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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

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His Truth by Riley Hart: Release Day Review and Excerpt

by

They were only kids when they met for the first time. Leo Mancini was the son of a judge. Roman Cipriani the son of a criminal. So different, yet as they shared stolen kisses and secret moments, they fell in love. One day they would run away together, have the future they deserved, because no one loved Leo like Roman did, or Roman like Leo did. But before they could make their dreams come true, their future was viciously stolen and their lives changed forever.

Roman has spent the last twelve years repressing the trauma in his past, trying to pretend it didn’t exist, until even he believed his own lies.

Leo won’t let himself forget what happened because he doesn’t ever want to be that person again. He won’t become the man his father wanted him to be or the guy who gets hurt when he lets someone in.

But in that split second when their eyes meet again, everything changes. Despite Leo’s anger and Roman’s denial, the connection they shared as teens is still there, too powerful to deny. Now, when their moments don’t have to be stolen, they cling to what they’ve always craved—each other.

Roman and Leo aren’t kids anymore, though—they can’t lock themselves away from the world and pretend nothing exists but each other. A trauma like Roman suffered doesn’t just go away, but now that Roman accepts his truth, can the two of them escape their demons before they destroy Roman and Leo a second time?

HIS TRUTH

RILEY HART

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 03.29.18

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I have a pretty crappy memory. Which works sometimes because I can read a book twice and only get hints of “hmmm…did I read this already?”. But when I started reading this book I was only a few pages in and I knew that I HAD read this already. Several years ago, I was one of the beta readers who encouraged Riley Hart to publish this. She wasn’t ready, I get it. It was a bit heavier than her other books. But finally, it is going to be out in the world.

This story is heartbreaking. For Roman who was basically brainwashed into believing he wasn’t gay, and for Leo who refused to allow love after having his heart shattered as a teen.

Chance brought them back together. Facing Leo again means Roman has to face himself. Watching that happen is both heart warming and heart breaking. Both Leo and Roman blossomed together like they were each one half of a whole.

And while there wasn’t really romance, there was love. It was so obvious from the start how much these men still loved each other after 12 years. LETTING themselves love each other….**sigh**

Ms Hart always writes good sex scenes and this was no different. But she doesn’t rely on steamy scenes to fill pages. They actually add to the story.

Once again, I am glad that she is finally publishing this book.

4 pieces of eye candy

It was close to ten when Roman’s phone rang. His pulse kicked up, and when he saw Leo’s name on the screen, he fumbled ridiculously picking it up. It was Friday night, so he’d assumed Leo would be at work. He hadn’t expected to hear from him. “Hello?”

“Hey, Tough Guy. What are you doing?” Roman wasn’t sure why, but his pulse sped again at the old nickname. He listened but didn’t hear music or anything in the background. “You didn’t have to work tonight?” he asked.

“I’m on break. I borrowed the keys to someone’s car, so I’m sitting in it. Needed some quiet. How was work?”

“Work was work. I had too many meetings and a few unhappy clients.”

“Sounds like your day was about as good as mine.”

They were quiet for a few moments. Roman wasn’t sure what to say. There was something different about Leo right now, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. “What did you do today?” he finally asked.

“Nothing important.”

Leo’s words sounded like a lie. No, he knew they were a lie. He’d always been able to tell when Leo was having a bad day or wasn’t being truthful with him. “I don’t believe you.”

There was a soft chuckle on the other end of the line. “I never could lie to you. I went to see my parents. It was a shitty day. I don’t want to talk about it. Where are you?”

Curiosity almost made him refuse to answer Leo’s question, but somehow he knew now wasn’t the time to talk about it. That wasn’t what Leo needed. “Lying in my bed.” At ten on a Friday night. He really needed to get a life. What would Leo do after work tonight? Would he bring someone home with him? The thought made Roman’s gut churn, but it wasn’t as if he had any claim on Leo. They hadn’t discussed anything.

“Have you done what I told you to do?” Leo asked, confusing him.

“What was that?”

“Finger yourself. Get to know your body.”

Roman immediately tensed up and hated himself for it. There was nothing wrong with masturbating. He’d jerked off too many times to count. Most people did, but this was different.

“Do it for me now, Ro,” Leo said, obviously not needing Roman to answer him.

“What? No.”There was a voice in his head telling him it wasn’t a big deal. Phone sex. People did it all the time. He felt like a novice when it came to being sexual. He’d worked hard to please Amy or other women he’d been with, but he wasn’t the kind of man who had phone sex or anything like that.

“Yes. You can do it. I don’t have much time, though. Let’s see…If I can make you come before I get back to work, what do I get?”

Roman didn’t answer. The truth was, he couldn’t imagine putting a finger up his own ass while he was on the phone with Leo.

“The only way to move forward is to let go of the past.”Leo’s words burst through his thoughts. They were true, another truth Roman needed to accept.

“Are you wearing anything?” Leo asked.

“Just my underwear.”

“Take them off for me. You have such a beautiful body. I couldn’t stop looking at it the other night.”

It was clearly a distraction, but…fuck, Roman thought maybe he wanted this too. Wanted to let loose and just do the kinds of things people dating did. He didn’t want to think about things that hurt or things that were hard, and he knew Leo didn’t either.

Roman did his best to turn his brain off, took a deep breath, and pulled his underwear down his legs. He kicked out of them and then pushed the blanket down so he was completely bare in the middle of his bed. “Okay, they’re off,” Roman told him, realizing he really wanted to do this. “How should I lie?”

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.

She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.

Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.

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Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish: RDB, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

by

Eight months ago Jude Lucen fled his partner, his career, and a hospital in Boston after a suicide attempt. Now back in Philadelphia, he feels like a complete failure. Piano has always been his passion and his only escape. Without it, he has nothing. Well, nothing except a pathetic crush on the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.

Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He’s only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude’s talent. What he isn’t expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss—and the way Jude’s needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can’t be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to choose: music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk—and finally believing he’s worthy of love just as he is—can he have the chance for both.

The Small Change series is set in the Middle of Somewhere universe and features crossover characters from that series. Each book can be read on its own.

Content warning: This book contains explicit discussion of depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, and feelings of worthlessness.

Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Publisher: Monster Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 28th, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): About 81,000 words

Subgenre: Contemporary romance

Content warning: depression, suicide, thoughts of worthlessness, food issues

 

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“Hold this,” Faron murmured into my hair, and handed me the sketchbook. I held it so he could draw with his right hand as his left continued to explore my torso. He sketched our feet, his elegant and high-arched, and mine, bony and slender; his dark, mine pale. And all the while, his fingers sketched other shapes against my skin. He dipped into my navel and ran along my ribs, sending shivers down my spine. When he skimmed a fingertip over my nipple I gasped and tensed against him.

He traced my nipple until it was a hard peak, then squeezed it, and my hips jerked, making the sketchbook jump in my hand. Faron’s breath went rough and he nuzzled into my hair.

My heart was pounding and I knew he could feel it. I squirmed to try and take my shirt off, but I couldn’t quite get it. Faron stripped it off of me and ran sure fingers along my ribs. Then he traced the blue veins visible beneath my skin from my heart to where they disappeared under my waistband.

With my oversized shirt out of the way, the bulge of my erection in my jeans was obvious.

I drew my knee up, resting it against the back of the couch. He slid a hand up the inside of my thigh so slowly I held my breath, but he didn’t touch my hard cock and I shuddered with arousal.

“Jude,” Faron breathed, and I let the sketchbook fall between us as I went for the button on my jeans. I felt like I was made of pounding heart, flushed skin, raging need, and it felt like nothing I’d ever experienced. It didn’t even feel like sex; it felt like desire. It felt like what I knew sex was supposed to feel like but rarely had for me.

This is book 2 in the Small Change series, but being that book 1 is a traditions m/f romance, I didn’t read it. But you absolutely don’t need to read book 1 to read book 2.

I love deep, angsty, character driven stories. And this hit the mark. Jude has battled depression his whole life. Add in a controlling, nasty boyfriend and recovering from a suicide attempt- this is the juicy book I love to read.

Getting depression and anxiety right in a book can be difficult. You can tell when the author either did their research or are sufferers themselves. It comes through in the pages. You can almost feel what Jude is feeling.

Enter Faron. Now, Jude is the center of the story really- but Faron. I could so easily picture him. I loved that both of these characters were not the typical we see in books. Such a refreshing change. Back to Faron. He is a man of few words but the words he uses are powerful. He feels and loves with everything he has. He helps Jude see the man he really is. But he never controls or pushes or makes ultimatums.

Roan Parrish has a way with words. She doesn’t fall back on metaphors we see constantly or descriptions that go on and on. She is succinct, but can paint a beautiful picture.

I really loved these two. I wish the book hadn’t ended because I want more of them

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

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Confessions: Robbie by Ella Frank: New Release Review

by

Relationships are complex.
Love ever-changing.
And when it comes to rules of the heart,
they were made to be broken…

That’s what Robert Antonio Bianchi was telling himself, anyway.
Otherwise, he really had no excuse for what—or who—he’d done.

No excuse, except for his lonely heart, a pitcher of margaritas, four Bitter Bitches, and the apparent need to confess all his weaknesses to the two men he knew would bring him nothing but trouble.

But trouble was nothing new.

Just ask his crazy sisters or any of his friends, and they’d be the first to tell you:
If there was a bad decision to be made, Robbie always had a knack for making it.

And thus begins the story of the priest, the princess, and the prick.

 

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Truth be told, I don’t always jump on the popular band wagon. When books get super hyped, it gives me pause. There is nothing wrong with having a big fandom- I think it is fab. But I also think that same fandom will read anything their favorite author(s) put out.

But……………….I needed to read this. Robbie has intrigued me since we met him in Try/Take/Trust (I can’t remember which) and he just seemed so sad. So needing love and affection and attention. So I was ready to jump in. And this book did.not.disappont.

Menage is a difficult trope. Some are ok, some are good and some are truly terrible. This one though? So effing good. Add into the mix of bringing a third into a well established relationship and this could have gone all sorts of wrong.

And Robbie deserves this. This guy held a torch for Logan for so long. But Julien and Priest snuffed it right out. I loved how they wooed him. They took the time to wine, dine and romance him. Robbie probably would have easily slept with Julien (and maybe even Priest. Maybe) after the drunken text. But they didn’t take advantage of him like that.

And yes, they do take care of him in ways. But never in a way that seems like he can’t take care of himself. They are both just so ALPHA, they need someone to allow them the pleasure of caring for someone like that.

And Julien and Priest. YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! I need and want more! Of course I really REALLY want more Priest and he will be book three. **Pouts** But I need Julien as well.

Yes, the sex scene were literally the hottest I have ever read. Menage can get clumsy. Who’s hand is where, body positions, etc etc. But that was not a problem at all with this book. Whew.

Robbie, Priest and Julien do not disappoint. I cannot wait for more

4.5 pieces of eye candy