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Boyfriend With Benefits by Allison Temple: New Release Review

August 26, 2020 by Denise

When Bailey’s new boss turns out to be his childhood bully, a.k.a. Jake the Jerk, it’s time to call in backup for the upcoming corporate retreat in Vegas. Too bad Bailey works too much to date. His best option is to ask his very straight roommate to play the part of temporary boyfriend, even if Gordo is better with pythons than he is with people.

Except Bailey and Gordo haven’t even checked into the hotel and Jake the Jerk is already everywhere. The pressure is on for Bailey to prove he deserves to climb the corporate ladder, but it’s hard to talk shop as Gordo goes from backup to an increasingly attractive distraction.

Bailey’s trying to keep his cool, schmooze the executives and stick to the plan, even though Gordo’s not playing by any of the rules. They’ve always been just friends, but maybe it’s time to be boyfriends…with full benefits.

Boyfriend with Benefits is a 37k contemporary MM romance novella. It features fake boyfriends who might not be so fake, a hotel room with only one bed, and a James Bond moment in a tiny blue bathing suit. HEA guaranteed.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

This was such a fun, sweet, sexy book. One of my favorite romance tropes is friends to lovers, and this was a great example of that.

These two were living together, as roommates, for a few years. Gordo was honestly kind of a nerd, but with a huge heart of gold, especially for animals. He may have been kind of quiet, but really said a lot when he did speak. Also, he could have easily grew to NOT like Bailey as they got to Vegas, with all of Bailey’s issues with his clothing, etc, but Gordo just went along with it.

Bailey was a hot mess, and who could blame him? He was doing well at his job, even if you could tell he didn’t love it, and along comes the tormentor of his youth to basically become his boss. This trip was not anything to look forward to, but it definitely was something that changed both Gordo and Bailey’s lives…and Jake the Jerk’s. 🙂

There are a couple big secrets revealed along the way, but of course, as always we get our HEA. Totally worth it.

Definitely give this one a read!

4 pieces of eye candy

Wood: A True Lover’s Story by A.E. Via: Blog Tour, New Release Review * 2

August 26, 2020 by Denise

This isn’t a romance about billionaires, movie stars, or models. This is a story of two ordinary, working-class men, dealing with life’s real problems, and trying to find love along the way.

It’s been a long seventeen years but Herschel Wood Jr. is finally a free man and he’s looking forward to reconnecting with his old cellmate, Bishop Stockley, who promised him a place to stay and some help getting back on his feet. Wood had a good life once upon time when he’d owned one of the most successful tattoo shops on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront – until a fatal accident that was his fault cost him everything.

Now at forty-six years old, all Wood wants is to work in another shop on the beach and find a mature, easygoing man to settle down with. But when he gets to his new place and finds he has to share the small trailer with Bishop’s childhood friend, he wasn’t expecting a sexy, smart-mouthed brat that enjoys pushing a man to his limits.

Wood pressed in so tight until there was only air and misunderstanding between them, his mouth mere inches from Trent’s parted lips. “You wanted to get a reaction out of me you annoying, immature little shit… now you’ve got one.”

Trent Armstrong has never been considered a catch. He’s a twenty-nine year old laborer, an ex-con, and not the easiest person to get along with. Everyone he’s ever cared for has walked out of his life without a backward glance, so he’s used to the loneliness. His foul mouth and quick temper are a great defense mechanism and a good way to keep unwanted people away.

From the moment the tattooed, silver-haired man walked into the house there had been nothing but tension, side-eyeing, and sparks between them. Trent has always held back a side of himself that he’s nervous to explore, and without warning Wood’s voice, his maturity, that maddening scent, and even his damaged past all trigger feelings that Trent thought he’d buried long ago.

Trent went completely still when Wood dragged his nose over his forehead and down the side of his face. His voice was shaky, and his breaths were hot and swift along Wood’s throat. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m doing what you want me to do.” Wood whispered. “I’m playing your bullshit game, Trent.”

The True Lover’s Stories are connected standalones. Each title features a different couple but will contain previously mentioned characters.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhanger. Ends with a HEA.
Note: This is a steaming angsty, age gap, new-to-love romance.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Bishop: A True Lover’s Story

Well. Dayum! I was a big fan of Bishop, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Wood. And while Bishop and Edison remain my favorite couple, I still enjoyed this book a lot. Was it perfect? Nah. But it was still a good read.

Bishop moved in with Edison and it seems his dad moved in with his girlfriend (this very well could have happened at the end of Bishop, my memory is crap) and since Trent was already sleeping on their couch- now he had the trailer to himself. Until Wood’s former cell mate gets out of prison and Bishop offers him the other bedroom. And to be roommates with Trent.

Poor Trent. I think mostly he was mad because he had a place to himself, that was basically his and now he has to share. Growing up like he did- I get it. And then apparently he had been quietly questioning his sexuality and then this handsome silver fox moves in.

Trent definitely has issues. He believes that everyone leaves him. Which is kind of unfair to Bishop and Mike who are ALWAYS there for him, but whatever. His mother bailed and a “mystery man” bailed. We do learn more about that, but no spoilers.

Wood also has issues, but is really good at compartmentalizing.

So push/pull, love/hate, older/younger. It is all there. They were both jerks to each other until they started hooking up. Then Wood’s past kind of smacked him in the face and Trent was there to help him through a really tough thing. Trent was really kind of swoony during all of that.

They were definitely hot together and I liked the premise of the story. Of course the writing itself was great. I did have a couple of issues. Mostly with Wood and his background. I don’t understand how he was found guilty of his crime. It seems easy enough to prove (yes, I am being vague). To not fight it at all. It seems he had the resources. I can’t imagine the guilt led him to accept that kind of punishment. But, it is what it is.

Trent also gets some closure, which he desperately needed and I was really happy for him there.

Overall, I really liked Wood and Trent together, but I am just really picky with some stuff. Admittedly.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

I wasn’t ready. I thought I was ready, but I wasn’t. Let’s discuss.

We met Trent back in Bishop’s book, right? If you haven’t, stop what you’re doing and go read it. You will not be disappointed. I absolutely adored both him and Edison and they deserve every bit of adoration, they’re perfect. In saying that, I kinda had a bone to pick with Trent. He was mouthy, immature, hot-headed, immature, petty, immature, and in case you didn’t catch it, he was really immature. I didn’t understand him so much, I just knew he was important to Bishop, and now I understand why. Trent broke my heart. I felt for him so much in this story, because yeah, he’s still hot-headed, petty and extremely immature, he’s also incredibly loyal, the best friend to have in your corner, and once you earn a place in his life, there isn’t anything he’s not willing to do for you. He’s the best kind of person to have in your life, even if he doesn’t feel worthy.

Wood is fresh out of jail after doing near on twenty years for an accident that took a life. I say accident because it was, and Wood never made excuses and he owned it from the very beginning. That was Wood’s way. Fourty-six years young, he lost everything when he went in and starting over was going to be hard now that he’s out… not as hard as it could’ve been, because Wood had Bishop, who he met in prison. Bishop was giving him a place to get back on his feet, but there was once catch… he had to share the place with Bishops best friend, Trent… who did not want to be sharing his space with anyone, least of all a person that he felt had come between him and Bishop.

Trent doesn’t like change, doesn’t like new people, doesn’t like people who might threaten the relationships he trusts in, like Bishop is my best friend and he’s already got Edison, so there is no room in his life for another best friend, kinda thinking… I did mention the immature part, yes? However, it’s so much deeper than that and it hurt me to hear why.

Trent is used to be left. He’s used to being cast aside when someone better comes along, someone not as hot-headed and bratty. He’s used to pushing people away, giving them a reason to up and leave before they get a chance to leave him. He’s been hurt by so many people, left and discarded, it’s really no wonder he is the way he is. I would be too.
Feel attracted to Wood wasn’t part of the plan when he moved in, especially because he wanted to keep that chip on his shoulder and prove that Wood was the enemy, trying to take his best friend. Wood was somewhat patient and he seemed to see right through Trent, which was another problem, because as a ‘straight’ man, Trent didn’t want Wood seeing through him. It was inevitable though… they were exactly what each other needed.

