Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Denise

Double Book Review: Caged Sanctuary by Tempeste O’Riley

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Blurb:

Kaden Thorn, a dental surgeon who lives a quiet life, has no hope of finding the love he craves. A vicious gay bashing cost him the use of his legs and confined him to a wheelchair. He has given up hope of finding a Dom or even a nonkink partner to love him. When his best friend practically forces him to attend a dinner party, the last thing he expects is a strong Dom who can see beyond his wheels. 

Deacon James is an architect and a demanding Dom, but he has spent the past couple of years without a sub or partner. When an employee invites him to a dinner party to meet his girlfriend, Deacon smells a setup but agrees anyway. He prides himself on being an excellent judge of character, and when he meets the younger dentist, he sees past the chair and finds a sweet submissive man who more than piques his interest. 

Kade’s fears and demons continue to haunt him, challenging Deacon to use everything he’s learned as a Dom to earn Kade’s trust and submission. Deacon’s determined, though, willing to battle all of it to have Kade by his side and at his feet.

Denise’s Review:


Kade, a dental surgeon who is confident in his abilities, is left with a very low self-esteem after an attack outside of a D/s club that left him in a wheelchair. He believes that no one would want him, and even if they did, he would be unable to find a Dom who would want him, and want to keep him.

Deacon, immediately sees Kade as the sub that he is, and wants a date with him. Although Kade is hesitant, he agrees, and the two move forward. Deacon is able to see past the  chair to the person Kade truly is, and Kade is challenged to believe that someone as gorgeous and successful as Deacon would want to keep Kade as his own sub.

Kade continues to be haunted, by the attack and the after-effects on his self-esteem. He finds himself continually doubting that Deacon will want more time with him. As their relationship continues to grow, Kade begins to gain confidence.

Reading a book that has a character who has a physical disability is much more rare than you would think. However, I appreciate them so much. It is important that people with disabilities be shown in all stages of their lives, including falling in love, having physical relationships, and even challenges that have little to do with their disabilities. I really appreciate that about this author, as this is a theme that has been woven through all of her books.

This book was not only well written, but I felt like this was an accurate portrayal of what someone in Kade’s situation may be challenged with, both physically and emotionally.

My final determination on this book is 4.5 pieces of eye candy. I hope to read more from this author very soon.

Morgan’s Review:

After a vicious attack left Kaden Thorn with physical
limitations, he is convinced he is nothing but a broken man. A brutal past
relationship definitely doesn’t help with his low self-esteem. He is a sub at
heart and all he wants is a Dom to see him for who he truly is. After the
attack, past occurrences with other Doms has him sure that part of his life is
over.
When his best friend invites
him over for dinner one weekend, Kade meets Deacon James. Tall, blonde and
beautiful, Kade is instantly attracted. After dinner, Deacon and Kade get to
know each other a little more, and Kade just can not see how anyone like Deacon
could ever be attracted to him. When Deacon asks Kade to dinner the following
Friday, sweet Kade is hesitant at first. He isn’t sure why Deacon would be willing
to take a chance on him. When dinner goes even better than Kade expected , he
is thrilled and he finally has some hope for the future.
As the relationship
between these two continues to grow, Deacon shows Kade all he is capable of
despite the loss of his legs. Kade finally begins to gain back his
self-respect. Deacon shows Kade he is worth so much more than he thinks and
despite his limitations he can still be an excellent sub.  
This book is very well written and I would recommend it to
anyone that enjoys BDSM with their romance. The connection between the two main
characters is beautiful and heart warming and I really enjoyed this story.  
Final determination is 4.5 pieces of eye candy.
Purchase Links:
Caged Sanctuary: Amazon
Desires Entwined Series:
Designs of Desire (Book 1): Amazon 
Desire’s Guardian (Book 2): Amazon
Temptations of Desire (Book 3):Amazon


Contact the Author:

Facebook
Twitter: @TempesteO

Author Bio:

Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud pansexual gender fluid whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what she couldn’t–defy the hate and come out. He has been her hero ever since.

Though new to writing M/M, she has done many things in her life, though writing has always drawn her back–no matter what else life has thrown her way. She counts her friends, family, and Muse as her greatest blessings in life. She lives in Wisconsin with her children, reading, writing, and enjoying life.

Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, WisRWA, and Rainbow Romance Writers. Learn more about Tempeste and her writing athttp://tempesteoriley.com/

Audiobook Review: Dance by Teodora Kostova

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Book Synopsis:
Jared Hartley is happy. He has a starring role in a popular West End musical, great friends, adoring fans and his own flat in Central London. A relationship is not something he has ever really wanted. Making big plans for the future is not in his nature – Jared is content with his single status and enjoying all the benefits of that lifestyle.
He doesn’t even realise something is missing in his life. Until he meets Fenix.
Fenix Bergman has a dream – to perform on Broadway. When he gets offered the lead role in Poison – a new musical based in London, he accepts, immediately recognising the huge potential of the show.
Fenix thinks he has his life completely figured out – he will move to London, help Poison become the new West End hit and bide his time until Broadway comes knocking on his door. He has never wished for anything else but proving to himself and the world that he is a performer worthy of the biggest theatre stage.
Until he meets Jared.
Jared and Fenix’s lives collide and they fill each other’s missing pieces. Neither of them expects to feel so much, so fast for the other.
Neither of them expects to need someone so badly when love hasn’t even been in their plans. But when Fenix’s star becomes too bright for London, will the dream he’s chased all his life ruin the dream he’s holding in his hands? Will he survive getting everything he’s ever wanted? Will Jared?
Contains explicit sexual content, graphic language and adult themes. Recommended for readers 18+ only.



Audio Book Info:

Denise’s Review:

When I was asked to do an audiobook review, I wasn’t really sure if I should. I’ve only been listening to audiobooks for a few months now. But what I have quickly learned is that you know fairly soon into a book if it is going to appeal to you by listening to  it, versus reading it. Yes, the book needs to be good, needs to keep you engaged, and interested in what is happening in the characters.

However, I feel like the most important thing that an audiobook needs is a great narrator. That doesn’t mean that all good books will not be good as audiobooks. The opposite is also true. I have learned about myself that I must have a certain mindset about how books “sound” in my head as I am reading them, and I haven’t always enjoyed an audiobook, if I have already read the book.

That being said, the narrator in this book is just fantastic. He had a very smooth controlled pitch, and he let his British accent fly when he was narrating. It truly helped me to visual this story, being set in London, and all the visuals around them.

When Fenix was speaking, you could hear much more of an American accent for this character, since Fenix was raised in New York City. I truly enjoyed Todd Smith’s narration of Dance. It was so well done. After listening to it, I had to see what else Todd had done, with just one other book, not in the same genre as Dance. However, this is a narrator I would love to listen to again.

On to the book itself. Dance is based primarily in the West End of London, around the Queen Victoria theater. These two men meet when Fenix’s musical Poison is put in the theater, as Jared’s show is also playing in the same theater. It is truly love at first sight for  these men. They fall in love and really don’t waste any time coming together, living together, for months, until Fenix is offered a chance to take Poison to Broadway and Jared stays in London, as they separate.

These two men are stubborn, each wanting their own way, and they get it when they separate, until they realize that what they truly wanted was each other. The road back for these men is not easy, with bumps along the way with each other, as well as some bumps put out there by those around them. Finding their HEA was not easy, they had to work for it, but the road was worth the drive.

The story was very well written, with strong secondary characters, which of course will lead to the next book in this series, Adam’s story. And for sure, I will be waiting for Adam’s story on Audible. Why mess with a good thing? 🙂

Final Determination for the audiobook of Dance:
5 pieces of eye candy for narration
4.5 pieces of eye candy for the book

So well done by both Teodora and Todd on this, and it was truly a pleasure to listen to this book.

Purchase Link:

Audible.com: Dance

Author Bio:

Hi, my name
is Teodora and I live in London with my husband and my son. I’ve been writing
ever since I can remember, but it became my full time job a few years ago when
I decided that everything else I’ve tried bores me to death and I have to do
what I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the guts to fully embrace. I’ve
been a journalist, an editor, a personal assistant and an interior designer
among other things, but as soon as the novelty of the new, exciting job wears
off, I always go back to writing. Being twitchy, impatient, loud and hasty are
not qualities that help a writer, because I have to sit alone, preferably
still, and write for most of the day, but I absolutely love it. It’s the only
time that I’m truly at peace and the only thing I can do for more than ten
minutes at a time – my son has a bigger attention span than me.
When I’m procrastinating, I like to go to the
gym, cook Italian meals (and eat them), read, listen to rock music, watch indie
movies and True Blood re-runs. Or, in the worst case scenario, get beaten at
every Nintendo Wii game by a kid.


Don’t be shy and get in touch – I love
connecting with my readers.
Blog: www.teodorakostova.blogspot.com
Twitter: @Teodora_Kostova
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teodorakostovaauthor
E-mail: t.t.kostova@gmail.com

Instagram: teodorika1

Cover Reveal: A Restored Man by Jaime Reese

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Title: A Restored Man
Series: The Men of Halfway House #3
Author: Jaime Reese
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Cole Renzo thinks his greatest challenge is to behave for the remainder of his term at Halfway House. Until he meets his new boss, Ty Calloway, a man who ticks off every box on Cole’s list of interests.
A sought-after restorer and customizer of exotic and collectible cars, Ty had enough confidence to command what he wanted in life, until one fateful night changed everything. Almost two years later, he’s slowly rebuilding his life with great control. He’s defied the odds and works tirelessly to be the man he once was—but he still feels broken.
Cole’s candor and unfiltered personality awaken Ty’s barely-remembered desire to greet each new day with a smile, while Ty’s unwavering acceptance of Cole’s quirks and brash humor makes Cole feel as if he fits in for the first time in far too long. When a nemesis threatens Ty’s personal restoration and the things he holds dear, Cole is determined to protect their relationship, even if that means sacrificing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve.
But Ty will have to let his guard down, surrender control, and admit he needs Cole first, even if that puts himself at risk of breaking beyond repair.

“Excuse me,” Ty said, before making his way to the kitchen. He poked his head inside and saw Cole bent over on the left hand side, searching for, then finding, a pan in the bottom drawer of the cabinet. He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips when he saw Spider-Man peeking out from the top of Cole’s jeans.
“I told you to get out. You’re not fucking this up,” Cole said, his back still turned to Ty.
Ty smiled, leaned up against the doorframe and waited.
Cole looked over his shoulder, a huge smile immediately spreading across his face. “Hey, you,” he said, straightening.
Ty walked over to him and wrapped an arm around Cole’s waist. He reached out and brushed his thumb against Cole’s cheek, his hand finally steadying once he grazed Cole’s warm skin.
“That’s a big smile,” Cole said.
“I saw Spider-Man,” Ty said, chuckling.
Cole raised an eyebrow and wrapped his arms around Ty’s waist. “If I had known he turned you on that much, I would have worn a blue and red onesie to the shop under my work clothes.”
Ty bit back a smile. He tugged on Cole’s T-shirt. “You look good out of your shop clothes.”
Cole pulled Ty closer. “I look good out of these clothes too,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
Ty reached up and ran his finger along the edge of Cole’s beanie. “Do you ever take this off?”
“When you sleep with me, you can take it off.”
Ty looked into the mismatched eyes that held a wealth of mischief. “I’m not sleeping with you.”
Cole pulled Ty into a kiss, gripping his hair, unmistakably guiding him exactly where he wanted Ty to be. Ty’s heart pounded relentlessly against his chest, his body betraying his last spoken words and demanding more contact. His fingers twisted the edge of Cole’s jeans, drawing him in, craving the closeness of Cole’s thick, hard body.
Cole withdrew, the desire unmistakably still burning in his eyes. “Yes, you will,” he said. “You won’t be able to resist this much awesomeness for long.”
Ty bit his lip, trying to hide a smile. He liked it when Cole got feisty.
Cole ran the tip of his finger down Ty’s neck, then tugged at the collar of Ty’s polo shirt. “Aww, you didn’t dress up for me,” he said with an exaggerated pout. “Will I ever see you in a suit?”
“Why do you want to see me in a suit?”
“Seriously? You’d look hot in a suit. I’d probably want to rip it off.”
“So what’s the point of wearing the suit?” Ty asked, tugging Cole closer.
“Foreplay.”
Ty burst into laughter and touched his forehead to Cole’s. “You’re impossible.”
“You should do that more often.”
“What’s that? Foreplay?”
“Laugh.” Cole smiled. “And wear suits. But I would totally be on board with foreplay, too,” he finished, waggling his eyebrows.

Add to Goodreads
Amazon
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
B&N
iTunes
ARe

 Add to Goodreads
Amazon
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
B&N
iTunes
Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.

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Release Day Post and Double Review: Against The Wall by Alexa Land

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Blurb:

Don’t start something you can’t
finish.

It’s a cliché, but 22-year-old
graffiti artist Christian lives by those words. He’s going away when he
graduates from art school in just six short months. With so little time left, getting
involved with gorgeous Shea Nolan has to be a mistake. If only he could make
himself stay away from the sweet, sexy police officer.

Christian has a decision to make.
Are a few months of happiness worth the inevitable heartbreak when it’s time to
walk away?

Against the Wall is the seventh book in Alexa Land’s
best-selling Firsts and Forever series, but each book can stand alone, so jump
in anywhere. PLEASE NOTE: This male/male romance is for ADULT READERS ONLY. It
includes explicit language and graphic sex.

Denise’s Review:

I started reading Alexa Land’s books shortly very soon after I started reading mm books, on a recommendation from another writer. I started with All In, and then moved all the way through the first five in a weekend. Skye Blue, well, that has a special place in my heart, and always will.

Against the Wall is a big departure for Ms. Land. Christian’s story is not light and happy as the previous book felt. This book has a darkness over it, shadowing Christian throughout. You will cry…you will likely cry a lot. But the journey is so worth it.

We get to see Shea Nolan (Brian’s cousin) again, as he and Christian officially meet in a bar, and go to Shea’s home for a one night stand. These two men find out quickly, though, that one night was not enough for them.

Fortunately, Nana decides to take over-as she often does-and whisks everyone away on a Dotsy cruise to celebrate two weddings. And although, there is lots of fun to be had, you can still feel the undercurrent of Christian planning to leave after school is out in June.

Nana shows up with a few of her crazy antics, of course, and we get to catch up with the entire Firsts and Forever cast. This book though really focuses in on Christian, with his past overshadowing his present and his future, and Shea, the man who continues to work toward breaking down the walls of the man he loves.

Cannot wait to see what is next in this series.  Another fantastic five pieces of eye candy installment! Bring on the tissues!

Morgan’s Review:
 

With this new addition to Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever
series, we finally get to see the world through the eyes of Christian,
otherwise known as Zane. Christian is such an interesting person. Art student/street
art extraordinaire he spends most his nights with a paint can in his hands and
adrenaline in his veins. Running from the SFPD has become second nature.
Christian definitely lives his life on the edge, but he has a secret.

The Adorable, somewhat dorky, and gorgeous Shea Nolan has
his eye on Christian. He has seen him around and has been attracted from first
glance, but he can’t see why Christian would ever be interested in him. When he
spots him across the club on his birthday, his friends push him to go over and
say HI. Shea can be slightly accident prone though, and when disaster strikes, he
runs in the other direction. When Christian meets up with him shortly after the
sparks fly.

Christian wants to get to know Shea more, but is scared of
breaking his heart. Christian knows he only has a little time left before he
has to leave and he doesn’t want to get caught up in a relationship knowing it
will inevitably hurt Shea.

Will These two get their Happily Ever After? Make sure you
have lots of tissues ready. The emotions are all over with this on. We get to
see lots of past characters from her series as well as the famous Nana, who we
all adore. We also get to meet new characters that have already become
unforgettable to me. Alexa has once again given us a wonderful book that will
stay with you long after you read it.

Definitely 5 outta 5 for me…

Purchase Link:

TBA – will update when it is available

Contact Alexa Land:

Facebook
@AlexaLandWrites

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Favorite Son by Will Freshwater

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Favorite
Son by Will Freshwater
Information
and Links Page.
Book Title:  Favorite
Son
Author:  Will
Freshwater       
Publisher: 
Dreamspinner Press
Book Length:  204
pages
Genre:  Gay, Romance
Book Blurb:
Born into a
blue-collar family, John Wells beat the odds and came out a winner. As chief of
staff to Patrick Donovan, a US senator and aspiring presidential candidate, he
enjoys all the power and privilege of a DC insider. But while riding high on a
wave of success, he’s blindsided by a series of betrayals from the people he
trusts the most. In the space of a single day, John’s perfect life unexpectedly
unravels when his career falters and his marriage implodes. Following a final,
devastating blow, John assumes a new identity as “Peter” and flees to Provincetown,
where a tight-knit community of eclectic characters slowly transforms him. 

Peter finds himself drawn to Danny Cavanaugh, an
enigmatic carpenter who is struggling to come to terms with his own troubled
past. As they work together to renovate a local landmark, the two men forge an
unlikely friendship that blossoms into love and becomes the foundation for a
new life they hope to build together. But when a reversal of fortune pulls John
back to DC, the treacherous world of politics he thought 

he’d left behind
threatens to destroy his chance at true happiness.

Will did some Video Readings, check them out here:

Author Bio:
Will Freshwater was born and raised in a small steel town
outside Pittsburgh. He graduated, cum laude, from Boston College and was
awarded a Juris Doctorate from theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Law. Will has lived and
worked in Boston,  Philadelphia,
Washington, DC, and Tampa. Although he has spent the better part of the last twenty years working as a successful corporate
attorney, Will can happily confirm that his true vocation is writing. He
currently resides in Morristown, New Jersey with his husband, Stephen, and their golden retriever, Rory. Favorite
Son is Will’s debut novel, and he is hard at work on his second novel.
Author Contact Links:
Email: willfreshwater@yahoo.com    
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/will.freshwater.9?fref=ts
Twitter:  
@WillFreshwater  https://twitter.com/WillFreshwater
Giveaway: 
Do you want to win a copy of the eBook of Favorite
Son?
Comment below for your chance to win. 
Buy Links:
Amazon: 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L7XVX5A?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00L7XVX5A&linkCode=xm2&tag=ggre0e-20
Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00L7XVX5A?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creativeASIN=B00L7XVX5A&linkCode=xm2&tag=ggre-21
Dreamspinner Press:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5110
All Romance eBooks (ARe):
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-favoriteson-1556212-149.html?referrer=5389cc098762e
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/favorite-son-will-freshwater/1119854716?ean=9781627987721

Release Day Review: We Found Love by Kade Boehme and Allison Cassatta

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Synopsis:

It’s no surprise Riley Connors is dealing with issues. He was kidnapped as a young boy, and his parents abandoned him after his newsworthy return. He bounced from foster home to facility and back. Now an adult, ghosts from his past continue to haunt him. After a suicide attempt, he is locked away in Hartfield so that people can make him tune in to emotions he has tried to bury. 

Hunter Morgan had the kind of love that spans ages. But the stress of college and adulthood became too much to handle, and the love of Hunter’s life turned to drugs. After he overdoses, Hunter finds himself soaring out of control on the same miserable path. His brother finds him and calls an ambulance, and the sister Hunter would rather not have calls it a suicide attempt, landing Hunter in Hartfield. 

Finding love isn’t easy, but it can happen under the most dire circumstances. Together Hunter and Riley may be able to grow from their pain. But they will need to learn to live for themselves, letting love come second.

Denise’s Review:

I will admit that I was a bit nervous to read this book. I was expecting it to break my heart, and the tissues would be flying out of the box. And that did happen, but the heartbreak was more of a “it was torn apart, but I knew there was no way it could be put back together” kind. 

This story of Riley and Hunter was all about finding love, just as the title states. However, the love they found for each other was more of a bonus, as they really found love of themselves. Something they had been missing for a large portion of their lives.

Riley, after being kidnapped at 6 years old, and returned to his family four years later, had learned to not count on anyone, even himself. He was truly a broken man that didn’t have the will to live, or the will to try to fix himself. Reading all that happened to Riley, it was easy to understand how he had come to stay at Hartfield for so long. 

Hunter, meanwhile, was diving off a cliff slowly, using alcohol to numb his pain. As he continued through his life, burning bridges that came into his path, he found that he was unable to move forward. He lost himself along the way, and really had no idea.

These two men met under the most dire circumstances. They connected and fell in love at a time when their love should have been only focused inward. Sometimes love finds you when you need it most, but least expect it. The words “live your life” are burned into my brain from this book. They needed to learn how to do that, apart first. Then if they could do that, they could consider whether to live it together.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the book is that it didn’t take the easy, quick road. These men worked on their problems over months and years, backsliding at times, but continuing to move forward. It was obvious it was something they would always need to work on. Their love for each other grew, as their love for themselves grew. 

An amazing story of courage, at a time when what they wanted to do was hide, for these two young men. It was such a touching story, and so well written. Kudos to Kade and Allison. This was not an easy book to read, so it could not have been an easy book to write. But honestly, the journey is so well worth it!!! 

Final determination on this amazing book is 4.5 pieces of eye candy. Grab this book NOW!!!






Purchase Links:

Amazon
Dreamspinner Press

Contact Kade:

Facebook 
Twitter: @kaderadenurface

Contact Allison:

Facebook
Twitter: @allisoncassatta