Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

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Playing Our Song by LA Bryce: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Jase is famous around the world, and Garrett’s well-known in his neighborhood. They’re two singers. One is living his dream, and the other is living his brother’s.

Jase’s boyfriend’s hostility has increased toward him, making their relationship toxic, but too focused on his band, Jase lets it slide, causing him to almost miss out on the kind of love that lives in his fantasies.

Garrett made a promise to his brother when he passed. But a mistake in its interpretation almost causes Garrett to live out his brother’s dream instead of reaching for his own.

Can these men spot and remove the obstacles stopping them from making beautiful music together before it’s too late?

Amazon

Jase tells Garrett about his writers block and suggests they write together

“Hey. What are you doing here?” Garrett’s smile told Jase he didn’t mind Jase just stopping over.

The knot in Jase’s stomach untied. “I grew stir crazy at home. Needed a fresh space.”

Jase handed Garrett a beer, then pulled a chair over.

Garrett took a swig of the beer, and his body relaxed. “How are things with the new album?”

Jase hesitated for a moment. Maybe he needed this. To talk to someone concerning the rut he’d been facing. Gain insight into what he was missing. He squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath, then opened his eyes. “Shitty,” spilled from his lips.

Garrett leaned forward, his brows furrowed, and a frown marred his face. “What do you mean?”

“I’m trying to come up with new material. In two months, we’re back in the studio, and I’m working with nothing.”

“What’s the problem?” The concern emanating from Garrett helped Jase share his fears.

“I don’t have a clue. I had a couple of decent days, and now I’m stuck. Everything I write turns into the same tune. There’s nothing else. I keep hitting a wall.” Jase’s shoulders sagged, and the usual nerves he’d been dealing with came crashing back, causing an ache in his stomach.

“What do you think’s holding you back?”

Jase scrubbed his eyes. “I have no idea.”

“Has this happened in the past?”

“No. Maybe.” Jase’s gaze moved to his fidgeting hands. “Back when I first started writing for the band. When I first started having deadlines—the stress would block my brain. But since then, no, I haven’t had a problem. I have no idea why whatever is happening is happening now.”

“I can see the stress being a problem,” Garrett said. “If I sit, ready to write, I have the hardest time. It’s once I’m busy doing something else that the ideas come to me. That’s the reason I’m always traveling with a notebook.”

“Me too,” Jase agreed. “But right now, the pages are blank. The flow’s dried up.” Jase took a drink. Both men sat silently—Jase with too many thoughts. Then one pushed forward, and with no filter, Jase blurted out, “We should do something together.”

Garrett twitched. “What?”

“Shit. Why didn’t that come to me sooner? We should write something together.”

“Yeah, right.” Garrett smiled and rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, right. It’s a wonderful idea.” Goosebumps covered Jase’s arms. “Your style is just what the band needs.”

“I’m sure something’ll come to you.” Garrett peeled pieces of the label from his beer, no longer looking at Jase. “I don’t think you need my help.”

“That’s exactly what I need,” Jase insisted. “You’re really good.”

“Thank you.” A flush swept across Garrett’s face.

“I’m serious. Your songs rock.” The urge to shake Garrett was strong. “Together, we could do something great.”

Garrett continued to pick at the beer label. “I’m sure whatever you write will end up awesome, but I’m not sure I could add anything to it.”

Jase fisted his hands and whispered, even though he wanted to shout. “Bull shit.” Jase had had enough.

“Your songs are as impressive as any I’ve written.”

Garrett’s laugh sounded hollow. “I’m not too sure about that, but thank you!”

“You need to cut yourself a break.”

Garrett just shook his head.

I’m a fan of rock star romances. I love seeing the behind the scenes stuff, how they live, etc. But this was just…boring. There was nothing really WRONG with it (except the whole lack of management, record companies, photo shoots…), it was a nice story, but there was no real heat or passion. It was just forgettable.

Jase, rock star extraordinaire, is with a crappy boyfriend who ignores him constantly, whines when they are together, doesn’t answer calls and blames everything on his career. HELLO! Red light dude! Jase just comes off as a doormat. Who puts up with that?

He meets Garrett when he stops into a restaurant and Garrett is the entertainment. Jace is immediately drawn to the music, and obviously to Garrett but somehow he doesn’t see it. They end up writing some music together but Jace is hot and cold. Mostly because of the stupid boyfriend.

I’m sure you can see where this is all going…

The book was fine. The story was fine. The sex scenes were fine. But just fine isn’t good enough for me.

2.5 pieces of eye candy

L.A. is a contemporary M/M romance author who loves her men to work hard, play hard, and love hard.

She’s always lived in the northeast and has recently stretched her boundaries and moved farther north — the more relaxed lifestyle giving her more time to write — in theory anyway.

Among the things she loves besides writing and her family are her friends, those she writes with and those she writes about, reading, games (the kind with boards, not in love), her dogs, Nutella and Bok Choy, and the men and women from the military, past and present, who keep us safe.

When she finds herself stuck at the keyboard, her fingers refusing to move, her characters refusing to talk, she likes to take a break, blast some music, and dance like no one is watching her or sing her heart out into her hairbrush microphone.

She’s living her happily ever after and wants the same for all her characters. L.A. believes love comes in all different packages and each should be wrapped in a ribbon and cherished.

Connect with LA:

https://labryce.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LABryceAuthor/

https://twitter.com/labryce_author

https://www.instagram.com/labryce_author/

https://www.pinterest.com/labryce_author/

To celebrate the release of Playing Our Song, LA Bryce is giving away a awesome Kindle Fire 10!!

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Save Me: Love in the Pacific Northwest Book 1 by Beck Grey: Audiobook Review

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Deputy US Marshal Jamie MacDougall assumes his latest assignment is just another security detail, but when he finds himself falling for the gorgeous key witness he’s sworn to protect, it takes everything he has to keep things professional.

When Ashley Pandy enters the WITSEC program, with a new identity and a new life far away from Seattle and Jamie, he tries to move on, but a year later, with no hope of seeing him again, he still can’t forget the man who stole his heart. Ashley walked away from love for noble reasons.

Jamie let him go because it was the honorable thing to do. When a foolish decision gives them a second chance to be all kinds of wrong, can they finally get it right?

Amazon

Audible

As a Deputy US Marshal Jamie McDougall has sworn to protect those in his care. This time around, protecting Ashley Pandy, Jamie is having a hard time keeping it professional. They are both drawn to each other but they know this thing has an expiration date, Ashley is going into WITSEC and transferring out of Jamie’s life as soon as his trial is over.

Once Ashley has started his new life in a non-descript city he can’t stop thinking about his Marshal. Jamie also has a hard time moving on, sort of stuck in a holding pattern wondering how to get over the man he may never see again, when fate intervenes.

Ashley’s new life and his old collide and the only person he knows and trusts is Jamie. Running to Jamie could be the best or worst decision of his life depending on whether they can outrun trouble.

The story was interesting and the character building was good. The author tends to focus on a lot of extraneous detail which doesn’t keep the story moving forward. The story gets stuck around the middle, the characters spend several chapters stagnate and then bam the whole story is wrapped up within two chapters. The ending is a little unbelievable but ends is a HEA so I still enjoyed it.

The narrator is new to me and I did enjoy his performance. The cadence of his voice is nice, sometimes I did have a hard time deciphering which character was speaking but overall a great job.

3 pieces of eye candy

If You Love Something by Jayce Ellis: Release Day Review

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“A lovingly drawn depiction of Black family dynamics.” —Publishers Weekly on Learned Reactions

A marriage lost is found again in this cheeky new romantic comedy from acclaimed author Jayce Ellis. 

