Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

TCO Reviewer: Denise

Operation Green Card by G.B. Gordon: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Arkady Izmaylov is a family man. He’s also gay. In Russia. His sister Natalya has been telling him to get out for years, but it’s only after an attack in the street that he finally concedes and says yes to her desperate plan of him marrying a stranger for a green card.

Jason Cooley was taught from birth that he’s no good to anyone. Then the military taught him he was good enough to save other lives, but that purpose got amputated along with his leg. He’s now working security at Wolf’s Landing and sending monthly checks to his ex for their daughter’s education. When Natalya asks him to marry her brother, Jason knows right away he’ll do it more for the mission than the money she’s offering. But when he actually meets Arkady, his mission turns complicated.

Jason quickly discovers he’s not as straight as he thought. He’s also the man of Arkady’s dreams. Arkady must convince Jason that he’s worth loving, and that Arkady won’t disappear from his life like everyone else. Because Arkady has always wanted a family of his own, and he’s not letting go of this one.

Amazon

Riptide Publishing

I won’t lie, I am going to miss the Bluewater Bay series by Riptide (last book is out next week!). There have been some really great books in this series. This was a good one in the series, for sure. I like that it was one of the last two, going out in style! 🙂

Green card marriage is a trope which if you grew up reading Harlequin romances, you likely came across a time or two. And this one is based around that trope. However, I did like how this one came about. With as much as you hear in the news about how gay men are treated in countries such as Russia, this makes more sense than not.

There was an instant connection on both sides for these men. Arkady knowing he was attracted. Meanwhile, Jason, never having considered himself to be bisexual, gave himself a ton of excuses, yet didn’t have any problem with it once he realized that he was attracted.

I loved that Arkady was free with his love. He loved his family and friends that he moved from, and wanted to have a new family and friends in his new life, throwing himself fully into loving and caring for the people around him as much as possible. Even down to wanting to do renovations for Jason. The reader could feel that it wasn’t just boredom, but a need to do something for someone who meant something to him.

Jason’s lack of belief in himself, didn’t start with his amputated leg, but as a child, and carried through his adult life. His belief that he couldn’t trust anyone to stay, or to appreciate him, not just himself made it difficult for Arkady to get through. So, he did it in small ways. Whether beers on the couch, or shooting at nuts on a log, he worked his way into Jason’s subconscious minute by minute.

I loved that their moment of realization came while sitting in a government office, it seemed so poetic. Another good entry into this fantastic series.

4 pieces of eye candy

About Bluewater Bay

Welcome to Bluewater Bay! This quiet little logging town on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula has been stagnating for decades, on the verge of ghost town status. Until a television crew moves in to film Wolf’s Landing, a soon-to-be cult hit based on the wildly successful shifter novels penned by local author Hunter Easton.

Wolf’s Landing’s success spawns everything from merchandise to movie talks, and Bluewater Bay explodes into a mecca for fans and tourists alike. The locals still aren’t quite sure what to make of all this—the town is rejuvenated, but at what cost? And the Hollywood-based production crew is out of their element in this small, mossy seaside locale. Needless to say, sparks fly.

This collaborative story world is brought to you by eleven award-winning, best-selling LGBTQ romance authors: L.A. Witt, L.B. Gregg, Z.A. Maxfield,  Heidi Belleau, Rachel Haimowitz, Anne Tenino, Amy Lane, SE Jakes, G.B. Gordon, Jaime Samms and Ally Blue. Each contemporary novel stands alone, but all are built around the town and the people of Bluewater Bay and the Wolf’s Landing media empire.

Check it out at Riptide Publishing!

G.B.Gordon worked as a packer, landscaper, waiter, and coach before going back to school to major in linguistics and, at 35, switch to less backbreaking monetary pursuits like translating, editing, and writing.

Having lived in various parts of the world, Gordon is now happily ensconced in suburban Ontario with the best of all husbands.

Connect with Gordon:

To celebrate the release of Operation Green Card, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 16, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Shiver by Christi Snow: Pre-Release Review

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A year ago Corey Abbott’s life entered the realm of the bizarre when he discovered the things that go bump in the night are real. But working for the local vampire council didn’t prepare him for were-deer shifters.

Nine months ago Dare Buckley’s herd abandoned him. Now, he’s slowly going mad from Lyme disease…something that doesn’t hurt normal deer, but for were-deer is fatal.

On one snowy, sleet-filled night, the two collided…literally.

This Christmas two men find love in the most unexpected place…a lonely, desolate highway.

It’s definitely not your typical meet-cute, but it’s a twist of fate that would even make Santa happy.

genre: paranormal romance (deer shifter)…m/m
length: ~18,000 words
release date: December 8, 2017

Amazon

Everyone else

 

The thing about short stories is this…the reader gets a taste of what you are looking for, romance, relationship building, but quite often not enough to satisfying the craving. However, in a pinch, it does what it’s supposed to do, give you that small taste, while still leaving you wanting more. As a general rule, Christi Snow does that for me anyway, whether it’s her full length novels, or a short story about deer shifters.

This one definitely left me wanting to know more about Corey and Dare’s relationship after their Christmas “romance”. I put “romance” in quotes, because it wasn’t as much of a romance as it was a meeting in a rather unconventional way, and a mating that was very strong. Nevertheless, when you have that kind of instant bond, and combine it with a short story, it is always interesting to wonder whether they could work things out as life moves forward. The connection between the two had to be immediate, in order to develop that bond, and the author did a good job of making even the MC’s seem shocked and confused at the instant attraction and bond they developed.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried a little at this one. Christi doesn’t write sweetness too often, and there were parts of this that had me wincing, crying, and wondering how I’d get any sort of happy ending. Yes, it’s a short story, but there was more than one powerful punch.

Recommended for when you want a quick read (because sometimes you just do) and you still want a little agony to go with your HFN/HEA. But as always there is a definite HEA with Christi’s stories.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

The Lightning Struck Heart by TJ Klune, Narration Michael Lesley: Audio Book Review with Giveaway

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Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City Of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident.

Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam’s pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the King’s Wizard, Morgan of Shadows.

When Sam’s fourteen, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds.

At fifteen, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle—Knight Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed.

Naturally, it all goes to hell when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can’t control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the King sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan’s boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have.

Or so he thinks.

Amazon

Audible

Dreamspinner Press

 

I’ll start this review with, I was so dang wrong!!!! I didn’t read this book two years ago, because, well, I don’t know…cause I don’t read “fantasy” books. I don’t read “wizard” books…whatever the reason. I was wrong, just so wrong. And honestly likely would not have still, except for about five minutes that happened in October. At GRL, Michael Lesley read for about five minutes from A Destiny of Dragons, and I was hooked like a crackhead. It was instantaneous. I laughed so hard, that I knew I was going to need that book. Well, if I was going to need book 2, then of course I was going to have to listen to book 1. So, I was wrong, so very wrong. I have been corrected. Okay, moving on.

I really don’t even know where to begin with this book. The story, while not something I would normally read, hooked me from the very beginning, where Sam and Gary are trapped in the cave, and the epic banter and confusion (for the monologue-ing villain at least) begin, and carry you through to their inevitable escape. This book is so brilliantly written, and the characters so unique, that I can’t think of another book I’ve read to even compare it too. It was so damn funny, I am sure my co-workers think I am insane from all the laughing coming from my area. Don’t care! Every character that was introduced was so well rounded, so different, and brought so much depth to the book, I was hooked. It was my crack for several days at work. (And to give you an idea, it normally takes me at least a couple of weeks to listen to an eight hour audio book at work, this took me three days, and it was 19 hours!!!!)

Sam may be my favorite character of any book, ever, of all time, even better than that knight in that book I read as a teenager, that…anyway. Read this damn book!!!! And Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, he is the best friend you want to have with you whenever you are having a hard day, or an easy day, or just love hornless gay unicorns. Gary was A-Mazing. (But don’t tell him, he’ll get a swelled head…oh!)

And as much as I loved the book, the story, the characters, etc. I f***ing (and I rarely use f-bombs in my reviews) LOVED the narration. Michael Lesley was nothing short of brilliant (will he be getting a swelled head too???) with this book. I am in awe of what he did. There were a few times, when I wasn’t listening, but thinking about it, where I wondered how he could have done such an amazing job with the sounds, the different voices, and the cohesion of it all. And then I didn’t want to know, I just wanted to turn the book back on and listen some more. If I had had a voice in my head for these characters from reading the book, I could not have even come close to what I heard. He took a world that was so brilliantly created by TJ Klune and gave it life, color, and a heartbeat.

Since I started this blog, almost four years ago, there has only been one book that I have given 10 out of 5 stars to. Because books that are that amazing do not come along very often. This is the second book. I think I easily would have given the book itself five out of five, if I had read it, but the narration took the book to an entirely different level for me. I will now hear those characters in those voices in my head when I do go back and read the book (which I will be doing).

Of course, I will be listening to this again…however, I just started A Destiny of Dragons this morning (the blind date scene…so funny, I was glad I was home when I was listening, because snort laughing with headphones on is usually frowned upon), and I’ll need to get through that before I go back. Then I need to decide if I will wait for audio on The Consumption of Magic (book 3), or jump right into it. That’ll be a tough decision!!! I do hear there is a book 4 coming next year. So yeah!!!

The awesomeness of the team of TJ Klune and Michael Lesley on this book, and the audio narration of it gets 10 pieces of eye candy (out of a possible 5), along with all my admiration and fan-girling. I will spread the word to anyone who will listen.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more ear crack to get back to, Sam is just about to head to his latest capture. 🙂


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Dyeing to be Loved by Aimee Nicole Walker: Audio Book Tour and Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

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Gabriel Wyatt is a big city Detective living in a small Ohio town. He expects a peaceful existence once he moves from Miami, Florida, but that’s the last thing he finds. Instead, Gabe discovers murder, mayhem, and one smart-mouthed stylist he can’t get out of his head.

Josh “Jazz” Roman is a small-town business owner with big dreams and an attitude to match. He finds himself in the middle of a case that brings the dreamy detective to the front door of his Curl Up and Dye Salon. Josh learns that the biggest threat to him isn’t a killer; it’s a man who wants something from him that he vowed to never give again – his heart.

Both men deny that there’s something between them, even though they’re drawn together like magnets. Can Gabe convince Josh to let down his guard or will Josh let past hurts destroy his chance at a happy future?

DYEING TO BE LOVED

CURL UP AND DYE MYSTERIES SERIES, BOOK 1

AIMEE NICOLE WALKER

M/M ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

RELEASE DATE: 11.08.16

AUDIO RELEASE: 11.07.17

PHOTOGRAPHER: Wander Aguiar

COVER ARTIST:  Jay Aheer/Simply Defined Art

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Listening Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

 

My ringing phone woke me up. I was disoriented because it had grown dark while I napped on the couch with Diva and I momentarily forgot what day it was. I looked at the caller ID and was shocked to see who was calling me. I debated on letting it go to voicemail for about two seconds before I answered it.

“Hello?”

“How are you doing?” Gabe’s deep voice warmed parts of me that no amount of purring from a cat could affect.

“I’m doing okay,” I replied. Was I?

“You feel like having company?” I heard the slight hesitation in his voice, as if he wasn’t sure how well his question would be received.

I knew what happened almost every single time that we were alone together. Was that what I wanted right then? “Yes,” I said answering both of our questions.

“Good,” he said, his voice deepening because he also knew what would happen. “Come down and let me in.”

“You’re here now?” I stood up and ran my free hand through my hair in an attempt to smooth it into place.

“Yes. Come down here and let me in. I’m freezing my nuts off,” he groused.

“Give me a few minutes,” I said and then hung up. I flipped on a few lights on my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I rushed through my routine so that I didn’t keep him waiting long. It was freezing outside and I didn’t want his balls to freeze. I was pretty fond of them, even if I was unsure of the man they were attached to.

“It’s about time,” he said when I opened the door to him. “What the hell took so long?”

I grabbed him by the coat and pulled him into me, pressing my lips against his. Gabe parted his cold lips and I slid my tongue inside to explore his warm mouth in a languid kiss. For once, I didn’t want to rush him into bed. I wanted to take my time and get to know his body better. Hell, I hadn’t even wrapped my lips around his big cock yet; a mistake I planned to rectify immediately.

“Minty fresh,” Gabe said, when our kiss ended. “You’re forgiven for making me wait.”

“Come upstairs with me and I’ll show you other things I can do with my minty fresh mouth.” I laughed when Gabe growled playfully. I needed to be careful or else I’d start liking the detective and the things he made me feel.

So, I kind of did this whole series out of order (which is actually really strange for me, I try to always read a series in order), I actually didn’t read any of this series, until Someone to Call My Own (Road to Blissville, #2), came out. It wasn’t intentional, it was on my TBR, but I just hadn’t gotten to it. But then I read the synopsis for STCMO, and saw the word psychic, and immediately had to read it. As I was reading it, there were a lot of references to Josh and Gabe, as well as some appearances, and since the book was running somewhat concurrently, I knew I was going to need to read it. But I still hadn’t gotten to it.

Then I found out that Joel Leslie was going to narrate it, and I was done. Yep, had to wait for that. And I am so glad I did. He did a great job with this book! He gave each character a little more personality with this voice, and inflections. I loved hearing him switch from Josh to Gabe, to even Savage, the dirty mouthed bird. 🙂 He brought all the characters to life for me (and I have to say that he really hit me HARD with the prequel, with his voice inflections of the amazing sounding woman who brought Josh and Gabe together), and I couldn’t have asked for a better narration for this book.

The author has created some great characters in Josh and Gabe. Well, Gabe was kind of an idiot and a tool, but he came around. Josh was someone who you wanted to be friends with, someone you knew would have your back no matter what. He is hilarious, and snarky, and I wanted to head to his house for Sunday dinner. Aimee created characters, you WANT to read five books on, and then wonder whether there will be more from these two men.

The mystery was well done (although I’ll admit the prequel threw me for a loop, as I wasn’t expecting it), and I know there will be more ahead in this vein. I’m definitely looking forward to it. Now, I have to decide…do I wait for Joel’s next installment, Something to Dye For, or do I dive right in, and then listen to the audio book later? Hmmmm…

Either way, I highly recommend this book, and the audio narration.

Both get 4.5 pieces of eye candy

 

  

I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I’m a girly tomboy who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees.

I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever-after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.

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Dyeing to be Loved, Book 1

Something to Dye For, Book 2

Dyed and Gone to Heaven, Book 3

I Do, or Dye Trying, Book 4

 

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Tried & True by Charlie Cochet: New Release Review with Giveaway

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When THIRDS agent Dexter J. Daley met Team Leader Sloane Brodie, he couldn’t have imagined how slamming into his new partner—literally—would shake both their worlds. Now four years later, they’ve faced dangers, fought battles both personal and professional… and fallen deeply in love. Now their big moment is finally in sight, and they’re ready to stand up together and make it official. Unfortunately, as the countdown to their big day begins, an enemy declares war on the THIRDS….

With their family in danger, Dex and Sloane are put to the test on how far into darkness they’ll walk to save those they love. As secrets are unearthed, a deadly betrayal is revealed, and Dex and Sloane must call on their Destructive Delta family for one last hurrah to put an end to the secret organization responsible for so much devastation.

Dex and Sloane will have plenty of bullets to dodge on the way to the altar, but with happiness within their grasp, they are determined to get there come hell or high water….

Title: Tried & True
Series: THIRDS: Book Ten
Author: Charlie Cochet
Release Date: November 24, 2017
Category: Paranormal
Pages: 254

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Kobo Books

 

My reading time lately has been cut severely because…life. So, I am only reading the books that I want to read. And there was absolutely NO CHANCE I wasn’t going to be reading Tried & True (btw, love the color reference on the cover!!!!) by Charlie, the final book in the THIRDS series (but not even close to the last book with Dex and Sloane…I talked to Charlie in October, and she is working on a new series regarding the TIN adventures that Destructive Delta has ahead of them!)

This is the THIRDS book that all THIRDS Nerds have been waiting for, the wedding between these two men who started their working relationship with Dexter Daley hanging upside down, and have spent years learning how to love each other. This was all worth the wait, and honestly made me want to go back and start all over again, from Hell & High Water.

There were a few adventures in this book-how those men didn’t arrive at the altar by wheelchair is beyond me-but in the end, it was about celebrating a love that has grown and changed, been hidden then outed, helped them find a family they never knew, and bring about quite a few sexy times. And donuts, lots of donuts. In other words, what we read in that book was the culmination of 4 years, 10 books and countless tears (at least by me!), although most of the ones from this one were happy.

I won’t tell you about the wedding, because if you are a true THIRDS NERD, you will want to read it all on your own, but it is worth every word, every second, and every happy tear.

Thank you Charlie for an amazing journey with these guys, and I can’t wait to see what their next adventure will bring.

5 pieces of eye candy


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Tied by Kerri Ann: Release Day Blitz, and Review

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Governor Chris Rock is Carli Katana’s boss—well, ex-boss. And now that she’s run off with her man candy, Whiskey Crown, Chris finds himself in trouble. Without her keeping him out of the press, out of trouble and in check, he’s in for a dick of a lifetime. I mean, a trip of a lifetime.

Arriving in New York for a Governor’s something or other, he’s finding himself in a predick-ament. As a prolific public figure and ex-Marine, there’s always been an expectation of who Chris is and should be; strong, dangerous, fearless, and the typical man’s man. But that’s not him. And as he finds himself longingly staring at the speaker, Tyler Marshall, Chris knows he’s in trouble. Tyler is gorgeous, and he’s everything Chris looks for in a man. The real problem is that in this venue, Tyler’s unattainable.

**This novella has characters from both the Crown and Anchor series and the standalone Rushed. It’s sexy hot and full of laughs. Pre-warning you about it won’t do you any good.

Title – Tied: A Crown & Anchor Novella
Author – Kerri Ann
Genre – M/M Romance Novella
Release Date – November 22, 2017

Amazon

 

Having not read anything in this series, or by this author before, I was taking a chance by jumping in here, but what the heck? Why not? And although the novella was written well, with a few plot twists, I did find it somewhat confusing, not having read the previous in the series. Not that it wasn’t a stand alone, it was. However, the interactions with the side characters left me wondering who was related to who, and what they had to do with this person or that.

That being said, those same interactions, the brunches, provided the reader with lots of funny moments, showing that clearly all these characters meant something to each other.

Chris and Tyler definitely connected well, despite the push and pull initially. My heart went out to Chris who was forced out of the closet…not just out, but tied up!…by an unscrupulous reporter. No one should be outed that way. But finding a way to make this work, as the MC’s tried to figure out what they wanted from each other was a good challenge for them.

I did like how the author left the story. Not quite an HEA, but something to work towards.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

With an avaricious appetite for stories, Kerri Ann can be found quite often with her nose in a book or writing it. On many occasion it has been said that she’s in her own world, living in the stories of those she reads about, giving them a life they deserve.

She can easily be found under a tree in the shade, or reclining at Starbucks scribbling notes about new stories and new characters, all while keeping the coffee chain in business.

Whether late at night, at a music festival, or sitting on a ski lift, when the thoughts arise, Kerri Ann will add them to those in progress. So be wary, your antics could be in her next book.

 

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