Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Secret’s Hold by L.M. Somerton: New Release Review

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Hiding in plain sight is a risky business—in more ways than one.

Jamie is hiding from the past and sacrificing a lot to do so. After witnessing a murder, he’s on the run from powerful enemies. Taking a job at a rough leather bar, Spikes, is a way to survive off-grid.

Bubba is the bouncer at Spikes who takes a personal interest in protecting Jamie’s very cute behind, but when Jamie runs from the club in panic straight into the path of a van, there’s nothing Bubba can do.

Amnesia puts Jamie at risk, but his returning memories are even more dangerous. Desperate to protect his friends, he puts his life on the line for Bubba—the only person he can rely on to save his neck.

Reader advisory: This book contains a scene of attempted rape. There are also scenes involving abduction, violence, and the forcible administration of drugs.

Amazon

Pride Publishing

There are quite a few things this author does really well in her writing. First, is working in some suspense, thriller and action into her books. Another is she doesn’t feel the need to write a lot of words to create a story. Her books are not loaded with “fluff”, but what the reader needs and wants to understand and enjoy the story. She does both of these things exceedingly well again in this thriller short story.

Jamie definitely has seen his fair share of trauma and pain, and fortunately Bubba is there to try to help him through it, and keep him safe. These two were sweet together, as it was obvious they had been circling each other for a while. When Jamie wakes up in the hospital with amnesia, Bubba steps in and does what he can to help him figure out what happened to cause Jamie to run.

It’s a short story, so the resolution comes quick, but as always a fun ride to read with this author’s book.

4 pieces of eye candy

First (99 Daddies Book 1) by Casey Cox: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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First: (adverb)
a: before another in time, space, or importance.
b: for the first time.
See also: Stirling “First-Time Daddy” Bishop.

A boy who can’t find what he wants.
A Daddy who doesn’t know what he needs.

With his big blue eyes, lean frame, and propensity for adorkable clumsiness, Mikey Harrison is a Daddy magnet…for the wrong type of Daddy. Those who mistake his desire to serve as an open invitation to mistreat him and abuse his trust.

But all of that changes when he lays his eyes on Stirling Bishop. Sure, the strong, silent (and irresistibly sexy) type ticks all of his boxes, but it’s the tenderness underlying Stirling’s strength that makes him achingly irresistible.

For Mikey, it’s insta-love.
For Stirling, it’s insta-huh?

Despite looking like he was put on this earth to be the Daddy of every boy’s dreams, the thought of dating a younger guy has never even crossed Stirling’s mind, much less the idea of being a Daddy.

But there’s no denying that Mikey awakens something deep within him—the desire to dominate, the need to care. It’s been dormant, yet bubbling under the surface within him for his entire life.

Can Mikey help Stirling find the strength he needs to be the Daddy he was meant to be…and become the Daddy of Mikey’s dreams?

FIRST
First is a Daddy/boy, May-December gay romance featuring a strong, silent, first-time Daddy, and an eager boy who can show him the way. Come along for the ride and enjoy some crazy/sexy/cool shenanigans including: impromptu foot rubs, naked butlers, a crew of sassy friends, lots of LOLs, and all the feels on the way to a heartwarming HEA.

First is the first book in the 99 Daddies series. Each book in the series will contain overlapping characters and storylines, so you may enjoy them more by reading them in order.

99 DADDIES
99 Daddies is a hilarious, entertaining, and heartwarming Daddy/boy, May-December MM romance series.

Escape to Daylesford, the (fictional) Daddy capital of America. If you love steamy and complex Daddy/boy dynamics, May-December gay romances with a twist, sweet and sassy MM age-gap romances, and chasing those guaranteed HEAs, you’ll love it here.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

He closed his eyes. I loved seeing his massive chest rise and fall with every breath in and out. We didn’t need words. There was something happening here, something between us that defied logic and sense, but it was as real as the floor I was sitting on.

Did he feel it too? What was going on inside of him? I could feel his whole body starting to loosen, to relax under my firm touch. As I looked up at him, I could see his jaw unclench and his face start to soften.

He had to be feeling this too. It couldn’t just be me, could it, imagining something that I wanted so badly? Seeing only what I wanted to see?

Oh fuck, it probably was. I always did this. I always let my imagination and my desires run away with me, pulling me toward what I hoped for and wanted, while choosing not to see what was actually right in front of me. I’d done it with Brian before, was I doing it again with Stirling now?

I sighed loudly, which made him open his eyes. He looked around as if he had just woken up and wasn’t entirely sure where he was. He was so freaking sexy I couldn’t handle it. I smiled up at him.

“What you’re doing feels so good, Mikey,” he said, looking straight at me.

Hearing him say my name for the first time made my heart do cartwheels of joy.

“Good,” I said, looking straight back. “I’m happy to keep going for as long—”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Steel’s voice cut in.

He was standing beside me. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of judgement in his voice or in the look that he gave me. And trust me, I knew a thing or two about being judged.

“We need to go, Stirling. I just saw a cake being wheeled out. Sorry.” He looked at me when he apologized.

“It’s fine,” I said, releasing Stirling’s feet gently. “You are the birthday boy, after all. You’re kind of needed for that whole cake thing.” I said as I stood up.

“Yeah, that’s usually how these things work,” he said with an apologetic smile, as Stirling started to put his socks and shoes back on. Slowly, of course.

Once he was done, he stood up in front of me. He was a good four inches taller than me, which I really liked for some reason.

“Uh, thanks,” he said. He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but then quickly snapped it shut.

“You’re…welcome.” It was all I could think of to say as Steel grabbed Stirling by his arm and the two men began to walk away from us.

Nick stood next to me as we watched them make their way across the room, rejoining their friends and turning their attention to a massive chocolate cake filled with candles, that was being brought out by two naked butlers.

“Now those are some seriously sexy Daddies.”

Nick’s words hung heavily in the air between us.

“Uh huh.”

It was all I could manage.

“So,” Nick said as he placed his hand firmly on my shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. “That whole I’m-over-men thing, then?”

I didn’t even have to turn my head. From the corner of my eye, I could see the shit-eating grin stretching across his face.

“Yeah, totally over that.” My eyes were fixed on Stirling, following his every movement. “I am one hundred percent back into men.”

Okay, so… I have a thing for hot dads. It’s no secret, not to those who know me, and especially not to those who follow my reviews. In saying that, this one, in my definition, is not a Daddy/boy book.

I mean, sure, they toss it out there every once in a while, but the lifestyle and mechanics behind such a trope. No. It was hard to keep my interest after I figured that out.

So, in the beginning, Mikey and his best friend since high school, Nick, are naked waiters… which somehow gets them into being naked furniture, which somehow morphs into being human footstools, which I didn’t like. I mean, you could ask first, couldn’t you? Don’t just take off your socks and put your clammy feet on my naked back, ew… but, it’s where Mikey meets Stirling…

Now, Stirling is fresh out of a relationship where his husband not only cheated but then took him for half of everything and still blamed him. So, he’s jaded, if only a bit.
He’s a first time ‘Daddy’, which is no surprise, and he really doesn’t know what he wants at first, though it doesn’t take him long to realize that what he wants is Mikey… and Mikey, he’s a little too much at times for me, but he’s funny and clumsy and his brain to mouth filter is a bit delayed, but he’s a loveable type. I did like the pair of them together.

Of course, it isn’t all cute and sweet and getting to know one another, there are a few bumps in the road that I would love to rant about for a while, but as I’ve recently been told that my ranting is mostly all spoilers, I’ve tried to tone it down a bit…. I will say that you will NOT like any of the exes in this book, and that’s putting it lightly. (especially from me)

Overall though, if you like a couple of cute guys who find love in each other after heartbreak, some really good friends, and some very very very very light Daddy kink… you’ll likely enjoy this one.
Especially if you’re a sucker for a good HEA.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Casey Cox is devoted to delighting readers with sassy, sweet and sometimes steamy MM gay romance tales of gorgeous, good-hearted and complex men chasing that thing we all love: a guaranteed HEA.

Casey’s writing has an escapist, wanderlust quality to it because, let’s face it, these days there are plenty of reasons to run from reality.

Casey lives on the east coast of Australia, loves the beach and is a proud paw-parent to two utterly adorable French Bulldogs named Ralphie and Lilly.

Connect with Casey:
Website: https://caseycoxbooks.com/
Goodreads
BookBub
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casey.cox
Email: caseycoxbooks@gmail.com
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Gifts for the Season: Winter & Christmas MM Charity Anthology by Various Authors: New Release Review * 4

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

RJ Scott – Single Dad Christmas

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

Annabeth Albert – Must Be Santa

Tis the season for Operation Christmas Papa!

Joanna Chambers – The First Snow of Winter

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

Eli Easton – Twelve Days of UPS

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

Suki Fleet – Sometimes, Always

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

Lane Hayes – Out For The Holidays

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

Annabelle Jacobs – Driving Home For Christmas

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

Alex Jane – Homestead for the Holidays

Alone in a cabin in snowy Nebraska for Christmas

Amber Kell – A Santa for Trin

Everyone needs a bit of Christmas magic.

Garrett Leigh – No Place Like Home

As long as they’re together, love always wins

V.L. Locey – Dressed In Holiday Style

Can the spirit of Christmas save this budding love affair?

Clare London – Five Gold Blings

Where Christmas sparkle leads two lonely hearts.

Posy Roberts – Sojourn with You

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

Felice Stevens – The Gift of Forever

What do you get the man who has everything?

AE Via – An Unworthy Gift

What do the lonely do at Christmas?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Proceeds go to the Trevor Project

AE Via: An Unworthy Gift

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

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

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

Lane Hayes: Out for the Holidays

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

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

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

RJ Scott: Single Dad Christmas

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

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

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

Silly boys.

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

Very cute, sweet, homey and happy.

Eli Easton: Twelve Days of UPS

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

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

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

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

Annabeth Albert: Must Be Santa

Seriously, I knew she would make me cry!

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

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

Swoony story about making your own family. Loved it.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

American Christmas: A Multicultural Christmas Romance (Dreamers) by Adriana Herrera: New Release Review

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Denpo Myint “Yin” Thuta is living the dream. His dream. A good job, higher education, supportive community and, best of all, his live-in boyfriend, Ari. Yin has his happily-ever-after…if only he and Ari could take the time to actually enjoy it. With the holidays fast approaching, Yin’s determined to change all that and surprise Ari with an over-the-top gift that will leave him in no doubt how much he’s loved—even though they agreed to keep things simple this year.

Like Yin, Aristide “Ari” Douniama worked so hard to secure his future that he may have forgotten how to enjoy his present. Despite there being plenty to be thankful for in the moment. With big plans of his own in the works to surprise Yin, Ari may or may not have gone overboard. Or forgotten to check their respective schedules.

’Tis the season of giving, and in their quest to celebrate the “perfect” American Christmas—and failing—Ari and Yin get a much-needed reminder that they already have the greatest gift of all: each other.

Amazon

Dreamers

 

Book 1: American Dreamer

Book 2: American Fairytale

Book 3: American Love Story

Book 4: American Sweethearts

Full disclosure. I didn’t read the first four books when I read this one. In fact, I didn’t know this was part of a series when I grabbed this. I just went in blind, but who could resist that sweet cover? I had to read it. 🙂

Since this novella is book 5, of course I was a little behind. That being said, the author did a great job of making it a very stand alone story. Characters from what I believe are the first four books make their way into the story…and in fact come through in a big way for this sweet, loving couple.

These two young men definitely had it very rough in their early years, but the love that they developed for each other over a long friendship spilled into their romantic relationship and created a strong bond. All they wanted to do was create a life with each other, and make the other man happy. Their misunderstanding was sweet and the reader just wanted to hug everyone when all was done.

They were already working on their fairy tale happy ending, while their friends helped to bring it to fruition for Christmas. Enjoyed this holiday follow up to a couple I hadn’t read, but definitely want to go back and read their story.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Restricted (The Verge Book 1) by A.C. Thomas: New Release Review

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Dr. Aristotle Campbell is a desperate man. His twin brother has been abducted, and Ari will do anything to find him. Forced out of the comfortable solitude of his laboratory, Ari must leave their home world of Britannia and search the farthest reaches of space for his other half. He hastily equips himself with a flawlessly tied cravat, a handful of clues, and his small science vessel. Now, all he needs is a pilot to get him across the Verge, a barrier separating the civilized world from ungoverned space.

