fancy-schmancy lawyer from New York with his adorable smile, jaw-dropping assets, and his client’s millions of dollars.
James seems hellbent on destroying my future. But maybe there’s a way for us to build a new one together…
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I will admit, I wasn’t quite sure what to think about James when he was first introduced to us in IRL. I didn’t even have a clear picture of what he looked like in my mind. That all changed in this book. It was all ‘Why, hello, James,’ before chapter one was even over.
It’s common for people to have their whole life mapped out that follows a plan that they think they should have. In some cases, that’s a good thing; in others, not so much. James and Sawyer both lived this way, but are in different stages. Sawyer can see how he wants his life to go, but it hasn’t been realized yet. James is living out his plans, and wondering if they are all he thought they’d be. Both men were also missing one key piece of the puzzle in their lives: a man to love.
This book is exactly what I was hoping for, and expected, after reading the first two books in the series. I LOVED it, and cannot wait for the audiobook to come out. While it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading IRL and LOL first. If you can’t stand the wait, at least read IRL first. Wells and Conor make an appearance, as does James’ ex, Richard, who wasn’t an ex in book 1. James and Sawyer will steal your heart if you give them the chance, and I highly recommend that you do just that.
***I voluntarily accepted an advanced readers copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews. My review reflects my own thoughts and opinions***
I really enjoyed this next book in the after Oscar series. James and Sawyer were well written characters with humour love and great side characters
BTW is an excellent addition to the After Oscar series. I enjoyed seeing the characters from previous books.
I tried to figure out which author wrote which character, but the blending of their talents makes the piece seamless, yet each character is unique.
The secondary characters are supportive of the storyline, and do what they need to do to ease the story along without taking away from the main characters’ time-on-page.
Sawyer and James are a fun and sexy couple. They play well off each other in ways that are believable, humorous, and passionate.
The underlying story is interesting and kept my attention throughout. James and Sawyer’s reactions in the difficult scenes show an understanding by the authors of the age difference between these two and how it affects their emotions and logic. I am glad they did not make too big of a deal about the age gap, though.
I enjoyed watching these guys flounder their way into their HEA. I laughed, cried, fussed, and cheered. This book is good stuff, and I hated for it to end.
I look forward to more by these authors.
At one point of BTW I had this image in my head of James and Sawyer, guns out, one facing the other in a Wild West shootout. But somehow, the confrontation ended up inside the saloon, or the Sea Sprite Inn, as it were, with them making out and having sex.
Because that was pretty much how things worked between them for a part of the book, one moment fighting and the next all over each other. No doubt, they burned hot either way, and I had so much fun seeing them on opposite sides of a negotiating table over the Sea Sprite’s fate, enemies yet incredibly attracted to each other.
And, although I expected a happy ending, I was excited to see how the authors would solve their differences. THAT, you’ll have to discover by yourselves, because you don’t want to miss this stunning, funny, hot, romantic story. I loved it!
I loved James and Sawyer, and their romance was another terrific entry in the Ater Oscar series. Both men were from small towns, but their childhood experiences were very different. James was now a big city real estate lawyer, while Sawyer had no plans to leave his town. He wanted to renovate the motel that had been in his family for generations. These two should have been enemies, since James was there to broker a deal that would end Sawyer’s dream, but they couldn’t escape their serious attraction to each other.
James and Sawyer were sweet, funny, and sexy; and their romance was surprisingly low angst for the most part. I enjoyed James’ text communications with Oscar, who I really like a lot, and the rest of the supporting cast was also terrific. The romantic ending left me with a big smile, and I am already looking forward to the next installment in this series.
4.5 Stars!
While BTW can be read as a standalone, I really suggest reading the other books in the series at some point, they are really good.
I really liked James and Sawyer, who found themselves on opposite sides of a deal that will mean Sawyer will lose his grandparents’ inn, which he’d hoped to be able to fix and restore to its former glory.
For one part, James is struggling between doing his work, his growing attraction to Sawyer and the realization that maybe the right thing to do is not what he thought it would be at first. And for the other, Sawyer is torn between wanting to make his lifelong dream a reality and realizing he might want James just as much, even if the reality of them being together, with James being a NYC hotshot lawyer and Sawyer being, well, himself, is not as easy as he would’ve liked. They were both good men, though, and they fit together perfectly. Sawyer was younger than James’s ex, but he had a good head on his shoulders, he was hardworking and knew what he wanted. And James, he was sweet and supportive, trying to do the right thing even if he wasn’t sure he was on the right side of the fight. They had a lot of chemistry and were very hot together.
I loved learning more about the elusive Oscar and I really hope we’ll find out more about him in the next installment.
Overall, this was a great read. Fun and hot and romantic with some angst thrown in for good measure and the quality writing that characterizes Ms. Lennox and Ms. Maddox. I have no trouble recommending BTW or any of the books in the series and I’m already looking forward to the next one!
*** Copy provided for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
I’ll admit, even though I could not care less if I personally ever visit my own hometown again, I’m a sucker for books with guys who want to make the place where they grew up better, so I fell in love with Sawyer right away. I’m also a sucker for a story where that home-town boy helps the city boy realize he’s out of place in the city. Add in an age gap and a setting for which that Lucy and Molly obviously have deep affection and I’m all in. This is my favorite so far in the series. It’s funny, but not raucous or over-the-top. It’s romantic, sexy-hot, and overall a wonderful escape read.
This entire story was cute, from James and Sawyer, to the picture perfect setting, and even to the secondary characters. I was really looking forward to James’s story after getting a glimpse of him and Richard in IRL. I was hoping he would get a sweet man and he certainly did in Sawyer. Even after Sawyer threw out all the attitude in the world, James was able to see the sweet man underneath and fall in love. I did listen to this book through audible and it was had fantastic narration as always.
