Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

New Release Review

Kept in the Dark (Locke and Keyes Agency Book 1) by Charlie Cochet: New Release Review *2

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Former Army Ranger turned government assassin Álvaro Montero and CIA Officer Caiden Cardosa crossed paths two years ago in Vienna, where their encounter ended less than amicably—despite the explosive sexual chemistry between them.

Now Caiden is riding a desk at Langley after his cover is blown. And Álvaro—who was “killed”—has a new identity and purpose as Delta/D, an operative for the Locke and Keyes Agency, under the leadership of the mysterious Alpha Orion.

When D and Caiden team up in a deadly black ops mission, the urge to kill each other will have to take a back seat to the desire for revenge against the man who betrayed them both. Surviving the mission won’t be easy. Resisting the passion between them—that might be impossible.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

A new series by Charlie Cochet? Sign me up!

I unabashedly love her THIRDS series. I am pretty excited for the spin off of that. And I enjoyed her Four Kings Security series, but one of the main characters was just too similar to the main character in THIRDS. Did I still totally devour the books? Yep. Because above all, they are fun, super entertaining reads.

So now we have this series. The Locke and Keyes Agency looks innocuous on the outside, but really it is a cover for hired assassins. But they only go after the bad guys- and they don’t always kill them.

This first book starts with D (short for Delta) who is presumed dead after being shot, and Caiden, a CIA spy who’s cover was blown. Alpha- the person in charge- wants both of them to work together to get a flash drive that has incriminating evidence on it. Including who shot D and who blew Caiden’s cover.

BUT…these guys know each other. They had one super hot night a few years ago, but then D ghosted Caiden before morning. Caiden is still mad about it, but D still wants him.

So they are trying to work together while also trying to fight their attraction. HA! Like that will happen.

So while this book was classic Charlie Cochet- funny, sarcastic, totally action packed, sexy, with two big alpha dudes, the characters definitely didn’t remind me of anyone else. They were unique to her- which made me happy.

Because the book is based in Florida there are jokes about gators- of course. Which is just funny. I mean my aunts moved to Florida (in fact, they moved to where the Four Kings is set) and I joke with them all of the time about gators.

By the end of the book we meet the rest of Alpha’s team of guys AND see them recruit someone else. And I want all of their stories! They were a crack up.

So bring it on Alpha! I want more Locke and Keyes and more guys!

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Another great start to a new series by the very talented Charlie Cochet, and with the group of guys behind our two MC’s, it looks like this could be a series that takes many wild turns.

D and Caiden were quite the pair, rarely agreeing, but always having each others’ backs. (I’ll admit the back and forth on D’s name was difficult for me to keep track of…didn’t happen a lot, but enough to throw me a time or two.) There was some good humor in this book (not on the level of THIRDS, but that was ok!) which helped break up some of the challenges that these two were facing with trying to find D’s “killer” and Caiden’s bad guy…which by the way…totally took me by surprise!

The final big scene was intricate, and really well mapped out. I feel like sometimes Charlie sits down with little toy soldiers and moves them around to see if it will work. 🙂 Which it always does!

Can’t wait to see more of this series!

4 pieces of eye candy

In Safe Keeping by Victoria Sue: Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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He can’t save everyone…

Firefighter Lucas Attiker is mired in guilt by his inability to save his young son, who perished in a fire three years ago. When he rescues a troubled young man and his baby daughter from a Colorado forest fire, Lucas finally begins to forgive himself. But the wildfire is only the beginning of the dangers facing them.

Hell-bent on saving his daughter from his crime boss ex, Owen Michaels is on the run with the baby in tow—fleeing both the killers who are after him and the US Marshals Service deputies assigned to protect him. When his desperate flight lands them in the midst of an inferno, the man who saves them offers hope for more than just survival.

They might have escaped a blazing forest and a hail of bullets, but both men will need to risk their lives—and their hearts—to give a little girl a loving family… if they can make it out alive.

Title: In Safe Keeping
Series: Heroes and Babies: Book Two
Author: Victoria Sue
Release Date: September 3, 2019
Category: Romantic Suspsense
Pages: 199

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Owen closed his eyes. Sometimes the fight was too hard. He felt a touch on his leg and opened his eyes to see Mia grabbing his sweatpants. Smiling. He smiled back. Or maybe, sometimes to protect those you loved, the fight wasn’t hard enough.

“I don’t know who to trust,” he admitted. “We were in an apartment—some kind of safe house they used—and Terry got a call. I didn’t even get a chance to ask who was on the line because I’ve never seen people move so fast in all my life. Terry grabbed the diaper bag, Barry lifted Mia from the small cot we had and handed her to me, and what seemed like only two minutes later, we were running from the building.” And being fired upon. He swallowed. “I’ve never been so scared in all my life. Barry got hit as we came out—”

“You were shot at?” Lucas interrupted, sounding shocked.

“Yes. There was more than one shooter. Terry bundled me between two cars. It was dark, around midnight, and pretty deserted.”

“Where were you?”

“Just north of Old Town in Fort Collins, but it was a Tuesday and really quiet.” Not like the weekends, which were kind of wild. “Mia woke up at the sound of gunfire. She started crying, so it was obvious where we were. There were footsteps, and Terry just stood up and started firing. He shouted for me to run. His truck was only a few feet away, but he was shot.” It hadn’t been the first time Owen had seen someone killed by a bullet, but he hoped to God it was the last.

Something told him that was unlikely.

“Terry must have shot them. I don’t know if they were killed, but they didn’t come after me.”

“Why are people shooting at you?”

And there it was—the question he had been expecting since yesterday and still didn’t know how to answer. “Are you sure you really want to know?”

Lucas didn’t reply, but then he didn’t have to. His confidence, some deep assurance on a different level screamed the answer to Owen. Trust me.

He glanced down at Mia, not only for the little bolt of courage he needed, but to remind himself of why he was here and why he would fight to his last breath to keep her safe. “Because I saw my ex-boyfriend kill her mother.” Lucas’s eyes widened a little, but he still kept silent. Waiting. Owen half smiled. “That’s a good interrogation technique you’ve got going on there.”

“Patience?” Lucas’s lips tilted upward at the corner, and from out of nowhere, Owen suddenly had the desperate urge to press his lips to that spot. Shocked, he jerked back a little.

“Did you know her?”

Owen refocused himself, pushing the inexplicable urge away. “She was my friend.” And he was the reason she was dead.

Lucas waited again, but Owen knew he had to answer. He would see the disappointment on Lucas’s face. Maybe even judgment. Disgust was a given, but he might as well get it over with. He shouldn’t forget that Lucas had saved his life yesterday, and even though Owen had sometimes been in that strange halfway place between fighting for your life and being ready to give up, he was the only thing keeping Mia from Damien. And if there was one thing he absolutely had to do for his best friend, it was to keep her daughter safe. Especially since he had failed so spectacularly at being a friend.

“I met Mary two days after I left home. A couple of guys followed me after I had used the cash machine.” He had been so clueless. “One pinned me, and the other took my cash and card. He wanted the PIN number, and I thought I’d be hard-core and refuse. Turned out they had a knife.” And really shaky hands. He would never forget the press of metal against his throat and the sheer terror he’d felt as it slid across his skin. “I thought they were gonna kill me, even after I told them, but Mary walked into the alley and called them by name. Told them to stop fucking with me.” And they laughed. He had thought he was going to die, and they had thought it was funny. “They took all the money I had left, but Mary stayed.” She’d even gotten him some water after he had puked his guts up. “That was four years ago.”

He glanced out the window, praying Lucas wasn’t going to want it all. He wasn’t ready for that.

“How did you get a car?”

Owen shot Lucas a grateful glance. Lucas could easily push, and Owen was in no position to say no, but as he focused on the deep understanding in Lucas’s gaze, he knew Lucas was giving him a breather. “I stole it.” He watched Lucas carefully, but again, there was no reaction. “I wish I’d gotten a better one, but it wasn’t even locked, and old cars are easier to hot-wire.”

Lucas’s eyes crinkled with sudden humor, and he laughed quietly. “I’m not surprised, if it was that blue Ford Taurus from the cabins. I think rust was holding it together.”

Owen stared. Lucas didn’t seem to be judging him. He’d done a lot of things over the years he wasn’t proud of.

“How long have you got to wait to give evidence?”

“I was supposed to give evidence to the grand jury three weeks ago so they could indict Damien, before we had to run. Now I’m not sure what will happen.” He didn’t know how he was going to last that long on his own. “I just want to disappear.”

“Not easy with a baby,” Lucas said doubtfully.

“I know.” Owen knew he was right. “But I don’t know who to trust.”

“Have you met Deputies DuPree and O’Connor? They’re the two who came to see me in the ER.”

“I like DuPree. She said her niece was called Mia.” He wasn’t sure about O’Connor, though. “I saw her with Terry a couple of times, once just after we left their offices the first time. I have absolutely no idea if I can trust either of them.”

“They can’t all be dirty. Jacko—remember him from the fire? African American? Big guy?”

Owen couldn’t help a short laugh. “You’re all big guys.”

“Well, Jacko comes from a family of cops. His dad and two brothers are on the force, and his uncle is a vice detective.” Lucas grinned. “It took months before his old man forgave him for becoming a firefighter. Anyway, we could ask Jacko to ask his uncle to check into the situation.”

That might work. It was just such a huge risk.

“You can’t run forever.” Lucas pointed to Mia, where she was chewing her fist. “Not with her, anyway.”

No. “So what? You’ll talk to Jacko?”

“How about this? You stay here with me while I sound things out. I don’t even have to mention your name—”

“No? How many witnesses running for their lives do you usually keep around—” Owen clamped his lips closed. He was joking, but his throat had suddenly gotten really tight.

Lucas’s face softened. He’d seen. Owen had a feeling Lucas didn’t miss much. “Why don’t you both plan to stay—at least for today. I don’t think you’re going to be any worse off, and you both need a rest.”

Owen nearly laughed. He possibly would have, if he hadn’t been keeping his lips clamped shut. A rest? When was the last time he’d had that? “I need some things for Mia.”

Lucas stood up. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge for her and make me a list.”

A loving home.

A father who knows what he’s doing.

But they’d start with diapers and milk.

Wow, what a ride!

Lucas is part of the wildfire first responders for the fire department. During a dangerous wildfire, he and his team are sent to check the area and make sure the park and cabins are cleared out of anyone who might be there and in the path of the fire. As I’ve realized over the last several years, and again with this story… the saying, “spread like wildfire” is faster and more dangerous than you realize.
When the team gives the all clear, Lucas chances a glance behind him and sees someone in a car, trying and failing to get it to start. He jumps into action, and that’s where he meets Owen and baby Mia.

Owen is on the run from a very powerful mob boss kind of guy with more power and more reach than any of them know what to do with. Inprisoned by Damien for far too long, he risks his life by running with the baby that was his best friends, who he saw murdered at the hand of the Damien, who happened to be his ex. The things that man put him through will turn your stomach. It was hard to read, at least for me, because I know that these things happen in real life and the police and judges and people of power who are in on it too, make it impossible to tell anyone or escape. So, he run… runs with the baby he considers his daughter, and luckily finds Lucas who isn’t willing to let them go without a fight.

Struggling to deal with his own demons from a life that got taken from him, he feels strongly for Owen and baby Mia. They kind of come in and bring him back to life, when he’d just been going from one day to the next, wallowing in guilt, shame and memories, both painful and beautiful.

Unfortunately, the guys don’t know who they can trust and are surprised a couple of times at who Damien has under his thumb, even someone close to Lucas…. That kind of sprung up out of nowhere, because it was either a small town or Damien’s reach was so long that he just had people sprinkled along everywhere. It seemed a little too convenient, but, whatever. I’d hoped we’d gotten closure from the man’s wife or at least an explanation, so that Lucas didn’t have to live with anymore guilt than he already had.

Being on the run together, trying to keep one another and the baby safe, and having to put all your trust into another person when it was proven that you literally couldn’t trust anyone… had brought these two together and thought was both insta-lovey and slow burny for me… I enjoyed them together. I loved Lucas and the way he was with both Owen and the baby, and I loved how Owen was with both Lucas and the baby… They made a cute little family that would do anything to protect one another and they proved it time and time again throughout this action packed story.

Fortunately, the bad guy doesn’t get away with being the bad guy and everything gets worked out. I won’t tell you how or what happens or why, but it’s a crazy ride and if you like suspenseful reads and don’t mind pricy ebooks, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

4 pieces of eye candy

Victoria Sue fell in love with love stories as a child when she would hide away with her mom’s library books and dream of the dashing hero coming to rescue her from math homework. She never mastered math but never stopped loving her heroes and decided to give them the happy ever afters they fight so hard for.
She loves reading and writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—and creating a family for them to adore. Thrilled to hear from her readers, she can be found most days lurking on Facebook where she doesn’t need factor 1000 sun-cream to hide her freckles.

www.victoriasue.com

@vickysuewrites

https://www.facebook.com/victoriasueauthor

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1182647028418709/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/VictoriaSueNewsletter

Leave a comment for Sue about her new book, and you could win a ebook copy of any of her backlist books.

Heel (Working Out the Kinks Series, Book 2) by K.M. Neuhold: Blog Tour, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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“I’ve never thought of calling a man Daddy before, but I can’t think of a word that fits Vale better. He’s my Daddy, and I’m his pup.”

Broken and bruised, there’s nothing I won’t do to protect Adrian. I picked him up and made him whole before, and I’ll do it again. Adrian is a sweet pup with a smile full of sunshine and a heart made for love. A sweet pup needs a gentle hand, and that’s exactly what I intend to give him.

There’s nothing quite like slipping an expensive pair of high heels onto Adrian’s feet and watching him light up. If he wants a fairytale, I’ll happily be his Prince Charming.

*** Heel is the second book in the Working Out the Kinks series but can be read as a stand-alone. This book contains a scene of domestic violence. This book also contains an adorable man who loves to be a puppy, fabulous high heels, and the happily ever after Adrian deserves.

Heel

Working Out the Kinks Series, Book 2

K.M. Neuhold

M/M Romance/Daddy/puppy play

Release Date: 08.02.19

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“Be still, Sunshine,” Vale says commandingly, giving my body no choice but to obey, going limp in his arms. “You’re the most tempting, insanity inducing man I’ve ever met,” he accuses affectionately, my mind short circuiting when his lips brush against the base of my neck.