Pilot Orin Stone is a desperate man. No ship, no pay, no prospects. He spends his days barely scraping by in the rough colonies lining the Verge interior. When he gets an offer from a frantic, upper-crust professor in need of a pilot, he has no choice but to take the job. He just can’t believe it when the professor turns out to be the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen and that his offer includes a ship of Orin’s own. If Orin can keep his heart (and other portions of his anatomy) from leaping every time sweet, innocent Dr. Campbell looks at him, this should be his easiest job yet.

Rugged Orin and aristocratic Ari work together to navigate the lawless areas of space beyond the Verge, soon discovering that they work well together in all areas. Their immediate and intense attraction to one another is an obstacle to their plans that neither saw coming. More than sparks will fly when they break through the force field and enter restricted space, all alone together for the perilous journey, leaving barriers to their growing attachment far behind.

In their search across the stars, can two desperate men find their home in one another?

Amazon

Nine Star Press

Restricted kind of reminds me of the Indiana Jones movies. The two sides of Harrison Ford’s character – the adventurer and the mild mannered professor are the two characters in this book.

Ari – quiet, studious, scientific, and doesn’t venture from his laboratory very much hires Orin – pilot of a barely held together spaceship. (Actually this is more like Harrison Ford in Star wars lol) Jaded, world-weary, “nothing good ever lasts” kind of guy who needs the money Ari is happy to hand over when his brother goes missing.

As the book progresses Ari comes out of his shell and is Brave while Orin starts to realise that maybe he is wanted for something better than how good he can fly a plane.

Fun jaunt with lots of action. Ari is adorable.

My only complaint is the rapid ending.

4 pieces of eye candy

I See The Light by Arden O’Keefe: New Release Review

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Heath had always been a misfit—a weirdo who went all over town in a tank top and shorts even on a coldest day, who claimed his dog could talk to him, and who saw this blinding light every Christmas Eve coming from the woods behind his house that no one else ever saw.

Even his mother made all sorts of excuses to stay far away from him. If it had not been for his grandma—who loved him despite all his oddness—he would never have had anyone to call his own.

The night before Christmas, with the silliest plan in mind and his coward dog tagging along, he set out to find the true source of the mysterious light he could see from his window. When he found the cheerful bunch of elves gathered around the magical bonfire, celebrating like kids high on sugar, Heath could not be more excited. Then, finding out that he was half elf and half human gave a meaning to his life, finally understanding the reason behind his weirdness.

Buddying up with a cute elf named Shea for the night, to see what it meant to possess the magic of an elf, Heath was to go on a journey to spread the gift of happiness amongst those who had been good this year. But when the night came to an end, he was asked to make a decision. Whether he should embrace the magic of the elf within him completely, or become a plain, old human, and go back to living an ordinary—though slightly odd—life, back in the world where he had never been accepted, and to the universe which didn’t have Shea in it…

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

A new to me author and upon looking on Amazon, this is their second book. So I’ll say, it is a cute book for being only the second release, but it definitely needs some cleaning up.

The prologue was far too long and just very mean. It’s a Christmas story- hearing Heath’s mother call him names and say that he ruined her life, especially since he was only 5 years old- was rough. Luckily he had his grandmother.

Fast forward 14 years, he is working at a veterinarian’s office and mourning the loss of his grandmother just a month before. Oh, and it is Christmas Eve.

Apparently Heath can talk to animals. Literally have conversations with them. Which is pretty cute, especially when we hear his conversations with his own dog Leo. He also, on Christmas eve every year, sees a bright light out in the woods behind his house that no one else can see. With nothing left to lose, he decides to go looking for the source.

Enter Shea, his guardian elf. Ok, cute. Except Shea was tasked with watching over Heath when Heath’s father, an elf, died. Because elves aren’t supposed to mate with humans. Ugh.

Since it is Christmas eve, we see the child Shea was overseeing. I guess every elf gets a child to look after for the year? Again- more sad things!

This book just didn’t know what direction to go in. Was it a romance? Was it religious? (when Shea became an elf, they proclaimed something about “Jesus Christ and Santa”) Was it a bit of a riff on It’s A Wonderful Life? I don’t know. There were just so many different little plot points and no real direction.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy