The Year of Us: December

The Year of Us #12

by Kate Hawthorne, E.M. Denning

Cory Callahan and Reese Rollins are total opposites.
Cory wears a Rolex and makes six figures a year.
Reese is a bartender with a busted screen on his cellphone.
Cory lives in New York.
Reese lives in LA.
One delayed flight and a chance meeting at a bar later, the two strangers find they have one indisputable thing in common…
The attraction between them is incendiary.
But after a shared night at an airport hotel they learn there’s one other trait they share.
They’re both dominant and not interested in being told no.

The Year of Us is a twelve novelette series from Kate Hawthorne and EM Denning, exploring what happens when two men with nothing in common find out there might be something between them after all.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM

57 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2025

About the author

With over two dozen published romances to her name, Kate Hawthorne has built a recognizable brand around telling emotional stories that pack a figurative (and sometimes literal) punch.

Existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate spends her days dreaming up angsty stories full of heat, kink, and heart. Kate now lives in Louisville, where she writes romance, reads romance, and hides from the humidity.

Visit her website at http://www.katehawthornebooks.com

Reviews

[Zane Kage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful serial, truly love these two MCs, but I wish the ending had been more fulfilling.

Disappointed that the wedding and the reception/party weren’t included. Also, I’d have loved it if the book would have ended with the scene at Rapture and not before it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super disappointed with the ending. They could have at least given us the wedding.
I am hoping that this is the end and the 2 have their HEA. I don't think I can read another 12 small instalments which most of the time were just one long sex scene.

[Ashley Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am super disappointed with the ending. Love that they have a HEA, but we didn't get the wedding??? That kind of ruined it for me!

And teasing us with Rapture and giving nothing else for that scene?

I understand wanting to be consistent with the length of each month and staying within that month, but this should have been the exception.

Furthermore, every month was included in KU, but the final one cost money. The cash grab felt like a d*ck move if you ask me.

Super bummed!

[Julie Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, quite an anticlimactic end to the year and the series. I excepted a bit more. We have Christmas, which Cory and Reese spend by themselves, and then New Year’s Eve, which they spend at Reese’s bar. With how this volume started, I kind of expected them to be getting surprise married on NYE, but that didn’t happen. The wedding is teased, and I think it happens on the anniversary of their first meeting, but we don’t get to see that because the story ends in January. Idk, I feel like the authors just sort of ran out of steam towards the end of this series. I’m just a little disappointed and feel like the two MCs deserved more, even though they’re clearly happy being together and it ends in a playful note.

I’d recommend this series if you want to read 12 books that are 40-60 pages each and form one complete story altogether. That’s the main reason I read it 😂 also, if you want a story with more smut than plot, this series might be for you. It explores various kinks, some of which are quite tame and others are a bit more out there.

[DeeDee Pin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Year of Us was a really enjoyable read. I loved the episodic nature of each novella and I looked forward to the release of each month's chapter. This is a review for the whole series. Cory and Reece were such interesting characters and I really enjoyed watching them explore the dynamic of their dominance and submission. Cory was so patient with Reece, and it was so lovely to watch Reece accept new found parts of himself in order to be with Cory. Although the HEA was good and a solid way to end the series, it would have been nice to see the wedding and spend a little more time in their world. 4.4/5 stars

[Joy Hintz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I feel like I just got punked? This was the WORST way to end a series that I've been committed to EVERY FREAKING MONTH FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR!!!!!!! Is this a joke??!! I feel like I've been kicked in the ladyballs! They don't even give us the wedding and the party? Like WTF??!!!!! This year-long series was so good, and I was totally invested in it!! I downloaded it like clockwork every single month on the 10th!! To say I'm completely disappointed with this ending is an understatement! Wow..... no words.....🤬

[August June 💘 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is such a disappointment. It is repetitive in many ways. Author looked like she is hell bent on making both of them "switch" where as she also expresses Reese feeling uncomfortable and unwilling to dom Cory. I thought as we progress with the story across months, we will get to see firming of their roles and them settling in their lives. This looks even more confused, awkward bumbling of BDSM.

Solid disappointment. There really is no meat in this final instalment.

[Mystisith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟 A bit anticlimactic & probably the weakest chapter of the year but I'm glad I was there for the ride. I'm generally not into series written like narrative edging but this was a nice change of pace. I have no doubt that this experiment will make a popular 600 pages book.
I for once would like more bdsm books focused on relationships & switching.

[Helen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this perfect ending to the series! Cory and Reese are deeply in love and looking forward to the next part of their journey, and they start off the new year in suitably romantic fashion. I hope there will be a follow-up epilogue or a 13th episode to cover their next exciting event!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final episode with these two wonderfully gorgeous, sexy, men, I will miss them. Each episode was short but packed with love and passion as these men fell more and more in love, enjoying their freaking hot sexy experiences.

[Wilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hate it's the end!

Each month, I waited for this book. Well worth the wait but sad it ended. A great read from January through December. What happened at the wedding. It's A mystery but I want to know.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this serial. All 12 books. Cory and Reese were so good together. Two dominant males who made it work. There were some bumps in the road and lots of steam along the way. Their true love showed as each month went on. What a great HEA. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

[eve ⚡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ill miss my pookies so much :///