Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

Rebuilding Hope: RUSTY NAIL–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary romance from Nazarea Andrews. RUSTY NAIL is the second book in her River City series and features a playboy falling for a woman with a bad reputation. The male lead is Aidric, uncle to Dempsey from FIREBALL so I’m sure we’ll run into him and Taite in this one.

About the book:
In a small town, rumor is everything…
Life came easy to him.
Town playboy Aidric Jones has it all: money, women, a life without responsibility. Until his house burns down and a daughter he doesn’t know lands on his doorstep. No one expects him to step up, to grow up, but he finds disappointment is different when someone is counting on him.

And everyone is whispering…
Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks everyone knew Olivia Buckley was going to end up pregnant and stuck in River City with a deadbeat boyfriend. Now she’s a single mom working for her parent’s construction company, unable to escape a reputation she hates. She’s fighting like hell to make a life for herself and her son, to prove everyone wrong.

They’re two people with nothing in common except a falling down house, two angry kids, and a town full of rumors–but maybe that’s enough

They’ll give them something to talk about…

My Review:
This is the second book in the River City series, and picks up with a new odd-couple.

Aidric Jones is an opportunistic lover–with a scandalous reputation in his small hometown. Despite his college degree, he’s a firefighter, on the same crew as his nephew, Dempsey. Aidric likes his no roots bachelor ways, but his life is gonna change when he learns he’s a father—to an eleven year old orphaned girl. HE’d spent one sexy weekend with her recently deceased mother, and moved on like always, not noticing the gal left school at the term and never returned.

To say Aidric is shocked is an understatement, but he’s determined not to mess up Kendra’s life any more than it already is. He reaches out to an old acquaintance, Olivia Buckley, to begin renovating his half-burned childhood home so it will be a livable space for him and his daughter.

Ollie–as she goes–is a tough-as-nails single mother who’s long ago outgrown the “loose girl” reputation she was slapped with when she got pregnant senior year in high school. She’s worked damn hard to support herself and her eleven year old son, Theo, diving into project management for her father’s construction company and assuming full control once he retired.

Ollie has always had a thing for Aidric, but she’s been celibate going on twelve years. No man was good enough for her to upset her son about–and Theo’s a sensitive kid. He takes on the forlorn souls at school, including odd-ball Kendra. As Ollie and Aidric work on the house renovation, the attraction simmers. Meanwhile, Theo and Kendra build a bond. Neither parent wants to disrupt the budding friendship, but they also can’t ignore how their own feelings are growing, too. But would Aidric settle down and be a one-woman man? Ollie never dreamed it could be true, but she’s seen how much he’s changed with parenthood. That said, does Ollie even want to remain in Rover City? She’s had some offers to sell her business…and she always wanted to move away from her small-town ghosts. Will she, once she and Aidric work their lust out of their systems?

For me, this one was okay. It’s a long-slow-simmer with little sexytimes until late in the game, once Aidric and Ollie have built a solid friendship, commiserating over parenting woes and house details. I liked that, honestly, because it showed some solid maturity for these seasoned lovers. What didn’t work for me was how Theo and Kendra both read far older than eleven–late teens, at the least. They are far too self-aware and other-aware to be 11. Their words of wisdom and insight, well, having raised two grown kids and having one nearing this age range, it didn’t feel realistic or natural, for me. Aidric’s age is something of a conundrum. I thought he was in his early forties when we met him in FIREBALL, and him being Dempsey’s older bachelor uncle also pegged him in the mid-late forties bracket, too. But that doesn’t jive with having an eleven year old he conceived in college. That kind of inconsistency had me scratching my head a lot. I didn’t get why Kendra and Theo had chapters in the book–it pulled me out of the story and took the focus off Ollie and Aidric. I’m curious who might be having a love story next in this town–and I’m hopeful it might leave me with fewer questions than answers.

Interested? You can find RUSTY NAIL on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

You can also find FIREBALL, the first book in the series, on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

About the Author:
Nazarea Andrews (N to almost everyone) is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. Which means she writes everything from zombies and dystopia to contemporary love stories. When not writing, she can most often be found driving her kids to practice and burning dinner while she reads, or binging watching TV shows on Netflix. N loves chocolate, wine, and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, spoiled cat and overgrown dog. She is the author of World Without End series, Neverland Found, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series.

Stop by her twitter and tell her what fantastic book she should read next. You can also find her on her website, blog, Facebook, join her Street Team, or sign up for her newsletter.
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Making a Family: BROTHER’S KEEPER III: LUKE A Military Monday Review


Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary romance from Stephanie St. Klaire. LUKE is the third book in the Brother’s Keeper series which features a tight-knit set of five brothers who work in ultra high-profile security business. LUKE is a former soldier who can’t believe himself worthy of love, while the woman he’s protecting is headstrong and lonely–and love the overwhelming sense of family she feels within Luke’s extended family business. I haven’t read either of the previous titles, but I was able to jump in with both feet on this one.

About the book:
Luke O’Reilly has seen it all, done it all, and lived through it all. When a career ending injury forces him to retire from the military, he struggles to adapt. Luke was born to be a soldier, not conform to the nine-to-five mediocrity of everyday life. He needs to protect and serve like he needs his next breath.

Angry, with a bitter taste of civilian life, he finds himself searching for purpose in dangerous operatives through the family business that is Brother’s Keeper Security. Working alongside his brothers, protecting them and those they love, gives him satisfaction. But he still wants more – needs more – and struggles to find it. That is, until the one thing he didn’t think he was searching for, lands on his doorstep. Literally.

Daisy King lives life on her own terms, just the way she likes it. A free spirit, until she finds herself in the protective clutches of Brother’s Keeper, one frustrating brother in particular. As the key witness to a high-profile murder, the stakes turn dangerous and take an unpredictable twist leaving her once simple life an existence she’ll never reclaim.

In a true tug of war between good and evil, Luke fights to overcome his past, to protect his future. Can Luke and Daisy save each other and find a happily ever after? Or, does murder and mayhem prevail, robbing Daisy of her freedom and sentencing Luke to a life alone?

My Review:
Daisy King is a free spirit and performer in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’s looking for a bathroom at a house party where she’s the entertainment and inadvertently becomes the only witness to a senator’s murder. Surveillance operatives whisk her away from Nashville to Seattle–in an attempt to keep her safe. It seems there’s a mole in the WITSEC program and their witnesses against a certain cartel’s crimes all end up dead. Separated from her ailing grandmother–Daisy’s only family–she’s unhappy that taciturn Luke is her overlord , uh protector. But, Daisy loves the sweet ladies who are attached to the Brother’s Keeper security team. And, she’s sure that Luke is attractive man.

Luke hates that he’s unfit for duty, but he’s also happy to be home with his family–if he can maintain a level of privacy. Having Daisy dropped into his quiet home is inconvenient, at first. She’s a boundless problem, however, and often tries to shake the metaphorical shackles he insists are in Daisy’s best interest. Keeping her safe is his top priority, but he didn’t expect to like her so dang much.

This is a pretty fun one, with lots of banter. I had some issues with the time frame, as we jump forward by days and weeks at times, and that wasn’t super easy to follow. Also, I felt there was often too much backstory bogging the pace. I know when there are series tales it’s easy to want to explain who everyone is and how they fit, but I really like sticking with the current protagonists and their journey, so I didn’t need to know all the history between Luke, his brothers and the rest of the gang. At times, I experienced it as telling me the story, and it didn’t work for me in that moment. There’s a bit of romance that does develop, even as Luke protests that he’s not a “forever man,” but Daisy takes a chance anyway. When it seems like she’s likely in the clear regarding pursuit it all goes sideways and it’s up to Luke to save the day, and the woman he’s come to love. Expect an unexpected happy ending where Luke and Daisy really bond, and build a space within Luke’s family that is both supportive and comforting.

Interested? You can find BROTHER’S KEEPER III: LUKE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.

The previous books in the series are also available.
BROTHER’S KEEPER I: DECLAN on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

BROTHER’S KEEPER II: LIAM on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.

About the Author:
Stephanie St. Klaire debuted in 2016, launching her writing career with Rescued, the first book in the widely popular, five book series known as McKenzie Ridge. Stephanie is a Pacific Northwest native currently living in Oregon with her husband, five children, and two ferocious lap dogs.

As a writer, Stephanie brings realistic circumstances to the pages, and fills them with real emotion, reactions, and outcomes. Her characters are passionate, have bold personalities, and full of life. She writes happily ever after’s, with plenty of twists, turns, drama, and of course, steamy romance.

Stephanie has always been a story teller, with the gift of “gab”, and a life-long goal to be a writer. Unfortunate circumstances with her health, finally afforded her the time to do so. Irony at its best, she began writing her first novel at an adverse time, to escape her circumstance and explore the stories in her imagination for relief. She is happy to share those stories with her readers, and bring a little fun, entertainment, and of course smexy characters to the pages.

Catch up with Stephanie St. Klaire online to keep up with her work on her website, Facebook, twitter, Instagram, newsletter, Goodreads, Amazon or Bookbub.

Needing a RELIEF VALVE-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary M/M mystery romance from JL Merrow. RELIEF VALVE is the second book in the Plumber’s Mate series and a fave of mine. I adored book 1, PRESSURE HEAD, and book 4, BLOW DOWN, which I read out of order. For those who haven’t picked up these books, they feature a is a plumber with a knack for finding water and lost/hidden items–including dead or missing people. It’s set in England, and has some absolutely awesome vernacular. The book came out several years back, but is being re-released by a new publisher.

About the book:
If you dig up the past, be prepared for some dirt to stick.
The relationship between Tom Paretski, a cheeky plumber with a gift for finding hidden things, and PI Phil Morrison may only be a few weeks old, but already it’s under attack. Tom’s friends and family are convinced the former bully isn’t good enough for him, and they’re not shy about saying so.

Then Tom’s prickly older sister, Cherry, is poisoned at her own engagement party. Tom’s left reeling and not knowing who to suspect. Could it be her new fiancé, Gregory, a cathedral canon with an unfortunate manner and a taste for taxidermy? Or someone from her old writers’ circle, which she left after a row? Or could the attack be connected to her work as a barrister? Meanwhile, Tom’s honorary auntie’s left him a gag gift from beyond the grave that could be more significant than anyone knows.

Phil’s fighting against the clock to solve the case before somebody ends up dead. And with the poisoner hiding a dark secret, Phil’s terrified Tom could have been the target all along.

My Review:
Tom Paretsky–maybe he’s not Polish–is a plumber with a unique knack for finding what’s hidden, including dead bodies. He’s got a trick hip after spending nearly a year in traction when a lorry hit him back in secondary school. The fact that he ran into the street to avoid schoolmate Phil Morrison and his gang of bullies isn’t a fact Tom’s family isn’t loathe to forget. Not even when Tom and Phil have now become an item…of sorts.

That said, Tom’s determine to change his family’s minds, and insists on bringing Phil to his sister Cherry’s engagement party. When Cherry is poisoned there, well, it’s good that Phil was available to help out on the case. This mystery/romance is charming and harrowing by turns. Tom wants to help figure out who might behind the attack, and Phil makes it his first priority; Phil isn’t sure that Cherry was the target. Tom having inherited some undisclosed property seems to make him worth bumping off, is Phil’s thought. I have a special fondness for amateur sleuth stories, and I love Tom. He’s such a fun narrator, and he’s always getting himself into a scrape. His reaction to Cherry’s fiance–whoo boy! Greg is a big man, gregarious and creepily friendly–as well as a canon for Church of England. Tom’s quietly horrified about Greg’s taxidermy hobby, and not sure if Greg is entirely straight–which leads to some inappropriately hilarious situations while Cherry recovers. And Phil’s not amused. Though he does take a friendly shine to Tom’s bestie Gary’s diminutive fiance–a former adult film star turned veg-trader in the nearby market.

While they figure out where their relationship is going, Phil and Tom work on both Cherry’s case, and on finding the “hidden” inheritance from Tom’s surrogate aunt. This last part threatens to tear apart Tom’s family even more so than Tom’s choice of boyfriend, or Cherry’s poisoning. The pace is as brisk as Tom’s rambling chatter. If you dig Brit blokes going on doing ordinary/extraordinary amateur sleuthing, well, this might be a book for you. I’ve devoured them all at this point…and would read another dozen more.

Interested? You can find RELIEF VALVE on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.

She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and and mysteries, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy and her novella Muscling Through and novel Relief Valve were both EPIC Awards Finalists.

JL Merrow is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, International Thriller Writers, Verulam Writers’ Circle and the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.

Find JL Merrow online on her website, twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Lonely Souls Connect: AIDEN–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary romance from Melanie Moreland. AIDEN is the second book in the Vested Interest series. I liked BENTLEY, and I’ve enjoyed AIDEN, too.

About the book:
Haunted by memories of his past, Aiden plays the part of the happy-go-lucky friend. Always ready with a teasing smile or a joke, he is good at hiding his pain.
Using his impressive physique as a shield, he keeps his past buried beneath his rugged exterior.
Except, one woman sees through his façade.
Her green eyes see too much, even as her body tempts him.
Even as his heart yearns for her.
Cami is determined to make him realize that he is worthy of being loved.
He pushes her away at every turn, yet finds himself unable to keep her at arm’s length.
Who will win this battle of love?

My Review:
Aiden and Cami met in the first book of this series. They had an instant attraction, and great sexual chemistry, but Aiden, a child abuse survivor, believes he’s ultimately unlovable. Meanwhile, Cami’s mentally ill mother died when she was young, and has been raised by her elder sister. She needs to feel needed–and loved–and Aiden’s mixed signals are doing her head in.

It’s not the right time for drama, either, because Cami seems to be forgetting things, and is losing possessions and contact with her sister–who’s on an extended business trip–and her bestie, Emmy, who has moved in with her fiance, Bentley. Is Cami showing the first signs of mental illness, or is there another situation brewing that is putting her life in danger.

This book picked up steam about halfway in. Like Cami, I got tired of Aiden’s waffling about how he’s not a forever man, and how unworthy he is for her. That never works for me, as a reader, and the prose was verbose and repetitive until we got to the heart of Cami’s “forgetfulness,” which is a problem Aiden CAN help her manage. That brought me in, and the suspense was almost the right tempo to keep me turning pages. On the whole, the pace of the book was slower than I would have liked. The romance was okay, and I liked that Aiden overcame his issues and loved Cami with his entire being by the end.

Interested? You can find AIDEN on Goodreads, Amazon or other outlets.

****Book Sale****
You can also find BENTLEY on sale $.99 until May 10th on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

About the Author:
New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.

While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.

Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.

You can catch up with Melanie on her Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, or sign up for her Newsletter.

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Small Town Quarrels: FIREBALL–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary romance from Nazarea Andrews. FIREBALL is a smoking hot romance between small town folks who can’t avoid one another any longer… I really liked SECRET THINGS, so I was excited to try a new book from this author.

About the book:
He’s infuriating…
Dempsey Jones has been a nuisance my entire life, the straight-laced Boy Scout grown up to be a firefighter, of all things. He was the one helping kittens out of trees and old ladies cross the road while I was lighting cherry bombs with my best friend in abandoned buildings, and now that we’re all grown up—even if my Dad doesn’t agree—he’s still just as annoying.

She’s impossible…
Taite Ridley has been a constant my whole life, the curly haired mischievous daughter of the police chief, charming and devious and alluring. She was wild in ways I never dared to be and too big for our little town. But she’s here, a small town cop, and I can’t avoid her, even if I wanted to.

And I don’t want to.

It’s like mixing fire and gasoline and when these two collide, someone is gonna get burned…

My Review:
Dempsey Jones has had a thing for Taite Ridley ever since high schoo.Painfully shy, Dempsey hid his attraction behind sharp words and one-upmanship. It seems. But Dempsey’s been having some delicious hate sex of late with River City’s junior chief of police. He wants more, but how can he convince Taite he can be the man of her dreams?

Taite, having lost her mom young, is a daddy’s girl to the max. She grew up at the precinct, doted on my the cops and office staff, and has now come in to her own as an officer herself. Taite’s had a lust-hate relationship with Dempsey since high school, but she always thought her troublemaker persona turned him off. And, she’s never getting married. Not after seeing her dad suffer when her mom died. But, as the small town gears up for the big fundraising competition between the fire department and the police department, Taite might have more to lose than her pride. Yup, Dempsey’s careful planning might just win her heart.

This is a sweet and sexy love story that seemed to be enemies-turned-lovers, on the surface. Instead I think it was friends-turned-lovers because the hate posturing was more Taite’s drama than anythign else. Dempsey has been gone on Taite a long time now, and his only angle is how to turn his “drunken,” down-low hook-up into his sleep-in-my-bed-all-night girlfriend. There’s plenty of fun bits, too, like how the fire department tries a new tactic to raise money: a nude calendar. For Dempsey, tall, fit and sexy fire captain, well, he can’t avoid baring all–and it’s part and parcel of his plan to win Taite over too.

There’s plenty of waffling, however, and that was a little bit of a drag, for me. Taite does finally see the light, though, when Dempsey sees her through some dark moments. It’s cute and fun. I enjoyed it.

Interested? You can find FIREBALL on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

About the Author:
Nazarea Andrews (N to almost everyone) is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. Which means she writes everything from zombies and dystopia to contemporary love stories. When not writing, she can most often be found driving her kids to practice and burning dinner while she reads, or binging watching TV shows on Netflix. N loves chocolate, wine, and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, spoiled cat and overgrown dog. She is the author of World Without End series, Neverland Found, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series.

Stop by her twitter and tell her what fantastic book she should read next. You can also find her on her website, blog, Facebook, join her Street Team, or sign up for her newsletter.
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Military Monday! Getting Life SQUARED AWAY–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary M/M military romance from Annabeth Albert. SQUARED AWAY is the fifth book in her Out of Uniform series that features romances for Navy SEALS stationed in Coronado, California. Having read and loved OFF BASE, AT ATTENTION, ON POINT and WHEELS UP, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this new one–and what a different love story this was!

About the book:
In the wake of tragedy, SEAL Mark Whitley rushed stateside to act as guardian to his sister’s three young children. But a conflicting will could give custody to someone else—someone Mark remembers as a too young, too hot, wild party boy. Even after six years, Mark can’t shake the memory of his close encounter with Isaiah James, or face up to what it says about his own sexuality.

Isaiah’s totally over the crush that made him proposition Mark all those years ago. In fact, he’s done with crushing on the wrong men altogether. For now, he’s throwing himself into proving he’s the best person to care for his cousin’s kids. But there’s no denying there’s something sexy about a big, tough military man with a baby in his arms.

As the legal details get sorted out, their long-buried attraction resurfaces, leading to intimate evenings after the kids are tucked in. A forever future is within reach for all of them, if only Mark can find the courage he needs to trust Isaiah with his secrets—and his heart.

My Review:
Navy SEAL medic Mark Whitley’s older sister and her husband died in a car wreck, leaving behind three young kids. He’s rushed home from his latest mission, fully expecting to assume care for the kids. He’s their closest blood relative, even if he has hardly seen the kids in their lives. He isn’t ready to be challenged for custody by Isaiah James, cousin of the children’s father. Isaiah and Mark met several times over the years–notably in the run-up to the wedding, when a barely-legal Isaiah kissed Mark at the reception.

Isaiah has been a part-time caregiver to his cousin’s children since their birth. He even has his own room in the home Mark grew up in–where Mark’s sister’s family lived since their parents died in a plane crash a few years back. Isaiah wants nothing more than to care for the kiddos–as thanks for the years his aunt cared for him while his widowed father traveled. Isaiah may not be able to settle on a career his father approves of, but he’s clearly a great caregiver to the children, who adore him. And he could manage on the generous life insurance and estate that’s left behind, not that it’s his motivation.

Mark doesn’t trust Isaiah–he’s 24, outrageous and well, he gets around the men. Not there’s a real problem with Isaiah’s sexuality, except for Mark’s bigoted uncle who will counter-sue for the estate if Isaiah is granted guardianship. And, well, Mark isn’t sure Isaiah won’t hare off to find himself a man…he’s so young and surely wants to party. On the other hand, Mark can’t take full custody and still maintain his commission. Being a SEAL means weeks-long missions and months-long deployments. Plus, he has zero skills with kids, unlike Isaiah.

While the legalities play out, Mark and Isaiah share Mark’s childhood home, and the care of the kiddos. Mark gains first-hand knowledge of Isaiah’s capabilities, and he can’t deny the attraction building between them. But, Mark’s barely had any attraction in his life, and the discussions that ensue help Mark to recognize he’s someplace on the asexual spectrum–demisexual, or gray ace, they think. Which is cool with Isaiah, as it turns out. He loves what intimacy they can share, and their emotional connection is far more valuable to Isaiah at this point in his life; he’d begun adulthood with a crush on Mark, and his feelings are only stoked by their closeness and camaraderie.

There’s so much emotion going on here, with grief filling the first half of the book. Excitement and exhilaration do pick up in the second half, and Isaiah may be young, but he’s not afraid to stand up for the kiddos, who are sweet!, and finally for himself. Expect a super-sweet happy ending that brings this broken family together for good.

Interested? You can find SQUARED AWAY on Goodreads, Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

About the Author:
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Find Annabeth online on her website, Goodreads, twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

New Life SECOND CHANCE–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary transgender M/M romance newly released from Jay Northcote. SECOND CHANCE is a mature romance for two old mates who’ve reconnected under strained circumstances. Nate fell hard for Jack when they were schoolmates, but a lot has changed in twenty years…. Can their rekindled friendship ever be more?

About the book:
Everyone deserves a second chance.
Nate and his teenage daughter need a fresh start, so they move back to the village where he grew up. Nate’s transgender, and not used to disclosing his history, so it’s hard living where people knew him before. When Nate reconnects with Jack–his best friend from school and unrequited crush–his feelings return as strong as ever.

Jack’s returned home to get his life in order after an addiction to alcohol caused him to lose everything: his job, his driver’s licence, and nearly his life. He’s living with his parents, which is less than ideal, but rekindling his friendship with Nate–or Nat as Jack once knew him–is an unexpected benefit of being back home. Jack is amazed by Nate’s transformation, and can’t deny his attraction. Trying for more than friendship might ruin what they already have, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.

Doubting his feelings are reciprocated, Nate fears he’s risking heartbreak. Jack’s reluctance to tell his parents about their relationship only reinforces Nate’s misgivings. With both their hearts on the line and their happiness at stake, Jack needs to make things right, and Nate has to be prepared to give him a second chance.

How about a little taste?

A hint of cigarette smoke carried on the wind caught Nate’s attention, and he realised he wasn’t alone. A hunched figure sat on a bench by the church. Wearing a heavy coat with the hood up, their head hung low staring at the grass between their feet rather than at the landscape stretched out before them. A cigarette hung from bony fingers that protruded from black fingerless gloves. As Nate watched, the man—because Nate could see his face now—raised his head to take a long drag before stubbing the cigarette out on the bench.

A shock of recognition made Nate’s heart jump, thudding erratically. Jack.

Torn between conflicting urges to approach and flee, Nate stared at him, powerless to move.

How many years had it been since Nate had seen him? At forty-five Nate found each year passed faster than the one before. It must have been twenty years at least since he’d seen Jack, maybe more, and longer still since they’d spoken properly. Their last meeting had been nothing more than an awkward exchange of greetings when they ran into each other in the village pub one Christmas. The distance between them had cut Nate like a knife, so different to their teenage years when they’d been best friends, and almost inseparable.

