Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Quick Reviews

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

by

.                                  .

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

Abe Cooper is a triple threat.

He’s my best friend’s father.

He’s the football coach at my high school.

And he’s a married man

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

I could lose my only friend in the world.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Emery paused the television. “Abe.”

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

I swallowed hard but didn’t respond.

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

“Talk about what?”

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

I frowned. “Heard what?”

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

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

“I’m just trying to—”

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

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

Let him go, Abe.

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

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

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

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

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

Dammit, why was he so damn pretty?

“Let me go, Abe.”

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

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

My nostrils flared. “What do you want?”

“To hug you.”

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

Push him away.

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

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

“What do you mean?” he whispered back.

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 pieces of eye candy

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

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Santa Problem by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review

by

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

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

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

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 pieces of eye candy

Like I Wished (Heather Bay Book 2) by Charlie Novak: Release Day Review

by

Dreaming about my best friend’s brother is one thing, him actually falling for me is another.

Baking cupcakes for the science department bake-off shouldn’t strike fear into the heart of chemistry teacher Noah, but his previous record hasn’t exactly been glowing. In an attempt to stave off another year in last place, Noah turns to the one man who might be able to help him: his best friend’s older brother, Spencer.

Noah’s had a crush on the vibrant and sporty footballer turned baker for years, but the chances of anything happening between them are slim to none. Spencer is caring, funny, gorgeous… and totally straight.

Spencer has never thought about dating men before, but after watching Noah lick buttercream off a whisk he’s suddenly realising he’s not as straight as previously thought.

Revelations about his sexuality are one thing, but his footballing past being dragged into the present is another and Spencer isn’t sure which is more stressful. But he’s sure about one thing: he wants Noah in his life. Now all they have to do is figure out how to make their wishes come true.

Like I Wished is a hot and heart-warming best friend’s brother contemporary MM romance featuring adorable ghost cupcakes, a bisexual awakening over baking, gate-crashed first dates, gym-bro besties, and lots of hot chocolate.

It is book two in the Heather Bay series and while it can be read as a standalone, it’s best enjoyed as part of the series.

Lately I feel like I’ve read a lot of books that have had conflict. A lot of unnecessary conflict. Thinking it made for a better story? More interesting characters? I don’t know. But I was thinking to myself “why can’t two guys just, yanno, date and fall in love without all of the dramz???”

Well the universe spoke and gave me this story.

Being a fan of Charlie Novak, I had already read (and thoroughly enjoyed) book 1. There was conflict in that, but it absolutely made sense. Just so you don’t think I am anti conflict. I actually love drama and angst. But it has to make sense. But this story is 2 men who already know each other. And like each other. And consider each other friends. Their only obstacle, if you can call it that, is that one of the guy’s is best friend’s with the other guy’s brother.

Noah had been crushing on his best friend’s brother for YEARS. He thought he was sly about it, but apparently not. Spencer had defaulted to straight, but he started noticing Noah ever since he brought him home one night to take care of him because he was a bit on the drunk side.

When Spencer starts figuring it out, he is fairly straight forward with Noah. No beating around the bush. No being super scared or nervous. Just kind of all in. He had the confidence to say he was new at this but wanted it and wanted to do it right.

And Noah, that little cinnamon roll, had zero issues with speaking up with what he wanted. Who knew Noah was such a dirty boy?

All of the guys from book 1 appear. We see Laurie and Theo in their natural habitat (their apartment) and I am soooooo intrigued with those two. I hope we get their story.

But I digress. Even though both guys were a little nervous telling their friends (especially the brother/best friend) it was fine. Not manufactured fights. Just the snark we expected from him.

So yes, a story where two guys start dating, develop feelings, freely admit those feelings and go on to have a seemingly healthy relationship with each other. YAY!

4 pieces of eye candy

His Reluctant Cowboy: A Gay Cowboy Romance (Woods Ranch Book 2) by A.M. Arthur: Release Day Review * 2

by

.                                 .

He thought his cowboy days were behind him. But life—and love—had other plans.

Michael Pearce left the small-town life of Weston and cattle ranching for the hustle of Austin, and never looked back—until his father suffers a stroke and requires in-home care.

Josiah Sheridan became a certified nursing assistant after seeing how wonderful his single mother’s in-home aides were before she died. He wants to help people, and he does his best with the work he can find in small-town Weston, Texas. He also lives a complicated life with his lover—to the rest of the world, they’re just roommates. Behind closed doors, their life is…strained.

Meeting Michael, a kind and openly gay—not to mention much older—man, gives Josiah a glimpse into a brighter, happier world. He loves Michael’s self-confidence and plethora of life stories. But it will take patience, planning, and more courage than Josiah thinks he has to finally break free from his old life and find real love with Michael.

Amazon

Carina Press

Book 1: His Fresh Start Cowboy
Book 3: His Accidental Cowboy (Coming 6/23)

It’s been a minute since I got to read some of AM Arthur’s cowboys. I missed them.

This is book 2, but you don’t have to read book 1. In fact, I kind of like that they are basically 2 new characters. We met Josiah briefly in book 1, but he wasn’t one of the guys working at Woods Ranch. And Michael is back in town to help his estranged father after he had a stroke. His estranged father we also met in book 1. Elmer, the metal sculpture artist who rented out his trailer.

Both of these guys are broken. Michael’s brand new ex husband weasled him out of a lot of money, his business and his patent. Josiah is in a relationship that is a secret, but they live together and he is being abused.

This led to a nice, slow burn between them. The attraction is immediate and obvious, but they are both wary. Partly because Josiah is Michael’s dad’s home nurse. But partly because of what they each just got out of.

Josiah just broke my heart. He is one of those people that just keeps having crappy things happen to. To be honest, a few too many tragic things. He seemed to have a permanent black cloud. What I assumed about what had happened to him wasn’t even close.

The Big Fight that strained the relationship between Elmer and Michael was also a bit…anticlimatic. Not that the trauma that caused the fight wasn’t exactly that- trauma. But these two men should have mended fences long ago. I think because we also met Elmer previously, we know he is a good guy. So Michael being mad at him for something 20 years ago just didn’t seem right.

I did appreciate how gentle Michael was with Josiah, even before he knew everything that has happened to him. But I wished he would have stopped Josiah from doing things around the house. That isn’t part of being a home nurse. But he cooked and cleaned everyday. Breakfast and lunch for Elmer? ok. But having dinner in the crockpot for Elmer and Michael just seemed a little much.

You could see the coming conflict toward the end from a mile away. I could have made a list that would have been checked off.

I don’t not like the story. I did. But I think Elmer deserved more grace from Michael. Michael should have been WAY more angry at his ex and everyone should have noticed what was going on with Josiah. They went from the slowest of slow burns to moving in together.

And not for nothin, but the Woods family is a little too good. Silly, but still.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

I haven’t gotten to read this author’s cowboy books before, but figured I would jump in here. This is book 2, but it stands alone.

Michael is recently divorced and had everything taken from him from his awful ex. Meanwhile, Josiah, I don’t want to say much, but it isn’t a good situation, it made my heart hurt for him.

This was a slow burn, which was good for the situations these two were coming out of. However, it just didn’t work well for me. Too many things just didn’t sit well for me. I felt like there were pieces that didn’t quite make sense for me, or were too blatantly wrong for what I expected. And the ending was a bit too predictable.

It was an okay story, and I’d like to read another cowboy book from this author, because I love the narration and descriptions, and few authors can make me cry more than once in a book, and she does most of the time. This just wasn’t the right story for me, I think.

Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days Book 3) by Katherine McIntyre: Release Day Review

by

.                                        .

Return to small-town Chesapeake and fall in love with the single-dad bad boy who keeps breaking hearts, and the adorable geek who can’t help but fall head over heels for his brother’s best friend.

For one night with the man of his dreams, Taran’s willing to break all his rules…..

Taran’s always been the reliable one. Safe. Which is why he keeps getting dumped by the assholes he dates. And after the latest round of “too boring,” he’s ready to drink his blues away. That’s until Silas King shows up – the gorgeous guy he’d swooned over through high school.

Silas wants one more night of distraction before his new reality sets in, and he sets his sights on Taran, his friend’s little brother who’s looking sexier than ever. It’s not like he can get in any more trouble than he’s already found himself in.

After Taran and Silas spend one unforgettable night together, feelings emerge, ones quickly stamped out when Silas confesses why he’s back in town. He’s returned to meet his three-month-old daughter.

With that chaos in his life, Silas can’t pursue anything further with Taran, and having longed for Silas his whole damn life, Taran isn’t sure he’ll survive the aftermath. Yet the more they try to avoid their connection, the more they keep colliding…until the passion between them detonates.

Amazon – All Regions

This was a new to me author. What drew me to wanting to read it was the whole small town thing. I grew up in a small town and the dynamics are interesting usually and make for an interesting backdrop.

There were parts I liked and parts I didn’t like. I really appreciated that one of the main characters, Taran, wasn’t white! He was, I think, Indian. Talk about an underrepresented demographic. He is a super sweet guy who wants to be in a relationship. So much so that he kind of settles for less than he deserves and then they invariably break up with him.

Silas is the typical bad boy. Running out of town as soon as he graduated high school. Coming back to visit once a year or so. He only does hookups, male or female, and has never had a relationship.

Which is why, when we find out he is back because his hook up last year got pregnant, I wanted to yell CONDOMS??? There was no talk about how or if birth control failed. Not cool.

So some suspended reality here. His best friend, Taran’s brother, hires him to be a sous chef at his restaurant. Is excited to have someone who worked in Philadelphia to jazz up the menu. Except we never see that. And he just jumps in and no one loses shifts?

I know these are little things, but they take me out of the story.

After hooking up, they decide to do the friends thing. We all know that never works. But instead of fighting a relationship, Silas seems to be the one ready to go all in.

The big conflict happens, the make up happens and then pretty much the end. I wanted more. It just wasn’t enough story for me.

It was fine but a bit forgettable. And there’s one plot device that bugs me that seems to be used often. I won’t say what it is, but it’s to the point that I am eye rolling.

Readable but forgettable.

3 pieces of eye candy

Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As an eternal geek and tomboy who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there, from different cultures and races to all varieties of men and women. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.

Spiritual Whispers by V.L. Locey: New Release Review

by

.                                  .

In a tiny Vermont town, two men are about to discover the joys of falling in love all over again.

Taliesin Wadleigh has lived in Couton-on-the-River for his entire life. Six of those twenty-six years he spent with the first man who had ever captured his heart. Those times were the happiest of his life and then, without warning, his fiancé was taken from him. Physically, at least. Spiritually, Carmichael is still in that whimsical shop with his beloved. Having a charming spirit close at hand to share late night tea with has helped heal Taliesin’s aching heart, and he’s happy spending his days selling antiques to tourists and avoiding the outside world and all those who inhabit it. Or so he tells himself…

Then a tall, handsome stranger walks into his shop and Taliesin, as well as Carmichael, senses that their life—and perhaps their afterlife—is going to change dramatically.

When Eason Dunne retired from professional baseball two years ago, he had plans. Amazing plans. Happy plans. Two years after he hung up his cleats, all those glorious ambitions have fizzled. He’s now divorced and flitting from one project to another, hoping to find…something special. Inheriting an old inn in some one horse—pardon him, one moose—town in Vermont was not at all something special. Lacking anything else of meaning in his life, he makes the trip from Las Vegas to Couton-on-the-River to try his hand at innkeeping. It’s in this little tourist trap that he wanders into the local antiquity shop and meets the eclectic, bespeckled, adorable owner. A man with somewhat offbeat taste in furnishings, a cross-eyed cat, a seemingly haunted radio, and one rather protective ghost.

Eason isn’t sure what to make of the situation or his attraction to the skinny man in the bow tie, but when danger threatens Taliesin, both men who love him are going to have to work together to save him.

Spiritual Whispers is a standalone small-town gay paranormal romance with a lovely age gap, a quirky antique shop owner, a disillusioned retired baseball player, a ghostly protector, a lazy shop cat, lots of tea, the occasional moose, and a happy-ever-after.

Amazon – All Regions

Full disclosure: I don’t think I’ve read anything by this author before, because…don’t hate me!…I’m not a hockey person. Any other sport yes, but hockey is not my jam. So, I went into this book blind as to the author’s style of writing, or level of levity or heat. I was more than happily surprised. I just adored this book!

Taliesin had it VERY rough growing up, yet ended up finding a man who, though he was some 30 years his senior, he just adored. Then he died, and Taliesin was broke and  alone with just a musty antique shop, Carmichael’s sassy cat, and an old radio that somehow communicated with the dead. He was definitely a different breed of person. He loved his bowties, and got so excited at finding buttons. He was just adorable, and how you could read this and not want to wrap him up in a cocoon and keep him safe forever is beyond me. Also, Taliesin made me laugh so hard. From now on my new phrase is “Go Baseball!” (This is coming from a huge baseball fan.)

Eason, who was also older than Taliesin by quite a few years, retired from baseball and decided that after receiving an old inn, he would fix it up and run it. When he finds Taliesin, he just can’t get enough of him. Eason was sweet, caring and really saw Taliesin for the person beyond the bowties and strange speaking patterns. Eason’s inner monologue cracked me the F up!!! (I very rarely highlight books. This one I highlighted many times.)

“Three grand and a signed baseball!” I shouted. The crowd stared at me in complete loss. “I’m a retired MLB player.” Nothing. Not even a sniffle. “I know Derek Jeter.”

That made them all ooh and aah. Whatever F*ckers.

Taliesin still had a lot of issues to deal with beyond the antique store. He had Carmichael’s children, the lack of money, and a powerful grief that he was working through, but it still was important to him to keep Carmichael in his heart, even as he fell for Eason. In the end, it took both men he loved to save him. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Yes, I cried, several times…cause why are people mean? I also laughed a lot (The “Precious Moments thingies” made me snort laugh.). I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, and I definitely would read it again. Honestly, I’d love to see more from this author as well, because I don’t think this was a one-off. I wonder if she’s written any more? 😉

4 pieces of eye candy

.                                  .

USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest