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Sharing our love of M/M Romance

4 stars

Forgive Me Father: Rebel Kings MC: Embry & Mateo by Garrett Leigh: New Release Review and Giveaway

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Embry

“…you don’t understand.”

Mateo lowered himself to sit, still vibrating with the need to fix me, the way he always did. “Then tell me. Explain it like I’m the simplest idiot you’ve ever met.”

I can’t. I’d never told anyone. Not the judge, the jury, or the legal aid barrister who’d written me off before she’d ever met me. But as I drowned in Mateo’s affection, in a love I’d done nothing to deserve, the words came tumbling out.

Bad words.

Dark words.

Darker than sin.

Darker, even, than Mateo’s battered soul and the secrets I didn’t know about yet.

I thought those words would shatter me.

Shatter us.

But when the devil came for us, it wasn’t mine.

It was Mateo’s, and the man I’d trusted with my fragile heart was a stranger more broken than his scars could ever show.

Forgive Me Father is a continuation of the best-selling Rebel Kings MC series. Content warning for violence and sexual trauma.

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Rebel Kings MC Series – 4 Book Series

Book #1 – Devil’s Dance

Book #2 – Saint’s Song

I was intrigued with Embry and Mateo and their dance around each other from the moment we met them in Devil’s Dance. (Must read the first two books. Not only because of the continuing story, but they are really good) Finally we get the story of the club “chaplain” and one of the club’s main enforcers. Worth the wait!

Everyone in the MC is still kind of reeling from what happened in book 2. Reeling and recovering. A lot happened and the healing will take quite a long time. But I think that also brings them together more, knowing what they could have lost so easily.

Embry and Mateo. Man, I love these two. Even with them dancing around each other for so long, it is still a slow burn once they admit their feelings. Or at least admit that they want each other. They are so different in their roles in the MC, but similar in the way they keep secrets.

They gather strength from each other without even realizing it I think. Not as MC “brothers” but as men. Even something as simple as Embry wearing one of Mateo’s shirts seems to boost both of them. They have an intimacy that is hard to miss. It just makes what they have so much more real.

I pretty much guessed both of their secrets, but not to the extent of what really happened. The outing of Mateo’s was a bit shocking. Things that were said kind of reminded me of some scenes in Sons of Anarchy (US tv show about an MC).

There’s a lot going on in the story as well. Most of it is revealed once Mateo’s secret is revealed. But it keeps a lot of the main MC guys in the story without taking the focus off of Embry and Mateo.

They get that hard fought happily ever after, but not without the support of their MC.

You should definitely check trigger warnings before reading. This book (like the others) is violent.

4 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

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Dead Serious Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy: (MM Paranormal Romance) (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy: New Release Review and Giveaway

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In the business of unfinished business…

It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right?

Wrong…

When the spirit of a sweet old lady follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation.

For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him.

Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves.

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series.

Title: Dead Serious Case #2 Mrs. Delores Abernathy
Authors: Vawn Cassidy
Length: 90K
Series: Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Deceased, Book 2
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense, Romance/Dark Comedy.
Tropes: ongoing paranormal romance/comedy/mystery.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Book 1: Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey: (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed)

You have to read book 1 before you read this one. Theoretically, it could stand alone, but you won’t want it to, you will want and need to go back, so just go ahead and start at the beginning.

What a treat this one was! Bringing back Tristan, Danny, and the incomparable Dusty (well, not literally in the last case…unless…). Getting to come back into this world was fun, definitely had it’s sad moments, and an HEA or two.

Honestly, in some ways this could have been the end of a duet of books. There were enough HEAs to go around. We get closure in a few things, and Dusty even gets some closure on her life. But, no way do you want this to be the end of the series. (And if you read below, you will see it isn’t. YEAH!)

Tristan and Danny are settling into their relationship, both are even thinking about the possibility of them moving in together. Tristan and Danny spend time with Tristan’s father (if you want to weep a little…wait for Danny and Tristan’s dad…oh the feels!) Meanwhile, Tristan is still concerned that Danny will think him insane if he tells him he can see ghosts.

Tristan happens to be at the care home for his father, when an elderly woman with severe dementia passes away, but he notices that she has the markings to indicate she died by arsenic poisoning, and the case of Mrs. Delores Abernathy has begun. You can’t help but root for Delores to find her closure, as she sticks to the side of Tristan or Dusty like glue.

There are a few other feel great moments and scenes that will pull at your heartstrings, even as Tristan and Danny work to find Delores’ killer.

Some action and adventure in the old folks home, and with Tristan and Dusty, of course. All in all a good romp through the world that only Crawshank could understand.

Definitely recommend this one, and eagerly anticipating book 3. Make sure you check out the amazing giveaway below, with a chance to be a character!

4 pieces of eye candy

Vawn is running a special event to help raise money for the True Colors United Charity!!!!

Details below:

The Prize

One winner will win the opportunity to be written into book 3 – Dead Series (Cold) Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes. They can choose the profession of their character and whether they are living or deceased. They will also get a mention on the dedication page and receive a signed paperback copy plus a Dead Serious themed swag bag including Dead Serious Character trading cards, a DS tote, bookmarks, stickers, a keyring and a mug.

 

How to enter

Go to the fundraising page on True Colours and make a donation, it can be as much or as little as you’d like. The donation will act as your entry, so you need to make sure your name is on the donation or added to the comments section of the donation. (Anonymous donations will be ineligible simply because I have no way of contacting them if they are drawn as the winner.)

Anyone who would like to make a donation but doesn’t want to enter the competition can also do so, all they need to do is put N/E in the comments section of their donation.

The fundraiser is open until 31st Mar 2023 at which time a winner will be selected at random from the eligible entries.

 

The Charity

In the United States, 4.2 million youth experience homelessness each year, with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ peers.

True Colors United is a non-profit which began in New York in 2008 co-founded by Cyndi Lauper. Through a wide array of advocacy, training & education, youth collaboration, and technical assistance programs, True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people.

 

Their website link – https://truecolorsunited.org

My fundraising page on True Colours – https://my.truecolorsunited.org/DeadSeriousCharacterMe

 

All the details are also on the events page on my website and links are on all my social media

www.vawncassidy.com/events

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Vawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of British author Wendy Saunders, she lives in the UK with her husband and children. She loves all things MM and is an avid reader herself.
As Vawn Cassidy she writes Paranormal/Dark Comedy/Mystery and Contemporary Romance and more recently is branching out into Historical & Supernatural MM/LGBTQ+ Fiction with her upcoming London Gothic series.
She also has an insane love of Lego and pop culture.

Connect with Vawn:
Website: www.vawncassidy.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/VawnCassidyAuthor
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/group/cassidysbayboys
Instagram: www.instagram.com/vawncassidyauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/VawnCassidy
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/vawncassidy
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/vawn-cassidy
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y9ars1

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This is Real Release by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review

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A snarky English nerd. A hot American actor. When Christmas brings them together, they have more in common than they know…

Murdo doesn’t do Christmas, but this year, he’s looking forward to spending time with an old friend. Elodie’s working on a film starring Murdo’s Biggest Crush, the gorgeous Lukas Olsen. When Elodie asks him to give Lukas a lift from Logan International, Murdo can’t believe his luck. Lukas might be straight, but ogling’s acceptable—right?
Lukas arrives at the airport to find a gaggle of fans but no driver waiting and when he does turn up, the snarky Englishman can’t even remember where he’s parked. When they finally reach their destination, Lukas tries to tip him and Murdo makes his current opinion of Lukas very clear. His crush is over.

Things move from bad to worse when Murdo tells the director that Lukas’s English accent isn’t authentic. But a pang of guilt, and maybe a remnant of lust, has Murdo offering to give dialect lessons to a resentful Lukas. Only once they’re in Lukas’s house, annoyance turns into something far more dangerous, because Lukas isn’t out and never will be. He has too much to lose: career, fans, family and friends.

Yet something about Murdo makes Lukas want to risk it all…

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

A Christmas story that is set at Christmas but it isn’t really a Christmas story even though one of them hates Christmas and the other is filming a Christmas movie. Got it? Good.

Murdo doesn’t hate Christmas, per se, he just doesn’t have fond memories of it and basically tries to ignore it. And since he is on break from his teaching job, he is headed New Hampshire to visit a college friend and go skiing. Alone. It’s fine.

The college friend is the assistant director on a movie filming right by where Murdo was going to ski, so lucky them that they can get a visit in. But she also needs Murdo to pick up the star of the movie at the airport and bring him. The movie star that Murdo has a crush on.

That crush is, well, crushed, when Lukas turns out to be a giant jerk. Even after Murdo successfully avoids a really bad car accident that involved a tractor trailer. How can anyone be mean to Murdo? He is adorable!

Lukas isn’t really a giant jerk. He’s just painfully attracted to Murdo. And deeply in the closet. But then Murdo is sort of but not really hired to help Lukas polish his English accent over the Christmas break. And Lukas can’t resist having Murdo near him.

Once they are at Lukas’ house they get along great. Even though you can cut the sexual tension with a knife. But behind closed doors and in the privacy of his own home, Lukas starts to open up. Flirting with Murdo. Touching Murdo. Even oh so casually saying, ‘oh btw, I’m gay’. Even though he has literally never said it out loud before.

Murdo gives Lukas the freedom and confidence to be who he is. Even though Murdo know that at the end of the day, Lukas will go back in the closet.

The conflict wasn’t what I expected. Ok, part of it was. But not the BIG one. But Lukas insisted that Murdo was innocent. Never, ever doubting him. I absolutely loved that. Lukas also never acted like a Big Star. You know the type that think they are better than everyone.

The epilogue was great and simply answered questions I had. And it was swoony.

4 pieces of eye candy

Class Act by Gianni Holmes: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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From USA Today Bestselling Author Gianni Holmes comes a new heartfelt, steamy, forbidden, teacher-student romance.

Abe Cooper is a triple threat.

He’s my best friend’s father.

He’s the football coach at my high school.

And he’s a married man

His marriage is on the rocks and he could lose his job for the way he looks at me.

I could lose my only friend in the world.

I know I should stay away instead of flirting with him.

But all the cons don’t outweigh how I feel when I’m with him.

When my home situation gets worse, Abe is there for me. But what we do under his roof when everyone’s asleep makes me feel guilty.

Now his daughter, my closest friend, knows he’s stepping outside his marriage and she’s hellbent to find out who I am.

How long can we keep us a secret and how dare we be happy together when it might hurt the ones we love?

Title: Class Act
Authors: Gianni Holmes
Length: 100K+
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: Teacher-student, age gap, best friend’s father, hurt comfort, size difference.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Emery paused the television. “Abe.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have allowed him to use my first name after all. The way the syllable whispered from his lips sent a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard but didn’t respond.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

“Talk about what?”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard.”

I frowned. “Heard what?”

“You and your wife arguing. I’m sorry she said those awful things to you.”

My face burned, and I glanced away. “Stay out of it.”

“I’m just trying to—”

“It’s none of your business, Emery. Drop it.”

Emery lowered his legs to the floor and got to his feet, letting the remote fall from his hand to the couch. “I’m sorry. I’ll just go.” His voice was full of hurt, and my chest ached for me to do something about it. To make him smile again.

Let him go, Abe.

I jumped up and grabbed Emery’s wrist. He jerked to a stop, but he kept his head turned away from me. He tried to tug his hand out of my grip, but I held on.

“I’m leaving you alone like you wanted, Abe.”

My heart pounded in my chest. “When did I ever say that?”

Seconds ticked by in silence. I moved closer to him, placed a trembling hand on his angular hip, and turned him to face me. His chest rose and fell, like he was struggling against his emotions.

“Do you want me to stay or not?” he asked.

Dammit, why was he so damn pretty?

“Let me go, Abe.”

“Do you really want me to?” He nodded, so I dropped his hand.

Emery rubbed his wrist. “Do you care about what I want?”

My nostrils flared. “What do you want?”

“To hug you.”

Before I could move, Emery wrapped his arms around me and pressed his face to my chest.

Push him away.

I raised my arms, but as if they had a mind of their own, they embraced him, one settling at his lower back and the other at his hip. I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat. Why was he made to fit me so well if he could never be mine?

“Emery,” I said softly. “I don’t know if I’m thinking straight.”

“What do you mean?” he whispered back.

“You heard it yourself. My marriage is in shambles, and I can’t be sure if this thing is merely a reaction rather than something real.”

Emery grabbed the back of my head and pulled it down, then captured my lips with his. Stunned, I stood stock still. Emery’s mouth moved over mine, and desire unleashed in my belly. With a groan, I pressed him closer to me and gripped his hip more tightly.

I ventured out of my comfort zone to review this book. I don’t do cheating…I know a lot of people don’t like to read it. But having been through it, I know how much it absolutely sucks to be the one cheated on. But I was intrigued otherwise, so I gave it an open minded chance. (Make sure you read the afterword from the author…made me feel so much better about the fact that I don’t like to read it, since the author has been through a similar situation.)

I’m not sure if I could have picked it up if it wasn’t obvious from the blurb that Abe was having problems in his marriage. And he was having lots of problems. I couldn’t blame him for wanting a divorce (that did not make the cheating okay, of course). He struggled to hide his feelings about Emery from himself, but the fact that Emery needed as much help as he did made it impossible for Abe to turn away from him. (Side note: Emery’s father…I would have dearly loved to see him get more than he did, but he still got a little of what he deserved. The car…that po’ed me almost as much as the other stuff. What a POS!)

ANYWAY, what I loved about Emery was his self confidence in himself. Most men his age in high school would not go out for cheerleading, wearing a skirt, being out. He couldn’t really hide it, but nevertheless, he was a courageous man. In many ways, he learned that from his father, because to live under that roof and come out alive, he had to be courageous. He also wasn’t afraid to show his vulnerable side to Abe, even if he didn’t share everything he should have. His best friend, after the initial shock, ended up being very positive about their relationship. The ex-wife, not so much, but who could blame her…and she was kinder than most people would have been in that circumstance.

This really was a love story, and as gut wrenching as it was personally, it was very well written, and kept it at a slow simmer for a while before the heat exploded. That was necessary for this story to have worked. I will admit that I had to read this in spurts, because some of it was tough for me to read. But still well written, and a good story about what felt like a real life situation.

4 pieces of eye candy

Gianni Holmes is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary MM romance. She’s a former teacher of Spanish Language and Latin American literature who resides in the Caribbean. Gianni has a love for superheroes, a fear of horror movies, and an obsession with old TV sitcoms.

Connect with Gianni:
Website
https://www.gianniholmesauthor.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/gianniholmesbooks
Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/giannigems
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/gianniholmes
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17910852.Gianni_Holmes

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The Santa Problem by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review

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When Kendall is let down by the Santa and photographer he’s booked for his garden centre, he frantically tries to find replacements. But no one is available to step in at the last minute and he’s running out of time and options.

Then Alfie arrives, with his electric-blue hair, piercings, megawatt smile, and three cute reindeer. And, he just happens to be a photographer. Finally, Kendall sees a glimmer of hope. So what if he hates Christmas, kids, beards and missing Santas? Kendall can play Santa himself, if he just learns how to smile.

As Kendall thaws and gets into the role, Alfie has renewed hope that he’ll manage what he came all the way here to do. It all depends on Kendall believing him, and that suddenly becomes a mountain Kendall won’t even try to climb. But Alfie won’t give up. It’s not over yet. This is Christmas and there’s magic in the air!

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Christmas books? But it’s not even Halloween! I don’t care! Bring it on!

We start out with the quintessential Christmas grouch. He’s the manager of a garden center that does a big Christmas thing. Kendall is all about the bottom line. How much can the center make. He is fastidious and organized so when the Santa he booked nearly a year in advance cancels at the last minute, he isn’t quite sure what to do.

Then Alfie shows up. Claiming to be the photographer for Santa. And he brought reindeer. And sweet talks Kendall into being Santa. Which all of the employees can’t believe because he is super grouchy.

Obviously Alfie has ulterior motives, but they take a little bit to suss out. We don’t know right away where he came from or what he is doing. But he is trying to make Kendall happy. And the children who come to see Santa. And the employees of the garden center. All while taking care of his reindeer.

You can’t help but love Alfie. His happiness is infectious without being obnoxious. He genuinely loves Christmas and all that it entails. He doesn’t really understand why Kendall hates it and tries to be subtle about changing his mind.

Kendall can’t resist Alfie and the draw to him he feels. Even though Alfie has said numerous times that he will leave on Christmas Eve, they both finally succumb to the attraction.

Which isn’t part of the plan, but Alfie goes for it.

The story takes a delightful turn when we find out exactly what Alfie has been trying to achieve. Three meddling reindeer and an orphan add to the story and the magic.

It was almost like a switch was flipped with Kendall though. He thawed while playing Santa, but underneath he was still miserable. And then he wasn’t. He just had to believe.

This was different and lovely. I think I might have to reread it one night in a month or 2 when my tree is light and there are presents underneath.

4 pieces of eye candy

Like I Wished (Heather Bay Book 2) by Charlie Novak: Release Day Review

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Dreaming about my best friend’s brother is one thing, him actually falling for me is another.

Baking cupcakes for the science department bake-off shouldn’t strike fear into the heart of chemistry teacher Noah, but his previous record hasn’t exactly been glowing. In an attempt to stave off another year in last place, Noah turns to the one man who might be able to help him: his best friend’s older brother, Spencer.

Noah’s had a crush on the vibrant and sporty footballer turned baker for years, but the chances of anything happening between them are slim to none. Spencer is caring, funny, gorgeous… and totally straight.

Spencer has never thought about dating men before, but after watching Noah lick buttercream off a whisk he’s suddenly realising he’s not as straight as previously thought.

Revelations about his sexuality are one thing, but his footballing past being dragged into the present is another and Spencer isn’t sure which is more stressful. But he’s sure about one thing: he wants Noah in his life. Now all they have to do is figure out how to make their wishes come true.

Like I Wished is a hot and heart-warming best friend’s brother contemporary MM romance featuring adorable ghost cupcakes, a bisexual awakening over baking, gate-crashed first dates, gym-bro besties, and lots of hot chocolate.

It is book two in the Heather Bay series and while it can be read as a standalone, it’s best enjoyed as part of the series.

Lately I feel like I’ve read a lot of books that have had conflict. A lot of unnecessary conflict. Thinking it made for a better story? More interesting characters? I don’t know. But I was thinking to myself “why can’t two guys just, yanno, date and fall in love without all of the dramz???”

Well the universe spoke and gave me this story.

Being a fan of Charlie Novak, I had already read (and thoroughly enjoyed) book 1. There was conflict in that, but it absolutely made sense. Just so you don’t think I am anti conflict. I actually love drama and angst. But it has to make sense. But this story is 2 men who already know each other. And like each other. And consider each other friends. Their only obstacle, if you can call it that, is that one of the guy’s is best friend’s with the other guy’s brother.

Noah had been crushing on his best friend’s brother for YEARS. He thought he was sly about it, but apparently not. Spencer had defaulted to straight, but he started noticing Noah ever since he brought him home one night to take care of him because he was a bit on the drunk side.

When Spencer starts figuring it out, he is fairly straight forward with Noah. No beating around the bush. No being super scared or nervous. Just kind of all in. He had the confidence to say he was new at this but wanted it and wanted to do it right.

And Noah, that little cinnamon roll, had zero issues with speaking up with what he wanted. Who knew Noah was such a dirty boy?

All of the guys from book 1 appear. We see Laurie and Theo in their natural habitat (their apartment) and I am soooooo intrigued with those two. I hope we get their story.

But I digress. Even though both guys were a little nervous telling their friends (especially the brother/best friend) it was fine. Not manufactured fights. Just the snark we expected from him.

So yes, a story where two guys start dating, develop feelings, freely admit those feelings and go on to have a seemingly healthy relationship with each other. YAY!

4 pieces of eye candy