mollyreadsandcrafts's reviews
911 reviews

Dash gets a call from the last person he ever expected to hear from again and is entangled in a decades long cold case. As he puts himself in danger in his quest for the truth, his now shaky relationship with Bobby also hits a breaking point.

It. Has. HAPPENED!!! Six books, thousands of pages of miscommunication, multiple life threatening incidents later - Bobby and Dash got their shit together. Not going to lie, it wasn't looking good at the beginning of the book. (What is Deputy Bobby doing out here dating all these people?!) They are still struggling with the same lack of communication from the last book but tensions are rising even higher. Their relationship starts to crack under the stress, but when push comes to shove they both realize they either have to be brave or lose something special. It's a lesson in raw vulnerability and trust. Both their love confessions are so swoony and loving. You can tell how hard it is for both of them, especially Bobby, to talk about how they feel but they finally gain the courage to try. And now we get sweet Bobby/Dash moments! 

It's intriguing to figure out the dynamics of everyone's relationships when all we have is Dash's POV. We only see Bobby through Dash, who idolizes him and puts him on the perfect pedestal. But we learn through other characters - like Fox and Indira - that of course he's imperfect. The Last Picks are a supportive and loving group, but aren't afraid to bring the hard truths. I love that we also get to see a bit of Dash through Bobby's eyes when he's talking about how Dash's actions impact him and make him feel. I haven't minded the single POV but it is cool to see other character's perspectives. 

As has happened before with this series, the case Dash is working on mirrors the issues in his life. A group of people hid their love and kept their feelings locked down and it eventually led to a tragic ending. It's kind of heavy but it was a relevant case to support what Dash is feeling. And it delivered on some high adrenaline scenes I love. Even though it's a bit more serious the book is still 100% a fun and cozy mystery. 

A side note - I'm reading all the bonus epilogues and short stories as I go through the series and sweet Keme!! Gah I just want to wrap him up in a big hug. I love his and Dash's relationship, even the little hints we get of Keme and Bobby's relationship. They are like big brothers (though I laugh every time Keme is called the big brother) but also have some fatherly traits. They respect him boundaries but do whatever they can to support him. They're just all so endearing and I love them. 

I tried to space these books out but I'm already catching up to the latest releases. I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm done with these lovable dummies! Thankfully Ashe has many a short story and flash fiction on his patron page so I can continue to get my fill of them. 

Read if you like: 

• cozy mystery   

• found family   

• friends to lovers 🥹

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Dash and Co. are at the Sweethearts Festival when Dash stumbles upon a body. Only when police and security go to check it out, the body has disappeared. As they try to find out who was killed and why the body was moved, the danger escalates and Dash finds himself in the crosshairs of the killer. 

I finished this book in the morning and spent the rest of the day one bad look away from being super grumpy because of that ending. Bobby and Dash have found their normal friendship again, but it's fraught with the tension of if and when they're going to take the next step towards a relationship. They both aren't in their finest form which I think Fox's conversation with Dash really sheds light on. Dash is self-sabotaging and afraid to admit his feelings because of his anxiety. As Dash's close friend, Bobby knows him well enough to know that the silent pressure he inadvertently is putting on Dash isn't helping. But Bobby is also still in a vulnerable place after his break up with West and doesn't feel secure enough to tell Dash what he wants. So you could say it was extremely frustrating. I do think that they need some space to be themselves again, because this insane pressure they are putting on themselves is not doing anyone any good. 

I actually liked the case, sometimes cozies are a little too cozy but I liked that Dash was in danger some of the time. Is it bad to say it made it more exciting? I know it's more of a low stakes type of mystery series but some more intense moments always make for a good time. I also was vibing with the amusement park/fun house setting. I just like the whole town of Hemlock Harbor and all the people and things we become familiar with throughout the series. I feel like each book gives the chance for a Last Pick character to shine, and this was Fox's turn. I was actually kinda sad about his relationship issues but I loved how he helped Dash with some good dose of reality. I've said it before and I'll say it again, they're the best little family. I'm reading the next right now because I can't stand this dang slow burn anymore, Dash and Bobby better get it together! 

Read if you like: 

• cozy mystery   

• found family   

• okay the slow burn is just ridiculous now 

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Aslan is ready to take the next step in his relationship with Quaid, if only he could get the timing right. Quaid knows something is up with his boyfriend but can't stop imagining all the negative things that it could possibly be. With Quaid's increasing anxiety after every failed attempt and Aslan being called out of town on a case, Aslan has to make his move before everything becomes even more of a mess. 

The title kind of gives away what's going on with Quaid and Aslan. Aslan is trying to propose and epically failing because he's trying so hard for the perfect moment. Every attempt just feeds into Quaid's insecurities until he's convinced of the absolute worst. It's a classic case of miscommunication that's slightly entertaining but it's also kind of sad to see how Quaid can still be so insecure. He loves Aslan and wants that perfect domestic future so much that any threat to it throws him into a spiral. Aslan normally understands Quaid so well but kind of misses exactly how much stress he's causing him. Honestly though, how it all ends up is perfect for them. Of course Quaid would turn it into whole big thing, and of course he would cry and need a moment, but at the end of it all they're both so happy and truly ready for this next step. Their relationship is easily the highlight of this series because their love is undeniable.

I didn't love the whole engagement miscommunication but the case was interesting. This was the first case in a few books where I didn't actually have a good guess as to who the unsub was. It was very classic murder mystery where the little hints that are easy to look over all added up in the end which is always fun. I'm also loving all the side characters, especially Torin and Ruiz in this book. I'm really looking forward to what insanity happens during their wedding, because you know it's going to be wild. But I am taking a little break until the last book comes out so I can binge both at the same time! 

Read if you like: 

• romantic suspense  

• established couple  

• opposites attract 

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•spoilers for the series• 

Aslan has spent the last two months trying to heal his mental health and tentatively preparing to get back into the field. Quaid has supporting him as much as he can while also figuring out the dynamics with a new partner. As Quaid gets caught up in a multiple missing persons case, Aslan is reminded how much he loves the thrill of his job if only he can overcome his mental blocks. 

Even though there's a case going on, the majority of this story is about Aslan as he battles with his PTSD and struggles with his sobriety. There was a lot of potential for angst - the will he/won't he relapse, PTSD, anxiety, the affect of it all on his relationship - but it never really got too intense. Aslan has his different, and not exactly healthy, coping mechanisms but for the most part he was self-aware and had great communication with Quaid, so it never felt he was on the edge of self destruction. Quaid was supporting him every step of the way, never pushing him outside his comfort zone. He was able to put his insecurities on the back burner and be there for whatever Aslan needed. I could go on and on about their relationship because they are so perfect for one another. When one is struggling, the other steps up with no judgement and nothing but love and support. 

Their relationship was the star of the show in this book because, again, the case felt like it had a lot of potential it never achieved. Either I've caught on to the Nicky James formula or it was kind of obvious because as convoluted as the case was, I had a pretty good idea of what happened. The last few books I didn't care that the length was a little longer because the plot was interesting enough, but because I felt like I knew what happened and nothing dramatic was going on this one just felt like it dragged a bit. I did like the addition of Quaid's new partner, it added a new dynamic that was missing in the series. I love these characters and they have such a great relationship, but coming off of two really great books it wasn't my favorite. Looking forward to the next few because if the titles are anything to go by, our boys are ready to take some big steps together! 

Read if you like: 

• hurt/comfort 

• romantic suspense 

• opposites attract 

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