Blog Tour

Spring Strings by Lily Morton: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Audiobook Review and Giveaway

January 10, 2023 by Denise

. .

Malachi Booth is a supermodel. He’s used to moving about the world, sleeping with whoever takes his fancy and watching the money roll in. The last place he expects to find himself is on a run-down farm in Cornwall, but a bad bout of bronchitis means that he’s stuck there. The only compensation for this dismal state of affairs is that the farmer is very good looking, even if he’s the grumpiest person that Malachi has ever met.  

Cadan Landry’s farm has been in his family for hundreds of years but that doesn’t make it any easier to make ends meet. As a consequence, Cadan could be called grumpy. Most men would consider a supermodel collapsing at their feet while dressed in the skimpiest pair of briefs ever made to be a sign of good fortune. Cadan just resents the fact that the young man is taking up space in his cow field.  

These two men are from different worlds, but can they ever meet in the middle?   

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a novella about snarky models, misconceptions, and finding a home in the most unlikely of places. 

Spring Strings
By Lily Morton

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Audible

Goodreads

“There’s no need for a hospital. It isn’t pneumonia yet, and I’ve given him something to make him sleep. I’ll also give you a prescription for some very strong antibiotics. He needs plenty of sleep and taking care of. He’s very run down.” He huffs and pats his big belly. “Damn good job I wasn’t a model. I’d have collapsed if I was as thin as that lad in there.”

I try hard to repress the image of Doctor Samuels modelling the very tiny underpants that the model called Malachi was wearing. “And sure

ly he’ll get that care in a hospital,” I say with emphasis.

He shakes his head. “Cadan, I’m not sending him to hospital. He needs rest and then fresh air and feeding up.”

“Have you somehow got mixed up and forgotten that I run a farm and not Champneys health spa? I can’t have him here. I’ve got too much to do.”

A look of disappointment crosses his face, and I resist the impulse to shuffle from one leg to the other like I’m once again the child he used to see and give lollipops to. “Cadan, your mother would have a fit if she heard about your lack of hospitality. We look after our own in Cornwall.”

“But he isn’t our own,” I argue. “He’s somebody else’s own. I don’t know whose. Maybe Yves Saint Laurent.”

So, I did not read the ebook when it came out. I meant to, but just didn’t get to it. However, I’ve seen a lot of the newsletters that Lily Morton has sent out with Mal’s podcast, and loved his snark, so grabbing this audiobook, with the bonus of Joel Leslie’s amazing voice…that was an easy call.

I just loved Mal. He wasn’t the typical super model, instead being snarky and helping around the farm, with lambing, etc. He just made me laugh.

Cadan, meanwhile, was serious and hard-working, but still gave back the snark just as hard. He had a heavy burden with the finances of the farm, but was willing to work as hard as he needed to, to get ahead.

These two very different men found a lot of similarities together, and both had the same work ethic, work as hard as you can whenever you can.

Cadan’s mother was fantastically written, a flawed person who loved with her whole heart one time, then kept trying to find that magic. Yet, she immediately loved Mal, and knew he would be perfect for Cadan.

I enjoyed this one a lot, and would love to listen to it again, for any little things I might have missed.

4 pieces of eye candy.

Lily is a bestselling gay romance author. She writes love stories filled with heat and humour.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

Lily has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – Chocolate Baileys.

Just Say When by Aimee Nicole Walker: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, and Giveaway

January 10, 2023 by Denise

. .
Someone wants Police Chief Emilio Mendoza dead. And if his unknown assailant doesn’t kill him, pining for Sheriff Abraham Beecham just might.

Abe and Lio’s thirty-year journey has taken them from heated rivals to best friends with countless labels and pit stops along the way. Romance is the only avenue left unexplored but not from lack of love or desire.

Abe pushes people away before they can get too close, and Lio doesn’t engage in situations he can’t control. They’ve reached an impasse, and neither are willing to risk their friendship until fate intervenes, forcing them to reassess their priorities.

But when an unhinged enemy targets Lio, will their gamble be too little too late, or will their love truly conquer all?

Just Say When is a standalone romantic suspense novel within the author’s Savannah universe. This book contains mature content and is attended for adults.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

“And you can’t disappear on me for another month, Abe. My heart won’t be able to take it again.”

Shame washed over me, but I managed to keep my gaze locked on his. “There is nothing I regret more than those thirty days without you. I wish I could go back in time and change things, but I can’t. It won’t happen again, Lio.”

His expression was indecipherable while he processed what I said. My mouth and throat felt dry as if I hadn’t been wearing a mask while sanding. I wanted to reach for my beer, but worried Lio might bolt if I let go of him. But I didn’t want to physically imprison Lio; I wanted him there of his own accord. I released my grip and took a drink.

“That’s mine,” he said, breaking the silence.

He couldn’t know that because he hadn’t taken his eyes off me. His lips trembled at the corner, and I could tell he was trying to lighten the oppressive mood in the room. “Don’t care.” I set the beer down and cupped his neck. “I love you in ways I’ve never loved anyone else. My failed relationships and questionable one-night stands have nothing to do with abandonment issues.”

“I think you might even believe that,” Lio said. “But you don’t think you’re good enough, and you push people away before they can leave you. I won’t say your swagger is all for show because you are confident in every aspect of your life. Except for relationships. But your cockiness hides a vulnerable heart I’d never hurt in a million years.”

I leaned in and pressed a quick kiss against Lio’s lips. “We’ll have to agree to disagree.” I lowered my hands and took two steps back.

“And just where are you going? We’re in the middle of an argument.”

He looked so outraged, and I couldn’t help but smile. “No, we’re not. I’ll just prove how wrong you are.”

“By leaving? You promised, Abe.”

“I’m going home to shower and jerk off,” I replied.

Lust obliterated Lio’s annoyance, giving me hope that we’d work through this. “Or we could shower and jerk each other off, then continue this conversation over dinner.”

Lio inhaled sharply, but I saw the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t going to budge on his stance, but I would bet money he’d be jerking off in his shower before I made it down his long-ass driveway.

Fucking Lio. He’d be the death of me.

Just Say When is a story that a lot of readers have been waiting for. I was really looking forward to seeing how Chief Mendoza won his man. However, this was one of those cases where the book just didn’t completely work for me, which considering how much I love the author’s Savannah universe, failed to live up to my expectations. In the author’s defense, I have missed the last couple of books in this series, which is why I was counting on the stand-alone portion.

Finish reading review here.

. .

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach me at:
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December Daddy by Leta Blake: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

December 27, 2022 by Denise

. .

Matthew Angel is stuck. He’s 41 and spent his life denying who he is and what he truly wants—until he stumbles upon a unique offering at a specialty charity auction:

A Christmas Daddy experience.

Erik Garner has given up on relationships. After his last boy left, he decided it’s better to skip the heartache and stick with casual, short-term contracts. His offer of an exclusive, one-night-only Christmas encounter is all he’s willing to give.

Matthew’s older than expected, but his shy smile and eager surrender charm Erik. What starts out as a business transaction quickly gives way to a wild, thrilling intensity neither expected.

One night isn’t enough.

Good thing there’s a blizzard on the way…

Title: My December Daddy
Author: Leta Blake

A Boy for All Seasons Novel

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Erik

That’s the cycle, because I’m good at my role, and despite how tawdry it sounds, my preference does run young. And young men don’t want to settle down with their first Daddy. They want to go out and explore the world, be free, make mistakes, and, hell, maybe even be the Daddy one day themselves.

That’s what I know, but despite my runaway mouth, I’m not going to tell Matthew this.

Even if we hit it off—and we have—and even if our one night together from the auction is fantastic, and even if we end up arranging another few nights just for the hell of it, there’s no way we’ll fall into the kind of Daddy/boy relationship I crave.

He lives in Nashville.

He’s middle-aged.

He has a life of his own, and there’s no reason to think he’d want to leave it.

I need a boy to live with me—for me to care for, feed and clothe and scold and fuck.

No, Matthew is one night. For a charity auction. Maybe we’ll add a few hookups afterward if it’s hot enough for us both. But then it will be over. He’ll move on and hopefully come out of this experience with some good memories, enhanced self-respect, and a readiness to start looking for healthy relationships with men local to him.

“I hope it works out for you,” Matthew says, but he sounds as doubtful as I feel. Which isn’t great. I need him to believe I can handle him, and I need him to forget all about my scabbed over inner wounds. I never should have shown them to him.

“Let’s not focus on that.”

“Right. We should talk about the details of our night, shouldn’t we?”

The light from the windows glistens on the white strands in his hair, and gleams against the dark. His eyes glow a greener hazel, and I find I’m happy he requires extra time and care. I don’t want to rush the day away. I’m enjoying drawing out this time with Matthew. If we nail down the details, and wrap things up, I’ll have nothing to do but head back to my shared, rented house to be confronted by the loneliness I’ve felt ever since Brandon left. Matthew is so much more interesting than that.

Glancing at my phone to check the time, I say, “The afternoon is still young. I’d enjoy spending more time with you, if you feel the same.”

Matthew’s eyes light with pleasure. He lowers his lashes, but his lips lift at the edges, almost as if he’s trying not to show how happy he is I’m not ready to send him packing quite yet. “I have some time.” He glances at his phone’s lock screen and seems to ponder a moment before meeting my gaze. “In fact, I can stay for dinner if you’d like. My treat.”

“No,” I say sternly.

He winces, and I realize I haven’t been clear enough.

Note to self: Matthew needs absolute clarity.

“I’ll pay. You’re the boy in this December Daddy Experience. Don’t forget that.”

“Oh. I suppose I did win you, and you didn’t come cheap.”

I laugh. “No, I didn’t. But when you’re with Daddy, he always pays. Understand?”

“Yes.” I can see in his eyes he wants to say ‘yes, Daddy’, but holds it back.

Wow! According to my Kindle stats I’ve read over 100 books this year (I can’t even believe that!), and one of the last ones of the year, is also one of the top 3 I’ve read this year. I honestly wasn’t quite sure what was ahead in this book, other than knowing what a stellar author Leta Blake is, but otherwise, sometimes daddy kink can be not well done. However, this book…blew all that away.

One of the things I loved most about this book was some of the real emotions that played out. Matthew struggled with the fact that he loved his parents, and missed them, yet knew that they did not know him or love him as they should have. He wasn’t able to be out, and he never felt worthy of anyone’s love. He punished himself with his previous encounters. He even allowed himself to grieve, settle their estate before he let himself begin to come out of the closet. These feelings all made sense for how he grew up, and for the process of grieving, and learning about himself. Yet, when he saw that auction, and he stepped in, he was scared, but willing to take a chance on something completely out of his comfort zone. He was continuing to grow and change, even at the “older” age of 41.

Meanwhile, Erik was such a sweetheart, but definitely had some daddy issues. He took care of Matthew from beginning to end. He kept telling himself it was all about the one night that Matthew purchased. Yet they could not allow themselves to let go. He treated Matthew with respect, but also with so much care, even before he found out how innocent Matthew truly was. As he taught Matthew what it would be like for his next Daddy, it really was about creating the emotions that they both craved in each other. Also, Erik loved and cared for his mother too, which shows great character.

The book is split into four sections, which made a lot of sense for how the story played out. I loved that Matthew, when their time was up, respected himself enough to return home, and allow Erik to figure out exactly what they could be. It still made me bawl…but still, it was about real world emotions and situations, which just made it that much more heartfelt.

This is definitely a book to sit back and just enjoy to story, the affection that slowly grows between these two…and also read it again next December. 🙂

This was an easy 5 pieces of eye candy

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.

If you’d like to be among the first to know about new releases, you can sign up for Leta’s newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bdn32H

Bonus material for the Heat of Love series, Will & Patrick Wake Up Married series, Training Season series, Smoky Mountain Dreams, Mr. Frosty Pants, The River Leith, and more is available on Leta Blake’s Patreon account. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/letablake

Or you can find out more about her by following her online:

On the web: https://letablake.com

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Measuring Up by Dani Hermit & Curtis Star: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

December 19, 2022 by Denise

. .

Monarch Springs is full of hot guys… So why is Aiden determined to be in love with the only one that he can’t stand?

Up-and-coming interior designer Aiden Hart came to Monarch Springs for an intriguing job and an escape from his old life. Redecorating the tourist trap that is the Monarch Mansion in a small town in Pennsylvania sounded like the exact opposite of his trainwreck of a life in Miami. Not to mention a way to jumpstart his DIY celebrity career.

Aiden didn’t want to think that his new start was cursed. But being assigned to work with the disgraced former TV carpenter Brett Jeffries at the last minute and breaking down by the side of the road not two minutes later made being cursed sound reasonable.

Things started looking up when a hot mystery man in a beat up truck stopped to rescue him. This flannel-wearing angel was not the kind of hot that happened in Miami. This was salt-of-the-earth, lumberjack, bearded, knows how to change a tire, H-O-T hotness.

Of course, his hot savior turned out to be none other than Brett Jefferies.

And that was only the start of Aiden’s problems. From a traitorous cat to exes showing up at the worst possible times, he still has to somehow get this remodel done before Christmas.

However, falling in love with the job, the town, and, worst of all, Brett, was not on Aiden’s Christmas list.

Title: Measuring Up

Author Name: Dani Hermit & Curtis Star

Word Count: 62K

Genres: small town romance, contemporary romance, romcom, gay romance

Tropes: hate to love, meeting the love interest before you know who he is, the hot ex shows up

Amazon – All Regions

“You know I’m not afraid of hard work, Brett. I don’t have your guns but I work out.” Aiden removed his fashionably torn sweater to reveal a tight navy blue t-shirt. “But it’s warm in here. I wasn’t expecting such an aggressive Indian summer.”

Brett probably wouldn’t notice but Aiden got a lot of numbers at the club in this very tee. Although that was seven years ago when he was usually covered in glitter and had just enough of the designer party drug of the day to offer to suck off somebody as yummy as Brett with ease.

The shirt was faded and paint-stained but Aiden still felt slightly bolstered with confidence when he wore it. He wasn’t intending to take his sweater off but now that he had, he wondered what Brett thought of him. Would he look at him the way the guys in the club did? Not likely. Not now that Aiden was about five years too old for that scene.

Aiden grabbed a brush and bucket of soapy water. He didn’t want to think about it anymore. Being over thirty and having lost his club boy appeal somewhere in the course of his failed committed relationship, Aiden often felt invisible.

“Are you sure about that?” Brett came up behind Aiden and squeezed his upper arms, lingering at his back for a solid minute. He walked away, not paying attention to the effect he had on Aiden. “I’m going to grab some more supplies. How about you start over there? I’ll start on this other side and we’ll meet in the middle?”

Aiden had to steady his breath. He was far too close to swooning around this guy. He stomped up the ladder to start washing the top of the wall. He tried to use the scrubbing to air out his irritation.

“Stupid jerk.” He muttered under his breath. “No reason to mock me. Maybe I haven’t gotten to the gym in a while. You can’t act like your stupid sexy self doesn’t know you have driven me crazy since the moment I met you. Stupid sexy jerk.”

Returning with more cleaning supplies from the truck, Brett set to work on the far side of the room. After about half an hour of silence, he paused and turned to Aiden. “Hey, pretty boy,” he called out. “Do you mind if I put on some music?”

And now he’s calling me pretty boy. Why would he do that? Oh yeah, cause he’s a stupid, stupid sexy jerk who knows he’s sexy.

Aiden began scrubbing even harder as if the wall had wronged him. “Yeah sure, but just know you are revealing a lot about yourself. So many secrets are spilled by what you listen to.” Aiden didn’t want to bother moving the ladder so he reached out as far as he could with the sponge while he waited to hear what Brett would put on.

Brett opened a door on the built-in cabinet that wasn’t far from where Aiden was scrubbing and plugged his phone into the stereo unit hidden inside. He hit play and classic rock began blaring out of the speakers that were concealed all over the house. Brett quickly adjusted the volume down to a more reasonable roar. Out of the corner of his eye, Aiden watched him as he lingered a moment, enjoying the song.

Aiden wasn’t paying attention to how far he was leaning, and the ladder he was sitting on started wobbling. Before he could correct his position or get his balance back, Aiden was tipping over. He closed his eyes and prayed he would hit the floor and not smash into the pile of tools that were nearby.

The current running tracks of thought in Aiden’s head came out of his mouth as he fell right into Brett’s arms. He couldn’t stop himself from hitting Brett’s chest as he ranted in an awkward attempt to get his heartbeat under control.

“Stupid, sexy jerk who rescues puppies. Of course, you are gonna catch me when I fall off the ladder.”

For his part, Brett didn’t say anything, he just let Aiden wear himself out. He stared into Brett’s eyes, his anger and fear played out, not sure what to do or say. It wasn’t like Brett was moving to set him down on the floor. The fact that the big man wasn’t dropping him like a hot potato was making Aiden’s heart beat fast again and his head filled with all the silly notions he was trying to avoid.

“Would you rather I let you crash to the ground and break your pretty neck?” Brett asked, not letting go of Aiden though he looked like he was tempted to drop him on his butt now that he was out of harm’s way.

Okay, this has gone on way too long, right? Why isn’t he putting me down?

Okay, this is a cute book. I’ve never read anything by this team of authors, so really not sure what to expect, to be honest. The cover wasn’t my favorite, and that is usually a call to me as a must read. It had some really fun elements…(I’m a crazy cat lady, so of course the ‘traitorous cat’ called to me.)

Aiden comes to this new town to start over. It’s a bit of a meet-cute after a car breakdown. I love inner monologues that really seem like they are talking to me and themselves, and Aiden’s inner monologue made me laugh.

Brett, the sexy lumberjack, just let Aiden get into his own little messes, I thought. Which made me laugh just a bit more.

There was a bit of a plot hole that I didn’t quite understand, but that sometimes happens.

Overall, a funny, cute holiday story.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

. .

Dani Hermit & Curtis Star are a married pair of writers who have been perfecting their craft even longer than they have been perfecting their marriage – over 20 years for both! It was a mutual love of slash fic and writing deep, angsty stories that lead to their love for each other.

It has been a rocky road full of pitfalls and potholes that has lead to the current format of writing boy’s love serials that are becoming the bedrock of the Hermit & Star brand.

Author Website: https://hermitstarbooks.com/

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/hermitstarbooks

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/hermitstarbooks

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hermitstarbooks/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dani-Hermit/e/B00BG3335E/

Exposed by Christmas: A Secret Santa story by Hayden West: RB, New Release Review and Giveaway

December 18, 2022 by Denise

. .

Secrets refuse to stay buried.

Pulled in for an op he never wanted, Michael Little knows it won’t be a hardship to pretend interest in his target. What does prove difficult is knowing that when it’s over, he’ll have to walk away.

Radek Dionne has busted his ass to keep his name away from the shady dealings his family is involved in. Used to people wanting him either for those connections or due to him being a player in the NHL, he keeps to himself. Until one night when he meets someone who gets to him on a level he’s never expected.

But family has a way of showing up when you least want them to and his is no exception. Secrets are exposed and loyalties tested. Will they be together by Christmas, or has this last secret ruined any chance of a happy ever after?

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence, sexual harassment, blackmail, and kidnapping. There is mention of child abuse, domestic violence, drug abuse, human trafficking and child trafficking.

Exposed by Christmas by Hayden West

General Release Date: 13th December 2022

Word Count: 32,013

Book Length: SHORT NOVEL

Pages: 135

Genres: ACTION AND ADVENTURE; CHRISTMAS; CONTEMPORARY; EROTIC ROMANCE; GAY; GLBTQI; SPORTS; THRILLERS AND SUSPENSE

Amazon – All Regions

First For Romance

I’m not sure that I’ve read anything by Hayden West before, and I very rarely read hockey books, because I don’t know the sport at all, but I’m a junkie for the holiday books, so had to give it a shot (pun intended).

Radek is a hockey player who meets Michael at a party, and they immediately get involved. Meanwhile, Michael is an undercover CIA agent, working with the FBI, trying to bring down Radek’s brother who he’s done everything he could to distance himself from. Michael falls in love with Radek, but he has to follow where the job leads him. He never believes that Radek is guilty of any wrongdoing, but they need Radek to draw his brother out.

The secrets, of course, come out, and all hell breaks loose. Radek had every reason to be angry at Michael. And being the alpha male he was, he really wouldn’t let Michael explain, he just turned away. Radek was hard to like when he was angry and jealous, and he was A LOT. But it was obvious how much he loved Michael.

Fortunately, they do get the bad guy, and the HEA. And wow, the epilogue…my heart!!!! (I wanted it to be a little longer, to be honest.)

The book was a novella, but it had a little bit of everything happening. Some sexy times, some action and adventure, friends that wouldn’t turn away from Radek, and some very questionable dealings.

It was a good ride, and I enjoyed it.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Hayden West lives in the Pacific Northwest, enjoys being outdoors, and hanging out with friends when not working on the next novella to be released.

Find Hayden at their website and blog.

Author Links

Website: https://authorhaydenwest.wixsite.com/authorhaydenwest

Blog: https://authorhaydenwest.blogspot.com/

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The Humbug Holiday by Lane Hayes: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

December 13, 2022 by Denise

. .

Two grumpy bears and a holiday season neither will forget…

Joe

So this sexy silver fox rolls into my small New England town and buys a run-down old house in need of renovation. That’s where I come in. My job is to do some basic repairs, so he can write in peace. Yep, the hotshot is a bestselling author, but that’s not why I recognize Cameron Warren.

No worries, I won’t let a one-night stand make things awkward. I could use the work, but is he seriously asking me to help him buy a Christmas tree too?

No way.

Cameron

I’m a good-natured guy all year long, but I have to admit…I hate the holidays.

There. I said it.

This season, I’m hiding away on the opposite side of the country in a picturesque village. My family isn’t excited about my decision, and the only way to assure them I’m fine is to deck the darn halls. Or hire someone else to do it.

The handyman might not be the logical choice for an elf, but his grumpy act makes me smile. Which makes me think the holidays might not be so “bah-humbug” this year after all.

The Humbug Holiday is a bisexual, age-gap romance featuring two grumpy bears who find unexpected magic and learn to embrace everyone’s favorite time of year!

Title: The Humbug Holiday
Authors: Lane Hayes
Length: 35k
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday.
Tropes: Bears, Second Chance, Holiday Romance, Romantic Comedy.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Audible – Narrated by Michael Dean

Goodreads

A playful smile ghosted over Cameron’s full lips. “You’re stubborn, but loyal. You’re extremely private, but I can’t tell if that’s a protective mechanism or defensive. You’re a loner.”

All true.

“Anything else?”

“Well…I think you have a bit of a God complex,” he replied carefully.

I narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me?”

“You’re a control freak. In a perfect world, you’d like to control or manage others’ expectations. You hate that you care what others think, but you do. That probably has something to do with the fact that you come from a good place and you don’t like the idea of anything tainting it. Big cities have a way of desensitizing. Trust me. I know how that goes.”

I was too taken aback by the ultra-personal read to reply immediately. Surprise gave way to righteous indignation and anger.

I glowered as I moved toward him. “What the fuck? You don’t know me or anything about my life or—”

“Hey, relax.” Cameron held his hands up in surrender. “It’s an observation, not an insult.”

“Well…don’t observe me. It’s creepy,” I growled. “Especially coming from someone who writes murder mysteries.”

A slow-moving pirate’s smile took over his face. “Fair point, but as you said, it’s my job to watch and take note of my surroundings.”

I cocked my head, studying his chiseled features and proud carriage in those designer duds. Everything about Cameron Warren screamed “special,” and I had no doubt that was the case. But I was still smarting after his astute analysis. I couldn’t help wondering how much of his dapper bear façade was for show.

“Hmm. Maybe. Or maybe you snoop to dodge your own reality.” I shrugged. “Just a thought.”

He arched a brow but didn’t speak.

Was it my imagination or was the air suddenly buzzing? My gaze darted to the darkening skies out the window, but the sizzle of electricity was all us. I couldn’t read any signs.

Were we joking? I mean, we were throwing some personal shit out there. We were both guilty of being borderline rude…and too familiar. It should have felt unsafe to have someone poke at me for a reaction, but damn it…it turned me on.

He turned me on.

Okay, I have a very soft spot for grumpy bears…my dad was one. Bah Humbug! all the way for him. But he had the softest heart buried in that grumpy face that he was so well known for. So, there was zero chance I was passing up not only a grumpy bear book, but two grumpy bears and a holiday story to boot. I was not disappointed.

I will admit, I’ve not read a lot of Lane Hayes’ books…I’ve seen the error of my ways, I promise! This book just hit me in so many good ways. These two did not love the holidays, and both with very good reasons. However, those around them did (all the older ladies who would not let them just be by themselves was so funny to me!) and so because they loved those people, they “suffered” through the holiday season, with all the gruff exterior they could muster. Until they met their match in grumpiness in the other.

Joe was hit hard in the past by a former lover/boss, as well as some nasty allegations against him, and came home to essentially lick his wounds. After being in that situation, I’m sure you would want to be somewhere where people love you, appreciate you, will leave you alone a bit, and that feels comfortable. A bit like curling up with a hot cocoa under the covers. Cameron meanwhile, needed a change of pace, a slower one in order to breathe, away from his aunts, and everyone wanting a piece of him back in California. He had his own demons to battle with regards to the holidays that had been sitting in the background for decades.

These two somehow found a way to learn to like the holidays again, through the magic of being with each other. Or at least, they probably always liked it a little, but came to realize that they did, by finding each other. It was a gradual process, but fun to see the progression.

This book wasn’t super funny, although definitely had its moments. “I picked up a red bulb and gingerly attached the hook to the tree. Okay, that wasn’t so bad.” But it just felt so good to read. Seeing these two big old grumps learning they can be happy inside, and with each other, even if they feel the need to keep up their front to the outside world for their own sanity. Until, of course, everyone just knew they truly loved the holidays. It did my heart more good than I would have ever imagined. It’s definitely on the read again list.

4 pieces of eye candy

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, 2018-2019, and 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a not-quite-empty nest.

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Blog: www.lane-hayes.com
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