Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: On the Edge
SERIES: Mount Hope
AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 292 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2024
BLURB:
DANGER! RIDING TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE!
My life is one big caution sign. Ever since my best friend’s all-grown-up son joined our shared home, I’ve been navigating a growing attraction to the injured motocross rider. Declan unleashes every protective and caretaking impulse I have, and I genuinely love spending time with the guy.
But Declan’s too young, too straight, and too temporary to risk a twenty-year friendship over. At least until he kisses me, and I tumble past forbidden attraction into a doomed secret fling.
What starts as exploration for Declan quickly transforms into an undeniable bond. He’s exactly what I’ve been searching for: a ride-or-die partner in crime who is happy making blanket forts, talking late into the night, and shares my love of cozy books and movies. What could be more perfect?
When Declan faces a crucial choice, both our hearts are on the line. Can we avoid falling over the edge into heartbreak?
ON THE EDGE is book three of the Mount Hope first responder series and features an emergency room nurse practitioner who is hopelessly soft for his best friend’s son. This dad’s best friend, hurt/comfort (heavy on the comfort), age gap romance contains small town feels, big emotional growth, and sizzling romance. While certain subplot threads continue throughout the series, each guaranteed happily ever after stands alone!
REVIEW:
Note: This is the third book in this series. As such, there are some major spoilers for the previous books, but it can be read as a standalone if desired.
Jonas is a nurse practitioner who works at the local hospital in the ER. He’s great at his job. He is a natural born caretaker and he’s kind of a pushover – putting himself last if anyone needs him. He had a rough start in life coming from family situation that basically kicked him out as a teenager. He was lucky and got help from the system and finished school and was able to get training and move on to getting a degree and a job that let him help others. He’s had two divorces – from his first wife and then a first husband. His best friends Sean and Eric he’s known since they met at community college. Eric’s husband passed away the year before and Sean and Jonas stepped in to help Eric with this 4 kids. Jonas is staying in the basement and Sean was staying in the guest room – until he got a boyfriend and moved in with him 😉
Sean’s son Declan is a motocross racer who is badly injured. He has a TBI plus a lot of broken bones. He’s looking at a lot of rehab and recovery. Jonas volunteers to drive Sean and Denver to Utah where Declan has been airlifted. His medical background is also really helpful. He tries to keep everyone from losing their minds while waiting for Declan to be in some short of shape to even go to a rehab facility. Finally he decides to come back to Mount Hope to finish his recovery. He’s suffering from migraines and vision and light sensitivity as well as needing fairly extensive physical therapy. With the guest room open at Eric’s and Jonas being right there, it makes sense.
Declan is a bit surly. Nobody in pain is a bed of roses, but it turns out he’s not homophobic (although he comes off that way at first, not just about Jonas but also about his father’s coming out). Turns out there is a lot more going on beneath the surface. Frankly he’s mad as hell. Because he’s been forced into box because of his racing job and he’s jealous of his father’s relative ease of coming out. And he’s attracted to Jonas – a man who is one of his father’s best friends. UGH! Could this get more complicated? Of course it can!
Declan doesn’t know anything except his life as a racer. He’s determined to get back to it – even if it not really advisable until he is medically cleared. Jonas has feelings and thoughts about this too. As they grow closer, Declan confesses his attraction. The start out slow but both realize this won’t be easy in any way shape or form. Also Declan is deeply closeted and Jonas hasn’t been in the closet for a very long time. He’s not sure he can live as anyone’s secret side piece. Declan doesn’t know exactly what he wants but he definitely knows he wants Jonas. He’s just not sure how to have his career back and Jonas too. Then there is the little bit about Jonas being one of his dad’s best friends. How will Sean take this news? Especially after Declan’s less than enthusiastic support of Sean and Denver.
As Declan improves, Jones begins to question if he’ll be enough for someone like him. They have some things to work though!
I really enjoyed this story. Declan was a grumpy gus to begin with but it turned out for reasons. Jonas was so selfless – to his own detriment. Finally once it looked like he had a future with Declan he started to take more care of himself and realize HE could be a priority as well. These two initial seems like they wouldn’t fit at all. I enjoyed seeing the other couples and Eric’s kids who were interesting side characters but didn’t take over the story. Jonas is such a sweetheart and once Declan realized he could be his true and authentic self, things go a LOT better. A well-earned HEA all round and I am quite interested to see what happens with our widower in the next book 😉 Recommended.
RATING: 
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