Witt:I excelled at two things: systems engineering and going completely unnoticed. The engineering took work and determination. The invisibility came naturally. Until one day, the wrong person noticed me. Battered and broken, I fled, escaping to Sawyer’s Ferry and the only friends I’d ever had.Now, I just needed to figure out what I was going to do next. Mason:Life was good.I had a great job, … good.
I had a great job, good friends, and a family who loved me. Even my roommate was decent. At least he was until he let his nudist brother come to visit. The opportunity to house-sit and help an injured friend couldn’t have come at a better time.
All I’d needed was to avoid an awkward situation for a few days, but I got more than I bargained for when my entire uncomplicated life flipped upside down. The last thing I’d been looking for was love, but it wasn’t until Witt that I realized just how much I’d been missing out on.
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This was a survival story and a romance. Witt’s entire life had been one heartache after another, and that was compounded when his evil boss beat him horribly. Luckily, Witt managed to get himself to Sawyer’s Ferry, where his friend Jackson lived. When Jackson and Logan (the main characters from book two, Bishop Ridge) had to go out of town for three weeks, Mason stepped in to stay at their house with Witt. The two men just sparked off each other. Mason helped the shy and insecure Witt to gain confidence and begin to speak up for what he wanted. They were so sweet together! I loved how proud Mason was of Witt with each positive step he made. The connection between them was strong, and their love story was satisfying.
The only thing that would have made this book better for me would have been getting to see Witt interact with Mason’s large and loving family. Maybe we’ll get to see a bit of that in the next book in the series. I hope so. Until then, I can still appreciate the way Witt and Mason helped each other find happiness and contentment here. This was another great story in the Sawyer’s Ferry series.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the Sawyers Ferry series, but you don’t NEED to read the other books for this one to make sense. The previous stories come before this in time, and the previous characters pop up here too. But, you know? two 5 stars and a 4star read from me, so why not, eh?
Witt somehow manages to get himself a beating, and by some miracle, drives himself to the only place he feels safe: Sawyers Ferry. His boss did not like it when Witt said no. Mason is struggling at his place with his house mates family visiting, so when Logan and Jackson ask Mason to move into their place to keep an eye on the still recovering Witt, he jumps at the chance to not only get out his house, but to get to know the shy man a whole lot better. Something about Witt pulls at Mason, and he can’t figure out what, not yet. But when Witt’s boss turns up in town, Mason figures it out real quick. Witt is HIS and Mason will do everything he can to protect him.
So, book 4 and this carries a far darker story line. Witt has been working with a bully, and managed to, up to now, avoid any serious confrontation but when Witt says no to more overtime, that confrontation happens and Witt suffers at the hands of his boss. How he managed to get as far as the ferry, he will never know, but Logan and Jackson are there, they will help him. Then Mason is in the house, and Witt doesn’t quite know what to do about the man who seemed to have invaded his dreams somewhere along the way.
Mason works with Barrett at the Copper Creek Brewery. He met Witt some time ago, the smaller shy man trying to almost hide in the sofa. But Mason noticed, he noticed a lot about Witt. Visiting Witt at the hospital bought all kinds of rage out of Mason, and all kinds of other feelings he didn’t want to examine just yet. Being able to look after Witt when Logan and Jackson go out of town is just the best thing.
Slowly, Witt comes out of himself. He is painfully shy, and Mason so darn gentle with him, it was a delight to see Witt break his shell. And when Witt decides to take the plunge and take what he wants, or rather WHO he wants, ooooeeee that was so hawt!
It was great fun watching these two dance around each other for a huge part of the book! Mason admitted his feelings to Barrett and Frnakie quite early, but Witt took a while to get there. Neither man was sure what the other was feeling!
Brody pops up, and Mason’s best friend. He has a short in this series, Laguna, which is availble for free from Profilicworks. And I do mean SHORT! 34 pages is all, but I do know that Ms Ashwood will be writing Brody and Beckett’s full story shortly! Can’t wait for that, I tell ya!
