4.5 stars

Better Than People by Roan Parrish: Release Day Review * 2

August 25, 2020 by Denise

It’s not long before their pet-centric arrangement sparks a person-centric desire…

Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.

Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.

Being with Jack—talking, walking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

Amazon

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Roan Parrish. The Remaking of Corbin Wale is on my favorites list. So I was really excited for this release. It definitely had the same sort of vibe as Corbin Wale (as opposed to her Riven series or her Small Change series) and it was really good.

Jack is a loner, a children’s book illustrator who lost his art after his partner and collaborator stole an idea from him. For nearly a year he has been home, unable to draw, with only his pack of dogs and cats as company. And his well meaning brother who checks on him. Until he breaks his leg and can’t walk his dogs- the highlight of his day. So he goes online and finds someone willing to walk his pack twice a day. No easy feat as some of the animals are neurotic with their own little quirks.

Simon adores animals, but living with his grandmother who is highly allergic means he can’t have his own. So he is eager to help out this stranger and his dogs. Not so eager to have to talk to him though because of debilitating social anxiety.

After a few missteps, Jack and Simon find their groove. Simon loves the dogs, the dogs love him. But Jack is totally miserable and lonely and intrigued by Simon.

Their slow dance to come together is one of my favorite things about how Roan Parrish writes. It is so lyrical they way they develop a language together that doesn’t necessarily use words. Looks and touches and movements. It’s a ballet.

The dogs themselves- the pack- are their own individual characters. They add to the story instead of just being there. With them as a buffer, Simon slowly comes to trust Jack. Without them, I don’t know that Simon would have ever come out of his shell.

Simon’s grandmother is hilarious and adorable. Jack’s brother is broody and sweet and I definitely want more of his story.

There is an awesome easter egg that made me smile.

This book is up there with Corbin Wale in my favorites.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Okay, I will start with, I am the opposite of Erin in this. I haven’t read anything yet by Roan Parrish. I’ve been meaning to, and as I researched this review, I found that last Christmas Day, I purchased The Remaking of Corbin Wale. (As a side note, I am fairly certain I have a couple other books by this author on my purchased but yet to read list.) I did notice as I was reading Better Than People, the reference to Corbin Wale, and knew that it must have referred back to that…so on that note, I will be for sure reading it this holiday season! I’m also very sorry that it’s taken me this long to get on board!

The characters in this book were so distinctive. Even now, several days later, there are so many distinguishing characteristics in all the characters, both MC and side characters that stick out to me. Simon with his extreme shyness, Jack with his grumpiness, Puddles the dog who’s afraid of almost everything, Pirate the Cat who is the leader of a pack of dogs and cats, Grandma who is kooky, and caring, and grieving. This band of…well Pirates lol, really stuck with me.

The two MC’s took some time to find their way. Getting past Simon’s extreme shyness took perseverance by Jack, even when he didn’t know why Simon just grabbed the dog leashes and ran out the door. He didn’t judge Simon, just waited. Meanwhile, Simon berated himself for what has always been an issue for him. Jack was patience, didn’t make any assumptions, and found a way to get through to Simon.

As an aside…this author can write some seriously HAWT scenes…just saying…

I really enjoyed the journey this book took me on. Simon didn’t have to “fix” himself for Jack. Jack had to learn what he could live with, and what was important to him, his pack, which grew to include Simon, as well as even his own brother. (I’d sure like to see a story with Jack’s brother…if anyone is asking…there is definitely some backstory there.)

I am going to have to do some backlist reading now, so you’ll excuse me. 🙂

4 pieces of eye candy

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune: New Release Review – Audio and Ebook

August 17, 2020 by Denise

Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune’s YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.

Hardcover edition comes with an exclusive, reversible jacket!

Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?

After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick’s best friend (and maybe the love of his life).

Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl meets Marissa Meyer’s Renegades in TJ Klune’s YA debut.

At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Amazon US

Audible US

I’m going to start this review with the things I normally don’t do. I normally don’t read YA, like really ever. I normally don’t read an ebook, and then immediately listen to the audio (Audio takes WAAAAYYYYY more time). I don’t normally read much in the superhero genre. These are the things that I normally don’t do when it comes to my reading habits. Reading Habits meet The Extraordinaries…you are about to be crushed under a mighty thumb.

This was such a sweet, but well written book. I loved the MC’s. Nick and Seth were just so perfect together, as best friends, but also as future loves of each other’s lives. The “side” characters were just a much of the story as Nick and Seth. Gibby and her cheerleader girlfriend Jazz. And Nick’s police officer father, Aaron Bell. (I do believe that TJ is going to address police issues with regards to the current unrest and Nick’s father in an upcoming book, if that is a concern). All in all, this was a fun swing through super hero worlds, finding what makes one extraordinary, and that healing wounds that no one saw coming is an ongoing process.

I didn’t want to write up a review for The Extraordinaries, after reading it, until I listened to Michael Lesley’s narration. He has a fantastic ability to get right into TJ Klune’s characters, and create small little details that the reader might not see in an MC otherwise. I just enjoyed his narration so much for this story. Michael Lesley brought these characters to life for me! It is so obvious when he narrates that he enjoys every minute of what he is doing, and what he is reading. It was great fun to enjoy the book right along with him

Overall, this was such a pleasant surprise for me, a non YA, non super hero and non back to back read/listen person, that I just didn’t want it to end. But hopefully, we will see more of what makes these characters extraordinary in the future.

Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Gideon (Finding Home Book 3) by Lily Morton: Audiobook Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

August 6, 2020 by Denise

Gideon Ramsay is so far in the closet he should be a talking faun.

A talented, mercurial, and often selfish man, Gideon has everything he should want in life. Fame, money, acting awards – he has it all. Everything but honesty. At the advice of his agent, Gideon has concealed his sexuality for years. But it’s starting to get harder to hide, and his increasingly wild behaviour is threatening to destroy his career.

Then he’s laid low by a serious illness and into his life comes Eli Jones. Eli is everything that Gideon can’t understand. He’s sunny tempered, friendly, and optimistic. Even worse, he’s unaffected by grumpiness and sarcasm, which forms ninety percent of Gideon’s body weight. And now Gideon is trapped with him without any recourse to the drugs and alcohol that have previously eased his way through awkward situations.

However, as Gideon gets to know the other man, he finds himself wildly attracted to his lazy smiles and warm, scruffy charm that seem to fill a hole inside Gideon that’s been empty for a long time. Will he give in to this incomprehensible attraction when it could mean the end of everything that he’s worked for?

From the bestselling author of the Mixed Messages series comes a story about a man who needs to realise that being true to yourself is really just a form of finding home.

This is the third book in the Finding Home series but it can be read as a standalone.

Gideon by Lily Morton

Narrated by Joel Leslie

A Finding Home Novel, Book 3

Audible US

Audible UK
Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Eli grins at me happily before turning round and mounting the stairs in his characteristic long-legged strides. I’ve noticed that he never seems to rush anywhere, but somehow he seems to get to places quicker than anyone else. I follow a bit more slowly, and when I round the deck, I look around curiously.

The sky is a clear, pale blue and there’s every sign that it’s going to be a scorching-hot day. However, the breeze blowing across the deck has ensured that it’s still cool at the moment. Set along the deck are padded mats in bright colours, and a group of people dressed in colourful yoga gear chat happily amongst themselves.

As Eli comes onto the deck, a slender dark-haired woman detaches herself from the group and comes over with a huge smile. “Eli, you came,” she exclaims with as much enthusiasm as if Eli were her long-lost brother. “I’m so pleased.”

My eyes narrow. When did he meet this woman?

He grins lazily at her, oblivious to the fact that she’s currently eye-fucking him so hard I’ll need a cigarette when she finally looks away. “I said I would,” he says happily, the Welsh lilt very evident in his early-morning voice.

