Does He Know?
By: Kaylee Ryan
Series: Everlasting Ink
Book # in Series: 1 of 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Age Gap (10 Years), Older Brother’s Best Friend, Secret Relationship, Tattooed Hero, Slight Alpha Male Vibes
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: November 14th, 2023
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮ ½
My Reading Format: Kindle eBook (Advanced Copy Received To Review Honestly)
Synopsis:
Emerson
It’s not like I planned to fall for my older brother’s best friend.
It just happened. With a perfect body covered in tattoos, and a dirty mouth, Roman is the kind of guy women notice—and believe me, I noticed. Even when I tried not to.
When he finally gives in to temptation, there’s no going back. At least for me. Too bad Roman doesn’t see it that way.
He thinks he needs to protect me and my relationship with my brother, but I don’t need him to fight my battles. I just need him.
Roman
My name whispered from Emerson’s perfect pink lips is all it takes for me to betray my best friend.
Before that night, I kept the green-eyed beauty at arm’s length. Watched her from afar and told myself that the chemistry between us was one-sided.
I pretended that I didn’t want her more than my next breath. Which is what’s on the line if her brother ever finds out we’ve been sneaking around behind his back.
But I can’t stay away. Especially after knowing what it’s like to have her and lose her.
Now, I’m given a second chance, and I have every intention of making her mine—consequences be damned.
Does He Know? Is the first book in Kaylee Ryan’s new Everlasting Ink Series and judging from the first book alone, I have a feeling this series is going to be epic! But let’s dive into this first book. If you love the age gap trope along with the older brother’s best friend trope, you are in for a treat!
Emerson Huntley is on the brink of having all of her dreams come true. She’s less than a year away from graduating college and finally claiming her degree as a surgical tech… but that’s not it. You see, Emerson has always had feelings for her older brother’s best friend, Roman Bailey. But the lines were never crossed for fear of her losing the closeness she has with her brother. But one summer before her final semester of college is about to change everything. Because now, Roman finally sees her as someone other than his best friend’s little sister.
Roman Bailey and his friends busted their behinds to build a reputation as the best tattoo artists in the business. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears for the band of friends (Roman, Forrest, Lachlan, Legend, and Maddox) to claim that number one spot. And Roman will be damned if he lets his feelings for Forrest’s little sister get in the way of that. But no matter how hard Roman tries to stay away from Emerson, the feelings grow stronger. He can’t resist her. There is no walking away from Emerson Huntley.
My Thoughts:
Oh my goodness! There was so much love woven within this novel! Kaylee Ryan is a mastermind at story telling! I couldn’t put Emerson and Roman’s story down! I was cheering these two on from the start all the way through to the finish.
Let’s start with Emerson. Emerson Huntley has waited for years to finally have her dreams come true, all of her dreams, and that includes having Roman finally see her as more than Forrest’s little sister. I loved this woman’s drive in life. I also loved the fact that she had a playful side, and that side showed mostly around her best friend Monroe.
And then we have Roman. Roman lives by bro code, and he’s serious about ever move he makes in life. So when his heart decides to claim Emerson as his other half, that bro-code mentality goes out the window and a war within Roman’s head starts to brew. Roman is all about honesty and he’s all about truth. Secrets are never a good way to pave a new relationship. I felt the need to kick my kindle across the room every time another secret and another lie was added into the midst of things. I understand why they kept their relationship hidden, but damn, these two need to pick up a romance novel and realize hidden relationships always end in drama! But anywho, I loved Roman and his caring ways. I also loved the strong alpha vibes he radiated in regards to Emerson! Whew! This man was an inferno of intensity. I loved living inside his mind for a few hours.
The one part I found peculiar was the fact that Emerson had a rough childhood. Being ten years younger than her brother, she was forced to live with her alcoholic parents, while he was building his tattoo shop and setting a foundation for her to enter once she turned eighteen. A safe space of sorts. The thing that I found peculiar was the fact that Emerson never really shared those younger years of her life. I would have loved a few flashback moments to really define the determination that paves the foundation for her to not repeat her parents mistakes. I found it weird that the bits and pieces of Emerson’s childhood were brought up mostly in Roman’s point of view. And that is why I dropped a ½ star on my rating.
Overall, I loved the way Kaylee Ryan brought these characters to life! Roman and Emerson were a matchmade in romance land. I loved the intensity, the chemistry, and the connection these two showed. I loved the slight angst and the slight drama. What more can I say besides the fact, I loved everything. Now, I can’t wait to see where Kaylee Ryan takes the Everlasting Ink series! I want more!!
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Read Today:
Available in kindleunlimited
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ukoZGj
Amazon Universal: https://mybook.to/doesheknowkr
Peace Love and Happy Reading,
I’m hoping I enjoy this one as much as you did. Great review!