Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

New Release Review

Grounded by Teodora Kostova: New Release Review

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A chance encounter.
A passionate night.
An intense connection.

When medical student Shane Sanford and RAF pilot Greg Becker meet the air between them sizzles with mutual attraction. There’s nothing holding them back as they give in to their desire. But once their paths lead them into a different direction, neither of them can forget the intense connection they’d shared.
When fate brings them together again a year later, they have a choice to make: try and make a long-distance relationship work or let this be a one-night stand again.With war, tragedy and fear standing in their way, can Shane and Greg overcome the challenges life keeps throwing their way?
Is their bond strong enough to survive?
Is love enough?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

It’s been a while since Cookies (the precursor to Grounded) came out. Like almost 3 years a while. I had been waiting and it did not disappoint.

There are tons of military books out there. I don’t know if I have missed them or what, but it seems most are US military. This is set in England with Greg being an RAF pilot. He meets Shane at a bar and then again by chance a few weeks later.

What was so different about this book was that we witness this couple go through deployment and visits home, etc. So we get the highs of them reuniting and the lows of the separations. And with those, all of the emotions and feelings that go with them.

We also see the effects of PTSD while someone was still in the situation causing PTSD. War is destroying Greg. Following orders to bomb various places without regard to civilian casualties. His everyday job is giving him PTSD and he has to continue doing his job.

And even though this is the follow up to Cookies, there are parts that happened before, during and after Cookies took place. Again, it was different. And I like wandering from the beaten path.

All of these things together kept me really engaged with the story and the characters. The only thing I was missing was real closure with Greg and his parents.

Excellent book, you don’t have to read Cookies before this but you will want to because it is so good as well.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

* Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. *

Noble Hops by Layla Reyne: Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Layla Reyne stopped by today with the final book in her Trouble Brewing series, Noble Hops. She brought an exclusive excerpt only for TCO readers, and a fantastic book and swag bag giveaway. Make sure you check it out! Noble Hops is available in ebook and audiobook now, so pick it up here!

 

Everything Dominic Price has worked hard to uphold is about to come crashing down on everything he holds dear.

So much for the quiet life. Just as assistant US attorney and brewery owner Dominic Price is settling into a comfy new chapter with his partner, FBI agent Cameron Byrne, the sudden death of Nic’s father puts their happily-ever-after in jeopardy. Nic immediately suspects foul play, his prime suspect a notorious gangster his father was indebted to—only now the loan shark is out for blood.

Cam has been longing for Nic to finally let him in on this very personal case. But when Nic’s belief that he’s the sole Price heir is upended, the line between personal and professional starts to blur, leaving Cam unsure of where he stands.

Nic is depending on Cam’s kidnap and rescue expertise to save his recently discovered family member before it’s too late. But with a dangerous threat closing in, the ghosts from Nic’s past cast long shadows. Any relationship could crack under the pressure, but for Nic, finding his family might mean losing the love of his life.

Noble Hops (Trouble Brewing #3) by Layla Reyne

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): Ebook/Audio: February 11, 2019; Print: February 26, 2019

Length (Print & Ebook): 320 pages

Subgenre: M/M Romantic Suspense

 

Layla Reyne says: Nic and Cam have to fight for their lives and their happily ever after in this exciting, action-packed conclusion to the Trouble Brewing series.

“Well-matched protagonists fueled by love and purpose risk everything to bring a slick gangster down in a thriller both hot and sweet, wrapping up a well-done M/M series in style.”

— Library Journal

“I adore this series, and I can’t wait for more Nic and Cam!”

— Author of The Fall, May Archer, on Craft Brew (Trouble Brewing #2)

 

Amazon

Audible

Thanks for having me on the blog today to celebrate the release of NOBLE HOPS, the final book of the Trouble Brewing series. The Whiskey Verse gang is all back together – and indulging in Cam’s favorite treat – in this exclusive excerpt. Enjoy!

