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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Book Review

Pier Pressure by Anyta Sunday: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

November 9, 2022 by Denise

.                            .

Plenty of fish in the sea.

But what if there is no “plenty”? What if Leon Finn is a lone fish? A lone fish in a glass bowl swimming in hopeful but ultimately lonely circles forever?

Dumped and forced to retreat to his tiny-town seaside bach, it’s time for Leon to cast some lines, and quick! Prove to everyone—(*cough*) ex, mother, other ex who he’s now accidentally living with—that he’s a catch.

Only no one is biting.

It sucks, but it’s solvable.

With his trusty sewing machine and endless stash of fabric he’ll make himself into the ultimate suitor. Stitch this right up.

But as a certain someone keeps whispering in his ear, is this the right way?

Pier Pressure is a light-hearted, cheeky M/M romance with silly seaside shenanigans culminating in happily ever after. It can be read as a standalone.

Title: Pier Pressure
Authors: Anyta Sunday
Length: 200 pages
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic comedy.
Tropes: a second chance, extravert/introvert, cheeky love interest, small town, sweet, clueless, only one bed.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

The week passes, and with it comes the news my ex will be visiting over the weekend with documents. That conversation has me screwing up the courage to face Tai and ask if dating Hercules Morse is still an option.

On the Friday afternoon, Morse and I meet at the tea rooms. On the Friday evening, I’m trudging over the dunes to the bach, alone.

Damon eyes me from the couch where he’s slung himself, squeezing the trigger of his lifeguard megaphone to the tune of something on his headphones. I’m wondering if calling his fish Fidget has anything to do with his own habits. He’s all go, Damon is. Even when he’s reading, he’s rhythmically drumming his finger over the paper edges.

I strip, slip into a pair of cosy pyjamas, and slump into my sewing seat across from him.

Damon pulls his headphones to his neck. “How did your date go?”

“Not the way I hoped.”

“What happened?”

“I panicked.”

“Like the last time?”

I drop my head onto the smooth surface of my sewing machine. “All I could think was ‘as big as a horse, as big as a horse’ and when he sat down the first thing out of my mouth was whether he liked big dicks.”

Damon roars with laughter; it briefly echoes through the megaphone.

“And then he asked me if I had one.”

Damon sets the megaphone aside. “More exciting than I thought, and I’ve been thinking about it. What did you say next?”

I bang my head multiple times. “That it wasn’t small, per se.”

Damon swings his legs off the couch, grinning.

This author says right in her bio that she is a HUGE fan of slow-burn romances, and this one completely fits the bill. There is one kiss towards the middle, but nothing else until almost the end. And that was completely okay.

Leon was a sweet guy, talented tailor, willing to do anything for almost anyone, but with regards to himself…completely clueless. He was sharing a home with Damon, his boyfriend in high school, by way of his mother, who herself was a bit of a mess. Meanwhile, Damon, the guy around town who dropped anything to help others, ran the local bingo game for seniors, and was VERY slowly rebuilding his house, just let Leon figure out himself that the man he wanted and needed was right there waiting.

Watching Leon bumble his way through dates, almost dates, trying to avoid anything resembling confrontation was hilarious. He kept trying to find himself the perfect man, by making himself into the perfect man/sailor/caterer that someone else might want. In the end, he just made a bigger mess of things. And Damon let him do his best until he figured out what he really was looking for.

This was fluffy, and funny, and made for just an enjoyable read.

4 pieces of eye candy

.                    .

A bit about me: I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.

Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.

I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.
My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Thai.

Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/about-anyta/

Sign up for Anyta’s newsletter and receive a free e-book: http://www.anytasunday.com/newsletter-free-e-book/

Join my Facebook group to chat all things Slow Burn Romance:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SlowBurnSundays/

You can also find me here:
www.anytasunday.com
anytasunday@gmail.com

For information about new releases and freebies, follow me on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anyta-sundaya Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Filed Under: Blog Tour, Book Excerpt, Book Review, Giveaway, New Release Review, Quick Reviews, TCO Exclusives, TCO Reviewer: Denise

This is Real Release by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review

November 7, 2022 by Denise

.                                      .

