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Book Review

Never Say Never by Felice Stevens: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

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One taste leaves them wanting more…

INGREDIENTS:

Francisco “Frisco” Martinelli. Hot and spicy. Beautiful on the outside, dark and damaged on the inside. Handle with extreme caution.

Salvatore “Torre” Rossi. Sweet with a kick of spice. Gentle at first, can become swiftly and irrevocably addictive to the heart.

A RECIPE FOR ROMANCE

One snobby food critic who doesn’t believe in love

One down-to-earth food blogger who does

Add a touch of suspicious brother

A heaping serving of best friend who’s been waiting for this to happen

Blend with secret identities, past hurts, and judgments.

Stir in equal portions of desperate longing, desire, fear, and snarky humor.

Set over open flame, step back, and wait for sparks to fly.

Serve as is for an explosive love story that will leave you with a full heart and a ridiculously happy smile at the end.

Title: Never Say Never

Series: Lost in New York

Author: Felice Stevens

Release: May 21, 2020

Genre: M/M Romance

Goodreads

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Fool For Love

The Promise

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Guess who has a new favorite book by Felice Stevens? This girl! I love a broken, snarky guy. Especially when we, the readers, see how soft he really is before his love interest does.

We met Frisco back in book 1 as the best friend to Presley. You don’t have to read book 1, Fool for Love, but I think it really gets you to really want to know his story. He is snarky, arrogant, a total playboy and totally damaged. And by his full name he is a famous restaurant critic. One that has drawn the ire of Torre- a local blogger who devotes his blog to “real” New Yorkers. Not the ones who drop a grand on dinner for two at the trendiest spot in Manhattan. But the guy who knows where to get the best tacos or pizza or pasta in the outer boroughs. So he has a deep dislike for Francisco Martinelli. And Francisco Martinelli doesn’t understand why Salvatore Grant has it in for him. Lucky they know each other as Frisco and Torre, huh?

Ms. Stevens can write New York. And I mean that. New York as a character. Because it isn’t just Manhattan. It is Brooklyn and Queens and middle class working people as well. She loves New York and it shows.

Watching Frisco begin to be a “normal” person and not just the stuck up food critic is a treat. Rediscovering his first love of cooking. And perhaps discovering something like love with Torre? He sure drags himself to Brooklyn often enough to raise eyebrows. His own.

Torre is a total family guy. He lives in the basement apartment below his mother still. He drops everything to help out his brother at the restaurant by picking up a server shift. He got burned before by a guy who wanted connections. But Frisco is just a guy, right? HA!

The entire book- until the REVEAL of who they each are- had me turning the pages and holding my breath. It was amazing that they didn’t figure it out sooner, but it also made complete sense.

Of course we get Presley and a few cameo appearances by Nate. Presley wants nothing more than his best friend to find love and let someone love him. So many things with Frisco broke my heart.

So good, it was just so good. We quickly learn to love a man who we should hate. But he owns that arrogance, so just go with it.

4 pieces of eye candy

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. Her characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy, and that includes love.

She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe yet can’t stop buying “just one more pair” of black pants. Felice is a happily addicted Bravo and Say Yes to the Dress addict and proud of it. And let’s not get started on House Hunters. Her dream day starts out with iced coffee and ends with Prosecco, because…why shouldn’t it? You can find her procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice’s Breakfast Club.

You can find all my books, grouped by series in proper reading order on my website located here:

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Ryder’s Guardian (Maiden Voyage, Book 1) by Ann Lister & TL Travis: Exclusive Excerpt and Release Day Review

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For Maiden Voyage guitarist, Ryder Hampton, life is great. He and his bandmates are embarking upon an epic European double headlining tour with their friends from Social Sinners with the band Embrace the Fear opening for them.

Since joining Maiden Voyage in his twenties, Ryder’s life has been a whirlwind of the cliched, “Sex, drugs and monumental doses of Rock ‘n Roll. And he’s loved every minute of it from the sold out shows to the revolving door of bed partners.

Max Hightower has always been a team player. Whether it was working with his team in the Marines or now with the private security company, Ventura Security. These days, his job was to have the backs of a band of musicians. One band member in particular he’d allowed to get too close and now emotions were involved.

Ryder Hampton had left his mark on Max’s closed-off heart and now Max’s job was in jeopardy. Falling for your principal wasn’t safe – nor smart. Neither was missing the mark on protecting him and now Max was guilty of both. The security detail he’d begged his boss for had turned out to be the one that could ruin him and shatter his heart too. Max couldn’t allow either option to happen.

Maiden Voyage series must be read in order as each book starts where the last one ended but is from another band members point of view:

1 – Ryder’s Guardian
2 – Derek’s Destiny
3 – Jaxson’s Nemesis
4 – Shadow’s Light

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Max

I didn’t dare glance around the plane to see who really was sleeping or who could even be hearing our conversation. The risk I was taking by just allowing his hand to be on my neck was huge, but I couldn’t help but fall. When I felt the gentle tug of his hand, I willingly fell into him. My head rolled on the back of the seat and Ryder drew himself in closer to me. Our foreheads touched first and he closed his eyes. A soft hum came from his lips right before his face slanted and our lips brushed. I arched into the contact and Ryder’s other hand latched onto my neck. His grip was firm around my throat, and as his mouth opened to take mine, I felt a rush of his warm breath bathe my face.

I let him lead this dance. I parted my lips and waited for the first subtle flick of his tongue as it reached for mine and then stroked down the side. The touch went straight to my balls and my body exploded into flames. I couldn’t keep my hands to myself another second. I quickly buried my fingers into his gorgeous hair and skimmed them across his scalp. His breath hitched when I fisted his hair around my fingers and tugged.

Ryder bit my bottom lip then and pulled it away from my teeth and I wanted to lay him out flat on his back to climb on top, but now wasn’t the time. This was just a kiss – the real kiss Ryder wanted me to experience, and nothing more. We ate at each other’s mouths for long minutes until Ryder finally pulled away panting for breath.

“That was nothing like the kiss you gave me in Memphis,” I admitted.

“Maybe you’ll remember it this time,” Ryder said and relaxed into his seat by the window.

I was a big fan of Ann Lister’s series The Rock Gods. Then it moved into Guarding the Gods and I lost interest.

This being a new series- with a co-author- I figured I was all in. I wanted to be all in. But, really, it was kind of boring.

Firstly, I just didn’t feel the chemistry between Ryder and Max. It was also mentioned at the end of chapter 1 that they had a quick and dirty one off “after a show in Memphis” but it is never mentioned again. Or it is a timeline issue. Whichever, it messed me up. I kept waiting for one of them to say something to the other about it.

And yes, technically this a new series, but there are obviously things from previous books that come up.

So much of the book is should I or shouldn’t I? I want to but I can’t. Max not wanting to lose his job as a body guard, Ryder taunting him. Then Max’s job is seriously on the line, but they continue on the down low. Really? On the down low with 3 different band members and all of their bodyguards? But don’t worry, soon enough it is all blown off. Everyone knows and there are no repercussions.

Finally, the stalker situation. Which isn’t even a situation until BAM! it is. No lead up, no suspense, nothing.

But wait! There’s more! I won’t spoiler it, but there is some eye rolling for me.

Sorry, not sorry, this is a hard pass for me. Time for a new trope.

2.5 pieces of eye candy

About Ann:

Ann Lister is a native New Englander currently living in Florida with her husband. She has pulled details from her years living in the New England area and uses many local settings and landmarks in her novels.

After graduating art school, marrying, and raising two daughters, she established her own video production company. Her nearly two decades working in video production included work within the music industry and won her a coveted Telly Award. Her ‘behind-the-scenes’ exposure to the music world and her love of rock music is the inspiration for her erotic rock star romances.

Her rock star romance, “Fall For Me”, Book One in The Rock Gods series, was a Finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Award and Book Three, Make You Mine, established her as an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. Her stories focus on what it truly means to love; love unconditionally, love without restrictions or labels, love without fear or judgment – to just simply love.

Connect with Ann:
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About TL:

TL Travis is the published author of a plethora of LGBTQ+ Erotica and Erotic Romance musings that have earned her a “Best Selling Author” status in the US as well as Internationally. In her spare time, when she’s not weaving erotic webs, she enjoys fishing, wine tasting and people watching. Everyone has a story to tell, what would yours be? She’s rescued 4-legged souls in need for as long as she can remember, and would like to remind you to “Adopt, not shop.” Saving that lost soul may very well save yours too.