As executive chef at one of the hottest restaurants in DC, DeShawn Franklin has almost everything he’s ever wanted. He’s well-known, his restaurant is Michelin starred and he can write his own ticket anywhere he wants. Until his grandmother calls him home and drops two bombshells:

1) She has cancer and she’s not seeking treatment.

2) She’s willing half her estate to DeShawn’s ex-husband, Malik.

Make that three bombshells. 

3) That whole divorce thing? It didn’t quite go through. DeShawn and Malik are still married.

And when DeShawn’s shady uncle contests Grandma’s will, there’s only one path back to justice: play it like he and Malik have reconciled. They need to act like a married couple just long enough to dispense with the lawsuit.

Once DeShawn is back in Malik’s orbit, it’s not hard to remember why they parted. All the reasons he walked away remain—but so do all the reasons he fell in love in the first place.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters. Discover a new Carina Adores book every month!

Amazon

Carina Press/Harlequin

Having read a previous book by this author, Jeremiah, I was looking forward to reading another book by this author who portrays her Black MC’s with great depth and clearly uses her #ownvoice. This book did not disappoint at all.

There was so much going on in this book, and I loved every second of it. The story just worked so well.

DeShawn seemed to have it all, executive chef at a starred restaurant, famous, does a weekly television, men on his arm for all the events, and a dog he adores. However, when his grandmother calls, his entire world changes. Meanwhile, Malik is at the opposite end of the spectrum, working in his family’s restaurant that is just a short time from having to close due to changes beyond his control. Unhappy in his life, with his brother, with the bright spot being his dog.

DeShawn’s dying grandmother, while she didn’t intend to keep any secrets about DeShawn and Malik’s divorce, or lack thereof, she did try to use it to bring them back together. All of these things were so very indicative of real world issues. DeShawn not calling Malik to tell him, because he put it off. Malik not calling DeShawn for the same reason. Avoiding a problem as long as possible. A restaurant that is all old school, with no carry out, no quick foods, dying while the world goes on around them. Even gambling issues.

Through it all, it wasn’t an instant fix. There was a lot of hurt, anger and loss, from years past, thrown in that needed to be dealt with in the present. Then they could deal with the rest of their issues, from the divorce that wasn’t, to the uncle who was determined to get all of his mother’s money, to saving Malik’s family restaurant. All of this, while trying to pretend they found each other again, and fell right back in love.

Also, the fact that the dogs were instantly buddies…warmed my heart so much.

I absolutely loved this book, beginning to end.

5 pieces of eye candy

Find Me in July by Christie Gordon: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

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Troy lives to be a teacher. Jessie knows teachers can’t be gay. These facts could rip them apart.

It’s the summer of 1978. Troy Larson is only one university-year away from living his dream as an elementary school teacher. In the meantime, he’s heading to his family’s annual, month-long vacation at a Northern Minnesota lake resort. He’s looking forward to time with his best friend, Jessie, and finding out what happened to him. This year was odd. They hardly spoke on the phone and Jessie didn’t come home for the usual breaks. When they meet, it’s clear something’s off with Jessie. One day in, Troy secretly stumbles upon Jessie in an illicit act with another man. The incident triggers questions about Jessie’s sexuality and confusion about his own.

Jessie Smith is set to take over his father’s Minneapolis foundry when he graduates from a New York university next year. But the time in New York has taught him how to accept his sexuality and his newfound freedom is not something he’s willing to give up. As the families meet for their vacation, it’s clear that Jessie is different. After the first day, Jessie sees an abrupt change in Troy, and it’s baffling. The changes in Troy cause a lifetime of repressed feelings to surface in him.

Troy’s pursuit of the truth brings him closer to Jessie than he ever thought he would want to be. He struggles to understand what’s going on between them and how his best friend is turning into more, way more. With the gay rights movement facing legal challenges from Save our Children, can Troy convince Jessie he’s willing to fight along side him and face whatever consequences may come together?

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Goodreads

Troy sat in the black vinyl passenger seat of Jessie’s blue Trans Am, peering ahead of him at the convenience store. He had to stay focused and figure this thing out. So far Jessie was acting completely normal. So, he must not know that he saw him. Maybe it was best if he didn’t say anything. Saying something would only embarrass Jessie and that’s not cool. But is he gay?

“So, we’ll get some beer and snacks and then go and get the boat at the marina.” Jessie slapped Troy’s arm. “You hearing me?”

Troy jumped and blinked. “Yeah, I heard you.” Damn, he had to pay attention. He got out of the car and met him at the glass doors to the store.

Jessie opened the door and swung his arm. “After you.”

“Thanks.” Troy stepped inside and perused the rows of snacks and sundries, the tall, glass refrigerated drink coolers at the back. His gaze caught on a rack of skin mags at the front of the store. That’s it. He should get one. They could look at it together and he’d see how Jessie reacted to it. If it gave Jessie a hard-on, then he’d know he wasn’t gay and whatever he saw was…whatever. He could put it to rest. But could gay dudes get boners from nude chick pictures? No…this will work. He furrowed his brows.

Jessie walked through a row of snacks, picking up a bag of potato chips. “I’ll grab us some sandwiches. You want Schlitz beer again?” He stepped to the coolers.

“Sure.” Troy strode to the skin mags and searched over the titles. Playboy, too tame. He needed something more erotic than that. He had to be sure it would be enough to give him a hard-on. He picked up a Hustler in one hand and a Penthouse in the other, attempting to peek under the wrapper, hiding the image on the front.

Jessie came up behind him and rested his chin on Troy’s shoulder. “What you looking at?”

Troy startled and turned around, facing him. “Uh, just thought, you know, we could have some fun with these while we’re out.” Would he buy it, or think it was too weird?

Jessie peered at the magazines. “Somebody horny?” He gave him a coy grin and lifted a brow.

Troy released a choked chuckle. “N-no, I just thought it would be fun to look at while we’re out. That’s all.” What would he think about this? If Jessie didn’t want to bring the magazine, would that mean he was gay?

Jessie’s gaze fell to Troy’s mouth and he licked his lips. “Sure. Get the Hustler. That one’s better.”

“Okay.” Troy slid the Penthouse into its place on the shelf. Okay, so he must look at these if he has a preference, right? That would make him not gay. Then why would he let a dude blow him? He pursed his lips.

“Troy.” Jessie stood at the counter with a female cashier in a red t-shirt, their food now bagged. “Get over here with that, so I can pay.”

“Yeah, sure.” Troy walked to the counter and set the magazine on it, then stared out the glass doors of the store, heat flushing his face.

The cashier rang them up and Jessie paid.

Jessie came close, whispering in his ear. “Your face is redder than her shirt, man. You embarrassed to buy a skin mag?”

“Stop it.” Troy forced a smirk and grabbed bags from the counter. “You bought ice, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll get the beer, you grab the ice.” Jessie seized a twelve pack from the counter and strolled out the doors of the store, snickering.

Christie Gordon started writing gay and M/M romance fiction after becoming preoccupied with anime and in particular, the boys love and yaoi genres. She’s always had stories in her head and always enjoyed writing, so she took up fiction writing classes at a local community college and published her first book with eXtasy Books back in 2009. Christie likes to write complicated characters with painful pasts that refuse to be ignored until the characters are forced to face them head on. Angst? Yes. Happily ever after? Always. It’s the struggle to get there that counts.

Christie’s day job is in the high-tech industry with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration. She currently lives in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area and enjoyed eight years in the Bay Area of California but grew up in Minnesota. She shares a home with her partner of twelve years, a musician by night and a coder by day, who is currently in three bands, giving her plenty of time to keep writing. She is also a mother of two sons, one currently in college for engineering and the other preparing for nursing college. Her one-eyed, rescue pug is always by her side, snoring the day away.

Connect with Christie:
Newsletter: https://christiegordon.com/newsletter/
Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/christiegordonauthor
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christie-Gordon/e/B002CLWVCA
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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christie-gordon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christiegordonauthor/
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A Christmas Miracle (Winsford Green, Book 4) by Ruby Moone: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Alfie Hope’s life is perfect. Managing Darley Hall for an employer who hasn’t visited the house in five years. It’s more than a job, it’s his home. A safe haven for him and the staff he considers family. That is, until their master passes away and a new master inherits. A new master who wants to live in the house.

Jolyon Mortimer Devereaux was stunned when he inherited Darley Hall. It offered an escape from his life, his lover, and his awful family. He arrives to find an estate manager who is outrageously handsome in a gentle, yet rugged way, but someone who clearly has never been a servant in his life!

Alfie and Jo grow tentatively closer. That is until a shock Christmas arrival blows everything wide apart, leaving Alfie and Jo struggling to hold on to their love. It will take a Christmas miracle to hold them together.

Title: A Christmas Miracle
Authors: Ruby Moone
Series: Winsford Green, Book 4
Genre: Historical, Regency MM Romance.
Release date: December 18th

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Dances Long Forgotten (Winsford Green Book 1)

People Like Us (Winsford Green Book 2)

The Schoolmaster’s Spy (Winsford Green Book 3)

Alfie was huddled by the fire, both hands around a mug, stockinged feet stretched out in front of him, trying to wake up. He wanted to close his eyes and go back to sleep but they had someone to see to now, and they needed to go back to proper servants’ hours. It was damned murder, particularly in the dead of winter when it was freezing cold and dark. Kate was pottering about the kitchen getting things ready, Robbie was dozing in the chair in the corner, Maisie was sat in the chair opposite in an attitude much like his own. Even the dogs had crept right up to the fire. The larger of the two, Horace, his beloved, elderly, shaggy hound of indeterminate parentage, and prone to the most abominable wind, snored softly so close to the fire it was a wonder he didn’t singe his fur. Potts, a much smaller terrier, tucked in close beside Horace, kept one eye on them all as he dozed, one paw on the hearth, ready to pounce at the slightest hint of food. They’d taken him in not that long ago, and he still behaved as though he was on the verge of starvation when food was in the offing.

“Inconvenient this, Alfie,” Maisie said, taking a long drink.

“Too right,” Alfie said on a huge yawn.

A clattering of footsteps announced Jess who came through the door like a whirlwind. “He’s awake and he’d like some coffee.”

Kate smiled. “Righto, I’ll get on with it now. Does he want anything to eat?”

“I don’t think he’s very well.”

That got everyone’s attention. “In what way?” Alfie asked.

“Well, he looks like death for a start, he’s so pale, and the light seemed to hurt his eyes. I moved the candles away a bit and he was awful grateful. He kept squinting and pinching between his eyes.” Jess demonstrated. “Like that.”

“Headache,” Alfie pronounced, his suspicions confirmed. He’d seen the man wince when he shook his head yesterday and had wondered.

Jess nodded sagely. “I reckon so. I asked if he wanted a powder, but he said no.”

Robbie stirred from his corner. “With a bit of luck, he might not last long,” he murmured around a yawn.

“Robbie!” Alfie gave him a glare.

“What? If he popped off, we could get back to normal.”

“If he popped off, as you so nicely put it, another one would come along to take his place. This one seems to be reasonable. He’s not high in the instep, not demanding, so we might need to make the best of it. The last thing we’d want is a stuffy, up his own arse lordship demanding things and bringing loads of servants with him. I thought we agreed this yesterday.”

Robbie nodded. “Fair point.”

“So, we need to look after him. See if we can get him to see things our way.”

“See things our way?” Maisie said on a laugh. “Do you honestly think that’s possible?”

“You never know.”

I didn’t read the first three books in this series, and that wasn’t an issue…although I will say, I definitely want to go back and read book 3, and book 2, possibly as well. Okay, maybe all of them. 🙂 The point is, this was definitely stand-alone, with just a few small appearances by characters from the previous books in the series.

What a beautiful story. Alfie built himself a little family, giving of himself so selflessly, so that their family could stay together…a gay couple, a lesbian couple, a trans young man. Along comes a new master, after an unexpected inheritance, and everyone is understandably on edge.

Jo, meanwhile, did not have the easiest life prior to coming to Winsford Green, yet it was important to him to treat everyone with respect and dignity, even down to the dogs living on the estate. (I loved that he bonded instantly with the dog that up until that point had been a challenge.) He was a man worth Alfie, without a doubt.

The Christmas miracle…came right at the right time…as I was wondering, in the back of my mind, how everything would work out for Jo and Alfie’s future. The parson didn’t even bat an eye, and found himself somewhat of a confidante.

This was exactly what you want in a holiday book. Lots of love, both romantic and familial, a future ahead of them that included even more love and joy. And dogs…there were dogs. 🙂

Definitely recommend. 4 pieces of eye candy

Ruby Moone lives in the wilds of Lancashire with her husband and writes historical and contemporary romance. At school, her teachers said that she lived with her head in the clouds and if she didn’t stop daydreaming she would never get anywhere. She never did stop daydreaming, and after years of happily living in the clouds, decided to write the stories down.

Connect with Ruby:
Website –  http://www.rubymoone.com/
Facebook Page –  https://www.facebook.com/RubyMoone/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/RubyMooneWriter
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Facebook Group – Ruby’s Room – https://www.facebook.com/groups/883596845175216/
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A Dashwood Of Sense And Sensibility (Love, Austen Book 6) by Antya Sunday: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Two Dashwood brothers. Two dashing romances.

Sensible, reasonable, responsible.

Dad has died and left Noah Dashwood his debts. After selling the family home, he and his brother are couchsurfing. The number one new priority? Finding them a new place to live. He has a list of cheap rentals, and he has no problem if sexy and lovely Wade Ferrars wants to help him choose the best option. Wade. He is everything a guy could dream of. He even makes Noah . . . believe in romance.
Except . . .
Why does he go hot and cold at an instant?
What is he hiding?

Clueless, energetic, spontaneous.

Oh God. This is a disaster. No money, no home, no man . . . Zach Dashwood should really, like, get a steady paying job. Help his brother out. Ohhh, maybe he could find something at Ask Austen Studios?
This guy with terrible tie-taste is really something. Working on a Sunday, poor thing. Okay, they should hang out, maybe he’ll put in a good word with the boss—
Oh, he is the boss.
Well that’s . . .
To say thanks, Zach will totally find this “Brandon” the girlfriend of his dreams!

Two very different brothers. Both in for a surprise.

A modern gay retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Zach climbed hurriedly into the Tin Man onesie.

He charged out to the kitchen, flinging out his arms in frustration. “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

True in, like, all the important senses.

Brandy looked up over the onions he was chopping at the kitchen island. He’d changed into a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and he was . . . laughing.

Zach doubled down on a glare. This energy was easier to manage. Much better than whatever had taken him hostage before. “Why couldn’t you have lent me your clothes?”

“My pants would fall off you.”

“Then I could’ve swum in your pullover.”

“I’ve seen what you do to pullovers, tucking them over your knees, stretching them into weird shapes.”

“I never—”

“You did it to my jacket in the car just now.”

“So you put me in the Tin Man?”

Brandy continued chopping and murmured, “And his wish came true.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Turn on some music. Or your guitar is on the sofa. Noah will be here in a few minutes. He went to check the local, in case you missed me telling you that, too.”

“I totally heard that.” He totally hadn’t.

Brandy smiled, like he knew the truth.

But not that truth, right? Like, he wasn’t giving off extra-spicy I have feelings for you pheromones or anything?

He lifted his guitar into his lap and played. He was humming the words, but his focus was on Brandy.

Who was preparing lunch.

Brandy was always looking out for him. Feeding him, driving him around, questioning his taste in music, relenting because Zach was right of course. Hell, the bach was supposed to be a weekend retreat, and he’d made it his home. Had he stayed at his place in town even once? No. Because even when he’d considered it, he’d sensed Zach needed him and driven the winding bays to get back.

He was . . . he was generous, caring, funny, hard-working, protective . . .

Zach stopped strumming and burrowed into the onesie.

He yearned to ask all the questions, find out all the unknowns he could. He wanted to know everything, but his voice cracked on the first syllable. He shut his mouth and dropped his head back uselessly.

What was he supposed to do now? Ignore this? Try to convince Brandy that he was worth a try? Subtly, of course. He wouldn’t want to spring anything on the guy. But why would Brandy even want to try? He was too young. Immature. Hopelessly naïve.

“You’re fretting about something,” Brandy said.

“Ahahaha.”

Smooth, Zachary. Real smooth.

He cleared his throat, pitching his voice deeper than usual. The fuck was that about? “The thing is, I just don’t care about Jack.”

Brandy stopped chopping, but he didn’t look over.

“I thought I would. I tried. But . . . I’m more sorry for your ex. And I hate her.” For ever having you, for never loving you. For still having you.

“You don’t hate her. Your voice is . . . I hope you’re not coming down with something.”

Zach hugged his knees and thumped his head on them. He needed to get rid of this stupid awareness. Stop overthinking things. He’d make himself sick. Look, he was already shivering.

“You really don’t care about Jack?”

Zach snapped his head up. Had that question sounded too quiet? A little . . . imploring?

His heart lurched like it wanted to drag him across the room. He wanted to read Brandy’s face. And, you know, devour all the fairy dust he could while he was there.

He groaned.

And convulsed with a shiver; this one only half to do with the man watching him across the room. He grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and snuggled into it. The back of his throat stung a little. The soup would help there. And Noah might make some of that ginger tea and honey he was so good at.

Wrapping the blanket tighter around him, he frowned. “Something wrong?” Brandy asked.

“It’s been almost twenty minutes.” He glanced out the rain-lashed window. “Where’s Noah?”

I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed this whole series. Modern day retelling of classics- most I had read before, but it honestly doesn’t matter if you did or didn’t. They are excellent reads.

And the final one (sobs) give us TWO romances. Swoon.

One of the things that I loved about this particular book is that there are two kind of big things that are not made a big deal of. I don’t want to spoil anything. But both of those things could have been used as big plot points and they aren’t. As such, they are totally normalized and I really loved that. Two separate characters, by the way.

We have brothers Noah and Zachary who are houseless after their father died and they had to sell their family home to pay debts. Noah seems to be the responsible one, making sure they have a place to stay, that bills are paid, etc. Zachary is the brother that trusts that Noah will take care of everything. I don’t think he takes advantage of that at all, it’s just their dynamic.

Zach is the one who finds them a place to live- a very nice place in fact. Although it takes a while for him to realize who it is who is letting them stay on the cottage behind his house. Zach is also done with the one night stand scene and wants to fall in love. So when he meets a guy at the pub, he basically decides that this is the guy he will fall in love with. Very throw back to the days of Sense and Sensibility. But he doesn’t seem to notice what is right in front of his face.

Noah has had a crush on his former best friend’s brother since they were teens. But now they are adults and they are playing the flirting game hard. Wade is very hot and cold and it takes a bit to find out why.

The perspective switches between the two brothers, which is nice as the story runs concurrently and you can focus on one brother while still getting the story of the other.

This was very swoony, very slow burn, but also so satisfying. The writing is poetic at times that makes you just want to sink in to the story and devour the pages.

I absolutely recommend this entire series.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.

Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.

I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of emotion, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.

My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Thai.

Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/about-anyta/
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