My heart also broke for Wood, and I don’t want to give anything away, but I felt disappointed with me, in him and the man-made me feel all the emotions, especially when he messes up… badly. Not with Trent, with himself. With his sobriety. Having gone the last two years battling my own, I felt his pain. Maaaan, did I feel his pain. And that’s when Trent showed his loyalty. His compassion. His huge heart for the people he cared about. He knew it was likely going to bite him in the long run, but he was there. He fought for Wood when Wood couldn’t fight for himself. When Wood was broken, Trent held him together. How can anyone not see how beautiful that is?

I also loved the banter between Trent and Bishop and Bishop and Wood. I loved the interactions between Trent and Mike and how protective of Trent, Mike is. I loved Edison, and his soft heart and how he just is with everyone, and I CANNOT wait to see what’s going to happen with Rayne and Mike, hello, their whole interaction was HOT. I also hope we get to see more Elton, aka, El. I have a feeling they’re all going to be just as amazing and the rest of this series has been so far.

I cannot wait!

So, if you like a little angst, some very hot anticipation that is guaranteed to deliver, and a very sweet happily ever after, don’t pass this one up. You’ll love them as much as I do, I promise!

5 pieces of eye candy

Bitten By Mistake (Regent’s Park Pack Book 1) by Annabelle Jacobs: Audiobook Review

August 26, 2020 by Denise

From animosity to searing passion in a lunar cycle…but can their bond survive?

Wolf shifter Nathan Kohl’s pack is his whole life. Arrogant and handsome, he avoids commitment to anything or anyone outside of his pack. He works hard, plays hard, and pursues humans as lovers because there’s little to no chance of him forming a permanent bond. However, when Jared Taylor comes into Nathan’s life, every rule is broken.

After a bad experience, Jared vowed to never get involved with another shifter, no matter how much they got under his skin. Despite being physically attracted to Nathan, who’s all kinds of hot, Jared only sees an arrogant, domineering bastard.

A disastrous case of mistaken identity throws Nathan and Jared together until the next full moon. Forced to spend the next twenty-eight days in close proximity, they can no longer ignore the powerful attraction between them. Passion ignites, and their relationship takes a turn neither of them wanted.

But when the full moon comes, everything might change again.

Audible

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

The story – The premise of the shifter world started really well. I love any story that has a new twist on a favorite genre of mine. Basically biting humans to change them is illegal and can be a sentence of death, and this happening is the whole focus of the plot. The forced proximity plot on the whole was well handled with a few gross moments I would have been happier to gloss over, and some inconsistencies that weren’t resolved.

I loved that the author didn’t try and force all the backstory on us in one go, but at the same time some of the info was a little too convenient and sometimes lacking.

Having said that this is the start of a series so I’m expecting those questions will be explained in later books.

I liked the action sequences and the hot sex scenes, but I found myself waiting for the emotional attachment that never quite seemed to happen.

The narration – Antony Ferguson is a new to me narrator with a very smooth voice. I would have liked to see some more regional accents in the story. Taking place in London which is a hotbed for different nationalities, I expected a little more than I got. I also sometimes wanted to speed things up a little to get around his careful and sometimes very precise narration.

Story: 3.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 3.5 pieces of eye candy

As Big as the Sky by Amy Aislin: Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

August 26, 2020 by Denise

Sam McAuley isn’t having a great start to the summer. Served with papers? Great. He’s being sued. Perfect, pristine yard overrun with chickens? What the—? Clearly, the new guy running the animal rehabilitation centre next door has no idea what he’s doing.

It’s one town to the next, one school to the next, one job to the next for Bo Novak. Everything is temporary. Even his current job—running his sister’s animal rehab centre while she’s away on a four-month leave—is temporary. And he does know what he’s doing, thank you very much. Sure, things don’t always run smoothly, but the stick-in-the-mud next door could be a little nicer about it.

One overheard conversation, an olive branch, and a baseball game might show these guys that being at odds isn’t really what they want, and that what they want might just be each other.

As Big as the Sky was first published in August 2017. This new edition has a brand new cover but no content changes.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

“So what do you do in that big house next door all by yourself?” Bo asked, spreading mustard on a couple slices of bread. “Besides garden, I mean. How’d it go with the magazine people this morning, anyway? Sounded like it went well from my side of the fence.”

“It did,” Sam said. “They’ll be back next week with a writer to interview me. Though I don’t know why. I’m not all that interesting.”

Bo took in Sam’s perfect hair, the neat beard, the broad shoulders, rough hands, tapered waist…and begged to differ.

“Besides,” Sam continued, “I’m no gardening expert. It’s just a hobby. They’d be better off interviewing a horticulturist.”

“Maybe it’s for some kind of mini bio?” Bo finished assembling the sandwiches and plated them. Taking a container of pre-cut veggies out of the fridge, he added a few to the plates, then handed one to Sam.

“Thank you,” Sam said. “They’ll also be coming with a camera crew next week to photograph the garden.”

Bo grunted. “I’ll make sure my chickens stay on this side of the fence.”

Sam winced. Bo had meant it as a joke; clearly it fell flat. Not knowing what to say, he took a bite of his sandwich.

Sam finished chewing and nodded at something on the island. “You read that one yet?”

That was volume three of a popular yaoi series. Bo was slowly making his way through it.

“I’m about halfway through.” Bo munched on a celery stick. “I like it but…I like a little paranormal in my manga.”

Sam polished off his veggies. “Me too. What’s your favourite?”

“It’s not manga but…Scythe and Swords.” Scythe and Swords was about a married demon-fighting duo. James and Elliot were sickeningly cute ass kickers who could behead a demon, praise each other’s fighting skills, and make out like relieved, horny teenagers while covered in icky demon gore, all within the span of five seconds.

Sam’s eyebrows went up. “The web comic?”

He sounded so surprised that Bo’s hackles went up. “Something wrong with web comics? Just because they’re not traditionally published doesn’t mean they’re not as good. That’s like saying books published in e-form only aren’t as good as what you can find on the shelves.”

Sam lifted both hands. “Whoa. I didn’t say that. I was just surprised. I’ve never met anyone outside of online and cons who have ever heard of it.”

Oh. Well, didn’t Bo feel like an idiot? It wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling. Laura always said he was too quick to react.

“Have you read the latest chapter?” Sam asked.

“Yeah. And holy shit did it take a turn I wasn’t expecting! Can you believe—wait.” Bo stopped himself from vomiting any spoilers. “Have you read it?”

Sam nodded, mouth full of food, giving Bo permission to continue. “First of all, I almost stopped reading when Elliot got killed off. It was only S.P. McAuley’s promise that we hadn’t seen the last of him that made me keep reading. And second? I didn’t expect Elliot to still be alive. I thought he’d be coming back as a ghost or something. Oh, and third…” Bo kept rambling, mostly to keep himself distracted from the slight smile that had reappeared on Sam’s face.

They chatted comics for the better part of an hour, until well after they’d both finished their sandwiches. It wasn’t until Sam pushed his empty plate away and stood that Bo remembered he had something for him.

“Don’t go anywhere,” he told Sam, and headed upstairs to the guest room he’d claimed as his own. He came down with a few comics and a graphic novel. “Um…” Suddenly embarrassed, he shifted from foot to foot. “Laura mentioned that you’re into comics, so I, uh, brought you some of mine. In case you’d like to read them.” He thrust them at Sam, forcing him to take them.

Sam’s smile was crooked. “Thanks. Although…” He handed two back to Bo. “I have these ones.” The first two volumes of Scythe and Swords. Bo had received them as part of S.P. McAuley’s Kickstarter campaign a few months ago. “Anyway, thank you for lunch. I have to go feed Tripaw before he starts eating my shoes.”

“Tripaw?”

“My cat,” Sam said, tucking the comics under one arm. “Like tripod. Because he only has three legs?”

“No, I get it.” Bo grinned. “You named your cat after the one in Scythe and Swords?”

Sam’s cheeks pinked.

I liked this book. It had a good, not quite insta-love, romance, with a bit of conflict, but overall was sweet.

My main issue was that Bo was very unlikable to me at the beginning. He was rude, mean, and honestly, an a**hole, with no real reason for being such. I get that the sister may have played a part in how Sam reacted to Bo’s initial appearance, but it just wasn’t a good enough excuse for me to have that reaction, and for Bo to basically fall in lust immediately despite that. About 40% in, once I saw that Sam was seeing all the issues Bo had to deal with, I was able to “forgive” Sam, but it stuck with me for quite a bit.

Bo just couldn’t catch a break. His parents were flakes to an extreme degree. His sister had some sort of mental block to all the ways he had helped her over the years, and so thought he was a flake. Then when he was there helping, things didn’t quite go to plan. He never gave up though, and kept trying, hoping to find that niche that was all his.

I did really like how the two worked well together, as they started to find what was right for them, how they could make their lives together, etc. Sam bringing Bo to see his parents, just to enjoy the horses, etc really was a good stepping stone, and helped bring their relationship that much closer. I loved Sam’s family, too. They were all in. 🙂

Overall, 3 pieces of eye candy

Amy‘s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group, Amy Aislin’s Readers, to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram and Twitter, or sign up for her newsletter.

Sand-Man’s Family: An M/M Coming of Age Romance by CJane Elliott: RDB, Exclusive Author Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

August 25, 2020 by Denise

It isn’t easy to leave a family that hurts. But what if it’s the start of finding a love that heals?

High-school senior Sandy’s Catholic parents are furious to discover he’s had sex before marriage. But when he blurts out he’s bisexual, they go ballistic. To avoid conversion therapy, Sandy runs away from Rockford, Illinois to move in with his gay uncle in Portland and start a new life.

He leaves behind Jade, the fabulous out gay kid in their Catholic high school. They hooked up—once—to confirm Sandy’s bisexuality. Jade had never expected to get that far with star athlete and altar boy Sandy. But he was crushed when Sandy disappeared without even telling him.

A year later Jade and Sandy run into each other on the train going home to Rockford for Thanksgiving and form an alliance to help Sandy confront his parents. Will they keep building where they left off or will their spark turn to dust?

If you like coming of age stories, queer kids finding the courage to be themselves, and the comfort of found families, you’ll love Sand-Man’s Family.

Title: Sand-Man’s Family: An M/M Coming of Age Romance

Series: Wild and Precious Book 3

Author: CJane Elliott

Publisher: CJane Elliott

Release Date: 8/24/20

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 36,800 words

Genre: Romance, New Adult, Young Adult, Coming of Age, coming out, family drama, bisexual, college, hurt-comfort

Goodreads

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Book 1, Wild and Precious, is on sale for just $0.99 for a limited time.

Find the entire series HERE.

Hello there! I’m CJane Elliott and happy to be on the Two Chicks Obsessed blog today to share Sand-Man’s Family, the third book in my Wild and Precious series.

Sand-Man’s Family differs from the first two stories in the Wild and Precious series in the age of the main characters. In the first two novellas, those ages ranged from mid-twenties to late thirties. In Sand-Man’s Family, Sandy and Jade (and Dare, who Sandy dated before Jade) are seniors in high school (for the flashback scenes) and most of the action takes place the following year, when they are at the most nineteen years old.

I enjoy writing New Adult characters who are teetering on the edge of adulthood. They’re often still sorting out who they are in relation to themselves, their gender/sexual identity, and their relationships. Family still plays a big role, positive or negative. This is the age when people start living away from home and begin to create their families of choice. Some of them are lucky in their families of origin but many are not.

I’ve brought you a short scene that happens after Sandy’s parents bring the parish priest and a conversion therapy expert to the home when Sandy returns for Thanksgiving to continue to pressure him to give up his “sinful” bisexuality. Needless to say, they don’t succeed. Sandy is rescued by the arrival of Uncle Phineas, his partner Cody, and Jade. After confronting Sandy’s parents, they all go the Phineas and Cody’s hotel, along with Sandy’s younger brother Connor. I love that Sandy has found a loving, accepting family with his uncle, his brother, and his budding love interest, Jade.

Sandy lay on the big hotel bed, his head on Uncle Phinney’s shoulder while Connor rested on Phinney’s other shoulder. Jade snuggled in against Sandy’s back. Cody had declined the puppy pile in favor of providing soft soothing music on his guitar.

“I love you both so much.” Uncle Phinney patted them tenderly. “I’m so proud of my nephews.”

“Thanks, Uncle Phinney.” Connor’s voice sounded muffled, like he’d stuck his face into Phinney’s armpit or something.

Sandy soothed the emotions swirling inside by concentrating on the safety of Uncle Phinney’s sturdy shoulder and the soft touch of Jade’s arm around him. He didn’t want to think about his parents or his former home or his brother and sisters stuck there. He wanted to be here, warm and loved, with Cody playing softly in the background.

Cody paused. “We can cut our trip short, you know. We can come home with you if you want, Sand-Man.”

“No. I’m cool.”

“You sure?” Uncle Phinney’s frown was full of concern. “It’s really okay. Cody and I already talked about it.”

“I’ll be fine, Uncle Phinney. I’ll be where I want to be, in Portland. Blaine and Gemma are around if I need anyone.”

“And I’m only a few hours up the road,” Jade said softly into Sandy’s ear.

Sandy grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I know.” Then he peered over at Connor.

“Connor’s the one we need to worry about.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m sticking around till I graduate, then I’m out of there. I don’t want to leave the girls until I have to.”

“Call us. Anytime, day or night.” Uncle Phinney made an anxious sound. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I’m worried for you.”

Jade stirred and raised up on one elbow. “Papa’s aware of the situation. I sent him the video.”

When everyone looked at him funny, he added, “He’s got a lot of cop friends. He’ll keep an eye out. Connor, he said for you to call him if things get hinky.”

“Cool. Thanks.”

They all flopped back down, and Sandy relaxed completely. He found himself stroking Jade’s hand and wishing they had a room to themselves. As if reading his thoughts, Jade leaned up and nibbled his earlobe. Now Sandy really needed for them to get a room.

“Come to my house tonight?” Jade whispered.

“Um, Uncle Phinney?”

“Hmm?”

“Is it cool for me to go over to Jade’s? He’s gotta go to the airport tomorrow too, so I can get a ride to the shuttle with them. You guys could drop Connor off and be on your way.”

He saw Uncle Phinney smile and glance over at Cody, who smiled back. “Sure. As long as Connor is okay with his brother ditching him his last night here.”

“Whatever, man.” Connor yawned. “I’ll be here, cockblocking Cody and Uncle Phinney.”

After years of hearing characters chatting away in her head, award-winning author CJane Elliott finally decided to put them on paper and hasn’t looked back since. A psychotherapist by training, CJane writes sexy, passionate LGBTQ romances that explore the human psyche. CJane has traveled all over North America for work and her characters are travelers, too, traveling down into their own depths to find what they need to get to the happy ending.

CJane is bisexual and an ardent supporter of LGBTQ equality. In her spare time, CJane can be found dancing, listening to music, or watching old movies. Her family supports her writing habit by staying out of the way when they see her hunched over, staring intensely at her laptop.

CJane is the author of the award-winning Serpentine Series, New Adult contemporary novels set at the University of Virginia. Serpentine Walls was a 2014 Rainbow Awards finalist, Aidan’s Journey was a 2015 EPIC Awards finalist, and Sex, Love, and Videogames won first place in the New Adult category in the 2016 Swirl Awards and first place in Contemporary Fiction in the 2017 EPIC eBook Awards. Her contemporary novel All The Way To Shore was runner up for best bisexual fiction in the 2017 Rainbow Awards.

http://cjaneelliott.com/

https://facebook.com/cjane.elliott

https://twitter.com/CJaneElliott

cjaneelliott@gmail.com

http://instagram.com/cjaneelliott

http://bookbub.com/authors/cjane-elliott

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Better Than People by Roan Parrish: Release Day Review * 2

August 25, 2020 by Denise

It’s not long before their pet-centric arrangement sparks a person-centric desire…

Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.

Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.

Being with Jack—talking, walking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

Amazon

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Roan Parrish. The Remaking of Corbin Wale is on my favorites list. So I was really excited for this release. It definitely had the same sort of vibe as Corbin Wale (as opposed to her Riven series or her Small Change series) and it was really good.

Jack is a loner, a children’s book illustrator who lost his art after his partner and collaborator stole an idea from him. For nearly a year he has been home, unable to draw, with only his pack of dogs and cats as company. And his well meaning brother who checks on him. Until he breaks his leg and can’t walk his dogs- the highlight of his day. So he goes online and finds someone willing to walk his pack twice a day. No easy feat as some of the animals are neurotic with their own little quirks.

Simon adores animals, but living with his grandmother who is highly allergic means he can’t have his own. So he is eager to help out this stranger and his dogs. Not so eager to have to talk to him though because of debilitating social anxiety.

After a few missteps, Jack and Simon find their groove. Simon loves the dogs, the dogs love him. But Jack is totally miserable and lonely and intrigued by Simon.

Their slow dance to come together is one of my favorite things about how Roan Parrish writes. It is so lyrical they way they develop a language together that doesn’t necessarily use words. Looks and touches and movements. It’s a ballet.

The dogs themselves- the pack- are their own individual characters. They add to the story instead of just being there. With them as a buffer, Simon slowly comes to trust Jack. Without them, I don’t know that Simon would have ever come out of his shell.

Simon’s grandmother is hilarious and adorable. Jack’s brother is broody and sweet and I definitely want more of his story.

There is an awesome easter egg that made me smile.

This book is up there with Corbin Wale in my favorites.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Okay, I will start with, I am the opposite of Erin in this. I haven’t read anything yet by Roan Parrish. I’ve been meaning to, and as I researched this review, I found that last Christmas Day, I purchased The Remaking of Corbin Wale. (As a side note, I am fairly certain I have a couple other books by this author on my purchased but yet to read list.) I did notice as I was reading Better Than People, the reference to Corbin Wale, and knew that it must have referred back to that…so on that note, I will be for sure reading it this holiday season! I’m also very sorry that it’s taken me this long to get on board!

The characters in this book were so distinctive. Even now, several days later, there are so many distinguishing characteristics in all the characters, both MC and side characters that stick out to me. Simon with his extreme shyness, Jack with his grumpiness, Puddles the dog who’s afraid of almost everything, Pirate the Cat who is the leader of a pack of dogs and cats, Grandma who is kooky, and caring, and grieving. This band of…well Pirates lol, really stuck with me.

The two MC’s took some time to find their way. Getting past Simon’s extreme shyness took perseverance by Jack, even when he didn’t know why Simon just grabbed the dog leashes and ran out the door. He didn’t judge Simon, just waited. Meanwhile, Simon berated himself for what has always been an issue for him. Jack was patience, didn’t make any assumptions, and found a way to get through to Simon.

As an aside…this author can write some seriously HAWT scenes…just saying…

I really enjoyed the journey this book took me on. Simon didn’t have to “fix” himself for Jack. Jack had to learn what he could live with, and what was important to him, his pack, which grew to include Simon, as well as even his own brother. (I’d sure like to see a story with Jack’s brother…if anyone is asking…there is definitely some backstory there.)

I am going to have to do some backlist reading now, so you’ll excuse me. 🙂

4 pieces of eye candy