TCO Reviewer: Jennifer

The Hate You Drink by N.R. Walker: Release Day Review

May 23, 2019 by Denise

Erik Keston, son of the Keston Real Estate empire, knows what it takes to be successful. Despite his inherent wealth, he holds his own. He works hard, he’s grounded, he’s brilliant. He’s also secretly in love with his best friend.

Monroe Wellman lost his parents three years ago and never grieved, never recovered. Inheriting the family company and wealth means nothing, and his spiral of self-destruction is widespread and spectacular. Dubbed Sydney’s bad boy, he spends more days drunk than sober, and the only person who’s stuck by him through it all is his best mate.

But when Monroe hits rock bottom, Erik gives him an ultimatum, and his entire world comes to a grinding halt. It’s not until the haze lifts that Monroe can truly see what he’s been searching for was never in the bottom of a bottle. It’s been by his side all along.

* * *

An 80,000-word friends-to-lovers story about fighting the demons within and trusting in the love that takes its place.

“Because when all you drink is hate, that’s all there is inside you.”

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Wow…

What a relevant topic of today. Addiction.

I’ve gotta say that this one was incredibly emotional for me, as someone who not only has struggled with alcohol addiction but also grew up with an alcoholic father, it was so well written and described every part of the recovery process perfectly.

Erik and Monroe have been best friends since they were 18 and met in college. More than best friends though, one cannot function without the other, and since Monroe lost his parents in an accident three years ago, he’s needed more from his friend than is healthy. Using alcohol as a way to cover up all the feelings and grief associated with losing his parents that he didn’t have a great relationship with, he let himself get carried away with his addiction.

Erik though, man… there would never be a more patient and supportive friend, but support can so easily turn into enabling and it’s a fine line between the two if you don’t know how to handle someone with an addiction. Erik cared so much, love his friend so much that he let him get away with so much, as long as it kept him happy. But, with any kind of addiction, if left untreated, it just gets worse and worse, and Erik was afraid that if Monroe didn’t get control of it, he’d end up in prison, or dead. His family used their connections and set up a type of intervention to get Monroe some help, but wow, it was not easy.

I loved that we got to see the addiction from both POV’s. I love how raw and painful it was, but that’s honest. I liked the way it was described because it isn’t just the one with the diseases battle to beat, it affects so many people, the people closest to you especially. Monroe hurt his best friend time and time again. He hurt his father’s old friend, and lawyer Jeffery, and Erik’s parents and sister as well. He realized this after he was forced to listen to their intervention, and it was enough to make him want to get help. It was heartbreaking for all of them.

They were all there for Monroe, but they needed to be there for Erik as well, and he was such a strong person… his love for Monroe kept him strong because he needed him to get better. Their relationship may have seemed co-dependant, and maybe a little bit, it was, because they needed each other’s happiness to be truly happy… but with the help of Saul, the therapist, (who is the epitome of amazing) they got through it and used it in a healthy way.

I know addiction is stigmatized and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth when someone mentions it… but like with these two, it can grab ahold of anyone and it’s so easy to get lost down this rabbit hole of numbness and easy ways to forget; and it’s hard to pull yourself out of it. Almost impossible to do on your own, and I loved how real and honest it was with the whole process. Not everyone has success stories, not everyone has support systems and if Monroe didn’t have Erik, I don’t think he would’ve had anyone else.

Each of them had to prove that they could handle things on their own so they could be better for each other. It was emotional and sometimes a struggle and I shed many tears for both of them. What an awesome read though, I really enjoyed it. And the ending was perfect and they both deserved it after all their hard work. It just tied everything together perfectly. I definitely recommend!

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

Top Shelf by Allison Temple: Blog Tour, Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

May 21, 2019 by Denise

Martin is a ghost. Well, not really, but he might as well be. Job gone, home gone, self-respect gone, and no one even seems to notice. The only person who really sees him is Seb, the artist who lives above the used bookstore.

Seb haunts the edges of Seacroft in search of beauty. He knows how to excavate the hidden value in abandoned things–whether it’s in the pages of forgotten books or in Martin’s stuttering attempts to rebuild his life–and transform them into works of art.

Two lost souls, Seb and Martin discover the strength they need to face eccentric townies and their dysfunctional families together. But as friendship sparks toward something more, neither man wants to risk what they’ve only just found. It takes two to fall in love, but it will take the whole community to bring their beauty to life.

Top Shelf is an 81k slow burn friends-to-lovers MM romance. It features an anxious professor, a drama queen artist, a bookstore that might be haunted, and a full-blown heart-eyes HEA.

Top Shelf

A Seacroft Novel

Allison Temple

M/M Romance

Release Date: 05.20.19

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Small Town Quirks

Welcome to Seacroft, North Carolina. Population 15,832, give or take a few thousand when tourist season rolls around. Seacroft is known for its sprawling beaches and sunshine, but the real stories happen when the tourists go home. The town’s residents have their secrets and their scars, and while they’ll come together to help a neighbor in need, it takes a certain kind of love to help everyone find their place in the sun.

I love small towns. This is in part because I grew up in one, so I know how to appreciate the quirks while overlooking their drawbacks—like public transit that only comes once an hour, grocery stores that close at suppertime every night of the week, and the inevitable sense of otherness that happens when you arrive in one without a family connection or other shared history.

Small towns are naturally close-knit. It’s not always about being suspicious of people from other places, it’s just that you see the same people so often, you get to know them well. In the big city, where I live now, you only know one facet of a person’s life. They’re your neighbor, your co-worker, maybe your doctor or your butcher. In a small town, they’re all those things rolled into one.

Here’s an example.

Growing up, my family doctor was also a good family friend. His ex-wife went to college with my mom and his daughter was my brother’s first girlfriend. Or we could talk about the local kindergarten teacher who was also my grandmother’s neighbor and had a sailboat at the same marina where my parents kept theirs.

It’s almost inevitable that you just get to know people better in a small town because your lives overlap so much.

In Top Shelf, Seacroft is a lot like this. Business owners are neighbors and also sit on the same fundraising committees. It seems warm and cozy, but it can be isolating for newcomers. Martin is naturally shy, and the bustle of Seacroft leaves him feeling more invisible than anything. And Seb seems completely accepted into the community, but he’s spent his whole life feeling like an outsider.

Kinda seems like they should meet, doesn’t it?

Are you a small-town person? Big city dweller? Tell me what you like about where you live. And check out Top Shelf, available on Amazon right now.

The distinct sound of footsteps had him freezing in place again. Martin’s breath went shallow, and he clutched at the phone. Was it inappropriate to call the police on his first day of work? There was someone in the store, and Martin was very sure he had not seen anyone come in since Cassidy had left.

He moved in between the shelves as his mind raced. What if someone had snuck in? Broken in?

Why would someone sneak in to steal used books?

Martin grabbed a cookbook off a shelf labeled ‘Everything is Better With Salt’ and hefted it, testing the weight. If someone was back there, and that someone was up to no good, Martin could use the book as a weapon.

There was a soft sound of someone humming, and it made the hairs on Martin’s neck prickle. He tripped at the edge of the next shelf.

“Cass, is that you?”

Martin froze with the cookbook half-raised to his shoulder. Every part of him went on alert at the sound of a man’s voice, much closer than he’d expected.

Another book dropped to the ground.

He peeked around a shelf. The first thing his brain registered was white, and it was almost enough to convince him that he was seeing a ghost. His fingers tightened around the cookbook.

A long pale arm reached up and lifted a book off the very top shelf.

It was a man.

He wore faded jeans and a gray T-shirt. His hair was bleached blond. If he was a thief, he was a terrible one, because he flipped through the book, then let it drop to the floor next to what must have been the other ones Martin had already heard fall.

He was a man though, whoever he was. Tall and solid. Not a ghost. Martin lowered the cookbook. Assaulting a customer on his first day would be a bad career move.

“Excuse me,” he said, but it was drowned out as the next book thumped to the floor. Martin hopped back a step, but gathered himself and tried again. “Excuse me. I’m closing up.”

“Sure thing,” the man said as he stretched up on his toes again, reaching for another book. His shirt lifted from the waist of his jeans, and the skin underneath was so pale it enhanced his ghostly appearance.

When Martin didn’t leave, the man glanced over his shoulder, and his face made Martin’s heart stop. He wasn’t a ghost or a thief, but whoever he was, he was handsome. Blue eyes flicked up and down once, like he was trying to decide the kind of threat Martin might pose.

As Martin inhaled to assert himself again, the man turned back to the shelf.

“You—” Martin swallowed hard, willing himself to stand firm. “You’ll have to go.”

Those blue eyes darted toward Martin again, like a wrist flicking at a fly. The man grinned, a slow sly grin that made Martin’s insides twist.

“You’re new, aren’t you?” the man said.

Martin’s ears burned. He knew a dismissal when he heard one.

“If—If there’s something you’d like to buy, I can help you cash out. Otherwise, we’ll be open again on Monday at—” What time did they open? It had been nine o’clock on Saturday. Was it the same time on weekdays?

The blond man frowned, and Martin’s heart lurched under the stranger’s scrutiny. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had really looked at him. For all his rising panic at the feeling of being alone in the store earlier, he very much wanted to return to that solitude right now. It was so much better than being the center of this man’s attention.

“How long have you worked here?” The strange man’s voice was soft and low, rippling through the space between them.

Martin shivered and had to focus to keep his feet planted. “We’re closing and—”

“Where’s Cass?” The man glanced over Martin’s shoulder, giving him a moment to breathe.

“Cassidy? She went home.”

“What’s your name?” Those eyes were on Martin again in an instant, making him light-headed.

“Martin.” Too late, he wondered if he shouldn’t have introduced himself, particularly when the other man made no effort to return the favor.

“Well then, Martin.” The man took a step forward. “It appears no one bothered to inform you—”

“I’ll call the owner.” Martin was losing ground and needed to fix this quickly. Calling Mrs. Green to resolve a grumpy customer was absolutely a bad idea, but he was on the verge of being run out of his own bookstore, so there weren’t many options left.

To illustrate that point, the blond man’s eyes widened and his lips formed into an ‘O’.

“No no. Please.” He held his hands wide, as his mouth pulled into another grin. Everything about it made Martin want to shrink into himself until he was nothing but a speck of dust on a bookshelf.

“I’m sorry,” he said, giving it one last go. “But we close at six and—”

The man didn’t appear to hear him. He toed through the pile of books at his feet.

Martin winced as pages bent under his shoes. “Please don’t—”

Thin fingers pinched the crumpled pages together and lifted them in the air, the book’s heavy covers flopping to the sides. There was the soft sound of paper tearing.

The man tucked the book under one arm. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll pay for it.” He put a hand in one of his pockets, then actually swaggered toward Martin, whose vision wavered as the man’s fingers brushed against his own. Martin gasped at the hard weight of something metal in his palm. The silence of the bookshop was broken by the sound of coins tumbling out of Martin’s frozen hand and onto the floor.

“That should cover it.” The man whispered it low. The feeling of his breath on Martin’s skin made him turn into a Martin-shaped statue, frozen in place as the other man slid past him.

“Nice to meet you,” the man said. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

It felt like hours, but it probably was only a matter of seconds before he trembled and broke out of his daze. The floorboards creaked as the man walked away. Martin knelt and collected the coins he’d dropped. They were all nickels and dimes, and they totaled up to just under two dollars.

A door closed and the shop fell quiet.

Martin wound his way back the way he’d come. Nerves boiled inside him, and he hesitated around every blind corner between shelves, half expecting the blond stranger to leap out at him like some deranged Jack in the Box. He stumbled into the open space at the front.

He was alone.

Martin went to the door. It surprised him that the hinges hadn’t made their booming wail as the man left.

His hand stopped as he reached for the deadbolt. It was still in position. The door was locked.

Where had the man come from? And where had he gone?

I first have to say that this is a new to me author, but I’m such a sucker for the wounded bird, that I really wanted to see what Martin was about. From the blurb, I didn’t understand what happened to cause the situation he was in right then, and to be honest, though it was touched on, I’m still unsure how it affected him the way it did and what he actually went through. I might’ve missed something, but I’m just not sure. I really felt for him though, because he was so relatable. Kind of going through this really hard thing and needing a place to just start over and restart his life and figure out where he was going to go and what he was going to do.

Having a PhD and then finding himself on the better side of what I saw as a nervous breakdown, he was feeling pretty low. He needed to take baby steps and that’s what he was doing, trying to find himself again. That’s when he found a little book shop with a cute high schooler and broody upstairs tenant to make his days entertaining.

Now, I’m going to say, I did not like many people in this book, even Seb, the main character. He does not have a lot of redeeming qualities for the first half. He’s entitled, bratty and just not a good person. I could kind of understand, because you’ll meet his father and he’s an even worse person. The way he treated Seb his whole life was literally abusive, if only emotionally and often times verbally, and I’m sure that once he got old enough, Seb pushed that and egged it on… but no…. I think the author tried to make the father redeemable towards the end, but the damage was already done.

I also heavily, heavily, heavily disliked Kenneth, Seb’s manager. He’s selfish, also entitled, bratty and just so self centered that he kind of just made me sick. I kind of wish that Martin would’ve punched him a time or two just because he’s so annoying and in your face about it. I literally almost stopped reading because of him.

Seb’s brother Oliver also took me a while to warm up to. He seemed shady and untrustworthy and I didn’t like how he treated Seb either. The only person in Seb’s family that seemed to care about him, was his Nana and she was only around for a second. I hated that for him and it kind of done a little bit to warm me up to Seb. Not much, but a little bit.

I finally turned a corner with him when I saw how he was with Martin. His mouth still got the better of him sometimes and he reminded me of a villain more often that not. When he feels any emotion at all, he turns hostile and doesn’t care who he hurts in the process and I just can’t stand those kind of people. It made him hard to relate to, and hard to like….at least in my opinion.

Between Seb’s family and a Seb running away and being awful at the first sign of trouble, I wasn’t so sure that these two were going to make it. I really hoped, but I also kind of thought that Martin deserved better. Seb pulled it together in the end, and I appreciated that his family tried at the end… but, his father was unforgivable and I hated that they even tried. Like a lifetime was all forgotten because 6 months had passed by saying, 6-months-later.

I dunno… maybe I’m being too picky and maybe I’m protective over Martin because I see so much of myself in him and I thought that he deserved better. I was happy with the friends that he made, the relationship he had with his brother and even Seb for helping him find himself, even if half of it was standing up for himself and fighting for someone else. I’m guess the next book is about brother Ollie, and though I’m curious… I’ll have to see how much influence their father has in the next story, otherwise I’ll give it a skip.

FAVORITE LINE“How does that work?” Martin wasn’t following. “If I met a girl I liked – when I met Jess – I just knew. You know? I walked right up to her and told ehr I was buying her a drink. But, if it were a guy… what do you do? Martin tried not to be annoyed.

“We take our shirts off and flap our arms while we turn in a circle squawking like a chicken. It’s the secret gay mating dance. They teach it to us in a special after-school health class.”

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Allison Temple has been a writer since the second grade, when she wrote a short story about a girl and her horse. Her grandmother typed it out for her and said she’s never seen so many quotation marks from a seven-year-old before. Allison took that as a challenge and has gone on to try to break her previous record in all her subsequent works.

Allison lives in Toronto with her very patient husband and the world’s neediest cat. She splits her free time between writing, community theater stage management, and traveling anywhere that has good wine. Tragically, this leaves no time to clean her house.

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Let Me Show You by Becca Seymour: Exclusive Excerpt, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaways

May 20, 2019 by Denise

When a veterinarian and a construction worker connect, it takes mishaps, mistakes, and a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Rex to show them they’re made for each other.

Dr. Carter Falon is content living a quiet life in a small town caring for his animal patients. That doesn’t mean he’s not looking for a distraction. After finding himself precariously wedged… naked and at the mercy of a drop-dead gorgeous construction worker, Carter hires his savior to renovate his home.

When Tanner Grady’s best friend and new niece needed him, he uprooted and relocated without a second thought. His life has since been centered on work and spending time with his family, but when he comes to the rescue of a cute vet, Tanner finds he’s a lot more interested in the homeowner than the house he’s renovating.

Author Name: Becca Seymour

Publisher: Rainbow Tree

Release Date: Saturday, May 18 2019

Word Count: 60000

Cover Artist: Claire Smith

Genres: Contemporary, Comedy

Pairings: M/M

Tropes: Friends to lovers, workplace romance

Keywords/Categories: friendship, usa, small town, blue collar, construction worker, veterinarian, bullying

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Exclusive Excerpt – Dog Love

I opened the folder for more information on my next appointment as I left the examining room.

Rex, apparently.

I scanned for more details as I walked. It was a new client, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, age approximately two years old. I glanced around the waiting room; Rex was easy to spot. He was damn pony size. I never got over the fact of how huge these dogs were, nor how soft they could be.

“Rex.” My eyes then drifted to the owner, and I grinned.

Tanner stood, a wide grin spread across his face. “Hey.”

I tilted my head, my gaze drifting between Rex and Tanner, my grin still wide. “Do you want to come through?” I indicated the corridor behind me and watched as he stood, patting the dog’s head and offering him words of reassurance. My stomach flipped. He was so gorgeous.

Heading toward me, his smile became a smirk as he looked me up and down. His eyes lingered briefly on my face, focusing on my small scratches. I shrugged them off and beamed. It took all my willpower to lead him away rather than leaning in to kiss him. Clearing my throat, I led him to the examination room. “So,” I started once he was in the room and I’d closed the door behind him, “who do we have here?”

