Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

L.A. Witt

Doubling Down (Double Trouble Book 2) by Cari Z and LA Witt: Release Day Review

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Hacker Leotrim Nicolosi and Deputy Marshal Rich Cody may have escaped a vengeful crime boss by the skin of their teeth, but they’re not out of danger yet. With the mob’s tentacles embedded in everything from local law enforcement to federal agencies, the guys are running low on allies.

Rich has one ace up his sleeve—the men who had his back in warzones during his time in the Marines. When he sends out a distress call, the cavalry comes running. Heavily armed, highly trained, and fully provisioned, they hunker down in a buddy’s missile silo, ready to make a stand against whatever the Grimaldi family sends after Rich and Leo.

Leo isn’t so sure about the Marines, though. He trusts Rich, but something isn’t right, and he’s not a gambling man when his life is on the line. The Marines aren’t so sure they trust him, either, and Rich suddenly finds himself in a standoff between the men he’s bled with and the man he’s quickly falling for.

Now they’re running out of time to either find the turncoat among them or get on the same side.

Because the Grimaldi family is coming, and this time they’re bringing out the big guns.

Doubling Down is the sequel to Double or Nothing, and is the conclusion to the Double Trouble duology.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

When we last saw Leo and Rich, lots of bad guys were dead and the biggest bad- Matteo Grimaldi- was in federal custody. But Papa Grimaldi was still out there calling the shots. And still wanted Leo dead. So back on the run they go- back to the missile silo and his Marine buddy Smitty.

The stakes have been raised though, so Rich calls in his other Marines. The show up- because that is what they do- but they don’t really trust Leo. Nor does Leo trust them.

It was cool to see these guys show up in waves. That way they all needed to learn about each other all over again. And then Gianna showed up- Papa Grimaldi’s only daughter, who he also has a hit out on.

So all of these alpha men, plus Leo and Gianna are hunkered down in a missle silo trying to come up with a plan, but also not kill each other. It is kind of funny. But they all know that this is going to come down to war. Them versus the mob, no way around it.

The story is exciting and mostly fast paced. There are a few slow spots, but not too many. There’s a double crosser in the mix, so it was fun trying to figure out who it was (I didn’t guess it).

Total escapism book with a very satisfying ending. Like an action movie on the pages with a healthy dose of gay romance.

Don’t even try to read this book without reading the first.

4 Pieces of Candy

Covet Thy Neighbor (Tucker Springs Book 4) by LA Witt: Release Day Review

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Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado, where sparks fly when opposites attract—but are some obstacles too great to overcome?

When tattoo artist Seth Wheeler meets his new neighbor, it’s like a revelation. Darren Romero is everything Seth wants in a man: hot, clever, single, and interested. For a minute he seems perfect. Then Darren drops the bomb: he moved to Tucker Springs to be a pastor at the New Light Church.

As a gay man whose parents threw him out, Seth has a strict policy of keeping believers at arm’s length for self-preservation. But Darren’s perseverance and the chemistry bubbling between them steadily wear down his defenses.

In a small town like Tucker Springs, Seth can’t avoid Darren—or how much he wants him. Which means he needs to decide what’s more important: protecting himself, or his feelings for his neighbor.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Another book I’ve read before but forgot. And it is a re-edited rerelease, so even if I did remember, some things changed.

I’m a little leary of books that have religion in them. That is my own personal prejudice. But because of that, I really felt for Seth, an atheist with a pretty deep hatred for organized religion. So of course his new across the hall neighbor is a super hot, gay, minister.

I have to say that the back and forth with the 2 guys was very respectful of each other’s views. And really, that was kind of the point of the whole thing. That they don’t have to agree to then still have a relationship. I still say a hardcore atheist and a minister is an odd combo that I don’t see lasting, but hey. This is fiction.

This was one of those quick “beach reads” as I call them. Nothing too deep or angsty. Not a ton of plot, a lot of hot sex and at least a happy for now ending.

3.5 Pieces of Eye Candy

 

Is It Over Yet? by L.A. Witt: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Release Day Review * 2 and Giveaway

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Rhys Powell and Derek Scott are divorcing. Mistakes have been made, lines have been crossed, and there’s no going back. Both men are exhausted and ready to move on.

But their daughter is getting married soon. In the name of not putting a damper on her wedding, Derek and Rhys agree to keep the divorce on the down-low and show up as the happy couple everyone still believes they are.

And between a roller coaster of a road trip and the love and joy surrounding the wedding… Derek and Rhys just might remember why they fell for each other in the first place.

Are they only kidding themselves? Or can a rekindled spark really light the way to forgiveness?

Length: 60,000 words

Cover Design: Lori Witt

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK

Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

Chapter 1

Rhys

The suburban Chicago house I’d lived in for the past six years came into view, and my stomach knotted tighter. It was the same feeling I’d had on my way to a job I’d hated a lifetime ago, when pulling up to the building made me groan out loud at the prospect of another shift in that godforsaken place. Didn’t seem right to feel that way coming home, but there it was, same as it had been for the past two months.

By the time I pulled into the garage beside the familiar red Corolla, my jaw ached from clenching my teeth. Probably because that’s what I’d been doing every night this week at the same time. Ugh. If I didn’t move out of this place soon, my dental bills were going to be astronomical. That was a good enough reason to step things up, wasn’t it? So I didn’t grind my teeth to dust?

As if I didn’t already have a laundry list of reasons why I needed to get out of here.

With an ache in my jaw and a sour feeling in my throat, I collected my coffee cup, lunch bag, and briefcase, and got out of the car. On the way inside, I couldn’t help limping a little, which added to my festering annoyance. It wasn’t unusual for my leg to be sore by the end of the day, especially after I’d been coaching basketball, but it wasn’t doing much for my shitty mood. I couldn’t think of much that would, though. Nothing short of substances that would get me fired. Or maybe finding a note on the counter that said I moved out. There wasn’t a plant on this earth that would get me higher than reading those three sweet little words.

But unless my soon-to-be ex-husband had won the lottery since this morning, he was just as stuck here as I was.

At the door, I paused for a deep breath to steel myself, then went inside. The kitchen and living room were empty. Derek’s car was here, so it was a safe bet he was home, but he was somewhere else in the house. Good enough for me. If I was lucky, he’d stay that way long enough for me to wind down.

I went through my usual motions—cleaning out my lunch bag, rinsing the Tupperware dishes, checking the cats’ food and water, perusing the mail. For years this routine had soothed me. Helped me shift from work to home so I could relax. Not so much these days.

Our long-haired calico, Lucy, hopped upon the counter and chirped at me, and I managed to crack a smile as I scratched her back the way she loved. She arched under my hand and purred. I chuckled, and I didn’t even mind that she was kicking the mail everywhere as she strutted back and forth on the counter.

“Hey, sweetheart. You miss me?”

More purring.

I kept scratching and petting her for a moment, trying not to think about the future. Or the fact that Derek and I still hadn’t come to a custody agreement about the cats. They were littermates, and though they could fight almost as loudly as we could, they were inseparable. There was no “you take Lucy and I’ll take Chico.” When this was all over and we finally went our separate ways, someone was taking both cats, and someone would be living without them.

I scooped Lucy into my arms, and I hugged her tight, which just made her purr louder and my conscience burn hotter. Guilt had been a constant friend for the past couple of months, and every time I thought about either losing my cats or taking them away from Derek, I wanted to cry. As if I hadn’t done enough of that recently.

I’m so sorry, guys. I buried my face in Lucy’s plush fur. I fucked everything up.

The click of a door at the opposite end of the house made my spine stiffen. Lucy tensed too. By the time Derek was halfway up the hall, she’d stopped purring. As he cleared the corner into the living room, she wriggled in my arms, and I sighed as I set her back down on the counter. She jumped to the floor and trotted out of the room, probably to the office where Chico was likely watching birds.

I watched her go, fresh guilt gnawing at me. Things had really gone to shit when even the cats didn’t want to be in the same room with the two of us.

Without the cat to hold my attention anymore, I turned to see where Derek was headed so I could make my own escape. I still needed to change clothes anyway, not to mention take off my prosthetic and sit for a while to give my joints a rest. If he was going to hang out in the living room, then I could go into my bedroom or join the cats in the office.

But Derek wasn’t heading into the living room. He was coming into the kitchen. And from the way his gaze was fixed on me, he wanted to talk about something.

I swallowed. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Do you have a few minutes?”

I struggled to hold his gaze. He didn’t seem like he was looking for a fight. There was some tension in his features, but it didn’t read as hostility or anger.

I shifted my weight, wincing at the vicious ache in my hip. “Yeah. Do you mind if we sit, though?”

“Sure. Yeah. Living room?”

“Okay.” I followed him out of the kitchen, and we sat on opposite ends of the sofa. As soon as I was seated, I leaned down, rolled up my pant leg, and disconnected my prosthetic. Derek didn’t speak while I removed it; for all our inability to coexist lately, he was still in the habit of giving me a minute to get situated, particularly when I needed to kick off the prosthetic after a long day on my feet.

I leaned the prosthetic against the end table and sat back, releasing a relieved sigh. Everything ached, especially my hips, knees, and right ankle, and taking some weight off them felt so good. I might’ve even relaxed if not for Derek waiting a cushion away to have a conversation. Ugh. God. What now?

Schooling my expression, I twisted toward him. I stole a second just to look at him. There would come a time in the very near future when all I had left of him was pictures, and even with the constant tension hanging between us, it hurt to imagine not seeing him anymore. Seeing him like this hurt too. The dark eyes that had tongue-tied me on day one were cold now. Beside his eyes and mouth were lines that deepened whenever he smiled or laughed, and they were barely visible now. The near-black hair I’d run my fingers through millions of times, the soft lips I’d tasted more times than I could count, that spot on his neck where a single kiss could make him shudder all over—it was all out of my reach now.

Maybe it was time to take my sister up on the offer to come stay with her. I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could handle.

Forcing back my emotions, I tried to sound casual. “All right. What’s up?”

He mirrored me, pulling his knee up onto the cushion and drumming his fingers on his inseam. “Um.” He stared down at his hand. “So, I talked to Vanessa this morning.”

My gut clenched. Instantly my mind was filled with a million worst case scenarios. I’d expected him to have something on his mind about us, not about our daughter, and panic shot through me. Had something happened? Was she hurt? Sick? “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah. Everything’s fine.” He made a calm down gesture. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“Okay. Good.” I exhaled, my heartbeat coming back down. It wasn’t unusual for her to call him, but the whole “we need to talk” thing had me on edge. “So…” I raised my eyebrows. Oh God, had he told her? Did he finally tell her we were divorcing? He’d been dancing around that for two months.

Derek cleared his throat, and to my surprise, he smiled, though he still seemed guarded. “She’s, um… She’s getting married.”

I blinked. “She is?”

He nodded. “Corbin proposed last night.”

“Oh. Wow.” I actually laughed because I was so relieved that instead of something horrible, he was breaking the news that Vanessa was engaged. “That’s great!”

“Yeah. It is.” He met my gaze, but then he broke eye contact, and his smile faltered.

How could a conversation be this much of a roller coaster after thirty seconds? Oh, right, because it was us and we were a disaster. A disaster our daughter still didn’t know about.

Derek took a deep breath and sat up a little. “Here’s the thing—they want to get married sooner than later. Corbin is going to be transferring within the next year, and he’ll probably deploy at some point. So they want to get all their ducks in a row quickly.”

I nodded. “Makes sense. How soon is soon?”

“They’re thinking February.”

I whistled. “Really not letting the grass grow, are they?”

He laughed quietly. “No. But it’s still three months away. It isn’t like they’re eloping next week.”

“True.” And why was this line of conversation making me apprehensive? Like it was going somewhere I really didn’t want it to go? I was thrilled for our daughter and her husband-to-be, but something about this discussion with Derek…didn’t feel right. After nine years together, I knew him, I knew his tells, and I knew there was more to this than just telling me Vanessa was getting married.

Chewing his lip, Derek dropped his gaze and watched his fingers drumming on his knee again. There was definitely something on his mind. Something he needed to say, but either couldn’t figure out how to or couldn’t quite work up the nerve.

“Derek?” I nudged. “What am I missing here? You’re happy about this, right?”

“Yeah. Of course. I’m… There’s just…” He closed his eyes. Finally, he met mine again. “Vanessa still doesn’t know about, um, us.”

I winced. In the two months since we’d decided to split up, we’d debated more than once when and how we should tell her. The holidays were almost upon us, so that hadn’t seemed like the right time, and we’d agreed to keep a lid on it until after the New Year. She couldn’t make it out for Thanksgiving, and she was spending Christmas with her mom, so it wasn’t as if we’d have to play happy husbands right in front of her. Just keep up the illusion on social media and on the phone. Easy. Except for the part where it meant we’d had to keep it quiet from almost everyone else so no one accidentally let it slip on Facebook. And we were still stuck living together anyway because neither of us could afford to move out yet, so the whole fucking world thought everything was quiet on the home front. The closest we’d come to letting it slip was when a friend noticed our wedding portrait wasn’t on the mantle anymore. Derek had quickly said the frame had broken, and the subject had dropped. For now.

