Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Joint Penetration
SERIES: Hot Under the Collar
AUTHOR: Katherine McIntyre
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 198 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2024
BLURB:
Liam Kelly is in love with his best friend. His straight, freshly divorced best friend, who wants to experiment…with him.
Ollie
The last thing I expected from my wife was a divorce. I’d checked all the boxes off—cozy house near my folks, joined the family business as a contractor, and married right out of high school. Except the more I think about how distant we’ve been, the more our split makes sense. And the more time I spend blowing off steam with my best friend, the more I want to actually…blow him.
Liam
Have I been hopelessly in love with Ollie my entire life? Yes, yes, I have. Has he been married for the past decade? Yes, yes, he has. However, when his wife calls it quits, my heart can’t help contriving scenarios where he might not be as straight as he seems. And when those scenarios start coming true—from scorching looks to playful grapples until we go much further—I throw myself into the deep end.
The second we start hooking up, I can’t hold back the feelings I’ve been clutching tight to for over a decade. But if this ends up a rebound for Ollie, a blip before he looks for a new wife, I won’t only be out a best friend but the love of my life.
Joint Penetration is a high heat, low angst M/M best friends to lovers romance with a bi awakening, birdwatching jokes, and a loud, nosy family that reads as a standalone.
REVIEW:
Liam and Ollie have been best friends for years. Liam came out in HS and Ollie was fine with it. But Liam has a secret – he’s had a crush on his bestie for years. When Ollie comes in one day and announces his wife has asked him for a divorce, Liam wants to be there to support him.
Liam has known that Ollie’s marriage wasn’t perfect and they really didn’t fit. He’s shocked that they lasted this long. Ollie’s family is like Liam’s family – they are all very close. Liam is very supportive of Ollie and getting on with his life. He’s kind of waited for this to happen and frankly he’s happy for it. Plus Ollie seems to be looking at him differently. Could he be interesting.
Ollie for his part isn’t as crushed by the breakup. He’s sorry that he’s losing his place in his family as the successfully married and a grown up. He starts something with Liam 😉 Liam is sure he’s going to get crushed when Ollie figures out this is an experiment and comfort and not true love. He’s worried that Ollie is not going to come out either 🙁
When Ollie hasn’t come out to his family, Liam runs. But he really wants this to be his future. Ollie wants Liam to be his future too 🙂
My niggle with this one is the VERY quick turnaround from being upset/angry getting blindsided with divorce, to said divorce being final and bein in love with guy best friend in just a few pages. Not a single bit of drama/angst/worry about going from married to and only being with women to being in love with the best friend. Just didn’t seem terribly believable. If you can suspend that disbelief, the story is rather sweet and Liam really has it bad for his BFF and is finally getting his fantasy life.
I’ve enjoyed this series and I’m sorry it’s over. I like all the MCs and was happy to see all of them support Liam and Ollie here. They are a great comfort and reality check for these guys. There is little angst and a nice HEA 🙂 Enjoy!
RATING: 
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