Connect with TL:

Email: tltravis@tltravis.com
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Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye: Release Day Review

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 What If It’s Us meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this upbeat and heartfelt boy-meets-boy romance that feels like a modern twist on a ’90s rom-com!

Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new–the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he’s never really dated before.

Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.

Kai Sheridan didn’t expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there’s more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he’s awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this “relationship” will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?

Kevin van Whye delivers an uplifting and poignant coming-out love story that will have readers rooting for these two teens to share their hearts with the world–and with each other.

Amazon

Wow. I’ll start with this…I don’t normally read YA…like ever. But something about this book, when I saw it on NG told me that I needed to read it. I actually put it off, only reading it this past weekend, even though I’ve had the ARC for months. Then I devoured it in about 2 days, which with my book reading rate lately is like warp speed.

This is such a great book for #ownvoices. This book was definitely told from the point of view of someone who has lived much of this, as well as someone who spends a lot of time overthinking things, much as Kai does in this book.

I really loved this book, not just for the romance, although that was super sweet. However, the characters were rich, and still were just kids. The story spanned the easy stuff, hanging out at the local diner to learn more about each other, to the very real aspect of being outed when you aren’t ready, and the consequences that go along with that. It spoke the truth about how people will do and say things that are with their own benefit in mind, and not for the greater good.

In the end, though, it was about love. Not just love for someone else, but learning to love yourself, and who you were born to be. And the love of a family, complicated and messy as it always is. There isn’t one right way to love, and we all make mistakes even when we love someone, mistakes that hurt.

But love is love, and was proven in this book, by many of the characters. Fantastic side characters by the way! I would definitely like to see where this author takes his writing.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

His Accidental Daddy by Luna David: New Release Review

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With the deck stacked against him from birth, Asher Simmons lives a quiet, simple life. He talks to plants more than he does humans and prefers it that way. Though he’s always felt like something is missing, understanding what that is and how to get it feels like an insurmountable task.

Making a living out of helping others achieve their professional dreams serves to help Thornton Hayes realize his own. He’s also a Daddy, through and through, and Thornton’s one dream of finding a boy who needs a man to take care of his every need is one he’s had no luck of fulfilling.

When a terrible accident brings the two men together, neither of them expect their intense connection. Has Daddy found a little he can pamper, protect, and provide for, or will Asher deny every instinct he has to regress?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Thorton and Asher… very sweet couple.
When we first meet Asher, my heart kind of broke for him. I think because I saw so much of myself in him, what with his anxiety disorder and constant fear of…well, just about everything. Traumatized by his childhood and his negligent parents, I could understand why he had the obstacles that he did. Getting into a car accident when he was so terrified to drive was the last thing he needed, right? Maybe not…

Thorton is a very sweet Daddy, though I wasn’t so sure of him in the beginning. He had another boy, though only casually and you don’t see any time between them on page, other than a quick conversation, but I dunno… he struck me the wrong way in the very beginning. I loved him though, he was so good to Asher, having been the one to accidentally run into his car after running a red light through a downpour, it was evident from the very moment he saw asher, the kind of person he was. The kind of Daddy.

Though used to being on his own, Asher hesitated when Thorton wanted to do whatever he could to take care of him, he didn’t put up a fight for too long. Trusting the man after he’d spent three days in the hospital at his bedside, he really didn’t have any other option anyway. He needed the help and Thorton was so sweetly offering. He just didn’t know quite yet what all it entailed.

Now, I loved seeing Asher come into his own. I loved seeing him testing out life as a little and I loved the way he let his guards down and could be himself with Thorton. I could understand his hesitance, letting Thorton do everything for him and take care of him a way that they both needed, but it was foreign to Asher, as he’d never had anyone take care of him like that before…. Not even his parents. Watching them together was sweet, and I loved all the side characters. I was so happy to see the Trenton and Mandi angle, and of course, cute little Gigi, I wouldn’t mind reading about that little family some more.

The only part I had a small problem with, and it’s just my own little hangup I guess, was at the end when Thorton and Asher together, they go from Daddys good boy, to Asher being a dirty slut, and like I said, I’m all for kink, I’m all for all of it, honestly, but it felt so out of place with how their relationship was, it confused me and turned me off of it a little. But, it’s probably just me being too extra about it.

Overall, I just loved the pair and I thought they were super sweet together. Zero angst, kinda fluffy and all the sweetness you need. Also, a very sweet ending, I wouldn’t mind reading more of these two either.

4 pieces of eye candy

Luna David is a true romantic at heart who was fortunate enough to find and marry her soul mate. Most of the time she considers herself lucky to have been blessed with having g/b twins, but they’re giving her a run for her money. She’s a stay at home mom and an author, so when she’s not begging her little monsters to behave, you’ll most likely find her writing.

She loves anything book, coffee or dark chocolate related and can’t think of a better way to pass the time than to combine all three. She reads romance novels voraciously and while she prefers contemporary romance with strong Alpha males finding their soul mates, she’s a sucker for any well written, romantic story regardless of genre.

She created the Custos Securities Series because she loves to write what she loves to read. Her books feature strong dominant males and the men they would die protecting. Toss in some BDSM and kink and you’ve got her Catharsis Novel Series, The Boys Club Series, and Kink Chronicles Series. She loves nothing more than making her readers feel a wide range of emotions with her words. And she hopes you enjoy reading her books as much as she loved writing them. Happy Reading!

Connect with Luna:
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Long Shadow (Hamarsson and Dempsey Book 2) by Elle Keaton: New Release Review

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Niall’s never known anything but betrayal. All Mat wants is Niall’s heart. What will it take for him to coax Niall in from the cold?

Mat’s connection with Niall is tenuous; one step forward, two steps back. Since that night on the beach Niall’s been avoiding Mat like a bad case of the flu–which, ironically, most of his deputies have come down with. What will it take for Niall to truly believe Mat wants him for who he is?

Mat’s overworked, Niall’s unnerved, and then things really go sideways.

Will a killer destroy everything before Niall realizes they are stronger together than apart?

Long Shadow is a dual POV about a broody introvert and a somewhat patient Sheriff. Mat’s going to have to prove to Niall he’s the man for him. The Hamarsson and Dempsey series follows the same couple as they find their way to their happily ever after.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Okay, this one took me a little bit to get into because I needed a refresher on book one and I honestly didn’t feel like I could handle the back and forth. I understand the one step forward, two steps back, especially after you get to know Niall, but it did take me a minute to get into because Matt was so endlessly patient and Niall was just prickly. I had forgotten that from last book so I had to go back and do a reread. Reading them together, I kind of fell in love with both of them.

They’re complete opposites in every way, the only thing they seem to have in common is law enforcement. Matt has a wonderful family and will do anything for his and Niall is very anti-family with none left. While Nial’s trying to work out what to do with his life now that he’s retired and tie up a few loose ends, he can’t keep his mind off of Matt. But seeing if he’s got what it takes to make something work with him is put on hold when an arsonist is busy at work on the island and most of Matt’s precinct is sick with the flu. It keeps him busy and distracted enough to give Nial the space he’s trying to give him as to not push him for anything he may not be able to give. With the history between them, he isn’t sure.

So the romance part takes a sideline to the mystery, but it’s always there, kinda smoldering in the background. While the guys’ are trying to find the source of all the chaos on the island, Niall opens himself up little bit by little bit, unable to keep Matt and his family at a distance because they’re all so open and accepting of him, even in his prickliness. I kinda loved them all.

With a lot of real-life situations, especially when you’re confused like Niall was, the thought of losing what you’re unsure about has a way of making up your mind. Once Niall thought he lost Mike, he realized how much he cared about him and how silly his doubts seemed. And that epilogue… I swooned!

I dunno what could possibly happen in book three but I’m bummed we have to wait until next year to see. I’m invested. I’d definitely recommend reading book one before jumping into this one, but if you like a broody hot cop and a sensitive family-oriented hot cop with some murder and mystery thrown in for good measure… you’ll love this one.

