Xander Finch is a top-ranked MotoGP rider, desperate to get back to the circuit after an injury. He’s going stir-crazy in his parents’ house in Ventura while he works on his recovery. Xander has tunnel vision when it comes to his sport—it’s all he’s ever wanted to do in life. When he hires a massage therapist to help speed up his recovery, he’s not expecting the guy to completely flip his universe on its head.
Ollie Baker is living in his car after a disastrous break-up, and jumps at the chance to earn some extra cash through massage. Xander Finch might be hot as hell, but Ollie’s not going there. He’s never going to let some rich guy screw him over again. Besides, Xander’s straight. Isn’t he?
When their friendship deepens into something more, Xander discovers that Ollie makes him feel a way that nobody ever has before, and maybe motorbikes aren’t his only passion after all. Navigating Xander’s newly discovered demisexuality isn’t the only challenge they’ll have to face if they’re going to be together, because Ollie’s been burned before. It’s hard for him to trust Xander, to believe that he’s really willing to make room in his life for Ollie as well as his racing—assuming he recovers enough to race at all.
Only for Ollie is the third book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.
Star Crossed, Book 3
By Lisa Henry
Amazon – Kindle Unlimited
Goodreads
Sometimes you read a book that just makes you want to sigh, in a good way. I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series, and this one is no exception.
I felt HARD for Ollie and all he was going through for the first third of the book. Living in his car in the driveway of his best friend’s house, uncomfortable walking into the house because her husband was an ass, getting fired because someone wanted a handy as part of his massage, all while trying to go to school and hopefully finish his degree. Every day he kept getting up, kept trying, tried to ignore that the world was beating him down. And yet, even when Xander offered him help, he made sure to draw lines in the sand (wobbly, as he put it) so that he didn’t end up dependent on someone again that could take it all away in a heartbeat. Arguing about a hotel room for $400 a night, when there was a perfectly good hotel down the road for much less…and Xander “coming out” because of it was a funny moment.
Xander, meanwhile, injured and grumpy, until he starts talking to Ollie as he’s being massaged. At that point, he begins to understand why he’s never felt any sexual attraction, why he just kissed his previous girlfriend, because she wanted him to. He was demisexual, and needed that connection first, and found it in a clumsy massage therapist with a huge heart. Xander fell in love with Ollie, with very little internal drama for himself. It felt natural to him, once he figured out why he was feeling things he’d never felt before.
I really appreciated that Xander’s injuries were not glossed over. Concussions are huge, and affect everyone differently, physically, as well as mentally. And Xander had a long way to go to heal, but also to understand that when he made poor choices about his health, he wasn’t just potentially hurting himself, but others around him. Ollie was forgiving, but even then he drew a hard line, and Xander respected that.
Xander’s family was amazing, and let Ollie know that no matter what he would have help, even as they were friends. Then later, once their relationship was out, he was instantly family. No questions, no hateful comments (which Ollie had every reason to be gun shy about), just love and joy for a person for their beloved son.
This book didn’t have any real angst, but lots of warm, loving moments. It was tender and really highlighted that even if you have little in common, you can still be proud of all your partner accomplishes, and love them unconditionally.
One small issue I had…the author for this book is from Australia, but the book is based in California. There were several instances of Australian or UK English words being used versus American words. This happens, and isn’t a big deal, but it can throw you out for a little bit.
I recommend this book, and this entire series. I’m not sure if this is the last book or not. The previous books have introduced us to the main characters for the following books, and I didn’t see anyone that I would expect to be the next MC. The covers are great on these books, by the way!
4 pieces of eye candy
Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.
Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.
She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.
She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.
Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.
To connect with Lisa on social media, you can find her here:
Website
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She also has a Facebook group where you’ll be kept in the loop with updates on releases, have a chance to win prizes, and probably see lots of lots of pictures of her dog and cats. You can find it here: Lisa Henry’s Hangout.