I shoot him a look of total incomprehension. As far as I know, he’s been ensconced in the suite with me for the last few days, insisting that I sleep and relax. Yet every time we’ve left the cabin since then, people have hailed him left, right, and centre. How is this possible?

I come back to the conversation as Eli pats my arm. “This is Gideon.”

I bite my lip because his tone of voice and gestures are currently suggesting that rather than being a famous actor, I am, in fact, a raggedy old sheepdog. She gives me a cursory glance and smiles before returning to eye-fucking my nurse.

I can actually feel my mouth drop open. I’m not being conceited but… Oh, okay, I am being conceited but goddammit, there aren’t many people that overlook me. I’m too famous. I pause. Or infamous. I shrug. Either fucking way, I’m bloody memorable. Apart from on this fucking ship where my nurse appears to be the headline act.

I wonder whether I should be annoyed, but I’m far too amused to bother with that, so I stand, trying not to smile as she engages Eli in a very animated conversation while he shoots me occasional glances to check whether I’m okay or if I’ve died from boredom. Finally, when the group starts shifting about like sheep getting bored, she breaks away from the conversation and heads back to the front of the deck.

I turn to face Eli, leaning my elbows on the rail. “She seems very…” I pause, searching for words. “Very awake.”

He starts to laugh. “It’s usually better for the back and forth of conversation that both parties are conscious.”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure about that. Sometimes I think it would be better for people if they were asleep when I spoke to them. Less chance of them taking offence.”

He nods solemnly. “You might be right. Either that or dead.”

I’ll start by saying, I really love Lily Morton’s books. I haven’t been able to read the first two books in this series, because…well, I really don’t know why at the moment, because now I have to go back. 🙂 But when I saw this, I knew that I needed to listen to it. Between Lily’s love of snark, and Joel’s absolutely amazing ability to voice the character’s so authentically, there was zero chance this was going to be anything but fantastic!

These two main characters could not have presented more oppositely. Gideon was simply a sarcastic cynic who had been around the block so many times that the reader would get dizzy by proxy. Meanwhile, Eli was nothing but calm and patient with his patient. No matter what Gideon gave Eli, he simply gave it right back or moved on. It wasn’t love at first sight as much as learning to love yourself, and someone else as a side benefit. Gideon’s trials brought tears to my eyes more than once, yet he made me laugh out loud even more often.

I really loved how realistic some of this book was. Giving Gideon time to find himself is very adult, and really shows that Eli cared more about Gideon than Gideon cared about himself. And Gideon taking that time and knowing that it was what he needed in order to be what Eli needed. That is as it should be in life.

Then there’s Joel’s narration. What can I say…each time I listen to one of the books he narrated, I initially am concerned that I will somehow associate his voice with another book I passionately loved that he narrated. This has happened to me with a few other narrators (don’t worry, I get into them either way usually). However, that never happens with Joel. I am always immediately immersed into the story and know that I will hear that voice in my head as that person forever. Joel has an amazing ability to not only create a distinct voice for each character, but manages to flip back and forth instantly within a book. Perfect example…towards the end, the entire group of men, including a few side characters, are all in one room near the end of the book, gathered around to see what Gideon does (no spoiler here!), and everyone speaks at some point, and yet, the listener could immediately tell who was speaking by the voice, and not just by the words. It’s amazing to me the range that Joel has. I’d also be willing to bet that if I went back to listen to Oz (Book 1) and Milo (Book 2) (and by if, I actually mean, I am going back right now to listen to them-just grabbed Oz 🙂 ), the voices are exactly the same as what I just listened to with Gideon (Book 3). Joel is a master at his craft, and listening to his narration is simply about immersing yourself into the story and letting go.

*Side note* I generally take about 2 weeks to listen to an audio book this length, because I can’t multitask very well. I soaked this one up in 4 days…that says SO MUCH!!!!

Anyway, the story is great, with the good guys getting the happy endings (epilogue is awesome!) and the bad guy getting his comeuppance. My perfect way to end a book. Give this one a shot, listen and enjoy!

Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 5 pieces of eye candy

Lily writes contemporary romance novels, and specialises in hot love stories with a good dose of humour.

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.

About the Narrator

Joel Froomkin, a eight-time Earphones Award-Winning narrator, is a UK transplant, growing up with American parents in a British commonwealth. A classically trained actor with an MFA in theatre from USC, he is often cast for his unique ability to deliver native, authentic combinations of British and American sounds. His great range and ability to bring characters to life with honesty, wit and versatility delights producers and listeners alike. He has won Earphones Awards for 1st person British, American and Australian narrations.

He was the winner of three 2020 Independent Audiobook Awards, including Best Male Narrator. He has nearly 300 full-length audiobooks to his credit and over 25,,000 five star reviews on audible. His narration of JJ McAvoy’s Ruthless People was a #1 Romance Best-Seller on audible. He served as Director of Drama at Manchester University and has been a Theatre Professor at Indiana/Purdue University.

He is a dialect specialist and has taught accents and speech at NYU, Tisch School of the Arts as well as coached accents for major regional theaters, Broadway stalwarts and national tours.

He has had the pleasure of working with Audible Studios, Penguin Random House, Dreamscape, Scholastic, Podium, Blackstone, Harper, Bee Audio, Brilliance, Deyan Audio, Tantor, Punch and Hachette.

Joel also records in the romance genre as ‘Joel Leslie’ and has developed a very strong following and garnered many awards including m/m Audiobook Narrator of the Year 2018 from openskyebookreviews and numerous Audiobook of the Year-winning titles.

Joel has consistent access to his home studio for all production needs. When not in the booth he spends his time chasing after two loquacious wiener dogs.

Connect with Joel:
Facebook | Joel’s Facebook Group
Twitter | Instagram
Website

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The Mystery of the Moving Image (Snow & Winter Book 3) by C.S. Poe: Audiobook Review

July 13, 2020 by Denise

It’s summer in New York City, and antique shop owner Sebastian Snow is taking the next big step in his relationship with homicide detective, Calvin Winter: they’re moving in together. What should have been a wonderful week of playing house and celebrating Calvin’s birthday comes to an abrupt end when a mysterious package arrives at the Emporium. Inside is a Thomas Edison Kinetoscope, a movie viewer from the nineteenth century, invented by the grandfather of modern cinema, W. K. L. Dickson. And along with it, footage of a murder that took place over a hundred years ago.

Sebastian resists the urge to start sleuthing, even if the culprit is long dead and there’s no apparent danger. But break-ins at the Emporium, a robbery, and dead bodies aren’t as easy to ignore, and Sebastian soon realizes that the century-old murder will lead him to a modern-day killer.

Even with Sebastian’s vast knowledge of Victorian America and his unrelenting perseverance in the face of danger, this may be the one mystery he won’t survive.

Title: The Mystery of the Moving Image

Book #: 3

Series: Snow & Winter

Author: C.S. Poe

Narrator: Wyatt Baker

Length: 6 hours, 35 minutes

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Genre: Amateur sleuth mystery, romance

Release: June 16, 2020

Audible

Amazon

BookBub

Goodreads

I gush about C.S. Poe‘s writing every time I read her books…because each and every one is worth it. This author speaks to me in ways that many others do not. Her brand of quirky characters are the people I want to get to know in RL. Sebastian Snow is one of those people. I loved reading the book, so when the audio came up…well, that was an easy decision, especially because I had listened to books 1 and 2 on audio. That is actually how I first was introduced to Snow and Winter, through the audio, which I absolutely loved.

However, big change for book 3, a new narrator for the book, and just like Sebastian would have been were he in my shoes, I was very nervous. How does an author take over a wildly popular series narration in the middle, and make it work? In addition, I am in the middle of another wildly popular series that Wyatt Baker narrated, Seven of Spades series by Cordelia Kingsbridge (highly recommend, btw!). I did not think there was any way I was going to be able to separate Sebastian and Calvin from the other series.

I was so wrong! Wyatt Baker did a masterful job! He was able to set the tone for Sebastian’s grumpiness, Calvin’s sweetness when it comes to his boyfriend, Max’s snark and even Seb’s Dad. I was as immersed in the audiobook, as I was when I read the ebook when it was first published. The story itself is engrossing, I absolutely love the author’s research, minute details, and the way she creates a mystery. Then with the incredible story, Wyatt Baker’s narration just created a bigger world for me to get lost in.

Seb, as always, gets himself into a fix that is a bit challenging to get out of. People around him die, and a mystery is solved, even though Sebastian is not supposed to be sleuthing. All around a very good time! Calvin isn’t quite as prominent in this book, as in the other books, and in fact, Neil plays a bit more critical a role, but in the end, the entire team works it all out, and everyone has their happy ending…or at least one to come at a later time. 😉

I highly recommend this entire series. In ebook, on Audible…really any way you can get it.

Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

C.S. Poe is a Lambda Literary and two-time EPIC award finalist, and a FAPA award-winning author of gay mystery, romance, and speculative fiction.

She resides in New York City, but has also called Key West and Ibaraki, Japan, home in the past. She has an affinity for all things cute and colorful and a major weakness for toys. C.S. is an avid fan of coffee, reading, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best to distract her from work on a daily basis.

C.S. is an alumna of the School of Visual Arts.

Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published 2016.

Author Media:

A Sweet Man (The Men of Halfway House) by Jaime Reese: Blog Tour and Release Day Review

June 17, 2020 by Denise

Two men. One sweet dream of family and forever.

Gabriel “Bull” del Toro loves his fast-paced globe-trotting job, but aches for an honest relationship and the trust that comes with it. After a few too many heartbreaks, he’s nearly given up hope of finding that special someone.

Until Ben.

Born deaf, Ben is used to working twice as hard for what he wants, but risking a newfound friendship on an impossible dream is scary. After all, there’s one lesson he’s learned: everything is temporary—freedom, friends, even family.

Neither man expects the undeniable spark between them or for every moment together to fuel that connection. For the first time, a happily ever after is within reach, but they must trust that the dream of acceptance, family, and a place to call home is more than a sweet fantasy.

It can be forever.

———––

A Sweet Man is an interconnected standalone within The Men of Halfway House series. It is a story about the power of love, the meaning of family, and never giving up on a dream. It includes wounded hearts, an age-gap romance, and enough cake and sweetness to give you a toothache.

Title: A Sweet Man

Series: The Men of Halfway House

Author: Jaime Reese

Release: June 16, 2020

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance (can be a stand alone)

Goodreads

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Men of Halfway House Series – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Does it feel like it has been eleventy years since the last book? Is it just me? Well, it was Sept 2018, so coming up on 2 years. Guess what? Totally worth the wait.

Sometimes when a series of books starts to get long (this is book 7), the stories can become convoluted. This guy knows that guy who is interested in this one but his 2nd cousin dated him in high school, etc etc. And I will admit that there was one book in this series that was like that for me. I just had to disconnect in my head the connections. But this one felt more like independent characters who weren’t really connected to people from other stories. I mean, they were, but it isn’t integral.

We met Ben in a previous book. The shy, deaf guy on parole for a crime he was an unwitting accessory to. Then he gets popped again and thrown back in jail for the rest of his sentence. This guy really did nothing wrong. Except be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people.

Once he is released, again, he has to go to a halfway house. He is embarrassed and feels like he let down Matt and Julian (who run THE halfway house) so he chooses another one. That didn’t even last 24 hours.

Back where he knows people- who know sign language- Ben is more comfortable. But trying to find a job is a challenge. Being deaf, his choices aren’t plenty. Until Aidan (the connection between books) suggests his friend’s sister’s bakery. Their grandfather was deaf, so they are fluent in ASL.

Aidan definitely had alterior motives though. Mainly his friend Bull- brother of the bakery owner. Aidan is playing matchmaker.

A tentative friendship begins that Ben doesn’t want to risk with more. Finally he has people in his life that understand him, can easily communicate with him AND don’t coddle him.

This is a slow burn but so worth it. Because of the slow burn, we really get to know each man as they get to know each other. The restrictions around Ben’s stay at the halfway house also make them take more time together. When Ben confesses one of his secrets to Bull and Bull offers to help…just swoony.

Ben grows so much as a person, gaining confidence in his job, in his friendships and his relationship with Ben. Learning to stand up for himself and not always being a people pleaser. You just want to cheer him on.

Bull also has to stand up for himself. Which he does, with Ben right by his side.

Oh, and there is some drama and police are involved and characters from other books come in to help, etc. etc. 😉

It is obvious that the author took the time to really understand life as a deaf person. Especially a deaf person who relies on reading lips and typing notes with most people. It is exhausting mentally. Even with ASL how you create personal signs for names or to say something to each other.

I really loved this book. It might be my favorite of the series, but I have a soft spot for deaf characters.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

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.

Social Media Links

Website: https://jaimereese.com

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jaime-reese

Newsletter/New Release Announcements: https://eepurl.com/MewIz

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jaimereese

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jaime_Reese

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaimeReeseAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimereeseauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828499.Jaime_Reese

Pieces of You (Missing Pieces Book 1) by N. R. Walker: New Release Review

June 3, 2020 by Denise

Dallas Muller has everything he never expected he’d have. He owns a successful motorbike mechanic shop in Newcastle, and he’s madly in love with his boyfriend of four years, Justin Keith.

Justin has always struggled to find where he fit in, never realising his true worth or what it means to be loved—until he met Dallas. Living and working together might be too much for some, but Dallas and Justin wouldn’t have it any other way.

When a terrible accident tears their world apart, Justin’s left with no memory of Dallas or their relationship. Trying to put the pieces back together is almost impossible when some pieces are blank and some are missing altogether. Dallas has to let Justin find his own way back to him and just hope that their love will light the way.

Title: Pieces of You

Author: N.R. Walker

Genre: MM Romance

Series: Missing Pieces, Book 1

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

A story that takes place 85% in a hospital room with one guy who can’t remember the last 5 years, including his live in boyfriend, and said boyfriend. Boooorrrriiiinnnnggg, right? WRONG!!

I don’t always love books with an already established couple. I like to watch them fall in love and experience all of the firsts. But this book starts out with an established couple, and ends with new firsts.

Justin and Dallas are stupidly in love, working together at the motorcycle shop Dallas owns and living upstairs together with their cat. Until a horrible car accident breaks Justin’s body and steals the memories of the past five years.

When I say the story is 85% in the hospital, I am not kidding. But it is written in such a way that you are just rooting for Justin to regain his memory, for Dallas’ heart not to be totally broken. Dallas sits there with him every single day. Even though Justin has no idea who he is. But all of that time together makes Justin accept Dallas as his friend. He learns to trust him. It is so sweet.

Book 1 ends with Justin returning to their home. I can’t wait for book 2.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

After reading the blurb on this book, I was hesitant, I won’t deny that. Angsty books scare me, and I mean how could a book about an established couple basically broken up by amnesia be anything but angsty. Someone remembers and loves the other, while the other person has no knowledge, doesn’t care about that person. Leave it to N.R. Walker to once again prove me wrong.

Yes, I did cry a little in this book, how could you not? For two men who were so in love to suddenly have their lives ripped out from under them…has to lead to some tears. However, what the author managed to do was create a story of one man’s unwavering love for the other, and the slow falling in love of the other. Dallas never questioned his love for Justin, never wavered, never allowed himself to stop wanting the best for Justin. He helped Justin find his way back to health, but also to what his new normal would be, all without pushing Justine to “come back to him”, start their lives over. It was moving the strength and power of that love.

This is a trilogy that I can’t wait to finish reading. And with Justin having returned back to their home to heal, and starting to get small pieces of memories back, it is a hopeful transition to book 2.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

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

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

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

She’s been writing ever since…

For more about N.R. Walker you can find her at: