Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

3 stars

Coaching the Nerd Authors (Nerds Vs Jocks, Book 2) by Eli Easton & Tara Lain: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Super-bod meets super-brain

What happens when marshmallow-bodied supernerd Sean volunteers to be on the jocks’ flag-football team? It screws Bubba’s fraternity’s chances at the coveted flag football title, that’s what.

Bubba is drafted to be Sean’s personal trainer. He has to whip Sean into shape and make sure he doesn’t F up their team.

Sean may be a supernerd, but to Bubba he’s funny, and wise, and kinda cute. He’s also the one person on campus who doesn’t see Bubba as a big, stupid jock.

One BIG problem. Sean’s motivation for getting into shape is to lose his virginity — and Bubba isn’t happy when guys start sniffing around.

But Bubba’s straight. Isn’t he?

Can a big, dumb jock from Nowhere, Wisconsin change his whole life for a genius who just wants to get laid?

COACHING THE NERD is a total makeover, opposites attract, My Fair Lady trope, bi awakening, campus romance – that grabs your flag.

Coaching the Nerd (Nerds Vs Jocks, Book 2)

By Eli Easton & Tara Lain

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Bubba put his arm around the back of the leather couch in the student union and shifted closer to me. I froze and stared up at his face. He’d told me this alcove was his secret place at the union where nobody ever came, so I wasn’t really worried about somebody walking in on us, but I was still unaccountably nervous.

I was accustomed to being around Bubba by now, and I trusted him. I did. But being this close to him with him looking at me with that half-lidded sexy face? I was most certainly not accustomed to that.

My heart pounded in my chest like a metronome, and my belly swirled like I was on the high seas.

I was on the high seas. Of love. Or fake love. Or at least fake flirting.

We’re merely role-playing, I reminded myself. I cleared my throat and sat up straighter.

“Hey, I don’t think we’ve met,” Bubba said in a sultry voice.

I frowned. “What do you mean? We’ve been training together for four weeks.”

Bubba bit back a laugh. “Sean, I’m pretending. In this pretend game, I just saw you at a party.”

Oh, yes. How foolish of me. It was hard to think clearly when he looked at me like that. I put on a cautiously seductive expression.

Bubba blinked. “What are you doing with your face?”

“Nothing!” I shifted in my seat, and the leather couch squeaked. I settled my hands awkwardly in my lap and tried a simple smile. “Better?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“Um…a little? Just relax and act natural.”

“You’re not acting natural,” I pointed out. “You’re flirting with me. That’s unnatural in and of itself.”

Bubba rolled his eyes. He tried again. “Hey, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Bubba.”

“Hi, Bubba. I’m Sean.” I stuck out my hand for a handshake, but because we were sitting so close, I ended up poking my fingers right into his groin. He yelped and jumped back a few inches on the couch.

“Sorry! I’m so sorry!”

Bubba rubbed the crotch of his jeans for a moment and shook his head. “Probably try not to poke your prospective date in the balls.”

“God, I suck at this!” I wailed. “Disaster zone, thy name is Sean McKinney!”

Bubba laughed. “Come on. We’re just getting started. No harm, no foul. Let’s try again.” He settled back into place with his arm behind me on the couch, though perhaps a mite more warily than before. “Hey! You’re kinda cute. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Bubba.”

This time, he leaned even closer. and I gazed into his eyes. They were just brown eyes, dark in the dim light of the little alcove. But there was something in them that was hot and sexy and probably had the unique property of being able to melt underwear. No wonder he had no difficulty getting girls. I dropped my gaze so I wouldn’t get any stupid ideas from those eyes—like hoping this wasn’t entirely role-playing. But from so close, I could see the texture of his beard, which he kept short. It was shiny and looked so appealing. I wanted to rub my cheek against it to discern the precise texture. His lips were red and full.

For a heat-stopping moment, I wondered, in a visceral way, what it would be like to kiss a mouth like that. Or that mouth specifically. Bubba’s mouth. I could picture it happening so clearly. I swallowed.

