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Last Chance #1
Depth of Field
Shane Wallace has made a decent life for himself in Last Chance. He built his own home on his mom’s property to take care of her, owns an automotive repair shop, and when he wants to get laid, Portland isn’t too far away. Not too shabby for the boy who spent his childhood getting bullied and feeling alone. Shane’s content to leave his past behind him...until one of his childhood tormentors comes back to town.
Maxwell Sullivan never planned to step foot in Last Chance again. Here, he was Maxwell, a teen who suffered in silence while everyone thought he had the perfect life. Now, he’s “Van,” the erotic artist and photographer. He’s only here to help his mom tie up some loose ends after his father’s death and to apologize to Shane. After that, he’s heading back to LA for good.
Shane never thought he’d have anything in common with Maxwell, but there’s a depth to Van that surprises him. Van knows what it feels like to be alone. He sees Shane in ways no one else does. There’s a shared connection neither can deny. Somehow, despite their rocky history, they get each other.
It’s not long before the two are so drawn to each other that they tumble into bed—sometimes with Van’s camera involved. Their chemistry in and out of the bedroom is undeniable. Except nothing is ever black and white. Shane can’t leave his mom and Van’s life is in LA. With two different lives pulling them in opposite directions, their picture-perfect ending might not be in the cards.
Maxwell Sullivan never planned to step foot in Last Chance again. Here, he was Maxwell, a teen who suffered in silence while everyone thought he had the perfect life. Now, he’s “Van,” the erotic artist and photographer. He’s only here to help his mom tie up some loose ends after his father’s death and to apologize to Shane. After that, he’s heading back to LA for good.
Shane never thought he’d have anything in common with Maxwell, but there’s a depth to Van that surprises him. Van knows what it feels like to be alone. He sees Shane in ways no one else does. There’s a shared connection neither can deny. Somehow, despite their rocky history, they get each other.
It’s not long before the two are so drawn to each other that they tumble into bed—sometimes with Van’s camera involved. Their chemistry in and out of the bedroom is undeniable. Except nothing is ever black and white. Shane can’t leave his mom and Van’s life is in LA. With two different lives pulling them in opposite directions, their picture-perfect ending might not be in the cards.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2017
639 people are currently reading
3174 people want to read
About the author
Riley Hart
121 books7,018 followersRiley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She's a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her reading.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 598 reviews
July 16, 2017
Depth of Field has the distinct honor of being the smuttiest, dirty-talking-est, sexiest, hottest book Ms. Hart has written to date. This one is a panty-soaker folks!
Shane Wallace never left his small hometown for the excitement of school or travel. His mother is ill and needs special attention. Attention Shane feels only he can provide.
Maxwell "Van" Sullivan couldn't blow out-of-town fast enough after high school graduation. He moved to sunny California and immersed himself in the gay culture and artist community. He is happy and fulfilled and hates the thought of going home again after his father dies.
Depth of Field starts as a kind of enemies-to-lovers story because of bullying that happened to Shane by Van and his friends when they were young. But that is quickly put behind them as they start that fucking-hot fucking I mentioned above.
Did I mention that there is a camera involved? And wall sex? And face fucking? I guess I'll just mention them again since they are all very important aspects to the story.
Between all the hot sex, there is a sweet romance and a few bumps in the road on they way to happily ever after, but they eventually make it and the ending was fantastic.
And can we talk about that cover? fans self Click here to get up close and personal with all its glory.
This one goes straight to my top 10 of 2017 list. Highly, highly recommended.
Van is a homoerotic artist and photographer. I put up a fictional gallery of Van's art for you to enjoy.
Advanced review copy of Depth of Field provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
Shane Wallace never left his small hometown for the excitement of school or travel. His mother is ill and needs special attention. Attention Shane feels only he can provide.
Maxwell "Van" Sullivan couldn't blow out-of-town fast enough after high school graduation. He moved to sunny California and immersed himself in the gay culture and artist community. He is happy and fulfilled and hates the thought of going home again after his father dies.
Depth of Field starts as a kind of enemies-to-lovers story because of bullying that happened to Shane by Van and his friends when they were young. But that is quickly put behind them as they start that fucking-hot fucking I mentioned above.
“Open your mouth,” Shane told him and Van did. He grabbed the base of his cock before tracing Van’s lips. He felt the pre-come there, painting him like lipstick, before he pushed his dick inside. “Could we take a photograph like this?” Shane asked. “Set it up so I could look back on it and see how hot my prick looks between your lips?”
Did I mention that there is a camera involved? And wall sex? And face fucking? I guess I'll just mention them again since they are all very important aspects to the story.
Between all the hot sex, there is a sweet romance and a few bumps in the road on they way to happily ever after, but they eventually make it and the ending was fantastic.
And can we talk about that cover? fans self Click here to get up close and personal with all its glory.
This one goes straight to my top 10 of 2017 list. Highly, highly recommended.
Van is a homoerotic artist and photographer. I put up a fictional gallery of Van's art for you to enjoy.
Advanced review copy of Depth of Field provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
July 15, 2017
~4.5~
Depth of Field is Riley Hart's sexiest book to date, and you're not gonna hear me complain.
Shane and Van have incredible chemistry, and even though there was plenty of the down and dirty going on, the sex never felt gratuitous. Even though I like steamy books, if I can summarize the plot as sex blah blah blah sex blah blah sex, that's a problem.
Depth of Field is relationship driven, not sex driven. The sexual tension is there, but Shane and Van have a lot of guilt and resentment to overcome.
Van, then know as Maxwell, bullied Shane when they were kids. Shane was a loner, taking care of his mentally ill mother, and Maxwell and his cronies made his life a living hell. What Shane didn't know, what no one knew, is that Max was being tormented and abused at home by his powerful father.
A few days after turning 18, Max left home and became Van: a homoerotic artist/photographer, an out and proud gay man, a kind person. Van left Maxwell behind, but he's never forgotten Shane. He feels terrible shame at how he treated Shane, how he did to Shane exactly what his father did to him.
More than a decade later, Van returns to the small Oregon town where he grew up and tries to make amends with Shane, who is now a successful, confident mechanic with his own shop.
Initially, Shane wants nothing to do with Van, but as he realizes what Van went through, his defenses crumble. I think the forgiveness was perhaps too easily earned. Shane is so angry at Van, and he lets Van know it, but then there's this sudden plunge into a friends with benefits situation.
I was mostly okay with this, though. Van had no expectations of Shane; he was just so damn sorry. And the men have so much in common: a wicked sense of humor, a love of art, and a blazing attraction.
Shane discovers that he has a mild voyeuristic streak when Van asks to photograph him in the nude. The scenes where Van looks at Shane through a lens, and Shane allows himself to just let go, are incredibly sensual and gorgeous.
Remarkably, despite the potential for drama (Van's mother refuses to acknowledge that his father abused him; Shane's mom has severe depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia), this book focuses on possibilities and hope.
Van lives in L.A. That's where his life is, but he wants to give the long-distance relationship a shot. Shane is scared and looks for an excuse to break off the relationship before Van can beat him to it.
Riley Hart's modus operandi is creating a sudden, typically not mutual, break-up and separation between her MCs toward the end of a book. Sometimes this feels like manufactured angst, but I didn't think that was the case here. Shane was so used to people leaving, he didn't trust that Van wouldn't.
The ending is lovely. The MCs are totally in love and hot for each other. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I loved this story and cannot wait for book 2!
Depth of Field is Riley Hart's sexiest book to date, and you're not gonna hear me complain.
Shane and Van have incredible chemistry, and even though there was plenty of the down and dirty going on, the sex never felt gratuitous. Even though I like steamy books, if I can summarize the plot as sex blah blah blah sex blah blah sex, that's a problem.
Depth of Field is relationship driven, not sex driven. The sexual tension is there, but Shane and Van have a lot of guilt and resentment to overcome.
Van, then know as Maxwell, bullied Shane when they were kids. Shane was a loner, taking care of his mentally ill mother, and Maxwell and his cronies made his life a living hell. What Shane didn't know, what no one knew, is that Max was being tormented and abused at home by his powerful father.
A few days after turning 18, Max left home and became Van: a homoerotic artist/photographer, an out and proud gay man, a kind person. Van left Maxwell behind, but he's never forgotten Shane. He feels terrible shame at how he treated Shane, how he did to Shane exactly what his father did to him.
More than a decade later, Van returns to the small Oregon town where he grew up and tries to make amends with Shane, who is now a successful, confident mechanic with his own shop.
Initially, Shane wants nothing to do with Van, but as he realizes what Van went through, his defenses crumble. I think the forgiveness was perhaps too easily earned. Shane is so angry at Van, and he lets Van know it, but then there's this sudden plunge into a friends with benefits situation.
I was mostly okay with this, though. Van had no expectations of Shane; he was just so damn sorry. And the men have so much in common: a wicked sense of humor, a love of art, and a blazing attraction.
Shane discovers that he has a mild voyeuristic streak when Van asks to photograph him in the nude. The scenes where Van looks at Shane through a lens, and Shane allows himself to just let go, are incredibly sensual and gorgeous.
Remarkably, despite the potential for drama (Van's mother refuses to acknowledge that his father abused him; Shane's mom has severe depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia), this book focuses on possibilities and hope.
Van lives in L.A. That's where his life is, but he wants to give the long-distance relationship a shot. Shane is scared and looks for an excuse to break off the relationship before Van can beat him to it.
Riley Hart's modus operandi is creating a sudden, typically not mutual, break-up and separation between her MCs toward the end of a book. Sometimes this feels like manufactured angst, but I didn't think that was the case here. Shane was so used to people leaving, he didn't trust that Van wouldn't.
The ending is lovely. The MCs are totally in love and hot for each other. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I loved this story and cannot wait for book 2!
October 20, 2017
3.5-3.75 Stars
When Shane was sixteen, he was teased and tormented for being gay by his classmates especially Max. his mother suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks for years and she couldn’t leave home. His father left them so many years ago. Now, he is thirty and he’s a mechanic. His classmates left town but he can’t leave his mother alone and he thinks if he does that, he’s not different from his father.
Max’s life wasn’t what others thought. He was the town golden boy but nobody knew at home his parents how treated him. And he took his pain and fear out on Shane. After graduation, Max left town for good and became what he wanted all his life, a painter and a photographer. But Shane always was in the corner of his mind. Now his father died and his mother needs him, so he took this opportunity to come back and apologize to Shane.
Well, it was an enjoyable read. I liked it, I liked both characters. I liked how much Shane cares about his mom and how they loved each other unconditionally. I liked how Max hated himself for what he was then at that time and did his best to make up his past toward Shane! The thing is this story is enemies to lovers, so I expected more angsty. Don’t get me wrong, it was angsty but it was just low on angst and they became friend really fast!!!
Told in dual POV, 3rd person. it’s the first installment in "Last Chance" series but it can be read as a stand-alone. It was well-written and well-paced. I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
When Shane was sixteen, he was teased and tormented for being gay by his classmates especially Max. his mother suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks for years and she couldn’t leave home. His father left them so many years ago. Now, he is thirty and he’s a mechanic. His classmates left town but he can’t leave his mother alone and he thinks if he does that, he’s not different from his father.
Max’s life wasn’t what others thought. He was the town golden boy but nobody knew at home his parents how treated him. And he took his pain and fear out on Shane. After graduation, Max left town for good and became what he wanted all his life, a painter and a photographer. But Shane always was in the corner of his mind. Now his father died and his mother needs him, so he took this opportunity to come back and apologize to Shane.
Well, it was an enjoyable read. I liked it, I liked both characters. I liked how much Shane cares about his mom and how they loved each other unconditionally. I liked how Max hated himself for what he was then at that time and did his best to make up his past toward Shane! The thing is this story is enemies to lovers, so I expected more angsty. Don’t get me wrong, it was angsty but it was just low on angst and they became friend really fast!!!
Told in dual POV, 3rd person. it’s the first installment in "Last Chance" series but it can be read as a stand-alone. It was well-written and well-paced. I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
October 10, 2022
4.5***** stars
I read in another review that this might be the hottest book RH has ever written. And boy was this hot!! *fanning myself And I can only repeat what others said already… All this talk when they got down and dirty? HOT! The erotic photographing? HOT! Wow, these two had chemistry.
But there also was a very serious tune to the story. I loved how RH took this sensitive bully theme with care and wrote a beautiful story about two souls who felt so lonely and trapped in their respective lives. Van and Shane discover that they feel similar in a lot of ways but also envy some part of the other’s. Shane longs for the freedom Van has but knows he could never have because he would never leave his mom behind who suffers severely from depression and needs Shane to take care of her. And Van envies Shane the one parent he has that loves him and is proud of their son. A feeling Van never knew himself.
You can feel the longing in them both and I was rooting so hard for them while reading that they would find a way to get what they wished for.
One would think a tormentor and their victim can never be more than two people who hate each other’s guts. But as adults they find in each other what was missing in their lives.
I loved everything about this book and it was freaking hard for me to put it down even for one minute.
***************
Last Chance Series:
Book 1 - Depth of Field - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Color Me In - 4 stars
I read in another review that this might be the hottest book RH has ever written. And boy was this hot!! *fanning myself And I can only repeat what others said already… All this talk when they got down and dirty? HOT! The erotic photographing? HOT! Wow, these two had chemistry.
But there also was a very serious tune to the story. I loved how RH took this sensitive bully theme with care and wrote a beautiful story about two souls who felt so lonely and trapped in their respective lives. Van and Shane discover that they feel similar in a lot of ways but also envy some part of the other’s. Shane longs for the freedom Van has but knows he could never have because he would never leave his mom behind who suffers severely from depression and needs Shane to take care of her. And Van envies Shane the one parent he has that loves him and is proud of their son. A feeling Van never knew himself.
You can feel the longing in them both and I was rooting so hard for them while reading that they would find a way to get what they wished for.
Van stood there holding a sign […]
Shane Wallace, AKA Sexy Motherfucker […]
Shane reached for him, grabbed Van and pulled him close.
“You’re crazy.”
“I know.”
“I’m crazy about you. You know that, right?”
One would think a tormentor and their victim can never be more than two people who hate each other’s guts. But as adults they find in each other what was missing in their lives.
I loved everything about this book and it was freaking hard for me to put it down even for one minute.
***************
Last Chance Series:
Book 1 - Depth of Field - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Color Me In - 4 stars
July 21, 2017
Another amazing story from Riley Hart...she gets down and dirty in this book! Loved every word!!
Shane and Van are two men who are explosive together and combine them with this enemies to lovers/just a fling content and you have perfection!
"Van was mesmerized by him. He was so fucking real, real in a way he’d never experienced before. He was so into this man. It was quick, and likely not smart, but it was true. He felt this draw to Shane, this magnetic fucking pull that was too strong to ignore. And he didn’t want to ignore it."
Not to mention, Van and his profession as a photog/artist who specializes in homoerotic art! Imagine the bedroom scenes, they are sensual, erotic, raw, and hot as fuck! These two know how to pleasure each other and neither is shy!
"Shane turned him inside out. Made him ravenous..."
"We don’t fall in love or out of love in the same amount of time. People put too much stock into the right time. There’s no right time for anything.....I could. I think I could love him very easily. Shh. Don’t tell him that. He doesn’t know.”
Full review ➡️ Alpha Book Club
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
Shane and Van are two men who are explosive together and combine them with this enemies to lovers/just a fling content and you have perfection!
"Van was mesmerized by him. He was so fucking real, real in a way he’d never experienced before. He was so into this man. It was quick, and likely not smart, but it was true. He felt this draw to Shane, this magnetic fucking pull that was too strong to ignore. And he didn’t want to ignore it."
Not to mention, Van and his profession as a photog/artist who specializes in homoerotic art! Imagine the bedroom scenes, they are sensual, erotic, raw, and hot as fuck! These two know how to pleasure each other and neither is shy!
"Shane turned him inside out. Made him ravenous..."
"He loved sex. Loved touching and licking and tasting. Loved fucking. Maybe because he’d allowed himself to fear who he was so much, that he just wanted to revel in who he was and what he enjoyed."
"We don’t fall in love or out of love in the same amount of time. People put too much stock into the right time. There’s no right time for anything.....I could. I think I could love him very easily. Shh. Don’t tell him that. He doesn’t know.”
Full review ➡️ Alpha Book Club
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
March 3, 2024
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“We’re gonna have a long life together, loving each other right.”
Because that’s what life was about, wasn’t it? Loving people, getting loved in return.”
A lesson I've learned about books and life, in general, is that when you go into something with the least of expectations, it's always a comforting - if not rewarding - feeling when something pleasantly surprises you. Based on my last existing track record with Riley Hart, I was prepared for the worst, if not, ready for yet another mediocre read; and well, it certainly surprised me for how not so mediocre it actually was. ☺️
It's not so much a second chance romance, but a chance of redemption and closure, one that starts off when the two main characters, Shane Wallace and Maxwell Sullivan were teenagers and Max made it a point to make Shane's life a living hell - tormenting and bullying him so much so that Shane knew he would never forgive him for the pain and hurt and humiliation he inflicted on him. 😥 But twelve years later, when Max returns home to Last Chance from L.A with a different name and a change of heart to the person he was, he's surprised to learn that he's not the only one who has changed - that Shane isn't the same scrawny kid as he remembers, now armed with 'a smile that had never been that effortless, that settled, when they’d been kids.'
“I like spending time with you, Shane.”
Goddamn him and his fucking honesty. Shane looked at him. “I like spending time with you too. You’re supposed to be a dickhead.”
Van laughed. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
Shane is that dutiful son who sacrifices his own happiness simply so that he can always look out for his mother, someone who's afflicted with her own mental health. He doesn't mind caring for her, but along the way, he's forgotten to care for himself. But, meeting Van changed something in him - he realized how much he had been missing out on - a life that could have promised so much more than the secret hook-ups out of Last Chance - a life that could have been for himself and his own happiness. 😟 'They looked at each other. Van’s eyes were different shades of green. He was a stranger, yet familiar at the same time. Someone Shane hated, but also wanted to know.' And as much as he fought it to himself, there was something about Van that drew that desire out of him - confused and perplexed him at how different he was from the way he treated him - a quiet change that reflected a part of himself. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
I didn't think that Van could redeem himself for his past transgressions, but he did - well, to me, at least. There is a deeper explanation for his past behavior, and while it's not forgivable, it is understandable. But, he didn't become worse for it, which I think made him a better person in my eyes. It may have led to a strained relationship with his mother, but it also gave him a chance to reclaim something with Shane - something he should have sought out before, but too afraid of what it could lead to. 😔 His job as a homoerotic photographer and artist was such a unique concept, but it really heightened their chemistry. 'He’d never wanted someone in both aspects of his life before, wanted them to be his art and in his bed at the same time.' Those moments were at times passionate, but at the same time, there was a softness to their intimacy, a hesitancy that made them unsure if this was something that could work in the long run, or simply something they could appreciate for the time that they had.
“Van sat up and Shane did as he said. Click, click, click.
He rubbed the globes of Shane’s ass and took another photo. “I want you, Shane,” he said. His voice sounded ragged, hoarse.
“Then take me.”
Riley Hart may need to work on the way they write sex, because yes, I still do cringe at times at certain parts, at how painfully awkward it comes off at times. 😣 But gosh, there was something so sensual and alluring about the way it is voiced. 'Your body is so beautiful. Part of me thinks it’s a tragedy to not share it with the world, but the other part needs to keep you all to myself.' And in the way Van describes just how much he would love to photograph Shane - in all these seductive poses and deliciously appealing stances. 🥹🥹 He doesn't realize just how beautiful he is - all the hidden pleasures he would want to bring out of him, if he would just let him.
Shane's reaction to it - a bit humorous, a bit scandalous that I just felt the heat in the words so much more vividly than the actual sex, itself. ❤️🔥❤️🔥 I loved the way Shane responded to him - revealed himself - not only in the physical sense, but to make himself so vulnerable to him - open up his own desires of wanting to express his own sexuality - experiment with his own hidden inhibitions - and Van never questioning or ridiculing him for it - letting them both embrace each other with those desires - I really liked how it was done. 'He was just the man with the sick mom who fixed people’s cars, but with Van, he was someone else. Van saw him…when Van took his picture, Shane felt seen.' 🥹🥹
“Don’t really know. You’re still here and I’m still there but…I’m crazy fucking in love with you and I don’t know what the means for me.”
The writing as a whole was very solid. It flowed well, I enjoyed their banter, I liked the way the side stories supported their pull towards one another. It felt genuine and heartfelt and real - no false pretences, no hidden aspects - just a deep longing of wanting someone to share a part of themselves with. Their interactions and their conversations were as if they were both re-learning something about themselves and in each other, and I think that's why I appreciated their story more. 'But that wasn’t what they had now. They had truth and honesty. They fit.' Despite that lingering hurt over the past, there was a gentleness - a sweetness of how much they were willing to be with each other. Because despite how quickly they realized they were attracted to each other - even if they ignored it because they were the only two gay people around - it eventually became something more than that. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 They became friends - they looked to each other for support and reassurance and enjoyed each other's company! It just fell together very naturally that made me believe that they could make it work.
There is also that subtle growth on both their ends that really resonated with me and connected them deeper. The bittersweet irony of Shane's mother is something I did appreciate; how her mental health struggles made her a target of ridicule many a time for Shane from Van's part, only for her to be the one that ultimately brings them together. 'When you grow up a certain way, when you live a certain way, you have to make sure you’re okay because you’re the only one who’s going to do it.' 🥺 The close bond she has with her son is such a sharp contrast to Van's own mother's relationship that you can't help but see how she's inadvertently helping both of them reach out to a brighter and more promising future - to fight for happiness.
It is in the way Shane learns to accept that his life is not beholden to his mother's well-being, that as much as he still holds it against Van for how he treated him in the past - he can not forget or ignore that if not for Van - his mother would not find it in her to heal and seek out her own happiness. It is in the way Van learns to -- not atone for his past grievances, but to admit the regret he's carried all these years. Even if that last-minute third act break-up literally came out of nowhere 😮💨, there was a still a healthy maturity to it all that I thought was handled very realistically and believably so. 👍🏻
“Lived twelve years without you here and now it doesn’t feel like home without you.”
For it's that final act that truly brings out the beauty in the title - the Depth of Field that defines the basis of their history and their future - 'after all they’d been through, lived through, and with the past they shared, that they could be in the place together and in love.' 💗 The beauty of their dynamic is how much of what they were both hiding from the world and hurting themselves with - is what eventually brings them together.
And it left me feeling very content in how it all played out, content knowing that they both were able to complete the part of their lives and hearts that was missing. And as much as I wanted to keep it a stand-alone, I am now too intrigued to learn more about Caleb, Shane's best friend - 'his only friend. He was there for Shane the best he could be. He would have been there for Shane even more if Shane had let him.' 😟
“We’re gonna have a long life together, loving each other right.”
Because that’s what life was about, wasn’t it? Loving people, getting loved in return.”
A lesson I've learned about books and life, in general, is that when you go into something with the least of expectations, it's always a comforting - if not rewarding - feeling when something pleasantly surprises you. Based on my last existing track record with Riley Hart, I was prepared for the worst, if not, ready for yet another mediocre read; and well, it certainly surprised me for how not so mediocre it actually was. ☺️
It's not so much a second chance romance, but a chance of redemption and closure, one that starts off when the two main characters, Shane Wallace and Maxwell Sullivan were teenagers and Max made it a point to make Shane's life a living hell - tormenting and bullying him so much so that Shane knew he would never forgive him for the pain and hurt and humiliation he inflicted on him. 😥 But twelve years later, when Max returns home to Last Chance from L.A with a different name and a change of heart to the person he was, he's surprised to learn that he's not the only one who has changed - that Shane isn't the same scrawny kid as he remembers, now armed with 'a smile that had never been that effortless, that settled, when they’d been kids.'
“I like spending time with you, Shane.”
Goddamn him and his fucking honesty. Shane looked at him. “I like spending time with you too. You’re supposed to be a dickhead.”
Van laughed. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
Shane is that dutiful son who sacrifices his own happiness simply so that he can always look out for his mother, someone who's afflicted with her own mental health. He doesn't mind caring for her, but along the way, he's forgotten to care for himself. But, meeting Van changed something in him - he realized how much he had been missing out on - a life that could have promised so much more than the secret hook-ups out of Last Chance - a life that could have been for himself and his own happiness. 😟 'They looked at each other. Van’s eyes were different shades of green. He was a stranger, yet familiar at the same time. Someone Shane hated, but also wanted to know.' And as much as he fought it to himself, there was something about Van that drew that desire out of him - confused and perplexed him at how different he was from the way he treated him - a quiet change that reflected a part of himself. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
I didn't think that Van could redeem himself for his past transgressions, but he did - well, to me, at least. There is a deeper explanation for his past behavior, and while it's not forgivable, it is understandable. But, he didn't become worse for it, which I think made him a better person in my eyes. It may have led to a strained relationship with his mother, but it also gave him a chance to reclaim something with Shane - something he should have sought out before, but too afraid of what it could lead to. 😔 His job as a homoerotic photographer and artist was such a unique concept, but it really heightened their chemistry. 'He’d never wanted someone in both aspects of his life before, wanted them to be his art and in his bed at the same time.' Those moments were at times passionate, but at the same time, there was a softness to their intimacy, a hesitancy that made them unsure if this was something that could work in the long run, or simply something they could appreciate for the time that they had.
“Van sat up and Shane did as he said. Click, click, click.
He rubbed the globes of Shane’s ass and took another photo. “I want you, Shane,” he said. His voice sounded ragged, hoarse.
“Then take me.”
Riley Hart may need to work on the way they write sex, because yes, I still do cringe at times at certain parts, at how painfully awkward it comes off at times. 😣 But gosh, there was something so sensual and alluring about the way it is voiced. 'Your body is so beautiful. Part of me thinks it’s a tragedy to not share it with the world, but the other part needs to keep you all to myself.' And in the way Van describes just how much he would love to photograph Shane - in all these seductive poses and deliciously appealing stances. 🥹🥹 He doesn't realize just how beautiful he is - all the hidden pleasures he would want to bring out of him, if he would just let him.
Shane's reaction to it - a bit humorous, a bit scandalous that I just felt the heat in the words so much more vividly than the actual sex, itself. ❤️🔥❤️🔥 I loved the way Shane responded to him - revealed himself - not only in the physical sense, but to make himself so vulnerable to him - open up his own desires of wanting to express his own sexuality - experiment with his own hidden inhibitions - and Van never questioning or ridiculing him for it - letting them both embrace each other with those desires - I really liked how it was done. 'He was just the man with the sick mom who fixed people’s cars, but with Van, he was someone else. Van saw him…when Van took his picture, Shane felt seen.' 🥹🥹
“Don’t really know. You’re still here and I’m still there but…I’m crazy fucking in love with you and I don’t know what the means for me.”
The writing as a whole was very solid. It flowed well, I enjoyed their banter, I liked the way the side stories supported their pull towards one another. It felt genuine and heartfelt and real - no false pretences, no hidden aspects - just a deep longing of wanting someone to share a part of themselves with. Their interactions and their conversations were as if they were both re-learning something about themselves and in each other, and I think that's why I appreciated their story more. 'But that wasn’t what they had now. They had truth and honesty. They fit.' Despite that lingering hurt over the past, there was a gentleness - a sweetness of how much they were willing to be with each other. Because despite how quickly they realized they were attracted to each other - even if they ignored it because they were the only two gay people around - it eventually became something more than that. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 They became friends - they looked to each other for support and reassurance and enjoyed each other's company! It just fell together very naturally that made me believe that they could make it work.
There is also that subtle growth on both their ends that really resonated with me and connected them deeper. The bittersweet irony of Shane's mother is something I did appreciate; how her mental health struggles made her a target of ridicule many a time for Shane from Van's part, only for her to be the one that ultimately brings them together. 'When you grow up a certain way, when you live a certain way, you have to make sure you’re okay because you’re the only one who’s going to do it.' 🥺 The close bond she has with her son is such a sharp contrast to Van's own mother's relationship that you can't help but see how she's inadvertently helping both of them reach out to a brighter and more promising future - to fight for happiness.
It is in the way Shane learns to accept that his life is not beholden to his mother's well-being, that as much as he still holds it against Van for how he treated him in the past - he can not forget or ignore that if not for Van - his mother would not find it in her to heal and seek out her own happiness. It is in the way Van learns to -- not atone for his past grievances, but to admit the regret he's carried all these years. Even if that last-minute third act break-up literally came out of nowhere 😮💨, there was a still a healthy maturity to it all that I thought was handled very realistically and believably so. 👍🏻
“Lived twelve years without you here and now it doesn’t feel like home without you.”
For it's that final act that truly brings out the beauty in the title - the Depth of Field that defines the basis of their history and their future - 'after all they’d been through, lived through, and with the past they shared, that they could be in the place together and in love.' 💗 The beauty of their dynamic is how much of what they were both hiding from the world and hurting themselves with - is what eventually brings them together.
And it left me feeling very content in how it all played out, content knowing that they both were able to complete the part of their lives and hearts that was missing. And as much as I wanted to keep it a stand-alone, I am now too intrigued to learn more about Caleb, Shane's best friend - 'his only friend. He was there for Shane the best he could be. He would have been there for Shane even more if Shane had let him.' 😟
July 12, 2017
You know, sometimes a book and I just click. From the first few lines, I could feel such would be the case with Depth of Field by Riley Hart. Depth of Field is an enemies to lovers story of two men who grew in a small town. Both men grew up in a world of pain, and both dealt with it in their way. Shane lived with the bullying at school and being the main caretaker of his own the best he could and grew up to be a business owner with great character. Maxwell (Van), one of Shane's bullies, left town as soon as he could- he wanted to leave behind the horrors of his home. He started his life over and became the man he was always wanted to be, but he lived with one regret: his treatment of Shane. Years later they come face to face, and Van has a chance to make amends never imagining the turn his life would take.
What I loved:
I don't know where to start...
-Shane and Van. Both men who grew with so much pain but they never allowed the horrors of their lives to hold them back. They fought back and succeeded.
-Enemies to lovers trope. I wondered how old resentments would be healed, and all I can say is that it came about naturally.
-Pace. The flow of the story was smooth, and it had a quick pace.
-Steam. Beautiful, sensual, and hot as all hell! The way she described them... some of hottest, if not the steamiest Riley Hart has ever written. Exceptionally written!
-Tears. There were some tears- some were tears of pain, and some were caused from getting overwhelmed with emotion. I love when books make me cry.
-Narration. Dual POVs!
-The end. I was happy with how it all played out. The whole story I wondered how it could work given their circumstances (you'll see what I mean when you read it), but it was perfect.
Do I have any niggles to report? I don't.
Depth of Field is a fantastic start to Hart's new series. It's a touching story of family, growth, forgiveness, and love. 5 Stars!
P.S. I AM DYING FOR CALEB AND RYAN'S BOOK!! I NEED IT.
#RileyHart #DepthOfField #EnemiesToLovers
July 25, 2017
*4,5 stars*
A kinky, hot and great enemies to lovers story!
I’ll keep it short and simple without giving away much of the plot.
Shane Wallace and Maxwell “Van” Sullivan are two men who had a rough past. Shane used to be bullied by Max’s and his friends in high school. What Shane doesn’t know is that the golden town boy didn’t have it as easy as everyone thought. 12 years later, Max is back to town to help his mom and Shane can’t help but bring bad memories back to life.
Even though Shane is still a bit resentful about what he lived when he was younger, he and Van manage to put that awful past behind them pretty quick and damn, things start to get pretty steamy between these two.
Depth of Field is the type of book I love because it has everything I enjoy: good banter, incredible sex, delicious dirty talk, kinky moments, and the perfect amount of angst. Not everything goes around sex, which is another plus for me. These boys have a great amount of forgiveness to do and resentment to overcome, not only between them but also with the people who are around them.
Their chemistry was just natural and I liked they didn’t panic or regret about fooling around, they just gave into each other desires to have fun and good sex because they just… fit. I liked they’re open to each other, they get to know who they were and who they are, I loved there’s great amount of communication between them! They don’t hold back, they just tell everything that was bugging them to each other to get it out of their system, because unconsciously they support each other despite their previous story and that makes their relationship pretty smooth and easy going until their insecurities come to bite them in the ass (mostly Shane’s).
Hart did a great job, I really liked this book. I actually don’t have many complaints, just some grammar mistakes that bug the hell out of me and some cheesy moments but they were purposely cheesy and that made them hilarious.
Van is such a great character, after some flashbacks, I was surprised to see he turned out to be pretty lay-back and Geez, his passion was what sucked me into the story at the same time as Shane loneliness and ‘what ifs’ just squeezed my heart.
Oooh!! I almost forget to mention the title has something to do with the story. I freaking love when the title means something and it isn’t just random words on the cover!!! Besides, we got such a sweet epilog that was the perfect icing on the cake. I don’t have anything else to say just that I highly recommend this book.
A kinky, hot and great enemies to lovers story!
I’ll keep it short and simple without giving away much of the plot.
Shane Wallace and Maxwell “Van” Sullivan are two men who had a rough past. Shane used to be bullied by Max’s and his friends in high school. What Shane doesn’t know is that the golden town boy didn’t have it as easy as everyone thought. 12 years later, Max is back to town to help his mom and Shane can’t help but bring bad memories back to life.
Even though Shane is still a bit resentful about what he lived when he was younger, he and Van manage to put that awful past behind them pretty quick and damn, things start to get pretty steamy between these two.
Depth of Field is the type of book I love because it has everything I enjoy: good banter, incredible sex, delicious dirty talk, kinky moments, and the perfect amount of angst. Not everything goes around sex, which is another plus for me. These boys have a great amount of forgiveness to do and resentment to overcome, not only between them but also with the people who are around them.
Their chemistry was just natural and I liked they didn’t panic or regret about fooling around, they just gave into each other desires to have fun and good sex because they just… fit. I liked they’re open to each other, they get to know who they were and who they are, I loved there’s great amount of communication between them! They don’t hold back, they just tell everything that was bugging them to each other to get it out of their system, because unconsciously they support each other despite their previous story and that makes their relationship pretty smooth and easy going until their insecurities come to bite them in the ass (mostly Shane’s).
“I love you. I love you so fucking much it scares me because nothing has the power to hurt me like you do.”
Hart did a great job, I really liked this book. I actually don’t have many complaints, just some grammar mistakes that bug the hell out of me and some cheesy moments but they were purposely cheesy and that made them hilarious.
“How about you take that towel off and come here? I’d like to do you tonight. You be the outlet and I’ll be the plug. We’re electric together, baby.”
Van is such a great character, after some flashbacks, I was surprised to see he turned out to be pretty lay-back and Geez, his passion was what sucked me into the story at the same time as Shane loneliness and ‘what ifs’ just squeezed my heart.
Oooh!! I almost forget to mention the title has something to do with the story. I freaking love when the title means something and it isn’t just random words on the cover!!! Besides, we got such a sweet epilog that was the perfect icing on the cake. I don’t have anything else to say just that I highly recommend this book.
August 18, 2019
I think this one is a solid 4. Or at least 3.75 rounded to 4.
Lots of steam, some good, real emotions. Flawed people but love conquers all, etc.
HOTTTTTTT cover! Models are PERFECT for the story. Including the necklace that Shane wears - yep that's gotta be Shane facing us in the cover.
DAaaaayyyyyyyuuuuuummmmm! :)
Might read more...
Lots of steam, some good, real emotions. Flawed people but love conquers all, etc.
HOTTTTTTT cover! Models are PERFECT for the story. Including the necklace that Shane wears - yep that's gotta be Shane facing us in the cover.
DAaaaayyyyyyyuuuuuummmmm! :)
Might read more...
October 31, 2024
Re-read on Oct-31st/24
I'm sticking with my 3.5⭐ rating.
I liked the setting again, liked Little Chance and all the side characters, but the main couple just somehow didn't move past that initial phase when it's just sex and it's fantastic, they kind of stayed on that level while they're suddenly telling each other they're completely in love.
That falling in love didn't really happen on-page, I couldn't see it, so again, the jig was really up too damn soon.
I think with a bully trope, this story could've gone a bit deeper than what we got. There was no tension and I definitely expected some. It was just talking about the past and then quickly moving on.
I did like Shane a lot, his character's fleshed out and his life in Little Chance is vivid and clear in my mind, but I wasn't too sold on Van.
Hopefully Caleb's book gives more.
_____________________________________
Original review Jan-2nd/23
Rating : 3.5⭐
A story about a boy who was bullied and his tormentor returning to their hometown, where they get to know each other again as adults and fall in love.
🟢 Small town romance
🔵 Bully trope (very little on-page)
🟣 Both MMCs gay
🟡 Both 30 years old
❗ Some family drama (child abuse, mental illness)
🌶️ A lot of smut, quite good, but I wasn't really sold on the couple; intimate photos, sex vid; oral, rimming, penetrative; both vers
It felt like nothing special was happening in this story, even though it has a bully trope, which is one of my favorites.
Less than two weeks in Shane and Van, the tormented kid and the former bully, almost lived together about a decade after they last saw each other, a few weeks after that they were saying their i-love-you's while having a very not-believable long-distance relationship.
There was a minor twist near the end, but it wasn't that important and didn't really change the story or the outcome, but it should have, since it was Shane's best friend and first lover Caleb who got taken away in high school because of it, in fact, I was expecting for Caleb to show up and get the drama rolling.
I liked Shane a lot, but Shane was too accessible for Van. Did Van really redeem himself? I didn't feel like he did. I felt like Van won the lottery and that was that. All he had to do was make some clicks with the camera and done, had the guy in his pocket.
Their dialogues were very mundane, simple, which is alright, I guess, but when I read a bully romance book, I want to get away from reality and feel a little bit more of something , and this dynamic wasn't doing it for me. It was almost bland, it went from exciting to is this it? too soon.
I also feel like not many things got resolved, but apparenlty we're getting Caleb's story next, so all the characters stay connected.
I'm sticking with my 3.5⭐ rating.
I liked the setting again, liked Little Chance and all the side characters, but the main couple just somehow didn't move past that initial phase when it's just sex and it's fantastic, they kind of stayed on that level while they're suddenly telling each other they're completely in love.
That falling in love didn't really happen on-page, I couldn't see it, so again, the jig was really up too damn soon.
I think with a bully trope, this story could've gone a bit deeper than what we got. There was no tension and I definitely expected some. It was just talking about the past and then quickly moving on.
I did like Shane a lot, his character's fleshed out and his life in Little Chance is vivid and clear in my mind, but I wasn't too sold on Van.
Hopefully Caleb's book gives more.
_____________________________________
Original review Jan-2nd/23
Rating : 3.5⭐
A story about a boy who was bullied and his tormentor returning to their hometown, where they get to know each other again as adults and fall in love.
🟢 Small town romance
🔵 Bully trope (very little on-page)
🟣 Both MMCs gay
🟡 Both 30 years old
❗ Some family drama (child abuse, mental illness)
🌶️ A lot of smut, quite good, but I wasn't really sold on the couple; intimate photos, sex vid; oral, rimming, penetrative; both vers
It felt like nothing special was happening in this story, even though it has a bully trope, which is one of my favorites.
Less than two weeks in Shane and Van, the tormented kid and the former bully, almost lived together about a decade after they last saw each other, a few weeks after that they were saying their i-love-you's while having a very not-believable long-distance relationship.
There was a minor twist near the end, but it wasn't that important and didn't really change the story or the outcome, but it should have, since it was Shane's best friend and first lover Caleb who got taken away in high school because of it, in fact, I was expecting for Caleb to show up and get the drama rolling.
I liked Shane a lot, but Shane was too accessible for Van. Did Van really redeem himself? I didn't feel like he did. I felt like Van won the lottery and that was that. All he had to do was make some clicks with the camera and done, had the guy in his pocket.
Their dialogues were very mundane, simple, which is alright, I guess, but when I read a bully romance book, I want to get away from reality and feel a little bit more of something , and this dynamic wasn't doing it for me. It was almost bland, it went from exciting to is this it? too soon.
I also feel like not many things got resolved, but apparenlty we're getting Caleb's story next, so all the characters stay connected.
July 19, 2017
Good story, nice progression from enemies to lovers, nice amount of steam. But it's time to accept that I don't mesh with Riley Hart's writing anymore. I can't with all the corny dialogue in and outside the bedroom, or bad humour in the most inappropriate places. The conflict in the end felt anticlimatic as well. Also, wasn't it weird that Shane never tried to contact Caleb again since he was so important to him?
I'd still say go for it, if you 're a fan of this author. It was just me.
I'd still say go for it, if you 're a fan of this author. It was just me.
November 6, 2019
You have to be prepared for anything when you pick up a book by Riley Hart. Her characters seem like every day guys, usually on the blue collar side, but they are intensely complex in many ways--and tremendously attractive and hot.
This coupling of Shane the auto mechanic and Van (nee Max) the returning prodigal son photographer/painter is incongruous in many respects. The major one is that Van/Max was the high school bully who tormented Shane and caused his high school boyfriend Caleb's parents to pack him up and leave town.
But that's just one of many reasons why when Shane first spots Van/Max in the town diner he almost explodes in anger. That doesn't last all too long as major complications spill out around them, mostly centered on their respective mothers.
Oh, and there is another complication: They are both 30 years old, haven't seen each other since Van/Max escaped from town suddenly after high school graduation 12 years ago--and they are insanely attracted to each other.
This swiftly moving, extremely--and creatively--scorching book will grab you by the throat and not let you go until what you know will have to happen actually takes place. How that happens is so adorably endearing and so appropriate for a couple of hard-bitten and very lonely guys that you basically do cartwheels in your head.
This is one of Riley Hart's best books by plot, characters, and scorching love scenes. That there is a sequel coming which involves someone we come to know only by reputation in this book has me on the edge of my buy button waiting for it to come out.
This coupling of Shane the auto mechanic and Van (nee Max) the returning prodigal son photographer/painter is incongruous in many respects. The major one is that Van/Max was the high school bully who tormented Shane and caused his high school boyfriend Caleb's parents to pack him up and leave town.
But that's just one of many reasons why when Shane first spots Van/Max in the town diner he almost explodes in anger. That doesn't last all too long as major complications spill out around them, mostly centered on their respective mothers.
Oh, and there is another complication: They are both 30 years old, haven't seen each other since Van/Max escaped from town suddenly after high school graduation 12 years ago--and they are insanely attracted to each other.
This swiftly moving, extremely--and creatively--scorching book will grab you by the throat and not let you go until what you know will have to happen actually takes place. How that happens is so adorably endearing and so appropriate for a couple of hard-bitten and very lonely guys that you basically do cartwheels in your head.
This is one of Riley Hart's best books by plot, characters, and scorching love scenes. That there is a sequel coming which involves someone we come to know only by reputation in this book has me on the edge of my buy button waiting for it to come out.
July 19, 2017
3.75 Stars!
I liked this one, as I have pretty much all of Riley Hart's solo books. But it didn't wow me, and I don't think it was my favorite. But it was good.
I am not sure I would have forgiven as easily as Shane, but I get it. I really liked his character.
The plot on this one moved along rather slow. I was never bored but it didn't always hold my attention.
Bonus points for the cover, the sex and the dirty talk though.
I liked this one, as I have pretty much all of Riley Hart's solo books. But it didn't wow me, and I don't think it was my favorite. But it was good.
I am not sure I would have forgiven as easily as Shane, but I get it. I really liked his character.
The plot on this one moved along rather slow. I was never bored but it didn't always hold my attention.
Bonus points for the cover, the sex and the dirty talk though.
July 24, 2017
Shane has spent his entire childhood in small town Last Chance being bullied by a group of guys. They called him names, tripped him in the hallways and spray painted fagot on his house. Shane never wants to see any of them ever again. But unfortunately he is pretty stuck in the small town because of his mother. His mother with severe anxiety and depression, who is afraid to leave the house.
And that’s why Shane is now 30 years old, but still taking care of his mother. Although he did built his own place next to his mother’s house.
When one of his tormentors returns to town after 12 years, Shane can’t help but be angry with Max. Max used to make his life hell and Shane is not that forgiving. But Max is now called Van. And Van is like an entirely different person.
Van didn’t want to come home at all, but when his mother asked him to after his father’s death he felt he had no choice. But to come back to the town he grew up in means reliving all his awful memories. Memories of his father beating him and Van trying to fit in and pretend to be something he is not.
The first thing Van does when he gets into town is try to apologize to Shane, but Shane doesn’t want anything to do with him. That is until he sees Van really does seem different. And when Van spends an entire afternoon looking after Shane’s mother after she has a panic attack on her driveway, Shane cannot help but wanting to get to know this new Van more…
This book had a lot of potential for angst and drama, but I was very happy when that didn’t happen. Of course there are some hard feelings at first, but once these guys talk about things they both understand why things happened the way they did when they were younger. Especially why Van acted the way he did. And he really was sorry. I just loved Van. I loved how honest he was now. How he made no excuses for being gay or being a homoerotic photographer.
This was quite the sexy book too. These guys had major chemistry and add in the pictures Van took from Shane and boom, we got ourselves one hot book!
I also really loved Shane’s mom. Yes, she had depression and anxiety problems, but he was also a really nice person. A person who knew she couldn’t count on Shane to take care of her and that she had to take responsibility of her own life. I really loved that part of this book.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable low angst story with lots of super hot sexy times!
And that’s why Shane is now 30 years old, but still taking care of his mother. Although he did built his own place next to his mother’s house.
When one of his tormentors returns to town after 12 years, Shane can’t help but be angry with Max. Max used to make his life hell and Shane is not that forgiving. But Max is now called Van. And Van is like an entirely different person.
Van didn’t want to come home at all, but when his mother asked him to after his father’s death he felt he had no choice. But to come back to the town he grew up in means reliving all his awful memories. Memories of his father beating him and Van trying to fit in and pretend to be something he is not.
The first thing Van does when he gets into town is try to apologize to Shane, but Shane doesn’t want anything to do with him. That is until he sees Van really does seem different. And when Van spends an entire afternoon looking after Shane’s mother after she has a panic attack on her driveway, Shane cannot help but wanting to get to know this new Van more…
This book had a lot of potential for angst and drama, but I was very happy when that didn’t happen. Of course there are some hard feelings at first, but once these guys talk about things they both understand why things happened the way they did when they were younger. Especially why Van acted the way he did. And he really was sorry. I just loved Van. I loved how honest he was now. How he made no excuses for being gay or being a homoerotic photographer.
This was quite the sexy book too. These guys had major chemistry and add in the pictures Van took from Shane and boom, we got ourselves one hot book!
I also really loved Shane’s mom. Yes, she had depression and anxiety problems, but he was also a really nice person. A person who knew she couldn’t count on Shane to take care of her and that she had to take responsibility of her own life. I really loved that part of this book.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable low angst story with lots of super hot sexy times!
May 21, 2018
4 stars
I enjoyed this one! I realised I missed Riley Hart's stories. I'm a big fan of her writing. Her characters come with a baggage. They seem flawed and so real.
While enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, here it wasn't what I expected. I would have wanted more. Especially more angst.
It was a pretty sweet story. Van's past was sad but he returned to Last Chance after 12 years and he wanted to apologize to the man who he hurt so bad when they were teens.
I loved Van's job. Their photo sessions were super hot and this book was extremely HOT, with A LOT of sex scenes.
Still, I think it got too sugary sweet, too fast. I rolled my eyes a few times, because there were many honey seeping conversations, but overall I enjoyed it.
Oh and the epilogue was so needed. I was super glad they found their HEA.
I enjoyed this one! I realised I missed Riley Hart's stories. I'm a big fan of her writing. Her characters come with a baggage. They seem flawed and so real.
While enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, here it wasn't what I expected. I would have wanted more. Especially more angst.
It was a pretty sweet story. Van's past was sad but he returned to Last Chance after 12 years and he wanted to apologize to the man who he hurt so bad when they were teens.
I loved Van's job. Their photo sessions were super hot and this book was extremely HOT, with A LOT of sex scenes.
Still, I think it got too sugary sweet, too fast. I rolled my eyes a few times, because there were many honey seeping conversations, but overall I enjoyed it.
Oh and the epilogue was so needed. I was super glad they found their HEA.
July 18, 2017
H-O-L-Y-S-H-I-T! This book deserves so much more than 5 stars! Riley Hart You've outdone yourself this time!
I love everything Riley writes, but this book took it to a completely different level of LOVE!! I cannot agree more with my GR friends, that this right here is her best work to date!!!
My heart broke for them both, so much shit they've been through, but can still come out on the other side with their heads held high. This book has a bit of it all, pain, jokes, confusion, cuteness, strength.
“That’s one of the things I like and respect the most about you.”
“That I don’t tell people I’m gay?”
“No. It sounds bad when you say it like that. Just the fact that you don’t need validation from anyone for anything. You are who you are and you’re strong in that, even if you’re standing alone the way you did as a child. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone.”
We can't forget the sex, it was soooo HOT. Like walking on the sun, HOOOOT!!!
“Open your mouth,” Shane told him and Van did. He grabbed the base of his cock before tracing Van’s lips. He felt the pre-come there, painting him like lipstick, before he pushed his dick inside. “Could we take a photograph like this?” Shane asked. “Set it up so I could look back on it and see how hot my prick looks between your lips?”
If I were to recommend a book to anyone, it would definitely be this one.. Straight to my top 10 of 2017
I love everything Riley writes, but this book took it to a completely different level of LOVE!! I cannot agree more with my GR friends, that this right here is her best work to date!!!
My heart broke for them both, so much shit they've been through, but can still come out on the other side with their heads held high. This book has a bit of it all, pain, jokes, confusion, cuteness, strength.
“That’s one of the things I like and respect the most about you.”“That I don’t tell people I’m gay?”
“No. It sounds bad when you say it like that. Just the fact that you don’t need validation from anyone for anything. You are who you are and you’re strong in that, even if you’re standing alone the way you did as a child. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone.”
We can't forget the sex, it was soooo HOT. Like walking on the sun, HOOOOT!!!
“Open your mouth,” Shane told him and Van did. He grabbed the base of his cock before tracing Van’s lips. He felt the pre-come there, painting him like lipstick, before he pushed his dick inside. “Could we take a photograph like this?” Shane asked. “Set it up so I could look back on it and see how hot my prick looks between your lips?”
If I were to recommend a book to anyone, it would definitely be this one.. Straight to my top 10 of 2017
August 6, 2017
dnf @46%. I've been struggling since 25% and it's only getting worse. I can't relate to any of the characters. I don't understand or like what they're thinking and doing. It's just not the book for me I guess. I'm rating it, even though it's a dnf, because I got almost halfway through and didn't really like it.
July 25, 2017
Wow.
This was one of the best, if not the best Riley Hart book I've read. Shane and Van had an amazing connection, that I felt throughout this novel, and there was just something about them together that I loved. Aside from amazing chemistry - between the sheets and out of them - they also understood each other so amazingly well, and they turned what was a bad relationship - when they were younger and Van bullied Shane - into one of the healthiest relationships out there.
Seriously, there's one point where Shane lets his fear get the best of him - and that felt both out of left field and not at the same time, because we could tell Shane was holding back from the start of their relationship, especially once Van goes back to LA (but they keep doing long distance) and looked for the first sign of something going wrong before breaking it off, but it also feels like "Wait, huh?" in the moment because he takes this one issue and blows it up enough to be the end of their relationship (for like two or three weeks, thank god it doesn't last long). And while it definitely isn't a good thing, what Shane finds out Van did, it wasn't enough to end their relationship. Something that needed to be talked about, for sure, which Shane did not allow to happen - but anyway, there is that one part, but for the most part these two communicated - so much so that Van knew right away, during the phone call, what Shane was trying to do, and they were only apart because Van knew that Shane had to work through his shit himself, not for Van and that not even Van loving him could "fix" those issues.
Just Van knowing that made me so happy, and of course Shane shows up pretty soon after and it's all good. Their separation was like the least angst-filled separation I've ever read, just because I knew Shane would come to his senses, I felt that even as he was breaking up with Van, and I knew they would work it out. Usually yes, I know that if they break up near the end, that they will get back together in books, more often than not, but usually I'm still like "oh shit oh shit oh shit, HOW is this going to be fixed?? Crap!" and I didn't feel that dread with these two. They got this ;)
I felt so sad for both Shane and Van, and I was happy at the same time that Shane didn't just excuse Van's behavior away, even though what he was going through was completely understandable (and heartbreaking :( ). Still, Van was a kid and he didn't handle it well, and he did wrong by Shane, and I'm glad he owns up that and he changes and he treats Shane so beautifully as an adult.
Most of the time in real life, a bully won't stop being a bully, or at the very least, they won't be remorseful - or they hide any remorse very well - and I have no sympathy for them. But if a former bully can change, can show how sorry and remorseful they are and actively be better, and show that they want to be a better person, then I love those stories, those characters are interesting. Doesn't excuse what they did in the past, but an understanding can come from them growing, being better, and it can be forgiven. Van did everything possible, while trying and not trying at all at the same time, to redeem himself - owning up to his past bullshit was a really good start and I loved him by the end of this.
Van and Shane just *happy sigh* made my heart melt. Also, the sex scenes in this are super steamy and hot and mhmm. The taking pictures of each other naked/during sex with each other doesn't hurt either ;) Like damnnn. HOT.
I loved these two together, I loved this story, I loved this book. Definitely a Riley Hart favorite of mine, and probably her best work, I think.
Definitely recommend <333
This was one of the best, if not the best Riley Hart book I've read. Shane and Van had an amazing connection, that I felt throughout this novel, and there was just something about them together that I loved. Aside from amazing chemistry - between the sheets and out of them - they also understood each other so amazingly well, and they turned what was a bad relationship - when they were younger and Van bullied Shane - into one of the healthiest relationships out there.
Seriously, there's one point where Shane lets his fear get the best of him - and that felt both out of left field and not at the same time, because we could tell Shane was holding back from the start of their relationship, especially once Van goes back to LA (but they keep doing long distance) and looked for the first sign of something going wrong before breaking it off, but it also feels like "Wait, huh?" in the moment because he takes this one issue and blows it up enough to be the end of their relationship (for like two or three weeks, thank god it doesn't last long). And while it definitely isn't a good thing, what Shane finds out Van did, it wasn't enough to end their relationship. Something that needed to be talked about, for sure, which Shane did not allow to happen - but anyway, there is that one part, but for the most part these two communicated - so much so that Van knew right away, during the phone call, what Shane was trying to do, and they were only apart because Van knew that Shane had to work through his shit himself, not for Van and that not even Van loving him could "fix" those issues.
Just Van knowing that made me so happy, and of course Shane shows up pretty soon after and it's all good. Their separation was like the least angst-filled separation I've ever read, just because I knew Shane would come to his senses, I felt that even as he was breaking up with Van, and I knew they would work it out. Usually yes, I know that if they break up near the end, that they will get back together in books, more often than not, but usually I'm still like "oh shit oh shit oh shit, HOW is this going to be fixed?? Crap!" and I didn't feel that dread with these two. They got this ;)
I felt so sad for both Shane and Van, and I was happy at the same time that Shane didn't just excuse Van's behavior away, even though what he was going through was completely understandable (and heartbreaking :( ). Still, Van was a kid and he didn't handle it well, and he did wrong by Shane, and I'm glad he owns up that and he changes and he treats Shane so beautifully as an adult.
Most of the time in real life, a bully won't stop being a bully, or at the very least, they won't be remorseful - or they hide any remorse very well - and I have no sympathy for them. But if a former bully can change, can show how sorry and remorseful they are and actively be better, and show that they want to be a better person, then I love those stories, those characters are interesting. Doesn't excuse what they did in the past, but an understanding can come from them growing, being better, and it can be forgiven. Van did everything possible, while trying and not trying at all at the same time, to redeem himself - owning up to his past bullshit was a really good start and I loved him by the end of this.
Van and Shane just *happy sigh* made my heart melt. Also, the sex scenes in this are super steamy and hot and mhmm. The taking pictures of each other naked/during sex with each other doesn't hurt either ;) Like damnnn. HOT.
I loved these two together, I loved this story, I loved this book. Definitely a Riley Hart favorite of mine, and probably her best work, I think.
Definitely recommend <333
June 28, 2021
that was… bland. barely any plot too, i even skimmed most of the smut *gasp* lol.
i think i might have a problem with contemporary bully romances in general though. especially the ones where we don’t even get much proper grovelling.
and yeah, OKAY, i know 12 YEARS passed since their high school days and literally everyone changes in that amount of time, but i still feel like shane forgave the person who constantly made his life hell in HS way too easily.
i just didn’t buy their connection either. they barely spent two weeks fucking and they’re already thinking about being in love??? give me a BREAK. i can’t stand this insta lovey crap.💀
the whole misunderstanding at the end just to have a lil plot twist was weak too. couldn’t roll my eyes far back enough honestly.
anyways……. i might just have a problem with riley hart’s writing too. for some reason i can never fully connect with any of the characters in this writer’s stories. i’ve read 5-6? books by her now and sadly i don’t think i’ve given any of her books more than a 3 star. the blurbs always sound intriguing, but the actual stories always seem to end up quite disappointing and just.. meh. ☹️
i think i might have a problem with contemporary bully romances in general though. especially the ones where we don’t even get much proper grovelling.
and yeah, OKAY, i know 12 YEARS passed since their high school days and literally everyone changes in that amount of time, but i still feel like shane forgave the person who constantly made his life hell in HS way too easily.
i just didn’t buy their connection either. they barely spent two weeks fucking and they’re already thinking about being in love??? give me a BREAK. i can’t stand this insta lovey crap.💀
the whole misunderstanding at the end just to have a lil plot twist was weak too. couldn’t roll my eyes far back enough honestly.
anyways……. i might just have a problem with riley hart’s writing too. for some reason i can never fully connect with any of the characters in this writer’s stories. i’ve read 5-6? books by her now and sadly i don’t think i’ve given any of her books more than a 3 star. the blurbs always sound intriguing, but the actual stories always seem to end up quite disappointing and just.. meh. ☹️
July 15, 2017
💓 4.5 Stars 💓
August 1, 2017
*3,5 stars*
The scenario is certainly intriguing, the MCs are likeable, but for me Depth of Field didn't quite fulfil the expectations it raised.
The blurb sounded very much like enemies-to-lovers, and it was that - for about two seconds. Then it developed into a 'normal' (and nice) love story between two like-minded men.
I was surprised how easily Shane forgave Van, how quickly the tension between the two men dissolved into thin air and how little they discussed their past.
I quite enjoyed reading this, but I somehow felt that something was missing somewhere, although I can't quite put my finger on what. All I know is that it was ok, but did not rip me off my seat.
The scenario is certainly intriguing, the MCs are likeable, but for me Depth of Field didn't quite fulfil the expectations it raised.
The blurb sounded very much like enemies-to-lovers, and it was that - for about two seconds. Then it developed into a 'normal' (and nice) love story between two like-minded men.
I was surprised how easily Shane forgave Van, how quickly the tension between the two men dissolved into thin air and how little they discussed their past.
I quite enjoyed reading this, but I somehow felt that something was missing somewhere, although I can't quite put my finger on what. All I know is that it was ok, but did not rip me off my seat.
July 7, 2017
I always love Riley's books in general but this one is simply gorgeous and just felt really...special. <3
Plus, that cover is my absolute favorite. Just stunning.
Plus, that cover is my absolute favorite. Just stunning.
August 1, 2021
Maybe 2.5. Unfortunately this is a miss for me, I still LOVE Riley Hart but this one is an older one and maybe I like her more recent work better? I'm not a fan of bully romance so I maybe shouldn't have picked this one up. There was grovelling but the forgiving happened too fast for me. I'm also not a fan of the narrative that bullies are secret gays and being abused (not sexually but physically beaten) which is why they harass others. Some victims of abuse may lash out onto others to hide the abuse but the people I know who were abused were more self-harming and withdrawn than tormenting others. I also feel that Van managed to cope with the abuse he suffered for 18 years too easily: he just left and was cured, I'm personally not really buying it. It had NO effect on his behaviour at all? I'm perplexe. (All this is not under spoiler because it is told fairly early on).
I did not really feel the deeper connection between the MCs, they had chemistry, fucked a lot but I did not really feel any deeper feelings. Others seem to so that's probably on me.
Shane's mother: .
Finally, the ending felt rushed . Not sure I would recommend this one, if you want to get into Hart's books, don't start there would be my advice.
I did not really feel the deeper connection between the MCs, they had chemistry, fucked a lot but I did not really feel any deeper feelings. Others seem to so that's probably on me.
Shane's mother: .
Finally, the ending felt rushed . Not sure I would recommend this one, if you want to get into Hart's books, don't start there would be my advice.
July 23, 2017
4 stars!
Another wonderful book by Riley Hart and a great beginning to her new series.
Welcome to "last Chance" a small town where everyone knows your name. Meet Shane and Maxwell aka Van. Two sexy and hot men who as kids where enemies with Van, having bullied Shane, through out their school years. After graduation Van leaves Last Chance with out looking back. Years later Van, has returned to settle his father's affairs after his death and hoping to amend his wrongs with Shane.
As usual miss Hart has the perfect pace for her stories and this one was no exception. The relationship between Shane/Van after being away from each other was perfect. Told from dual POV we know what Van was dealing with at home so I totally understood him and how guilty he felt for his treatment of Shane. Their first encounter was rocky but I was glad to see Shane accept Van's apologies and how Van didn't just do it words but with actions. He was really amazing, especially with Shane's Mom.
Seeing this guys start a new friendship that soon turned to an attraction and finally love, was beautiful. I loved how proud they were of their sexuality and they never hesitated in showing their love. This author has an amazing way of having the right amount of angst, laugher, sexiness and heart in all her books. Let me tell you the sexy times in this book were so hot and those pics they took so sensual.
"Depth of field" is another wonderful story of forgiveness, second chances and knowing the man you love is there not just sharing the good times but the bad times as well. ❤️
Another wonderful book by Riley Hart and a great beginning to her new series.
Welcome to "last Chance" a small town where everyone knows your name. Meet Shane and Maxwell aka Van. Two sexy and hot men who as kids where enemies with Van, having bullied Shane, through out their school years. After graduation Van leaves Last Chance with out looking back. Years later Van, has returned to settle his father's affairs after his death and hoping to amend his wrongs with Shane.
As usual miss Hart has the perfect pace for her stories and this one was no exception. The relationship between Shane/Van after being away from each other was perfect. Told from dual POV we know what Van was dealing with at home so I totally understood him and how guilty he felt for his treatment of Shane. Their first encounter was rocky but I was glad to see Shane accept Van's apologies and how Van didn't just do it words but with actions. He was really amazing, especially with Shane's Mom.
Seeing this guys start a new friendship that soon turned to an attraction and finally love, was beautiful. I loved how proud they were of their sexuality and they never hesitated in showing their love. This author has an amazing way of having the right amount of angst, laugher, sexiness and heart in all her books. Let me tell you the sexy times in this book were so hot and those pics they took so sensual.
"Depth of field" is another wonderful story of forgiveness, second chances and knowing the man you love is there not just sharing the good times but the bad times as well. ❤️
July 14, 2017
*4.5 stars*
LORDIE.... This cover ♡♡♡ And this book!!!
Loved the dirty talk and the photography together!! Hott AF
Right? Right?
And yaayyyyy next book is about Caleb. So curious what has become of him.
Go get writing, Riley!!
LORDIE.... This cover ♡♡♡ And this book!!!
Loved the dirty talk and the photography together!! Hott AF
“Open your mouth,” Shane told him and Van did. He grabbed the base of his cock before tracing Van’s lips. He felt the pre-come there, painting him like lipstick, before he pushed his dick inside. “Could we take a photograph like this?” Shane asked. “Set it up so I could look back on it and see how hot my prick looks between your lips?”
Right? Right?
And yaayyyyy next book is about Caleb. So curious what has become of him.
Go get writing, Riley!!
July 26, 2017
I’m so thrilled by this new book from Riley Hart…This author has been one of my favorite for quite a time but her last books didn’t work for me…until this one. And it pleases me a lot. Once again, I could immerse in a day-to-day development of a relationship with the view of how to make it work in the long-term, spiced with hot scenes and dirty talk.
Shane was bullied during his childhood in a small town : a scrawny kid, quite introvert, with a loving Mom hiding at home because of severe panic attacks and whispers of him being a “faggot”. But Shane grew up nicely as the years passed. The bullying settled down, he opened his own mechanic shop, has some friends and keeps taking care of his Mom. But all this is being put into perspective once again when Van, one of his bullies, comes back to town after a 12 years absence.
Van flew from his childhood’s town to escape his abusive father, cut ties with his past and build his life as a gay man and an artist. He’s coming back though to try to salvage his relationship with his mother and deal with his shame for bullying Shane.
Their encounters are stranded at first, no wonder, but as they talk, the bound between them changes from a painful one to a healing and passionate one.
Van doesn’t deny what happened and has a real desire to change for the best and be true to himself, while Shane once again proves how beautiful a human being he is despite all the bad cards he has been dealt with.
Add to that the explosive chemistry, the delicious dirty talk between Shane and Van, and the perfect HEA, and I’m again a satisfied fan.
Shane was bullied during his childhood in a small town : a scrawny kid, quite introvert, with a loving Mom hiding at home because of severe panic attacks and whispers of him being a “faggot”. But Shane grew up nicely as the years passed. The bullying settled down, he opened his own mechanic shop, has some friends and keeps taking care of his Mom. But all this is being put into perspective once again when Van, one of his bullies, comes back to town after a 12 years absence.
Van flew from his childhood’s town to escape his abusive father, cut ties with his past and build his life as a gay man and an artist. He’s coming back though to try to salvage his relationship with his mother and deal with his shame for bullying Shane.
Their encounters are stranded at first, no wonder, but as they talk, the bound between them changes from a painful one to a healing and passionate one.
Van doesn’t deny what happened and has a real desire to change for the best and be true to himself, while Shane once again proves how beautiful a human being he is despite all the bad cards he has been dealt with.
Add to that the explosive chemistry, the delicious dirty talk between Shane and Van, and the perfect HEA, and I’m again a satisfied fan.
September 25, 2018
Lo leo después del segundo porque la pareja aparece y me picó la curiosidad. Un enemies to lovers con una pareja que me ha gustado muchísimo, con química y un toque muy tierno también. Quizás lo que menos me ha terminado de convencer es el tema del bullying y la rapidez con la que un personaje perdona al otro, aunque bien es cierto que hay unas razones que facilitan ese perdón.
Aunque la historia es bonita y me han gustado los secundarios la trama de las madres llega un momento que se hace cansina, fundamentalmente la de Shane, se hace muy repetitivo.
Una pareja bonita.
Aunque la historia es bonita y me han gustado los secundarios la trama de las madres llega un momento que se hace cansina, fundamentalmente la de Shane, se hace muy repetitivo.
Una pareja bonita.
July 22, 2017
This was an extremely contrived bully/victim to lovers story. Once Van and Shane hooked up, their relationship became boring. I had to force myself to finish.
There was a certain level of bonding when the MCs shared their pain/grief during Van's amends process. Unfortunately, there wasn't a strong emotional attraction between the two. Shane was lonely and they both took advantage of the sex while Van was in town. The sex was distractingly hot, but the relationship development remained weak. I wasn't convinced that they emotionally completed each other.
There was a certain level of bonding when the MCs shared their pain/grief during Van's amends process. Unfortunately, there wasn't a strong emotional attraction between the two. Shane was lonely and they both took advantage of the sex while Van was in town. The sex was distractingly hot, but the relationship development remained weak. I wasn't convinced that they emotionally completed each other.
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May 16, 2018Price drop to $0.99 today, 5/16/18
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