Why are feelings so stupidly complicated? I suppose they wouldn’t be if I didn’t go and fall for a straight man.
Madden is the Bertha Boys’ resident nudist and sunshine boy, always there to lend a helping hand or listening ear to any of his friends. And also hopelessly in love with his best friend, Penn. Most of his Bertha brothers know about his unrequited feelings but since Penn is straight, Madden does his best to hide those feelings from him. But, suddenly these guys are faced with lots of changes in their lives – Penn’s desire to expand his friend group, new business opportunities that may pull them from their joint landscaping business, oh and the new ways Penn’s body reacts when he’s around Madden. With everything else changing around them, can their relationship withstand the shift from friends to lovers?
I enjoyed finally learning more about Madden. He’s always been a good guy in the other books but he was still a bit of a mystery. It turns out, he’s probably the most well-adjusted of the Bertha Boys. I can honestly say I’ve never read a book with a nudist MC but it was super interesting to really dive into what led him to that lifestyle and the challenges he faced – in his life and ultimately in his relationship. I’m glad that Saxon explored that aspect quite a bit throughout this one.
We didn’t know a whole lot about Penn coming into this one either, he was a sweet guy though. I felt bad for how lonely he felt, his world revolved around Madden but Madden had other things that pulled his attention away. It may have taken them a bit of time to get on the same page with sharing their feelings but they communicated well. When they finally revealed their feelings, things moved fast but they still faced challenges and I liked how they dealt with them as mature adults. They were very sweet together and I loved seeing them find their way from friends to lovers.
I’m forever grateful that I moved in here because these guys, this house, it’s my safe place. It’s a real home, and I worry about the day that something breaks and the group starts to split apart and go our own ways.
Of course, I loved all the bits with the Bertha Boys. Those were the parts that tugged at my heart the most. Things are changing for those boys and it’s kind of bittersweet. This is one of my favorite found families and the thought of them possibly going their separate ways makes me sad. I’m so excited for Xander’s book, I’m not excited for the series to end but I want that boy to find his HEA and to see how everything turns out for this group.
“I never thought … this, us, was a possibility, but now that I’m with you, it feels like the only possibility.”
The Book Boyfriend Addict 