This was smufftastic fun as most CC novels and novellas are, and as such I enjoyed reading it.

How we see our lives is really just a collection of impressions seen from our viewpoint, not how events actually unfold. Usually we don't get a chance to explore how right or wrong our impressions are, but go through the years believing what we think happened is true. But what if our impressions are skewed? Cardeno explores this idea in a nifty little novella that has the protagonist reevaluate his life from someone else's perspective. ... This delightful premise and the ensuing untangling of memories could be a study in strum und drang, but Cardeno approaches it with a deft hand and a light touch, making the story one of those "awwwww" moments in reading.... Cardeno's story is a little gem that will tickle even the most jaded readers and brighten their day.

Nina: I loved this novella. I loved that there was just enough connection to the Home series to make this feel like a part of a greater story. I loved how snarky and funny and grumpy Rafi was. I loved how sweet and open and unswerving Isaac was. I loved the forgiveness and acceptance in this story. I loved how incredibly sexy these men were together. I loved how brave they were. ... I enjoyed the way that the men came together, the process felt real to me. Even though Rafi would never admit it, there is a reason that Isaac pushes all of his buttons - he was a part of how he got them. These guys grew up together and as Rafi relaxes and lets go of some of his anger his memories soften to allow more than just the pain and anger and resentment to flavor their shared past. The subtle turning from slaking passion, and wow! were these guys incredibly hot together, to companionship and friendship to love was a delight. This was a fantastic novella and a brilliant addition to my Cardeno C collection.

The story was told from Rafi's point of view, and he was a great character with a sarcastic sense of humor. Rafi is intelligent, hard-working, and a bit lonely. Although he has some good friends, he hasn't fallen in love yet. Isaac might be a major star, but he wasn't arrogant. Instead, he was kind, loving, and a bit possessive. At first glance, it didn't make any sense that Isaac liked Rafi based on how he treated Rafi in high school. However, as Rafi starts to remember some of the nice things Isaac did for him, the story took on a different feel. It was almost like a reminder to the rest of us not to let negative feelings cloud our pasts and block the good memories. There were several extremely steamy sex scenes during which these two continued to grow their relationship. The conversations were wonderful, and I really felt like I got to know the characters. The story takes place over a reasonable period of time, and we get a glimpse into what their future would be like together. I really enjoyed this wonderful steamy relationship story with a great sense of humor and interesting characters!