4 pieces of eye candy

The Deeper You Go (Heartbelt Records Book 1) by Logan Grey: Exclusive Excerpt, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Travis Cherry’s record label disowned him in almost every way, shape, and form when he was outed in the media.
The thing that sucked?

He still owed them an entire album. But that didn’t meant he’d make it easy on them.
They were the reason he was there, in that nightclub—the gay nightclub— shaking his ass and making a complete fool of himself.
They were also the reason he met Bailey.
And this is their story.​

Amazon

Goodreads

It seemed so fucking real, Travis groaned and shifted closer, placing one palm against the side of his head to hold him still. But then it all flipped, and Travis was staring up at Bay, and he was the one being held in place as Bay lowered his head. Travis tipped his head up and parted his lips as they kissed, their mouths slotting together in a messy, eager pairing.

Greedy for whatever happened, Travis palmed his shoulders, all his smooth, hard muscle moving like waves beneath his warm skin. Trailing his hands down his sides, Travis gripped his waist and ground up into him at the same time he ground down. Sweet friction. Their matching groans were lost in the kiss, and Travis opened his mouth more, making room to deepen the kiss. Their tongues twined, and as they gasped for air between kisses, Travis trailed his hand around to the front of Bay’s jeans to unbutton them. He teased his fingers just inside the waistband, his heart pounding as he prepared himself for whatever came next. Whatever it was, he wanted it. He wanted Bay.

Bay lifted his head and stared down at him, and they shared a glance that said a thousand words without either of them parting their lips for anything other than a breath.

Travis gripped the waistband of his jeans and shimmied them down his hips. Bay’s skin was hot to the touch as he slowly skimmed his fingers along his abs, and then lower, until he could wrap his fingers tight around his hard—

Travis jerked awake, blinking into the darkness of his room, papers rustling under him as he sat up.

“God dammit,” he cursed. Dream.

If only he could go right back to sleep and pick up where that damned dream had left off.

With a sigh, he collapsed back into the pillows and laid his arm over his face. His cock throbbed beneath his sweats, and he shuffled to adjust himself. Running a palm over his face, he grunted in annoyance.

Well, shit. Travis guessed he’d finally found his muse.

A new to me author. But I am a sucker for rock stars. I don’t know why. Maybe it goes back to my crush on John Taylor from Duran Duran. Or Jon Bon Jovi. Whatever it is, rock stars are yummy.

We start off with the cliche paparazzi pics outing the main character Travis. But since he is in contract for another album, he does everything he can to get the label to fire him. Effective. But this whole beginning part was kind of meh for me. I plodded on.

So the record label fires him, he fires his agent, he only has one real friend (who also isn’t in the business), so he plans to hide out in a small town near where he played one of his favorite shows.

Off to Pennsylvania he goes! Kind of funny because I don’t recall the book saying Pennsylvania until toward the end. Before that, the area is made out to be the frozen tundra of Montana or something. It’s referred to as “up here” and “up north” and apparently snow lasts until April or May. Ok then.

His alone time is thwarted a bit by the owner of the B&B who is playing matchmaker with her son. The son who had a serious crush on Travis when he was 16. Now he is 21 and basically living in the same house.

There’s a decent story there with Travis helping Bailey out with the music class he runs at an LGBT+ center. They obviously grow closer as two young gay men in close proximity are wont to do.

Bailey had a bit of martyr syndrome with insisting he stay in the small town to help his mother run the B&B instead of pursuing the music career he longs for. But he isn’t a jerk about it. He just kind of accepts it as his lot in life.

There is a small sub plot of an ex coming back, but that was pretty much a mess and did nothing except exposing where Travis was holed up. He pops up again at the end of the story (fodder for another book?) but again, it was pretty sloppy.

The book ends with a cliff hanger, so if that isn’t your cup of tea, you’ve been warned. If the second book lands in my lap, I will read it. But I don;t know that I will seek it out.

3 pieces of eye candy

Logan resides in Tennessee, convinced her southern twang is part of her charm. With two cats and a dog, her hands are full, and not just of treats like her pets would like to believe. As a full time author, she dedicates all of her time bringing to life different characters and developing new worlds for her readers to lose themselves in. And more often than not, she loses herself in them, which is her favorite place to be: with a cat in her lap, a snack in hand, and voices in her head.

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