Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review and giveaway for a new M/M romance out today from Lane Hayes. LEANING INTO A WISH is book 3.5 in her Leaning In series, and follows the love story of Ryan, a viticulturalist from Wes Conrad’s winery finding love when he least expect to… I really liked LEANING INTO THE FALL and LEANING INTO ALWAYS, so I was eager to get back to these Bay-area romances.

Scroll down for an excerpt and to enter to win a $20 GC.
About the book:
Ryan Haskell loves everything about the wine business. He’s fortunate to work at one of the most prestigious wineries in Napa Valley doing something he enjoys with the people who are like family to him. But he could do without the good-natured intern slash former jock with the wicked grin who always seems to be in the way. Ryan isn’t sure why the new guy is under his skin when everyone else loves him. Thankfully he’ll be gone after the holidays.

Danny Meyers can’t believe his luck when he lands an internship at Conrad Winery. It’s the perfect temporary gig to wrap up his graduate studies. He’s left his dreams of tennis stardom on the court to focus on a new career and a new life. However, he didn’t count on the spark of attraction he feels for his prickly co-worker. When their tentative friendship blossoms into something more than either man counted on, they may have to change direction and lean into a holiday wish.

How about a little taste?

A vacuum-like static rang in my ears. It wasn’t until Danny nudged my arm that the typical raucous bar noises filtered through again. And when he scooted his barstool back a foot or two and raised his hand to flag down a server, everything seemed to return to normal. Sort of.

“Gin and tonic for my friend and I’ll have another martini, please. Thanks.” Danny tipped back the last of his drink then handed it over before twisting to face me. “So other than being out twenty-five bucks and possibly having an awkward conversation at work on Monday, that didn’t go so bad.”

“I—I don’t get it. What just happened?”

“We agreed to let Geordie win the bet, remember?”

“Sure, but how did I get stuck here with you?”

Danny snorted. “We’ve already established that you like me. Stop being an uptight fuddy-duddy.”

“A fuddy—? You’re…” I gritted my teeth and tried to think of a stinging insult to fit the situation. “Annoying.”

Lame. And the “That’s the best you’ve got?” twinkle in Danny’s eye told me he agreed with me. I was about to let him have it when the waiter stopped to deliver our drinks. When we were alone again, I leaned into him and kicked his shin for good measure.

“Ow. Relax, Ry. I still want to kiss you, you know.” He popped the speared olive from his martini into his mouth. “With tongue.”

“You’re reading way too much into a stick of spearmint gum, honey. Don’t flatter yourself. It was a joke,” I huffed derisively.

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“Are you fucking nuts? I’m not kissing you,” I announced primly.

“You want to though. Admit it,” he teased.

I blew out an exaggerated breath, sucked down half my cocktail, and slid off my barstool. “I’m outta here. See you Monday.”

Danny grabbed my belt loop and yanked me to his side. “You didn’t let me finish. I was about to say…”

“Yes?” I prompted with a rolling hand gesture.

“I want it too.”

We stared at each other for a heated moment. I had no clue what he was thinking, but it seemed weird to ask for clarification. When the growing tension went on a beat too long, I wanted out. “See ya, Danny boy.”

I pushed my way through the crowd and gulped for air when I finally reached the sidewalk. I didn’t dare stop to enjoy the refreshing autumn breeze. If I wanted to avoid any further confrontation, I had to boogie. Danny was the type of guy who liked having the last word, and that wasn’t happening on my watch. I fished my keys from my pocket and power-walked toward the parking lot behind the bar.

“Ryan!”

I ignored him and picked up my pace. I spotted my car and clicked my fob to unlock the door. Danny called my name again. I could tell from the sound of his footsteps behind me that he was closing in quickly. I had to hurry or—

Too late. A hand on my elbow yanked me sideways.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I fumed, pushing his chest to no avail.

He moved into my space until his nose was less than an inch from mine. He was too big and imposing, and the look in his eyes was straight-up dangerous.

My dick twitched in my jeans. Of course it did. I had a bad habit of coveting what I couldn’t have and getting turned on by the chase. My past was littered with embarrassing short-term affairs or crushes on guys like Wes and Finn. Men I admired but never had a real shot with. I didn’t want to add Danny to that list because against my better judgment…I liked him. Really liked him.

My Review:
Ryan Haskell loves his job and life within Conrad Winery. He’s been there for six years and is has developed deep friendships with Wes, Geordie and their pals–even been intimate with some of them. But, he’s still single. And that’s not so happy. He’s uncomfortably attracted to Danny Meyers, an intern who’s stayed on past harvest to finish his term with the winery as part of his graduate studies. Dannyi’s tall and built and charming, and it’s plain irritating to Ryan that he’s fallen for yeat another unattainable man. Because Danny must be straight. He’s had a girlfriend, and all.

Ryan isn’t that happy with Geordie’s assessment that Danny likes Ryan, and he’s sure the mixed messages he’s been getting from Ryan are sheer mockery. A straight dude playing with his head. Ryan blames his faulty gay-dar, but he doesn’t really want to fall for Danny, either. He’s been watching people couple up for a while now…and the idea of falling for Danny when he’s going to leave for school in a couple months doesn’t appeal. Ryan’s been left behind too many times to risk his heart again.

Thing is, Danny is bisexual. And Sexual. He has been attracted to Ryan since the summer began and it’s near Halloween. Ryan isn’t prepared for Danny’s full-charm press, and he’s needed intimacy for a while. So, while Ryan’s sure it’s a bad idea to let Danny into his defenses, he’s also so happy to have the closeness they begin to develop. As autumn edges past Thanksgiving and toward Christmas, Ryan knows he has given his heart away, but he truly wishes that Danny won’t let him down. Danny’s complications with his former career as a tennis pro and his demanding family start to intrude, however, and Ryan’s unwilling to hold him back. After all, who’d choose Ryan anyway? No one had before…

This is a sweet and tender romance for a guy I’d not been thrilled with in previous books. Ryan was a complication for Nick in LEANING INTO THE FALL, and he’d also been in a messy situation with Finn from LEANING INTO TOUCH. Still, he comes across as vulnerable and sympathetic here, and I got hooked in quick. Danny is a gregarious guy, and his signals didn’t seem all that mixed to me, but his reluctance to discuss himself was shady, and that’s where I felt the disconnect for Ryan Lay. They do get it on rather well, and I liked how Danny dealt with his family drama. It was a sweet ending to a holiday read with a HEA in time for Christmas Day.

Interested? You can find LEANING INTO A WISH on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $20 Amazon GC.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in an almost empty nest.

Catch up with Lane on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.