TCO Exclusives

Learning Curve (Franklin U Book 6) by N.R. Walker: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

September 30, 2022 by Denise

. .

Cobey Green
There I was, moving into the dorms at Franklin U and not into the shared party house I’d lived in my freshman year. Last year had been all about football and parties, not schoolwork. Which was why my grades tanked. Why I was one failed class away from being kicked off the team.
Why I needed to live on campus and find myself a tutor.
Funny that my new roommate just happens to be a tutor. Funny that he’s oblivious to how hot he is. For a smart guy, he’s pretty clueless. Maybe I could tutor him in how to be more outgoing in exchange for help with calculus? I could teach him how to talk to people, how to make new friends. Hell, maybe I could even help him punch his V card.
Actually, now that I think about it… that’s a really good idea.

Vincent Brandt
And there I was, happy to be back at college, happy to be where I was most comfortable. Happy to be starting another school year, happy to start tutoring again so I could earn some money.
And yes, there I was equal parts excited and dreading to see who my new roommate would be… until Cobey Green’s smiling face appeared at the door. A huge football player loved by everyone, gorgeous, rich, and out of the closet.
Everything I’m not.
It doesn’t help that he’s genuinely a really nice guy. It doesn’t help that I make him laugh and we can talk so easily. And it certainly doesn’t help that we start having private tutoring sessions, which end up way more private than I’d ever dare imagine.
I’d ranked top of my class in every subject since the first grade, yet there I was falling stupidly in love with him.

This was going to be a hell of a year. And one very steep learning curve for both of us.

Title: Learning Curve
Authors: N.R. Walker
Length: 55K
Series: Franklin U Series, Book 6
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: geek/jock, opposites attract.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

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He smirked. “You can tell what people think? What am I thinking right now?”

He was joking, clearly. I might have rolled my eyes. “You’re wishing you ordered pizza from anywhere but here instead of that salad.”

He grinned. “Wow. You actually can read my mind.” He pushed his empty plate away. “It’s not so bad. I gotta watch what I eat. I had a huge lunch of carbs and protein, so it evens out.”

God, his entire life was diet, exercise, training. Football, football, football. He was dedicated, that was for sure.

I offered him my hardly touched plate of mac and cheese. “Want this? I won’t tell your coach if you don’t. You’re a huge guy. You need to eat more than salad. Plus, you went jogging again today. Consider it a reward.”

He eyed the pasta. He definitely wanted it, so I pushed it closer to him. He took one mouthful and his excitement ended as soon as the taste registered. Or maybe it was the texture.

He struggled to swallow it and quickly washed it down with his glass of water. “Have mercy, that’s awful.”

I snorted. “It’s not that bad.” I mean, college food wasn’t good either, but it sure as hell beat no food.

He shook his head and pushed the offending plate away from both of us. “On a scale of one to fucking awful, it’s an eleven. You said it was a reward. That is not a reward. That’s not even a punishment. It’s a crime.”

I laughed and looked over to the service area. “Want me to get you something else?”

Smiling, he shook his head. “No, but thank you.” He was quiet for a bit, but he kept his eyes on me. “So, what’s your major?”

“I’m double majoring in math and tech science.”

He stared. “So you are a genius. Bumbles wasn’t joking.”

“Bumbles? He mentioned me?”

“Ah, yeah, I ran into him earlier. After your tutor session. He said you were a nice guy and a genius. I didn’t realize he meant literally. But I guess if you are tutoring seniors . . .”

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure why I was embarrassed. “Uh. I haven’t done an actual IQ test since high school, so the results could be outdated.”

“But? Was it high?”

I smiled. “It was okay.”

He nodded. “So it was high. Higher than Snoop Dog and Willie Nelson locked in a dispensary?”

I laughed. “Maybe not that high.”

Book 6 takes us to the dorms. Cobey is a sophomore moving to the dorms because his freshman year in a house with football players like himself did not do his grades any favors. He isn’t happy. Less happy when he finds out he will have a roommate as well.

Vincent is shy and quiet. Keeps his head down and does his work. Helps that he is a genius.

Cobey and Vincent are the epitome of opposites. Shy vs outgoing, popular vs no one knows who he is, all books vs all football. But Cobey is another one of those guys who is just happy and friendly and everyone loves him. Vincent can’t help but be lured in as well.

Cobey is helping Vincent with his social game, of which he has none. And Vincent will tutor Cobey in calculus.

They are quickly inseparable. I love watching them play off of each other. Vincent with his smarts and Cobey with his unending social game. Cobey definitely spends more time “tutoring” Vincent than Vincent does literally tutoring Cobey. But seeing as the tutoring now involves kissing and more, no one is complaining.

Also unique was that Vincent had NO social media. At all. So when they start showing up together on various pages, it doesn’t affect him in the least. Kind of cool.

Of course they were super adorable together. And Vincent does start to stretch his wings a bit.

There’s just about zero angst, even with Vincent having a crappy upbringing. But all of these Franklin U books have been like that. Just college guys, living their best lives, friends, sports, parties… quintessential college life.

4 pieces of eye candy

. .

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things…but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Connect with N.R.:
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The Sunny Side (The Model Agency, Book 1) by Lily Morton: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

September 26, 2022 by Denise

. .

Jonas Durand is successful, rich, and controlled. He owns a prestigious modelling agency and has the world at his fingertips, but a turbulent childhood has taught him to be focused and never deviate from a plan.

Dean Jacobs threatens that stance. He’s one of the world’s most sought-after supermodels, but he’s also laidback and lighthearted and free in a way that Jonas has never quite managed.

Dean has always been interested in Jonas and has never made any secret of his admiration, but from the beginning, Jonas put him in a neat little box labelled, “Don’t touch,” turned the key, and never looked back.

However, the universe seems determined to thwart Jonas’s plans. Over the course of one hot summer, the two men come together, and Jonas’s well-ordered life becomes something a whole lot wilder.

Moving from the glamorous worlds of London and Paris Fashion Weeks to the sleepy South of France, Jonas finds himself liberating partridges, chasing his supermodel, and falling in love.

From bestselling author Lily Morton, comes a romantic comedy set in the fast-paced and snarky world of modelling. This is the first book in the Model Agency series.

Title: The Sunny Side
Authors: Lily Morton
Series: The Model Agency, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy.
Tropes: age gap, controlled man/carefree man.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Dean nods. “Last week, a model didn’t turn up to a fitting. No excuse,” he says in a scandalised voice. “Just couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed.”

“One of mine?” I ask, frowning.

“No,” Dean says. “He was from Browns.”

“They don’t so much run a modelling agency as a circus,” I say with no small amount of satisfaction.

I eye him and Mal. They don’t make them like these two anymore. They come from a background where serious work was the norm. Mal might throw tantrums to rival Marie Antionette, and at one point Dean might have been more stoned than the entire cast of Reefer Madness, but both are as reliable as the sun coming up. They’ve always turned up on time and got the job done.

I’ll miss them when they retire and leave me to the less than tender mercies of the new models. I shudder at the thought and feel a sudden sadness at the idea that one day I won’t see Dean anymore. I rub my stomach absently and look up to find the two of them watching me. Mal looks amused as if he can read my mind, which I wouldn’t put past him, but Dean seems concerned.

“Is your ulcer playing up again?” he demands.

Mal snorts, and I roll my eyes. “No, it is not,” I say in a reproving tone that, as usual, Dean completely ignores. He picks up fewer social cues than an old matron in a Jane Austen story.

“No coffee, then. I’ve got some green tea brewing.”

“Where did that even come from?” I ask despairingly. “I’m sure I don’t have that in my kitchen.”

“Dean carries it around with him,” Mal says, filching a piece of Dean’s omelette and feeding it to the dog. “Remember when Dutch customs found it, Dean?”

Dean grins. “I still remember that strip search. It’s definitely in my top ten.”

I stare at him. “You have a top ten of strip searches?”

He shrugs. “Of course. Most customs officers are rough, but that one had very gentle hands.”

Do a little dance, readers. Lily Morton has started a new series. Squee! And what a start it is!

Obviously it centers around a modeling agency in London. Jonas runs it after a sort of hostile take over from his mother. Dean is one of his most popular models. They have separately and quietly crushed on each other. But Jonas thinks he has no chance with a model (and the whole boss/emplyee thing) and Dean thinks he is too stupid to have a chance with Jonas. Silly boys.

This is a pretty slow burn because of the obstacles they put in their own way. But that makes it all the sweeter I think. In so many stories they will suddenly come together, ripping clothes off, etc. But not this time. I mean it does come to that but it doesn’t start that way. There is WAY more flirting and courting without saying it.

Besides getting to know some new fun characters (PIP!) we get to see characters from previous series and books. Dean is step brothers with Asa and actually set up he and Jude. And his best friend is Mal, who still leaves Cadan on the farm to model, but then runs right back.

I love how it is highlighted that male models aren’t nearly as popular as female models and they still are driven to perfection. By themselves, by photographers, by designers. Dean eats almost NOTHING because he has runway shows coming. Sexual harrassment is also mentioned. And I am sure it is FAR worse than what was in the book.

Dean will absolutely steal your heart. Pip is just amazing. Jonas loosening up is a revelation. Plus kids and dogs and vacations to France. Just swoony.

I cannot wait for more.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

. .

Lily is a bestselling gay romance author. She writes love stories filled with heat and humour.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

Lily has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – Chocolate Baileys.

Part-Time Daddy by B. Harmony: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, and Giveaway

September 24, 2022 by Denise

. .

Exhausted, overworked, underpaid, and for damn sure underappreciated.

Struggling to find a balance between the career I’ve always wanted and the desire to have someone to take care of me, I agree to join an exclusive event at The Garden.

A couple of hours to let go with Dean Nash, the Daddy of my dreams, then it’s back to the grind.

As head of security at The Garden, I’m content with my single life.

When my boss calls in a favor, I reluctantly agree, knowing a few hours of play won’t mean anything. Until I lock eyes with an exhausted boy across the room and every instinct calls me to protect the boy from falling asleep on his feet.

Tanner Morgan checks all my boxes, though I’ve sworn no one ever could.

When we’re tossed into each other’s paths weeks after our one night together…

I offer to show Tanner there can be enough space in his life for a part-time Daddy. A caregiver without expectation of a relationship, feelings, or promises he can’t keep.

Falling in love isn’t part of the agreement, no matter how perfectly we fit together.

Title: Part-Time Daddy
Authors: B. Harmony
Length: 51K
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM, Kink, Daddy/Boy – some age play.
Tropes: Age-gap, Daddy kink, sworn-off relationships, somewhat of a slow burn.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

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This is the most confusing situation I’ve ever been in. Tanner’s slick hands dig into my back with strength I wouldn’t have guessed him capable of. Each twist of his fingers and knuckles works through my knots and sore muscles—ones I didn’t realize I had. My body melts into a puddle of mush, one square inch at a time.

Except for one particularly firm spot between my legs. While Tanner does his level best to work my muscles into submission, his erection slides against my ass. His bare chest brushes my lower back as he stretches to reach my neck and shoulders. My dick woke up the second my boy stripped for me and hasn’t done anything but grow thicker and needier for him with each touch.

See what I mean? Confusing as hell.

Have I ever been so horny and so relaxed at the same time?

No.

Any other time, I would have flipped us over, pinned Tanner between my body and the couch, and fucked him into oblivion. Which, to be fair, is still top of my mind, but I’m loath to ask him to stop.

It feels too fucking good.

“You’re so tight here,” Tanner murmurs, digging into a painful spot on my right shoulder.

A groan escapes. “It hurts so good.”

Tanner lets out a breathless laugh, sliding away from the tender spot to run his hands over my arms. “How are you feeling, Daddy?”

“Like Jell-O.”

Tanner pokes a finger at my middle. “There isn’t a jiggly spot on you,” he says around a giggle. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

Tanner’s dick drags over my ass as he slides backward, his hands drifting to my lower back. Those talented fingers of his trace over the area, kneading closer to the swells of my ass. I bite my lips to stifle a smile at Tanner’s hesitant exploration, his fingers testing the limits of my ass and crack.

I’ve never been much of a bottom per se, but I enjoy an occasional finger or two. It’s cute how he’s quietly testing my limits.

On a rather brave pass, Tanner’s hands run the full expanse of my cheeks, spreading slightly to allow a single soft digit to run up the length of my seam. The fingertip is nothing more than a featherlight caress, glancing over my pucker. Yet, it’s enough to have the smallest moan float out of my chest, my erection swelling painfully against the towel I’m lying on.

“Oh,” Tanner says breathily.

“Does this still count as a massage?”

. .

B. Harmony is an MM romance author with a penchant for writing about boys who kiss boys, rock music, and headbanging. Pretty obvious with the last name Harmony, right?
With survival instincts fueled by iced coffee and far too many swear words to rival any sailor, B. Harmony somehow manages to produce (mostly sweet) contemporary MM romance, with plenty of steam.

Connect with B. Harmony:
www.bharmonyauthor.com
https://amzn.to/3D4GkFo
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/bsharmonizers
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https://www.bookbub.com/authors/b-harmony
https://www.pinterest.com/bharmonyauthor a Rafflecopter giveaway

Change His Tune: A Friends to Lovers Gay Romance (Harmony of Hearts Book 3) by Ariella Zoelle: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

August 30, 2022 by Denise

. .

Ferris is straight, so why can’t he stop wishing his fake flirtations with his best friend would become real?

Tiago Álvarez

Flirting with Ferris is one of my favorite hobbies. He always playfully rejects me because he’s straight, but I don’t let that get my hopes down. That’s why I’m so shocked when he agrees to my silly idea to drive our fangirls wild by pretending there might be something more to our friendship.

But I secretly have an ulterior motive in convincing my best friend that we should share our hilarious banter with the fans. I want to make him see that we could have something real if he gave us a chance.

It’s obvious how much fun he has teasing me, so I wonder if maybe Ferris isn’t as straight as he used to be?

Ferris Valdemar

I’ve been telling Tiago no for so long that I don’t know how to tell him yes. But I really want to give in to my feelings for him that I’ve been running away from for far too long.

When he comes up with his scheme to fake flirting with each other for our fans, it gives me the opportunity I need to come clean about my not-so-straight feelings for my gay best friend.

But how do I tell Tiago that I want to be more than just friends?

Change His Tune is the third book in the Harmony of Hearts series and part of the Sunnyside universe. This novel features a friends to lovers, bi awakening, fake dating, rock star, gay romance. If you love cute sweetness, sexy fun, and no angst stories that will make you laugh and swoon, you’ll enjoy this satisfying HEA without cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series in order.

Title: Change His Tune
Authors: Ariella Zoelle
Length: 65K
Series: Harmony of Hearts, Book 3
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: No angst, friends to lovers, bi awakening, fake dating, rock star, gay romance.
Release Date: August 19th

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Book 1: Play By Heart

Book 2: Make Music Together

Book 4 (coming 2/17/23): Music to His Ears

Something sparkly caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I looked toward the entrance and saw a woman had entered, wearing a dress that glittered like she wore the night sky and all its stars. Even from a distance, she was a stunning vision, with long, black hair that framed her face, giving her an angelic appearance.

The host led her through the restaurant to her table. She was a glorious goddess of a woman, full of beauty and grace. At one point, I gladly would have dated someone like her.

As she drew closer, I got a better look at her. She had beautifully full lips that were emphasized by her red lipstick. They were curved in a teasing smile as she made eye contact with me and gave me a flirty wink as she stopped by my table.

The world stopped spinning as I gazed deep into her brown eyes and saw my boyfriend. Somehow, the gorgeous woman that had turned the head of every straight man and quite a few women was Tiago. I couldn’t find words as I stared up in shock at “Tia,” who was more beautiful than I had ever imagined possible. It seemed I owed him an apology because he certainly didn’t come off as a goofy guy in a dress as I had expected.

Tiago took great delight in my stunned reaction. He bent down to give me a tender kiss. “Sorry I’m late, cookie,” he said in a surprisingly feminine voice before sitting across from me. As he set aside a midnight-blue holographic clutch, it made me realize he had on nails painted to match. It made his fingers look longer and more elegant than normal.

I needed to find my words, but I was too blown away by the beautiful woman in front of me being my boyfriend. I whispered, “Tia,” in awe as I stared.

He tucked a strand of long, black hair behind his ear before he picked up the menu to study it. “You should try their fiery angel hair pasta if you haven’t already,” he said in the same feminine voice that stirred my lust. How was he acting so cool about doing something so incredible?

“You’re beautiful.” I couldn’t get over how flawless he was as a woman. Clearly, I hadn’t given him enough credit. It had seemed so absurd when we had been joking about it while reading the fan fiction about him showing up to one of our dates in drag. But now that he was sitting in front of me as Tia, I couldn’t believe how incredible he looked. His shimmering eye makeup was particularly impressive.

He covered his mouth as he gave an excellent imitation of a girlish giggle. “How kind of you to notice.”

“I don’t understand. How is this possible?” I literally couldn’t process it. In what universe did Tiago turn into a hot supermodel when wearing a dress?

“See? I told you Tia would rock your world.” He looked up at me with a playful expression. “So, does your girlfriend meet with your approval?”

My eyes traveled from his face, which had all its masculine edges softened by makeup, down to the swell of breasts that helped sell the femininity of his look. “I’m the luckiest man in the entire universe.”

“Yeah, you are.” His light laughter further emphasized the flawlessness of his feminine appearance. “And just wait until you see the fun surprise I have waiting for you once we get home.”

My cock stirred in my pants with interest at the thought of taking Tia home and getting intimately acquainted. “What kind of surprise?”

“One you won’t soon forget.” He tossed his hair over his shoulder as he flashed a flirty smile. It drove my lust wild and made me eager for the rest of our night.

. .

Ariella Zoelle adores steamy, funny, swoony romances where couples are allowed to just be happy. She writes low angst stories full of heat, humor, and heart. But sometimes she’s in the mood for something with a bit more angst and drama. If you are too, check out her A.F. Zoelle books.

For real-time updates on her writing progress, please join her Facebook group for exclusive teasers or follow her on Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter to gain access to bonus chapters, previews of upcoming books, exclusive visual guides, and more.

Connect with Ariella:
Website: https://www.ariellazoelle.com/
Newsletter: https://www.ariellazoelle.com/newsletter
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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amazingafzoelle/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/extraafzoelle
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ariellazoelle
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Real Hazard (West Coast Forensics, Book 4) by Elle Keaton: New Release Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

August 29, 2022 by Denise

. .

Foster Jennings

Things I love

✓ my kid sister

✓ the no-hope dogs I rehabilitate

✓ my job as an EMT

✓ and maybe my new friend Dutch.

But Dutch isn’t gay and physical attraction isn’t something I feel often. Are these feelings real, or am I just tired of being alone?

Dutch Hansen

This is all Hazel’s fault. Hazel the Hazard.

✓ Hazel made me come to first grade safety day.

✓ Hazel blurted out—loudly—about the beautiful fireman.

✓ Hazel invited the beautiful fireman over for a tea party.

I swear I’m not gay, but Foster Jennings is the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, outside and in.

Dutch
Hansen is the single dad of a precocious daughter. He moved to Piedras wanting a better life for Hazel and himself. Things are shaping up, he’s landed a permanent job at Brooch Resort and Hazel has quit having nightmares that someone is going to steal her away.

Then everything goes sideways, Dutch’s past threatens his future and he doesn’t know where to turn.

Something is wrong, Dutch is pushing him away and won’t tell Foster why.

When Hazel goes missing Dutch can’t hide anymore, he needs his… Foster to help him get Hazel back.

#Demisexual #BiAwakening #SingleDad #FindingFamily

Book four in the West Coast Forensics series, can be read as a standalone but may be more fully enjoyed if you start with Real Trouble.

Title: Real Hazard
Authors: Elle Keaton
Series: West Coast Forensics, Book 4
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense.
Tropes: Demisexual, Bi-Awakening, Single Dad, Finding Family.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

“It is what it is. I’m the one who keeps an eye on the old man. Scott won’t set foot back here. Which, to be honest, I’m fine with. Scott and I do not get along. But enough about me.” Wade looked back at Dutch. “What about you? What skeletons do you have in your closet?”

Dutch blinked, feeling the spotlight swing his direction. He’d had just enough beer to be sort of honest. “Oh, you know. Chaos, mayhem, anarchy, and a little destruction here and there…”

“The cousins of the four horsemen.” Foster snickered, not knowing how close to the truth Dutch had come. Luckily the waiter returned with their beers and two bowls of popcorn, and the conversation veered away from the past. Dutch breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t even like thinking about his history, as if it might find its way back to him.

When their second beers were gone and the popcorn bowl empty, he and Foster both declined Wade’s offer to buy them a third. “I’m not the man I used to be.” “Dutch shook his head. “If I have another, I’ll need a ride home, and I need to be on my toes tomorrow.”

“Suit yourself,” Wade grumbled. “I’m gonna stay here a bit longer and drown my sorrows.”

“Dutch clapped him on the back as he scooted around to leave. “Take care. See you at work. Don’t let the raccoon sex get you down.”

“I keep promising myself I’ll quit.” Wade barked out a laugh. “Damn raccoons definitely have a better sex life than I do.”

Foster walked with Dutch to his car. “I never did find out your favorite band,” he complained. “Next time.”

“Definitely. My schedule is settling into something normal-ish, so just text me when you’re free.”

Dutch beeped his lock, watching Foster amble down the sidewalk to wherever he’d parked. Or maybe he’d walked here? Pulling onto the street, Dutch realized he was smiling. The evening had been fun. Even running into Wade had been fun. The squishy feeling in the center of his chest was a fledgling sense of belonging, and he wanted to keep it growing.”

I am such a sucker for a single dad!

I didn’t even realize that this was part of a series, so I’m going to have to go back and read the others, but in this one, we have Dutch and his daughter Hazel. (is that not the cutest old lady name?) They moved to a new town for a fresh, safe start, and things are going really well….for a while.

Foster is an EMT and it’s Hazel who brings him to attention during a safety day at school. I loved her from the very first second, I thought she was the cutest.
It isn’t often that you see a child character so upfront and prevalent, especially in m/m romance.
Not that it’s unheard of, but they tend to stay background characters and it felt like Hazel demanded to be seen and heard, and she fit in so effortlessly. I just adored her.

Unfortunately, as it does, just when folks finally find a little sense of happy, trouble comes knocking… Dutch tries to figure things out on his own and pushes Foster away… or he attempts to. Foster isn’t so easily swayed.. he’d already gone and gotten charmed by the cute duo, so he doesn’t scare away easily.

This one was a slow burn and I enjoyed every bit of it. I mean, cute kids, a sexy EMT, an ex-enforcer for a motorcycle gang, an outspoken and resilient little girl, and ….also puppers! Why wouldn’t you want to read this one?

5 easy pieces of eye candy for me! I can’t wait to go back and read all that I missed!

. .

Elle Keaton writes contemporary gay romance and MM romantic suspense set in the Pacific Northwest. Elle’s books are known for their hot mm romance, complex characters, and unique sense of place. The men start out broken, and maybe they’re still banged up by the end, but they always find the other half of their hearts.

Elle published first in 2017, now she has over seventeen books available for you to read or listen to.

She loves cats and dogs, Star Wars and Star Trek, pineapple on pizza, and is known to start crossword puzzles with ballpoint pen.

Love always wins, thank you for supporting this indie author!

Connect with Elle:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ElleKeatonWrites
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Playing Games (Franklin U Book 1) by Riley Hart: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

August 26, 2022 by Denise

. .

Brax

Tyson Langley thinks the king in Franklin University Kings is in reference to him. Star lacrosse player and God’s gift to the female and male population, there’s nothing the spoiled jock can’t have.

It’s impossible for us to be in the same room without talking crap to each other. But I also have a secret… As much as I despise Ty, I want him too. I revel in our banter and in never knowing what he’ll say next.

I’ve spent too much time on the wrong side of the law for someone like Ty, though, and if I want to make it through college and escape my past, he’s a distraction I don’t need.

Braxton Walker needs to learn to lighten up. If you search brooding online, his name pops up. He’s the bad boy with a leather jacket and a scowl. We couldn’t be more different.

Finding ways to annoy him is like the longest foreplay session of my life. And when we end up working together, it gets harder to deny how hot he makes me.

What’s a little hooking up between enemies?

We weren’t supposed to become friends or share secrets. We weren’t supposed to understand each other and all the complicated stuff we’re going through.

I’m used to playing games, only the more time I spend with Brax, the less it feels like playing around and the more it becomes something real.

Title: Playing Games
Authors: Riley Hart
Series: Franklin U Series, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: opposites attract, enemies to lovers.

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“You like that I don’t make anything easy on you. If I had, you would have lost interest already. Everyone gives you what you want without you even having to ask for it, but not me.”

“That’s not why I want you. I want you because you’re hot.”

We stopped walking. Brax didn’t seem to have the same issue I did about wanting to protect what we were doing. He stood close, cupped my cheek, traced my bottom lip with his thumb, which made me chub up because, again, he was hot. “Truth, but it’s also because I don’t kiss your ass, and I don’t sugarcoat shit for you. Eventually, that’ll get old and you won’t want someone who makes you work for it.” For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me, right there under a palm tree, in the middle of campus, but instead he dug his teeth into my bottom lip and bit gently. “I’ll never stop making you work for it, Lacrosse.”

Classic enemies to lovers, Jock and anti-Jock. But since we enter the chat 3 years into the enemies thing, we get the fun turning into lovers part.

Saying they are enemies is a stretch. Brax just doesn’t like jocks- especially rich boy jock Tyson. They guy is a golden boy, handed everything on a platter. Brax is the complete opposite. Works while going to school, mom took off when he was young, dad is prison. He was handed a house though, by his grandmother, that he shares with his Dad 2.0 brother, but still.

Once they start working together though, the playful banter turns into playful sex. Which turns into more. It’s so seamless and natural the progression of their relationship. Nothing was forced at all. I loved how Ty just kind of insinuated himself into Braxton’s life.

Brax could have been super emo and angsty about his life, but instead he is determined to do better for himself. Ty is the one who is emo and angsty about his life, but he also doesn’t take it out on anyone, he keeps it to himself.

This was a fun read that also set up the shared world of Franklin University, which consists of 8 books by 8 different authors. I love these types of series and look forward to the rest.

Listen… I’m a sucker for the opposites attract.

Maybe because my husband and I are as different as night and day and yet somehow… that’s what attracted me to him, but these two are really cute!

In this one, we have the nerdy-esque type one and the bro. Ty and Brax.
I love the chemistry between these two, even when they pretended to hate each other.
Why boys think being jerks is a form of flirting, I’ll never know, but these two pulled it off so well.
It’s a low angst read, which I really needed right now and I found Brax really charming.

These two felt they had to be one way to the world, hiding the things that were going on in their lives, but they found a safe space within each other and watching them get to that place was really cute. I really enjoyed it. It felt genuine and real and new.

I found myself rooting for both of them, both separately and together, though, really together.
There were times where I felt like the picking at each other was a little much, I think they went overboard a little bit at times and I wanted to slap them both around, but it worked for them and the development of their relationship. It was comfortable, in a way.

Overall, it’s just a really cute story with little drama and I just really needed that this week. I really really hope we get a story about Ty’s brother next!

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

. .

Riley Hart has always been known as the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She won her first writing contest in elementary school, and although she primarily focuses on male/male romance, under her various pen names, she’s written a little bit of everything. Regardless of the sub-genre, there’s always one common theme and that’s…romance! No surprise seeing as she’s a hopeless romantic herself. Riley’s a lover of character-driven plots, flawed characters, and always tries to write stories and characters people can relate to. She believes everyone deserves to see themselves in the books they read. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading or enjoying time with her awesome family in their home in North Carolina.

Riley Hart is represented by Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management. She’s a 2019 Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Of Sunlight and Stardust. Under her pen name, her young adult novel, The History of Us is an ALA Rainbow Booklist Recommended Read and Turn the World Upside Down is a Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Award Winner.
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Riley loves hearing from readers. You can contact her at rileyhartwrites@yahoo.com

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