“Very good,” Bubba said softly. “Not talking works for you.” He reached up a thumb and stroked my jaw.

“You want me to not speak?” I asked doubtfully.

“If you look at the guy like that, you don’t have to say a word.” His gaze was on my lips now. The swirls in my belly exploded, and my skin got hot.

“I should say something though,” I said with a nervous titter. “Wouldn’t want him thinking I’m not paying attention. So, um…. Hi. I’m Sean. I like your beard.”

Shit. I shouldn’t have said beard. That obviously applied to Bubba and not a general guy at a party.

But Bubba went with it. “Yeah?” He took my hand and placed it on his face, then sort of rubbed his beard against it.

I got erect so fast, my head swam. Oh dear. Oh fuck. Was that supposed to happen during role-playing? I was pretty sure the answer was a resounding no.

My fingers curled around his jaw and rubbed. It was as if they had a mind of their own. “Soft,” I whispered.

He moved his large hand to my shoulder and stroked my collarbone through my T-shirt with his thumb—back and forth. Oh my God. It was different from his massage touch. Somehow that simple movement was so sensual. No one had ever touched me like that. I’d thought having the shampoo felt good. But this…this sent waves of fire through me unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. My palm moved to his throat. His pulse beat fast under my hand. I wanted to lick there.

“Mmm. I like that,” he said in that sexy rumbly voice. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Hmm?” My gaze was fixed on his mouth.

“Can I get you something from the bar? Sean?”

“Bar?” I couldn’t help it. I leaned forward. His mouth was so close. I closed my eyes. He exhaled, and his breath tickled my lips. Goosebumps erupted on my arms while heat pooled thickly in my groin.

“Sean,” he whispered, but his voice was soft and strangled and part of this lovely dream.

Then his lips pressed against mine.

A mixed review from me on this one.

This is book 2 and you should probably read book 1 to know what exactly is going on between the two fraternities. Also, the stories happen concurrently.

Anyway, from book 1 it was evident that Sean and Bubba would be the focus of book 2. Since Sean was the nerdiest of the nerds with zero muscle mass and was now playing flag football and Bubba was the physical education major… opposites attract and all of that.

I did really enjoy the following Sean and Bubba as they kind of stumbled through a tentative friendship and into a relationship. Working out together, playing flag football together and even Bubba helping Sean with a make over from drab to fab. They were just really adorable.

My biggest issue was the way Sean was portrayed. It was REALLY stereotypical. So much that he sounded like Spock in the way he spoke. Sorry, but even genius level college students are still college students. They just don’t talk like that. It was like they wrote dialogue for Sean, then went to the thesaurus to make it as “smart” as possible. It was just silly.

The big conflict involving Sean’s parents also wasn’t a surprise at all. Ho hum.

FAVORITE LINE: Even though I mostly disliked how Sea spoke, the following made me laugh out loud as I read it.

She folded her arms over her chest and gave me a smug look. “I fucked him, you know.”

“Congratulations,” I said calmly. “Lucky you, getting your shopping done before the store closed.”

3 pieces of eye candy

About Eli:

Coming from a background in computer game design, Eli has written over 35 books in m/m romance since 2013. The Mating of Michael (2014) and A Second Harvest (2016) both won The William Neale Award for Best Gay Contemporary Romance, and Eli’s books have won many awards from the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Reader’s Choice Awards. She is best known for her Christmas romances, the Howl at the Moon series of rom coms featuring dog shifters, and her Sex in Seattle series, which revolves around a sex clinic in Seattle.

Connect with Eli:
www.elieaston.com
Facebook: Eli Easton
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164054884188096
Twitter: @elieaston

About the Author:

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters – and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Tara loves animals of all kinds (even snakes), diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers.

She has around 57 books published or scheduled for publication.

Connect with Tara:
Website: https://taralain.com/
Facebook Reader’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255111391312743
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taralain/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taralain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taralainauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tara-lain

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Crossed Hearts (Arrowood) by JR Gray: New Release Review

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Small towns thrive on gossip, and as the owner of the local bar I consider myself keeper of those secrets. The bar is like a confessional, a place to unload. My sanctuary where my secrets stay hidden and the focus is never on me.

I keep my world orderly. None of the bad touching the good. Little dividers allow me to live with myself, which isn’t easy in Arrowood.

It worked until my one lapse in judgement showed up to bite me in the ass.

My best friend’s arrogant, moody, and persistent little brother who just won’t take no for an answer. I’ve never wanted and hated someone so much in my life. He’s determined to pull my secrets out of me—I’m determined to resist him.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Much like the previous two books in the series, I feel like we don’t get to really KNOW the characters. The story was fine, but there just was no depth.

Adam, the middle and grouchy brother who runs the bar is the focus this time. Hilarious that he is a total grump to his family, often to his friends, keeps a tally of “friend points” AND bans people from his bar for a myriad of reasons- yet he is described as the nicest guy. Mmmkay

Because he is mad at his other two brothers, he has been crashing at his best friend’s house. Until best friend’s brother shows up. And he and Adam have a very brief past. So Adam is mean to him. SHOCK.

Both of these guys have issues. But they can’t keep their hands off of each other. And they think they will keep it a secret. Riiiiigggghhhhhhhhtttttttt

Adam does seem to reconcile with his brothers, so that is nice.

But there was a lot of head scratchers in here. It’s the Colorado mountains in winter. So stopping for a wank while hiking is a good idea? As is having sex. Naked. Outside.

Time makes no sense either. I don’t know if it is days, weeks or months that have passed. And OH MY GOD Adam’s parents. They were cute and eccentric in the first two books. In this book they are just flat out crazy.

OH! And Cory (Sage’s brother, Adam’s bff) was born with a different name. Which Sage uses occasionally and no one ever mentions it!

This story could have been so much more than it was. Adam was grouchy, I would have SLAPPED Sage across the face the way he spoke to Adam’s parents and it was lacking emotion.

3 pieces of eye candy

Rick: Love at the Haven by Stella Shaw: New Release Review

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A gift of a man for one night. A promise of so much more.

When Rick Thatcher’s beloved aunt leaves him the run-down Haven Hotel, he’s amazed to find a group of young men running an escorting business out of it. Intrigued and impressed, he allows them to stay. But sacrifices have to be made to keep the hotel running. The hotel is always short of funds, and the guys… they’re sexy, they’re fun, they’re loyal friends. But they can also be a bunch of trouble. Rick has no time left for romance.

Until the night Eliot Walker arrives at the Haven, naïve but brave, looking to discover what it’s like to be an openly gay man at last. He wants to spend the night with a man, one who can excite and guide him. But an escort? He’s nervous of what he’ll find.

He finds Rick. Just the kind of man he’d choose to have his first experiences with, if it was possible. And from Rick’s point of view – on this one special night, and for this one special man he can’t take his eyes off – why shouldn’t it be?

If only this could be more than one night. But their potential happiness and the Haven’s security may already be under serious threat.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

When he chuckled, I took a chance and rested my hand on top of his on the bar. His answering smile was fleeting, his expression still thoughtful.

But me? The prickle of electricity up my own arm made my head spin.

I cleared my throat and continued. “We consider every request of equal merit, believe me. No one will judge you for whatever you do or don’t want to do.”

He frowned a little. “How can you manage that? I mean, you have no idea what I’ll say, what I want. How can anyone here prepare for that?”

I was intrigued, because he really seemed to care. “It’s what the guys are used to. They welcome it. They’re all single when they work here. They don’t always stay with us, they sometimes leave the hotel for other jobs, other lives. Sometimes, they return later. It’s always a mutual decision. But when they’re here, they’re available for male guests who are similarly single, and they have an unfettered and eager desire for what they do. For sex. They like to please.” His blush crept up from his neck, pinking the edges of his ears. I bet they would feel warm to the touch of my tongue. What was happening to me? “Will you give me your name?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Eliot Walker. Oh. Wait. I mean… Do people try to book in with false identities?”

I chuckled. “Sometimes. That’s not necessarily the clientele we want. We are totally confidential, but we must have genuine details. I can show you our Data Protection and Privacy policies if you like.”

This time his laugh bubbled out happily. “I’ve already checked out your website. All the right legalities, without going into actual detail. Very skilfully done. And I’ve checked your credit rating.”

I raised my eyebrows. “That’s flattering.”

“That I checked out the place to see if it’s legal?”

“That you checked us out as a genuine business. Albeit one with an industry code of ‘other ancillary services’.” The hotel’s website may have been light on detail, but Arne had made sure everything was in place web-wise, at least behind the scenes, and one of our regular escorts, Liam, had a brother who was a lawyer. Pleasure still had to be protected.

“So.” Eliot worried his lower lip. “What happens next?”

“You’ll be recommended a room, one that hopefully has the right kind of vibe for you. You can go on through, whenever you’re ready.”

He nodded and took a deep breath as if bracing himself for whatever happened next. “Well, I’ve made my choice. I’m ready now.”

“Okay.” I peered over his head, trying to see where Arne was sitting, so he could check the diary…

“Hello?”

Eliot’s eager tone recaptured my attention. Did he have another question?

But he just slid off the stool and smiled that smile again, the one that made my heart race and my cock start to thicken. “After you,” he said, gesturing airily towards the hallway.

This is book 2 in a series but can be read as a stand alone. I did add book 1 to my to be read pile, although I don’t know if I will actually read it.

The story was…nice. A recently out of the closet man is gifted a night with an escort. Except the escort he chooses isn’t really the owner of the hotel where the escorts rent rooms. The chemistry between the men is kind of tepid. I feel like I didn’t get to know either man really well.

That lack of chemistry made the conflict that Rick faced a bit far fetched. Would what happened to Rick happen in real life? All of the time! Will the solution to that happen? Eh, I seriously doubt it.

I needed more story. More about Rick, more about Eliot, more of them together. There just wasn’t enough.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

Stella Shaw is the penname for an author of MM romance. Her new Rent Boy Romance series: Love at the Haven launched in January 2021.

Author links*

Website www.stellashawauthor.com

Newsletter http://bit.ly/stellashawNews

Facebook www.facebook.com/stellashawauthor
Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/stellasstars

Amazon www.amazon.com/author/stellashaw

Goodreads www.goodreads.com/stellashaw

Bookbub www.bookbub.com/authors/stella-shaw

Instagram www.instagram.com/stellashawauthor

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

Skythane by J. Scott Coatsworth: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Jameson Havercamp, a psych from a conservative religious colony, has come to Oberon—unique among the Common Worlds—in search of a rare substance called pith. He’s guided through the wilds on his quest by Xander Kinnson, a handsome, cocky skythane with a troubled past.

Neither knows that Oberon is facing imminent destruction. Even as the world starts to fall apart around them, they have no idea what’s coming—or the bond that will develop between them as they race to avert a cataclysm.

Together, they will journey to uncover the secrets of this strange and singular world, even as it takes them beyond the bounds of reality itself to discover what truly binds them.

Author Name: J. Scott Coatsworth

Publisher: Other Worlds Ink

Release Date: Saturday, October 10 2020

Genres: sci fi, wingfic, LGBTQ

LGBTQ+ Identities: gay, lesbian

Tropes: secret royalty, wingfic, portal fiction

Keywords/Categories: sci fi, science fiction, wingfic, aliens, gay, lesbian, trilogy, LGBTQ, portal, secret royalty, sci fi

Amazon-KindleUnlimited

Jameson held on for dear life as Quince steered her cycle off into the fields on the right side of the road. The bike raced along about five feet above the ground, the leaves of the plants whipping his arms and face as they rushed by. They were riding up the row between two tall stands of what looked like boxcorn, the plants heavy with square ears of the industrial vegetable.

He glanced back. Xander’s bike zoomed down the open road, racing off in an entirely different direction. “He’s a sitting duck on the road,” he said to Quince, shouting over the sound of the engine and the wind, jabbing his finger in Xander’s general direction. Though why that should bother him was beyond him. The man was a prick.

“He can take care of himself,” Quince shouted back. “Right now I have to worry about your ass.”

He looked down at the ground moving past—they weren’t going too fast yet. He could jump off the bike and run into the field. With any luck, he’d be able to lose himself among the corn plants and maybe find his way back to Oberon City, or maybe flag down the hoversport.

Behind them, one of those hoversports had risen off the ground and was following them doggedly. He prepared to jump, but then Quince poured on the speed, and his moment was gone.

He’d have to wait for a better chance. “And what about you?” he shouted. “Who’s watching your ass?” He glanced backward worriedly at the hoversport that was coming after them. It was quickly gaining ground.

“I’m not worried about me.”

As he watched the hoversport, it fired off a shot that burned away a half a dozen boxcorn plants to their left. “Holy crap. They’re trying to kill us.” He shuddered. There was no way he was bailing on the hoverbike now.

“Not if I can help it.” She turned halfway around, holding a pulse rifle, and got off a shot in the general direction of the hoversport. It evaded the blast easily.

The bike, however, veered slightly, sending a sickening shudder through Jameson’s stomach and taking a chunk out of the neat and even row of boxcorn.

“Give it to me.” He was not going to be killed in some stupid accident in a field in the middle of nowhere.

“Do you know how to use it?” The hoversport was almost on top of them now, and Jameson imagined he could see the pilot glaring at him from behind the dark plas window.

“Yes, I learned how to use one on my last posting on a mining colony. Sunday afternoon entertainment. Now give it to me.”

She nodded and handed the pulse rifle back to him. He grasped it and slipped his right hand around the grip.

With one hand around Quince’s waist, he turned and got off a quick shot. He winged the hoversport but it seemed to shrug off the blast.

“It’s shielded,” she said. “You have to hit it when the pulse laser fires.”

“Pulse laser?” He looked back at the approaching hoversport. Something that looked disturbingly like a gun turret was descending from the underside of the hoversport. “You’re kidding me.” He turned back to Quince. “They’re going to shoot us!”

“Hold on.”

He held on to her as best he could with his arm encumbered by the rifle. She veered through one of the rows of corn, the leaves slapping at them as if trying to pull them off the bike. There was a thunderous blast behind them as several of the corn plants seemed to spontaneously burst into flame.

“Hit ’em now!” Quince called back.

He turned and fired at the hoversport, but he was too slow. The pulse bounced off the shields harmlessly.

“They’re trying to kill us,” he said incredulously. “Oh my God, they’re trying to kill me.” He started shaking uncontrollably. “Why would they want to kill me?”

“Pull it together, Jameson,” Quince said. “I’d slap you if I could, but you’re going to have to do it yourself.”

Jameson’s gut twisted. No one had ever actively tried to kill him before. His parents were pacifist Christianists, so even his home life had been calm and quiet. Mostly.

“Hold on again, and get ready to fire.”

Jameson took a deep breath and steeled himself. There would be time enough to freak out later, if they got through this alive. He gripped Quince’s waist tightly with his left hand and turned just as the gun mount pulled back to deliver another laser pulse. He shot two blasts at the hoversport as Quince veered again, this time to the left. He glanced back to see one of them connect with the turret.

A blue lightning bolt spread out like a spiderweb, a hair-thin tracery spreading across the belly of the hoversport. Electricity raced around the top of the ship, sizzling in the afternoon air. Then it split the hoversport apart like an egg, the whole thing exploding and showering debris across the sky.

Little bits of burnt plas hit his back, and then the remnants of the hoversport were behind them as the cycle sped away.

“I did it.” He started to laugh, flushed with adrenaline. “I fucking did it!” He never cursed—well, hardly ever—but the force of the moment overrode his normal composure.

“Congratulations,” Quince said dryly.

Then the import of what he had done hit him. He’d taken a human life. Probably several. The sickness in his gut returned in force. “Stop the bike.”

“We should keep going,” Quince said. “There may be more of them coming.”

“Stop the goddamned bike!” He was going to lose it.

Quince braked to a halt, settling to the ground roughly and kicking up a cloud of dust.

He jumped off and fell to the ground, throwing up violently, expelling the contents of his stomach on the damp ground. It went on for what seemed like an eternity, and his world was reduced to the cramp in his gut and the vile taste in his mouth.

He felt soiled, dirty. Reduced to an animal state.

Eventually there was nothing left to come out, and he lay on his side, his breaths heaving in and out of his chest.

Quince put a hand on his back. “First time?”

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak just yet for fear he would kick off another bout of vomiting. His mouth tasted foul.

His back chose that moment to start itching, and such a mundane reaction made him laugh harshly. He sat up and took a deep breath.

Quince knelt beside him. “I remember my first time too. Hardest thing I ever did, even if the bastard deserved it.”

Jameson looked up at her, searching her eyes. “You killed someone?”

She nodded. “It was shortly after I arrived in Oberon City. I was walking through the Slander—I didn’t know any better back then. A man assaulted me, probably wanted to swipe my crits. I would’ve let him, if I’d had any, but then he wanted more. I was all alone, but I wasn’t helpless.” Her eyes took on a faraway look. “I broke his neck.”

He looked up at her with newfound respect. “It didn’t bother you?”

She snorted. “I was sick to my stomach, like you were. Then I went home and cried about it for three days.”

“But you got over it?” He’d counseled people before with difficult issues, and he had always told them that it took time to heal their wounds. Now he was starting to wonder if he had been a total idiot. This didn’t feel like something that would just go away, no matter how much time passed.

Quince thought about it. “Mostly. I hope to, one day.” She stood. “It’s good that it hurts, though. It means you’re still human.” She offered her hand.

“I guess that’s something.” He took her hand and stood up, wiping off his mouth with the back of his arm. “Let’s go.”

“Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’m going to get.” How did OberCorp track us down?

He hopped back on the cycle behind her, and they took off toward the line of trees in the distance.

The first thing to say about this book was that the author clearly has a talent for sci-fi fantasy world building. The world, the magic, and the explanation about how the planet is divided is very well done.

The characters were a little confusing. Two men and their guardian who had been a nanny to one of them when he was a baby, plus a huge ensemble of secondary characters typical in a high fantasy book that would have worked if it had been about 30,000 words longer.

As it was the personal relationships were hurried, confusing, and never really meshed. A lot of page time was given to the guardian/nanny character including her own point of view which would have been okay in a longer book, but took time away from developing the main characters in this. Ultimately neither of the two men get enough emotional development even if this isn’t a romance they still need fleshing out as whole characters.

I never felt I truly knew either of them.

And be warned there is a relationship cliffhanger at the end.

3 stars

Scott lives with his husband Mark in a yellow bungalow in Sacramento. He was indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine. He devoured her library, but as he grew up, he wondered where all the people like him were.

He decided that if there weren’t queer characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.

A Rainbow Award winning author, he runs Queer Sci Fi, QueeRomance Ink, and Other Worlds Ink with Mark, sites that celebrate fiction reflecting queer reality, and is a full member member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Author Website: https://www.jscottcoatsworth.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworth

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworthauthor/

Author Twitter: https://www.jscottcoatsworth.com/jscoatsworth

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Hide to Seek (London Lies 2) by C F White: RDB, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Jackson Young has gone into hiding. Fighting to get his name cleared and his truth heard, he’s followed Fletcher Doherty to Ireland for a safe haven from those who want to silence his story.

As they work on Jackson’s biography, their growing attraction gets harder resist. Fletcher’s made it clear though—their professional boundary isn’t to be crossed, especially with so many loose threads from each of their pasts left hanging.

But as he learns more about the once coveted celebrity’s rise to fame, and the manipulation and control that came with it, Fletcher finds it increasingly difficult to distance himself from their intimate moments. Lust fuelled attraction is easy to ignore, but an emotional connection is harder to deny.

Surrounded by Fletcher’s meddling family, and ex boyfriends who still harbour feelings of being jilted, Jackson has to play the part of his lifetime. Can he prove that he does have talent and win Fletcher’s heart as well as his trust?

And can he do it all before their idyllic hideaway is compromised?

Hide to Seek is the second book in the London Lies trilogy and is a slow burn, hurt/comfort, romantic suspense series.

Book Title: Hide to Seek (London Lies 2)

Author and Publisher: C F White

Cover Artist: Ethereal Designs

Release Date: September 30, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romantic Suspense

Trope/s: Enemies to lovers, slow burn

Themes: Hurt/Comfort

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 76 000 words/ 318 pages

It is not a standalone story.

Goodreads 

Amazon US – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

Jackson joined him at the edge of the boat as the land disappeared into the murky water that sloshed up against the stern. He didn’t say anything. Neither did Fletcher. Their silence wasn’t awkward. It wasn’t comfortable either. It was a shared moment of reflection. Of knowing this could be the only peace they might have in a long while. A three-hour ferry ride from Holyhead to Dublin on international waters meant they couldn’t be found yet. They’d managed to get through ID control without any real problems. For how many times Fletcher had done this journey, he knew the ferry border control wasn’t as meticulous in checking details as the airlines would be. It was why across water was the only way. And they needed to breathe in this sanctuary while they still could. Fletcher wasn’t sure what awaited them in Ireland. He had apprehensions about going home, about bringing Jackson Young and all that came with him, to his family. But where else could they go?

So they shared a silent agreement to just stand, stare and be.

Until Jackson broke it with an intrepid inhale and a twist of his body to face him. “We should talk,” he said through the gust of howling wind.

“Should we?” Fletcher kept his gaze forward. Or backward as it were.

“This thing.” Jackson flapped a hand between them, his fingertips brushing Fletcher’s arm. “Us. We should probably acknowledge it.”

Fletcher breathed in, his chest rising, and slapped the railing to stand straighter. He closed his eyes, then opened them but kept his gaze on the distant horizon and not on the man beside him who was conjuring up feelings he didn’t want to concede to. Not then. Not when there was so much else left to learn between them.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Jackson slid his hand onto Fletcher’s cheek, demanding he look at him. A hand that stayed there a moment too long, with blue eyes delving into his soul and a soft thumb brushing along his yearning lips.

“You do, do ye?”

Jackson removed his hand and Fletcher’s cheek tinged with the heat left behind, but the flecks of ice cold seawater carried up by fierce winds slapped his skin and soon wiped the warmth away.

“You think this is too complicated to deal with now. That we need to focus on the book. On ourselves. On hiding. That’s why you left me down there, isn’t it? You can’t face me.”

“What did you think? This would be a romantic mini break?”

“I think we need to acknowledge there’s something going on. We can’t ignore it. I spent my life ignoring what was in front of me and look what happened.” Jackson threw his hands in the air, indicating their current situation.

“I’m not ignoring you, Jax. There’s no time for us. You want this truth out, then we’re gonna have to prioritise.”

Jackson hung his head, the disappointment and hurt seeping off his deflating body. But Fletcher couldn’t do this. He couldn’t rebound so quickly again. Time after time he’d done that, and each time had hurt worse than before to the point he couldn’t trust his feelings anymore. Nor could he trust that Jackson wasn’t clinging onto anything that would save him. How could this be real? How could either of them think that this could be something?

“I can be friends.” Fletcher made a concerted effort to keep his voice low, neutral, soothing. “Neither of us are ready for romance.”

Jackson breathed through a smile. “Are you an old romantic, Mr Doherty?”

“Aye. I am.” Fletcher wrapped his jacket around him, arms folding. It was to stave off the blustering wind chill but also, maybe, to act as the physical barrier to coincide with the one he built up with every wretched word he spoke. “I don’t jump into bed at the first sign of attraction. So when I said, let’s see what happens, I meant it.” He sniffed as the ferry dipped and swayed, aiming for the open arms of Dublin port. “But first things first, we have to get you off this ferry as Cameron Dale.”

This is a new to me author. Book 2 was up for review, but they sent book 1 as well because it is absolutely necessary. It is a continuing story.

Book 1, Fade to Blank, sets up the relationshp between Jackson and Fletcher.

Jackson, Jax to his fans, was half of a super popular celebrity personality couple. Not a couple as in love, a couple like Regis and Kelly. Until his live in girlfriend is murdered and he is in jail awaiting trial.

Fletcher is a celebrity gossip columnist. He doesn’t particularly like his job, he wants to be a real writer, but this helps pay the bills. He did review opening night of a play that Jackson was in- and totally panned it. Jackson never forgot.

Jackson is released after 6 months because the prosecutor can’t come up with enough evidence. He wants to clear his name, so he tracks down Fletcher to do it. To do what, exactly? Write Jackson’s autobiography.

One of many head scratching moments.

Jackson is in hiding though because he is hated. People think he killed his girlfriend. It LOOKS like he killed his girlfriend. And no one is standing by his side. Especially not his former co-star.

Book 1 is spent with Jackson hiding, Fletcher trailing behind him trying to keep up while carrying his laptop waiting for Jackson to start telling his story. Which he keeps putting off. Or avoiding things. Uh, if you want your biography written, perhaps you should start telling the story?

There is also a bit of a side story with Fletcher and his live in, older, actor boyfriend. Seems to me that Fletcher is obviously arm candy, but he doesn’t get it.

Book 2: Hide to Seek

Jackson and Fletcher flee to Fletcher’s family’s farm in Ireland. Having been found out, it seemed the safest place to hide. So we have some new players- Fletcher’s parents, sisters, a brother in law and nephews and most importantly, Fletcher’s childhood best friend and teenage lover.

So besides still trying to drag Jackson’s story out of him (I still don’t see the purpose of this), he is also dealing with his family’s financial issues, a former flame who wants him back and powerful people looking for Jackson. Because now there is speculation of a human/child trafficking ring. WHAT???

More than once Fletcher says “forget it, I am not doing this book”. But sticks around. Apparently sparks were flying between them. I didn’t see it. Because they have ZERO chemistry. Both Jackson and Fletcher are wet noodles. And my god Fletcher says “feck” a lot.

Book 3 is out in December to conclude this story. I honestly don’t know if I will read it. Maybe if my schedule isn’t too full. I just don’t care about them. The human trafficking thing is completely convoluted, who really killed Jackson’s girlfriend is kind of on the backburner and now they are sleeping together and nearly in love? Sorry, nah.

3 pieces of eye candy

Brought up in a relatively small town in Hertfordshire, C F White managed to do what most other residents try to do and fail—leave.

Studying at a West London university, she realised there was a whole city out there waiting to be discovered, so, much like Dick Whittington before her, she never made it back home and still endlessly search for the streets paved with gold, slowly coming to the realisation they’re mostly paved with chewing gum. And the odd bit of graffiti. And those little circles of yellow spray paint where the council point out the pot holes to someone who is supposedly meant to fix them instead of staring at them vacantly whilst holding a polystyrene cup of watered-down coffee.

She eventually moved West to East along that vast District Line and settled for pie and mash, cockles and winkles and a bit of Knees Up Mother Brown to live in the East End of London; securing a job and creating a life, a home and a family.

After her second son was born with a rare disability, C F White’s life changed and brought pen back to paper having written stories as a child but never the confidence to show them to the world. Now, having embarked on this writing journey, she can’t stop. So strap in, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

 

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