One click. One perfect frame. That’s all it takes to capture an eternal moment; although most people let them pass by without acknowledgement. I don’t waste any. Not a single one. If I see something of beauty, I want to experience it, feel it and immortalise it. If I see someone of beauty, I want to taste them, worship them and memorise them.I don’t have a type, if I like you, I like you. I don’t … I like you, I like you.
I don’t have a preference.
My bisexuality is a gift, not a defect.
It’s the freedom to see beyond gender.
One blink.
One touch.
One night.
Life is filled with so many ones.
One chance to get things right.
One life to live as you choose.
One decision that gives you acceptance.
One person to fill the emptiness.
Just one?
Nah, like I said, life is full of ones.
My camera lets me focus on the good times; I develop from life’s negatives, and if things don’t work out, I just take another shot.
Who needs just one?
Book #5 in the ‘Love by Numbers’ series.
Can be read as a standalone.
more
E S Carter’s imagery in One rivals any I’ve read, ever. Her words are so evocative, I can see and smell and almost taste the characters.
An emotional and provocative story with two strong characters, One is the only MM book in a series of MF books, but can easily be read as a standalone.
The sequel was just released, but I’ve not yet read it. I am definitely looking forward to having the time to do so.
Wow! This book is incredible! I am a fan of MM books and this story was amazing. The story of Isaac and Flynn was so beautifully written. In our society, people are not so accepting of others who choose to be with someone of the same sex. This book clearly illustrates how wrong those people are. The chemistry between them was sizzling even when they tried to fight their feelings. At times while reading this I laughed, sighed, smiled and even cried, which to me is an indicator of a great book. I’m still so emotional after reading it. Please do yourself a favor and read this book! It’s truly amazing!
Occasionally a question of “what is your favorite recommendation for new M/M readers?” is made and my go-to is Crossroads by Riley Hart. Now, there is a battle because One now shares space. When a book is brilliant and so well written that you end up re-reading it while searching for quotes for your review, you realize that such a book has gripped your heart and soul. This novel is it.
It’s more than a love story. It’s a story of loss and hope, anger and forgiveness, condemnation and redemption. Ms Carter weaves a beautiful romance that gives the reader a full immersive experience of every emotion. There are points which you yell and cry in both happiness and sadness. And it’s just not one character but both main characters that pull you through that journey.
I see beauty. They see distrust. Labels are for fucking jars, not people.
I could give you detail to the plot, but why waste your time with that. Instead I’ll tell you to just READ this book. Whether it’s your first same-sex romance or a beloved genre, you can read this novel as a standalone from the rest of the series. However, once you find the love of ES Carter’s words, I dare you not to go back and read the rest. Some readers may pause as this is written in British English but don’t allow that to dissuade you. If you can read Katy Regnery’s Rousseaus series with intermingling of French or Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series with southern slang, you can put up with the original version of my native tongue.
I truly hope you’ll give this story your time. You won’t be disappointment. I’ve invested it five times over already. I’m sure I’ll be re-reading it soon. 5+ out of 5 stars
Will definitely read the rest of the series. Loved it
One (book 5 in the Love by Numbers series) is the first book by E.S. Carter that I have read. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series. I enjoyed her writing style, her character development and the storyline.
You never know who you may be attracted to or fall in love with. Flynn is questioning everything he has always known regarding his attraction to the opposite sex when he is around Issac. There is something about Issac that he drawn to and it is so much more than just a physical attraction. Time and distance does nothing to change the explosive chemistry they have together so when they end up on the same movie set they have the time to pursue a relationship together. It is finally their time to find their happily ever after!
One is book five in the Love by Numbers series by E.S. Carter. This is my very first book by Ms. Carter. You can definitely read this as a stand alone and it comes to a complete ending.
Isaac Fox is a renowned photographer. He is also bi-sexual. He has no preference between men and women. It’s all in how they make him feel. He has never had a relationship. Isaac is perfectly described in the blurb for this book. He has completely accepted who he is.
Flynn Phillips is a fitness guru who has made a lucrative career out of his love of fitness. Flynn has something in his past that has deeply affected the man he is today. He has never really dealt with his grief. Flynn has never, not even once, felt the slightest interest or attraction to a man. Until he met Isaac for the first time. He is both confused and angered by how Isaac makes him feel.
“How can one man have such an effect on me?”
Isaac has never forgotten Flynn. He has no idea why he felt such a pull to him. But the words Flynn spoke hurt him to the core. Isaac’s older brother has a project that is completely outside of the norm of Isaac’s work. But much to his surprise, on the first day of the job, Flynn is there. But this seems to be a new Flynn. A Flynn without all the pent up anger. A Flynn that seems ready to explore whatever this is between them.
“He’s everything I’ve never wanted. He makes me need to hate him. He makes me hate to need him.”
As both Flynn and Isaac start on the new exciting adventure in their careers, they also start a new adventure in their personal relationship. This is completely new to both of them, for Flynn because he is so shocked at the depth of his feelings for this man, and for Isaac because he has never been interested in anything more than just one night with any person.
“Someone recently told me a change is as good as a rest. I want to see where this goes. I want to rest awhile with you.”
I’ll stop here because you need to experience the rest of Isaac and Flynn’s journey yourself. I am so in love with these two. I seriously swooned all the way through this book. I loved the way that once Flynn decided to give things a chance, he was all in. He didn’t hesitate at all! And I’ll warn you, these two are melt your kindle hot! E.S. Carter’s words were so beautiful. I highlighted like crazy. I had pages of quotes.
I feel I should disclose that reading about a straight man fall for another man is a particular favorite of mine, the Gay For You trope. But that’s only one small part of why I loved this so much. It was just these two. I could not put it down. I want to shout from the rooftop my love of these two men! As I said above, this does come to a complete ending. But I am so excited that the author has decided to continue their story in book seven, Two. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Isaac and Flynn. But, the next book in the series is book 6 called Eight. This is Josh, Isaac’s brother’s story. I’m going to read that first, then go right on into Two. My reading schedule is booked up. I hope I’ve convinced you to jump in as well. Isaac and Flynn are waiting for you.
It’s been awhile since my first read through of this breathtaking book.
At the time I tried to but words to the page to review it but couldn’t seem to do it justice.
Having reread it now in preparation for the continuation of this enigmatic couples journey in Carter’s upcoming sequel Two, I’ve still undoubtedly got no words worthy of this extraordinary story of love, but I am assuredly even more in love with Issac Fox and Flynn Phillips.
When renowned photographer Issac crosses paths for a second time with the charismatic social media fitness guru Flynn for a product shoot, he is faced with the indelible feelings and attraction he has been trying in vein to forget following an intimate tryst that ended in a tirade of vitriolic abuse and a fleeing Flynn.
Despite their obvious magnetism to one another they repeat this pattern again, but they are by no means done with each other.
Each of these men has a tenuous relationship with love.
They have both experienced the tragedy that can sometimes come as a cost of love and have both been left with a palpable pain and permanent emotional scars that are impacting on their trust, acceptance and ability to let the other past their barriers.
There are so many soul altering messages in this story and the journey they take to their love is just truly beautiful, it is one I will come back to and cherish time and again.
‘Acceptance is serenity. It’s happiness, it’s understanding, it’s faith in yourself and others. It’s knowing that you can’t change the past, but you can choose your future. Acceptance is love.’
This is my first by this author and I’ve just bought another. Isaac and Flynn are such great characters! Their connection was electric and undeniable. Their choice to pursue, was fraught with fear, anger, loss and obstacles. When they finally clicked, it was truly powerful. They are both strong willed but so very human, in spite of their careers putting them in spotlight. I fell in love with them both.
This book is absolutely brilliant I didn’t want it to end.
Written superbly this beautiful m/m book to me on a wonderful journey .
Isaac Fox is a renowned photographer his photo shoots are glamorous perhaps as glamorous as himself.
At a photo shoot in his studio in comes Flynn Philips a beautiful male model they have met once before..
The first time they met after a beautiful sexual moment words were said they were harsh all from Flynn’s mouth which was before other wise engaged…
Both men are floundering as they cannot stop thinking of each other all the time.
A lot happens in this book between these men and it’s written in such a way that I crave for more.
Did I love this book ………. Yes
Could i put this book down ………… No
everything about this wonderful book was what I need to read.
I have read so many fantastic eBooks this year and this is up there as one of the best..
A new author to me but I have pre- ordered the second in this series so I can follow Isaac and Flynn.
“We’re like fire and gasoline. He will burn me alive, and I will only fuel the flame.”
One is the first book of E.S. Carter’s that I’ve read and I loved it! Full of such emotion and heartache, this book took me on a roller coaster ride for sure!
I was beyond excited to read One. I absolutely loved other books I’ve read from this author but unfortunately this one fell short for me. I loved the beginning. The chemistry and angst between Isaac and Flynn was everything. I love angst within a story and the beginning did not disappoint. However, I absolutely started to dislike Flynn for how he treated Isaac. It was unacceptable and although I loved Isaac, it was hard to love him and Flynn together because he was so much better and he deserved better. I didn’t even care what Flynn’s character went through with his brother, if anything that should have made him treat people better. It’s hard to fall in love with a book when you don’t like one of the main characters so this one did not work for me. I just could not believe Flynn’s turn around with everything and even when he changed I still didn’t like him. It was too unbelievable for me. I was truly disappointed with this book.
MM
One is book five in the Love by Numbers series, but can be read as a stand alone. I think they are better read in order though.
Isaac Fox is a renowned photographer so he knows how one click, one prefect frame can capture that eternal moment. Most people let them pass without acknowledgement, but he doesnt want to waste a single one.
He sees his bisexuality as a gift. When he sees something of beauty he wants to experience it, feel it, and immortalize it.
When he sees someone of beauty he wants to worship them, taste them, and memorize them.
His bisexuality is his freedom, he doesn’t have a type or preference. It’s the freedom to see beyond gender.
Flynn Phillips is a fitness and health guru, who takes a modeling job for a water company photoshoot. Isaac is the photographer for the photoshoot. Sparks fly during the photoshoot, but Flynn denies his attraction and lashes out.
I loved Isaac and Flynn’s story. This story will pull at your heartstrings. One feeling that is heavily felt by both characters is grief. The reader will feel intense sympathy for the loss that Isaac and Flynn suffer through in their lives.
It is a story about self-discovery, and all the lessons they learn. A story about love, family, friendship, and most of all acceptance. The story has some really steamy scenes.
I definitely recommend everyone to read this book that wants an emotion packed m/m.
Beautiful
The latest book in the Love By Numbers series features Isaac, the photographer of the Fox Brothers.
Openly bisexual, he loves men and women equally and freely, never wanting to be tied down. Until he meets the very gorgeous, very straight Flynn Phillips.
Flynn is conflicted. He’s attracted to Isaac but repulsed by his feelings for another man. He’s never felt like this about another man and can’t handle it. He lashes out cruelly as he wrestles with his emotions.
The whole emotion of this book is breathtaking. The passion, the angst and suffering, both of the main and supporting characters is palpable. The feeling of acceptance and family is just as strong.
I want to live inside this book. I’ve never wished so hard for characters to be real. This series just gets better and better. Bravo.
This is the 5th story in ES Carter’s Love by Numbers series, and another story of the Fox brothers. This is the story about Isaac along with his battle within himself as well as the ever present battle with Flynn Phillips
“Love is not a solitary affair” is definitely seen through the entire novel as well as seeing and watching as the two main characters come to terms with facing how important life is and how to never take life for granted.
As usual, ES Carter builds such meaningful characters that evoke so much emotion within the readers that you take more than just a story away, but also connections. And also you cheer, you cry and you swear at the characters as well as at the author for all your emotional outrages. Even in the author’s special note I felt connected to the author in her honesty as well as a connection within our grief feelings that only makes the reader see the author and her works as more than just entertainment but as life. ES Carter is definitely an author all readers need on your TBR!
3.5 stars
“Love hurts. It gives, and it takes away. It’s brutal with its beauty.”
“Grief is the price we pay for love.”
Amen.
It’s mostly sex but where there’s story it’s decent
I have to admit I approached this book with some trepidation, I adore those Fox brothers but I have never read m/m before and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it.
Wow!
It was enlightening and emotive. Emotions are emotions whoever you are and whoever you love and I dare you not to feel while you read Isaac and Flynn’s story. The imagery was so strong I felt it right to my toes. Thank you for the eye opener Ms Carter, but also you trampled on my heart in some places (no spoilers) you need to fix that sharpish!
If you too have never experienced m/m I recommend One, If you already read m/m you probably already have and love this book – if not get on it!!
One by E.S. Carter is book five in the Love by the Numbers series but can be read as a standalone. It is an emotional story and I mean EVERY emotion! It went from steamy heat to hot around the collar anger. It took me from heartache and almost overwhelming heartbreak to “Acceptance is Serenity” to lust and love and everywhere in between!
“With him, I’ve laughed, and I’ve cried. I’ve experienced all-consuming need and mind-blowing pleasure. I’ve shared my scarred soul and broken apart in his arms. But more than all that, I’ve lived. With him, I live.”
Isaac Fox is a renowned and sought after photographer. He is happy with his life and freedom and comfortable in his bisexuality. He sees beauty in the world through his lens and just wants to enjoy it.
“Click.
I lick my lips, swallowing hard as my thirsty lens tracks each millimetre, capturing the very moment that dewy bead hesitates before it tumbles over the edge and disappears into her belly button.
Click.”
Flynn Phillips is a fitness and health guru. He takes a modeling job where Isaac is the photographer but is in complete denial of his attraction to Iz and strikes out rather than accepting his feelings.
“We’re like fire and gasoline. He will burn me alive, and I will only fuel the flames.”
One is a beautiful romance, a story with heat and heart, but underneath, it has a theme of forgiveness … of others and yourself. I loved everything about this book and now can hardly wait for the next in this series!!
“His hand extends across the table and rests flat on the surface in front of me. “If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life for the better, let it. If it’s worth the risk, then gamble because happiness can be fucking fleeting and forgiveness can be given and accepted easily without the burden of grudges. I’ve accepted your apology. Can you accept my forgiveness?”
This one was a good read,packed with a lot of emotions.
We finaly get to know better the mysterious Isaac Fox and his fleeting lover.
Their relationship is not an easy one,after a stormy beginning they have the courage to believe into a brighter future for themselves.
I was also glad to read more about my favorite Fox brother…Jake <3
I really hope everyone will accept and enjoy Iz story as much as I did.
E.S. Carter writing is addicting and I already need her next book in the series.I really wish to never say goodbye to these amazing characters.
One is the fifth book in the ‘Love by Number series’ by E.S. Carter. Throughout the previous books in the series we’ve met Isaac, one the handsome Fox brothers. It’s no secret Isaac is bisexual; he’s attracted to both men and women, a fact he’s absolutely not ashamed of. One finally tells us his story.
“Heat. Lips. Tongue. Ache. Throb. I am lost because he found me.”
Isaac is a photographer and living the life; traveling, meeting beautiful people and spending time with his beloved family. Isaac has always known he falls for men and women, and he makes no secret of it. His family knows, and they are supportive and unjudgmental. Isaac isn’t looking for love and commitment, but somebody made a bigger impression on him then he cares to admit. When Isaac sees Flynn again, all the feelings and hurt come back.
“I can feel him, and a crushing sense of deja-vu skitters down my spine. I’m frozen, torn between needing to look and wanting to remain oblivious. Don’t ask me how I know; maybe it’s his smell or just his presence, but I know it’s him. Him. Flynn Phillips.”
Flynn is a handsome, popular model/fitness personality. He had a happy childhood with his family, until his older brother ended his own life. After that, the happy family was gone, leaving behind three heartbroken people who can’t deal with their grieve. Flynn sees himself as a straight man, and Isaac confuses him on every level. He doesn’t want to feel attracted to the man, but he can’t help himself.
“This is Isaac Fox. Charming, engaging and practically dripping with an aura that makes you want to know him. Makes you want to know all about him. His thoughts, his dreams, his wants, and his desires. This man is dangerous to me. He’s everything I’ve never wanted. He makes me need to hate him. He makes me hate to need him.”
When Isaac and Flynn see each other in One, it’s not the first time. They have been together before, and to say it didn’t end well is an understatement. Isaac was left hurt and confused, Flynn didn’t know what to think either. When the men meet again, they try to be civil, but again all blows up in their faces. When they meet each other for a third time, Flynn finally has come to terms with his sexuality and his attraction towards Isaac, and they have a shot at something lasting and real.
One is more than just the story of Isaac and Flynn, it’s also about accepting your sexuality and stop pretending. I was so angry with Flynn a couple of times; while I can understand his confusion, I despise how he treated Isaac because of it. Isaac is such an open, sweet man, he deserves somebody who isn’t ashamed of loving him. I love how Flynn and Isaac are when they are finally on the same page, I love their chemistry and how they are together.
“Acceptance is serenity. It’s happiness, it’s understanding, it’s faith in yourself and others. It’s knowing that you can’t change the past, but you can choose your future. Acceptance is love.”
Seeing the characters from the previous books was good, to see bits and pieces of their lives, to see them still happily in love. While I was sad for Isaac in the beginning, a secondary story line broke my heart. It felt so real and the reactions of the characters were so realistic, it made me cry. What I also must say; I love how the author gives every story in the ‘Love by Number series’ such a different vibe, it makes me enjoy this series very much.
Although I wanted to strangle one of the heroes a few times, I love how it all worked out. I give the story of Isaac and Flynn 5 stars.