Cost of Redemption

The Saints of Westmont U, Book 2

He was my forbidden craving. My biggest regret. And now, he's my only weakness.

Elio

Some mistakes you bury. Others crawl under your skin and never let go. Jaxon Mercer was supposed to be my past. The stolen kiss. The fist that followed. The silence after. But now? He's here—cocky, dangerous, and looking at me like he already knows how this ends. I should shut him out. I should forget the way he used to make me feel. But when he's this close, breathing is hard enough, let alone thinking straight. Enemies. Ex-best friends. Rivals. Obsessions. I don't know what we are anymore. But I know I want him.

Jaxon

He's scared to want me. I want him desperate. Elio Castelli pretends he has it all under control. I know the desperate way he kissed me two years ago. I know the fear in his eyes when he shoved me away. And now that I'm standing in front of him again, I know one thing for sure—he's still mine, whether he admits it or not. I'm done playing it safe. I'm done waiting. I'll have him. Even if I have to break him first.

Contains mature themes.

©2025 Hayden Hall (P)2025 Tantor Media

Redemption Indeed.

I've never started out with such a huge dislike and disappointment of a MMC as I did with Elio Castillo. Can we say 'Worst First Kiss Ever!' That @$$hat broke Jaxon's nose when they kissed the first time - then he left him bleeding and destroyed lying on the floor. But as I got to know Elio and see his struggles my heart warmed for him a little. And I further approved how he handled the captancy vote between him and Easton. I hated how he treated Jaxon - like a dirty secret and I felt bad for Jaxon in that he finally was getting what he's always wanted but it was at the price of his soul. It hurt, but I was glad when he told Elio he couldn't 'do this' anymore as he realized his self worth. I finally forgave Elio when he apologized to Easton and healed their friendship. The scene where Elio and Jaxon reunite was the cherry on top. Silas Hart is one of my favorite male performers; needless to say I enjoyed listening to him.

4 Starz - I would listen again

Heartbreaking longing!

These stories of young men who pine for their best friend always hit me square in the heart. Jaxon did not deserve that treatment and Elio did not deserve him. However, Jaxon has a huge loving heart and got his happy ever after.

Elio and Jaxon

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚, 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙩. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚, 𝙄 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠. 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.⁣
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Elio and Jaxson were best friends throughout school until their last summer together before college, when Jaxson kissed Elio, and Elio freaked out. Now in college, Jaxson is back in Elio’s life and not willing to let Elio walk away again, no matter the cost.⁣
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Elio struggles massively with his identity and his relationship with Jaxson. I feel bad for him and for Jaxson after everything they have gone through to get to a point where Elio is not running scared anymore. ⁣
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I struggled with this one a bit, mostly with Elio’s character. I get that everyone’s journey is different, but there was something that bothered me about him.⁣
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Silas Hart is a great choice for the narration of this book, as his voice has that edginess needed.⁣
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Although it is not mandatory to read this series in order, it is highly recommended.⁣
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Join Elio and Jaxon on their journey if you vibe with…⁣⁣⁣
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🥅 MM⁣
🏈 College⁣
🥅 Hockey⁣
🏈 Football⁣
🥅 Best Friends to Enemies⁣
🏈 Found Family⁣
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I gave Cost of Redemption, the second book in The Saints of Westmount U series, 3 🍁