Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

author

Over and Above (Mount Hope book 4) by Annabeth Albert: Quick Review

by

I’m too young to be a grandpa and too old to fall in love…

Sadly, there’s no What to Expect manual for navigating life after forty. Right when I’ve begun piecing together my life as a widower and single dad to four older kids, my college-age daughter announces she’s pregnant. Oh, baby. And, of course, the other grandfather-to-be is the hot, single bar owner seemingly determined to flirt his way into my locked heart. Magnus is a temptation I don’t need.

When a fire leaves Magnus and his dogs without a home, I offer my carriage house as a solution. Temptation turns into a friendship I didn’t know I needed, and now, Magnus and I are cooking, watching silly old movies, planning holidays, and preparing for grandparenthood together. Things are perfect…until I kiss Magnus.

I’ve never had a friendship with secret benefits, but our chemistry is undeniable, and I cannot resist the chance to explore and reignite my passionate side. I didn’t think I could love again, but the lock on my heart suddenly seems quite loose.

Our families are entangled, Magnus isn’t meant for the shadows, and I’m not sure my kids are ready for me to date. Can I trust my heart to love again? Or will I find myself alone once more?

Over and Above is the fourth book in the Mount Hope series. A widowed paramedic who’s met his match in a cocky bar owner is about to discover that life truly does bring second chances when we least expect them. Over and Above features mature main characters, hurt comfort, grumpy sunshine, love after loss, second chance at HEA, found family, slow burn to spicy inferno, and big feels. Each Mount Hope book contains a standalone HEA, but reading in order is recommended for maximum reader enjoyment.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I’ve been waiting for Eric’s book. He just broke my heart in all of the previous books. Holding it together for his kids, for his friends, for his job. The way he was portrayed was such a great portrayal of grief and depression. I needed him to have a happily ever after.

Enter Magnus, dad of Diesel. Diesel, boyfriend to Eric’s daughter and the father of her baby to come. Which would make them either the greatest idea ever or the worst idea ever.

I really loved how Eric and Magnus both had this big other thing (impending grandfather-hood) to focus on while trying to figure out of there was anything there with them. Magnus didn’t push too hard and Eric didn’t fight it too hard. They both gave grace to the fact that Eric had been a widow for only a year.

We also got a lot of insight to Eric’s first marriage. How incredibly different it was to what he was living now. And while in the previous books, when Eric’s adult friends were finding their own partners, the other adult friends played a role in the stories. This time it was the kids- both Eric’s four and Magnus’s one- who played the supporting roles. And that was really perfect because that is who they are. Hands on dads first and foremost.

Obviously I really enjoyed this mature, kind of quiet (but hot at the right places!), slow burn of a happily ever after for Eric and Magnus.

FAVORITE LINE: “Does he know?” Wren swiveled in Magnus’s direction. “Were you aware of this plan?”

4.5 Pieces of Candy

The Fly-Half (Lincoln Knights, Book 2) by Charlie Novak: New Release Review

by

Wanted: A Way To Control My Jealousy So I Don’t Get Sin-Binned

When my best friend goes on a date with a mutual acquaintance, I’m supposed to be happy for him, not so angry I want to start screaming.

Devon and I have been close ever since we were children, but I’ve never been possessive of him. Until now.

Seeing him with another man makes me want him in ways I’d never imagined wanting anyone before, and now all I can think about is having him in my arms. My jealousy is starting to get the better of me, both on and off the rugby pitch, and I can’t stop losing control. And Devon has noticed.

Maybe it’s time I come clean and tell him just how much I want him.

And hope he wants me too.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

It’s no secret that I love Charlie Novak‘s books. I was very excited about this one. And while it was good, I was a bit underwhelmed.

Ok, why underwhelmed? I feel like it lacked story. And what plot line there was was really tamed down (jealousy). Devon and Jonny started off as best friends for MANY years- since they were teens. And now they are on the same rugby team. Devon has unrequited love for Jonny. Until friends give him a come to jesus moment. And then BAM! Jonny, always straight, is now with Devon, his bff. Never a question about his sexuality or if he is doing anything right or wrong, just jumped right in there like a man seasoned in gay sex.

And really, the book was sex, rugby and Dungeons and Dragons. Pages of scenes about rugby and D&D. Too much for me. I know nothing about either game and at times was a bit bored.

What really kept me in the story was the characters. Being that Jonny still lives with Mason and Ryan and Jonny and Devon play rugby with Mason, West, Matty, etc, all characters I have grown to adore over the course of many books.

I am more excited about the next book than I was about this one.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters: New Release Review

by

When Denzel “Denz” Carter’s workaholic father and CEO of 24 Carter Gold unexpectedly announces his retirement, the competition is on for who will become his successor. To convince his family members that he’s capable of commitment, Denz impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship.

Now Denz needs to find a fake boyfriend to seal the deal on the CEO position. Denz is forced to turn to the last person he wants to be in a pretend (or any) relationship with: Braylon, the man who broke his heart.

Braylon’s sudden reappearance in Denz’s life turns everything upside down. But, apparently, he needs Denz’s connections to the mayor to win his own promotion. So, they strike a deal. It’s all business until the funny texts and the confusing kisses leave Denz struggling to separate this temporary arrangement from the affairs of his heart.

I Think They Love You is a celebration of love, queer communities, big families—in all their beautiful complications— healing, and, most importantly, falling in love with the person you’re becoming.

Amazon – All Regions

LOVE! I loved this book!

Fake boyfriends, second chances, one bed, family dynasty and dynamics, all in a very rom com story that one of the main characters loves.

Denz and Braylon were college boyfriends until a job took Braylon to London. While Denz stayed in Atlanta to work for his family’s company. A few years later they run into each other not once, but twice. And that second time sees Braylon acting as a fake boyfriend to Denz’s parents to show them that Denz is a mature adult. (which, for the record, you don’t need to be in a relationship to be a mature adult)

Always in the shadow of his father and sister, with two incredibly nosy aunties not far away, Denz wants everyone to believe that he can do this job. Moreover, he can replace his father as CEO. Which he is vying for against his sister.

Let me tell you, there was not one character that I didn’t love. From Denz and Bray to Jaime and Nic. All of these people are so important in Denz’s life for all different reasons. Some to let him know that family always has his back, to friends who are there to rot on the couch with you but also give you the truth, and coworkers who see things without looking through a family lens.

It was funny and sweet and romantic. I even loved his username @notthatdenzel.

Braylon broke my heart a bit, Denz made me cry, they all made me laugh. I actually would absolutely love to see this story on the big screen.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Savage (Park Avenue Kings Book 1) by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank: Release Day Review

by

Who are we? Nobody really knows. We’re seven powerful heirs to empires, ruling Manhattan from our thrones on Park Avenue. By day, we’re the elite, untouchable, and more connected than you could ever imagine. By night, we revel in the darkness of our secrets, pulling strings that make the city bow to our whims.

Ruthless.

Dangerous.

We’re the Park Avenue Kings.

In this city of power and desire, where the line between love and obsession blurs, nothing is off-limits—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

***

He’s the shadow they send to make problems disappear.

Lachlan Stone thrives in the shadows, ruling his world of secrets and power with savage precision. As the most lethal of the Park Avenue Kings, he can’t afford the luxury of attachments. But when a mission takes an unexpected turn, he finds himself saving Cooper Patterson—a determined journalist who stumbles into a dangerous world far bigger than he ever imagined.

Cooper is everything Lachlan should avoid: relentless, curious, and far too tempting for his own good. Worse, his profession threatens to unravel everything Lachlan and his fellow Kings have built. Yet the pull between them is impossible to ignore, even as it sparks a firestorm of desire and danger.

With enemies closing in and the line between truth and lies growing thinner by the second, Lachlan must choose: protect his secrets, or risk it all for the man who sees the humanity in his darkness.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I really enjoyed Park Avenue Princes. And the last book in that series which gave us a glimpse of the Park Avenue Kings. So I had high hopes. And while I liked it, it was a bit…lackluster?

I understand not giving away everything in the first book, but the role of the Park Avenue Kings wasn’t really cohesive. For ultra rich men to engage with drug dealers…I don’t know. They seem more behind the scenes pulling strings from a computer kind of guys. And yes, one does that. But I mean as a whole. Having Lachlan be a boots on the ground kind of guy seemed out a place. And yes, a bit Batman.

Especially after that one thing. You’ll know.

Moving on. I did like Cooper and his mission to find out where the drugs were coming from. He was like a true reporter digging into every lead he got. He and Lachlan definitely had some scorching hot chemistry.

Lachlan seemed to break all of the rules but still got away with it. Again, it’s a cohesion thing. I need more info. I didn’t understand the secret building thing and why it was necessary. Especially considering all that is in there. Strange.

I’m coming off like I didn’t like it. I did. Honestly. Just not as much as the princes. A little more personality from everyone would go a long way. Getting a cameo of 2 of the princes helped. It felt a bit like an action movie when the hero is forced to drag along and protect the woman who got herself into trouble.

I want the rest of their stories and I will definitely read them. Even though I have a feeling the most intriguing guy (to me) will probably be the last story to be told. I will eagerly await them all.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Just Jack (Aqua Vista Book 1) by Christina Lee: New Release Review

by

Aaron

When I’m running on fumes while driving on what feels like the loneliest stretch of road in California, I worry I’m in trouble. Luckily, I happen upon Aqua Vista, a sleepy coastal town with the only pump for miles, and the grumpy owner who is more gorgeous than he has any right to be. When I’m told I’ll need more than fuel to disable the check engine light on my dash, I figure there are worse places to be stuck while my car gets needed repairs.

Jack

After driving the handsome city dweller to a local motel, the last thing I expect is the hot hookup that happens afterward. As soon as his car is ready, he’s on his way home, so imagine my surprise when he shows up a couple of months later with an offer to buy my business. No way I want an out-of-towner to own part of what my family has built here. Even if I’m not always fulfilled by it. Besides, it belonged to my parents, and it’s all I have left of them.

When Aaron decides to spend several days in town, I figure it’s to soften me up to his proposal. I shouldn’t hook up with him again. Or spend time showing him around…but I do. Before I know it, the charming, attractive visitor starts to feel familiar, almost like he belongs here. Like he’s woven himself into the very fabric of Aqua Vista. I’m fooling myself, of course, and it’ll certainly sting when he hits the road. Outsiders never stay, and though I secretly wish he would, I’m no stranger to heartache.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I love a small town romance. I really loved that this small town is a fictional enclave on the California coast. I spent 10 years living in Northern California and through my travels have seen similar little towns.

Aaron and Jack are the main characters in the book, but I hazard to say the town of Aqua Vista is a character as well. Artsy, quirky, families that go back generations and residents who are fiercely loyal to their town and keeping it the way it is.

Of course Aaron stumbles on the town when his car needs service and being a real estate developer, can’t help but see dollar signs. Jack, who owns the service station, shuts him down quickly.

And while Jack and Aaron play a bit of cat and mouse with each other, Aaron’s business partner wants him to tighten the screws and get Jack to sell. But after spending time in the town, and with Jack, Aaron knows it’ll never happen.

There’s heartache in the town as well. Jack’s parents and brother in law were lost at sea and presumed dead a few years ago. They were a huge presence in the town and their loss is felt by many.

I really enjoyed having a story with more mature, grown men as the focus. The older I get, the older I want the leading men to get. They are only in their 30’s, if I recall correctly, but there is wisdom in years. With that maturity and wisdom comes no silly fights, no ultimatums, no generated drama for drama’s sake.

There were obstacles to overcome, but the author didn’t take the easy way out. Instead, well thought out decisions by the characters were made.

And since this is book 1, I cannot wait to revisit Aqua Vista for book 2.

4 pieces of eye candy

On Circus Lane by Lily Morton (Wright Brothers Book 1): Release Blitz, Exclusive Author Interview and New Release Review

by

The first time Bee Bannister met Tom Wright, he couldn’t stand him.

Everything about the man aggravated him—his perfect hair and body, his confident arrogance, and the way he looked straight through Bee.

Which is why it’s such an unpleasant shock to find that he’ll be sharing space with him while on a Christmas holiday with friends in Scotland.

However, as the days fly by and snowy Edinburgh begins to work its magic on him, Bee discovers that sometimes first impressions can be very misleading. Tom is kind and funny, and somehow, rather than looking through Bee, he actually sees and likes all of him.

The two men grow closer, but will Bee follow his heart or his head when the holiday ends? And can relationships that start so badly ever lead to love?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a festive romantic comedy about enemies to lovers and the magic of Christmas.

This is the first book in the Wright Brothers series.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR:

What is a behind-the-scenes anecdote or interesting fact about the creation of On Circus Lane?

In the book Bee is very busy in the run up to the holiday and doesn’t pay attention to the group chats. When he gets to Edinburgh he finds that he can’t get into any of the tourist attractions because he didn’t know you had to buy tickets. This actually happened to me, and it changed the trajectory of the book.