Jack slumped forward again, letting the cigarette butt fall from his fingers. He put his hands over his face and Nate recognised despair and hopelessness, because they’d been his companions in the past. Acting on instinct, he approached.

“Sorry to intrude,” he said, pausing in front of Jack. “But are you okay? Is there anything I can do?”

Jack jerked his head up in surprise. His pale cheeks flushed as he shook his head. “Not really. Just having a bad day. You know how it is… or maybe you don’t.”

“I do.”

Nate studied him. The years had changed Jack, of course, but the essence of him was still the same. Sharp features, the strong nose Jack had always hated, even more defined with age, but more balanced now with dark stubble and the lines that the years were beginning to carve around his eyes and mouth.

As Jack stared back, Nate realised there was no recognition dawning on Jack’s face. To Jack, Nate was a stranger. Five years on testosterone had changed Nate to a point where Jack couldn’t see the person Nate had been before. Normally this was something Nate was glad about, but now he felt a pang of regret.

My Review:

Nate and Jack were the best of friends in school, but that was twenty-five years ago. And, Nate was Natalie, back then. Nate had a terrifying crush on Jack, who was out-gay before they left for uni, and he couldn’t bear to here of Jack’s sexy exploits so he dropped their friendship.

Nate’s sexual dysmorphia continued to grow into his twenties, even after having a child. Near his late thirties he recognized he was trans, and has had treatment since–to the point where he “passes,” which is a bit of a situation when he runs into Jack back in their small hometown.  Nate and his duaghter have moved to live in a smaller locale, and share Nate’s childhood home with his mum. Jack had a terrible break-up and became alcoholic, lost his license and job and is rebuilding at his parent’s home now.

Jack thinks Nate is a sexy man–and Nate’s not about to correct his misunderstanding on how they’ve known each other years–until it sort of washes out on a chance encounter. Still, Jack’s intrigued and Nate’s still suffering that darned crush. They agree to strike up their friendship once again, and soon add the physical. Because friends-with-benefits is sure to preserve their hearts. Jack doesn’t want to fall in love again, and Nate’s afraid to upset his life with more drama–now that his daughter’s well-recovered from some teenaged-angst/depression.

As with all books from Northcote, this one’s a steamer. It’s also sensitive, and engages the reader in the struggle for trans acceptance. The situation, coming “home” changed irrevocably but having acquaintances not honor that, is tense, and both Jack and Nate feel the pressure at times. Jack’s parents are rather boorish about it, often using wrong pronouns and calling Nate by his dead name. It’s upsetting, and Nate and Jack both must struggle through. Jack’s decisions aren’t the best in this regard, because he really cares for Nate, and is afraid to have he heart broken yet again.

I liked the shenanigans these two get up to, trying to have some private time in a place where privacy is at a premium, and watchful eyes abound. It’s a sweet and tender mature romance, and it had both gravitas and respect for person and situation. And steam. Don’t forget the steam.

Interested? You can find SECOND CHANCE on Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author:
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

You can find Jay on his website, Twitter, Facebook Author Page, and Amazon.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

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Redemption Love: RIDE DIRTY–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a newly-released contemporary romance from Laura Kaye. My goodness, I’m backed up with reviews. I guess that happens when you fall into a black hole while student teaching chemistry!! RIDE DIRTY is a novella, book 3.5, in her Raven Riders series and features the club sergeant-at-arms, Caine McKannon, a jaded man with a horrifying past finding inconceivable love with a kindergarten teacher, Emma Kerry. If you want to catch up on other books in the series, check out my reviews for RIDE HARD and RIDE ROUGH.

About the book:
Caine McKannon is all about rules. As the Raven Riders Sergeant-at-Arms, he prizes loyalty to his brothers and protection of his club. As a man, he takes pleasure wherever he can get it but allows no one close—because distance is the only way to ensure people can’t hurt you. And he’s had enough pain for a lifetime.

And then he rescues a beautiful woman from an attack.

Kids and school are kindergarten teacher Emma Kerry’s whole life, so she’s stunned to realize she has an enemy—and even more surprised to find a protector in the intimidating man who saved her. Tall, dark, and tattooed, Caine is unlike any man Emma’s ever known, and she’s as uncertain of him as she is attracted. As the danger escalates, Caine is in her house more and more – until one night of passion lands him in her bed.

But breaking the rules comes at a price, forcing Caine to fight dirty to earn a chance at love.
How about a little taste?

“What do I do?” Emma asked.

“We,” Caine said as an urgent, demanding possessiveness dug its claws into his soul. Dug them in, deep.

And it was, without question, something he’d never felt before in his whole life. When you felt as unworthy as he did, you rarely believed that you deserved to possess anything at all. But now, in the face of her vulnerability, Caine dared to hope that he might deserve…what? Not her, exactly, because after being viewed as no more than a possession by the couple that ran his group home, the idea of possessing another person made his stomach roll. But maybe the chance to get to know her, at the very least. And maybe even the chance to give her the things he’d always wanted but never been able to have.

Jesus, even daring to hope for such things made him feel like the bottom might fall right out from underneath of him. And when that happened, he’d just fall and fall and fall…

But if she was going to be brave, he sure the fuck would, too. “We’ll figure this out, Emma. Do you hear me? You’re not in this alone.” His voice sounded like it’d been scoured with sandpaper.

She peered up at him, and her bottom lip trembled a little more. “Promise?”

“Jesus, come here,” he rasped, hauling her in against his chest. He held her tight with one arm and stroked her hair back with the other. And Christ, she felt so good there. So warm and soft against all his cold hardness. So right. These thoughts were so foreign to him he hardly knew what to do with them, but that didn’t make them any less true. He had to swallow around a knot of emotion before he could go on, but when he finally did, his voice was rock solid again. “I give you my word, Emma.”

He made one more promise, too, but this one he kept to himself. Once, he’d failed to protect someone he should’ve. Worse than that, her death had been his fault.

Caine vowed to himself—he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

This time, he’d rather die first.

My Review:
Caine McKannon is unlovable–that’s what he’s been told his whole life–a life filled with loss, abuse and pain. He’s built himself a new family with the Raven Riders where his no-nonsense attitude suits his role as Sergeant-At-Arms and chief enforcer–not that he lets anyone get too close.

Caine meets Emma Kerry late one night when he rescues her from a mugger just outside her property. The mugger escaped, though, and that didn’t sit well with Caine. He’s a man who likes to maintain control of situations, and his opinion of Emma’s security in her home–alone and poorly shielded–comples him to peruse her property regularly on his other security details. Emma’s attracted to Caine, whose mis-matched eyes seem to hold a well of sadness. But, Caine knows this sweet kindergarten teacher is too soft for him–not that he’s fit for a relationship.

Turns out that Emma wants to thank Caine for his protection and that links her to some of his Raven Rider comrades–through a mutual love of baked goods. The Raven Riders have long wanted Caine to find a steady woman, and if Emma’s interested in the position, well, they are going to push the issue. And the more time Caine spends watching of Emma the more he thinks her mugger has a more sinister motive after all.

This is a short read, with a Christmas-ish theme, as the story is set in the weeks surrounding the holidays. Emma’s a solitary gal, having no living family to celebrate with, but she’s able to convince Caine to stoke her home fires… O.o It’s a sweet and sexy read, two lonely souls finding solace and safety together. I liked it.

Interested? You can find RIDE DIRTY on Goodreads, and Amazon (US, AU, CA, UK).

LauraKayeAbout the Author:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and upcoming Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Falling Into RANK & FILE–A Military Monday Review

Hi there! Today I’m kicking off a new series I’ll call Military Mondays–focusing on books that have an active military, or veteran, character. This week I’m reviewing L.A. Witt’s RANK & FILE, which is the fourth book in her Anchor Point navy series. I’ve loved JUST DRIVE, AFRAID TO FLY and CHIEF’S MESS, and read forward into the series…but life got away from me and I’ve been collecting reviews for a while.

About the book:
Senior Chief Will Curtis is as straitlaced as they come. While his fellow Sailors have partied their way through their enlistments, he’s had his eye on the prize—making master chief and retiring after thirty years of service.

Lieutenant Brent Jameson is a Navy brat turned Annapolis grad. He’s lived and breathed the military his whole life, and he knows he’s destined for great things—once he’s done paying his dues at the bottom of the ladder.

When their paths cross, both men know better than to give in to temptation, but that doesn’t stop them. It also doesn’t keep them from coming back for more, even though being discovered would sink their careers. Something has to give—Will can retire, Brent can resign, or they’ll both face court-martial.

But there’s also the option neither wants to acknowledge: jump ship and walk away from each other instead of ending their careers over a fledgling relationship. And they should probably decide before they fall in love.

Except—too late.

My Review:
Senior Chief Will Curtis meets Lieutenant Brent Jameson when he’s called to settle a domestic dispute on base. Will is a master-at-arms, a cop essentially, and Brent was (unknowingly) having a rendevous with a married woman when her husband arrived mid-scene. It’s, well, it’s humiliating for Brent. He’d never knowingly break rules like that, and he’s rather lucky the husband doesn’t press charges–for conduct unbecoming. That said, Will and Brent meet up off base by coincidence, as the nearby gay bar–and it’s hot. But…forbidden. Will is enlisted and Brent is commissioned. For a one off..okay. They could fake their way out of trouble if the “just met” and didn’t know each other’s rank.

But that’s not what happens. Because it’s good, and worth a second try. And a third.

Knowing their careers are at risk if discovered, Will and Brent begin to sneak around, even planning a weekend well away from base so they have the chance to wake up together after sunrise in a bed for a change. Their attraction becomes more than hooking up, with time spent chatting, acting as a partner would–if they could be partners. Will has a decade on Brent, and is angling for a career in the Navy–thirty years and full retirement. Brent, he’s only starting off his career, but it’s far more tedious than he anticipated. And, his folks (particularly his dad who’s retired from the Navy) are a struggle. They want him to be a high flyer like his elder brother, and why doesn’t he marry a good woman and settle down…

As it goes, though, it’s not long before there’s a discovery, and they need to either separate from each other, or the Navy…and it becomes a surprisingly easy choice, in the end. Well, not easy, per se, but manageable, and believable. I really liked both Will and Brent. They are good men, who make bad choices professionally in order to make up for denying their personal needs too long. And, it’s not to angst-ridden. I liked it lots, and found the scorching sexytimes highly satisfying.

Interested? You can find RANK & FILE on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Lauren Gallagher is an abnormal romance writer who has recently been exiled from the glittering utopia of Omaha, Nebraska, to an undisclosed location in South America. Along with her husband, a harem of concubines, and a phosphorescent porcupine, she remains, as always, in hiding from the Polynesian Mafia. For the moment, she seems to have eluded her nemesis, M/M romance author L.A. Witt, but figures L.A. will eventually become bored with the wilds of Spain and come looking for her. And when that time comes, Lauren will be ready. Assuming L.A. doesn’t have her hands full keeping track of Lori A. Witt and Ann Gallagher, which she probably will.

Visit her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Surviving a TEST OF VALOR–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new contemporary romance from Keira Andrews. TEST OF VALOR is the sequel to VALOR ON THE MOVE the older-younger odd-couple story about a secret service agent who falls for his charge: the president’s son. This new story is all about the growing pains of a new relationship, and dealing with forces outside of your relationship that threaten to pull it apart.

Scroll down for my review and to enter the giveaway!
About the book:
They’re free of the White House, but can their forbidden romance survive in the real world?
With his father no longer president, twenty-two-year-old Rafa Castillo can finally be with ex-Secret Service agent Shane Kendrick. Shane’s given up his career for Rafa, a move his fellow agents question the sanity and morality of. Eager to get away from the questions and judgement, Rafa and Shane are building a new life together in Australia. Though Shane struggles with nightmares and his over-protective instincts while Rafa fights his own insecurity, they love each other more than ever.

Now they just have to get through a visit from the former president and first lady.

Rafa’s parents certainly don’t approve of his romance with forty-year-old Shane, and they’re determined to make him see reason. They don’t see how their son could possibly be happy settling down with an older man, and they question Shane’s motives. Shane and Rafa just want a normal life together—but when they must suddenly battle for survival, they fight to prove their fierce love can withstand any threat.

This gay romance from Keira Andrews is the conclusion of the Valor duology. It features a May-December age difference, sex on the beach, and of course a happy ending.

My Review:
Secret Service Agent Shane Kendrick dedicated his life to the care and protection of his charges. This didn’t change when he quit his job to move to Australia with Rafael “Rafa” Castillo, Codename “Valor”, the youngest son of former President Castillo. Their love is a mystery to Rafa’s parents, who are sure Shane somehow abused his position to attract Rafa.

While Rafa and Shane build their new life together, Rafa’s parents plan an extended visit. They ensure to separate the happy couple–physically and emotionally if possible–to see if they can convince Rafa to return to the States and leave his much older partner behind. Rafa’s young but he’s not naive. He loves Shane with his whole heart, and he’s tired of his parents–and Shane–thinking their relationship is only temporary. While Shane loves Rafa, yet he’s sure Rafa will, one terrible day, see all the young and fun like the men he could be dating, and will eventually leave Shane behind.

Still, Shane soldiers on through the disapproval, keeping Rafa from kicking his meddling parents to the curb. And, well, coming through in a time of intense danger. Shane’s commitment to keeping Rafa, and his family, safe really shines through, but so does Rafa’s desire to be seen as a whole man–not someone to be sheltered and protected. They have some issues to work out, and I think they manage it well. And, wow, the sexytimes are delish. Rafa’s Daddy kink has not abated, and Shane’s happy to indulge Rafa in any way he desires–even being versatile. I loved the setting, as I’m a fan of new locales, and the Australian landscapes made me hunger for more travel.

This book ends with a solid HEA, and while the author has stated it’s a complete duology, I would gladly pick up another book in this series if one ever became available…hint, hint!

Interested? You can find TEST OF VALOR on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****
Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a back list book from Keira Andrews.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Keira AndrewsAbout the Author:
After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal and fantasy fiction, and—although she loves delicious angst along the way—Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

You can catch up with Keira on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.