KELLANI wasn’t supposed to fall for my older brother’s best friend. Unfortunately, that ship sailed when I was a teenager, even though Chase Hawthorne always treated me like nothing more than a younger sibling. Things were worse after my parents died. Chase was sweet and supportive, which only strengthened my feelings for him. But then he’d act like I couldn’t take care of myself, and that part … part didn’t go over well with me. Yeah, I had a habit of screwing up. I’d always been the weird boy in our small town, but just like my big brother, he took overprotective to a new level. Until one night when I was eighteen and Chase and I hooked up. It was a ding to the ego that he left town right afterward. Ridiculously, I’m still not over him.
CHASE
I betrayed my best friend, Griffin, the night I messed around with Kellan. So I ran—first to the Marines, then into law enforcement. Ten years later, I’m back home, this time as a patrol officer rather than a troublemaker’s son. Oh, and unable to keep my hands off Kellan Caine. There’s always been something about him…the way he stands strong in who he is, even when he’s standing alone. I’m trapped between someone I want more than anything and Griff, the guy who’s like family to me. Yet the more time I spend with Kellan, the harder it becomes to deny there’s something real between us.
With my dad stirring up trouble, and me going behind my best friend’s back, everything’s a mess. The more tangled the web gets, the more I realize I need Kellan. And that there might be something in the Hawthorne family history that’ll make me lose both Kellan and Griffin for good.
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I love best friend’s brother stories, so this one hit the spot! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series as there is a great cast of secondary characters just itching for their HEA.
Great start to a new series!!! I can already tell I am going to love it in Havenwood. Riley Hart has built a community of friends and family that I already care so much about. This was Chase and Kellan’s love story, but it was also so much more than that. This was a love story between brothers, between friends and between family and I am so excited to read more about all of them! I really enjoyed Chase and Kellan and how they found their way back to one another after so many years apart. Kellan was a strong, independent, feisty young man that knew what he wanted and gave chase for it! Kellan helped Chase realize love was worth breaking down walls for and worth fighting for. Their time together was sweet and sexy and full of emotion. I am so excited for Law’s book next!
I listened to this whole series on audio and enjoyed all of them.
I had high hopes but was disappointed overall. After about 40% in I had to speed read and jump forward. I didn’t find the ongoing plot sufficiently intriguing nor captivating.
A sweet and steamy second chance romance with compelling characters and an engaging premise. A lovely start to this series.
Just finished reading this book and once again Riley knocked it out of the park! Chase and Kellan are a forbidden, friends to lovers story. They have known each other since Kellan was a kid when Chase became best friends with his older brother Griffin. Kellan’s family took Chase under their wing since he just automatically became a part of their family. Chase only had a drunken, abusive father to go home to, so he rarely went there. Kellan always had a crush on Chase, that developed into love, but Chase just saw him as a little brother. When Kellan was about 14, his parents were robbed and murdered, causing Griffin to leave college and take care of his little brother. Chase was there to comfort him as well. Griffin was always over protective of Kellan and treated him like a little kid, even when he was 18. On one magical night, things changed between Chase and Kellan, but the magic was only on one side…Kellan’s. Feeling guilty about what happened, even though they didn’t “go all the way”, Chase ran and was just a memory to Kellan…until 10 years later when Chase comes back to Havenwood to work on the police force. Try as he might to stay away from Kellan, fate had something else in store, and they were together again… Against Chase’s better judgement and one night of passion with Kellan, they decide to be “friends with benefits”, hiding their ‘relationship from Griffin, knowing he would not approve. Neither does Kellan’s best friend, Josh, who loves him and doesn’t want to see him get hurt again. From there the relationship starts to blossom, but there are always things to get the way, namely Chase’s father George and the father and grandfather of a couple of Kellan’s art students. Things steam roll from there, when just as Chase and Kellan decide to come clean with Griffin, nude photos of them in a sex act are plastered all over town…. this leads from finding who took the photos to who actually killed Kellan’s parents. When Chase takes matters into his own hands, going on suspicion of who he thought it was, he almost takes off again… his love for Kellan centers him though and he returns. Quickly all matters are solved and all is right with the world again. As usual, we are introduced to side characters, who help bring the story along: Josh and Natalie, Kellan’s friends and Law and Knox, patrons at Griff’s bar that are becoming great friends and allies. Can’t wait to read Murphy’s Law.
A small town, M/M, brother’s best friend romance? AND it’s the first book in a series? Sign me up.
Kellan has been in love with his older brother’s best friend Chase since he was 14 years old and, after being separated for 10 years, Chase makes his way back to Havenwood and back into Kellan’s life. They shared one experience together when Kellan was 18 and that experience changed each of them more than they knew…of course that didn’t come out until they reunited.
Growing up as a sassy, quirky, artistic boy in a small town wasn’t easy for Kellan, but he developed a confidence that was unrivaled and made a name for himself around town by opening an art studio. Chase and Kellan’s older brother Griffin had made it their mission to protect Kellan throughout his life and, now that Chase is back in town as a police officer, he picks up right where he left off. Chase is such a strong character who is trying to make up for the wrongs of his father by being the best person he can be.
Kellan and Chase together were dynamic from their very first interaction. They had a spark between them and it was difficult to see them fighting their attraction…for self-preservation (Kellan) and to be respectful of his best friend (Chase). Both of them fought hard to keep their emotions out of it, but they were so connected that there was no way that they couldn’t go all in, making their relationship public and fighting for what they always wanted…each other.
Giving Chase was such a great introduction to Havenwood and the friend group this series focuses on. Being a small town in Virginia, there is a lot of generational bigotry and, unfortunately, Kellan and Chase see that firsthand. They had to overcome a lot with the community, Griffin, Chase’s father and more to finally find their way together like they were always meant to be.
Really looking forward to reading more about the men of Havenwood in the future installments of this series. If Kellan and Chase’s story is where this all begins, the rest of them are going to be great as well!
Unrequited love becoming requited love is beautiful and painful. Giving Chase displays that journey wonderfully and showcases both the bigotry that a small town can have but also the loyalty and love. An engaging and memorable read with the narration by Kale Williams adding sweetness and zing!
This small town romance was sweet with a twist of suspense. Kellan had always loved Chase but it took Chase a while longer to realize his feelings and admit his love for Kellan. I’m excited to see all of the other characters in this world get their happily ever after because they all deserve it.
Great story with great characters. I loved Kellan from the start the began to love Chase. Their story was sad at first then had its ups & downs, but it works out & I’m so happy they definitely needed & belonged to each other. I shed some tears & there’s a few OMG moments, so the book was addictive. Wonderful start to a brand new series. A Must Read!!
What a great start to a new series. Giving Chase is a terrific best friends brother romance. I loved the history and connection between Kellan and Chase.
Kellan has known who he loves since he was 14 but never thought it could be a possibility. Chase ran from what could be and didn’t come back for 10 years.
While the fire still burns between them they must learn to trust each other and allow their feelings to grow. I loved the push and pull between them. Kellan really shows his strength and determination regarding his feelings. He takes the chance that this could be something real and permanent. It takes Chase a little longer to trust in himself and open up to Kellan.
I really enjoyed the small town setting of Havenwood. The cast of secondary characters add so much depth and dimension to this story. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!