Oz

Finding Home #1

by Lily Morton

What happens when temporary becomes forever?

Oz Gallagher does not do relationships well. Bored and jobless after another disastrous hook up, he decides to leave London for a temporary job in the wilds of Cornwall. Surely managing a stately home on a country estate will be easier than navigating the detritus of his relationships at home. Six months there will alleviate a bit of his wanderlust and then he can come back to London as footloose and fancy free as the day he left it.

However, when he gets there he finds a house in danger of crumbling to the ground and a man who is completely unlike anyone he’s ever met. An earl belonging to a family whose roots go back hundreds of years, Silas is the living embodiment of duty and sacrifice. Two things that Oz has never wanted. He's also warm and funny and he draws Oz to him like a magnet.

Oz banks on the fact that they're from two very different worlds to stop himself falling for Silas. But what will he do when he realises that these differences are actually part of the pull to one another? Will falling in love be enough to make him stop moving at last and realise that he's finally home?

From bestselling author, Lily Morton, comes a romantic comedy about two very different men and one very dilapidated house.

This is the first book in the Finding Home series but it can be read as a standalone.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Humor, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2018

About the author

Lily is a bestselling gay romance author.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven't had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

Her latest release is Confetti Hearts. It's the start of a snarky new series revolving around a wedding planning agency.

https://getbook.at/ConfettiHearts

You can keep up with Lily's latest releases and read the exclusive short stories '3 Dates' and ‘Playground Games’ by subscribing to her newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/SnarkSquad

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000...

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilymortonauthor

Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/LilyAuthor

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/lily-morton

Reviews

[☆ Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story made me laugh and laugh and laugh.

From the revenge that Oz took on his posh, cheating boyfriend, to the way that Oz squared off against the lazy builders, to facing off against Silas' arsehole of an ex, to the snark and banter between Oz and, ooooh, let me see, ummm, EVERYONE, well, all of it had me smiling from ear to ear.


Basically, after Oz kicked his pretentious ass of a boyfriend (who was also his boss, oopsie) to the curb, Oz's best friend showed him an ad in an up-scale magazine for an Estate Manager position in the English countryside.

And the job interview was *amazing* to read. Thinking he had no chance at actually landing the position working for a member of The Aristocracy, Oz said fuck it and let his freak flag fly, with hilarious results.

[Oz]


Then Oz actually landed the job, because the Earl's friend thought that Oz would be perfect for the position. And for the Earl himself.

I adored seeing Silas, the Earl of Ashworth, shatter every single snobby, preconceived notion that Oz had, one by one. I immediately liked Silas, but his loneliness was almost palpable.

[Silas]


The two were obviously a match made in some bizarre version of heaven, but they worked, and seeing their bond and trust grow was pretty damn cool to witness.

When I was little I had yearned for someone to protect me from my childhood, someone to stand for me when no one that I trusted would, when I was tired from sticking up for Henry and then later for Ivo.

I’d never have guessed that my knight in armor would come to me later in life when I’d almost forgotten that I needed one. He would be small and fierce and his weapon was the sharpest tongue this side of Ireland. But he was all mine and I, in turn, belonged to him.

But Oz saw himself as a bit of low-class, common trash caught on the sole of Silas's shoe, so a lot of the drama here revolved around Silas patiently convincing Oz that was the furthest thing from the truth. Oz was Silas' "one person".

The angst was kept to moderate levels, with the bad guy turning out to be a member of Silas' family, dead set on sending Oz hoofing it out of the estate and back to wherever, as long as it wasn't by Silas' side.



The steamy bits were fairly frequent and I do have to admit that on a couple of occasions, I skimmed past some of the sexy bits, because I felt a more abbreviated steamy scene might've fit better at that point in the story, allowing the feels more time center stage.



I loved seeing Henry and Ivo pulled into this story, too; although, I have to admit that I liked this story more than Henry's book, not that I can specifically tell you why. I'm weird like that.

I thoroughly enjoyed the epilogue from 5 years on was super sweet, but not sappily so, which helped fully cement the HEA.

Overall, I'd rate this one at around 4.5 stars and recommend it to those who have enjoyed Morton's Mixed Messages series, of which this is a new spinoff series.

** NOTE: Morton has a short, follow-up story about Silas' proposal gone wrong on her blog at:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q...

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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.

This book is also *FREE* with Kindle Unlimited membership.

See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)

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[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

I’d thought the moment when I fell in love would be dramatic and full of noise and energy. Instead, it’s in a quiet bedroom where a soft song plays(...)

Get ready for a wonderful romantic comedy in a beautiful setting with two truly adorable characters.Lily Morton gets better and better at creating characters that have great chemistry and this is no exception.From the moment they met,I adored Silas and Oz.If you want to read about two characters falling in love this is the book for you.Add into the mix this Author's ability to write great banter and you've got a winner here.

After a disastrous relationship Oz finds himself homeless and jobless.Used to life in the fast lane in London he has no idea what to expect when he gets a job as a site manager in a crumbling stately home on a country estate in Cornwall.The job is going to prove a lot more difficult than he thought,especially when temptation is put in his way in the form of the owner,Silas.

There is so much to love here,

-Oz is just about the perfect character for me.Sassy,quick witted.He may be small in stature he more than makes up for it,with his personality.Just a bit flamboyant with his skin tight jeans and love of eye liner and nail polish(I might have died a bit here!)-he refuses to conform for anyone...

-Silas might be an Earl but he's down to earth with such a wonderful heart and he gets a lot more than he expected when the tornado that is Oz crashes into his life.

-These two men were just too adorable together.Opposites attract in the most delicious way and,like I said earlier,you could really feel them falling in love-I actually got a bit teary reading this.

-The setting,in Cornwall,was so atmospheric.A place I've visited many times and the Author captured it perfectly here.

-And the Epilogue was one of the best I've read-just adorable.


Highly Recommended.

Review copy.

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the "Mixed Messages"  series, though the first book Rule Breaker is still my favorite. I loved the snark and banter in that one and Dylan is one of my all-time favorite characters. This book kind of reminded me of that one. I had just as much fun reading it ;)



Oz absolutely made this book for me. I fell hard for him the moment I met him... as did Silas   Silas is Henry's brother and so some of you already know him from "Risk Taker". Now I do believe that this spin-off series can be read on its own. That said, the books in the Mixed Messages series are so much fun...why would you ??



Oz has left his ex-boyfriend of six weeks, after finding him in a very compromising position... Since the man was also his boss and he recently moved in with him... Oz is now homeless and jobless.

So why not take a job as a house manager for an Earl ?? Sounds like an adventure

I had the best of times reading this book. Oz made me snort my drink more than once. It was a fun read but also a very sweet, romantic and even kinky read... Yes..I said kinky. Silas and Oz definitely knew how to get their freak on, and the dirty talk was delicious !!!

"I'm nearly there. Do it. I want your come all over me. Squeeze that hole for me" 



It gets even better, but I don't want to spoiler all the fun

For me, the start of this new series is a bit hit and I can't wait to see what's next. I am really hoping for Niall and Milo's book !!!

Highly recommended

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

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[Shile (Hazard's Version) semi-hiatus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's me not the book!

I will now go straight into the box of shame.



This book has so many rave reviews, so clearly there is something wrong with my sense of humor.

I am a Lily Morton fan but this book was missing something. I loved mixed messages book 1 and 2 and laughed my ass off. When it came to this one, the jokes fell flat.

I liked Oz and Silas, they are very likable characters but when it came to the romance part, i couldn't feel their connection/chemistry.

Anyhoo, don't mind me. It started out very good and i was enjoying, then somewhere in the middle of the book, everything went haywire.

[Shin Mon Thway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread: 19th June 2020

I loved the book but I loved audio even better! 😍



Review: Edited version

I read this book when it first came out and it was my very first Lily Morton. Needless to say, I was hooked from then. Being someone who studied in a British university, I have to say, it was such a great pleasure to relive all these quirky very English expletives. 😂 I mean some of those words, I haven’t heard them since lar I met one of my Irish professors who has a very short temper and is very sassy. Loved this book to the moon and back. It has a lovely amount of sass, a generous amount of wit and clever snark, and an epic love story between two very unlikely MCs. 🥰 Oz is truly one of the fascinating and intriguing characters I have ever read. He’s simply too good to this mere mortal world. I also enjoyed Silas and his bravery and willingness to go to any length for his true love. They are a match made in Heaven. Thoroughly enjoyed it. And I hope I get to read more of them in the next books in the series. Joel Leslie also did a fantastic job narrating this story. I mean I loved it back then when I read it but now I love it even more because of his fantastic performance. He just gets that fine line between sassy and not obnoxious every time. A true master of performer and I always enjoy immensely when he narrates for miss Lily Morton. And I’m sure this is just the beginning of a loving relationship between Miss Morton and I. 😁 Loved it! 🥰


5 my white knight is a sassy pika stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️





Audio rating

Story - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




Disclaimer: An audio copy of this book was provided by the author via LesCourt services for an honest and unbiased review.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5~

There are numerous glowing reviews for this book, so I'm not sure what to say that hasn't been said already. Oz is a win: warm, sexy, funny, tender, with no big misunderstanding and no undue drama.

Both MCs (who take turns narrating the story) are endearing and complex.

I loved the secondary characters (except Silas's horrible mother, of course) and was thrilled to revisit with Henry and Ivo from Risk Taker (Silas is Henry's brother).

The plot carries on as the MCs meet (it's not an auspicious beginning: Oz shoves Silas in the closet. Literally.), fall in lust then love (or maybe it's the other way round), visit Oz's fierce mum, and get down and dirty in the shower (and the bed and against a tree).

Oh, there's also a mean game of naked British bowling (which involves grass, drinking, and stripping; I feel like that's how this game should always be played).

The chemistry between Oz and Silas is a like a live wire, and the epilogue is guaranteed to melt even the iciest of hearts.

I hope Milo and Niall get a story!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read April 2021
It's no longer my favorite Lily Morton but I still really like it.

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4.25 stars

This was such a fun book! Now I’m normally not a big fan of contemporaries without hurt/comfort, but this was a real winner for me.

What made this book such a joy to read was how likable Oz and Silas both were. Oz was just amazing.

“You okay?” he asks, kneeling and looking up at me like the sort of wet dream I’ve never been lucky enough to have.
I swallow hard. “Peachy. This position is like most Saturdays for me.” I pause before saying quickly, “Minus the sheep, obviously. I like animals, but I don’t love animals if you know what I mean.”
Silence lengthens and I mentally close my eyes and sigh. Wow, Oz. A fit handsome man at your feet and you’re talking casually about bestiality. I’m surprised he’s not proposing already.

And Silas was so sweet and just so perfect for Oz.

I freeze when Silas jumps up, the scraping of his chair sounding loud in the room.
“Let me get you a cup of tea,” he says, the words coming out so fast that they’re almost jumbled.
I stare at him open-mouthed. “Sorry?”
“A cup of tea. Erm, I mean you need tea. I’ll get you a cup.”
Milo looks up from his toast, his eyes practically crossing, and Niall laughs and doesn’t even try to cover it up. Silas directs a killing glare at him and moves over to stand next to me.
“Did you …?” He stops and clears his throat. “Did you sleep well?”
“What is happening right now?” I ask faintly, and Niall laughs loudly.
“This is Silas going a courting. It’s like watching a Jane Austen film. So slow.” He pretends to mop his eyes. “My boy’s all growed up.”

There’s no angst in this, but I was glad there was a minor issue that stopped these two from getting together as soon as they met, and that made for some awesome UST.

Oz had a bad experience with his last relationship where he got involved with his boss. And Silas started a relationship with the last house manager that ended not only bad for him, but for the house as well. Both are determined not to make that same mistake again, so while they do acknowledge the attraction, they make it clear nothing can happen between them. But of course that resolve doesn’t last. ;)

Such a fun and sweet story.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening #AUDIOBOOKADDICT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio 5 Stars
Story 3.5 Stars

I mostly enjoyed the story, but it was too easy and too perfect. I prefer Lily Morton's more angsty stories.

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Morton is the Queen of Snark, no-one manages to inject just that right shade of sarcasm and humour into the biting wit which is the hallmark of her characters and in Oz Gallagher she has outdone herself.

I loved Dylan and Gabe, fell for Jude and Asa, adored Henry and Ivo, but Silas and Oz have claimed my heart as easily as the Cornish landscape owns the narrative of this superb romance.

There is such skill in making a book's setting be almost a character in its own right and having travelled some of the same lanes and visited some of the same places as this book, I can honestly say Lily has perfected it.

While I may not have visited the exact Chi an Mor of Silas and Oz's romance, I know it exists at the end of some dusty, overgrown narrow lane, with sheep bleating in the adjoining fields and off in the distance, the crashing waves performing a constant backdrop to the sounds of laughter.

This book is a thing of gloriously funny, slow burning attraction, of ridiculously sexy encounters, of mysterious smells of pipe smoke and leather, of ginormous dogs and meddlesome friends and it's awesome.

Now, Niall and Milo next yes please and thank you :)

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Blethering uncontrollably is all my own work.

[.Lili. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good lord, there was so much to love about Oz by Lily Morton. In this first installment of the Finding Home series, we finally get Silas' HEA. We first met him Risk Taker; he's Henry's brother. Lily Morton has paired him with a sassy mouthed Irishman named Oz, who's hired to namage Silas' estate.

What's not to love Some highlights:

-Silas. Big, hairy, kind, patient, dirty mouthed Silas. I. Love. Everything. About. Him.

-Oz. Who doesn't love a funny, snarky, loyal friend? He was such a joy to read.

-Dual POVs

-Although we still get Lily Morton's signature snarky banter the vibe of the book was gentler overall. It wasn't as angsty as her previous books.

-No drawn out drama. Of course, there was a dark moment as in all romances, but it was resolved fairly quick.

-An amazing cast of secondary characters- that I can't wait to read more of.

-Chemistry was smokin'! I wasn't expecting Silas to be a bit of dirty talker, that was a pleasant surprise.

-And the end was everything the epilogue whore in me wanted and more!

No negatives to report from me. Go 1-click, friends!

5 Stars.

[Snjez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

There are things I really liked about this book. The writing was great, it was funny and the relationship between Oz and Silas was really sweet.

However, I do feel the story was too light and a bit unrealistic. I don't necessarily need drama and angst, but I wish there was more depth to it. It just didn't grab me the way I expected.

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Loved every minute. Oz might be one of my favorite characters ever. I'm thrilled this is going to be a series.

Highly recommended!

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funniest thing I've read in a loooong time!!!!

Tears!!!! I can't count the number of times I had years running down my face from laughing so hard!!

Oz has to be one of the funniest and snarkiest characters in a contemporary romance ever! He was so delightful and cheeky and irreverent! Pairing him up with the seemingly proper Lord was delicious and witty.

Silas is an Earl who has to find a way to bring in income to save his family home and estate. Oz is the one he's hired to take over as house manager. How he got his job--his interview--is priceless! The reason why he's interviewing in the first place (dating his boss) is also a scene to remember.

Gods, there are other reviews that are much better than this (see Todd’s AMAZING review). I'll just tell you that this book is RIDICULOUSLY HILARIOUS as well as SEXY....just see Silas get his dirty talk on...that Earl sure has a mouth on him!!

Just, read this. Honestly. You need this laughter in your life. You need Oz in your life!! One word of caution: reading this in public may cause others to stare at you as you chuckle and snort your way through the wonder that is Oz!

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Pretty much devoured it in one sitting.

Banter is my jam. Combine that with no ridiculous angst and some scorching sex and I’m one happy girl!

Lily Morton is a definite favorite author for me!

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gush, gush, gush.

Love, love, love.

This book was perfect!

Lily Morton is synonymous with FIVE ★'s in my world.



Oh my God! Really! I loved the Mixed Messages Series but really, I think this new series has the potential to outshine it. This was just everything. It was so sweet and so funny. It was so very hot and so very romantic.

Henry and Ivo!

I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT!

I never wanted it to end.

I can’t freaking wait for Niall and Milo. CAN’T FREAKING WAIT!

My "I LOVED IT SO MUCH" reviews are always sort of ridiculous but for sure fun!

Oh, oh, the scene missing from the end? Yes, yes, YES!! Go find that and read it immediately!

[Dia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars

My first book in 2019 and I loved it! I really enjoy this author's writing style. I highlighted a lot!
Oz was amazing, super funny and smart! His attitude was glorious!
Silas was also a great character. I loved him! One of the best boyfriends!
I had a great time reading this and I am only sorry we didn't get more angst. This book was extremely sweet and HOT, unexpectedly hot I might add. Slow burning and sweeter than sugar! Great start of my reading challenge.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The streak continues! Another exceptional story from Morton. We branch out from the Mixed Messages series and start anew with Finding Home but luckily, she flips things around and brings secondary characters with her. Silas is Henry’s brother and we’ve been graced with his face before. I was thrilled that he was given his own time to shine and fell even deeper in love with him. I also enjoyed having Henry and Ivo pop back in. But most of all, I adored Oz. He quickly won me over and I couldn’t get enough of him. Without a doubt, Lily Morton has her formula for success down pat; her heartwarming characters, sheet-sizzling passion, bright humor, and crisp writing prove to be a winning combination. If she writes it, I will buy it. And if you don’t want to miss out, you should too!

What's to like: Loads. As I mentioned, Lily’s style is fun and engaging. There is never any lull or drag. I wasn’t bored or irritated. I sailed through their story with a light heart and a smile on my face. I’ve come to expect lively men with a bit of troublemaking mirth surrounding them in Lily’s stories. Oz is feisty and fierce. Silas is gentle and gracious. One may not think they are a good fit at first sight, but they would be wrong. *ahem* Do you hear me Oz? Anyways, so yes, they come from different paths. Silas is one step away from a dangerous slope of losing his estate. His previous house manager deserted him. Things are…a disaster. Oz isn’t afraid of a challenge. He courageously grabs the reigns and starts whipping things into shape. He does fear Silas though. Not the man but the possibilities of losing his heart while saving Chi an Mor.

What's to love: Oz is searching for…something. So is Silas. When they discover their ‘kind of perfect‘ is the same, there’s no going back. I loved the Cornwell setting. I loved how they initially attempted to fight their fall. I loved how Oz zipped around and worked his magic with the cluster he was left to deal with. I loved how they tried to take things slow. I loved their dogs. I loved their friends. I loved how Silas defended and celebrated his relationship with Oz. I loved Oz’s mother. I most certainly did NOT love Silas’ mother. I loved how Silas had a house that wasn’t a home…until Oz. I could go on and on but let’s just say…I loved it all.

Beware of: Snark. Cheating ex’s. Pervy ghosts. And an epilogue that will tickle you pink.

This book is for: If you are looking for a vivid and vivacious story of two unlikely men finding their perfect match, this is it.

Book UNfunk

[Marci]

gotta call it quits at 40%. i thought the first 22% was funny and enjoyable but im just no longer enjoying this and am so bored. found it hard to connect with either MC as well.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah I loved this, it was like a breath of fresh air. Two fantastic characters, no unnecessary drama-lama (oven though we got a peek at the evil parent that Silas took no crap from), and a really sweet build into a gorgeous romance.

Oz is .... yeah totally unique and such a little spitfire for things he believes in. And Silas ... be still my beating heart, he had me total swoon mode so many times.

Why the hell I waited so long to read this I have no clue!

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread in August 2019.

I needed smiles and laughs and feels and this came to mind. Perfect!
This is one of the ultimately romantic books. Silas is just ….ahhhhhh (where the heck are all the Silases in this world hiding?) and Oz is … brilliantly drawn, in his vulnerable, snarky ways. Very very gratifying. And sigh-worthy!
One I'd definitely recommend, particularly if you need some balm for the soul!

Original review

I smiled, I chuckled, I laughed out loud.
Stellar banter, snarky humour and two incredible likeable MCs ... what more can you ask for!
This is romantic comedy at its best!

I admit it took me two ticks to piece together who Silas is (the brother of our Henry from 'Risk Taker'). But it wouldn't have mattered. This book can be read as a standalone, you don't have to know Henry and Ivo, although they are very well worth it! As are all the other books in that series, btw!

Speaking of Silas ... a dreamy smile might have never left my face throughout the book. I mean ... he is the epitome of tall, dark and hairy (which may or may not makes my heart beat that little bit faster...) And he is kind and loving and a vet. <3

I loved Silas (very much XD) but I adored Oz. So much.
He is flamboyant, loyal, 'prickly' and 'fierce' and very very very careful with his heart. Trusting someone completely is not something he throws away like Kleenex tissues! Apart from that he is absolutely hilarious. And straight to the point.

Once again Lily Morton has created two very lovable MCs, and once again she has written a romance I can easily swoon about. Hidden smiles and feelings, attraction galore, some old-fashioned 'gallantry'and all the little insecurities on both sides made me sigh, smile and ahhh in equal measures! And dare I say the heat between them was hot. Boiling hot!

And not to forget the laughs! Silas trying to teach Oz to drive is one of the funniest moments I've read in a book.
Before you ask - there isn't a lot of angst in here. This is pure, sheer unadulterated pleasure!

Highly recommended!

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by Lily Morton and I found it quite entertaining! It was funny, light-hearted and very sweet. I don't regularly read this type of books but this one was very engaging. I loved all of the characters - they were so singular and quirky. They made me laugh out loud many times! And British words and setting were the icing on the cake. The good vibes I got from Oz and Silas made me feel warm and fuzzy. I will definitely consider reading more of her works when the right mood strikes again. I highly recommend it!

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have say that Oz is one of those characters that will stay with you for all time. He is absolutely hilarious, beautiful and warm. He is just perfect. I love his quick witt and sarcastic mouth. You need to read just to meet Oz. He finds love, of course in the form of a hunky countryman. True love never runs smooth and there are lots of ups and down throughout the book.

I would definitely recommend any of Lily's books, her writing is beautiful with likeable characters and interesting storylines.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very satisfying read. Not as much angst as previous Morton books, and the "big bad" was a bit ridiculous. Otherwise, loved the banter and love this author.

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely perfect to reread. Light and funny, a wonderful distraction 🥰

I love Oz. He is slightly insecure but so very perfect.

... not many people want to keep the real me. I’m too abrasive, too forceful, too flippant. You name it, I’m too much of it. But this kind, clever man wants my friendship, and looking at the vast gulf between the two of us, maybe I should have this rather than trying for more, which would probably be ridiculous anyway. Why would he settle for me of all people, when he could have anyone? Someone clever and wealthy.

He is greatly underestimated all the times, but buggers, when he opens his mouth … lmao … absolutely delicious.

He watches while I grab the lever and pull the seat forward.
“You can go up and down too,” he mutters.
I turn to wink at him. “I know I can. It’s one of my specialities.”

And for Silas, he knows what gem Oz is.

“Most of what made it brilliant was because it was you. You make me hard when you smile at me, and when you get fierce I could drill stone with my cock. However, that’s all tied up in you. I asked you on a date because I’m fascinated with you. You make me laugh, and there’s something so vital and alive about you. So, the blow job was just icing. The real sweet stuff is being with you, talking together and making you laugh. If you never blew me again I would still want to be with you.”

The plot is relatively simple but never tiresome, the center is their relationship, which fortunately also gets by with little drama. A nice story to relax. I will certainly re-read the book when my brain is too full of unimportant things and I desperately need a breather.

[D.L. Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful BR with my girl Cassandra.

My favorite thing about Chi an Mor is that Silas can’t bear to let his decaying staff go. Simply because they were kind to him and his brother when they were children. From the cook who can’t cook and the gardener with a bad back.

Don’t even get me started on Silas’ pets that include a sheep named after an Aussie pop star and dogs named after GB’s prime minister and a hairy alien from Star Wars.

Simply put, Lord Ashworth, I apologize that’s his father, Silas is too cute words.

And then there’s Oz with as much sense as a flea and a mouth that won’t quit. Every time he sticks his foot in his mouth I smile like there’s no tomorrow.

So, you can imagine this pair together is ridiculous in the best possible way.

Silas takes Oz on the best dates. I especially loved The Minack Theatre. In my city they do Shakespeare in the Park and it reminded me of lovely memories.

Meeting their mothers couldn’t have been more night and day. One felt like family, the other complete strangers. Goes to show money can’t buy happiness.

Everything fell into place so beautifully. This was everything I’ve come to love in Lily’s books. Heavy on the sarcasm, wit and charm and light on the angst and misunderstandings. These boys will live in my heart for a long time to come.

[Sahitya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always exciting to find that a favorite author has a new book out and you weren't even expecting it. That's what happened to me with Oz, because I just happened to stumble upon it and then couldn't wait to start reading immediately. In all my enthusiasm, I didn't even realise that this is Silas's story, who is Henry's brother from Risk Taker and that's just more icing on the cake.

Oz is such a delightful character to read about that I fell in love with him instantly. He is sassy and flamboyant and very very sarcastic, and his takedowns of anyone who behaves wrongly are truly epic. Despite his working class, single parent upbringing, and losing out on many opportunities in his desired field due to his not being from the upper class, he is very proud of his accomplishments and when he puts his mind to a job, he is dedicated and gives it his full. However, he believes no upper class guy can ever love him due to his background and that's why resists his feelings for Silas for a long time.

Silas may have the title Earl of Ashworth, but he is a vet who loves his animals, works all hours and is always ready to help anyone in the community - he is truly the salt of the earth. He is also very loyal and compassionate - may be even too much which leads to quite hilarious situations. Despite growing up with an abusive father and a snobbish uncaring mother, he adores Henry and truly loves his home, and wants to make sure his family legacy is not lost. 

Silas and Oz may seem very opposite on paper but they are just perfect for each other. Oz comes to love the warm and decent human that is Silas and the quiet Cornish coast starts feeling like home, whereas Silas loves Oz for bringing light to his life and treating him like a normal person and not the aristocracy. Their banter from the first conversation is to die for and as the book went on, I only kept craving for more and more. They may not express their feelings to each other, but the love is palpable through the pages and there are absolutely no pretenses.

I was definitely hoping for some cameos and was so happy when Henry and Ivo showed up. They instantly approve of Oz, which I knew was going to happen and I'm so happy that they and the infamous "coat room" play a pivotal role in cementing Silas and Oz's relationship. I also kept imagining Gabe and Oz having a conversation and if that ever happens, I just know it would be heights of sarcasm and laughter.

Niall, the estate manager is a true friend and I admire his talent in choosing Oz for the job after that disaster of an interview. His accidental matchmaking skills are definitely on point.Milo comes off as very shy and flustered at the beginning and I thought he might be too pretentious to be Oz's mentee, but their friendship is such fun. Milo really comes into his own through the course of the book and I was waiting for the scenes where he shows his own sassy side. I'm pretty sure the next book is going to be Niall and Milo's story and it can't come soon enough.

And how can I forget the most important characters of the book.. the animals - Kylie the sheep, Boris Johnson the blonde golden retriever and the huge Italian Spinone Chewwy. He is probably the grumpiest and the laziest dog ever but is totally enamored with Oz and follows him around everywhere. Chewwy is definitely the star of the show here and I loved him as much as our couple.

What more can I say about Lily Morton's writing that I haven't already in my three previous gushing reviews. She writes the most fun, lovable characters and I personally haven't encountered another author who can top Lily in witty banter. I highlighted soooooo many conversations in this book and if I ever reread (which I know I will), I'll probably be annotating more, because every conversation is fun and memorable. However, I do implore you not to read any of her books in public or when there are people around - you definitely need the freedom to laugh uncontrollably without feeling embarrassed or scaring anyone else 😁😁😁

The one thing I found very different in this book was the setting. Mixed Messages series is completely set in London but here, the Cornish coast and Ashworth House itself become like a character. The house, the gardens, the beach, the coast side amphitheatre that Silas takes Oz on a date to - they are all described so beautifully that I couldn't help but fall deeply in love. I've always wanted to visit London but now, I certainly want to explore more of the coast and the countryside.

I'll just end by saying go read this book. It works well as a standalone, but I highly recommend the Mixed Messages series too. If you like awesome relationship dynamics, lots of humor and excellent banter, you can't go wrong with this one. It's also equal parts sweet and sexy and utter joy to read.

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous British tale of love in an unusual setting !

A simply delightful story in Cornwall! Wild spirited Irishman, Oz, lives in London. His degree in art history and his fiery personality gets him a job on an Earl’s failing estate property.
Lord Silas will be needing someone to refurbish his home. Oz and Silas hit it off quite humorously, and Oz engages everyone with his brash wit. As the two men move along, they flirt, converse, and begin to feel emotions neither man knows how to deal with. Besides, it’s temporary work !

When their passions flare we see the hot sex explode on the pages. Marvelous descriptions, lovely “first love” feelings, playful, snarky banter, wonderful characters all around.
I liked light and funny Oz, with eyeliner and nail polish, who is smaller and a bit younger than big, muscled, hairy and handsome Silas. Silas had horrible parents, and Oz has a lively, loving Mum.
Well written and a delight to read, with drama and funny scenarios.
Enjoy !

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[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really LOVE this author.
Her characters are so funny and adorable.
The banter here is as good and entertaining as all her previous books.

So. This is a spin-off from the 'Mixed Message' series.
Silas is Henry's brother. He's an Earl. He lives in Cornwall, trying to restore his house/castle...
He slept with his previous house manager and it didn't end up so well.. For the house AND him.

And Oz... Has a habit to sleep with his boss... Try hard to stop this habit as it hasn't bring any good for him... Never really found anyone that thought he was worth keeping...
Find an add to work in Cornwall... And then think.. 'Huh, Why not?'

The interview was... HILARIOUS! I loved it.

I loved everything about this book.
Again. Lily Morton's humor totally does it for me.

The chemistry between Silas and Oz was amazing. They take their time. They banter and they talk and they fall in love... It was beautiful...

I think the next one is Niall and Milo and I will waiting for it!!!!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book - a perfect bend of sass, humor and love. Silas was the warm hearted Earl trying to change attitudes from the past, Oz was the snarky, sassy organizer who just couldn’t find his place in space. As Oz moves from London to oversee the restoration process in Cornwall he realizes a few things .... life, love, peace & joy. This really was a feel good story, no angst just happiness... loved it❤️

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this. A total gem of a writer and I thoroughly enjoyed the start to this new series. Magic read.

Reread November 2021