TCO Reviewer: Jennifer

How Not To Sin by Susan Hawke: RDB, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

March 6, 2019 by Denise

One regular guy who happens to be a preacher…

Reverend Dr. Gabe Samson doesn’t think he’s better than any of the people in his church, so please don’t put him on a pedestal. While he’s never hidden the fact that he identifies as bisexual, he’s never acted on it either. Gabe isn’t happy to learn that the sole reason he was hired to pastor the LGBT-friendly church was that the ruling elders wanted a safe poster child for inclusivity—in other words, they wanted the rainbow flag without letting it fly.

Plus one easygoing, new age kinda guy…

Seth Thomas owns Holistic Healing, a metaphysical shop and yoga studio. He’s never really been a relationship kinda guy, but only because he hasn’t met the right man yet. Seth is laid back and goes with the flow. When fate drops a hot preacher in his lap, why wouldn’t he accept the gift?

Equals a pair of men who click from the start.

The two men find it almost too easy to get together, especially Gabe, who is fully embracing his bi side for the first time. Nothing in life is simple though. While Gabe and Seth are busy falling in love, they face an anti-gay hate group, a divided church, and a ruling elder who is hell-bent on sowing discord. Between Gabe’s patient wisdom and Seth’s snark, the pair fight the growing drama with the strongest weapons in their arsenal: love and humor.

This is the third book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town, and the third in series. Intended only for 18+ readers, this is an mm romance full of all the fun, fluff, and feels you’d want from an S. Hawke book.

Note: This isn’t a trigger warning, but please be prepared for a few instances of ignorance and hate speech, and mentions of violence. This is a romance, not a sermon—but please keep in mind that the main character is a pastor dealing with real-life issues in his church and these truths are reflected in Gabe.

How Not To Sin

LOVESTRONG Series, Book 3

Susan Hawke

M/M Romance

Release Date: 02.20.19

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“Come on, you know you want to try it.” Gabe’s eyes danced as he tried to get me to take a bite of his Rocky Mountain oysters. “Are you really going to sit there and pretend you’re not adventurous enough to take just one itsy bitsy taste?” His fork danced in front of my mouth, as if he were trying to tempt a baby into taking a bite.

“It’s not a matter of being adventurous so much as solidarity. A bro just doesn’t eat another dude’s balls—at least, not like this. Trust me, preach. There are far more fun and less gory ways to enjoy your ball-eating fetish.” I shuddered dramatically as I leaned my head back and to the side while I batted at his hand to push it away.

Gabe snorted then brought the fork to his mouth and made a big show of pulling the meat from the fork with his teeth. His moans were almost pornographic, especially when combined with the total sex face he was making—complete with his eyes rolling back into his head while his lashes fluttered like crazy.

“You do know that people are staring, right? You’re like that chick in that movie, you know the one… where that chick’s faking an orgasm in the middle of a crowded diner?” I thought for a second, trying to remember. Once I got Meg Ryan’s face in my mind, I was able to recall the movie. “When Harry Met Sally. Yeah, you’re totally pulling a Sally.”

He took a moment to casually blot his lips with a napkin before leaning forward with a raised brow. “Were they staring at me, though? Really? Or was it maybe the look on your face while you watched that caught their eyes, hmm?”

I shifted in my seat, trying to ignore the sudden tightness in my pants. “Definitely you. I guarantee you that I wasn’t looking turned on while I watched you nosh on testicles.” I pointed to the side of his mouth. “You’ve got a little sauce right there that your napkin missed.”

My pants grew a little tighter when that tongue darted from the side of his mouth to lick it away. I shook my head. “Nope, a little down and to the left.” I couldn’t help but grin at the facial contortions he was making as he tried to get rid of it. Shaking my head, I reached over the table with my own napkin and wiped his cheek.

Gabe caught my hand as I started to pull it away. Turning it over, he kissed the pulse point of my wrist while gazing up at me from under his ridiculously long lashes. When he spoke in a low rumble, I could swear that deep voice was liquid sex. “Will you promise to wipe me clean every time I get messy?” I blinked away a vision of me licking splatters of cum from his bare chest, then feeding it back to him as we kissed. Yeah, that imagery didn’t help the tight pants issue at all.

Note to self: don’t wear skinny jeans when going on a date with a sexy clergyman.

Pulling my hand back, I made a show of rolling my eyes. “I hope you enjoyed that, Pastor Babe. After watching you eat that foul food, I’m pretty sure that’s the only part of my body you’ll be kissing tonight.”

A corner of Gabe’s mouth twitched as his eyebrows shot up. “Are you really talking about kissing body parts in the middle of dinner? Shame, shame, Seth. I’m starting to think I can’t take you anywhere. Although, as first dates go? This is definitely one for the record books.”

Okay, I have to go get the first book in this series, because I was loving this one! I wasn’t sure how this one was going to work, a bisexual preacher? How unheard of, right?
Growing up Pentecost myself, literally every church I went to told me how wrong any of those letters were. My parents weren’t hateful like the Danvers in this story, but they believed very much the same thing, so I heard it a lot in lifetime. My father used to call me a “sympathizer” because I didn’t say the bad words against minority groups or people who believed differently than we were supposed to. He’d sneer as he said it, and often make fun of me for it, but, now, as a 33-year-old mom with a gay 13-year-old…. I only wish my family would’ve had a church to belong to like Gabe’s.

Other than being a love story, which it very much was between Pastor Babe and crystal healing, hippie, yoga instructor, Seth… I enjoyed everything else about it just as much. When Gabe was hired into a LGBT friendly church, they kind of thought he’d just represent the lgbt members but not actually practice it… stupid right?

So, when he meets and falls for Seth, he runs into some trouble from one man who is set to ruin the church and their love and acceptance of the LGBT community and church family. The guy will make you sick. His antics and all the hatefulness he spreads, it made me sick because I’ve seen it first hand, and I know it’s not just something I’m reading about in a book. It happens all the time, where people hide behind their religion to spew such ignorance. I mean, we see it way too often. Turn on the news at any given point in a day, and you’ll see something to do with this very topic. It’s sickening, and sad, and I was so glad to read a story where it was brought to light and had such a big impact on all involved. It was real and sometimes hard, but with love and strength and faith and friends…. love will always win. Period.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

I love love love that quote, and it sums this story up perfectly.

I cannot wait to go back and read Andy and Corbin’s story…. hello single dad, why haven’t I read about you yet? I love Gam’s, and Gray, and Dottie, and Shaw and his crazy love triangle, and Larry…. I want stories from them all!

And if you read any of my reviews, you’ll know that I love when the bad guy gets his dose of karmic justice. I am proud to say that Mr. Danvers gets his in this one, so fear not and keep reading!! I’ll admit that I almost gave up a time or two myself but I’m glad I didn’t.

And of course we get our HEA. Such an amazing story, I’m so glad I read it. Definitely recommend.

4 pieces of eye candy from me

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I’d care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I’ve found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that’s what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I’m a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown “kids of my heart.” I’m more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Amazon Author: https://amzn.to/2SmWyyI

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSusanHawke/

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Better Place (Rainbow Place #3) by Jay Northcote: Blog Tour, New Release Review

February 22, 2019 by Denise

Joe deserves better. Meeting Dylan helps him see that.

After a recent redundancy, Joe takes a few months off to try and make it as a writer. His partner, Harry, is less than supportive but Joe is used to that after ten years together, just like he’s used to Harry’s controlling nature and his drinking habit.

Dylan, a server at Rainbow Place, is fascinated by Joe as he sits in the café and works on his laptop. His attempts to flirt are met with awkwardness at first, but gradually Joe opens up. Dylan is disappointed when he learns Joe isn’t single. As their friendship develops he begins to worry about the nature of Joe’s relationship, especially when he witnesses Harry’s behaviour in person. Abuse isn’t always physical, and Dylan knows that from experience. His concern helps Joe see his relationship for what it is, and gives him the courage to end things with Harry.

Free to act on their mutual attraction, Joe and Dylan dive headlong into something that becomes serious fast. Joe revels in the passion and intimacy he’s been missing out on for so long, but Dylan is worried that Joe is on the rebound. He puts on the brakes, knowing that they need to slow down to make this last. For this new relationship to work, Joe needs to show Dylan that he’s ready to move on from the past.

Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone and has a satisfying happy ending.

Length: 66,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Amazon US – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

Rainbow Place Series

Book #1 – Rainbow Place – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #2 – Safe Place – Amazon US | Amazon UK

We’re back at Rainbow Place, and can I just say…. I love Seb… there will be no topping him. (no pun intended)…. In this one though, we have Dylan, who works at RP with the guys. He’s quite smitten with a man that’s just started coming in with his laptop and seems to be doing some writing.

It’s slow going with him, as it would be with someone you don’t know who comes in to work and not socialize, but it was cute, how taken with him Dylan was. When he finally gets the courage to give the man his number, he’s disappointed to find out that the man is already taken.

Now, Joe has a long term partner, but lately they’ve been stuck in a rut. I’m not one for already established relationships that break up, or half the story in one relationship and then jump to another… I dunno why, it’s just too close to a love triangle for me. So, I didn’t quite get into it like I hoped I would, but that’s just my own pickiness there….

Once Joe gets the attention from the cute barista at the café, he realizes that things are actually worse than a rut. Henry, the partner is manipulative and controlling, and he takes advantage of the relationship he has with Joe. It’s not about love anymore, neither of them feel much of anything for one another, but
Henry wants him around because he’s gone used to having him there, doing what he wants, when he wants it. Nevermind the fact that he’s boring, verbally and emotionally abusive, and just a selfish jerk. I didn’t have sympathy for him at all, even though I didn’t really like that Joe kind of started something with Dylan without completely ending it first.

Once he did end it, they just kind of jumped into a relationship without Joe taking a chance to just breathe. I mean, I get it… he and Henry hadn’t been good for a long time, and once Joe ended it, it was actually over, there was no back and forth… but I dunno.. it just seemed so quick to me, and after so long together, how can Dylan be anything other than a rebound?…. I dunno.. it felt off to me, because going from a 10 year relationship to another serious relationship within days just seems like jumping from one to another…. Like replacing one with another. Maybe it’s just me.. but meh. Heavy topics, but handled respectfully and realistically…. I liked it!

Other than that…. It’s a cute addition to an already great series, and I’m excited to see what might happen between Wicksy and Lady Gogo… Perhaps they’ll be next?? Fingers crossed!

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

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A New Life (Loving Again Book 2) by Mel Gough: Exclusive Interview, Blog Tour and Review

February 22, 2019 by Denise

New apartment, new job, new love – Ben and Donnie’s life in Atlanta is everything they dared to hope for. And when Zac, a baby in need of a home, comes to live with them, their family is complete.

But caring for a little one is hard work, and Donnie’s fragile health soon suffers. And then certain criminal elements from Donnie’s past turn up again. Ben and Donnie fight hard to preserve their little piece of heaven, but the destructive forces are determined to pull their happiness to pieces.

Can the two men prevail, or will they lose their baby son and everything they’ve fought for?

Book Title: A New Life (Loving Again Series, Book 2)

Author: Mel Gough

Publisher: Self-published

Cover Artist: Black Jazz Design

Genre/s: Contemporary romance

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 49,000 words/188 pages

Release Date: February 22, 2019

Add on Goodreads

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

What one thing happened as you were writing this book that you absolutely weren’t expecting? (No spoilers needed here!)

To be honest, I hadn’t expected this to become a series. As most readers know, the three books started as fanfic. I wrote the first one with no intention for it to be more than a long-ish story on AO3, but found that I loved the concept so much that I wanted more from Ben and Donnie. And I think that Book 2 is the best out of the series, in terms of suspense and action. A lot of drama happens, but there’s such sweetness too, which also was somewhat of a surprise.

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?

I first write all my books and stories by hand, into an A5 notebook. I can write on the train that way and in fact do so most days. I used to carry one notebook with my current story, but now tend to carry two, one that’s exclusively dedicated to my current new novel and one for other things (like short stories or rewrites of other projects).

Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?

I’m not usually very excited to write the sex scenes. I can write them ok I think, but they’re not my forte. And I don’t particularly enjoy reading sex, either. It’s not that it bothers me, and sometimes it’s needed, but I find it hard to come up with new ways to make those scenes interesting. For the Ben and Donnie books, at least the sex had the added bonus of being something that’s not easy for them, so I used thoe scenes to explore some of their hang-ups and difficulties.

What does your next project look like?

Which one? 😉 I have a lot right now. I’m writing the first draft of a reverse harem story, which I’m hoping to finish sometime in the middle of the year. Then I have a short story that I want to submit to an anthology. I also have a five-part MF romance series I’ll publish after the Ben and Donnie tour de force is over. They’re currently in a slightly chaotic editing stage.

Always my fun one! A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?

Ha! It probably got on the wrong train at Victoria and is looking for the zoo. Here in London sometimes the pigeons take the train, and I’m not entirely convinced they don’t know exactly what they’re doing because they’re always super chill and hop off when they get to the stop they wanted!

The story continues with Donnie and Ben, only now it’s a couple of months later and things are settling in with them quite well. They’ve got a new place together, Ben’s got a new job, Ben and his ex are getting along, and he gets to see his daughter, though she doesn’t have much page time in this one either. He’s very much a sometimes dad to her, which sucked in my opinion, because in this one, he and Donnie get a baby and he’s all kinds of a dad to him!

Okay, so I’ll explain. A woman at the shelter Donnie works for is staying there with her baby, and once Arthur (love him) helps her find a job, the baby, Zac, stays in the daycare with Donnie. He forms a quick bond with him, wanting to protect him from the life he knows they live. He’s familiar with it, having lived it himself as a child and he wanted to protect him. He’s also positive, like Donnie, so it seemed to just kind of bond them in a way that was easy and genuine and really sweet, though very sad…He’s good to the core like that, Donnie is. I really grew to like him a lot in this one.

I also liked the realness of the stress and sleepless nights and irrational frustration with people, when they’re only trying to help. Having a new baby around is stressful and I like that things were portrayed the way they would be in real life. Although, some things still irked me….. DCFS, would not take the word of someone saying their a baby’s real father without a blood test to confirm, especially going so far as to show up at a foster carers house without warning and take the child from their carer. There are guidelines and protocol’s that have to be met; the dad would have to have several meetings with the baby, his house to be inspected, paperwork galore and it wouldn’t happen in 10 minutes… more like weeks. Also.. why in the world were Ben and Donnie trying to give a 6-month-old baby, tea? I can’t be the only one who noticed that.

And seriously? I have never, in my life, called a boyfriend “buddy” unless he was in trouble and I needed him to hear my words before someone got hurt… i.e. him…. “listen up, bud.”…. but as far as endearments go…. Buddy is a terrible one. I hope that gets fixed for the next book, which I’m not sure I’m looking forward to if it’s called “A Broken Promise”… I think Donnie’s had enough brokenness in his life, he doesn’t need more and I’m not sure I can handle any more for him.

Also, prepare for random flashbacks that make a little bit of sense in the end, but otherwise were just random, confusing and there is on page sex with someone other than the boyfriend. Some don’t like that… I didn’t mind it because it eventually made sense… kind of. But warning, it’s there.
You’ll also see the word “summat” a few times, if anyone knows what that means, please let me know.

So, in this one, there are more hospital visits, (seriously, they should rent a wing, they’re all there so much), we meet new friends, there’s a new baby (and you all should know by now how I feel bad hot dads), ever patient boyfriends (Ben), loving daddy’s (Donnie) and a cute HFN. I suspect we’ll see more from these three in the future.

