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Sharing our love of M/M Romance

AM Arthur

His Reluctant Cowboy: A Gay Cowboy Romance (Woods Ranch Book 2) by A.M. Arthur: Release Day Review * 2

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He thought his cowboy days were behind him. But life—and love—had other plans.

Michael Pearce left the small-town life of Weston and cattle ranching for the hustle of Austin, and never looked back—until his father suffers a stroke and requires in-home care.

Josiah Sheridan became a certified nursing assistant after seeing how wonderful his single mother’s in-home aides were before she died. He wants to help people, and he does his best with the work he can find in small-town Weston, Texas. He also lives a complicated life with his lover—to the rest of the world, they’re just roommates. Behind closed doors, their life is…strained.

Meeting Michael, a kind and openly gay—not to mention much older—man, gives Josiah a glimpse into a brighter, happier world. He loves Michael’s self-confidence and plethora of life stories. But it will take patience, planning, and more courage than Josiah thinks he has to finally break free from his old life and find real love with Michael.

Amazon

Carina Press

Book 1: His Fresh Start Cowboy
Book 3: His Accidental Cowboy (Coming 6/23)

It’s been a minute since I got to read some of AM Arthur’s cowboys. I missed them.

This is book 2, but you don’t have to read book 1. In fact, I kind of like that they are basically 2 new characters. We met Josiah briefly in book 1, but he wasn’t one of the guys working at Woods Ranch. And Michael is back in town to help his estranged father after he had a stroke. His estranged father we also met in book 1. Elmer, the metal sculpture artist who rented out his trailer.

Both of these guys are broken. Michael’s brand new ex husband weasled him out of a lot of money, his business and his patent. Josiah is in a relationship that is a secret, but they live together and he is being abused.

This led to a nice, slow burn between them. The attraction is immediate and obvious, but they are both wary. Partly because Josiah is Michael’s dad’s home nurse. But partly because of what they each just got out of.

Josiah just broke my heart. He is one of those people that just keeps having crappy things happen to. To be honest, a few too many tragic things. He seemed to have a permanent black cloud. What I assumed about what had happened to him wasn’t even close.

The Big Fight that strained the relationship between Elmer and Michael was also a bit…anticlimatic. Not that the trauma that caused the fight wasn’t exactly that- trauma. But these two men should have mended fences long ago. I think because we also met Elmer previously, we know he is a good guy. So Michael being mad at him for something 20 years ago just didn’t seem right.

I did appreciate how gentle Michael was with Josiah, even before he knew everything that has happened to him. But I wished he would have stopped Josiah from doing things around the house. That isn’t part of being a home nurse. But he cooked and cleaned everyday. Breakfast and lunch for Elmer? ok. But having dinner in the crockpot for Elmer and Michael just seemed a little much.

You could see the coming conflict toward the end from a mile away. I could have made a list that would have been checked off.

I don’t not like the story. I did. But I think Elmer deserved more grace from Michael. Michael should have been WAY more angry at his ex and everyone should have noticed what was going on with Josiah. They went from the slowest of slow burns to moving in together.

And not for nothin, but the Woods family is a little too good. Silly, but still.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

I haven’t gotten to read this author’s cowboy books before, but figured I would jump in here. This is book 2, but it stands alone.

Michael is recently divorced and had everything taken from him from his awful ex. Meanwhile, Josiah, I don’t want to say much, but it isn’t a good situation, it made my heart hurt for him.

This was a slow burn, which was good for the situations these two were coming out of. However, it just didn’t work well for me. Too many things just didn’t sit well for me. I felt like there were pieces that didn’t quite make sense for me, or were too blatantly wrong for what I expected. And the ending was a bit too predictable.

It was an okay story, and I’d like to read another cowboy book from this author, because I love the narration and descriptions, and few authors can make me cry more than once in a book, and she does most of the time. This just wasn’t the right story for me, I think.

Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology (Collection), Volume 5 by Lucy Lennox , A.M. Arthur, Daryl Banner, Tal Bauer, S.E. Harmon, Riley Hart, Kate Hawthorne, E.M. Lindsey, Louisa Masters, Mia Monroe, Alice Winters, Jodi Payne, K. Webster, Neve Wilder, Spencer Spears: Release Day Reviews

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Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating and community app responsible for bringing together couples from all over the world, encouraged people to do something they’d never done before?

#NeverHaveIEver is trending on H2H, and fourteen authors who’ve never before appeared in a Heart2Heart anthology (and one who’s never left) have come together to show how funny, hot, and heartwarming it can be when H2H app users challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zones–from singing in public, to skinny dipping, to getting their first real kiss–while they manage to fall in love along the way.

As always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

Amazon

I love that authors do this every year. The amount of money raised is always jaw dropping. There are a lot of great authors in this one (ok, in all of them), some were new to me, some are favorites of mine and some were ones I’ve been wanting to read. All of them that I read (I missed 2 or 3 just because of time constraints for this review) except for one (side eyes Kate Hawthorne) are complete stories. So jump in, have fun and read some great stories! The stories all have the basis of Never Have I Ever… from the fictional Heart2Heart app.

AM Arthur
Never have I ever…cold called a stranger’s phone number

Roommates, 1 popular extrovert, the other a quiet bookish introvert. Jasper, the extrovert, is always trying to get Charlie to open up, have fun, go to parties, meet people. But he is quite happy in his world. He takes school very seriously and is fine with it. Until he answers the “Never have I ever” with…cold called a stranger’s phone AND when he is at the library the book he is looking at has a card fall out of it. On the card is a drawing of one of the characters from the book as well as a phone number and the words “For a good time call…” and the phone number. Made me giggle because isn’t that what is written on bathroom stalls? Or it was back in the day.

Charlie works up the nerve to do it but gets a voicemail. Skitch, owner of the card, texts him back and they set up a date. Unfortunately that requires his roommate to drive him because it is a bit far.

Ultimately, Charlie ends up getting stood up. More than once. Or did he?

I really liked this story. Out of the norm for this author’s current works yet well written. And maybe I was tired but it took me a minute to figure out who Skitch was before I was like DUH!

Super sweet, enough back story for both guys and a happily ever after.

 

Kate Hawthorne
Never have I ever…gone on vacation

I felt like this one was a really good never have I ever. Because I know people who have never been on vacation for a variety of reasons. Jermaine grew up with a single mom. Vacation wasn’t even in his vocabulary. And even as a flight attendant, he still kind of has that mindset to not spend money if you don’t have to.

Milo, on the other hand, is basically a professional vacationer. Writing for a travel blog, he goes everywhere and sees everything. His hook is finding a local to both hook up with and to hook him up with the greatest local favorites that a tourist may not know.

Flirting on the flight is all they have. Until Jermaine’s next flight is canceled and he has an unexpected wait in New Orleans. AND Milo pinged him on Grindr. Totally out of Milo’s norm of finding a local, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. LOL

Jermaine has a bestie he lives with who is also a lover, but they are not exclusive. At all. In fact, they are both polygamous. But could that polygamy turn into a throuple? YES IT CAN EXCEPT SHE LEFT ME HANGING!

Ok, the story was a really good read. And honestly, ending it where she did is fine. But in a short time I got invested in these guys and I want more!

Giving this anthology the elusive 5 pieces of eye candy! Loved the premise of all of the stories, the mix of types of stories and the great causes that will benefit from sales.

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

Hard Ride: A Gay Cowboy Romance (Clean Slate Ranch Book 5) by A.M. Arthur: New Release Review

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Five Weddings and a Fake Boyfriend

City slicker Derrick Massey has always had a thing for cowboys. So a roll in the hay with Kendall “Slater” Stamos during a rustic weekend wedding is more than A-OK. But when Slater’s forced to hang up his saddle for the season, Derrick surprises even himself with his proposition: be my fake boyfriend and get my family off my back about finding a permanent partner.

Though unexpected, the arrangement is a win-win. Derrick gets a plus-one for a slew of summer weddings and Slater gets a place to stay while he recuperates…with lots of casual fun in between. Which is just how the sexy cowboy likes it: casual. Yet it’s obvious the chemistry between them is anything but.

With the countdown to their “breakup” on, the more time the two men spend together. And the more it becomes clear that what they have could be real, if only they let it be.

This book is approximately 83,000 words

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

Amazon

Giddy up! We are getting back in the saddle at Clean Slate Ranch!

