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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

4.5 stars

Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish: RDB, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

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Eight months ago Jude Lucen fled his partner, his career, and a hospital in Boston after a suicide attempt. Now back in Philadelphia, he feels like a complete failure. Piano has always been his passion and his only escape. Without it, he has nothing. Well, nothing except a pathetic crush on the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.

Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He’s only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude’s talent. What he isn’t expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss—and the way Jude’s needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can’t be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to choose: music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk—and finally believing he’s worthy of love just as he is—can he have the chance for both.

The Small Change series is set in the Middle of Somewhere universe and features crossover characters from that series. Each book can be read on its own.

Content warning: This book contains explicit discussion of depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, and feelings of worthlessness.

Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Publisher: Monster Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 28th, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): About 81,000 words

Subgenre: Contemporary romance

Content warning: depression, suicide, thoughts of worthlessness, food issues

 

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“Hold this,” Faron murmured into my hair, and handed me the sketchbook. I held it so he could draw with his right hand as his left continued to explore my torso. He sketched our feet, his elegant and high-arched, and mine, bony and slender; his dark, mine pale. And all the while, his fingers sketched other shapes against my skin. He dipped into my navel and ran along my ribs, sending shivers down my spine. When he skimmed a fingertip over my nipple I gasped and tensed against him.

He traced my nipple until it was a hard peak, then squeezed it, and my hips jerked, making the sketchbook jump in my hand. Faron’s breath went rough and he nuzzled into my hair.

My heart was pounding and I knew he could feel it. I squirmed to try and take my shirt off, but I couldn’t quite get it. Faron stripped it off of me and ran sure fingers along my ribs. Then he traced the blue veins visible beneath my skin from my heart to where they disappeared under my waistband.

With my oversized shirt out of the way, the bulge of my erection in my jeans was obvious.

I drew my knee up, resting it against the back of the couch. He slid a hand up the inside of my thigh so slowly I held my breath, but he didn’t touch my hard cock and I shuddered with arousal.

“Jude,” Faron breathed, and I let the sketchbook fall between us as I went for the button on my jeans. I felt like I was made of pounding heart, flushed skin, raging need, and it felt like nothing I’d ever experienced. It didn’t even feel like sex; it felt like desire. It felt like what I knew sex was supposed to feel like but rarely had for me.

This is book 2 in the Small Change series, but being that book 1 is a traditions m/f romance, I didn’t read it. But you absolutely don’t need to read book 1 to read book 2.

I love deep, angsty, character driven stories. And this hit the mark. Jude has battled depression his whole life. Add in a controlling, nasty boyfriend and recovering from a suicide attempt- this is the juicy book I love to read.

Getting depression and anxiety right in a book can be difficult. You can tell when the author either did their research or are sufferers themselves. It comes through in the pages. You can almost feel what Jude is feeling.

Enter Faron. Now, Jude is the center of the story really- but Faron. I could so easily picture him. I loved that both of these characters were not the typical we see in books. Such a refreshing change. Back to Faron. He is a man of few words but the words he uses are powerful. He feels and loves with everything he has. He helps Jude see the man he really is. But he never controls or pushes or makes ultimatums.

Roan Parrish has a way with words. She doesn’t fall back on metaphors we see constantly or descriptions that go on and on. She is succinct, but can paint a beautiful picture.

I really loved these two. I wish the book hadn’t ended because I want more of them

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

Connect with Roan:

website |  newsletter  | twitter | facebook | goodreads |  instagram | pinterest

 

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Confessions: Robbie by Ella Frank: New Release Review

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Relationships are complex.
Love ever-changing.
And when it comes to rules of the heart,
they were made to be broken…

That’s what Robert Antonio Bianchi was telling himself, anyway.
Otherwise, he really had no excuse for what—or who—he’d done.

No excuse, except for his lonely heart, a pitcher of margaritas, four Bitter Bitches, and the apparent need to confess all his weaknesses to the two men he knew would bring him nothing but trouble.

But trouble was nothing new.

Just ask his crazy sisters or any of his friends, and they’d be the first to tell you:
If there was a bad decision to be made, Robbie always had a knack for making it.

And thus begins the story of the priest, the princess, and the prick.

 

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Truth be told, I don’t always jump on the popular band wagon. When books get super hyped, it gives me pause. There is nothing wrong with having a big fandom- I think it is fab. But I also think that same fandom will read anything their favorite author(s) put out.

But……………….I needed to read this. Robbie has intrigued me since we met him in Try/Take/Trust (I can’t remember which) and he just seemed so sad. So needing love and affection and attention. So I was ready to jump in. And this book did.not.disappont.

Menage is a difficult trope. Some are ok, some are good and some are truly terrible. This one though? So effing good. Add into the mix of bringing a third into a well established relationship and this could have gone all sorts of wrong.

And Robbie deserves this. This guy held a torch for Logan for so long. But Julien and Priest snuffed it right out. I loved how they wooed him. They took the time to wine, dine and romance him. Robbie probably would have easily slept with Julien (and maybe even Priest. Maybe) after the drunken text. But they didn’t take advantage of him like that.

And yes, they do take care of him in ways. But never in a way that seems like he can’t take care of himself. They are both just so ALPHA, they need someone to allow them the pleasure of caring for someone like that.

And Julien and Priest. YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! I need and want more! Of course I really REALLY want more Priest and he will be book three. **Pouts** But I need Julien as well.

Yes, the sex scene were literally the hottest I have ever read. Menage can get clumsy. Who’s hand is where, body positions, etc etc. But that was not a problem at all with this book. Whew.

Robbie, Priest and Julien do not disappoint. I cannot wait for more

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Ten Mile Bottom by Teodora Kostova: Release Day Review

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Hitting rock bottom is just the beginning…

I’m a son, a brother, a friend.
A writer.
An addict.
Dead.
Cardiac arrest isn’t enough to keep me dead, though. The doctors brought me back, but for what?

At twenty four I’ve already achieved what most people do in a life time. I’m a successful author, own a flat in the heart of London and drive my dream sports car.
Or at least that’s what people see.
Once the spotlight fades, I’m left alone with my overactive mind, alcohol and drugs the only way to quiet down the noise.
Until an overdose nearly kills me and drags everyone I love down with me.
With the help of my best friend, I leave London and its toxic influence behind, moving to a small town in the outskirts of Cambridge to try and put my life back together again.

If only it were that easy.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I finished this book a few days ago and had to sit and let it work in my head before I could write the review. I’ve read quite a few- maybe even most- of this author’s books. I’ve enjoyed them all. But nothing like this one.

This was, by far, her most character driven story. Finn, at the very center, broke my heart in so many ways. An addict with a toxic mother, fame that came too early and a best friend who enabled and participated in the worst of his behavior. And Ben, the forever do gooder trying to make up for one mistake he made as a kid.

Although Finn is technically on the road to recovery, he is stuck in a pattern of helplessness that he brings on himself. And although Ben sees the good, Finn can’t get past the bad. Ultimately, Finn has to face his fears, his life, his mother, in order to move forward.

Never did the author fall back on plot devices we see so often-the giant fight caused by a simple misunderstanding, running away from the other person, the big break up. Which just made the story all the stronger for me.

There were definitely scenes- even sentences- that hit me right where it hurts. But isn’t that one of the reasons to love a book? Because you can connect with it in some way on a personal level? And knowing that aspects of the story were completely personal for the author is what made it so compelling.

Without spoilers, there were small things that kept this from being a 5 POEC for me. But really, 5 POEC is ridiculously rare for me. This book was incredible.

4 1/2 Pieces of eye candy

Undone by You by Kate Meader: Exclusive R-rated Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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USA TODAY bestselling author Kate Meader brings her signature “steamy sex scenes, colorful characters, and riveting dialogue” (RT Book Reviews) to this novella in the Chicago Rebels series, following the general manager of the Rebels as he scores with one of his players off the ice.

Dante Moretti has just landed his dream job: GM of the Chicago Rebels. And screw the haters who think there should be an asterisk next to his name because he’s the first out managing executive in pro hockey. He’s earned the right to be here and nothing will topple him off that perch—especially not an incredibly inconvenient attraction to his star defenseman, Cade “Alamo” Burnett. Cade has always been careful to keep his own desires on the down low, but his hot Italian boss proves to be a temptation he can’t resist. Sure, they both have so much to lose, but no one will ever know…

As Dante and Cade’s taboo affair heats up off the ice and their relationship gets more and more intense, they’ll have to decide: is love worth risking their careers? Or is this romance destined to be forever benched?

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They pulled up outside Cade’s condo building in Riverbrook, about a five-minute walk to Rebels HQ. Dante kept the engine running—a form of threat, perhaps?

“In you go, Burnett,” Dante said softly. “Be a good boy for the rest of the night.”

This guy was definitely mixing his signals, because if he thought Cade wasn’t going to fuck him after that little tease, he wasn’t nearly as smart as he looked. Cade turned to look at Dante. The streetlight glinted off his hair, giving it a blue-black shine, casting his face half in shadow.

“We’ve got a game in New York in a couple of days, then a weekend off.”

“And you’re reminding me of the team’s schedule why, exactly?”

Cade took a breath. “I’d suggest meeting in your hotel room in New York, but it’s risky. When we get back, I want to spend that weekend with you.”

Dante snorted his disbelief. “So now it’s an entire weekend?”

Not a no. Not a screw you. Just a timing query.

Cade smiled, waited a beat. “I’ve had time to think. You should have talked to me on the ride home but you didn’t. You kept this surly, sexy, stoic act up, and it’s only turned me on more.”

He could tell Dante was torn on how to handle this. Faced with one of his players coming out and on to him, the man was likely weighing his managerial duty to protect against his human desire to give in. Cade just had to figure out what would tip the scales.

“Cade,” Dante started, his voice gentle enough to signal how this was going to go. Gay mentor Dante? Get in the rink! “I understand that this is tough for you. Your private life has suddenly collided with your public life, and that’s a lot to process. However, navigating this confusion should not—will not—involve an inappropriate hookup with your boss.”

Now probably wasn’t the time to tell Dante that the collision between private and public wasn’t so sudden. Better to pop a finger on the scales.

“I have a list,” Cade said, as if that was the most logical response to your boss telling you a hookup was off the menu.

“A list?” Dante was probably going for bored, but Cade heard it: curiosity.

“Things I’ve fantasized about doing to you. With you.”

“Jesus.” Dante—I kid you not—actually pulled on his tie. Like the car had become hotter than the hinges of hell in the last ten seconds and that stretch of silk was a noose. Fucking adorable.

Cade might be an excellent defender, but even he knew the best defense was a wicked offense. The shot was lined up. He just had to take it. “Want to hear more about the list?”

Nostrils flaring, Dante ground out, “There are ethical implications here. It might be a game to you, but this is my fucking job.”

Dante’s New York accent was unmistakable in how he said job like jawb. Getting a little agitated there, boss? He dipped his gaze down Dante’s body, his destination obvious.

Dante’s cock was currently engaged in an ethical cage match against the zipper of his pants. Perfect.

“Considering I’m the one propositioning you, then I think we can assume an even ethical playing field. We could both make a lot of trouble for each other if this were to get out.”

“The threat of blackmail is making me hard, Burnett.”

Oh man. Cade loved the way Dante talked. That clipped, lethal cut of every word.

“What I’m trying to say is that we both have a lot to lose. It’s dangerous”—he leaned in—“taboo”—so close he could see Dante’s flared irises and the dark flush flagging his cheeks—“and sexy as hell.”

Dante placed a hand on Cade’s chest, both pushing him away and holding him in place. It was the first time Dante had touched him, and Cade’s heart went hog wild.

“Aren’t you concerned I might play favorites after?” Dante murmured. “Or worse, want to trade out evidence of my indiscretion?”

“Would you?”

“I guess it depends on how good of a fuck you are.”

Cade laughed heartily at that, enjoying Dante’s honesty and quick wit and—oh yes. The sardonic tilt to his lips that told him Dante was enjoying this just as much.

Scales. Tipped.

“Good night, Cade,” the hot Italian murmured, pushing him away gently.

Reluctantly drawing back, Cade gripped the door handle. “Think about it, Dante. No-holds-barred, pure, unadulterated pleasure. Best of all, no one will ever know.”

And then he exited that car, leaving the man wanting.

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, but jumped on this one when I saw it, and absolutely loved it. Cade and Dante really hit the spot for me.

Dante, being openly gay, and GM of an NHL hockey team can’t have been easy for him, but he moved forward, and didn’t let being gay define him. It didn’t define his work with the players either. It was clear he was respected, but Dante also was careful not to put anyone into a difficult situation. Not the owners, not the players, and (he tried very hard at least!) not himself.

Cade, I loved. He went after what he wanted. He walked into an exclusive gay club looking for what he wanted…Dante…and didn’t take no for an answer. He wasn’t worried about being too young for Dante, or even that he wasn’t out. He wanted the sexy GM, and was willing to step up and let him know.

This novella was sexy, seriously sexy. These two, once they found their middle ground, found themselves hitting the sheets whenever they could. However, it wasn’t just that. It was so obvious that they enjoyed each other’s company as well. Cooking together, hanging out, not just hitting the sheets. They found ways to connect that didn’t involve just sex.

The struggle to come out for Cade was heartbreaking. He knew what he was up against with choosing it, and Dante tried to impress upon him what coming out in the NHL could mean. And with Dante feeling like his job depended on not showing he was involved with a player, the feels were definitely there.

I just loved this one, and I hope that this author will continue to write m/m. She has really captured what is a difficult sometimes for authors that make the transition from m/m to capture. Keeping the strength and passion of the two men, while still showing their vulnerability. I cried a little during this one, laughed a little, and overall just wanted to read it again right after I put it down. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

I loved this book so much, I wanted to make sure someone else got a copy! So, leave a blog comment and we’ll draw a winner to receive an ebook copy of Undone by You.