Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

4 stars

Bona Fide Fake (Experimental Love Book 2) by Rebecca Raine: New Release Review

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My new fake boyfriend may not like me, but he needs me. There are worse foundations for a relationship.

Ned
Toni Fairweather is a liar and a fake. I suspected it the day we met, but when he lies to his friends about being my boyfriend, I know for sure. I’ll play along with his deception, but Toni will owe me – big time.

I have my own reasons for needing a boyfriend. Someone who can handle me. Someone who can keep me in line. Toni is demanding enough to fulfil every requirement.

I don’t need to like the man… to obey him.

Toni
I never meant to fake a relationship with the lead singer of a local rock band. But the fib popped out over lunch with my best friend, and now I’m expected to present my new boyfriend at his engagement party next month.

The good news? I’m not the only one in need of a date.

Being boyfriends for a month shouldn’t be hard, but I do have one condition: this won’t be some fake boyfriends deal. I want a real relationship, and Ned’s going to give it to me.

Bona Fide Fake is Book Two in the Experimental Love series by bestselling Australian author, Rebecca Raine. This 80,000 word fake boyfriends romance can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. It’s a fun read with some angst and plenty of steam. Perfect for lovers of the first book in the series, The Experiment. HEA guaranteed!

Trigger Warnings: Discussions of past experience of bullying. Past relationship involving manipulation and the threat of exploitation. Angst level: Moderate.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Well this was a pleasant surprise. I liked the premise, but fake boyfriends have been done before so it wasn’t something new. What was new is how broken these men were in different ways and how being together helped heal. Add in some light Domination and submission and it was a page turner for me.

There is a character connection to the previous book, The Experiment, but it isn’t necessary at all to read. And I hate to say this but I didn’t like The Experiment very much. Another reason this book was a pleasant surprise.

Toni is the life of the party and everyone’s friend. “Fabulous, as always” as he says. Completely put together, he was unapologetic for liking cocktails instead of wine or beer, of dressing well, having his hair perfect, speaking with a bit of flamboyance he was known for. His best friend tries to call him out for not being real, not letting anyone in, but Toni scoffs it off.

Ned is a former wanna be rockstar. He is back home in Brisbane, bartending and singing lead for a local popular bar band. And that is as far as he wants to go. He no longer has the stars in his eyes of celebrity. He also hasn’t dated in the three years he has been home.

They come to a mutually beneficial agreement to be fake real boyfriends for about 6 weeks. But in those six weeks they get to know each other pretty well. And yet, there are still facades up. So, break his heart before he breaks yours, right?

These guys had depth. They had deep seated issues that made them who they are. And while one of them needs to exorcise his demons, the other needs to show the world his true self. But first they have to struggle to do those things together.

I just loved these two together and the trust and intimacy that grew with them. Toni being everyone’s friend without considering many to be his friend hit me right in the feels.

4 pieces of eye candy

Devil’s Dance by Garrett Leigh: Release Blitz, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Opposites attract. The outlaw biker and the accountant. Straightlaced vs straight to hell. Or heaven, depending on how you look at it. 

And you can look at it any way you like, doesn’t mean it’s true. Either way, falling for snarky Alexei Ivanov is the lightbulb moment I’ve been waiting for my whole damn life. Or at least since my head got turned by someone else. A man I call brother, but he’s so much more than that.

I’ve loved Saint Malone for years. My loyal wingman has owned my heart so long I figured it had died of yearning for him. But Saint is as fragile as he is deadly. I don’t know how to help him until Alexei brings me to life in ways I can’t describe.

He opens my eyes, and I see them both.

I love them both.

With the weight of the underworld bearing down on me, I just gotta stay alive long enough to tell them.

Devil’s Dance is the first in a hurt/comfort, dark romance, MMM duet from the world of the Rebel Kings MC. Expect: tattoos, leather, and an enigmatic Russian hitman. 

Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

Length: 96,000 words approx.

Rebel Kings MC Series

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Saint’s Song (Book #2) – Preorder

This is an MC romance. That isn’t necessarily romantic, although there are definitely moments, but it also isn’t your typical MC book.

Cam was voted in as president after his father was killed. There are still some “old school” guys in the club, but a lot of younger guys too. Ones that have no problem with rule changes. And changes to their business. Cam doesn’t care what kind of motorcycle you drive. He wants the MC to go almost totally legit. And being gay or bi is no big deal. There’s still the unwritten rule of hands off Cam’s siblings and MC members shouldn’t get together. Which makes Cam keep his hands off of Saint who he has loved since almost forever.

Then he meets Teddy, who he thinks will be a one off. But they have some serious chemistry and can’t necessarily stick to the one off plan. Teddy is also Alexi. A financial planner with a regular cell phone and a cell phone that gets calls from Russia. He is very tight lipped about his past so there are certainly secrets there.

