Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

L.A. Witt

Underdog (In Vino Veritas) by L.A. Witt: Audiobook Review, Narration by Nick J. Russo

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Life in foster care wasn’t easy. Life after prison? Unforgiving. But I’m determined to stay out of trouble, and I’m gaining a foothold on the closest I’ve ever known to normal.

Then, thanks to a pair of escape artist dogs from the sanctuary where I’ve found work, I cross paths with my boss’s neighbor, Ty Adams. He’s a horse trainer, and winter is his quiet season. It’s also the season when he gets restless and lonely—two things I know all about. He’s not interested in love or romance. I’m just happy someone’s interested in me at all, even if emotions are strictly forbidden.

When we’re not together, I’m thinking about him. When we are together… Well, I’m definitely thinking about what he does to me and what I want to do with him.

As we keep each other warm through the Vermont winter, this feels a lot more than physical. Somehow he soothes my pain, and I wonder if I’m touching something deep inside him too. But Ty won’t let himself love anyone. I never had a chance. And now, with my past closing in, I could lose the one man I hoped I could count on. The one I thought might be different.

When his present and my history collide, is it too much to hope he’ll choose me?

CW: Sick horse and a minor accident involving a horse—no animal deaths or serious injuries/illnesses.

Audible – Narrated by Nick J. Russo

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

First, this is not a short book/audiobook. I mean let’s face it, L.A. Witt doesn’t really write short books, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. It tops out around 400 pages in the ebook, and 12 hours on the audiobook, and not one ounce of filler in there. Zero. So, plan to be engaged the entire way! I know I was.

What can I say? Landon got ALL the love from me. A really good guy (c’mon he loved animals so much!) who thanks to a really cr@ppy childhood grew up and got himself into a lot of trouble, multiple times, until he was locked up for nearly 10 years. It’s hard to imagine how someone can not come out of something like that completely changed. And to see how many people questioned him, shunned him, assumed that he was always up to his “old ways”. He took each of those blows to heart, but tried to be so forgiving, and understanding of them, that this is what he felt he deserved and always would. Yet he treated each one of those animals like they were precocious children and gave them all the love he had in him. It was hard not to love Landon from the first page.

Ty was also a really good guy, very dedicated to his career, so much so that he never saw it coming that he and Landon were just going to continue on the path toward each other. It was honestly a little funny how he kept denying it, and explaining it away as two friends just having great sex, denying it to himself as much as he did to Landon. This guy could not get out of his own head. But he quickly began to see Landon not as a friends with benefits situation, but as someone who he could depend on, and learn to incorporate into his life.

There was one thing that Ty did that, while I understood why he did it, and honestly would have likely done it myself in that situation, I was bothered that he didn’t end up telling Landon about it. I would have liked to have seen that level of honesty from Ty. But it didn’t change the course of the book, and likely wouldn’t have changed their relationship in the long run.

I will admit I cried more than once at the treatment of Landon, who just wanted to get his life on track, to put his head down and work. Meanwhile so many people would not give him a chance. It was heartbreaking. And yet, I would imagine so realistic to those who are coming to the outside after incarceration.

The knowledge given to the reader/listener about the horse world was not overwhelming, but definitely enough to make sure you knew what was going on. And with all the different personalities in the different animals, it just made it that much more fun to read.

I don’t often re-read/re-listen to books, but this one will definitely hit that list. Now that my heart isn’t in my throat wondering about the HEA (which this author always gives…but it was hard sometimes to see it coming!)

Narrator Nick J. Russo, does another fantastic job with character voices. I always appreciate a narrator who can give multiple voices to his characters, and being able to tell who was who based on voice is a talent. He did a great job of this. I enjoy his narration every time I get the chance to listen, and I will be listening to this one again!

Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candyNarration: 4 pieces of eye candy

Rookie Mistake (On Board Book 1) by L.A. Witt and Anna Zabo: Release Day Review

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Rookie forward Isaac Rivera is still finding his footing in the big leagues where he’s no longer the best player on the roster. It’s a whole new world, especially now that several of his hockey idols have become teammates. Friends, even.

There’s one who’s more than a hockey idol, though… and he might end up being more than a friend.

Julien Landry is a powerhouse on the ice. In eight years, he’s become one of the league’s top defensemen and the heartthrob everyone wants to bed. But fallout from a painful mistake as a rookie, followed by years of rough-and-tumble hookups, have him itching for something more.

When a connection sparks between him and Isaac, he discovers what he’s been missing: someone he can trust with his body and his heart. As long as Isaac and Julien keep the heat between them off the ice, what could go wrong?

But Julien’s past is never far behind him, and when it comes crashing in, he might lose everything—his career, his friends, and the first person he’s ever really loved.

CW: discussions of past abuse and sexual assault

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I’ve always been a fan of LA Witt. And I’ve enjoyed Anna Zabo’s books. So match made in heaven, right?

Well…yes, mostly. Let’s dig.

LA Witt has been known to have increasingly long books. And that’s fine. Sometimes a story needs 100 pages to be told. And sometimes it needs 400 pages. And while this one clocks in at over 500 pages, it really didn’t have to.

There is A LOT of hockey in this book. “But, Erin, of course there is! Both main characters are hockey players!” True, true. But there are descriptions that go pages about plays, what happened during the game, where the puck went, etc. Play by plays of a fictional game that I really don’t think added anything to the story.

What I can see is the passion both authors have for the game. And I commend that. But I just wish there wasn’t so much of the game play that had my eyes glazing over a bit. Admittedly, I am not really a hockey fan. But I have read plenty of books featuring hockey. And I’ve enjoyed them. But I also wasn’t immersed in hockey.

Ok, moving on.

Beyond the above, I kind of loved the whole dynamic going on. The seasoned players kind of taking the rookie under their wings. Also Julien has different reasons for doing that. And his friends know he has different reasons, but they are cool with it.

Isaac is totally star struck and trying not to be. He had posters of Julien on his bedroom walls. Now he is not only playing on the same team as him, but apparently they are friends? Until Julien passes him his address.

Although unrealistic, I loved that being gay in hockey wasn’t a huge plot point. People knew Julien was gay (or bi? sorry, can’t remember) and it was no big deal. No big announcements really. They kept their relationship on the down low, not because they were two men, but because they were two men on the same team and one was a rookie.

There’s also a subplot involving Julien and another player who used to be on his team but now plays for someone else. That definitely added a lot to the story and to who Julien is.

As always, the sex scenes were off the chart hot and very unexpected.

I definitely want to read book 2. I can guess who it is about and I need to see that. But maybe a little less play by play.

4 pieces of eye candy

The Right To Remain by L.A. Witt: New Release Review

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Levi Harris has never had a reason to stay on the straight and narrow. Nothing he does is ever good enough for his family, his teachers, his bosses, his drill instructors. He can’t do anything right, so why bother trying?

Then he gets caught breaking and entering, and now he’s bound for prison. Or is he?

Austin Caldwell isn’t thrilled about being burglarized, but when he finds himself face to face with the intruder, he sees himself in those terrified eyes. He knows more than most how much prison chews people up and spits them out. Maybe, just maybe, he can save Levi from that fate.

It starts as an arrangement for Levi to work off his debt to Austin. As trust grows between them, so does an undeniable attraction. Especially as Austin begins to see untapped desires in Levi, and he begins to unlock a whole new world of sensuality for his submissive protégé.

Levi’s in heaven. He’s finally wanted. He finally belongs. For the first time in his life, he has something to lose. All he has to do is stay out of trouble.

And hope trouble doesn’t find him.

The Right to Remain is a 150,000+ word standalone contemporary gay romance with a guaranteed happy ending.

CW: criminal activity, brief mentions of past death of a child, brief mention of past suicide, incarceration.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

This story has a lot. Age gap, kink 101, the evils of HOAs (no, seriously), the immense need for prison reform and a couple of emotionally manipulative pets.

Levi and Austin are more alike than they are different despite outward appearances. Austin owns a home, has pets, a good job, but he has pretty much no family except for a daughter he gave up for adoption but he luckily has a relationship with. Levi has a family, but whatever he does isn’t good enough so he stopped trying a long time ago. He has a crappy job, a crappy car and a crappy apartment he shares with 2 other guys. So to make a little cash on the side, he breaks into houses to steal what he can carry and sell. Until he finally gets caught. By Austin. In his leather room.

Austin starts off with altruistic intentions of helping Levi stop stealing, but there is chemistry there. Levi doesn’t really know what to do with it because he hasn’t really had relationships. Austin can’t stop thinking about Levi in the leather room. A little curiosity finally gets the conversation going.

Levi has NO idea about kink really. Except that it is a thing. Austin takes the time to explain everything to him as best as he can. What I really liked about this part of the story is that it is explained so, so well without feeling like a lesson in kink. He never makes Levi, or us, feel dumb or silly. And while it is explored why Levi might have the kink he does, Austin never gives a reason for being a dominant. Which just says that some people have reasons for their kink and some don’t and both are perfectly valid.

A lot of time is spent on talking about prison reform, why recidivism happens so often, how ridiculously hard it is for people to get ahead at all when they are released, etc. It was also another lesson for Levi. Go to prison once, you will probably end up back there. And if you don’t, you will probably struggle no matter how hard you try and it will follow you forever. I wish more judgmental people would understand all of this instead of just labeling people as bad or whatever.

There are quite a few lighthearted moments as well. Austin dealing with his “Karen” of an HOA president. his dogs and cat, them just hanging out together, getting to know each other, etc.

Levi’s parents will make you want to scream. They just cannot accept anything less than the best. Because of that, Levi gave up long ago. But they still berate him every chance they get, including belittling him and accusing him of breaking into their house. I really wish he or one of his brothers finally snapped and yelled at them. Oh well, can’t have everything.

This book is LONG. There’s definitely some repetition and I didn’t really expect something to happen toward the end, but looking back on it, it really did need to happen. (Don’t you love spoiler free reviews?) Austin and Levi are great together. The love and tenderness Austin has for Levi is so sweet. Seeing Levi learn to accept that love and tenderness is swoony.

Make sure your kindle battery is charged before you jump in. You will love these guys.

4 pieces of eye candy

The Venetian and the Rum Runner: A 1920s Gay Historical Romantic Suspense by L.A. Witt: New Release Review

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New York City, 1924

Once their paths cross, their worlds will never be the same.

Danny Moore and his crew only meant to rob the hotel suites of rich guests. He wasn’t supposed to find himself in gangster Ricky il Sacchi’s room. And il Sacchi wasn’t supposed to wind up dead. Now Danny has the attention of another notorious gangster.

Carmine Battaglia is intrigued by the Irish thieves who would have made off with a huge score if not for il Sacchi’s death. They’re cunning, careful, and exactly what he needs for his rum running operation. But Danny’s already lost two brothers to the violence between New York’s Irish and Sicilian gangs, and he’s not about to sell his soul to Carmine.

With a gangster’s blood on his hands, Danny needs protection, whether he likes it or not. And that’s to say nothing of the generous pay, which promises to pull him and his crew—not to mention their families—out of destitution.

Working together brings Danny and Carmine to a détente, then to something so intense neither can ignore it. Something nearly enough to make them both forget the brutal tensions between their countrymen.

But the death of Ricky il Sacchi hasn’t been forgotten. And someone is determined to make Danny bleed for it.

The Venetian and the Rum Runner is a 144,000-word gay historical romantic suspense novel set during Prohibition and the Roaring Twenties.

CW: graphic violence, PTSD

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I don’t usually gravitate toward historicals, but prohibition era 1920’s NYC? I’ll totally read that. Plus, L.A. Witt. I’ll always read her books.

First off, what is obvious is the amount of research that was done for this book. Historical accuracies as far as politics, places, people and language were really well done. Nothing takes me out of a story faster than dropping current slang into a book that isn’t current.

Back to it. Although this is touted as a romance, it takes a looooooooooong time to get to that. And this book is hefty. Before that though is a really good story of an Irish petty thief and his band of brothers and the Italian mafia. Italians hate the Irish, Irish hate the Italians, etc. American racism and bigotry go way back.

After another mafioso is killed, Danny is given an offer he can’t refuse. (I’m sorry, had to do it) Carmine needs a new group of liquor runners and Danny needs not only the money, but also the little protection Carmine can offer him as an employee of the family.

What follows is a pretty epic story. Danny and his best friend who love each other but do nothing about it. Danny trying to help his remaining brother with money. Carmine’s sister wanting in on it. Several speakeasies, including one that has drag queen performers and seems to cater to “Danny’s kind”.

On the other side, Carmine is dealing with fallout from the other gangster’s murder, his spitfire sister and his feelings for Danny.

Even though the entire story doesn’t cover much of a time period, I am still calling it an epic. The writing sucks you right into the story and the time frame. You CARE about these men- even Carmine the gangster. There was even one part that made me say “SHUT UP!” out loud.

But listen, it is brutal at points. These are gangsters. Dealing with illegal liquor and other stolen goods. The author doesn’t shy away from the brutality, which just makes it more authentic.

Great read. In all honesty, calling it a romance is a total stretch because it takes them so long to get there and while it definitely drives the men to do some of the things they do, it’s just not a big part of the story.

4.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

The Road Home by L.A. Witt: Quick Review

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David Coleman has made some mistakes, and he’ll be living with the consequences for the rest of his life. He’s made decisions that have left him estranged from his once tight knit family. Even now, when David is clean and sober and working his way through medical school with a promising future ahead, his parents refuse to forgive or forget.

When he gets some grim news about his father, David realizes he’s running out of time to make amends. As he comes home for the holidays and his sister’s wedding, he knows it’s going to be tense, but he’s desperate to prove they’re wrong about him. And since they won’t take his word for it, he’s bringing reinforcements.

Hunter Scott will do anything for his childhood best friend, but he never thought that would include posing as his boyfriend. Except David’s family has always respected Hunter. Maybe if they see that David is good enough for Hunter to love, they’ll realize he’s good enough for them too.

But as Hunter and David lean on each other through snowstorms, family drama, and visits from personal demons, maybe this relationship isn’t as much of a performance as it was meant to be.

The Road Home is approximately 82,000 words long.

CW: Recovering addict struggling on-page, references to meth use, combat PTSD, discussions of suicide

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Kind of…definitely not my favorite by LA Witt. There was plenty of angst- but it was really family driven, not relationship driven. So much so that I wanted to scream at my kindle. Like, dude. Toxic is toxic! Stop trying to please them!

Anyway, best friends to lovers although they were lovers- or at least boyfriends- back in high school, on a road trip home for Christmas. David is still trying to win back his family’s love after drug addiction. And choosing to do porn. His parents were focused on the porn thing, his brother on the drug addiction thing. But never mind that he is in MED SCHOOL. Like come on. Give the guy a break.

Hunter is the perfect best friend. Flourishing Naval career, great family, supportive best friend. So much so that he pretends to be David’s boyfriend during their trip home hoping that David’s family will finally turn around. Uh, no. Sorry. If you have to have a perfect boyfriend to show your worth to someone, they aren’t worth it.

I get it. Family. But David stresses so often how his friends from his porn career saved his life and are his family. Dude, stick with that. They love you for you.

The on again off again thing between David and Hunter throughout the book was a bit commonplace. Been there, read that.

LA Witt is in my top ten for favorite authors to read, but this one was a miss.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

After the Fall (Tucker Springs Book 6) by L.A. Witt: Quick Review

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A Tucker Springs Novel

The trails around Tucker Springs, Colorado, are perfect for horseback riding, and Nathan finally has the horse he’s been saving to buy for years. So it just figures that the first day he takes Tsarina out for a ride, some guy on a motorcycle spooks her and she throws him, leaving him with two broken limbs and no chance of enjoying the trails for the rest of the summer.

Mechanic and nomadic motorcycle enthusiast Ryan feels awful that his wrong turn resulted in injury and inconvenience. To atone, he offers to exercise Tsarina for Nathan, with one caveat: Nathan will have to teach him how to ride.

Lessons turn to friendship and then to mutual attraction, but Nathan is determined that attraction is where it ends. He’s been hurt before, and he knows Ryan will never settle down. He might just be too skittish to give them a chance—unless Ryan can convince him to get back in the saddle.

The trails around Tucker Springs, Colorado, are perfect for horseback riding, and Nathan finally has the horse he’s been saving to buy for years. So it just figures that the first day he takes Tsarina out for a ride, some guy on a motorcycle spooks her and she throws him, leaving him with two broken limbs and no chance of enjoying the trails for the rest of the summer.

Mechanic and nomadic motorcycle enthusiast Ryan feels awful that his wrong turn resulted in injury and inconvenience. To atone, he offers to exercise Tsarina for Nathan, with one caveat: Nathan will have to teach him how to ride.

Lessons turn to friendship and then to mutual attraction, but Nathan is determined that attraction is where it ends. He’s been hurt before, and he knows Ryan will never settle down. He might just be too skittish to give them a chance—unless Ryan can convince him to get back in the saddle.

Title: After the Fall
Series: Tucker Springs
Author: L.A. Witt
Category: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 193

Amazon

Back to Tucker Springs!

These books are fun reads. Generally light, fluffy and shortish, you know you are going to get a sweet love story with a happily ever after set in the cute fictional Colorado town of Tucker Springs.

We know Nathan, the adorable receptionist at the acupuncture clinic from previous books. He had been saving up and finally has his own horse. His big plans on spending as much of the summer as possible on horseback are thwarted when a motorcycle scares the horse and throws Nathan and he breaks his leg. When the motorcycle driver comes over to check on him, Nathan punches him in the face. Now he has a broken hand as well.

Not hard to see where this is headed, but that is what I like about these books. Ryan (motorcycle guy) feels bad and wants to help, Nathan actually seriously needs help- for him and to exercise his horse. Match made in heaven.

They flirt with each other but it is more of a slow burn and then when they do go further, isn’t super frantic (hello, two casts), it is slow and sweet.

We get a few cameos from previous books-always fun.

This book, like the others is like a Hallmark movie. Formulaic and predictable but reliable.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy