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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

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Romance Redefined by SJD Peterson: Release Day Review with Giveaway

November 27, 2017 by Denise

Opposites attract, but are some differences too drastic for a romance to survive?

On the surface, Benson Howard Winthrop III and Hugh Bayard have a lot in common: they’re young, handsome, and blessed to be one of the wealthiest couples in the country. Surely they have everything anyone could want. But Ben is no longer satisfied with their long-running relationship. Hugh’s need to control every situation is suffocating him, and Ben needs to know if he can make it on his own merits by following his passion.

But Ben’s mother isn’t about to let her son live in a rundown apartment as a struggling actor. She’s determined to get him back to his rightful place at the top of the social ladder—and back with Hugh.

Rekindling their romance will require more than doing what’s expected. Ben and Hugh need to understand and embrace each other’s differences. They’ll have to support each other even when one makes a decision the other doesn’t agree with. For their passionate love to grow, they will need to redefine the meaning of romance… only then can they find true happiness.

Amazon US

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Amazon CA

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I really liked the premise of this book. Ex husbands finding their way back to each other. And it started out well enough. Ben trying to make his way in NYC and pursue a career as an actor. After living under his mother’s thumb and then marrying young, he is spreading his wings. But he can’t stop thinking about his ex.

I actually really understood where Ben was coming from. Why he moved on, why he wouldn’t settle for less that what he wanted and deserved. But in the year he has been single, he hasn’t even tried to date. And when the seemingly perfect guy comes along, he just continually compares his to his ex.

Hugh, the ex, wants Ben back. He has enlisted the help of Ben’s mother. But he never tries to find out exactly why it didn’t work between them. Just that he wants to get back together. And the two of them always fall back on the amazing sex they have. Sex alone cannot make a marriage, but it seems to be the one thing that Ben can’t let go of. How good they are together.

There were good supporting characters in the book. Ben’s best friend in NYC- although she sort of had her own storyline that was unnecessary, and “the uncles” who were hilarious.

Ben’s maybe new love interest Jason was a bit much. He started out well, pursuing Ben with dogged determination, but it went too far. Not stalker far, but come on dude, give it up already too far.

The resolution was neat and tidy, but left me wanting. I actually enjoyed the epilogue a lot more than the entire book.

3 Pieces of Candy


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Filed Under: New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Erin Tagged With: 3 stars, author, book, Book Reviews, gay, Giveaways, lgbtq, mmromance, new release, review, romance

Tried & True by Charlie Cochet: New Release Review with Giveaway

November 24, 2017 by Denise

When THIRDS agent Dexter J. Daley met Team Leader Sloane Brodie, he couldn’t have imagined how slamming into his new partner—literally—would shake both their worlds. Now four years later, they’ve faced dangers, fought battles both personal and professional… and fallen deeply in love. Now their big moment is finally in sight, and they’re ready to stand up together and make it official. Unfortunately, as the countdown to their big day begins, an enemy declares war on the THIRDS….

With their family in danger, Dex and Sloane are put to the test on how far into darkness they’ll walk to save those they love. As secrets are unearthed, a deadly betrayal is revealed, and Dex and Sloane must call on their Destructive Delta family for one last hurrah to put an end to the secret organization responsible for so much devastation.

Dex and Sloane will have plenty of bullets to dodge on the way to the altar, but with happiness within their grasp, they are determined to get there come hell or high water….

Title: Tried & True
Series: THIRDS: Book Ten
Author: Charlie Cochet
Release Date: November 24, 2017
Category: Paranormal
Pages: 254

Amazon

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My reading time lately has been cut severely because…life. So, I am only reading the books that I want to read. And there was absolutely NO CHANCE I wasn’t going to be reading Tried & True (btw, love the color reference on the cover!!!!) by Charlie, the final book in the THIRDS series (but not even close to the last book with Dex and Sloane…I talked to Charlie in October, and she is working on a new series regarding the TIN adventures that Destructive Delta has ahead of them!)

This is the THIRDS book that all THIRDS Nerds have been waiting for, the wedding between these two men who started their working relationship with Dexter Daley hanging upside down, and have spent years learning how to love each other. This was all worth the wait, and honestly made me want to go back and start all over again, from Hell & High Water.

There were a few adventures in this book-how those men didn’t arrive at the altar by wheelchair is beyond me-but in the end, it was about celebrating a love that has grown and changed, been hidden then outed, helped them find a family they never knew, and bring about quite a few sexy times. And donuts, lots of donuts. In other words, what we read in that book was the culmination of 4 years, 10 books and countless tears (at least by me!), although most of the ones from this one were happy.

I won’t tell you about the wedding, because if you are a true THIRDS NERD, you will want to read it all on your own, but it is worth every word, every second, and every happy tear.

Thank you Charlie for an amazing journey with these guys, and I can’t wait to see what their next adventure will bring.

5 pieces of eye candy


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Filed Under: New Release Review, Quick Reviews, TCO Reviewer: Denise Tagged With: author, book, Book Reviews, Charlie Cochet, gay, giveaway, Giveaways, lgbtq, m/m romance, new release, review, romance

Tied by Kerri Ann: Release Day Blitz, and Review

November 22, 2017 by Denise

Governor Chris Rock is Carli Katana’s boss—well, ex-boss. And now that she’s run off with her man candy, Whiskey Crown, Chris finds himself in trouble. Without her keeping him out of the press, out of trouble and in check, he’s in for a dick of a lifetime. I mean, a trip of a lifetime.

Arriving in New York for a Governor’s something or other, he’s finding himself in a predick-ament. As a prolific public figure and ex-Marine, there’s always been an expectation of who Chris is and should be; strong, dangerous, fearless, and the typical man’s man. But that’s not him. And as he finds himself longingly staring at the speaker, Tyler Marshall, Chris knows he’s in trouble. Tyler is gorgeous, and he’s everything Chris looks for in a man. The real problem is that in this venue, Tyler’s unattainable.

**This novella has characters from both the Crown and Anchor series and the standalone Rushed. It’s sexy hot and full of laughs. Pre-warning you about it won’t do you any good.

Title – Tied: A Crown & Anchor Novella
Author – Kerri Ann
Genre – M/M Romance Novella
Release Date – November 22, 2017

Amazon

 

Having not read anything in this series, or by this author before, I was taking a chance by jumping in here, but what the heck? Why not? And although the novella was written well, with a few plot twists, I did find it somewhat confusing, not having read the previous in the series. Not that it wasn’t a stand alone, it was. However, the interactions with the side characters left me wondering who was related to who, and what they had to do with this person or that.

That being said, those same interactions, the brunches, provided the reader with lots of funny moments, showing that clearly all these characters meant something to each other.

Chris and Tyler definitely connected well, despite the push and pull initially. My heart went out to Chris who was forced out of the closet…not just out, but tied up!…by an unscrupulous reporter. No one should be outed that way. But finding a way to make this work, as the MC’s tried to figure out what they wanted from each other was a good challenge for them.

I did like how the author left the story. Not quite an HEA, but something to work towards.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

With an avaricious appetite for stories, Kerri Ann can be found quite often with her nose in a book or writing it. On many occasion it has been said that she’s in her own world, living in the stories of those she reads about, giving them a life they deserve.

She can easily be found under a tree in the shade, or reclining at Starbucks scribbling notes about new stories and new characters, all while keeping the coffee chain in business.

Whether late at night, at a music festival, or sitting on a ski lift, when the thoughts arise, Kerri Ann will add them to those in progress. So be wary, your antics could be in her next book.

 

HOSTED BY:

Filed Under: New Release Book Blast, New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Denise Tagged With: 3.5 stars, author, Book Reviews, gay, Giveaways, lgbtq, m/m romance, new release, novella, review, romance

Unlikely Hero by Sean Michael: Exclusive Guest Post, Release Day Review with Giveaway

November 21, 2017 by Denise

When his three-year-old daughter is kidnapped, Eric Wilson doesn’t have many options, and time is running out. With nowhere else to turn, he reaches out to his ex, influential businessman Brock Vencenza, whose money and contacts might be able to save Josie.

Brock never got over Eric’s loss, and he’s more than willing to help when Eric needs him most. Together with law enforcement and private security, they embark on a twisting investigation to find the little girl—and who wants to hurt her and destroy both men in the process. Under the circumstances, confessing he still has feelings for Eric would be inappropriate, but Brock can’t deny what’s in his heart. He doesn’t know if their love can be rekindled or if he can even protect Eric and Josie. But one thing is certain: Brock’s determined to be the hero in reality that he is in Eric’s eyes.

Title: Unlikely Hero
Author: Sean Michael
Release Date: November 20, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 210

Amazon

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Thank you very much for hosting me today!

With it being Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about how Eric and Brock would celebrate the holiday and I’m pretty sure they would approach things from very different angles.

Eric would plan ahead. He’d make up menus for the day before Thanksgiving, then Thanksgiving itself and he’d even make plans for what to do with the leftovers. He’d find recipes and by the time Thanksgiving week would arrive he’d have everything he could buy ahead bought would be purchased and he’d have all his lists made up – no doubt attached to the fridge with magnets.

Brock on the other hand would want to lavish Eric and Josie with everything possible, but rather than planning out and doing everything himself, he’d order everything to be made and delivered by a private chef.

Both men would consider what they’d done a way to show their love for their family.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US readers, and happy November to everyone else.

Sean Michael

smut fixes everything

Eric’s daughter is kidnapped from her daycare and left a ransom note on his car. Im not sure when the daycare noticed her missing, as Eric just picked her up and noticed she was gone, or what… but instead of calling the police, he calls Brock…his ex from nine years ago. Now, I’m not sure what Brock does, but he seems to have infinite money and “kidnapping” experts on his payroll, so…they jumped in to try to get Eric’s daughter Josie back.

Now, nothing in the beginning of this story goes by protocol at all. It’s hands down ridiculous! The handling of the kidnapping, the police, taking Josie to the hospital, Brock just being the one in charge of Josie, even though he’s not family…him taking her out of her room and out of the hospital and to other buildings…You can’t do that! Even if he was her parent, he still couldn’t do that! You can’t just take an admitted baby out of her room and walk to another building with her lol that’s insane! Then his lawyer just checked her out of the children’s hospital without being seen again or anything with a man that wasn’t her guardian?  I mean… he is her guardian, but nobody knew that yet. And that was another ridiculous thing…he was named guardian of her in case anything were to ever happen to Eric, but he and Brock hadn’t been together for near on a decade…. Could you imagine?? What if something had happened to him after a decade later and then someone showed up on his doorstep with a baby and was like SURRISE! You’re her guardian! …..all that part was just so unbelievable.

Now, if you’re like me though, and don’t care about the randomness and unlikelihood of some plot points…I can overlook a lot. I enjoy the fluffiness and the endearments, although baby and Eric’s constant thinking Brock is his “hero”…But I like a good family book, with hot guys and their baby’s. It made it somewhat redeemable. The dialogue was also kind of cheesy, lots of “lover’s” and again, the repetitive “baby’s”

Now, the people who kidnapped Josie, was…Okay, just know that it isn’t what it seems, because the first reason, the initial thought of why, was so extra, that I was like…seriously??? But putting all the pieces together later, makes more sense. Not a lot of sense, cuz the person behind it is a serious whack job, but I guess it’s more believable than the initial thought.

I also really wish we’d have found out what happened to Gordon’s partner Max. They done so much for them and I hated to think that Max got in any trouble at all for protecting them and doing his job. I know he cant get in that much trouble since he was there at the end, but I wanted to know he was okay.

And if you know me at all, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for a happy ending, and this one of course had that. I loved that they ended up happy and healthy and together. Although the story was at times over the top and a little believable, it was still enjoyable.

3 pieces of eye candy from me.

Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.

Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

Sean Michael on the web:

WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com

BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/

TWITTER: seanmichael09

INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelpics/


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Filed Under: New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Jennifer Tagged With: 3 stars, author, book, Book Reviews, gay, giveaway, Giveaways, lgbtq, m/m romance, new release, review, romance, Sean Michael

Jared’s Evolution by Riley Hart: Exclusive Author Interview, Excerpt and Giveaway

November 21, 2017 by Denise

He wants to dominate me…to discipline me. He wants me to call him Daddy… 

I’ve always taken care of myself–worked hard to become king of the courtroom and excel in the cutthroat business of winning cases. I’m fierce…brutal…confident. I’m a lie. Underneath my armor, I’m drowning, losing myself under the weight of life. At thirty-three years old, I should be able to handle the pressure.

My neighbor Kieran sees past my spotless suits and manufactured control to the real Jared. The one who secretly craves being dominated, to serve, and to give up control–not just in the bedroom, but in every aspect of my personal life.

I can’t want this…but I do… When I’m under Kieran’s command–spanked, rewarded and caged–I’m free. With Kieran’s care and guidance, my mind is unburdened as my body soars to new heights, and Kieran becomes what we both need him to be: Daddy.

It’s a journey of dominance and submission–of rules, schedules, security and discipline. He opens my world, teaches me, changes me…but he doesn’t let me in. It’s temporary, Daddy tells me, and I’d be wise to remember that, so I don’t get hurt.

Warning: Jared’s Evolution contains BDSM elements, domestic discipline, spanking, and daddy kink–without age play–between two consenting adults. If any of those things offend you, reading this book might not be a good idea.

Jared’s Evolution is part of the Desires Unleashed collection. Some books in this collection will have darker themes. Please be aware Desires Unleashed are er*tic and not your typical Riley Hart romance. You can expect the mental and emotional journey to be led by the physical/s*xual moments–which will be intense, frequent and kinky.

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Today we have Riley Hart stopping by to chat about her new release Jared’s Evolution.    Welcome Riley!! Thanks so much for having me!

Jared’s Evolution is the start to a new collection from you.  How is it different than your Contemporary Romance books? Jared’s Evolution is part of the Desires Unleashed collection. So far, any books that I have planned for the collection will likely have BDSM and kink themes. Some will be darker than others and they’ll likely all be erotic romance instead of just really sexy romance like I usually write. These books will be about journey and discovery—often times sexual or through sex and kink. I’ll be very true to these books in how they come to me, which means some typical “romance rules” could be broken. But as of now, any of the books I have planned in this collection will have an HEA.

Where did the idea of Jared’s Evolution come from?  I’ve wanted to write a book like this for a long time—years, honestly. I’m fascinated with BDSM and kink and I really wanted to write a book about someone coming into their own and learning who they are through it. So much of BDSM and kink is mental and not just physical. It’s about a connection that’s deeper in so many ways. That’s so interesting to me.

Jared’s story is done in 2 parts.   Why did you separate the 2 parts? The story really did unfold that way to me. Plus, it takes place over quite a long time. Each part does almost feel like it’s own story—a different stage Jared and Kieran are in their journey.

When will part 2 be released? End of November/beginning of December. Release date coming soon!

The book has a warning attached to it stating it is not your typical romance.  Can you elaborate on what that means? I think there are certain expectations in a romance novel, as there should be. Romance has it’s “rules” the same as horror, or thrillers or any other genre and romance readers come into romance expecting those things—again, as they should. While there is love and sex in their journey, and there will be an HEA…this is about more than the romance. It’s about Jared’s journey and how he comes into his own. About discovering who he is, how strong he is, what he wants. That kind of discovery takes exploration, and things that often happen in real life, but don’t happen in most books. Not every relationship plays by the same rules and not playing by those rules don’t make it wrong…just different. Some people share…some people break up…some relationship are open. I won’t close the door on any possibility that’s right for the couples in these books.

There has been some discussions within the community regarding BDSM/kink and whether or not it is a trend.  What are your thoughts on that?  I don’t see it as a trend. BDSM/kink is a niche market that will always have a smaller reader base than “mainstream” (except those few books explode onto the scene) but I feel like people are more comfortable being sexual, and exploring BDSM and kink in ways we haven’t always been. I’ve always believed everyone should see themselves in the books they read, and that means everyone, so I see the growth in BDSM as more people giving readers the chance to see themselves and their relationship in books and to explore desires they might not have felt comfortable exploring a few years ago.

What is it about Daddy Kink that draws you in?  How did you incorporate that into Jared’s book? I love the dynamic. For me it’s not about the word Daddy but about the give and take…it’s about someone who needs to take care of another person, and that person who needs to be taken care of. The world is such a big place and to find someone who’s needs match your own…that’s a beautiful thing.

How did you decide it was time for you to write a BDSM/Daddy kink book? I got tired of being scared…tired of waiting for the right time. I went into this book knowing that some of my current reader base wouldn’t be into it—and that’s okay! We read for pleasure so we should read the kind of books we want but I felt this story so deeply and kept it inside because…what if it scared some of my readers away? What if everyone hated it? What if I couldn’t do this story justice. I don’t know if people realize how many “what ifs” plague us as writers. I stressed and worried and over thought—should I wait? Should I use a pen name? And finally I just…let go…and wrote…and fell in love. I didn’t know what I would do with Evolution when I finished…I just wrote. And in the process, I let go of the fear and followed my heart.

If you could choose one thing that readers would take out of Jared’s Evolution, what would it be? That different doesn’t mean wrong…just different. That there are so many different ways to love and be in a relationship and as long as it’s consensual, and you’re not abusing someone, then there’s no wrong way to do it. That what’s right for me might not be right for someone else, and that’s okay. That it’s okay to be who you are. That BDSM and kink are about more than whips, ropes and commands. That it’s about connection, a fulfillment of needs, and that it’s very much a give and take. That there are so many places to find beauty and wherever someone finds that beauty, is okay. I guess that’s more than one thing. Lol.

How many books do you have planned for the Desires Unleashed Collection?  I have no idea! There are two Jared and Kieran books but I plan to keep writing kink and BDSM along with my other books. Whatever I write that fits with the Desires Unleashed theme, will go into that collection.

What can we look forward to from you in 2018? I plan to release the second Last Chance book (Color Me In) January or February. I have the third Wild Side book to write and a novel called His Truth already written. And whatever else I co-write with Christina or Devon. LOL.

Thank you so much for stopping by.   Congratulations on your new release!!! Thank you!

 

The next couple days, I did exactly as Kieran had told me. Or Daddy. Should I think of him as Daddy? I still wasn’t sure about that. All of it felt weird and made me slightly uncomfortable, if I was being honest. But still, I did as I was told, because that part felt right. The schedule calmed me. I also went to bed at nine as he’d said, ate three square meals a day, and browsed the site he’d given me.

Some things I learned right away weren’t for me. I wasn’t sure the idea of most pain did much for me…but my dick got hard when I read about getting spanked. The confusing part was I also knew I wanted the spankings for discipline. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much care went into that act. How much care went into making sure I was good, and letting me know when I wasn’t. For teaching me a lesson when I was bad so I wouldn’t do it again. So how could something both turn me on and be used as punishment at the same time?

I also didn’t like it when men spit in another man’s face, or slapped his face. Watersports, I didn’t think were my thing either. I couldn’t imagine a situation where I would want Kieran to pee on me or to drink his urine. I didn’t knock it of course, because to each their own. It was all so much fucking information; I wasn’t sure what to do with it all.

I felt very settled on both Thursday and Friday though. I liked the schedule, knowing exactly what I had to do outside of work to take care of myself. It took a lot of the pressure off me. There was a security to rules that soothed me, likely because I’d lacked them most of my life. Nothing was ever stable, growing up. My parents left me for days at a time and they weren’t really parents even when they were there. But as soon as I thought about it that way, I got nauseated and weak because who in the fuck wanted someone else to schedule their life for them because they couldn’t handle it?

I’d never had anyone there for me. Everything I’d done in my life, I’d done on my own and I was damn proud of that fact.

Why was my brain playing tricks on me now?

I was nervous to go to Kieran’s condo on Saturday. More nervous than I’d ever been for anything in my life. My brain was at war with itself and I hadn’t figured out who was the winner—the part of me who felt weak by the things I’d read, or the part of me that quietly desired them.

I’d decided I was going to tell him no.

Then yes.

Then no again.

In the end, I figured I’d wing it. We’d talk and would likely both realize this was a mistake and go our separate ways.

My hand shook as I knocked on Kieran’s door.

He opened it a moment later and smiled. His white-blond hair was wet, and he didn’t have a shirt on. Droplets of water slid down his shoulders, and chest, some even racing down the lines of his clearly defined abdominal muscles. He was bigger than me, both taller and broader, and I liked that very much. His size made me feel as though he could protect me.

“You don’t play fair,” I told him as my dick stirred at the sight of him. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“I play to win, Jared. Come in.”

I did so automatically. Kieran walked toward the dining room table, rather than the one we often sat at in his kitchen.

“Sit,” he told me.

I did before saying, “I don’t know if I want this.”

He cocked a brow at me. “Don’t you? Ignore what you think the answer is supposed to be. Ignore what society would say, and answer honestly. Did you have to think twice before doing as I said the past few days? Sitting when I told you to just now? Even before you realized you were obeying me the past few weeks, you were. You follow direction so beautifully, Jared, and it would be a crime to yourself not to take what you need.”

What I needed? Not what he thought I wanted, it’s what he thought I needed? He was fucking crazy. This wasn’t a necessity. Maybe a part of me wanted it but that’s as far as it went.

“I don’t need a damn thing.”

“Time will tell about that.” He sat in a chair beside me and asked, “You did as you were told since Wednesday, right?”

“Yes,” I answered before shifting uncomfortably. It didn’t sit well with me how easily I’d obeyed Kieran and the peace I’d found in it.

He smiled. “I knew you would.” I tried to turn away but he grabbed my chin and didn’t let me move. “Did it help? Answer truthfully. I’ll know if you’re lying. I’ve been studying you these past few weeks, Jared. Learning to read you as a good Dom should. Don’t disappoint me by lying.”

“Yes,” I replied, without fighting his grasp. “But that doesn’t mean anything. Maybe I like schedules.”

“Maybe you like my schedules. Maybe you like giving up control because it’s so goddamn hard to know what to do sometimes, isn’t it?”

I opened my mouth but, before I could reply, he said, “Don’t lie.”

“I can’t.” I shook my head and he dropped his hand. I missed the contact instantly. My skin tingled where he’d held me. “I don’t know.”

“See?” he asked. “You told the truth. You said you don’t know. You won’t always have all the answers, Jared, no one does. But you were a very good boy because you admitted that, rather than saying no.”

I nodded as a jolt rushed through my body and I trembled. Good boy. I had been Kieran’s good boy and it made my body come alive in ways I tried to deny. It made me feel like too much electricity was running through my body, making it hard to sit still.

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.

She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.

Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/rileyhartwrites/?fref=ts

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Twitter – https://twitter.com/RileyHart5?s=09

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Filed Under: Author Spotlight, TCO Exclusives Tagged With: author, book, Book Excerpts, excerpt, exclusive, gay, giveaway, Giveaways, lgbtq, m/m romance, new release, Riley Hart, romance

Ice, Snow, and Mistletoe by Jocelynn Drake: Release Day Review

November 21, 2017 by Denise

John Sullivan is escaping to Denver. Even with a massive snow storm on his heels, he plans to hide away in his cabin in the mountains and ignore Christmas. It’ll be just him and a bottle of whiskey until the new year when he must return to Cincinnati for his best friend’s wedding.

At least, that’s the plan until he runs into Oz at the airport.

Oz … the man who should have been just a fling. The man who was fun and laughs but quickly turned into so much more before he completely kicked John out of his life.

Oz who desperately needs his help…

John is ready to leave Oz stranded at the Denver airport in the coming blizzard, but he finds himself possibly staring down at the reason Oz pushed him away, and John can’t say no.

Second chances don’t come around often, but John is willing to fight for one with Oz.

Amazon

 

I loved last year’s Christmas novella by Jocelynn Drake, Walking on Thin Ice, the first in this series (well, I don’t know if its a series or not, but its one of two, so there you go) and was super glad to get to read this one as well. It was awesome to see more than a glimpse at Spenser and Evan’s HEA, as we watched Oz and John try to navigate to their own.

First, I will say, I was not quite sure I fully bought Oz’s reasoning for leaving John, except that when you saw what their relationship had been like, it made it more realistic. They both felt something for each other during their relationship five years prior, but communication (as can often happen with two men) was lacking, so neither felt they could say something. So, when Oz ended it, although it was hard for me to understand why he wouldn’t say a word, I could see how that might have been difficult for him to say to someone who he’d shared a connection with, but not felt close enough to tell the tough stuff to.

Now, you couldn’t help but love Lizzy. She was at that age that made the reader enjoy every second, as John found out so quickly. He just couldn’t turn that sweet girl away, despite the fact that he was still so hurt by Oz’s rejection. Even a temper tantrum (which I love that the author wrote in, because what 5 year old DOESN’T have a temper tantrum, especially at Christmas) wasn’t enough to sway John away from loving and working towards that family he had dreamed of.

John honestly had a heart of gold. To be as hurt as he was, and still take in two people over the holidays, knowing his own secret would likely be outed took a lot of courage. He knew that he would likely be hurt again once the storm ended and life went back to normal, but he still put his heart on the line, and let them both in. Then after being hurt once again, he took another chance. His heart was so big, and he was so ready for love, it had me bawling on the couch more than once!

Jocelynn Drake can write some hot and heavy sex scenes, and wow, she didn’t disappoint! These two men smoked up my kindle, and I was happy to go back and read it again. 😉

Another solid winner by Jocelynn, and I hope that she finds a way to continue this series! Whatever that looks like for her. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Okay, so I LOVED the Unbreakable Bonds series and Ward Security spin off, so I just knew I’d love this one. Hot dads with cute kids are my weakness!

In this one, we have Oz, who’d met John on his way out for an obligated date to get his friend off his back but got distracted by the mans laugh after passing him and his friend on the street. He followed him into a bar and that started Oz’s exploration into men….. However, after a few months of “fun” that was more serious than either let on, Oz had a surprise pop up, that left him scrambling and afraid and he hurt John pretty bad in the process. So bad in fact, I was surprised he was so callous, I didn’t think he was like that. I understand where he was coming from but he could’ve handled it a LOT better and I wish he had because John is so great, I hated that he got hurt.

Cut to, five years, at an airport where Oz was flying to pick up his daughter from her terrible mother’s house over the holidays, he runs into John again, catching them both off guard and bringing back old hurts and old feelings. Especially since a snow storm keeps them stranded in Denver, where John is spending the holiday’s alone.

I know how it had to cost John to invite them to spend the holiday’s with him and again, my heart broke for him. He was so patient and understanding and ….sigh…. he was pretty perfect, I wanted to crap slap Oz a few times, even if I did kind of see where his reservations came from…. Not enough to keep hurting John though. I was team John the whole time. Team John and Team Lizzy both.

Over the course of their stay, things so good, but all good things come to an end, right?.. John was constantly fighting for Oz and Lizzy, but Oz needed to be the one to fight for something. So, as hard as it was for John to do, he had to let go….

All’s well that ended well though, with some help from John’s friend Spencer, Oz comes through when he needs to and puts my fragile, broken heart back together again, just like I needed him to.

This was a perfect little Christmas read and now I gotta go back and read Spencer and Evan’s story because how had I missed that??

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

Filed Under: New Release Review, Quick Reviews, Release Day Review, TCO Reviewer: Denise Tagged With: 4.5 stars, 5 stars, author, Book Reviews, gay, Holiday, Jocelynn Drake, lgbtq, m/m romance, new release, novella, review, romance

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

We are two chicks who love books (m/m romance with an HEA) and enjoy our eye candy. http://twochickso

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

6 days ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨PREORDER NOW: PARAYZE by @jj_asher_writes releasing July 13th! #PreOrderHere mybook.to/paralyzeWhy you will love this book…🔥Forbidden🔥Brother's Best Friend🔥Age Gap (21/34)🔥Forced Proximity 🔥Opposites Attract 🔥Grumpy/Sunshine🔥Bi-Awakening 🔥Hurt/ComfortCarey—twenty-one, flirtatious and sun-kissed, chasing a place that feels like home. His latest bright idea? Fly halfway across the world to a town he hardly remembers, to crash for the holidays with his estranged older brother who he's scarcely seen in the past sixteen years. Only to arrive on his doorstep to find that brother AWOL and the entire contents of his apartment strewn across the front lawn of the apartment building.Tek—thirty-four, exhausted, and barely holding it together. Deserted by his best friend and business partner, he's left to carry the weight of a tattoo shop in the aftermath of an affair that sent staff numbers from four to one in the space of a single afternoon. He keeps his world small, and his hookups controlled on purpose. Then Carey walks in like a damn storm, making Tek question everything he ever knew about himself. Including why he can't stop thinking about the golden tan of another man's stomach. Tek turns Carey away but desperation rewards his persistence with a job offer, and boundaries start to blur. Tek knows better. He's spent the last decade with the world at arms length with iron clad rules that he breaks for no one, especially not the sunshine-smiling younger brother of his runaway best friend. But the more Tek resists, the more Carey leans in, and the line between right and wrong starts to look too appealing not to cross.Abandonment may have brought them together, but loneliness is what keeps them close. And the one thing Tek swore he'd never reach for again might just give him the extra strength he's always needed. ✨INFLUENCERS: Sign up to release events here: bit.ly/PARALYZESIGNUP#comingsoon #jjasher #mmromance The Author Agency ... See MoreSee Less

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

1 week ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨It’s cover reveal day for DON’T FALL by @authoremlindsey releasing July 1st!#PreOrderNowa.co/d/00RZxM7KWhy you need to #ONECLICK this book…🔥Enemies to Lover🔥Forced Proximity🔥Only One Bed🔥Praise Kink🔥Grumpy/Sunshine🔥Grumpy falls first🔥Hate Sex🔥Best Friend's Brother🔥MM Romance That’s it. My neighbor has to die. There’s no other way around it. The man must be killed—and I’ll even find a way to do it gently, but this cannot go on.Okay, maybe I’m a bit dramatic, but living next to my brother’s best friend who decided to befriend the crows that spend all week spreading garbage across my lawn is not what I signed up for.I wanted quiet.I wanted peace.I wanted to stop fantasizing about the gorgeous man I couldn’t stand.Unfortunately for me, North is a big presence with an annoyingly sunny smile and a way of making life sound like it’s worth living. And as a widower who wants to spend the rest of my life wallowing, the last person I want around is one who makes me question my new life’s purpose.But these feelings can’t be real, can they? I had my great love, and I lost him. So that’s supposed to be it for me.Isn’t that the way things go?I can’t seem to stay away from North, even when I know I should. And when he starts to make me feel like maybe there’s another happily ever after out there, I find that as cautious as I’ve taken each step, I’m on the verge of falling once more.Don’t Fall is the first book in the small town, enemies to lovers, heavy yearning, MM romance series, Storm Season. It features a virgin EMT whose smile is hiding a lot of things, a disgruntled, grieving writer who just wants solid sleep and a good meal, neighborhood crows wreaking havoc, cooking lessons, hurt/comfort, and a toe-curling happily ever after.✨INFLUENCERS: Sign up here for this amazing release: bit.ly/DONTFALLSIGNUP#coverreveal #emlindsey #mmromance The Author Agency ... See MoreSee Less

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

1 week ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨EXCERPT: DEVIATE ME by @daphne.thorne.author releasing May 27th! #PreOrderHere a.co/d/0footXlx Damien jumps out of his bed and quickly crosses the room. His soft, naked steps on the hardwood floors remind me of when we were just kids. When he’d sneak from his bed into mine, so that I could shelter him from the loud arguments our parents had all the time. And that’s exactly what he does now; he crawls into my bed.Oh, no . . . Holy shit.I stop breathing as he gets under the covers and curls into a ball next to me, nuzzling his face in my neck. It’s been years since he’s done this. We were both children when it started, and it was a completely innocent thing. It was normal to wrap my arms around his tiny body and let him sleep where he felt safe. Even when we were much older and we’d already run away from home, he’d done this when he’d felt really upset. And I never thought anything of it.This time, however, is different. I can’t stop my skin from erupting into goosebumps, and my heart from beating hard against my ribcage. I can’t stop the rush of blood towards my groin either, which is probably the worst part. Damien’s breath is hot against my skin, and he smells heavenly. His scent reminds me a lot of honey and mint.Fucking Jacob chose his nickname pretty well . . .#mmmromance #daphnethorne #spicyromance The Author Agency ... See MoreSee Less

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

1 week ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
My review:Hat Trick by EM Lindsey After reading book 1, I couldn't wait to read about the other brothers. We knew from book 1 that it was going to be Micah and Vanya. They had started dancing around each other in book 1.Man, Micah is DAMAGED. Not only his childhood, but his adulthood as well. And then he tops it all off with a stalker that he swears isn't a stalker but ya, he's a stalker.Vanya has nothing but heart eyes for his pretty little goalie. But, in my opinion, takes way too much crap from Micah. But he never gives up. He slows down and steps back but never gives up. Gotta give him patience and tenacity points.When things begin to escalate with the stalker, Vanya always seems to be there to help- much to Micah's chagrin. Remember, always treating Vanya like crap. Which killed me because he is such a teddy bear!We meet one of Vanya's brothers and can we say stereotype Russians much?Although Micah did soften up in the end and Vanya got the love he deserved, there was still a little too much I didn't like. I really hope book 3 is better.3 pieces of eye candy ... See MoreSee Less

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Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

1 week ago

Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy
✨Let’s celebrate! It’s release day for HAT TRICK by @authoremlindsey! Grab it in KU!#OneClickNowa.co/d/0io1BhPZWhy you need to #ONECLICK this book…🔥Friends to Lovers🔥Only One Bed🔥Sexual Awakening🔥Hockey Goalies in love🔥Grumpy/Sunshine🔥Hockey Bro Banter🔥Praise Kink“For five million dollars, would you send a relative to jail?”"Bud, I would pay five million dollars to send a few there."Problem number one: Almost everything the world thinks they know about me is a lie.Problem number two: Two people know the truth.Problem number three: One of those two is a stalker and he's having a blast using that informationagainst me to get his way.The good news is, the second person who knows the truth about who I am seems pretty dedicated totaking my stalker down.The bad news is, it’s NHL goalie Vanya Maximov, and he and I had a one night stand that I can’t stop thinking about. And while Vanya might be walking sunshine so bright he can make even my blind ass see light, we have no business being together.I’m a mess, and while Vanya is everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner, he deserves better than me.If only he was willing to listen to reason. If only he was less stubborn and able to give up on a lost cause.But with his ability to give me exactly what I want—a little pain with my pleasure—and his refusal to treat me like I’m fragile, something dangerous starts happening.I’m beginning to think that maybe—just maybe—he’s right, and I am worth everything he sees.Hat Trick is the second book in the Punk as Puck spin-off series, Legends and Fury. It’s a high heat, friends to lovers romance with a sunshine NHL goalie who also might be a golden retriever in disguise, a PPHL goalie with big black cat energy, a stalker, and no faith in himself, hooking up in a friend’s car, praise and pain, high stakes romance, hockey bro banter, tons of chirping, and the swooniest happily ever after.#newbookalert #emlindsey #mmromance The Author Agency ... See MoreSee Less

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