Even with Cam’s focus on Alexi, he still loves Saint. Alexi sees it but is also intrigued by Saint. Saint is SO quiet and introverted and seems to suffer in silence. He would take a bullet for Cam but never say how he feels out loud. Alexi sees what is unspoken between Cam and Saint, and he is fine with it.

So waiting to see how that would happen, how it would play out, kept me staying up to turn the pages. What would be the circumstance? Who would start it? Where would they be? By the way? Totally worth the wait.

There is also a plot with the MC. They want to go legit. But another MC is running human trafficking through their territory. Cam wants it ended. Not only because he doesn’t condone trafficking, but also because his father trying to stop it is what got him killed. The MC gets an unlikely ally in bringing it to a stop.

I adored Saint. I just wanted to hug him. Seeing Cam really take control of the MC was great. And Alexi…we know a lot of his secrets now, but I feel like there is more to uncover.

This is book one of two. Apparently book 2 explores more of the relationship growing between the three men together. Because as a triad we didn’t get a whole lot. So I definitely want more. But there are other characters I would love to see get their happily ever after as well. Fingers crossed for more books.

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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Proficiency Bonus by Charlie Novak, Read by Joel Leslie: Audiobook Review

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Organising yourself is harder than it looks—Lewis may be a highly proficient PA for two very successful cosplayers, but that means nothing when you’re living at your parent’s house after yet another failed relationship and trying to find some stable ground.

Jason Lu, star of Celestials, is stuck between a rock and a hard place. When the show is cancelled and his character pigeonholed into a homophobic ending, Jason must choose whether to fall in line or break ranks. But one misstep will mean bumping heads with some powerful people.

Teaming up with the very cute guy he met at Comic Con seems like a natural first step and now Lewis and Jason must choose between heartbreak and justice. As they forge ahead, they realise there are no bonuses for navigating life’s challenges, instead they’ll just have to fight for what they believe in.

But sometimes overcoming the biggest hurdles yields the best results.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Audible

Original story review by Erin here.

I tend to only listen to audio versions of books I’ve already read. I’ve been disappointed before, but not this time. Joel Leslie once again brought the characters to life for me.

The voice variations makes it pretty easy to know who is speaking at any given time. From Jason’s deeper, slower voice to Louis’ higher, faster voice. And although it is higher, it certainly isn’t high like a stereotypical gay man’s voice.

There are quite a few characters that all get a unique to them voice. I can practically SEE Edward’s nose up in the air as he speaks. I have no idea how the narrator keeps them all straight.

Joel Leslie is one of my go to narrators so I love when he narrates a book I already love by an author I already love.

4 pieces of eye candy

His True Heart: A Valentine’s Day Story by Samantha Cayto: Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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The heart always knows the way.

Chris Novak is adjusting to his lieutenant being the first openly gay SEAL. Seeing the man’s obvious love for his husband gives Chris ideas—ones he has ruthlessly suppressed his whole life. Becoming a SEAL was his dream. Having the love and approval of his father remains critical to him. Acknowledging his sexual orientation would have jeopardized both. While the military has evolved, Chris fears that his father’s views have not.

Tanner Pac has been openly out and proud since high school, with his family embracing him as he is. He knows being gay is not a problem, but his dream of becoming a software engineer is. His parents expect him to carry on the family business of running a pizza parlor. He dares not disappoint them, fearing a loss that would crush him.

While visiting his father on leave, Chris goes out for pizza, not expecting to run into his old girlfriend’s annoying little brother. They could never ditch Tanner and now that he is all grown up, Chris finds he no longer wants to. Facing the strong temptation that Tanner presents is causing Chris to also face the truth about himself.

As Chris and Tanner struggle to meet their parents’ expectations, their attraction for each other cannot be denied. Their strength and courage grow in each other’s arms, but it may not be enough to break free of the weight of family expectations.

His True Heart by Samantha Cayto

General Release Date: 1st February 2022

Word Count: 33,436

Book Length: SHORT NOVEL

Pages: 125

Amazon

First For Romance

Goodreads

“Man, the way the lieutenant’s reunion is going, I’m not sure they’ll make it home. Know what I mean?”

Petty Officer First Class Christopher Novak did indeed know what his teammate meant. Scott Carpenter’s husband had jumped into his arms the second he’d seen Scott coming through the gates. At the moment, the guy’s legs were wrapped around Scott’s waist, and the two of them were going to pass out from lack of oxygen if that kiss didn’t end soon.

“Yeah, but we shouldn’t be staring. It’s not like they’re animals in a zoo.”

His teammate, Diego, had no filter. “I hear you, only it’s like…when have you ever seen a SEAL kiss another man? It’s a first for me.”

