Need You Close (Second Chance Ranch Book 3)

Carson & Jude each struggle with their own past trauma to come together to make a future. Jude is the small town veterinarian & veteran who would give the shirt off his back to help others but has built up walls to block others from seeing his own hurt. Carson is a recent veteran who has returned home struggling with a TBI & the loss of the purpose he had while in the military. Together they recognize kindred spirits. Starting out as friends they both share details about themselves allowing a deep bond to grow, eventually becoming more. This is a beautiful story with a bit of spice that I highly recommend.

PoV: dual, 1st person Genre: contemporary romance, MM Tropes / tags: friends to lovers, hurt / comfort, found family A swoony and slow burn friends to lovers romance! I loved the chemistry between Carson and Jude, and their mutual crushing and pining was so well written! I loved being back at Second Chance Ranch, this time following Jude and Carson. There was a strong focus of healing, as Carson was adjusting to a life with a traumatic brain injury and leaving the military. He was trying to find his footing and was frustrated a lot of the time, especially with his brother being over protective and worried. Working as a ranch hand was good for him though, and I loved seeing him with the horses. Jude was hesitant and afraid to put his heart on the line, used to people leaving. It was beautiful to see the friendship that grew between them, and then slowly moving from friends to lovers. Everything felt so natural and organic between them, and their relationship progress was very sweet and swoony. It was easy to root for them, and they were very supportive and patient with each other, even if they weren't always great at communicating. Need You Close was full of healing and hurt / comfort, and I really liked Carson and Jude together! A sweet romance with low angst, just two men slowly falling in love and beginning to heal together. I love romances with mature MCs and Annabeth Albert writes them really well! - I received a complimentary copy of this book, and these are my…

Loved the story, loved the characters! Looking forward to the next in the series. I can't wait to read more.

A beautiful story with hard-won character arcs. Sweetly spicy. Disability rep that feels authentic and not *too* careful, if that makes sense. Loved the whole thing!

As a gay veteran, I wasn’t ready for this bringing up the same feelings in me that they were experiencing. But at the same time, it was nice to feel like I wasn’t the only one going through it. Guilt is real and doesn’t always make sense and I loved the themes in this that easily flowed in the background of a well written love story. Kudos for making another masterpiece.