Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

TCO Reviewer: Erin

Strawberry Kisses by Charlie Novak: New Release Review

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Patrick’s To Do List:
1. Tell family I’m gay
2. Make giant cake for anniversary party
3. Convince Connor to be my fake boyfriend for the weekend
4. Try to keep my hands off Connor
5. Make sure Connor doesn’t find out I’ve been in love with him for the last three years

Connor’s Steps for Success:
1. Perfect pole routine for Chrome Stars
2. Continue search for perfect music
3. Survive weekend with Patrick’s family without mauling him while sharing a bed
4. Prevent feelings from exploding like a glitter bomb
5. Make sure Patrick doesn’t find out I’ve been in love with him forever

Strawberry Kisses is a 78,000 word standalone, contemporary MM romance featuring a sweet pastry chef, sassy pole dancer, a nosy but loving family, fabulous make-up, fluffy feels, and copious amounts of cake.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

New to me author! That I like! YAY! Yes, I know that is rare. Ish.

Connor and Patrick. BFF who are a bit like Mutt and Jeff. Patrick, pastry chef, doesn’t work out, big family that are definitely on the high end of middle class, quiet and a bit introverted. Connor. ballet and pole dancer, incredible body, son of a single mom, full of energy and everyone’s friend.

They shouldn’t be best friends, but they are. So when Patrick has to go home for his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, he figures he finally has to come out to them. They are hardly surprised and they think Connor is his boyfriend.

BFF to fake boyfriend to real boyfriend! Fun!

I love how Patrick just let Connor be who he was. Slightly fem, wears make up, is a pole dancer. He won’t tolerate anyone making comments or disparaging him. It was so sweet. Even though they were “fake” boyfriends, they fell right into the roles. Probably because they were the roles they each wanted but were too afraid to say.

Until the kissing.

Patrick’s family was fun and funny and added to the story without taking it over. Some of the comments from the elderly aunts were an absolute riot! But at the same time, it didn’t drone on introducing 100 family members. Just a couple to keep it interesting.

There’s a bit of a “is this real or is this fake” thing, which both characters struggled with before they finally came to their senses. Whew!

And the epilogue was just perfect. I am such a sucker for a great epilogue.

If you are a Lily Morton fan, this book is in that same vein. Not as snarky, but similar humor, great characters and a good story line.

4 pieces of eye candy

Tic-Tac-Mistletoe by N.R. Walker: New Release Review and Excerpt

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Hamish Kenneally is moving from Australia to the US for a fresh start, beginning with Christmas at his sister’s place in Idaho. When a snowstorm diverts his plane to Montana and leaves him stranded two days before Christmas, he hires a car and drives right into a blizzard.

Ren Brooks has always called Hartbridge, Montana, and his family hardware store, home. After a few failed attempts at love, he’s resigned to being single forever—after all, no guy wants to stay in his sleepy little town for long. And after his dad’s passing earlier in the year, Ren’s Christmas is looking bleak. But when a car runs off the road in front of his property, Ren pulls the driver out and takes him home to get out of the cold.

With the storm and the holidays leaving Hamish with nowhere else to go, Ren kindly offers a place to stay. Hamish is certain he’s crashed right into a Hallmark Christmas movie, despite more car delays and road closures and the prospect of not seeing his sister for Christmas. And with help from Hamish, Ren is beginning to feel a little Christmas cheer.

These two unlikely strangers have more in common than they first realise, and after two days of Christmas decorations, cookies, and non-stop conversation, it looks like Christmas might be saved after all.

Tic-Tac-Mistletoe

NR Walker

Genre: MM Holiday Romance

Release date: November 27, 2020

Tropes:

  • One Aussie, one American
  • A snowstorm
  • Christmas cookies
  • A dog called Chutney
  • Laughs, tears, and all the feels

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

A totally catastrophic, unmitigated disaster.

What is a totally catastrophic, unmitigated disaster, you might ask?

Let me break it down for you real quick.

My life, my relationship, my job, my plans, my future, and this whole damn trip.

So, basically me.

Me.

I am the totally catastrophic unmitigated disaster.

Hamish Kenneally, thirty-one-year-old Australian, who quit his shitty job and sold his shitty apartment and left behind his shitty life in Sydney, packed his said-shitty life into two suitcases, and boarded a plane to spend Christmas with his sister in God-knows-where, Idaho, USA.

Well, Christmas first. Then two years, at least, in America trying to unshitify his life.

And if the trip to said God-knows-where, Idaho, was any indication of just how spectacularly extra-shitified my life was going to get, I should have turned around and stayed right where I was.

Because if the flight from Sydney to LA was bad, which it was, then the second flight, LA to Spokane, made the first flight look like a joy ride.

Because I didn’t get to Spokane, did I?

Oh no, of course I didn’t.

Because you see, Christmastime in America is in winter. Which is weird enough for this Australian. Christmas should be hot summer days at the beach, seafood and salads, beers and watching the bronzed surfers and drunk foreigners at Bondi. That is what Christmas should be.

None of this “sorry folks; to avoid flying into a massive snow blizzard, we’re being diverted to Missoula, Montana” crap the captain of the plane said when we were halfway there. Like the screaming baby in the seat next to me, or the vomiting lady in the row in front of me weren’t bad enough. Like we had any choice about which direction we were flying into.

I had no choice. I was now going to Montana. In a freaking blizzard, of all things. Ever been on a plane that flew into a snowstorm? There is zero joy in that kind of turbulence, believe me. It would also explain the screaming baby and the vomiting woman. And the man behind me saying Hail Mary’s . . . which you’d think might be comforting. But oh boy, is it ever not. Especially when he yelled the prayer every time we hit a particularly large pothole in the sky on the descent. Honestly, if this flight was a scene in a movie, you’d think it was too ridiculous to be real.

After the plane landed—to which I would have clapped and cheered like everyone else if I wasn’t stuck in the brace position after trying to kiss my own arse goodbye—we were kicked off the plane without so much as a good luck in the wrong bloody state.

So there I was, a clueless Aussie, after flying for twenty hellish-hours and now a few hundred kilometres from where I was supposed to be, trying to wrangle two overweight suitcases down the concourse, when one little wheel on my suitcase broke.

Because of course it did.

Frazzled and trying not to cry— Yes, cry. A thirty-one-year-old man can cry; shove your toxic masculinity in your cakehole and stop judging me. I was having a jetlag-fuelled shitastic day meltdown, trying to keep my shit together the best I could, and clearly not doing it very well. I was allowed a little saltwater leakage.

Anyway, getting back to my story. I tried to call my sister.

No signal.

Because of course there’s not.

So, taking a deep breath and willing myself not to spiral, I found my car rental kiosk. Finally, something is going right. “I have a car booked,” I said, trying to keep my now-broken suitcase upright with my foot while rifling through my backpack for my booking confirmation and driver’s licence. After dropping my passport and half the contents from my backpack all over the floor, then scrambling to collect it all while still trying to keep my suitcase upright, I handed everything over with a flourish of triumph. “Oh, that flight was the worst,” I said, sagging onto the counter. I was about to tell her all about my day from the ninth circle of hell when she looked up at me with that look.

You know the one.

The look of superficial appeasement before they cut you off at the knees. “I’m sorry, sir. But I don’t have a reservation under your name.”

I stared at her. My brain short-circuited and the will to live left my body. It was an actual out-of-body experience, I’m sure of it. I could see myself staring at her, mouth gaping like I’d been lobotomised.

Because of course they didn’t have my booking.

Why would they? My rental car was waiting for me in Spokane. In Washington. Not in freaking Montana.

“Oh,” I whispered, and my left eye twitched. “That’s nice.” I looked around the airport, at the line of annoyed people behind me. “Excellent. I’ve seen that movie where Tom Hanks lives in an airport. It wasn’t so bad. Could be worse. Could’ve been the one where he’s stuck on the island, I guess. Though I didn’t pack a volleyball, so that would’ve sucked.”

She blinked and tap-tap-tapped away at her keyboard. “But sir, we’ve had a lot of cancelled flights today because of the weather. I can arrange a vehicle for you, if you’d like?”

Oh, my sweet baby Jesus in a manger, why didn’t she lead with that?

NR Walker is prolific- writing so many different kinds of books, but one constant is she always has a light hearted, cute, funny rom-com style book as well. This is definitely that.

Adorable? check!
Dog? check!
Giant snow storm? check!
Forced proximity? check!
Cute, funny and sweet? check, check and check!

Ren and Hamish are so sweet. Hamish says it himself several times- it’s like a Hallmark Christmas movie. Small town, everyone knows everyone, lonely business owner, tourist (sort of) from Australia.

I don’t expect big sweeping storylines for a Christmas short. I was sweet and happy and falling in love. And you 100% get that.

In fact, as I was finishing it, I almost messaged the author to say that I wanted them to get a full book. But the epilogue was so satisfying that I don’t need it.

So curl up with some hot chocolate and smile as you read about Ren and Hamish falling in love.

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…

For more about N.R. Walker you can find her at:

Website

Facebook

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Instagram

Amazon

Audible

Bookbub

Email: nrwalker@nrwalker.net

Secret Daddy by J.R. Gray: New Release Review

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I hadn’t admitted to myself that my life was going nowhere until I first had him.

Living back in my small mountain town, in my childhood home, with my older brother, working at the library wasn’t as exciting as I imagined.

That was until a stranger came to the library one night and turned my world around.

Night after night, month after month, I waited for him after dark.

He never let me see his face but he always showed me how well he knew me. No one had ever read my needs so well or pushed me so far and I was in too deep before I even knew who he was.

I just called him Daddy.

****Secret Daddy is a Holiday MM romance featuring a small town, a librarian, a park ranger, and some forced proximity.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

That opening chapter is NOT for the faint hearted. Wooo boy. This book jumps right in with some kinky sex between the 2 main characters. I mean, I am fine with that. But just letting you know, there is no foreplay.

There is virtually no set up to the story. We didn’t really get to know the characters until they get snowed in together. And Aiden learns who his secret Daddy is. So even though they had this kinky, secret sex relationship together for months, we only got to see one scene.

And one of the things Aiden asks or points out several times is that he doesn’t want to lose that. But it never happens again in the book. I mean, they do continue their relationship and there is some kinky af happenings. But never again at the library.

There is also a back story that we only get a glimpse of with an older estranged brother. It made me think that I was missing a previous book. I wasn’t and apparently we are getting more of that story in another book.

This book wasn’t my favorite- from the kind of backwards storytelling to Aiden being just a complete brat13, like way over the top and no Dom would deal with that, to the missing pieces of the back story. But the kinky scenes were well done and I could really feel how much Jensen cared for and loved Aiden.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Dear Daddy, Please Hold Us (Naughty or Nice Book 3) by Colette Davison: RB, Excerpt and New Release Review

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All Zeke wants for Christmas is a Daddy for two. Can his wish come true?

Dear Santa,
If I could make one wish this Christmas, it would be for a Daddy with a big enough heart for two. We both want a Daddy who can be loving, but also firm when he needs to be, who enjoys spanking his boys and making their asses red, and with big enough arms to hold us both.

We need a Daddy who can help us let go and relax.

Lastly, but probably most importantly, we need a Daddy who can meet both our needs. I don’t have many boundaries as long as I can trust my Daddy, and I’m open to trying new things. Rett…well, he’s a little more reserved but he has a huge heart, and he’s the sweetest boy you’ll ever meet.

Here’s the thing, Santa: I have a little over a week to convince Rett to stay. I don’t know if you can magic up a Daddy who can love us both, but I’m making this wish anyway.

