Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Release Day Review

The Secret Plan (The Game book 10) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

by

The Game Series Book 10 Their Boy sequel BDSM Humor DD/lb Christmas Party
Forget about Mommy kissing Santa Claus. It’s Daddy you’ve got to watch out for in this scorching holiday romance where we check in with Colt, Kit, and Lucas—and all their kinky friends.

Forty-five years on this planet. A prestigious career as a fighter pilot. A wonderful relationship with Lucas—nine years and counting. Decades of experience as a sadistic Daddy Dom in a community he’d helped start. And those corn-fed Texas genes too. Damn right, Colt Carter reckoned he was entitled to be assertive. Not a whole lot could rattle his cage.

Except Kit Damien, the young brat who’d turned Colt’s and Lucas’s lives upside down in the best ways the past six or so months. The two Daddy Doms had finally found their Little forever. But when Kit confessed to having certain fantasies, Colt had to admit, in some ways, he was still a beginner.

Good thing Santa was on his way. Santa knew exactly what to say. He was also a stellar partner in crime when the brats of Mclean House were up to no good and making secret plans for their holiday party.

Ho, ho, ho. Are there any naughty boys in the house?

—

The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

It’s almost Christmas and the Doms and subs are ready to party and to play.

This book mostly focuses on the triad of Colt, Lucas and Kit. Colt and Lucas have been a couple for a while, but Kit completed their lives fairly recently (at least in McLean House time) and while there hasn’t been strife, it’s Kit who wants Colt and Lucas to focus on themselves as a couple. Because they are the foundation of the life they are building.

Against the backdrop of preparing for Christmas and a party at their house, we get the three men bringing up new boundaries and safe play partners. They way they do it is so respectful of each other AND of their relationship. No one gets feelings hurt or is afraid to say anything. And ultimately, what makes Lucas and Colt happy will make Kit happy.

A few of our favorite club members make an appearance, while the absence of others is explained. And then…**fans self**. Remember the orgy in Senseless? They turned that up to an 11. Seriously one of the hottest things I have ever read.

This is a short book, a bridge to the next. Which is hopefully coming out soon.

4 pieces of eye candy

Vow Maker (Mixed Messages book 4) by Lily Morton: New Release Review

by

Dylan Mitchell wants to get married.

However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit.

Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour. He’s confounded an army of wedding professionals, and now Dylan, the man who knows and loves him better than anyone, has joined the ranks of the confused. Can anything please his fiancé and get them to the altar?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes the sequel to Rule Breaker. A romantic comedy novella full of family chaos, meddling friends, sexy bathroom encounters, and love. Always love.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Engaged for SEVEN YEARS? That’s bonkers. But I digress.

Dylan and Gabe were my first story by Lily Morton. And probably many people. We just fell in love with the cranky, perfectionist boss and sassy, sarcastic assistant. It was hard not to. Two more books with other couples followed and we’ve circled back around to the originals.

Now I am going to admit that sometimes I feel like follow up books like this are thin. No real substance, just wanting to be a people pleaser that sells. But this one didn’t feel that way for me at all. I was thrilled to pick up seven years later and watch them try to plan their wedding. As soon as they could find a wedding planner.

The wedding planner they do ultimately hire had a very easy chance of taking over the story with pratfalls, etc. But nope. He mostly stayed in the background, gently guiding both men toward their goal.

Of course we get a little Ivo, Henry, Jude and Asa. And Dylan’s boisterous family.

In the end, they get their perfect wedding and we get the perfect end to a great story line.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Up To Snow Good: An MM Christmas Romance by Charlie Novak: New Release Review

by

This Christmas, Trouble Tastes Like Chocolate

Maximillian Arthur Felstead is up to no good.

Having taken it upon himself to plan an anniversary surprise for his brother and his fiancé during their annual December ski trip, Max realises nothing happens quickly this close to Christmas. Deciding chocolate is the answer, Max accidentally incurs the wrath of chocolatier, Luca, who’s having a pre-Christmas nightmare of his own.

Luca is short staffed and short on patience, and he isn’t enamoured with Max’s clueless demands, even if he is utterly gorgeous. So when Max reaches out to apologise, Luca can’t help but be drawn in by his charm and Max’s offer of help, especially when their chemistry is hot enough to melt the ice on Mont Blanc.

With their time together running out, can a little Christmas magic help Max and Luca find what they’ve been searching for?

