TCO Reviewer: Jennifer

Slow Dances Under an Orange Moon (Colors of Love Book 4) by V.L. Locey: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

February 20, 2020 by Denise

Can the love they once shared be saved or has the pain of the past eclipsed it?

It’s been twenty years since Kye McLeod left the quaint little mountain town of Spruce Lake, Maine to play professional hockey. He’s had his share of ups and downs, but his choice to hit the big city and not look back has paid off handsomely. The future hall-of-famer is now ready to retire and come out of that dark closet he’s been sequestered in since his first secretive kiss with Davy Aguirre in high school. Now that he’s heading home to keep an eye on his feisty grandfather, there might be the chance to rekindle the flame between him and Davy.

Kye quickly learns that the boy he left behind isn’t the man he’s now knocking heads with. He always imagined grown-up Davy—who now insists on being called David—would be beyond the pain that Kye’s youthful blunder caused him, but now he’s not so sure. When the wildlife conservation officer squares off with the ex-hockey captain their connection is incendiary, and there are more than just fireworks. However, winning back the man he walked away from may not be as easy as he thought…

Cover Design: Designs By Sloan

Amazon

Book #1 – Lost In Indigo – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #2 – Touch Of A Yellow Sun – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #3 – The Good Green Earth – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Kye has had a good career. After leaving his tiny town to go on to the NHL, he lived it up the best he could while keeping his sexuality a secret. Small price to pay for fame and the love of the game, right? But now he’s retired and his grandpa is getting up there in age and he needs to come back and make sure he’s okay.

Sounds good, right? And while he’s home, he might as well pick up the love of his life that he left 20 years ago when they were both teenagers and start back where they left off, eh? That’s honestly what he expected to happen. I can honestly say that Kye was not my favorite of any guys in this series. His ego and lightheartedness was too much, so much in fact that he honestly couldn’t see what the big deal was after leaving his teenage boyfriend/best friend and not calling or coming to visit or even send him a letter for 20 years and now that he’s back, he’s confused as to why game warden Davy is upset. Why he doesn’t trust him? Why doesn’t he just jump back into bed with him, when at first, that’s really all he’s offering… I just didn’t understand Kye at all.

Now, don’t get me wrong, he kiiiiiind of grows on me a little bit somewhere around the middle, when he stops making a joke of everything and gets serious about winning Davy back, but it just didn’t feel genuine to me until the end.

And the way they just jumped back into not only bed together but the relationship, it was just like…. Really? The man up and left you for 20 years!!! I dunno.. I’m glad it worked out for them in the end, but I wasn’t feeling this one as much as I did the others in this series. They can all be read as a standalone because the only correlation between them all is hockey stars and Arn, their agent.

I was happy that when Kye decided to up and come out after 20 years like it was no big thing, that his family and most of the townspeople were supportive. I’m glad that the bad guys didn’t get away with being bad guys, if you read any of my reviews, ever, you’ll know I hate not getting karmic justice and although they weren’t scalped alive and thrown into a deep dark hole, they do get their traps shut, legally, so there is that. There are really cute geese with weird names, an ornery granddad and plenty of steamy nights between these two second chancers… alls well that ended well, I was happy they worked it out in the end, even if it did take me a while to get there.

3.5 pieces of eye candy from me on this one.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

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Stay Lucky by Leta Blake: New Release Review * 2

February 3, 2020 by Denise

A second chance to build the family of their dreams…

Dr. Grant Anderson long ago gave up on a relationship with Leo Garner. After all Leo left him for a movie star, and who can compete with that? But now, Leo’s back with his adorable, genius daughter in tow, leaving Grant consumed by three important questions:

1)Did Leo come home without the movie star because he’s looking for a fresh start?
2)Does he want a do-over with Grant too?
3)Why else would Leo be hanging around Grant’s hospital so much anyway?

The attraction between Grant and Leo is undeniable, and soon their affection reignites as well. But will their luck hold out through health scares and family drama so they can find their happy ending at last?

*This book is a single dad, opposites attract, second chance, hurt/comfort, medical romance by Smoky Mountain Dreams author Leta Blake, featuring over 60,000 words of an emotional, moving m/m romance with a happy ending you’ll love!

