Casey Cox

It’s just a one-night stand, they said. It’ll be simple, no-strings fun, they said. They. Lied.

I’m done with love and being broken-hearted. The only dogs I want to deal with are the ones I treat in the veterinary clinic I work at.

But at thirty-four, having my first one-night stand can’t hurt. Right? The rules are pretty simple.

1. Don’t spend the night.
2. Don’t see him again.
3. Don’t share anything personal.
4. Don’t fall in love with him.

But when Haze, the guy I spent a blazing hot night with and haven’t been able to forget about, shows up as our new receptionist, the rules fly out the window.

There’s no way one night could lead to anything more. So why has Haze got me hoping this might just last?

Got Me Hoping is book 1 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect plenty of humor, found family, an adorable golden retriever, a foul-mouthed parrot, a whole new way of getting clean (as well as very, very dirty) and a heartwarming happily ever after!

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

My thoughts screech to a halt when the guy I’ve been subtly ogling all evening practically bowls me over. Okay, I admit, I may have strategically positioned myself near the hallway that leads to the men’s room so that we’d maybe bump into each other as he left. I wasn’t expecting it to happen quite so literally, though.

He’s nervous, and it’s cute as hell. Maybe that’s why it unleashes a cheekiness in me. As we settle at the bar and have a drink, I’m struck by his eyes. Yes, he’s got the whole Henry Cavill thing going on, and seriously, those biceps are beyond ridiculous, but it’s his eyes that pull me in. They’re a rich, mossy green, but more than that, they’re kind. You can tell a lot about a person by their eyes, and his tell me he’s a decent guy.

Even as we’re chatting away, I can see that he’s a little on edge. It’s endearing, though, and when he tells me he’s never had a one-night stand, the pieces fall perfectly into place.

He’s still a little skittish as we wait for an Uber outside the bar. I zip my bomber jacket all the way up and blow out a puff of steam into the cold night air. “I’ve only had four drinks,” Noah tells me, eyeing the road, on the lookout for the car. “I’m just erring on the side of caution, is all.”

“It’s okay,” I assure him, gripping his forearm. He’s got that irresistible hard-jaw, soft-eyes combination that makes everything okay.

The ride back to his place is a silent one. Our fingers play with each other across the middle of the backseat, threads that tangle, then loosen. His thumb caresses the top of my hand.

We smile at each other, and his eyes gleam under the passing streetlights.

So this was…fine. Nice. Readable. Cute. It is definitely not a book I am going to remember past tomorrow.

I love the setting of the book (and series) a veterinary clinic that is called The Vet Shop Boys. I do have to say that maybe those younger won’t get that. But I enjoyed it. And care was used in representing veterinarians and all they go through. From the cost of school to the long hours and the sadness. But also that most really, really love their jobs. And these guys that work together are all friends and a great support system for each other.

And it was those friends who couldn’t believe that Noah had never had a one night stand. So of course, that means he will have one NOW! TONIGHT! Enter Haze (I eye rolled the name at first but then further along in the book it is explained and I aww’d) super hot guy in the bar who is down for that one night stand. Especially because he is going to London for six months. But of course, they connected. And, of course, when Haze gets back from his six months abroad he starts working at the clinic.

From there it’s a lot of flirting until they finally admit they have feelings. But Haze was so wishy washy. For someone “studying to be an actor” in college (after finishing some bio-something degree) he never talks about acting. Literally. Kind of a weird thing to study- in college- if it isn’t something you had ever done. I don’t know. It was so throw away but a plot point. So it’s a plot point that had no backing.

And if he said, one more time that he was “almost 30” I was ready to throw my kindle. Oy.

Weird plot point intrudes so that Haze has to make a decision. That was also odd. You’ll see.

I just don’t feel like the whole story line was well thought out. The acting thing was completely misplaced and the little side story with the owner of the clinic was seen from LITERALLY the beginning of the book, but Noah didn’t see it? Really? That naive?

If you want kind of mindless fluff, go for it. But I don’t think I will be seeking out book 2.

3 pieces of eye candy

I’ve been wanting to do this ‘authoring’ thing since forever. But this thing called ‘life’ kept getting in the way. And then this thing called ‘turning 40’ happened. Eep!

So I did what any responsible newcomer to middle-age-hood would do: I quit my day job, started drinking copious amounts of coffee, and reconnected with my life long passion–donuts, er, I mean writing.

So here I am. And there you are… Hello!

I live on the east coast of Australia, I’m the proud paw-rent of two of the most utterly adorable French Bulldogs, Ralphie and Lilly, and when I’m not writing, you’ll most likely catch me down at the beach (I’m the one drinking Rosé and eating donuts while other people are doing healthy things like ‘walking’ and ‘swimming’).

Connect with Casey:
Website: https://caseycoxbooks.com/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casey.cox
FB Reader Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/casetheplace
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/caseycoxbooks
Email: caseycoxbooks@gmail.com

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First: (adverb)
a: before another in time, space, or importance.
b: for the first time.
See also: Stirling “First-Time Daddy” Bishop.

A boy who can’t find what he wants.
A Daddy who doesn’t know what he needs.

With his big blue eyes, lean frame, and propensity for adorkable clumsiness, Mikey Harrison is a Daddy magnet…for the wrong type of Daddy. Those who mistake his desire to serve as an open invitation to mistreat him and abuse his trust.

But all of that changes when he lays his eyes on Stirling Bishop. Sure, the strong, silent (and irresistibly sexy) type ticks all of his boxes, but it’s the tenderness underlying Stirling’s strength that makes him achingly irresistible.

For Mikey, it’s insta-love.
For Stirling, it’s insta-huh?

Despite looking like he was put on this earth to be the Daddy of every boy’s dreams, the thought of dating a younger guy has never even crossed Stirling’s mind, much less the idea of being a Daddy.

But there’s no denying that Mikey awakens something deep within him—the desire to dominate, the need to care. It’s been dormant, yet bubbling under the surface within him for his entire life.

Can Mikey help Stirling find the strength he needs to be the Daddy he was meant to be…and become the Daddy of Mikey’s dreams?

FIRST
First is a Daddy/boy, May-December gay romance featuring a strong, silent, first-time Daddy, and an eager boy who can show him the way. Come along for the ride and enjoy some crazy/sexy/cool shenanigans including: impromptu foot rubs, naked butlers, a crew of sassy friends, lots of LOLs, and all the feels on the way to a heartwarming HEA.

First is the first book in the 99 Daddies series. Each book in the series will contain overlapping characters and storylines, so you may enjoy them more by reading them in order.

99 DADDIES
99 Daddies is a hilarious, entertaining, and heartwarming Daddy/boy, May-December MM romance series.

Escape to Daylesford, the (fictional) Daddy capital of America. If you love steamy and complex Daddy/boy dynamics, May-December gay romances with a twist, sweet and sassy MM age-gap romances, and chasing those guaranteed HEAs, you’ll love it here.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

He closed his eyes. I loved seeing his massive chest rise and fall with every breath in and out. We didn’t need words. There was something happening here, something between us that defied logic and sense, but it was as real as the floor I was sitting on.

Did he feel it too? What was going on inside of him? I could feel his whole body starting to loosen, to relax under my firm touch. As I looked up at him, I could see his jaw unclench and his face start to soften.

He had to be feeling this too. It couldn’t just be me, could it, imagining something that I wanted so badly? Seeing only what I wanted to see?

Oh fuck, it probably was. I always did this. I always let my imagination and my desires run away with me, pulling me toward what I hoped for and wanted, while choosing not to see what was actually right in front of me. I’d done it with Brian before, was I doing it again with Stirling now?

I sighed loudly, which made him open his eyes. He looked around as if he had just woken up and wasn’t entirely sure where he was. He was so freaking sexy I couldn’t handle it. I smiled up at him.

“What you’re doing feels so good, Mikey,” he said, looking straight at me.

Hearing him say my name for the first time made my heart do cartwheels of joy.

“Good,” I said, looking straight back. “I’m happy to keep going for as long—”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Steel’s voice cut in.

He was standing beside me. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of judgement in his voice or in the look that he gave me. And trust me, I knew a thing or two about being judged.

“We need to go, Stirling. I just saw a cake being wheeled out. Sorry.” He looked at me when he apologized.

“It’s fine,” I said, releasing Stirling’s feet gently. “You are the birthday boy, after all. You’re kind of needed for that whole cake thing.” I said as I stood up.

“Yeah, that’s usually how these things work,” he said with an apologetic smile, as Stirling started to put his socks and shoes back on. Slowly, of course.

Once he was done, he stood up in front of me. He was a good four inches taller than me, which I really liked for some reason.

“Uh, thanks,” he said. He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but then quickly snapped it shut.

“You’re…welcome.” It was all I could think of to say as Steel grabbed Stirling by his arm and the two men began to walk away from us.

Nick stood next to me as we watched them make their way across the room, rejoining their friends and turning their attention to a massive chocolate cake filled with candles, that was being brought out by two naked butlers.

“Now those are some seriously sexy Daddies.”

Nick’s words hung heavily in the air between us.

“Uh huh.”

It was all I could manage.

“So,” Nick said as he placed his hand firmly on my shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. “That whole I’m-over-men thing, then?”

I didn’t even have to turn my head. From the corner of my eye, I could see the shit-eating grin stretching across his face.

“Yeah, totally over that.” My eyes were fixed on Stirling, following his every movement. “I am one hundred percent back into men.”

Okay, so… I have a thing for hot dads. It’s no secret, not to those who know me, and especially not to those who follow my reviews. In saying that, this one, in my definition, is not a Daddy/boy book.

I mean, sure, they toss it out there every once in a while, but the lifestyle and mechanics behind such a trope. No. It was hard to keep my interest after I figured that out.

So, in the beginning, Mikey and his best friend since high school, Nick, are naked waiters… which somehow gets them into being naked furniture, which somehow morphs into being human footstools, which I didn’t like. I mean, you could ask first, couldn’t you? Don’t just take off your socks and put your clammy feet on my naked back, ew… but, it’s where Mikey meets Stirling…

Now, Stirling is fresh out of a relationship where his husband not only cheated but then took him for half of everything and still blamed him. So, he’s jaded, if only a bit.
He’s a first time ‘Daddy’, which is no surprise, and he really doesn’t know what he wants at first, though it doesn’t take him long to realize that what he wants is Mikey… and Mikey, he’s a little too much at times for me, but he’s funny and clumsy and his brain to mouth filter is a bit delayed, but he’s a loveable type. I did like the pair of them together.

Of course, it isn’t all cute and sweet and getting to know one another, there are a few bumps in the road that I would love to rant about for a while, but as I’ve recently been told that my ranting is mostly all spoilers, I’ve tried to tone it down a bit…. I will say that you will NOT like any of the exes in this book, and that’s putting it lightly. (especially from me)

Overall though, if you like a couple of cute guys who find love in each other after heartbreak, some really good friends, and some very very very very light Daddy kink… you’ll likely enjoy this one.
Especially if you’re a sucker for a good HEA.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

Casey Cox is devoted to delighting readers with sassy, sweet and sometimes steamy MM gay romance tales of gorgeous, good-hearted and complex men chasing that thing we all love: a guaranteed HEA.

Casey’s writing has an escapist, wanderlust quality to it because, let’s face it, these days there are plenty of reasons to run from reality.

Casey lives on the east coast of Australia, loves the beach and is a proud paw-parent to two utterly adorable French Bulldogs named Ralphie and Lilly.

Connect with Casey:
Website: https://caseycoxbooks.com/
Goodreads
BookBub
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casey.cox
Email: caseycoxbooks@gmail.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway