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Release Day Review

Off the Clock (Mount Hope Book 2) by Annabeth Albert: New Release Review

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Starting over after retiring as an Army Ranger shouldn’t be this hard…

For twenty years, I traveled the world as a special operations warrior. Newly retired at forty-two, I’m back in my hometown of Mount Hope, pursuing a second career as a small-town firefighter. My meddling sisters and best friends all have opinions about my life, but the only person who seems to truly understand me is Caleb, the younger firefighter tasked with my training.

After a lifetime of denying my attraction to other men, Caleb reminds me of everything I’ve missed out on. I’ve never even kissed a guy.

Until now.
Until Caleb.
Until I push our growing friendship to the next level. While sneaking around like a pair of teens, trying not to get caught by our coworkers, friends, and family, our sexy connection leads us to some…interesting places.

And it turns out that I like taking risks. I’ve never wanted a relationship, and neither of us should be fooling around with a coworker, but we keep courting danger.

The more time I spend with Caleb off and on the clock, the more I like him and the less certain I am about everything else in my life. The one thing I know for sure is that I can’t afford to lose this intense bond we share. Can we find our way from super secret to super real before the clock runs down on this fling?

OFF THE CLOCK features two coworkers with an age gap finding out that opposites really do attract and that first impressions aren’t always accurate. All the big emotions, small-town feels, and hot romance readers expect from this acclaimed author. While certain subplot threads continue throughout the series, each guaranteed happily ever after stands alone!

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Annabeth Albert writes small towns so well. The history, the residents, the quirkiness, the feel. It makes a difference and it makes it feel like a character itself. This same story set in a large town or city just wouldn’t work the same way.

She also brings friends back together. Those friends create a found family that supports each other through everything.

This time Tony, one of a group of high school friends, moves back to Mount Hope after putting in his 20 years in the military. After a few stumbles that led him to the military, Tony wants to fulfill his previous dream- work as a fire fighter. Sean, the acting chief and one of Tony’s good friends, pairs him with Caleb. The young guy who knows his stuff but often isn’t taken seriously. Oh, and Caleb has guardianship of his 17 year old brother for a year.

Sparks fly, teenagers are moody, bi sides are discovered, fundraisers happen, sneaking around isn’t as sneaky as they thought and new dreams are forged. Caleb is much more mature than people give him credit for. Tony sees him though. And Caleb sees how Tony is struggling a bit.

I really loved how the whole town came together to raise money for the football team so that they could actually play that year. All of the moms (and Caleb!) working their butts off.

Great second book in the series. Can’t wait for book 3. Wondering if Eric remains alone or not…

4 pieces of eye candy

Twincerely Yours (Franklin U Season 2, Book 8) by Eden Finley: New Release Review and Giveaway

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.                             .EMMETT
My twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.

But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me.

JONAH
From the moment I meet Emmett, I know he looks familiar but I can’t pinpoint where from. It’s not until I see his twin brother in the quad that I put two and two together.

Dating the sibling of one of my ex-students isn’t a huge problem for me, but I can’t help thinking the twins are hiding something.

The more time I spend with Emmett, the more I fall for him, but as my insecurity grows, so does my worry that I’m being played.

When my heart and my gut tell me two different things, I don’t know which to trust. My gut tells me to cut and run, but my heart won’t let me. Even though I’ve been telling myself to hold back, it’s too late. I’m already in too deep.

Title: Twincerely Yours
Authors: Eden Finley
Length: TBA
Series: Franklin U Season 2, Book 8
Genre: Contemporary.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

The final book in the FU 2 series. And another fun one. This time TWINS!

Get your minds out of the gutter. This is more of a Parent Trap situation. But more like professor trap.

These twins, being super identical with one being good at one thing and the other being good at the other thing, help each other out in school. But then there’s a professor…. And it isn’t like a 30 year age gap. It’s the professor’s first year and he’s 25. He kind of fell into it.

He’s also the uncle to an adorable nephew who wants to try ice hockey. The twins come from hockey royalty (if you’ve read previous Eden Finley books you’ll get a blast from the past) and Emmett is currently working as a coach for the littles. Sparks light up even though Jonah (the prof) can’t quite figure out where he knows Emmett from.

One and done is not one and done. But the GUILT Emmett is feeling. Yikes. There’s a lot going on with the twins and switching and sneaking and all of that so it’s really a lot and it affecting Emmett. Because above all, he will pick his brother. And I get that. But that means he thinks he can’t have a relationship with Jonah because he thinks he has to keep a gigantic secret.

I really liked that there was a lot there. The twins switching places when convenient goes back a ways. Giving up hockey because one twin wanted to more than the other. Being the brothers of hockey royalty. A relationship on the edge as well as college degrees. I felt so badly for Emmett.

I really liked this story. I had no idea how they were going to resolve everything without making me roll my eyes. But they did. And they did it well. My biggest complaint was that Jonah’s cutie nephew Cullen kind of got forgotten for most of the second half of the book.

The strong finish to this second go around makes be want a third.

KU3! KU3! KU3!

4 pieces of eye candy

Eden Finley writes MM and MMM romances and is most known for her stories about athletes.

Connect with Eden:
https://edenfinley.com/
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The Duality of Swans by Lilly Atlas: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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A male ballet dancer walks into a rural small town…

Liam, a professional ballet dancer from New York City, moves to the tiny town of Swan, Oklahoma, with a mission. Haunted by what he endured as a teenager, he returns as an adult to conquer his fears and challenge the town’s outdated prejudices. He plans to modernize Swan by opening a dance studio and showing its residents that there’s a place for everyone and all should be accepted.

Tate has never traveled beyond the Oklahoma border and knows little of life beyond his small rural town and blue-collar job. Deeply entrenched in secrecy and surrounded by people who’d never accept him if they knew what he hid beneath the surface, he’s resigned to a life of lies and loneliness.

Liam and Tate’s worlds collide a safe distance from Swan, where they form an instant connection but plan to walk away after one night, no matter how much more their encounter leaves them yearning for. Fate, however, has other plans. When Tate shows up for a renovation job at Liam’s new studio, their initial shock gives way to a tentative friendship with complicated emotions.

The pressures of small-town life, narrow-minded family members, and Tate’s insecurities threaten their budding connection from day one. Liam is determined to show Tate the beauty of living as his true self, but Tate has seen the consequences of such a life firsthand, and they’ve imprinted on his mind.

As they grapple with their feelings and the harsh realities of Swan, Liam and Tate must decide if love is worth the risk. Can they find a way to be together in a world that seems set against them?

Title: The Duality of Swans
Authors: Lilly Atlas
Length: 82k
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

“Okay…” He needed to get this train back on track before he completely lost control. People thought teaching kids was tough, it was nothing compared to a group of mischievous seniors. “Let’s work through the dance a few more times before we run out of time. The senior center’s talent show is in a few weeks, and I’d hate myself if I sent you ladies out there unprepared.”

“It’s so nice of you to do this for us before you officially open, dear.”

“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Snow. Okay, everyone in their place?” The group of senior ladies all nodded. “And five… six… seven… eight…” He hit the music, and the studio filled with the song they’d requested—Jailhouse Rock. As Elvis belted out the lyrics, the ladies began to dance. It was a bit of a disaster, but they had fun, laughed, and teased each other, so he offered a few corrections. After running it several times, they had it down, and Liam felt comfortable calling it a day.

Dot had other ideas. She’d begged him to play the rest of Elvis’s album. Once the other ladies joined in the pleading, he had no choice but to give them what they wanted. Who could resist a bunch of sweet grandmas itching for a dance party?

By the end of the second song, he was dancing with them, spinning, dipping ladies left and right, and laughing his head off. His friends in New York wouldn’t recognize him. Who would believe that in the span of a few weeks, he’d gone from being a lead performer in the New York City Ballet to choreographing a dance for the local senior center’s talent show?

But this type of dance fed his soul—fun, no pressure, and pure joy. It was the kind of dance professionals often forgot about in their pursuit of perfection. So, he embraced it, crooning along with Elvis and getting his fifties groove on.

He was mid Rock Around the Clock with The King when he spun, thrust his hips, and came to a dead stop. Tate stood propped against the door with his arms folded and a smirk on his handsome face.

Liam rushed to his phone on the floor near the mirror and killed the music.

“Hey!” Mary called out when the room fell silent. “Oh, who do we have here?”

“Leave him alone, Mar. He doesn’t want to be your number six,” Dot said with a snicker.

“Oh, Tate, hello dear,” Mrs. Snow said with a wave for the bad boy lurking at the door.

“Hey, Miz Snow.” He waved before folding his arms again. “So, what are you crazy kids getting up to in here?”

Liam’s face was hot enough to melt off his body. “Uh, we’re just having a quick lesson.”

“This sweet boy is helping us by choreographing a dance for the senior center’s talent show.” Dot looped her thin arm through Liam’s and tugged him closer to Tate. She had a mischievous gleam in her eye that he needed to squash immediately.

This is a new to me author, but seeing decent sized back list, I’ll be reading more! I jumped on this one because my kryptonite was mentioned- ballet dancer. I just can’t resist. And I am very glad I didn’t resist because I loved this book.

The main characters are set up in a prologue set 10 years before. We clearly see what kind of people live in the town of Swan. Backwards homophobic bigots. It was jarring at first just knowing that people really are like that. Heartbreaking. After a traumatic event we jump 10 years to present day.

Liam, a NY ballet dancer packs us his life to move to Swan and open a dance studio. Why? He has his reasons. Swan is notoriously homophobic. So much so that even one town over doesn’t like to mingle there. Ya, that bad.

Which means that Tate, born and raised in Swan is deep in the closet. And he works with two of the biggest reasons- his brother and his brother’s best friend. The type of guys who think you can catch gay from a handshake or being too close. And speaking out against them and their hate will just bring the hate on you as well.

And Tate is a good guy. He wants to do better than what he has known his whole life. He has ambition. But even that is mocked. Tate, his brother Randy, and Randy’s best friend Daryl all work for the same tile company. And when they have a job at the new dance studio, Randy and Daryl let the slurs fly. You can almost see Tate’s heart crumpling.

Liam sees Tate though. For the good person he is. For the closeted gay man he is. And Tate definitely sees Liam.

I loved that Liam really supported Tate. Never gave him an ultimatum. Never said “I’m not going back into the closet” or any of the other cliche things. He does call him out on any bs, but he is also incredibly supportive.

The more Liam supports Tate, the more Tate wants to be free. He wants to be with Liam. Out in the open. He wants to be happy.

That’s not to say that there aren’t some serious stumbles along the way. But grace is given and forgiveness gifted. Because Tate and Liam didn’t play games with each other. They were for more mature than their 25 years.

Tate’s character arc was one to behold. From completely closeted, to defending Liam, to publicly being friends with Liam and more. Each step forward I wanted to cheer for him.

So I was sucked in by a ballet dancer, but I was left swooning by a tile guy.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Lilly is a best-selling and award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance. As a Navy wife, mom of three girls, and fur mom to two dogs, she’s living her best and craziest life. Before publishing, Lilly worked for almost a decade as a physical therapist. Now, she spends her days wrangling her crew and giving life to the stories in her head.

Connect with Lilly:
www.lillyatlas.com
www.facebook.com/lillyatlas
www.instagram.com/lillyatlasbooks
www.tiktok.com/@lillyatlasbooks
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Raising Wayne: A Single Dad LGBTQIA Biker Romance (Oh, Baby!) by MZ Arthur: Release Day Review

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FROM EXCITING AUTHOR OF LGBTQIA ROMANCE M.Z. ARTHUR

An Oh, Baby! story

Book one in the Knights in Ink series

A little miracle leads to true love.

In need of a quick cash infusion to pay off a loan shark, tattoo artist Doug “Zim” Zimmer gives of himself, literally, with plasma and sperm donations. He’s happy to help whoever needs either or both, and when the bills are paid he thinks nothing more of it.

Two years later, a handsome redhead holding an infant with Zim’s eyes shows up at the studio. Architect Clive Mulcahy, having assumed custody of his nephew after his sister’s death, wants a clearer picture of Wayne’s parentage in order to be a good father. The acquaintance he hopes to strike with Zim for the sake of Wayne’s happiness soon grows into a relationship neither expected, but both are willing to embrace.

Amazon – All Regions

Brand new author alert! Unless they are another author with a new pen name, but I don’t think so. It wasn’t glaringly obvious, but I could tell it was probably a first time author.

I liked the premise and the story didn’t disappoint. Nice twist on a traditional MF romance when the mother shows up on a guy’s doorstep with a baby and says surprise.

It was still a surprise for Zim, just a different kind of surprise. A baby from his sperm donation and a hot guy uncle raising the baby.

Zim and Clive have good chemistry even though they have pretty much nothing in common. Zim came off as way more genuine, with Clive being a bit stiff and formal. I expect that formal talk from the lawyer types, but he was an architect.

I was left a bit disappointed in the lack of mourning that Clive seemed to do. Or even freaking out that he all of a sudden has a baby. Very clinical.

As a whole, not bad for a first shot. Short and sweet, didn’t rely on sex as a page filler with a happily for now. Good quick beach read.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Tongue-Tied (Franklin U 2 Book 1) by Christina Lee: New Release Review with Giveaway

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Confessing feelings for your best friend takes being tongue-tied to a whole new level.

AUSTIN
Dex has always been my best friend, so it’s no surprise that we attend Franklin U together. We’re complete opposites. Dex is charismatic and outgoing. Me? Let’s just say I wish I could infuse some of his confidence into my veins. Making friends is hard enough, but trying to meet guys? Even with Dex’s help? I’m useless. Maybe it’s because Dex is all about hooking up, but I want my first time to be straight out of the pages of the romance novels I read.

DEX
After a string of mishaps, I swore off helping Austin land guys. But when he asks me to show him the ropes with practice sessions, I get the feeling he’s desperate. Our dates are pretend, so why am I getting so into them? I want to make Austin happy, but the line between friendship and something more is getting really damned blurry. The fluttery feeling, that electric energy every time we touch…it’s addicting. I’m getting overprotective, not only of my time with Austin, but with douchebags who might break his heart.

Eventually, the pretending has to end so Austin can strike out on his own. But how do I tell him I’m not ready to let him go, when every attempt at confessing leaves me tongue-tied?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Friends to lovers is always a fun trope. But a lot of times there is pining on one side way before the other figures it out or one person didn’t realize that they were gay/bi/pan (not straight), etc. But in this book they are both out and proud. But have never harbored secret feelings for each other. So watching them both figure it out is fun.

We’ve “known” Austin for a while as he works at the coffee cart at the college (he is also a student). College kids + coffee = Austin the barista who often has his nose in a book. Romance. And he reads it all too. No problem with traditional MF romance because he focuses more on the romance than on the sex.

Poor guy has zero game and stumbles over words, or his own feet, when there is a cute guy around.

His best friend, Dex, is the opposite. Naturally. Outgoing, finds hook ups easy and has no interest in romance at all.

They’ve been best friends for a long time and roomed together at college. Until Dex got a chance to move into a frat with other guys who are in his major and Austin encourages him to go. There’s some adjustment after being joined at the hip, but it just makes Austin more aware of how awkward he is with guys.

So Dex offers to practice date him. And honestly, it is the cutest. Dex is all in on it. Pretending that they are getting to know each other, planning real dates, etc. And it was because he wanted Austin to gain confidence. He had no ulterior motive at all.

But of course, after a couple dates…more practicing. Of other things.

Austin and Dex have a fun friend group around them as well. Dex makes new friends at the frat and Austin gets a new roommate when Dex leaves. The new roommate was great trans representation without taking over at all. He was a great character. Even though he is straight, I think, he’s dating a woman anyway, I hope he pops up again.

I really enjoyed these guys discovering an unexpected relationship together.

4 pieces of eye candy

.                             .

Once upon a time, Christina Lee was a wardrobe stylist in New York City. She spent her days schlepping clothes, hailing cabs, and on the hunt for the perfect lip gloss, which became a bit of an addiction—along with books and coffee. You could always find her perched in a corner booth of a favorite diner sipping a dark roast and reading.

She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and kiddo—her two favorite people in the world. She’s been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher and while very rewarding, they still didn’t feel like an exact fit. It wasn’t until she began writing a weekly column for the local newspaper that the bells went off in her head. She could finally draw from her real-life experiences and vivid imagination to write fiction—and she’s never looked back.

Christina writes romance in different sub-genres, but mostly with LGBTQ characters because representation matters and everyone deserves a happily-ever-after.

Connect with Christina:
https://christinalee.net/

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Joint Penetration (Hot Under the Collar Book 3) by Katherine McIntyre: Release Day Review

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Liam Kelly is in love with his best friend. His straight, freshly divorced best friend, who wants to experiment…with him.

Ollie

The last thing I expected from my wife was a divorce. I’d checked all the boxes off—cozy house near my folks, joined the family business as a contractor, and married right out of high school. Except the more I think about how distant we’ve been, the more our split makes sense. And the more time I spend blowing off steam with my best friend, the more I want to actually…blow him.

Liam

Have I been hopelessly in love with Ollie my entire life? Yes, yes, I have. Has he been married for the past decade? Yes, yes, he has. However, when his wife calls it quits, my heart can’t help contriving scenarios where he might not be as straight as he seems. And when those scenarios start coming true—from scorching looks to playful grapples until we go much further—I throw myself into the deep end.

The second we start hooking up, I can’t hold back the feelings I’ve been clutching tight to for over a decade. But if this ends up a rebound for Ollie, a blip before he looks for a new wife, I won’t only be out a best friend but the love of my life.

Joint Penetration is a high heat, low angst M/M best friends to lovers romance with a bi awakening, birdwatching jokes, and a loud, nosy family that reads as a standalone.

Amazon – All Regions

I hadn’t read the previous books so I can say this definitely works as a stand alone. Everything else is true too. High heat, low angst, bi awakening, bff to lovers….

Which made this a fun book to read, albeit a little unbelievable at times. Especially the beginning.

Listen, I love a bi-awakening or gay for you. But there’s usually some introspection. ESPECIALLY when it’s your best friend. But nope, he was pretty much all in from the get go.

Still, it was a cute story with good characters and super hot scenes. It didn’t lag or drag on at all and kept me reading. It was a fun beach read that was well written. There’s not a lot for me to say about it, but it’s worth the read.

3 pieces of eye candy