Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

TCO Reviewer: Erin

A Fluid State by Rob Browatzke: RDB, Excerpt and Release Day Review

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Patrick returns from a tour of duty to find his son very different. Peter is dressing in girl’s clothes, and his hair is too long, and he’s obsessed with drag queens. None of that sits well with Patrick. Patrick then meets the drag queen Ann Moore, and starts to hang out with them.

Andrew is one of River City’s best drag queens. As Ann Moore, he dazzles adults and children alike. When one of those children’s fathers wants to find out more about what his son is enjoying, Andrew is happy to guide him. It doesn’t hurt that Patrick is ridiculously hot. Hot and straight though.

The friendship that forms is unlikely, and even more unlikely, Patrick and Andrew find themselves faced with a chemistry they cannot deny.

Book Title: A Fluid State

Author: Rob Browatzke

Publisher: Self Published

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza

Release Date: January 3, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Gay for You/Out for You

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length:  70 000 words/272 pages

It is a standalone book.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“So,” Andrew said, when they were relocated back to the couch, sitting facing each other, beers in hand.

“So.”

“First off, let me, well, set you straight on something. Kent and I aren’t dating, so don’t feel bad about that.”

“Good,” Patrick said. “I’d hate to have some gay guy come at me for hitting on his boyfriend.”

“Is that what it was? You hitting on me?”

Patrick looked away. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Well, what’s going on in that head of yours?”

“You,” he said. “You’re going on in my head. You and only you. Ever since we met. I thought it was all about Peter, but no, it’s about me. You’ve gotten under my skin, Andrew, and I don’t know how to get you out of me.” Their eyes locked. “And honestly, I’m not sure I want you gone.”

“But you’re straight.”

“I’ve always thought that. I’ve never been attracted to a guy before this.”

“Never? Not even in school? Some guys experiment, you know.”

“Never. I’ve looked back and there’s never been anything to make me think I’d ever be into a guy.”

“So you’re into me?”

Patrick’s face turned pink and he looked away. “I don’t know. Yes. Yes, I am.” He swallowed hard and looked back at Andrew. “Look, I know this is out of the blue, and I know what you said at the pool, and-”

“What did I say at the pool?”

“That, you know, that you’re not attracted to me.”

It was Andrew’s turn to blush and look away. “Well, since you’re being honest, I guess I should be too. Patrick, of course I’m attracted to you. You… well, look at you. I just said that to set your mind at ease. I was enjoying hanging out. I am enjoying it. I didn’t want you to freak out thinking I found you attractive or worried that I was going to try to jump you.”

“And it ended up being me that jumped at you.”

Andrew looked at him and grinned. “Seems that way.”

“So.”

“So.”

“Here we are then, both attracted to each other. What do we do now?”

This was soooo hard for me to get into… let’s discuss.

Patrick is masculinity personified. He’s a soldier, his dad was a soldier and I think he had hopes of his son being a soldier….But two years in the desert is a long time and when he gets back, he has to get to know his son all over again. His son who wears “girl” clothes and is obsessed with drag. Now, coming from a family of 100% straight folks and being bi, I get it… it’s a lot to spring on someone, especially if in the two years you’ve been trying to keep up with your son, this is something he and his mother kept from you…I get where he’d be confused and a little worried about his son, when my son came out at 13, I had worry myself. Life will be harder, but only because of people like Patrick and people who use that ignorance as justification to be hateful.

So, Patrick is very straight, very confused and very ignorant (and I don’t say that as him being stupid, I mean, as in, he’s not educated on gender fluidity or any parts of the LGBT+ community) For someone so genuinely confused, he randomly asks to have dinner with the drag queen that reads to his son once a week at the library…(which, such a cute idea, I wish everywhere did this)… It all happens so quickly, their conversations, the way they speak (internally and externally, it’s a lot) and the way they jump to conclusions and everything just seemed so fast and clinical, I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two at all. Patrick is a real….peach. (And I say that with 100% sarcasm) I was FURIOUS when Andrew had dinner with him and Patrick jumped the gun once again and acted like a jerk and then ANDREW was the one apologizing. What? Why? Why would you apologize to him for something that could’ve been taken as a joke or an expression or literally anything other than how he completely overreacted by a simple wording of something. If anyone should’ve been offended by the blatant disgusting ways someone said something, it should’ve been Andrew. Patrick gets testy when Andrew “generalizes” his straightness and masculinity, but that’s literally ALL Patrick is doing. I’ve never heard someone say so many wrong things in the completely wrong way… I hated it. Literally, I hated it.

And I love me a good GFY, especially involving soldiers and overly masc men, but, I just didn’t feel it here. I wanted to so badly, but I just didn’t feel any chemistry between the two or even understand how either of them could about each other. Andrew, you know Patrick is straight, and not only straight, but stupid straight (okay, I called him stupid there, not ignorant, and read the first few chapters, you’ll know why)… but then Patrick…you’re in the desert for two years, surrounded by guys and never been tempted? Never had chemistry and thought, maybe? Or even imagined it or been tempted by situational “what happens in the desert stays in the desert because desperate times calls for desperate measures”? But then, this guy that you continuously offhandedly offend and genuinely do not understand, and that’s what gets ya?

My head hurts.

Now, in saying all that, if you can jump past all that and get to Patrick opening his mind a bit, and their unconventional start, they were hot together. Patrick bottoming, I did not see coming.. hello…

I had a bit of trouble with the bullying aspect. I hate when bad guys get away with being bad guys and Tommy and his dad both and the people in the restaurant, it was all a lot in the way of how nasty the lgbt community gets treated and I just don’t like when people get away with that, especially in books where I like a HEA…which these two did get, so, if you can make it past the first quarter of the beginning, and like angsty, worth it in the end, reads, you might enjoy this one. I might not have been in the right frame of mind for it or something, but I was happy that they ended happy and together. Plus, I love me a hot dad, so, win/win, right?

Rob Browatzke has been writing for as long as he can remember, and is pretty darn excited for someone else to be reading his stuff finally! When it comes to gay bars and booze and drugs and drama, he knows what he’s talking about. He came out in the mid-90s, and liquor and drama went hand in hand. He has 20+ years of experience working in gay clubs in Edmonton, Alberta, and you’ll always find his love for his other career permeating the stories he tells. Rob is now 9+ years clean and sober, although there’s still a bit of drama once in a while, for old times’ sake.

Rob loves the growing market for gay fiction and m/m romance. There are some incredible authors out there, and it’s important to be able to see in print (or on the screen) stories about people just like us. Coming out, our relationships, the issues we face, we all have stories to tell. And this book is just one of the stories coming out of Wonderland.

Feel free to stalk him online. He’s on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @robbrowatzke.

Author Links

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter @robbrowatzke  | Instagram @robbrowatzke

The Dichotomy of Angels by N. R. Walker: New Release Review

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Nathaniel and Chasan are no ordinary angels.

Destiny chose them to be twin flames, fated mates. But Nathaniel has avoided Chasan for nearly a thousand years.

When sent to Earth on a mission to live and work together, Nathaniel comes face-to-face with his destiny. Short-tempered, petulant, and grumpy, he hates the idea of being fated to anyone and has chosen an existence of isolation rather than spending time with the calm, kind, and serene Chasan. But now he has no choice.

One is fire, the other is air; a true dichotomy of angels. Together they will be ignited, or they will be extinguished. This assignment will seal their fate either way.

* * *

85,000 words. A sometimes-funny, sometimes-serious story about love, destiny, and other heavenly disasters.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Proof that I will read anything by N.R. Walker: I am an atheist and things like angels make me roll my eyes. Then she writes a book about angels. GIMME!

I will say this-it was the most non-religious angel book ever. Even with the heaven and hell and Saint Peter and Michael. Religion took a back seat to the story.

Nathaniel and Chasan are a bit like fated mates. But since a failed mission nearly 1000 years ago, Nathaniel has kept away from Chasan. Rarely doing missions (going to earth as a human to help someone), instead choosing to mostly work the hell department with brief detours to the canine department. But St Peter put his foot down and is making them work together on the next mission-without telling them exactly what it entails.

Down to earth they go- New York City in fact- to be married preschool teachers. Nathaniel is horrified, Chasan is delighted.

And it was fun. Fun to read about them navigating life as humans- especially Nathaniel who hadn’t done it in nearly 1000 years. And they have no “angel powers” and Nathaniel can’t curse. It’s pretty hilarious.

Their mission becomes clear to Chasan, but Nathaniel is still clueless. And it is just heartbreaking. Feeling that heartbreak for a character seems to be a specialty of NR Walker. You just fall in love with them.

There is definitely angst, a bit of romance and some really funny lines. Even the two men as preschool teachers was swoony.

This is a great book to just hide under the blanket and devour.

4.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

The Fairy Shop (2019 Advent Calendar – Homemade for the Holidays) by Tara Lain: New Release Review

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When Nate Hawthorne meets Asher Dane, the huge, tattooed hunk is the personification of Nate’s dreams. But Nate knows there’s no future, because Asher is also the personification of his beloved five-year-old daughter Delly’s nightmares. She’s frightened of big men. Things turn around for both of them, however, when Delly goes Christmas shopping at the Fairy Shop and begins her quest for a wand that will make her brave. Neither of them guesses that the Fairy Shop will be the source of far more than Delly’s courage. On Christmas Eve, under the influence of a very unusual fairy, Nate’s life will change forever.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2019 Advent Calendar “Homemade for the Holidays.”

