First off, I HIGHLY recommend reading the New Camelot series before reading this if you're at all interested in the world/politics or even the characters of the American Queen trilogy because while Lyonesse is absolutely standalone, it does spoil a MAJOR MAJOR plot point late in the aforementioned trilogy just as a passing thought. Luckily I already knew the spoiler, but yeah. 😂 There is also some context from American Queen that isn't vital, but it does add some useful flavor. I personally haven't read American Prince and American King, but reading Salt Kiss ABSOLUTELY put me in the mood to get back to finishing the series.

For a vibes comparison, both Salt in the Wound and Salt Kiss gave me similar vibes to a mix of American Queen, Sinner and Saint for different reasons. Isolde is SUPER dedicated to religion when we meet her in Salt in the Wound, and wanted to be a nun. While I still haven't actually finished Sinner, I have read Saint, (I know, please don't judge me too hard for reading out of order 😂), and the angst and pining from Tristan reminds me of the dynamics we get in Saint. Finally, of course the husband, wife and forbidden lover dynamic that we see in American Queen is of course present here with Mark/Isolde being engaged and Tristan wanting both of them.

So with all that said, I will say that after reading Salt in the Wound, and knowing that this was going to be a Mark/Tristan/Isolde retelling MMF, I was absolutely hype for this one, and Sierra DID NOT disappoint. One of the things that I love about Sierra's writing style, particularly when it comes to the dynamics of some of her pairings that I've read so far is the pining and angst emotionally that's contrasted with the buildup of the physical relations of the charas.

Salt Kiss is all written in Tristan's POV, and he's a broken man who needs guidance, who needs a purpose, which is the perfect state for Mark Trevana, his step-uncle. While we get a taste of what Mark is capable of in terms of in Salt in the Wound, we see more of that here and also get a different side of him in Salt Kiss which just adds nuance to him. Mark is an intriguing character and the power dynamics that he has over Tristan is really interesting in and outside of sex. The interactions and spice is super fun when we get to see him through Tristan's eyes, and the kinks that do briefly come out to play are SO MY JAM. We get some (view spoiler) and it's wonderful and I'm sure I'm missing some other things too.

If you know the story of Tristan/Isolde, Salt in the Wound and Salt Kiss will keep you on your toes for a while. But the WAIT IS WORTH IT and I love the way Sierra decided to play with the dynamics in this retelling. The bodyguard forbidden romance here is SO GOOD. The scenes of Mark/Tristan are hot as fuck, the interactions between Mark/Isolde are great, and same with the eventual Tristan/Isolde that is also just as great. While we watch dear Tristan slowly fall in love with an unloveable man, we're left wondering how Isolde will fit into the picture and Sierra does address that a bit here, AND LEFT ME HUNGRY. I honestly can't wait to see the continuation of the dynamics as we get a taste of how perfectly RIGHT the three of them could be if together.

Honestly, my only complaint was that we didn't get more angst about the fact of the taboo that Mark is Tristan's step-uncle. 😂 But with the cliffhanger that we have here, I know every single one of us has will be signing up for one hell of a ride when Honey Cut comes out. And I can't believe that we have to wait 'til 2024 for it because I need it NOW. 😭

Salt Kiss💋
By Sierra Simone💥

Review👀

This is my first time reading the author, and I’ll admit I’m a bit disappointed. I’m not sure if it’s my mood reading getting in the way, but lately I haven’t been super into smutty reads. I found myself picking this one apart. I thought the writing was good, and I loved the bodyguard romance aspect. I think this is my first MMF too, which I found out is different from FMM. It had lots of great moments, but overall, I didn’t love it. The ending was a cliffhanger too. ☹️ I’ll probably read the next one to see if I change my mind.

MMF💙💙🩷
Bdsm⚠️
Bodyguard romance💘
Virgin🫦
S** club✨

3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️

🧂💋 Book Review 💋🧂

I'm always amazed by @thesierrasimone books. No one else can craft a story like she can, combining angst and deep emotion with off-the-charts spice in this retelling of Tristan and Isolde. While related to the author's New Camelot trilogy, it's not necessary to have read those books before this one.

✔️ Bodyguard
✔️ Retelling
✔️ Love Triangle?
✔️ Forbidden
✔️ Age gap
✔️ Virgin MMC
✔️ Morally Grey MMC

I love a character at a career crossroads in fiction as it usually ends up in their whole life being completely upended. It happens here with Tristan, fresh out of the military and no clue what to do next. He gets a job as the bodyguard for Mark who runs the Lyonesse club. I'm going to stop here - I went into this book blind and omg judge me but I didn't know the Tristan/Isolde story so all the plot twists had me legit 😯. I googled it after and was like, "Oh." 🫠

Seeing everything through Tristan's eyes made for an on-the-edge-of-my-seat story. He's just such an innocent and I loved watching him burn with a level of lust he hadn't experienced before.

More importantly, I think I finally understand why everyone is feral about morally grey men. Yeesh, Mark is now my answer to who my favorite is. Seeing him slowly seduce lovely, sweet Tristan was incredible.

The last third of the book also blew me away and that ending?!? I cannot wait to devour the rest of this series! 5⭐️ and highly recommend you pick this up. It releases tomorrow 9/12! Thanks to @read_bloom for the digital copy.

Steam 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕

I quite literally could not put this book down. I would have stayed up all night to read the entire series but sadly none of the other books are out yet. I absolutely fell in love with Sierra Simone when I read the New Camelot series - if you liked that, then this is a must read. And if you haven’t, stop what you’re doing and start reading them immediately. Then come right back here and read this one!

The spice. The drama. The soldier flashbacks. The descriptions. The yacht. I ate it all up! I absolutely love how she puts her own spin on famous love stories - in this case Tristan & Isolde (New Camelot was Arthur). I NEED MORE ASAP.

This book is pretty racy, so just a fair warning on that! Obsessed.

5/5. Out now!

Vibes: retellings, VIRGIN BODYGUARDS, two angry black cats falling in love with a golden retriever, local man never reads the room ever.

When PTSD-ridden veteran Tristan Thomas is offered a job as the bodyguard to his step-uncle, kink club owner Mark Trevena, it seems like the change he needs. The problem: Mark turns out to be quite dangerous, and Tristan turns out to be quite smitten. As the two engage in an ill-advised affair, he falls deeper and deeper, knowing Mark has secrets he refuses to tell. One of those secrets? Turns out to be a fiancee, Isolde. For Tristan, escorting her across the sea to Mark seems like a nightmare. But the more get gets to know her--the more he he realizes he's not just falling for Mark, but Isolde as well.

I have been dying to read this ever since I knocked out New Camelot earlier this year. Nobody does a menage romance better than Sierra Simone, and this kick off a new series once again retells an Arthurian legend--but in a very different way from New Camelot.

I will advise: if you haven't read New Camelot, this book will have spoilers for that trilogy (and it's a fucking banger, so go read it). Additionally, I feel you are missing out a LOT if you don't read the "prequel novella" (aka first book) Salt in the Wound first. This shorter installment details Mark and Isolde's early "courtship", if you can call it that.

Anyway, I fucking loved this, let's get into it.

Quick Takes:

--Mark Trevena has been hyped throughout Sierra Simone's New Camelot-verse. I mean, he made Maxen Colchester try a butt plug. (And yes, Tristan is absolutely, physically, Baby Ash. In terms of personality... couldn't be further from him.) Does he live up to the hype? Yes, though I will say (and this is obviously on purpose) we still don't know a lot about him. He's snakey and sexy and a bit weird and boyishly excited about doing his little cat burglar things. He clearly controls a lot, but he also very clearly does not have control of nearly as much as Tristan thinks he does. This works, because for all that Tristan has experienced so much violence, psychologically and emotionally he's still something of a babe in the woods. Yes, Mark is hypercompetent and powerful, but you just feeeeeel the disaster lurking under the surface.

Which is one of many ways in which Sierra Simone distinguishes between the dynamic of Ash, Embry and Greer, compared to Mark, Tristan, and Isolde (Auden, St. Sebastian, and Poe were a whole other thing). Ash? Did have his shit together for much of New Camelot. Like, he was doing some galaxy brained shit, but until things really started to get out of control towards the end of the second book, he is like, the ultimate dom. He's got it together, he has the attention of his subs, he handles their specific individual needs, he puts them first.

Mark... is more chaotic. I think he very much wants to be a puppet master, and in some ways he genuinely is. But emotionally, you get these glimpses that suggest he's balancing on a knife's edge; and with Isolde in mind in particular, I don't think this is all going to work out exactly as he planned. At all. Which is delicious to read, right?

--Related: Mark is not a daddy, stop this slander of Mark and to daddies, he is a dominant (and I'll be real! I don't think he's as harsh a dominant as Ash or Auden) but not all doms are dom daddies, let's get this straight.

--While this is the beginning of a clear MMF series, you don't actually see the menage a trois on the page just yet. The first two thirds of this book are really Mark and Tristan getting to know each other and falling in love. The last third is the instant attraction between Tristan and Isolde. I knew this going in, and I was a bit concerned about the balance between relationships, and Mark/Tristan being favored over Tristan/Isolde. This is a frequent issue with MMF books--readers prioritize the MM over the F, and the girl is basically window dressing. I find that Sierra pretty much always avoids this, but still.

After reading, I totally get it. First off, a lot of that Mark/Tristan pagetime is, understandably, not only Tristan falling in love with Mark but Tristan becoming acquainted with kink, which is obviously going to figure into the triad dynamic. Tristan is a virgin when the book begins, and again, in many ways remarkably sheltered. So while you totally get this bond he and Mark develop, their pagetime is more than that.

Whereas Tristan and Isolde are pretty much all Tristan and Isolde. And it makes sense that while it takes a good amount of time for Mark to give in to Tristan's desires because of all the complex dynamics at play... And Mark being Mark... Tristan and Isolde can throw themselves headlong into this passionate, super horny affair in which, in many ways, they're both venting their emotional issues onto each other. It's like a breath of fresh air for them, a release (literal and metaphorical) they both need. And so it makes total sense to me that they connect as easily as they do. Neither of them have that easy connection with Mark, but as Tristan's employer and Isolde's fiance, he's accessible to both of them in a way they can't be to each other. Yet on an purely emotional level, their mutual bond is simple, straightforward; it's just thwarted by obligations practical and otherwise.

--You're in Tristan's head for the entire book, and it's a pretty head. I love the contrast of someone who's really good at killing and violence being so bighearted and sensitive. It really evokes the legends surrounding the original Tristan. Yes, he can fuck a dude up, but he just wants to fall in love and please and sing his little hymns.

I also just super enjoyed how many times Tristan would just let clear and present warnings sail over his head. The allusions to Mark's previous bodyguard Doing Stuff with him? Tristan didn't hear them. Everyone trying to suggest that Mark is getting married? Tristan doesn't notice. Mark telling Tristan to "be him" with Isolde? Repeatedly? Tristan sincerely does not get it. Himbo lovers, this may be a book for you.

--We still haven't experienced Isolde in her full form, in my opinion. Mark hasn't seen her for two years when this book begins, and she's a total stranger to Tristan. There's an underlying sense of both masochism and sadism in Isolde. She's someone who enjoys the pain, but on a much deeper level, seems capable of inflicting it. I definitely get the sense that Mark isn't the only one who's going to be fucking with Tristan's head, and I'm frankly about it.

--This series is being pitched as darker than New Camelot; and I will say, so far, I don't see that? But considering how dark Thornchapel (which is also in the same 'verse, albeit more tangentially) got, I trust and believe Sierra Simone can ramp it up. However, this first book is truly one where you the reader stumble into it knowing no more than Tristan does. You are fresh and new, as he is fresh and new. Even if you've read New Camelot, I feel like you're really stepping into an entirely different part of that world.

--I personally love the angst of a good "love triangle to MMF" angle, and we're most definitely getting that here. The way in which everybody is in love or at least close to it, while nobody is actually willing to admit it? Um, absolutely.

The Sex:

It's Sierra Simone, so obviously the sex is 10/10. She writes the best sex scenes in romance, for me. They're erotic and daring and explicit, but also so emotionally revealing and poetic? Her characters truly connect through sex, accessing a level of soulfulness and, like, honestly? Spirituality during sex.

With that in mind, people do fuck in church in this one--like I said, it's Sierra Simone. Tristan and Mark have a very intense sexual relationship that does involve D/s, though understandably, it's not quite as kinky as what other Sierra characters have gotten up to. Mark is very tender with Tristan's precious virginity (.... more emotionally than physically) which? Right now? Kinda makes him more of a soft dom than Ash or Auden. Or Father Bell, really.

