Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Blog Tour, Double Review and Giveaway: After the Fire (Through Hell and Back #2) by Felice Stevens

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Title: After the Fire
Series: Through Hell and Back #2
Author: Felice Stevens
Genre: Adult, Gay Romance
Release Date: February 24, 2015
A single bullet destroyed the dreams of Dr. Jordan Peterson. With the man he loved dead, Jordan descends into an endless spiral of pain that nearly costs him his friends, his career and his life. When Jordan meets the aloof Lucas Conover, the investment banker’s mysterious past and unexpected kindness shocks Jordan back to a life he thought was lost forever.
Betrayal and abandonment by the foster brother he’d worshiped as a child taught Lucas Conover never to trust or believe in anyone. Living a solitary life did little to free him of the nightmare of his past; it reinforces his belief he wasn’t meant to fall in love. Working closely with Dr. Jordan Peterson forces him to meet another person whose suffering equals his own and Lucas can’t shake the unexpected the first man to ever get under his skin.
Mutual respect and rising desire bring Jordan and Luke closer than they ever imagined, and each man must come to terms with their past as they struggle to create a future together. And learning to trust in themselves and love again after tragedy and a lifetime of pain, may be the only thing that saves them in the end.

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Denise’s Review:

When I first read A Walk Through Fire, as most of you know, I ugly cried when Keith died. I also may have (I will neither confirm nor deny) sent Felice Stevens more than one threatening message that she “better fix this”. 🙂  I’m very happy to say that with After the Fire, she did a wonderful job of fixing poor, broken Jordan. He has a LONG way to go during this book.

At the beginning of ATF, Jordan is drunk, taking Xanax, and has pushed away everyone in his life who has meant something. Taking his grief and his anger out on those around him, and barely waking up some mornings. It was truly heart breaking to see what a man as confident and strong as Jordan had done to himself to bring himself to such a dark and lonely place.

Meanwhile, Lucas, Ash’s long lost foster brother, learned the meaning of being alone at 17 when he was completely abandoned, without a word from his foster family. As he moved through life, making very few connections, he felt that relying only on himself was the safest road for him.

As these two meet, and find a sexual attraction, Jordan becomes even more angry, confused, and feels he is betraying Keith’s love. At the same time, Lucas feels nothing but hatred for his foster brother Ash, and refuses to even meet with him.

These men learn to walk the road of love and forgiveness together, as they work through very real issues of grief, anger, addiction and most of all, how to find love in a world that sometimes just doesn’t make sense.

Felice does an amazing job with this book, showing all the cracks in these men, and how with the love of one other, those cracks can be filled, and they can be stronger than before.

I cried in this book, absolutely. Not the ugly cry of Keith’s death, but a steady sadness for all these two men endured to heal themselves, and then to heal each other. Felice has a way of bringing emotions out, and shining a light on all aspects of love. Not only the ones that are happy and light-filled, but the darkness that sometimes gathers with those that you love.

Felice is still a new author on the m/m, having only published her first book, Rescued (http://amzn.to/1Dy5rXF) last August, but she has quickly become a “must read” for me. (And YES! Another stray animal makes an appearance in here.)

I know that Felice has already written Brandon’s story, book 3, and is waiting to hear about publishing it. I know that there will be many of us beating down her door looking to get that in our hot little hands. I am anxious to see how she brings Brandon back to the fold.

Five tear-stained pieces of eye candy from this girl!!!

Morgan’s Review:

Jordan is a broken man. After the death of his former partner Keith, grief has taken over his
entire life. He shuts out his friends and turns to alcohol and anxiety drugs to help him cope. He
is forced back into the world of the living when Lucas contacts him to head a community project
Keith had started before his death.
Having grown up in an unstable foster home Lucas has demons of his own. After a brutal
encounter with his foster father leaves him in a hospital alone and battered, he is forced to live
on the streets and do things he still feels shameful about years later.
The attraction between these two is powerful and something neither of them expected. Jordan
is surprised when he feels attraction again after everything his heart has been through. Luke is
still having trouble coping with the loss of both of his foster brothers and feels everyone will
ultimately let him down. These two have a long struggle ahead of them.
This is a beautiful story with brilliant characters and Felice did an exceptional job. This
installment is a wonderful follow up to A Walk Through Fire and Felice has quickly become one
of my favorite authors. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Five pieces of candy read for me.
After the Fire Excerpt © Felice Stevens 2015
“Damn, you look like shit.” Ash’s sharp gaze raked him up
and down. “Ow.” He rubbed his arm when Drew elbowed him. “Don’t get mad at me,
baby. You know he does. Look at him.” 
“Can we come in, Jordy?” Drew’s kind smile strangely made him feel worse, not
better. 
He said nothing and pulled the front door wider for his friends, leaving them
to trail behind him back through the house and into the spacious kitchen. Sunlight
poured onto the terra-cotta floors and glinted off the glass-fronted maple
cabinets. The kitchen was his pride and joy, and when he and Keith bought the
brownstone, it had been the only room he cared about decorating. Jordan had
always loved staring out of the large bay window as he relaxed with his cup of
coffee in the morning. 
“Did you have a party?” Drew tipped his head to the table, still cluttered with
vodka bottles. 
“Party of one, more likely.” 
Jordan heard Ash’s muttered remark, and despite a throbbing head and a roiling
stomach, he lashed out. 
“Shut up, Davis.” He and Ash had never had the easiest of relationships, and
even though Jordan knew how happy Drew was, the man still irritated the hell
out of him. 
“Why, Jordan? The truth hurts?” Ash’s voice, oddly enough, neither condemned
nor derided him. Instead, it held an overall note of sadness, mixed with
empathy that pulled Jordan up short. “You sit here, night after night, refusing
our dinner invitations, as well as any social contact with Rachel, Mike, or
even Esther. Don’t think we don’t know what you’re doing and why.” 
Jordan winced. Shit. A kindhearted, sympathetic Ash Davis was almost worse than
the usual sarcastic attitude he dished out to everyone. “I’m not in the mood
for company; that’s all.” 
“And I call bullshit on that. You’re still mourning Keith, and I get that, but
that doesn’t mean you don’t go on living. When your only company since he died
has been vodka or whiskey, you’re heading for disaster.” 
“Jordy.” Drew slung an arm around his shoulder. “I’m worried about you. You’ve
lost weight, skipped days at the hospital, and I was told that during surgery
last week—” 
“Are you checking up on me?” He pulled away from Drew, shaking with anger.
“What the fuck, man? You’re not my goddamn keeper.” Humiliation, shame, and a
sense of despair tore through him as he turned away from his two friends to go
back and sit at the kitchen table. He ran his hands over the battered wood of
the long farmhouse table. He remembered how happy he and Keith had been to find
it in the small Pennsylvania town they’d stumbled upon oneSaturday. Making love
on top of it after lugging it up the stairs of the brownstone was a memory
etched forever in his mind. He gripped the edge of the table to steady himself. 
A few deep breaths settled him, yet he couldn’t face his friends. 
For over thirty years he and Drew had been friends; the man knew him better
than anyone else. People might think Drew Klein was sweet and easygoing, but
Jordan knew the core of steel within his friend. Drew refused to back down if
he thought he could help. True to form, Drew dropped into the chair right next
to him, challenging and direct. 
“Jordan. Look at me.” 
It took an effort to tear his gaze away from the tabletop, but he inhaled a
deep breath and smiled into Drew’s face. “What is it?” 
Drew seemed taken aback that Jordan was smiling and not lashing out with his
usual anger. “I’m not checking up on you. It’s common knowledge that you showed
up to your first surgery since Keith died and had to wait an extra hour to
start because you had the shakes.” Drew’s mouth thinned to a hard line. “Are
you crazy showing up drunk for surgery? You could lose your fucking license,
for God’s sake.” 
“I wasn’t drunk. I was overtired and hadn’t eaten since lunchtime the day
before.” 
Behind him he heard Ash snort with laughter. “Are you fucking kidding me,
Jordan? You can come up with a better one than that.” 
“Fuck off, Ash,” he shot back. “I couldn’t care less about your opinion.” 
“Do you care about mine, Jordy? Don’t lie to me.” Drew’s stare remained
unflinching, his eyes soft and knowing. “I know you’re still having a hard time
moving on from Keith’s death, but it’s going to be a year soon.” 
“It’s only been nine months. God almighty, did you expect me to forget him
already?” Horrified, Jordan swept his hand across the table, sending the empty
bottles and food containers crashing to the floor. “Could you forget Ash so
quickly? Keith and I were together for almost four years. Stop pressuring me to
move on with my life. It’s over for me. There will never be anyone else.” 
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I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started reading traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that my interest in romance novels became renewed.
But somewhere along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a juicy Historical romance, I began experimenting with newer, more cutting edge genres and discovered the world of Male/Male romance. Once I picked up her first, I became so enamored of the authors, the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I knew I wanted to write my own.
I live in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

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Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway: Sight and Sinners by Susan Mac Nicol

