lgbtq

Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye: Release Day Review

May 19, 2020 by Denise

What If It’s Us meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this upbeat and heartfelt boy-meets-boy romance that feels like a modern twist on a ’90s rom-com!

Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new–the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he’s never really dated before.

Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.

Kai Sheridan didn’t expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there’s more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he’s awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this “relationship” will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?

Kevin van Whye delivers an uplifting and poignant coming-out love story that will have readers rooting for these two teens to share their hearts with the world–and with each other.

Amazon

Wow. I’ll start with this…I don’t normally read YA…like ever. But something about this book, when I saw it on NG told me that I needed to read it. I actually put it off, only reading it this past weekend, even though I’ve had the ARC for months. Then I devoured it in about 2 days, which with my book reading rate lately is like warp speed.

This is such a great book for #ownvoices. This book was definitely told from the point of view of someone who has lived much of this, as well as someone who spends a lot of time overthinking things, much as Kai does in this book.

I really loved this book, not just for the romance, although that was super sweet. However, the characters were rich, and still were just kids. The story spanned the easy stuff, hanging out at the local diner to learn more about each other, to the very real aspect of being outed when you aren’t ready, and the consequences that go along with that. It spoke the truth about how people will do and say things that are with their own benefit in mind, and not for the greater good.

In the end, though, it was about love. Not just love for someone else, but learning to love yourself, and who you were born to be. And the love of a family, complicated and messy as it always is. There isn’t one right way to love, and we all make mistakes even when we love someone, mistakes that hurt.

But love is love, and was proven in this book, by many of the characters. Fantastic side characters by the way! I would definitely like to see where this author takes his writing.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

BTW: By The Way (After Oscar Book 3) by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox: Exclusive Excerpt, RDB and Giveaway

May 12, 2020 by Denise

James:
My assignment is simple: go to the Cape and seal the real estate deal for my most important client. No problem. I’m good at my job, I know how to close a sale, and this time won’t be any different.

Until I meet Sawyer, the sexy young bartender I accidentally kiss in the broom closet. Turns out, he’s one of the owners I’m here to negotiate with.

Okay, so that complicates things. As does the fact that he doesn’t want to sell. Or that we can’t keep our hands off each other despite being on opposite sides. And most of all… that I might be falling for him even though I know better. I’ve made the mistake of falling for a younger man before and I won’t do it again.

Sawyer:
For me, family is everything, and nothing represents ours more than the Sea Sprite, the motel that’s been in my family for eighty years. Sure, others (cough*James*cough) may describe it as rundown or derelict or in desperate need of a wrecking ball. But I call it our legacy.

I’ve got plans — big plans to renovate the motel back to its vintage glory. The only thing standing in my way is James Allen, the fancy-shmancy lawyer from New York with his adorable smile, jaw dropping assets, and his client’s millions of dollars.

James seems hellbent on destroying my future.
But maybe there’s a way for us to build a new one together…

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Even as mad as I was at the man, I still wanted him. Which made me even angrier.

“You lied to me,” I hissed.

“I didn’t lie,” he said.

I started to argue, but he held up a hand. “But I wasn’t honest with you either. I’m sorry.”

The fact that he’d admitted that point took a little bit of the wind out of my sails. I opened my mouth to respond, but I didn’t know what to say. I’d come out here prepared for a fight, and here he was capitulating. “What the hell?” I asked, letting out a loud breath and dropping onto one of the wooden benches overlooking the wide strip of lawn leading to the dunes. The sea was calm today, which didn’t match my mood in the least.

I passed a hand down my face, trying to collect myself and rein in my rage. “Were you specifically keeping it from me in hopes of—”

“No!” He cut me off as if he didn’t want to hear me ask if he’d been using me. He sat next to me, close enough that I could feel his nearness, but far enough away that we weren’t quite touching. “I’m sorry, I… I just…” James’s eyes bounced from me to the green-blue waves in the distance and back. “I’m sorry.” He looked down at his clasped hands in his lap for a moment before chuckling softly and meeting my eyes.

There was an intensity in the way that he looked at me, as if I was the only thing that existed in the world at that moment. “I didn’t know who you were until you said your name at the end. I… I wasn’t expecting you.”

I let out a breath. While the sea was calm, my heart was anything but. It felt like the current was picking up, causing little breakers to crash here and there in my chest. Talk about unexpected.

And I almost fell for it. Almost let myself lean forward, drawn by those eyes and the smell of him that cut through the briny ocean breeze. Something warm and woodsy and inviting.

But he wasn’t here to flirt with me or fall prey to my seduction fantasies, I reminded myself. He was here to rip my family’s legacy out from under me. I didn’t have much time to change my uncles’ minds. There wasn’t a moment to spare, and I sure as hell couldn’t let this lawyer distract me.

I cleared my throat and stood, putting distance between us. Because otherwise I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from reaching for him. From running my fingers up the column of his throat and into his hair and pulling him closer until I could feel his ragged breaths against my lips and—

I took a step back. Then another. Shoved my hands into my pockets for good measure. “Um, same. So… I’ve gotta…” I looked around, desperate to come up with an excuse. I had a million chores on my day’s to-do list, and at the moment I couldn’t think of a single one. “A thing. That I have to do. Now. So… See ya.”

James called out for me, but I straight-up pretended like I didn’t hear him and bolted for the parking lot. It wasn’t until I was in my jeep and halfway to town before I realized that all of my stuff was still back at the inn. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel before turning onto Skaket Way and pulling to the side of the gravelly road. I leaned my forehead onto the steering wheel and blew out a trembling breath.

Focus.

About Lucy:

After enjoying creative writing as a child, Lucy didn’t write her first novel until she was over 40 years old. Her debut novel, Borrowing Blue, was published in the autumn of 2016. Lucy has an English Literature degree from Vanderbilt University, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the years and years of staying up all night reading tantalizing novels on her own. She has three children, plays tennis, and hates folding laundry. While her husband is no shmoopy romance hero, he is very good at math, cooks a mean lasagne, has gorgeous eyes, looks hot in his business clothes, and makes her laugh every single day.

Lucy hopes you enjoy sexy heroes as much as she does. Happy reading!

About Molly:

Molly Maddox is the pen name for a New York Times bestselling author who started writing at an early age because her older sister, Lucy Lennox, was a writer and Molly wanted to be like Lucy in all ways (she still does). When she’s not writing, Molly likes to cook, read, take pictures of her dog and cat cuddling, and finds an odd satisfaction in folding sheets so that the top sheet is indistinguishable from the bottom sheet.

She loves all things romance and is grateful every day she gets to write for a living.

Connect with Molly:
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Website
Amazon Page | Goodreads | BookBub

To celebrate Lucy & Molly’s release, we are giving away 3 eBooks copies of BTW

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Long Shadow (Hamarsson and Dempsey Book 2) by Elle Keaton: New Release Review

May 11, 2020 by Denise

Niall’s never known anything but betrayal. All Mat wants is Niall’s heart. What will it take for him to coax Niall in from the cold?

Mat’s connection with Niall is tenuous; one step forward, two steps back. Since that night on the beach Niall’s been avoiding Mat like a bad case of the flu–which, ironically, most of his deputies have come down with. What will it take for Niall to truly believe Mat wants him for who he is?

Mat’s overworked, Niall’s unnerved, and then things really go sideways.

Will a killer destroy everything before Niall realizes they are stronger together than apart?

Long Shadow is a dual POV about a broody introvert and a somewhat patient Sheriff. Mat’s going to have to prove to Niall he’s the man for him. The Hamarsson and Dempsey series follows the same couple as they find their way to their happily ever after.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Okay, this one took me a little bit to get into because I needed a refresher on book one and I honestly didn’t feel like I could handle the back and forth. I understand the one step forward, two steps back, especially after you get to know Niall, but it did take me a minute to get into because Matt was so endlessly patient and Niall was just prickly. I had forgotten that from last book so I had to go back and do a reread. Reading them together, I kind of fell in love with both of them.

They’re complete opposites in every way, the only thing they seem to have in common is law enforcement. Matt has a wonderful family and will do anything for his and Niall is very anti-family with none left. While Nial’s trying to work out what to do with his life now that he’s retired and tie up a few loose ends, he can’t keep his mind off of Matt. But seeing if he’s got what it takes to make something work with him is put on hold when an arsonist is busy at work on the island and most of Matt’s precinct is sick with the flu. It keeps him busy and distracted enough to give Nial the space he’s trying to give him as to not push him for anything he may not be able to give. With the history between them, he isn’t sure.

So the romance part takes a sideline to the mystery, but it’s always there, kinda smoldering in the background. While the guys’ are trying to find the source of all the chaos on the island, Niall opens himself up little bit by little bit, unable to keep Matt and his family at a distance because they’re all so open and accepting of him, even in his prickliness. I kinda loved them all.

With a lot of real-life situations, especially when you’re confused like Niall was, the thought of losing what you’re unsure about has a way of making up your mind. Once Niall thought he lost Mike, he realized how much he cared about him and how silly his doubts seemed. And that epilogue… I swooned!

I dunno what could possibly happen in book three but I’m bummed we have to wait until next year to see. I’m invested. I’d definitely recommend reading book one before jumping into this one, but if you like a broody hot cop and a sensitive family-oriented hot cop with some murder and mystery thrown in for good measure… you’ll love this one.

4 pieces of eye candy

The Deeper You Go (Heartbelt Records Book 1) by Logan Grey: Exclusive Excerpt, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

May 7, 2020 by Denise

Travis Cherry’s record label disowned him in almost every way, shape, and form when he was outed in the media.
The thing that sucked?

He still owed them an entire album. But that didn’t meant he’d make it easy on them.
They were the reason he was there, in that nightclub—the gay nightclub— shaking his ass and making a complete fool of himself.
They were also the reason he met Bailey.
And this is their story.

Amazon

Goodreads

It seemed so fucking real, Travis groaned and shifted closer, placing one palm against the side of his head to hold him still. But then it all flipped, and Travis was staring up at Bay, and he was the one being held in place as Bay lowered his head. Travis tipped his head up and parted his lips as they kissed, their mouths slotting together in a messy, eager pairing.

Greedy for whatever happened, Travis palmed his shoulders, all his smooth, hard muscle moving like waves beneath his warm skin. Trailing his hands down his sides, Travis gripped his waist and ground up into him at the same time he ground down. Sweet friction. Their matching groans were lost in the kiss, and Travis opened his mouth more, making room to deepen the kiss. Their tongues twined, and as they gasped for air between kisses, Travis trailed his hand around to the front of Bay’s jeans to unbutton them. He teased his fingers just inside the waistband, his heart pounding as he prepared himself for whatever came next. Whatever it was, he wanted it. He wanted Bay.

Bay lifted his head and stared down at him, and they shared a glance that said a thousand words without either of them parting their lips for anything other than a breath.

Travis gripped the waistband of his jeans and shimmied them down his hips. Bay’s skin was hot to the touch as he slowly skimmed his fingers along his abs, and then lower, until he could wrap his fingers tight around his hard—

Travis jerked awake, blinking into the darkness of his room, papers rustling under him as he sat up.

“God dammit,” he cursed. Dream.

If only he could go right back to sleep and pick up where that damned dream had left off.

With a sigh, he collapsed back into the pillows and laid his arm over his face. His cock throbbed beneath his sweats, and he shuffled to adjust himself. Running a palm over his face, he grunted in annoyance.

Well, shit. Travis guessed he’d finally found his muse.

A new to me author. But I am a sucker for rock stars. I don’t know why. Maybe it goes back to my crush on John Taylor from Duran Duran. Or Jon Bon Jovi. Whatever it is, rock stars are yummy.

We start off with the cliche paparazzi pics outing the main character Travis. But since he is in contract for another album, he does everything he can to get the label to fire him. Effective. But this whole beginning part was kind of meh for me. I plodded on.

So the record label fires him, he fires his agent, he only has one real friend (who also isn’t in the business), so he plans to hide out in a small town near where he played one of his favorite shows.

Off to Pennsylvania he goes! Kind of funny because I don’t recall the book saying Pennsylvania until toward the end. Before that, the area is made out to be the frozen tundra of Montana or something. It’s referred to as “up here” and “up north” and apparently snow lasts until April or May. Ok then.

His alone time is thwarted a bit by the owner of the B&B who is playing matchmaker with her son. The son who had a serious crush on Travis when he was 16. Now he is 21 and basically living in the same house.

There’s a decent story there with Travis helping Bailey out with the music class he runs at an LGBT+ center. They obviously grow closer as two young gay men in close proximity are wont to do.

Bailey had a bit of martyr syndrome with insisting he stay in the small town to help his mother run the B&B instead of pursuing the music career he longs for. But he isn’t a jerk about it. He just kind of accepts it as his lot in life.

There is a small sub plot of an ex coming back, but that was pretty much a mess and did nothing except exposing where Travis was holed up. He pops up again at the end of the story (fodder for another book?) but again, it was pretty sloppy.

The book ends with a cliff hanger, so if that isn’t your cup of tea, you’ve been warned. If the second book lands in my lap, I will read it. But I don;t know that I will seek it out.

3 pieces of eye candy

Logan resides in Tennessee, convinced her southern twang is part of her charm. With two cats and a dog, her hands are full, and not just of treats like her pets would like to believe. As a full time author, she dedicates all of her time bringing to life different characters and developing new worlds for her readers to lose themselves in. And more often than not, she loses herself in them, which is her favorite place to be: with a cat in her lap, a snack in hand, and voices in her head.

Connect with Logan:
Newsletter Sign Up: https://mailchi.mp/4f317aa57804/logangreynewsletter
Website: https://lanakoleauthor.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lanakoleauthor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/lanakole.75
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lanakoleauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/84269897

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My Whole World by Davidson King: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

May 5, 2020 by Denise

I’m so excited today to have Davidson King here to talk about her newest release, My Whole World. A “sort of” spin-off of her very popular Haven Hart series, as she explains below. She also brought along a sweet little giveaway, so make sure you enter the rafflecopter at the bottom. Leave a comment for Davidson, let her know your thoughts on her series, and her “sort of” spin-off.

Atlas Durand’s whole world is built from the spoils of his past. Joker’s Sin is the most popular gay club in all of Haven Hart. Many clubs have come and gone, none able to compete with Atlas and his enigmatic power over his patrons. He would do anything to keep it thriving and anyone who stands in his way will be met with serious regrets.

Toby St. Claire hates working at Vick’s Tricks and longs for his nights off so he can go to Joker’s Sin. Like everyone who steps foot into Atlas’s club, he’s taken by the owner himself and the magical pulse that owns him when he’s there. Joker’s Sin is Toby’s escape from his life and Atlas is his dream come true.

When Toby’s boss realizes he can use Toby to help take down Joker’s Sin and make Vick’s Tricks the club to beat in Haven Hart, it turns everything upside down. Lies, deceit, and corruption threaten to tear Atlas and Toby apart. Is their love strong enough to survive it all or will they become victims of mayhem?

My Whole World

Joker’s Sin Book One

Davidson King

M/M Romance

Release Date: 04.20.20

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Thank you so much for allowing me to be here to promote my new book My Whole World, Joker’s Sin Book One. I’m here today to ask a burning question I keep getting asked: Is Joker’s Sin a spinoff?

Obviously if you’ve read the synopsis for My Whole World you can see it takes place in Haven Hart. And you may or may not be familiar with my last series “Haven Hart” It is a seven-book flowing story arc. I get asked if it’s a spinoff and if they need to read Haven Hart series first and I want to answer these questions in this post here.

Is it a spinoff? Yes and no. LOL. Let me explain. Yes, in that it’s in the same universe so you’ll see places like the coffee shop, restaurants, or other places mentioned. But Joker’s Sin stands on it’s own, away from the Haven Hart Series.

Do I need to read Haven Hart First? No. Not even a little bit. Sure, there are Easter eggs in the stories like a place someone who read the HH series might recognize, but you can successfully read the entire Joker’s Sin series having never opened a HH book.

Why did I do this? Well, like I said before, HH was a large story arc. It spanned over seven books. Those characters, while amazing and will always be loved, had their stories told. The guys of Joker’s Sin live in a different world from those other characters. It’s their time to shine all on their own.

So, yes, it’s a spinoff but you don’t have to have read the Haven Hart books.

I couldn’t do this. I mean, I wanted Atlas to finally notice me, but not like this. There was a reason I only sat at the bar when I came here. I. Couldn’t. Dance. Not like the music intended, anyway.

“Shake it, sister,” Sparkles said to me as he took my hand and tried his hardest to get me to move.

“I can’t dance.”

Sparkles’s eyes widened. “But…” He looked around; everyone was watching Sparkles and me not dancing. “That’s what you do here.”

“Move it, boys,” DJ Edge’s voice rang out. I saw Lance and the others dancing like their lives depended on it. One took to the pole and another to the cage.

“Leave me, save yourself,” I urged Sparkles.

“I never leave a man behind.” He winked and I watched as he grabbed the chair Lance was about to sit on and dragged it over to me. “Sit.”

I did as I was told because I was terrified and everyone was watching, even Atlas. He crouched down over by Max, and they were talking.

“Let’s do this, tin man. I’ll get you oiled up.” And Sparkles straddled my lap. “Grab my ass.” I did exactly as I was told; I sat there while Sparkles danced on my lap. He was like liquid as he slid to the floor, climbed up, and wow, he was really rubbing himself on me. “Touch me,” he said. When I glided my hands along his waist, over sequins and rhinestones, I felt so alive. The crowd was cheering, and Atlas only had eyes for us.

Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.

When she’s not writing you can find her blogging away on Diverse Reader, her review and promotional site. She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.

If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/davidsonkingauthor

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Caulky (Four Bears Construction Book 1) by K.M. Neuhold: Quick Review

May 4, 2020 by Denise

Ren is in desperate need of a rebound fling. Lucky for him, the smoking hot contractor he hired has just the tool for the job.

The last thing I want is another relationship or another broken heart.

All I need are my bees and the occasional hookup to scratch the itch.

Okay, maybe meeting up with my hot contractor weekly is a little more than occasional. And maybe the way I’m starting to feel about the guy I’ve been anonymously chatting with online should concern me.

But CaulkyAF doesn’t want to meet, and Cole doesn’t want anything serious, so what’s the worst that could happen?

**** Caulky is book 1 in the Four Bears Construction Series and can be read as a stand-alone. This is a funny, steamy MM story guaranteed to make you laugh and swoon. Absolutely NO cheating and NO love triangle. This series does NOT contain shifters, it’s the OTHER kind of bears

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Okay, so I started off a little on the fence with this one. Premise is good, right? But oooooomg, do I hate when the guy is all, I don’t do relationships, I’m a one night guy, no repeats, I don’t do that….. that’s literally the first half of this story. I just wanna fast forward to the middle when all that is over with, because of course, it will be. Those are the ones that fall the fastest and the hardest.

Secondly, I didn’t find either of the characters likable in the beginning. I mean, I felt for Ren, being left the way he did when his boyfriend of five years just up and moves out, and I would’ve liked his personality if it didn’t feel like he was trying too hard to be funny that it just felt a little stilted. Cole, I just got annoyed at how often he played up this big whorey persona. Yes, we get it, you have your pick of any guy you set your eyes on, you don’t do repeat hookups, we geeeeeet it. Also, you kiss this guy, spend SIX MONTHS thinking about him, then sleep with him and a month later you remember him but not the house he took you too and you’re not foaming at the mouth over him anymore? ….. mmmkay.

So, Ren is looking for a rebound and who better than the hot guy he kissed once at the bar who turns out to be his construction worker he’s hired to do his bathroom. After a few hookups that are purely spontaneous, they each also get on this M4M app and talk to each other, only they don’t know it’s each other and it takes them waaaaay too long to figure it out, in the meantime, Cole is still saying he doesn’t do repeats, except, he is, and he’s so anti-relationship but when his buddy asks him about his ‘boyfriend’, he doesn’t deny that he could be in love with him….or at least have the potential… but not just with this guy he hardly knows and has hooked up with more than his usual once, but also this guy he’s chatted with a few times on this app. What a complete turn around, huh?

However, this is where things get cute for me. After Cole realizes that he has real feelings for Ren, he’s just actually really sweet. While Ren is still a little gunshy, having been in crappy seemingly one-sided relationships, he isn’t sure he can trust Cole not to leave him. He wants to, but it’s hard. Hashtag, relatable, right? In saying that, it isn’t angsty and back and forth the way I expected. It’s a grown up relationship, where they communicate and care about each other enough to be honest with one another. I really liked that.

I also adored their banter once it stopped feeling so forced. Maybe the awkwardness was just because it was new and they were trying to figure it all out, I dunno… but the second half of this book more than made up for the first half. I’m glad I stuck it out and I can’t wait to see what’s up with all the guys.
I loved all the side characters, from the best friends to the brothers to the amazingly supportive parents on both sides. I honestly cannot wait to see more of these guys.

FAVORITE LINE: “He’s a contractor; if porn has taught me anything, it’s that if you ask him to check your pipes, you’ll end up getting gang banged by him and like three other hot dudes.”

4 Pieces of Eye Candy