Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Barbara Elsborg

Kind Hearts At Christmas: An M/M Romance Charity Anthology: New Release Review

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Kind Hearts At Christmas is an mm romance anthology in support of HIV / AIDS charities.

It’s Christmas…it’s snowing, there are gifts to give and receive, trees to decorate and all the great food to enjoy. It’s a time to spread kindness where men are falling in love, lust and everything in between.

From a school reunion, a morning after a one-night stand, university friends, a secret agent, an ex-husband in a coma, an unemployed truck driver, a naked man in a snowstorm, a village policeman, a motherless boy, Kind Hearts At Christmas has something for everyone. Each story features romance between men during the Christmas holidays, as they express their desires, from sweet kisses, up to spicy so-much-more.

Kind Hearts At Christmas has all the tropes including: snowed in, cowboys, holiday, forced proximity, fairy-tale folklore, established couple, adult film star, only one bed, return to hometown, hurt/comfort, school crushes, opposites attract, good boy/bad boy, found family & enemies to lovers.

Grab some hot chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows, indulge in a mince pie or a slice of Christmas cake, curl up and escape into the Christmassy romance. With thirteen stories by some of your favourite mm romance authors, you’re sure to find something to help you rediscover the joy and kindness of Christmas!

Stories are between 7,000 words (22 pages) to 27,000 words (86 pages) the anthology features stories by:

Sue Brown
Joanna Chambers
Barbara Elsborg
Suki Fleet
Amber Kell
Liam Livings
Clare London
Susan Mac Nicol
Louisa Mae
Jackie North
Jack L. Pyke
Ali Ryecart
K C Wells

AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the United States. Half the profits from the sale of this anthology will support AIDS United’s work to ensure access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the United States.

This charity anthology is in support of Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), with 50% of profits from its sale going to THT. THT is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity. We support people living with HIV and amplify their voices, and help the people using our services to achieve good sexual health. Our mission is to end new HIV transmissions in the UK by 2030, and to bring an end to stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. By purchasing this anthology, you are supporting us, alongside AIDS United, as we work towards our vision of a world where people living with HIV lead healthy lives free from prejudice, and good sexual health is a right and reality for all.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

My intention in reading and reviewing this was to do 2 of the novellas, maybe 3. I mean, there are so many great holiday novellas out there this year, it’s hard to read them all. Instead I ended up reading 8 of them…so far. I absolutely loved this anthology. So, I will give an overall review, versus for one or two different novellas.

First of all, I loved the theme behind this. All the novellas involved helping someone in need, in some way. From KC Wells story about a man learning to deal with a loss he never expected to Ali Ryecart’s choice of helping those who society (and one of our MC’s) have forgotten, or never acknowledged to begin with. To Susan Mac Nicol’s story of helping a group of homeless musicians with some comfort at the holidays, or even finding their way home. The humor that was displayed in Clare London’s novella…I laughed hard at the MC’s inner monologue. Or the one that absolutely captured my heart…with some tears thrown in there…Amber Kell’s, Kissing the Winter Wizard. These all had to do with helping people who just needed a hand, or an ear, or a little bit of healing of their heart. These stories really captured the reader’s emotions with the Kind Hearts that were displayed on every level.

The other theme that I loved was taking the idea of the Kind Hearts, and then using it to help REAL people living with AIDS and HIV. Giving back to those charities to help people who just need that hand, ear, or heart. I received an arc to review this anthology, but I still purchased the entire anthology. I hope you will too. Such a worthwhile cause.

Overall, these stories just touched my heart, and kept me reading long after I told myself I would stop, and definitely after my bedtime. 🙂 I really hope to see a second version of this anthology come around again. I would definitely review it, but more importantly, I would purchase it to support such a worthy cause. Thank you to the authors for the fun, emotions, and generosity.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Jonty and Devan’s Big Day by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review

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It’s going to be the day of their lives—their wedding, their way, where it all started: The Dunes Hotel in Northumberland. But from the moment the planning starts, Jonty is overwhelmed. When Devan’s mother starts making suggestions, Jonty’s mouth runs away with him and his inner Groomzilla is in danger of escaping. But it’s when Jonty goes quiet that Devan knows he’s in trouble.

Devan’s not going to let his mother spoil their perfect day. Suddenly, he’s a man on a mission. The venue? Booked. The guest list? A secret. The stag do? In Cato’s somewhat dodgy hands. Devan’s going to do whatever it takes to make sure Jonty gets what he wants. Even if that includes alpacas and penguins and the Northern Lights in the middle of summer. Now it’s time to prove he is the Best Fiancé in the Entire Multiverse.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

First, don’t even bother reading this review or book unless you read their origin story, The Making of Jonty Bloom.

Ok, moving on.

This is the third short with Jonty and Devan. And while they are fun and a bit silly, they basically focus on an event. Christmas, vacation and now their wedding.

Sadly, this one was the weakest of the three. I mean, the cover alone kind of gives away the big surprise. When Jonty was getting overwhelmed with the wedding plans Devan’s mother wanted to make, Devan took over. And that was sweet, but really Devan should have put his foot down. Because ultimately, Jonty didn’t get the wedding he wanted. It was ALMOST what he wanted, but not quite.

That’s all I’ll say because spoilers. Except the cover is a spoiler. Sigh.

So, yes. I am glad they got their happily ever after. I’m glad they still joke around and have fun with each other. But Devan should stand up to his mother and Jonty needs to grow up and not make so many ridiculous jokes during sex.

Read it for the happily ever after wedding if you are invested in Jonty and Devan. I was, but I’m definitely done with them now.

3 pieces of eye candy

What If? (Lost and Found) by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review

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When 16-year-old Crispin stumbles across Kennedy’s Emporium, he’s transported into a magical world of the impossible. Unicorns, snow globes where the snow never stops falling, bubbles that never pop, paper fireworks that explode and refill, and most magical of all—Garrett Kennedy, youngest son of the owner, who makes Crispin’s heart leap in new and exciting ways. Crispin promises he’ll never forget Garrett, but when he loses Garrett’s gift of a jewelled bee, he also loses his memories of the time he spent with him.

Eight years later, the bee is returned to Crispin, along with memories of Garrett and his amazing world. But how can any of what Crispin now recalls be possible?
And yet…

What if it wasn’t a dream?
What if Kennedy’s Emporium exists?
What if magic is real?
What if Garrett’s been waiting, wondering why Crispin never came back?

And what if Crispin takes a chance on the best thing that’s ever happened to him, assuming he can find Kennedy’s Emporium again?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Book 2 in this new magical/paranormal romance series. You don’t have to read book 1 as this stands alone.

I had just come off of reading two highly emotional, angsty reads. So I say to myself, yes this one will be good. It’ll probably make me giggle a bit like Jonty did. It’s Christmas-y, it won’t be sad. FALSE! Sigh.

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t ALL sad and there is definitely a happily ever after but getting there led to tears. Many tears.

The book is set in modern day London, but faeries, shapeshifters, werewolves, etc are all real. But regular people don’t know they are real. A human, Crispin, stumbles across a shop he shouldn’t have been able to see but he did. And he spent 24 hours immersed with Garrett in that world. When he left, the shop disappeared, everyone thought Crispin had disappeared and he was left with no recollection of what had happened.

Crispin’s life isn’t fabulous. His family is wealthy, but his mother is very cold and his older brother tortures him, even as adults. The only family member he is close to is his father. And his father tends to hover because he had a brain tumor as a child and he is always worried that it will come back.

Through a series of events, Crispin gets his memory of those lost 24 hours back and is determined to find Garrett again. A little magic helps him find his way back.

Garrett is ready to leave the fae world behind to stay with Crispin. But Garrett believes that Crispin must have some fae in him that let him see the shop all those years ago.

While Crispin and Garrett unravel a mystery with many connected threads, they are inseparable. Love at first sight, soul mates, whatever you want to call it. It is so sweet how Garrett wants to figure out a way to be together but Crispin wants Garrett to go back to Fairyland and forget him. I won’t say why. But remember all the crying I did? Uhuh

I want to hug Crispin’s dad and smack his mother and brother. As well as Garrett’s brother. We did get to check in with characters from the first book which was fun. And at least that part made me giggle.

All of the tears were redeemed although there were quite a few twists that I didn’t expect. What started as a sob fest ended up being a feel good Christmas story. Mostly.

4 pieces of eye candy

Double Trouble (Lost and Found, Book 1) by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review

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Seven years ago
Fifteen-year-old Raffety’s freaked out from the moment he arrives at summer camp. Something isn’t right about the place, parents, kids and the counsellors. The only good thing is Jonah—and their first kiss.
Trouble is Jonah’s middle name. He can’t just ignore that Raffety clearly doesn’t belong at the camp, and risks everything to help him escape, even their budding friendship.
Jonah’s actions have damaging repercussions for both boys. Raffety returns to a very different world than the one he left, one where his mum is terrified of strangers who insist they’re pack. As for Jonah, his father decrees he’s gone too far. His memories of Raffety are wiped and Jonah’s exiled to Faerieland.

Present Day
Breaking cover for his mum’s funeral lands Raffety back in the claws of a pack that never stopped searching for him. The alpha is claiming Raffety’s an omega, and prime breeding material. Erm, no way. Raffety would rather eat his own eyeballs. He needs to figure out a way to escape—and quick.
Indentured to Paranormal Resolutions for his sins, which are many, Jonah’s ordered to extract a mark from the clutches of a pack of werewolves. The mission fills him with dread: the wolves know he stole their gold and if they catch him, they’ll eat his guts, with or without ketchup―gulp! But defying his boss isn’t an option. Not if Jonah wants to live.

Is it chance that Jonah and Raffety end up in the same trap, or is it more? Could fate be giving them both a helping hand, or have they just landed in the worst trouble of their lives?

NOTE FROM AUTHOR
A few scenes in this story appeared in a book that is no longer in publication.
In addition, it is not an Omegaverse story but the possibility of a male shifter getting pregnant is part of the plot. No on-page detail is given.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I only started reading Barbara Elsborg a year or two ago. Her books just weren’t on my radar. But now that they are- I want them all! Everything I have read so far from her has been contemporary romance. But this one is very different. This one explores paranormal beings- werewolves, vampires, fairies, shapeshifters, some without even an identity that we know. I don’t normally gravitate to that trope, but since I am a fan of her work, I decided to give this a try. Glad I did!

Starting when they are teenagers and meet at a summer camp that Raffety thought was for music but is really for paranormals to learn about each other and get along. Raffety has an instant connection with Jonah who befriends him, kisses him and then helps him escape.

There are a couple of time jumps. One going 5 years in the future and then 7 years. Raffety escaped the summer camp, but not the werewolf pack that wants him. Until his mother helps him escape again.

He lives in anonymity until news from home brings him back. But he gets the attention of his old pack, and some vampires. Jonah is also tasked with getting Raffety back to London. Jonah’s memory of Raffety at summer camp was wiped from his mind by his father. So Raffety remembers him, but he doesn’t remember Raffety.

Turns out Raffety and Jonah are both then on the run together. The pack wants them both- but for very different reasons. But they stick together, mostly because the chemistry they had as teens hasn’t waned at all and they can’t keep their hands off of each other.

The various inventive ways they get into and out of trouble is fun to read. There is definitely some excitement involved as well as danger. They also learn a lot about each other and Raffety learns more about other paranormal beings.

There was great world building in this book and it just makes me want more. It seems most of the different species aren’t necessarily friendly with each other, several wanting to claim control. It was fun to read about them all.

Even if paranormal/supernatural whatever isn’t necessarily your jam, I think you will still enjoy this if you are a fan of the author.

4 pieces of eye candy

A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business Book 2) by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review

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A serious accident may have left Tay’s body broken, but he’s determined to live an independent life at any cost. Except he’s barely coping. Alone and isolated in London, his only solace comes from the pain numbing drugs he’s become addicted to.

Ink’s on the run. He keeps his head low, but London streets don’t feel safe. The only way to stay under the radar is to keep moving and not let anyone or anything get close. But the stray mutt that’s latched onto Ink has other ideas.

A chance encounter and Ink’s bungled attempt to free himself from his four-legged companion leads to the offer of a job as a live-in helper. Tay’s moody and difficult, but he’s also scared and vulnerable, and Ink finds himself saying yes when he should be saying no.

Can Tay and Ink find a clear path on the road towards true love? Or will their broken lives prove to be one roadblock too many?

This is the second book in the Unfinished Business series but can be read as a standalone.

This story has dark elements and possible triggers for some—bullying, death of a minor, violence, terrorism and drug addiction.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

If you read The Making of Jonty Bloom, you know Tay. Jonty’s best friend who was greivously injured by Jonty’s then boyfriend. On the road to recovery now, he moves to London to get away from family and Jonty after Jonty announces he is in love and has a boyfriend.

But recovering from a catastrophic injury requires help, even if he doesn’t want it. And Ink, a homeless man he ran into in the park, somehow gets himself hired as Tay’s helper.

Ink has his own secrets, which take a long time to come out which made me wonder what it possibly could be. I liked that I wasn’t able to guess what it was. And while it was a wee bit unbelievable, the author addresses her use of artistic license there. Ok, I’ll take it.

And while there were other things that were a bit hard to believe (Tay seems to graduate from mostly in a wheelchair to being on 1 crutch rather quickly), the story itself was quite good.

Ink, the guy who really should be angry at the world, is just trying to get by. And Tay, who is recovering much more than expected, should be happy with his progress, but really is angry too often.

They play off of each other really well and with the added character of a dog named Dog. I loved Dog. And I loved Ink. And even though he was grouchy and nasty, I kind of loved Tay.

Ink’s backstory/secret was absolutely heartbreaking. Absolutely gutted me. And the whole time he is just trying to help Tay.

Oh, and their relationship. ADORABLE! Seriously. Two seriously inexperienced guys together. Stumbling together, discovering together. Swoony. They had chemistry together, but sex didn’t consume their story. Which it easily could have being that they are in their 20’s and so inexperienced.

If you read Jonty’s story, you will love this one. They are very different, but written in that same style that makes you love the characters and immerses you in their world.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

The Making of Jonty Bloom (Unfinished Business Book 1) by Barbara Elsborg: Release Day Review and Exclusive Giveaway

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Finding his fiancé in bed with his brother was bad enough, finding out they’re getting married is the final blow.

Devan Smith needs to cool his anger. He needs to forget the lies and betrayals and work on resetting his life. When his boss orders him to scope out a remote hotel for a possible buyout, Devan’s only interested in getting the job done and getting out. What he’s not interested in is the guy with the piercings, bleached hair, and the smart, kissable mouth behind the reception desk.

Working the hotel reception is the only thing that’s stable in Jonty Bloom’s unstable life. His best friend has had a terrible accident, his ex refuses to move on, and his eight-year-old self is still waiting for his mother to collect him from school. Jonty needs his job. What he doesn’t need is the rude, arrogant, and hot as they come guy who’s rocked up demanding he be let into his room right now.

Thrown together by a freak accident, Devan and Jonty’s lives entwine, and neither wants to loosen the knot. Can the irrepressible Jonty be the reset Devan needs? Can Devan be the making of Jonty Bloom, or will secrets drive them apart?

First in the Unfinished Business series. All books are standalones.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

This is a new to me author, although I see people talking about her books on Facebook quite often. So I figured I would give it a shot. The one main character, Jonty, sounded super quirky and I usually really like quirky characters.

He started out a little too quirky for me. But definitely got better. He has back and forth dialogue in his head between him and his best friend. Remember- in his head. This isn’t out loud on the phone or in person. And at the beginning it was really kind of turning me off because it was so much of it. But it didn’t last, at least not that heavily, as the book went on and I was able to enjoy it much more.

Devan, after hearing that his ex fiance and his brother (whom he cheated on Devan with) were getting married AND his brother wanted him to be best man, Devan’s boss offers to have him scout 2 different hotels that his company may buy. And kind of orders him to stay away for a while, since the brothers work in the same office.

Devan is moody and grouchy and the quirky Jonty is annoying him. While also making him notice. I love that Jonty just refuses to be brought down by grumpy people.

An accident happens that risks both of their lives at the same time. And from then on, Devan seems to have a switch flipped. Acknowledging that he is attracted to Jonty. That he isn’t annoying, he is pretty fun.

Poor Jonty- that kid has had a life. I won’t get into it, I’ll let you all discover it on your own. It’s worth it.

Jonty and Devan together are cute, hilarious, romantic and healing. I really think they helped heal each other from their pain.

Jonty will have you absolutely laughing out loud. I’ve read books with funny characters that I really enjoyed. But Jonty seemed unique to me with his brand of sarcasm and self deprecating humor that almost never stops. But he can also be serious and introspective. And he offers great advice to Devan on dealing with his family and his ex.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the multiple layers of both characters. There were great supporting characters that really helped the story and getting to know these guys as they got to know each other.

I’m looking forward to book two. If it is what I hope it is.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Barbara Elsborg has generously offered an ebook of any of her backlist books to one commentor on this post. 🙂