This novel ends 74% in, and then there's an author's note about this complex world she's built including the Fish books and these two Flophouse books (with the Johnnie's series in the same universe). She's written smaller pieces (on Patreon) for dedicated series readers that don't fit into the books, but can be tucked in afterward. There are two here, and a third is promised after the next Fish novel YAY. I'm reading them after I post this review.

This story is about Jason, who has a hard job and dedicated people but has run himself into the ground, and Cotton, who's no longer doing Johnnies videos and is at a loss what to do next. It's about survival, and kindness, and truths & lies, vengeance and hiding and recovery, and what makes someone feel like home. I loved it. I wish I could've made it last longer. I cried through enough of the tender scenes to be glad allergies demand I always have tissues handy.

You do not have to have read all the books, although you'll understand who Burton and Jackson are much better if you have. I envy new readers. But I re-read all these books over lockdown, and they're even better the second time through. ( )

I read the first book Shades of Henry a few years ago and didn't realize that it was the first book of a series so I was pleasantly surprised to see so many characters from that book as well as characters from the Johnnies series, and the Fish Out of Water series which was the series that really turned me on to Amy Lane. I loved Cotton and Jason. Jason was exactly what Cotton needed to get his shattered life back on track and pursue his schooling to become a nurse. I didn't quiet see how they were going to get their "happy ever after", but the story was so sweet. I hope there is many more books yet to be "born" in this series and my other favorite characters keep appearing. ( )