Burning the Midnight Oil: Copper Lake, Book 3

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 1,159 ratings

Price: 17.5

Last update: 02-02-2025


About this item

Rule number one: Don't fall for my brother-in-law. It should be easy, right?

Wrong.

When I moved in with my sister over summer break, I had no intention of returning to college in the fall. A work trip for her meant a lot of time alone for me with her husband. Boone Stanton. World famous bull rider and way, way off limits.

A few late-night deep conversations between the two of us, only the midnight sky our witness, and suddenly, I can't look away. Can't keep my mind off of him.

It's in the way he works around the yard, sweaty and shirtless. The way his eyes soften and he leans into his playful side around his daughter. And it's in the way he makes me feel seen. The way he's slowly chipping away at my exterior without even realizing it.

Then one night, I see something I shouldn't. Something that makes my mouth water and my heart race. Except when he catches me, instead of stopping and reprimanding me, he… keeps going.

Now, I have the opportunity of a lifetime, but it means going on the road with him. It means living in even closer quarters than before. It also means doubling down on keeping my hands to myself and my gaze away from his dark, observing eyes.

But I'm only human, and it's only a matter of time before I crack. Before I give in and do something I can't take back.

Something that could cost me everything.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Danie Y. (bohobookmama)
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best one yet!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
    ???? Burning The Midnight Oil - Ashley James ????

    Tropes:
    ????️Brother in Law
    ????Professional Bull Rider
    ????️Single Dad
    ????Small Town
    ????️Age Gap
    ????Forced Proximity
    ????️MM Romance

    This is quite literally one of my very favorite books. I absolutely fell head over heels in love with Boone. He is everything I’ve ever wanted and more in an MMC he is just the best. Honestly he is the sweetest thing he has the filthiest mouth. He is the best dad! I really felt for him being stuck in a marriage that wasn’t bringing him the happiness that he deserved. I really love seeing him throughout this book grow and kind of find his true self Grady and the love and unique relationship that they held I can’t imagine being in his situation when your person turns out to be your ex-wife’s brother that would be so hard to navigate and I, absolutely understand all of the turmoil that he was in he handled it wonderfully. I just love those two together. I think they deserve all the happiness in the world and Ashley is a literary genius for bringing us both of these men and also all the other copper guys.

    I love Grady. He is such a golden retriever, fun, loving goofball and I love how good of an uncle he is and how good of a brother he is to his sister how he cares so deeply about what she’s going to think. I totally feel for him and the issues with his parents it would be so hard to have a family that does not support you. I just feel so much love for that character. I am so glad him and Boone have found their happiness. They both literally deserve all of the happiness in the whole world.
  • GingerMa2009
    4.0 out of 5 stars Liked this one more than expected ..
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2024
    I thought this was a solid third book in the series. I really like these characters more than expected. Boone is mature and a great dad. Grady is funny and sexy once he gets over his insecurities. The story dragged a bit at the end and things seemed to get a bit repetitive. Like the author didn’t want to let go of these characters when she was wrapping their story. Spice is high, it just takes a while to get there.
  • Jill Kaczor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Copper lake returns
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2024
    Once again Copper Lake continues to deliver on the sweet emotion, HEAT and incredible love stories. Low angst & forbidden for the win. Boone and Grady are just so perfect together and the burn throughout this book is ???? and pays off HARD when Grady goes to grab that towel. (IYKYK). As with the rest of this series the communication between the two of them is gold! No unnecessary drama ???????? (can we also give a shoutout to Jade who - let’s be serious, handles this whole relationship with quite maturity given the circumstances)

    Suzy was adorable and we all loved the sweet moments with her, the toe painting was my personal favorite ????

    Also, you already know shooter being shooter in this story is a cameo you won’t want to miss.
  • oknazareth
    3.0 out of 5 stars Mild but entertaining.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024
    This felt like reading a MF romance, and I can’t put my finger on why. I just forgot Grady was male. I’m also unsure if it is a good thing or a bad thing, I just noticed it.
    Grady drops out of college and stays at his sister’s while he gets on his own feet. Turns out the sister is getting a divorce, a very civil divorce while still leaving with the soon-to-be ex husband, Boone
    The problem is that Grady wakes up queer feelings in Boone, and they start an ill advised relationship. Under the same roof the sister lives with her 4yo daughter.
    Yeah, sticky.
    I liked how Grady treats his niece and that’s about it.
  • Meg Kalani
    4.0 out of 5 stars We can take comfort in the solace we find in each other without trying to make sense of it all.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2024
    Burning the Midnight Oil–

    Ashley James (Copper Lake, #3)

    Maybe on nights like this, when we’re both burning the midnight oil, we can simply take comfort in the solace we find in each other without trying to make sense of it all.

    When Grady Stanton comes home to visit his sister over summer break, he's shocked to find out she's getting divorced from professional bull rider Boone Stanton, the man he's had a crush on since the day he first laid eyes on him.

    Tropes:
    – Forbidden (Brother in law)
    – Sports romance (Professional bull rider)
    – Single Dad
    – Small Town
    – Age Gap
    – Forced Proximity

    Talk about forbidden! The third book in the Copper Lake series follows Boone Stanton–aka Daddy Boone–who has always been the mature, responsible one with a wife and kid. Only his life isn't as serene as we think it is because there's trouble at home in the form of an impending divorce. So when his soon-to-be-ex wife's brother shows up for the summer to stick around for a bit, it's not high on his agenda of things to deal with. But the proximity, the way Grady treats his daughter, and the quiet moments on the front porch are making Boone's head spin until they both fall into something so much more.

    I loved the forbidden angst in this one. The we-shouldn't-do-this-but-we-can't-help-it is absolutely top notch as they both try (and fail) to avoid the pull between them on the road, in the barn, and basically every other place. It's a messy and confusing story, but watching them find solace in one another despite all the chaos was so rewarding. Also, Shooter is still... Shooter. Confirmed. Read Eight Seconds to Ride to find out more about why he's still lovable despite all that he does.

    This book has a lot of push-and-pull between Grady and Boone. After Grady drew a line between them, he was the one who went back and then simultaneously was mad at Boone for what they were doing while also pushing him away and ignoring him over and over? I also wished there was a bit more emotional connection between them versus being thrown into situations and then awkwardly trying to convince each other and themselves that nothing could happen with one another. Sometimes that drove me just the tiniest bit crazy, but I recognize that Grady is much younger and was terrified of hurting his sister.

    The next book, The History Between Us: A Dad’s Best Friend Small Town Romance, releases on my birthday and I am so very excited for it as well as Whit and Conrad's story–which I have been truly waiting for since I met them in Eight Seconds to Ride because I know that second chance will hurt so good.

    It was so lovely to be back in Copper Lake and I can't wait to visit again soon!

    ARC review.
  • Sarah Rollins
    5.0 out of 5 stars I Never Knew I Was In Love With Cowboys Until Now
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2024
    Wow wow wow!

    This book had me hooked from the beginning. As I started reading it, I thought, where is the MM, but then BAM! The slow burn and me telling myself as I read that this is forbidden but I love it, I was hooked. It was sexy, funny, wild, spicy and as I got to the end, I couldn't put it down.

    This is the first book I have read from this series and I cannot wait to read the others. Bravo Ashley on a fantastic book!

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