Cam entered the conference room with a pink, brown and orange box on each hand, skirting past Nic who held the door open for him. “We come bearing doughnuts.”

Despite his vow in Boston to never eat Dunkin’ Donuts again, once Cam had learned there was a new one on their way from the house to the office, all bets were off. His colleagues had reaped the rewards ever since, as Lauren did today, looking up from her computer with a tired smile.

“My heroes.” She took one of the boxes from Cam and dug right in.

“You’re lucky he didn’t eat them all on the way here,” Nic said, as Cam slid the other box onto the table.

With his free hand, Cam shot Nic the bird. “Well, if someone hadn’t kept me up all night.”

Lauren clapped her hands over her ears. “Earmuffs!”

Cam laughed around a bite of blueberry-glazed doughnut.

“It was nothing that fun,” Nic said, headed for the coffeemaker. “He pretended to be Vaughn, and I grilled him for hours.”

“Waste of a night. You’re ready.” Cam reached for a second doughnut, and Nic shoved a cup of coffee in his hand instead.

“That’s four already, and as for last night, I want to be prepared.”

“I think I can help with that,” Lauren said, losing the battle with a powdered one, her navy blazer from yesterday taking a sugar beating.

“You cracked Harris’s computer?” Cam asked.

The slim MacBook had been locked away in a wall safe, hidden behind the framed alphabet poster in the nursery. When Lauren had carried it out last night, Vaughn’s eyes had flashed with what looked like fear, the first crack Cam had seen in his shiny, too-cool veneer.

“I did.”

“Then what am I here for?” came a familiar voice behind them, the drawl unmistakably Southern.

Cam twisted to see his best friend entering the conference room ahead of Aidan. He was half out of his chair when Jamie pulled him the rest of the way up and into a back-slapping hug. “Brother,” Cam said, feeling like the missing piece of the team, of his support system, was back where it belonged.

Jamie drew Nic into a hug next. “Whatever you need.”

“Thank you,” Nic replied.

This is the final book of Cam and Nic’s story. The guys are pretty much settled into their relationship and how they feel about each other. But Nic is still waiting for the other shoe to drop as he tries building a case against his father’s — and now his — arch enemy. As Nic’s reeling from a family tragedy, a stunning secret is revealed to him that will change everything.

This book felt very much like a wrap up. We know where the guys stand with each other, and there are a few bumps but they come through for each other — no surprises there. Nic confronts parts of his past and reveals things he’s been keeping from Cam which serves to bring them closer while giving the reader some closure. And the theme of family, both blood and who you choose for yourself, is woven throughout and always gives me warm and fuzzies.

I’ll miss these guys for sure, but with new characters introduced, it won’t surprise me to see them show up again sometime.

3 pieces of eye candy

Author Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart pounding romance. When she’s not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs.

Connect with Layla:

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216903272072959/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/laylareyne

IG: https://www.instagram.com/laylareyne/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laylareyne

Newsletter: https://www.laylareyne.com/signup

AMZ: https://www.amazon.com/author/LaylaReyne

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/layla-reyne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laylareyne/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/laylareyne

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#Burn (Fever Falls Book 2) by Devon McCormack: New Release Review

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DAX:

My job is putting out fires–PR fires, that is. Partner in one of the most prestigious PR firms in Hollywood, I’ve lived most of my life helping others stay in the spotlight but keeping as far away from it myself as humanly possible.

Enter Jace Kruse.

#HottieFirefighter is the hashtag everyone is using for the overnight Insta-star who made headlines when a pic of him with a pooch he saved from a runaway vehicle went viral. Doesn’t have anything to do with my life until a major potential client shows interest in an endorsement deal with the internet sensation, and Jace becomes my ticket to stomping the ass of one of my company’s fiercest competitors.

Problem is: Jace isn’t swayed by dreams of fame and fortune. He prefers his down-to-earth life in Fever Falls and has turned down every company who’s approached him to leech off his recently acquired celebrity status.

But where others have failed, I’m confident I can succeed. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s persuading. And after a few encounters with Jace, the easy-go-lucky, ever-charming, sexy-as-hell, and surprisingly #topcurious firefighter has me persuading him about more than signing on for an endorsement deal.

He may be good at putting out fires, but Jace sure knows how to start them in the bedroom…and then in my heart. However, between his rising star power and the intensity of my feelings, I know where this inferno is leading, and if we don’t put it out soon, someone’s gonna get burned.

#BURN is part of the Fever Falls series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

#Burn is the second book in the series Fever Falls. Book 1 was written by Riley Hart. The two authors have previously co-written books, but this is the first time that they authored their own books but set them in the same world. It was kind of cool.

With the co-authored books I couldn’t tell who wrote what parts. These books definitely show the author’s different voices and made them their own.

Back to THIS book though. It was fun, sexy, hot and a bit different. Firstly, Jace has no problem admitting a man is sexy and that he is attracted to him even though he always identified as gay. There was very little internal struggle with him and “omg I am attracted to a MAN!”. I think this is really indicative of how the next generation will be. Not totally, but yanno.

Dax was cool with Jace being a gay virgin as well. It didn’t freak him out. He didn’t think of it as this massive responsibility. They just had fun together.

And what fun they had. OH MAH GAH. I thought my kindle might catch fire. This author can write a sex scene without penetration like nobody’s business.

Both guys are damaged, but Dax is pretty good at keeping it concealed and Jace really doesn’t acknowledge his damage. Orphan till 10, no big whoop. Adopted father dies 6 years later, he’ll deal with it. It isn’t until toward the end that Jace’s mother makes him see what she does. And then who cries? Everyone. That’s who.

There were a few kind of cheesy lines and if I never read the word “girth” again I will be happy. But this was a really good read.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

All He Needs by Ann Grech: Release Day Review

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When a former pro-snowboarder finds himself caught between two men who have stolen his heart, it takes heartbreak and a hit of reality for him to start believing love is truly all he needs.

I didn’t think it’d turn out this way: my life story in a nutshell. Life, Karma, whatever—it was testing me. Pushing me to the limit of what I could endure and beyond.

But in the steaming pile my life had become, I felt it. The spark. Like my soul met its counterparts, or whatever the corny saying was. I didn’t think it was possible. For a closeted guy, falling for not one but two men was never going to be easy, but I couldn’t deny its truth. Mace and Rick were….

Then I had to leave. My sister needed me. Having a baby alone was out of the question and I couldn’t wait to be an uncle. But going to stay with her in Florida meant leaving them. New Zealand and the USA couldn’t be further apart.

I’m not a saint. I’ve screwed up more times than I can count. But I was trying to redeem myself. Gracie, my niece, needed me to be a better man. If only there was a way I could have both—men to love and a family close by.

This is my truth, and this is all I need.

A MMM Romance.

Amazon

Okay, so, first things first, I did not read this blurb before I started reading it. I saw a guy with a baby, and thought, this is all I need… Hot guys with baby’s, they’re my kryptonite. However, I’m not a fan of menages, so I was a little hesitant when I found out that the story would be between Mason, Rick, and Caden. I’m telling you now, that if you, like me, don’t care for the trios… get over it! Lemme explain why.

Caden was a pro-snowboarder….which okay, I’m also not a fan of athlete’s or musicians or just rich people in general. I like my heroes to be blue-collar dudes with real-life problems and realistic obstacles… not, omg, my life suck, but I have all this money and great looks, and adoring fans and blah blah blah….again, Jen.. get over it!

When Caden was suspended from his sport for having an illegal drug in his system, he was at a loss of what to do. Falling for his two straight friends has also got his head jumbled up… so when his single pregnant sister is about to give birth.. going home to her and helping her out seems like the right thing to do…. To get away from his feelings and his failures, it’s as good of a plan as any, right? Unfortunately, life sometimes has a way about kicking us when we’re down, and when tragedy strikes yet again, Caden feels so alone, trying so hard to raise his sister’s new daughter. He’s a mess, he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he loves that little girl so much already.

When Mason and Rick find out, they’ll stop at nothing to do what they can to be there for the guy they’ve also fallen for. Unfortunately, it’s a rocky start with Mase, having had a hand in some of Caden’s failures, but don’t worry… it gets worked out quickly. There isn’t a lot of drama and angst in this one, and I like that. These guys were going to have to juggle quite bit to get to where they all wanted to be…

First, I loved Riccardo. He seemed to be the more decisive one in the group. The way he just loved both of his men and wanted to take care of them was hot. He was the more dominant one, and not just in the bedroom, although that part was hot too. And the way he loved his guys and Gracie was sweet…I kind of fell for Rick myself.

Mason was the sweeter of the group. He loved big and fell in love with Gracie the second he laid eyes on her. He was confused, at first, why he was having feelings for both of his guy friends, but, he worked it out himself, fairly well. He was the softer and sweeter of the group, and all he wanted to do was love his family…the family that he wanted with Cade and Rick. It’s why I fell a little bit in love with Mason.

And Caden… having lost so much in his life already, and was losing his dad in the middle of trying to do what was best for his sister’s daughter… well… he was a big ol mess that just needed a little saving. Everything that could go wrong, was going wrong and he was barely holding his head above the water….You know how I feel about the wounded bird… and he fits that to a T. He was doing the best that he could, but he needed his guys to hold him up until he was able to figure out what to do and where to go with his new daughter. .you couldn’t help but fall in love with him too…. And together, they just work. I honestly couldn’t imagine two of them without the other. I couldn’t even pick if I had to… they all needed each other, and they all just fit together so perfectly.

So, I got the blue-collar guys with the pretty little baby, and the real-life problems and the realistic obstacles… throw in the really hot bedroom stuff and it’s a book you won’t want to pass up. I laughed a little, cried a little, and loved a whole lot! A perfect HEA.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Rebuild My Heart by Ariel Tachna: Release Day Review

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A love built to last.

When Derek Jackson is hired to renovate the LGBT bookstore that’s also Owen Hensley’s home, opposites attract. Derek is a big burly blue-collar guy, about ten years older than slight, sweet, and bookish Owen. As they spend time together, it becomes clear that each handsome outside leads to a beautiful interior. Far from the shy twink he appears, Owen has a rock-solid foundation that helped him put himself through college and start his own business. Behind Derek’s strong façade waits a tender heart that’s been battered by a rough family past—something Owen understands.

After Owen’s runaway nephew lands on his doorstep, it throws a wrench in their plans. Derek can’t ask Owen to choose, but he doesn’t think he can take second place with his lover the way he always has with his family. Can they find a way to keep their romance standing?

Title: Rebuild My Heart
Series: Lexington Lovers: Book 4
Author: Ariel Tachna
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 230

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

So, I’m jumping into this series with book 4, but I’m hoping to go back and read everyone else’s story (especially Thane and Blake), but it didn’t put me off or confuse me in any way, not having read the others just yet. While I’d suggest reading it in order, I reckon it doesn’t have to be, you get to know Thane and Blake as friends of Derek….

Also… shout out to Mary Calmes in chapter four! (fan-girling!!)

Anyway…. So, as I mentioned, Derek helps run Thane’s construction business. Sent to do a bid on a job at a bookstore in town, he finds the proprietor attractive, but not necessarily his type. While I love the blue collar type of guys in my stories, and Derek the handyman was hot in my mental image, he was kind of douchey at first, to me….

Owen has one of those backgrounds that you hear about, but don’t really believe.
Like, his family are the snake handling, cult-like, extreme “church”…. If you can call it that. Luckily, he got away when he went to college, but it didn’t leave him without his own issues (and a somewhat hilariously cheesy vocabulary, “Great Cesar’s Ghost!”…. I mean, tell me you wouldn’t laugh if you heard that). He’s sweet though if not a little shy and I found myself siding with him throughout the book. He also had some ex-drama that seemed a little unnecessary given the other drama of the book, but, it made for a nice karmic kick in the pants.. literally lol, I always love seeing justice being served against douchebags. Which is why I had a hard time with the ending.