A snarky English nerd. A hot American actor. When Christmas brings them together, they have more in common than they know…

Murdo doesn’t do Christmas, but this year, he’s looking forward to spending time with an old friend. Elodie’s working on a film starring Murdo’s Biggest Crush, the gorgeous Lukas Olsen. When Elodie asks him to give Lukas a lift from Logan International, Murdo can’t believe his luck. Lukas might be straight, but ogling’s acceptable—right?
Lukas arrives at the airport to find a gaggle of fans but no driver waiting and when he does turn up, the snarky Englishman can’t even remember where he’s parked. When they finally reach their destination, Lukas tries to tip him and Murdo makes his current opinion of Lukas very clear. His crush is over.

Things move from bad to worse when Murdo tells the director that Lukas’s English accent isn’t authentic. But a pang of guilt, and maybe a remnant of lust, has Murdo offering to give dialect lessons to a resentful Lukas. Only once they’re in Lukas’s house, annoyance turns into something far more dangerous, because Lukas isn’t out and never will be. He has too much to lose: career, fans, family and friends.

Yet something about Murdo makes Lukas want to risk it all…

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

A Christmas story that is set at Christmas but it isn’t really a Christmas story even though one of them hates Christmas and the other is filming a Christmas movie. Got it? Good.

Murdo doesn’t hate Christmas, per se, he just doesn’t have fond memories of it and basically tries to ignore it. And since he is on break from his teaching job, he is headed New Hampshire to visit a college friend and go skiing. Alone. It’s fine.

The college friend is the assistant director on a movie filming right by where Murdo was going to ski, so lucky them that they can get a visit in. But she also needs Murdo to pick up the star of the movie at the airport and bring him. The movie star that Murdo has a crush on.

That crush is, well, crushed, when Lukas turns out to be a giant jerk. Even after Murdo successfully avoids a really bad car accident that involved a tractor trailer. How can anyone be mean to Murdo? He is adorable!

Lukas isn’t really a giant jerk. He’s just painfully attracted to Murdo. And deeply in the closet. But then Murdo is sort of but not really hired to help Lukas polish his English accent over the Christmas break. And Lukas can’t resist having Murdo near him.

Once they are at Lukas’ house they get along great. Even though you can cut the sexual tension with a knife. But behind closed doors and in the privacy of his own home, Lukas starts to open up. Flirting with Murdo. Touching Murdo. Even oh so casually saying, ‘oh btw, I’m gay’. Even though he has literally never said it out loud before.

Murdo gives Lukas the freedom and confidence to be who he is. Even though Murdo know that at the end of the day, Lukas will go back in the closet.

The conflict wasn’t what I expected. Ok, part of it was. But not the BIG one. But Lukas insisted that Murdo was innocent. Never, ever doubting him. I absolutely loved that. Lukas also never acted like a Big Star. You know the type that think they are better than everyone.

The epilogue was great and simply answered questions I had. And it was swoony.

4 pieces of eye candy

Filed Under: Book Review, New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Erin Tagged With: 4 stars, author, gay, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, review, romance

Love and History: Nerd/Jock MM Romance (The Script Club Book 6) by Lane Hayes: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

November 3, 2022 by Denise

.                                .

The sporty roommate, the professor, and a history lesson…

Holden
Ezra might be the most annoying roommate ever. He’s loud, obnoxious, and full of himself. So what if he’s a tall, muscular, tattooed jock? His tendency to strip to his boxers in the kitchen while helping himself to my food isn’t endearing in the slightest. Nope. Ezra has to go.

However, I have to admit, he’s the perfect fit to play the king for my historic reenactment event. Ezra in a royal robe…oh, this could be quite tantalizing indeed.

He might do it…if he loses a bet.

Hmm…

Ezra
Holden is the kind of dude who wears top hats and great coats while teaching astrophysics to brainiacs. Weird, right? But I gotta respect that level of commitment. And I respect him.

Sadly, Holden doesn’t feel the same way about me.

I guess I can’t blame him. Cranking his gears has been the highlight of my stint in geek land. I’ve never seen anyone get riled about yogurt like him. He makes me laugh. And think. And want things I’d never thought possible.

So yeah, I’ll take that history lesson. And if it leads to something more, I’m in.

Love and History is a bi-awakening geek/jock romance featuring a messy law student, a picky professor, and a lesson neither will forget!

Title: Love and History
Authors: Lane Hayes
Length: 64K
Series: The Script Club, Book 6
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: Geek/Jock, Bi-awakening, enemies to lovers, roommates to lovers, romantic comedy.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

An awkward silence stretched between us, making it difficult to breathe. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t touch him. This wasn’t okay.

“Are you all right?”

I released my grip on his neck and sat beside him, wringing my hands fretfully. “No, I’m sorry. I can’t pretend that didn’t happen. I kissed you and—”

“And I liked it.”

Silence.

“You…I don’t—” I squinted as if that would help me understand him. “That was supposed to be a joke kiss.”

“Got it. I didn’t think it was real,” he replied logically. “We’re roommates.”

“I know,” I whispered.

Ezra cocked his head. “You want to do it again?”

Yes, I did. I one thousand percent wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to touch him too and—

Wait. He was joking.

“Why can’t you be serious about…anything?” I licked my lips nervously and plucked at my duvet.

“I am serious,” he replied with an inscrutable smile. “I told you I liked it. A lot.”

Still joking.

Or was he?

The scientist in me wanted to get off this roller coaster and dissect the moment the world tilted on its axis because something new was happening here. I could practically feel the sizzle of electricity in the air.

“It’s a bad idea. You don’t even like me, Ezra.”

He almost looked hurt as he shook his head and inched away from me.

“That’s so far from true, it isn’t funny. My problem is that I like you too much.”

“Huh?”

He frowned. “You know what? Let’s pretend I didn’t just say that. In fact, let’s agree to collective amnesia about…all of this. Although, let’s be real, a kiss isn’t really a big deal. People make out all the time—girl with guy, girl with girl, guy with guy. Sometimes it’s real, sometimes it’s an itch or an experiment. I met a cute girl on day one of Coachella and…”

I tuned him out as confusion wrestled with a tsunami of desire. I’d spent months ignoring my inexplicable attraction to this man. We were hostile and often waspish foes who couldn’t find common ground to communicate.

But I didn’t want to hear about other people he’d kissed.

I wanted…

I wanted—

I roughly grabbed his neck and crashed my mouth over his.

It’s fun, it’s cute, it’s jock/nerd but a little older. That in between age when they are done with college, or almost done with college, working on master’s degrees or waiting to take the bar exam. Kind of waiting for life to start, straddling the line between total adult and college kid.

And with that goes roommates. Because who can afford a place on their own nowadays? We also add in a bi awakening. Or a bi acting on it? Ezra had a good inkling that he was bi but he never acted on it. And never told anyone. In fact, his reason for not telling his bff was to not steal his thunder. Which is cute.

Ezra does some stupid things to get Holden to notice him more. Walking around in his underwear. Eating Holden’s food. Leaving a mess in the kitchen. He might has well have pulled Holden’s pig tails.

So of course Holden hates Ezra. Except he doesn’t. Because he is hot af. And a nice guy. And pretty smart.

The conflict was a little odd. I really didn’t get that whole student/boss situation. Didn’t make a ton of sense, mostly how the student acted.

Another jock/nerd cute story where the nerd is actually super hot and the jock and actually smart and they love happily ever after.

It was a decent book. I guess I am just over this trope.

3.5 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.

Connect with Lane:
My Readers’ Group, Lane’s Lovers: https://bit.ly/3aIbMYg
My Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3cICfaK
Blog: www.lane-hayes.com
Twitter: twitter.com/LaneHayes3
FB: facebook.com/LaneHayesAuthor
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/lanehayes
BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/lane-hayes
Instagram: instagram.com/Lanehayesauthor
Goodreads: goodreads.com/LaneHayes

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Filed Under: Blog Tour, Book Excerpt, Book Review, Giveaway, New Release Review, Quick Reviews, TCO Exclusives, TCO Reviewer: Erin Tagged With: 3.5 stars, author, blog tour, Blog Tours, book, Book Excerpts, Book Reviews, excerpt, exclusive, giveaway, Giveaways, Lane Hayes, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, review, romance

Dead Serious Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy: (MM Paranormal Romance) (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy: Release Blitz, Exclusive Excerpt, and Giveaway

November 1, 2022 by Denise

.                                    .

In the business of unfinished business…

It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right?

Wrong…

When the spirit of a sweet old lady follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation.

For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him.

Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves.

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series.

Title: Dead Serious Case #2 Mrs. Delores Abernathy
Authors: Vawn Cassidy
Length: 90K
Series: Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Deceased, Book 2
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense, Romance/Dark Comedy.
Tropes: ongoing paranormal romance/comedy/mystery.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Book 1: Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey: (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed)

I glance absently across the room at all the bowed heads worshiping at the altar of Bingo Bonanza and wonder if Danny and I should just excuse ourselves and head back to my place. After all, I did make certain promises that I’m eager to make good on.

“Clean the floor… fifty-four.”

I’m just about to turn to Danny when I feel a strange, yet familiar shiver roll down my spine and I shudder hard. I could swear it was the same odd feeling I had that night at Sunrise Care Home.

I turn sharply and glance around the busy room. It’s only when my gaze falls on the double doors leading from the hall that I see a dark shadow rush past the glass. I stand abruptly, barely noticing the loud scraping noise of my chair legs across the battered hardwood floor. Ignoring everyone around me, I hustle through the maze of tables and chairs, buggies and walking frames, and push my way through the doors into the small quiet foyer.

I skid to a halt, my still-wet shoes squeaking as I freeze, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. There’s a dark black shadow hovering two feet above the ground and I can see right through it, to the door of the gents’ toilet behind it. Although it has no face, just a deep-cowled hood surrounding its head, I get the distinct impression it’s staring at me.

My mouth is dry, and my heart is trying to pound straight out of my chest.

“Tristan, wha–” I feel Dusty appear beside me. “Holy fuck! What the fucking fuck is that fucking thing?”

The door behind us bangs open and I hear Danny’s calm voice. “Tris, are you alright?” The moment he speaks the dark-shrouded apparition shoots upward and disappears through the ceiling.

“Tris,” I feel Danny’s hands cup my face and turn me toward him, “you’re all cold and clammy.”

“I uh…” I clear my throat, shaking my head slightly to try and make some sort of sense while my brain is still clearly stuck in What the fuck did I just witness? mode.

“You rushed out so quickly,” Danny says in concern. “Are you feeling okay?”

I latch onto the excuse. “Actually, I’m not feeling that well.”

“Well, your clothes are all damp.” He frowns as he looks down at me properly.

“It’s left over from getting caught in the rain earlier.” I offer him a small shaky smile.

“We should get you home.” He rubs my arms in a soothing manner. “Don’t want you to catch a chill.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, and my gaze drifts across to the patch of ceiling that thing had disappeared through

.                                .

Vawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of British author Wendy Saunders, she lives in the UK with her husband and children. She loves all things MM and is an avid reader herself.
As Vawn Cassidy she writes Paranormal/Dark Comedy/Mystery and Contemporary Romance and more recently is branching out into Historical & Supernatural MM/LGBTQ+ Fiction with her upcoming London Gothic series.
She also has an insane love of Lego and pop culture.

Connect with Vawn:
Website: www.vawncassidy.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/VawnCassidyAuthor
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/group/cassidysbayboys
Instagram: www.instagram.com/vawncassidyauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/VawnCassidy
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/vawncassidy
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/vawn-cassidy
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y9ars1

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Filed Under: Book Excerpt, Book Review, Giveaway, New Release Book Blast, TCO Exclusives, TCO Reviewer: Denise, Uncategorized Tagged With: book, Book Excerpts, Book Reviews, excerpt, exclusive, gay, giveaway, Giveaways, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, romance, Vawn Cassidy

Class Act by Gianni Holmes: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

October 31, 2022 by Denise

.                                  .

From USA Today Bestselling Author Gianni Holmes comes a new heartfelt, steamy, forbidden, teacher-student romance.

Abe Cooper is a triple threat.

He’s my best friend’s father.

He’s the football coach at my high school.

And he’s a married man

His marriage is on the rocks and he could lose his job for the way he looks at me.

I could lose my only friend in the world.

I know I should stay away instead of flirting with him.

But all the cons don’t outweigh how I feel when I’m with him.

When my home situation gets worse, Abe is there for me. But what we do under his roof when everyone’s asleep makes me feel guilty.

Now his daughter, my closest friend, knows he’s stepping outside his marriage and she’s hellbent to find out who I am.

How long can we keep us a secret and how dare we be happy together when it might hurt the ones we love?

Title: Class Act
Authors: Gianni Holmes
Length: 100K+
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: Teacher-student, age gap, best friend’s father, hurt comfort, size difference.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Emery paused the television. “Abe.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have allowed him to use my first name after all. The way the syllable whispered from his lips sent a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard but didn’t respond.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

“Talk about what?”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard.”

I frowned. “Heard what?”

“You and your wife arguing. I’m sorry she said those awful things to you.”

My face burned, and I glanced away. “Stay out of it.”

“I’m just trying to—”

“It’s none of your business, Emery. Drop it.”

Emery lowered his legs to the floor and got to his feet, letting the remote fall from his hand to the couch. “I’m sorry. I’ll just go.” His voice was full of hurt, and my chest ached for me to do something about it. To make him smile again.

Let him go, Abe.

I jumped up and grabbed Emery’s wrist. He jerked to a stop, but he kept his head turned away from me. He tried to tug his hand out of my grip, but I held on.

“I’m leaving you alone like you wanted, Abe.”

My heart pounded in my chest. “When did I ever say that?”

Seconds ticked by in silence. I moved closer to him, placed a trembling hand on his angular hip, and turned him to face me. His chest rose and fell, like he was struggling against his emotions.

“Do you want me to stay or not?” he asked.

Dammit, why was he so damn pretty?

“Let me go, Abe.”

“Do you really want me to?” He nodded, so I dropped his hand.

Emery rubbed his wrist. “Do you care about what I want?”

My nostrils flared. “What do you want?”

“To hug you.”

Before I could move, Emery wrapped his arms around me and pressed his face to my chest.

Push him away.

I raised my arms, but as if they had a mind of their own, they embraced him, one settling at his lower back and the other at his hip. I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat. Why was he made to fit me so well if he could never be mine?

“Emery,” I said softly. “I don’t know if I’m thinking straight.”

“What do you mean?” he whispered back.

“You heard it yourself. My marriage is in shambles, and I can’t be sure if this thing is merely a reaction rather than something real.”

Emery grabbed the back of my head and pulled it down, then captured my lips with his. Stunned, I stood stock still. Emery’s mouth moved over mine, and desire unleashed in my belly. With a groan, I pressed him closer to me and gripped his hip more tightly.

I ventured out of my comfort zone to review this book. I don’t do cheating…I know a lot of people don’t like to read it. But having been through it, I know how much it absolutely sucks to be the one cheated on. But I was intrigued otherwise, so I gave it an open minded chance. (Make sure you read the afterword from the author…made me feel so much better about the fact that I don’t like to read it, since the author has been through a similar situation.)

I’m not sure if I could have picked it up if it wasn’t obvious from the blurb that Abe was having problems in his marriage. And he was having lots of problems. I couldn’t blame him for wanting a divorce (that did not make the cheating okay, of course). He struggled to hide his feelings about Emery from himself, but the fact that Emery needed as much help as he did made it impossible for Abe to turn away from him. (Side note: Emery’s father…I would have dearly loved to see him get more than he did, but he still got a little of what he deserved. The car…that po’ed me almost as much as the other stuff. What a POS!)

ANYWAY, what I loved about Emery was his self confidence in himself. Most men his age in high school would not go out for cheerleading, wearing a skirt, being out. He couldn’t really hide it, but nevertheless, he was a courageous man. In many ways, he learned that from his father, because to live under that roof and come out alive, he had to be courageous. He also wasn’t afraid to show his vulnerable side to Abe, even if he didn’t share everything he should have. His best friend, after the initial shock, ended up being very positive about their relationship. The ex-wife, not so much, but who could blame her…and she was kinder than most people would have been in that circumstance.

This really was a love story, and as gut wrenching as it was personally, it was very well written, and kept it at a slow simmer for a while before the heat exploded. That was necessary for this story to have worked. I will admit that I had to read this in spurts, because some of it was tough for me to read. But still well written, and a good story about what felt like a real life situation.

4 pieces of eye candy

Gianni Holmes is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary MM romance. She’s a former teacher of Spanish Language and Latin American literature who resides in the Caribbean. Gianni has a love for superheroes, a fear of horror movies, and an obsession with old TV sitcoms.

Connect with Gianni:
Website
https://www.gianniholmesauthor.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/gianniholmesbooks
Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/giannigems
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/gianniholmes
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17910852.Gianni_Holmes

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Filed Under: Blog Tour, Book Excerpt, Book Review, Giveaway, New Release Review, Quick Reviews, TCO Exclusives, TCO Reviewer: Denise Tagged With: 4 stars, author, blog tour, Blog Tours, book, Book Excerpts, Book Reviews, excerpt, exclusive, giveaway, Giveaways, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, review, romance

The Santa Problem by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review

October 27, 2022 by Denise

When Kendall is let down by the Santa and photographer he’s booked for his garden centre, he frantically tries to find replacements. But no one is available to step in at the last minute and he’s running out of time and options.

Then Alfie arrives, with his electric-blue hair, piercings, megawatt smile, and three cute reindeer. And, he just happens to be a photographer. Finally, Kendall sees a glimmer of hope. So what if he hates Christmas, kids, beards and missing Santas? Kendall can play Santa himself, if he just learns how to smile.

As Kendall thaws and gets into the role, Alfie has renewed hope that he’ll manage what he came all the way here to do. It all depends on Kendall believing him, and that suddenly becomes a mountain Kendall won’t even try to climb. But Alfie won’t give up. It’s not over yet. This is Christmas and there’s magic in the air!

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Christmas books? But it’s not even Halloween! I don’t care! Bring it on!

We start out with the quintessential Christmas grouch. He’s the manager of a garden center that does a big Christmas thing. Kendall is all about the bottom line. How much can the center make. He is fastidious and organized so when the Santa he booked nearly a year in advance cancels at the last minute, he isn’t quite sure what to do.

Then Alfie shows up. Claiming to be the photographer for Santa. And he brought reindeer. And sweet talks Kendall into being Santa. Which all of the employees can’t believe because he is super grouchy.

Obviously Alfie has ulterior motives, but they take a little bit to suss out. We don’t know right away where he came from or what he is doing. But he is trying to make Kendall happy. And the children who come to see Santa. And the employees of the garden center. All while taking care of his reindeer.

You can’t help but love Alfie. His happiness is infectious without being obnoxious. He genuinely loves Christmas and all that it entails. He doesn’t really understand why Kendall hates it and tries to be subtle about changing his mind.

Kendall can’t resist Alfie and the draw to him he feels. Even though Alfie has said numerous times that he will leave on Christmas Eve, they both finally succumb to the attraction.

Which isn’t part of the plan, but Alfie goes for it.

The story takes a delightful turn when we find out exactly what Alfie has been trying to achieve. Three meddling reindeer and an orphan add to the story and the magic.

It was almost like a switch was flipped with Kendall though. He thawed while playing Santa, but underneath he was still miserable. And then he wasn’t. He just had to believe.

This was different and lovely. I think I might have to reread it one night in a month or 2 when my tree is light and there are presents underneath.

4 pieces of eye candy

Filed Under: Book Review, New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Erin Tagged With: 4 stars, author, book, Book Reviews, lgbtq, m/m romance, mmromance, new release, release day review, review, romance

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We are two chicks who love books (m/m romance with an HEA) and enjoy our eye candy. http://twochickso

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨Did you see?✨THE LONG WAY FOUND by @cjchamberswrites is available NOW! Grab it in KU!#OneClickHere a.co/d/0aTMyuBM Why you need to #ONECLICK this book...🔥Second Chance🔥Small Town🔥Retired Military MMC🔥Steamy MM Romance🔥Return to Hometown 🔥First LovesTwo decades ago, Jack Garrison boarded a plane for West Point and left Luke Calder behind.Luke stopped waiting. Eventually.Now, as he approaches forty, Luke has built a life he loves in Calder Ridge, the Colorado mountain town he's always called home. The past is finally where it belongs.Then Jack comes back.#newbookalert #mmromance #cjchambers ​@theauthoragency ...

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

4 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨TEASER: THE ONE-NIGHT HEIST by @c.rochelle_author releasing August 28! #PreOrderHere : books2read.com/OneNightHeist#PreOrder for Bonus Art: c-rochelle.com/shop/deluxe-ebook-the-one-night-heistWhy you will love this book:🔥Standalone Art Heist Adventure🔥MM Romance🔥Monopoly Man + Con-man🔥Insta-Obsession (on both sides)🔥(Lovers-to-) Enemies-to-Lovers (one-sided)🔥A Con Gone Wrong,🔥Forced Proximity🔥Secret Relationship🔥Partners in Crime & Mutual Destruction🔥So. Much. TENSION.🔥Unhinged Humor & Scorching Spice🔥Betrayal and Redemption🔥“Stop running from me!”🔥Corporate Villain Takedown (EAT THE RICH!)For fans of Knives Out, The Thomas Crown Affair, White Collar, The Art Thief, and The Mastermind, with the humor of The Blonde Identity mixed in, this dark, contemporary MM rom-com asks, how much will you risk to get everything you’ve ever wanted?As the sole heir to his family’s estate, Giancarlo Luxford is focused on one thing: Auctioning off his late mother’s art collection to the highest bidder. A chance encounter with an ex-con has him setting his sights on a new goal, and nothing—not even the threat of mutual destruction—will stand in his way.Longtime grifter Rowen Quincy only cares about the game, but after one too many bad decisions, he finds himself in a tight spot, dreaming of escape. Billionaire Giancarlo Luxford seems like an easy mark, and a ticket out of his situation, but this one-time heist may end up becoming the longest con of all.✨INFLUENCERS: Sign up here: bit.ly/TONHSIGNUP#comingsoon #crochelle The Author Agency ...

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

4 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨TEASER: THESE SECRET YEARS by @authoraugustjones releasing August 28! #PreOrderNow mybook.to/TSYWhy you will love this book…🏈college football star x music prodigy🎼forbidden love/secret affair🏈high angst🎼opposites attract🏈grumpy/ sunshine🎼rich boy/poor boy🏈coming of age🎼who did this to you?🏈hurt/comfort🎼mm romanceFour years of keeping secrets, telling lies, and finding the love of a lifetimeSullivanThey say I have a gift because music is as easy as breathing for me. The true gift, however, is the first breath of freedom I’ve had in years—college, bought and paid for by the man who holds my future in his greedy, roaming hands. The first weekend away from him is everything I ever dreamed college would be—a chance to live my own life, form true friendships, and then there’s Knight Winters. The incoming quarterback at our new school who grew up in my hometown is a surprise to me in every way. He makes me question everything. My sexuality, my future, and every mistake I’ve ever made.KnightBecoming the starting quarterback at this school is all part of a plan set in motion since I was old enough to hold a football. As the son of a football giant, playing in the NFL has always been the dream. Here at the University of Southern Missouri, I’m on my way to making it come true. The only thing I have to give up is who I am. I’ve known I was gay for as long as I can remember, but it’s the secret I have to keep to have the life I’ve always wanted.Meeting Sullivan wasn’t part of the plan. From that first night, the attraction, the chemistry, the instant connection has been impossible to push aside and pretend none of it matters. He’s brilliant, he’s beautiful, and he has secrets, too, secrets that are on the verge of breaking him. My obsession ebbs and flows with the seasons here at school, but when we’re back in our hometown, I find myself with a choice I never thought I’d have to make: whether football can give me the life I want, or if it’s him.✨Influencers’ sign up here to promote this awesome release: bit.ly/TSYSIGNUP#augustjones #kindleunlimited #mmromance The Author Agency ...

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

4 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨It’s cover reveal day for CALLOUS SHOT by @authorbeccasteele releasing September 24th!#PreOrderNowmybook.to/callousshot Why you need to #ONECLICK this book…🖤M/M standalone🏒enemies to lovers🖤rival hockey teams🏒morally grey🖤college romance🏒hockey romance🖤crime boss son x lawyer's son🏒obsessed with each otherDaniel Hoyton has been a thorn in my side for as long as I can remember. We play for rival hockey teams. We attend rival universities. Our families are on opposite sides of the law. I hate him, with his irritatingly smug smile, his arrogance, and his inability to take anything seriously.I want to wipe that smile from his face with my fist.…Or my mouth.I can’t decide if I want to punch him or kiss him, and it’s beginning to be a problem. A problem with big consequences. Not only is he completely wrong for me, but his family and friends are under investigation…and my uncle is in charge of the operation. I know we’re going to crash and burn.But I can’t seem to stay away from the flames.✨INFLUENCERS: Sign up to review here: bit.ly/CALLOUSSHOTSIGNUP#coverreveal #beccasteele #hockeyromance #spicyromance The Author Agency ...

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

4 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨EXCERPT: FIT FOR A KING by @ellafrank1 & @brookeblaine1 releasing August 25th! #PreOrderHere geni.us/FitforaKing⁣“All night?” Noah bit out. “You were acting as Gabriel all night?”“Yes.”He stared at me in disbelief and then shook his head as he started to pace, muttering, “I knew it.” “Did you?”“No… Yes. I should’ve.” Noah gripped the back of his neck and spun back around to face me. “Why would you do that? Why?”“Because I can,” I said, taking a step toward him. “Because I needed one fucking night without the pressure of the crown on my shoulders. Because I needed a moment to just breathe. Gabriel offered, and I took it.” “And this is why you sent for Baxter instead of me. So you could deceive me too.” “It had nothing to do with you,” I said, and then stopped, because that was a lie. I shook my head. “I didn’t do this with the intention to hurt you. But I also didn’t want this.”“This?” “This…hope I can see flickering in your eyes.”Noah jerked back as though I’d struck him. “Sir?”“I’m trying to do what you want here, Bennett.”“What I want?”“For me to leave you alone, to forget you.” I spun away from him, unable to stand the contempt creeping into his face. “But there was no way I could go out there tonight and dance with someone else in the same place I’d held you the night before.”Silence fell. The truth of what we’d both been dancing around was finally out in the open.“Is that what you wanted?” I said, and slowly turned to face him. “To watch me smile at someone else? Laugh with someone else? Touch—”“No,” Noah finally said. “I hated it. Every second of it.”“It wasn’t me.”“No. But you let me think it was. And I don’t know what’s worse.” Noah swallowed and moved a step closer. “It’s easy for you to do and say what you want. I have to worry about every word out of my mouth. And tonight, you played with me. Like some puppet. Tell me, did I perform to your expectations, Your Majesty?”#ellafrank #brookeblaine #mmromance The Author Agency ...

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