Reviewed by True
TITLE: Cost of Redemption
SERIES: The Saints of Westmont U #2
AUTHOR: Hayden Hall
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 210 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2025
BLURB:
He was my forbidden craving. My biggest regret. And now, he’s my only weakness.
Elio
Some mistakes you bury. Others crawl under your skin and never let go.
Jaxon Mercer was supposed to be my past. The stolen kiss. The fist that followed. The silence after.
But now? He’s here—cocky, dangerous, and looking at me like he already knows how this ends.
I should shut him out. I should forget the way he used to make me feel.
But when he’s this close, breathing is hard enough, let alone thinking straight.
Enemies. Ex-best friends. Rivals. Obsessions.
I don’t know what we are anymore.
But I know I want him.
Jaxon
He’s scared to want me. I want him desperate.
Elio Castelli pretends he has it all under control.
I know the desperate way he kissed me two years ago. I know the fear in his eyes when he shoved me away.
And now that I’m standing in front of him again, I know one thing for sure—he’s still mine, whether he admits it or not.
I’m done playing it safe. I’m done waiting.
I’ll have him.
Even if I have to break him first.
Cost of Redemption is the second novel in The Saints of Westmont U series. It is a largely standalone novel, but some threads continue from Edge of Temptation. Reading in order is not mandatory, but will enhance your enjoyment of the series. This is a college hockey romance depicting sexual awakening, toxic love, animosity, and has a guaranteed HEA. Content warnings are located inside the book.
REVIEW:
Two years ago their friendship ended, in a bad way. Elio punched Jaxon and ran.
Maybe Jaxon shouldn’t have kissed him, but he had to show and know. Now he knows.
Elio let not only Jaxon down two years ago, but right now also his best friend and teammate Easton (book 1). Elio’s feelings are all over the place, his situation is unbearable.
Above that shit-show, also Jaxon returned to his life.
Jaxon knew he would run into Elio one of these days, he was prepared.
It started quite hostile, but Elio showed his real colors to Jaxon after some time. Only Jaxon! No one can know.
The feelings go deep, they become so close. Until Jaxon has to stop it, he can’t be Elio’s dirty little secret anymore, it hurts too much.
So much heartache, so much fear, burying feelings and truth deep deep down, no one can know. That’s what Elio did. Sacrificing his friendship with Easton, paralyzed by fear, and losing the one he’d loved, Jaxon.
Elio had to go deep to come up in a better way. Thank goodness he did.
Oh boy, what a story, both Elio and Jaxon had to work hard to convince me they really were worth my time, and they did.
It was a good solid read, captivatingly written, and neatly balanced between family, teammates, friendships, heartbreak, and romance.
RATING: 
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