I just got back off my holidays, and I read this on the plane. Fabulous way to pass a 4 hour flight!
5 full and shiny stars!
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Will Witt’s pain and suffering lead him to a better place in the end?
June 18, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
4-4.5 stars
This is the second MM romance I’ve read by author Cate Ashwood and it was much more dramatic and traumatic than Copper Creek (which I really liked), but the story of Witt’s persecution by a violent bully really made it a page turner. I was just waiting with bated breath for something bad to happen at their remote temporary house on the edge of town! I liked the main protagonists and their friends; the small town atmosphere and the writing. The romance built gently, slowly, with some steam eventually, and the tension maintained through most of the story thanks to brutal Silas bumped up my enjoyment of the romance. Mason and Witt were a bit less appealing to me as a couple than Frankie and Barrett, the heroes of Copper Creek; this was the principal reason I rated Copper Creek a slightly better story.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Witt has lived all his life based on other people’s expectations, seeking their approval. He has always thought that he’s weak, which is further proved,in his opinion, when he couldn’t protect himself during a brutal attack.
Beaten up and bloodied, he seeks refuge in Sawyer’s Ferry…and he meets Mason. Caring, gentle,protective Mason,so sweet in his fascination with Witt,in his fears of wanting too much too soon.
Witt and Mason’s relationship is beautiful. It’s wonderful the strength they find in each other and how being with Mason slowly makes Witt realize that he’s seen and appreciated for who he really is. Happiness doesn’t come easy,but the eventually find love and home with one another.
Sawyer’s Ferry is my favorite Cate Ashwood series and Close To Home is an incredible addition to it. Gorgeous characters, captivating love story and of course, the great,inclusive community. I loved seeing again some of the characters from the previous books and I can’t wait to see who’s next to find a home amongst them.
each of the books in the series is so well plotted and written that every book you just saying…this is my favorite of the series. Let’s face it, Frankie will always be our favorite, but I think Mason is a close 2nd if not tied for the 1st place in this series.
Mason is just an amazing person all around even though we only got a fraction of what he truly was in the previous books. I am not sure if Cate has more plans for Sawyer’s Ferry but if this is the end I surely was NOT a disappointment.
Witt has been attacked, badly beaten and admitted in hospital. He recuperates at the home of friends Jackson and Logan, but when they need to leave unexpectedly, Mason is recruited to be his minder… they’ve met before casually, but up close and personal the attraction is strong for both of them. Forced proximity and hurt/comfort combine to drive this narrative, which lacks nothing in feels or steam… the story went places I wasn’t expecting, and I loved every moment! Highly recommended!
Witt and Mason’s story: the two of them have been side characters in previous stories and they intrigued me.
Their story is one of hurt/comfort (Witt has been assaulted and drives to Sawyer’s Ferry to recover while staying with his friends) and of closed proximity (Mason accepts to house-sit for his friends while simultaneously taking care of Witt).
They both had been attracted to one another from their first encounters, but they’re bot not exactly out and so neither of them wants to chance making the first move.
It’s a slow burn story, but so sweet…
3.5 stars-
The Sawyer’s Ferry series has proven to be a really good collection of books featuring great couples, fun dialogue, and sweet romances in an amazing setting I wish I could visit. Close to Home had more of a hurt-comfort vibe than the others in the series but it wasn’t overly angsty and shouldn’t dissuade fans of the easier, sweet romances we’ve come to expect from this small Alaskan town. As with the other books, there is character overlap but Close to Home can read as a standalone and features a complete story with a happily-ever-after ending.
I really liked Witt and Mason as a couple and thought they complimented one another well. Character wise they were pretty well flushed out, though they didn’t quite have that draw I felt for others from the series, though that may be due to the more serious plotline and scenarios surrounding these two getting together. Their relationship does move quickly but didn’t feel excessively rushed or underdeveloped, just lacking a bit for palpable chemistry. However, the story held my attention and I had a hard time setting the book down. If you enjoy a variety of characters, sweet romances, and a fun setting, I’d definitely recommend Close to Home and the Sawyer’s Ferry series.
There’s something about a new Sawyer’s Ferry book; I’m always eager to jump in. In this one we get a glimpse of most of the other couples, and I think that’s one of the things I like the most, that sense of community.
The book starts with the aftermath of an horrific attack–an attack that is never really explained as to why it happened or why the attacker proceeded to stalk Witt–but it does send Witt running to his friend Jackson in Sawyer’s Ferry. And this puts him in the path of Mason (Barrett’s employee). The guys are very sweet together and the developing romance balances out the hate crimes and the issues Witt has contended with all his life that have left him insecure and constantly second guessing himself.
It’s a hurt/comfort story with a sort of enforced proximity.
I loved Close to Home, it’s a great part of Sawyer’s Ferry series. I thought their story was sweet and quick and romantic. There’s a bit of angst and drama and a great story about Witt and Mason. I always love when other characters from the series play a part in the next story like this one. I totally enjoyed this book and definitely recommend this one.
I would rate this 3.5 stars.
Although this is the fourth book in the series, it could be read as a standalone. I have not read all four of these in order and didn’t feel like I missed anything important as each book focuses on a specific couple. Witt flees to Sawyer’s Ferry after horrible violence. His friend Logan and his partner Jackson take him in while he’s recuperating. Mason is the brewmaster at Copper Creek; he met Witt once and there was just something about Witt that stuck with him. When Logan and Jackson need to leave for both a family visit and their preplanned vacation, Mason offers to watch over Witt while he’s still in his cast and dealing with the fallout from his situation. Mason’s sister April is a cop, so when Witt’s past trouble follows him to this small Alaskan town, he just may have the help he needs to rebuild his life.
I would call this a great beach read. This is a sweet, summer romance with dark bits that turns into more. Witt is introverted and has had a series of heartbreaks in his life. If you are a fan of the hurt/comfort trope, this is in dual first person POV so the reader can see Witt is not being taken advantage of. Mason helps Witt learn self defense–a main point of this story is Witt taking his power back and trying to make decisions about what’s best for himself rather than to make others happy. With this being the first major relationship for either of them, they have more than enough to deal with in a matter of weeks. Yet, the difficulties they face draw them together rather than tearing them apart, giving them a solid foundation to move forward with. I appreciate that some might find this instalove or think the plot a bit unrealistic. It is particularly low angst for the subject matter. The epilogue takes place in the future and gives the reader the opportunity to see the HEA due these two. If you want likeable characters, coming out for you, and first time stories, you could try this one.
Every book in this series feels a little like coming home to me. Set in the beautiful, rugged island of Sawyer’s Ferry, Alaska, the town and its citizens form a close-knit community. They seem to welcome and help restore the lost and broken souls of the world – and this forth installment represents that fact particularly well.
Lifelong resident and local brewmaster of Copper Creek Brewery, Mason has a wonderful life. A great job, a loving family, and some good friends. But he doesn’t realize that he’s been missing one important piece until he meets Lawrence Witt. Arriving to Sawyer’s Ferry unconscious, Witt’s cuts and bruises are layered over of deep internal scars that will take much longer to heal. As Mason tends to his patient and as Witt’s external and internal injuries heal, their relationship blossoms into something beautiful that neither of them have ever experienced before.
This tender, slow burn love story was admittedly full of pain, abuse, and the serious effects of PTSD – but it was so satisfying to watch the healing process occur. It also kept me on edge with the nagging feeling of impending danger, which was a new element to this series.
An enjoyable journey yet again to Sawyer’s Ferry with a wonderful new couple added to the open-minded town. A solid 4.5 stars and possibly my favorite trip to Sawyer’s Ferry, so far!
*ARC received for an honest and unbiased review.*
I adore this series and this book deals with some traumatic and possibly trigger events and coming out being a non event as it should be in a great way. Witt and Mason are strong individually but stronger together and communication and trust is the key. This is a great addition to this series.