Run! Hide! We are watching you, Huxley!Huxley Dempsy suffers from a paranoid personality disorder. After a horrific tragedy five years ago, Huxley is convinced people are out to get him. Taking refuge in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, he is a prisoner to his own mind. If he can think it up, it must be true, and there is no convincing him otherwise.Wildlife biologist, Aspen Taylor, is on … Taylor, is on his way north again to close up the final year of the Grizzly Bear Research Project. Studying wildlife in their natural habitat is what sings to his soul. However, who he finds in the mountains is almost as beastly as the bears he studies.
An underlying sense of familiarity draws Aspen to learn more about this Wildman, and a strong sense of attraction binds them together almost instantly. But can Aspen break through the barriers of Huxley’s mind and convince him to go home?
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This scorching yet emotional m/m romance blew me away! I’m a huge fan of reading books where psychological disorders are present. This author tackled the disorder beautifully. I could tell all the research that went into this book and it really made the book for me. The connection between the two characters was off the charts. This book will go down as one of my faves and will stick with me. The broken, fractured heroes always do. If you’re needing a realistic, beautiful, steamy, and thought-provoking read, this one is for you! The story is a slow burn, but once it catches fire, it blazes the rest of the way through the book. I highly recommend this one! Five Not Everyone Is Out To Get You Stars!!
Oh how amazing this book was!
Hot, romantic, easy to read, exciting.
Loved the two POV – loved being in Huxley and Aspen’s mind too. And this whole wildlife with bears was so GOOD! I love original stories when I can learn something new beside reading the hot end romantic scenes. I loved being outside with them.
Aspen was a good character, but there were some scene when I wanted to slap him in the face. Huxley on the other hand *sigh*. The perfect lumbersexual person ever – long hair (my weakness!), beard (my weakness number 2 lol). So I fell in love with Huxles immediately. And really loved reading from his POV, it was so good to see how he lived in the woods by himself. And while I hurt him, it was “good to see” his suffer from the paranoia. Aspen handled it really good… until one point when I just wanted to slap him reaaaally good.
Loved reading this story, it was really interesting. And the falling in love process was so good. It wasn’t just romance, it was so HOT when Aspen and Huxley got together. Holy hell SO HOT!
Recommend this book!
It’s always nice to read a book by this author as you know she has put a lot of effort into the subject matter. I fell in love with both mcs especially Aspen. I enjoyed the twists and turns their relationship took and I liked the fact that they thrived outdoors away from the world. It was nice reading a story that was unique and different from other books I’ve read before.
Nicky James is an auto-click author for me. I’ve read everything she’s written and Rocky Mountain Refuge is her sexiest book to date.
Aspen Taylor is a 39 year Wildlife Biologist asked to oversee a project in the mountains. While there, he meets Huxley Dempsy who is hiding away from the world. Huxley suffers from paranoia and thinks the world is out to get him.
I loved watching Aspen learn about Huxley and how to calm and handle him. Although at times I wanted to strangle him.
I LOVE Huxley. I have official claimed him and want to hold him and reassure him that “not everyone is out to get you”.
Aspen and Huxley’s journey isn’t an easy one, as you may expect when one person in the relationship is always suspicious of words and actions. Mrs James wrote their story very believable. They fought hard to try and make their relationship work.
As with all of Nicky James’ book, it was an absolute pleasure to read and I look forward to her next one
These two men stole my heart, especially Huxley. He has a mental condition that makes him paranoid over anything and everyone. It is a difficult condition, which the author handled with sensitivity and respect. She didn’t magically cure him like other authors may do, because you cant cure a mental illness like the flu. Aspen is a wildlife biologist and stumbles across Huxley, where was staying in a cabin in the woods. Because of Huxley’s paranoia, he doesn’t warm up or even trust Aspen. But Aspen is a stubborn man and is intrigued by this mountain man. As the story continues, there came a point where I wanted to throw my kindle against wall because of a certain scene, and in another I had to fight back tears, because something resonated deeply with me. Huxley and Aspen do find their HEA, but it is a hard road which they both fought hard for. Refuge is abother winner in my eyes. I have great respect and love for this author for the light she sheds about mental illness. That it is real. One of her secondary characters also stole my heart, and his playful ways was some relief from the drama that was Aspen and Huxley.
*takes a bow* well done and a well deserved 10* (well 5 because it doesnt go higher than that although this book deserves it)
There was an episode in Grey’s Anatomy (Thank you, Shonda Rhimes), where this guy struggled with paranoid personality disorder, though his condition seemed more severe, than Huxley’s in this book. Back then I just shook my head, and grumbled ‘Oh great, another crazy guy.’ But now I got a chance to see everything through Huxley’s eyes, and peek into his head. He kept saying that he’s mind is more evolved than others, that he could sense danger. I got to thinking, and he’s probably right. He’s mind is more attuned to it, that sense in his brain is more heightened. I mean, we all have these paranoid feelings, it’s just not in the forefront of our minds. Think about it: when you’re walking down a busy street, there are a lot of people going in the same direction as you, but this guy behind you is taking the same rhythmic steps, keeping up with you. What’s the first thing that pops into your head? Why the hell is he following me?! Of course we “normal people” dismiss the idea instantly. It can’t be easy to deal with, and manage this condition.
Back to the book. Why the hell haven’t I read a Nicky James book before, is beyond me. This was freaking awesome. And not just because of the serious and thoughtful subject.
We met Aspen and his team of students, when they started the Grizzly Project, up in the mountains. I can’t tell you how much I love stories involving wild animals, when men and nature meet in the the middle.
Aspen bumped into Huxley in the wilderness, and several encounters later, he realized why the man was so familiar. Huxley’s husband was killed 5 years ago in a hate crime, and Aspen sat on the jury of the murder trial. The killer was locked up, but the victim’s husband fled the city, because he believed ‘they’ wanted to lock him up. The husband turned out to be Huxley.
While their feelings for each other got stronger every day (yes, there was lots of hot sex), Aspen was working to get Huxley to agree to go home to his mother. It was a hard task, given that he needed to earn Huxley’s trust first. Aspen struggled to understand Huxley, and his mind’s workings. He got frustrated several times, who wouldn’t. It was painful to watch.
And I’ll say no more, cause I might as well just tell the whole story. LoL This was a complex book, with strong feelings. My heart broke for Huxley and his husband. On the other hand, there were joyful and heartfelt moments too.
On the steam level, it earned a solid 4 from me. *on fire*
P.S.: I will never understand the American justice system. Civilians called for jury duty? o_o Let’s just not get into it.
I’ve had the pleasure of reading a few books where either the h or H has challenges with mental illness and few have been done as well as K Webster.
This is one of the few.
The challenge of this struggle with illness is brought to life in a relatable way and adds depth to the story of these two men.
Well written without being cheesy – well apart from the ubiquitous man whore younger gay student…
I have never read another author who handles mental illness and the struggles men
have dealing with them, trying to survive and have a relationship. Huxley and
Aspen’s story was very inspirational, I loved both characters.