Con Riley

Finding Mr Fabulous by Con Riley: Release Day Review

April 26, 2023 by Denise

Featuring a duke-to-be with a problem and a thief who could be his solution. Expect fake dates and fiery first-time love in this standalone contemporary MM romance set in London and Cornwall.

Rex Heligan might be known as Mr. Fabulous in the bedroom, but he doesn’t want a boyfriend. In truth, he doesn’t have time between his London banker lifestyle and the Cornish dukedom he’ll inherit. What he needs is someone to watch over his grandfather while he’s away on business.

Rex’s shortlist of caretakers shouldn’t include a thief he once caught stealing, but Devesh Singh-Smith is more than a cat burglar.

Much more.

He’s the only one-night stand Rex hasn’t forgotten.

Rex convinces his grandfather that Devesh is the first boyfriend he’s ever wanted to bring home to their castle where their sizzling spark rekindles. He doesn’t expect the explosiveness of their connection. He also doesn’t expect Devesh to steal his heart by sharing secrets or to leave before their fake relationship is over.

There’s only one way for Rex to steal his heart back.

He’ll have to catch his thief twice and share his own secrets with him, even if it costs Rex his dukedom.

Finding Mr. Fabulous is set in Con Riley’s extended Cornish romance world. New readers can start right here and expect a story rich in heartstring-tugging emotion, and to swoon over a guaranteed HEA, while previous readers might enjoy glimpsing a few old friends.

CW: Past bereavement.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

One of the things I really love about Con Riley‘s books are the interconnection. Even if it isn’t until the very end that we see it connected to a previous book or series. And even though this is a stand alone (I assume, at least for now) we get very satisfying visits with previous characters. And it isn’t forced at all. Completely seamless, fit into the story and were part of the story without taking it over.

Pretty sure the only thing I maybe didn’t like about this book was the title. Only because it seems too flippant for such a great story.

We met Dev back in the book Charles. We also met Rex before, but the memory eludes me. Rex does have a past with Charles, so I assume it was also in that book. They remain very good friends though. Because how can you not love Charles?

You haven’t read Charles? GASP! Go now! Read it!

Honestly, you don’t have to read it in order to be on top of this story.

A ruse after a lie brings Rex and Dev together. As well as the promise of going through the attics on the island. Although Rex is 100% sure nothing in their possession was stolen at any time.

What develops is Dev having an amazing relationship with Rex’s grandfather while Dev and Rex begin to fall for each other through text and phone calls. So what then had a definitive end date now maybe….doesn’t?

There’s a lot to the story. Rex’s parents, one he barely knew before they died, the other a painful memory of their death. Which leaves Rex to inherit the title of Duke when his grandfather passes. There are no other Heligans. The surname will die with Rex one day.

You can’t help but love these guys. Including Pops. I even shed a few tears. And let me tell you- READ THE EPILOGUE! OMG! Seriously.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley: New Release Review

December 5, 2022 by Denise

. .

Falling for his final client won’t make leaving London easy…

Ian ~ A talented, young photographer desperate to stay in London.

Guy ~ An older, fierce food critic, determined to keep him in his city.

Ian shouldn’t be attracted to a scathing food critic like Guy Parsons, not after the last time he fell for someone older, arrogant, and gorgeous. He knows better than to let dramatic good looks sway him since his last heartbreak. Besides, he’s accepted a new job at the far end of the country and won’t be staying in London.

Having one month left doesn’t seem enough now Ian’s fallen in love with the city. Working as Guy’s photographer for December might help him afford to stay for longer, even if he hates Guy’s brand of restaurant reviewing. When Guy turns out to be worlds away from the last man Ian fell for, shared meals soon result in shared secrets and feelings.

More than attraction sparks between them as Christmas approaches. Intimate moments lead to intense passion, but is being well matched in the bedroom enough to stop the clock counting down to Ian leaving London, and Guy, for good?

♥ Steamy, snarky, and sweet, His Last Christmas in London is an utterly British, low-angst, age-gap, workplace gay romance set in London and Cornwall. ♥

Celebrate the holidays with a lovely long novella full of heartfelt hurt/comfort and second chances from Con Riley, author of the much adored Charles: Learning to Love.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I was looking forward to His Last Christmas in London quite a bit. I just love reading holiday romances, especially based in the UK, so this one was right up my alley. This one had a fairly large age gap, and found family was a big part of the story as well.

Ian, quite the rough ride he had been on. He had a complete tool for a boss, who not only slept with his employee and made him feel like crap, but stole his work as well. He was down to very little money, considering selling a graduation gift from his mother, and decided to move back to Cornwall with his mother to do some work he wasn’t really looking forward to. His old boss tricks him into the assignment that brings him into Guy’s orbit.

We don’t learn a lot about Guy until later in the story, but what an interesting story with his deceased husband. And now the tables were turning and Guy would become the champion and support for Ian, just as Guy’s husband had been for him. It also turned out that Guy was a champion of far more than just the man in his life, and in so many ways.

It did make me laugh how Ian and Guy were basically dating without Ian really knowing it. There were a lot of references to Guy’s “bad side” (of his face) and his bad nose, which I just thought were a bit out of place. However, Ian’s flatmates were so supportive of him, as well as each other, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who needs to read their story. (After you’ve read this story, head over to the author’s website to read a bonus scene with all 4 men, discussing what can sometimes be a difficult subject.)

Ian was such a stickler for him commitments, but by keeping them, he showed what kind of man he was, and that just made Guy fall that much harder.

An enjoyable holiday story set in London during the holidays. Nothing sounds better to me.

4 pieces of eye candy

Austin: Learning to Love Book #4 by Con Riley: New Release Review

June 12, 2022 by Denise

Can Austin learn to love the opposite who attracts him?

Austin Russell doesn’t belong at a small school like Glynn Harber. He’s meant to be a high flyer in finance not a book-keeping bursar. Now there’s only one renovation project left to budget, it’s time he toughened his soft heart and got back to climbing the corporate ladder.

The truth is he’d rather climb Maisie Dymond’s father.

That urge doesn’t add up—Dom Dymond is his polar opposite—but when a near-miss brings them together, Austin discovers there’s more below his laid-back surface, especially as Dom’s determined to win the bid for the school’s last rebuilding project.

Working in proximity means Austin can’t deny that they’re opposites who don’t only attract, they combust whenever they’re close. Telling himself it’s only a fling doesn’t ring true when Dom opens up about what keeps him in Cornwall. He’s there to heal his fractured family, and he wants Austin as part of it.

That openness makes Austin want to share too, but will Dom still feel the same attraction once he knows what drives Austin to keep climbing his ladder?

♥ Austin is the fourth standalone novel in the Learning to Love series. Set in England’s glorious county of Cornwall, each book has a fulfilling happily ever after. ♥

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This series just gets better and better. You don’t have to read them in order. Or at all. But they are worthy of your time.

I think what gets me the most is that it is really good writing. The author isn’t just telling a story. They are weaving you into a world that makes you care so much about the characters. Like little Maisie, who’s father is always late to pick her up from school. And Austin, former “bad guy” who is slowly realizing there is more to life than making money.

Austin, now the school’s bursar, had a special place in his heart for little Maisie. Always there to keep her company at lunch or wait with her when her father is late. Then he truly ends up being a hero to Maisie- and her father. And even though he wants to be mad at Dom, once he realizes what is going on, his heart cracks open a little more.

I loved the fact that Austin was kind of the outsider in the town and school as he was new to the area and position but people seemed to love him. But Dom, born and raised there, is a pariah.

Dom is great with no using what he can (no spoilers!) to woo Austin and instead just takes his time. But Austin doesn’t have a lot of time. If he wants to stay on his self imposed schedule and little tick boxes to check off, he will be leaving the school sooner rather than later.

All of the previous characters make a good show in this book but no one eclipses the main characters. They add to the story and make Austin know that he is valued for who his is. Not how much money he has or will have.

There is also catharsis, understanding a closure between Austin and another person he had sort of a volatile relationship with.

Of course there is a happily ever after. And little Maisie will steal all of your hearts.

4 pieces of eye candy