Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Here Without You

SERIES: Cooper’s Ridge #2

AUTHOR: JJ Harper

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 371 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 22, 2021

BLURB:

Archer Hawkins and Mallory Halston literally run into each other and a
true love story is born. Archer pursues Mallory with absolute determination making him fall hook, line, and sinker.

“I really would like to get to know you, Mallory.” His voice husky in my ear._

_“I don’t think it’s a good idea, I’m sorry.” I’m already kicking myself for turning him down. “That’s okay, I’ll ask again tomorrow, and the day after, I’ll get you to say yes in the end.”_

But just when they’re about to get everything they ever hoped tragedy strikes leaving Mal alone and adrift. Putting his past behind him Mal
stumbles upon Cooper’s Ridge. Changing his name to Carter, he takes a chance, becoming a bartender at The Last Drop Inn, and embarking on a new life.

Local attorney, Dan Mortimer, has finally found and captured the heart of Cooper’s Ridge’s newest resident, Carter.

_“I was coming in to see you, and maybe get you to agree to dinner with me. C’mon Carter it’s only dinner, I’m a nice guy I promise.”_

But when Dan’s college friend comes to town to recuperate after a horrible car accident, it seems the most important men in his life may have something to answer for. And just how far will an evil, conniving, homophobic mother with a vendetta go to bring them all down?

This book can be read as a standalone

Here Without You is a gay ménage story with plenty of hot sex and strong language and is therefore suitable for readers aged 18 and over.

REVIEW:

This is the new rewritten and re-edited release of the second book on the Cooper’s Ridge series.

Mallory Halston has lived a very comfortable life, going to college paid for by his parent’s, until his could no longer live a lie. Forced to move from his parent provided apartment and find a way to pay for his remainder of college plus room and food, he applies for grants and student loans and works every moment he can at a popular coffee shop. On a chance meeting, by literally running into each other, Mallory and Archer Hawkins lives are irrevocably changed. Life is great until a freak accident changes everything in Mallory’s young life. Alone and in shock, he gets on his bike and rides off. When he stumbles upon the town of Cooper’s Ridge, he changes to his middle name Carter, takes a chance and settles down when Kes offers him the job to take Denver’s spot at the Last Drop Inn and the apartment above the bar to start a new life. Kes and his men befriend the tired, sad young man and know he has a story but wait for him to share. Dan Mortimer is a local attorney that takes a shine to the sweet new boy behind his friend’s bar. When Mallory is visited in a dream by Archer, he decides to take a chance on Dan. They are finally at a point where Dan and Carter are committing love to each other when Dan’s old college roommate and lover, who is reviving from a life-threatening accident, comes to visit and reevaluate his life. But what will happen to the three men when Carter realizes Dan’s friend is his “dead” fiancé?

Although this is all three men’s stories it truly is Mallory/Carter’s journey. And, though it is three men, Carter and Archer are majorly changed from their original characters. Carter is no longer the Mallory that Archer fell into in front of the coffee shop. He has been through so much in such a short time in his life and even his name reflects that. He’s found a new group of friends that love and protect him.  They may no be related by blood but they are his chosen family. And Archer has changed too. Between the accident that has scarred and changed his body completely and his mother’s evil meddling (the reason for that completely blew my mind) Archer isn’t the carefree and confident man he was when he originally pursued Mallory. Plus, he discovers that his best friend is now in a relationship with the man he loved and had thought ran out on him (again, evil mother!) when he was so damaged and struggling for his life. Dan also has reason to be conflicted. Although he and Archer were good together, they easily gave each other up to pursue their careers. Yes, they remained close friends but only via long distance. Obviously, Archer never shared photos with his best friend or Dan would have recognized that Carter was Archer’s absent and missing Mallory.

One of the things that bugged me was Archer after he discovered Mallory “ran off” and deserted him in his time of need. He seemed to question this but never even called him once? Mallory couldn’t just call a “dead man” however Archer could have rung his missing fiancé. He knew what his mother was like but never contacted Logan to look into it? It just didn’t add up. He was on the phone in a heartbeat to Logan on everything else especially if it concerned his man. But he never thought to look for him and ask why? He just followed blindly what his mother, whom he didn’t trust (especially where Mallory was concerned) told him??? And what was up with his Dad?

When I read the original book, I had thought/hoped that we would get Paris’s story next. He and Carter became such good friends and Conn was one of Dan’s closest friends. I really wanted to know all of Paris’s story and if he and Conn became a real thing. And was there a third triad developing at the Last Drop Inn? What exactly was in the water for the men who worked behind that bar? I am hoping, since JJ has revisited Cooper’s Ridge and rewritten both of the first two books, that Paris has been in her head and finally demanding his story to be told. She has left it so that it is a definite option to be done and I know her fans would love it. Then she could share more of Cole’s story and how he came into Carter’s life.

I did enjoy getting to see Kes, East and Denver and loved that they made Carter a member of their family. Those men are the sweetest and I loved their story so getting to interact with them here was a real treat!

I can’t recommend this story and series enough. JJ Harper is a queen of triad romance and this series proves it. She intricately weaves all her men into a relationship that, even though it goes through its bumps along the way, becomes an equal and loving permanent partnership. Oh, and it’s scorching hot inside their bedrooms! Here Without You will take you on the long journey of pain, loss and healing but well worth the ride. A must read in my opinion.

RATING:

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