“Please,” I whimper again.

“Shh,” he soothes. “I want you to listen, because this is what we’re going to do.”

The calm domination in his tone settles the place deep inside me that craves direction and structure, to be taken care of by someone who knows better than I do.

“Yes,” I say breathlessly.

“Good boy. Now, first you’re going to give me your fingers to lick clean because I don’t think I can go another minute without a taste.” I groan in agreement, and he brushes another kiss against the back of my neck. “Then, we’re going to get out of bed, and I’m going to make breakfast. We’re going to talk about that kiss and where we go from here.”

Part of me wants to argue that talking is overrated, that I’d much rather have him bury himself inside me, and we can figure things out sweaty and screaming instead of talking over coffee. But the other part of me, the part that went all mushy and calm at the use of his Dom voice, is ready to give Vale anything he asks for if he’ll just tell me I’m his.

“Yes,” I answer, and he groans his approval, his cock jerking against my ass, clearly excited by my easy submission. I’ll say yes to anything to hear him make that sound again.

With great effort, I manage to let go of my cock. Vale’s grasp is still around my wrist, guiding my hand, making sure to slick my fingers with more precum before pulling it out of my underwear and to his mouth. I moan as his hot lips engulf my fingers, sucking them in and holding them in place as his tongue flicks over the tips, seeking out every drop of my arousal.

He grunts as he sucks my fingers clean, my eyes rolling back in my head as I imagine exactly how the same treatment would feel farther south.

“God, you taste even better than I imagined,” he praises in a raspy voice when he finally releases my fingers.

“You imagined what I’d taste like?”

“You have no idea, Sunshine.”

K, so I’m kinda new to this whole puppy play business… I’m not so much a fan of the BDSM, so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I discovered puppy/kitty play. I’ll also say that I’m coming into this book without having read the first one, but I’m a sucker for a hot daddy, so, I jumped in! I was a smidge confused at first who the people were, but I got the gist pretty quick and it didn’t take away from the story at all for me.

In this one, we have Adrien, who’s been in love with much older Vale since he was eighteen and Vale took him off the streets and helped him get his feet back on the ground so he wasn’t living out of an old car at the junkyard (how fitting, a homeless pup, right?) Unfortunately, Vale didn’t think he was what Adrien needed, not only much older than him, but he’d never had a pup of his own before, content to just teach folks at the club how to get their pups comfortable and how to interact with a dom and his pup.

Now, I’m not one to judge… to each his own. If it’s not hurting anyone (unless you like that sorta thing, heh), then do you, boo boo. It’s just not something I understand. If I saw someone barking and jumping around like a puppy, I wouldn’t know what to do… but I love the aspect that people like Adrien and people who find comfort in those types of power exchanges, enjoys having the structure and routine and someone to care for them and love them and put their needs above their own. And that’s what Vale did… people think that Dom’s have all the power, when it’s the other way around… Dom’s (good ones anyway) want to take care of their subs…. They want to love them and make them feel good and protect them, and that’s all Vale wanted for Adrien… it was sweet and I loved them together.

The ex annoyed me, just because he was so clichédly (is that a word) mean… He tore Adrien down and made him feel terrible and expendable; he cheated and there at the end was physically abusive as well as emotionally and verbally abusive. I was glad that he had such great friends to have his back, but ughhh I can’t stand when bad guys just get away with being bad guys! I needed karmic justice… a kick to the pieces wasn’t nearly satisfying enough for me LOL, petty? Absolutely….

Overall, the cuteness of this story kept me going. Even if you don’t enjoy, or don’t quite “get” the puppy play like I do yet, I think you’d still enjoy this story. Very sweet.

4 pieces of eye candy

Author K.M.Neuhold is a complete romance junkie, a total sap in every way. She started her journey as an author in new adult, MF romance, but after a chance reading of an MM book she was completely hooked on everything about lovely- and sometimes damaged- men finding their Happily Ever After together. She has a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well. And she fully admits that her OCD tendencies of making sure every side character has a full backstory will likely always lead to every book having a spin-off or series. When she’s not writing she’s a lion tamer, an astronaut, and a superhero…just kidding, she’s likely watching Netflix and snuggling with her husky while her amazing husband brings her coffee.

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The Doctor’s Orders by Heidi Cullinan: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt, and Release Day Review

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TCO is happy to have Heidi Cullinan back, in celebration of The Doctor’s Orders, Copper Point Medical, Book Three. She has a very relevant, and slightly revealing, guest post, all about local social media…love the point where she calls someone close to her a gossip. lol Anyway, check it all out then pick up The Doctor’s Orders!

Once upon a time Nicolas Beckert was the boy who stole kisses from Jared Kumpel beneath the bleachers, but now Jared’s a pediatrician and Nick is the hospital CEO who won’t glance his way. Everything changes, however, when they’re stranded alone in a hospital elevator. Ten years of cold shoulders melt away in five hours of close contact, and old passions rekindle into hot flames.

Once out of the elevator, Jared has no intention of letting Nick get away. It’s clear he’s desperate for someone to give him space to let go of the reins, and Jared is happy to oblige. But Jared wants Nick as a lover in a full, open relationship, which is a step further than Nick is willing to go. They’ve traded kisses under the bleachers for liaisons in the boardroom… and it looks like the same arguments that drove them apart in high school might do the same thing now.

Jared’s determined not to let that happen this time around. He won’t order Nick from his shell—he’ll *listen* to what his friend says he needs to feel safe. Maybe this time he can prescribe his lover a happy ever after.

Title: The Doctor’s Orders
Series: Copper Point Medical: Book Three
Author: Heidi Cullinan
Release Date: August 20, 2019
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 250

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hi, and thanks for having me here today. I’m going to share a little information about my latest release, The Doctor’s Orders, available August 20 from Dreamspinner Press and wherever books are sold.

The Doctor’s Orders is book three in the Copper Point: Medical series, the final book in that trilogy. In this installment, we get to know Jared, an openly gay pediatrician, and Nick, the very closeted CEO of the hospital. Though Nick and Jared secretly dated in high school, it was clear nothing was ever going to happen between them again…until Jared and Nick are trapped in an elevator together, where sparks fly.

Today I’m going to talk a little bit about small town gossip, which has been a feature in all the Copper Point: Medical stories, but is especially prominent in The Doctor’s Orders.

Mentioned several times in the story, and in the series, is a fictitious Facebook group called Copper Point People. I based this on the very real Ames People, a local group I refuse to join but hear a lot about because my husband is addicted to it.

*

“So, Mr. I-Know-All-the-Gossip. How’s Copper Point’s elite handling yet another physician who isn’t a white male evangelical Christian?”

“Oh my God. Where do I start?” Jared rolled his eyes and picked up his drink, sipping it as he moved closer to Owen so they wouldn’t be overheard. “The retired college president’s wife was in a private chat group pitching a fit because the new cardiologist isn’t only from India, she’s Muslim. Someone pointed out there was nothing wrong with that, and the end result was the country club scrambling to find someone they could send into the women’s locker room to break up a fight when the online spat went abruptly offline. Then on Copper Point People someone else—no one of note, some random MAGA—complained about how it was obvious St. Ann’s had an antiwhite hiring policy.”

Owen buried his face in his hands. “That Facebook group is trash.”

“Wait until you hear how it got resolved. People argued back and forth for two days, but when everyone was starting to cool off, someone came in as the ‘mediating’ voice and pointed out at least she was straight this time.”

Owen sat up slowly, drawing his fingers down his face and staring sightlessly at the table decorations in front of them. “Tell me again why we live here?”

*

You can actually find People groups for just about any city on Facebook, and a lot of them are doozies. Check out the description for The People of Des Moines. I’m biased because I have a Facebook aversion in general, but wow.

In The Doctor’s Orders, and in the whole series, really, Jared is a known lover of gossip and is always in the know. He’s constantly checking in with Copper Point People, and the nurse’s station, and pretty much everyone in town. But as he tries to start seeing Nick in private, the gossip mill starts to bite him from behind.

*

“How do you know all this? I thought you two were estranged?”

Jared waved a hand airily. “People talk. I listen.”

Owen laughed.

“Anyway. I think things have been more stable for a long time, with the Beckert family, but they’re so close. Maybe he moved in with them when he came back to Copper Point to save up for his own place, or maybe he just wanted the comfort of people who loved him while he had to deal with those dogs on the board. Maybe he’s just a homebody. All I know is his place is out of the question, and so is mine. People see his car parked in my drive overnight, and it’ll be all over Copper Point People before we’re under the sheets.”

*

My husband is a huge gossip, or at least a huge listener. Once when we were dating I went with him to his family’s house and the first thing he did was go through every cupboard in the kitchen! “What are you looking for?” I asked him. “Oh, just looking,” he said. He insists he isn’t a snoop, though. “I’m interested,” he always professes. He also keeps tabs on my daughter and I whenever we leave the house, checking on Find My Friends to make sure we’re okay. So Jared was not born in a vacuum. I already know all about snoopy (or interested) men!

I hope if you have a gossipy community—or person—in your life, you’re able to view it with humor and love, and I hope you enjoy The Doctor’s Orders.

Jared started to let go of Nick’s arm, then seemed to think better of it, clinging loosely.

Neither one of them wanted to let go of the other. Nick only wished he knew if this were because of the shock, panic, or…

Or what, exactly, he didn’t know.

Well, he had nothing else to do right now but find out.

Definitely he should stop touching the man quite so intimately. He withdrew his hand from Jared’s hair.

Jared clamped it down, trapping it on his own neck. “Please don’t let go.” His breath tickled Nick’s face.

“Are youall right? You were so focused on me. Are you hurt?”

“No.” His voice had a tremor in it, though, and he slid a hand to Nick’s shoulder, holding on. “I… I’m fine.”

Translation: he was a quiet wreck but didn’t want to talk about it. No problem. Nick could work with that, but he wanted some boundaries. “Do you want to lean on me, or…?”

“I felt better when you were petting my hair.”

Was it wrong to feel a rush of lust during an administration crisis? Yes. Except there wasn’t much administration Nick could manage from here. Erin had to handle that part.

The only person he could take care of was the man in his arms.

It’s okay. No one is here but the two of us. It’s okay to let go right now.

“So.” Nick ran his thumb along the thick, tense muscle on the side of Jared’s neck, testing out the touch. He liked how Jared’s breath hitched, how his own blood tingled. They were in a strange cocoon away from the world. “Why am I not surprised you knew about the custodian and the elevator? But it does make me wonder why you let us get on.”

“I was flustered. Besides, Kevin said the company swore it would be fine, that it was just a glitch.”

“I’m going to have Rebecca sue the company within an inch of its life.”

“Funny, Kevin mentioned Rebecca too.” His grip on Nick’s arm tightened. “I know I asked you to do it, but… why are you touching me so much?”

Because my life flashed before my eyes, and when I got a second chance, you were in my arms.He wasn’t ready to say that. Which meant he shouldn’t be doing it.

Except he wanted to keep touching Jared. It was like every time he’d been at a convention and seen the right guy at a bar after too many drinks. Like when in college he couldn’t take it anymore and had gone to those barseven while telling himself he couldn’t, he shouldn’t. This moment was the same except louder, sharper, deeper. Because it was the man who had cracked open the door to this part of himself. The man who had become his friend again after all these years. The man who had just confessed he’d been thinking of Nick all this time.

This moment was more because it was with Jared.

Total mixed review from me on this one. There were parts I liked, parts I loved and parts that had me rolling my eyes.

I really enjoyed books 1 and 2 and I recommend them. And if you read those, you will want to read this one as well. And it is definitely readable, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first two.

We’ve known for a while (if you read the first 2) that Nick and Jared had some kind of past. Now we find out what it was. They were boyfriends in high school. But Nick, being from a religious, fairly conservative family, wasn’t willing to come out. And so ended their relationship.

Twenty years later they mostly growl at each other when they pass at work. Until the elevator they are in breaks and quite nearly kills them. Then all of a sudden they are not only hot and heavy, but they are totally schmoopy with each other. Yes! Let’s get back together! I totally love you! But….I’m still in the closet.

They think they can sneak around, but they live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and gossip is king. So, good luck with that.

There is also the small matter of the elevator almost killing them. So that needs to be investigated as well as if they should fix the hospital as it stands or start fresh with a new building.

Nick and Jared continue to keep their relationship a secret because Nick doesn’t want to come out of the closet. He thinks his family will disown him. He has a strong loyalty to be the man of the family since his father died when Nick was in his teens. But seriously, how long can that go on?

*Mild spoiler alert?*

My favorite scene was when Jared’s racist parents come to see him at the hospital after their relationship is made public. His rant to them was EPIC. Bravo.

A lot of the story was spent on the hospital, who wants to buy it, who wants to invest, public support, was their sabotage, etc, etc. It got a little boring. And then it was wrapped up in 4 sentences. Oy.

So, yes, you’ll want to read this if you read the first two. But it is definitely my least favorite.

3 pieces of eye candy

Author of over thirty novels, Midwest-native Heidi Cullinan writes positive-outcome romances for LGBT characters struggling against insurmountable odds because she believes there’s no such thing as too much happy ever after. Heidi is a two-time RITA® finalist and her books have been recommended by Library Journal, USA Today, RT Magazine, and Publisher’s Weekly. When Heidi isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, reading novels and manga, playing with her cats, and watching too much anime. Find out more at heidicullinan.com.

Appeal to You (Beyond the Cove Series, Book 3) by Jaclyn Quinn: Blog Tour, Excerpt and New Release Review

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Will the demons of the past ruin any hope for the future?

If there’s anyone who knows how to have a good time—be it with a man or a woman—it’s Ryder Pearce. Master of the nail-it-and-bail-it theory, he lives his life for one person and one person only: himself. When a man enters Ryder’s life who challenges him on every flirtation, every sexual innuendo he can come up with, Ryder’s thrown off his game in a big way. Because there’s one thing the man has made perfectly clear—they’ve played this game before, and Ryder doesn’t remember the outcome.

Avery Hamilton has seen all of Ryder’s moves and has witnessed his sex appeal. He knows all too well about his cocky sense of humor and his penchant for one-night stands. There was a time in his life when he’d taken the bait, but this time around, he wants more. He’s seen Ryder’s act; what he hasn’t seen is Ryder—the real Ryder he hides from the world.

When both men come together to help a young boy, Ryder’s forced to face things from his past he’s blocked out. Things he never wanted anyone to know. Now, Ryder has one fear… Will revealing that side of himself be real enough for Avery? Or will it be the reason Avery walks away?

***Warning: This book contains off-page references to sexual/physical abuse of a minor.

***This book is the third book in a series. Reading the books out of order may result in spoilers.

Appeal To You

Beyond the Cove Series, Book 3

Jaclyn Quinn

M/M Romance

Release Date:  07.31.19

Cover design by Cate Ashwood

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“Listen, about earlier…” Avery began, hoping to get some kind of conversation going. “I really am sorry. I have this knee-jerk reaction to jump to conclusions with you.” Avery nudged Ryder playfully with his arm until he looked over at him. “You’re too damn quiet, and it’s making me nervous.”

Ryder laughed. “Never thought you’d say that, huh?” He shrugged his shoulders, looking forward again. “Forget about it, man. Trust me”—he glanced back over at Avery—“I’m nowhere near perfect. I fuck up every damn day.” His gaze shifted forward again as they separated, letting an older couple walk between them. When they met up again, Ryder added, “Most of the time, though, even if it doesn’t seem like it, it’s with good intentions.” His eyes flicked again to Avery’s, but it was as if he didn’t want to hold eye contact and nervously looked ahead once more.

“It hasn’t gone unnoticed. Not by me.” Avery owed him at least that much. Ryder’s surprised smile from Avery’s admission made him laugh. “Don’t look so shocked. I’m a very perceptive man. Not much gets past me.”

All at once, the smile faded, and Ryder looked straight ahead again. “Is that so?”

 Avery stopped short in the middle of the boardwalk, crossing his arms over his chest. Ryder looked back at him as he also came to a stop and turned around. “Yeah, it is. Like the fact that you’re acting weird. What the hell is up with you today?”

“Why does something have to be up?”

“Are you only going to answer me with questions?”

“Do you want me to only answer you with questions?”

Avery hung his head back and groaned. “Jesus Christ, sometimes I just want to strangle you.”

Ryder closed the distance between them with two slow steps. “I’ll try anything once. Didn’t take you for a breath play kind of guy, though. Do you make that groaning sound you just made while you do it? Because yes, please.”

Avery straightened his back then leaned his face only a few inches away from Ryder. “You really don’t take anything seriously, do you?” His tone came out huskier than he’d meant it to, but this man kept him in a perpetual state of frustration—including sexual.

“Sex. I take sex very seriously,” Ryder retorted, but his face didn’t show the conviction of his words. Damn, Avery was so tired of staring at the same fucking wall Ryder had built around himself. Ryder was, surprisingly, the first to break eye contact, moving his gaze to the ocean.

This wasn’t accomplishing anything, and they sure as hell weren’t going to find Chris by standing here. 

Yet, Avery refused to let the man get the last word. He lifted a finger to Ryder’s cheek, turning his head so he was looking at him again. “You’re acting weird, and it has nothing to do with sex.” Avery stepped around Ryder to continue walking, pissed that Ryder always had a way of pushing his buttons. So, push back. He turned abruptly, making Ryder bump into him. He stared down into gray eyes and couldn’t help himself when he said, “Although, if we were talking sex… Breath play? No. But I can make you come so hard, you’ll be gasping for air when I’m done with you.” 

“Hot damn,” Ryder whispered right before Avery forced himself to turn around again, holding back a smug smile as he began to walk and scan the area.

Yes!!!

I feel like I’ve been waiting on Ryder and Avery forever… I mean, I know I’m just impatient, but… come on!
I love this series so much and I couldn’t wait for Ryder’s story, because as much as I can’t stand the whole “player” trope, or as Ryder liked to call it “nail it and bail it” … I just knew there was a reason he was the way he was.
I was not prepared for how heartbreaking it was… growing up both in the system and with parents they kept giving him back to that in no way should’ve been in charge of a child. Abuse was what he was used to, from one home to another until he aged out of the system and did things he wasn’t proud of to survive… both because he needed it to literally survive, but also to do things on his terms….

There is mentions of sexual abuse, but it didn’t delve too deep, just enough to give you the idea of the torment he went through at such a young age. And it didn’t stop there… How could you not fall in love with him and understand a little bit what made him hide behind his crazy sense of humor and his need for distance and easy hookups. He didn’t think he was loveable… or worth love. That is, until Avery….

Avery was Kevin’s best friend and honorary uncle to Eli and Jakes kids. If you haven’t read their story yet… go back and do it; not only because you’ll be caught up on who these people are, but their story is just as amazing.
Avery wanted what Jake and Eli has… having never quite felt good enough for his own family,(and you’ll realize why when you read about them, they’re terrible… at least most of them are)… he loved being apart of the family that made up of all the guys in Eli and Jake’s group…. and that included Ryder.

Not getting off the right foot the first couple of times they met… Avery was charmed by Ryder but wanted more than he knew Ryder was willing to give…. and though Ryder liked Avery and wanted him in the worst way… he didn’t think he was capable of any sort of relationship that Avery deserved…. however, when Ryders elderly neighbor passes away and the little boy that lived with her goes missing…. the two team up to not only find him but do what they can to make sure he has everything he needs to feel safe and loved.

I adored these two and their relationship with the little boy, Chris. Chris was so scared of being sent away and all he wanted was someone to see him and have him matter. His grandma did the best she could, but she was gone now and he had nobody…. well, so he thought… Avery wasn’t going down without a fight and even though Ryder would’ve sworn that he wasn’t role model material or father material…. everything he did was to protect Chris and do what he could for him…. Seeing Avery doing the same thing softened him up, but it wasn’t without bumps in the road and late night confessions that set him back a bit… but they got there in the end…

I loved how real Ryder’s problems weren’t magically fixed just because he found love and let love find him. He was still working on himself and on what he wanted his future to be, even at the end of the book. When someone goes through such trauma, it doesn’t get fixed just like that…. and I liked how Avery pushed just enough and then helped guide Ryder to healing… and i loved that Ryder wanted to heal and had two people worth healing for, if he couldn’t find it in himself to heal for him… though I do think that he got there in the end.

The whole story was just heartbreaking and beautiful and such a great addition to the already amazing series. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for Parker… and I hope it’s intense! I also can’t wait to see more from the rest of the guys, more weddings perhap??!! Fingers crossed!
All the stars for me on this one! All of them!

I have been an artist from a very young age. From drawing cartoon characters and evolving into portraits, making jewelry, photography, and now writing. I have an amazing support system in my family and friends and couldn’t be more grateful.

I live in central New Jersey, love summers at the Jersey Shore, rock music, wine, sexy men, and laughing a lot with my amazing friends and family. Sunday dinners at my parents’ house are crazy, hysterical and you can count on a movie quote…or ten…being thrown out. Insults between siblings is how we show our love for each other!

When I’m not creating, you can find me reading books from my favorite authors. I’m a hopeless romantic, starving for passionate characters and always craving that happy ending, whether in reading or in writing my own books.

https://linktr.ee/JQbooks

A Rhythm You Feel (The Rock Gods: East Coast Label Book 1) by Ann Lister: New Release Review

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Blade: As the lead singer of Hard Core, I’ve been taught several key life lessons. Unfortunately, I’ve also ignored many of them in the last twenty minutes alone, which is why I’m now being chased by a horde of crazed fans.

But my worst misjudgment today? Going outside in public without security or a backup plan. Screaming fans come with the job and the fame is as much of a blessing as it is a curse, but I still couldn’t imagine doing any other line of work.

Music owns me and I am happy to be her bitch.

Nico: I knew who he was as soon as he burst through the front door of my store and I was absolutely starstruck and speechless. Yes, me with my own hardened attitude and jaded outlook on life had lost the ability to talk in the presence of Blade.

I’m an ex-con. I paid my debt to society, and I have my own brand of scars to show from the time I spent behind bars. My life’s regrets stain my soul as much as the ink of my tattoos color my skin. Solace for me came with ownership of a bookstore. It was a peaceful place to work until a certain rockstar blew in from the street like a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricane Blade was about to make landfall and I wasn’t sure I’d survive the storm.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Yep. Ann Lister is back.

I was a fan of her Rock Gods series, although it kind of dragged on a bit. I wasn’t a fan of the Guarding the Gods series. But this new series- so far so good!

Who isn’t a sucker for a rock star book? Basically we all are. What made this one a little different is that they weren’t an up and coming group. They also weren’t on tour. The entire book was the band in one place and working in the recording studio.

Blade (ok, he explained his name, but still. That whole bad ass stage name thing is so 80’s) is the lead singer of Hard Core. Typical rock star lead singer. Writes the brilliant lyrics, has an ego the size of Mt Everest, etc.

Nico is unique. A total book worm who inherited his father’s independent book store, but also a recovering addict and convicted felon. He certainly didn’t fit into any trope mold. And I liked it.

Blade and Nico become inseparable. Nico inspires Blade to write so truly filthy, but awesome song lyrics. There is a lot of sex (of course). They can’t keep there hands off each other. But that happens in new relationships. And it is kind of cute when it is this bad ass rock star who just wants to be with his new boyfriend.

We get a revisit with a lot of the guys from The Rock Gods series, which was cool, but also kind of unnecessary. Their names in passing would have sufficed because I feel like this series can stand up on it’s own without relying on the other series to hold it up.

3.5 Pieces of Candy