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High Rise #1
Jeremiah
Jeremiah Stewart’s sexuality is no one’s business. Not that he’s hiding it. When—if—he finds the right one, he’ll absolutely introduce him to Mom. But a late-night brush with a sexy stranger in too much lip gloss has him rethinking nearly everything…
To Collin Galloway, direction is a four-letter word. Sure, he hates his job, he hates living with his parents and he really hates watching everyone move on without him. But he doesn’t know what he wants to do, long-term, and he won’t figure it out by thirsting over Jeremiah, the superhot, superintense paramedic who is suddenly everywhere Collin looks.
When Jeremiah’s faced with losing all he’s worked so hard to build, he reluctantly accepts Collin’s help. They’re both determined to stay professional…which works about as well as either would imagine. But Collin only does closets with clothes, and Jeremiah has to decide if he’s finally found the one worth bringing home to Mom.
This book is approximately 82,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
To Collin Galloway, direction is a four-letter word. Sure, he hates his job, he hates living with his parents and he really hates watching everyone move on without him. But he doesn’t know what he wants to do, long-term, and he won’t figure it out by thirsting over Jeremiah, the superhot, superintense paramedic who is suddenly everywhere Collin looks.
When Jeremiah’s faced with losing all he’s worked so hard to build, he reluctantly accepts Collin’s help. They’re both determined to stay professional…which works about as well as either would imagine. But Collin only does closets with clothes, and Jeremiah has to decide if he’s finally found the one worth bringing home to Mom.
This book is approximately 82,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
239 pages, ebook
First published January 6, 2020
22 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 29, 2019
Jeremiah grew on me over time, and though I struggled with the first 35% or so, I started to really enjoy it the farther along I read and the more I got to know these characters.
I've never read a book from Jayce Ellis before, and I found her writing style to be a bit clunky at first. Lots of telling and internal monologues, and lots of similes and metaphors that made passages feel a bit wordy and awkward. The plot is pretty slow, so I was struggling to get into the story for some time. However, I really wanted to give this book an honest shot, so I kept pushing on.
The characters really grew on me, especially the paramedic Jeremiah, who was a refreshing change of pace from the MCs we see time and time again in M/M. I really liked him and got a feel for him right away, even if I had a few issues with how his family interacted with him. Collin was also a good characters, but I feel like I was missing some information about his previous relationship that went awry and some more details about his family life. I felt like that could have been fleshed out even more.
The romance grew nicely over time, and I liked how the two men leaned on each other. Again, I found the plot to be a bit draggy, but I also enjoyed that it was a character-focused storyline. My one main issue was that I felt like Jeremiah and Collin were mistreated by friends and family, especially towards the end, and we got very little in the way of apologies. It made me angry for them, and I wanted more of a resolution of some of the issues that cropped up there.
Overall, a wonderful breath of diversity in the world of M/M, and a sweet romance that grew on me. I'm excited to see where else this author will take this series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I've never read a book from Jayce Ellis before, and I found her writing style to be a bit clunky at first. Lots of telling and internal monologues, and lots of similes and metaphors that made passages feel a bit wordy and awkward. The plot is pretty slow, so I was struggling to get into the story for some time. However, I really wanted to give this book an honest shot, so I kept pushing on.
The characters really grew on me, especially the paramedic Jeremiah, who was a refreshing change of pace from the MCs we see time and time again in M/M. I really liked him and got a feel for him right away, even if I had a few issues with how his family interacted with him. Collin was also a good characters, but I feel like I was missing some information about his previous relationship that went awry and some more details about his family life. I felt like that could have been fleshed out even more.
The romance grew nicely over time, and I liked how the two men leaned on each other. Again, I found the plot to be a bit draggy, but I also enjoyed that it was a character-focused storyline. My one main issue was that I felt like Jeremiah and Collin were mistreated by friends and family, especially towards the end, and we got very little in the way of apologies. It made me angry for them, and I wanted more of a resolution of some of the issues that cropped up there.
Overall, a wonderful breath of diversity in the world of M/M, and a sweet romance that grew on me. I'm excited to see where else this author will take this series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
September 5, 2021
Audio - 4.5 Stars
Story - 4 Stars
As far as the relationship between the MCs, it was slow going and at times frustrating. But when they finally got together, they made me swoon.
I hope more of the author's books go to audio. I loved the writing. It was so authentic. It spoke of culture. It spoke of diversity.
Story - 4 Stars
As far as the relationship between the MCs, it was slow going and at times frustrating. But when they finally got together, they made me swoon.
I hope more of the author's books go to audio. I loved the writing. It was so authentic. It spoke of culture. It spoke of diversity.
September 18, 2020
4.25
I really enjoyed this one. There is something very familiar about the writing and I found myself making a connection from the very beginning. I wanna say this is what you feel when you read something written by someone black because there is connections to be made in both the flow and syntax of the words. Jayce Ellis is an author to watch out for because there’s something special in her words.
March 1, 2020
Full review tomorrow when I'm at the laptop.
I am so glad I persisted with this book because the first quarter of it was a bit of slog through as nothing much really goes on and there's a lot of exposition to set the scene.
However, it really is a fabulous book once it kicks in and I absolutely loved all the dynamics at play in the various different relationships and friends' groups that it explores.
Jeremiah is a complex character and I really felt for him with the weight of his family's expectations pressing on his decisions. He's a good guy, and I bristled at how some of his family behaved towards him. He's not the typical paramedic all action hero type you can get in opposites' attract type stories.
He had layers that I really enjoyed discovering the more the book went on, his relationship with his best friend Chucky and his girlfriend Ronnie added more dimension to the narrative.
Collin was a sweetie, completely mired in the rut of his life, not knowing what he wants to do and hanging onto his two best friends because they're safe and familiar.
When he meets Jeremiah there's sparks and a dancing around which eventually plays off into a very satisfying romance.
I'd certainly read more in this series and it's great to read more interracial romance with people of colour in focus.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
I am so glad I persisted with this book because the first quarter of it was a bit of slog through as nothing much really goes on and there's a lot of exposition to set the scene.
However, it really is a fabulous book once it kicks in and I absolutely loved all the dynamics at play in the various different relationships and friends' groups that it explores.
Jeremiah is a complex character and I really felt for him with the weight of his family's expectations pressing on his decisions. He's a good guy, and I bristled at how some of his family behaved towards him. He's not the typical paramedic all action hero type you can get in opposites' attract type stories.
He had layers that I really enjoyed discovering the more the book went on, his relationship with his best friend Chucky and his girlfriend Ronnie added more dimension to the narrative.
Collin was a sweetie, completely mired in the rut of his life, not knowing what he wants to do and hanging onto his two best friends because they're safe and familiar.
When he meets Jeremiah there's sparks and a dancing around which eventually plays off into a very satisfying romance.
I'd certainly read more in this series and it's great to read more interracial romance with people of colour in focus.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
June 18, 2020
Jayce Ellis’s Jeremiah was one helluva wonderful, upbeat, and enlightening read. Jeremiah himself is intense, sexy, and one of the most authentic Black male characters I’ve encountered in far too long. (Just another reason I plan to take active steps to read words written by BIPOC authors, not just about BIPOC characters.) It was so refreshing to see a genuine depiction of a Black man without any white-washing (purposeful or not) and void of any stereotypes (again, purposeful or not). Instead, Jeremiah is a relatable, lovable character who respects and loves his family and friends, has a strong work ethic and moral value system, and knows how to truly be there for a person, no matter how that might look from moment to moment.
The running theme of Jeremiah giving Collin “what [he] need[s]” was so heart-wrenchingly beautiful that it brought a literal happy sigh to my lips every time one of those moments came up. He is this perfect combination of sweet, sexy, and in complete control that’ll just leave you breathless. I definitely felt some subtle Dominant/submissive vibes between Jer-Bear (frickin’ adorable nickname from his fam that I just can’t even with) and Collin. It was handled so beautifully. Jeremiah never pushed Collin’s boundaries, and he was always so careful to be sure Collin was taken care of and content.