Up to Snow Good is a 49,000-word, low-angst MM contemporary Christmas romance featuring snow-topped mountains, Christmas market cuteness, delicious chocolate, and plenty of sweet, steamy moments.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Soooooooo many people love Hallmark Christmas movies. And hey- you do you. Whatever brings you joy. But I’ve come to realize that I love Hallmark Christmas movies in the form of books, with two male leads. Schmoopy? Yes, please. Kind of unrealistic? I don’t care. Fall in love and completely uproot your life after a few days? BRING IT ON

The setting is the French Alps. That is swoony enough. Plus Christmas time, a Christmas market, snow, and a chocolatier. What more could you want?

After a rocky meeting, Max and Luca find each other again that same night at the Christmas market. Of course they did. Which leads then to almost a week of them being together. A lot. Partly because Max jumps in to help at the chocolatier, partly because they can’t keep their hands off of each other.

I love that Max grew up and still lives in privilege but does his best to check himself. Including asking family and friends if he was being a jerk or not. It’s that sincerity that makes you love him even more.

Oh, something else I love. When one of the main characters has some kind of connection to a character from a previous book. Not enough that they will show up, but the mention always makes me smile and remember their story.

Grab a hot chocolate, curl up with some truffles and enjoy some Christmas magic.

4 pieces of eye candy

Fran Cuthbert Ruins Christmas by Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock: Release Blitz, Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

.                           .

Welcome (back) to Christmas Valley. Where it’s Christmas every. F@$#ing. Day.

It’s your typical Hallmark movie plot: my big city boyfriend dumped me, so my adorable five-year-old daughters and I moved back to my hometown just in time for Christmas. I guess the magic of the holiday is going to show me what I really wanted all along, or something.

But on Hallmark, people aren’t usually mainlining their mother’s Xanax. Or stealing the last available Peachblossom Pony Pal from their hot doctor because they have to give their kids the best Christmas ever. And when they run into their high school sweetheart, they don’t usually face the gulf of lies that exists between Cass Sullivan and me.

Oh yeah, and their hometown isn’t located directly up Christmas’s butthole.

I left Christmas Valley because I couldn’t listen to one more carol or look at one more tinsel-wrapped streetlamp. But moving to Boston meant leaving Cass, and that has always been my one regret. I mean, I also regret the box of Franzia in my closet, being publicly dumped, agreeing to take tap dancing lessons with my mom, and the fact that I can’t seem to open my mouth without a little white lie popping out. But mostly Cass.

When I need someone to play Santa for my girls’ favorite Christmas tradition, Cass steps in. Suddenly, I’m falling for him like we’re seventeen again. Can we put aside two decades’ worth of baggage and give each other a second chance? Can he help me build a life in Christmas Valley? And has he really been banging our former geometry teacher?

Only Christmastime will tell. If the holidays don’t kill me first.

Fran Cuthbert Ruins Christmas is a sweet, low-heat holiday novella featuring a second chance romance, a hot mess MC who could use a steadying hand, adorable kids and dogs, and a guaranteed HEA.

Title: Fran Cuthbert Ruins Christmas
Authors: Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock
Length: 45K
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday Romance.
Tropes: second chance romance

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

I ducked through the archway that led to Santa’s Grotto, and followed a tiny, curving path through a forest-themed corridor lit with splashes of colored Christmas lights until I reached the entrance to the grotto where, for some unaccountable reason, the forest theme ended and the toyshop one began. A train whistled jauntily as it rattled past on its tracks.

“Holly jolly Christmas,” an elf said, and then hesitated before showing me an iPad. The screen displayed an order form for exorbitantly priced photo packages. “Are you here for Santa photos?”

“No,” I said. There was a woman with three children lined up in front of me. She looked at me suspiciously. The kids took the opportunity to beat each other with inflatable candy canes. “I’m here to see C—Santa,” I corrected myself before I ruined Christmas for the brats in front of me. “It’s a personal matter.”

The woman looked even more suspicious. So did the elf.

I lowered my voice. “I’m a friend of Cass’s.”

“Oh!” the elf exclaimed. His voice lost at least half an octave of elfishness. “Yeah, dude, no problem. He’ll be about fifteen.”

Up at the front of the grotto, Cass sat on a glittery gold throne, a wobbly-lipped toddler on his knee. He bounced his leg a little to distract the kid, and yeah…no way should my gaze have been drawn to Santa’s thigh like that. But whatever his suit pants were made of, the fabric looked silky and thin, and I couldn’t help it if it clung to his thigh muscles when he flexed them. Hell, even the padding in his tunic wasn’t putting me off. I had enough of a dad bod these days that I was in no position to judge Santa for overindulging in gingerbread. I wasn’t a fan of the fake white beard, but it did make me wonder how he’d look if he let his stubble grow into a real one. I was not opposed.

“Adam! Adam! Adam!” the mom of the toddler trilled, trying to prevent the kid from diving over the edge of toddler uncertainty into the full-blown screaming fit we all knew was right around the corner. Life is fraught when you’re a toddler. It’s fraught when you’re thirty-six too.

Cass bounced his knee again, and the toddler reached up and caught his beard and tugged it. Crisis averted.

The elf moved in to take photos while Cass asked the kid, who was really way too small to answer a weird stranger, what he wanted for Christmas. The kid stared up at him warily, his fist still wrapped in the Santa beard, and didn’t answer. But he didn’t start screaming either, so that was a win.

Cass smiled at Adam from behind his now lopsided beard, and my heart did a dangerous loop-the-loop. Then the toddler and his mom left and were replaced by the three kids with the inflatable candy canes. The boys yelled their lists over each other to get heard, while the little girl waited her turn. When Cass finally got the boys to simmer down and asked the girl what she wanted, she took her thumb out of her mouth and said in a whisper-sweet Shirley Temple voice that I didn’t believe for a second—I’d seen her wielding her candy cane with unrestrained fury—“I want a Pony Pals sleeping bag and a Sugarpie parasol, please.”

“I will try my very hardest,” Cass promised, and the little girl beamed.

The kids and Cass posed for their photos, and then, as Cass was helping the girl off his lap, he looked over at the line and saw me waiting.

The girl made an ‘eep’ sound as he swung her a little too wide, and Cass made an ‘oops’ one as he brought her back down for a safe landing. The kids and their mom left.

“Sparkles, I’m going to take five,” Cass said.

“There’s no kids here, you don’t have to call me that,” the elf said.

“There could be kids just around the corner.”

“Whatever, Santa.”

Cass rolled his eyes at the elf and nodded toward a red door behind his throne. “Fran?”

I love how these two authors write together. They have a seamlessness to their writing that works so well. It really is quite difficult, in my opinion, to know when one is writing or the other. Their humor is spot on, and nothing is quite as it seems to the naked eye in every book. Fran Cuthbert Ruins Christmas is much the same. This one is full of humor and when you throw in a few cute children, a lot of idiotic moves and second chances, you end up with a holiday romance from these authors.

Fran moves back home with his twin daughters from Boston after his relationship falls apart. Initially, he wants his ex to come to Christmas Valley to continue a holiday tradition for the girls, despite his ex having met someone else. Soon after, you begin to see what a hot mess Fran is, in so many hilarious (and not so hilarious) ways. He drinks wine by the boxes, eats very badly, and has a very bad habit of lying when he doesn’t know how to handle something. That is the spot where it fell a little flat for me.

Fran’s lying broke his relationship with Cass up back when they were getting ready to go to college. And it seemed as if he never learned to turn that off. He lied about just about everything, which became awkward for him, and messed up a second chance with Cass-again. And Cass forgave him rather quickly, in my estimation.

Cass was a sweetheart, and despite having his heart broken by Fran more than once, he kept going back. (I loved his idea for a business! Perfect for Christmas Valley!) In the end, Fran came up with a grand gesture to show Cass how much he meant to him, and as befitting the hot mess that Fran was…it failed spectacularly.

It did seem that Fran might have learned his lesson, but dang…the man knows how to sabotage himself.

It was funny, joyful, cute children and a whole lot of mess with Fran and Liar Bob. A holiday romance with a third chance to get to their happy ending, and they did.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

About Lisa Henry:

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

To connect with Lisa on social media, you can find her here:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Bookbub
Twitter

She also has a Facebook group where you’ll be kept in the loop with updates on releases, have a chance to win prizes, and probably see lots of lots of pictures of her dog and cats. You can find it here: Lisa Henry’s Hangout.

About J.A. Rock:

J.A. Rock is the author of over twenty LGBTQ romance, suspense, and horror novels, as well as an occasional contributor to HuffPo Queer Voices. J.A.’s books have received Lambda Literary, INDIEFAB, and EPIC Award nominations, and The Subs Club received the 2016 National Leather Association-International Novel Award. 24/7 was named one of the best books of 2016 by Kirkus Reviews. J.A. lives in Chicago with an extremely judgmental dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

https://jarockauthor.com
facebook.com/ja.rock.39
twitter.com/jarockauthor

The Book Nook, our shared FB Group with Sarah Honey:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rockhenryhoney

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is Real Release by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review

by

.                                      .

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

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

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

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

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 pieces of eye candy

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