3 pieces of eye candy from me

Mel was born in Germany, where she spent the first twenty-six years of her life (with a one-year stint in Los Angeles). She has always been fascinated by cultures and human interaction, and got a Masters in Social Anthropology. After finishing university she moved to London, where she has now lived for ten years.

If you were to ask her parents what Mel enjoyed the most since the age of six, they would undoubtedly say “Reading!” She would take fifteen books on a three-week beach holiday, and then read all her mom’s books once she’d devoured her own midway through week two.

Back home in her mom’s attic there’s a box full of journals with stories Mel wrote when she was in her early teens. None of the stories are finished, or any good. She has told herself bedtime stories as far back as she can remember.

In her day job, Mel works as PA and office manager. No other city is quite like London, and Mel loves her city. The hustle and bustle still amaze and thrill her even after all these years. When not reading, writing or going to the theater, Mel spends her time with her long-time boyfriend, discussing science or poking fun at each other.

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Milo (Finding Home Book 2) by Lily Morton: Release Day Review

February 15, 2019 by Denise

Once upon a time a brave knight rescued a young man. Unfortunately, he then spent the next few years bossing the young man around and treating him like a child.

Milo has been burying himself at Chi an Mor, hiding from the wreckage of his once promising career and running from a bad relationship that destroyed what little confidence he had. For all of that time, Niall has been there for him. An arrogant and funny man, he couldn’t be any more different from the shy and once stuttery Milo, which has never stopped Milo from crushing wildly on him.

However, just as Milo makes the decision to move on from his hopeless crush he and Niall are thrown into close contact, and for the first time ever Niall appears to be returning his interest. But it can never work. How can it when Milo always needs rescuing?

From the bestselling author of the Mixed Messages series comes a story about a man who needs to write his own happily ever after.

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

Content warning: There are descriptions of domestic abuse in this book.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

So, I had to go back and read Oz, because really… this is one series I’ll revisit often. I am so in love with all of these guys! I’m not sure anyone can top Oz and Silas, but I was so excited to know that we’d get Milo and Niall, and I honestly couldn’t put it down. (Literally, I got nothing done the entire day)

In the beginning we get to see what brought Milo to the estate. We get kind of the idea in Oz’s story, but seeing it and understanding what made Milo kind of, turn in on himself was so heartbreaking. He spent so long being dragged down by this ex boyfriend that it completely changed his view of himself. I really hurt for him.
Luckily, his brother’s best friend and friend of the family, Niall, goes to check on him when his brother Gideon can’t reach him for a couple of days and walks in on the abuse as it’s happening and gets Milo out of there.

Niall is amazing. There were bits of him that turned me off, most definitely, (like being friends with benny’s with Milo’s brother, Gideon…as short as a month prior, uhm, ewww)… but it was obvious to everyone, (except Milo), that he adored Milo and always had. He was kind of his self-proclaimed protector and he was like a little brother to Niall….. until he wasn’t. Until he started seeing him as a man instead of the little boy that used to follow him and Gideon around all the time…

When an accident takes Oz and Silas away for the week, they leave their baby with her uncle’s Niall and Milo… Watching their back and forth was just as entertaining as Oz and Silas’ was. Milo was getting himself back to the before the ex, self…. Milo and with the help of his friendship with Oz and Silas, and Niall giving him encouragement, endless patience and really just everything he needed, it was fun to see him come out of his shell and tap into his inner- Oz… they were really two peas in a pod. I loved seeing more of Oz and Silas, too…I’ll never turn down a chance to catch up with them…

And then Niall coming to the realization that Milo is a man…. And a man that makes him feel like no other man, or woman ever has before… he see’s him in such a new light, and he runs with it… albeit slowly… cuz hello.. he needed Milo to trust him and see him in the same way….

I will also say, I did not like Gideon (Milo’s brother) until the very end. He grew on me, but I haaaated the little tests and pettiness that he put Niall and Milo through, and I wanted so badly for Niall to tell him to just stop, I wanted him to stick up for Milo… I don’t feel like he ever did. He stayed loyal to him, but didn’t put a stop to the way Gideon treated him and the way he talked to him, all the snide remarks and hurtful comments and that drove me crazy. Especially when he told Milo that HE needed to try because he was his brother… UGHHH I’d have knocked Gideon in his teeth a time or two… BUT, I’m thinking maybe he might be next? I’m not sure about that one… he seems selfish and self-absorbed. It’d be interesting to read…. We shall see.

Overall though… I loved it. I love the series, I love the couples and I love their little families. I cannot wait to read more of all of them…. Even if it is Gideon up next. Best series I’ve read so far this year. Hands down.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

All He Needs by Ann Grech: Release Day Review

February 10, 2019 by Denise

When a former pro-snowboarder finds himself caught between two men who have stolen his heart, it takes heartbreak and a hit of reality for him to start believing love is truly all he needs.

I didn’t think it’d turn out this way: my life story in a nutshell. Life, Karma, whatever—it was testing me. Pushing me to the limit of what I could endure and beyond.

But in the steaming pile my life had become, I felt it. The spark. Like my soul met its counterparts, or whatever the corny saying was. I didn’t think it was possible. For a closeted guy, falling for not one but two men was never going to be easy, but I couldn’t deny its truth. Mace and Rick were….

Then I had to leave. My sister needed me. Having a baby alone was out of the question and I couldn’t wait to be an uncle. But going to stay with her in Florida meant leaving them. New Zealand and the USA couldn’t be further apart.

I’m not a saint. I’ve screwed up more times than I can count. But I was trying to redeem myself. Gracie, my niece, needed me to be a better man. If only there was a way I could have both—men to love and a family close by.

This is my truth, and this is all I need.

A MMM Romance.

Amazon

Okay, so, first things first, I did not read this blurb before I started reading it. I saw a guy with a baby, and thought, this is all I need… Hot guys with baby’s, they’re my kryptonite. However, I’m not a fan of menages, so I was a little hesitant when I found out that the story would be between Mason, Rick, and Caden. I’m telling you now, that if you, like me, don’t care for the trios… get over it! Lemme explain why.

Caden was a pro-snowboarder….which okay, I’m also not a fan of athlete’s or musicians or just rich people in general. I like my heroes to be blue-collar dudes with real-life problems and realistic obstacles… not, omg, my life suck, but I have all this money and great looks, and adoring fans and blah blah blah….again, Jen.. get over it!

When Caden was suspended from his sport for having an illegal drug in his system, he was at a loss of what to do. Falling for his two straight friends has also got his head jumbled up… so when his single pregnant sister is about to give birth.. going home to her and helping her out seems like the right thing to do…. To get away from his feelings and his failures, it’s as good of a plan as any, right? Unfortunately, life sometimes has a way about kicking us when we’re down, and when tragedy strikes yet again, Caden feels so alone, trying so hard to raise his sister’s new daughter. He’s a mess, he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he loves that little girl so much already.

When Mason and Rick find out, they’ll stop at nothing to do what they can to be there for the guy they’ve also fallen for. Unfortunately, it’s a rocky start with Mase, having had a hand in some of Caden’s failures, but don’t worry… it gets worked out quickly. There isn’t a lot of drama and angst in this one, and I like that. These guys were going to have to juggle quite bit to get to where they all wanted to be…

First, I loved Riccardo. He seemed to be the more decisive one in the group. The way he just loved both of his men and wanted to take care of them was hot. He was the more dominant one, and not just in the bedroom, although that part was hot too. And the way he loved his guys and Gracie was sweet…I kind of fell for Rick myself.

Mason was the sweeter of the group. He loved big and fell in love with Gracie the second he laid eyes on her. He was confused, at first, why he was having feelings for both of his guy friends, but, he worked it out himself, fairly well. He was the softer and sweeter of the group, and all he wanted to do was love his family…the family that he wanted with Cade and Rick. It’s why I fell a little bit in love with Mason.

And Caden… having lost so much in his life already, and was losing his dad in the middle of trying to do what was best for his sister’s daughter… well… he was a big ol mess that just needed a little saving. Everything that could go wrong, was going wrong and he was barely holding his head above the water….You know how I feel about the wounded bird… and he fits that to a T. He was doing the best that he could, but he needed his guys to hold him up until he was able to figure out what to do and where to go with his new daughter. .you couldn’t help but fall in love with him too…. And together, they just work. I honestly couldn’t imagine two of them without the other. I couldn’t even pick if I had to… they all needed each other, and they all just fit together so perfectly.

So, I got the blue-collar guys with the pretty little baby, and the real-life problems and the realistic obstacles… throw in the really hot bedroom stuff and it’s a book you won’t want to pass up. I laughed a little, cried a little, and loved a whole lot! A perfect HEA.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Rebuild My Heart by Ariel Tachna: Release Day Review

February 5, 2019 by Denise

A love built to last.

When Derek Jackson is hired to renovate the LGBT bookstore that’s also Owen Hensley’s home, opposites attract. Derek is a big burly blue-collar guy, about ten years older than slight, sweet, and bookish Owen. As they spend time together, it becomes clear that each handsome outside leads to a beautiful interior. Far from the shy twink he appears, Owen has a rock-solid foundation that helped him put himself through college and start his own business. Behind Derek’s strong façade waits a tender heart that’s been battered by a rough family past—something Owen understands.

After Owen’s runaway nephew lands on his doorstep, it throws a wrench in their plans. Derek can’t ask Owen to choose, but he doesn’t think he can take second place with his lover the way he always has with his family. Can they find a way to keep their romance standing?

Title: Rebuild My Heart
Series: Lexington Lovers: Book 4
Author: Ariel Tachna
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 230

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

So, I’m jumping into this series with book 4, but I’m hoping to go back and read everyone else’s story (especially Thane and Blake), but it didn’t put me off or confuse me in any way, not having read the others just yet. While I’d suggest reading it in order, I reckon it doesn’t have to be, you get to know Thane and Blake as friends of Derek….

Also… shout out to Mary Calmes in chapter four! (fan-girling!!)

Anyway…. So, as I mentioned, Derek helps run Thane’s construction business. Sent to do a bid on a job at a bookstore in town, he finds the proprietor attractive, but not necessarily his type. While I love the blue collar type of guys in my stories, and Derek the handyman was hot in my mental image, he was kind of douchey at first, to me….

Owen has one of those backgrounds that you hear about, but don’t really believe.
Like, his family are the snake handling, cult-like, extreme “church”…. If you can call it that. Luckily, he got away when he went to college, but it didn’t leave him without his own issues (and a somewhat hilariously cheesy vocabulary, “Great Cesar’s Ghost!”…. I mean, tell me you wouldn’t laugh if you heard that). He’s sweet though if not a little shy and I found myself siding with him throughout the book. He also had some ex-drama that seemed a little unnecessary given the other drama of the book, but, it made for a nice karmic kick in the pants.. literally lol, I always love seeing justice being served against douchebags. Which is why I had a hard time with the ending.

We see the two guys get to know one another and take it slow while Derek is doing the remodel of Owen’s shop. They spend as much time as they can together and get to see each other every day, even if only during a workday. While things are going great, Derek has some parental issues that kind of keep him held back. I will say, I did find him incredibly selfish towards the end.

While I can understand not wanting to come second to anyone in a relationship….
Family does not count. I will put any member of my family before anyone I’ve known around a month or even someone I’ve known a long time…and for Derek to pull that card and use it against Owen was just lame and it lost him a lot of points with me. I didn’t like that, or how it was so easily forgiven…. Don’t get me wrong, I understood where he was coming from, I truly did… but if you love someone, you don’t just give up when things get a little inconvenient. I dunno, that bugged me.

I’m still looking forward to reading the others in the series and I hope we get something with maybe Preston and Brent, or maybe someone else I haven’t read about yet… Looking forward to getting to know more about these guys in Lexington.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy