What I did love is that both men realize exactly how nontraditional their relationship is due to Shep’s “limitations” and do their due diligence to make it work for both of them in the healthiest way possible. It is still very much a love story between the two men, even if it is nontraditional. Though it’s definitely a relationship, there’s not necessarily a “romance” in this book. Shep and Elijah’s relationship in this book won’t be for all readers for multiple reasons, not the least of which is the character of Shep himself. I’m just bummed that the next book doesn’t feature Charlie in her own love story. Despite the not-very-happy circumstances of their meet-cute, Linc and Wyatt more than deserve riding off into the sunset together. I love happily ever afters that also resolve the external plot conflicts in delightful ways (even, or especially, when involving law enforcement and lawyers). She is a whirlwind of delight, kind of on the wacky side, but her devotion to Wyatt is never in question. Luckily, Wyatt has other allies on his side, and I adored the secondary character of Charlie. Linc also has his own tragic past, and Wyatt’s present consists of some pretty ugly elements. My current reading trend includes lots of books requiring trigger warnings, and this book is no exception. However, those details of Wyatt’s past (and present) make Linc breaking down those barriers not only understandable but heartwarming. Linc tries his best to resist Wyatt’s temptation due to his professional position. My heart broke multiple times for Wyatt as the text revealed more details of his past. Instead, Wyatt receives a sense of structure to his life, along with growing close to someone he can trust in a romantic context for the first time in his life. The “Daddy” dynamic is not as overt as implied by the back-cover description-it trends toward light kink rather than age-regression.

Intoxicating skirts the line of being an insta-love story, but the growing attraction between Linc and Wyatt takes on multiple dimensions that entranced me.

Intoxicating onley james read online