The Cocky Neighbor, Corio Heights #5 by Rye Cox

No! I’m not READY!! The men of Corio Heights have quickly become a favorite of mine. Rye Cox writes emotional stories with sweet happy endings that reel you in. The Cocky Neighbor is part of the Corio Heights series but can be read as a standalone.

From the blurb:

What do you do when you can't stop thinking about your new boss?

Eric couldn't ask for a better life. He has amazing friends, a great job, and the freedom to go home with whoever he wants that night. He couldn't ask for more, because he never wanted more. Relationships were for people tired of the excitement of the unknown, and that certainly wasn't him. Life was perfect...except for the appearance of his new utterly annoying, ridiculously dressed boss who is set on making his job a living hell. Eric wants nothing to do with the man, so why does it seem like he can't escape him?

Liam came in with a mission, and that is to finish his job perfectly. His brother tasked him to stabilize the new hotel line their family's company acquired, and he couldn't fuck this up. He doesn't need distractions, especially in the form of sexy, kind, and hot-headed men like the hotel's manager. Liam is determined to keep his distance, but it doesn't help when the man keeps wiggling under his skin. Maybe it's time to stop trying to fight this attraction and find another way to release the extra tension?

The Cocky Neighbor is an enemies-to-lovers M/M romance that features two men who get on each other's nerves but can't seem to keep their hands off of each other and discovering that love can be freeing. It is the fifth book of the Corio Heights series and can be read as a standalone but will be more enjoyable when read as a series.

Lori C's Review:

Just as we’ve always known Eric as the fun loving friend that didn’t want romance in his life, we’ve always known Liam as the landlord of the building and a friend to Ian and Noah. With all the game nights, it truly is a wonder they had never met before the Wrights bought the hotel chain that Eric worked for. Eric and Liam have such chemistry. Keeping their hands off each other at work becomes a challenge, but at game night? All bets are off! 

This series is so beautiful! I read the Flirty Neighbor first by accident in January of 2022 and very quickly fell in love with the writings of Rye Cox. I knew that Eric and Liam would be the final book and I have to admit that part of me was loathe to read it as if pretending that it did not exist meant the series would never end. I can say that I am so happy to have read it, loved it, and seen it through to the end. This series marked the beginning of my reading adventure with Rye Cox and I look forward to more of her books in the future. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Heather's Review:

I love when a series culminates well and bringing together Eric and Liam, two men whose orbits have floated around each other since the series began is just chef's kiss... and makes me want to read the whole series again!

This book gives us a workplace antagonists to lovers vibe, especially when Liam is determined to bring a top down strategy to a hotel that's already working well... with Eric as the manager!  This was a delicious read and it makes me both happy and sad that the Corio Heights series has come to an end.... 

Rating: 5 Stars

Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's Review:

"𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘥. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨."

Okay, it's official. Liam and Eric are my favorite of the series. I can say that with conviction because The Cocky Neighbor is sadly the last book in the Corio Heights series. I really enjoyed all the books in the series and loved the whole friend group aspect of it all. Seriously, I want to be invited to game night at Jason and Wills! It also made me laugh because Eric swore he would never move into the building because it caused its residents to fall in love and then he went and fell in love with someone who already lived there instead. Man I love irony.

Liam was NOT what I expected from seeing him in previous books and I freaking loved that surprise. The man was a fashionista, yet he was also toppy AF. He liked to be obeyed, yet Eric liked nothing more than to disobey him. It was fun seeing Eric push the envelope so to speak to see what he could get away with. Their sexual tension was in the stratosphere by the time these two finally succumbed. I feel like this was the steamiest of the series, which may also play a part in me liking this book the best. I do love me some good steam after all.

One thing I loved was how cute it was when Liam tried to subtly show Eric what it would be like to date him without actually saying the words. He'd do sweet things like drop off a coffee or a little snack that showed he was thinking of him. Honestly, I think it went way over Eric's head what he was trying to do, but it must have subconsciously worked somehow because ya know "spoiler alert," they end up together in the end. I'm bummed this is the last book in the series but will keep an eye out for what comes next from this author.

Rating: 5 Stars

The Cocky Neighbor is available to buy as an ebook, paperback, or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.