We see the two guys get to know one another and take it slow while Derek is doing the remodel of Owen’s shop. They spend as much time as they can together and get to see each other every day, even if only during a workday. While things are going great, Derek has some parental issues that kind of keep him held back. I will say, I did find him incredibly selfish towards the end.

While I can understand not wanting to come second to anyone in a relationship….
Family does not count. I will put any member of my family before anyone I’ve known around a month or even someone I’ve known a long time…and for Derek to pull that card and use it against Owen was just lame and it lost him a lot of points with me. I didn’t like that, or how it was so easily forgiven…. Don’t get me wrong, I understood where he was coming from, I truly did… but if you love someone, you don’t just give up when things get a little inconvenient. I dunno, that bugged me.

I’m still looking forward to reading the others in the series and I hope we get something with maybe Preston and Brent, or maybe someone else I haven’t read about yet… Looking forward to getting to know more about these guys in Lexington.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

The Other Book by Roe Horvat: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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It was supposed to be just sex… Famous last words.

Tyler doesn’t overthink pleasure and avoids complications. He knows it might be stupid to get involved with his closeted boss, but the temptation is too great. At first, the cold and beautiful Joel Sandstrom seems to loathe Tyler’s guts.

Except one late night at the office, his reasons become clear…and his control breaks.

Every time they touch, Joel’s stony face comes alive, harsh lines smooth out, and for a minute, he looks serene. Happy, even. Just sex – dirty, intense, spectacular sex.

During their covert encounters, Tyler discovers the power he has over the lonesome man, and it’s a heady feeling. What if he could set Joel free and give him peace of mind? When Tyler realizes how much Joel needs him, he doesn’t regret breaking his own rules.

Length: 42,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Roe Horvat

Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

(warning: adult language, explicit scenes)

He kissed me. I loved the sensation of his tongue dancing with mine—the constant hunger and desire. Joel inched closer, letting me feel his hardness. Within seconds, we were moaning and clawing at each other, both of us rock hard, dry-humping in my friends’ kitchen. It was the wine, I bet.

I slid down on the floor, and before Joel could protest, I opened his chinos. I took him down my throat. He groaned and leaned back against the counter.

“So…ah! I can’t do…the dishes in their… Oh fuck! Their kitchen,” Joel hissed, and his fingers tugged at my hair. “But. A blow job is…okay?”

“Mm-hmm,” I hummed and licked his slit.

“Damn. Yeah.”

Joel gripped my head and started fucking my face, but his movements stuttered after the first few thrusts.

“Shit,” he blurted, agitated. He inched back, but with the counter behind him he had nowhere to go.

Worried about what had made Joel start, I turned my head and noticed Adam standing in the doorway.

I stood and covered Joel’s body with mine, hiding his partial nakedness from Adam’s amused, hungry eyes. I felt Joel tense in my arms when our chests touched.

“Sorry,” I said to Adam over my shoulder. “Got carried away.”

“I’m glad. You should continue,” Adam responded with a kind smile and came closer, putting an empty tray on the counter next to us—much closer than was necessary.

“Adam,” I said with a warning.

He chuckled. “I know! Sorry. I’m going. Don’t stop on my account.”

I turned to Joel, afraid of how he’d react, but upon meeting his gaze I paused.

Joel’s wild eyes were full of lust. Fear was there too, but the lust eclipsed it. His chest was heaving, and his hard, spit-slick cock was pressed against my abdomen. I felt the wetness seep through my thin T-shirt as he clung to me.

He parted his lips, but no sound came out. His blown pupils flicked between Adam’s retreating back and my face.

The situation clicked into place. Suddenly, I understood Joel’s earlier questions in a different way. Joel wanted me for himself. He also wanted to live—to explore, to let himself feel without the constant pressure and expectations. It didn’t get any safer than this. Here, with my friends, he could do anything, be anyone. I wanted to give him that. I wanted to let him experience what I used to feel, and it could only be more amazing because now there wasn’t only trust, friendship, and desire. There was love, too.

“Adam, wait,” I called.

“Yeah?” Adam asked from the doorway.

“Come back.”

I never looked away from Joel’s eyes. He understood the question in mine and nodded. I kissed him.

I gripped the back of his head and forced my tongue inside his mouth, not letting him breathe. I sensed Adam next to us, watching. I sucked on Joel’s lips and tore my mouth off. Joel chased it. I spoke before he could kiss me again.

“It’s your call. Everything. Whatever you say is the rule, understand?”

“Yeah,” Joel breathed.

I licked at his lips and dropped down to my knees again, Joel’s exposed cock in front of my face. Adam sucked in a breath next to us. I lifted my gaze to check Joel’s expression. He watched me as if Adam weren’t there. At the same time, there was a new energy to him—a new level of excitement.

I took his erection by the root and licked the head slowly.

“Damn,” Adam breathed.

I licked again. Joel moaned, his eyes pinned on my face.

I suckled on the head.

“C, baby, come here!” Adam called.

I half expected Joel to back off after that. But he just tangled his fingers in my hair and moaned again when I sucked harder, taking him in deeper.

I heard Christoffer’s steps in the hall, in the kitchen, and then came his voice from behind me. “Oh.”

“He’s exquisite,” Adam whispered.

“Fuck, yeah,” Christoffer confirmed.

Indeed, Joel was a sight to capture and keep safe for future generations. He bowed his spine, supporting himself on the edge of the counter, his hips pushed forward, rocking slowly into my face. I stroked his ass, tugged his chinos down and kneaded the bare muscle. Joel threw his head back and moaned loudly. He looked like he didn’t care about the audience, yet I could tell, he was trembling with the joy of being watched. And, holy shit, I hadn’t thought I could love him more.

Often with books that are erotica, there are lots of sex scenes, and little in the way of storyline. I’m glad to say The Other Book exceeded those expectations by a mile.

I really enjoyed this book, when I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I haven’t read this author before, so I came into this completely absence of knowledge or expectations.

This book had sex scenes, loads of them…and super sexy ones at that. Whew! HOT! HOT!! HOT!!! Joel learns quickly what he really likes with Tyler, and they spend lots of time exploring.

However, there was plenty of backstory with these two men that assisted in helping Tyler and Joel connect with each other, and grow and learn as individuals. They even connected (in many, many ways!!!) with Tyler’s friends Adam and Christoffer.

Definitely recommend, especially if you want lots of sexy times in your reading tonight. 😉

4 pieces of eye candy

Jan 30 – The Way She Reads, Boulevard des Passions, Diverse Reader, Gay Book Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed, Feb 1 – Sanaa’s Book Blog, Cupcakes And Bookshelves, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, What’s Amy Reading?, Kimmers Erotic Book Banter, Mikku-chan, Xtreme Delusions, Feb 4 – Book Corner Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Mainely Stories, Love Unchained Book Reviews, Feb 6 – Making It Happen, Feb 8 – Mirrigold, Valerie Ullmer, Lillian Francis, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Reads

 

Queer fiction author Roe Horvat was born in the post-communist wasteland of former Czechoslovakia. Equipped with a dark sense of sarcasm, Roe traveled Europe and finally settled in Sweden. He came out as transgender in 2017 and has been fabulous since. He loves Jane Austen, Douglas Adams, bad action movies, stand-up comedy, pale ale, and daiquiri, with equal passion. When not hiding in the studio doing graphics, he can be found trolling cafés in Gothenburg, writing, and people-watching.

More about the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roe.horvat.98
Twitter: @roehorvat
Website: roehorvat.com
Publisher: http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/?n1=authors&id=107

 

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