With hope,
Zeke

Dear Daddy, Please Hold us is an MMM Christmas romance, with a pair of army brats, an Englishman in New York who knows how to handle them, a purple triceratops teddy, and lots of sweet cuddles.

This book is part of the Naughty or Nice multi-author series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but there are so many boys hoping that holiday magic will bring them their perfect Daddy, why not grab them all?

Book Title: Dear Daddy, Please Hold Us

Author: Colette Davison

Publisher: Independently Published

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood

Release Date: December 8, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: MMM, Daddy kink, age gap, age play

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 70 000 words

It is a standalone story.

It’s part of the Naughty or Nice multi-author series.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

As they helped me clean up after dinner, I tried to work out what kind of scene would make them both feel cared for and wanted in equal measure.

Then came a moment when we were all in closer quarters than we had been the whole evening. There wasn’t a lot of space between the kitchen counters and the breakfast bar, so while Rett was loading the dishwasher, I was drying the pots that couldn’t go in, and Zeke was putting the wine glasses away, both young men were within touching distance.

I put down the pot I was drying and the tea towel, and as soon as Zeke had closed the cupboard door, I hooked my finger through his belt loop, tugged him close, and mashed my lips to his in a commanding kiss. He let out a throaty chuckle. When he pressed his body against mine, I felt the makings of an erection through his jeans.

Rett was crouched down by the open dishwasher, eyes wide as he watched us. Had he ever seen his best friend kiss another man before? As I wrapped one arm around Zeke’s back, I wriggled my fingers at Rett, inviting him to join us. For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t, but then he stood, closed the dishwasher, and edged closer, one tentative step at a time. As soon as he was close enough, I put my arm around his waist and pulled him to me. They were standing shoulder to shoulder, their bodies tracing mine. I tore my mouth from Zeke’s and, with his saliva still damp on my lips, kissed Rett.

“Oh, Daddy, that’s hot,” Zeke breathed as he watched the two of us kiss.

Hearing him call me ‘Daddy’ sent blood pulsing to my cock. It was good to know Zeke felt comfortable enough to say it, and it made me long for the moment ‘Daddy’ would cross Rett’s lips too.

Rett put his hand on my chest and gripped my shirt in his fingers. He relaxed a little against me, but there was still far too much tension in his slender body.

“Now kiss each other,” I commanded.

They didn’t hesitate. They kissed each other dirtily for me, sucking each other’s tongues as I held them. Then Zeke’s mouth was on mine again, and a few seconds later, I was kissing Rett once more. Zeke sought out Rett’s neck with his mouth, sucking and kissing in a way I was sure was going to leave a mark. Rett moaned as we both lavished attention on him, and his body became a little more pliant in my arms.

I ran my hands down to their arses and squeezed, tugging them so I could feel every inch of their bodies against mine.

“Let’s move to the bedroom.”

Zeke and Rett are best friends and in love. Except that they are both bottoms and submissive. They both want a Daddy and it never really occurred to them to get one Daddy for the both of them. Until Santa sends them Micah.

Micah was great at meeting the needs of both boys, as well as encouraging-without pushing- one to find some peace as a little. I have to say that when they were talking about their rules that there would be no sexual contact when Rett was in little space.

The sex scenes were inventive and incredibly hot; even if sometimes I had a hard time picturing how it would all work.

I will say it was verrrrrrrrrrrry schmoopy and sweet. The only angst was some grieving over a mother lost years ago and a father lost more recently. It was a little too perfect. I would have liked to see them worth through a real issue. An emotional issue, not the unavoidable issue they did deal with.

Cute, hot, kinky, very sweet… but I definitely could have used more feels.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook Page   |  Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

BookBub   |   Twitter    |   Goodreads  |  Instagram: @colettedavison

Mailing List  |   Newsletter Sign-Up

Gifts for the Season: Winter & Christmas MM Charity Anthology by Various Authors: New Release Review * 4

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A charity anthology from your favorite MM romance authors featuring fifteen brand new stories.

RJ Scott – Single Dad Christmas

It would be a Christmas miracle if he loved me back.

Annabeth Albert – Must Be Santa

Tis the season for Operation Christmas Papa!

Joanna Chambers – The First Snow of Winter

Christmas Eve, 1814: a maimed war hero and the childhood friend he almost kissed five years earlier are trapped together by the first snow of winter.

Eli Easton – Twelve Days of UPS

What happens when your Secret Santa is less intriguing than the delivery man who brings the gifts?

Suki Fleet – Sometimes, Always

When Echo’s Christmas Eve surprise for Peri goes a little sideways, it turns into a night they’ll both remember for the best reasons, for always.

Lane Hayes – Out For The Holidays

Good Things Happen When You’re Out for the Holidays!

Annabelle Jacobs – Driving Home For Christmas

A road trip, snowstorm, and only one big bed at the Inn…

Alex Jane – Homestead for the Holidays

Alone in a cabin in snowy Nebraska for Christmas

Amber Kell – A Santa for Trin

Everyone needs a bit of Christmas magic.

Garrett Leigh – No Place Like Home

As long as they’re together, love always wins

V.L. Locey – Dressed In Holiday Style

Can the spirit of Christmas save this budding love affair?

Clare London – Five Gold Blings

Where Christmas sparkle leads two lonely hearts.

Posy Roberts – Sojourn with You

This year, a place to stay is the best Christmas gift Sawyer could ask for.

Felice Stevens – The Gift of Forever

What do you get the man who has everything?

AE Via – An Unworthy Gift

What do the lonely do at Christmas?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Proceeds go to the Trevor Project

AE Via: An Unworthy Gift

As per her norm, this was well written and super hot! A regular guy who hates Christmas because his parents died and he has no other family. A super rich guy who lost his brother a few years ago and Christmas just isn’t the same. Brought together by a bracelet and a scheming friend.

I don’t know how she tells a story with so few pages, spanning a day, but she does. We feel sad for both characters for different reasons. We love that Cole is so down to earth even though he is crazy rich. And Cole and Spencer were just perfect together.

This was a story of love (ok, and lust) at first sight with some nice romance in there.

Lane Hayes: Out for the Holidays

I believe this story involves and established couple from a book I haven’t read. Yet. But we get enough of the back story that we don’t feel as if we are missing anything.

This story spans several months, although there is a time jump. Derek and Gabe as a couple want to open a bistro. But really is it Derek’s baby. Since they are already a couple, this story is more about friends and family. Friends who are always there for you and mending hurts with family.

We see Gabe and Derek grow and grow up as a couple. From college kids to business owners. I really enjoyed this story even without knowing their back story. So I am sure regular readers will love it.

RJ Scott: Single Dad Christmas

Who doesn’t love a single dad story? This one is definitely a stand alone (not based on previous characters) about an older single dad of triplets and their manny.

Single dad Austin has triplets by a surrogate. Unwilling to wait any longer for the family he wanted, he was shocked with triplets but ran with it. Paul gets hired as the live in manny with the caveat that he will only be there 2 years because he plans to travel.

But of course after living together and taking care of children together, they each fall for each other but no one says anything. Except Austin did say something when he thought Paul was sleeping.

Silly boys.

Running over about three days, with three precocious children, this story was very cute. The way the kids were portrayed (for their age) was pushing it a bit, but I let it go.

Very cute, sweet, homey and happy.

Eli Easton: Twelve Days of UPS

This is my first story that incorporated covid into the storyline. UPS driver Dan has been busy with all of the deliveries because of covid AND Christmas. But a guy on his route doesn’t know who is sending him a gift through UPS everyday, it kind of becomes a game with them.

Something one of the main characters, Paul, says is about how everything is slowed down now. Even taking off your mask to show someone who has never seen it before can sometimes leave you holding your breath. So with Dan and Paul, it was sweet and slow until Paul finally invited Dan for wine and cheese- one of the gifts. But it stayed slow because Dan got busier.

It all culminated on Christmas day, when the secret gift giver is revealed.

Slow burn romance with a touch of covid for the win.

Annabeth Albert: Must Be Santa

Seriously, I knew she would make me cry!

Teddy and Nick are an established couple from a previous Christmas story. This time, Teddy and Nick are looking into foster to adoption. Teddy doesn’t think Nick is as excited about it as he is, so when they get a placement for two kids- one of them a girl, Nick is nervous. But he trusts Teddy.

Another story that takes place over several months, but with a couple of well placed time jumps to move us forward, Nick learns that he can be a good dad, Teddy learns that he loves being a dad, and two kids realize that these two foster dads are amazing and don’t want them to forget their previous life.

Swoony story about making your own family. Loved it.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

The Light Beneath the Dark: Motorcycle Club MM romance (Dark River Stone Collective Book 1) by JP Sayle: New Release Review

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Lincoln Stone is President of the Dark Angels motorcycle club, and he’s been accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Will this finally be his downfall?

Lincoln lives a life that straddles the fine line between right and wrong. Now he stands accused of a crime that could see him losing everything he holds close and breaking a promise to the one person who loved him unconditionally, his sister.

That is, until Mason.

Mason Davenport believes in the law and what it stands for. When his father asks him to take on Lincoln’s case, he learns some things are not as clear cut as they seem. Can he see beneath the exterior Lincoln hides behind to help him battle for his freedom and keep what he treasures most? Or will those who are conspiring against Lincoln win?

The Light Beneath the Dark is a standalone MM gay romance, with a sassy little girl that can offer one man freedom and another what he never realized he wanted, a daughter.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

JP Sayle is a new to me author, although she has quite a back list of books she has written. I’ve seen her around on social media and I absolutely loved the cover of this book. Between the cover and the title, I thought I would be getting angsty goodness. I was wrong.

This is another case of “could have been”. But just way too much was wrong for me. Let’s start with the crime the main character, Linc, is accused of. In this day and age, having a main character accused of rape- as revenge pretty much- is incredibly tone deaf. There are many other crimes he could have been set up for without it being rape.

Next is Linc’s niece/daughter. I honestly don’t know if he officially adopted her or is just her guardian. His sister died in childbirth. Which is the first chapter of the book before a time jump. Not for nothing, but describing the birthing mother as being bloody kind of gives everyone a big hint that something is wrong. But the nurse and doula think it’s no big deal. Yanno, until she dies. Ok, so back to the little girl River. Adorable, precocious, of course. But on my good the way she spoke. I actually had to stop and look up the author to see if she had children. She does! But ok, she lives in the UK. So what is she using as her model of the way American children speak? I thought it was just River, but she meets another child and he speaks the same way! “I’s River, what’s your name?” Honestly, I was waiting for her to say “I don’t know nothin about birthin no babies!” Because that is what she sounded like. And at the same time, she makes statements that are WAY too mature for a child of five. Reading her dialogue (and there is quite a bit) was painful.

Moving on. The rape case gets taken care of quickly but we still have half a book to go. The second plot is about a possible coup in the motorcycle club that Linc is president of. It was so weak. Ugh. What a waste.

There were other things- Linc and his sister living in the motorcycle club after their mother died. They were children. Thirteen and eight. And no one from social services came? School? They had no one to take care of them? Who paid the bills? Bought them food and clothes? And then Linc was able to become a business owner as an adult? There were just so many plot holes.

Linc and Mason together weren’t enough to save this book. Mason said he was a vers, but mostly topped, but sure, he was fine to be Linc’s “bitch”. No. Just no no no.

I normally have no issues when an author from one country writes a story set in another country. But do your research.

2 Pieces of Eye Candy