I’d gone to Edinburgh with my husband to do a research trip and I’d planned to take my characters into the big tourist attractions like Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. However, we couldn’t get tickets for the castle, and when we went to the palace they were cleaning it. I was so upset because I needed that info for the book, but then my husband said, “Isn’t it more fun to find unusual things, rather than just focusing on what everyone else is doing?” This led us on a quest to find little things for Tom to show Bee and in the process make him fall for him.

Do you read in the same genre you write? Do you have any favourite series or books?

I do read in the same genre. I love MM. I’m an avid reader so I have far too many favourites to list all of them. Some series that are at the top of my reread list are the Snow and Winter books by CS Poe, Adrien English by Josh Lanyon, the Marshalls series by Mary Calmes, the Soulbound books by Hailey Turner, and the Better Than series by Lane Hayes. There are so many more but those are the ones that came to mind immediately.

Now that you’re finished with this book, what’s next on your writing schedule?

I’m torn between the next book in my Model Agency series, or the final book in my paranormal romance series, Black and Blue. I’m writing both stories next year, so it’ll come down to which character has the loudest voice – Xavier or Blue. It’s Clash of the Titans!

If you could spend the day with one of the main characters in your book, which would it be, and what would you do together?

It would be Tom. Bee is incredibly clever and very focused on his lists of things to see and do in Edinburgh, while Tom is much more relaxed and easygoing. He has a way of taking the seriousness out of everything for Bee and finding off-the-wall interesting things for them to do. I like the care and attention he pays Bee and his innate understanding of what makes the man tick. We all need someone to understand us like that and love us for who we are.

What are your favourite tropes or themes to write in a book? Is it/are they in this book?

I love writing forced proximity. It’s so much fun to see how being close together can override preconceptions or provide the spark to make friends turn to lovers. On Circus Lane features forced proximity. Bee dislikes Tom intensely when he first meets him, but then he finds himself sharing an apartment with him while on holiday with a group of friends. The closeness lets him see how wrong his first impression was of the man as they’re thrown together in Edinburgh.

As I settled in and started reading this book I was quickly confused. Jack? Arlo? Friends? But they are together?

*does some digging*

I see. Lily Morton wrote Merry Measure a few years ago and is officially Wright Brothers Book 2 and this newest is book 1. Once I got that sorted I was ok. It also helped to know that Steven, Jack’s boyfriend, wouldn’t be around forever.

Back to the story. Bee and best friend Ivy and a rag tag group of friends and relations decide to go on vacation in Edinburgh. And although there was a bit of a miscommunication? Missed connection? between Bee and Tom and a lot of stony glares thrown at Tom during the drive, Tom felt that gut punch of “this is my person”. Too bad Bee is not a relationship kind of guy.

I did love that Bee, the child prodigy academic who tends to miss most of what is going on around him, is the one and done guy. Nice flip on the stereotype.

He’s also confident in himself and knows he can catch a guy for a night. But apparently not Tom.

And so Tom courts him in a way. Sneaking on his phone to google things to do that Bee would like. Offering to take him shopping and sight seeing. Offering tea and toast in the morning in their shared accommodations. It’s really rather sweet.

Bee is semi oblivious to this because he is still stung that his masculine wiles haven’t worked on Tom. Everyone else sees it though.

I love both the romantic nature of the story as well as the reading about the various spots in Edinburgh they visit. The group of friends was fun as well. Not expecting the group to stick together during the day, only hoping that they can get together for a meal every night. Except for the aforementioned Steven. Why he got so much page time in Bee and Tom’s story, I’ll never know. He was a pompous ass and too much energy was devoted to him.

Toward the end of the book we get to visit with Tom’s (and Arlo’s) parents again which is always fun. They are unique and fun characters.

And I adored the romance of Tom and Bee being present for each other. Tom at first especially. He LISTENED to Bee. He was interested in what he had to say and made sure to give him his focus. That, to me, is one of the most romantic and intimate things between 2 people.

I really enjoyed this book (except for Steven) and when I finished it, I reopened Merry Measure because On Circus Lane ends where Merry Measure begins and I wanted to see Jack get his happily ever after again.

For reference, Merry Measure review here.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Lily lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle.

She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else could she get to spend her time with hot, funny men!

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008647656545

Facebook Readers Group: www.facebook.com/groups/SnarkSquad

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LilyAuthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilymortonauthor

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter