TCO Reviewer: Denise

Part Time Daddy by B. Harmony: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

October 8, 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

Goodreads

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?”

Since I’ve not ready anything before by this author, I was going in blind as to what to expect, except that the author’s bio says “mostly sweet”…which I was not expecting to be honest with this book. First, it’s Daddy kink, with a large age gap. Second, many books on the BDSM spectrum tend to be sex heavy (which I don’t mind!)…so how could a Daddy/boy book be sweet. Well, this author managed it, and I FLOVED it!

Dean was the ultimate sweet Daddy. He took care of his boy who was spiraling out of control. He gave him time to be a little, gave him a regimented schedule, food that wasn’t a granola bar, even had the cutest nickname for Tanner’s little. Oh my gosh! My heart! Dean never wanted a relationship, yet almost immediately he wanted Tanner to be his person.

Meanwhile, Tanner had zero time to be little, was overworked with no way out, no one to take care of him, and no time to have a relationship with someone. So, his bidding on Dean at the auction was out of character, but just what he needed, a night to be little, and have all his decisions just taken from him. And their relationship evolved from there.

Sex for these two happened, but honestly as was very appropriate for their “part-time” relationship, it took time. It happens very late in the book, and that was exactly where it belonged. This book was heavy on relationships, both with Daddy and his baby bat, as well as Dean’s with his friends at The Garden. All that moved the story forward, and made this a book that I just couldn’t put down.

Definitely recommend this one, if you are good with a cinnamon roll Daddy, a very tense boy, and all the toys. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

. .

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
https://www.facebook.com/bharmonyauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bsharmonizers
https://www.instagram.com/bharmonyauthor/
https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbharmony
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20444716.B_Harmony
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/b-harmony
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The Rivals of Casper Road (Garnet Run Book 4) by Roan Parrish: New Release Review

October 3, 2022 by Denise

. .

He’s in it to win it

Until he falls under his neighbor’s spell.

Bram Larkspur’s rugged, sexy looks belie his fear of all things horrifying. But as Casper Road’s newest resident, he’s excited to join the annual Halloween decorating contest. The competition is keen, especially from six-time champion, architect Zachary Glass. But when enigmatic Zachary sparks a prank war, it’s game on—until one sizzling kiss turns these rivals into allies. Now only one thing scares Bram: how quickly he’s losing his heart to Zachary.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Amazon

Harlequin

Garnet Run

Book 1: Better Than People
Book 2: Best Laid Plans
Book 3: The Lights on Knockbridge Lane
Book 4: The Rivals of Casper Road

This is the fourth book in the Garnet Run series by this author, and the second to be published under the Harlequin Special Edition romance line, and it makes my little heart so happy to see gay romance being represented in a product line that I’ve been reading since I was a teenager. And Roan Parrish is a great author to have this opportunity.

On to this particular book. Bram Larkspur might be the sweetest man I’ve ever seen written. Scared of horror movies, frightening Halloween displays and the like (I’m right there with you, Bram!), and nothing but positivity in all things he comes in contact with. He had his heart broken by his best friend and boyfriend, so decided to move away to start over. Even with that kind of heaviness weighing him down, he still managed to only be positive and happy most times.

Zachary Glass, an architect that worked from home and seemed to rarely leave his house, was obsessed with making the most elaborate Halloween display each year. I was a little perplexed at this. He didn’t really seem to like Halloween, or the children, just the competition of beating the others on Casper Road, and outdoing himself every year. He was honestly a difficult man to like from the beginning. He was unpleasant much of the time, not welcoming, and when his routine was disturbed it caused great stress. This last part I understood more, simply by understanding that his personality was that of a recluse, like his best friend Wes, and although it was never stated, he seemed to be neurodivergent. He did struggle with niceties, but was willing to try for Bram. But when he neglected to tell Bram about the Denver job, I kind of wanted to have Bram say “well, forget it then”.

However, I did end up liking them as a couple. Zachary was who he was. Confessed to not liking dogs, but was still kind to Hemlock, talked to Bram’s family, yet stood up for Bram when they seemed to forget that he was an adult and capable of making decisions.

There were some unsettled issues that kind of broke my heart, and could lend itself to a sequel, or it could just be that that’s how life is…you don’t always find the answers you were looking for. The way that Zachary came to terms with this issue at the end brought tears to my eyes. Sometimes you simply have to accept, and hope that it finds a way to be a light for you, and not bring you into the dark further.

Overall, these were very different characters than I’ve seen from this author, and I loved getting to see characters from past books pop in, but still with a satisfying ending.

3.75 pieces of eye candy

The Holiday Trap: An LGBT romcom by Roan Parrish: New Release Review

September 19, 2022 by Denise

. .

FROM A COZY NEW ENGLAND HAVEN TO THE HEART OF NEW ORLEANS COMES ONE HOLIDAY THAT’LL CHANGE THEIR LIVES

Greta Russakoff loves her tight-knit family and tiny Maine hometown, but they can’t seem to understand what it’s like to be a lesbian living in such a small world. When an act of familial meddling goes way too far, she realizes just how desperately she needs space to figure out who she is.

Truman Belvedere’s heart is crushed when he learns that his boyfriend has a secret life including a husband and daughter. Reeling, all he wants is a place to lick his wounds far, far away from Louisiana.

Enter a mutual friend with a life-altering idea: swap homes for the holidays. For one perfect month, Greta and Truman will have a chance to experience a whole new world…and maybe fall in love with the partner of their dreams. But all holidays must come to an end, and eventually these two transplants will have to decide whether the love (and found family) they each discovered so far from home is worth fighting for.

Amazon – All Regions

Ripped Bodice

I was seriously looking forward to this book, from the first time I saw it coming out. A great premise, two people switching places, so that they can get away from the strain of their current lives. And there was so much to unpack in this book! *Side note: I do have to say that I would not call this an LGBT romcom. It didn’t strike me as a romcom at all.* It is a long book, nearly 500 pages, but when you essentially have two romance novels in one book, it’s going to be a long one, and very little of the book was “filler”.

Greta, whose family is…a challenge. I honestly could not figure out how she dealt with all the family dysfunction she did for so long. Her mother was controlling, even though she pretended not to be, her oldest sister was for all intents and purposes a b*tch, and her father could not be bothered to support his child. So, Greta looked to get away, see a bit of the world, enjoy some time in the complete opposite of small town Maine, New Orleans. While she was there, she not only fell in love with Carys, but also with the city, the people, the friends she made, even the plant life. And she learned that people with mature relationships don’t treat their friends and family as if their thoughts and cares don’t matter. The visuals of New Orleans were so good. I just loved that!

Truman, who had another bad relationship, had to leave town to avoid being hurt further by his cheating boyfriend (small spoiler: cheating boyfriend gets his in the end 🙂 ). He swaps with Greta, heading to Owl Island, Maine, and falls in love with the small town feel, where everyone knows everyone else, where people help each other, whether it’s glass jars or helping to care for family members. And of course he falls in love with Ash, who, to be honest, was struggling. Having dealt with the exact thing Ash was going through, it is a drain, it pulls everything you have to give, until you feel stretched so thin, you’re not sure how you don’t break. That was the place where Ash was, and Truman was there to hold his hand, and help give him a little peace. It warmed my heart so much. When you are in that place, the smallest gesture means more than people know, and Truman did all he could to help Ash stand up and find his life again.

This book had so much heart, so much love, and such a level of caring, not just between the four MC’s, but even the side characters. Muriel, Greta’s plant loving friend, Ronnie and Helen, Carys’s housemates, who Greta quickly found a bond with, outside of Carys. Truman meeting the restaurant owners that Ash would be working with on their new project (now THAT was funny stuff). Ramona who was the one that put the swap into place for them. And both Truman and Greta learning how to be mature adults, engage in relationships that are not toxic.

This book had real emotions, and connection between all the characters, main and side, and it was hard sometimes for me to remember I was reading a book, and not living some of that life myself. It broke my heart a bit in many places (hence, the not a romcom), but definitely put it back together again.

I definitely recommend this one. It’s a great holiday read.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

More info is at my website: roanparrish.com

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A Little More Trust (Hot Property Book 1) by Pauley J Ray: RB, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

September 12, 2022 by Denise

. .

Ethan Scott has everything he could possibly want: an amazing career, great friends, and more money than he’s ever dreamed of. Oh, and men. So many men. Yep, life is perfect, and he doesn’t ever see it changing.

Nate Sullivan has sworn off men. They can’t be trusted. Simple as that. After years of being lied to by the man he thought he loved, the very married man with a wife and kids, he’s promised to never give his heart away or get emotionally attached to anyone again.

Ethan thinks it’ll be a sure thing to get Nate into his bed, but when the sexy and frustrating decorator rebuffs him at every turn, he comes up with a new plan to tempt the man he can’t stop thinking about. A sex agreement. For the duration of Nate’s work contract, with no strings attached and definitely no hearts and roses or emotional fallout.

It sounds like the perfect deal. Nate gets to have the man he’s been craving since they first met before walking away, his heart intact. Ethan gets to have Nate in his bed, finally satisfying the itch he’s constantly trying to scratch. Problem is, Ethan’s still trying to extricate himself from his disastrous marriage and if there’s one thing Nate won’t touch, it’s a married man. When Nate finds out what Ethan’s been hiding, the betrayal of trust leaves him devastated.

Nate leaves, but Ethan’s determined not to let him go. Will Nate give him the chance to explain, or will he risk losing the only man he’s ever truly loved?

Title: A Little More Trust

Series: Hot Property, Book One

Author: Pauley J Ray

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 09/06/2022

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 84600

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, alpha males, blue-collar, businessman, home repair

Amazon – All Regions

NineStar Press

Goodreads

Ethan

Pouring the steaming coffee into my usual mug, I let the rich aroma fill my senses. God, I needed this. Taking a large gulp, I savored the strong taste as it hit my tongue, the heat burning my mouth and throat as I swallowed, I hoped like hell the caffeine would kick start my body after the late night I’d had.

I plopped myself down at the kitchen table to take the weight off my aching thigh muscles from last night’s activities when the front doorbell rang loudly in the quiet space. Who the hell was that—I glanced at the clock on the wall—at a quarter to nine on a Saturday morning?

The bell rang again so I pushed my seat back and dragged my ass up the stairs and down the first-floor hallway. Yanking the front door open to get rid of whoever had ruined my peaceful morning, I was about to give them an earful, but then I looked into his face and the words died on my lips.

The man standing on my doorstep must have been mid-twenties at the most. A few inches shorter than my own six two, he wore a blue baggy t-shirt a good couple of sizes too big, almost drowning his slim frame, and a pair of loose-fitting gray jeans and black sneakers. His angular face gave him a Scandinavian look, with a strong jaw and high cheekbones. Sandy blond hair shone golden in the morning sun, short on the sides and long on top, swept away from his forehead and held in place with some product. My fingers itched to slide through the strands to see if they were as soft as they looked and a sudden image of my hand gripping tightly in his hair as I tilted his head to lick up his neck flashed through my mind.

Despite the tempting package he presented, I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away from his lips. Pink and full, they were begging to be kissed, and I had to bite down hard on my tongue to refrain from licking my own in readiness.

Well, hello, Blondie.

“Mister Scott?” his smooth, quiet voice asked, giving me goosebumps and pulling me from the trance I’d fallen into. Lifting my gaze to the palest green eyes I’d ever seen, I nodded at his question, my mouth suddenly unable to voice a coherent response. He shifted on his feet, “I’m, err, here about the painting quote.”

Damn, was that today?

He extended his hand out in front of him, and, giving myself a mental shake to wake the hell up, I reached for his and clasped his palm, my own larger hand encasing his. A shock of electricity shot up my arm catching me by surprise. The guy obviously felt the effect too as his eyes widened and he took in a short, sharp breath.

Interesting.

“Please, call me Ethan.” I held onto his warm hand a little longer than necessary before reluctantly releasing it and giving him a friendly smile.

The guy stiffened slightly and inclined his head. “I’m Nate.”

“Nate.” I savored his name on my tongue, rolling it around. “Please, come on inside.”

I stepped aside to let him enter, unable to resist the urge to lean in slightly and inhale his scent as he passed by me. Light and citrusy with a hint of soap. As he moved into the hallway, I gave him the once over and was disappointed to see his t-shirt covered his ass, obscuring my view.

Jesus. I had to stop perving on the guy. I deliberately pushed my hands into my sweatpants pockets to try to hide my growing erection and to subtly press my fingers against the head of my cock to give me some degree of control and hopefully, relief.

It didn’t.

Nate had stopped a few feet into the hallway, glancing around, assessing his surroundings, but he didn’t say anything and waited silently for me to take the lead.

“Come on,” I offered. “I’ll give you the tour, and we can talk about what I want.”

He paused for a second but then walked past me into the hallway, my eyes once more running over the baggy t-shirt and shapeless jeans he wore. I almost cursed out loud wondering what the body hiding underneath might look like, which was weird as this guy wasn’t my type at all, so why Nate intrigued me was puzzling.

Maybe it was because he wasn’t all over me like guys usually were? I inwardly scoffed at the notion of my ego being so fragile I couldn’t handle not being wanted and had something to prove. Not surprising with my upbringing but hell, I hoped I wasn’t that shallow.

Though there was something attractive about the way his calm demeanor pulled me in. With my hectic social life and full-on work schedule, I barely had a second in which to relax, but though I’d only met the guy five minutes ago, Nate slowed everything down and being in his presence made me calmer.

Mentally shaking my head, I tried to focus on the reason why Nate was here. To give me a quote to paint my house. So, concentrating on that, I proceeded to give him the grand tour.

I’d moved into the four-story Victorian townhouse just over a month ago, so had hardly any furniture cluttering the place, which made things easier to see and for Nate to get a feel for what needed to be done. With an open and airy first floor letting the light flood in and four bedrooms spread over the upper two floors, the place was far bigger than I needed, but as soon as the realtor had shown me around, I had to have it.

Taking the stairs down to the lower floor I led him past the dining room and into the huge open plan kitchen at the rear of the house with the French doors leading onto the garden.

I’d been watching Nate carefully as I’d given my tour. He still hadn’t said much, and his lack of communication was beginning to get to me, as was my inability to get a read on him, something I was usually extremely good at. But as we progressed and each room had been revealed, he’d relaxed a bit more as his obvious delight at the house and the possibility of getting his hands on such a historic building to paint had emerged.

Which I liked. A lot.

“You have a beautiful home, Mister Scott,” he said, his gentle voice filling the quiet surrounding us.

The words were the most he’d spoken since we’d begun the tour. I was extremely pleased at his compliment but, for some reason, refrained from saying so. Instead, shoving my hands back in my pockets, I rocked back and forth on my heels. “I like it, and as I stated earlier, please, call me Ethan.”

The corner of his lips curled up in the barest hint of a smile, making my heart beat a bit faster in my chest.

Pulling out a chair, he sat down at the whitewashed kitchen table and hooked his hands underneath his legs. “So, if you let me know what you’d like, I can put a quote together for you.”

I tried to resist, but, for some reason, the quiet man in front of me made me determined to get some sort of reaction, so I lowered my voice an octave and replied, “You want to know what I like?”

My flirty question had the desired effect as a full-on blush formed on his cheeks and his mouth dropped open.

God, he’s so cute.

“F-for the house.” He fidgeted in his seat. “What you’d like for the house.”

“Ah, okay.” Moving away from the counter and pulling out my own chair, I sat down opposite him, needing to get closer to this man who predictably leaned as far away in his seat as he could. “This is where I’ll need your help.” I rested my hands on the table. “I’m not good at this type of thing.”

I wasn’t clueless at all. In fact, I was damn good at painting, as my business partners and I had built a successful construction company from our humble beginnings with house renovations. And because of our success and the crazy number of hours I worked, it left me no time to paint my own home. Hence, the need to hire someone to do it for me.

The premise behind this book was great, it drew me in, even with the warning about cheating, which is generally a big no for me. However, there were extenuating circumstances, so even though it was technically cheating, with Ethan in the middle of a divorce, it was not crossing that line in my eyes.

Nate was super shy, almost terribly so, stuttering from nervousness whenever Ethan tried to get too close. He was a very sweet guy, who just wanted to do his job, keep his head above water, and ignore the mess that his love life was after dating a man for years who was married to a woman with young kids. It definitely laid the foundation for the break of trust that comes later between Nate and Ethan.

Once Nate gave in to Ethan, it fairly quickly became a bit of insta-love. And this next sentence is one I’ve only written once or twice in a review before. There was too much sex in this book. As a general rule, I think, the sex should move the story along. There can be as many sex scenes in a BDSM book, but it would likely not feel like too much sex, because of the genre. However, this had scenes that I felt easily could have been cut from the book, and it would not have changed it at all.

I would have liked to maybe have a scene or two with Ethan’s ex, Andrew, to have a better understanding why he was so challenging when it came to signing the divorce papers. Maybe even a confrontation between Nate and Andrew. To be honest, I did expect that to happen the times that Nate was left at Ethan’s home waiting for him.

It was a bit of an abrupt ending, with a final scene that seemed to fall a bit flat for me, as it came in the last 4% of the book, followed up with a short, but sweet epilogue to follow.

Overall the writing was well done, for a first time author, and I’d like to read an additional book in this series.

3 pieces of eye candy

Pauley J Ray has been making up stories in his head for as long as he can remember, and now gets to write those stories down in his own gay romantic fiction, involving sexy, complicated, and flawed characters searching for their happily ever after.

When not writing, he loves meeting up with friends and can’t wait to get outdoors with his husband, hiking, camping and traveling to new and exciting places as often as they can.

He feels extremely lucky to be able to sit at his laptop, all day, every day, creating the heartfelt, angsty and passionate romance books he himself loves to read.

Author Links

Website: http://www.pauleyjray.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057196472957

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pauleyjray

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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!

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Like Real People Do (Breakaway Book 1) by E.L. Massey: Release Blitz, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

August 29, 2022 by Denise

. .

Nineteen-year-old hockey phenom Alexander Price is the youngest-ever captain in the NHL. With a polarizing social media presence and a predilection for dirty play, he typifies the stereotype of young, out-of-control athlete. But away from the cameras, Alex is a kid with an anxiety disorder and the expectations of an expansion franchise on his shoulders. And maybe he tries too hard to fit the part of asshole playboy, but it’s better than the alternative; in his line of work, gay is the punchline of an insult, not something he can be.

Eighteen-year-old vlogger Elijah Rodriguez is a freshman in college recovering from an injury that derailed his Olympic figure-skating dreams. Mixed-race, disabled, and out of the closet since he was fourteen, Eli is unapologetically himself. He has no qualms about voicing his disapproval of celebrity jocks who make homophobic jokes on Twitter and park their flashy cars in the handicapped spaces outside of ice rinks.

After an antagonistic introduction, Alex and Eli’s inexplicable friendship both baffles and charms the internet. But navigating relationships is hard enough for normal teenagers. It’s a lot harder when the world—much of it disapproving—is watching you fall in love with your best friend.

Title: Like Real People Do

Series: Breakaway, Book One

Author: E.L. Massey

Release Date: 08/23/2022

Heat Level: 2 – Fade to Black Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, contemporary, gay, interracial, new adult, sports, ice hockey, uni student, ice skating, professional athlete, slow burn, rivals/enemies to lovers, physical disability, anxiety disorder, in the closet, coming out, service dog, cooking/foodies, Louboutin devotion, stanning, friends to lovers, social media, vlogging, hashtags

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NineStar Press

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There are admittedly worse things in the world than having to walk two blocks on a Wednesday morning in July.

Eli knows from experience there are worse things in the world.

Like being diagnosed with epilepsy at sixteen.

Like having heat-induced seizures and living in Texas.

Objectively, he knows there are worse things, but right at this moment, he can’t think of many because it’s 6:00 a.m., and he isn’t allowed to have caffeine because they’ve changed his medication again, and he’s had to park in the visitor’s garage because the only two handicap spaces at the north entrance of the Houston Hell Hounds official practice facility had been occupied by one parallel-parked Land Rover decidedly lacking handicap tags.

“Motherfucking hockey players,” Eli says to the empty sidewalk.

So now he’s running late because it’d taken him an extra ten minutes to find the visitors’ lot, and he’d still needed to stop and let his dog pee before they entered the complex. Because being the disabled kid whose service dog pees in the rink on the first day of practice will guarantee he never has a collegiate social life to speak of. Not that he holds out particularly high hopes for that anyway.

The security guard at the door barely glances at his newly printed student ID before waving him to the left with a tired, “Rink Three, end of the hallway on your right.”

She looks like she could use some coffee too.

“Right. Thanks.” Eli shifts his backpack, sparing a last hateful glance at the Land Rover outside.

“Hey, do you happen to know whose car that is out front? License plate AP23?”

She lifts one eyebrow. “You mean Alexander Price?”

Because of course. Of course it was Alexander Price. Eli tries to avoid too much familiarity with the hockey world, but there are some things you just know if you spend enough time around ice, and one of those things is the name of the youngest current captain in the NHL, who is apparently just as much of a douche off the ice as tabloids would suggest.

Eli takes a steadying breath. “You know where I could find him?”

The security guard considers Eli’s expression, then the dog at his feet, then the ill-parked vehicle outside.

“I take it you don’t want an autograph?”

“No.”

She gives him an apologetic smile. “I don’t think I can have his car towed, but I can file a complaint if you’d like.”

“That would be great, thanks.”

He starts to move forward again before pausing. “Do you know if Jeff Cooper is back from IR?” he asks. He doesn’t make a habit of following hockey, but when he’s potentially in the same building as a gold-medal-winning, world-junior-figure-skater-turned-NHL-player, he’d like to know.

“Yeah. As of this week, he’s cleared to skate no-contact in practices.” She grins. “He also parks in the players’ lot like he’s supposed to.”

Eli would expect nothing less.

“They’re in practice for another hour and a half,” she adds. “But sometimes Cooper does the meet and greet afterward.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Rink Two.” She nods to the right hallway. “Price will be there, too, but he almost never comes out afterward.”

“Shocking.”

The doors open behind him and an entirely too-awake girl wearing a hijab that matches her leggings waves at them both and hands over her student ID.

“Morning,” she says, careful not to run over Hawk’s tail with her rolling skate bag. “Your dog is beautiful.”

“Thanks,” Eli says. “Are you a freshman too?”

Which is a stupid question because he knows the rest of the figure skating team isn’t supposed to start practice for another week. Obviously, she’s there for freshman orientation just like he is.

“Yeah!” she says, apparently immune to his idiocy. “I’m Morgan. Just moved in last night. Thank god for coffee, right? I’m so nervous I didn’t sleep at all.”

“Right,” he agrees wryly. “I’m Eli.”

She gets her ID back from the security guard, and they start down the left hallway together.

“It’s so cool the Hell Hounds share their facilities with the university,” she says. “Did you know their practices are open to the public? I think I might go try to get an autograph or two later if we have time.”

“Yeah,” he says. “I might join you.”

What a fantastic read! E.L. Massey is a newly published author but I will definitely be looking for more from her. The characters in this book felt so real. With disability representation, as well as a mixed race character, these two have a little meet-cute (aka a bit antagonistic) at college.

Elijah is a vlogger and figure skater that suffers from epilepsy due to an accident. Meanwhile, Alex is the youngest captain of an NHL team.

They begin a tentative friendship and it grows, while everyone watches online. It felt so realistic. There is a great cast of secondary characters with Cody, James, Jeff, and Kuzy.

The story was very well written, and had a good amount of realism. The pacing of the book kept me thoroughly engaged.

Overall, just a phenomenal story. And looking forward to the next in the series. I definitely recommend this one.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

E.L. Massey is a human. Probably. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her partner, the best dog in the world (an unbiased assessment), and a frankly excessive collection of books. She spends her holidays climbing mountains and writing fan fiction, occasionally at the same time.

Author Links

Website: https://elmassey.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericalyn.massey/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/el_masseyy

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/el_masseyy

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