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Adverse Conditions: Reclaimed Hearts book 1 Kindle Edition
Xavier swore he’d never move back to the flyspeck of a town he’d grown up in and he kept that promise for over twenty years. Now he's back for good.
Vincent never left. After college, he stayed in town to be close to his elderly parents. These days he’s the single dad of a fifteen-year-old daughter and working two jobs to make ends meet. He's perfectly happy with his life.
Can two lifelong enemies move from hate to something more?
Xavier's new mission is to breathe life back into Cooper Springs, but his stodgy, straight-laced, rule-following neighbor, Vincent Barone--is getting in the way. Dark-eyed, broad-shouldered,muscly Vincent, who Xav stealthily ogles when the man toils in his front yard sans shirt. For a high school shop teacher, Vincent is too sexy. And he has a kid. And he infuriates Xavier. And anyway, love is for suckers.
Vincent doesn't have time to date. And he certainly wouldn’t date his flashy, arrogant, neighbor whom he absolutely did not have a crush on back in high school. Who did Xavier think he was, moving back to town and throwing his weight around, causing butterflies in Vincent's stomach, and making his stupid heart beat faster every time he saw him?
Cooper Springs has changed since they were kids, maybe two guys can move from hate to love. But are they ready? Will Vincent bend a few of his rules? Will Xavier reign in his chaotic tendencies? Is love in the air?
Then there’s the matter of the grisly discovery in the woods--murder is bad for business.
Welcome to Cooper Springs, home to UFO chasers, Sasquatch believers, conspiracy theorists, chainsaw artists, and regular folk just trying to make a living. And, quite possibly, a killer.
Adverse Conditions is the first in the Reclaimed Hearts series, set in the wilds of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, it is an opposites-attract, older lovers, silver fox, enemies to lovers, small-town romance, with a little murder. HEA guaranteed.
Note: The Reclaimed Hearts series follows a different couple in each book but cannot be read as standalones. These books should be read in order as there is ongoing suspense and mystery and previous couples make appearances in future installments.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMarch 30, 2023
- File size3.2 MB
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B0BWVH6PT6
- Publisher : Dirty Dog Press LLC (March 30, 2023)
- Publication date : March 30, 2023
- Language : English
- File size : 3.2 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 235 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #103,986 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #810 in Later in Life Romance (Kindle Store)
- #869 in Later in Life Romance (Books)
- #2,620 in Small Town Romance eBooks
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Broken, broody, mysterious, swoony, inclusive; those are my tropes.
It’s my grandmother’s fault! Alice Lee bribed me to read with a Nancy Drew box set—and changed my life forever.
Love at first binge read.
By the time high school rolled around I’d already discovered romantic suspense and gothic romance, and I’ve never looked back. What can I say? My love of mystery and suspense started early and runs deep.
Is there anything better than a character who by the end of the story manages to redeem/heal themselves enough to fall in love? No, there isn’t.
Fast forward to 2017 when, with a shaky finger, I pressed the Publish button for the first time. I’ve never regretted it. I love writing and telling stories that others enjoy, it’s a dream come true.
What else? I love both cats and dogs. Star Wars and Star Trek. Pineapple on pizza, and have a cribbage habit my husband encourages. We live in a log cabin near Hood Canal in Washington State, if the sky is clear at night the milky way is visible. But most often I’m inside devouring yet another book!
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book's characters and their development. They find the story engaging with different personalities and tenderness. Readers appreciate the flow of the story and how the characters come together. The romance between two men who start out as enemies evolves into steamy erotic scenes.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the storyline. They appreciate how the characters come together and how it flows. The book is about a romance between two men who start out as enemies and morph into lovers. Readers also like the steamy erotic scenes.
"This book had a good story and lovable characters. There were a few grammer errors that are always distracting to me, but, overall, I liked the book." Read more
"I enjoyed the story very much. There was a lot to it. Different personalities...." Read more
"This was a good book about a romance between two men who start out as enemies (sort of) and morph into lovers and then to true love...." Read more
"It’s an interesting storyline , for the most part, but there was a disconnect between the physical and the emotional aspects of the relationship..." Read more
Customers enjoy the character development. They appreciate the different personalities, wit, and tenderness of the characters.
"This book had a good story and lovable characters. There were a few grammer errors that are always distracting to me, but, overall, I liked the book." Read more
"I enjoyed the story very much. There was a lot to it. Different personalities...." Read more
"...Great secondary characters in Xavier's mom and especially Vincent's engaging teen daughter Romy. She's the jewel in this book...." Read more
"As usual with Elle Keaton's books, I have fallen in love ... with the characters, the town, the location, and the way she writes all of them...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read. They enjoy the relationship between Xavier and Vincent. The book is described as a good read for self-improvement.
"Completely enjoyed Xavier and Vincent. It took some give and take on both sides and a lot of trust but the outcome was certainly worth it!" Read more
"This was a interesting read. I like the way the story flows and how the characters come together...." Read more
"...and Xavier & Vincent's developing relationship quickly became very interesting. I'm looking forward to the next book...." Read more
"...Totally worth the read." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2024The two characters in this book, Xavier and Vincent, are an unlikely match. But who can say really who we are supposed to be matched up too. Well in this case Elle Keaton can. Vincent is a single dad, who stayed in his hometown, and teaches shop. Xavier left town, got into real estate, had a boyfriend but ended up returning when he got tired of the bull crap from his boyfriend. After a year of back and forth and getting on each other’s nerves, Vincent and Xavier hookup and from there things fly. Strange things are happening in the town and life goes on but for both of them, it’s going to be together. Or at least they hope so. 5 stars ⭐️. 💜
- Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2025This book had a good story and lovable characters. There were a few grammer errors that are always distracting to me, but, overall, I liked the book.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024I enjoyed the story very much. There was a lot to it. Different personalities. And, most importantly, unlike a lot of gay novels, there was a story and not just sex (sex was good).
- Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2023New-to-me author. Great "author's voice". Smooth writing. Steady pace. Interesting MC's (Vincent and Xavier) with sufficient tension/heat. Great secondary characters in Xavier's mom and especially Vincent's engaging teen daughter Romy. She's the jewel in this book.
The story seems to be mainly Xavier's to tell, but his neighbor Vincent won my loyalty. The author fleshed out Vincent's character with charming, precise details but allows Xavier's development to flounder with a certain vagueness in his description.
I ended up reading this book through the night because I couldn't sleep. When I finally dozed for a couple hours, I woke up thinking about the book. Holy cow, it hit me! What about the subplots? There are some major mysteries left in the book that the author failed to tie up. And I mean significant plot lines!
WARNING: SPOILERS ALERT
What about the newly transferred student in Vincent's shop class with the sad, tense eyes? Vincent's really concerned about her welfare and gives her an extension on the class project deadline.
What about the human remains found along the trail in the forest? The town of Cooper Springs is buzzing about this development.
What about the body found beneath the bridge? Everyone knows her identity, plus she has a link to Vincent's ex!
The book ends with these questions unanswered. I can only assume these cliffhangers will be answered in later books. Fingers crossed. Finally, as is common in M/M romance series, the author selects two characters from Book One to star as the lovestruck couple in Book Two. Another Holy Cow moment for me when I read her announcement at the end of this book. How could she pluck an obscure character (Martin Purdy) and the town hermit/creep with a raging Unabomber personality (Nick) to pair as a couple??? No matter how much icing the author slathers on Nick, he will never be a cake in my eyes. I had assumed Liam and Chief Dear would be the obvious choice but what do I know?
- Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023This was a good book about a romance between two men who start out as enemies (sort of) and morph into lovers and then to true love. There is a mystery that I suspect will run the whole series, and there is a family drama that is t resolved either, but the main couple gets their HEA, and we are set up nicely for the next book.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2023It’s an interesting storyline , for the most part, but there was a disconnect between the physical and the emotional aspects of the relationship between Xavier and Vincent. It was almost as if there were two different couples instead of two aspects for one couple. The ending, while positive, is rather abrupt also. There are threads of suspense, but no resolution, a couple of deaths, but no resolutions, and overall the storyline is just loosely defined with details which lead nowhere.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2023As usual with Elle Keaton's books, I have fallen in love ... with the characters, the town, the location, and the way she writes all of them. Feels like I'm back on Piedras Island *swoon + happy place*, but with quirkier, maybe edgier folks. Love the relationship between Vincent and Xavier as they find their "we" and can't wait for them to pop up again in future books - also can't wait for those next books!! 💜💜💜💜💜
- Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024Completely enjoyed Xavier and Vincent. It took some give and take on both sides and a lot of trust but the outcome was certainly worth it!
Top reviews from other countries
- BooktravertReviewed in Canada on March 31, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a fantastic small town MM romance. This couple are opposites but so sweet together. The story has some mystery in the town, potential murders, sasquatch sightings, and gossip on top of the sweet and steamy romance. I just loved the little town of Cooper Springs and am eager for more stories in it.
- Dawn BarrellReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
This is a good start to a new series, set in Elle’s favourite Washington state. I’m surprised with the usual very wet weather that all her characters don’t live in arcs!
This was Vincent and Xavier’s story, two men who had known each other since school, grew up in the same tiny town and hated each other! Xavier had left the small town of Coopers Springs behind him after school and swore he would never return but after 20 years and a relationship break up he decides to return. He has a vision of improving the neglected town and bringing tourists back but it seems every step of the way Vincent, who is a straight laced rule follower, puts obstacles in his way. Xavier is in real estate and Vincent has a part time job as an appraiser and is losing Xavier business.
Vincent never left Coopers Springs because of his elderly parents. He became a teacher, got married, got divorced but his 15 year old daughter is the centre of his life.
Although Xavier hates the interfering Vincent he can’t help but keep sneaking a peak from behind his curtains whenever Vincent is showing off his broad muscled chest whilst working in his front yard and being too sexy for his own good. Another thing that annoys Xavier but he can’t stop looking.
This is an opposites attract, chill versus uptight, enemies to lovers with two men just into their forties enjoying each others bodies and finding love. There were lots of interesting and some weird characters and 3 adorable rescue dogs. There was also an undercurrent of something creepy happening on the mountain, a strange man, a body being found and then one of the local women being found dead. The gossipy villagers are getting nervous and this turn of events will do nothing for Xavier’s plans for Coopers Springs.
I can’t wait for book 2 when newcomer Magnus and the snarly Nick get their story and will the body count continue to rise?
- Beezie Reads RomanceReviewed in Australia on April 2, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Sturdy, enjoyable read with small town vibes, lots of interesting characters and the first inklings of a series plotline that could get interesting.
Medium heat. Dual POV third person. Grumpy/sunshine. Single Dad. Highschool enemies to adult lovers. Dogs. Older MCs (early 40's).
- David AReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read - Adverse Conditions didn’t disappoint
Really enjoyed Adverse Conditions - just ordered book 2 Below Grade - looking forward to continuing the adventure.
- ELDBReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Great start to a new series.
I love Elles work. My first book was 2020 and I’ve done the whole back catalogue. I was excited for a new series and this didn’t disappoint. Vincent is a single Dad, loves some rules and his teenage daughter. Xavier is a real estate agent and isn’t such a rule follower and was not happy with Vincent’s property appraisals. Dislike leads to a tentative friendship/romance. It was a lovely story, quite low angst and lots of interesting town folk on the fringes. I can’t wait for the next book.