Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

4 stars

Fairy Cakes in Winter: An M/M Age-Gap, Grumpy/Sunshine Romance by Lane Hayes: New Release Review

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A grumpy baker, a quirky ad man, and a recipe for forever…

Scott

So this cute guy sits next to me on the plane and proceeds to talk my ear off for hours. Not good. I don’t like talking and I don’t like strangers. But Theo’s sweet, smart, and sexy—the perfect distraction from business woes and personal worries.

Okay, things get overly friendly, but we’re adults who know the score. I’m too old, he’s too nice, and we live on different continents.

Then, out of the blue, he shows up at my bakery with that pretty smile and a list of wacky marketing ideas—like how to make fairy cakes a thing.

I don’t like fairy cakes.

But I do like Theo, so…maybe?

Theo

The new me takes risks. The new me is brave and confident. The new me flirts with hunky, imposing bears on planes while traveling to a foreign country.

It’s going well, thank you.

However, my plans to sight-see, drink tea, and eat my weight in biscuits every day are derailed when I realize there might be a way to help Scott and prove a few things to myself.

Don’t worry. I won’t fall for the grumpy baker. No way. He’s complicated and broody and—

Uh oh…it might be too late. Help!

Fairy Cakes in Winter is a bisexual, age-gap, grumpy/sunshine MM romance featuring a sexy baker, a sunny tourist, and a few dozen fairy cakes.

This was a cute, fun, no angst romp.

I don’t often read blurbs of authors I like. I just jump in. So I honestly was thinking that Theo was the baker and Scott was a stuffy businessman when they first met on a flight from Seattle to London. Nope. Scott is grumpy, a bit, but he is a baker. And Theo is sort of between jobs. He left a marketing job to become a CPA. In the interim he is off for a month long vacation to see his mother.

His month long vacation turns into vacation fling and some of his previous marketing experience to help Scott’s bakery become more successful.

Theo does spend time with his mother. Seeing the sights in her town. It just so happens that Scott has a pop up shop one town over. How convenient.

Yes, the story is very sweet, but also spicy. But the sexy times are well placed and not used to simply take up page space.

There was a brief thing at the beginning with a friend maybe flirting with Scott by text, but it’s never mentioned again.

This is a quick, fun, happy read for the winter blahs. Grab a fairy cake and a cup of tea and jump in.

4 pieces of eye candy

What He Learns: Desires: New Beginnings by EM Denning: New Release Review

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A new dominant
A jaded submissive
What could possibly go right?
Sterling’s plan is simple. Learn how to be dominant, woo his crush. The only problem is he doesn’t know how to do either of those things. Getting a job at the local kink club seems like a good place to start. Meeting a kind and older submissive on his first night on the job throws a wrench into his plans.
Despite how hard he tried, Kelly was never enough for his ex-husband. Years after their amicable, yet heartbreaking, divorce, Kelly has come to terms with how things ended. Hoping to put all his doubts aside, he’s ready to get back into the scene.
Kelly’s first night coincides with Sterling’s first shift at Desires, and he can’t help his interest in the much younger man who has more questions than answers. It doesn’t take long for them both to realize they have something important to offer the other. Sterling needs practice and Kelly… well, after so long away, he does too.
Questions turn into scenes and scenes turn into more, and they’re just getting started when Kelly’s doubts creep back in. If he wasn’t enough for his ex, how can he be enough for a man like Sterling? Can Kelly learn to trust again, or will they lose everything they have built together before love can even be found?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This book what such a great combo of sweet and hot. And it wasn’t cheesy and I really, really enjoyed it.

First time Dom. Amirite? Especially since it seemed like he was going into it for one person. But it wasn’t something he really considered until he saw it. Someone kneeling.

This is where it could so quickly go off the rails. Baby Dom jumping in there, double fisting paddles, going way overboard. But nope. He eases into it so gently and naturally. Starting slowly with an experienced sub. Getting advice from not only his sub, but other Doms. He wasn’t a kid in a candy store. He was a kid with 50 cents standing in front of candy dispensers figuring out where he should spend his money.

Kelly was great. A experienced sex only sub who is divorced from a full time Dom. Or wanna be full time Dom with a sub who wants to please but ended up resenting him. I love that they stayed friends. Seeing each other for lunch once a week or so. What was a toxic marriage turned into a lovely friendship.

Sterling and Kelly are wonderful together. A great match who not only fulfill each others needs, but are a strong relationship outside of kink. The I love yous were a bit fast, but hey. Who am I to judge?

I’d love to see Sterling gain more confidence and expand his repertoire with Kelly. Hoping for them to pop up in coming books.

4 pieces of eye candy

Chaos (Tattoos And Ties Series Book 3) by Kindle Alexander: Blog Tour, Excerpt and New Release Review

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.                                          .

Dev Devilman Fox, the best ink slinger in town, is known for his sharp wit, angry fists and epically bad decisions. Becoming a lifelong patched member of the Disciples of Havoc MC at eighteen years old is probably the worst…but certainly not the only. When his hot new tenant catches his eye, Dev jumps in headfirst, ready to drive full throttle wherever that sexy road leads. That is until he finds himself on another hairpin turn, careening his life toward the closest brick wall.

Special Agent Cash Thomas has spent years undercover rooting out bad apples within various federal agencies. When his latest assignment brings him face to face with a sinfully tempting man from his past, his priorities shift on a dime. Now his reputation as a dedicated and focused field agent is in question. When faced with the opportunity to repay the man who once saved his life, smudging a few well-established lines is the least he’ll do.

When their paths collide can a bond from the past save their future or will it bury them under the chaos? Leathers might shield them from road rash, but they can’t protect them from heartbreak.

Chaos is a suspenseful motorcycle club romance with strong male leads. A stand-alone story in the Tattoos and Ties series. If you like sexy alpha males ready to take on the world for the one they love and intriguing storylines with many twists and turns, give Chaos a try.

Title: Chaos

Series: Tattoos and Ties Series

Author: Kindle Alexander

Genre: M/M MC Romance (Suspense) – stand alone

Release Date: February 5, 2023

Cover Design: Reese Dante

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Havoc: A Motorcycle Club Romance (Tattoos And Ties Series Book 1)

Order: A Motorcycle Club Romance (Tattoos And Ties Series Book 2)

He opened to see the man of his dreams studying his face. Cash lifted a hand to the back of Dev’s head, forcing him down for a blistering, soul-wrenching kiss.

The only feeling that mattered was Dev’s cock moving against his as the biker adjusted the hand at his ass to stroke both their cocks in unison. Cash’s tongue followed the quick rhythm Dev created. He could kiss this man forever.

Oh yeah, he was absolutely going to come. Instinctively, Dev seemed to know and tore from the hold, staying inches from his face as he said, “Hold out as long as you can. Hear me?”

Dev didn’t wait for an answer and pushed back on his heels before letting go of a scorching round of curse words, drawing Cash’s attention from the certain orgasm to see Dev rolling away from him.

“I’ll be back, goddammit.” Dev crawled off the bed, the awful words continuing as he struggled to move with the jeans halfway down his legs.

A deep physical need bound him to Dev.

Devin Fox.

Devilman.

His foxy devil.

The man made him feel something substantial for the first time in a very long time.

His outlaw biker.

He couldn’t tear his gaze away from Dev who fought with his boots and jeans. What a spectacular backside. The art was insane, but that ass kept Cash’s eyes locked right there.

“Fuckin’ condoms. Who’s stupid fuckin’ idea was that?” Dev hopped on one foot, tearing off his last boot.

Cash had to dodge the flying footwear tossed over Dev’s shoulder.

Full disclosure: I didn’t read the first two books. They both came out during a rather challenging time in my life, so I had to put them aside. I figured it was finally time to jump in, since this was considered a stand-alone. It IS a stand-alone, although I suspect reading books 1 and 2 would have given me a bit deeper of an understanding of what was going on behind the scenes. However, since the timeline between the two books seemed to run somewhat parallel, you really didn’t lose very much.

Quite often, Kindle Alexander books are insta-love, or fairly close, and this one is no different. Cash has been in love with Dev since he was about 9 years old, and comes to town to use his status within the Attorney General’s office to try to save Dev from certain jail time, while taking down the rest of the MC, and finding out who was committing financial crimes.  Dev doesn’t realize he falls in love with Cash immediately, but it’s pretty obvious. Cash, meanwhile, had so many reasons to want to save Dev and his family, but he was not a pushover.

Dev was definitely all about being a family man, loving his daughters, his mother and sister, his best friend, and doing everything he could to keep them safe. Meanwhile, though, he was gritty, a fighter, and someone who was willing to exact revenge on those that hurt those he loved. His realization about Cash was real, and it was easy to understand how he responded as he did, and held on to that anger for most of the rest of the book. He was able to hit back hard on Cash emotionally, but couldn’t sustain it because it hurt him as well.

I will say, I almost stopped reading this book a few times, not because the story or writing weren’t good, but because of some small triggers for me in there. But I muscled through, and am glad that I did. I really did end up enjoying the book, and getting to know these two MC’s better.

There is a book 4 “coming soon”, but I’m going to guess that with how meticulous these authors are, it will be a while before we see it. And that is okay, because we at least get to see that a HFN just as the book ends, which is satisfying…for now. 🙂

I think I’ll need to go back to work on books 1 and 2 in the meantime, so I’m ready for book 4.

4 pieces of eye candy

Best Selling Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in both the male/male and male/female genres. It’s always a surprise to see what’s coming next!

I live in the suburbs of Dallas where it’s true, the only thing bigger than an over active imagination, may be women’s hair!

Usually, I try for funny. Humor is a major part of my life – I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations – regardless of the situation, but jokes are a tricky deal… I don’t want to offend anyone and jokes tend to offend. So instead I’m going to tell you about Kindle.

I tragically lost my sixteen year old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been at home, it was early in the night and I heard the accident happen. I’ll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died – weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn’t have to be alone.

That time in my life was terrible. It’s everything you think it would be times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have it all ripped away so suddenly broke me.

Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness – it was her name and she died a few weeks before Amazon released their brand new Kindle ereader. She had no idea it was coming out and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it.. It never happened.

Through the course of that crippling event I was lucky enough to begin to write with a dear friend in the fan fiction world of Facebook. She got me through those dark days with her unwavering support and friendship. There wasn’t a time she wasn’t there for me. Sometimes together and sometimes by myself, we built a world where Kindle lives and stands for peace, love and harmony. It’s its own kind of support group. I know without question I wouldn’t be here today without her.

Find out more by visiting www.kindlealexander.com or email me at kindle@kindlealexander.com

Social Media Links:

✦ Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKindleAlexander/

✦ Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/KindleAlexander

✦ Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/kindlealexander2.0

✦ Book+Main Bites ➜ https://bookandmainbites.com/KindleAlexander

✦ Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6421828.Kindle_Alexander

✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3RMtxfW

✦ BookBub ➜ https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kindle-alexander

✦ Newsletter ➜ https://www.kindlealexander.com/contact-us/

 

Up To Snow Good: An MM Christmas Romance by Charlie Novak: Audiobook and New Release Review

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.                                .

This Christmas, Trouble Tastes Like Chocolate

Maximillian Arthur Felstead is up to no good.

Having taken it upon himself to plan an anniversary surprise for his brother and his fiancé during their annual December ski trip, Max realises nothing happens quickly this close to Christmas. Deciding chocolate is the answer, Max accidentally incurs the wrath of chocolatier, Luca, who’s having a pre-Christmas nightmare of his own.

Luca is short staffed and short on patience, and he isn’t enamoured with Max’s clueless demands, even if he is utterly gorgeous. So when Max reaches out to apologise, Luca can’t help but be drawn in by his charm and Max’s offer of help, especially when their chemistry is hot enough to melt the ice on Mont Blanc.

With their time together running out, can a little Christmas magic help Max and Luca find what they’ve been searching for?

Up to Snow Good is a 49,000-word, low-angst MM contemporary Christmas romance featuring snow-topped mountains, Christmas market cuteness, delicious chocolate, and plenty of sweet, steamy moments.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Audible

This was just a fun, fluffy, enjoyable listen. I really like Dan Calley’s narration, as his accents really hit the mark for me. However, in the end, it’s the story that has to work best, right? And this one does for me.

It’s a holiday book (yes, I like to read/listen to them at any time of year), that has Max surprising his brother and best friend with a surprise during their ski trip. Initially, Max doesn’t make the best impression on Luca, in his chocolate shop. He does end up going back and apologizing, and once Luca has a spare minute, they fall into bed, and begin to have fun together. (Side note, I’d like to see the Christmas market).

Luca, after his cousin flakes out on him, is doing his best to keep his shop running, with the help of his snarky assistant, but is on a short timeline for the holidays and cannot seem to work enough. Once Max offers to help, it doesn’t solve the problem, but helps Luca immensely and allows them a little more time together. It also gives Max time to think about what he wants out of his life.

There were some funny parts (I haven’t heard “butt munch” in a long time and it made me lol), but it was mostly just a sweet story, with some heat, and a lovely MC in Max that you just want to give a huge hug to, as he decides how he wants to move forward with his life. Spoiler alert: there is an HEA 🙂

Sit down for a bit to read this, have a cup of hot chocolate in honor of Luca, and enjoy this one.

4 pieces of eye candy

The Loner (The Vers Podcast Book 1) by Riley Hart: Release Day Review

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Declan
As a founding member of The Vers, a queer podcast I host with my three best friends, I’m The Loner—quieter than the others, and except for them, I don’t let myself get too close to people. Most of them just let you down anyway, or maybe it’s just that something about me chases people away.

Infrequent, no-strings-attached hookups have always worked for me. Who knew my favorite one would become such a popular movie star? But Sebastian Cole and I made it work, meeting up whenever he was in Santa Monica and in the mood—until he called it off when he got a serious boyfriend. A boyfriend he later found in bed with another man.

Now Sebastian is back in California, taking a break from acting. He needs a friend, and for whatever reason, he decides that should be me. We’ve known each other intimately for years, and yet we’ve never spent much time together with our clothes on. When he starts taking me places, it feels suspiciously like dates…and surprisingly, I like it.

Despite our differences, Sebastian’s lonely, like me. The more we hang out, the more I realize I’ll never get enough of him.

A loner dating a celebrity doesn’t make much sense. I don’t know how to be someone’s boyfriend, let alone be in the public eye. But to call him mine, I’ll need to leave the past behind and finally allow myself to move forward with him.

The Loner is an opposites attract romance about a movie star rethinking his career and a bar owner/podcast host who isn’t fond of most people. Expect Southern California sun, swoon, found family and once-in-a-lifetime friendships.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

What a great start to a new series. AND because there are 4 best friends, we kind of don’t have to wonder who is going to get their HEA next.

The series starts with Declan. Ten years ago a hook up turned into a semi regular hookup. Declan was a bartender and Sebastian was an actor trying to make it. Which he did. But still had semi regular hookups with Declan because being out in Hollywood doesn’t necessarily mean being OUT. Eventually they drifted apart because Sebastian got a Hollywood approved boyfriend.

And 10 years later he walks into Declan’s bar once again. This time, Declan is the owner.

I loved Sebastian. Hoe he got to do what he loved, but he was also questioning if that was all he wanted to do. Realizing that friendship can be fickle when you become a celebrity. And being a homogenized Hollywood version of “acceptable gay” really kind of sucks.

Rattling around his big house he figures out that he really doesn’t have friends. Which, really, I can totally see happening. Starting life as a closeted gay person doesn’t lead to a lot of lifelong friendships. So when people then wanted to be his friend, it wasn’t necessarily for the right reason.

Declan has friends. Exactly 3 and that was enough for him. But Sebastian convinces him to be his friend. And with that, they end the sexual side of their relationship. Declan is a grumpy Gus who doesn’t want to be wooed by Sebastian’s charms. The problem is, Sebastian doesn’t even realize how charming he is.

So they do the dude bro thing and hang out, grill, drink beer, etc. Friends. But the more they get to know each other, the more the friend thing blurs.

But that is one of the things I really liked about it. That they had TEN YEARS of being hook up buddies who knew practically nothing about each other. And getting to know each other lets them each mature a bit past thinking only with their small heads.

Declan’s 3 best friends are fun too. Their dynamic is a little bit overboard for me with the way they constantly mock each other. But that seems to be when all 4 are together. When Declan is with just Parker, his bestest best friend, they are way more real. I want to see more real with the 4 guys. And stop calling each other stupid names. It’s like they revert back to being 15.

Anyway. The romantic love relationship between Sebastian and Declan was very organic. It made sense what they were doing and the path they were headed down. AND without the big, cliché misunderstanding that leads to a break up thing. That’s so tired.

I’d love to see more of these guys. Partly because we didn’t get to see them together while Sebastian was working. That will be an interesting dynamic.

Looking forward to the other three guys finding their happiness.

4 pieces of eye candy

Twilight Heist by Katherine McIntyre: RB, Release Day Review

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Heist rule number two? Never fall for a lone wolf.

A blast from Tuck’s circus past draws Tuck and the charming lone-wolf hacker, Leo, into a dizzying web of passion, secrets, and betrayal.

When the circus comes calling, Tuck is helpless to the lure, and this time, his old troupe’s in trouble. Their attempt to leave Reynauld Industries ended with a hit on them, courtesy of the deadly mercenary group, the Stockyard. Tuck can’t sit idly by, and as the resident stealth operator for the Outlaws, he’s in a unique position to help.

Leo’s a lone wolf hacker, and no amount of his best friend’s pleading, Tuck’s flirty smiles, or interesting jobs will sway him into working with the Outlaws. At least, until they land this one. After growing up in the hellish Stockyard, he’s wanted to take them down for years, and this is the Holy Grail of opportunities. Only problem? The Outlaws can never know about his history with them.

When Leo and Tuck start working together, a chemistry emerges that neither of them can deny. Leo’s mantra of “one and done” falters the moment Tuck shows him a care and steadfastness he’s never experienced before, and the more time they spend with each other, the more he doesn’t want to give up the first man he’s started to fall for. However, if the Outlaws discover his past or the Stockyard finds him first, Leo will end up one of the bloated corpses they’ve left lining the Chicago River.

Title: Twilight Heist

Author: Katherine McIntyre

Genre: M/M Romantic Suspense

Series: Outlaws #2

Release Date: January 19, 2023

Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

Cover Designer: BookSmith Design

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Midnight Heist (Book 1)

Twilight Heist is book 2 in the Outlaws series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend book 1, Midnight Heist first. This author has such a great gift for storytelling, and her backlist covers quite a few different genres, so if you are in the mood after this, grab some others. (I definitely recommend checking out the Chesapeake Days series.)

In this book, we learn a lot more about Tuck, and his backstory.  As a tightrope walker it helped his ability to move carefully and quietly, and was out for revenge. Meanwhile, Leo, the hacker, is essential to the operation, and himself is out for his own revenge. They definitely had some issues to work through on their way towards their happy ending. Trust is a two way street, and when it’s broken, quite difficult to get back.

Lots of action in this series, and this one packs quite a bit in. However, as always with this author, character development is so well done. You really begin to understand the motives behind their actions, even as they work toward their happy ending.

Well written, and filled with emotions amongst all the action.

4 pieces of eye candy

Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—and there’s an equally high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As an eternal geek and tomboy who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there, from different cultures and races to all varieties of men and women.

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