Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

4.5 stars

Over and Above (Mount Hope book 4) by Annabeth Albert: Quick Review

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I’m too young to be a grandpa and too old to fall in love…

Sadly, there’s no What to Expect manual for navigating life after forty. Right when I’ve begun piecing together my life as a widower and single dad to four older kids, my college-age daughter announces she’s pregnant. Oh, baby. And, of course, the other grandfather-to-be is the hot, single bar owner seemingly determined to flirt his way into my locked heart. Magnus is a temptation I don’t need.

When a fire leaves Magnus and his dogs without a home, I offer my carriage house as a solution. Temptation turns into a friendship I didn’t know I needed, and now, Magnus and I are cooking, watching silly old movies, planning holidays, and preparing for grandparenthood together. Things are perfect…until I kiss Magnus.

I’ve never had a friendship with secret benefits, but our chemistry is undeniable, and I cannot resist the chance to explore and reignite my passionate side. I didn’t think I could love again, but the lock on my heart suddenly seems quite loose.

Our families are entangled, Magnus isn’t meant for the shadows, and I’m not sure my kids are ready for me to date. Can I trust my heart to love again? Or will I find myself alone once more?

Over and Above is the fourth book in the Mount Hope series. A widowed paramedic who’s met his match in a cocky bar owner is about to discover that life truly does bring second chances when we least expect them. Over and Above features mature main characters, hurt comfort, grumpy sunshine, love after loss, second chance at HEA, found family, slow burn to spicy inferno, and big feels. Each Mount Hope book contains a standalone HEA, but reading in order is recommended for maximum reader enjoyment.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I’ve been waiting for Eric’s book. He just broke my heart in all of the previous books. Holding it together for his kids, for his friends, for his job. The way he was portrayed was such a great portrayal of grief and depression. I needed him to have a happily ever after.

Enter Magnus, dad of Diesel. Diesel, boyfriend to Eric’s daughter and the father of her baby to come. Which would make them either the greatest idea ever or the worst idea ever.

I really loved how Eric and Magnus both had this big other thing (impending grandfather-hood) to focus on while trying to figure out of there was anything there with them. Magnus didn’t push too hard and Eric didn’t fight it too hard. They both gave grace to the fact that Eric had been a widow for only a year.

We also got a lot of insight to Eric’s first marriage. How incredibly different it was to what he was living now. And while in the previous books, when Eric’s adult friends were finding their own partners, the other adult friends played a role in the stories. This time it was the kids- both Eric’s four and Magnus’s one- who played the supporting roles. And that was really perfect because that is who they are. Hands on dads first and foremost.

Obviously I really enjoyed this mature, kind of quiet (but hot at the right places!), slow burn of a happily ever after for Eric and Magnus.

FAVORITE LINE: “Does he know?” Wren swiveled in Magnus’s direction. “Were you aware of this plan?”

4.5 Pieces of Candy

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters: New Release Review

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When Denzel “Denz” Carter’s workaholic father and CEO of 24 Carter Gold unexpectedly announces his retirement, the competition is on for who will become his successor. To convince his family members that he’s capable of commitment, Denz impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship.

Now Denz needs to find a fake boyfriend to seal the deal on the CEO position. Denz is forced to turn to the last person he wants to be in a pretend (or any) relationship with: Braylon, the man who broke his heart.

Braylon’s sudden reappearance in Denz’s life turns everything upside down. But, apparently, he needs Denz’s connections to the mayor to win his own promotion. So, they strike a deal. It’s all business until the funny texts and the confusing kisses leave Denz struggling to separate this temporary arrangement from the affairs of his heart.

I Think They Love You is a celebration of love, queer communities, big families—in all their beautiful complications— healing, and, most importantly, falling in love with the person you’re becoming.

Amazon – All Regions

LOVE! I loved this book!

Fake boyfriends, second chances, one bed, family dynasty and dynamics, all in a very rom com story that one of the main characters loves.

Denz and Braylon were college boyfriends until a job took Braylon to London. While Denz stayed in Atlanta to work for his family’s company. A few years later they run into each other not once, but twice. And that second time sees Braylon acting as a fake boyfriend to Denz’s parents to show them that Denz is a mature adult. (which, for the record, you don’t need to be in a relationship to be a mature adult)

Always in the shadow of his father and sister, with two incredibly nosy aunties not far away, Denz wants everyone to believe that he can do this job. Moreover, he can replace his father as CEO. Which he is vying for against his sister.

Let me tell you, there was not one character that I didn’t love. From Denz and Bray to Jaime and Nic. All of these people are so important in Denz’s life for all different reasons. Some to let him know that family always has his back, to friends who are there to rot on the couch with you but also give you the truth, and coworkers who see things without looking through a family lens.

It was funny and sweet and romantic. I even loved his username @notthatdenzel.

Braylon broke my heart a bit, Denz made me cry, they all made me laugh. I actually would absolutely love to see this story on the big screen.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

On Circus Lane by Lily Morton (Wright Brothers Book 1): Release Blitz, Exclusive Author Interview and New Release Review

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The first time Bee Bannister met Tom Wright, he couldn’t stand him.

Everything about the man aggravated him—his perfect hair and body, his confident arrogance, and the way he looked straight through Bee.

Which is why it’s such an unpleasant shock to find that he’ll be sharing space with him while on a Christmas holiday with friends in Scotland.

However, as the days fly by and snowy Edinburgh begins to work its magic on him, Bee discovers that sometimes first impressions can be very misleading. Tom is kind and funny, and somehow, rather than looking through Bee, he actually sees and likes all of him.

The two men grow closer, but will Bee follow his heart or his head when the holiday ends? And can relationships that start so badly ever lead to love?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a festive romantic comedy about enemies to lovers and the magic of Christmas.

This is the first book in the Wright Brothers series.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR:

What is a behind-the-scenes anecdote or interesting fact about the creation of On Circus Lane?

In the book Bee is very busy in the run up to the holiday and doesn’t pay attention to the group chats. When he gets to Edinburgh he finds that he can’t get into any of the tourist attractions because he didn’t know you had to buy tickets. This actually happened to me, and it changed the trajectory of the book.

I’d gone to Edinburgh with my husband to do a research trip and I’d planned to take my characters into the big tourist attractions like Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. However, we couldn’t get tickets for the castle, and when we went to the palace they were cleaning it. I was so upset because I needed that info for the book, but then my husband said, “Isn’t it more fun to find unusual things, rather than just focusing on what everyone else is doing?” This led us on a quest to find little things for Tom to show Bee and in the process make him fall for him.

Do you read in the same genre you write? Do you have any favourite series or books?

I do read in the same genre. I love MM. I’m an avid reader so I have far too many favourites to list all of them. Some series that are at the top of my reread list are the Snow and Winter books by CS Poe, Adrien English by Josh Lanyon, the Marshalls series by Mary Calmes, the Soulbound books by Hailey Turner, and the Better Than series by Lane Hayes. There are so many more but those are the ones that came to mind immediately.

Now that you’re finished with this book, what’s next on your writing schedule?

I’m torn between the next book in my Model Agency series, or the final book in my paranormal romance series, Black and Blue. I’m writing both stories next year, so it’ll come down to which character has the loudest voice – Xavier or Blue. It’s Clash of the Titans!

If you could spend the day with one of the main characters in your book, which would it be, and what would you do together?

It would be Tom. Bee is incredibly clever and very focused on his lists of things to see and do in Edinburgh, while Tom is much more relaxed and easygoing. He has a way of taking the seriousness out of everything for Bee and finding off-the-wall interesting things for them to do. I like the care and attention he pays Bee and his innate understanding of what makes the man tick. We all need someone to understand us like that and love us for who we are.

What are your favourite tropes or themes to write in a book? Is it/are they in this book?

I love writing forced proximity. It’s so much fun to see how being close together can override preconceptions or provide the spark to make friends turn to lovers. On Circus Lane features forced proximity. Bee dislikes Tom intensely when he first meets him, but then he finds himself sharing an apartment with him while on holiday with a group of friends. The closeness lets him see how wrong his first impression was of the man as they’re thrown together in Edinburgh.

As I settled in and started reading this book I was quickly confused. Jack? Arlo? Friends? But they are together?

*does some digging*

I see. Lily Morton wrote Merry Measure a few years ago and is officially Wright Brothers Book 2 and this newest is book 1. Once I got that sorted I was ok. It also helped to know that Steven, Jack’s boyfriend, wouldn’t be around forever.

Back to the story. Bee and best friend Ivy and a rag tag group of friends and relations decide to go on vacation in Edinburgh. And although there was a bit of a miscommunication? Missed connection? between Bee and Tom and a lot of stony glares thrown at Tom during the drive, Tom felt that gut punch of “this is my person”. Too bad Bee is not a relationship kind of guy.

I did love that Bee, the child prodigy academic who tends to miss most of what is going on around him, is the one and done guy. Nice flip on the stereotype.

He’s also confident in himself and knows he can catch a guy for a night. But apparently not Tom.

And so Tom courts him in a way. Sneaking on his phone to google things to do that Bee would like. Offering to take him shopping and sight seeing. Offering tea and toast in the morning in their shared accommodations. It’s really rather sweet.

Bee is semi oblivious to this because he is still stung that his masculine wiles haven’t worked on Tom. Everyone else sees it though.

I love both the romantic nature of the story as well as the reading about the various spots in Edinburgh they visit. The group of friends was fun as well. Not expecting the group to stick together during the day, only hoping that they can get together for a meal every night. Except for the aforementioned Steven. Why he got so much page time in Bee and Tom’s story, I’ll never know. He was a pompous ass and too much energy was devoted to him.

Toward the end of the book we get to visit with Tom’s (and Arlo’s) parents again which is always fun. They are unique and fun characters.

And I adored the romance of Tom and Bee being present for each other. Tom at first especially. He LISTENED to Bee. He was interested in what he had to say and made sure to give him his focus. That, to me, is one of the most romantic and intimate things between 2 people.

I really enjoyed this book (except for Steven) and when I finished it, I reopened Merry Measure because On Circus Lane ends where Merry Measure begins and I wanted to see Jack get his happily ever after again.

For reference, Merry Measure review here.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Lily lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle.

She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else could she get to spend her time with hot, funny men!

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008647656545

Facebook Readers Group: www.facebook.com/groups/SnarkSquad

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LilyAuthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilymortonauthor

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter

Deck The Palms (An Annabeth Albert Christmas) by Annabeth Albert: New Release Review

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Nolan Bell has a very Merry problem this holiday season…

As a native New Yorker, I’ve always dreamed of my name in lights on Broadway. But when my Army officer brother calls in a favor, I wind up in Hawaii to help his family while he’s deployed.

A winter in paradise doesn’t sound too bad until I become the substitute choir teacher at a middle school near the base. Wrangling a bunch of tweens while planning the annual school holiday lights festival is a far cry from playing Peter Pan.
Enter Merrick “Merry” Winters, the school’s grumpy but hot shop teacher. I can win over any audience, but Merry’s a tough sell. And I need his help to make the festival successful.

The more time I spend with Merry, the less grumpy he seems, and the more I like the guy. He’s the third generation of a legendary North Shore surfing family. He’s committed to raising his twin boys on the island as a single dad. And like me, he doesn’t have time for an inconvenient but undeniable attraction.

As disasters pile up, the only holiday magic Merry and I seem to be making is with each other. What starts as a harmless fling becomes the only present I want under my tree.

If I want this romance to last past New Year’s, I have to decide which dreams are truly worth chasing.

Can Merry and I catch a wave for a future together before the sun sets on this holiday season?

A brand-new holiday romance from the author of the beloved The Geek Who Saved Christmas starring two middle school teachers in over their heads in an opposites-attract, fish-out-of-water romance. Deck the Palms features a slightly grumpy single dad and a sunny city slicker navigating family dynamics amid holiday small-town romance vibes with a side of Hawaiian sunshine. Guaranteed low-angst, feel-good, happy ending with a heaping helping of holiday spice!

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This book was so fun! First, I LOVE that it was set in Hawaii. Unexpected just because in the US, Christmas usually means snow and cutting down a tree and hot chocolate and ice skating. But with this we got the rainy season, a foil tree, Hawaiian shaved ice and surfing.

Another thing I loved is that the native New Yorker was Mr Sunshine and the Hawaiian born was Grumpy. These guys were raised completely opposite. One hippie surfer family, the other uptown NY snobs. Luckily Nolan doesn’t take after his snobby parents.

There’s also twin boys who are pranksters, nieces who Nolan is helping with while his sister in law recovers from giving birth for the third baby and a charter school that has seen better days. Oh, and throw a holidays lights show incorporating all of the kids.

Ms Albert doesn’t shy away from the realities of living in Hawaii. From the Naval base to the natives being priced out of their island and the over running tourism. And she did that without being preachy at all. She also shows us different parts of the island. From the surfing on the north shore to the tourism of the bigger cities and the realities of so many teachers working a second job just to afford the rent.

Working together on the holiday show gives Nolan and Merry time to explore being together. Even for a short time. Because Nolan is going back to Broadway, right? Wink wink

I think this was my favorite Christmas book this year.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

The Duality of Swans by Lilly Atlas: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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A male ballet dancer walks into a rural small town…

Liam, a professional ballet dancer from New York City, moves to the tiny town of Swan, Oklahoma, with a mission. Haunted by what he endured as a teenager, he returns as an adult to conquer his fears and challenge the town’s outdated prejudices. He plans to modernize Swan by opening a dance studio and showing its residents that there’s a place for everyone and all should be accepted.

Tate has never traveled beyond the Oklahoma border and knows little of life beyond his small rural town and blue-collar job. Deeply entrenched in secrecy and surrounded by people who’d never accept him if they knew what he hid beneath the surface, he’s resigned to a life of lies and loneliness.

Liam and Tate’s worlds collide a safe distance from Swan, where they form an instant connection but plan to walk away after one night, no matter how much more their encounter leaves them yearning for. Fate, however, has other plans. When Tate shows up for a renovation job at Liam’s new studio, their initial shock gives way to a tentative friendship with complicated emotions.

The pressures of small-town life, narrow-minded family members, and Tate’s insecurities threaten their budding connection from day one. Liam is determined to show Tate the beauty of living as his true self, but Tate has seen the consequences of such a life firsthand, and they’ve imprinted on his mind.

As they grapple with their feelings and the harsh realities of Swan, Liam and Tate must decide if love is worth the risk. Can they find a way to be together in a world that seems set against them?

Title: The Duality of Swans
Authors: Lilly Atlas
Length: 82k
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

“Okay…” He needed to get this train back on track before he completely lost control. People thought teaching kids was tough, it was nothing compared to a group of mischievous seniors. “Let’s work through the dance a few more times before we run out of time. The senior center’s talent show is in a few weeks, and I’d hate myself if I sent you ladies out there unprepared.”

“It’s so nice of you to do this for us before you officially open, dear.”

“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Snow. Okay, everyone in their place?” The group of senior ladies all nodded. “And five… six… seven… eight…” He hit the music, and the studio filled with the song they’d requested—Jailhouse Rock. As Elvis belted out the lyrics, the ladies began to dance. It was a bit of a disaster, but they had fun, laughed, and teased each other, so he offered a few corrections. After running it several times, they had it down, and Liam felt comfortable calling it a day.

Dot had other ideas. She’d begged him to play the rest of Elvis’s album. Once the other ladies joined in the pleading, he had no choice but to give them what they wanted. Who could resist a bunch of sweet grandmas itching for a dance party?

By the end of the second song, he was dancing with them, spinning, dipping ladies left and right, and laughing his head off. His friends in New York wouldn’t recognize him. Who would believe that in the span of a few weeks, he’d gone from being a lead performer in the New York City Ballet to choreographing a dance for the local senior center’s talent show?

But this type of dance fed his soul—fun, no pressure, and pure joy. It was the kind of dance professionals often forgot about in their pursuit of perfection. So, he embraced it, crooning along with Elvis and getting his fifties groove on.

He was mid Rock Around the Clock with The King when he spun, thrust his hips, and came to a dead stop. Tate stood propped against the door with his arms folded and a smirk on his handsome face.

Liam rushed to his phone on the floor near the mirror and killed the music.

“Hey!” Mary called out when the room fell silent. “Oh, who do we have here?”

“Leave him alone, Mar. He doesn’t want to be your number six,” Dot said with a snicker.

“Oh, Tate, hello dear,” Mrs. Snow said with a wave for the bad boy lurking at the door.

“Hey, Miz Snow.” He waved before folding his arms again. “So, what are you crazy kids getting up to in here?”

Liam’s face was hot enough to melt off his body. “Uh, we’re just having a quick lesson.”

“This sweet boy is helping us by choreographing a dance for the senior center’s talent show.” Dot looped her thin arm through Liam’s and tugged him closer to Tate. She had a mischievous gleam in her eye that he needed to squash immediately.

This is a new to me author, but seeing decent sized back list, I’ll be reading more! I jumped on this one because my kryptonite was mentioned- ballet dancer. I just can’t resist. And I am very glad I didn’t resist because I loved this book.

The main characters are set up in a prologue set 10 years before. We clearly see what kind of people live in the town of Swan. Backwards homophobic bigots. It was jarring at first just knowing that people really are like that. Heartbreaking. After a traumatic event we jump 10 years to present day.

Liam, a NY ballet dancer packs us his life to move to Swan and open a dance studio. Why? He has his reasons. Swan is notoriously homophobic. So much so that even one town over doesn’t like to mingle there. Ya, that bad.

Which means that Tate, born and raised in Swan is deep in the closet. And he works with two of the biggest reasons- his brother and his brother’s best friend. The type of guys who think you can catch gay from a handshake or being too close. And speaking out against them and their hate will just bring the hate on you as well.

And Tate is a good guy. He wants to do better than what he has known his whole life. He has ambition. But even that is mocked. Tate, his brother Randy, and Randy’s best friend Daryl all work for the same tile company. And when they have a job at the new dance studio, Randy and Daryl let the slurs fly. You can almost see Tate’s heart crumpling.

Liam sees Tate though. For the good person he is. For the closeted gay man he is. And Tate definitely sees Liam.

I loved that Liam really supported Tate. Never gave him an ultimatum. Never said “I’m not going back into the closet” or any of the other cliche things. He does call him out on any bs, but he is also incredibly supportive.

The more Liam supports Tate, the more Tate wants to be free. He wants to be with Liam. Out in the open. He wants to be happy.

That’s not to say that there aren’t some serious stumbles along the way. But grace is given and forgiveness gifted. Because Tate and Liam didn’t play games with each other. They were for more mature than their 25 years.

Tate’s character arc was one to behold. From completely closeted, to defending Liam, to publicly being friends with Liam and more. Each step forward I wanted to cheer for him.

So I was sucked in by a ballet dancer, but I was left swooning by a tile guy.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Lilly is a best-selling and award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance. As a Navy wife, mom of three girls, and fur mom to two dogs, she’s living her best and craziest life. Before publishing, Lilly worked for almost a decade as a physical therapist. Now, she spends her days wrangling her crew and giving life to the stories in her head.

Connect with Lilly:
www.lillyatlas.com
www.facebook.com/lillyatlas
www.instagram.com/lillyatlasbooks
www.tiktok.com/@lillyatlasbooks
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Batting Style (Book 3 of Franklin U 2) by Louisa Masters: IG Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Blaise
There are a few things I know for sure: I’m gay, I want to do costume design for film and television, and a supportive family is what other people have. Oh… and fate’s not my biggest fan. That’s fine, though—who needs fate? I’ve got friends I love, a welcoming community, and a plan. Graduate college? Check. Build up my portfolio? Whenever I can. Impress industry pros? Done. Save the money for my dream internship? Working on it. All I’ve gotta do is stick with the plan, and that internship is mine next year.
And then Jordan Marks walks into my life, and my plan turns into a loose guideline. Suddenly I’m learning about baseball and giving away shifts at work so I can watch him play. My goals are the same, but maybe there’s room in them for the world’s sweetest athlete.

Jordan
I’m pretty sure the gods of baseball don’t care if I wear a suit on game day, but Franklin U and Coach do, so when mine rips, replacing it is an urgent mission. That’s how I meet Blaise Warner and my “I guess I could be bi” musings become full-blown “I wanna learn to handle a bat” demands. Blaise is smart, talented, and has goals… and he’s more than happy to teach me a new batting style.
But as we go from casual to more, the things I never mentioned—like my dads’ connections in the entertainment industry—become heavy secrets. Plus, while our friends know we’re dating, nobody else does. That’s not fair to Blaise, but do I really want to be the latest queer college ball player?
I don’t get a chance to figure it all out before things fall apart, and now we both have to decide what our real priorities are.

Title: Batting Style
Authors: Louisa Masters
Series: Franklin U Season 2, Book 3
Genre: Contemporary.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

I love that all of these books are in the same world but can be read as stand alones. Especially when one of the main characters goes back to a previous series the author wrote. Plus, baseball.

Jordan, who was a kid (I forget exact age) but now he is a college sophomore playing baseball at FU. If you read Luke and Grant’s original story, I think you’ll really love seeing a grown up Jordan (and Mila). But if you didn’t, you will still thoroughly enjoy this book.

I will be totally honest and say I didn’t like the first scenes with Jordan and Blaise. Jordan especially felt disingenuous. And with two gay “dads”? Nah. You’ll see.

BUT!

That was really the only thing I didn’t like and quickly forgot as I kept reading. I loved Jordan and Blaise. I loved that Jordan played baseball in college but had no MLB ambitions. I loved that Blaise was doing everything he could to live his career dreams. You could also see the difference in maturity just a few years can make. Blaise is laser focused on what he wants and won’t let anything stand in the way. Jordan is more laid back, being a sophomore he doesn’t really need to make any decisions and that is evident. But Blaise has no problem with a boyfriend a few years younger than him and still in college. It’s a non-issue.

Jordan has a bi awakening and Blaise is all for it. And Jordan is so open to everything without making Blaise feel like a practice toy. They just gel.

There were some great characters that I hope we see more of. Including Blaise’s roommate. Not an FU book but I’d love to read his story.

Great addition to the series. You don’t get dragged down by the baseball or the costume design. The story had good meat to it, with introspection, growth, found family and love.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Louisa Masters started reading romance much earlier than her mother thought she should. While other teenagers were sneaking out of the house, Louisa was sneaking romance novels in and working out how to read them without being discovered.

She writes funny paranormal and contemporary MM romance and loves the freedom that kooky characters give her.

Connect with Louisa:
https://www.louisamasters.com/insta-links/

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