“Right,” I said. “So what does that have to do with her getting—” I tensed, then inclined my head. “Derek, please tell me you’re not going where I think you’re going.”

He looked at me plaintively. “It’s her wedding, Rhys. The next couple of months are going to be stressful as hell for her, and I’d rather all that stress be about planning her wedding. Not worrying about her dads splitting up.”

Closing my eyes, I pushed out a long breath through my nose. We’d been married for seven years, and even though our happier days seemed like a lifetime ago, I remembered the stressful months leading up to the wedding like it was yesterday. The thought of my parents dropping a bomb like that in the middle of all that chaos? Of trying to enjoy my damn wedding while I worried myself sick about making them be in the same room? Okay, yeah, I got what he was driving at. But…fuck.

Honestly… just punch me in the face, it’ll hurt less.

I love, love, love stories like this one, that are so real and honest and hard !! People mess up and make mistakes, who can’t relate to that?

So, we come in to this one, with an already established relationship, Rhys and
Derek are married and have been for near on a decade. But during a rough patch, after a few too many drinks, one of them ends up going home with another man. I know cheating stories are a deal breaker for some… and for someone like myself, who’s ex-husband cheated and got someone else pregnant… it hurt, reading about it. (Though, there is no on-page cheating)… The anger and bitterness that Derek felt… the need for revenge and just so much hurt….

And I loved seeing Rhys guilt and the ownership of the mistake. He never once tried to blame it on anything other than his mess up. He never tried to make excuses, he never tried to justify the mistake, because as much as it killed Derek, it was killing Rhys too.

So, planning to get divorced… they decide to wait until after their daughter’s wedding to drop the news, plus, anyone who’s been divorced, knows that it’s not just easy as 1, 2, 3. It takes planning and money and it completely flips your life upside down.

There’s one little snibbit that I loved so hard, when Derek says, “Who knew this would be the hardest part about breaking up? Not just the hurt and betrayal, not just the upheaval of our peaceful life, but realizing that small things were gone.”
And it’s true… little things that you maybe took for granted while you were busy living life. Like watching tv together, or a book series you both loved and hadn’t finished. You have to mourn those things, losing them… it’s hard… and it was so perfectly written in this.

So, okay….enough of my psychoanalyzing…back to the story…. The guys had planned to wait to tell their daughter about their separation until after her wedding, but until then, and during the wedding, they wanted to put on the front that they were still together and happy. Not ideal, but I got it.

Over a 4 day long road trip and remembering all the reasons they loved each other in the first place, maybe the anger and hurt and resentment could be worked through. At times it feels like it can’t, and we go back and forth with Derek and how he feels, and then Rhys, I just wanted to hug him through the whole thing, but I loved how it ended. LOVED IT!! Could ya tell?

I could go on and on about this for days, I feel like… but I’ll spare you so you can actually read the story yourself… But, if you love second chance romances with real life hardships and mistakes.. you’ll love this one. You’ll cry over the love, the hurt, the anger, the guilt, and then the forgiveness, the relief and then the love again. I loved this book, SO MUCH! I absolutely recommend it.

5 well deserved pieces of eye candy from me!

FAVORITE LINE: “Who knew this would be the hardest part about breaking up? Not just the hurt and betrayal, not just the upheaval of our peaceful life, but realizing that small things were gone.”

 

I’ll read almost anything by LA Witt, so I was excited to see this new release as it was something different. A married couple on their way to divorce, but faking it for the sake of their daughter’s wedding. And I enjoyed it mostly. It certainly wasn’t amazing, but entirely readable with a decent story.

Derek and Rhys are broken up but still living together. Mostly for financial reasons but also because it never seems to be the right time to tell their daughter. So when she announces that she is getting married, they figure they should wait until after the wedding. But first they have to get through the wedding.

The tension between the two was very real. It didn’t come out right away why they were splitting up, but suffice it to say that one man was incredibly mad and the other was incredibly broken. But they have a 4 day each way road trip and a wedding to get through. They mutually agree to leave their problems behind for the trip and try to not only not kill each other, but maybe enjoy themselves.

Being that I live in a sort of similar situation in real life, I am going to tell you that a lot of what was going on with them was spot on. If you’re just basically nice to the other person will they assume that means you are wanting to get back together? Are they reading more into it? How can you be nice when you are so mad? But how can you ignore your past which was mostly happy?

So ya, spot on.

A lot of the back story was slow to come by and lacked a bit of punch for me. When and how they met, their daughter, their daughter’s mother, even the fact that Rhys wore a prosthetic leg and the story behind it felt like it was added to the story because it should be in there. But it also didn’t add anything to the story.

There was a bit of repetition with their daughter that got old and it wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly for me. I appreciated the epilogue, but again, it felt a bit like they were saying the same things over and over again.

Not her best, but worth the read for the feelings portrayed and the different story line.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com

E-mail: gallagherwitt@gmail.com

Twitter: @GallagherWitt

Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jan 8 – Sexy Erotic Xciting, OMG Reads, Engaging Secrets, Two Chicks Obsessed, Jan 10 – Mainely Stories, Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Diverse Reader, Gay Media Reviews, Jan 12 – Love Unchained Book Reviews, Books, Tattoos & Tea, Jan 14 – The Geekery Book Review, We Three Queens BB, Making It Happen, Jan 16 – Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Jan 18 – Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, Southern Babes Book Blog, Lillian Francis, Book Corner Reviews, Mirrigold, Dog-Eared Daydreams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Xtreme Delusions, Wicked Reads

Christmas Homecoming (The Christmas Angel Book 4) by L.A. Witt: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

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August 1939. Roger Miller and Jack O’Brien have been close since childhood. By the time they realize there’s more between them than friendship, Jack is leaving their sleepy Iowa town for college. But they console themselves knowing he’ll be home for Christmas. Right?

It is Christmas before they see each other again, but that Christmas comes six years and a world war later. Aged, beaten, and shaken by combat, they’re not the boys they were back then, but their feelings for each other are stronger than ever.

Neither know the words to say everything they’ve carried since that peacetime summer kiss, though. Even as they stand in the same room, there’s a thousand miles between them.

But maybe that’s some distance the little angel in Roger’s rucksack can cross.

This 24,000 word novella is part of the multi-author Christmas Angel series, and can be read as a standalone.

The Christmas Angel Series

In 1750, a master woodcarver poured all his unrequited love, passion, and longing into his masterpiece—a gorgeous Christmas angel for his beloved’s tree. When the man he loved tossed the angel away without a second thought, a miracle happened. The angel was found by another who brought the woodcarver True Love.

Since then, the angel has been passed down, sold, lost and found, but its magic remains. Read the romances inspired by (and perhaps nudged along by) the Christmas angel through the years. Whether it’s 1700s England (Eli Easton’s Christmas Angel), the 1880’s New York (Kim Fielding’s Summerfield’s Angel), the turn-of-the-century (Jordan L. Hawk’s Magician’s Angel), World War II (L.A. Witt’s Christmas Homecoming), Vietnam-era (N.R. Walker’s Soldier’s Wish), the 1990’s (Anyta Sunday’s Shrewd Angel), or 2018 (RJ Scott’s Christmas Prince), the Christmas angel has a way of landing on the trees of lonely men who need its blessing for a very Merry Christmas and forever HEA.

Amazon

Christmas Angel – Eli Easton – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Summerfield’s Angel – Kim Fielding –  Amazon US | Amazon UK

The Magician’s Angel – Jordan L. Hawk – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Homecoming – L.A. Witt – Amazon US | Amazon UK

A Soldier’s Wish – N.R. Walker – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Shrewd Angel – Anyta Sunday – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Christmas Prince – RJ Scott- Amazon US | Amazon UK

This one might’ve been my favorite so far in these little short stories with the magical angel.

Best friends, Jack and Roger are about to go their separate ways, one to college and one in the army. They aren’t sure where life will take them, but they promise to stay in touch. One last hurrah at the swimming hole the day before Jack is set to leave, brings a whole new light to their friendship…. They kiss…. They kiss and then realize that their feelings for each other are much deeper than friendship, and how much time they’ve lost because they didn’t realize it sooner.

My heart broke for these two… I ugly cried at two in the morning from the unfairness of it all. After being drafted and both men sent to war, they lost touch, for six years, until one is on leave and the other is honorably discharged from shell shock and they meet again in their hometown.

It’s awkward at first, because they don’t know where to go from there. They both used each other as a way to stay sane during the war, thinking of each other and dreaming of being able to be together again one day. I couldn’t even imagine what it was like for men and women back then, unable to be who they are or be with who they love. Having to hide or keep such a secret. How incredibly sad.

You can feel how much these two love each other. How each of them despaired at the thought of losing the other one to the war or because their families were hounding them to get married. They had to walk away from each other when they were just kids, and now that they’re back together, they face the same struggles…. Luckily, while on leave another time, Roger was window shopping at a junk shop and found a Christmas angel. You know what that means….

So, with a little bit of that angel’s magic and a love that even time couldn’t dull… they admitted their feelings to each other and vowed that nothing was going to separate them again. If anyone deserved a HEA, it was these two… I cried and then cried and then cried a little more. Some of it sad, but by the end, it was all happy.

What an awesome story. I can’t wait to see who the angel picks next!

5 pieces of eye candy

Dec 2 – Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Dec 4 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Xtreme Delusions, Dec 6 – Mainely Stories, Dec 8 – Sexy Erotic Xciting, Open Skye, Megan’s Media Melange, The Secret Ko, Rainbow Book Reviews, Dec 10 – Mirrigold, Lelyana’s Reviews, Dec 12 – Making It Happen, Two Chicks Obsessed, Dec 14 – Momma Says: To Read Or Not To Read, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Lillian Francis, Wicked Reads, Dec 17 – Bonkers About Books, Bayou Book Junkie, Dec 19 – Book Corner Reviews, Dec 21 – MM Good Book Reviews

 

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com
E-mail: gallagherwitt@gmail.com
Twitter: @GallagherWitt
Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Husband Gambit by L.A. Witt: Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

by

Marry me for 1 year. Payment: $1.2 million.

Hayden Somerset is convinced the ad is a joke, but he responds anyway because, hello, $1.2 million. He’s broke, living in a tiny apartment with two roommates, and exhausted from praying his ancient car survives just one more week. His skyrocketing rent and crushing student loans aren’t helping either. At this point, there isn’t much Hayden wouldn’t do for that kind of cash.

The ad isn’t a joke. Jesse Ambrose is absolutely serious. His father, the charismatic patriarch of a powerful Hollywood dynasty, has his eye on politics, and he’s counting on California’s liberals and progressives to elect him. But Jesse knows what his father believes when cameras and voters aren’t around. As the election looms, he’ll do anything to force the man’s hand and show the public who Isaac Ambrose really is.

Anything, including marrying a stranger so his father will make good on his promise to disown Jesse if he ever takes a husband.

Now he just has to wait for his father to take the bait… and try not to accidentally fall in love with his fake husband.

Length: 95,000 words approx.

Cover Design: L.A. Witt

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

This book was so fun!

I am a big fan of LA Witt and she has never written a book like this (at least that I have read) and it was so welcome. It was filled with humor, but nothing forced, no stupid jokes. Hayden is just a funny person. And that is who he is.

Hayden is a typical struggling actor in LA. With a master’s degree in theater arts. So a well education struggling actor. He shares a 2 bedroom apartment with his 2 best friends who are also struggling, just not to be actors. The three of them together count every dime and pinch every penny just to make it every month. I really loved how the 3 guys pooled all of their resources. It wasn’t just that this one had his share of the rent and that one didn’t. So when Hayden sees a random odd ad for someone to be a husband for a year and to get paid $100k a month to do it, he had to find out more.

Jesse is a semi anonymous son of a famous producer and comes from a long line of Hollywood royalty. But now his father is flirting with running for governor. And Jesse wants to stop him. Because on the outside he seems like a liberal progressive. But really he is a racist homophobe. Jesse is willing to give up his inheritance, his monthly stipend and his family in order to out his father as the bigot he is. Step 1- get a husband.

I think what I loved a lot about this book- besides the humor- is that neither guy is a jerk in any way. They seemed to become almost instant friends and that shows. And even though there was some sexual tension, it wasn’t in your face. In fact, it seems like the two men didn’t even realize it until they kissed at their wedding.

So while this trope has been around forever and will never go away, this particular telling was my favorite. I genuinely cared about these guys, the main story line didn’t get lost between sex scenes and all of the supporting characters did what they were meant to- they supported the story.

Even with the racist, homophobic father and the threat of losing everything, it was still fairly lighthearted. And I really enjoyed it.

November 15 – Cdawgz Reads, On Top Down Under, Two Chicks Obsessed, Gay Book Reviews, Xtreme Delusions, OMG Reads, November 17 – Henna Loves Books, Open Mind For A Different View, Urban Smoothie Read, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, November 19 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, November 21 – Love Unchained, V’s Reads, Mainely Stories, November 23 – Momma Says: to Read or Not To Read, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bonkers About Books, Engaging Secrets, MM Good Book Reviews, November 26 – Jim’s Reading Room, Making It Happen, November 28 – Megan’s Media Melange, November 30 – Mirrigold – Mutterings & Musings, Lillian Francis, Valerie Ullmer, Reading In Sarah’s Corner, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Southern Babes Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Wicked Reads

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com
E-mail: gallagherwitt@gmail.com
Twitter: @GallagherWitt
Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com

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Where Nerves Ends by L.A. Witt: Release Day Review

by

Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado, where you’ll enjoy beautiful mountain views and the opportunity to study at one of two prestigious universities—if you can afford to live there.

Jason Davis is in pain. Still smarting from a bad breakup, he struggles to pay both halves of an overwhelming mortgage and balance the books at his floundering business. As if the emotional and financial pain weren’t enough, the agony of a years-old shoulder injury keeps him up at night. When he faces a choice between medication and insomnia, he takes a friend’s advice and gives acupuncture a try.

Acupuncturist Michael Whitman is a single dad striving to make ends meet, and his landlord just hiked the rent. When new patient Jason, a referral from a mutual friend, suggests a roommate arrangement could benefit them both, Michael seizes the opportunity.

Getting a roommate might be the best idea Jason’s ever had—if it weren’t for his attraction to Michael, who seems to be allergic to wearing shirts in the house. Still, a little unresolved sexual tension is a small price to pay for pain and financial relief. He’ll keep his hands and feelings to himself since Michael is straight… isn’t he?

First Edition published by Amber Quill Press, LLC, June 2012.
Second Edition published by Riptide Publishing, June 2014.

Title: Where Nerves End
Series: Tucker Springs
Author: L.A. Witt
Release Date: November 2, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 192

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

 

Jason Davis injured his shoulder in a biking accident several years ago and has been living with chronic pain in his shoulder since. Nights and nights of sleepless, pain-filled nights has him finally giving into his friends’ hassling about seeing an acupuncturist…. he can’t afford it, since losing his boyfriend and gaining the other half of his mortgage and running a business now without a business partner… he just can’t seem to keep his head above water… throw in, endless, unbearable shoulder pain and he’s a few steps passed desperate…
P.S. this story is solely from his POV.

That’s where he meets Michael…. convinced the guy is a voodoo doctor who’s going to tell him something ridiculous that won’t work, he’s surprised to find that it actually does! Fortunately and unfortunately….. Fortunately, because he gets some semblance of peace from an otherwise unbearable shoulder but unfortunately because we all know how expensive doctor visits are and he can’t afford visits as often as he needs them…

However, Michael is divorced and new to Tucker Springs because his family up and moved there, including his son. He also knows how expensive it is… so when Jason offers a roommate situation to help alleviate all of their troubles, it should be a bonus right?
Did I mention that Michael is straight and Jason is ridiculously attracted to him? Yea! That shouldn’t make things awkward, should it? Muahaha, this is where things get good.

Is Michael reaaaally straight? Or did his upbringing and conservative community make him wish he was? One thing is for sure, he’s just as attracted to Jason as Jason is, him.
Interesting, right?

One thing I didn’t like was literally the night before something huge happens to flip Jason and everything he thought on his head…. He and Michael have a conversation outside on the patio and Michael, flat out lies. Like, where he could’ve just been honest, because of what takes place the never next night… but, he was adamant. It left me confused… I was like, what? What just happened?
But, whatever…. to each his own I guess, I just didn’t understand…

What I loved was Michael’s support from his ex-wife and son. I’m used to seeing vindictive, troublemakers who make a coming out, all about them. It was nice he had the support and his kid worried more about a pudding cup that his dad having a boyfriend lol
I also liked the friend, Seth… where things could’ve been awkward, they weren’t there either…. nothing but support. I wish it was always like that, for everyone!

For a minute, the back and forth between Jason and Michael was aggravating. I hated how they’d jump in then Michael would regret it then he’d say let’s do it, then backtrack after sex. But, I guess it’s all just part of it… they got theirs in the end…

Because this one was so great, I went ahead and just got the rest of the series haha!  Looking forward to the rest of it!

4 pieces of eye candy from me!