I'm sure this will be completely subverted when Honey Cut comes out.

I really appreciated this book exploring things we don't see often in these big, sweeping romances--M/M breeding kink, which obviously is A Thing, but we often don't see it, I think, because there's this huge emphasis on heroes being hypermasculine. Which in some ways I enjoy, right? But here, Tristan is masculine and.... also wants to be bred. And he wants to breed Isolde. The duality of man!!!

Also--the face sitting scene was great. That's all.

It's just a different take on kink than we've seen in Sierra's other books. I think she also manages to give all her characters' sex styles, as it were, unique spins; but Salt Kiss's take felt particularly different from the other triad books she's written in that sense.

I'll also add--I was impressed by the tension-building moments in this book, especially with Tristan and Isolde. Neither of these relationships are truly slow burns in terms of time covered. But Tristan and Isolde definitely burn faster than Tristan and Mark, yet somehow Sierra made the tension so tight and delayed-feeling. There is a moment... when Isolde is wearing her swimsuit... and Tristan notices a thing... I gasped like it was the Pride and Prejudice hand flex. It might be my Pride and Prejudice hand flex. In a very different way.

I just super loved this. It definitely has more story to cover. You don't end on a one and done happy ending--we'll have to work for it a bit more with this trilogy. But I have a feeling that it will be worth it.

(And I cannot wait for the slutty vellum overlay version of this book.)

Thanks to Bloom Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Salt Kiss: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Sierra Simone (Lyonesse, #1)

“You need only ask, and I’ll give you everything. Everything I can.”

After leaving the Army, Tristan's employed as Mark Trevena's personal bodyguard at Lyonesse–the kink club that Mark owns. He's one of the most powerful men in the country, and Tristan can't help the undeniable attraction toward him. Only when Mark asks Tristan to fetch his soon-to-be-bride for him, the tables turn yet again because Isolde is so much more than what's on the surface.

Tropes
– MM/MF (in this book, but the series becomes an MMF ménage)
– Forbidden
– Bodyguard romance
– Tristan and Isolde retelling

I swear to God, Sierra Simone put CRACK in this book because I could not stop reading it. After I read Salt in the Wound, I was like "Ugh, who is Tristan and why would he come in and ruin what Isolde and Mark have?" But then I read the first part of this book and was like, "Ugh. Does Isolde even need to be a thing?" AND THEN I read the second part of this book and was like, "Mark? Mark who?"
DISCLAIMER: This is a joke because I need Mark biblically. I need him in a way that is concerning to feminism. Okay? Okay.

Sierra Simone's writing–as I knew from the Priest Series and Ivy Leopold–is addicting. I absolutely love her wit, her prose, and just the overall lyrical, elegant way that she tells stories. It makes you want more, more, more despite the inevitable angst and pain that come with it. Salt Kiss was no exception.

The story was so captivating and interesting. I want the next book so bad because that cliffhanger and you're telling me I need to wait until June?! That is FOUL. But, for Mark I will do anything.

God this man was SO HOT. Yes, I loved Tristan and Isolde but Mark Travena. I actually would kneel by his feet for however long he wanted me to, I just don't even care. His mysterious aura, his expensive self, his FINE ASS. I wanted it ALL.

Feral? Yes.

This book was so HOT. Tristan and Mark + Tristan and Isolde already killed me so I have no idea how on God's green earth I am going to survive Mark/Tristan/Isolde. But I am more than ready to walk into that fire with my palms (and legs) open.

I actually need Honey Cut more than my next breath and am more than willing to sacrifice vital organs to have it in my hands.

Holy hell, this is one of the hottest books I’ve ever read.
The spice is off the charts and I loved every minute of it. I was so sad when it ended and that cliffhanger has me crying waiting for the next.

The MMC is such a sweet little pup, paired with the king dom and it’s perfect!


BDSM, kink club, MM, MMF, forbidden romance, taboo 🙌🏼😮‍💨

Thank you Bloom Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

It was great to re-enter Sierra's New Camelot Universe! SALT KISS was the first bodyguard romance I have read and it did not disappoint! This takes place in the same world as her New Camelot series but this book is darker than the New Camelot Trilogy. Tristan's POV was entertaining to read. He's a little bebe boy with a traumatic past who just wants to be loved. I loved the exploration of Tristan's past and how it effect his relationship with Mark, and eventually Isolde.

If you're wondering, is this as spicy as Sierra's other books....HAVE NO FEAR. This book was HOT. I swear to god I was sweating during some of the spicy scenes! Sierra Simone doesn't miss!

I felt like the latter half of SALT KISS was rushed but it didn't impact my enjoyment of this book. I think reading the prequel novella, SALT IN THE WOUND will fill in the gaps I thought SALT KISS was missing. That being said, I loved this book and I can't wait for the next installment in the Lyonnesse Trilogy!

I was over the moon to be able to read Salt Kiss early as I've been in love with Sierra Simone after reading American Queen. I loved this book and found it interesting to read from Tristan's POV versus from the FMC's which I normally don't come across. I enjoyed how his relationships progressed throughout the book and the spicy scenes were exactly what I was hoping for from this author who does them so well!!

The ending had me itching to read the next SO badly, and I can't wait to go back and read some more from Sierra Simone in the meantime.

I read the prequel and knew I was going to love Salt Kiss. However, I was not prepared for how quickly I would devour this book!
If you flush easily or squirm while reading - do not read this one in public.

After Tristan leaves the Army, he finds himself working as a bodyguard for Mark, his new Step Uncle.
He is thrown into a new world at Lyonesse, a kink club for the rich and powerful.
He allows himself to experience things he never has before and with non other than Mark himself. The spice will have you crossing your legs and biting your lip - again, do not read in public if you can’t school your expressions!

Tristan finds himself head over heels in love only to discover that Mark is engaged to Isolde which he was unaware of.
He is upset and decides he can’t continue having this “relationship” only for Mark to tell him that he will have to go to Ireland to bring his beautiful fiancé back for him.

3 weeks along on a luxurious yacht (besides staff) with Isolde and these two are bound to talk and bond and bond do they ever!
Both explore and open up like they haven’t before. Guilt starts to eat at Tristan after falling for both Mark and Isolde.

Ugh, read this book, I could keep going on and on about it - that ending has me mad that I have to wait for the next one. It is going to be HOT!!!

❤️Forbidden
🖤Bodyguard
❤️Age Gap
🖤Morally Gray Hero
❤️MMF
🖤Kink club

This is now one of my favorite Sierra Simone books! I could not read it fast enough. The tension between the characters was perfection and there was so much spice in this book. I will be awaiting the next in this series!

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book, and then there were a few small details that I just struggled with. If you are a reader looking for mega hot spice and a dark subplot - this is the book for you.

This book is perfect for fans of Sara Cate and Katee Robert. There is a high stakes sex club, lots of BDSM, role playing, and MM/MF spice. It is extraaaaa spicy (5 peppers for sure) and check your content warnings if taboo romance and BDSM isn’t your thing. It’s got a mafia/bodyguard vibe, rich boy secrets, and lots of kink.

A few things I didn’t love- I’m not a huge fan of the virgin trope, instalove, and breeding. The virgin trope wasn’t too overwhelming so it didn’t bother me as much as it usually does. MMC Tristan is a softy. If you like a submissive golden retriever- he’s your guy. It’s just not my favorite. As for the breeding- it was mentioned a few times as a kink. It was not a big focus so it didn’t impact the plot all that much - and I could basically ignore it.

There was an overall great balance of plot and smut. However there was a chunk where it seemed the spice went on for a really long time without other activity or plot points.

The last 10-15% was definitely a setup for the next book and it ends on a big cliffhanger. I could see this coming, but I’m still invested in how it turns out. I have a pretty good idea…

Omg I binged this is one night and I need more! Tristan is such a sweet complicated sub. Mark is such a fabulous morally dark grey dom, and I’m honestly not sure what Isolde is yet other than a loyal daughter with some sort of dark history.

Most of Salt Kiss centers on Mark and Tristan and I’m not mad about it. I love them together and I need an illustrated version of this book bc some scenes just need to be seen in color (the wax scene anyone?🔥🔥🔥) and then Isolde enters the picture. I like her, but so far I’m def more invested in Tristan and Mark. Although honestly can’t wait for book two and hopefully some MMF poly action 😍

Sierra Simone is a gem and this is def one of my fave reads of the month!

This book was so incredibly good! Sierra Simone’s books are always on point and this book was a solid start to the series, I can’t wait for the next one.

If there is one thing to know about Sierra Simone’s books, it’s that you are in for the most beautiful writing with the most beautifully heartbreaking characters.

Salt Kiss follows Mark, a man with mysterious intentions and the need to be in control, Tristan, Mark’s new bodyguard and his complex feelings around his life as a soldier and his new found desire for his boss, and Isolde, Mark’s wife to be and Tristan’s soon to be obsession.

The first half of the book we get to see Mark and Tristan’s relationship develop. From the start, we’re unsure of Mark’s true intentions but it becomes clear that Mark is more than meets the eye and his dynamic with Tristan is one that is not only hot, but about to be oh so complicated. When Tristan is sent to escort Isolde from Ireland to the states on Mark’s yacht, the moment he sees her, his obsession begins.

Isolde is still a force to reckon with, she didn’t ask for this life and is taking it with such grace. She knows what she’s getting into and I cannot wait to see where her story goes. Her connection with Tristan is immediate and when they give in? It’s everything you could want.

Everything about this is just perfect. It wouldn’t be a Sierra Simone book without a touch taboo and some delicious and unforgettable scenes.

*thank you so much @thesierrasimone and @read_bloom for the advance copy!*

This is the first full-length book in the Lyonesse series. There is a prequel novella called Salt in the Wound that I didn't read beforehand, but I definitely plan on reading it now after this one! Here's what to expect...

• Kink Club with Dom/Sub
• Sort of Love Triangle
• MM and MF

I honestly really enjoyed this one. This was the first book I've read from this author, but I have heard people rave about her books before. I was expecting a good amount of spice based on what I've heard about this author's previous books... and let me tell you this one was definitely spicy.

I love that the storyline outside of the spice was engaging and kept everything moving. I do like spice in my books, but I need some plot too.

I love Tristan! He is just a big, gooey cinnamon roll who needs to be protected. I love that the book was from his perspective. I am kind of hoping for more Mark and Isolde in the next book though!

This is a part of a continuing series, and does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it'ssp worth diving into. I already can't wait for the next book in the series!

Sierra Simone a décidé de s’attaquer à la réécriture de Tristan et Isolde avec un MMF et ce premier tome est une réussite

Nous allons suivre Tristan, un jeune homme, qui vient de quitter l’armée et qui va se faire engager comme le garde corps personnel de Mark Trevena, un homme dangereux mais qui l’attire inexorablement… Alors va-t-il réussir à le protéger ou va-t-il succomber?

J’ai adoré ma lecture de ce premier tome qui se déroule dans le même univers que sa série New Camelot (mais rien n’oblige à lire cette série, on a juste des petits easters eggs ^^). La seule petite chose qui m’a chagriné c’est que le résumé spoile énormément le livre et que certains éléments ne se produisent pas avant 70% du livre… Enfin, ça n’a gâché en rien ma lecture car j’ai passé un excellent moment avec Tristan, Mark et Isolde, qui sont des personnages très complexes, attachants mais aussi très complémentaires. J’ai adoré la tension entre eux et la fin m’a clairement laissé sur ma faim donc je me jetterais sur la suite dès sa sortie!

Not a favorite of mine. I was really excited to read a spicy book, which this was spicy, but there was too much setting up the trilogy and not enough story. Just meh from me.

*Thank you @read_bloom for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

Whew! That New Camelot hangover is no more. Salt Kiss is the story of Mark and Tristan. Mark hires Tristan to be his body guard and forced proximity lead to heat and tension like only Sierra Simone does. We get glimpses of the New Camelot world that we loved. We get angst and emotion and tension and HEAT. And we get extra drama when Isolde is introduced to the scene. The love triangle is real and the set up for this series is so good. She sets us up for a bossy club owner, a stabby fiance and a conflicted bodyguard and I can't wait for it.

I loved Tristan so much, and the chemistry between him and Mark was amazing. Slightly upset about that ending because I really wanted to see all 3 of them interact in this book, but it made for a great cliffhanger!