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Book Reviews

A Vigil in the Mourning (Soulbound IV) by Hailey Turner: Exclusive Guest Post, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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I’m so incredibly excited to have Hailey Turner here today to give us a little bit extra about her newest release in the Soulbound series, A Vigil in the Mourning. As you will see below, I absolutely love this series (I try to contain my enthusiasm online, so Hailey doesn’t get creeped out, but I might stalk her IG a little bit, because she is also a huge cat lover like me :)) Anyway, when I asked for a guest post from Hailey I knew it had to be on her worldbuilding, which is so amazing, so well done, you can see these things that you’ve never seen, and understand what they are there for. I can’t think of any other authors who create worlds as well as she does! Anyway, check out her guest post on it, as well as the excerpt and a giveaway at the end!

 

The devil you know is never the one you should trust.

Special Agent Patrick Collins is dispatched to Chicago, chasing a lead on the Morrígan’s staff for the joint task force. Needing a cover for his presence in the Windy City, Patrick is ordered to investigate a politician running for mayor. In the lead up to election day, not everything is what it seems in a city where playing to win means appeasing the gods first and the electorate second.

But Chicago brings its own set of problems outside the case: a stand-offish local god pack, a missing immortal, and Patrick’s twin sister. Fighting Hannah and the Dominion Sect provides Patrick with a sinister reminder that some blood ties can never be cut.

Left behind in New York City, Jonothon de Vere finds himself targeted by hunters who will go through anyone to kill him—including the packs under his protection. With a bounty on his head, Jono is forced to make a choice that Patrick would never approve of. Doing so risks breaking the trust he’s built with the man he loves, but not acting will give the rival New York City god pack leverage Jono can’t afford to give up.

When Patrick and Jono reunite in Chicago, Patrick must confront the fraying of a relationship he’s come to rely on for his own sanity. But fixing their personal problems will have to wait—because Niflheim is clawing at the shores of Lake Michigan and the dead are hungry.

A Vigil in the Mourning is a 102k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot and a HFN ending. It is a direct sequel to A Crown of Iron & Silver. Reading the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one.

A Vigil in the Mourning by Hailey Turner

Series:  Soulbound IV

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date (Print & Ebook): April 6, 2020

Length (Print & Ebook): 102,951

Subgenre: LGBTQ Urban Fantasy

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Author Site

Worldbuilding – Constraints and Freedom

If you read any of my books, I think it’s pretty obvious that I am fanatic in my love of worldbuilding. In science fiction and fantasy, you need a good foundation to build on if you want your story to thrive.

The fun thing about writing in SFF is that you can do anything—so long as that anything works within the rules you’ve built your world on. Which is a lot harder than it sounds, especially if you’re writing a long series that requires a lot of details, many of which may never make it on page. If they do, it might only be a throwaway line. But you, the writer, will know them, know what rule they help support, and that helps guide the worldbuilding.

When writing, the best way to build a world is to do it organically. Which means your most favorite world fact you created might never see the light of day. I have pages of notes on the science behind the werevirus or genes that carry magic in my series, but I’m never going to drop that long explanation into a book for fear of messing up the pacing and boring a reader.

With worldbuilding, you have a lot of freedom, but I personally believe that doesn’t equate to free rein. You want the world your characters exist in to be believable in a fantastical way for a reader, but actions within the world will still have consequences. Take Patrick and Jono. In my Soulbound world, messing with a person’s soul is a capital offense in the United States. Patrick accidentally tied their souls together, and that’s a crime they have to hide. I need to write the story around that law and the consequences of Patrick’s actions. Sometimes it’s not easy, but I still find it fun.

When you write a long series, you get to flesh out the world more, which I love. Maybe you get to introduce a new country, or a new world, maybe a new moment of first contact. As a writer, figuring out your world and how it works is a labor of love, but readers will always appreciate everything you know, even if they never read all of the pillars that help prop up your story.

“Where are you?” Patrick said when Wade picked up.

“Uh, why? Are you in trouble?” Wade asked.

“Not yet, but I’m being followed.”

“Werecreatures? I saw a couple this morning before I lost them.”