Tanner was crouched down next to Rex. He planted a kiss on the dog’s head and stroked him gently. “Meet Rex.”

Strangely, the two made an adorable pair. I snorted at the thought, earning me a raised brow from Tanner. It seemed like a bizarre word choice for him. Sexy, rugged, those rolled easier off the tongue, but still—

I took a slow step toward Rex and Tanner. While Rex was neither growling nor cowering, the breed was known for their stubbornness and protectiveness. Since Tanner had never mentioned picking up a dog, I could only assume he’d been this morning and had then collected Rex. That being the case, the dog wouldn’t have formed an attachment yet, but he was bound to be nervous.

“So, what’s this guy’s story?” I kneeled in front of them both and flicked my gaze at Rex and then Tanner. I didn’t attempt to reach out to Rex, waiting instead for him to give me a good sniff and then approach me.

Tanner’s eyes filled with excitement. “I got a call just as I was starting work on the drywall saying this guy had arrived and was in need of a home and ready to be collected.” He scratched the dog’s ear as he continued, “I’ve been on their list for months now, so had already been approved. He was literally brought in this morning, and since they had all of Rex’s paperwork and background, they wanted to rehome him immediately.”

Joy surrounded every word he spoke. It was impossible not to get caught up in his enthusiasm. I smiled, my focus fixed on him.

Cuuuuute cover!

First, we have Tanner, who inherited a house from a grandfather that he wasn’t particularly close with. It needed a lot of work and as a veterinarian, he knew he needed to hire a professional to get it into shape. That’s where he meets Carter.

Carter had recently moved to the small town to follow his best friend who was more like a brother and baby niece. Hot guys with babies? My kinda story, though we don’t really see too much baby time, it was still admirable and I loved the relationship he had with his brother.

Meeting Tanner was entertaining to say the least, not only were these two attracted to one another on site, but a hilarious mishap makes their first impression of each other had me cracking up. It was all a little bit over the top and at times cheesy kind of sweet, but it worked for them. They tried to deny their attraction at first, because once Carter was hired on to do the job of fixing up Tanner’s house, they’d be around each other pretty frequently for several months…. Could get awkward if hooking up didn’t work out…

I’ll admit that the beginning seemed kind of far fetched… like, I wouldn’t invite my contractor to dinner the second time I meet him and I probably wouldn’t go to a bar with him while working on my house, it could come off as unprofessional, but their friendship turned into a relationship the second Carter got all growly when someone started giving Tanner trouble. Who can resist a growly, protective hot guy? Again… it just worked for them.

Now, it isn’t all cheesy and romantic dialogue and hot contractors with cute dogs and a veterinarian with a hilarious mother… there is some hatefulness, and I just hate seeing so much blatant hate for any reason, but because of someone’s sexuality is just so wrong to me and we have a bully here. Granted, he does somewhat redeem himself, because Tanner is very forgiving, but, it just rubbed me the wrong way… I hate when bad guys just get away with being bad guys and though it wasn’t all what it appeared to be, just be warned you’ll get frustrated …. It all works out in the end though…. Kind of… I might be interested in seeing if the bully gets his own story.
Overall though, it was just sweet and flowery and very low angst, which is just right for me.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Becca Seymour lives and breathes all things book related. Usually with at least three books being read and two WiPs being written at the same time, life is merrily hectic. She tends to do nothing by halves so happily seeks the craziness and busyness life offers.

Living on her small property in Queensland with her human family as well as her animal family of cows, chooks, and dogs, Becca appreciates the beauty of the world around her and is a believer that love truly is love.

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Killer Bond by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott: Release Day Review

May 20, 2019 by Denise

Daniel Hendricks wants a vacation. Ward Security’s accountant and resident code breaker just needs a little R&R from the chaos and usual shenanigans of the office.

But what was supposed to be a sexy vacation hook-up explodes in his face when he’s mistaken for a rogue secret agent.

Now he’s on the run with CIA agent Edward Raines from Bermuda to Barcelona to Paris as they try to find the secrets the real rogue was attempting to sell before another foreign spy does.

The chemistry between them is off the charts, but how is Daniel supposed to trust a man who had originally set out to kill him?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I swear, every new one of these books, they convince me they’re my favorite. I don’t think anyone will top Rowe and Noah, or maybe Lucas and Andrei… Mmmkay, nevermind, I can’t pick.

So, in this one we have Ward Security accountant, former FBI-guy, Daniel, vacationing in Barcelona. With a head for numbers and a quieter job than the rest of the guys at Ward, he didn’t really feel like he fit in; so he needed some time away.

Sitting on the beach with a good book and a cocktail, he’s surprised when a very charming and good looking man sits next to him and chats him up. Normally shy and more reserved than the other guys, I liked how confident and flirty he seemed with Edward, even if he was still a little shy.

And Edward, who was supposed to be in telecommunications, turns out to be a secret CIA agent with a job to do and mistakes Daniel for someone else, he figures he’ll do whatever he needs to do to get what he needs from Daniel; even if it means seducing him.

Edward, even though he’s kind of a bad guy disguised good guy… I found him incredibly charming, even when he talked about seducing and probably killing Daniel when he was done with him. Their connection was immediate, and even though he tried to keep his distance from him, it proved pretty impossible because Daniel was equally as charming.

When described like a Bond movie, that’s exactly what this was. I was flipping pages almost faster than I could read them. Every time I thought that the danger was over, they were thrust back into it, and I want to explain it all so you’ll see how amazing and heart-pounding this is, but you just need to experience it for yourself.

Also, if you haven’t read the other ones in this series, what is wrong with you?! Stop what you’re doing and go do it! You’ll find yourself fighting over favorites like I do, I guarantee it!

As much fun as the adventure, the site-seeing, the danger and the getting to know each other was with these two, my heart kind of broke a couple of times for Daniel, because he fell for Edward so quickly, and even though Edward was a little bit better at hiding it, he’d fallen for Daniel too. He was actually really sweet and though dangerous and quite deadly… he was protective and possessive and everything we all love from these guys!

There were twists and expectations that I had that turned out to be completely wrong, which I was glad about because in every story I’ve ever read, the ‘handler’ turns out to be a bad guy. I was waiting for that. And just when you think that everything’s over… it turns out to be just the beginning for these two. I was really disappointed by the end. I hadn’t been paying attention and I wanted about 10 more chapters, just cuz!

Overall though, I love this series…. It’s a frequent go-to for me and I love every single couple and every mini-movie that each story feels like. I can’t wait to see who’s next, and I hope to see more of these two in the future…

5 pieces of eye candy

Prescription For Love by Aimee Nicole Walker: RDB, Excerpt and Release Day Review

May 18, 2019 by Denise

What should’ve been an ordinary emergency call turned out to be something extraordinary.

Wanting to distance himself from his toxic parents, Trent Love moved to the quaint town of Blissville to begin a new life. What he finds is blazing chemistry with a hunky fireman who breathes new life into him.

Fearing they’re too different, Tucker attempts to extinguish the spark between them before it can ignite. How could a simple man like him compete with Trent’s life of wealth and privilege? Knowing you shouldn’t want something doesn’t make it go away, and Tucker’s desire for Trent continues to smolder.

Unwilling to accept their relationship is dead on arrival, Trent puts his resuscitation skills to good use. All he wants is a chance to prove he values Tucker’s wealth of character over meaningless material things. What do you get when you mix fire and oxygen: a five-alarm fire or a prescription for love?

Trent’s commitment to freeing himself from poisonous ties kindles a chain of events that have devastating consequences for both men. Is a relationship forged in fire strong enough to overcome these obstacles or is their love doomed to be just another bitter pill to swallow?

Prescription for Love is a small-town, opposites-attract romance. It is the seventh book in the Road to Blissville series but reads like a standalone book. It contains sexually explicit material intended for adults 18 and older.

Prescription for Love

Road to Blissville Series, Book 7

Aimee Nicole Walker

M/M Romance

Release Date: 05.18.19

Cover Design: Jay Aheer/https://www.facebook.com/Simply-Defined-Art-1622658254619778/

Photographer: Wander Aguiar/http://wanderaguiar.com/

Amazon- Kindle Unlimited

Don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous. “Fuck!”I exclaimed when I drove past Tuck’s house. I looked in my rearview mirror and made sure no one was behind me before putting my car in reverse and backing up so I could pull into his driveway, hoping Tuck hadn’t seen me flake out. At least I stopped a safe distance from his truck instead of ramming into the back of it. Calm the fuck down. How many chances do you think Tuck will give you, moron?

I looked at the potted orchid sitting on the passenger seat beside the bag with orchid food and the spray bottle of stuff the lady working at the florist counter recommended I buy. I’d purchased two of everything—one for Shirlene and one for Tucker. Doubt started to creep in, and I started second-guessing my decision to buy him an orchid. Some men liked flowers and others got insulted. I didn’t want him to think I assumed he liked flowers just because he was gay. I just thought they were beautiful and exotic like the way I felt every time Tucker’s eyes devoured me. No one had ever looked at me quite the way he did, and I craved it. Damn it. I was overthinking things again.

I took a calming breath and exited the car with the pot in one hand and the bag of supplies in the other. Tucker met me at the door before I had a chance to knock. A wry grin spread across his face. “Did you have trouble finding my house?” Shit.

“You don’t get to tease me,”I told him. “If you saw my stupid stunt, then you were watching out the window for me.”

“I was watching for you,”Tucker admitted shamelessly. “I’ve been looking forward to this since we made plans. I was hoping an emergency didn’t pull you away.”

I was stunned silent by his confession. What was I expecting from Tucker? Hesitance? Signs of him second-guessing himself? Doubt? The truth was I expected to see all those things warring for dominance in his dark eyes. His honesty startled me and bolstered my courage.

“I brought you an orchid.”

“I see that,”Tuck said, smiling warmly then stepping aside to allow me inside his house.

Tucker and Trent…

I didn’t remember them, and I know that each one can be read as a standalone, I just didn’t remember anyone from previous books in the series, so I may have to go back for a refresher. Maybe my mind is just slippin, I dunno…

But, Trent and Tucker had gone out once before…things were good with them, but to Tucker, they seemed to be in different tax brackets, and after a fancy date at a nice restaurant, Tucker let his own insecurities cause him to run.

While Trent went away to do some Doctors without Borders, he hoped to come back and try again with Tucker, as he never let him stray too far from his mind.

Things are cute with these two…there wasn’t a lot of back and forth, which I loved. You could tell they had amazing chemistry, and they didn’t play games or second guess a whole lot. They’re mature and sweet together, and I enjoyed reading about their do-over.

I also loved the secondary characters, the friends and co-workers, as well as Tucker’s, grammie, and Trent’s sister and brother-in-law. Plus, guys with cute animals or babies is a enough to make me swoon, even if their dialogue is a bit cringe at time…I hope i never actually talk dirty and call someone’s hole a “pucker”… it did not sound sexy to me in the least…but other than that tiny tid bit…everything between them was super hot, or super sweet. It was all just so cute.

In saying that… Trent’s parents are minions of all that is evil. I honestly do not understand someone’s thought process or how they thought that whole scenario would go over well at all. They can’t even blame it on wanting what’s best for Trent, because nobody can be that delusional, can they?? Well…they were.

I am glad it ended the way it did with them but I was hoping for some more karmic justice. They got off too light if you ask me. The way they came in and hurt Tucker? I was proud of Trent for sticking up for his guy, and it just made him that much more charming. It puts a little bump in the road, but as I said…these two are mature and wasn’t about playing games or doubting each other, or any of the usual plot lines, and I enjoyed that in all the chaos, they leaned on each other, and talked things out…..

And the ending was so cute, and I was glad they got to share it with all the people who mattered. Very good addition to the series.

4 pieces of eye candy from me

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day. I’d love to hear from you.

Gideon (Finding Home Book 3) by Lily Morton: Release Day Review * 2

May 13, 2019 by Denise

Gideon Ramsay is so far in the closet he should be a talking faun.

A talented, mercurial, and often selfish man, Gideon has everything he should want in life. Fame, money, acting awards – he has it all. Everything but honesty. At the advice of his agent, Gideon has concealed his sexuality for years. But it’s starting to get harder to hide, and his increasingly wild behaviour is threatening to destroy his career.

Then he’s laid low by a serious illness and into his life comes Eli Jones. Eli is everything that Gideon can’t understand. He’s sunny tempered, friendly, and optimistic. Even worse, he’s unaffected by grumpiness and sarcasm, which forms ninety percent of Gideon’s body weight. And now Gideon is trapped with him without any recourse to the drugs and alcohol that have previously eased his way through awkward situations.

However, as Gideon gets to know the other man, he finds himself wildly attracted to his lazy smiles and warm, scruffy charm that seem to fill a hole inside Gideon that’s been empty for a long time. Will he give in to this incomprehensible attraction when it could mean the end of everything that he’s worked for?

From the bestselling author of the Mixed Messages series comes a story about a man who needs to realise that being true to yourself is really just a form of finding home.

