1.5 stars rounded up. I was happy to go along with the first two books (4 stars each), the characters weren't growing very much and their relationship wasn't progressing all that much (or rather it was sort of a 'one step forward two steps back' situation). Not ideal, but I had faith it would all come together in the third book at least. But, I'm not satisfied by this one at all.
The characters were still going through all the same bullsh*t mistakes and drama, up until the very last pages! What is Jem doing *still* lying to Tean about every little thing, and swindling people for money, and taking pills when he's upset, and hooking up with questionable randos?! And why is Tean *still* seeing the worst in everything, and shutting down all Jem's attempts at rebuilding even their friendship, and jumping to conclusions without hearing him out, and still fighting over the same stuff with his family? Why is he like *3/4s of the way through this book* STILL nearly choosing toxic A**hole Ammon instead?!? wtf? It made this whole trilogy feel like just a single 1200 page book that just happened to have 3 different mysteries in it. They decide to try to make it work in the end, but they've done that multiple times already only to crash and burn spectacularly and have to start over at square one, so it just gives me no confidence whatsoever in their happy ending. Their lives and relationship are just kinda messed up for like 98% of the story. I'm more concerned for them than I am pleased in the end, which is super disappointing. ( )

I didn't mean to read this so quickly. I wanted it to last. But I've adored these two guys from the start, and this one's the coming together episode and it Ashe so you know it'll be rough. A lot happens, in every sense, and I couldn't not keep reading. So worth it.

Also? Somehow in these three books, Ashe made Utah come alive for me, a feat which particularly desert Utah may not be able to do in person, so that's just straight-up magic. ( )

[edit]
All in all, this is one of my favorite series. The feeling of this book and the characters were distinct (and frankly, WAY tighter plotting) that there's really no comparison to the depth of Somers & Hazard's relationship, but because they are the same author, I'm gonna regardless.

Some of these thoughts are lifted from a text string with The Angry Reader and some of them are from my way to getting a morning coffee.

I'm noting in Ashe's writing how men/ boys are often the victims. Indeed, it's going right along with a vomit worthy chapter in To Raise a Boy: Classrooms, Locker Rooms, Bedrooms, and the Hidden Struggles of American Boyhood but I haven't seen it done in romantic suspense/suspense/romance to the extent women-as-victims is. I'm not "yay equality-ing" this, it is simply something I noticed, and something that I find realistic in terms of boyhood, power, and hate crimes or bullying directed at the queer community. I'm not quite sure how to describe how I feel like this lends the books an undertone of fully fleshed out characters rather than recovery trauma porn, but I think that to some extent, that is why I mention it and appreciate it. I think Ashe has created well-rounded characters with often traumatic pasts that integrate so wholly into their character that there's never a "wtf" motivation-it just all makes sense.

I have a lot to say about this series, but to get to my point about how thoroughly I enjoyed it-how I loved the communication between the principal characters-and I could go on. So what I said to Angry, and I will repeat here is where Hazard and Somers were very oak-like: deep roots, slow growing, and frankly the relationship could survive a billion storms, Jem & Tean who go by their first names b/c of course they do-were a forthright, tender, and delicate relationship that I would compare to taking care of finicky flowers that you just want to bloom (my new Magnolia is really pissing me off). It has a far more ephemeral feel, even though there was no doubt these two were meant for each other. I think it's suitable because it's Jem-feral con man and Tean, the wildlife vet. And this is no accident. Just like I noticed Jem "groomed" Tean as a form of affection much to this readers delight b/c I'm very much someone people always need to set straight on food in my hair or shirts that I put on backwards.

I love both series and couples because Ashe has that talent for creating singular highly specific couples that I have marveled at with Alexis Hall (I rarely want the character for myself, I just am deeply invested in their relationship) along with his ability to gut punch and have a novel be serious and yet hilarious like both Hall and Milan. Those who know me on here might realize I am now comparing Ashe to two of my favorite romance authors. And while I'm not sure I categorize Ashe as a romance author, and do I need to, that is no accident. After binge-reading 9 books and their respective shorts, again something I do not do, I have to say I'm delighted to have a new favorite author. ( )