Amazon

This is nearly a perfect Christmas short for me. A little romance, a little magic, a little family that you make.

I read several Christmas stories already and while they were good- they were regular book length. But this was a nice, tidy short that had enough packed in that it didn’t feel overloaded, but was also a complete story.

Nate and Asher are adorable, Nate’s daughter is adorable, the Fairy Shop is adorable… But it also isn’t saccharine sweet.

This is probably my favorite Christmas story of the year.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

Soft Limits: A Deviations Novel (Deviations Series Book 6) by Jodi Payne: New Release Review

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Fans of the iconic Deviations series will fondly recall Bradford as the beloved owner and Master of the elite and exclusively male BDSM club that anchors the series, and also as the wise man who introduced Tobias and Noah.

Dominant Bradford’s story is one defined by sudden opportunity, unimaginable heartbreak, and new-found purpose. His calling is to provide a safe and supportive environment for men in the lifestyle. Bringing Doms and subs together is his superpower, yet he feels fated to be alone himself.

In this prequel to the series, you’ll not only discover Bradford’s own history, but also how Bradford is first drawn to Nikki, a beautiful and hungry young man living on the streets, and the unexpected ways Bradford grows and changes while helping Nikki understand a world of strange, new desires.

Deviations readers already know outcome of Bradford and Nikki’s journey together. Soft Limits is a deep-dive into Bradford’s story, into what makes the Dom tick, and how he ended up with ownership of the club. It also introduces Nikki, the sub that tests Bradford’s patience, steals his heart, and soothes his soul.

**WARNING: BDSM, mentions of homelessness, loss of spouse (in flashback)

Amazon

Full disclosure: I’ve never read any of the Deviations books. But being that this is a prequel, I figured it was safe. The author states that she means for it to be read last, but hey, I read it first and still liked it,

Bradford is like the Dom of all Doms. He owns a BDSM club- which houses a restaurant and bar as well as various rooms for fun. And being a Dom like that, when he sees a young man in need of help, he jumps right in.

Nikki is homeless and accepts Bradford’s offer of a dishwashing job. I get that this guy is a bit naive, but to have zero clue that there is a BDSM club beyond the kitchen doors is a bit much. But we will let that go.

What I enjoyed the most about this story is that BDSM is explained SO WELL. About how it isn’t always pain or sex or humiliation. And that using a safe word is totally ok. How BDSM means something different for everyone and contracts are entered into for an evening, for months or for years.

It did feel a bit like Bradford was grooming Nikki, but then the way Nikki took to submission so effortlessly made it not creepy. Bradford is extremely patient with Nikki, gently correcting him when needed and praising him as deserved.

Although she says to read this last, I am glad I read it first because now I want to read the others!

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

 

 

*** Disclosure of Material: We may have received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that we would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. We have not been asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor were we compensated in any way. We are posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. ***

Running From My Heart (Rock Bottom Book 3) by Felice Stevens: New Release Review

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“Holding onto the past can hurt more than letting it go.”
People say six years is long enough to mourn the death of his husband but for Ross Miller, the pain is as fresh as if it happened yesterday. He’s left his glittering Hollywood life behind, yet guilt still dogs his steps, no matter how far he runs. Trapped by his past and needing to escape his well-meaning friends, he rents a cabin in the secluded Adirondack mountains. A reclusive man moves in next door and piques Ross’s interest, but his persistent attempts at friendship are rebuffed. That doesn’t stop him because the one rule Ross Miller has always lived by is to never take no for an answer.

Novelist Arden Wainwright has given up. He can’t pretend a happiness he knows he’ll never find again. Solitary days turn into years, and he remains frozen, unable to take a breath. At his wit’s end, he retreats to the mountains, but it does little to stir his creativity. He continues to hide from life and avoids his overly nosy neighbor, who insists on planting himself at Arden’s doorstep at every turn. Making friends is the last thing Arden wants, but annoying or not, he can’t get the damn man out of his mind.

Finding peace in their isolated surroundings, the two lonely men forge an unlikely friendship where they realize they’re more alike than different and better together than apart. With Ross’s help, Arden begins to rebuild the shattered pieces of his life, while Arden gives Ross the strength to face his fears and find his way home. When love comes calling you can choose to hide from hurt, loss, and pain, but if you take a chance and open the door, you might discover that running from your heart is the last thing you’ll want to do.
This book can be read as a stand alone but you may remember Ross, Foster’s best friend from Broken Silence, Book One of the Rock Bottom series.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Oh hey, guess what? This book will make you cry. A lot. More than once. So keep tissues handy.