This is the third book in the Finding Home series but it can be read as a standalone.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

These books are just so fun. All of her books are. This one wraps up this series, with the final friend/brother getting his happily ever after.

Gideon is Milo’s brother. He is also an asshole. An actor since he was 17, he is used to demanding and getting his way, treating people like crap and never forming relationships. Part of that issue is that he is gay and his manager hasn’t let him come out in the over 20 years he has been in the public eye.

And then he meets his match with the nurse hired to help him as he takes a cruise ship back home after being in the hospital with pneumonia.

Eli and Gideon together are amazing. At first Eli is kind of hesitant of Gideon because of his razor sharp tongue. Until he started giving it right back. I adore banter like that in a book. But they also didn’t rely on JUST that witty banter. Being stuck on a cruise ship for seniors, they really got to know each other and honestly became friends.

But it isn’t just his relationship with Eli that grows- but also with his brother Milo and his childhood best friends, Silas and Niall. Watching Gideon realize that people really do love him no matter how acerbic he is is just so awwww…

Gideon went from being a man child to a man confident in himself and the relationships he has with people. But he never loses that wicked tongue.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Ahhh, Gideon…

The one that was hardest to love. I can say that I hadn’t liked him at all. Selfish, self-absorbed, self-important, self-indulgent, all the selves… He was entitled and bratty and didn’t really care what he did or who he hurt, as long as it benefited him. He was disgusting and I really didn’t think I’d care to read about him.

But, I haven’t read a Lily Morton story and not loved it, so I wanted to give him a chance. Especially because I could see that he was somewhat remorseful when it came to Niall and Milo. So… I dove in. I was NOT disappointed.

As you should know by now, that Gideon is one of movies biggest actors. Like so many of them, with unlimited money and power that brings, he was spiraling down a dangerous road, not taking care of himself. Drugs, alcohol, random guys… as long as they stayed quiet about his sexuality, he didn’t care about much else but himself. So, when a night of too much of all of that, topped with a nice bout of pneumonia, he nearly dies and ends up in the hospital.

Milo isn’t having it, and takes charge of his wellbeing, especially since Gideon nor his manager seem all that concerned. And let me take a second to warn you about this manager, Frankie. You will hate him. It made me sick to my stomach to think that anyone would let ANYONE treat him the way that Frankie treated him. Gideon was so stuck up to so many people, but Gideon, he let use him, talk down to him, treats him like absolute garbage, and for what?? I didn’t understand. I literally stopped reading so many times, because I hated this Frankie business and the way it was played out. He was outwardly homophobic, outwardly abusive towards Gideon, and nobody did anything about it??? WHY???

So, with a collapsed lung, Gideon can’t fly, so Frankie hires who he thinks is a female nurse to take care of Gideon, but he turns out to be a male nurse. A gay, good-looking male nurse, and since he can’t fly back home, Milo sends them on an oldies cruise to get him back to his place. Days with Gideon and his nurse Eli…. What could go wrong?…. or what could go right?

Eli is a nurse to the stars, mainly old folks, or addicts like Gideon, but he’s often jetting around with them, taking care of them for months until their better and then he’s off to the next location and celebrity. He’s never had a problem not falling for his clients, but the surly, bratty Gideon is different. They challenge each other and it’s fun for Eli to rile Gideon up… and Gideon finds himself someone that doesn’t cater to him and become his Yes Man. He cares about his wellbeing and doesn’t let him get away with things. It’s quite entertaining. Their banter is cute.

When their time is up, they’ve both realized that they’ve got something together, though other than a few kisses, they don’t act on, because Eli is worried about Gideon’s health and wellbeing, and it wouldn’t be right as he was just his employer.

So, they take the time they need to figure things out while keeping in touch, and I liked that Eli wanted Gideon to make sure that he was sure he wanted something with him and it wasn’t out of gratitude or some sort of obligation.

I fell in love with Gideon when he fell in love with Eli. I loved that he let his walls break down and let Eli take care of him in all the ways he was used to taking care of everyone else. I loved the way he worked things out with Milo and Niall, and I loved that he finally booted the hateful manager, though I’d have treated him much worse for all the things he put him through over the years.

Overall though, I just love this series, (and the mention of Asa, from Deal Breaker)…. I loved seeing Oz and Silas, and Milo and Niall… it was such a sweet story and I felt that Gideon turned such a big corner that it was so satisfying to see him by the end.

Loved it!

4 pieces of eye candy from me!