Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a M/M contemporary romance from Ralph Josiah Bardsley. BROTHERS looks at two Irish families in the Southie area of Boston, one is a man raising his younger brother since their parents were killed, and the other is the youngest of four reconnecting with his older brother returning from war. It’s a real study in family, and how to negotiate an openly gay life. I liked it.
About the book:
At twenty-three, Jamus Cork’s plans are simple—graduate college, stay in New York City, and write. But those plans change when his parents are suddenly killed and he finds himself the guardian of his little brother, Nick.
Jamus ends up back in the Boston neighborhood where he grew up, with a crying toddler on his knee and the challenge of building a new life for himself and the boy. Jamus somehow finds a way to navigate the ups and downs of single parenting, but over a decade of raising Nick, Jamus never truly overcomes his struggles with loneliness and the guilt he feels as the sole survivor of the crash that killed his parents. That changes when he meets bookishly handsome Sean Malloy. There’s a spark between the two men, but both must face down their own private demons to find love in the Irish enclave of South Boston.
My Review:
This is a family M/M novel that involves two separate families in modern Boston. There are real struggles, and no steam. The bulk of this story occurs in 2009.
Jamus is nearing his grad school graduation when he’s in a car wreck that kills his parents and leaves him as custodian of his 3 y/o brother, Nick. He’s not a parent, and he’s not a brother. As their life moves on, he accepts the parental role grudgingly. The book mostly centers around the time when Jamus is 35, and a successful author in his own right, caring for Nick who is now 14 y/o. In the time he’s cared for Nick Jamus has had no social life, and only occasional one-night stands when Nick was old enough for sleepovers. He poured his heartache of loss into his novels which are LGBTQ stories–and is an out-gay man in the South End neighborhood of Boston.
Sean is the youngest of four kids in Southie. He’s 26 and just graduated with a PhD in education. He takes a low-pay teaching job (not sure why this is his best option–I have a PhD and teaching paid pretty well even with my limited experience) at a private school in Cambridge. The same school where Jamus’ brother Nick is a freshman; and in his English Lit class. Sean is being hounded by his family to settle down with a girl–which was also perplexing, as his two elder sisters who must have been nearing thirty were neither settled nor dating anyone of relevance and his elder brother Kevin is not facing this same scrutiny. Kevin is a rock–back from two tours in the Middle East and recovering from mild PTSD. There is a woman, Grace, who is adored by the family and who has plain attraction to Sean, but Sean is not interested. He’s not sure why, mainly, and doesn’t figure out until 65% through the book, when he meets and interacts with Jamus, that he might could be gay.
This is a really interesting story of family dynamics, coming out, and self-sacrifice, but suffered in the romance department. There is absolutely no steam, and I was not convinced that there was much of an attraction. It’s entirely possible that book-loving Sean was enamored of Jamus’ status as a successful author and intrigued by his first gay experiences, but not really a good match. There is a big falling out, both with Jamus and Nick–regarding backlash at the high school, and Jamus’ role in the wreck that killed their parents. The catharsis of his fiction leads Jamus into trouble with Nick, and the homophobia surrounding Nick’s guardian is absolutely horribly managed in the high school. Considering the expense of private schooling in New England, I was stunned that there was so little remedy to Nick being bullied. Sean is outed against his will, and it leads to strife that is not managed on the page. Young Sean runs to a safe harbor, and we only get snippets of there being any resolution to that problem.
The romance between Jamus and Sean is tentative and even when it is not it’s subdued. I wanted to see some heat between these guys. Alas, no. Sadly, I guess we only get to see their frailties bared on the page.
Interested? You can find BROTHERS on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
About the Author:
Ralph Josiah Bardsley was born in a small town outside of Boston. His father was in the Coast Guard and he grew up in a lot of different places – New Orleans, Cape Cod, North Carolina and Sitka, Alaska. When he wasn’t in school, he spent most of his time in Coast Guard hangers or reading. Today he lives in San Francisco with his husband Dana. Ralph’s hobbies include writing, running and wine tasting! Ralph works in the high tech industry in marketing. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Greensboro College and a master’s in communication from Emerson College.
“My writing comes from a combination of imagination and people and places that have shaped who I am today. My first book, Brothers, pulls from my childhood growing up as part of a big Irish family. OK, my immediate family wasn’t that big, but I had tons of aunts and uncles, and I can’t tell you how much wonder and amazement comes from being part of a loud, rowdy and loving family.”
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for Louise Lyons’ FAVORITE TOY, a contemporary New Adult M/M romance released today. This one’s heart-tugger, due to injury and loss, but the love shines through.
About the book:
Determined to stay single, Dean Simpson and his best friend Ryan have been playing a game, where each man chooses a potential hook-up for the other, usually someone nothing like their usual type. But with Ryan now off the market, Dean agrees to one final round of the game and allows his friend to choose his toy for the evening.
Casper Mancuso is about as far from Dean’s type as he can get. Casper is pretty, flamboyant, and attention-seeking, but sexy with it. Dean decides one night can’t hurt, but when Casper makes it clear his aim is the same as Dean’s – to have one bit of fun and then move on – Dean finds himself surprisingly disappointed.
With both men keen to avoid a relationship at all costs, it seems there can be no chance for anything between them. And yet the pair are drawn to each other and despite some hurtful comments and a very public argument, they just can’t stay away from each other. Eventually Dean is forced to admit that the very antithesis of what he usually likes is exactly what he’s been waiting for.
How about a little taste?
My heart sank as one of the other trainers from the gym caught up to me. “Wait up, Dean. I’ll go with you.”
I glanced at Mark and nodded. “Okay.”
“Where are you headed?”
“Not sure yet. I just wanted some fresh air. Maybe Subway.” It was the first thing that came into my head, although I really didn’t fancy a sandwich.
“I could go for that. Meatball marinara. Mmm.”
“I like the tuna.”
“I always have cheese and slather it in ranch dressing, and get a cookie.” Casper’s words made me smile and I wondered if he’d be having Subway today. Shit.
“Are we eating in, or taking it back to work?” Mark pushed open the door and walked inside.
“Um, maybe sit outside here?” I followed him to the counter, lining up behind a family ordering an early lunch. Most of the tables both inside and outside were empty and I stared up at the menu board as I waited, even though I knew I’d order tuna. Mark bought a foot-long meatball marinara with cheese and salad and I requested a six inch with cheese, salad, and ranch dressing. As we sat down at a table outside the window, I looked around and caught sight of Casper, just yards away and heading right for us. Automatically I ducked my head and unwrapped my sandwich, hoping he wouldn’t see me. My heart thumped wildly and my dry mouth made me wish I’d ordered a drink.
“Are you okay?” Mark raised his eyebrows.
“Yeah.”
Casper entered Subway, apparently not having noticed me. I’d kick myself if I didn’t speak to him. I might not get another chance. The fact that he’d happened to turn up at this exact moment, when he could have gone anywhere, or not even taken a break at this time, was too much of a coincidence for me to throw away. Hesitating, I debated going into the shop to speak to him, or waiting for him to come out where Mark might hear. While I thought about it, Casper got his sandwich and came out again and then I had no choice. I jumped up quickly, scraping my chair noisily on the pavement, and his eyes immediately met mine. He halted, half in and half out of the door, then shuffled forward to get out of the way of someone trying to enter.
Mark looked up at me and frowned. “Dean?”
“I’ll be back in a minute.” I moved away from the table toward Casper, aware that only about six feet separated us from Mark. “Can I speak to you for a minute?”
“What about?” His eyes narrowed.
“I wanted to say sorry. I─”
“Don’t bother. Like we both said, it was a hook up.” His voice was much too clear and I glanced anxiously at Mark, who stared back at me with wide eyes.
“Casper…shh. Can we just…?”
“Don’t shush me!” Clutching his wrapped sandwich fiercely in one hand, he planted the other hand on his hip and glared. “I don’t know why you even bothered speaking to me! You slept with me for a bet, and we all know what your real type is. Don’t think I didn’t see you with that blond guy on Friday.”
“Fuck.” Grabbing his arm, I tugged him a few steps along the street until he wrenched free. “Thanks a fucking bunch. You just outed me to one of my workmates.”
“Oh!” His scowl vanished and his cheeks flushed. “Shit. I didn’t know. I’m sorry, Dean.”
“Forget it. Like you said, I shouldn’t have bothered.” Mortified, I turned away and went back to the table. Mark’s expression said it all. I didn’t need to hear anything he might have to say, but I listened anyway. Casper had already disappeared.
My Review:
Dean is a messed up dude. He’s out to his family and close friends, but still a bit self-loathing and closeted at work. His parents, particularly his father, are really angry about his sexuality, and he’s had rocky relations with them for the past decade though his younger brother David is supportive. Dean is King of the One Nighter, often giving hook-ups the wrong personal details so they can’t track him down, and he hasn’t taken a guy to his own apartment since his uni boyfriend broke his heart five years ago.
As a bet, he and his roommate Ryan pick out guys for the other to “pick up” on the first Friday of every month, though Ryan’s getting serious with his new boyfriend, so he simply picks out lithe and femme Casper for Dean. Casper is as far from the tall, broad, muscle-bound men he usually picks up as one can get, but that doesn’t mean Casper’s eye shadow, mascara and pink tank top don’t turn him on. They do. And Dean’s also aroused by Casper’s backbone–and strangely–not turned off by Casper’s non-stop prattle. It’s as if Dean sees the mirror image of his insecure self in Casper. Not only do they go to Dean’s, Casper spends the night.
Morning after is total shite, however. Thanks Dean! Guy can barely say three words in a sentence and unwittingly makes a fool of himself trying to wave off the uncommon tenderness he felt with Casper. He’s haunted by those coarse words, however, and does what he’s always feared one of his hook-ups would do: tracks Casper down.
I really liked how Dean owned up for his BS. And, Casper’s a strong guy. He doesn’t swoon for Dean, at first. They have some further conversation, and sexytimes, and work out the kinks. Thing is, neither of these guys has ever had a relationship before. Dean was his first BF’s dirty secret, and Casper admits most guys get tired of his chatty personality rather quickly. Together, though, they are good.
Not going to sugar coat it: there’s dark days ahead. Just when it looks like Dean and Casper are set for a smooth course we have a freak accident that brings Dean’s homophobic family into the mix. It’s not pleasant, but it is true. And a bit sad. Dean and Casper weather this storm, and become stronger as a couple, but readers should expect some grief.
Click this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a backlist book from Louise.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!
About the author:
Louise Lyons comes from a family of writers. Her mother has a number of poems published in poetry anthologies, her aunt wrote poems for the church, and her grandmother sparked her inspiration with tales of fantasy. Louise first ventured into writing short stories at the grand old age of 8, mostly about little girls and ponies. She branched into romance in her teens, and MM romance a few years later, but none of her work saw the light of day until she discovered FanFiction in her late 20s.
Posting stories based on some of her favorite movies, provoked a surprisingly positive response from readers. This gave Louise the confidence to submit some of her work to publishers, and made her take her writing “hobby” more seriously.
Louise lives in the UK, about an hour north of London, with a mad Dobermann, and a collection of tropical fish and tarantulas. She works in the insurance industry by day, and spends every spare minute writing. She is a keen horse-rider, and loves to run long-distance. Some of her best writing inspiration comes to her, when her feet are pounding the open road. She often races into the house afterward, and grabs pen and paper to make notes.
Louise has always been a bit of a tomboy, and one of her other great loves is cars and motorcycles. Her car and bike are her pride and joy, and she loves to exhibit the car at shows, and take off for long days out on the bike, with no one for company but herself.
Hi there! I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a new release from Posy Roberts. FARM FRESH is a M/M, poly, romance that features a commune of organic growers and the young man who finds love in their midst.
About the book:
Jude Garrity visits the farmers market every Saturday. As an environmental engineering student, he’s curious about living off the grid and sustainable agriculture.
And one particular farmer.
Hudson Oliva has worked hard to support his commune, where queer people live without fear of harm or retribution. When Jude asks pointed questions about living there, Hudson realizes he needs to be honest about his home. Few people know what the farm is actually about, but Jude is insistent.
Jude moves to Kaleidoscope Gardens, however, his sexual hang-ups make it hard to adjust. He’s an uptight virgin living among people who have sex freely and with multiple partners. When Jude finally loosens up, Hudson is flooded with emotions. Falling for Jude wasn’t part of Hudson’s life plan. But when vindictive rumors about the commune begin to spread, love might be all he has left.
How about a little taste?
“You wanted to know where I’m from,” Hudson said. Jude nodded but remained tight-lipped. “I grew up north of Miami in a small city. I couldn’t wait to get out, so I tried to hitch a ride to Seattle. Didn’t get that far.”
“How far did you get?” Jude looked surprised as he asked, so Hudson reached out and pressed his palm to the center of Jude’s chest.
“About five miles away. I’ve been here ever since.”
“What made you run? I mean… maybe that’s too personal.”
Hudson coasted his hand over the slight swell of Jude’s pec and thumbed over his nipple, which stood at attention, pert and flushed, like his lips and cheeks. It was a good color on him.
“My parents sent me away to one of those ‘pray away the gay’ places, which obviously didn’t work, but it probably saved my life since my mom had to haul Papi off me when she told him why I needed to go there. He had so much pride, and having a gay son wasn’t something he could live with. It was as if me being gay made him gay. I was accosted by religion and hatred for who I was from that day until I left, so I became an expert at being secretive and learned to lie through my teeth while living with them. My eighteenth birthday Papi and I fought, and I ended up with another black eye. I packed a bag and snuck out of the house while they were sleeping.”
“Did they call the cops or anything?”
Hudson shook his head and knew his smile was pathetic. He still held hope he and his father could reconcile. He knew Papi would be proud of him and what he’d accomplished on the commune. “I left a note and eventually let them know my address, but in all the years, I’ve gotten one letter.”
“I’ve talked to my parents twice since I left, and both times left me feeling shredded inside.”
“I’m sorry.” Hudson scooted closer and pulled Jude into a tight embrace. The feel of Jude’s warm skin against his own had Hudson’s body responding in no time flat. He kissed Jude’s neck and the sharp line of his jaw. He thrust his fingers into Jude’s spun-gold hair and drew their mouths together.
Jude moved his lips, pressing chaste kisses to Hudson’s, and then he snaked his arm between their bodies. Jude splayed his fingers across Hudson’s chest and pushed him away. He hung his head, looking down at the mattress in what appeared to be shame.
Hudson took the sting out of the rejection by thumbing over Jude’s bottom lip, shiny with saliva. “You have a delectable mouth, like it’s made for kissing.”
Jude laughed. “So do you.” Then he bit his lip and made brief eye contact before scooting back a few inches.
Interested? You can find FARM FRESH on Goodreads and Amazon.
****GIVEAWAY****
Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a book of Posy’s backlist.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!
About the author:
Posy Roberts writes about the realistic struggles of men looking for love. Whether her characters are family men, drag queens, or lonely men searching for connections, they all find a home in her stories.
Posy is married to a man who makes sure she doesn’t forget to eat or sleep. Her daughter, a budding author and dedicated Whovian, helps her come up with character names. When Posy’s not writing, she enjoys crafting, hiking, and singing spontaneously about the mundane, just to make normal seem more interesting.
Hi there! Today I’m sharing an excerpt and giveaway for the newest book in the Sin City Uniforms series by Morticia Knight. SEARCHING FOR SHELTER is a standalone book that features a teen shelter worker falling for a search and rescue officer.
Catch the excerpt below, and be sure to enter the signed book and $25 Amazon GC giveaway!
About the book:
Teen shelter volunteer Rich searches for love until Diego, from LVMPD Search and Rescue, finds him.
After declaring his love life officially dead, Rich wonders if maybe he should stick with his shifter book boyfriends instead. It’s not as if he has much free time to date anyway. Between working long hours at a coffee shop, guarding his sodas from his hygienically challenged roommates, and running the programming at the Vegas LGBTQ teen shelter he founded – how could there ever be space for love in his life?
Diego Espinoza enjoys taking his downtime from working Search and Rescue, at the Lucky Cup coffee shop. He can set up his laptop, peruse good sport climbing spots and observe the blond barista he’s been pining over for a while. He imagines that the pretty boy has more offers than he knows what to do with, so it takes Diego time to work up the nerve to approach him.
Rich isn’t so sure about the rough looking Diego – even if he’s always thought he was hot – but once he decides to gives Diego a chance, there’s an immediate heat and connection that takes him by surprise. As they learn more about each other and try to find the way to a future together, strange and scary things start to happen.
It isn’t until Rich is injured in a bizarre accident that it becomes clear that there’s someone out there who not only doesn’t want Rich to find love – they want him dead.
A little taste…
Diego stood next to Rich in the line at Burgers & More. He rested his hand on his waist, still perplexed as to why he felt compelled to do such a thing. But he didn’t want to stop, so he didn’t.
“I want a shake too. A strawberry one.” Rich turned to him, his eyes bright, his expression happy.
“Then you should get one.” Diego thought he’d probably give Rich whatever the hell he wanted if he could possibly manage it.
“What are you getting?”
“Double stack with cheese. Onion rings.”
“And a shake?”
Diego couldn’t help but smile. His cheeks ached from the workout of muscles that he rarely ever used. “Shake sounds good. But I’m going for chocolate.”
Rich furrowed his brow. “Hmm. Chocolate, huh? Now I don’t know which to get.”
Diego squeezed Rich’s torso. “Get the strawberry, then we can taste each other’s.”
Rich snorted a laugh. “Yeah. I’d like to taste each other’s.”
Rich ducked his head, glancing around as if checking to see whether anyone had heard. His blush was prominent and he kept his face turned away, tracking various things in the restaurant with his eyes. Diego wouldn’t take him home. Not yet. He sensed that Rich had been herded into men’s beds quite a bit over the years. It was understandable given how beautiful and sexy he was, but Diego didn’t want to be just another one of those men. He’d show Rich that he wasn’t going to treat him that way. He’d bring Rich to his bed once they’d had a chance to get closer.
They made it to the front of the line, Diego ordering for them both. There was a minor squabble over paying, but Diego convinced Rich he shouldn’t pick up the tab because Rich had insisted on buying their snacks at the theater. After their food was ready, they grabbed their trays, seeking out a more remote spot to sit.
Rich took a bite of his burger then groaned. “Oh my God. This is so evil. I’ll never be able to finish it after all that popcorn though.”