Patrick scowled and drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. “And you didn’t think you should go back to the hotel once you identified them?”

Wade snorted. “The hotel doesn’t have good snacks. I’m at Target getting better ones.”

“Of course you are.”

“It’s not like I can’t tell what they are, and I’m good at ditching people in a crowd. I’m not being followed right now. Trust me, I’d know if I was.”

“Get back to the hotel, Wade.”

“After I get snacks. And maybe another hot dog.”

“Wade.”

“Food first, fight later, bye.”

Wade ended the call, and Patrick swore. “Fucking teenagers.”

Okay, I am going to admit that I only started this series a few months back. I started listening to it on Audible, because I was like “well, I don’t read this stuff…” blah blah, whatever cr*p I told myself. I then got sucked in COMPLETELY!!! And after I finished this series, I moved over to Hailey’s Metahuman series, which is also fantastic. After all that, I figured I better stop trying to tell myself “I don’t read paranormal”. 🙂 This is a fantastic series, and I was totally on board with reading this ASAP. (And yes, I will be grabbing the Audible as soon as I see it drop.)

One of my favorite things about this series is Patrick, and his absolutely snarky, don’t give an f* attitude. Meanwhile Jono is the calming influence in their family, aka pack. Also, Wade and his food adventures never fail to crack me up. However, it is also just the way they all work together so well, after Patrick had years of working alone. They all just fit right.

I don’t want to give anything away, because if you love this series as much as I do, you are going to want to experience all the twists and turns. Just know you see those we have seen before in all their evil glory, some we haven’t seen much of before (think gods), and Patrick and Jono should never be allowed to be apart from each other ever again. lol They work so well together, and I loved how when they were apart, everyone kept asking Jono where Patrick was, even the people they hate. They just know they are made for each other. 🙂

Enjoy this one. I know I did…but please, please, please make sure you read books I-III first. You could read this as a stand alone if you really wanted…but you will enjoy it so much more if you have the background. Besides, you will want to just to enjoy the worldbuilding that is so much Hailey Turner’s specialty.

4 pieces of eye candy

Hailey Turner is big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She’s been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.

Connect with Hailey:

Newsletter:  You can keep up with Hailey’s future projects by joining her newsletter, where you can instantly download several free short stories:  http://bit.ly/HaileyTurnerNews

Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/haileyshellions/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/haileyturnerwrites/

Facebook Profile:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014824811406

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/hailey-turner

Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHaileyTurner/

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/haileyturnerwriter/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16473068.Hailey_Turner

Website:  www.haileyturner.com

Giveaway: Celebrate this exciting new installment in the SOULBOUND series with a giveaway! Two winners will receive any e-copy of a Hailey Turner book. Must be 18 to enter and win. Open Internationally.

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Zero Divergence by Aimee Nicole Walker: Blog Tour, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Zero Divergence, noun: no deviation from a course or standard.

After a key piece of evidence goes missing, a suspected serial rapist and killer evades prosecution. More than Royce Locke’s reputation is on the line when his investigation into the failed chain of custody suggests Franco Humphries might’ve had inside help. There’s no one Royce trusts more than Sawyer Key to help him right a wrong and uncover the traitor in their midst, but can they do it before the Savannah Strangler strikes again?

Relentless plus fearless equals flawless. Sawyer and Royce have come full circle—from hostile strangers to best friends and lovers. Neither a sniper’s bullet nor an arsonist’s fire could keep them apart, but what about a psychopath hell bent on revenge? The stakes are high, and there’s no turning back now because the zero hour is upon them. Tick tock.

Zero Divergence is the conclusion to the best-selling Zero Hour series, which follows Locke and Key’s investigations and evolving relationship. This is a series you MUST read in order. It contains mature language and sexual content intended for adults 18 and older.

Trigger warning: Part of the storyline involves coming to terms with a friend’s suicide, which may be difficult for some people to read.

Zero Divergence

Zero Hour Series, Book 3

Aimee Nicole Walker

M/M Romance/Mystery

Release Date: 03.17.20

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Artist: Jay Aheer

Models: Jacob and Steven

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“Oh my god,” he said as the chocolate cake melted in his mouth. “I need this for every occasion.”

“I’ll bake it once a week if you promise to listen to orders from now on,” Royce said, taking a bite for himself. 

Sawyer met Royce’s stormy eyes. “I’ll agree to that if you promise not to give stupid orders.” He opened his mouth like a baby bird, and Royce gave him another bite. It was somehow more delicious than the first.

“No more burning buildings,” Royce groused. 

“It wasn’t burning when I ran into it,” Sawyer countered. “You ran into the burning building.” He couldn’t be mad at Royce, because chances were, he’d be dead if Royce hadn’t risked his own life to pull Sawyer out of the inferno. 

“So insubordinate.” 

They stared at one another in a silent battle of wills for a few seconds before a big yawn ruined Sawyer’s fierce expression. “We’ll resume this after I take a power nap.” Smiling, Royce leaned forward to set the plate on the coffee table, but Sawyer stopped him. “But not until after I eat more cake.” 

Royce aimed a cocky grin at him. “Got you hooked now.”

“You have no idea.”

Have you read books 1 and 2? No? Stop. Close this window, go back, read them, then you can read this review. If you have read books 1 and 2, please continue.

I’m not going to rehash the first two books. But I definitely couldn’t wait for this one.

Sawyer is recovering from his burns while Locke is still working at trying to prove that a serial rapist and murderer just walked free. And there is a new chief of police and two new rookies he is babysitting. With the help of an eclectic group of people, we follow the trail.

I really liked how this book really delved into the plot. Who did it. Who helped them do it. Why did they help them do it. How are they going to catch them and PROVE that they did it. It definitely kept me turning the pages.

It got twisty and turny but all roads finally led to the well thought out conclusion. It was absolutely satisfying and not rushed or finished off cleanly just for the sake of it.

Don’t worry, fans of the sexy times. There was still plenty.

Locke also finally gets some closure surrounding Marcus’ death. It was difficult and painful and I shed some tears. But again, it was thoughtfully done and not just an easy answer.

This is a must read conclusion to a fun and engaging series.

4 pieces of eye candy

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day. I’d love to hear from you 

https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

Universal Series Buy Link: http://mybook.to/ZeroHourSeries

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The Infinite Onion by Alice Archer: New Release Review

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The truth is harder to hide when someone sharp starts poking around.

Grant Eastbrook hit the ground crawling after his wife kicked him out. Six months later, in Seattle without a job or a place to live, he escapes to the woods of nearby Vashon Island to consider his options. When he’s found sleeping outdoors by a cheerful man who seems bent on irritating him to death, Grant’s plans to resuscitate his life take a peculiar turn.

Oliver Rossi knows how to keep his fears at bay. He’s had years of practice. As a local eccentric and artist, he works from his funky home in the deep woods, where he thinks he has everything he needs. Then he rescues an angry man from a rainy ditch and discovers a present worth fighting the past for.
Amid the buzz of high summer, unwelcome attraction blooms on a playing field of barbs, defenses, and secrets.

Standalone romance novel. HEA.

Amazon

Ooof. This book was a long, rambling mess. If it was cut in half with a good editor and fact checker, it could be good. But as it stands, sorry. It’s terrible.

Let’s see. Grant is fairly recently divorced. From a very successful woman. And apparently he had the world’s worst divorce lawyer because he doesn’t get alimony. He works at a copy store. Because that is all he has done. Until he is all but fired, so he quit. Which is STUPID.

With no money, no job and no car, he gets himself to an island off of the coast of Washington state. He remembers his former brother in law buying a cabin there to rehab as a summer home. So he figured he would crash there for a while. Except it isn’t a cabin, it is more like a shed and he is better off outside. Until he is busted- by said former brother in law. Who brought one of his sons. Luckily the one who really likes Grant, because this kid is the black sheep of the family.
‘
The kid and Grant go for a walk. And somehow fall asleep. IN A DITCH. Like no big deal, that happens. And Oliver finds them and brings them home.

Oliver is a super eccentric artist. Who likens himself a therapist with zero training. That’s cool, right? He doesn’t call himself a therapist, but he has sessions with people. OMG the rolling eyes.

This happens, that happens, Grant and Oliver come to an agreement so that Grant can use basic ammenities for doing things for Oliver. Trim the hedges, do the grocery shopping. It was stupid. I get that Oliver, the not therapist, thought he was helping Grant, but really it was terrible. Grant had to practically grovel.

Come to find out Oliver has issues. BIG SHOCK. We don’t know the extent of those issues. But big issues.

Grant takes a few tweens under his wing- including his former nephew for nature walks and the like. He never seems to think to ask for parental permission. Nor does Oliver who watches from the wings.

Oh, Oliver also has a friends with benefits. And decides all of a sudden to give the guy an ultimatum. A guy who spends most of his time in Asia as a journalist chasing a Pulitzer. Sure, he will drop everything to become a monogamous boyfriend on an island in Washington.

I can’t even go on. I finished the book. I thought maybe it would redeem itself. It didn’t. I promise. And it is a long book- over 400 pages. Wasted time that I will never get back.

1.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Late Night Poetry by Nell Iris: Blog Tour, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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A love story told in answering machine messages.

Saying “I love you” to someone who says it first, isn’t supposed to lead to a break-up, but that’s what happens to Sully and Lou. Sully is out and proud while Lou is in the closet, so when their relationship deepens, Lou runs.

But then Lou starts leaving emotional messages of remorse on Sully’s answering machine. Sully is torn between his love for Lou and his attempts to get over him. With each message, Lou’s regrets deepen. With each message, it becomes more difficult for Sully to forget him. With each message, Sully finds it harder to want to move on.

Can old love poems and heartbreaking honesty help Sully and Lou find their way back to each other?

Late Night Poetry by Nell Iris

Publisher: JMS Books

Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs

Release Date: March 28, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Second chances

Themes: Reunion

Heat Rating: 1 flame

Length: 10 000 words

It is a standalone story.

JMS Books

Amazon US  

Amazon UK  

Kobo

Apple books

B&N

Sunday, November 25, 1990. 11:35 PM.

“Ron set me up on a date.”—thick, revolted grunt—”A fucking date. He and Kelly told me to come over for dinner but neglected to tell me they had also invited one of her single female friends. Fuck him. I told him I was trying to get over someone and then he does this? I asked him why and he said, ‘I’m your brother, I’m just looking out for you and besides you need to get back into the saddle again.’ The saddle, Sully, like I’m some fucking cowboy or something.”—Deep stuttering breath—“I felt so betrayed. A few days ago, he asked me why I was so mopey, and I told him I’d just broken up with someone really important and that I’m very upset about it. He said he was sorry and then a few days later he tells me to get back on the horse? I couldn’t even storm out of there because he grabbed my arm and said Kelly had worked so hard on the dinner, so I better not disappoint her. He’s definitely inherited his guilt-trip skills from Mom.

“Then I had to spend the rest of the night dodging wandering hands. I can’t tell you how many times I had to brush her fingers away from my thigh. As soon as I could, I got up and left but then she followed me. She cornered me before I could get into my car and kissed me. I felt like I cheated on you. I cheated on you and all I want to do is beg your forgiveness and promise you I won’t do it again. Except it doesn’t matter, does it? I did this to myself. I did this to myself and now I have to live with my choices. With the consequences of my cowardice.

“And you probably don’t care anymore and you’re right not to because you deserve someone by your side who’ll be happy to be seen with you. Someone who’ll stand up to his family and tell them that the person he’s so broken-hearted over is a guy. The most amazing guy I’ve ever met who made me laugh every day and saw behind the tough-guy persona and saw the real me.

“You need someone like that. I wish that person could be me. I’m so sorry. I should stop calling you. I need to stop calling you. It’s just…I miss you. All the time.”

I don’t sleep well that night. It’s one of my few weekends off; I relented and took time off from the bar on the weekend after yet another call from Dad telling me in his sternest voice to not work myself to the bone. I spent the evening conked out on the couch, half-sleeping to a movie I’d seen before, and after that, I moved the party to the bed to get some actual sleep. But Lou’s phone call woke me up, and after listening to his message my sleep is restless.

I dream of his large hands touching every inch of my body. Of his thin but warm lips constantly surrounded by stubble because he needs to shave twice a day to keep his face smooth. Of his long hair hanging like curtains around us as he lay on top of me, kissing me. Of his fingers playing with my curls that he loves so much or tracing the outline of my tattoo.

I dream of long legs entwined with mine and the hard planes of his body rubbing against mine. Of deep moans in my ear, of fingers digging into my flesh, of sweat dripping down on me as he made love with me. I dream of his scent. His deep laughter. How his eyes softened whenever he looked at me.

Caught in the space between dream and consciousness, I dream of…remember?…the time he crawled into my bed late at night, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me flush to his body, pressing his broad chest against my back, rubbing the curly hair covering his pecs against my bed-warmed skin. I was aware of his presence but not quite awake as he carefully caressed the skin under my belly button with a thick thumb. I dream of…remember?…the softly whispered words against the back of my neck. “I love you, Sully Winslow.”

Ah, the 90’s…how I miss you!

I picked this story because even by the blurb, I knew it would break my heart. It did. See, Lou and Sully were in love and though Sully came out and lost a few people he cared about, Lou knew that if he did, he’d lose everyone. Everyone but Sully, anyway… he was too scared to risk it, so he ended things with Sully over an answering machine. As a teenager in the 90’s, I know how badly that hurts, I had an unrequited love of my brother’s best friend and he too, would call and leave messages that just gave me a second of hope before dashing it down the toilet with reality.

Though the two were broken up, they still loved each other, and while Sully was trying to forget his heartbreak and move on, Lou just couldn’t forget. Everything reminded him of Sully, and even though he wanted to let him go for Sully’s sake, he just couldn’t. So, he called him, sometimes drunk, but mostly whenever he was missing him, and he’d read him poetry that reminded of Sully. It was sweet, and sad and I cried like a giant baby.

I was happy that Sully’s dad was there for him, even if it was hard for him to be at times and I wish that Lou had that. I wish everyone had that. I hate the world that’s so full of hate. I know it’s been said a billion and one times and it’s a question that no one understands, but how can you hate someone for loving someone? It just doesn’t make any sense.

HOWEVER… all hope is not lost, and sometimes, love does find it’s way. It’s a short read, but very worth it in the end. Yay for Sully and Lou!

5 pieces of eye candy

Nell Iris is a romantic at heart who believes everyone deserves a happy ending. She’s a bona fide bookworm (learned to read long before she started school), wouldn’t dream of going anywhere without something to read (not even the ladies room), loves music (and singing along at the top of her voice but she’s no Celine Dion), and is a real Star Trek nerd (Make it so). She loves words, bullet journals, poetry, wine, coffee-flavored kisses, and fika (a Swedish cultural thing involving coffee and pastry!)

Nell believes passionately in equality for all regardless of race, gender or sexuality, and wants to make the world a better, less hateful, place.

Nell is a bisexual Swedish woman married to the love of her life, a proud mama of a grown daughter, and is approaching 50 faster than she’d like. She lives in the south of Sweden where she spends her days thinking up stories about people falling in love. After dreaming about being a writer for most of her life, she finally was in a place where she could pursue her dream and released her first book in 2017.

Nell Iris writes gay romance, prefers sweet over angsty, short over long, and quirky characters over alpha males.

Author Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook Author Page  |  Facebook Profile

Twitter: @nellirisauthor  |  Instagram: @nell_iris  |  Goodreads

QueeRomance Ink   |  BookBub

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Forgotten (Heaven and Hell Club, Book 2) by Colette Davison: RDB, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Can he build a future, when he’s forgotten his past?

Jared has fought hard to achieve something close to ‘normal’. Needing to get away from his well-meaning but suffocating family, he follows a message he wrote on a scrap of paper to a new city, hoping to find a missing piece of his past.

When Kyrone, a cocky pole dancer at the Heaven and Hell Club, saunters into the tattoo parlour Jared works in, his life is turned upside down again. A passionate one night stand turns into something unexpected for both men. But life is never simple as they work out if they can have a future beyond what has been forgotten.

Forgotten is an MM romance with hurt/comfort, a small age gap, and two men who need to learn to be true to themselves. It is the second book in the Heaven and Hell Club series and, whilst it can be read as a standalone, works better if read after Broken.

Title: Forgotten (Heaven and Hell Club, Book 2)

Author: Colette Davison

Release Date: March 25, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Hurt/comfort, disabled MC, small age-gap, one night stand to lovers

Themes: Being true to yourself, trusting in others

Length: 75 000 words

Heat Rating: 3-4 flames

Add on Goodreads

Amazon US- Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

“I tell you what,” Kyrone said. “I’ll jump into the shower and then nip to the corner shop to get us something more substantial and healthier for breakfast. You can take a shower while I’m gone. How does that sound?”

Jared glanced at the pile of their clothes on the floor. He didn’t much fancy putting on dirty, slept-in clothes straight after a shower.

“I need to put some laundry on,” Kyrone said. “So I’ll throw your clothes in too.”

“What am I meant to wear in the meantime?”

“Nothing?” Kyrone asked hopefully. “I don’t mind if you wander around my flat naked.”

Jared laughed and shook his head.

“I’ve got a top you can wear.” Kyrone pursed his lips. “I’m pretty sure my underwear and jeans will swamp you, though.”

“Probably,” Jared agreed.

Kyrone extricated himself from beneath Jared and moved to an oversized chest of drawers. He rummaged through the drawers for a couple of minutes, giving Jared an unobstructed view of the man’s lean back and taut arse. With a small cheer, Kyrone pulled out a huge round-neck jumper with wide stripes in two contrasting shades of grey. It looked too big for Kyrone, let alone Jared.

Kyrone threw it across to him. “That should cover you up.”

“It still feels like you’re trying to hold me hostage for the afternoon,” Jared said in a teasing tone. “I can’t exactly go home, wearing nothing but an oversized jumper.”

Kyrone knelt on the bed, leaning forward onto his hands, his face close to Jared’s. “Do you want to go home?” he asked in a soft, low tone that made Jared shiver.

“No.”

“Then I don’t see a problem, do you?”

Alright…so, I’m jumping into this at book two, without reading the first one and I feel, especially from the reviews I’ve gone back and read, that skipping the first one was a huge mistake. Unfortunately, I’m an emotional basketcase, so I didn’t think I could handle it. I’ve just gotten it though, and because I loved this story so much, I’m jumping into it.

Now, in saying how much I adored this heartbreaking story… I did not think I would feel that way. Kyrone is not my kind of guy. I don’t know if he played any part in book one, but he starts off just very conceited and full of himself and I was put off of him immediately. Meeting him when he was going to get a tattoo at Ink Envy, where Jared is apprenticing under his boss, Faye.

The guys are smitten with each other and at first, it’s meant to be a good time, though that only lasts about the first time. Kyrone does a complete 180 and gone is the good-time guy who loves attention and thinks only about himself… and when he notices Jared isn’t well, he drops everything to take care of him, even if it means the good times need to be put on hold. He’s endlessly patient and understanding and is really such a sweet support for Jared.

Jared, my heart kind of broke for. After a terrible accident, Jared wasn’t sure who he was anymore, but he was coping as best as he could with this new normal and trying to be as independent as his illness allowed him. Getting away from his overly hovering parents helped, as did getting a job and the work he spent on getting himself better, but it was still hard doing it by himself. Fortunately, he meets Kyrone, and even though he didn’t want to be a burden on him, he needed Kyrone and Kyrone was happy to be the one he leaned on when he needed someone to lean on.

There’s a part, probably a little insignificant to most who read it, but when Jared repeated this line “Then I won’t hold you to it if keeping that promise makes you miserable” … I could see every reason Kyrone fell in love with him.

I was really surprised by Jared’s parents too, they weren’t at all the way I pictured them. I’m anxious to get into Jag’s story because I knew from the moment he was reading the book, that he had some kind of tie to Jared, I just dind’t understand how heartbreaking it was. I cannot wait to jump into that emotional bag of terrorism. I have a feeling it’s going to ruin my weekend, but in the best way. I really hope there are more in this series, I’d love to see what happens with the rest of the guys at the club!!

And what a sweet ending! It was perfect!

4 pieces of eye candy

Let me get this out of the way. If the author did research on tattoo apprenticeships or tattoo parlors, it wasn’t well done. A reputable tattoo artist doesn’t just pluck someone out of a coffee shop because they like his art and give him a paying job. Apprentices PAY to work at a tattoo shop to get training. And tattoo shops don’t work bankers hours. They don’t open at 10 and close at 5 or 6. Ya it was convenient for the story, but details like that bug me.

On to the story. I was kind of expecting something nefarious about the accident that took Jared’s memory. But the details were really anti climatic. Kyrone really bugged me at the beginning, although he did end up growing on me the more he was with Jared and took care of him.

This is a tough review because I did like the story, but it was the details that took me out of it so much. There were also a few time line issues (day of the week, etc).

Jared and Kyrone are absolutely adorable together, there’s no denying that at all. Although they moved fast, the progression of their relationship was well written. I was shocked there wasn’t more with Jared’s family and there was nothing with previous friends. Friends before his accident. Details. The devil is in the details.

If you can look past the little things (that clearly I can’t) it’s a good story with likable characters. Jared’s injury is explained well and obviously researched. They are an adorable couple with great chemistry, banter and romance. The date that Kryone took Jared on was fabulous. There is a lot of good in the book and worth a read.

It’s book 2, but it is easily a stand alone.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

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Falling For My Roommate by Garrett Leigh: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Falling for his roommate gives ex footballer Micah the second chance he deserves, and what could be better than loving your best friend?

Micah

I’m a broke ex-football player with a bum leg and PTSD. Last summer, I had two choices: the streets, or find a cheap room to rent in the city. I chose the second option, which landed me with a brand-new problem, cos I hadn’t banked on my roommate becoming my best friend. Or that before long I’d find myself head over heels in love with him. Trouble is, even if Sam likes me back, I ain’t fit to be no one’s boyfriend. I don’t know how. All I do is wade through every precious moment and hope that he doesn’t regret the day he ever met me.

Sam

I’m a gay book nerd with no business falling in love with hunky athletes. Micah is the dictionary definition of beautiful, inside and out, he just doesn’t know it. And he definitely doesn’t know I’m ridiculously in love with him. The embarrassing kind of love.

He’s all I can think about.

But it’s not as simple as loving someone who doesn’t love me back. Micah is damaged goods—at least, that’s how he’d put it. The world has chewed him up and spat him out, and he thinks he deserved it. That he’s still the battered mess he was a year ago.

I want to shake him, and shout in his face that he’s not. To force the truth on him and make him believe in himself the way I do. But I can’t save Micah. One day, perhaps he’ll realise that he already saved himself.

Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

Amazon US- Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK – Kindle Unlimited

So good!

Except for the boring title, I really loved this book. Micah was a small character in a previous book (I really love that. Because then you don’t have to read the previous books, but if you did you get these pop in characters you can check on) when he was a professional football (soccer) player. Now permanently injured, his mental health precarious and most of his money gone, he shares an apartment with Sam and works as a personal trainer for senior citizens.

Sam is just a chill guy. He works as a bartender and goes to school very part time. And he loves books. Of course you’re going to love a guy who loves books! Honestly, I wish he talked about books and his love of books more. Teehee

Anyway, mutual crushes, longing looks, but best friends and roomies. They are just so cute together. They totally act like a couple without the benefits. They start dipping their toes into the idea of being a couple while visiting Sam’s parents.

Throughout the entire book you just want to hug Micah. OMG this guy. His entire life did a 180. He is struggling everyday. His inner dialogue really showed the turmoil of living with mental health issues and how quickly and easily things can change. Anyone who lives with anxiety or depression or ptsd will absolutely see bits of themselves in him.

Often when one character is struggling, the other tends to be overly happy and optimistic and you want to smack them. Not Sam though. Yes, he does lead a fairly charmed life with little struggle, he does everything he can to understand Micah, not just try to get him to cheer up. He isn’t that character who is practically a cheerleader with permasmile. He was super real.

This is a must read if you are a fan of Garrett Leigh. If the author is new to you, it is easy to jump right in with this one. You’ll probably go back to read as many of the others as you can.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer.

Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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