I honestly can’t recommend this book enough. To anyone who loves words, but especially anyone who loves love. Because Jeremiah and Collin and their journey toward love gave me all the happiest of sighs. Plus, there is some seriously positive LGBTQ+ rep in this book. Something I adore. Yes, there’s some homophobia that results in a bit of violence and some pretty hurtful and widespread ramifications, but it’s handled respectfully and realistically by the author. It isn’t a plot device wedged into the story without purpose, and it doesn’t dictate how the story itself flows. None of the LGBTQ+ characters allow their gender or sexuality to change who they are or how they live their lives—beyond a few small and specific points I won’t mention for spoiler reasons—but even those are character rather than plot driven, so it feels organic and anything but “in your face.” Everything is addressed with care and I commend Ms. Ellis for the clear effort she put into making this story heartfelt and genuine.
The running theme of Jeremiah giving Collin “what [he] need[s]” was so heart-wrenchingly beautiful that it brought a literal happy sigh to my lips every time one of those moments came up. He is this perfect combination of sweet, sexy, and in complete control that’ll just leave you breathless. I definitely felt some subtle Dominant/submissive vibes between Jer-Bear (frickin’ adorable nickname from his fam that I just can’t even with) and Collin. It was handled so beautifully. Jeremiah never pushed Collin’s boundaries, and he was always so careful to be sure Collin was taken care of and content.
I honestly can’t recommend this book enough. To anyone who loves words, but especially anyone who loves love. Because Jeremiah and Collin and their journey toward love gave me all the happiest of sighs. Plus, there is some seriously positive LGBTQ+ rep in this book. Something I adore. Yes, there’s some homophobia that results in a bit of violence and some pretty hurtful and widespread ramifications, but it’s handled respectfully and realistically by the author. It isn’t a plot device wedged into the story without purpose, and it doesn’t dictate how the story itself flows. None of the LGBTQ+ characters allow their gender or sexuality to change who they are or how they live their lives—beyond a few small and specific points I won’t mention for spoiler reasons—but even those are character rather than plot driven, so it feels organic and anything but “in your face.” Everything is addressed with care and I commend Ms. Ellis for the clear effort she put into making this story heartfelt and genuine.
January 12, 2023
Oh my heart...
Ok look, I have not read anything by this writer before but I saw this cover and was like whoa , so here we are. I absolutely loved this one.
In here we have Jeremiah, a paramedic who happens to meet Collin one night while helping one of Collins' friends. These two have an instaspark, but did not get instatogether as Collin didnt give Jeremiah his name at first. Eventually though they do get together and I actually felt their relationship, if that makes sense.
Usually I hate the 80% breakup that seems to have to happen, but in this one, it made more sense. These two had life issues that needed to be straightened out, and dont believe the blurb, Collin was not a lost soul in need of rescuing.
The epilogue was set only a little bit into the future, but even that worked. None of this relationship was rushed and eventually they will get to the deeper stuff.
Ok look, I have not read anything by this writer before but I saw this cover and was like whoa , so here we are. I absolutely loved this one.
In here we have Jeremiah, a paramedic who happens to meet Collin one night while helping one of Collins' friends. These two have an instaspark, but did not get instatogether as Collin didnt give Jeremiah his name at first. Eventually though they do get together and I actually felt their relationship, if that makes sense.
Usually I hate the 80% breakup that seems to have to happen, but in this one, it made more sense. These two had life issues that needed to be straightened out, and dont believe the blurb, Collin was not a lost soul in need of rescuing.
The epilogue was set only a little bit into the future, but even that worked. None of this relationship was rushed and eventually they will get to the deeper stuff.
January 28, 2020
This was my first foray into the writings of Jayce Ellis, but likely not my last.
It took me a little while to get into this book, and I'm not really sure why. Possibly because nothing much happened for some time, and the two MCs don't spend a lot of time together on page initially. We get to see them with their respective friends/family, and we spend quite a bit of time in their heads as they deal with what's going on in their personal lives.
Jeremiah Stewart is a paramedic and lives in a high rise building in which our other MC, Collin Galloway, is renting and sub-letting an apartment he doesn't live in but his two friends Lizzie and Ryan do. Jeremiah has direction and a fulfilling job where Collin has none. Collin doesn't like his job as a temp secretary in a law firm, and he doesn't like living with his parents because he can't afford the high rise apartment, which is why he's sub-letting it to his two friends. There's history with these two friends, and lately Collin has felt left out. He's not desperately looking for a boyfriend, but it sure would be nice to find someone.
Jeremiah is also gay, but not out to his family, telling himself that he just hasn't found the right one worth coming out for. I didn't like that too much, but I could certainly understand that he was reluctant to tell his mama about his sexuality unless he had to. He's out to his friends, and even a few co-workers, but that's about it. He's not actively looking for someone either, but a chance encounter piques his interest.
When the two men finally spend more and more time together, due to what's going on with Jeremiah's job, I could really see their romance grow, even if it was often at snail's pace. I liked Collin's sense of humor and was happy that he eventually found what he was passionate about, something that finally gave him the direction he so needed. I thought that they were well suited to each other, and Jeremiah became someone that Collin could lean on, and vice versa. He was an intriguing character, to be sure, and I enjoyed finding out more about him.
Both of them are treated rather horribly by those they love, whether it's family in Jeremiah's case, or his friends, in Collin's case, and I was a bit upset that neither of them got much in the way of apology for that. Sure, the situations are resolved, but Collin and Jeremiah both were quick to forgive the transgressions, too quickly for my taste. Especially Jeremiah's homophobic brother needed to say sorry a lot more than he did, IMHO.
This book's cover matches what's inside, and I was thrilled to read a book with diverse characters, something we don't find enough of in M/M Romance books. The women in this book are also pretty diverse in how they are portrayed, and do not simply exist to be plot points. I would have liked to find out a bit more about Collin's background and his odd relationship with his parents, and why he is the way he is. There are a few things we're told, and perhaps I'm greedy, but I wanted a bit more to fully understand the character. It seemed that there was more about Jeremiah, and perhaps that was the intent as this book's title is named after him.
Four solid stars for this book. I am looking forward to the next one in this series.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
It took me a little while to get into this book, and I'm not really sure why. Possibly because nothing much happened for some time, and the two MCs don't spend a lot of time together on page initially. We get to see them with their respective friends/family, and we spend quite a bit of time in their heads as they deal with what's going on in their personal lives.
Jeremiah Stewart is a paramedic and lives in a high rise building in which our other MC, Collin Galloway, is renting and sub-letting an apartment he doesn't live in but his two friends Lizzie and Ryan do. Jeremiah has direction and a fulfilling job where Collin has none. Collin doesn't like his job as a temp secretary in a law firm, and he doesn't like living with his parents because he can't afford the high rise apartment, which is why he's sub-letting it to his two friends. There's history with these two friends, and lately Collin has felt left out. He's not desperately looking for a boyfriend, but it sure would be nice to find someone.
Jeremiah is also gay, but not out to his family, telling himself that he just hasn't found the right one worth coming out for. I didn't like that too much, but I could certainly understand that he was reluctant to tell his mama about his sexuality unless he had to. He's out to his friends, and even a few co-workers, but that's about it. He's not actively looking for someone either, but a chance encounter piques his interest.
When the two men finally spend more and more time together, due to what's going on with Jeremiah's job, I could really see their romance grow, even if it was often at snail's pace. I liked Collin's sense of humor and was happy that he eventually found what he was passionate about, something that finally gave him the direction he so needed. I thought that they were well suited to each other, and Jeremiah became someone that Collin could lean on, and vice versa. He was an intriguing character, to be sure, and I enjoyed finding out more about him.
Both of them are treated rather horribly by those they love, whether it's family in Jeremiah's case, or his friends, in Collin's case, and I was a bit upset that neither of them got much in the way of apology for that. Sure, the situations are resolved, but Collin and Jeremiah both were quick to forgive the transgressions, too quickly for my taste. Especially Jeremiah's homophobic brother needed to say sorry a lot more than he did, IMHO.
This book's cover matches what's inside, and I was thrilled to read a book with diverse characters, something we don't find enough of in M/M Romance books. The women in this book are also pretty diverse in how they are portrayed, and do not simply exist to be plot points. I would have liked to find out a bit more about Collin's background and his odd relationship with his parents, and why he is the way he is. There are a few things we're told, and perhaps I'm greedy, but I wanted a bit more to fully understand the character. It seemed that there was more about Jeremiah, and perhaps that was the intent as this book's title is named after him.
Four solid stars for this book. I am looking forward to the next one in this series.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
January 7, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
I picked this one up because the blurb definitely piqued my interest. I’m a sucker for an MC who is only partially out, not ready to take that step with his family for a particular reason until he’s found someone he wants to really be with. Jeremiah embodies this as a character. He’s confident in who he is and what he wants, but he’s close with his family, and considering the history, it makes sense that he wouldn’t want to cause turmoil until it really mattered.
Collin has his own baggage to deal with, including a healthy fear of abandonment. Ellis does a great job of piecing this together with Jeremiah’s hang ups so that the story flows seamlessly. These guys have great chemistry that sparks and jumps of the page, and it only grows as the story goes on. They have a rocky start, to be sure, and there’s a bit of slow build, at least when it comes to the sexual things. But it means that they’re in a good place when they take the relationship to the next level.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
I picked this one up because the blurb definitely piqued my interest. I’m a sucker for an MC who is only partially out, not ready to take that step with his family for a particular reason until he’s found someone he wants to really be with. Jeremiah embodies this as a character. He’s confident in who he is and what he wants, but he’s close with his family, and considering the history, it makes sense that he wouldn’t want to cause turmoil until it really mattered.
Collin has his own baggage to deal with, including a healthy fear of abandonment. Ellis does a great job of piecing this together with Jeremiah’s hang ups so that the story flows seamlessly. These guys have great chemistry that sparks and jumps of the page, and it only grows as the story goes on. They have a rocky start, to be sure, and there’s a bit of slow build, at least when it comes to the sexual things. But it means that they’re in a good place when they take the relationship to the next level.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
September 1, 2021
4.5 stars audio
3 stars story
3 stars story
August 7, 2021
JEREMIAH was an interesting read, but I definitely liked the second half a lot more than the first half. The beginning just felt a bit lost for me, like there was another story going on under the surface (that we weren't being told) that made it hard to understand everything going on. This got better as the story went on though which is why I liked the book more as time went on.
I really liked Jeremiah from the beginning, he's genuine, honest, and truly cares about other people. He's also hopelessly devoted to family even though there's some serious tension between himself and his brother. I also loved how Jeremiah cared for and supported Collin when he was struggling. I felt like we really got to know Jeremiah and his character was really developed especially compared to Collin. I did like Collin too and he definitely goes through a lot of growth in the story. He's a bit awkward and he doesn't trust easily but he's also really sweet and dedicated to his best friends Lizzie and Ryan.
Overall, I liked JEREMIAH but I was just missing that thing needed to really engage me and push this to a higher rating. The characters were enjoyable and they made a cute couple but I just didn't feel the tension in their story.
ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review
Content Warning: Jeremiah’s brother uses homophobic language and they get in a physical fight when the brother finds out Jeremiah is gay.
I really liked Jeremiah from the beginning, he's genuine, honest, and truly cares about other people. He's also hopelessly devoted to family even though there's some serious tension between himself and his brother. I also loved how Jeremiah cared for and supported Collin when he was struggling. I felt like we really got to know Jeremiah and his character was really developed especially compared to Collin. I did like Collin too and he definitely goes through a lot of growth in the story. He's a bit awkward and he doesn't trust easily but he's also really sweet and dedicated to his best friends Lizzie and Ryan.
Overall, I liked JEREMIAH but I was just missing that thing needed to really engage me and push this to a higher rating. The characters were enjoyable and they made a cute couple but I just didn't feel the tension in their story.
ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review
Content Warning: Jeremiah’s brother uses homophobic language and they get in a physical fight when the brother finds out Jeremiah is gay.
July 6, 2020
Jeremiah Stewart’s sexuality is no one’s business. Not that he’s hiding it. When—if—he finds the right one, he’ll absolutely introduce him to Mom. But a late-night brush with a sexy stranger in too much lip gloss has him rethinking nearly everything…
To Collin Galloway, direction is a four-letter word. Sure, he hates his job, he hates living with his parents and he really hates watching everyone move on without him. But he doesn’t know what he wants to do, long-term, and he won’t figure it out by thirsting over Jeremiah, the superhot, superintense paramedic who is suddenly everywhere Collin looks.
When Jeremiah’s faced with losing all he’s worked so hard to build, he reluctantly accepts Collin’s help. They’re both determined to stay professional…which works about as well as either would imagine. But Collin only does closets with clothes, and Jeremiah has to decide if he’s finally found the one worth bringing home to Mom.
Review:
Dear Jayce Ellis,
I found your book when I was browsing Carina latest offerings. You are the new to me writer and I was basically sold by cute guy on the cover. Something that rarely happens these days since contemporary romances is not my first go to choice, never had been, but I am happy that I gave your work a try.
We meet Jeremiah ( he and Collin both take turns to narrate the story from the first person POV. I was about to say first person past and then realized that it is mostly past but also sometime present ) when he is meeting his friend Chucky and Chucky's girlfriend Veronica in the bar. The news are exchanged - both good and not very good. The company where Jeremiah had worked for ten years as a paramedic is merging with another company and the layoffs are expected.
“Sometimes I hated that about Chucky. He could be drunk as hell, attention focused elsewhere, and still be the sharpest fucker in the room. Even when I knew he was hiding something. “We had a company meeting today.” On my off day. Always on my off day. “And...?” “They’re merging with HealthNet and exploring ‘cost-reduction methods.’”
Man, the euphemisms businesses came up with. “So... layoffs?” “Pretty much.” I plunked my glass down too hard and froze at the clink of the tumbler against the bar top. But nothing broke and I blew out deep, then downed the drink in one swallow. Chucky cringed. My sentiments exactly. “Shit, man, you’ve been there how long?” “Ten years almost. Feel like I’m too old to be starting over, you know?” Blood thumped in my ear and I was tempted to take my own pulse.”
This is taking place on the first few pages of the book so I don't consider this a spoiler. Of course despite calling himself too old to start over Jeremiah is only 36 and he is realizing that he may need to start looking for another job. As we will learn later Jeremiah even has some specific thoughts as to where to go with his job search, but this may go into spoilers territory so I will remain vague on the details.
Jeremiah meets Collin for the first time when they are both going home from the bar and Jeremiah offers Collin his help to deliver his two drunk friends home. The author made me care for Jeremiah so fast - yes, he and Collin are clearly attracted to each other, but Jeremiah offers to help because he is a kind man and I liked that. As blurb tells you suddenly these two start seeing each other everywhere. Some of it was a coincidence, but a coincidence I could believe it, some of it was that Jeremiah is a first responder and he had to do his duty when Collin happened to be on the scene.
I loved that author kept showing us that Jeremiah was not just doing his work, but cared about his work - of course I expect paramedics to give the best possible care to the patients they are helping, but we see that Jeremiah is actually worrying about not being able to give the pain killers to the patient in pain ( for a good reason, but it still makes the patient hurt more than he would have otherwise ). The man has compassion and I am sucker for the characters who have empathy for the sufferings of the human beings around them.
I loved Collin too. I think blurb exaggerated his issues a bit. I mean, yes, he is struggling with where he wants to move on with his life, but it seems that what he disliked about his job was lack of permanency rather than the job itself. I was glad though that he decided what he wanted to do with his career eventually - and even though it will eventually move his career in the different direction than before it seemed that he was in much happier place already where the work was concerned at the end of the book.
You would ask me readers, what about romance ? Of course it was the focus of the story, but I loved that the relationship was moving forward because other parts of both men's lives were changing and they started to take more proactive roles about. It just felt so real to me - both men seemed down to earth and I felt like I could have met them on the streets of New York. I thought Jeremiah and Collin suited each other and had a good shot at many years together.
I am often unhappy about the way romance stories handle mandatory break ups between the men and the time they spent apart before they decide to take their relationship to the new level. I am often unhappy with how and why they break up, but this book was so not the case. The conflict made perfect sense and was based on who the men were . It worked and getting back together was sweet.
I also thought secondary characters were very well drawn.
Grade: B/B+
To Collin Galloway, direction is a four-letter word. Sure, he hates his job, he hates living with his parents and he really hates watching everyone move on without him. But he doesn’t know what he wants to do, long-term, and he won’t figure it out by thirsting over Jeremiah, the superhot, superintense paramedic who is suddenly everywhere Collin looks.
When Jeremiah’s faced with losing all he’s worked so hard to build, he reluctantly accepts Collin’s help. They’re both determined to stay professional…which works about as well as either would imagine. But Collin only does closets with clothes, and Jeremiah has to decide if he’s finally found the one worth bringing home to Mom.
Review:
Dear Jayce Ellis,
I found your book when I was browsing Carina latest offerings. You are the new to me writer and I was basically sold by cute guy on the cover. Something that rarely happens these days since contemporary romances is not my first go to choice, never had been, but I am happy that I gave your work a try.
We meet Jeremiah ( he and Collin both take turns to narrate the story from the first person POV. I was about to say first person past and then realized that it is mostly past but also sometime present ) when he is meeting his friend Chucky and Chucky's girlfriend Veronica in the bar. The news are exchanged - both good and not very good. The company where Jeremiah had worked for ten years as a paramedic is merging with another company and the layoffs are expected.
“Sometimes I hated that about Chucky. He could be drunk as hell, attention focused elsewhere, and still be the sharpest fucker in the room. Even when I knew he was hiding something. “We had a company meeting today.” On my off day. Always on my off day. “And...?” “They’re merging with HealthNet and exploring ‘cost-reduction methods.’”
Man, the euphemisms businesses came up with. “So... layoffs?” “Pretty much.” I plunked my glass down too hard and froze at the clink of the tumbler against the bar top. But nothing broke and I blew out deep, then downed the drink in one swallow. Chucky cringed. My sentiments exactly. “Shit, man, you’ve been there how long?” “Ten years almost. Feel like I’m too old to be starting over, you know?” Blood thumped in my ear and I was tempted to take my own pulse.”
This is taking place on the first few pages of the book so I don't consider this a spoiler. Of course despite calling himself too old to start over Jeremiah is only 36 and he is realizing that he may need to start looking for another job. As we will learn later Jeremiah even has some specific thoughts as to where to go with his job search, but this may go into spoilers territory so I will remain vague on the details.
Jeremiah meets Collin for the first time when they are both going home from the bar and Jeremiah offers Collin his help to deliver his two drunk friends home. The author made me care for Jeremiah so fast - yes, he and Collin are clearly attracted to each other, but Jeremiah offers to help because he is a kind man and I liked that. As blurb tells you suddenly these two start seeing each other everywhere. Some of it was a coincidence, but a coincidence I could believe it, some of it was that Jeremiah is a first responder and he had to do his duty when Collin happened to be on the scene.
I loved that author kept showing us that Jeremiah was not just doing his work, but cared about his work - of course I expect paramedics to give the best possible care to the patients they are helping, but we see that Jeremiah is actually worrying about not being able to give the pain killers to the patient in pain ( for a good reason, but it still makes the patient hurt more than he would have otherwise ). The man has compassion and I am sucker for the characters who have empathy for the sufferings of the human beings around them.
I loved Collin too. I think blurb exaggerated his issues a bit. I mean, yes, he is struggling with where he wants to move on with his life, but it seems that what he disliked about his job was lack of permanency rather than the job itself. I was glad though that he decided what he wanted to do with his career eventually - and even though it will eventually move his career in the different direction than before it seemed that he was in much happier place already where the work was concerned at the end of the book.
You would ask me readers, what about romance ? Of course it was the focus of the story, but I loved that the relationship was moving forward because other parts of both men's lives were changing and they started to take more proactive roles about. It just felt so real to me - both men seemed down to earth and I felt like I could have met them on the streets of New York. I thought Jeremiah and Collin suited each other and had a good shot at many years together.
I am often unhappy about the way romance stories handle mandatory break ups between the men and the time they spent apart before they decide to take their relationship to the new level. I am often unhappy with how and why they break up, but this book was so not the case. The conflict made perfect sense and was based on who the men were . It worked and getting back together was sweet.
I also thought secondary characters were very well drawn.
Grade: B/B+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2020
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Content notes:
About a year ago I DNFed this book at 26%, but I’m happy to have given this book a second chance!
I have some issues with the sexual stuff, how it’s phrased, and sometimes pacing of scenes felt oddly rushed, but I love the friendship and chosen family. Plus Jeremiah and Collin’s emotional development was very well done!
Jeremiah is a paramedic but when a merger is happening he’s worried about his job security, especially because he’s had the same job for 10 years, making him more expensive to keep around. One night after spending time with his best friend Chucky and his girlfriend Veronica, Jeremiah runs into a drunk trio in the elevator and is immediately attracted to Collin. It takes a couple run-ins (including one when Ryan, Collin’s best friend, gets injured by a firework) before they’re able to start talking and building a relationship.
I personally wasn’t always comfortable with the ways the instant attraction was described or expressed, but I loved and appreciated how they built a personal rapport before acting on that attraction. I love the ways Jeremiah and Collin get to know one another and learn to open up and trust.
Jeremiah’s friendship with Chucky is honestly one of my favorite parts of this book. They have such a deep bond, and I love the ways they just get one another. Plus, the ways Chucky has Jeremiah’s back just warmed my heart; I love deep friendships like they share.
I was really hesitant with this book because the synopsis (or at least way I read it) implied that Jeremiah felt he had to come out to be with Collin, and I’m eternally dubious of stories where there’s a pressure for one or the other to come out in order to be together. It’s one thing to set a boundary, but to pressure someone because they’re not out in the way you want them to be or on your timetable just isn’t something I can enjoy. FORTUNATELY, that is not the case with this book AT ALL, which is all the more reason I’m glad I gave this a second chance. Jeremiah has wanted to tell his mom for an age that he’s gay, but he’s also not wanted to make a big deal about it, and just be able to bring someone home. Collin is the first person he’s wanted to bring home, and so there’s an element t the book where he’s working up the courage and finding the words to speak his truth. This is made more complicated because his brother is overtly homomisic and there’s hurt feelings that Jeremiah’s father left his moms for a man (he had been upfront about his bisexuality but when Jeremiah’s dad cheated with a man, his mom had some stuff to work through).
This ended up being a really sweet romance with great chosen family and blood family bonds. I love the friendship dynamics and the way Jeremiah and Collin’s relationship developed on an emotional level.
Content notes:
About a year ago I DNFed this book at 26%, but I’m happy to have given this book a second chance!
I have some issues with the sexual stuff, how it’s phrased, and sometimes pacing of scenes felt oddly rushed, but I love the friendship and chosen family. Plus Jeremiah and Collin’s emotional development was very well done!
Jeremiah is a paramedic but when a merger is happening he’s worried about his job security, especially because he’s had the same job for 10 years, making him more expensive to keep around. One night after spending time with his best friend Chucky and his girlfriend Veronica, Jeremiah runs into a drunk trio in the elevator and is immediately attracted to Collin. It takes a couple run-ins (including one when Ryan, Collin’s best friend, gets injured by a firework) before they’re able to start talking and building a relationship.
I personally wasn’t always comfortable with the ways the instant attraction was described or expressed, but I loved and appreciated how they built a personal rapport before acting on that attraction. I love the ways Jeremiah and Collin get to know one another and learn to open up and trust.
Jeremiah’s friendship with Chucky is honestly one of my favorite parts of this book. They have such a deep bond, and I love the ways they just get one another. Plus, the ways Chucky has Jeremiah’s back just warmed my heart; I love deep friendships like they share.
I was really hesitant with this book because the synopsis (or at least way I read it) implied that Jeremiah felt he had to come out to be with Collin, and I’m eternally dubious of stories where there’s a pressure for one or the other to come out in order to be together. It’s one thing to set a boundary, but to pressure someone because they’re not out in the way you want them to be or on your timetable just isn’t something I can enjoy. FORTUNATELY, that is not the case with this book AT ALL, which is all the more reason I’m glad I gave this a second chance. Jeremiah has wanted to tell his mom for an age that he’s gay, but he’s also not wanted to make a big deal about it, and just be able to bring someone home. Collin is the first person he’s wanted to bring home, and so there’s an element t the book where he’s working up the courage and finding the words to speak his truth. This is made more complicated because his brother is overtly homomisic and there’s hurt feelings that Jeremiah’s father left his moms for a man (he had been upfront about his bisexuality but when Jeremiah’s dad cheated with a man, his mom had some stuff to work through).
This ended up being a really sweet romance with great chosen family and blood family bonds. I love the friendship dynamics and the way Jeremiah and Collin’s relationship developed on an emotional level.
February 29, 2020
I tend to gravitate away from adult fiction. I prefer stories in which characters confront change and growth, and these moments tend to be more central in YA, New Adult, and even Middle Grade. It's as if the book world thinks adults are actually stable humans.
I don't want to settle into one person for the rest of my life, and I find adult fiction often features static, flat characters with concerns that don't interest me.
Jeremiah is one of the few books I've found that features characters my age who are still searching and challenging themselves. It's a romance between two gay men, and as they connect with each other, they're also reevaluating their own lives, communities, and paths. They're both deeply impacted by their parents and friendships, and these relationships are more central to their identity than careers and titles. Each is considering job changes tantamount to starting over. Basically they're grown-ass adults who are still finding their path. These are my people <3.
This is one of those soft books where I adore so many of the characters, and friendships and relationships reaching well beyond the core romance.
The title character is a strong black man, and his love interest is a waify white boy who wears lip gloss and eyeliner. The book presents a strong power dynamic, but is constantly shifting the ground beneath the expectations that come along with these dynamics. The book does explore differing levels of race privilege within queer communities, as well as potential familial rejection. There's gay and bi rep, and a strong feminist undercurrent, with scenes at a (straight) stripclub, in which the narrator tips well and is always blown away by the skills of the dancers.
You'll find enthusiastic condoms and consent! Sex is presented a bit more explicitly than I usually expect – this may be a quirk of adult romance lit that I'm not used to. These scenes lengthy play by plays, which caused a head tilt or two. For me, I'm a little too cerebral to not start to fact check whose hand is where and whether this bends that way. I'll also say that the dirty talk in this book was a little surprising to me; it often came across as kind of a winking swagger, which had me laughing with the text rather than at it.
I thought this book was really darling, and the characters gave me joy. It reads like New Adult fiction, though the character ages may pull it out of this genre.
I would recommend it to readers who loved the friendship and light in Red White and Royal Blue, and who want a charming queer black voices story, and who are happy to see a little more on-page sex than in younger contemporaries.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
I don't want to settle into one person for the rest of my life, and I find adult fiction often features static, flat characters with concerns that don't interest me.
Jeremiah is one of the few books I've found that features characters my age who are still searching and challenging themselves. It's a romance between two gay men, and as they connect with each other, they're also reevaluating their own lives, communities, and paths. They're both deeply impacted by their parents and friendships, and these relationships are more central to their identity than careers and titles. Each is considering job changes tantamount to starting over. Basically they're grown-ass adults who are still finding their path. These are my people <3.
This is one of those soft books where I adore so many of the characters, and friendships and relationships reaching well beyond the core romance.
The title character is a strong black man, and his love interest is a waify white boy who wears lip gloss and eyeliner. The book presents a strong power dynamic, but is constantly shifting the ground beneath the expectations that come along with these dynamics. The book does explore differing levels of race privilege within queer communities, as well as potential familial rejection. There's gay and bi rep, and a strong feminist undercurrent, with scenes at a (straight) stripclub, in which the narrator tips well and is always blown away by the skills of the dancers.
You'll find enthusiastic condoms and consent! Sex is presented a bit more explicitly than I usually expect – this may be a quirk of adult romance lit that I'm not used to. These scenes lengthy play by plays, which caused a head tilt or two. For me, I'm a little too cerebral to not start to fact check whose hand is where and whether this bends that way. I'll also say that the dirty talk in this book was a little surprising to me; it often came across as kind of a winking swagger, which had me laughing with the text rather than at it.
I thought this book was really darling, and the characters gave me joy. It reads like New Adult fiction, though the character ages may pull it out of this genre.
I would recommend it to readers who loved the friendship and light in Red White and Royal Blue, and who want a charming queer black voices story, and who are happy to see a little more on-page sex than in younger contemporaries.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!
January 3, 2020
Jeremiah Review
Thank you Carina and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Jeremiah by Jayce Ellis. I loved the story and the journey it took me on.
Jeremiah is a MM interracial romance. In this story, Jeremiah is a paramedic living a double life. Due to a secret he stumbled upon as a kid, he keeps his sexuality a secret. With the exception of his sister Storm, his family isn’t aware of his life as gay man. While in an elevator, he meets Colin and their attraction is instant. Colin is a 29 year old secretary that still lives with his parents. As a child he never feels love or appreciation from them. This makes him afraid of rejection and being alone.
This emotional story shows how our upbringing can affect the way we live our lives and how we crave acceptance from others. The chemistry between Jerimiah and Colin was electric. I especially adored the way he protected and supported Colin when he needed him the most.
Lets get into another favorite part of the story, the family dynamics of Jeremiah and Colin. It was heartbreaking and oh so relatable. I was overwhelmed with emotion. The author was able to effectively show how homosexuality is still taboo in some African American families. The author protrayed a family struggling to understand their son. In addition, she showed how a wealthy family, with mass amounts of resources can still fail to effectively show love to their children.
I did want more of a resolution between Jeremiah and his brother. Also, there was a moment in the book when the characters were having a intimate discussion that felt unrealistic . I dont want to spoil it for you, but it definitely was cringeworthy. Other than that, it was a great read.
Although our society is more tolerant than before when it comes to gay communities, especially in the African American community, this story rings true that we still have a ways to go. Its so important that stories like Jeremiah be told. I am definitely looking forward to more reads from this author.
Thank you Carina and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Jeremiah by Jayce Ellis. I loved the story and the journey it took me on.
Jeremiah is a MM interracial romance. In this story, Jeremiah is a paramedic living a double life. Due to a secret he stumbled upon as a kid, he keeps his sexuality a secret. With the exception of his sister Storm, his family isn’t aware of his life as gay man. While in an elevator, he meets Colin and their attraction is instant. Colin is a 29 year old secretary that still lives with his parents. As a child he never feels love or appreciation from them. This makes him afraid of rejection and being alone.
This emotional story shows how our upbringing can affect the way we live our lives and how we crave acceptance from others. The chemistry between Jerimiah and Colin was electric. I especially adored the way he protected and supported Colin when he needed him the most.
Lets get into another favorite part of the story, the family dynamics of Jeremiah and Colin. It was heartbreaking and oh so relatable. I was overwhelmed with emotion. The author was able to effectively show how homosexuality is still taboo in some African American families. The author protrayed a family struggling to understand their son. In addition, she showed how a wealthy family, with mass amounts of resources can still fail to effectively show love to their children.
I did want more of a resolution between Jeremiah and his brother. Also, there was a moment in the book when the characters were having a intimate discussion that felt unrealistic . I dont want to spoil it for you, but it definitely was cringeworthy. Other than that, it was a great read.
Although our society is more tolerant than before when it comes to gay communities, especially in the African American community, this story rings true that we still have a ways to go. Its so important that stories like Jeremiah be told. I am definitely looking forward to more reads from this author.
February 25, 2020
*ARC copy received via Netgalley
4.5 stars
This was my first book by Jayce Ellis and I enjoyed it immensely.
This is a queer romance between black paramedic Jeremiah and white office “drone” Collin who is stuck in a not-so-temporary temp job.
What really made this book for me were the main characters. I adored Jeremiah, this down-to-earth guy who protects who he loves fiercely, and takes care of everyone to the point of sometimes forgetting himself. Collin was such a relatable character for me, especially because he is a very anxious person who always *worries*, always needs the connection to his chosen family and the people he loves to feel grounded and safe.
I really appreciated the depiction of anxiety here, and panic attacks you can’t always get out of on your own. And I especially appreciated the things going on around this pair while they were slowly getting closer to each other. In particular the conflicts with family and friends touched me deeply, not just how they were shown and handled, but also how they impacted the characters, their lives and their decision.
I talked about this a little more in my podcast, and I will link the episode below. In general though this was a great read for me and I can’t wait to read more works by this author.
CW: blood, medical emergencies, bigotry and bigoted family on page, MC dealing with anxiety disorder and panic attacks
4.5 stars
This was my first book by Jayce Ellis and I enjoyed it immensely.
This is a queer romance between black paramedic Jeremiah and white office “drone” Collin who is stuck in a not-so-temporary temp job.
What really made this book for me were the main characters. I adored Jeremiah, this down-to-earth guy who protects who he loves fiercely, and takes care of everyone to the point of sometimes forgetting himself. Collin was such a relatable character for me, especially because he is a very anxious person who always *worries*, always needs the connection to his chosen family and the people he loves to feel grounded and safe.
I really appreciated the depiction of anxiety here, and panic attacks you can’t always get out of on your own. And I especially appreciated the things going on around this pair while they were slowly getting closer to each other. In particular the conflicts with family and friends touched me deeply, not just how they were shown and handled, but also how they impacted the characters, their lives and their decision.
I talked about this a little more in my podcast, and I will link the episode below. In general though this was a great read for me and I can’t wait to read more works by this author.
CW: blood, medical emergencies, bigotry and bigoted family on page, MC dealing with anxiety disorder and panic attacks
February 23, 2020
I actually really enjoyed this. The author did such a good job giving each MC a unique voice; I never forgot whose head we were in. The guys had mad chemistry and weren't prone to unnecessary drama. That doesn't mean this was drama free, but I never rolled my eyes at it.
This may have been my first Jayce Ellis, but I'll definitely be clicking the follow button now!
*Received in exchange for an honest review
This may have been my first Jayce Ellis, but I'll definitely be clicking the follow button now!
*Received in exchange for an honest review
January 16, 2020
A couple of nights ago I was scrolling through Twitter, trying to catch up on all the drama at RWA when in the midst of all the tweets, I spotted one by an author I’d not read before named Jayce Ellis, who tweeted, (and I hope it’s okay to quote her): “So, things around us continue to burn, but this is FINE! Why? Because my debut novel, Jeremiah, is live!!”
And after all the negativity I’d been reading, her comment just resonated with me, because, as writers, that’s what it’s all about. Getting that novel finished, and published, and OUT THERE! So I bought it.
If JEREMIAH is this author’s first novel, I can’t wait to see what else she does, because this story totally captured my attention and definitely improved my state of mind. She has a truly powerful voice, and it was hard to do anything else but read until I’d finished the book, and I must admit I was smiling through a lot of it. The lead, Jeremiah, is a strong, steady man, a paramedic who loves his job, loves his family, and is trying to figure out when will be the right time to tell his mama that her son is gay.
Collin comes across as younger, most likely because of his lack of a plan—he’s coasting through life, still living with his parents, hanging out with his two best friends (a brother and sister) and working a job that really isn’t what he wants to do, but it pays the bills so he’s got no incentive to change. Everything changes when he and Jeremiah meet...sort of. Without even exchanging names, Collin is hooked on this beautiful, sexy, dark skinned god who comes to his aid when he’s trying to get his two inebriated friends into their apartment.
I don’t like to give away a story when I write a review, but I will say that the way Collin and Jeremiah develop a sweet and sexy relationship is thoroughly entertaining, and I love the way each of them steps up to be the strength the other needs. This is definitely a “feel good” story, one I’ve already reread just so I could smile when the world isn’t all that conducive to good feelings.
This book is full of them!
My hat’s off to Ms. Ellis, and I imagine she’s going to have one hell of a career ahead of her. So yes, if you love a good M/M romance that’s skillfully written and beautifully told, buy this book. You won’t regret it.
And after all the negativity I’d been reading, her comment just resonated with me, because, as writers, that’s what it’s all about. Getting that novel finished, and published, and OUT THERE! So I bought it.
If JEREMIAH is this author’s first novel, I can’t wait to see what else she does, because this story totally captured my attention and definitely improved my state of mind. She has a truly powerful voice, and it was hard to do anything else but read until I’d finished the book, and I must admit I was smiling through a lot of it. The lead, Jeremiah, is a strong, steady man, a paramedic who loves his job, loves his family, and is trying to figure out when will be the right time to tell his mama that her son is gay.
Collin comes across as younger, most likely because of his lack of a plan—he’s coasting through life, still living with his parents, hanging out with his two best friends (a brother and sister) and working a job that really isn’t what he wants to do, but it pays the bills so he’s got no incentive to change. Everything changes when he and Jeremiah meet...sort of. Without even exchanging names, Collin is hooked on this beautiful, sexy, dark skinned god who comes to his aid when he’s trying to get his two inebriated friends into their apartment.
I don’t like to give away a story when I write a review, but I will say that the way Collin and Jeremiah develop a sweet and sexy relationship is thoroughly entertaining, and I love the way each of them steps up to be the strength the other needs. This is definitely a “feel good” story, one I’ve already reread just so I could smile when the world isn’t all that conducive to good feelings.
This book is full of them!
My hat’s off to Ms. Ellis, and I imagine she’s going to have one hell of a career ahead of her. So yes, if you love a good M/M romance that’s skillfully written and beautifully told, buy this book. You won’t regret it.
January 18, 2020
This is my first Jayce Ellis book, and honestly it took me a while to get into her writing style, as well as the overall flow of this book. There is a lot going on here, and it feels like only part of it makes its way onto the page. There is backstory and history hinted at, but not always revealed.
Jeremiah is a great character - he's an EMT in the Washington D.C. area with a large loving family. Jeremiah is out ... except with his family and while he is certain he'll one day proudly introduce his family to his boyfriend, he's not entirely sure of his reception - with his brother spouting homophobic slurs and not being able to read how his beloved Moms and Aunt will react.
Collin is less fleshed-out and there is a lot of history alluded to between Collin and his friends Lizzie and especially Ryan, but never fully revealed. We do get Collin and Jeremiah's POV throughout the book in alternating chapters and while I like getting their perspective, Jeremiah felt more real to me personally. The sexual chemistry here is palpable and very intense and the unfolding of their relationship definitely held my interest throughout.
Overall, I like the premise of the story and the development of the relationship between Collin and Jeremiah, and Jeremiah coming out to his family. But since this is the first book in the series, it appears Ellis is introducing characters and setting up their backstories, which makes for a somewhat confusing and distracting read at times.
3.5 stars for "Jeremiah" and I will definitely look forward to reading the next book in the High Rise series.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Jeremiah is a great character - he's an EMT in the Washington D.C. area with a large loving family. Jeremiah is out ... except with his family and while he is certain he'll one day proudly introduce his family to his boyfriend, he's not entirely sure of his reception - with his brother spouting homophobic slurs and not being able to read how his beloved Moms and Aunt will react.
Collin is less fleshed-out and there is a lot of history alluded to between Collin and his friends Lizzie and especially Ryan, but never fully revealed. We do get Collin and Jeremiah's POV throughout the book in alternating chapters and while I like getting their perspective, Jeremiah felt more real to me personally. The sexual chemistry here is palpable and very intense and the unfolding of their relationship definitely held my interest throughout.
Overall, I like the premise of the story and the development of the relationship between Collin and Jeremiah, and Jeremiah coming out to his family. But since this is the first book in the series, it appears Ellis is introducing characters and setting up their backstories, which makes for a somewhat confusing and distracting read at times.
3.5 stars for "Jeremiah" and I will definitely look forward to reading the next book in the High Rise series.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
January 11, 2020
(¸.★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤A good read.¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★
Jeremiah. A book that had me all over the place. An interracial tale of a man who by sheer luck, fell for a man who was transitioning in life.
Collin met Jeremiah when the other man helped he and his friends one drunken night. From then on there were instances of meetings and wanting to get to know each other. However, both men were trying to find their way. Jeremiah, finding a job when his was about to go south and Collin, trying to navigate friendship, parents and HIS own work place.
There was nothing easy about their get together, but when they did, it was hot and real. I enjoyed the getting to know you process. Appreciated the pacing and time change. I also applaud the secondary characters who were able to fill the pages with reality.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Netgalley.
Jeremiah. A book that had me all over the place. An interracial tale of a man who by sheer luck, fell for a man who was transitioning in life.
Collin met Jeremiah when the other man helped he and his friends one drunken night. From then on there were instances of meetings and wanting to get to know each other. However, both men were trying to find their way. Jeremiah, finding a job when his was about to go south and Collin, trying to navigate friendship, parents and HIS own work place.
There was nothing easy about their get together, but when they did, it was hot and real. I enjoyed the getting to know you process. Appreciated the pacing and time change. I also applaud the secondary characters who were able to fill the pages with reality.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Netgalley.
March 7, 2020
I made a big reviewer error in not writing a review immediately after I finished this. I did not really care for this though and my review would have been the first one up and I hate being the first one to post with a negative review. Then.....well, I forgot about this book and now I can't remember specific issues I had with it.
Overall though it was just boring to me. Very slow. Very clunky writing in places. Lot's of internal monologues. I really didn't care for Jeremiah or his obnoxious friends and family. I liked the other MC better but also didn't like his friends.
There was nothing about this that stood out. Not in plot, characters or writing style. Easy to forget. I doubt I will try the next in the series.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Overall though it was just boring to me. Very slow. Very clunky writing in places. Lot's of internal monologues. I really didn't care for Jeremiah or his obnoxious friends and family. I liked the other MC better but also didn't like his friends.
There was nothing about this that stood out. Not in plot, characters or writing style. Easy to forget. I doubt I will try the next in the series.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
January 8, 2021
Sparks fly immediately between Jeremiah and the the cute, sparkly lip-glossed wearing white man Jeremiah meets as he helps get his drunk friends tucked safely away at home. But, duty calls and the overworked EMT doesn't catch the man's name. Well, at least not until the reconnect after one of the friends again needs medical assistance and a trip to the ER on the 4th of July.
Colin and Jeremiah both have huge decisions to make and dreams to catch in this lush debut romance from Jayce Ellis. The conflicts in the story-line are more internal and less about Colin and Jeremiah's romance, which is supremely hot and super sexy when they are on the page together.
A promising start from an author to watch!
CW: Jeremiah worries about coming out to his family, his brother makes homophobic statements. Alcohol use, descriptions of medical gore
Colin and Jeremiah both have huge decisions to make and dreams to catch in this lush debut romance from Jayce Ellis. The conflicts in the story-line are more internal and less about Colin and Jeremiah's romance, which is supremely hot and super sexy when they are on the page together.
A promising start from an author to watch!
CW: Jeremiah worries about coming out to his family, his brother makes homophobic statements. Alcohol use, descriptions of medical gore
January 29, 2022
I didn’t know if anything would stop me, if he wanted me. Nothing but everything would be enough.
3.5 stars. Super enjoyable m/m romance! I mostly really liked what I read from this author before, and I'm glad I took the chance to check out more of her backlist, because this was so good. This follows a paramedic and an office worker who feel irrevocably drawn to each other after their elevator meet-cute, and how their relationship eventually progresses and becomes deeper, as they both face major upheavals in their lives. Jeremiah's company is downsizing, so his future at his job is precarious, and he's also dealing with being in the closet to his family. Colin is feeling unmoored and a bit aimless at work, and is also having some trouble with his best friends. Their romance together is intense, and they end up being so good for one another. I love romances where there's this push and pull, just enough to create tension but not enough to be annoying. Jeremiah possessive and caring and tender in the best ways and it made me (and Colin) swoon. <3
Something I really liked is the fact that this focused almost as much on their development as individuals, as much as on the development of the romance. That might not work for everyone; I get how it could feel like their personal/family drama was taking time away from the romance. But I honestly really enjoyed it; it was a great balance, imo. It really made the characters feel well rounded, three dimensional, rather than a collection of traits and tropes. I didn't love everything about the story progression, and there were a few parts where it was maybe a bit too slow, but otherwise, I love the way this was plotted, and the arc of the romance.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Jameson Adams and Ace Bentley, and it was so good! Only thing better than reading AAVE in a romance novel is hearing it performed so well. I enjoyed both narrators a lot, Adams just a teensy bit more, and I just flew through this audiobook. It was so immersive. I can't wait to get into this author's backlist a bit more.
January 18, 2020
3.5 stars - I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This story manages to be both playful and gritty at the same time. It’s the story of a romance that builds between two New Yorkers from very different worlds. On the surface, Collin and Jeremiah couldn’t be more different. Collin is a rich kid who has spent his twenties underemployed and probably partying too much. In contrast, Jeremiah had to grow up far too fast. He works hard as a paramedic while supporting his mum and younger siblings. When a chance meeting brings Collin and Jeremiah together, the connection is instant and can’t quite forget each other.
I’m still a little bit conflicted about this story. I really loved the characters but I struggled with the writing style. The writing feels choppy and at times I found the writing distracted from the story. Readers might want to download a sample before purchasing this one. There is a whole lot going on in this book and while the plot is manageable at the start, it slowly unravels into slightly sensational melodrama by the end.
Jeremiah and Collin are both really engaging characters but I don’t quite understand why either of them hold on to the toxic relationships in their lives for so long. I really like the growth that we get to see in them - but they are both too old for the coming of age themes in this book. This story has promise and I will definitely read more from this author. I just hope the author’s writing style becomes more fluid in the future.
This story manages to be both playful and gritty at the same time. It’s the story of a romance that builds between two New Yorkers from very different worlds. On the surface, Collin and Jeremiah couldn’t be more different. Collin is a rich kid who has spent his twenties underemployed and probably partying too much. In contrast, Jeremiah had to grow up far too fast. He works hard as a paramedic while supporting his mum and younger siblings. When a chance meeting brings Collin and Jeremiah together, the connection is instant and can’t quite forget each other.
I’m still a little bit conflicted about this story. I really loved the characters but I struggled with the writing style. The writing feels choppy and at times I found the writing distracted from the story. Readers might want to download a sample before purchasing this one. There is a whole lot going on in this book and while the plot is manageable at the start, it slowly unravels into slightly sensational melodrama by the end.
Jeremiah and Collin are both really engaging characters but I don’t quite understand why either of them hold on to the toxic relationships in their lives for so long. I really like the growth that we get to see in them - but they are both too old for the coming of age themes in this book. This story has promise and I will definitely read more from this author. I just hope the author’s writing style becomes more fluid in the future.
January 17, 2020
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This story was right up my alley. I love reading about regular people with everyday jobs and lives. Jeremiah and Collin are dealing with problems in their lives that plenty of people deal with. Things like family expectations, feeling left behind as your friends move on to a new stage in life while you are stuck where you are and dissatisfaction at work. Things that were easy to relate to. The difficulties Collins has with the relationship with is best friend really got to me and had me shedding a few tears.
My favourite thing about this story is Jeremiah himself. I could say it is because he is a good guy but really it is more about the fact that he is smoking hot. With just a few words Jeremiah had my blood running hot. Early on in the book when the men keep running into each other and the sparks were flying it was so exciting to read. I almost felt like I was the one doing the dating. The anticipation was exhilarating.
I really had a fantastic time reading Jeremiah. I’d definitely recommend it.
This story was right up my alley. I love reading about regular people with everyday jobs and lives. Jeremiah and Collin are dealing with problems in their lives that plenty of people deal with. Things like family expectations, feeling left behind as your friends move on to a new stage in life while you are stuck where you are and dissatisfaction at work. Things that were easy to relate to. The difficulties Collins has with the relationship with is best friend really got to me and had me shedding a few tears.
My favourite thing about this story is Jeremiah himself. I could say it is because he is a good guy but really it is more about the fact that he is smoking hot. With just a few words Jeremiah had my blood running hot. Early on in the book when the men keep running into each other and the sparks were flying it was so exciting to read. I almost felt like I was the one doing the dating. The anticipation was exhilarating.
I really had a fantastic time reading Jeremiah. I’d definitely recommend it.
October 22, 2020
4 1/2 STARS
Hot as fuck. The theatre scene? The car teasing? All the fucking? So hot.
These two were also super cute and sweet together.
CW: Homophobia/biphobia scenes
Hot as fuck. The theatre scene? The car teasing? All the fucking? So hot.
These two were also super cute and sweet together.
CW: Homophobia/biphobia scenes
January 10, 2022
What a delightful surprise from a new to me author. MM IR contemporary slow burn romance set in D.C. between two late 20 somethings who are looking to make some changes in their lives.
The romance takes a while to develop - the h/h have like 3 meet cutes before they actually have a conversation. And honestly, while the romance is cute, what won me over was the depictions of the h/h's family and friends. I particularly liked how Jeremiah's loud and loving family was portrayed and how his concerns about coming out are handled. It felt so real to me.
The romance takes a while to develop - the h/h have like 3 meet cutes before they actually have a conversation. And honestly, while the romance is cute, what won me over was the depictions of the h/h's family and friends. I particularly liked how Jeremiah's loud and loving family was portrayed and how his concerns about coming out are handled. It felt so real to me.
Read
April 24, 2021DNF ~18%
Not rating, because this very much could have just been me/my mood, but something about the writing and the way the plot was moving along felt off to me. I generally enjoyed the characters, but something about it felt forced in a way that grated.
Not rating, because this very much could have just been me/my mood, but something about the writing and the way the plot was moving along felt off to me. I generally enjoyed the characters, but something about it felt forced in a way that grated.
January 28, 2020
This is the first book by Jayce Ellis that I’ve read and I can pretty much guarantee it won’t be my last. Jeremiah was one of those books that drew me in. There was a lot going on with both Collin and Jeremiah, besides their budding attraction.
Jeremiah was being pushed out of a job that he really liked and Collin was desperately trying to find himself.
I really liked how this story played out. Jeremiah came from a large family that was close, but they all seemed to have their secrets. The only one who knew about Jeremiah was his youngest sister. He didn’t see any reason to come out until he met someone worth it. There was a lot of family history revealed during Jeremiah that made it even harder, but he would risk the fall out for the right person.
Collin didn’t have that problem. Besides the fact that he had been out for years, he didn’t have a family that seemed to care one way or the other – about anything. His only support came from his friends and things were even getting a little weird with them. Their first meeting wasn’t something to build a relationship on, but there was definitely attraction there on both sides.
It took them a while to figure things out – both for themselves personally and for their relationship. It wasn’t really a slow burn, but the emotional attraction took a little while. They were there for each other in ways beyond the physical attraction.
Along with being my first book by this author, it’s also the first book in Jayce Ellis’s High Rise series. André is next and I can’t wait to see who we’ll be introduced to.
I received Jeremiah in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Jeremiah was being pushed out of a job that he really liked and Collin was desperately trying to find himself.
I really liked how this story played out. Jeremiah came from a large family that was close, but they all seemed to have their secrets. The only one who knew about Jeremiah was his youngest sister. He didn’t see any reason to come out until he met someone worth it. There was a lot of family history revealed during Jeremiah that made it even harder, but he would risk the fall out for the right person.
Collin didn’t have that problem. Besides the fact that he had been out for years, he didn’t have a family that seemed to care one way or the other – about anything. His only support came from his friends and things were even getting a little weird with them. Their first meeting wasn’t something to build a relationship on, but there was definitely attraction there on both sides.
It took them a while to figure things out – both for themselves personally and for their relationship. It wasn’t really a slow burn, but the emotional attraction took a little while. They were there for each other in ways beyond the physical attraction.
Along with being my first book by this author, it’s also the first book in Jayce Ellis’s High Rise series. André is next and I can’t wait to see who we’ll be introduced to.
I received Jeremiah in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 6, 2020
I liked this one. I think Jeremiah was my fave of the two guys. Collin sort of got on my nerves sometimes...not gonna lie lol. I enjoyed how they were both in a place in their lives where they were trying to figure out their moves, what to do about their careers, how to deal with some family issues.
I felt like after awhile the pacing seemed to drag a bit, and whatever was going on with Ryan (Collin's friend) went on for too long and remained some big mystery for a bit too much time.
also, I was a bit confused by Collin's actions after Jeremiah got into a fight and arrested. Now Collin didn't actually see his man get arrested because they got separated but he assumes he did and he just leaves?? Doesn't try to find Jeremiah and see if he's ok? Like...that was weird to me. I get that he was shaken by everything that happens but you just bounce and don't try to find out where he's taken and if he's alright?? I didn't get that. Collin was way too nonchalant about that, especially for a guy who see portrayed as worrying alot! He just downplayed that way too much.
I am glad though that it was mentioned to Jer that while he wished he could reconcile with his brother, his brother's behaviour wasn't on him. Jer's brother doesn't accept him coming out as gay and honestly he shouldnt have to bend over backwards to get his bro to be cool with him. So while he isn't, we see the rest of his family being totally fine.
I am intrigued by whose story is next, though.
I felt like after awhile the pacing seemed to drag a bit, and whatever was going on with Ryan (Collin's friend) went on for too long and remained some big mystery for a bit too much time.
also, I was a bit confused by Collin's actions after Jeremiah got into a fight and arrested. Now Collin didn't actually see his man get arrested because they got separated but he assumes he did and he just leaves?? Doesn't try to find Jeremiah and see if he's ok? Like...that was weird to me. I get that he was shaken by everything that happens but you just bounce and don't try to find out where he's taken and if he's alright?? I didn't get that. Collin was way too nonchalant about that, especially for a guy who see portrayed as worrying alot! He just downplayed that way too much.
I am glad though that it was mentioned to Jer that while he wished he could reconcile with his brother, his brother's behaviour wasn't on him. Jer's brother doesn't accept him coming out as gay and honestly he shouldnt have to bend over backwards to get his bro to be cool with him. So while he isn't, we see the rest of his family being totally fine.
I am intrigued by whose story is next, though.
Read
July 19, 2020I’ve been struggling a lot with picking up books and just reading. For a while now. This pandemic, family stuff, and work stress has had me falling on my bed at night and watching Netflix to find some sort of joy for a few weeks. Books haven’t really interested me at all. It’s been hard. But when my friend told me she was reading this I decided to join her, and I’m really glad I did.
This is a really sweet and comforting read. Jeremiah and Collin were adorable and I really enjoyed going on this journey with them.
They both had some family and personal issues that could have taken the story into dramalama territory but instead they worked through it in a mostly adult way, while building their relationship into something genuine and eventually strong.
I really enjoyed the writing style and personality the author brought out of her characters. I binge read this story and just felt really good while reading it. Good about the characters, the plot, and the resolution, while it still showed that the family relationships were a work in progress, but it wasn’t going to stop our leads from building their life together. A wholesome warm and engaging read. There’s also so steamy sexual tension and delicious sexy times eventually. This is a slow burn but very rewarding.
I immediately bought the next book Andrè and binge read that too.
Definitely worth every penny and I will more than likely re-read both when I need to feel good.
This is a really sweet and comforting read. Jeremiah and Collin were adorable and I really enjoyed going on this journey with them.
They both had some family and personal issues that could have taken the story into dramalama territory but instead they worked through it in a mostly adult way, while building their relationship into something genuine and eventually strong.
I really enjoyed the writing style and personality the author brought out of her characters. I binge read this story and just felt really good while reading it. Good about the characters, the plot, and the resolution, while it still showed that the family relationships were a work in progress, but it wasn’t going to stop our leads from building their life together. A wholesome warm and engaging read. There’s also so steamy sexual tension and delicious sexy times eventually. This is a slow burn but very rewarding.
I immediately bought the next book Andrè and binge read that too.
Definitely worth every penny and I will more than likely re-read both when I need to feel good.
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