He’s my brother’s best friend. They served together; bled together.
So I probably shouldn’t daydream about crawling into his lap…
My big brother Rowan was lost to us for so long, hiding away from his demons in the Starlight Ridge mountains. Now he’s back, settled with his new wife, and that means a visit from his old army best friend.
His hot best friend. This gentle giant smoke show. Lord, why didn’t anyone warn me?!
Because Ash is impossibly tall and broad, with kind eyes and a steady presence. After so long on my own, the sweet way he takes care of me frazzles my brain.
But I just got my brother back. I can’t do anything that might jeopardize that.
Even if his burly best friend feels like home…
Close to the Edge is a short and steamy instalove story, starring a strong protector and the lonely bartender he’ll never let go.
| Title: | Lost in the Wild |
| Author: | Cassie Mint |
| Series: | Huddling for Warmth (Book 2) |
| Pages: | 93 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Mountain Man Forbidden Love Insta Love |
| Point of View: | First Person, Present Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Location: | Starlight Ridge, USA |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 20th June, 2024 |
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Big, burly and delicious
Close to the Edge is the second book in the deliciously titled Huddling for Warmth series taking place after Lost in the Wild. This book features Tess, little sister of the hero from the first book, Rowan, and Ash, Rowan’s best friend. While both characters obviously have a connection to that first book, and Tess did appear briefly, you do not have to have read that book to understand and enjoy this one. It has its own happily ever after much like the first book did.
Tess has always felt a little bit alone. Staying in her small town to be close to her brother while he healed, he’s back but now has a wife and baby on the way as his priority. She’s just never felt that connection, that belonging, that attachment. And lord if that wasn’t relatable to me. She was still a trooper and I liked her immensely – even if I couldn’t relate to her tallness!
I’m not sure why it was a surprise to me but Ash was absolute catnip for me. A big, hulking man that’s as gentle as a giant and also feels like he’s not the catch that he obviously is. He’s a loner but for his one friend in the world, Rowan – but he too wishes for someone to put him first. He’s loyal, sweet, gruff and sexy. Yes, give me more Ash!
“He’s loyal, sweet, gruff and sexy. Yes, give me more Ash!”
It’s lust at first sight when Ash and Tess lay eyes on each other – not knowing who the other is and not realising the other feels the same connection. When they realise the connection, they agree they cannot act on it. And to be fair to them, they do try – for like an hour or so. And then we get the fun stuff with lots of grabbing, kissing and touching. Mmm-hmmm.
Tess and Ash as a pairing have a great chemistry and it’s clear that they’re made for each other. I loved that they were trying to be a good friend and sister to Rowan but just couldn’t help the pull that they felt with each other. The ease that they felt when with the other, the sense of peace and belonging – it gave me the shivers. Gosh darnit – that’s what I want.
For those that have read the first book (and let me reiterate that you definitely don’t have to have done so) – I did feel this book gave a rounder view of Rowan’s PTSD and all he had done to overcome it. Not that it’s a major part of the story, but it was something I noted in the first book and was glad to see it was addressed in this book. But back to Ash and Tess…
Cassie Mint is definitely one of the best of the short and sweet stories that I like to devour. She’s so easy to read and yet still manages to make her characters likeable, relatable and oh so easy to root for. She always always nails (no pun intended) the sexy times both in terms of the yearning and tension and in the sex itself. I enjoyed the first book in this series but I just loved this book. If you’re looking for a quick and steamy read with a lonely girl and the big, beefy soldier that just wants to cuddle – then this is the story for you. 5 stars.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review
Cassie Mint – Romance Author & Daydreamer Extraordinaire
Cassie Mint is a romance author with her head firmly in the clouds.
She writes outrageous, OTT instalove with tons of sugar and steam!
Cassie loves growly, possessive alpha heroes who fall HARD for their heroines and will do anything for that HEA.
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Huddling for Warmth Series:
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