Embrace the future
McBride seems like a beautiful place to call home. Much like Sawyer, I don’t think I’d ever want to leave if I could have those views every day, including the ones involving the endearing and marvelous James. “You’re my green flash… You’re my wish come true.” IMHO, I think both Sawyer and James are a wish come true. It wasn’t easy but they found their way, and what an incredible and heartwarming way it turned out to be. Wonderful characters, emotion-filled moments and unadulterated love, this book is amazingly fantastic.
Another wonderful book in this series! With each book, we learned how Oscar’s disastrous love life is leaving behind people looking for love and happiness. Now, Sawyer and James’ story is easy to read, with some angst situations well balanced with happy romantic moments, and hot scenes. A nice reading to enlighten my day putting a smile on my face and a sigh in my heart. I can’t wait to know what happens next! Could it be perhaps Oscar’s story?? Pretty please with a cherry on top???
I received this ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and I am voluntarily leaving an honest opinion.
A sweet enemies to lovers story!
A lawyer brokering a real estate deal for a very important client. He thought it was going to be an easy deal, he was not counting on a very attractive young man to be his nemesis.
The youngest member of four family members who get to decide the future of their legacy. He was not counting on being attracted to the lawyer representing a client who wants to buy that legacy.
I love how hard both James and Sawyer try to be true to themselves, which includes the fact that they are really really attracted to each other. I love it so much!
Oh My, I don’t think I cried this much reading one of the other two books in The Oscar Series. This one was so emotional but oh so good. Two people from different worlds & lives falling for each other, a hard read but I loved the story & it ended in happy tears. I loved Sawyer & James, so glad they found each other.
Sawyer: hot young bartender/owner wanting to make his dreams come true.
James: hot lawyer representing the firm who wants to steal that dream from under Sawyer.
The dilemma: love, doing the right thing or doing one’s job?
This is a sweet insta-love story. I like the enemies to lovers vibe that quickly turns to affection and I loved the town and its residents. The chemistry between the two is hot, and the story is fast-paced and fun. All in all, a great story.
I really enjoyed the latest book in the After Oscar series! We get James’s story this time. He is sent to meet up with the owner of a seaside hotel that has seen better days for his client. The first night there he meets up with a hot bartender and shares an equally hot kiss with him. The next day James realizes that his hot bartender was one of the owner’s Sawyer. Sawyer is surprised to say the least that the hottie he shared that insanely hot kiss with is the lawyer trying to take his family business. He isn’t interested in selling his family legacy, Sawyer has big ideas to make it grand once again. He will do whatever he needs to do to keep the hotel away from James. One problem with that idea, he wants James like no other and can’t deny the feelings that James makes him feel. The connection they share is undeniable…can they make it work without either one of them losing out on their dream? What a great story…I laughed, cried, swooned and rooted for them all throughout their story. I loved the snarkiness and the banter they shared….they were a lot of fun to watch fall hard for one another. I was hooked from beginning to end….hated to see it end. I highly recommend this book to all and I can’t wait for the next book these talented authors comes out with next!!
A rating. I really loved this book. It simply made me happier for having read James and Sawyer’s story. I also loved being able to envision what Sawyer’s vision was for the motor inn. This is a great summer read.
Definitely recommend.
By the Way by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox is a nice title following on from the two previous books in their “After Oscar” series.
I was touched by Sawyer’s attachment to the family business and the fact that throughout the novel you can feel his tenderness for all the memories he has of the Sea Sprite.
I liked James’ character. His past pushed him to become the person he is today. The authors have clearly highlighted the difficulties he has in separating from this life which does not really correspond to him. At many times you can feel the conflict he has between his life and his growing love for Sawyer.
The dynamics between the two characters is well brought and well worked. tI’s not an enemy to lovers, but we’re getting closer to it in the sense that when Sawyer finds out who James is, he’ll give him a little spin. Nothing too bad and it doesn’t last.
Finally I appreciated that they did not paint Richard, James’ ex as someone bad. The two men just weren’t meant to be together. He will be at the heart of volume 4 and I can’t wait to discover his story.
What happens when someone who’s running from their past falls for someone who wants to embrace his own history? A fun and heart warming story is the answer . I loved the set up and how the characters grew and learned about themselves and their relationship. It’s definitely my favorite of the series and was worth the wait for it.
Kudos Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox. First off, this book wrecked me in a good way!! It hit me with all the feels, so much emotion. If you have not read IRL and LOL, you really should in order get the full effect from this story. It is incredible how Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox can blend their story and you cannot tell who has written which part, great team dynamic! I absolutely loved getting to know Sawyer and James. James was sent to Sawyer’s family run motor inn to purchase it. Sawyer was adamantly against the sale. So much passion in both men. Their story was steamy, romantic and angsty, but they prevailed and got their HEA!! I cannot wait for the next installment, getting to read more of these characters.
BTW is a wonderful addition to the After Oscar series. I loved the small town Cape Cod setting, having spent every summer vacation there with my family! It was like revisiting an old friend.
I loved Sawyer and James. Although they have a bumpy road towards their HEA, they are truly meant for each other. The self discovery and growth they each go through along the way lends its way to a wonderfully rich, emotional story. The cast of secondary characters adds such warmth and dimension to this outstanding story. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
An easy, enjoyable, somewhat predictable love story about 2 men from different backgrounds and lives who compliment each other perfect if they could just overcome the obstacles in their way.
4 stars