Felix Humphries can’t even remember the first time he
crushed on Star Shadow’s drummer, Max McCloud.
It’s been an embarrassingly long time, but he’s still never acted on his feelings. One, because Max is his older brother’s best friend. Two, because Max is also his friend. Three, Max is technically his boss. And four, worst of all, Max is straight.
But when Max unexpectedly needs a caretaker for a few weeks, Felix can’t leave his friend in the lurch. He’s all ready to suffer through being so close but not close enough, when the unexpected happens.
Max isn’t straight after all, and what Max wants is Felix—but only in his bed, not in his heart.
Hazardous Things is the third book in the Star Shadow series and should not be read as a standalone.
Book 3
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~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
It’s been an embarrassingly long time, but he’s still never acted on his feelings. One, because Max is his older brother’s best friend. Two, because Max is also his friend. Three, Max is technically his boss. And four, worst of all, Max is straight.
But when Max unexpectedly needs a caretaker for a few weeks, Felix can’t leave his friend in the lurch. He’s all ready to suffer through being so close but not close enough, when the unexpected happens.
Max isn’t straight after all, and what Max wants is Felix—but only in his bed, not in his heart.
Hazardous Things is the third book in the Star Shadow series and should not be read as a standalone.
Book 3
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
When Felix came back into Max’s room, the nurse in tow, Max was still awake. He was staring out the window, a harmless drugged smile on his face.
“He’s gonna sleep for a while,” the nurse said, “at least when you get him back home.”
“I’m assuming he’s better off sleeping than being coherent and in pain,” Felix said quietly.
“Oh yeah,” the nurse said. “There’s prescriptions for the pain. And it’ll be significant. Make sure he takes them. If he doesn’t, it’s going to be real uncomfortable for both of you.”
“That won’t be a problem. I’m staying with him,” Felix said. After all, once he committed to something, he committed to it.
“I see you’re awake again,” the nurse said, going over to Max’s side. “How you feel about taking off?”
“Home,” Max repeated firmly.
“That’s right,” the nurse said, and after donning a pair of gloves, began to work on getting the IV out of Max’s arm.
Felix wasn’t exactly squeamish—he’d better not be, anyway, considering that the nurse had already gone over Max’s care instructions and he would definitely be the one changing the surgical dressing and making sure it stayed clean—but it was hard to watch when it was Max. When it was someone he cared about as much as he did Max.
Especially when Felix saw Max flinch.
“Hey,” Felix said, reaching for Max’s other hand and tangling those long, calloused fingers with his own. There’d been a point when he’d have cut off his other hand just to hold hands with the man in front of him, but he couldn’t think about that now. Now, he needed to distract Max from the IV being removed.
“Heeeeey,” Max said, and that was definitely not what Felix had expected. Was that... a leer?
“Hi yourself,” Felix said, squeezing Max’s hand.
Max raised their joined hands and brushed them against Felix’s forehead. “Pretty,” he said. “So pretty.”
Felix ordered himself not to blush, but it was useless. He glanced up, and the nurse was looking at them. “Your brother, huh?” she asked, amusement in her voice.
He squirmed. “My brother’s best friend,” he finally confessed. He’d been worried that they wouldn’t let him stay in the waiting room during the surgery or wouldn’t let him in to see Max in recovery if he wasn’t a family member, so he’d fudged the truth a little.
“Ah, that kind of brother,” the nurse said, her voice knowing.
Even though Felix wanted to explain it couldn’t ever be like that, because Max wouldn’t ever be interested in him that way, he didn’t, because it was already humiliating enough that his crush was visible from space.
When this ordeal was over, the only person on earth who didn’t know was going to be Max himself—and Felix would do just about anything to keep it that way.
“I’m just about done here,” she continued. “Just keep him distracted for a moment longer.”
Max’s hazel eyes were speckled with green in this light, unfocused and utterly focused on Felix all at the same time.
“Hey, it’s gonna be alright,” Felix said, his voice so much more tender than he’d intended. If he looked up, he might see quiet amusement on the nurse’s face, but he didn’t look, because he was finding it tough to look away from Max.
“Alright?” Max repeated, but he didn’t sound certain. At least not certain enough for Felix’s peace of mind. Even if this was hard—even if it felt impossible—to be there for Max over the next few weeks, he knew deep down in his bones that it was the right thing to do. Max was alone and understandably, justifiably scared—and even if there was never anything more than friendship between them, Felix wanted to be the one who reassured him.
“It’s going to be more than alright,” Felix promised. Promised himself that he would do whatever it took to make this vow come true.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series and would be best read in order. Star Shadow is finally off tour and in fact, taking a break... not that these men all understand what a break really means. For Felix, the band's manager/PA, it means going with his brother, Leo, and Caleb, to relax, but to ensure that they keep talking to each other. For Max, things are a little more complicated as he needs ACL surgery. Suddenly Felix is going to have to forgo his trip to Fiji, and spend time with his long-time crush and the best friend he has been trying to avoid to save his heart... because he can't let Max down, even if it is going to be a tough few weeks.
Poor Felix is always doing the right thing by everyone and yet, is always in the shadows. He has had to watch his long-time crush have the odd fling – always with women – and accept that he needs to protect himself. Now he is going to have to be very close and personal as he helps him shower, dress, etc. after surgery. But somehow Max gets into his head that maybe they should explore having a hookup... it is everything Felix ever wanted, and yet seems like it will be just an experiment for Max – can he survive that?
As we see the two of them come to terms with a new reality, and the amusement that any of their friends has at them finally working out their place in each other's lives, we hope that they can get it right. Though not in the cards immediately, but with everyone intent on making them see the obvious, there is definitely hope – and in the meantime, they do some pretty passionate experimenting!
Troubling times expected in the next installment it would seem, but I will really enjoying seeing a happier Felix and Max!
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
Max is Star Shadow’s drummer, and Felix is the band’s PA and Leo’s younger brother. Max and Felix have been best friends for years, but Felix has always hidden his true feelings for his straight best friend.
This is a gentle and predictable read. Readers have observed the complicated relationship between Max and Felix since the first book, so the relationship isn’t surprising. There aren’t any complex dramas in the story – Felix helps Max recover after routine knee surgery. Max is a little bit stubborn and Felix is a fabulous nurse. The sexual tension between the two men builds beautifully – and I almost bought into the gay-for-you storyline.
Like the first two books, this is a sexy, steamy read with some fun rock star details. I don’t love the poor communication that provides the conflict in this book – Max and Felix are supposed to be best friends and their inability to communicate undermines their supposed closeness. But this is an easy, entertaining romance with very likeable characters.
A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published seventeen novels and six novellas.
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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Hazardous Things (Star Shadow #3) by Beth Bolden to read and review for this tour.
sounds like a great read
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