I don’t usually read blurbs before I read a book by an author I’ve read before. So that first chapter was a bit of a gut punch. (Cue crying I spoke about). But a time jump moves us forward 6 years when Ross is now in a cabin and still grieving. But with a mask on. He ignores the people who “knew him then” and to strangers he seems happy go lucky. Including Arden.

Arden who went through his own terrible loss 5 years ago. He is also still grieving. Quite openly. He just wants to be left alone, but Ross is the annoying mosquito who won’t leave him alone.

And so they build a slow but tenuous friendship. Arden does seem to concede fairly easily, but he is also starved for company.

As much as I like Ross and Arden, I didn’t really get a spark from them. It seemed a bit one sided with Ross. But Arden…I don’t know. It was more like he just went with it because it was safe and comfortable and Ross would never question his grief.

I enjoyed the first half more than the second by far. During the second half there were several points when the book could have easily ended. I feel like it was stretched out a bit.

The setting was stunning. I loved watching 2 dyed in the wool New Yorkers get out in nature and enjoy it so much. With none of the stereotypical “I can’t sleep when it’s so quiet” or similar.

So I enjoyed it, it made me cry and I’ll definitely recommend, but it won’t go in my reread pile.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

 

 

*** Disclosure of Material: We may have received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that we would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. We have not been asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor were we compensated in any way. We are posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. ***

Bishop: A True Lover’s Story by A.E. Via: Quick Review

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At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. His gang was his family, the streets his home. Until the crew he’d always called his brothers betrayed him. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad’s trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he’s no longer the alpha—a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can’t read or write. Illiteracy had never been an obstacle for him on the streets, he didn’t need to know how to read Moby Dick to survive, he needed to know how to read people… and that was a hustle he’d learned hard and fast. Now, he had to change his life.

Bishop’s only support system was a young, inexperienced dad who’d insisted he call him Mike all their life—since they looked more like brothers than father and son. And his hot-tempered, childhood, best friend from ’juvie, Trent. Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn’t hesitate to come to his defense… a man that saw past Bishop’s grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn’t intimidated by his stern features and his silence.

Edison hadn’t grown up the way most of his peers had. He’d been raised by a single father who’d owned an old-fashioned barber shop where Edison was taught how to not only shave with a straight razor, and shine shoes, but also how to treat others, to not judge, to be a gentleman, to be respectful and speak without profanity. But, the biggest lesson he’d learned, was to always be himself. His lack of friends and a social life wasn’t his fault. No matter how much weight he gained, no matter how many times his staff called him a square, Edison did not need to change.

Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He’d made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn’t expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did—as if Bishop was somebody. Mike and Trent warned him not to mix business with pleasure and he didn’t intend to.

No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a very, very HFN.
Warning:
This book is a M/M contemporary romance, a hardened man’s struggle to find real love. There are no police chases or doors being kicked in, in this one. But, don’t worry. Bishop is still intense enough to keep you on the edge.

Amazon

Yup, she did it again. AE Via is known for gritty, urban stories with alpha men and guns. This story strays from her norm but is no less than stellar.

Bishop is fresh out of prison and trying to make a new start. Living with and working for his father is an adjustment. They didn’t have a typical father/son relationship and because of that Bishop suffered.

Edison is like the perfect gentleman. He dressed and grooms impeccably, he rarely drinks, no drugs, no cursing…and no friends. His one friend was his father who died several years ago.

Bishop and Edison are the complete opposites and so perfect together. They were swoony. Bishop compliments Edison all of the time. How handsome he is, how he likes his suit, he cooking, his house. It’s so charming and not what you would expect from a guy who pretty much grew up on the streets and spent 5 years in prison.

Edison at first doesn’t understand what Bishop would see in him. A guy who has no friends, no social life and is a little squishy. But Bishop is attracted to the person, not the package. But he does find the package very appealing.

I found it so interesting that Bishop is pretty forthcoming with his criminal record and time in prison. What he is desperate to hide is his illiteracy.

One of Bishop’s co-workers tries to sabotage the relationship from the beginning. And even though Bishop doesn’t think he deserves Edison, he stands up for what he wants. Again, swoony.

Besides Bishop and Edison beginning a relationship, we also witness Bishop and his father Mike starting their relationship over.

There’s also some levity in the story with the banter between Bishop and his best friend Trent. They cracked me up. Bishop the big quiet guy and Trent the little spitfire. Their relationship is not one you always see represented well in books.

This is a very slow burn. I don’t think they even met each other for several chapters, let alone started seeing each other. But that just made it better.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

 

 

 

*** Disclosure of Material: We may have received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that we would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. We have not been asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor were we compensated in any way. We are posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. ***