Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

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Looking Forward by Michael Bailey: New Release Review

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Owen Hannity was nineteen when he lost almost everyone he thought he could trust. Each loss more painful than the last.

With the unwavering support of his best friend, Andy, Owen put the pieces of his life back together. Now, more than two decades later, Owen owns and operates a successful comic shop. Despite his modicum of success, he still feels like a shell of a man, carrying the emotional scars from his past.

Without warning, Owen’s past returns. Secrets come to light. Secrets that could either destroy Owen or finally give him the strength to re-evaluate everything he thought he knew about Andy, himself, and the way in which he views the world.

To see that he is truly worthy of loving himself and finally begin…

…Looking Forward.

Amazon

 

Oof. This is a tough one for me to write. This is Michael Bailey’s second book. I hadn’t read the first one because I tend to get nervous about new authors who are know readers of the genre. If that makes sense. But I read some of the reviews from the first book and thought- hey! let’s give this one a shot.

Again, oof.

What this story needed (besides several edits) was a hard assed beta reader. Or three. Sure, have your friend beta read it, but tell them to be honest. Like brutally honest. Sometimes honesty hurts when you put your heart and soul into something, but ultimately it will make it SO MUCH BETTER!

Because the bones were there for a good story. And there was a lot there. But it was too much because scenes weren’t long enough to really sink our teeth into and care about these characters.

It’s a love story with angst and pain. There’s a time jump from 1992 to present. I enjoyed seeing the references about how so many silly things were different in 1992. Land lines. Land lines and long distance phone charges. Writing a phone number down. On a napkin. Silly things, but they harken back to when I was in my late teens.

As much as I enjoyed those things, the first “half” of the book in 1992 was entirely too long. And the second half, set in the present, was too short.

I needed more. I needed to sink my teeth in. But there was no meat. Just bones and fat.

2 Pieces of Candy

*** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. ***

The Mystery of the Moving Image (Snow & Winter 3) by C.S. Poe: Exclusive Guest Post (#3 in series), Release Day Review and Giveaway

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It’s summer in New York City, and antique shop owner Sebastian Snow is taking the next big step in his relationship with NYPD homicide detective, Calvin Winter: they’re moving in together. What should have been a wonderful week of playing house and celebrating Calvin’s birthday comes to an abrupt end when a mysterious package arrives at the Emporium.

Inside is a Thomas Edison Kinetoscope, a movie viewer from the nineteenth century, invented by the grandfather of modern cinema, W. K. L. Dickson. And along with it, footage of a murder that took place over a hundred years ago.

Sebastian resists the urge to start sleuthing, even if the culprit is long dead and there’s no apparent danger. But break-ins at the Emporium, a robbery, and dead bodies aren’t as easy to ignore, and Sebastian soon realizes that the century-old murder will lead him to a modern-day killer.

However, even with Sebastian’s vast knowledge of Victorian America and his unrelenting perseverance in the face of danger, this may be the one mystery he won’t survive.

DSP Publications

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Hello again, friends! I’m C.S. Poe, and this is the third stop of The Mystery of the Moving Image blog tour. This is Book Three in the mystery-romance series, Snow & Winter. My post is a continuation of an exclusive coda, following Sebastian and Calvin’s adventure in apartment hunting in the East Village of New York City!

There is also a giveaway I hope you will enter. I have Sebastian and Calvin acrylic keychains that are super adorable, and signed character artwork.

Enjoy Part 3 of my coda.

C.S. Poe

 

I got out of the passenger seat of Calvin’s car the next morning, shut the door, and looked up at the classical architecture of a small residential building we were checking out with a new Realtor. “Not bad,” I murmured.

“Mr. Snow!”

I turned toward the building’s front door and a big man with a big smile, dressed in a bigger suit, came at me with his hand outstretched. “Ah, yeah. That’s me,” I said, reluctantly shaking his hand.

“Timothy Thomas, licensed real estate agent. It’s a real pleasure!” He just about dislocated my arm.

All right, Starry-Eyed, Steve. It is eight in the damn morning and I’ve only had one cup of coffee.

Luckily, Calvin stepped onto the sidewalk before I had the chance to tell Boy Scout Bill to calm down.

“And you must be Mr. Winter,” Timothy said, shaking hands with a man who could handle that ridiculous, meathead grip. “Are we excited to see our dream home today?” he asked next.

“I’ll reserve my judgement until I’m holding the keys,” I answered.

Calvin nudged my arm. “We haven’t had the best of luck so far,” he said more tactfully.

Timothy made a grand gesture with his hands. “I understand. I understand perfectly. But I’ve just the place. It’s huge, spacious—great for a family.”

“We only have a dog,” I added quickly.

Timothy smiled his big smile again. “And this apartment could easily fit a Great Dane. Come on.” He motioned for us to follow, walked to a small gate, and started down the steps to a basement dwelling.

“Uh. Hang on,” I called, rushing after. “Tim? No first floor apartments. That was my biggest no-no.”

Timothy glanced back at me while pushing open the door. “This is a basement apartment.”

“If I didn’t want the first floor, what on Earth makes you think—”

“Just go look,” Calvin whispered in my ear, coming up behind me.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered. I walked down the steps like a chastised child, following Timothy into the darkness.

“What’d I say?” Timothy asked. “Huge! Am I right?”

“Yeah. A real cave,” I replied, deadpan. I mean, I admit it was nice on my eyes, but there were no windows. Even I needed a bit of sunlight now and then.

I heard a heavy thud and turned around. Calvin was wincing and rubbing the top of his head while it was awkwardly cocked to one side. “Did you…hit your head on the ceiling?” I looked back to Timothy. “We’re going to need a taller place.”

 

The hunt really went downhill from there. And it wasn’t even due to my pickiness. I mean, it’s like Timothy had gathered up every short, dank, weird little shithole he’d been absolutely unable to get off the market and said, here you cranky sonofabitch! This is all you get to pick from!

“This apartment isn’t wide enough, Tim,” Calvin said.

“I know it’s a strange design, but you don’t actually lose that much floorplan!” He turned and pointed down the long, awkward setup with both hands, and motioned like he was aiding an oversized truck backing up. “See how far it goes?”

I did see how far it went.

Calvin stepped around us into what I guessed was the bedroom, a room with no door that seamlessly rolled into the room even further in behind it. “I don’t think a bed can fit in here.”

“Oh no, it can!” Timothy insisted.

Calvin held his arms out and put his hands on either wall. He looked at me.

I shook my head.

“What else is there?” he asked Timothy.

 

“Why is the shower in the kitchen, Tim?” I asked.

“They’re remodeling.”

“Where is it going after they’re done?”

“Ah….”

 

“The bedroom is in a loft,” Timothy explained.

I pointed at the ladder and shook my head. “No.”

“No?” he echoed.

I raised my hand and ticked the points off on each finger. “Legally blind. Mornings. No coffee. I’m going to kill myself.”

“I’m going to have to say no too,” Calvin murmured while staring up at the loft. “I’d really like a place where I can stand up straight when I get out of bed.”

 

I’ve got a great place in Midtown.”

“What?”

“Just a block away from Times Square.”

“Tim, I think we’re done.”

 

Another action packed Snow and Winter book! I have been absolutely loving this series–yes, a big part is that I identify with the extreme snark of Seb, but also because the author weaves in so many different aspects seamlessly. Murder, snark, mystery, snark, ex-lovers times two, even more snark, and friends that continue to be there for Seb through thick and thin. (C’mon, Max had to be one of the truest friends ever to deal with all he’s dealt with and keep coming back for me…maybe someday we get to see his story?).

This book really highlighted the vulnerabilities of both Seb and Calvin, and it both touched my heart, and broke it. Calvin crying on Seb’s shoulder? For a detective who does everything he can to hide even the barest hint of vulnerability, that he can let go and not only show it to Seb, but allow Seb to carry him through that moment was such a beautiful moment. Meanwhile, Seb, trying NOT to show his vulnerabilities, still finds himself mired in a lack of confidence…even in the bedroom, how often do you ever read that in any time of romance? Yet, he knows that Calvin is always there for him, and trusts him completely.

I would have loved to see a bit more of Seb’s dad…because Seb learned that snark from one person! 🙂 I also really liked that we got to see more of Neil, and how he deals with the way his world has changed.

On top of all of that, Poe, weaves a mystery in here that has some dead bodies, but takes more than half the book to even find out what the mystery to solve is. Loved it!

Oh, and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…these covers are fantastic. I love them, and they fit this series, and Seb, so perfectly.

Recommended, as I seem to do with all of C.S. Poe’s books. This series is not only worth picking up, but binge reading. And I was just wishing that this series was out on audio, and I see that The Mystery of Nevermore and The Mystery of the Curiosities, and they are both narrated by Derrick McClain, and so I need to go now, because I will be listening for hours. (HOW did I not know these were there???)

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Tour:

09/10/18 – Gay Book Reviews

09/11/18 – Love Bytes Reviews

09/12/18 – Two Chicks Obsessed

09/13/18 – It’s About the Book

09/14/18 – Boy Meets Boy

 

C.S. Poe is a Lambda Literary and EPIC award finalist author of gay mystery, romance, and paranormal books.

She is a reluctant mover and has called many places home in her lifetime. C.S. has lived in New York City, Key West, and Ibaraki, Japan, to name a few. She misses the cleanliness, convenience, and limited-edition gachapon of Japan, but she was never very good at riding bikes to get around.

​She has an affinity for all things cute and colorful and a major weakness for toys. C.S. is an avid fan of coffee, reading, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best on a daily basis to sidetrack her from work.

C.S. is a member of the International Thriller Writers organization.

Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published by DSP Publications, 2016.

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter | BookBub |

| C.S. Poe’s Curious & Mysterious |Acrylic Sebastian and Calvin keychains and signed character art.

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Rules & Regulations:

Giveaway ends 10/19/18

One winner will be randomly chosen by C.S. Poe

Open to US and International mailing addresses.

One-Eyed Royals (Seven of Spades #4) by Cordelia Kingsbridge: Blog Tour with Giveaway

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Spoiler Alert! The following blurb contains spoilers for Cash Plays, book three of Seven of Spades.

Shattered by their devastating breakup, Detective Levi Abrams and PI Dominic Russo find themselves at war right when they need each other most. While Dominic is trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction, Levi despairs of ever catching the Seven of Spades. The ruthless vigilante’s body count continues to climb, and it’s all Levi can do to keep up with the carnage.

When Levi’s and Dominic’s paths keep crossing in the investigation of a kidnapping ring with a taste for mutilation, it feels like history repeating itself. Thrown together by fate once again, they reluctantly join forces in their hunt for the mastermind behind the abductions.

But the Seven of Spades hates sharing the spotlight, and they have an ace in the hole: a new batch of victims with a special connection to Levi. Their murders send shockwaves through Las Vegas and change the rules of the game forever.

The Seven of Spades has upped the ante. If Levi and Dominic don’t play their cards right, they’ll end up losing everything.

Amazon

Riptide Publishing

 

Thanks for checking out the blog tour for One-Eyed Royals, the fourth book in the Seven of Spades series!

We left Levi and Dominic broken up and broken-hearted. But there are new threats facing Las Vegas, and crossing paths on a case again is just their luck…

Las Vegas has never seen a serial killer like the Seven of Spades.

The self-styled vigilante is on a mission to cut down the wicked and treacherous, and Sin City has no shortage of targets for their bloody wrath. What happens in Vegas . . . ends with the Seven of Spades’s calling card on a grisly corpse.

Standing against the killer are Levi Abrams, a dedicated homicide detective locked in a constant struggle to restrain his own dark side, and bounty hunter Dominic Russo, a charming rogue with a heavy secret weighing on his shoulders.

The hunt for the Seven of Spades sends Levi and Dominic on a collision course, igniting a passionate relationship forged in conflict and sealed with blood. Together they’re stronger than the sum of their parts, but a wily, elusive serial killer isn’t the only threat that will strain their bond to the breaking point.

Ante up, because the Seven of Spades is all in. Are you?

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia:

To celebrate the release of One-Eyed Royals, Cordelia is giving away a $10 Riptide gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on September 15, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Three Stupid Weddings by Ann Gallagher: Exclusive Friday 5-ish Questions and Pre-Release Day Review

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On the heels of a painful and long overdue breakup, what Victor Nelson needs is time to lick his wounds. What he doesn’t need is everyone in his family trying to play matchmaker so he can find someone new… which is exactly what they’ll do at the three stupid weddings he has to attend this summer.

Fortunately, it’s Dominic Lowe to the rescue. Dom is more than willing to come along to all the weddings as his best friend’s “boyfriend”… even if he’d much rather be there as Vic’s real boyfriend.

Convincing people they’re a couple is easy. The charade is miserable for Dom, though, after years of being madly in love with Vic. But maybe those three weddings are a rehearsal for the relationship he knows they could have for real.

This asexual M/M romance is approximately 38,000 words long.

Trigger warnings: eating disorder, discussions of verbal/emotional abuse

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Thank you to Ann Gallagher, AKA L.A. Witt, for stopping by and answering my Friday 5-ish questions. Her answers are just AMAZE-BALLS!!!!

  1. You seem to have plot bunnies, that make more plot bunnies. They seem to replicate like real bunnies! 🙂 Tell us about your inspiration for Three Stupid Weddings.

They really do replicate like real bunnies. I literally have rainbow plot bunnies tattooed on my arm because, well, plot bunnies are my world. I am constantly sending emails to myself with story ideas, jotting notes in my phone’s notepad or on scraps of paper–there are bunnies everywhere, and they always find me.

Three Stupid Weddings came from seeing some tweets from readers who enjoy the “fake boyfriend” trope, and I realized it was one I’d never written before. I’d also been wanting to write another asexual romance, so I started playing with the idea of an ace fake boyfriend. The story pretty much fell together after that.

  1. You have several pen names. You chose Ann Gallagher as the pen name for Three Stupid Weddings, even as it is M/M. What makes you choose one pen name over another? Is there a method to this madness?

LOL Oh yeah the pen name madness. It’s…well, madness is a good word. There is a method to the madness, though if I had my career to do over again, I might have done things differently. I didn’t foresee writing so many genres, or that I would branch out into pairings beyond M/M and M/F. Initially it was L.A. Witt for M/M and Lauren Gallagher for M/F, and then I write an M/M/F and realized it wasn’t that simple anymore. So when a book blurs the line between two names, I have to make a decision.  In the case of Three Stupid Weddings, it was actually easy: Ann Gallagher writes sweet romances. Since Three Stupid Weddings has no on-page sex (none off-page either), it was clearly an Ann Gallagher book. Where it gets tricky is when I’m writing a sweeter — but not 100% sweet — romance, and it feels more L.A. Witt than Ann Gallagher. Because heaven forbid I make things easy for myself.

  1. Following you on twitter (Peeps! If you don’t you should!) I know you have been doing research on incel, as well as terrible bosses. What can you share about your current WIPs?

The terrible bosses research is for a non-fiction book that I’m hopefully not botching too terribly, and as for the incel research…Oh Lord, I am so glad to be done researching that “community”. That was SUCH a toxic experience. In the end, though, I’m pleased with the resulting suspense novel, INCEL, which will be out later this fall. It’ll be under my fourth pen name, Lori A. Witt, because of course it will. That name used to be exclusively for more mainstream SFF, but I decided to expand to mainstream suspense too; INCEL has a romance subplot, but it’s not really the focus of the book. That and by its very  nature, the subject matter meant delving into some hardcore misogyny and rape culture, and I decided the book (and the other books in the series) should be under the name that focuses less on romance.

Anyway, that book is in edits right now. I’m currently working on a historical novella to go with a Christmas-themed multi-author series later in the year, as well as the final book in my Cruising trilogy (a fluffy M/M trans vacation romance).  My main WIP, however, is a M/M contemporary that will also be playing with the fake boyfriend trope, and I’ve assembled A DREAM TEAM OMG of narrators for the audio version, so I’m basically writing it with their voices in my head. No details on that one yet. 😉

  1. Is there a plot bunny that you’ve had that you were afraid/concerned to write, or maybe felt you couldn’t do justice to it, if you did write it? Why?

Oh, there have been a few. Once Burned involved a character who’s an undocumented immigrant at risk of deportation. When I wrote Static waaaaaaay back in like 2012 I was terrified I’d screwed up the genderfluidity, trans characters, etc. I literally had nine trans* beta readers for that one. Lead Me Not, a Christian M/M romance, was definitely a risk for me because I had no idea how anyone — the Christian community, my readers, my Christian readers, etc — would take it.

So yeah, sometimes it’s scary diving into a book, but I’ll usually write it anyway, and just make sure I have someone else read it.

  1. Always the fun questions! What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?

I’m probably some very weird mix of Sterling Archer and Stewie Griffin…

Ah-stinkin-dorable!

This was short, but oh so sweet. The fake boyfriend trope will just never grow old with me. And because these guys are asexual, there was no drunken sex that they felt guilty about after even though they both wanted it.

Instead it was like a slow romance. Building with each wedding they went to. Best friends who slowly acknowledge that they really are in a relationship and love each other.

The book was separated by wedding, which was fun. Besides the beginning of the story establishing character, the rest of it takes place at each of the three weddings.

There is a little bit of angst with Vic dealing with the repercussions of a caustic relationship he is newly out of, but nothing that bogged down or turned the story serious.

This was the perfect, fluffy, sweet, romantic book that is short enough to be a nice fast read, but in depth enough to make you care about the characters.

4 Pieces of Candy

Somebody to Die For by Kris T. Bethke: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

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Dying is easy. New love is terrifying.

Avery Wagner quit ghostwalking when he lost his beloved anchor to cancer. Now teaching others who have the ability, he’s beginning to live again—but he’s not looking for another lover, not now, maybe not ever.

But then he meets Jameson… younger, talented, dedicated, almost perfect, even though his mouth sometimes opens ahead of his brain. And Jameson wants Avery desperately, though he’ll settle for friendship if he can’t have more.

When an emergency demands they work together in the field, Avery discovers just how perfect Jameson is. But he had a perfect love once before, and he’s scared to even consider that he might have a chance at another. Can he trust Jameson with his newly healing heart?

Title: Somebody to Die For
Series: Requiem Inc.: Book 3
Author: Kris T. Bethke
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Category: Paranormal: Ghosts, Dreamspun Beyond
Pages: 212

Amazon

Dreamspinner

 

Hey there! I’m Kris T. Bethke, and I’m here to bring a little insight into my latest release, Somebody to Die For. The third book in the Requiem Inc. series and part of the Dreamspun Beyond line.

When I wrote the first book in the Requiem Inc. series, I didn’t actually know it was going to be a series. Writing that first book, though, gave me secondary characters who started screaming for their own story.

Avery Wagner was one character whose story needed to be told.

The challenge with a series is to make each book different. No one wants to read the same story twice, even if they have different MCs. So I needed to find a different angle. And really, once Jameson Parker came into the picture, I knew exactly what the story should be.

Avery had the One True Love. But that doesn’t mean he can’t love again. It doesn’t even mean that the new love isn’t as amazing as the first. But Avery has baggage, and he’s been through a lot. So he had to have a different kind of love this time around.

Ghostwalking is integral to Avery’s life. But he just doesn’t know how much until he’s forced to do it again. With Jameson at his side, the experience is different than when Avery ghostwalked with his anchor and bonded. Jameson is everything Avery needs at this stage in his life. And at the same time, Avery is everything Jameson needs.

I packed this book with some of my favorite tropes: hurt/comfort, age gap, friends to lovers, and new love after loss. But I only used them because they fit the characters I had created and the story that needed to be told. It’s not an easy journey, to be sure. There’s definitely a slow burn going on. And there has to be. Avery has healed a lot since he lost his bonded and husband. But that doesn’t mean he’s ready to jump in with both feet. He and Jameson get off to a rocky start, and it’s just the sort of push they need to get going. First as friends, and then as so much more.

For Jameson, the attraction is instant. He knows the moment he sees Avery that he wants him. For Avery, on the other hand, things progress much slower. He has to come to terms with his feelings for Jameson, and what that means for his heart.

I loved writing this story, and continuing in the world I created. I hope you get a chance to check it out. Somebody to Die For is out now!

Once again, I will say, as I said in the last two reviews I did of the books in this series…I don’t normally read these types of books. And yet, I have enjoyed the world of this series so much. The author created a parallel world to what we live in, giving us characters to care about, and ones to root for.

This one is a bit different than the last two books.

**Side note** In Kris’ guest post she talks about how writing this series, and writing all of the character’s with different stories was important. As I was reading this third book, I had actually been thinking how very different she had made the stories for each of these books. And I’m so glad she did!

This one is different because Avery doesn’t ghostwalk anymore, after his bonded love and anchor died of cancer. His grief was so all consuming the thought of doing it was just too much. Meanwhile, he was slowly falling in love with someone who was in training to be an anchor, with no ghostwalker as a match. Perfect scenario for Avery to freak out…again and again. And he did, and yet Jameson was so patient and loving with Avery, never giving up on him, even when Avery continued to push him away.

A couple things that I really appreciated about this book are often not portrayed in other books. The first…books often have the “I love you” before the end. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love that moment, it makes me so happy. But in the case of this book, it was so appropriate for Avery as he continued to deal with grief and guilt over moving on from his bonded, Luke. Even at the end, (and this is a tiny tiny spoiler) there is a comment about Jameson “staying” with Avery, versus living with him, purposefully so that Avery could get used to the idea. It was exactly what this relationship needed.

Second, the author didn’t write to pretend that Avery’s bonded hadn’t died, and there wasn’t still grief and fear. She wrote Avery as someone who fought against the idea of “replacing” Luke. Yet, the author created a world where it was okay to love again, even as you wonder and question. And it is. Humans need to love, and Avery found the chance again, despite all his efforts to the contrary. The time when Avery goes to his bonded’s cemetary…yeah…I was crying…on my way into work. I need to pick and choose the times when I am reading something I am sure will make me cry much better. 🙂

I highly recommend this series…even if you aren’t necessarily a paranormal fan. It is grounded in the real world, and in real life emotions, and at the heart of it is finding love in all its varieties.

4 pieces of eye candy

Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long.  An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head.  She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project.  Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time.  A classic muscle car will always turn her head, and naps on the weekend are one of her greatest guilty pleasures.  She lives in a converted attic with a way too fluffy cat and the voices in her head.  She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal. Kris believes that love is love, no matter the gender of people involved, and that all love deserves to be celebrated.

Find her on her site https://kristbethke.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Kris-T-Bethke/100014524539852 or on Twitter https://twitter.com/kristbethke

*** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. *** 

Feel: An Omegaverse Story (Breaking Free Book 6) by AM Arthur: New Release Review

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Single omegin Brogan Dale is jealous of the loving, stable relationships his omega friends have with their alpha mates. For years, he’s longed to find his own bondmate and create a family, but that hasn’t been in the cards. Just when he’s determined to take the first alpha who’ll provide for himself and his young son Peyton, Brogan scents him across a crowded coffee shop. Too bad his bondmate is the unstable alpha who nearly killed Brogan’s best friend last year.

Mikel Tovey is taking it one day at a time, adjusting to life on his own, away from the oppression and abuse of his cruel sire. All he wants is to complete his probation, make sure his omegin and brothers are safe, and find a way to live with all the mistakes he’s made. When he scents his omega bondmate, Mikel is initially terrified of the older omegin and his adorable toddler. But Brogan is handsome, kind, and Mikel is completely enamored of little Peyton.

With his bondmate in his sights, Brogan does everything in his power to prove Mikel can be a good alpha, a good mate, and a fantastic father to Peyton. But when Brogan’s past comes roaring into his present and puts Peyton’s future at risk, Mikel’s resolve is shaken. He wants to love and support his omega during this crisis, but he doesn’t know how. With Brogan surrounded by friends and chosen family who love him, he doesn’t need Mikel’s insecurities weighing him down, too—but Brogan has found his mate, and he isn’t letting Mikel walk away without a fight.

This time, Brogan has too much to lose…

NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law—although times are changing for the better. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. This series is best read in numerical order.

Amazon

 

AM Arthur has me completely sucked into her Omegaverse books! I had only ever read one before hers- and wasn’t impressed- but since I love her books, I gave book 1 a shot as soon as it came out. Or maybe I had an arc. Either way, I fell in love with these guys. And I am still in love. Even though she makes me cry every. damned. time.

Brogan was the last Omega from the fight ring who hadn’t found his mate. Although he and his son were living with amazing beta guardians, Brogan was ready to mate and move on. He was even flirting with placing an ad for a mate, even if he wasn’t his bondmate.

We met Mikel in the previous book as a hook up of Jaysan’s. There was a lot more to that story but I won’t go into it in case you haven’t read it. I mean read it YET. Mikel is a broken man and he wants to fight his bond with Brogan but he just can’t.

Brogan and Mikel decide to pursue a friendship at first. I love that Brogan was totally ok with that. As much as he wanted a mate, and then to find his bond mate but still be willing to wait- I thought it was great.

It wasn’t all roses though with Brogan’s group of friends because of what had happened between Mikel and Jaysan. But they were all willing to give him a chance. They were wary, but willing. They call Mikel out when he has shades of being an alphahole, but some of the other alphas explain to Brogan where Mikel is coming from.

And for those who like seeing cameos, every single previous character makes an appearance. These guys are interwoven and can’t be separated.

I have a couple of nit picky things- but nothing that takes away from the story at all. And I really really enjoyed this story. And of course I want the next book RIGHT NOW!

You cannot read this as a stand alone. Trust me. I’ve read them all and I still have to think back at times to what happened when. Start with book 1. Even if you’ve never dove into the Omegaverse pool, you will really enjoy these stories.

4 Pieces of Candy