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THE MEN OF LONDON
From Charing Cross to Waterloo, there’s no escaping love.
SEEING THROUGH…
28-year-old Draven Samuels has a tragic past, but as an investigator with a high-profile London company he now gets what he wants. Tough, sarcastic, and sceptical, he has no patience for lies and even less for people who waste his time. Even if they’re as beautiful as the wild and dark-haired Taylor Abelard. Especially when they’re talking over the body of a murder victim.
THE DARKNESS
Psychic Taylor Abelard is used to people calling him a freak. He can see past events and feel the ghostly vibrations of people close to him who’ve passed on. It’s why he doesn’t get too close to the living. But this time, against his better judgment, despite Draven’s mocking rejoinders, Taylor will get closer than ever before. The mystery surrounding a dead friend will lead the two men down a dark and seedy trail of blackmail and lies. Add in the heartbreak of a family tragedy, and events lead them straight into each other’s arms. By the end of this night, all their demons will have risen—and been banished with the dawn.
PURCHASE LINK
http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com

Denise’s Review

I loved Gideon and Eddie’s story, in Book 1 of The Men of London story, so I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the second book in this series, Sight and Sinners. 

This is Taylor and Draven’s story. Taylor is a psychic, specifically one who sees people who have already passed, which leaves him with nightmares, and sometimes in a catatonic state. Meanwhile, Draven is a bit of a man-ho, but very quickly turns his ways, once he meets up with Taylor again. To say their first meeting was inaspicious would be understating it. However, once Draven truly sees the power in Taylor’s gift, he cannot deny it, even finding it frightening in its  effects on Taylor.

As these two work together to solve a mystery around a friend’s death, they heat up the bedroom, and begin to fall in love. The challenges ahead for them both brought a bit of an ugly cry, I must say. Taylor having to give devastating news to the man he loves, then finding himself turned away for it, was tough to read. What should have brought them together tore them apart, until Draven realized how wrong he truly was.

The situation they dealt with would be challenging for anyone to deal with, causing many to turn away from their loved ones. With Taylor’s powers added to the mix, it could bring some level of comfort, for sure, but also a lot of anguish. Watching these men walk through these hours together gives you hope that love really can help to heal hurt.

I couldn’t help but cry for about the last 25% of this book (which Ms. Mac Nicol gleefully enjoyed when I told her), but the love was just stunning between these men, and I couldn’t help but be gleeful myself at reading their story. And having some glimpses at Taylor’s best buddies, Eddie and Leslie was great! I am excited to see what kind of man can take on such a beautiful man as Leslie. That will be a lot of fun, for sure!

As always, Susan Mac Nicol reads are amazing, and enjoyable, and I always look forward to reading them again! And one of the things I have enjoyed about this series so far has been that the two stories are vastly different, despite being based around Galileo’s, the restaurant. Very different love stories, for very different men, but in the end love will win! 🙂

Sight and Sinners (Men of London Book 2) gets 4.5 pieces of eye candy, and looking forward to the finish to this trilogy.

TRAILER
 Sight and Sinners .mp4
THE MEN OF LONDON SERIES BOOK 1
LOVE YOU SENSELESS
One of London’s up-and-coming chefs, Eddie Tripp has just the right recipe to drive tragedy from the mind of Gideon Kent—and leave him senseless with desire. 



THE MEN OF LONDON 
From Soho to Norwich, there’s no escaping love. 


A TASTE OF FOREVER 
An award-winning chef with his own restaurant and an inexhaustible passion, Gideon Kent once had everything. Then came tragedy. It stole more than Gideon’s home. He hasn’t cooked since. 


Until Eddie Tripp. Fun-loving and vivacious, the Norfolk redhead’s a real up-and-comer in Gideon’s kitchen—and other places. Slim where Gideon’s broad, easy-going where Gideon is growly, he and Gideon seem polar opposites, and yet Eddie conjures flavors that would tempt anyone with a taste for perfection. The sauce of love is already simmering, and this pair is about to dine on the most delicious dish they’ve ever prepared. Because Eddie’s been Gideon’s missing ingredient all along.

Love You Senseless Purchase Link:
Amazon
Susan Mac Nicol is a self confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, self confessed geek and nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…
She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. She is a romantic at heart and believes that everything happens (for the most part) for a reason.  She likes to think of herself as a ‘half full’ kinda gal, although sometimes that philosophy is sorely tested.
Lover of walks in the forest, theatre productions, dabbling her toes in the cold North Sea and the vibrant city of London where you can experience all four seasons in a day , she is a hater of pantomime (so please don’t tar and feather her), duplicitous people, bigotry and self righteous idiots. 
In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

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Blog Tour Stop, Two Chicks Review and Giveaway: A Restored Man by JaimeReese

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Title: A Restored Man
Series: The Men of Halfway House #3
Author: Jaime Reese
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Cole Renzo thinks his greatest challenge is to behave for the remainder of his term at Halfway House. Until he meets his new boss, Ty Calloway, a man who ticks off every box on Cole’s list of interests.
A sought-after restorer and customizer of exotic and collectible cars, Ty had enough confidence to command what he wanted in life, until one fateful night changed everything. Almost two years later, he’s slowly rebuilding his life with great control. He’s defied the odds and works tirelessly to be the man he once was—but he still feels broken.
Cole’s candor and unfiltered personality awaken Ty’s barely-remembered desire to greet each new day with a smile, while Ty’s unwavering acceptance of Cole’s quirks and brash humor makes Cole feel as if he fits in for the first time in far too long. When a nemesis threatens Ty’s personal restoration and the things he holds dear, Cole is determined to protect their relationship, even if that means sacrificing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve.
But Ty will have to let his guard down, surrender control, and admit he needs Cole first, even if that puts himself at risk of breaking beyond repair.

Denise’s Review:

I waited patiently for this installment of The Men of Halfway House series. I lie. I wasn’t patient at all, but what can you do. You have to let the author do their thing and only message them every so often to ask how it’s going. 😊

This is Jaime Reese’s third book, in the series as well as as an author, and it is her best without a doubt. I truly enjoyed the first two books. However Cole and Ty’s story was just a knock out of the park for me. 
It was insta-love for me with Cole. I have to say I didn’t think a whole lot of him one way or another in book 2. He was there and a little sassy, but I didn’t have much of a strong impression of him. Immediately in this book I just fell in love with Cole. He was smart, sassy, loyal, even to his own detriment, and would go to the ends of the earth for those he cared for, proving that over and over in this book. 
Cole meets Ty, his new boss, and the two begin a slow burn romance. The attraction is instant, but with baggage on both sides, taking a chance and trusting was tough. But Cole, with his mismatched eyes and his ever present light, showed Ty that despite the devastation in his past, he could begin to smile again and let go of the guilt he was clinging to like a warm coat. 
Fast, exotic cars, and blackmailing ex partners try to get in the way of love, but nobody takes Cole down easily and his past loyalties and happy nature mean he is willing to stand up for what’s right and help the man who has helped him so much. 
Jaime did such a fantastic job on this book. The research that must have gone into this book (unless she has a hobby of collecting exotic cars) is incredible. Cars most people have never heard of, and will likely never see in person float in and out of the book, leaving the reader wanting to look up each and every one to see what they look like. 
Aidan’s book has to be next, and that is a man with more baggage than the carousel at the airport. He will be a tough nut to crack and the man on the other side is a mystery as we learn during this book. 
An HEA was without question in a Jaime Reese book, but the extent to which I enjoyed this book was unexpected for me. I will re read this without question, and cannot recommend it more highly. Reading books 1 and 2 are helpful for backstory but not required. I do recommend them both though. 
Without question, five pieces of eye candy from me. Don’t miss this book!!!

Morgan’s Review:

I
loved the new novel in the Men of Halfway House Series. Cole was so
interesting. He has this incredibly unpredictable mouth and you never know
what’s going to come out. There is no filter between his brain and his mouth
for sure. On top of not knowing how to control what he says, Cole struggles
with guilt surrounding his brother’s death. A car boost gone bad landed him a
two year sentence which led him to Halfway House. One stipulation of his stay
is to be able to get a job and keep it. Aidan helps him land a job with his
brother working at his garage where he restores, customizes and does general
repair on all types of cars. This is where he meets Ty.
Ty
has struggles of his own. He survived a horrific accident that took the life of
his parents and is trying to overcome the guilt. He has been in a very dark
place and is still recovering even two years later. He is very quiet and
guarded, and feels he should tackle his problems all on his own. 
Cole
sweeps in and makes Ty smile again. The attraction is there from the first
moment and Ty doesn’t stand a chance against Cole’s charm. He pulls Ty out of
that dark place and helps him take his life back. The banter and teasing
between Cole and Ty will really make you smile. These two are a perfect match
for each other. 
This
story is packed with emotion from the first page. Definitely a reread for me
and a perfect addition to this series. 
5
pieces of eye candy.

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“I thought those were the service bays,”
Cole said, thumbing over his shoulder.
“They’re for the traditional shop work my techs
do on a daily basis. These are my
service calls. Side project I’m doing and there’s no money in it for the guys
so I don’t really want to burden them. I figured we could work on them and, in
between, we could tinker with the Yenko if you want or wrap up the last few
details on the Drayton rig. I worked on most of it over the weekend but there
are still a few things to finish up.”
Cole stopped walking. “You’d let me work on the
Yenko with you?”
Ty nodded. “Sure, why not. I’ve seen how picky
you are with your work.”
“So it’s my reward for helping you with your
service calls?”
Ty chuckled. “Do you do tricks too?”
Cole raised an eyebrow and half smiled. “Oh, I’ve
got a lot of tricks I can show you.” He smiled at the rush of color to
Ty’s cheeks, loving the way Ty always reacted to his teasing.
“You do realize you’re an HR nightmare,” Ty
said, looking at Cole with that glimmer in his eye.
Cole’s pulse raced. “HR?”
“Human Resources. Sexual harassment, all
that,” Ty said, trying to look serious and indifferent, but failing
miserably.
Cole belly-laughed so loud it echoed in the shop. He
then stilled, straightened his shoulders, and mocked a serious tone. “I
could, of course, be completely professional and proper with you, Mr. Calloway,
if that is your preference,” he said, mimicking Matt’s formal tone.
Ty turned to face him, the mock seriousness
transitioning into something more genuine. “And I, of course,” he
said, reciprocating Cole’s tone, “would be deeply disappointed.”
He looked up into those brown eyes and smiled.
“My army of superheroes and I would be as well.” He bit back a smile
and bowed.
Ty’s low rumble-laugh shot straight to Cole’s dick.
Cole straightened. “Admit it, you like me.”
Ty raised his hand and put his thumb and index
fingertips together with only a sliver of a gap between them. “Maybe a
little bit.”
Cole
looked at Ty’s fingers then glanced back at him with a huge grin on his face.
“It’s a start,” he said before walking off to the two cars parked in
the bay.
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ARe

 Add to Goodreads
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Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.

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Blog Tour Stop, Two Chicks Review and Giveaway: Memories of the Heart by Felice Stevens

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Title: Memories of the Heart
Author: Felice Stevens
Genre: Adult, Gay Romance
Release Date: February 12, 2015
Ruthless, Controlling, A Loner. All words used to describe Dr. Micah Steinberg by the hospital staff for their next head of surgery. When a letter arrives from his grandmother’s friend at the assisted living facility, his orderly world tilts dangerously out of control. 
Josh Rosen had everything until it was revealed much of his world was a lie. Forced to re-evaluate his life, Josh gives up his career and returns home to New York City to care for his beloved grandmother. What Josh didn’t figure on was an attraction to a man who on the surface, appears to be exactly like the life Josh chose to leave behind.
As Micah struggles with the reality of his grandmother’s illness, the bond they share deepens, as Josh helps Micah heal, then open his heart. Micah discovers there is more to life than work, control and success. Josh is in deep but has yet to tell Micah who he really is.
When the fight for the hospital’s head of surgery turns ugly, Josh’s past and present collide. Micah must let go of the past and accept who he is, if his life is going to move forward.
Life is full of surprises, and as both Micah and Josh learn, love can happen whether you plan for it or not.

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Denise’s Review:

First, I have to say, I didn’t have an ugly cry like I did on Felice’s last book, thank goodness. She has just about taken care of my allotment of ugly cries already for a while, I need a break! 🙂

This is Felice’s first self-published book, and what a book it was!!! Weaving a beautiful love story around two men, and the love for their grandmothers as they age.

Micah is a broken man, and hard for Josh to get to know. They slowly allow their bond to build, as they work through their daily lives, as well as the reality that is caring for an elderly family member.

My heart broke for Micah again and again, as his grandmother struggled to remember him each time he visited. The guilt that he had due to his decreased visits was palpable. He knew he had made a huge error by letting so much time lapse, and there was no way to recover from that. He was grieving for the grandmother he had loved, and was losing more and more each day.

This is a struggle millions of families go through on a daily basis. As aging parents and grandparents begin to lose their memories, become debilitated by disease, family members must find a way to work through the grief and guilt that they may not have been as helpful as they could have been to their loved one when they were healthier. (I, myself, struggled with this same issue. The pain is something that you just can’t quite ever come to terms with, you just must learn to live with it.)

Fortunately for Micah, he had Josh, their newfound canine buddy, and Josh’s grandmother who would not let Micah hide away. Sometimes you need someone to kick you out of that guilt pattern and into dealing with what you have right here, right now, and she was just the right person for the job.

This book was a heart breaker in so many ways. When you read romance, whether mm, mf, or any combination, you are reading hoping of an HEA (at least I am!), and Micah and Josh do get HEA. However, it is twinged with sadness because you know that Micah’s grandmother will not get her mind back to where it once was, and you know that he will have his heart broken over and over again.

What a beautiful story this was! I always love that Felice throws in a pet somewhere, me being a crazy cat lady and all. More than a beautiful love story, it was a REAL story, one that is lived every day, and for that, I am grateful to Felice for writing this.

My final determination is a re-read worthy, 4.5 pieces of eye candy.

Morgan’s Review:

WOW, Felice has created another
incredible story.
I was drawn into this from the
minute I picked it up and I immediately fell in love with both of these
characters. The attraction between Micah and Josh was there from the first
moment they saw each other even if it wasn’t a perfect first encounter.
Micah is a very broken and
vulnerable man that keeps everyone at arms-length to stop himself from getting
hurt. Josh has a huge heart and sweet personality. Getting to see how Josh
cracked all that ice around Micah’s heart had the emotions going and the love
these two show for their grandmothers is so heart-warming.
Felice’s writing is always wonderful
and she creates amazing characters. I really hope we get to see more from Alex
as well.
Definitely a reread and a 5 piece of
eye candy read for me!

I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started reading traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that my interest in romance novels became renewed.
But somewhere along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a juicy Historical romance, I began experimenting with newer, more cutting edge genres and discovered the world of Male/Male romance. Once I picked up her first, I became so enamored of the authors, the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I knew I wanted to write my own.
I live in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.
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Release Day: A Restored Man by Jaime Reese

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Title: A Restored Man
Series: The Men of Halfway House #3
Author: Jaime Reese
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Cole Renzo thinks his greatest challenge is to behave for the remainder of his term at Halfway House. Until he meets his new boss, Ty Calloway, a man who ticks off every box on Cole’s list of interests.
A sought-after restorer and customizer of exotic and collectible cars, Ty had enough confidence to command what he wanted in life, until one fateful night changed everything. Almost two years later, he’s slowly rebuilding his life with great control. He’s defied the odds and works tirelessly to be the man he once was—but he still feels broken.
Cole’s candor and unfiltered personality awaken Ty’s barely-remembered desire to greet each new day with a smile, while Ty’s unwavering acceptance of Cole’s quirks and brash humor makes Cole feel as if he fits in for the first time in far too long. When a nemesis threatens Ty’s personal restoration and the things he holds dear, Cole is determined to protect their relationship, even if that means sacrificing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve.
But Ty will have to let his guard down, surrender control, and admit he needs Cole first, even if that puts himself at risk of breaking beyond repair.

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Chapter 1 – A Restored Man © Jaime Reese 2015
The music reverberated off the walls and
filtered back through Cole’s body. The sounds of Pitbull’s “Timber”
had him gyrating in the kitchen as he reached into the refrigerator. He grabbed
the mozzarella then did exactly as the song commanded after shutting the door.
He spun his body around repeatedly, holding the bag of cheese above his head
while his hips arched up and down, completely seduced by the pounding beat of
the song.
He closed his eyes. His heart thumped in unison
with the beat, guiding his thick, compact, toned body in the fast-paced thrust
of his hips as if he were pushing into the welcoming heat of a lover.
The pace slowed and so did his body, in
complete sync with the rhythm. His hips rounded deeply, seductively, giving a
show that would always excite more than the traditional foreplay.
Cole Renzo had some moves and he knew it.
The song sped up again and he glided barefoot
across the tiled kitchen floor to reach the garlic cloves from the basket in
the corner.
“Hey, you,” Matt said, entering the
kitchen, speaking loud enough for his voice to travel above the music.
Cole looked over at Matthew Doner, owner of the
halfway house where he stayed, and smiled as his body moved to the rhythm of
the song, not faltering a single beat with the interruption. He knew Matt loved
to dance and had caught him doing his own version of a solo when he thought no
one was watching. He dropped the garlic cloves on the counter and bent his
finger in a come here motion,
swinging his hips in a fluid Salsa-like move as he walked toward Matt slowly.
Matt laughed and took two steps forward. Cole pulled him closer, spun him once
then wrapped his arm around Matt’s waist and started to dance to the faster
thump of the song.
The laughter echoed in the kitchen as they moved
in perfect time with the fast-paced rhythm nearing the end of the tune. Matt
held up his arm and Cole circled with the expert elegance of a seasoned dancer,
then pulled Matt close, stepped to the side and spun Matt in the same fashion.
“What the fuck!” Julian thundered
when he entered the kitchen.
They froze at the sound of Julian’s tone, just
as the song ended. Cole’s hand still rested on Matt’s waist as they tried to
settle their breathing, the absence of music magnifying the harsh puff of each
exhale.
“Hey!” Cole responded cheerfully. “Matt
and I were getting it on in here. Matt’s got some hip action that would make a—”
Matt’s hand came up around the back of Cole’s
head to cover his mouth, stopping him midsentence. What the hell? He was just going to compliment Matt on his
seductive dance moves.
Cole glanced at Julian. His golden skin glowed,
and he looked as if he had actually swelled an inch or two while standing there.
His nostrils flared like a bull’s. His usual intimidating green-eyed glare was
more vicious than usual.
“What. The. Fuck,” Julian said in
that controlled tone that couldn’t hide the undercurrent of his bubbling rage.
He looked like he wanted to murder someone. Correction. Based on the white-knuckled
fists he held at his sides, he was probably going to beat the shit out of some
poor soul.
Murder would show mercy.
Matt’s hand couldn’t hide the smile Cole
imagined was plastered on his face. Poor
sorry ass idiot who dared piss off Julian Capeletti. He looked up at the green-eyed guy who towered over
Cole’s five-nine stature.
“J, calm down,” Matt said to his
partner in his usual calming tone.
Yeah, good luck with that. Julian was about to
go ape shit on someone and Cole was going to have a front row seat to that
show. Cole’s stomach fluttered and he started shifting his weight from foot to
foot. He couldn’t wait to see Julian actually lose it for once.
Julian’s jaw clenched and his fists tightened.
Wait a
minute.
Cole looked back and forth between Julian and Matt. Julian’s not pissed at
Matt—he never was. They had one of those sickly sweet, always romantic I love
you lick fest relationships you secretly want but would never openly admit. Why
was Julian so mad? And who the hell was he mad at? There was no one else in the
kitchen.
Shit. Cole slowly
registered how his actions or words may have been received. He instantly
released Matt as if his fingers were singed and put his hands behind his back.
Matt removed his hand from Cole’s mouth. Cole took a few steps back and raised
his hands in a surrender-like fashion, hoping to calm the golden beast that
seemed to be growing in width with each passing second.
“We were just dancing,” Cole said
calmly. He knew better than to joke with Julian while he was in this state of
mind. Stick to the facts. “I was
making dinner…your favorite actually.” He walked over slowly toward the
stovetop like someone stepping away from a wild animal. He kept his focus
trained on Julian as he lifted the pot tops on the stove.
Matt neared Julian and placed his hands on the
stretched black T-shirt covering his broad chest. “J, I heard the music
and came in here. You know I can’t resist a dance,” he said teasingly as
he stroked Julian’s chest. He then smiled and placed a kiss on Julian’s neck.
Julian’s focus shifted quickly from Cole to
Matt and back to Cole. Within a second, his glare had changed. Matt kissed him again
and Julian’s eyes partially closed but snapped open, re-focusing on Cole as his
target.
Matt’s hand reached up Julian’s neck to the
back of his shaved head.
Julian’s eyes closed and his head lolled to the
side, seeking Matt’s kisses up his neck then along his jawline. In a flash, he
grabbed Matt by the hand and pulled him out the kitchen. Matt quickly glanced
back to Cole with a huge grin on his face.
Cole sighed with relief as his entire body
relaxed.
Crisis averted.
He always seemed to get a rise out of Julian
but it was never intentional. Not really. He wouldn’t deny he occasionally had
some fun at Julian’s expense. He just had the worst case of foot in mouth syndrome. It seemed his
mouth worked much faster than his brain. He would never say or do anything to
intentionally hurt someone, his mother had taught him better than that. But
with a thousand different thoughts racing in his mind at any given moment,
picking the right thing to say didn’t always work out in his favor.
Or as Julian said, he had no social filter
between his brain and mouth.
Cole returned his focus to the dinner he was
preparing. Food. God, he loved to cook and was thankful as hell Matt and Julian
allowed him to tinker in the kitchen. He didn’t want to stir anything up—aside
from the sauce he was preparing—but he needed to burn off the nervous energy
that thrummed through his body on a constant basis. He pressed the button on
the iPod docking station to jump to the next playlist and lowered the volume.
The smooth sounds of Maroon 5 streamed through the speakers and eased his
nerves as he continued to stir the sauce. Visions of Adam Levine singing and
dancing came to mind. Mmm. The things
he’d love to do to that man.
He was placing the garlic rolls in the oven
some time later when Julian walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator
to grab a bottled water. Cole closed the oven and stilled, hoping for some
magic superpower that would render him invisible. He couldn’t abandon dinner
and risk it getting ruined or, even worse, messing up Halfway House, the place
he had called his home for the last two months. Shit.
Cole turned, feeling as if he should say
something, but shut his mouth almost as quickly to avoid aggravating the
situation. He sucked at apologies and usually ended up shoving his other foot into
his mouth as well.
Julian glared at him just as Matt entered the
kitchen with flushed cheeks, a dreamy smile, and swollen lips. Matt hummed as
he tugged his shirt to straighten it. When he looked up and saw both Cole and
Julian looking at him, his eyes rounded and he quickly turned and exited the
kitchen.
Midday
booty call. Busted.
A slow smile began to spread across Cole’s
face. He glanced over at Julian who still had a death glare focused on him.
Julian pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you
dare go there,” he said before turning away. “And pull up your pants.
I can see your damn Spider-Man underwear.”
“Hey, don’t rag on the superheroes. Oh,
and by the way…”
Julian turned and gave Cole a pointed glare.
Cole did a chin up gesture toward the door
where Matt had been only moments ago. “You can thank me later.”
The muscles in Julian’s jaw flexed. He inhaled
sharply, shook his head, and left the kitchen without saying another word.
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ARe

 Add to Goodreads
Amazon
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
B&N
iTunes
Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.

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Blog Tour Stop and Giveaway: Godsend by Sloan Johnson

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Title: Godsend
Author: Sloan Johnson
Genre: Adult, Gay Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2015
You can’t choose who you fall in love with. Despite knowing from a young age that he was gay, Scott Murphy couldn’t imagine life without Shelly. He threw away the labels and had eleven amazing years with her, but now, he feels even more lost trying to figure out how to move on after Shelly’s death. After nearly a year of watching Scott fade away, Shelly’s father forces him to start living again.
As much as Chris loathes the idea of attending a bereavement group week after week, it’s one of the only places he can go in this town, other than the bar, to not feel so alone. When there’s nothing to distract him or dull his senses, he spends too much time obsessing over how he should have been able to help his sister. When Scott shows up at his group session, Chris decides that maybe some good can come out of his sister’s death. 
There’s no denying that Chris is the first man to catch Scott’s attention in a long time, but how can he move on when just thinking of Shelly sends him to his dark place? 
The road to recovery won’t be an easy one, but Chris is determined to help Scott see that life is still worth living. But before Scott can allow himself to admit what he feels for Chris, he knows he has to reveal the full truth about Shelly’s death.

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I promised Ma that I wouldn’t drink my dinner every night, but some days, it’s impossible to keep that promise. I tell myself that it’s different on days like today because I’m not drinking to forget how much I miss Jill, I’m drinking to forget how miserable some people choose to make one another. Today, I just about lost it and told one couple that there’s no point in them even trying to get along. Unfortunately, my partner frowns upon me telling couples that sometimes two people just aren’t meant to be together, as was this case with this pair.
It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the dark atmosphere of Brewster’s after walking around for thirty minutes trying to tell myself I didn’t need a drink. I find an empty seat at the end of the bar and signal the bartender for my usual. Okay, so maybe Ma had a point since he simply nods and has a tall whiskey sour sitting in front of me in less than a minute.
I look around, the same way I do every night, wondering if this town will ever start to feel like home. It’s a nice enough place, but there’s a definite divide between those who are from here and those who move here at some point in their lives.
I sit a bit straighter when I see Scott, the quiet, broody guy from group, sitting at one of the high top tables in the center of the room. He looks absolutely miserable. When I catch a glimpse of his date for the evening, Adrian the annoying twink who thinks he’s God’s gift to all gay men in town, the annoyance radiating off Scott is understandable.
I nurse the first drink, rather than down it as quickly as possible. I’ve wanted to talk to Scott the past few weeks, but he’s ducked out as soon as the official meeting ends, even though Jim hangs around for a while. I’ve considered following him when he leaves, to see if I can talk to him, but then I tell myself that he must have his reasons for not wanting to deal with people and I have to respect that.
I feel like a creep, watching Adrian and Scott eating dinner, but I can’t help it. A few times, I’ve thought Scott was checking me out the same way I have been him and this is the first confirmation I have that I might be right. Scott excuses himself from the table and Adrian reaches out for him as he walks away. I laugh when Scott practically jumps back to keep from being part of an awkward and unwelcome embrace.
Once he’s in the restroom, I order another drink before putting a five-dollar bill in the jukebox. I don’t give a shit about the music, but it’s the closest I can get to Scott without following him into the bathroom, which is a level of creepy that I can’t imagine stooping to.

 

Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.
When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.
Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?
Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.
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