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Heather Bay #1
Like I Promised
Falling for my childhood sweetheart wasn’t part of the plan.
Moving back to Heather Bay wasn’t on Oliver’s agenda for the summer, but after inheriting a cottage in dire need of renovation he doesn’t have much choice. Supervising the builders should be easy… except the man in charge is Oliver’s childhood best friend and ex-boyfriend.
Lane’s spent nine years desperately trying to forget his first love, but that doesn’t stop him from fantasising about Oliver in every spare moment once he discovers Oliver’s back in town. Falling into bed together isn’t supposed to mean anything, even if Lane’s emotions feel too big to be ignored.
Being drawn to each other is one thing, but being stuck together after disaster strikes the renovations is another. The pull of the past is strong but Oliver and Lane have been down this road before. This time they’ll need to learn from their mistakes so they can finally keep their promises.
Like I Promised is a steamy second-chance contemporary MM romance featuring former childhood sweethearts, interfering friends, questionable barbecues, a very lazy collie, cosy coffee shops, and secret beaches.
Moving back to Heather Bay wasn’t on Oliver’s agenda for the summer, but after inheriting a cottage in dire need of renovation he doesn’t have much choice. Supervising the builders should be easy… except the man in charge is Oliver’s childhood best friend and ex-boyfriend.
Lane’s spent nine years desperately trying to forget his first love, but that doesn’t stop him from fantasising about Oliver in every spare moment once he discovers Oliver’s back in town. Falling into bed together isn’t supposed to mean anything, even if Lane’s emotions feel too big to be ignored.
Being drawn to each other is one thing, but being stuck together after disaster strikes the renovations is another. The pull of the past is strong but Oliver and Lane have been down this road before. This time they’ll need to learn from their mistakes so they can finally keep their promises.
Like I Promised is a steamy second-chance contemporary MM romance featuring former childhood sweethearts, interfering friends, questionable barbecues, a very lazy collie, cosy coffee shops, and secret beaches.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2022
240 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Novak
63 books593 followersCharlie lives in England with her husband and a dachshund named Biscuit. She spends most of her days wrangling other people’s words in her day job and then trying to force her own onto the page in the evening.
She loves cute stories with a healthy dollop of fluff, plenty of delicious sex, and happily ever afters – because the world needs more of them. Charlie also believes that love comes in all shapes and sizes.
Charlie has very little spare time, but what she does have she fills with cooking, pole-dancing, reading and ice-hockey. She also thinks that everyone should have at least one favourite dinosaur…
She loves cute stories with a healthy dollop of fluff, plenty of delicious sex, and happily ever afters – because the world needs more of them. Charlie also believes that love comes in all shapes and sizes.
Charlie has very little spare time, but what she does have she fills with cooking, pole-dancing, reading and ice-hockey. She also thinks that everyone should have at least one favourite dinosaur…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
September 11, 2024
Don't put the book on a pedestal! No, Dru, don't do that!
I have to start by saying that I spent my honeymoon in Yorkshire and just absolutely love this countryside. So the book was already a 5 star thing after the first three sentences.
Then it's also so well written and all the characters are interesting enough and didn't annoy me. Then there are the two main characters who are insanely adorable and really well portrayed. Oh dear, and then it's a second chance story, which I don't really like, but it's so well done and really so amazingly relatable and with no added silly melodrama that I just floated through it.
So, I'm sorry, but it's one of the best books this year for me. I just love everything about this story, from the sweet old dog, to the cottage renovation, the surprisingly spicy sex scenes and especially the careful emotional approaches and the heartbreaking pain of Oliver and Lane that comes out of the pages perfectly.
As for the sex scenes, a little warning: they are, as I said, surprisingly kinky, not too much so, but I imagine it won't be to everyone's taste: there's a bit of spanking, felching, exhibitionism and possessiveness. There's just a touch of everything, the two of them are just following their spontaneous inclinations. So in no way a smutty book.
The awakening of the love and getting to know each other again and making decisions is in the spotlight, as are friendships and small-town life.
The dog:
Sparrow stretched and slid off the sofa before ambling over to me. While her hearing these days was definitely selective, anything vaguely related to food was always of interest, and she was still sneaky enough to steal sandwiches from unattended lunch boxes. 🤭
Regrets:
“I always thought I didn’t want to see Oliver again. Ever. But now… I don’t know. I just feel kinda sad? We were friends for so long, and I loved him so much, and we just threw it away because we were eighteen and angry and scared. I lost the one person I could talk to about anything, the one who was always there for me, and now I think I regret how it all went down.” 💔😢💔
The kiss:
Time melted away as if the past nine years had suddenly become inconsequential. I knew things would never go back to the way they were because too much had changed, but in that moment, none of that mattered. The kiss felt like coming home. Lane’s tongue brushed against the seam of my lips, and I melted against him, letting out a soft moan. I parted my lips, and his tongue teased mine, taking our kiss from something soft and tender to something that consumed me. 🫠🫠🫠
An agreement?
“I can’t offer breakfast in bed, but I can offer to eat your ass until you beg for more. I can strip away the troubles of your day and make you forget your own name. And I can fill your nights with dreams so sweet you’ll never want to wake up.” 😳😳😳
Renewed love:
“I don’t need essays or poems or novels. I just need you.” 💗💞💖💕
And the best thing of all, because Lane is the greatest treasure:
“Wait. A library?”
“Yeah, a library. We can get you a cosy reading chair for the corner so you can see out the window and a good lamp for the winter. I could probably put in a window seat too,” I said, trying to work out how difficult it would be for me to build one. “Then we can do you floor-to-ceiling bookcases, maybe with one of those ladders. I can make it go around the corners too.” 😍🫠🥰
I have to start by saying that I spent my honeymoon in Yorkshire and just absolutely love this countryside. So the book was already a 5 star thing after the first three sentences.
Then it's also so well written and all the characters are interesting enough and didn't annoy me. Then there are the two main characters who are insanely adorable and really well portrayed. Oh dear, and then it's a second chance story, which I don't really like, but it's so well done and really so amazingly relatable and with no added silly melodrama that I just floated through it.
So, I'm sorry, but it's one of the best books this year for me. I just love everything about this story, from the sweet old dog, to the cottage renovation, the surprisingly spicy sex scenes and especially the careful emotional approaches and the heartbreaking pain of Oliver and Lane that comes out of the pages perfectly.
As for the sex scenes, a little warning: they are, as I said, surprisingly kinky, not too much so, but I imagine it won't be to everyone's taste: there's a bit of spanking, felching, exhibitionism and possessiveness. There's just a touch of everything, the two of them are just following their spontaneous inclinations. So in no way a smutty book.
The awakening of the love and getting to know each other again and making decisions is in the spotlight, as are friendships and small-town life.
The dog:
Sparrow stretched and slid off the sofa before ambling over to me. While her hearing these days was definitely selective, anything vaguely related to food was always of interest, and she was still sneaky enough to steal sandwiches from unattended lunch boxes. 🤭
Regrets:
“I always thought I didn’t want to see Oliver again. Ever. But now… I don’t know. I just feel kinda sad? We were friends for so long, and I loved him so much, and we just threw it away because we were eighteen and angry and scared. I lost the one person I could talk to about anything, the one who was always there for me, and now I think I regret how it all went down.” 💔😢💔
The kiss:
Time melted away as if the past nine years had suddenly become inconsequential. I knew things would never go back to the way they were because too much had changed, but in that moment, none of that mattered. The kiss felt like coming home. Lane’s tongue brushed against the seam of my lips, and I melted against him, letting out a soft moan. I parted my lips, and his tongue teased mine, taking our kiss from something soft and tender to something that consumed me. 🫠🫠🫠
An agreement?
“I can’t offer breakfast in bed, but I can offer to eat your ass until you beg for more. I can strip away the troubles of your day and make you forget your own name. And I can fill your nights with dreams so sweet you’ll never want to wake up.” 😳😳😳
Renewed love:
“I don’t need essays or poems or novels. I just need you.” 💗💞💖💕
And the best thing of all, because Lane is the greatest treasure:
“Wait. A library?”
“Yeah, a library. We can get you a cosy reading chair for the corner so you can see out the window and a good lamp for the winter. I could probably put in a window seat too,” I said, trying to work out how difficult it would be for me to build one. “Then we can do you floor-to-ceiling bookcases, maybe with one of those ladders. I can make it go around the corners too.” 😍🫠🥰
April 24, 2023
This is a cozy second-chance romance with a hefty dose of steam. No angst, no drama, no miscommunication, just an easy comfort read.
I got a bit bored toward the end and found the constant presence of the secondary characters annoying. Talk about a future MC dump.
I got a bit bored toward the end and found the constant presence of the secondary characters annoying. Talk about a future MC dump.
February 11, 2024
I want a Lane!! In my opinion, it's not true love unless they're willing to build you a library complete with rolling ladder. That's the bar and I refuse to lower my expectations 😂
I'm loving this series and it's really making me want to plan a seaside trip.
I'm loving this series and it's really making me want to plan a seaside trip.
August 6, 2022
So let's be honest. As soon as I saw this cover I knew that I would read this book. No questions asked. It's gorgeous.
With that said this was an ok read. For a second chance romance it was low on the drama. Like really low and when Lane and Oliver got together. That was it. They were together again. And while part of me loved that there was no 80% breakup or anything like that I found myself a little bored at times. It was sweet though and I'll for sure check out the other books in the series.
With that said this was an ok read. For a second chance romance it was low on the drama. Like really low and when Lane and Oliver got together. That was it. They were together again. And while part of me loved that there was no 80% breakup or anything like that I found myself a little bored at times. It was sweet though and I'll for sure check out the other books in the series.
July 24, 2022
Another lovely romance from Charlie
I find Charlie Novak's romances to be just the right blend of low angst with a touch of spicy light kink to satisfy my needs.
Here we have a lovely second chance romance between two men who'd been together as teenagers and had an acrimonious split aged 18 when university separated them.
It's an intriguing mix of reminiscing about their past and their current attraction which is obviously still strong from the moment they see each other again.
We've briefly been introduced to this new series with the free novella that's available in the Your Book Boyfriend's Boyfriend Prolific Works giveaway.
In that we met Bastion and Anders and they also appear here as Oliver is Anders' editor. I also liked the Easter Egg references to Charlie's other series', showing that this is all within the same universe.
It looks like we might be getting a sort of crossover with the Roll for Love series and I'm so here for that.
My only minor criticism, and it's more an observation really, as a Yorkshire gal, is that this book doesn't really 'feel' specifically geographical.
It's a made up place but clearly based on and around the sea coast of the Yorkshire Moors, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay etc.
But none of the characters speak with anything remotely close to the dialect of that area and while the town descriptions are wonderfully detailed, again they don't have anything uniquely Yorkshire to them.
This doesn't detract from the story narrative itself, as Oliver and Lane's chemistry is on point and as they reconnect physically with some hot sex, they also grow closer emotionally.
But it just made me feel like it was missing an element of place to give it that grounding. As the series goes on though, I'm hoping we'll begin to see more of that location and feeling develop.
I'm very much looking forward to the next one though as it seems like we could be getting a bisexual awakening coupled with a brother's best friend trope!
I'm sure as the series progresses it'll become as grounded in its location as Charlie's other books did in theirs.
I find Charlie Novak's romances to be just the right blend of low angst with a touch of spicy light kink to satisfy my needs.
Here we have a lovely second chance romance between two men who'd been together as teenagers and had an acrimonious split aged 18 when university separated them.
It's an intriguing mix of reminiscing about their past and their current attraction which is obviously still strong from the moment they see each other again.
We've briefly been introduced to this new series with the free novella that's available in the Your Book Boyfriend's Boyfriend Prolific Works giveaway.
In that we met Bastion and Anders and they also appear here as Oliver is Anders' editor. I also liked the Easter Egg references to Charlie's other series', showing that this is all within the same universe.
It looks like we might be getting a sort of crossover with the Roll for Love series and I'm so here for that.
My only minor criticism, and it's more an observation really, as a Yorkshire gal, is that this book doesn't really 'feel' specifically geographical.
It's a made up place but clearly based on and around the sea coast of the Yorkshire Moors, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay etc.
But none of the characters speak with anything remotely close to the dialect of that area and while the town descriptions are wonderfully detailed, again they don't have anything uniquely Yorkshire to them.
This doesn't detract from the story narrative itself, as Oliver and Lane's chemistry is on point and as they reconnect physically with some hot sex, they also grow closer emotionally.
But it just made me feel like it was missing an element of place to give it that grounding. As the series goes on though, I'm hoping we'll begin to see more of that location and feeling develop.
I'm very much looking forward to the next one though as it seems like we could be getting a bisexual awakening coupled with a brother's best friend trope!
I'm sure as the series progresses it'll become as grounded in its location as Charlie's other books did in theirs.
August 1, 2022
Second chance romance with low angst
August 8, 2022
I just loved this book. I always love a good second chance book and I loved how this one was low angst and how they easily fit together again. This was just so lovely for me to read about and I really really enjoyed it.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
February 16, 2023
Przyzwoicie słodka, całkowicie przeciętna i taka cholernie nuuuudna 🥱
Wszystko było płaskie jak naleśnik, choć przyznaję, że naleśnik ma chyba jednak więcej osobowości, niż główni bohaterowie razem wzięci 😉
Wszystko było płaskie jak naleśnik, choć przyznaję, że naleśnik ma chyba jednak więcej osobowości, niż główni bohaterowie razem wzięci 😉
January 28, 2025
“I really love your cock. It feels so fucking good when you fill me up.”
3.75⭐
I do love me a nice little second chance romance. This one is a super simple, very fast paced low to no angst second chance romance. Everything seems to happen so fast in this short book, there was really no real struggle or drama, even though a big fight had happened between them so long ago. Like the characters themselves had said in the book, Lane and Oliver, it was like no time had passed once they were back in each other's lives. They just picked up where they started so long ago. I kind of would of loved to see more about their past. I mean we got snipites of it from their talks, but I wanted full blown flash backs because it was a friends to lovers thing and you know that is my favorite. I feel like everything just was super easy with this, and it left no room for me to have to be that emotionally invested in them, which is why I cant seem to bring myself to give them 4 stars. Like I wanted to love them, and yeah they are great together and Lane is super cool, but like I needed more depth to them to be fully on board and invested in their story. This was just basically a hallmark movie about two men coming back together, which is all good and shit. If you are into happy ever after, no drama stuff this will be right up your alley. I just personally need a little more dramatics or emotional connection for my 4+ stars. Either way it was a really good read and seems like a good series to read when you are looking for a little bit of sunshine.
3.75⭐
I do love me a nice little second chance romance. This one is a super simple, very fast paced low to no angst second chance romance. Everything seems to happen so fast in this short book, there was really no real struggle or drama, even though a big fight had happened between them so long ago. Like the characters themselves had said in the book, Lane and Oliver, it was like no time had passed once they were back in each other's lives. They just picked up where they started so long ago. I kind of would of loved to see more about their past. I mean we got snipites of it from their talks, but I wanted full blown flash backs because it was a friends to lovers thing and you know that is my favorite. I feel like everything just was super easy with this, and it left no room for me to have to be that emotionally invested in them, which is why I cant seem to bring myself to give them 4 stars. Like I wanted to love them, and yeah they are great together and Lane is super cool, but like I needed more depth to them to be fully on board and invested in their story. This was just basically a hallmark movie about two men coming back together, which is all good and shit. If you are into happy ever after, no drama stuff this will be right up your alley. I just personally need a little more dramatics or emotional connection for my 4+ stars. Either way it was a really good read and seems like a good series to read when you are looking for a little bit of sunshine.
October 5, 2023
Second Chances In Heather Bay
OMG, I’ve had a few of this series sitting in my TBR and this is the first one I’ve read. Why did I wait so long? I just loved this one, such an easy, steamy read and what a terrific bunch of Yorkshire Lads to have as your best friends. Very happy to know that a few of these Yorkshire Lads will get their own stories.
Oliver and Lane had been best friends since they were in Kindergarten, at 14 Oliver told Lane he was gay and that he liked him, and Lane was thrilled to bits. It didn’t take them long to be in the thick of a hot, steamy relationship. There was no hiding about them, their parents knew they had always been inseparable.
When Oliver decided to go away to Uni, Lane was very upset and they had a big fight and with harsh words ringing in his ears, Oliver left never to return.
Nine years later, Oliver’s Nan has died and she left her B&B cottage to him as her only grandchild. He’s come back for the Summer to arrange renovations and repairs to the cottage to prepare it for sale. He will work from home there as a Book Editor and return to London when the place is sold.
When the builders turn up to start work on Monday morning Oliver he is shocked to find Lane standing there in all his builders paraphernalia.
When he had a few minutes to think about the situation Oliver knows his mother has had a hand in this. She was the one who hired Lane’s fathers company to carry out the work and deliberately didn’t tell him. She just upped and went on a 3-month holiday with his stepfather.
*****************
Can’t decide which of the guys, Oliver or Lane, is the most adorable, maybe Oliver, but Lane is just such a fabulous boyfriend. I liked that there was no real animosity between them when they were faced with their situation on Oliver’s return. They dealt with stuff quickly, knowing that lack of proper communication had been the crux of their breakup years ago.
If ‘Like I Promised’ as Book 1 in the Heather Bay series is anything to go by, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens among Lane and Oliver’s friends in this ongoing series.
OMG, I’ve had a few of this series sitting in my TBR and this is the first one I’ve read. Why did I wait so long? I just loved this one, such an easy, steamy read and what a terrific bunch of Yorkshire Lads to have as your best friends. Very happy to know that a few of these Yorkshire Lads will get their own stories.
Oliver and Lane had been best friends since they were in Kindergarten, at 14 Oliver told Lane he was gay and that he liked him, and Lane was thrilled to bits. It didn’t take them long to be in the thick of a hot, steamy relationship. There was no hiding about them, their parents knew they had always been inseparable.
When Oliver decided to go away to Uni, Lane was very upset and they had a big fight and with harsh words ringing in his ears, Oliver left never to return.
Nine years later, Oliver’s Nan has died and she left her B&B cottage to him as her only grandchild. He’s come back for the Summer to arrange renovations and repairs to the cottage to prepare it for sale. He will work from home there as a Book Editor and return to London when the place is sold.
When the builders turn up to start work on Monday morning Oliver he is shocked to find Lane standing there in all his builders paraphernalia.
When he had a few minutes to think about the situation Oliver knows his mother has had a hand in this. She was the one who hired Lane’s fathers company to carry out the work and deliberately didn’t tell him. She just upped and went on a 3-month holiday with his stepfather.
*****************
Can’t decide which of the guys, Oliver or Lane, is the most adorable, maybe Oliver, but Lane is just such a fabulous boyfriend. I liked that there was no real animosity between them when they were faced with their situation on Oliver’s return. They dealt with stuff quickly, knowing that lack of proper communication had been the crux of their breakup years ago.
If ‘Like I Promised’ as Book 1 in the Heather Bay series is anything to go by, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens among Lane and Oliver’s friends in this ongoing series.
February 10, 2025
Falling for my childhood sweetheart wasn’t part of the plan. Moving back to Heather Bay wasn’t on Oliver’s agenda for the summer, but after inheriting a cottage in dire need of renovation he doesn’t have much choice.
Oliver is an editor, who inherits his grandmother's home, and his ex-high school sweetheart, Lane, is hired to fix up the house. If you like second chance romances, and don't mind a same sex couple, this is a good one.
I liked the casual "queerness" of it, and how it was both about these two and their love story, but also about this group of gay friends that Oliver joins up with...with the help and encouragement of Lane. These two reconnect very quickly, but it felt realistic since they had been high school sweethearts. They were just picking up where they had left off and it seemed that they easily fell again into that "special something" that they had always had. They were so considerate of one another's feelings, but never at the expensive of their own. In spite of the huge life decisions, they each had to make, you could easily tell that they wanted each other to be happy.
It's a really warm sweet story.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Oliver is an editor, who inherits his grandmother's home, and his ex-high school sweetheart, Lane, is hired to fix up the house. If you like second chance romances, and don't mind a same sex couple, this is a good one.
I liked the casual "queerness" of it, and how it was both about these two and their love story, but also about this group of gay friends that Oliver joins up with...with the help and encouragement of Lane. These two reconnect very quickly, but it felt realistic since they had been high school sweethearts. They were just picking up where they had left off and it seemed that they easily fell again into that "special something" that they had always had. They were so considerate of one another's feelings, but never at the expensive of their own. In spite of the huge life decisions, they each had to make, you could easily tell that they wanted each other to be happy.
It's a really warm sweet story.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
July 30, 2024
Absolutely loved this. So good. And such a well done second chance romance. I truly enjoyed everything about it.
I will say though- there are so many side characters and by the end I still hadn’t figured out which one is which. They all got mixed up to me.
I will say though- there are so many side characters and by the end I still hadn’t figured out which one is which. They all got mixed up to me.
April 5, 2023
2.75 STARS
Very forgettable but overall pleasant. I read it only a week ago but couldn’t for the life if me remember anything that happened until I read the blurb and some other reviews.
Unoriginal, cute, hallmark-esque. Non-problematic. It wasn't a waste of time but it wasn't anything worth remembering either.
I like those tropes a lot, here, they were done correctly, but without any flare, or adding much originality or personality.
Very forgettable but overall pleasant. I read it only a week ago but couldn’t for the life if me remember anything that happened until I read the blurb and some other reviews.
Unoriginal, cute, hallmark-esque. Non-problematic. It wasn't a waste of time but it wasn't anything worth remembering either.
I like those tropes a lot, here, they were done correctly, but without any flare, or adding much originality or personality.
November 14, 2022
3.75 stars - A very solid second chance romance where you could sort of see how they lost their way. Nothing that knocked me out, but very cozy and comfy. My favorite parts were them working on the cottage together and making a home (awww).
July 23, 2022
Like I Promised was excellent!! Like I Promised is the beginning of Heather Bay series. Oliver has no choice but to move back to Heather Bay to supervise the renovation of a cottage he inherited. Lane is in charge of the renovation and was once Oliver’s childhood best friend and boyfriend. This was a fantastic second chance, low angst with fantastic high heat romance. Overall, fantastic!! Well written, highly recommend!
August 13, 2022
Charlie finally released the first book in the Heather Bay series. It was introduced in a delightful little nugget, Like I Pictured (Bastian and Anders, so lovely!). We get the journey of Oliver and Lane, the one who left and the one who stayed, respectively. I adore most of Charlie's stories but this just was only good for me. Our MC's have been apart 9 years because of miscommunication when they were young and stupid. Oliver returns to deal with his beloved grandparents house/estate and Lane is the contractor who must repair the house, unbeknownst to Oliver. Heather Bay is a wonderful ocean side little town. They have a wonderful circle of friends. So why not more stars? Ugh, I wanted more angst, difficult reconciliations, friends refusing to forgive. 9 years, I just felt the story needed more. It was just too easy. And really, the chemistry was not there. The sexy times were there but normally Charlie's Sexy Times are burn the sheets hot, the glance across the room, the hands clasped on the pillow. Oliver and Land were a flickering flame. However, the extra newsletter story is a straight up five stars. I smiled all the way through. I really need Theo and Laurie's story but we are getting Spencer and Noah's first! And Will, can he please get with a certain peripheral character from other stories who really needs a HEA.
July 23, 2022
Well written, likeable MCs and side characters. It's just nothing really happens in this book - they literally say they missed each other, have lots of sex and decide to give the relationship another go - I was a bit bored.
January 14, 2023
Boring…. A top, a bottom ….
No inspiration. Dull, rushed.
No inspiration. Dull, rushed.
April 8, 2024
4,25⭐️
Who doesn’t love a beautiful second chance story. Oliver and Lane were childhood best friends turned to lovers until their infamous fight and then break up before Oliver left for uni. 9 years later Oliver is back to Heather Bah to monitor the work done on his grandmother’s cottage - and surprised the site manager is Lane.
When an old flame is brought back to life, they realise that they’re missing what they shared and that they always loved each other.
Beautiful story and reunion of two lovers who were made for each other.
Who doesn’t love a beautiful second chance story. Oliver and Lane were childhood best friends turned to lovers until their infamous fight and then break up before Oliver left for uni. 9 years later Oliver is back to Heather Bah to monitor the work done on his grandmother’s cottage - and surprised the site manager is Lane.
When an old flame is brought back to life, they realise that they’re missing what they shared and that they always loved each other.
Beautiful story and reunion of two lovers who were made for each other.
November 23, 2024
I enjoyed listening to this. I love Charlie Novak’s writing, perhaps mostly because of all the British references that are so familiar. I also love Dan Calley’s narration, again perhaps for similar reasons.
The story itself was really easy to listen to - practically angst free, very sweet with a fair amount of spice. Cute characters and some hints to who will be next in the series.
Best line of the book…
‘Where is my copious amount of on screen period drama p**is?’
🤣
The story itself was really easy to listen to - practically angst free, very sweet with a fair amount of spice. Cute characters and some hints to who will be next in the series.
Best line of the book…
‘Where is my copious amount of on screen period drama p**is?’
🤣
February 19, 2023
I had no idea this was related to the Roll For Love series--and didn't until the very end. Still, this was a cute story. Honestly I'm surprised I stuck with it, though. I'm kind of very done on second-chance romances. They've never been my favorite and every other book I pick up seems to have it.
September 6, 2024
3,75⭐️
I’m usually not a fan of second chances, but this one was nice and fun.
And no third act breakup!! Yeah!!
I’m usually not a fan of second chances, but this one was nice and fun.
And no third act breakup!! Yeah!!
July 20, 2022
Like I Promised is the first book in the Heather Bay series by Charlie Novak. This book is about Lane and Oliver. Moving back to Heather Bay wasn't in Oliver's plan. Lane spent 9 years trying to forget Oliver and now he's back.....
I loved their story. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.
I loved their story. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.
Read
October 19, 20242.5 Stars
Read
December 5, 2022Childhood friends to lovers in a small town will always be a favorite for me. Oliver and Lane were best friends and each other's firsts, until Oliver moved away for college and everything blew up. The two haven't talked in years but when Oliver goes back to Heather Bay to oversee the remodel of his late grandma's bed and breakfast, the last person he expects to be doing the remodel is Lane.
The two reconnect fairly early on in the story and try and do some sort of sex only deal and obviously that doesn't work. I do really like the small town of Heather Bay and the atmosphere we're getting and I'm super excited for the next book in the series.
Reread via audio December 2022
The two reconnect fairly early on in the story and try and do some sort of sex only deal and obviously that doesn't work. I do really like the small town of Heather Bay and the atmosphere we're getting and I'm super excited for the next book in the series.
Reread via audio December 2022
Read
January 24, 2025stalled out at 30%. For me to enjoy a 2nd chance, I prefer some form of building up to the rekindling.
*Spoilers (mildly vague)*
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Do I love that both MC’s were open and willing to move forward without exaggerated pining/resentment but going from “oops I’m sorry for the 9 years of radio silence oh btw want to fork my buns?” during the first acknowledgment convo? Not my style. I’m sure there’s some kind of angst or problem solving further along but I prefer the forking to happen after some hard work.
Maybe I’ll finish it. Or skim to the finish when bored. But I NEEEEEEED a slump-killer ASAP.
*Spoilers (mildly vague)*
.
.
.
.
.
.
Do I love that both MC’s were open and willing to move forward without exaggerated pining/resentment but going from “oops I’m sorry for the 9 years of radio silence oh btw want to fork my buns?” during the first acknowledgment convo? Not my style. I’m sure there’s some kind of angst or problem solving further along but I prefer the forking to happen after some hard work.
Maybe I’ll finish it. Or skim to the finish when bored. But I NEEEEEEED a slump-killer ASAP.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2025
Well, I absolutely adored this book start to finish. But the problem with that is that now I know I won’t love any of the rest of the series anywhere near this. When I get this feeling about a book it’s all downhill for me for the rest of a series usually (not that it’ll be bad at all, but I know the rest won’t ever measure up for me personally, and I’ve yet to be wrong because it’s just generally how my brain works unfortunately). I would love reading a whole series about Lane and Oliver but I know we can’t.
Anyway, I adored both MCs, the bayside town, the friends, the romance, the sex scenes, the emotional scenes, all of it. It was sweet and fun and cozy and I just loved it!
Oliver is a 27 year old cis white gay man. He’s a book editor and lives in London. He had several other boyfriends over the years but none ever felt like Lane. He’s considerate, practical, and kind. He’s a bit cautious. He has a slim runner’s build, he’s 6’ 2” and is a few inches taller than Lane. He comes back to Heather Bay because he inherited his grandma’s house (it’s called a cottage but it has 6 bedrooms). He left for college 9 years ago and never came back. He dated Lane in high school but things ended when Lane became scared of Oliver leaving and broke up with him and Oliver was too hurt and scared to talk about it further after that. He’s hesitant when he returns, but his feeling return full force especially when he realize Lane never stopped loving him either.
Lane is a 27 year old cis white bisexual man. He works in construction and is also a contractor. He’s had plenty of casual sex and relationships since his breakup with Oliver, but hasn’t wanted anything serious since with any man or even with women. He realizes he’s been pining for Oliver all these years. When Oliver comes back, he tries to dislike him and fails miserably (he ends up banging Oliver over the kitchen counter and asking him to kind of move in), but isn’t that worried about it. He’s sometimes a bit impulsive, but very loyal and supportive.
I loved how loving and supportive these two were with each other, even when they didn’t realize they both had feelings for one another still. They’d cook for each other, check on each other, help renovate houses for each other. It was just so sweet. This kind of thing can usually get schmoopy or even creepy with second chance romance, but this author did a very nice job keeping it so fun and engaging. I also loved that both MCs were complete out and open and comfortable about their sexualities.
Contains:
—gay mc, bi mc, and a lot of queer male side characters
—second chances
—friends to lovers to enemies to friends with benefits to lovers
—cozy vibes
—small town
—almost toppy bullshit
—first in a series
—home renovation
—past death of a grandparent
Other:
—third person dual POV
—cheating: no
—romantic rival: no
—breakup: only before the book. No breakup during the book.
—kids: no
—sex: yes. There are a couple explicit open door sex scenes. Mild d/s vibes (nothing formal, no BDSM). Service top Lane (he gets off on getting his partners off). Strict roles - Lane tops and Oliver bottoms.
—HEA: yes
Lane pressed a kiss to my shoulder, which felt oddly tender and made something in my chest catch. It felt different from everything we’d just done, but I couldn’t say why. Lane pulled out slowly, then gave a low hum of delight. I felt cum start to leak from my hole, and Lane ran his finger slowly down my spine to the top of my cleft.
“Remember, Oliver, I like spoiling you, and I like making you happy. That doesn’t just apply to our bedroom. It applies to our whole life. So please, let me do this for you.”
“Breathe, Oliver,” I added. “It’s going to be fine. You’ve got your job and the house. The rest is just details.”
“You missed the most important thing,” he said. “I’ve got you.”
Even when I’d tried to deny it, deep down I’d always known it was going to be Oliver. He was the other half of my heart and soul, the one person who made me feel whole.
And I promised myself I was never going to let him slip away from me again.
Anyway, I adored both MCs, the bayside town, the friends, the romance, the sex scenes, the emotional scenes, all of it. It was sweet and fun and cozy and I just loved it!
Oliver is a 27 year old cis white gay man. He’s a book editor and lives in London. He had several other boyfriends over the years but none ever felt like Lane. He’s considerate, practical, and kind. He’s a bit cautious. He has a slim runner’s build, he’s 6’ 2” and is a few inches taller than Lane. He comes back to Heather Bay because he inherited his grandma’s house (it’s called a cottage but it has 6 bedrooms). He left for college 9 years ago and never came back. He dated Lane in high school but things ended when Lane became scared of Oliver leaving and broke up with him and Oliver was too hurt and scared to talk about it further after that. He’s hesitant when he returns, but his feeling return full force especially when he realize Lane never stopped loving him either.
Lane is a 27 year old cis white bisexual man. He works in construction and is also a contractor. He’s had plenty of casual sex and relationships since his breakup with Oliver, but hasn’t wanted anything serious since with any man or even with women. He realizes he’s been pining for Oliver all these years. When Oliver comes back, he tries to dislike him and fails miserably (he ends up banging Oliver over the kitchen counter and asking him to kind of move in), but isn’t that worried about it. He’s sometimes a bit impulsive, but very loyal and supportive.
I loved how loving and supportive these two were with each other, even when they didn’t realize they both had feelings for one another still. They’d cook for each other, check on each other, help renovate houses for each other. It was just so sweet. This kind of thing can usually get schmoopy or even creepy with second chance romance, but this author did a very nice job keeping it so fun and engaging. I also loved that both MCs were complete out and open and comfortable about their sexualities.
Contains:
—gay mc, bi mc, and a lot of queer male side characters
—second chances
—friends to lovers to enemies to friends with benefits to lovers
—cozy vibes
—small town
—almost toppy bullshit
—first in a series
—home renovation
—past death of a grandparent
Other:
—third person dual POV
—cheating: no
—romantic rival: no
—breakup: only before the book. No breakup during the book.
—kids: no
—sex: yes. There are a couple explicit open door sex scenes. Mild d/s vibes (nothing formal, no BDSM). Service top Lane (he gets off on getting his partners off). Strict roles - Lane tops and Oliver bottoms.
—HEA: yes
Lane pressed a kiss to my shoulder, which felt oddly tender and made something in my chest catch. It felt different from everything we’d just done, but I couldn’t say why. Lane pulled out slowly, then gave a low hum of delight. I felt cum start to leak from my hole, and Lane ran his finger slowly down my spine to the top of my cleft.
“Remember, Oliver, I like spoiling you, and I like making you happy. That doesn’t just apply to our bedroom. It applies to our whole life. So please, let me do this for you.”
“Breathe, Oliver,” I added. “It’s going to be fine. You’ve got your job and the house. The rest is just details.”
“You missed the most important thing,” he said. “I’ve got you.”
Even when I’d tried to deny it, deep down I’d always known it was going to be Oliver. He was the other half of my heart and soul, the one person who made me feel whole.
And I promised myself I was never going to let him slip away from me again.
July 21, 2022
I don’t review much contemporary romance anymore, but certain authors will always be an exception. Novak is one of them because she always manages the perfect blend of comfort reading, a surprising amount of spice, and characters I want to know more about. It’s not necessary to read the novella that introduces readers to Heather Bay before starting this book (though I do recommend it), because this full-length novel does an excellent job of sucking us into the town and this series’ featured cast of friends. Everything is wrapped up in the familiar trope of a second-chance romance without many twists, but Novak’s lovely storytelling and unique characters never made me feel like I’d read a version of this book before.
How they encounter each other comes as a surprise to both Lane and Oliver right at the beginning of the story. Every bit of the angst expected from teenagers accompanied the end to their first relationship, but I immediately loved that neither man brought that drama into the present day. Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but it did give each of them the chance to put events into perspective. Thus, they are perfectly capable now of both being civil to each other and reminiscing about the past. The way this draws them together is expected, especially since neither is in denial about the mutual attraction that still exists. However, Novak hits the accelerator with the steam, using a low-key power exchange element to show that, if anything, Lane and Oliver are even more compatible as adults who have experienced time apart.
Neither man is particularly interested in hitting the brakes, even if they both acknowledge privately that indulging in this reconnection has the chance to blow up in their faces and leave even more hurt in its wake. This book could have been packed with angst, but Novak instead focuses on how an unknown future can cause heartache rather than active conflict. I assumed that the dark moment would end up being a typical “will he or won’t he stay?” but Novak doesn’t go that route. Ironically, the lack of angst made the progression of their relationship more interesting to me—even if their future together was not in question, I had no idea how it could look.
I was originally bummed to be leaving behind the lovely expanded universe Novak has already created in previous trilogies, but she doesn’t totally abandon her ability to drop the best sort of cameos. I already look forward to seeing at least one familiar face in a future book, but even better, I’m already totally invested in the potential romances teased by new friends in Heather Bay.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
How they encounter each other comes as a surprise to both Lane and Oliver right at the beginning of the story. Every bit of the angst expected from teenagers accompanied the end to their first relationship, but I immediately loved that neither man brought that drama into the present day. Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but it did give each of them the chance to put events into perspective. Thus, they are perfectly capable now of both being civil to each other and reminiscing about the past. The way this draws them together is expected, especially since neither is in denial about the mutual attraction that still exists. However, Novak hits the accelerator with the steam, using a low-key power exchange element to show that, if anything, Lane and Oliver are even more compatible as adults who have experienced time apart.
Neither man is particularly interested in hitting the brakes, even if they both acknowledge privately that indulging in this reconnection has the chance to blow up in their faces and leave even more hurt in its wake. This book could have been packed with angst, but Novak instead focuses on how an unknown future can cause heartache rather than active conflict. I assumed that the dark moment would end up being a typical “will he or won’t he stay?” but Novak doesn’t go that route. Ironically, the lack of angst made the progression of their relationship more interesting to me—even if their future together was not in question, I had no idea how it could look.
I was originally bummed to be leaving behind the lovely expanded universe Novak has already created in previous trilogies, but she doesn’t totally abandon her ability to drop the best sort of cameos. I already look forward to seeing at least one familiar face in a future book, but even better, I’m already totally invested in the potential romances teased by new friends in Heather Bay.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
August 11, 2023
sweet second chance for love story
Rating: 4.5🌈
In Heather Bay, Charlie Novak has the beginnings of a truly lovely, location centric contemporary romance series. The location itself, a historic community, complete with castle, on the cliffs of Heather Bay, is rich in scenic beauty and steeped in the aged community buildings and families.
The first story has a base of two old childhood friends and first loves whose romance was broken apart by the doubts and fears of their teenage years and stress of one headed off to college in York. The death of a beloved grandmother, the need to renovate the cottage inherited by the grandson that left for college and rarely returned, yields up a warmhearted, beautifully written romance. One that’s about second chances and the joy of finding comfort in coming home to the friends and lover you’ve always known yourself to have been missing.
The characters, the close circle of unique personalities that make up old childhood friendships and new members to this tight group, are so well defined. We feel like we know them at the end.
I enjoy a romance where the author takes an adult approach to a relationship. Here the men acknowledge early on that the anguish caused each other by their actions years ago was primarily due to their teenage fears , lack of communication that each was responsible for.
How refreshing. They talk as adults as their friends advise them to and move on. Love this.
Low angst? Yes. But does it make sense or make the storytelling less engaging? No. There’s plenty of elements here to keep the reader interested and invested in their lives and that of the community.
I especially thought that of Oliver’s work, and trying to see if he could get his company to agree to a different work environment was on point of discussions these days. And Lane’s issues with his contractors felt pretty realistic and grounded him firmly within his profession and his crew.
I could picture these men, this small community of people so clearly because Novak has made them such a great compelling center for emotional history and a wealth of relationships going forward.
I’m really excited to see where this series goes next. I’m highly recommending it !
Heather Bay series :
Like I Promised #1
Like I Wished #2
Like I Needed #3
Like I Pretended #4
Like I Wanted #5 - Sept 28,2023
Rating: 4.5🌈
In Heather Bay, Charlie Novak has the beginnings of a truly lovely, location centric contemporary romance series. The location itself, a historic community, complete with castle, on the cliffs of Heather Bay, is rich in scenic beauty and steeped in the aged community buildings and families.
The first story has a base of two old childhood friends and first loves whose romance was broken apart by the doubts and fears of their teenage years and stress of one headed off to college in York. The death of a beloved grandmother, the need to renovate the cottage inherited by the grandson that left for college and rarely returned, yields up a warmhearted, beautifully written romance. One that’s about second chances and the joy of finding comfort in coming home to the friends and lover you’ve always known yourself to have been missing.
The characters, the close circle of unique personalities that make up old childhood friendships and new members to this tight group, are so well defined. We feel like we know them at the end.
I enjoy a romance where the author takes an adult approach to a relationship. Here the men acknowledge early on that the anguish caused each other by their actions years ago was primarily due to their teenage fears , lack of communication that each was responsible for.
How refreshing. They talk as adults as their friends advise them to and move on. Love this.
Low angst? Yes. But does it make sense or make the storytelling less engaging? No. There’s plenty of elements here to keep the reader interested and invested in their lives and that of the community.
I especially thought that of Oliver’s work, and trying to see if he could get his company to agree to a different work environment was on point of discussions these days. And Lane’s issues with his contractors felt pretty realistic and grounded him firmly within his profession and his crew.
I could picture these men, this small community of people so clearly because Novak has made them such a great compelling center for emotional history and a wealth of relationships going forward.
I’m really excited to see where this series goes next. I’m highly recommending it !
Heather Bay series :
Like I Promised #1
Like I Wished #2
Like I Needed #3
Like I Pretended #4
Like I Wanted #5 - Sept 28,2023
September 22, 2023
A contemporary m/m with a second chance romance of childhood sweethearts.
Oliver Campbell hasn't been back to Heather Bay since he left for school. Since he ended up in a massive fight with the love of his life, Lane Turner and they split up.
Lane Turner has never been able to move past Oliver Campbell. His first friend, his first love and his first heartbreak. But when Oliver returns to town to renovate his newly inherited home, all the feelings come back.
I'm not a huge fan of second chance romance but I was pleasantly surprised by this. I felt like nine years was a bit too long to forgo speaking to each other when they'd been such good friends, let alone dating, but it was tolerable.
I really liked Lane and Oliver together. The connection between them was electric. There was so much chemistry when they were together they pretty much jumped off the page. I loved the history between the two and how they just fell into their friendship so easily. The little anecdotes into their school years were amusing.
That said I was annoyed by the drama in their relationship. I would've liked for them to sit down and actually talk about how things went wrong instead of the skimming over it they kind of did. There was supposedly a fight and then they just never speak again for nine years. It felt unrealistic. I mean, why didn't Oliver keep in touch with the rest of his friends? His entire life was in Heather Bay - how could he possibly walk out on all of it with no communication? Plus his mother was still there. If she encouraged it (Oliver going away for uni) - didn't she also encourage him to speak to Lane? I mean advising your kid to reach for their dreams is great and all but it doesn't mean much if they're miserable af.
The other thing that irritated me was the mention of Oliver's partner at the start that apparently died? It was either entirely unnecessary or needed a hell of a lot more detail. I mean I'm glad it was completely ignored and had no bearing on the plot - but also it had no bearing on the plot so why bother including it at all?
I loved the friendship group the gang has and I'm glad I decided to begin with the first book. I almost didn't but I love found/chosen families and this was perfect. I don't think I would've missed anything by not starting with this book but it sets up the various relationships and friendship group.
Overall an easy relatively low angst read with lots of romance, steam and laughter. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
Oliver Campbell hasn't been back to Heather Bay since he left for school. Since he ended up in a massive fight with the love of his life, Lane Turner and they split up.
Lane Turner has never been able to move past Oliver Campbell. His first friend, his first love and his first heartbreak. But when Oliver returns to town to renovate his newly inherited home, all the feelings come back.
I'm not a huge fan of second chance romance but I was pleasantly surprised by this. I felt like nine years was a bit too long to forgo speaking to each other when they'd been such good friends, let alone dating, but it was tolerable.
I really liked Lane and Oliver together. The connection between them was electric. There was so much chemistry when they were together they pretty much jumped off the page. I loved the history between the two and how they just fell into their friendship so easily. The little anecdotes into their school years were amusing.
That said I was annoyed by the drama in their relationship. I would've liked for them to sit down and actually talk about how things went wrong instead of the skimming over it they kind of did. There was supposedly a fight and then they just never speak again for nine years. It felt unrealistic. I mean, why didn't Oliver keep in touch with the rest of his friends? His entire life was in Heather Bay - how could he possibly walk out on all of it with no communication? Plus his mother was still there. If she encouraged it (Oliver going away for uni) - didn't she also encourage him to speak to Lane? I mean advising your kid to reach for their dreams is great and all but it doesn't mean much if they're miserable af.
The other thing that irritated me was the mention of Oliver's partner at the start that apparently died? It was either entirely unnecessary or needed a hell of a lot more detail. I mean I'm glad it was completely ignored and had no bearing on the plot - but also it had no bearing on the plot so why bother including it at all?
I loved the friendship group the gang has and I'm glad I decided to begin with the first book. I almost didn't but I love found/chosen families and this was perfect. I don't think I would've missed anything by not starting with this book but it sets up the various relationships and friendship group.
Overall an easy relatively low angst read with lots of romance, steam and laughter. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
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