Rich set his sandwich down then licked some ketchup from his fingers before wiping his hands with a napkin. Diego’s cock twitched in interest. After the popcorn sharing incident at the movies, he’d always associate Rich’s fingers with decadent pleasure.
Wooing. Not jumping.
Diego dug into his own food to prevent himself from turning into creepy staring guy. They munched some more, Diego having to avert his gaze from Rich’s enthusiastic eating more than once. Rich’s occasional lip smacking or tongue flicking in order to catch a dollop of sauce that had dribbled had turned into a ball-aching torture session. However, he couldn’t help but appreciate that Rich was really enjoying himself. Diego had worried that Rich wouldn’t be the type to give into the occasional junk food binge – that he’d turn up his nose at the mere thought of such a thing.
More reasons to find out what we’re both all about.
Click this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $25 Amazon GC and a signed copy of Searching For Shelter.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!
About the Author:
Author Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after. If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011.
Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.
Hi there! Today I’m sharing the release day festivities for the fourth episode in the Will and Patrick series. FIGHT THEIR FEELINGS is a sweet and sexy continuation of this M/M romantic comedy. You can check out my reviews for WAKE UP MARRIED, MEET THE FAMILY, and DO THE HOLIDAYS–but let’s also get to this next books shall we?
Catch the excerpt, my review and enter to win any of the Will & Patrick serial episodes (two winners!).
About the book:
Follow Will & Patrick in this fourth installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!
Will and Patrick have embraced adding hot sexy-times to their fake marriage, but as their emotions deepen, they confront whether or not they want to be more than friends-with-benefits. Freshly free of a restrictive relationship, Will’s not ready for more than exploratory fun. And no matter how Patrick feels about Will, his own difficult past has left him wary of love.
The heat is high (and occasionally kinky) in this episode of the Wake Up Married serial, but Will and Patrick struggle to accept their mutual affection, much less confess it. How long will they fight their feelings?
How about a tasty morsel?
Wrung out after the long night, Patrick shovels in the eggs and toast he ordered from room service. His mind drifts lazily as he eats, but when he hears the shower turn off, his stomach churns. He hates that his brain can ruin a perfectly good moment with memories that make him twitchy.
“About last night…” Will’s voice cracks slightly.
Patrick’s heart stops.
“Maybe it shouldn’t happen again?”
A sharp, deep pain lances into Patrick and he can’t breathe. It’s so unexpected, this horrible feeling, and he can’t think of anything to say. But hope and lust surge together as Will shoves away from the door. He grabs Patrick so hard it hurts and kisses him until the world shifts under their feet.
Yep, it had happened again. Had it ever. God, their second night in a row of sex had been—
Patrick jerks back to the present as the bathroom door swings open and Will strides out fully dressed in a pair of trousers and a button-up shirt. The eggs churn faster in Patrick’s stomach.
Will sits at the breakfast table. He tests, calculates, and injects his insulin before starting on his cottage cheese on toast. He looks up, fixing Patrick with a resolute gaze.
Patrick dodges the look and pokes his eggs with his fork. “Do we have to talk about it?”
Will takes another bite and chews deliberately.
“Because I don’t want to talk about it.” Patrick’s much more interested in a “don’t think, just do” policy when it comes to sex with Will. He’ll take that over revisiting the surprising pain of Will’s near-rejection the night before.
Will’s brows draw low and he chews for a long, tense moment. Patrick’s heart lurches like a skipping record until Will speaks. “Really? So you think there’s nothing to talk about?”
“Nope.” Patrick’s fork scrapes against his plate. “I don’t see why there would be.”
Will, of course, has other ideas. Like that’s anything new. “Patrick, we had sex again last night. Three times.”
“I know what we did, Will.”
“And?”
“And I liked it. And I don’t regret it.”
Will pulls his lower lip between his teeth. “You really liked it?”
“Puddin’-pop, you were there. Do you doubt you’re the best lay I’ve ever had?”
“The best?”
“Unequivocally.”
Will grins and eats some more of his cottage cheese on toast, joy rising up like the sun on his face. “You too. I mean, you’re the best I’ve had.”
Shocking. Patrick wants an award for not saying that out loud. He reaches out and takes hold of Will’s fingers. “I like being with you. I like what we’re doing and I don’t want to talk about it.”
Will pulls his hand away and scratches his ear uncertainly. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want us to stop.” He clenches his fist on the table and summons the strength to say, “Unless you want to stop?”
Will shakes his head and studies the food. After putting some eggs on his plate and compiling another cottage cheese and whole-wheat toast sandwich, he clears his throat and tentatively meets Patrick’s eye again. “So you think it’s okay if we—”
“Screw without professing our undying love first?”
Will flushes but nods.
“We’re having sex, not committing a crime. Of course it’s okay. Why make it into something it’s not?”
Will butters his toast and carefully doesn’t meet Patrick’s gaze again. This. This is why Patrick doesn’t want to talk about things. “What did I say wrong now?”
Will shrugs and takes a bite of toast. He finishes chewing and swallows. “What would we make it into that it’s not?”
“That’s what I don’t want to talk about.”
“Because you think I’ll say we can’t have sex anymore if there’s no hope of us really falling in love and making a little family together?”
Patrick breaks into a fine sweat. “Won’t you?”
He has no idea what thoughts the tiny hamsters on the wheels in Will’s mind are cranking out, but he can imagine they’re racing overtime as Will gazes at him silently. He feels like he might puke.
Will’s mouth tilts up at the corner. “No.”
“What?” Patrick chokes on his toast and has to grab a swallow of water.
“No, I won’t say we have to stop. We’ll keep on…you know.”
“Having sex.”
Will’s eyes go hot with lust. “Yeah. We’ll keep having sex.”
“I knew you liked it.” He leans forward, smirking. “Now, tell me what you liked best. In detail.”
Will adjusts his napkin in his lap. “I thought you didn’t want to talk about it.”
“I didn’t want to talk about ‘Oh, woe, it was wrong, and I’m still hurting over Ryan, and we’re getting divorced as soon as possible,’ because I know all that.”
Will finishes off his cottage cheese sandwich. “I get it.”
“Tell me all the dirty stuff. I want to hear how much you loved it.”
Will’s smile is soft. “Oh, I loved it.”
My Review:
This is the fourth episode in a serial novel, and should be read in sequence. I’ve read the first three and while the romance was slow to build–it truly began in the third episode–it is in full force now. While technically a novella, it’s over 40K words–so it’s a juicy read that’ll keep you occupied for hours.
Summary of the past three books: Will and Patrick have lived in the honeymoon suite of the Tallgrass Hotel in Healing South Dakota ever since their drunken “I Do”s in Vegas in early November. It’s now the beginning of January and they have finally consummated their marriage–twice. They cannot get a quickie divorce because doing so will cause Will to lose control of the Molinaro Trust–former mafia money that he has funneled into Good Works, a multimillion dollar humanitarian foundation. Patrick had lost his staff position in Atlanta and is now the chief neurosurgeon in the new Healing Hospital that Good Works has funded. Will had an emotionally abusive partner, Ryan, whose callous phone break-up triggered Will’s Vegas bender, and Will’s a recovering alcoholic and diabetic that Patrick has managed to keep healthy and sober for their entire marriage (barring the wedding night!).
In this episode, FIGHT THEIR FEELINGS, that’s exactly what’s going on. Will and Patrick have finally become sexually active, much to their mutual delight. Will has a lot of baggage to unload regarding sex, in part because his and Ryan’s sex life was horrendous and in other part because his family has rather peculiar ideas about sex, and homosexuality.
Will felt guilty having relations with a person whom he didn’t “love” but Patrick is someone that he does love–though he holds back from hoping/wishing/praying that they have a future together. Patrick continues to make it clear that he’s only sticking around until they can manage to get divorced. But that’s because Patrick doesn’t want to admit that he’s hopelessly in love with Will.
See, because he’s fighting his feelings…
This is a real emotion-driven episode with both Will and Patrick airing their vulnerabilities and asking for absolution in the only way they can. I liked it so, so much. Also, the sexytimes. GAH! Smoking hot and not skimping on the deets. Expect a bit of kink to make an appearance. (I don’t consider that a spoiler as it’s part of the disclaimer at the front of the book.)
The connections deepen. Will and Patrick build strong bonds that both satisfy and frighten them. And, of course, just when I think these guys are FINALLY on track, well, Will’s family manages to screw it all up. Again. Perhaps.
I’m going to leave you with this song, this freaking song that always brings tears to my eyes, and pretty much sums up Patrick’s feelings for Will.
Dan Hill’s Sometimes When We Touch has QUITE SERIOUSLY been haunting me ever since I finished this episode. So, yeah, I’ve been filled to the brim with melancholy, bittersweet, sentimental, impossible love for three days now. Thanks Leta and Alice.
As the series goes, it’s just getting more and more delicious. Can’t wait for the next episode.
Interested? You can find Will and Patrick FIGHT THEIR FEELINGS on Goodreads and Amazon.
****GIVEAWAY****
Clink on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win any of the Will and Patrick episodes. (Two winners!)
Good luck and keep reading my friends!
About the Authors: Leta Blake
Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.
Alice Griffiths
A long-time reader of romance novels, Alice Griffiths finally took the plunge into writing, teaming up with best-selling author Leta Blake for the ‘Woke up Married’ serialized comedy. A lover of tropes, Alice enjoys mining old ideas and putting a fresh, funny spin on them. Formerly working in the newspaper industry, Alice is now an art curator. She lives in Sydney, Australia.
You can find out more about her by following her on Twitter and Facebook.
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a sweet contemporary M/M romance from Samantha Kane. CHERRY BOMB is the sequel to CHERRY PIE, and while it features a new romantic couple we still get to catch up with our old friends John and Conn.
About the book:
Their spark could be too hot to handle…or bring a dying town back to life.
Officially, Turnstiles CEO Brian Curland is in Mercury to set up a new data center. Unofficially, he’s using this trip to re-evaluate his life, because for a man who has everything, he’s feeling pretty empty.
He could buy any car he wants. But no, he had to rent a piece-of-crap Chevy—which is now broken down on the side of the road. When he’s rescued by a sexy local, Brian does what he always does. Go for what he wants, even if it’s just temporary.
Evan Michaels stops to help because that’s what good guys do. He grew up in Mercury, eventually becoming minister of the local Unitarian church. Though everyone knows him, being gay and being in a gay relationship are two different things. He wants Brian, but their affair has to be secret or he can’t play.
When Evan unleashes his long-suppressed sexuality, Brian is more than up to handling the heat. Yet even though they fall hard for each other, it might take the whole town to convince them it’s a forever kind of love.
Product Warnings: Contains an inexperienced minister, gay comic-book role play, dirty dancing in antebellum mansions, and some very naughty fireworks. Protective gear recommended.
My Review:
This is the second book in the Mercury Rising series and does not have to be read in sequence–though I recommend the first book, CHERRY PIE, too.
I really enjoyed this quaint contemporary M/M romance.
Evan Michaels is an out gay Unitarian minister in Mercury North Carolina who also runs the halfway house where his childhood friend Conner stayed after he cleaned out of drugs in prison. (Brief recap of the first book: Conn and John were the MCs of CHERRY PIE and have developed a strong relationship. John is an internet millionaire, an app creator who’s eschewed the Cali life and decided that the cozy, but dying, town of Mercury is his new home. And John’s friend, CEO of an Internet portal company, Brian Curland has committed to building a call center in Mercury to provide jobs to the poor populace.)
Well, Brian thinks John’s lost his mind to move to “the middle of nowhere” and decides to do a bit of his own reconnaissance, and talk John into working for him back in Cali. Only, Brian’s not really an adventurer. He rents a wreck of a car, breaks down in a cellular dead zone, and is rescued by a beautiful, built man who seems to have a curious eye. And soft lips that Brian, without any ado, ravages. Yep, Brian’s impetuous. Kiss a strange, muscular man you have known for 38 seconds? He’s lucky that he didn’t become a back woods missing person.
Evan’s shocked, but pleased. He’s attracted to the man in his truck, and he’s intoxicated by the feeling of being wanted sexually. Evan’s been a minister for several years, and while he’s out regarding his sexuality, everyone in Mercury sees him as being The Reverend, not just an ordinary man with needs. Plus, there are no secrets in Mercury. If he goes out with a man, the whole town will know. Would they still accept him as the spiritual leader he feels called to be?
So, fast forward about four hours, and Evan’s in Brian’s bed at the hotel living out some of the many sexual fantasies he’s indulged in during his last SEVEN YEARS of celibacy. I really loved the playfulness of this couple. They don’t expect a lifelong romance, and so they cast their fears aside and screw with abandon. It’s charming, really. They spend a week together, and it’s no secret between them that there is more than a fling happening. But, life gets int he way. Brian’s plans for the call center aren’t exactly what John (and Evan and the good people of Mercury for that matter!) had hoped. The truth of is it is a bit of a kick in the nuts for Evan, who loves Mercury and all his parishoners. It also marks the end of “Brivan” and their “secret” romance. For a time.
Expect some serious Cupid activity on the part of Brian’s on-again-off-again Trey, a popular bisexual actor with starry-eyed dreams for reuniting Brian and Evan. And expect for jaded Brian to go through an existential crisis that is entirely the fault of falling for a selfless man of God. There is little to the reunion, which was disappointing, as their chemistry was explosive and I’d have liked a parting pairing before this one ended. That said, there’s another book in this series, and I’m sure it will feature Brian and Evan helping Trey with his (possible) pain killer + alcohol addiction. And I have my pick for Trey’s romantic interest all lined up.
This is a quick read with a sweet romance and a compelling plot arc in guise of reinvigorating a dying town. Americana is in full display from the formica-topped greasy spoons to the local color. I gotta get myself out to Kure Beach one of these days. Check out if it is as relaxing and romantic as it sounds.
Interested? You can find CHERRY BOMB on Goodreads, Samhain Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
About the Author:
Samantha Kane lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children, two boys and one girl. With a master’s degree in American history, she spent seven years as a high school history teacher before becoming a full-time writer and mom.
She’s written books in all of the following series: THE BIRMINGHAM REBELS, BROTHERS IN ARMS, THE SAINT’S DEVILS, THE 93RD HIGHLANDERS and MERCURY RISING
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a just-released M/M romance form JL Merrow. OUT! is a contemporary romance that features a mature divorced man getting his new life started, with a hot young boyfriend. Oh, and his daughter’s there to take him down a peg, or three.
About the book:
When the costs are added up, will love land in the black?
Mark Nugent has spent his life in the closet—at least, the small part of it he hasn’t spent in the office. Divorced when he could no longer deny his sexuality, he’s sworn off his workaholic ways and moved to Shamwell with his headstrong teen daughter to give her a stable home environment.
His resolve to put his love life on hold is severely tested when he joins a local organization and meets a lively yet intense young man who tempts him closer to the closet threshold.
Patrick Owen is an out-and-proud charity worker with strong principles—and a newly discovered weakness for an older man. One snag: Mark is adamant he’s not coming out to his daughter, and Patrick will be damned if he’s going to start a relationship with a lie.
Between Mark’s old-fashioned attitudes and a camp, flirtatious ex-colleague who wants Mark for himself, Patrick wonders if they’ll ever be on the same romantic page. And when Mark’s former career as a tax advisor clashes with Patrick’s social conscience, it could be the one stumbling block they can’t get past.
Product Warnings: Contains historically inaccurate Spartan costumes, mangled movie quotes, dubious mathematical logic and a three-legged pub crawl.
My Review:
This is the third book in a series but can be fully enjoyed as a standalone.
4.5 Stars.
Mark is a 39 y/o closeted gay man, who is recently divorced from his wife and assumed custody of their 14 y/o daughter Fen. His ex-wife is the only one he’s told of his sexuality, and he thinks he’s been canny enough that no one will suspect. He’s given up his lucrative career as a tax advisor (one of those blokes who tells the uberwealthy where to hide their money from the taxman) and moved out of London into Shamwell, a countryside village that is the location of all books in this series.
Mark hasn’t had regular contact with Fen in a long time. Even when he lived with her, he was basically a workaholic and hardly saw her. He has fond memories of her being a doting child and immediately thinks he can quell her spate of rebelliousness–that which got her expelled from her school–by installing her in a private school in Shamwell. Oh, poor deluded father. Fen has no trouble giving dear old absentee dad the raw side of her tongue. Or, well, the silent-but-haughty treatment. Don’t get the wrong idea about Fen, she’s aces.
Patrick is a 25 y/o aid worker who is well-out as bisexual, and still gets along mighty well with the locals in a men’s social group, the Spartans Society. He meets Mark when Mark shows up for the club, and begins going out with the group. Patrick’s drawn to Mark, but Mark puts him off. He doesn’t want to tip Fen off about his sexuality. (Oh, poor deluded father!!) Funny thing, Fen KNOWS all about Daddy Dearest, even if he doesn’t wish it so.
I adored how addled Mark was regarding being a parent. I guess I thought he had it coming to him, on account of being a bit pompous and overconfident and still endearingly oblivious. He felt like he was so slick, and so savvy and this 14 y/o girl thwarted him, and befuddled him, and figured him out and played him, by turns. In truth, Patrick owes that girl a life-debt, as she was the one who not only addressed her father’s closet full of skeletons, she pushed her father to find a new partner. Fen, for herself, wants a stable family. And she doesn’t care if she has two dads in her home. At all. Turns out two of the people she most bonds to in the book are Mark’s flamboyant gay former-assistant, and Lex the genderfluid assistant to Patrick.
There’s some issue issues between Patrick and Mark regarding Mark’s former job as a tax (cheat’s) advisor. This has to do with social services in England, and the lack of them when people don’t pay their taxes. It was a very minor part of the story. I liked it for my own self, mostly because I’m rather sanctimonious about people paying their “fair share”, but I doubt that’s the case for every reader. That said, its a SMALL part of the narrative and the one part that Patrick’s mother–a bit of “tarty” lady who disapproves of her son’s choice in partner–actually tries to smooth over.
There isn’t too much heat here. There were a few frustrating interrupted trysts and false-starts (for the characters and myself) Every time Mark and Patrick seem to get things rolling there’s an interruption–for the first two-thirds of the book. That said, I liked the book a lot. It’s funny and smart and I loved that Fen was so great a kid. That girl has a right head on her shoulders. I did really like Patrick, and I liked how Mark had to really grow up, and become the adult he’d rather been playing at his whole life.
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 the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Hi there! Today I’m so excited to present a cover reveal for a new book coming from Mia Kerick. As you know, Ms. Kerick’s work focuses on LGBT teens in trouble, and I’m sure that’s to be the case in THE ART OF HERO WORSHIP, as well. Cannot wait to get my hands on this one!!
Without further blathering…
About the book:
Trembling on the floor, pressed beneath a row of seats in a dark theater, college freshman Jason Tripp listens to the terrifying sound of gunshots, as an unknown shooter moves methodically through the theater, randomly murdering men, women, and children attending a student performance of Hamlet. Junior Liam Norcross drapes his massive body on top of Jason, sheltering the younger man from the deathly hail of bullets, risking his life willingly, and maybe even eagerly.
As a result of the shared horror, an extraordinary bond forms between the two young men, which causes discomfort for family and friends, as well as for Jason and Liam, themselves. And added to the challenge of two previously “straight” men falling into a same-sex love, are the complications that arise from the abundance of secrets Liam holds with regard to a past family tragedy. The fledgling passion between the men seems bound to fade away into the darkness from which it emerged.
Jason, however, is inexplicably called to rescue his hero in return, by delving into Liam’s shady past and uncovering the mystery that compels the older man to act as the college town’s selfless savior.
The Art of Hero Worship takes the reader on a voyage from the dark and chilling chaos that accompanies a mass shooting to the thrill of an unexpected and sensual romance.
How about a little taste?
Pop-pop-pop….
No, I’m not even remotely safe. But thankfully I play dead far better than my dog did when I taught him that trick at the age of seven.
The shots are earsplitting and getting louder because the shooter’s heading our way. I’m so fucking scared I’m trembling violently, but I promised the guy lying on top of me that I’d stay still. I concentrate on taking short shallow breaths, one after another, in my effort to stop trembling. To stay frozen—like I’ve been since I pulled Ginny to the floor and promptly let go of her hand so I could curl up into a tight fetal ball.
Somebody near me sits up, scrambles to his knees, and impulsively crawls toward the far aisle.
Pop-pop-pop…
“Bang, bang… you’re dead.” The voice comes from directly above me; it’s blank and monotone and controlled. The weird snicker that follows is chilling. I want nothing more than to throw the big guy off my back and run like hell toward the double doors, but I just keep on going with the short breaths and stay as still as I’ve ever been in my life. Even in my terrified state, I know that the guy on top of me is totally exposed and I can’t move because I’ll cheat him out of his life, for sure. Which is so not cool when he’s trying to save mine.
I smell blood. Never noticed the smell of blood before. It reminds me of Grandma’s penny collection… if it got spilled onto the sticky floor of the theater. The scent of old copper is everywhere… like wet pennies strewn all around me on the floor.
Pop-pop-pop…
Shooter’s right above us now. Don’t move… don’t move… don’t move….
“Dear God, help us!” This request seems to catch the shooter’s attention and he turns around and steps away from us. I curse myself for feeling as relieved, and maybe even glad, as I do.
Pop-pop-pop….
We wait and it seems like forever. We wait as voices beg and plead and pray and he shuts them up with bullets. We wait as the sound of shots moves to the front left near the exit, where I figure he’s shooting at anyone who tries to get out through the double doors.
And then, for a second, it’s quiet.
“Now….” The big guy’s voice is whispering but it seems to blast into my left ear. “We have to make our move now.” Before I agree, the heaviness of his body lifts and I feel cold and exposed. “This is our chance to get outta here….”
His hand is attached to the back of my wrist, clutching me so hard that I know I’ll have fingerprint bruises for a week… if I live so long.
Interested? You can pre-order THE ART OF HERO WORSHIP on Amazon in advance of it’s release on Feb 14th.
****GIVEAWAY****
Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!
About the Author:
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty-two years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships, and she believes that physical intimacy has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press, and CreateSpace for providing her with alternate places to stash her stories.
Mia is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights, especially marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a futuristic M/M sci-fi romance from Astrid Amara. SONG OF THE NAVIGATOR is part Dune, part Star Trek, and an enemies-to-lovers romance. I found it engaging and would love to read a sequel.
About the book:
Worst Possible Birthday: Being sold into slavery by none other than your lover.
Tover Duke’s rare ability to move anything instantly across light-years of space makes him a powerful, valuable asset to the Harmony Corporation, and a rock star among the people of the colonies. His life is luxurious. Safe. Routine.
He has his pick of casual hookups passing through Dadelus-Kaku Station. His one brush with danger of any kind—the only bright spot in his otherwise boring life—is Cruz Arcadio, a dark-haired, hard-bodied engineer whose physical prowess hints he’s something much more.
When a terrorist abducts Tover, hurling him into a world of torture, exploitation and betrayal, it’s with shattering disbelief that he realizes his kidnapper is none other than Cruz. As Tover struggles to find the courage to escape his bondage, he begins to understand the only way to free his body, his mind—and his heart—is to trust the one man who showed him that everything about his once-perfect life was a lie.
Warning: This story contains descriptions of extreme violence and assault. It also contains graphic sexual depictions. It also has a lot of birds. And pirate movies from the future. And romance.
My Review:
4.5 Stars for this futuristic M/M adventure romance.
Tover Duke is one of 42 navigators in the galaxy. He is esteemed by all for his ability to shift cargo and people, using his voice and some sophisticated technology and body implants, and is well paid for his service to the Harmony Corporation. He loves his beautiful hotel suite home, and his aviary stocked with tame birds, but he doesn’t love how he has to sneak around to find men for his pleasure. Harmony Corp doesn’t approve of same-sex relationships, and Tover has had to hide behind trysts with women. He has one special man he routinely seeks out–Cruz, an engineer who occasionally pops into the space station where Tover lives and works, but those reunions are few and far between.
On Tover’s 30th birthday there’s a huge celebration–and it’s interrupted by the advent of a disheveled Cruz popping in and taking Tover hostage. Cruz convinces Tover to “jump” them both to a remote space station. As soon as they arrive, Tover is taken into custody, and traded to pirates aboard the station to secure the release of Cruz and his associates. (It seemed clear that this was the best of a lot of bad options for Cruz, and one he agreed to reluctantly.) While imprisoned on the pirates’ vessel, Tover is beaten and tortured for his unwillingness to assist moving the pirates’ cargo.
He’s rescued later, but the damage has been done. His torture has resulted in psychological damage that causes him physical and visceral pain whenever he even considers “jumping.” That doesn’t bode well for Tover’s illustrious career in transport. While recuperating in a locale that’s surrounded by enemies, Tover begins to see that his early life was not a roasy as it seemed, and his work for Harmony not as straight-forward. Cruz is back, and his true colors are shown in a way that earns Tover’s grudging acceptance.
I loved how this story worked. It had excellent elements of futuristic life, and technological elements that thrilled my inner-geek. The love story between Tover and Cruz is rocky, but took it’s natural course toward an eventual and appropriately delayed HEA. In the reading I was struck by parallels to Dune: galaxy-bending transport, falling in with a native of a foreign world, understanding and championing the underdog against a galactic behemoth hierarchy.
I’ve had this one in my TRB for too long, and relished the rich world-building. I think the big disappointment I had was a lack of the dialogue/culture uniqueness. Cruz and his associates speak Spanish, and have a deeply Hispanic culture. While I liked that there was some cultural inclusion, it was not terribly different from today’s speech or manner. And, that was my disappointment. Having been a long time fan of the richness of alien culture (think Enemy Mine, think Star Trek etc) having these CO2-breathing humanoids sit down to a table full of tamales was…anti-climactic. It’s like having a Klingon sit down to the traditional feast of hamburgers. That said, the story was truly compelling and the love story one to root for. There are few sexytimes, but what exist are tender and passionate. I really enjoyed this one and hope there might be more work in this world to enjoy.
Astrid Amara lives in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, three dogs, three goats, and a horse. By day she is a civil servant. Her free time is devoted to her writing, working for animal rights and rescue organizations, and sleeping.
She is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer and a graduate of Western Washington University.
Her novel The Archer’s Heart was a finalist for the 2008 Lambda Literary Award for Best Sci-fi/Fantasy/Horror. Hell Cop won the XXXX Rainbow Award for best anthology.
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new M/M romance from Megan Erickson. TIED TO TROUBLE is a part of the Gamers series, which is a M/F romance series, but I felt like this was an integral part of the series, not written as a book to be skipped, as with other mainstream M/F authors. I liked the gaming aspect, and the interconnectedness of the characters. For a mainstream romance writer to pick up M/M, it was a smooth transition.
About the book: Between love and hate, there’s a whole lot of trouble…
Chad Lake only showed up at his sister’s party for the free food, but when he spots an uptight nerd at the edge of the crowd, he can’t resist trying to ruffle the guy’s perfect bow tie and impeccable hair. The hottie’s ready for him, though, and in the end, it’s Chad who’s left wide-eyed, his ears still ringing with the filthy things Bow Tie whispered in his ear. No one gets the upper hand on Chad. Ever.
Owen Hawkins has heard all about the cocky Adonis from Chad’s sister—the same sister who holds Owen’s career advancement in her hands. He has every intention of steering clear of the other man…until Chad’s sexy taunts push him too far. There’s something intriguing about Chad, and even though Owen knows that getting tangled up with the infuriating man is trouble, he can’t seem to stay away…
**This is part of an M/F series but can be read as standalone**
My Review:
While this is the third book in a series, it’s easily enjoyed on its own.
Chad is the bad boy younger brother of Marley (MC from a previous book) and shows up at her house on the promise of 1. free food 2. free drink. That’s where he “meets” “Bow Tie,” a svelte geeky member of Marley’s staff at <i>GAMERS</i> magazine. Bow Tie ties Chad’s guts into knots when he doesn’t immediately fall for Chad’s come hither. The wearer of the eponymous bow tie, Owen, (or: Oh-Oh-Owen because Chad wants to give him an “Oh! Oh!” face, not because of a stutter!!) is interested, but not willing to let on how inadequate he feels in the presence of sexy-sexy Chad.
Owen wants Chad, bad, but doesn’t want Marley–his direct superior–to find out about their bathroom shenanigans, or supply closet shenanigans. Or that time they did it on the floor… Meanwhile, Chad wants more floor time. Or naked in the park time…or any time with Owen.
Chad’s always felt like a ne’er do well after flunking out of college. He pays his bills, and lives alone, but he can’t stick with a job. He has aspirations in graphic design, but doesn’t know if he has the staying power to commit to going back to school. And how would he pay for it anyhow? Plus, Owen’s whole life had been commitment-phobic. He’s bisexual (some people claim that’s a commitment thing–not me, but it was there), and his longest stint at a job is his current one–four months as a topless bartender. Chad’s starting to realize that this is not the best life for a 27 y/o man, and one who sincerely desires a successful man like Owen to find him desirable.
Trouble is, Chad’s immature. Turns out that it might be better if he’d been forced to stick it out–in anything–because then he might have learned conflict resolution skills that are better than juvenile. Every time Chad gets upset, it seemed, he did the adult-equivalent of yelling “You’re a poop-head” and taking his ball home from the park. (Which, honestly was pretty close to what he actually did.)
I adored Owen, who is a fully-functional adult. He may not be happy with Chad’s behavior but he endeavors to root out the cause, instead of being smug. I guess finding the person to challenge him was what Owen needed. And, he helps Chad grow up. Chad decides to do some growing up of his own, on his own. Marley’s there as a confidante, and there’s a big part of the plot that hinges on Marley’s boyfriend Austin’s very public, very cosplay wedding proposal, and that keeps Owen and Chad in very close proximity when they would ordinarily not see each other. As a device it wasn’t too obtrusive, and the proposal scene will definitely satisfy readers of the predominantly M/F romance series.
This is a quick read with steamy sexytimes and delicious dirty talk. Expect pornographic graphic arts and bow ties to go where no bow ties have gone before… HEA All The Way.
About the Author: Megan worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction.
She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she’s probably listening to the characters in her head who won’t stop talking.
About the book:
About the Author:
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00075]](https://vsreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/will-and-patrick-fight-their-feelings-high-res.jpg)
About the book:
About the book:
About the book:
About the Author:
About the book:
About the Author:
V's Reads... 