Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

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Catered All the Way: An MM Holiday Christmas Romance by Annabeth Albert: New Release Review

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Tis the season for a hopeless crush on my older brother’s best friend…

This year will be different. I’m all grown up, my gaming channel is a huge success, and I finally have the confidence to make my move on Atlas Orion, the hottest chief in the navy.

However, I don’t intend for my smooth move to be covering Atlas in cranberry sauce. Not at all how I want to reintroduce myself to my new roomie and coworker. Atlas is in town to help save Seasons, my family’s historic holiday gift shop and event space. Seasons is booked solid with catered parties, so we need to avoid any more disasters.

Like my malfunctioning air mattress. We’re down to one bed, two dudes, and a whole lot of holiday-fling temptation. Atlas has never been with a guy, but I don’t have to do much persuading. And what better way to explore than a secret romp? No strings, and no one has to know.

The problem? With every passing week, I fall harder for Atlas, who’s far more than his drool-worthy muscles and heroic job. He’s kind, funny, makes me breakfast in bed, and each midnight snowball fight brings us that much closer to heartbreak.

Atlas can’t stay in Kringle’s Crossing forever, and I can’t imagine leaving the only place I’ve called home. Our feelings run deep, but is it a holiday illusion? Can we find our way to a lasting future?

CATERED ALL THE WAY is a brand-new, full-length holiday romance from the beloved author of THE GEEK WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS. Lovers of stand-alone swoon-worthy Christmas stories will fall for this geek + military pairing. Full of spicy first times, bisexual awakening, quirky small-town residents, and guest appearances from some fan-favorite characters, this only one bed, brother’s best friend romance is sure to find a place under many trees! Dual POV and the happiest of endings guaranteed.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I love Christmas romances. They are my version of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Except way better.

Annabeth Albert has brought us another adorable, sweet, hot romance just in time for Christmas. Set in the idyllic Kringle’s Crossing, we have Zeb, full time gaming streamer and part time cater waiter and retail worker for his family’s business. Every year he straps in to work the crazy season from Thanksgiving until Christmas. His brother’s best friend, Atlas, is due to arrive on leave from the military to help out. So Zeb finagles it so that Atlas stays with him instead of with Zeb’s brother. Not because he has a crush or anything. 😉

Atlas rather quickly realizes how attracted he is to Zeb. Which is a first for him. Zeb has no problem offering himself up on a platter for Atlas to experiment with. But of course the no strings attached experiment quickly grows strings. And they also have the shared history from when they were teens and Atlas was at their house often hanging out with Zeb’s brother.

There were actually quite a few little, or not so little, details that really caught my interest. Mostly because they gave the story and the characters that much more depth. And it wasn’t just Zeb and Atlas. But also Zeb’s brother and wife. The backgrounds of the men, their jobs, family issues and even a non-binary side character. So great to see that when if there are other LGBT+ characters they all seem to be close friends with each other. Nix worked there and was friendly, but they had their own life going on.

There were Easter eggs for those long time readers. Always fun. And selfishly, I love when a book is set in an area I sort of know. Kringle’s Crossing is fictitious, but other towns and areas mentioned were quite real.

This book will definitely hit you in the feels. Especially if you have experienced any of the situations that these characters have. Ultimately, you’ll be left with a smile and maybe a little Christmas cheer.

4 pieces of eye candy

Drama Queen (The Court Book 1) by Charlie Novak: New Release Review

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Note to self: dumping cocktails into a man’s lap does not count as a meet cute.

Accidentally throwing a jug of Sex on the Beach onto the hottest guy at drag brunch was not how I wanted to start my performance, and forgetting to ask for his name was the cherry on top.

But when he finds me online and invites me out for drinks, it seems like my chaotic shenanigans might have worked out for once. Falling into bed with West is easy, but balancing a gorgeous, rugby player boyfriend with a day job and drag is harder than dancing in eight inch heels.

And when my participation in a local drag story hour draws the ire of certain locals, it feels like everything might fall apart. West doesn’t understand why I won’t step down, but I’ve never been afraid of being myself.

Now I just need West to stand beside me. Because he’s the only man who’s ever loved me as Rory and Bubblegum Galaxy, and I won’t let that slip away.

You can call me a drama queen, but you’ll never dull my sparkle.

Content Warning: This novel contains an attempted homophobic attack, the use of slurs and violent language.

Back to Lincoln we go! This time with a new series and set of characters. Like a drag queen and a pro rugby player. I do love opposites attract.

Our rugby player is West, brother of Theo from the Heather Bay series. The drag queen is Bubblegum Galaxy and as a boy, Rory.

Some of the things I just loved about this book:

Bubblegum is an electrician during the day working with his dad and brother. His dad was a skinhead in his youth but now helps sew sequins onto his son’s costumes. And her brother is deaf so another deaf character is shown using BSL as well as the family using it while speaking.

West is a giant teddy bear. He doesn’t even play at being tough. He is just a nice guy who doesn’t want to ever make waves. He is pretty much immediately smitten by Bubblegum. He is also out so there is no sexuality struggle that we see often.

Bubblegum was definitely the main character of the book. How could she not be in all of her fabulousness?

The story also highlighted the utter ridiculousness of people protesting drag queen story hours. How it is just what the right has decided to focus their vitriol on even though it doesn’t affect their lives AT ALL. And how just one threat can make people scared to be themselves.

We got some awesome cameos from previous characters (Bitch Fit ftw!) besides Theo and Laurie. It was nice to see the three series tied together without forcing it. It was very cohesive.

Overall, I can’t wait for the next book! I am loving this new series.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Hide With Me (The Game Series Book 13) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

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𝐃𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐤 • 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐱 • 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 & 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲 • 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 • 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐩 • 𝐃/𝐬 • 𝐌𝐌𝐌 • 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Don’t mind the sweet scent of waffles. That’s just little Gael breaking the resolves of two protective Daddies, one shy yet sinful bite at a time.

It’s no coincidence Gael Grimes is in Professor Aavik’s class. He’s had a crush on the professor since he first spotted the man in the kink community they’re both part of. According to Gael, Professor Aavik is just super dreamy! Distinguished, charismatic—a total silver fox. But when Gael’s ex-boyfriend ignores the restraining order against him and tries to reach out, another man steps out of the shadows, and Gael is suddenly at a loss for words and can’t describe the intense attraction.

Private investigator Joshua “Santiago” Jones has been keeping an eye on Gael for a while as a favor to a friend. Under different circumstances, he would’ve loved to get closer to Gael. The boy’s cuter than words, definitely on the Little spectrum, funny, smart…but this is work. The only reason Santiago has to get close now is to protect Gael from his stalker ex-boyfriend.
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The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Oh I’ve been waiting for this book! I am a big fan of Cara Dee so I will read all of the books as they come out. But I was craving a new love story. New characters, new loves, new dynamics and boundaries and limits and roles. And I got them.

We knew Dean. As Walker’s step brother he has shown up before. Most notably when Walker and Macklin were figuring their relationship out. Also entering the picture ae Santiago and Gael. They have also had cameo’s in other books. But now we get to KNOW them as they get to know each other.

I always liked Dean, what we knew of him. So buttoned up and proper. A history professor and author. But behind closed doors he is filthy. And still almost proper if you can imagine.

Santiago is the kind of classic bad boy. A former cop who works as a private investigator now. The Tenley brothers have him looking into Gael’s ex boyfriend who is known to be rather stalkerish.

Since Dean and Santiago already knew each other and Gael is in Dean’s college class and Santiago is helping out Gael, it was the perfect storm for these men to find each other and explore what they are and can be.

Gael is so eager. He has zero experience, but mostly knows what he wants. Santiago and Dean have no problem helping him to explore.

Writing a triad story without one person becoming the center of attention or without one couple edging out the third. But Cara Dee knows how to do that. She’s done it before and she did it again. And while this is the third triad (pretty sure) in the Game series, all three triads are different from each other. There’s no falling on what she knows and did before. No changing of names to tell the same story. This one is as unique as the others.

Gael finding his submission and his middle/little self while Santiago and Dean guide him without pushing. He blossoms as he is free to be who he is. Especially after the toxic relationship he was in previously. And I do love that he isn’t one of the stereotypical body types we so often see. Refreshing.

Besides their burgeoning relationship, Gael also gets to experience one of his fantasies. Which, again, Cara Dee writes really well.

As much as I enjoyed this book and story, I feel like the Game included at the end of the book was unnecessary. Especially because it was so soon after the other thing. You’ll see.

And we were left hanging with something which has me like “ARGH!”. I’m sure Ms Dee is laughing knowing we are all probably like that.

Solid entry in the Game series. I can’t wait to hear more from these three. And to find out…..

4 pieces of eye candy

Next Season: MM Small Town/Hockey Romance (The Elmwood Stories Book 2) by Lane Hayes: New Release Review

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The injured hockey player and the grumpy chef…

Riley

My time playing pro hockey will be up soon. I can feel it. And I’ve heard the rumors: he’s too old, he’s had too many injuries, he’s lost his edge. I don’t want to admit it, but they could be right. Next season might be my last.

Or this season. Because of course, this is when the universe decides I need another concussion. It’s a doozy too—the kind that’s going to keep me off skates for a while.

Which is how I end up in a small New England town in the middle of nowhere Vermont, eating every meal at a diner where a grumpy chef from Quebec makes haute cuisine…and burgers. Jean-Claude is funny and charming and—

Okay, I have a crush on a gay man.

This is a new one.

Jean-Claude

Confused straight men are entertaining. But Riley is…fascinating, sexy, and curiously vulnerable. His injury has rocked his confidence a bit, so perhaps he’s in need of a friend. Any friend. Even moi.

I’m an unlikely choice, but maybe he just likes my tuna salad.

No…I think it’s me.

And though I’m happy to help him explore his bisexual curious side, I have career concerns of my own. See, the things I love most about Elmwood seem shaky and uncertain, but not Riley. He’s solid and genuine. Suddenly, this temporary secret liaison feels more real than anything in my life.

I need more than this season. I want it all. With Riley.

Next Season is an MM bisexual-awakening romance featuring a grumpy chef, an injured hockey player, and a big HEA in a small town where anything can happen.

Title: Next Season
Authors: Lane Hayes
Length: 57k
Series: The Elmwood Stories, Book 2
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: Bi-awakening, Small Town, Hockey, Grumpy/Sunshine, Holiday

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

We are back in Elmwood, but a few years have passed. I like that. I mean, I am all for suspending reality (I mean, don’t go crazy) but when almost no time has passed before the next couple meet and fall in love it’s just too quick. I like seeing the time progression.

This time it is a current player who is flirting with retirement when he takes a hard hit on the ice leaving him with a pretty severe concussion and a nice head wound. Riley needs to recover, quietly, so his friend and former teammate offers the house his husband owns and was planning on selling to recuperate.

If you read book one, you HAD to be intrigued with Jean-Claude and want more of his story. Well we get it over the course of the book as he and Reilly get to know each other. I liked that Reilly had no inkling of liking men or being bi before this. So it took him by surprise, but he also wasn’t icked out about it. He had moments of “is this too gay?” but they are very quickly brushed aside.

While Reilly slowly recovers and Jean-Claude accepts that this is a short term thing, they really develop a close relationship. I loved that they were supposedly on the down low (hahahahaha, small towns) but had no problem hanging out in public. I hate when it’s a secret and they act like they hate each other in public.

Jean-Claude’s back story is a bit angsty, but not too bad. It definitely helps explain why he is a bit grumpy and gruff. On the outside. Really he is a big teddy bear. Another thing I liked. He wasn’t what many would think of as a “gay, French Canadian chef”. That is to say, he was no twink. In fact, he was slightly bigger than Reilly the pro hockey player.

Overall it was a sweet story and I really liked these guys together. I don’t feel like either one sacrificed anything for their relationship. They just made each other stronger.

There are other gay men in Elmwood and I want their stories next please!

4 pieces of eye candy

Jersey Royal (Flying into Love #5) by CF White: New Release Review

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.                             .

Can a humble farmer bag himself a true Jersey royal to save his farm…and steal his heart?

Distant royal, Nicholas Osbourne, has one last chance to prove his worth to his wealthy family. A string of bad press over even worse relationships has him agreeing to star in a reality television series getting down and dirty with the ordinary folk. He can live a lie for a week. He’s been doing it for years.

Jersey potato farmer, Alex Hamon, has no time nor patience to babysit a pretentious television crew, nor a work-shy, bratty rich-kid. But the hefty fee and potential promotional opportunities for his farm are too tempting to turn down. He just needs to keep his head in the soil, and not on how his under-the-radar gaydar is blinking overtime for the rogue royal.

Nicholas is out of his depth. Distracted by the stunningly sexy farmer’s son, he’s unable to bury his attraction the way he has been back in London. But he’s on camera. Twenty-four-seven. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. His only saving grace is that the farmer’s son is straight…isn’t he?

Jersey Royal (Flying into Love #5) is an opposites attract, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, rich v poor, first time contemporary MM romance featuring an appearances-is-everything royal with a secret and a temperamental potato farmer with a track record for burying things.

Title: Jersey Royal
Authors: C F White
Length: 312 pages
Series: Flying into Love, Book 5
Genre: Contemporary.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This was a sweet, low angst romance, very Harlequin-esque.

The plot was cute, though not all that original. Spoiled royal (although like a bazillionth in line for the throne), playboy, failed fashion designer is basically cut off and his family gets a producer to do a reality show with him. Where he travels around the country doing “regular” jobs. Very “A Simple Life” but with royalty.

Of course Nicholas doesn’t want to do it and their first stop, a potato farm in Jersey, wasn’t expecting him. Well, the owner was but he forgot to tell anyone before he was incapacitated.

There are pratfalls and dirt and a marriage in name only and two guys in the closet and potatoes. Lots of potatoes. Alex, son of the owner and de facto boss, is grouchy and cranky and wants nothing to do with it. But he has no choice as his father signed a contract.

Prim and proper Nicholas is actually a lot more of a good sport in that he mostly goes along with what the producer wants. I have to say I was a little surprised at how snarky she is toward him.

It’s a romance, you can gather what happens with Alex and Nicholas. I do wish Nicholas got a bit more validation. He often thinks to himself that no one likes him and so many things are his fault. When, mostly, they aren’t his fault. And people don’t not like him, I think they were just used to using him for his money. That’s a bit obvious when he doesn’t hear from a single friend while he is doing the reality show.

Everyone gets their happily ever after, as they should. But I still felt badly for how the producer and even his parents treated Nicholas.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

A Matcha Made in Hell: An Enemies-to-Lovers MM Bully Romance (Boyfriend Café Book 1) by FA Ray: New Release Review

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Who would have guessed my high school bully could be such a good boy?
Rhett

The worst day of my life was my first day of high school – the day I met him. Spencer Marsh. The guy who would shove me into lockers for the next four years.

I never expected to reunite with him in college. I definitely didn’t predict that sparks would fly. This new and improved Spencer is subverting all my expectations, but I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.

Hooking up with a guy I used to hate is turning into more than just a shameful secret. I should put a stop to it. I should want to put a stop to it. So why don’t I?

Spencer

I’ve been trying since graduation to be different from the guy I was in high school, but seeing Rhett again stirs up old emotions – and an overwhelming desire to atone.

Nevermind that that atonement seems to be happening in some … compromising positions.

My frat brothers and father would never accept what I’m doing, but that doesn’t seem to be enough to stop me. I’m finally the man I want to be, the person I’ve been repressing for most of my life. And it’s all thanks to the guy who used to be the target of my worst impulses.

I only hope Rhett will give me a chance to prove I’m not who I used to be.

A Matcha Made in Hell is an MM enemies-to-lovers romance with first time gay experiences, found family, a bully who just wants to show he’s changed his ways, and spicy open door scenes. Readers should note that some scenes include *spicier* spice. You can find a full list of these acts at linktr.ee/faraywrites

This is my first book by this author. And while it was cute, some things were a little problematic and I wanted more of other things.

What I wanted more of- the humiliation kink that Spencer apparently has. Since their first sexual encounter involved that I was hoping for more. A lot more. And there was some, but definitely not enough for my tastes. There were still some vanilla sex scenes in there.

You would never think that Rhett, the gay kid who was literally shoved in lockers in high school would seem to have that humiliation roll right off of his tongue. Which is why it was so hot. Especially directed at his former bully. Give me more!

What I didn’t love was The Boyfriend Cafe. I know, I know. Major plot line that is going to connect more books. But it just kind of seemed like a “rent a gay bff” thing for girls who had boy troubles. It kind of icked me out. And at the beginning they wanted to keep it on the super down low so the college didn’t find out but it is so popular they are booked months in advance. Doesn’t sound very hush hush to me.

Back to Rhett and Spencer. I honestly really liked them together. I loved that after Spencer kind of accepted that yes he wanted to do this with Rhett, he got affection and validation from Rhett. Which he obviously desperately needed. But it also let Rhett share affection with someone else.

Spencer is in the closet for most of the book but (spoiler alert) he does come out to family and friends. I’d like to say more on that but I won’t because bigger spoilers.

This is the first in a series and I liked it enough that I want to read book 2. And book 3 if it is about who I want it to be about. Because that needs to happen.

3.5 pieces of eye candy