Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

4 stars

The Christmas Lights Battle by Skylar M. Cates: New Release Review and Giveaway

by

For a single dad and his neighbor, the Christmas competition is on!

Julian Moss wants to give his children a happy Christmas. Since his divorce, Julian has no time for a social life; he’s been doing the tiring work of two parents while his cheating ex-husband dodges his responsibilities. If that isn’t stressful enough, he has to deal with his new—and ridiculously good-looking—neighbor and his noisy dogs. Christmas used to be Julian’s favorite holiday, but lately all he sees is the cost. Then Julian’s young son tells him about a Christmas lights competition with a much-needed prize.

Leo Adams is going to be alone for Christmas…again. All he’s ever wanted is to be accepted by his family, but he knows that will never happen. Deciding to focus on his career as a personal trainer, Leo develops a boot camp program on the beach, but he needs publicity. The lights competition offers Leo a way to get some free press, and if it annoys his snooty neighbor Julian—all the better.

The battle is on, and both Julian and Leo want to win. The stakes are high, the reward is great, and the neighbors are in it to win it. There’s nothing like a little competition to make Christmas at Shelby Beach extra merry and bright.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

Too much? Sorry …. This one really put me in the Christmas spirit. First, we meet Julian and his two adorable kids, Charlie and Sadie. I don’t need to tell anyone how much I adore a hot single dad and his babies. They’re my favorite!

After his divorce, (and y’all, you will hate the cheating, verbally and emotionally abusive ex-husband, here’s your warning)…. Julian is doing everything he can to just make life easy for their children, who both suffer from emotional issues, like anxiety and aggression. Julian is so patient and easy with them, he loves them more than anything….so seeing them hurt time and again by the ex, hurts him too. Never one to stand up for himself, especially with the ex, I was so glad to see him finally do it….

Now, Leo is house/dog sitting for a close friend who just happens to be Julian’s nextdoor neighbor. They don’t get along at first, but it’s short-lived and kind of entertaining… I hated that it hurt Leo, even a little bit, because he’s been hurt so much, I just didn’t want anymore for him… Leo is charming and gorgeous and generous and sweet… it’s easy to become smitten with him… and he’s good with the kids. As a single parent, you can’t ask for anything better than that.

When the small town of Shelby Beach, holds a Christmas Lights competition, both of the men are intent on winning. Julian, so he can give the kids a good Christmas, and maybe do something fun with them, and Leo, because he’s still trying to make a name for himself in Shelby Beach, and getting the exposure and his name out there could go a long way in his want to start his own business. But, as the competition gets on and the guys call a truce, an unfortunate, tiny little accident has Julian needing Leo’s help, and Leo being all in to help out, and even to merge the competition.

I don’t want to give everything away, but I just adored this story. It’s sweet and light and fun, and I loved these two together. I loved Julian’s family and what they could give Leo, because he so desperately needed the love that his own family failed to give him. I loved how accepting they all were, if even a little nutty, Julian’s family and Leo’s best friends… I loved how the ex- seemed to just go away and we never saw him again… and I loved the little happy for now we get, that could promise so much more for these two in coming books. Which I’m very much hoping for. Overall though, it was just the perfect little Christmas read on this cold and rainy day for me, and I loved it.

FAVORITE LINE: “If Falling in love is insane, I want to be crazy every day of my life.”

4 Pieces of Candy

Skylar M. Cates loves a good romance, especially ones that are steamy and emotionally satisfying. She is quite happy to drink coffee,  curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Her bestselling novels feature strong, passionate men. Skylar loves to craft stories where realistic men are challenged with emotional situations. Skylar’s character-driven series will often feature close-knit familes, animals, and loyal friendships being tested.

Social Media:

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cxODzT

Twitter: @SkylarMCates

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skylar.cates

Skylar M. Cates has offered a copy of her other holiday story, The Holiday Hoax. Simply leave a comment on this blog post.

Summerfield’s Angel (The Christmas Angel Book 2): Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

After the hard winter of 1888 ended Alby Boyle’s work as a Nebraska ranch hand, he returned to New York City in search of his long-lost family. His mother and brothers are nowhere to be found, however, and after Alby’s years of absence, Five Corners no longer feels like home. His prospects seem as dim as the nighttime alleys.

When Alby pauses to admire an angel ornament in a department store window’s Christmas display, he meets Xeno Varnham-Summerfield. Wealthy, handsome, and enthusiastic, Xeno brings Alby some temporary cheer. But for Alby to achieve his dreams of love and a real home, well, that may take a bit of holiday magic.

Amazon

Christmas Angel is back at it again…

When Alby comes back to New York to find his mom and brothers, he stumbles not only into Xeno, who is the complete opposite of his hard-working, barely able to make ends meet, ranch hand without a ranch, having self; but also, a beautiful Christmas tree Angel that gives him a little pep talk, and a kiss on the forehead… and a little Christmas magic, I suppose.

Xeno comes from a wealthy family, and is so open and outgoing, it was impossible for Alby to not become enchanted by him.. and Xeno seemed fascinated by Alby and his story…which was a heartbreaking one… After pointing him to a place he could stay and be warm, Alby decides to look for a job while he’s in town. Little meetings with Xeno turn into long nights in a private room at the Y, and even though they both feel for one another, they know something long term isn’t likely. People would talk, speculate, and all this was a time where you could be jailed, or worse for the crime of homosexuality. How thankful I am that the times have changed, but how heartbreaking that would be…

When the angel appears once again to warn Alby that Xeno is being hurt, everything changes… when Alby saves Xeno’s life, everyone is so grateful, Xeno’s family offers them a perfect solution… I love how accepting they are, his dad and sister, and I was cheering for them the whole time. Alby even gets to reconnect with one of his brothers. A Christmas miracle!

Awesome addition to this little series… I can’t wait to see what the Angel has in store for the next couple!

4 pieces of eye candy

Dec 2 – Xtreme Delusions, Gay Book Reviews, Dec 4 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Open Skye, My Fiction Nook, The Secret Ko, Lelyana’s Reviews, Rainbow Book Reviews, Dec 6 – Mirrigold, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Two Chicks Obsessed, Dec 8 – Making It Happen, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Dec 10 – Momma Says: To Read Or Not To Read, Drops Of Ink, Lillian Francis, Wicked Reads, Dec 12 – Megan’s Media Melange, Dec 14 – Bayou Book Junkie, Dec 19 – Bonkers About Books, Dec 21 – MM Good Book Reviews

Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.

Kim’s novel Brute was the 2013 Rainbow Award Winner for Best Gay Fantasy and tied for fourth place for Best Gay Novel.

After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas Angel (The Christmas Angel Book 1) by Eli Easton: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

by

When John Trent, a dedicated member of the new Bow Street Runners, finds an exquisite carved angel floating in the Thames, he can’t stop thinking about it. He tracks down its creator, a sad and quiet young sculptor. But neither the angel nor the sculptor is done with John just yet. The blasted angel refuses to leave him be, behaving not at all like an inanimate object should.

Alec Allston is resigned to the fact that his love will ever be a river that flows out and never flows in. All he wanted to do was create a special gift so that a small part of himself could be with his unattainable and noble beloved, always. But when the gift keeps showing back up at his shop in the hands of a windblown and rugged thief-taker, Alec will need to reconsider his conviction that love is destined to remain an ethereal ideal.

This book is one of seven stories which can all be read and enjoyed in any order.

* * * * *
The Christmas Angel Series:

In 1750, a master woodcarver poured all his unrequited love, passion, and longing into his masterpiece—a gorgeous Christmas angel for his beloved’s tree. When the man he loved tossed the angel away without a second thought, a miracle happened. The angel was found by another who brought the woodcarver True Love.

Since then, the angel has been passed down, sold, lost and found, but its magic remains. Read the romances inspired by (and perhaps nudged along by) the Christmas angel through the years. Whether it’s the 1880’s New York (Kim Fielding’s Summerfield’s Angel), the turn-of-the-century (Jordan L. Hawk’s Magician’s Angel), World War II (L.A. Witt’s Christmas Homecoming), Vietnam-era (N.R. Walker’s Soldier’s Wish), the 1990’s (Anyta Sunday’s Shrewd Angel), or 2018 (RJ Scott’s Christmas Prince), the Christmas angel has a way of landing on the trees of lonely men who need its blessing for a very Merry Christmas and forever HEA.

Length: 25,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Summerfield’s Angel – Kim Fielding –  Amazon US | Amazon UK

The Magician’s Angel – Jordan L. Hawk – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Homecoming – L.A. Witt – Amazon US | Amazon UK

A Soldier’s Wish – N.R. Walker – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Shrewd Angel – Anyta Sunday – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Prince – RJ Scott- Amazon US | Amazon UK

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How sweet!!

In a time where not only being who he is could’ve gotten him arrested but killed… England, in the 1750’s were brutal, and Alec Allston was heartbroken, having been strung along and then left by an affluent A-hole. Seeing no other way to live with his broken heart and loneliness that he was about to do something drastic. That was, until an angel stopped him by name and reminded him of all he had to live for.

John Trent is a cop of some sort, but before cops were cops I guess…? Maybe I’m wrong about that, but he seems to be a detective of some sort … but he finds a sculpted angel floating in the Thames, and traces it back to it’s source…. The soft spoken Alec, who had given it to the Ahole I mentioned before. When he gives it back and then acquires it for a second time, Alec declares that the angel must’ve chosen John Trent, and so the courting begins….

I love how a simple look or a holding of the arm is such a declaration of affection. Oh what simpler times… I couldn’t even imagine… it made everything so much sweeter. For the following couple of weeks, John stopped by to see Alec, bringing small tokens of his affection… it was easy to see these two fall for each other and I loved it! I also loved John’s housemates, all of them different than societal norms, but they made up the best little chosen family, all of which accepted Alec with open arms…

If you enjoy a slow romancing of two charming fella’s… this one is really cute!

4 pieces of eye candy

Dec 2 – Valerie Ullmer, Boulevard des Passions, Xtreme Delusions, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Open Skye, OMGReads, Gay Book Reviews, We Three Queens, The Secret Ko, Lelyana’s Reviews, Rainbow Book Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Dec 4 – Mirrigold, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Cupcakes And Bookshelves, Two Chicks Obsessed, Dec 6 – Drops Of Ink, Making It Happen, Wicked Reads, Dec 8 – Momma Says: To Read or Not To Read, Lillian Francis, Dec 10 – Padme’s Library, Dec 14 – Megan’s Media Melange, Bayou Book Junkie, MM Good Book Reviews, Dec 17 – Bonkers About Books, Book Corner Reviews, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews

 

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.

In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.

In 2018 Eli hopes to do more of the same, assuming they reschedule the apocalypse.

Her website is www.elieaston.com
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com

First Light (Heartsville Book 2) by Christina Lee and Felice Stevens: New Release Review

by

Two years after the death of his wife, Aubrey Hendricks is still weighed down by grief. He can’t focus on anything beyond working at the family farm, First Light. At the urging of a friend, he takes a step toward resuming a normal life and reopens the bakery his wife once ran. He places a Help Wanted ad in the local paper, and to his surprise, an applicant shows up the next day.

When Oliver Hansen gets a second chance at life, he grasps it with both hands. Leaving his stressful life in New York, he plans to enjoy the simpler things. Driving to Heartsville in the Pocono Mountains to thank his heart donor’s widower is a top priority. But the brusque man with the melancholy eyes strikes a chord in Oliver. So when Aubrey mistakenly believes he’s there to apply for the bakery job…Oliver takes him up on the offer.

As Oliver busies himself with the grand reopening, he and Aubrey establish a tentative friendship, which soon shifts to blazing attraction. Oliver falls hard for him, yet he can’t help but wonder if Aubrey’s feelings are an attempt to maintain a connection to the wife he’s still mourning. And Aubrey is unsure if Oliver will tire of the slow pace in Heartsville and go running back to the city he loves. The two must successfully navigate the stormy waters of grief, doubt, and their very different lifestyles, or they risk losing both their hearts—again.

*Please note: This is in the same world as our MMM, LAST CALL, except FIRST LIGHT is MM and a complete standalone.

Amazon-Kindle Unlimited

First Light is a super slow burn romance with mature men and second chances.

I really enjoy books with main characters are around my age. It shows that just because you aren’t 22 anymore doesn’t mean you can’t find love. And for Aubrey, it was finding love for a second time when he absolutely did not expect it.

There were no real dramatics or big angst between the couple- which I thoroughly enjoyed. It could have been VERY dramatic or angsty given the nature of their relationship, but as mature men, they actually discuss things. So refreshing.

Poor Aubrey is so gruff and grumpy. He honestly doesn’t realize how many people truly care about him. He doesn’t have the typical walls up of “I’ll never love again!”, he is just doing the best that he can.

And while Oliver is a total city guy his whole life, he adjusts to living a quiet farm life fairly quickly. He was open to new things, new experiences, perhaps a new life. He never tried to make Aubrey move on. In fact, he encouraged Aubrey to talk about Lisa and their life together.

I didn’t completely understand why Aubrey’s former in laws blamed him for Lisa’s death. She was a grown woman who was driving herself home. I mean, if it was me I sure wouldn’t want someone coming to pick me up just because it was raining. They only appear about twice in the story and were a bit distracting for me. If anything, I would have wanted them in there more. Perhaps making Aubrey question moving on with his life.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The premise was different, mature men, slow burn…so many things to love

4 Pieces of Candy

Santa Daddy by Keira Andrews: RDB, Review and Giveaway

by

Mall Santas aren’t supposed to be hot.

Hunter Adams is hopelessly adrift after college. He’s still a virgin, can’t find a real job, and has no clue what to do with his life. In desperation, he returns to his humiliating old job as an elf at the Santa’s Village in his hometown’s dying mall. The Santa on the job is an unexpectedly sexy lumberjack, twice Hunter’s size and age. He makes Hunter feel very naughty—too bad he’s grumpy and intimidating.

Years after the tragic death of his partner, Nick Spini has his beagle and long, hard days on his Christmas tree farm. That’s plenty. But he can’t refuse a loyal friend’s plea for help and finds himself filling in as Santa at the local mall. Despite Nick’s attempt to stay aloof, the beautiful, anxious young man playing elf brings out his long-dormant daddy instincts.

When a surprise blizzard traps them alone in Nick’s isolated forest home, their attraction burns even brighter. Will they surrender to the sizzling connection between them and find the release and comfort they crave?

Santa Daddy is a holiday gay romance from Keira Andrews featuring an age gap, steamy m/m first times, daddy role-playing and light spanking, Christmas romance feels, and of course a happy ending.

Length: 30,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Dar Albert @ Wicked Smart Design

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Keira Andrews writes across such a wide range of romance sub-genres. Her characters can be anything from vampires to an age gap to historical and everything in between. But she manages to create a world where those characters find what they are looking for, not just as a romantic partner, but often in their own lives, as well.

The best thing about holiday stories is that, even though you are reading romance, you are always guaranteed a happy ending. And I have to say I absolutely loved the ending to Santa Daddy. Hunter, who is rudderless in life, finding and charting his course, as he finds the love of his life, created a dynamic that worked well for these two MC’s.

There was a large age gap between Hunter and Nick, but with the Daddy kink it worked. Keira Andrews can write some seriously sexy and hot scenes, and this book is no exception. She also writes her characters with heart, as well as real issues and problems.

Nick was a big Grinch who was forced to deal with someone, despite his initial intentions to stay as far away as possible. Then realizing that Hunter was a virgin, and was into having a daddy, his enjoyment of the holiday season took a turn upward.

This was a fun, sexy, cute holiday story, that you’ll definitely want to pull out again next Christmas.

4 pieces of eye candy

After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, fantasy, and paranormal fiction and — although she loves delicious angst along the way — Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said:

“The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Claimed (Breaking Free Book 7) by A.M. Arthur: New Release Review

by

University student Demir Higgs is on the fast-track to graduate with honors and dive straight into medical school. His career plan leaves little time for dating, so after he catches his casual boyfriend cheating, Demir attends an anonymous sex party, determined to finally lose his virginity. He chooses an older alpha in a red mask and the man takes Demir apart piece by glorious piece, worshiping his body in ways Demir never imagined. Too bad he’ll never see the man again.

After his bondmate disappeared eleven years ago, Senior Constable Brandt Lars fell into his work and avoided dating, disinterested in relationships. Not until the boy in the blue mask. Introducing the young beta to the wonders of sex was Brandt’s absolute pleasure, and he can’t stop thinking about him—until Brandt comes face to face with Blue in the form of Demir Higgs, the middle son of a work colleague. Demir is equally drawn to Brandt and their chemistry is through the roof. The age difference is an issue, but their attraction is real, and stolen moments turn into a secret relationship they both enjoy…but something is still missing.

Years ago, Oliver Strand lost all his memories in a horrible car wreck that left his face scarred and his sense of smell obliterated. But he built a new life for himself and his son, and now he’s visiting Sansbury Province as a guest speaker at a territory-wide anti-sex-trafficking conference. What he does not expect to find at the conference is an alpha he doesn’t know, but who insists Oliver is his missing mate Ollie Lars, who disappeared the same week as Oliver’s accident.

Brandt is overjoyed to discover his bondmate is alive, despite Oliver having no memory of his old life in Sansbury, and he’s determined to keep both mate and son in his life. But he’s also in love with Demir and doesn’t want to lose him. Demir is ready to be the bigger person and step aside so the Lars family can be together again—until Demir realizes he and Oliver have unique chemistry of their own. And they’ve also both been claimed by the same alpha.

Can a grumpy alpha in love with two men, an omega with no memory of his mate, and a beta determined to chart his own course find a way to navigate the complicated waters of a poly relationship? Or will all three men end up stranded alone with broken hearts?

NOTE: This is a non-shifter, M/M/M Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens, but they are working toward gaining more civil rights and protections under the law. Series warnings for mentions of past physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Additional warnings for extremely kinky sex, including dirty talk, light spanking, biting, edging, roughhousing, come-swapping, and threesomes. This series is best read in numerical order.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

The is the book fans of the Breaking Free series have been waiting for. Sweet, beta Demir, cranky, Alpha Brandt and…..Brandt’s presumed dead spouse? YYAAASSS!!

I can hear it now. Oh you can’t do a menage in a Alpha/Omega/Beta universe!

Oh yes you can. And AM Arthur did. Quite well. It is hot. It is sweet. It is sexy. It is a bit romantic. And it is deliciously filthy. This book is not for the pearl clutching crowd.

Technically, I suppose, this could be read as a stand alone, but really, the world building that began in book 1 is so intricate and connected that you really should read them all in order.

Small little tangent here. I get plot bunnies- ideas for books- all. of. the. time. It’s almost annoying. But that is all I get. It’s the characterizations and world building and plot lines…. I could never do it. And after book 7, I don’t know how she keeps it all straight. Straight. Heh. It’s admirable to say the least.

Although Ollie and Brandt technically have a history together, Ollie remembers none of it and Brandt is the first to admit that Ollie is a different person now than he was then. So really, the three of them- Ollie, Brandt and Demir- coming together was rather organic. Nothing was forced or stilted. It all just made sense.

This is a BIG book. 400 solid pages. But you really need all of those pages to get the whole story. I don’t think any words were wasted. And there is still more to their story that we haven’t heard yet. Supposedly. I mean. I might have heard something. But I will totally deny it.

I’ll say it again in closing- this book is filthy. But in an oh so good way. And it isn’t gratuitously so. It fits. It is who they are. And it’s delicious.

4 Pieces of Candy