We met Derrick way back in book one as the brother of the groom in the wedding party that brought Wes to Mack. Poor Derrick. Hooking up in all the wrong places or getting turned down flat. So when he finds himself on the ranch again and can’t sleep, he runs into Slater working out at in the garage. And then they work out together. *wink wink* And then they part ways having agreed to a one time thing.

Fast forward a bit and circumstances have brought the two men together again. And they make a mutually beneficial arrangement. A place to stay for one guy, 5 wedding dates for the other. Simple right?

Fake boyfriends can get tricky. Sometimes they either hate each first or don’t know each other at all. But these guys get along and at least are fairly acquainted with each other.

It actually plays out really well. There is little to no awkward between the guys as they establish their fake relationship. They just kind of go with it. And being that Derrick’s brother at least knew of Slater, he is totally accepting of it.

There was a fun cast of characters in this one. Getting off the ranch for almost the entire story opened the world up. My old home town was even mentioned-which is kind of rare based on the fact that it is a good sized city.

I loved the neighbors Dex and Morgan. The friendship that developed between Dex and Slater was seamless. That was a bit of a pun. You’ll get it when you read it.

Slater has his secret(s) which eventually come to light. But Derrick is just Derrick. He is a good guy without being gullible or naive.

OF COURSE I want to know more about the upstairs neighbors George and Orry. I’m sure I sniffed a spin off there somewhere.

I really enjoyed this ride, a little off the beaten path, but she reins it in.

I’M SORRY! I’m just feeling punny. Go read it so I don’t pun you more.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Lucky Break (Clean Slate Ranch Book 4) by A.M. Arthur: New Release Review

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Welcome to Clean Slate Ranch: home of tight jeans, cowboy boots and rough trails. For some men, it’s a fantasy come true.

Shawn Matthews never imagined he’d be living out of his car, trying to make ends meet, but life doesn’t always go your way—he knows that better than most. When an accident leaves the Clean Slate Ranch shorthanded, Shawn is enlisted to help cook and finds himself bunked next to the sexiest cowboy he’s ever laid eyes on.

The first time Robin Butler spots the new chef, he thinks he’s seeing an actual ghost. Shawn is the spitting image of his late husband, and it spooks the hell out of him. The former rodeo-star-turned-ranch-hand does his best to avoid the soft-spoken cook—except it’s kind of tough when the man makes the best damn grub this side of the Mississippi and has a boy-next-door charm that’s impossible to resist.

Even though the tension between them practically sizzles, Shawn doesn’t do hookups and Robin isn’t ready for a new relationship. Besides, Robin can tell Shawn’s been hurt and deserves a partner who isn’t saddled with a tragic past. But chemistry doesn’t lie. Maybe finding each other—and a second chance at love—is the lucky break they both need.

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

This book is approximately 99,000 words

Amazon

Oh yea, back on the ranch. The Clean Slate Ranch that is.

We got a hint about something brewing between Robin and Shawn at the end of the last book. And now we get their story. And background stories. Ugh, my heart.

Robin was definitely known as a guy who wasn’t discerning, shall we say, when it came to sex partners. He was all about having fun. Shawn, however, was the complete opposite of that. So they sniffed around each other for a bit until fate sort of threw them together.

We’ve seen the ranch with guests and the ghost town before, during and after construction. Now we see the in between. The ghost town closes for several months when it gets colder and the ranch closes for the Christmas holidays. Except for those who live there full time and a skeleton crew. It was cool to see more behind the scenes without guests there.

Robin doesn’t speak to his family, so staying on the ranch suits him fine. And Shawn really has no where else to go. Even though he is an employee of the ghost town, he gets an opportunity to work at the ranch while the ghost town is closed.

Robin was SO PATIENT with Shawn. Taking the time to even romance him a bit. Going at Shawn’s pace in the bedroom. It was kind of surprising based on Robin’s reputation. But so, so sweet.

The down time on the ranch let them get to really know each other and spend time together. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Miss Angsty Author loves to make readers cry, wrote a really sweet book.

Ok, Robin’s back story is sad. Shawn’s back story is sad. But nothing that made me cry. This might just be a first for me.

Two likable characters, a slow but steady burn (which turned wicked hot) and some redemption.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

 

 

 

 

 

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Save Me: An Omegaverse Story (Finding Free Book 1) by A.M. Arthur: New Release Review

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Alpha Gaven Freel was taught by his doting beta parents to protect and respect omegas, and he sees those parents as shining examples of how to love his future mate. Except he’s only nineteen and still a university student, so Gaven has plenty of time to find his omega bondmate—but fate has other plans, and he scents his omega from across a crowded waiting room. Too bad his bondmate is the son of his parents’ oldest enemy.

At twenty-two, omega Frey Porter has already gone through multiple heats without an alpha. He’s desperate to find a mate, but his sire Monte Porter won’t settle for just any alpha for his only omega son. Frey will one day access a sizable trust fund—no gold diggers allowed into the wealthy Porter family. When Frey insists younger alpha Gaven Freel is his bondmate, Monte is skeptical about the pairing. And Gaven’s parents are skeptical right back, worried Monte might use the situation to punish Gaven for decades-old hurts.

Monte surprises everyone by negotiating a fair financial agreement that limits Gaven’s access to Frey’s trust fund and by allowing them to mate. Gaven has no interest in money, only in being the best alpha possible to Frey, and with Frey’s next heat months away, they have plenty of time to date and get to know each other. Frey is intimidated by Gaven’s huge extended family, but he also adores their camaraderie and genuine love for each other. Frey wants his future to be with the Freels.

Gaven is busy making plans for their life together when the unthinkable happens—Monte serves Gaven with papers dissolving the mating agreement. Papers Frey signed, too, and stands by. Devastated by losing his bondmate, Gaven sinks into a deep depression even his best friends can’t get him out of. But Frey also has a terrible, life-altering secret he’s keeping from Gaven, and he’ll have to learn to trust in the strength of the mating bond in order to save them both from darkness.

SAVE ME is the first book in the brand-new “Finding Free” omegaverse series, which is a spin-off of the fan-favorite “Breaking Free” series. This is an original universe featuring mpreg, A/B/O dynamics, heats, knotting and an alpha-dominated society that is starting to see advances in omega rights. Content warnings for dark themes apply. See interior blurb for additional warning.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I never read an Omegaverse book before Am Arthur put out her first called Saved. It sucked me right in and I pretty much devoured the series as they were released.

Well, lucky us, but she has done a time jump for a new series based on the kids of the guys in the first series! Whee! I am going to say you really don’t need to read the first series if you want to read this book. I mean, you should, duh, but you don’t have to. She really takes the time to explain who everyone is, how they are connected, who their children are, etc, etc. It is A LOT of information and you can just as easily gloss over it and lose nothing. It’s like meeting a whole room of people at once. You need a few times before the names truly click.

So, first of up Gaven, adopted son of the betas Dex and Serge. I loved Dex and Serge from the first series. I think because they are beta and didn’t have the whole “bondmate” thing. Gaven is happily in college wanting to become a nurse like his father. And then at the opening of a clinic, he scents and meets his bondmate.

Frey is an “older” omega at 22. The way these books hearken back to the traditional gender roles of our parents or grandparents is rather eye opening. Frey is afraid that the 19 year old Gaven will reject him because of his age. But really the issue is Frey’s father, old school, old money and lots of rules.

After lots of promises and a few concessions, Frey’s sire agrees to let them date.

And it was so sweet. They had to actually date each other- with chaperones! Most of their dates consisted of dinners or brunches at one or the other’s house, or a party, but always with a chaperone. (see what I mean about gender roles, etc?)

Frey is super shy but Gaven is always right there to protect him. *swoon* Plus there is like a foot height difference I think, which also makes me swoon.

There is a bit of a secondary story that the author is torturing, I mean teasing us with. Peyton and Layne. Best friends who might be more. But Peyton has a so far incurable blood disease that could disable him at almost any time. I super love them together as well. Even though they are alpha and omega, Layne hasn’t had his first heat yet to emit pheromones to attract his bond mate. So they are just a cute, kind of awkward sort of couple right now.

There is actually more than one conflict that Gaven and Frey must deal with. The first I was pretty surprised with, not totally, but I can’t say. Because spoilers. The second was almost expected, kind of? But I am glad that it was resolved rather quickly.

The story is wrapped up well, with time taken to finish out plot points (except the tease of Peyton and Layne) without just a “tah dah!” and things are fine and dandy immediately. I hate that. Thought and feelings were put into it all.

So yes, I am completely sucked right back into this world and cannot wait for book 2.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy