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Always #2
Hearts & Bones
Sequel to Amber Allure's #1 Best Seller Never Let Go...
For years Will McClaren and Ethan Gallagher hid their deepest desires from one another, each thinking the other was straight, both of them too afraid of shattering their friendship to admit their real feelings. Then, in a vulnerable moment, they discovered the truth and gave themselves over to an explosive passion that would forever alter their relationship.
But after only one night together, Ethan's secret life interfered and the two were torn apart for three long years. When at last Ethan returned, the two men had to overcome years of deceptions and tragic truths in order to heal their friendship and find the kind of love that lasts a lifetime.
For years Will McClaren and Ethan Gallagher hid their deepest desires from one another, each thinking the other was straight, both of them too afraid of shattering their friendship to admit their real feelings. Then, in a vulnerable moment, they discovered the truth and gave themselves over to an explosive passion that would forever alter their relationship.
But after only one night together, Ethan's secret life interfered and the two were torn apart for three long years. When at last Ethan returned, the two men had to overcome years of deceptions and tragic truths in order to heal their friendship and find the kind of love that lasts a lifetime.
But now, only a few weeks later, their hard-won peace and contentment is put to the test. Someone from Ethan's dark and dangerous past has returned to settle a vindictive score, luring Will and Ethan into a deadly game. When Will's caught in the crossfire and his very life is at stake, will Ethan be strong enough to overcome his debilitating fears and face down his old enemy? Or will this shadow from his past destroy the one man he's ever loved?
Gay / Contemporary / BDSM / Suspense / Thriller / Voyeurism / Exhibitionism / Public Places / Series
216 pages, ebook
First published September 1, 2007
About the author
M.L. Rhodes
42 books569 followersI’m author M.L. Rhodes and I write m/m romance and fantasy. This means my books are about gay or bisexual men meeting, falling in love, and finding happily-ever-afters with other men. Sometimes the settings are contemporary, sometimes the stories take place in worlds filled with dragons, witches, or other fantasy and paranormal creatures. But there’s one thing of which you can be certain…in my books, love always wins!
If you'd like to know more about me and writing, swing by my website when you have a few minutes! http://authormlrhodes.com
If you'd like to know more about me and writing, swing by my website when you have a few minutes! http://authormlrhodes.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 20, 2008
God this book was so good!! This is the sequel to "Never Let Go" and you have to read that before this one for it to make the most sense and have the most emotional impact.
Ethan and Will are finally together after years of being apart. They have been reconnecting over the last 4 weeks and making up for lost time. Blissfully happy, they are unaware at first when things start going missing...
Chalking it up to their lust for one another, the missing items dont register on their radar... until one day while Ethan is at a supposed "business meeting" in town, a man shows up, drugs and kidnaps Will, and leaves a note for Ethan.
In a panic, Ethan runs right home, into a trap! Ethan is also captured and he and Will are subjected to awful, horrendous treatment by a sadistic madman. They have to find a way to escape before one, or both of them is killed. Can they survive long enough to escape, and more importantly, will their relationship survive??
This book was frackin awesome!! ML Rhodes is one of my very favorite authors for a couple reasons. One; the sex scenes are amazing! Two; the emotion she can convey between her Heroes is the most intense of almost any other author I have ever read. The descriptions of love scenes and intense feelings are so realistic, its like you are right there with them. I highly recommend reading this book, but read "Never Let Go" first so that you can understand the back story of these two amazing heroes.
xoxo
Ethan and Will are finally together after years of being apart. They have been reconnecting over the last 4 weeks and making up for lost time. Blissfully happy, they are unaware at first when things start going missing...
Chalking it up to their lust for one another, the missing items dont register on their radar... until one day while Ethan is at a supposed "business meeting" in town, a man shows up, drugs and kidnaps Will, and leaves a note for Ethan.
In a panic, Ethan runs right home, into a trap! Ethan is also captured and he and Will are subjected to awful, horrendous treatment by a sadistic madman. They have to find a way to escape before one, or both of them is killed. Can they survive long enough to escape, and more importantly, will their relationship survive??
This book was frackin awesome!! ML Rhodes is one of my very favorite authors for a couple reasons. One; the sex scenes are amazing! Two; the emotion she can convey between her Heroes is the most intense of almost any other author I have ever read. The descriptions of love scenes and intense feelings are so realistic, its like you are right there with them. I highly recommend reading this book, but read "Never Let Go" first so that you can understand the back story of these two amazing heroes.
xoxo
January 22, 2013
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book. Mainly because what the story actually ended up being about wasn't what I was thinking. The writing I felt was on par with the first book, but again I thought the author did a good job in portraying the subject matter (which may be difficult for some people but not that bad for others to read). The story for what it was I didn't think was bad, but it was definitely not the romance and flowers sequel I was thinking it to be. If you liked the first one enough to want to followup on Will and Ethan's story, I see no reason why you couldn't pick this one up (unless you're sensitive to this kind of thing), but just understand that it isn't a romance.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book. Mainly because what the story actually ended up being about wasn't what I was thinking. The writing I felt was on par with the first book, but again I thought the author did a good job in portraying the subject matter (which may be difficult for some people but not that bad for others to read). The story for what it was I didn't think was bad, but it was definitely not the romance and flowers sequel I was thinking it to be. If you liked the first one enough to want to followup on Will and Ethan's story, I see no reason why you couldn't pick this one up (unless you're sensitive to this kind of thing), but just understand that it isn't a romance.
April 26, 2012
I love M.L. Rhodes' stuff but usually - this one was just too contrived to be enjoyable. Torture/pain/etc. have a place in storytelling but this did not work at all for me.
I knew what I was getting into when I bought it (as I read the spoilers) but I still found it to be stupid and not really entertaining - and I am very easily entertained.
I knew what I was getting into when I bought it (as I read the spoilers) but I still found it to be stupid and not really entertaining - and I am very easily entertained.
January 10, 2013
This one is both better and worse than its predecessor. Worse, because there is too much 'splainin' -- too much recap of the first volume, too much telling instead of showing, too much offscreen action. But better because it is longer, allowing for more development, and once it got going it had some emotional complications that I personally quite enjoyed.
I really liked the tension/dichotomy here between torture (mental, physical, and sexual) and consensual BDSM. BDSM is a twisty thing anyway, so I appreciated the additional complications presented here. I also liked that the "big bad spy" is actually the more submissive partner sexually -- I love those kinds of subversions to our expectations.
3.7 stars -- enough to round up to 4, slightly higher over all than the first book, not good enough to rate a full 4 stars.
I really liked the tension/dichotomy here between torture (mental, physical, and sexual) and consensual BDSM. BDSM is a twisty thing anyway, so I appreciated the additional complications presented here. I also liked that the "big bad spy" is actually the more submissive partner sexually -- I love those kinds of subversions to our expectations.
3.7 stars -- enough to round up to 4, slightly higher over all than the first book, not good enough to rate a full 4 stars.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 27, 2013Guess I'm one of the minority group who finds this series as MEH. I remember skimming most of the sex scenes from book #1. The sequel is just worse for me. Maybe because I find the BDSM factor and the "man from Ethan's past" that has to do with the D/s theme as a bit too much and a bit ridiculous. It's not what I expect to come from the sequel. So I practically don't care. Just get to about half the book (already skimming most of it) and decide to stop reading altogether. Don't feel like waiting for any other sequel of it either *shrugs*
April 13, 2010
Going from loving sex and light D/s in "Never Let Go" to kidnapping, rape & torture in this book...WTF? I really disliked how the whole arc was handled, especially with Ethan's recent trauma - some depth about that experience & emotional effects might've helped. Something. A few of the scenes were just silly, and Jackson...he started off deliciously creepy, then turned into a cliche'.
Dark subject, very underdeveloped story.
Dark subject, very underdeveloped story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2015
Yeah thanks for the graphic torture and rape trigger warning. I feel physically sick. I was invested in the boys so I was forced to skim through the rest of the book until I could be sure they were safe. I wish I had never read this revolting book and I won't be reading anything more by this author either.
October 1, 2012
Grrrr should have stopped at 1.
Too much torture for me. Yuk!
Too much torture for me. Yuk!
December 18, 2021
Well. No. Not my thing. I liked the first book and was of course curious about the second (since I already own it) but it just took a turn into something that's extremely triggering for me and I have to drop it.
Perhaps I should have read more reviews and spoilers before starting, but I honestly didn't think I had to. This was NOT the direction I thought the book would take. The first one dealt with some heavy issues, sure, but it was, overall, pretty sweet and heartfelt. Which is a far cry from what seems to be about to happen in this book. I can't know for sure since I stopped before I reached that point, and I just have too much self-preservation instinct to force myself through it.
So this is a no from me. The first book is still good and this one started out pretty nicely, but quickly swerved off into... yeah. Let's just not go there.
Perhaps I should have read more reviews and spoilers before starting, but I honestly didn't think I had to. This was NOT the direction I thought the book would take. The first one dealt with some heavy issues, sure, but it was, overall, pretty sweet and heartfelt. Which is a far cry from what seems to be about to happen in this book. I can't know for sure since I stopped before I reached that point, and I just have too much self-preservation instinct to force myself through it.
So this is a no from me. The first book is still good and this one started out pretty nicely, but quickly swerved off into... yeah. Let's just not go there.
July 11, 2010
I love M.L. Rhodes's stuff, and so I was rather excited to pick up this story, a continuation with two characters I had come to like a lot. When I started, I totally didn't expect the direction the story eventually went; I thought maybe some relationship issues, an ex trying to get in between them, and then it all ends up okay. And while that was the overall structure of this story, the actual details were...shocking and a little disturbing.
First of all, I want to say that I usually like stories that go a different route than expected. I get tired of the same storylines, the same relationship paths being followed in story after story. Romance has a reputation of being "add two lovers, a bad history, some angst, an ex, stir and enjoy", very formulaic. As such, I really enjoy finding stories that may start with the formula, but push the envelope in subtle or not-so-subtle ways. While I enjoyed that aspect of this book, it went somewhere darker than I cared to experience.
The kidnapping and torture of our main characters was bad enough, but I could have lived with that. What struck me with a sour note was the forced bondage scene with their abductor; it pushed the envelope of twisted, especially when you consider the neuroses that Ethan was dealing with from his earlier captivity and torture. I really felt for the guy, and to have to go through that, even though it was Will and made it okay, made me very uncomfortable.
Don't get me wrong; I liked the resolution, and I liked that during the scene Will was able to distract the bad guy enough to slip Ethan the knife...very well-written, that. I just was sickened enough by the situation that there was no way I could enjoy the sex scene going on; if it had been taken out of the captivity situation, I might have actually enjoyed it. I guess the depravity of Jackson is what I had a problem with...which in the end was okay, since he was bad, a bad evil man. :D
Other than that uncomfortable scene, I actually enjoyed this story. I liked seeing the aftermath, how what they went through healed some things from Ethan's past as well as brought them closer together in ways that neither of them expected. I also love that their neighbor, who they thought was a pervy stalker, was actually connected with one of the agencies and in retirement...it made me laugh a little, even though it was kind of a deus ex machina. :D
Overall, not my favorite of Rhodes's works, but it still earns good marks for excellent writing and strong characters.
First of all, I want to say that I usually like stories that go a different route than expected. I get tired of the same storylines, the same relationship paths being followed in story after story. Romance has a reputation of being "add two lovers, a bad history, some angst, an ex, stir and enjoy", very formulaic. As such, I really enjoy finding stories that may start with the formula, but push the envelope in subtle or not-so-subtle ways. While I enjoyed that aspect of this book, it went somewhere darker than I cared to experience.
The kidnapping and torture of our main characters was bad enough, but I could have lived with that. What struck me with a sour note was the forced bondage scene with their abductor; it pushed the envelope of twisted, especially when you consider the neuroses that Ethan was dealing with from his earlier captivity and torture. I really felt for the guy, and to have to go through that, even though it was Will and made it okay, made me very uncomfortable.
Don't get me wrong; I liked the resolution, and I liked that during the scene Will was able to distract the bad guy enough to slip Ethan the knife...very well-written, that. I just was sickened enough by the situation that there was no way I could enjoy the sex scene going on; if it had been taken out of the captivity situation, I might have actually enjoyed it. I guess the depravity of Jackson is what I had a problem with...which in the end was okay, since he was bad, a bad evil man. :D
Other than that uncomfortable scene, I actually enjoyed this story. I liked seeing the aftermath, how what they went through healed some things from Ethan's past as well as brought them closer together in ways that neither of them expected. I also love that their neighbor, who they thought was a pervy stalker, was actually connected with one of the agencies and in retirement...it made me laugh a little, even though it was kind of a deus ex machina. :D
Overall, not my favorite of Rhodes's works, but it still earns good marks for excellent writing and strong characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2013
2.5 stars, a tale of 2 halves. Originally reviewed for The Book Vixen
In a Nutshell: This was not the book two I was hoping for after I enjoyed book one so very much.
Why I Read this Book: I loved book one.
What I Liked: I loved the first half of this read. Ethan and Will are moving in together and learning intimacies about each other. Ethan is learning to share some of himself with Will and Will is making room for Ethan in his house and heart. Will’s family have a lovely scene with the men as well. In between all this emotional stuff, readers are privy to some hot loving between the men involving curtain-less windows, hammocks and beer! Whew! Given that book one ended rather abruptly this part of book two was exactly the relationship closure I needed.
What I Didn’t Like: The second half of this long novella turned my stomach. I can’t say much or it’ll spoil the book but Will and Ethan engage in BDSM not quite of their own volition. True, I’m not a huge BDSM fan but what bothered me most was the men didn’t come to BDSM organically in their relationship. Instead, I felt like this was a form of rape. I think the author tried to maneuver this minefield by having Will and Ethan briefly discuss the incident after and have them both acknowledge they liked it but it wasn’t enough for me. I feel if the author wanted to include BDSM in Ethan and Will’s relationship it should have been about them as characters discovering it together and not it being forced on them externally.
Finally, Ethan worries greatly at the beginning that Will wouldn’t love him if he knew everything Ethan had done. I thought this was going to be the tension in the book but it’s then dropped in favor of the vengeful ex-agent plot. I would have much preferred to keep the tension on the relationship development than this danger plot.
IMO: If readers enjoyed book one as I did, they’ll have to read book two. Perhaps others won’t feel as I disappointed as I was in the second half of the book.
*review copy from publisher*
In a Nutshell: This was not the book two I was hoping for after I enjoyed book one so very much.
Why I Read this Book: I loved book one.
What I Liked: I loved the first half of this read. Ethan and Will are moving in together and learning intimacies about each other. Ethan is learning to share some of himself with Will and Will is making room for Ethan in his house and heart. Will’s family have a lovely scene with the men as well. In between all this emotional stuff, readers are privy to some hot loving between the men involving curtain-less windows, hammocks and beer! Whew! Given that book one ended rather abruptly this part of book two was exactly the relationship closure I needed.
What I Didn’t Like: The second half of this long novella turned my stomach. I can’t say much or it’ll spoil the book but Will and Ethan engage in BDSM not quite of their own volition. True, I’m not a huge BDSM fan but what bothered me most was the men didn’t come to BDSM organically in their relationship. Instead, I felt like this was a form of rape. I think the author tried to maneuver this minefield by having Will and Ethan briefly discuss the incident after and have them both acknowledge they liked it but it wasn’t enough for me. I feel if the author wanted to include BDSM in Ethan and Will’s relationship it should have been about them as characters discovering it together and not it being forced on them externally.
Finally, Ethan worries greatly at the beginning that Will wouldn’t love him if he knew everything Ethan had done. I thought this was going to be the tension in the book but it’s then dropped in favor of the vengeful ex-agent plot. I would have much preferred to keep the tension on the relationship development than this danger plot.
IMO: If readers enjoyed book one as I did, they’ll have to read book two. Perhaps others won’t feel as I disappointed as I was in the second half of the book.
*review copy from publisher*
March 8, 2010
A good follow-up to the first novel, "Hearts and Bones" goes a little bit more into what Ethan experienced as a hostage, though it still remains vague. Will's parents' acceptance of Ethan in Will's life - as his partner - seemed perhaps a little too easy but then again, it was well covered by their history together.
A bad operative from Ethan's past comes to get revenge of a sort, and though the whole issue could easily have gone sour, M.L. Rhodes did a fantastic job of describing in a fashion that was, to me, believable. There was some things that the baddie did [or didn't:] do that didn't make much sense, but then again she made him so random in such a psychotic and - OFF - way, it fit.
I am not one for non-con and was pleased with the way she skirted around it.
All over pleased. ^__^ Will definitely come back to these two novels in the future; I just like the Will x. Ethan coupling so much!!
A bad operative from Ethan's past comes to get revenge of a sort, and though the whole issue could easily have gone sour, M.L. Rhodes did a fantastic job of describing in a fashion that was, to me, believable. There was some things that the baddie did [or didn't:] do that didn't make much sense, but then again she made him so random in such a psychotic and - OFF - way, it fit.
I am not one for non-con and was pleased with the way she skirted around it.
All over pleased. ^__^ Will definitely come back to these two novels in the future; I just like the Will x. Ethan coupling so much!!
May 13, 2011
Oy! 2.5 stars. I like this author but the two books in this series are stinkers for me. This story took a really long time to get to the conflict. (On my reader it was a 130 page book, it was page 50 before the conflict was introduced.) Until then there was just chapters of sex and reassurances of how much these two love each other. When the "bad guy" finally enters it's a clumsy introduction followed by a villain that comes off as over the top to me because he is so one dimensional.
Read stories by M.L. Rhodes. They are great. But if you are looking to skip a series, this would be the one.
Read stories by M.L. Rhodes. They are great. But if you are looking to skip a series, this would be the one.
May 27, 2010
I thought Hearts & Bones was better than Always because the reader learned more about Ethan's backstory and got to witness the couple's D/s exploration...BUT I HATED that the BDSM elements occurred in the the context they did (no I'm no giving away any spoilers). I think I'm a pretty liberal kinkster yet edgepplay, however you define it, does nothing for me. I felt like Rhodes did try emphasize that the bond between Ethan & Will and not their desires to be Dominant or submissive we the heart of the story, "Our relationship isn't about
one person being dominant over the other. It's about love.
And sharing. And being close to one another in whatever form
that takes at any given time.(pg 199)" I think that could have been accomplished without Jackson's sociopathic interference. Meh. Read it for yourself.
one person being dominant over the other. It's about love.
And sharing. And being close to one another in whatever form
that takes at any given time.(pg 199)" I think that could have been accomplished without Jackson's sociopathic interference. Meh. Read it for yourself.
November 12, 2008
I was pleasantly surprised by the suspense bit and it rounded off Will and Ethan's story off nicely.
Taking up just four weeks after Never Let Go, the two titles would be more enjoyable read back to back even though they can be standalones. I enjoyed reading how the two men finally became lovers after being best friends since their teens and each believing the other was straight. Here, in Hearts & Bones, it was good to see how they settled down together just a few weeks, only to have hell break loose.
I've enjoyed every M L Rhodes I've read and these two stories are no exception.
Taking up just four weeks after Never Let Go, the two titles would be more enjoyable read back to back even though they can be standalones. I enjoyed reading how the two men finally became lovers after being best friends since their teens and each believing the other was straight. Here, in Hearts & Bones, it was good to see how they settled down together just a few weeks, only to have hell break loose.
I've enjoyed every M L Rhodes I've read and these two stories are no exception.
November 24, 2023
Yeap back at it rered love the story no matter what happens in the story nothing bad just mayb not what anyone expected but still a lovely read.
unexpected twist, i was on the edge of the cliff reading this...
Reread 29/09/14. Ethan and will have been together for 4 weeks after he return after missing for 4 years.
They confessed their love and so happy, living in a cabin in the wilderness but also has neighbours close by. So they not that alone.
Anyway All I can say is Ethan's past comes back for revenge read find out what happens.
unexpected twist, i was on the edge of the cliff reading this...
Reread 29/09/14. Ethan and will have been together for 4 weeks after he return after missing for 4 years.
They confessed their love and so happy, living in a cabin in the wilderness but also has neighbours close by. So they not that alone.
Anyway All I can say is Ethan's past comes back for revenge read find out what happens.
January 21, 2013
Fairly predictable for the most part. But that's probably due to my reading habits as much as the author's writing abilities. I tend to grade on a scale if predictability is the my only issue. So leaving that out of the equation... Liked the main characters, liked the neighbor, liked the setting (and author does a good job of putting us there) and wouldn't mind seeing more of these guys (just like the neighbor).
October 26, 2014
I hated what happened to the characters in the book.
Being captive, brutally tortured, mental and sexualy abused... not what i expected when i start to read their story.
POor them, they will be traumatized even with all the love they feel for ea other.
I know books should have some drama and angsty but it was too much imo.
I just finished the book cause i really want to put it away fast and never read it again!
Being captive, brutally tortured, mental and sexualy abused... not what i expected when i start to read their story.
POor them, they will be traumatized even with all the love they feel for ea other.
I know books should have some drama and angsty but it was too much imo.
I just finished the book cause i really want to put it away fast and never read it again!
October 5, 2009
The best of Rhodes' that I've read thus far, but this one isn't for just any m/m fan. It has strong BDSM themes, which some might find mildly disturbing due to the nature of the circumstances in which they occur. However, I liked this book so much because Rhodes tackled the situation and wrote it well -- and handled it well throughout.
February 24, 2012
I enjoyed the second book more than the first - probably because it had a bit more of 'mystery/thriller' plot to it rather than just two friends finally admitting their feelings for each other. And though I'm totally not into the whole BDSM thing, this was okay... Jackson was truly truly horrid and it suited his character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2015
Well that was a painful read. And not in a bad way really. The writing didn't suck or anything, it was actually very good. It was the torture that was so awful. And yet, I loved it (the story not the torture). It was hard but they deserved their HEA so damned much I felt like cheering and shit. Great follow up to the first book.
February 18, 2012
Like the frist of this series the chartors are still lovealbe,enemys fall out of the woodworks on this one makes the story come alittle more to light,and you either want to hate the enemy or love him.
Read
November 20, 2008Hearts and Bones by M. L. Rhodes (2007)
April 24, 2011
Gifted book
March 22, 2011
you'll have to give me some time to get my thoughts together on this one....
April 22, 2020
If it is even possible, I enjoyed this more than the first book
Good job, rhodes
Good job, rhodes
June 19, 2011
3.5 stars
July 25, 2011
Enjoyable and looking 4ward to reading it again!!!
November 21, 2011
Definitely shoulda had some warnings about content.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews