Depth of Field (Last Chance Book 1)

This the the first book in a new series and the Prologue broke me I knew then that I was in for a good hard Angst read ..my favourite !Shane and Van aka Maxwell Sullivan Jnr come from a small town where everyone knows everything or so they think .Not everything is as the Sullivan family portray .Max harbours a secret that cuts deep.At 18 he leaves town and everything he's ever known behind but circumstances force him to return 12 years later no longer hiding who he is and now known as Van an Artist and erotic photographer.Shane is a loner he has spent the majority of his life looking after his mother who suffers from severe anxiety . He has endured taunts and been the subject of gossip because of his Sexuality. One of his tormentors has returned back to town .When Van and Shane cross paths they no longer are the young teenagers who hated each other they are now grown men who are very attracted to each other .Both men so independent yet so lost they will make you cry,laugh and squirm and make you want to take a cold shower ! Boy can Riley write a sex scene ! it's a beautiful love story from enemies to lovers it has it all .I've read many M/M romance and this one here has really gripped my heart the raw love both these boys feel has them becoming one of my very favourite couples .

You have to be prepared for anything when you pick up a book by Riley Hart. Her characters seem like every day guys, usually on the blue collar side, but they are intensely complex in many ways--and tremendously attractive and hot.This coupling of Shane the auto mechanic and Van (nee Max) the returning prodigal son photographer/painter is incongruous in many respects. The major one is that Van/Max was the high school bully who tormented Shane and caused his high school boyfriend Caleb's parents to pack him up and leave town.But that's just one of many reasons why when Shane first spots Van/Max in the town diner he almost explodes in anger. That doesn't last all too long as major complications spill out around them, mostly centered on their respective mothers.Oh, and there is another complication: They are both 30 years old, haven't seen each other since Van/Max escaped from town suddenly after high school graduation 12 years ago--and they are insanely attracted to each other.This swiftly moving, extremely--and creatively--scorching book will grab you by the throat and not let you go until what you know will have to happen actually takes place. How that happens is so adorably endearing and so appropriate for a couple of hard-bitten and very lonely guys that you basically do cartwheels in your head.This is one of Riley Hart's best books by plot, characters, and scorching love scenes. That there is a sequel coming which involves someone we come to know only by reputation in this book has me on the edge of my buy button waiting for it to come out.

This is the first book I've read by Riley, but oh my God, it was so good. I loved the sweet build of the romance. I loved the backstories. I loved that they were able to turn their shared history from an event of hate into the purest love.Most of all, I loved how Riley portrayed Shane's mother. I suffer from anxiety disorders, and Riley showed so much of what I go through on a daily basis that I was both left speechless, and in tears. Someone GETS IT! And to see her find support and her inner strength was just as important to the story to me as the growing love between Shane and Van.This was such an emotional and well-written story that I couldn't put it down. I don't know why I didn't review after I first read it. But after two re-reads, I finally made it here. This is staying with me forever.

Some books follow formulas, especially those in the enemies-to-lovers trope. Two MC's hated each other in the past for various reasons only to meet years later and those sparks fly again turning into heated passion.Not so much with this one.Shane was bullied in school by Max and his friends for various reasons including the assumption that he was gay as well as his mothers mental illness. They were often cruel and unyielding, cementing Shane's distrust of people in general.Max leaves Last Chance (the town they grew up in, very aptly named) while Shane stays behind to care for his ill mother. Max returns twelve years later, having changed his name to Van as well as his personality. In that time, Shane has opened his on auto repair shop and has regained some of the self confidence destroyed by Max and his friends years previous, all the while taking care of his mother.Their first few encounters after Van returns are justifiably tense, especially considering what Shane had to experience literally at the hands of Max/Van years previous. But then something happens involving Van and Shane's mother which allows Shane to see a different side of Van, a side Shane never would have thought existed.I must say, the depiction of Shane's mothers illness is done with such depth and tenderness that you can't help but feel bad for the situation that both Shane and his mother find themselves in. One scene in particular involving Van and Annie will stay with you long after finishing the book, it's THAT tender.Shane and Van have obstacles they must overcome in order to be together, including geographic distance. It's the work and sacrifices by all parties; Shane, Van, and even Annie, that make this such a beautiful book to read and experience.

I think this is yet another one I can chalk up to the 'it's me not you' school of thought. I haven't read that many Riley Hart stories...there's just something about her writing style that annoys me, can't put my finger on it, it just does and her collaborations with other authors [principally Devon McCormack] are a complete no-no, so although I was really keen to read this one having read the blurb, it still didn't totally work for me.The sex was plentiful and dirty, but didn't completely overwhelm the rest of the storyline thank goodness....the friendly benefits eventually turned into a whole lot more 💜. The enemies to lovers trope is becoming a favourite of mine, and I was dead chuffed that Shane finally found someone to love [although why Maxwell became 'Van' is still a mystery 😉]. Jonathan was...and still seems to be a complete muppet, although he was genuinely shocked at the revelations of abuse that Maxwell [Van] had had to endure... yes folks, his father beat and abused him to prove that he loved him ...don't we all wish he hadn't kicked the bucket so we could give him a taste of his own medicine 😠. And on a purely personal note, I still believe bullies should have to work really, really hard to redeem themselves and have any hope of forgiveness, it shouldn't be swept under the carpet or easily forgiven....you ask any of the victims of your bullying!!I understand that the elusive Caleb is the MC of the next story, and a little hint...Ryan and Caleb go well together, don't you think?? 4.25 stars from me.

Depth of field was such a touching story I loved it so muchVan and Shane's journey was intense heartbreaking heartwarmingI laughed I cried u fell in love as I followed Shane and vans storyThey were so many feels in this story it was beautifulDepth of field was so beautifully written and a amazing beginning to a new series I can't wait to see what's next

I'm a huge Riley Hart fan - she always delivers stories full of romance and emotion and wonderful developed characters. This one delivered as always.However I did feel that enemies to lovers conflict was a little too quick and the forgiveness was easily earned. I would have liked a couple more scenes at least where Shaun was still blinded by the 'old Max' and Van proved he wasn't Max anymore. The jump from hating to lovers was just too quick.I also thought the conflict at the end was much ado about nothing and was only put there because of some kind 'book formula'. For me the story would have worked just fine without it.Overall though, another great Riley Hart story and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

The last section robs it of a star. Up to then l was very happy with it but Vans mother did not make sense nor did the misunderstanding. It just seemed rushed t the end and tapered off into eroticism.

Un put down able very good holiday read.