Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

4.5 stars

Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye: Release Day Review

by

 What If It’s Us meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this upbeat and heartfelt boy-meets-boy romance that feels like a modern twist on a ’90s rom-com!

Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new–the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he’s never really dated before.

Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.

Kai Sheridan didn’t expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there’s more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he’s awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this “relationship” will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?

Kevin van Whye delivers an uplifting and poignant coming-out love story that will have readers rooting for these two teens to share their hearts with the world–and with each other.

Amazon

Wow. I’ll start with this…I don’t normally read YA…like ever. But something about this book, when I saw it on NG told me that I needed to read it. I actually put it off, only reading it this past weekend, even though I’ve had the ARC for months. Then I devoured it in about 2 days, which with my book reading rate lately is like warp speed.

This is such a great book for #ownvoices. This book was definitely told from the point of view of someone who has lived much of this, as well as someone who spends a lot of time overthinking things, much as Kai does in this book.

I really loved this book, not just for the romance, although that was super sweet. However, the characters were rich, and still were just kids. The story spanned the easy stuff, hanging out at the local diner to learn more about each other, to the very real aspect of being outed when you aren’t ready, and the consequences that go along with that. It spoke the truth about how people will do and say things that are with their own benefit in mind, and not for the greater good.

In the end, though, it was about love. Not just love for someone else, but learning to love yourself, and who you were born to be. And the love of a family, complicated and messy as it always is. There isn’t one right way to love, and we all make mistakes even when we love someone, mistakes that hurt.

But love is love, and was proven in this book, by many of the characters. Fantastic side characters by the way! I would definitely like to see where this author takes his writing.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Burn Zone: A Gay Firefighter Romance (Hotshots Book 1) by Annabeth Albert: New Release Review

by

Introducing Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series: The emotions and intensity of Chicago Fire with the raw, natural elements of Man vs. Wild.

Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be losing their hearts…

Smokejumper Lincoln Reid is speechless to see Jacob Hartman among his squad’s new recruits. Linc had promised his late best friend he’d stay away from his little brother. And yet here Jacob is…and almost instantly, the same temptation Linc has always felt around him is causing way too many problems.

Jacob gets everyone’s concerns, but he’s waited years for his shot at joining the elite smokejumping team, hoping to honor his brother’s memory. He’s ready to tackle any challenge Linc throws his way, and senses the chemistry between them—chemistry Linc insists on ignoring —is still alive and kicking. This time, Jacob’s determined to get what he wants.

Close quarters and high stakes make it difficult for Linc to keep his resolve, nevermind do so while also making sure the rookie’s safe. But the closer they get, the more Linc’s plan to leave at the end of the season risks him breaking another promise: the one his heart wants to make to Jacob.

This book is approximately 90,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Hotshots:

Book 1: Burn Zone

Book 2: High Heat (pre-order)

Book 3: Feel the Fire

Amazon

YAAASSSSS!!!! I loved this crew! I am a big fan of Annabeth Albert. She sucked me in with her Out of Uniform series. And I’ve enjoyed all of her books since. But this one sucked me in the way Off Base did a few years ago.

Older brother’s best friend is such a fun trope to read. Add in the excitement of smoke jumpers working in close quarters in Oregon, yes please!

It was obvious that Ms Albert did her homework on this one. I don’t care if it was 100% authentic of smoke jumpers or not because it sure sounded like it was.

Back then, Jacob was the annoying little brother of Linc’s best friend. Ten years their junior, they didn’t pay much attention to him. Until Jacob was 19 and came out of the closet. And he wanted Linc. But Wyatt- protective older brother with a fairly strong homophobic streak- warns Linc to stay away. And so he does.

Dun, dun, dun…Flash forward. Jacob is now on the same smoke jumping crew as Linc as a rookie. He put in his sweat and his time and he is ready to play with the big boys.

Psst, Jacob never got over his crush.

Jacob does his best to break down Linc and his resolve. Which is kind of funny because Linc has never said anything or encouraged Jacob at all. But there it is.

Ok, so the “let’s get it out of our system” card was played. A bit over done and it NEVER works. But I think Jacob knew that and Linc let himself believe it.

So hiding a whatever they are, along with working a crazy dangerous job is interesting. But they do it pretty well.

There’s a lot of firefighting stuff in here. Which I really loved. I think it is super cool to read about things and learn info that could come up as a clue in Jeopardy. But it also made the characters more real to me. I could see their soot covered faces with sweat tracks when they pack out to go back to base. Or Jacob’s excitement for his first jump. It was just…fun.

The only thing that was really lacking for me was Linc taking Wyatt to task for being such a homophobe. Like how can you be a homophobe and be best friends with a gay man? Classic case of “I can’t be racist! I have a black friend!” So ya, I would have liked to see Wyatt brought down a peg. Linc deserved that.

YES READ IT! So exciting! But still romance, good friendships and hot sexy times.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

Falling For My Roommate by Garrett Leigh: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

Falling for his roommate gives ex footballer Micah the second chance he deserves, and what could be better than loving your best friend?

Micah

I’m a broke ex-football player with a bum leg and PTSD. Last summer, I had two choices: the streets, or find a cheap room to rent in the city. I chose the second option, which landed me with a brand-new problem, cos I hadn’t banked on my roommate becoming my best friend. Or that before long I’d find myself head over heels in love with him. Trouble is, even if Sam likes me back, I ain’t fit to be no one’s boyfriend. I don’t know how. All I do is wade through every precious moment and hope that he doesn’t regret the day he ever met me.

Sam

I’m a gay book nerd with no business falling in love with hunky athletes. Micah is the dictionary definition of beautiful, inside and out, he just doesn’t know it. And he definitely doesn’t know I’m ridiculously in love with him. The embarrassing kind of love.

He’s all I can think about.

But it’s not as simple as loving someone who doesn’t love me back. Micah is damaged goods—at least, that’s how he’d put it. The world has chewed him up and spat him out, and he thinks he deserved it. That he’s still the battered mess he was a year ago.

I want to shake him, and shout in his face that he’s not. To force the truth on him and make him believe in himself the way I do. But I can’t save Micah. One day, perhaps he’ll realise that he already saved himself.

Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

Amazon US- Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

So good!

Except for the boring title, I really loved this book. Micah was a small character in a previous book (I really love that. Because then you don’t have to read the previous books, but if you did you get these pop in characters you can check on) when he was a professional football (soccer) player. Now permanently injured, his mental health precarious and most of his money gone, he shares an apartment with Sam and works as a personal trainer for senior citizens.

Sam is just a chill guy. He works as a bartender and goes to school very part time. And he loves books. Of course you’re going to love a guy who loves books! Honestly, I wish he talked about books and his love of books more. Teehee

Anyway, mutual crushes, longing looks, but best friends and roomies. They are just so cute together. They totally act like a couple without the benefits. They start dipping their toes into the idea of being a couple while visiting Sam’s parents.

Throughout the entire book you just want to hug Micah. OMG this guy. His entire life did a 180. He is struggling everyday. His inner dialogue really showed the turmoil of living with mental health issues and how quickly and easily things can change. Anyone who lives with anxiety or depression or ptsd will absolutely see bits of themselves in him.

Often when one character is struggling, the other tends to be overly happy and optimistic and you want to smack them. Not Sam though. Yes, he does lead a fairly charmed life with little struggle, he does everything he can to understand Micah, not just try to get him to cheer up. He isn’t that character who is practically a cheerleader with permasmile. He was super real.

This is a must read if you are a fan of Garrett Leigh. If the author is new to you, it is easy to jump right in with this one. You’ll probably go back to read as many of the others as you can.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer.

Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tough Guy (Game Changers Book 3) by Rachel Reid: New Release Review * 2

by

They have nothing in common—so why does Ryan feel most like himself whenever he’s with Fabian?

Pro hockey star Ryan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he’s determined to make a fresh start in the city’s dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah.

Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn’t forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it’s clear the chemistry between them has only intensified.

Fabian is more than happy to be Ryan’s guide to the gay scene in Toronto. Between dance clubs and art exhibits—and the most amazing sex—Ryan’s starting to feel something he hasn’t experienced in a long time: joy. But playing the role of the heavy on the ice has taken its toll on his body and mind, and a future with Fabian may mean hanging up his skates for good.

Amazon

A while back everyone was raving about Heated Rivalry, book 2 in this series. I finally bought it and I was so glad I did. So when this one came up to be reviewed I was all over it.

Same author. Same theme (hockey). TOTALLY different stories. I loved it.

We met Ryan very briefly in book 2. Enough to know that he gets traded every year and he hates flying. Those things haven’t changed and this time his new team is in Toronto.

On the ice, Ryan is “the enforcer”. His job is technically to defend the other players, but really it is to fight someone on the other team. And he hates it. In reality, he is this anxiety ridden teddy bear who thinks he isn’t worthy of anything. Ugh, he broke my heart.

Many times when there is a character like this who is self deprecating, you kind of want to slap them. How can they not see that they are hot, or talented, or loved or a great person? But not Ryan. I felt his despair and how little he thought of himself. I just wanted to cuddle him and pet him. He broke my heart. He didn’t even hide that he was gay. It’s just that no one seemed to care.

And Fabian, musician who hates hockey- for good reason. I wanted to not like him. But it was impossible. He was so likable! Unapologetically fem without being over the top or throwing it in your face. He was just comfortable with who he was and didn’t care if you didn’t like it. So the total opposite of Ryan.

Watching Fabian really take care of Ryan was just so swoony. Teaching him that sex can be fun. That it is ok to laugh. That it is about only the two of them together and no one else.

There are definitely some laughs- Fabian’s friends are hilarious. And I really loved Ryan finally connecting with a team member and becoming friends with him. This guy needed all the love he could get.

We get a well placed cameo of Ilya (book 2) as well as Ilya and Shane.

After reading these two books, I cannot wait to go back and read book 1. Because even though they are very loosely interconnected, all are stand alones.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

So, I read this for an entirely different reason than Erin. I had not read any of the previous series. In fact, I don’t read hockey books, because as much as I am a sports fan, hockey has never been one of those sports. However, not only did I enjoy the entire book, but I even enjoyed the hockey bits.

Fabian and Ryan were just perfect together. I loved that they had known each other as teenager, and appreciated each other as people before they were separated. Otherwise, the likelihood that they would have been able to connect as adults was pretty slim.

Watching Ryan transition into the man that he wanted to become was great. He wanted to have friends, wanted to connect, and wanted to feel better about himself. He never wanted to be the enforcer. He was a gentle soul, who wanted to enjoy his time playing professional hockey, as much as he did when he played with the kids.

Fabian was a perfect complement to Ryan, and Ryan a perfect complement to Fabian. They just worked really well.

I will absolutely read more of this author’s works, and want to go back and read the first book in the series.

4.5 Pieces of Candy

Vespertine by Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn: Audio Book Review

by

Can a priest and a rock star obey love’s call?

Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld’s childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper’s calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.

Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He’s determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.

As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.

Jasper and Nicky’s careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past’s lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.

Audible

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Okay, full disclosure. According to my Amazon buying history, I purchased this book July 25, 2017. That being said, it has languished on my TBR since then. I think mostly because I was afraid of the angst that I anticipated would come with it. I am not an angsty reader generally (I leave those books to Erin 🙂 ), I generally want as my friends would say “puppies pooping rainbows”. I had heard many times how good this book was, but was a bit scared to read it.

Yeah, yeah…I was wrong. 🙂 When I found out it was on Audible, I knew it was time, and now I am just sorry I waited so long…Although that being said, Michael Ferraiuolo‘s narration was once again, completely on point. Fantastic job.

It was definitely hard to read/listen to the drug portions of the book, even about Nicky shooting up (had an ex that did this, so…) but the authors did a fantastic job of taking that line, crossing it just enough to engage, but not so much that it squeaked me out. My heart hurt for Nicky, and how much he went through, and how hard it was for him to make himself stay clean. He was determined, and it showed.

Meanwhile, at the outset, you would not have assumed Jasper was the one who broke Nicky’s heart, or that he could be a Catholic priest, working with LGBTQ+ children while being out himself. However, he did all that, and the authors made it seamless. They didn’t put them back together instantly (this is a long book!), they took their time, brought them back together as the friends they once were first, and let them find their way back to each others’ hearts as each misunderstanding, argument, or painful memory was cleared.

I really did love this book. It was so unique, and hit so many buttons. Meanwhile, the narrator did what always makes a difference for me when I am listening, let me know through his voice, which character, MC or not, was speaking. Michael knocked it out of the park on this narration, and I’m so glad that he was my first introduction to this book. It allowed me to just enjoy it, rather than worry that I was going to be crying in the corner. (Which by the way, I did a little…but the authors gave me my HEA so all is well.) 🙂

Story:

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration:

4.5 pieces of eye candy

The Dichotomy of Angels by N. R. Walker: New Release Review

by

Nathaniel and Chasan are no ordinary angels.

Destiny chose them to be twin flames, fated mates. But Nathaniel has avoided Chasan for nearly a thousand years.

When sent to Earth on a mission to live and work together, Nathaniel comes face-to-face with his destiny. Short-tempered, petulant, and grumpy, he hates the idea of being fated to anyone and has chosen an existence of isolation rather than spending time with the calm, kind, and serene Chasan. But now he has no choice.

One is fire, the other is air; a true dichotomy of angels. Together they will be ignited, or they will be extinguished. This assignment will seal their fate either way.

* * *

85,000 words. A sometimes-funny, sometimes-serious story about love, destiny, and other heavenly disasters.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Proof that I will read anything by N.R. Walker: I am an atheist and things like angels make me roll my eyes. Then she writes a book about angels. GIMME!

I will say this-it was the most non-religious angel book ever. Even with the heaven and hell and Saint Peter and Michael. Religion took a back seat to the story.

Nathaniel and Chasan are a bit like fated mates. But since a failed mission nearly 1000 years ago, Nathaniel has kept away from Chasan. Rarely doing missions (going to earth as a human to help someone), instead choosing to mostly work the hell department with brief detours to the canine department. But St Peter put his foot down and is making them work together on the next mission-without telling them exactly what it entails.

Down to earth they go- New York City in fact- to be married preschool teachers. Nathaniel is horrified, Chasan is delighted.

And it was fun. Fun to read about them navigating life as humans- especially Nathaniel who hadn’t done it in nearly 1000 years. And they have no “angel powers” and Nathaniel can’t curse. It’s pretty hilarious.

Their mission becomes clear to Chasan, but Nathaniel is still clueless. And it is just heartbreaking. Feeling that heartbreak for a character seems to be a specialty of NR Walker. You just fall in love with them.

There is definitely angst, a bit of romance and some really funny lines. Even the two men as preschool teachers was swoony.

This is a great book to just hide under the blanket and devour.

4.5 Pieces of Eye Candy