*Originally published in 2018 under the same title using the pen-name, Halsey Harlow.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

This was cute, a bit silly, but a smiling feel good second chance story with a kid that is way too smart for her own good. Even with a main character that was kind of hard to like, unless he was interacting with said smart kid.

Remember the show “House. MD”? And the main character was such a grouchy jerk that you wondered how anyone was friends with him? Ya, that. Grant was NOT a likable person. I wondered how his best friend, Alec, put up with him. Ugh.

He definitely got better once the romancing with Leo started. But seriously, the whole surgeon who makes nurses cry is just boring.

I thought it was a big second chance love story thing, but really they had only been on a few dates years ago before Leo was swept off of his feet by his ex boyfriend, leaving Grant in the dust. (there’s also a time line issue but probably no one will notice expect me)

So when Leo comes back, sick and with a daughter in tow, Grant does everything to make everyone hate him. Sorry, but eye roll.

They did, obviously, get back together. But we didn’t even really get the romance of it. More of a whole “huh, I guess we have been dating for the last month” kind of thing.

A bit too saccharine sweet for me, a bit too eye rolling, just a bit too schmoopy.

3 pieces of eye candy

Okay, so, I’m not a fan of movie stars and celebrities and rock stars… the whole rich and unattainable just isn’t for me, so I was apprehensive about this one when I read that Leo had up and left his high school boyfriend to live the high life with his ex, who’s a movie star and never looked back. I am, however, a sucker for a cute kid and a hot dad, so I overlooked my apprehension and jumped in with this one.

I will say, that Grant is a big pill to swallow. He is not likable in the beginning and his condescending attitude leaves very little to be desired… seeing the guy he could’ve fallen for all those years ago and who had a big hand in turning him into the pompous p*ick he that he turned into, seeing him back in town and chronically ill, well, that was a kick in the gut that made his sour attitude and lack of charm all the more appealing. Especially to Leo himself and Grant’s best friend Alec (who I wouldn’t mind reading about. I need to look into that)

Now, in saying all that…. Grant tries hard to not get close to Leo again, still stinging from the last time he left, it seems like the universe (and Alec) is determined to throw these two back together at all costs. See, Leo is sick and having to do dialysis three times a week at the hospital where Grant is a broody surgeon that everyone scurries away from. He’s charmed by the outspoken Lucky, who is Leo’s daughter and she’s taken with him and his inability to sugar coat. She trusts him and I adored their relationship with one another.

Dr. Grant will grow on you, I promise you. He’s brazen and outspoken and brutally, brutally honest, but he falls for Leo and Lucky so hard. It’s hard, especially with a meddling Memaw, a junkie sister who keeps letting them down and an ex that doesn’t try to be drama, but just is….(though the story isn’t any love triangle stuff, I hate that and he doesn’t make trouble in that way, which I’m glad about because I’m the least angsty person around.)

Overall though, watching Dr. Grant have a change of heart and do anything he can to protect his people… it’s well worth the read. I adored his relationship with Leo separately from how I adored it with Lucky, but I equally loved them all together…. Especially when you realize why Grant is the way he turned out to be and knowing that Lucky and Leo thawed that cold and lifeless heart of his.

5 pieces of eye candy

Today (Single Dads #2) by RJ Scott: Quick Review

January 22, 2020 by Denise

Firefighter Eric is on the front line, battling the threat of nature’s destruction in the California grasslands alongside his CalFire team. Focused and calm, even in the direst of situations, he has a strong affection for his fire truck, loves his career, and has best friends he can rely on. All he needs now is love, but that seems to be impossible to find. At his friend’s wedding. Eric falls in lust at first sight with the shy, slim and sexy Brady, even if Brady isn’t the type of guy he usually goes for. What Eric longs for is an equal in his bed, not a smaller guy who might want Eric to role-play big strong firefighter every time they have sex. He wants to find someone he can be vulnerable with, someone who will love him for his soft heart and quiet ways.

Brady’s life plans grind to a halt when his niece and nephew lose their parents in a tragic accident, and he becomes a dad overnight. His Developmental Coordination Disorder rules his life, but he fights both DCD and the fears that chase him every day, to give Maddie and Lucas a home. Agreeing to go to a friend’s wedding is a decision he regrets long before he even gets there. But, he refuses to give in to his fear, even if he might do something that makes him a target for people’s comments and laughter. Meeting Eric, a huge man with a gentle voice and a flair for chivalry, he falls hard. Now, if only he can let himself get past his panic that Eric would never want someone like him, then maybe he could fall in love for real.

Length: 55,500 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Cute cover!!

We first meet Brady in book one, when Ash had met him in a single dad’s forum.
We didn’t get to know much about him, but I was intrigued, so I was excited to get his story. Raising his niece and nephew after the loss of their parents, Brady has his work cut out for him. The kids are at the age where they question everything but think they know it all and Brady suffers from a neurological disorder as well as dyslexia, and that leaves him feeling out of sorts and overwhelmed easily. There’s a lot to it, but it gets explained in the story, and frankly I don’t know anything about it so I don’t wanna try to explain it lol in saying that, I have anxiety disorders that have me feeling much the same way as Brady, so I found that I could relate with him a lot.

Now, Eric, as you probably remember, is Ash’s neighbor, who lived with Sean and Leo. The cop, the surgeon and the firefighter, right? Eric is the firefighter. His job is a big part of this story, almost bigger than the relationship I felt. I feel like we got descriptions of the fires and things that happened during them than we did of time that Eric spent with Brady.

The two had met at Ash’s wedding, when Ash asked Eric to keep an eye on Brady, and though it was awkward, to say the least, Eric was smitten. Even if Brady did keep running away from him each time he kissed him. Which always came out of left field for me. I didn’t see how he could be so self-conscious one second and brazen the next. He seemed to plan everything down to the second but would be spontaneous when it came to Eric.

Overall though, I enjoyed watching these two get together and I liked how the relationship between Brady and his kids worked itself out. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the kids from the beginning, they were bratty and seemed manipulative, but I’m glad they didn’t stay that way. I hope in future books we see Eric having more to do with them.

I didn’t feel the smushy, love connection between the two like I normally do, but I’m glad it worked out for them all the same. I’m curious to see what happens with the convict and the cop, next!

3.5 Pieces of Candy

Fire and Onyx (Carlisle Deputies Book 5) by Andrew Grey: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Release Day Review

January 20, 2020 by Denise

Andrew Grey is stopping by today (Yeah!) to talk about his newest book in the Carlisle Deputies series, Fire and Onyx. He’s brought a character profile on Wes, the MC who is raising his nephew. Check out the profile as well as the 4 star review on it. Enjoy!

A Carlisle Deputies Novel

Undercover sheriff’s deputy Evan Whittaker is close to infiltrating a vicious local gang. He just needs to find an opening. Instead, he finds Wes Douglas, a web designer who is raising his irresponsible brother’s son. Wes agrees to help with a stakeout, but he pays the price when his home is destroyed in a shootout.

Evan’s always been a loner, but when he invites Wes into his home, living together feels right, and the two men only grow closer as they adapt to each other’s lives and rhythms. A future as a family looks brighter by the day, but all of that could collapse when Wes’s brother—and his connection to the drug dealers—crashes into the life they’re carefully building.

Title: Fire and Onyx

Author: Andrew Grey

Series: Carlisle Deputies #5

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance/Law Enforcement

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: Jan 14, 2020

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Amazon

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Dreamspinner Press

Character Profile

Full Name: Wesley Douglas

Nickname (if applicable): Wes

Age: 22

General physical description: slim, lanky, and bright eyed.

Hometown: Carlisle PA

Type of home/ neighborhood: lower middle class

Relationship status: Single

Current family: Mom, dad, brother, and nephew.

Family background (parents, previous marriages, etc.): Wes lives at home and takes care of his irresponsible brother’s child.

Friends: A few from school

Relationship with men: He’s had a few, but mostly his effort is taken with raising his nephew

Relationship with women: None

Job: Web designer

Dress style: Casual

Religion: Not if he can help it

Attitude to religion: Neutral

Favorite pastimes: Playing with his nephew

Hobbies: None really.

Favorite foods: Whatever he can grab when he isn’t looking after the baby.

Strongest positive personality trait: Loyal, hard working

Strongest negative personality trait: Fear of getting hurt

Sense of humor: Definitely. Desperate to laugh

Temper: Sometimes

Consideration for others: He’s willing to put himself behind his nephew and raise him.

How other people see him/her: Most people don’t see him as anything other than a nerd. But Evan sees so much more.

Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: Nurturer and caring. He puts other ahead of himself.

Ambitions: To build his own family.

Philosophy of life: What you put out comes back to you.

Most important thing to know about this character: He is an amazing parent and blossoms with love and support.

Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? I thin k they will love him.

“Yeah, but you need a diaper because you forgot to bring extras, right?” Evan winked. “I have a few in my trunk.” He slid out of the booth. “I’ll be right back.” He jogged out of the restaurant, and Wes was beginning to wonder what the heck this ruse was about. Evan was a decent guy, and Wes had seen his badge so he knew he was a real cop and not some guy trying to run a scam on him or something.

Greyson gnawed on his cookie and fussed, squirming in the high chair until Evan got back. Then he grinned and played keep-away with his cookie again, smiling each time Evan reached for it so he could pull it away.

Wes nearly swallowed his teeth when Evan handed him a diaper. “Okay, you have these in your trunk. Why? In case you arrest a baby for poop-and-run?”

Evan actually smiled at his joke. “No. I have a box of general things in the back, and a few diapers are in there. One of my friends works for children’s services, and he has a list of things that he wants us to carry so we can be prepared whenever we encounter children. There’s a stuffed bear in there and a small blanket.” He shrugged. “You never know.”

“Did you get the info you needed?” Wes asked as Evan began to eat, seemingly much more at ease than he had been.

“Yup.”

Wes ate his salad. He loved the ranch dressing they had here, and when he was done, Nadine cleared the dishes and brought his sandwich and some more dressing for the fries. He handed one of them to Greyson, who gummed it happily, grinning and sometimes waving his fry around.

“Does he always do that?”

Wes shrugged. “He isn’t really hungry, but he needs something to do, so a fry or two will keep him happy. And hopefully he won’t start fussing until it’s nearly time for us to go.” There were always limits to the amount of time he was capable of sitting relatively quietly. “I’d ask you about your work, but I don’t know if you want to talk about it.” It seemed strange with how cagey Evan was being.

Wes is living with his mom and dad, raising his brother’s almost one-year-old son. He has guardianship of baby Grayson, but if it were up to him, he’d have his brother sign his rights over and adopt him himself. Unfortunately, his brother uses the baby as a “just in case”, he’s needed to help him gain something. It’s disgusting, but Wes doesn’t try to push, for fear that he’d take the baby and leave out of spite. Their parents sometimes seemed like decent people, but other times, just not… I never warmed up to them.

When Wes starts suspecting that his brother is getting in with the wrong crowd, it’s right at the same time Evan is trailing a crew that he suspects is running drugs in Carlile. When they run into each other not once but twice, Evan thinks that he Wes can be of some help to see if he can get an IN with his brother, and Wes hopes that Evan can help his brother get OUT. If only it were that easy.

When a shootout happens in front of Wes’s house and a fire leaves him temporarily homeless with baby Grayson, but thankfully, Evan is there and ready to offer the cute guy and his baby a place to be safe. Unfortunately, they both underestimate Wes’ brother and his importance and involvement of what’s been going on.

I don’t want to give too much of the story away, because there are some twists that I didn’t see coming and it shocked me. But like all the guys in this series, if you enjoy a hot dad (or uncle that turns into Dad), babies, hot cops, lots of action, both in the streets and in the bedroom, and a sweet ending that’ll leave you wanting more… don’t pass this one up! It doesn’t disappoint!

4 pieces of eye candy

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

Goodreads

Twitter @andrewgreybooks

Website

Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from RBTL Book Promotions and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I will leave my Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”. *

Rialto by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott: RB, Exclusive Guest Post, Release Day Review and Giveaway

December 19, 2019 by Denise

Someone has it out for Rialto.

Ian Banner is loving his hectic life. He’s newly married, ready to start a family, and opening a new restaurant. All his dreams are coming true.

The last thing he needs is a problem with his restaurant.

But when one attack after another comes, he grows convinced he has another enemy.

Ian tries to handle things by himself, but his friends are soon drawn in when the attacks become violent. That’s when Ian realizes the target isn’t Rialto. It’s him.

Rialto is the final installment in the Unbreakable Bonds series and features sexy times, Daciana snuggles, overprotective family, fire, and of course, code names.

Title: Rialto

Series: Unbreakable Bonds Series #8

Author: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Drake & Elliott LLC

Release Date: December 16, 2019

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 74,000

Genre: Romance, Thriller/Suspense

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4 Cornerstone Locations of the Unbreakable World By Jocelynn Drake

When you’re lucky enough to either be writing a long series around a specific group of friend, or if you’re lucky enough to fall in love with a series like that, you find yourself returning to some of the same locations over and over again. There’s always that one friend’s house where everyone gathers. Or maybe that favorite neighborhood pub where you sit in the same stool every time.

These places start to feel like home as much as your own bed or sofa in your house.

The boys of the Unbreakable Bonds quickly developed four such places that they quickly identified as home and I thought we’d visit those places today.

Shiver

Lucas’s night club Shiver in downtown Cincinnati was one of his favorite and it was the best place to kick off the series. The wild and adventurous night club encapsulated the crazy roller-coaster rides that were ahead of the boys. But Shiver itself was very much described Lucas Vallois – cold, bold, and different from the rest of the crowd. Even in the midst of the all the noise and chaos of the night club, the boys had their own secret hideaway that set them apart.

I think Shiver most closely called to the Lucas and Snow of old. They were cold, unreachable men. Rowe could never be described as cold, so it was a difficult fit for him, but he was always happy to follow his friends wherever they went. Sadly, we never got to see Ian here, but then the chef had his own place in the world.

Rialto

The restaurant created by Ian Pierce and funded by Lucas Vallois, Rialto served as the kitchen and dining room table where this strange little family gathered. Ian’s cooking was to die for, and the boys were always happy to gather here for just another taste. But Rialto was also Ian’s domain. It was the place where Ian started to come into his own, where he found and stretched his self-confidence. It was the one place where he ruled supreme. The Unbreakable Boys had a tendency to bulldoze anyone not speaking loud enough; they tended to overprotect. Standing in Rialto, it was the one place where Ian could be sure that his voice would always be heard. In Rialto, Ian is king.

Rialto has always been a place of family and love. Lucas had his first “date” with Andrei in Rialto. Ian had numerous meetings and important discussions with the boys in Rialto. It was where Ian managed to slowly woo Hollis with his cooking.

Ward Security

If Rialto was the dining room for the family home, then Ward Security was the armory. Of course, if you ask Rowe and Noah, they’d likely tell you it was the toy chest. When you’ve got stubborn, bossy men like Lucas and Snow in your life, it’s hard to claim yourself the undisputed ruler of anything, but Rowe managed to carve out his own territory in Ward Security. The converted warehouse was where Rowe gathered together the very best toys, whether you’re talking about weapons, surveillance, or just random tech. Rowe is a big believer in he who has the best toys wins, and Rowe very much wants to win. But he also wants to be well equipped for any eventuality. He cares a great deal about the people in his employ and he wants them to always be protected against danger.

But more than just toys and gadgets, Ward Security was where the boys came to seek Rowe’s advice. Sometimes they needed his help in uncovering some hidden facts or mounting rescue missions. And sometimes they just needed his expertise on how to proceed. For Rowe, Noah, and Andrei, Ward Security became a second home to meet the other half of their family – the Ward Security family.

The Penthouse

When you received your key to the penthouse, you knew you were a part of something special. Lucas’s penthouse in The Ascent, a condo skyrise in Northern Kentucky, was more than just Lucas’s home. It was a home for all of them. At one time or another, they all slept and ate meals in that penthouse. Ian made breakfast twice a week there. They got drunk so many times in that penthouse. And it was the first home for Daciana Vallois.

Rising above the Ohio River to look down on Cincinnati, the penthouse was a fortress and an escape. When the world threatened, it was the one place they could all run to and be safe for at least a few hours.

For all of the Unbreakable Boys, the penthouse was home.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick tour of the four cornerstone places within the Unbreakable Bonds world. If you’ve not read the series yet, we hope that you make a stop in Cincinnati and meet the boys. The series is now complete with eight novels and four short story collections. Jump into the adventure today!

I’m so obsessed with this series that I didn’t even care who it involved, I love them all! However, in this one, we get to see Ian and how amazing his restaurant, Rialto is doing. He’s got an amazing family, a career that he loves and the man of his dreams who he’s taking the steps to become foster parents with. Ian’s life is as close to perfect as he could’ve ever imagined and boy, did he deserve it.

Hollis is working as a PI, which you know is kinda like his work as a cop, but with fewer rules and red tape, so it’s perfect for him. As long as he gets to come home to the love of his life every night, he can’t complain. Everything’s been quiet, the families are getting settled and, well, it was about time for explosions and mayhem, right?

When someone starts attacking Rialto, Ian thinks it’s probably just someone jealous of his restaurant or his success, especially now that he’s opening a second place. It starts off with little things, like a call to ICE, bad reviews online and surprise visits from the health department… but with anything that comes to these guys, it escalates and does it quickly. Only, it’s been years since Ian’s had any trouble with anyone and the person he had trouble with… Is dead… so, who could possibly have it out for him?

The one thing that drives me crazy about these guys, is their all set to suffer alone. Like, you have this family who SPECIALIZES in finding people, eliminating threats and who genuinely take it as an insult when you keep them out of the loop with things that involve your safety…So, why do you insist on keeping everything from them? I understood Ian’s reasonings this time and was glad that that didn’t last long, but still…

It isn’t hard to figure out the type of person behind all the trouble, and let me tell you, you’ll fall more in love with Ian and his big heart when he discovers the who and the why. I don’t want to give anything away, but I’m so flippin’ petty, I might’ve acted as I’m sure, Snow, Rowe, Lucas and Noah would’ve loved too, but Ian, although fierce when he has to be, especially when it comes to his family… I loved his determination in this one. His forgiving heart and his patience and understanding…. I just loved it all, even though it raised my blood pressure and kept me on edge for a good last hour of the story lol

If you love this family, their shenanigans, cute babies, ridiculous code names and lots of steamy love.. don’t skip this one. It was a great ending, though, I’m still hoping for a spin-off or something so it’s not really over… but even if it is… everyone is in such a good place and they’re all so healthy and happy and together. What could be better than that?! Perfect addition <3

5 pieces of eye candy

Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have teamed up to combine their evil genius to create intense gay romantic suspense stories that have car chases, shoot outs, explosions, scorching hot love scenes, and tender, tear-jerking moments. Their first joint books are in the Unbreakable Bonds series.

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http://drakeandelliott.com/

https://www.facebook.com/drakeandelliott/

https://twitter.com/DrakeandElliott

drakeandelliott@gmail.com

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What Works For Us by Colette Davison: RB, New Release Review and Excerpt

December 17, 2019 by Denise

An elf costume, a pair of lacy knickers, and a Christmas charity auction might make Sam’s Christmas wish come true.

When sweet barista, Sam, agrees to be a ‘slave’ in a Christmas charity auction, he’s thrilled to be bought by the man he’s had a crush on for the last three months.

Theodore is everything Sam is looking for in a man: older, authoritative, and caring. Unfortunately, Sam isn’t the most forward person when it comes to telling men he likes them. Wearing a sexy costume allows him to be a much flirtier version of himself, but can a naughty elf tempt Theodore into bed?

As their relationship intensifies, Sam finds something in Theodore he didn’t realise he needed: a man he wants to call his Daddy.

But Theodore isn’t out of the closet, and whilst Sam is happy existing in a bubble over Christmas, he knows that can’t last forever.

Can Sam risk giving his heart to a Daddy who might not ever be able to hold his hand in public, let alone commit to him?

What Works For Us is a Christmas romance with an age-gap relationship, lacy underwear, role-play, Daddy kink, and a guaranteed happy ending.

Release Date: December 17, 2019

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Age-gap, role-playing, Daddy kink, out for you

Themes: Self-discovery; sexual awakening

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 57 000 words

Amazon US

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Goodreads

He stood and opened the door, and his heart leapt into his throat. His whole body tingled as he found himself unable to tear his gaze away from what the young man was wearing.

Sam didn’t have the boxer shorts on. Instead, he wore a woman’s elf costume, which comprised of a short dress with a green lace-up bodice and bright red skirt. Due to Sam’s height, the skirt barely covered the top third of his thighs. The skirt was filled out with netting, like a tutu, making it even shorter. Sam was wearing candy cane-striped stockings. Theodore knew they were stockings because he could see the top of the suspenders peeking out beneath the white fake fur trim on the hem of the skirt. In his head, Sam wore a floppy hat—like the Santa ones that had been flooding the shops for the last three months—but in green to match the bodice. Theodore managed to drag his gaze down to Sam’s feet long enough to note that he was wearing black pumps.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to clean in high heels,” Sam said in a confidential whisper. He sounded and looked more confident than he had minutes before.

Theodore’s mind had turned to goo. He’d seen men in drag before, but this was different. Sam’s festive costume was tapping into desires that Theodore hadn’t realised he had. He could feel his blood pumping through his veins, racing to get to his dick rather than his heart. He had a sudden desire to pull Sam into his arms and kiss him. Hard.

Dear God, don’t let me get an erection.

Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, Sam did a slow twirl. At the back, the skirt barely covered his bottom, giving Theodore the tiniest glimpse of white lace. A shiver ran through him, and he let out a little gasp of desire.

“Do you like it?” Sam asked.

Wow, I was not expecting this story…

We first meet Sam, who works at a barista at a café, who has a crush on one of his morning patrons. For the last several months, he’s noticed the older gentleman and admired him in his fancy suits, expensive watch and lovely eyes…even if they don’t connect with him very often because the guy is always looking at his phone… still, he’s exactly Sam’s type, even though there’s no way possible that the man could return the attraction, because let’s be real… Sam’s much too young, works at a café serving coffee and still a full-time student. So, he admires from afar each morning and that’s all he gets…

Until Abigal, Sam’s co-worker hatches a plan for Sam to put himself out there…and maybe a little more. She surprised me with the depth of her scheming, but it came from a good place, I loved her personality and her friendship with Sam…. And because of that friendship, when Abigal’s sister is putting on a charity auction for “slaves for a day”, although inappropriate sounding, it was all in good fun and went to a good cause, Sam never dreamed that the handsome latte guy would not only bid on him, but actually outbid everyone else and win him for the day!

Theodore gutted me from beginning to end.
At forty-three, he was firmly in the closet and had no plans to come out, ever. The way he was raised by the worst kind of extremist parents, he was not only taught that being gay was wrong and sinful, he actually believed it. He felt guilty for being attracted to Sam not only because he’s also a man but because he’s so much younger than himself. He felt shame for being who he is, can you even imagine that? For forty-three years, living that way? My heart broke for him so much seeing him struggle.

Then, a scheme from a co-worker has him bidding on a naughty elf at a charity auction his company was at and he gets the shy little barista he’s been mooning over, but trying not to be noticeable with, and Sam comes to collect.

It’s awkward at first, but the two use role-playing, both of them shedding the things/reasons that hold them back from going for what they want and lemme tell ya… it’s steamy. Its light, as far as a lot of roll play goes and I’ll admit I had a tiny problem with them jumping into something so quickly and being like, yes, this is what we’re doing, this is our lable… but, I mean, they had open communication and they both liked the different “kinks”, so why not? It worked for them and even though it was new and fun and they were with each other so much, I had to remind myself that they’d only known each other for such a short time. So, when Sam went home for Christmas, I could understand his family’s reluctance to see Theodore as Sam did. They didn’t know him, they didn’t know their relationship, so I thought it was a little unfair, though, as a parent…. I would’ve had the same reservations.

Now, in saying that…. I do think that with as much communication the two had, Sam and Theodore, I wish they would’ve talked a bit about this before they did because though I saw where Sam was coming from, I thought he pulled the rug out from under Theodore and he kept saying that he wasn’t pushing, but he kind of was. He wanted promises, he wanted assurances and dude, you’ve been together five minutes. He was so reassuring and supportive in the beginning and was everything Theodore needed because let’s be real… after forty-three years of being ashamed of who you are, even accepting that you’re gay and being willing to be in a relationship would be insane…. And he just expected him to be okay with it and be willing to promise to come out someday? I just didn’t think it was fair. Theodore needed to work on himself, to accept himself and be okay with who he is and though he get there, I just didn’t think it was fair of Sam to put that on him just then….

It wasn’t fair to either of them, honestly, but Sam knew that going in. So, that was my only problem. I adored the rest of it. I loved how fast and intense their relationship was and they had some very serious steamy time that was also fun to read. And, I would’ve liked to have seen how Sam’s family treated Theodore by the end, but maybe there’ll be another book? Fingers crossed, I’d love to read more about these two! And Lain as well, I bet he’d be a fun one

4 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.

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