Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Speed Dating the Boss by Sue Brown: Release Day Review

June 26, 2018 by Denise

Will a mix of privilege and blue collar be a recipe for love… or disaster?

Dan’s pretty satisfied with his job at the working-class bar Cowboys and Angels. He enjoys his simple life, his apartment, and his cat, but he could do without the fights that break out in the bar, his boss’s meddling daughter, Ariel… oh, and a brutal, unrequited crush on his straight alpha boss, Gideon.

When Dan’s friend prepares to tie the knot, everyone insists that Dan needs a date for the wedding. Before he can protest, Ariel arranges a gay speed-dating event at the bar with Gideon as a participant. The unforeseen revelation that Gideon is bisexual raises Dan’s hopes, especially when Gideon announces that he wants to accompany Dan to the wedding. Could Gideon really be interested in Dan?

When Dan needs someone most, Gideon offers his unconditional support, and with genuine commitment, he shows Dan the kind of man he really is. Teaming up to save the wedding from a hungover groom and intolerant parents, can Gideon convince Dan they’re the best match since beer and pizza?

Title: Speed Dating the Boss
Series: Cowboys and Angels: Book One
Author: Sue Brown
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 195

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I like Sue Brown’s books. She can put two men pretty much anywhere in the world, and even though, I believe, she is from the UK, she never makes me read anything but the local flavor of her characters. I always want to be a fly on the wall in her books, seeing what’s happening as if it is happening right in front of me.

This book was no different. The blurb caught my eye instantly and I was intrigued as to where this story could lead. I definitely wanted to sit in Cowboys and Angels and watch Dan and Gideon dance around each other, with Dan being completely clueless about Gideon’s feelings. With the speed dating event, it was fun, a little sassy, and a unique way to introduce future characters in this series.

Dan and Gideon’s romance was a very slow burn…I believe their first actual kiss was at about 85%. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely am fine with a slow burn, and even very little to no sex in the book. However, I didn’t feel like they were dancing around each other as much as they were completely miscommunicating, and couldn’t seem to get on the same page. Although once they did, they seemed to be very much in sync, and were able to almost predict how the other would react to a situation. However, it felt like that came very late in the game.

Another problem I had was the bar fights. I could not understand how that continued to happen, why it was allowed to happen, and written off almost as a cost of doing business. I see where it went when it came into play much later in the book (and that was a HUGE issue), but it just seemed as if this was something that can’t happen in any business, especially in New York City, no matter how much Gideon doted on his spoiled adult daughter.

This book had some sweet moments, Gideon was a huge romantic to the rather rough and tumble Dan, but they seemed to offset each other. The wedding caused a few awkward moments, but I loved the “gotcha” moment from Dan’s “ex”. Totally worth it!

This was a sweet romance that could have used some reality checks, but all in all a book I enjoyed. I will definitely read book 2.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Discovery (Kinky in the City Book 3) by Quinn Ward: Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

June 26, 2018 by Denise

Sex is a lot like pizza. It’s good, but you won’t die without it…

Matteo’s always known he was different. Seeing his older brothers falling in love shines a spotlight on his own lack of desire. Modeling age play gear was a way to prove he could make his own decisions, nothing more.

Levi didn’t realize what a challenge it’d be directing the photo shoot for a new website. When he sees Matteo struggling, he instinctively falls into the role he’d given up years earlier: Daddy.

When Matteo discovers a side of himself he never expected, will Levi be able to show him that not all love begins with sexual attraction?

Discovery is the third book in the Kinky in the City series, but can be read as a standalone novel.

Amazon

Exploration (Book 1

Challenge (Book 2

“Don’t lie to me, boy,” Levi reprimanded, his voice rumbling. My eyes darted to the other side of the open area to see if John and Denny were watching us, but they were oblivious. “Tell me what’s wrong so I can help you.”

I got the impression Levi wasn’t going to give up, so I weighed my options. Yes, it’d be embarrassing to admit my budding fantasies to him, but after the shoot finished, I wouldn’t have to see him again. That made him safe. But this was a job to him. There was a chance he was turned off by everything we were doing here.

“Nothing you can say will make me think less of you,” he promised, reaching up to graze his fingers over my cheek. I leaned into his touch, chasing his hand when he pulled away. “Does it have to do with what we did last week?”

I nodded.

“You seemed put off at first,” he continued, explaining what he’d observed. “Something changed as the day went on, didn’t it?”

I nodded again, unable to find my voice. I stared at the floor, wringing my hands in my lap as I curled my toes in the plush area rug at my feet. I startled when Levi stood, lifting me out of my seat as if I weighed nothing. I should’ve been annoyed by him sitting down in the chair he’d evicted me from, put off when he pulled me into his lap. But I wasn’t. The way Levi wrapped me in his arms, encouraging me to rest my head on his shoulder settled me, quieted my thoughts.

“It’s okay to admit you liked it,” he whispered. I felt his dick pressing against the side of my ass. Did I like it? Hell yes, I did, and that was part of the problem. For so long, I’d thought I was broken because I didn’t feel the slightest sexual attraction to anyone, but having Levi tell me to sit on the floor and play brought me to life. It wasn’t even the promise of anything sexual that got to me; it was the tender way he issued his commands. Or like now, when he sensed my unease and wrapped me tightly in his arms the way my brothers did when I was upset.

Another hot cover…. Shew!

I feel like I’ve been waiting on this book forever, when in reality, it’s been less than a week since I was introduced to this series….. but wow, did I love them all. In saying that, I was most excited for Matteo, mostly because I love the underdog. I like the venerable boys that need someone to take a little different care of them. Is that weird? Probably….

Anyway, so Matteo is Freddie and Calvin’s baby brother; we got a glimpse in the others in this series, that in my opinion looked like he had some sort of anxiety disorder, or something where he just got in his head too much and sometimes needed to take a time out to deal with everything coming at him at once. He was asexual for the most part, or at least he thought he was, in reality he just hadn’t found what he needed yet.

When his good friend asked him to do him a favor and model some things for his website, he was a little concerned when it had him dressing up in “little’s” clothing and give the allusion that he was an adult baby or toddler. Now, I’ve never delved into age play before, but I’ve found with this one, not only did I really like the idea, I also enjoyed getting to read about it, learning something that I hadn’t known about before. I could see where it would help someone like Matteo, help him feel grounded and his mind to feel quiet.

Levi, was his daddy….. and what a hot daddy he was. Not in the typical sense that I usually like my daddy’s, but meh….. I adjusted, and I’m glad I did. Levi was patient and so understanding with Matteo. He made him feel normal and not broken, which he’d felt for so long.

I can’t imagine what life was life for Matteo, he says he was content, but he couldn’t have been happy. He didn’t know what he needed until Levi came along and showed him what he’d needed…. Sigh….
Telling his brothers, (though not all of it) was easy, but I hated that his mom made such a fuss at first. It made it believable to me though, like real life, because I know I’m going to be about a metric ton more psycho when either of my babies think of leaving me and start their own lives with whomever they choose. So relatable mom.

I could probably wax poetic about this book and the love between Matteo and Levi until the cows come home, but I’ll stop here for now. I will say that I highly recommend this book, even if the kink isn’t quite your thing and you’re thinking about skipping it….. don’t. You won’t be sorry.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

Quinn Ward is a non-binary author of LGBT romance. Throughout everything, the one constant in their life has been writing. It’s the piece of them they’ve never questioned. It’s their safe harbor, sometimes their escape when the real world gets to be too much.

Website: http://quinnwardwrites.com

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Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Exploration or Challenge, Books 1 and 2 in the Kinky in the City series.

Galaxies and Oceans by N.R. Walker: Release Day Review

June 25, 2018 by Denise

Seizing his one chance to escape, Ethan Hosking leaves his violent ex-boyfriend, leaves his entire life, and walks into the path of a raging bushfire. Desperate to start over, a new man named Aubrey Hobbs walks out of the fire-ravaged forest, alive and alone. With no ID and no money, nothing but his grandfather’s telescope, he goes where the Southern Cross leads him.

Patrick Carney is the resident lighthouse keeper in Hadley Cove, a small town on the remote Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia. After the tragic death of his lover four years ago, he lives a solitary life; just him, a tabby cat, the Indian and Southern Oceans, and a whole lot of loneliness. He’s content with his life until a stranger shows up in town and turns Patrick’s head.

Patrick never expected to be interested in anyone else.

Aubrey never expected to be happy.

Between Aubrey’s love of the stars and Patrick’s love of the ocean, these two fragile hearts must navigate new waters. If they can weather the storm of their pasts, they could very well have a love that eclipses everything.

When navigating unchartered waters, the stars will guide you home.

Amazon

Quotes:

“Sometimes you have to listen to the silences. When things aren’t said. That’s where the truth is.”

“Like the lighthouse he tended, he kept me safe, my course steady. He navigated me home.”

Oh so swoony and romantic…That is the one thing I kept going back to in this story- romance.

I might have said this about her last book, Evolved, that one of the reasons I love NR Walker’s books is that they are unique in some way. Unique stories, unique people, unique places. This one is set in southern Australia-which apparently is close enough to Antarctica that there are penguins. Who knew?

This story was so, so sweet. The romance and relationship built slowly as neither was in a rush. Which just made it all the more special when they did decide to jump in together.

Seeing Aubrey fight to be who he is. Someone who wore $400 boots and ate at the fanciest restaurants was now doing handyman work to pay for an old drafty trailer to sleep in. He was proud, wanting to do things on his own, but at the same time he knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

And Patrick. Living in such a small town where literally everyone knew what happened to you had to be excruciating. But he keeps going with his life, not even realizing how much the people in the town care for him and are rooting for him.

Together as a couple they learn to help each other, to count on each other. There was no unnecessary drama between the two of them, no silly misunderstandings. Just a budding romance ending in love.

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance.

She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Contact N.R. Walker

Email:

nrwalker@nrwalker.net

Blaze (Unbreakable Bonds #5) by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott: EXCLUSIVE Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

June 22, 2018 by Denise

The rings have been selected.
The champagne placed on ice.
The cake decorated.

And the pre-wedding sex is off the charts…

Lucas Vallois and Andrei Hadeon are finally ready to walk down the aisle. There’s just one small problem.

A ghost from Lucas’s past shows up days before the wedding, desperate for help. Against his better judgement, Lucas and his best friend, Ashton Frost, plan a fast trip back to the one place they swore they’d never go: their hometown in Oklahoma. But the danger is worse than they expected.

Now, they’re in a race to track down a killer, keep a young girl safe, and get Lucas back in time to say, “I do.”

Title: Blaze

Series: Unbreakable Bonds #5

Author: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Drake and Elliott Publishing LLC

Release Date: June 22, 2018

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 75,000

Genre: Romance, Thriller/Suspense

Add to Goodreads

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Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 1

Shatter (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 2

Torch (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 3

Devour (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 4

Blaze (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 5

Lucas rolled his head on the headrest, his smile disappearing as he took in his best friend. Snow’s hands lay in fists on his lap and through his jeans, Lucas could see muscles taut with tension. He should never have agreed to let him come here. While Lucas’s childhood had been neglect and trash, Ashton Frost’s had been so much worse. It had been easy for Lucas to leave this world—but it had been necessary for Snow.

Problem was, Lucas needed him here, too. With him.

“Twenty-one years,” Lucas said softly.

Snow cleared his throat, but his voice came out raspy. “The town hasn’t changed in places.”

“And in others, it has.”

Snow stared through the windshield. “Feels the same, though.” He gritted his teeth so hard, Lucas heard the crunch. “I knew it would be difficult to come here, but I didn’t know the memories would swoop back in so fast.”

Lucas laid his hand on Snow’s leg, reassured by the warmth and strength under his palm. Snow had always been frank and open with him when he guarded his heart against most everyone else. It had been amazing to watch him soften and bloom in his relationship with Jude Torres. Lucas had worried something like that would never happen for Snow. Hell, he hadn’t expected to find that kind of connection himself.

But they both had.

They had grown past this place, and the sooner they took care of business and left, the better.

Snow sighed and closed his eyes. Lucas’s heart ached for him. His memories weren’t great, but Snow had been treated like something less than garbage, and Lucas had spent the majority of his first eighteen years doing what he could to offer him something good. His love for Ashton Frost was fierce—there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the man, and it had been that way since the first day they’d met when Snow had been a dirt-covered, angry boy facing a group of bullies.

Theirs was a connection he’d never been able to explain. It wasn’t sexual, but it was something deeper than friends and brothers. He just flat-out loved the man. Always had.

He was reminded that Snow felt the same when his light blue eyes opened and focused on Lucas. They stared at each other for a few moments before a small smile pulled up one corner of Snow’s lips. “You’re gonna be a married man.”

“Shocking, isn’t it?”

“A few years ago, it would have been but not now. Not after watching the two of you together the past couple of years.”

“Are you going to take that step yourself?”

“Marry Jude?” Snow shrugged. Some of the tension seemed to drain out of him, but that usually happened when Snow thought of Jude. “We already are, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not like you—I don’t need the ceremony. We drew up legal papers making each other beneficiaries and more. All I need is that man in my life. For the rest of it.”

“I never said I needed a ceremony,” Lucas half growled. “I’d prefer if we met in front of a Justice of Peace.”

Snow snorted, his grin growing. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You want to parade that beautiful man down the aisle and show him off in some lavish ceremony. And don’t tell me you’re doing all this for Ian, either.”

“You don’t think I did?” He lifted an eyebrow. “That boy loves planning these sorts of things.”

“No doubt there, so yeah, maybe this is for Ian some. But be honest. You want to show Andrei off and thumb your nose at all those business associates who only tolerate you because of money. The ones who don’t think men should marry each other.”

He smirked. “Yeah, maybe. But don’t think you’re off the damn hook. Ian will turn his sights to you next.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7t94kgYTA

Siiiiiiigh…

Can you really grasp all the emotions that I meant to convey in that sigh? You will, you will if you read this book. Of course, if you’ve gotten this far in the series, surely you’ve gone and fell in love with this group of guys like I have…and even though Noah and Rowe are such a hard couple to top, because they’re so amazing and dangerous, and every bad boy fantasy come to life. No one will ever top Andrei and Lucas for me. And in this one, it’s mostly about them…though you know where there is one, there is all; so we get them all too…

BUT, it’s finally wedding time. 10 days until Andrei and Lucas finally say “I do”…I dunno about y’all, but I have been WAITING for this…Not so patiently, I might add. There is no one sweeter than Andrei, and I absolutely adore the way he is with Lucas…and Lucas, how everyone’s health, happiness and well-being comes before his, his love for Andrei is…otherworldly. There is no topping it. You can feel it, anytime they so much as look at each other…and as an avid reader that’s quite obsessed with her book boys…feeling it myself about fictional characters is ridiculous… yet, somehow…I do with these two.

Okay, so you get I’m a fan-girl…Moving on.

So, it’s ten days til wedding day, and Ian has been planning his little heart out, everything is going to be perfect…until Snow brings home a visitor from their past, in the form of Lucas’s sister. The same sister that said horrible, nasty things to him and sided with his family when he came out…. It was hard for him to hear her out, but because he’s Lucas, and Lucas has Andrei… he did.

Her daughter, Lucas’ niece is in trouble… a niece he’s never met.. and he’s skeptical and hesitant, but they’re family, and you know how Andrei is about family. Lucas I think just hopes to swoop in like he does, fix things and get on with his life, maybe finding a little bit of closure back in his home town while he’s at it. Of course, he doesn’t go alone, he takes Snow…Little did they know, the little bit of trouble was actually quite a bit of trouble, and it’s a big ol’ whirlwind of danger and death… exactly what fuels guys like Snow, and especially Rowe and Noah…(they are serious BA in this one….again)

It’s hard for the guys to be there and there’s a lot of chasing their tails at first, but they get to the bottom of it. Of course they do… especially w hen the whole gang shows up. But, everything gets worked out in the end, and I think Snow and Lucas get the closure they needed. Maybe not the way they wanted, but, enough. I wish we wouldn’t got a little more Snow and Jude, but, that’s may just be me being selfish lol…And, last but not least…we meet a couple of new people that I hope stick around…oh, and of course, we get our wedding.

This is just another perfect addition to an already amazing series, and I find myself wishing that this series could last forever, because I’m not sure I’ll ever be done with them. For now though, I’ll patiently… or somewhat patiently wait for the next one.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

I love the Unbreakable Bonds series. One of the reasons is that it wasn’t stretched out. Each guy got a book and a novella. Their stories were complete. So I thought that this book would be stretching Lucas and Andrei’s story with their wedding. But who can resist a wedding? Not me.

But we got so much more!!!

Lucas and Snow went back to their hometown. Seeing both men as anything less than the confident successful men they were was heart breaking. But, they are there to help Lucas’s niece-which isn’t as simple as they thought.

Through the story we get all of the main guys. And of course there is aission, hilarious code names and explosion.

And we still get a wedding. Swoon.

This installment did not disappoint and was a fun, exciting read.

4 pieces of eye candy

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

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The Messenger by TM Smith: Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway

June 22, 2018 by Denise

For centuries Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer have worked together, coexisting in the same universe. Gabriel chooses to remain silent and secluded, preferring the garden in the Hall of Souls. He dances beneath the Tree of Life, barefoot and with reckless abandon…until the day he looks into the eyes of another angel and sees the dreams he’s kept silent mirrored there.

Eons have passed since the moment Michael came to be the general of the All Father’s army in heaven, the protector of mankind. Michael has been in love with Lucifer for as long as he can remember, their relationship second only to his bond with the All Father. But lately, Michael has begun to notice cracks in the surface of their love, sensing that his lover is not as angelic as he seems.

Lucifer was the All Father’s first creation, the bringer of light, his Morning Star. He has sat to the right of the throne every day since the dawn of time. Two things were tasked to the Archangels from the start: put no other before the All Father, and protect the humans he cherishes. Lucifer challenges both sacred rules. He puts his love for Michael before his love for his creator, and he questions his creator’s wisdom when it comes to the atrocities he has seen committed by mankind.

One will fall while two remain and grow stronger. A battle of wills is on the horizon, and not only mankind, but the fate of all beings will hang in the balance.

The Messenger by TM Smith

The Archangel trilogy book 1

Tentative release date August 31st 2018

Goodreads

“Lu, please, don’t do this.” Michael begged. Collapsing to his knees, he reached for Lucifer’s face, only to have his hand knocked away. The look of love and tenderness he’d once seen in the darker Angels silver eyes was gone, replaced with anger and hatred, the normally shining orbs bleeding into a dull gray with pulsing coal black slits.

“You made your choice Michael.” Lucifer hissed, venom wrapped around each word he growled between clenched teeth.

Standing, the pissed off Angel shoved Michael aside, advancing on Gabriel. “You did this!” Lucifer let his wings unfurl and the All Father gasped. An Angels wings were liken to their limbs, an extension of their soul as much as bones and skin. Lucifer’s normally black and silver marbled feathers loomed over him, awash in a darkness that resembled brimstone and ash, the tips a dull, lifeless gray that matched his now dead, slitted eyes.

In a blur of movement that none of them expected, the dark Angel flew into the air, spinning and knocking Gabriel off his feet with the suddenly massive appendages jutting out of his shoulder blades. “I will destroy you Messenger. Much like you’ve done to the love he once felt for me, only for me!”

“Enough!” The All Father’s voice boomed, the heavens shaking, a brilliant white light momentarily blinding all his Angels. Blinking, Gabriel stood and moved over to where Michael sat crouched, staring up at Lucifer, confusion and pain dotting his vibrant blue eyes. “Angel of light, my son and most trusted advisor, I beg you to stop this madness. You know what the consequence will be.”

Lucifer glared at the All Father, chest heaving, breathing labored, senselessly fighting against the band of light wrapped around his middle like the sheath of a knife. “Father, please don’t…” God raised his hand silencing Michael.

“I am sorry, Michael, but he has made his choice which leaves me no alternative.” The band around Lucifer tightened, the floor beneath him opening up, exposing clouds of thunder and rain. “Star of the Morning, bringer of light, you are stripped of your titles, your wings forfeit. You shall now be known as Satan, the serpent, the prince of darkness.” Lucifer howled in agony as the strong coal-black feathers were stripped away from his being. “I cast you out of heaven and forbade your return.” The iridescent tears cascading down the All Father’s cheeks formed a river beneath the writhing Angel.

Michael cried out, turning and burying his face in Gabriel’s bronze robe, the silky fabric soon soaked through with fresh, warm tears. He wrapped his arms around Michael, shielding him from Lucifer’s violent, turbulent eyes. In the eons to come, the slow passage of time he and Michael would face together, Gabriel would always question his role in the events of that day. Could it have been avoided? Of course it could have, but that would have meant walking away from the Angel that he loved second only to the All Father.

He asked himself for the millionth time as he held Michael’s head so he wouldn’t see the clouds open up and swallow Lucifer, dragging him down to bowels of the earth, face a mask of agony and pain, forever exiled to the pit and doomed to watch over and judge only the evil of mankind… what have I done?

A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant, she now calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or ticking away on her next novel.

Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people, Love is Love!

Website: www.authortmsmith.com

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Rainbow Place (Rainbow Place #1) by Jay Northcote: Blog Tour, Release Day Review

June 21, 2018 by Denise

Can Jason find the courage he needs to be the man Seb deserves?

When Seb Radcliffe relocates to a seaside town in Cornwall, he feels like a fish out of water. He misses queer spaces and the sense of community he enjoyed when he was living in the city, and decides to open an LGBT-friendly cafe–bar.

Jason Dunn is the builder Seb hires to help renovate the rundown space where the cafe will be housed. Jason is also gay, but unlike Seb, he’s deep in the closet. He’s never had a relationship with another man—only allowing himself the occasional hook up with guys who are prepared to be discreet.

The attraction between the two men is instant and impossible to ignore. But while Seb is out and proud, Jason is terrified of being exposed. With the grand opening of Rainbow Place approaching, tension is growing among some locals who object to Seb’s plans. When things escalate, Jason is forced to choose whether to hide in the shadows and let Seb down, or to openly support the man he’s fallen so hard for.

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

Length: 54,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Amazon

So, I think I seem to be a minority on this one.
I was really on the fence…..
Seb seems to be one of the only out gay men in his town, everyone else seems to be deep in the closet, wanting to be discreet or way too young for him. So, at the insistence of his out and proud married neighbors, after running an idea by them, he decides to make the cafe he was going to open, an LGBT+- friendly cafe. I loved the idea of this, man, if there were more places like this, especially in smaller communities, like mine… it would go such a long way in opening some minds and making our community a safer place for those who need it.
Sighhhh, if only.

Finding a contractor who sees his vision might be tricky, but he lucks out when he gets Jason and his assistant Will…. I was pleasantly surprised by Will, I thought he was going to be a problem, but he wasn’t, he was so great…. Jason, on the other hand, was deep, deep in the closet to everyone except his ex-wife, who he remained best friends with and they raised their daughter together.

Because Jason was so deep in the closet, the attraction he and Seb felt towards one another had to be kept a secret… I couldn’t imagine how that would feel for either of them. Seb being out, and Jason being afraid… I understood it, I seriously did; I don’t think anyone should be forced to come out before they’re ready, and some may never be ready… but it’s selfish to ask the person you have feelings for and who has feelings for you, to keep that a secret. Not keep your secret a secret, but keep a relationship or their feelings a secret. I didn’t like that. I felt like, even though I understood it, I still felt it selfish, because I knew that Seb had deeper feelings for Jason.

In saying that, I really didn’t feel much of a connection between these two until the very end. It was very clinical hookups, it almost felt like a doctor and patient exchanging of mutual pleasure.
I’m sure it was enjoyed, but the way it was explained and the dialogue just seemed….I dunno, clinical is the only way to describe it. I didn’t get it, didn’t feel it at all.

I was also disappointed when things go wrong and the one time…. the absolute time in which Seb would need Jason, he cut and run and hid away. That was….. I couldn’t believe that, it made me incredibly sad. I dunno if there would’ve been redemption for me. Of course, he makes a grand gesture that I thought was nice, but it seemed to me like he did it for the wrong reason and I dunno, I just didn’t like it.

What I loved, was when Seb needed it, the community came together to support him and his cafe.
You don’t have to be a memeber of the LGBT+ community, to support them, and I loved loved loved seeing that!!

By the end, I was glad that it worked out because I love getting a HEA, but I mostly wanted it for Seb because I thought that he deserved it and because I know he had feelings for Jason.
Jason I felt got lucky and I never really warmed up to him. I’m not sure I’ll continue the series, but I would like to see more from this Alex, who was the bigots son… so perhaps we’ll see?

3 pieces of eye candy from me.

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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