Chris slung his duffel bag over his shoulder. “It’s a first for everyone, and Scott’s already on the receiving end of some nasty reactions. We don’t need to add to them.” He walked away, breaking his gaze from the sight. He hadn’t been able to make the wedding the previous summer, so this was the first time he’d seen Scott in such an obviously sexual way with his husband. He couldn’t bear to watch, not because it disgusted him but because it was compelling in a way that disturbed him.

Diego stepped up to his side. “Wanna grab a drink? I’d like to find some female company myself, and I hear The Anchor has added a new heat level to their wings.”

Chris shook his head. “Sorry… I’ve got laundry to do, then hitting the rack. I have an early flight to Detroit in the morning.”

Diego groaned. “Seriously? Why are you so keen on freezing your balls off after what we just went through? I need a few days in the sun to thaw out.”

“I’m overdue visiting my father. If you think you can convince him to move away from his hometown, his extended family and the proximity of my mother’s grave and come to San Diego, have at it.” There was more bite to his words than he’d intended. Visiting his father always triggered conflicting feelings in him. Obviously, he loved the man, but the strain of meeting his expectations was beginning to wear on him.

“Dude, I’m sorry. I was only joking.”

Chris flashed him a smile. “It’s fine. I know you were. I’m tired, that’s all. Have fun tonight, and I expect a full report on how it goes with both the wings and the women.”

He peeled off when they reached his truck. As he tossed in his duffel and slid behind the wheel, he reminded himself that spending his leave with his father was a good thing. They would talk shop, as much as legally permitted, watch sports and pretend that everything was great—because it was, damn it all. There was no reason to believe otherwise. And yet, the vision of Scott devouring his husband’s mouth in front of God and everyone stuck in his mind, no matter how hard he tried to shake it away.

There was a lot to unpack in this novella/short novel. Chris coming home on leave as a Navy Seal, and not only being in the closet, but not even really knowing he was gay. His father, while not rabidly homophobic, definitely had little tolerance for anyone who was not 100% straight and manly. If you were a SEAL, then you had no business being anything but as heterosexual as possible. Meanwhile, Tanner is stuck in a job that he doesn’t love, because it’s the only option his parents will allow. Yet, he goes to school when he can to work his dream job of working as a software engineer.

I felt for Tanner. He didn’t want to be a manager at the pizza place, and felt he needed to hide that he was going to school. (I loved that he paid for it with money earned from the job he didn’t want.) When he finally was able to tell his parents, they really were very accepting. This was a hard piece to understand since they never had an issue with him being gay, but they wouldn’t want him to have the job he loved? Seemed a little odd to me initially, but I liked how it all worked out, even figuring out what to do with the pizza place.

Chris was so far in the closet, he didn’t even know he was in there. So much of that was due to his father, who he adored, never wanted to disappoint, being homophobic. Chris just felt he couldn’t be gay, because his father wouldn’t be okay with it. It made sense. But quickly after he started spending time with Tanner, he knew that he would not be able to keep it under wraps. The fact that he was willing to give up his father’s love was not easy, which was well portrayed. (The Valentine’s dancing…just lovely. 🙂 )

Overall, I liked it. It was easy to root for them to get all the things they wanted from their lives, together, and for Chris to follow in the footsteps of his boss, Scott.

4 pieces of eye candy

Samantha Cayto is a Boston-area native who practices as a business lawyer by day while writing erotic romance at night—the steamier the better. She likes to push the envelope when it comes to writing about passion and is delighted other women agree that guy-on-guy sex is the hottest ever.

She lives a typical suburban life with her husband, three kids and four dogs. Her children don’t understand why they can’t read what she writes, but her husband is always willing to lend her a hand—and anything else—when she needs to choreograph a scene.


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His Fresh Start Cowboy (Woods Ranch Book 1) by AM Arthur: Release Day Review

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Two cowboys will have to risk their hearts—again—to find a home on the ranch.

Hugo Turner’s boots haven’t touched Texas soil in almost a decade, and he’s not sure they should now. Being in the state is complicated, but Hugo can’t resist going back for a job working with his teenage crush. His best friend’s hot older brother is now the ranch’s foreman, so he’ll be Hugo’s boss. Inappropriate? Probably. Will it stop Hugo? Probably not.

Brand Woods isn’t ready for the return of Hugo Turner. He decided long ago to keep his bisexuality private and to focus his life on running the ranch. Working next to the most dangerously tempting man he’s ever known stirs up questions Brand thought he’d put to rest.

The sparks that send their hearts galloping lead to a deeper passion than either man expects. But by giving in to the chemistry without taking a risk and committing to each other—or, more importantly, to themselves and living the lives they’ve always wanted—Brand and Hugo might lose their second chance at true love.

Amazon

Audible

Carina Press/Harlequin

A spin off of the popular Clean Slate Ranch series, Woods Ranch is set in Texas at an actual working ranch. And as much as I enjoyed Clean Slate Ranch, the change of scenery is good.

We do start out at Clean Slate when Colt mentions that his family’s ranch can’t find good help. That gets the attention of Hugo, a guy who was best friends with Colt’s youngest brother while crushing on Colt’s middle brother. But Hugo never let him know the connection.

Hugo has been moving around for almost 10 years. When he finally turned 18 and had had enough abuse from his step brother while his mother and stepfather turned a blind eye. But he misses his mom, misses Texas, so he is ready to go back. And there’s also Brand. The guy he crushed on who is also his new boss.

There was good back story told that really showed how Hugo’s life was when his mother remarried without it overtaking the story.  Hugo turned out not so much to be a loner, but just a guy looking for safety and love. He got that as a kid at the Woods Ranch and he would get it again.

Hugo also rented a trailer from a neighbor, an eccentric retired artist who the town loved to gossip about. He was interesting and I have a feeling he is the bridge to another story in the series.

My heart did absolutely break for Hugo at times. Without spoiling anything, I just wanted to hug him. Instead of letting life beat him down, he just keeps going, refusing to give up.

Back to the romance. Brand is the typical “must take over for my family and not let them down” guy. Which, fine, I get it. Especially on a ranch in Texas when the oldest son ran off instead of telling his family he was gay. Brand works too hard, plays too little and never seems happy. Luckily he has a best friend who smacks some sense into him.

Brand still runs hot and cold until he is really put to the test. Then the loyalty to who he loves comes barreling in.

This was a good story to start the next series. As I said, I liked the change of scenery, talking about the different things at the ranch and moving to grass fed organic. There was quite a bit of that and it almost had me giving up beef. Almost. But if I never have to hear slaughter again I will be just fine.

I would have liked more closure on some of the plot points. A couple of things were just left dangling that needed to be put to bed. But, nothing major.

Bring on book 2 who I think will be about this guy and…..that guy.

4 pieces of eye candy

Because of Ben (Star Crossed, Book 2) by Lisa Henry: New Release Review and RB Giveaway

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Marco Chase is the lead singer for Static, one of the world’s most famous and successful rock bands. Marco’s bad boy rock star image isn’t just one he’s cultivated for his fans—it’s Marco all over. Marco’s past is full of one night stands, bad decisions, and blackouts. Marco never saw a cage he didn’t want to rattle—and from the moment he lays eyes on him, he really wants to rattle sweet, innocent Ben Selden’s cage.

Ben Selden comes from a fundamentalist Baptist family. Ben is struggling under the weight of knowing that he’s gay, and a lifetime’s teachings that tell him that his God will condemn him, and his family reject him, if they ever find out. With a future he doesn’t want already mapped out for him, Ben’s at a breaking point when he meets Marco.

Marco’s teasing, flirting, and obvious interest awakens a hunger in Ben, and he knows this might be his only chance to act on his attraction to a man—if he’s brave enough to risk his future, and his family, to take it. He doesn’t expect Marco to be his savior, but maybe a savior isn’t what Ben needs—maybe he just needs someone to believe in him enough that he’s willing to save himself.

Because of Ben is the second book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Book 1 in this series, Not Until Noah, was a book that I really enjoyed, and in it we get a few little glimpses of Marco. He is “house sitting” for Carter, who is off filming in Australia, adopts a cat for Carter and his family. Marco, despite how much he thinks he’s a bad boy, is a big sweetheart. (Side note: we do get an update on the cat in this book as well…which makes me happy as a crazy cat lady.)

Marco, coming off a tour with his band, always drives home to visit with his parents (See? Sweet!), and stops overnight at the local Marriott, and sees “the Jesus kids”, and especially Ben, a pretty boy, he wants immediately. Marco is no saint. He smokes, drinks, has done drugs, and had sex wherever and whenever he could. However, when he loves, he doesn’t allow it to sit on the sidelines. He is willing to be there, for his parents, for his friend Carter, and for Ben.

Interestingly, he doesn’t have to pursue Ben that hard. Ben, knowing he was gay from an early age, is right there, quickly. When he’s later betrayed by a friend, and his world literally crumbles around him, and really only has Marco to rely on, he works hard to figure out how to rely on himself. I loved that about him. Someone in his position could have easily gone back to what he knew, but he took all the chances in the world to give himself some peace, even if he had to give up his family. Then later was willing to do all he could to be in charge of his own destiny and not rely on his boyfriend with the money.

On the surface, in the beginning, these two did not seem like a good match. However, when the chips were down, they were able to count on each other, and find the sort of relationship neither thought they could ever have.

4 pieces of eye candy

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