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Tomb of the God King by Julia Talbot: Exclusive Excerpt and Release Day Review

May 15, 2018 by Denise

Englishman Christian Hewler travels to 1920s Egypt as the man Friday to an eccentric American millionaire, hoping to make history and establish his name in archaeology. What he doesn’t count on is meeting brash hired gun Eric Lawless, an American cowboy working for a rival team, or the paranormal mystery that draws them in and has them facing down crazy archaeologists, dark entities, and even ancient gods.

From dark tombs to the burning-hot desert of the Egyptian landscape, Christian has to prove his mettle. During this dangerous game of cat and mouse, the reluctant partnership between Christian and Eric blossoms into more—maybe even a love that can last beyond the deception and terror hidden deep in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

First Edition published by Torquere Press, October 2006.

Title: Tomb of the God King
Author: Julia Talbot
Release Date: May 11, 2018
Category: Historical (TBC)
Pages: 142

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Hey y’all!

I’m Julia Talbot, and I’m here to talk about Egyptology and Tomb of the God King, which is a book I wrote a while back and that Dreamspinner is being kind enough to re-release for me.

I have an exclusive excerpt for y’all today, and it’s worth noting that this is my only long piece in first person.

Hope you love it!

***

“You are indelicate,” I said. “Some of these children might be the mayor’s.”

“Then he should see to it that they have something else to do.” Lawless rolled his shoulders. “’Sides, I’m not the one who leaves a man right after the loving.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” I threw my hands up, whirling toward the stall that held pots, knowing they would need them for milk and water. “I knew it. I knew you could never be civilized about this. I cannot fathom why I even thought you could.”

His hand clamped on my shoulder like a vise. “Tell me, Christian. Tell me what scared you off.”

Fully intending to give him a glorious speech, I turned and opened my mouth, only to have it fall even farther open when I saw the figure behind Lawless.

Dressed in tattered beggar’s robes, the thing had the gaunt, swarthy face of an Egyptian, complete with fly-ringed eyes and yellowing teeth. But the hand the man held out was not human; it was a great claw, scaly like a slithering snake, and as I backed away, it extended toward us until I thought it must surely snatch Lawless and rend him limb from limb.

It did not.

Lawless yelped as the scaly appendage touched him and was suddenly at my side, facing the beggar with his six-gun drawn.

“What the hell is that thing, Chrissy?”

“I haven’t a clue.” Really, I was so addled I could hardly even register the insulting nickname.

The thing shambled toward us, and I could see Lawless about to squeeze the trigger when something dropped on the ground before us and the beggar’s hands turned into those of a thin man, nothing but dirty nails to fear from them at all.

My eyes felt on fire, and I blinked just enough to make sure I did not have sweat in them, distorting the image.

The beggar turned away, leaving us in a stunned tableau until finally Lawless broke the silence by clearing his throat. “Was I imagining things, buddy?”

“If you were, I had the same hallucination. How very… odd.”

***

Thanks for reading, y’all!

XXOO

Julia Talbot

This was really a fun read! It takes places in 1920s Egypt — I mean, how often do you get to read an m/m (or any??) romances set there? Tomb robbing (or is it archaeology?), murder plots, greed, Egypt, mummies curses. Fun! Also? There is like a ton of sexy times in this book (which is never, ever a complaint from me.)

Christian is an English archaeologist hired by a wealthy American; Eric is the hired gun for a rival excavation. The two fall into bed almost right away, but honestly Eric seems a little clingy to me at first. Christian is likewise wary, but as the dig progresses, the two continue to find themselves thrown together. They encounter creepy messengers, dig accidents, and a possible curse and grow closer in the process.

This was an easy fun read with laughs, some suspense, lots of sexy times (did I mention that already?). It’s told from the POV of Christian, and I kind of like him even though he can be sort of uptight at times. There were also a few spots where the relationship between the two heroes was spoken of so openly, I couldn’t imagine that would happen in real life? It didn’t take away from the book for me, though.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

www.juliatalbot.com

https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbotauthor

Better Together BL Maxwell: Release Day Review Blitz and Giveaway

May 15, 2018 by Denise

Since being thrown out of his home by his parents, Caden has been struggling to survive on the streets. He lives in constant fear, stresses over his next meal, and dreads trying to find a safe place to sleep at night. One night he finds an unlocked car and settles in to sleep, but he’s soon interrupted when someone steals the car. With little choice but to ride along, Caden soon learns that first impressions aren’t always correct.

Seventeen-year-old Damario has been raising his little brother and sister by himself since his parents were deported. He never imagined how hard it was going to be paying the bills and making sure there was always food on the table. Or how hard it would be to hold his family together when they all depended on him to do it. He finds himself stealing cars to make ends meet, but he never expected to find someone sleeping in the back of one of them. And he really didn’t expect this stowaway to change his life.

When Damario brings Caden home, it was only supposed to be for a shower and a hot meal, but he can hardly kick him out onto the streets again. There is no way he could have seen that by saving Caden that night, he was also saving himself. When Damario’s world starts to fall apart, they both realize that the answer to all of their problems is helping each other, and although the world tries to drive them apart, they really are better together.

Amazon

I have to first point out that I am such a sucker for single dads, or brother’s that step up and take care of their siblings. Hot guys with kids are just an overall must read, for me. In this one, we start off with Caden, who has the world worst parents. Upon finding a m/m romance novel in his room, they give him 10 minutes to pack a couple things and then his dad drives him far away from home and just drops him off in an abandoned parking lot. Literally, like a dog they wanna dump, they just load him up and haul him off. What I do not understand, is why nothing was done about this when he didn’t show up at school or whatever. The cops came and they told him he was a runaway, but the sister, she should’ve said something. Why did she not tell anyone the real story??? Why didn’t Caden?? His parents should’ve been punished for what they done, not only once, but they done it TWICE!

Damario, or Rio, has he’s called…. Is just shy of seventeen when his parents get deported over something ridiculous. I hope our government isn’t that terrible that a simple address change can get you deported, but anyway….It didn’t seem believable that three minor children would just be left to their own devices when the parents got deported, the youngest being six. I mean, they had a neighbor that helped out a bunch, sure, but they were all still minors… how did nobody catch on to that?

Anyway, while out doing some shady business to make a little extra cash, Rio finds Caden sleeping in the back of a car he’s trying to steal, and sees how skinny and unkempt he is. He takes him along with him and decides he’s going to help him. I thought this was admirable because the kid and his two siblings didn’t have much, but Rio wanted to help Caden. It was cute, if not a bit unrealistic. I can say with absolute certainty that in no way would I have trusted my little siblings alone with a homeless stranger I met an hour ago… no matter how harmless he seemed. I didn’t like that, it again seemed unrealistic.

I did like how each boy felt like the other saved them in a way… it felt like young love, and I found myself rooting for them both. I was glad that eventually, everything started working out. I had thought that they’d have a lot more trouble from the guy boosting cars when Rio just wanted to quit. Typically, when you start doing shady work for shady people, they don’t’ just let you leave whenever you want to. So, I was glad that wasn’t the case, but again, it just felt unrealistic to me. I feel like I’ve used that word a lot in this review, but if I had to describe it all in one word, that’s what it would be.

It was a cute story, a bit mushy in some places but overall, it was cute. I was happy with the way it ended and though Rio’s family didn’t ever make it back into the states, I was glad that they were able to visit them often and everyone seemed to be happy and healthy and together.

3 pieces of eye candy from me!

BL Maxwell grew up in a small town listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM genre and was hooked.

Many years later, she decided to take the plunge and write down some of the stories that seem to run through her head late at night when she’s trying to sleep.

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King Consort by J.R. Gray: Release Day Review and Excerpt

May 15, 2018 by Denise

Avoiding sleeping with women was my specialty, an art form even. As the future King of England I couldn’t be caught sleeping with men. My whole life played out in front of the paparazzi, and they didn’t miss a thing.

I had a carefully crafted womanizing persona to maintain. My life came with rules, all of which I broke when I couldn’t resist a one night stand with the enemy: A beautiful paparazzo with a heart of gold. He may be the only person who doesn’t want me for my title, and he can never be anything more than my secret.

But secrets have a way of coming out and not only will they scare him away, but they’ll lose me the crown.

Amazon

“Don’t move,” he said in a whisper.

“What are we doing?”

“I want these for me. I’ll sign whatever you want so you know I’ll keep them to myself, but I get a different you. One only I see, and I want it on film.”

It was the most romantic thing someone had ever said to me.

“I want to be able to look at them and remember this. You.”

“I want a copy.”

“Sure.” He brushed his fingers over the small of my back, sending a spark up my spine. “Now stand still.”

I indulged him and stayed in place. He unzipped the bag and slid out his DSLR. He changed something and then held it up to his face and clicked the shutter. Taking a look at the screen, he moved ever so slightly to the left and held it to his face again.

“Look at the fire.”

I did as I was told. He came close and moved my arm with the drink a fraction and placed my other arm over the back of the sofa.

Click. Click. Click.

He set the camera aside and took a seat on the edge of the chair next to me.

“Done with my repayment so soon?”

There was a light in his eyes. “Not a chance.” He looked me over, his eye stopping on the top two buttons of my shirt which remained undone. “But you’ll want that photo. To release for something. You look too alluring and regal to not have it. It was more for you than for me.”

I was shocked. “Let me see.”

He picked up the camera again and leaned closer to me to show me the screen. I looked like something out of a novel. Mysterious and alluring. I liked it. And I didn’t like many photos of myself.

“You’re quite talented.”

He sat back, keeping the camera in his lap. “How much liberty are you giving me?”

I mirrored him and looked him over, taking my time with my answer. “Why are you asking?”

Lust crossed through his gaze. “Take off the shirt.”

I obliged him, slowly working my fingers down the buttons. I slid it off and set it aside. He looked me over, hungry. My cock stirred at the look. I’d never felt so desired by another person. He slid forward on the seat and brought the camera back to his face. I stayed as I was until he told me to move.

“Sit on the edge of the table,” he said breathless.

I was glad this was getting to him as much as it was me. It was entirely foreign to give someone such a thing over me. To allow someone to take these photos. It was daring and exhilarating. I’d have to be careful or I’d get addicted to the acting out like some bored teenager.

I sat on the edge of the table closest to the fire, and he moved back to take a few shots. I looked up when he hadn’t said anything in a few moments to find him just watching me. The fire illuminated his scar, and I wanted to kiss the length of it, from his brow to his lips. I licked my lip and my chest rose as I inhaled fully, trying to calm myself. He snapped another photo.

“What do you see?” I asked, unable to stand wondering a moment longer. I wanted to know how he saw me.

“I see hunger,” he said as he came closer. “The way you look at me.” The camera hung at his side as he stalked closer.

This was sort of a mixed bag for me. I liked the premise but wondered how it would go: American paparazzo meets closeted English prince, sexy times, soul searching. Oh dear, the prince is going to be in the dark the whole time as to what the American’s job entails but was pleasantly surprised that everything is out on the table between them right away. I read through the first quarter of the book before bed, which was a good sign. Then life got in the way and when I went back to it, I was a bit slower. It’s a first person alternating POV and I think I got confused about whose POV I was reading at times, but truly I think this was user error — I was pretty tired all week. At times I was confused by the conversations between the two, but again, I think it’s me not the book. I’m sort of shallow and don’t always follow the heavily worded feels portion. Like, wait what are you trying to say to each other? What did he mean by that? What drove me truly batty though were a number of typos, word omissions and incorrect homophone usage (steal vs. steel; whole vs. hole etc.)

Overall this wasn’t a bad story. I always like seeing how the heroes find their HEA, especially with elevated stakes such as the future King of England, who’s constantly in the spotlight and expected to provide the throne with an heir. I liked Louis and Xavier and how they grew to trust and support each other. There was only a little bit of angst (the angstier the better, I say) and maybe the ending seemed a little rushed, but it was a fun read.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

When not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it’s half assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies. Commas are the bane of his existence even though it’s been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn’t writing…well, that’s not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.

Bad to the Bone by Nicki Bennett: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt

May 14, 2018 by Denise

A second chance at first love—if he has the courage to take it.

Alex can’t think of himself as anything but a failure. In high school, he was on the fast track to a career in pro football when he forged an unlikely friendship with a half-Comanche boy from the wrong part of town, Ricky Lee Jennings. Their shared love of books could have grown into more—but a homophobic teammate attacked Ricky Lee, and Alex wouldn’t risk his scholarship to defend him. Ricky Lee was kicked out of school, and Alex never heard from him again.

Now Alex’s glory days are nothing but a memory. An injury ended his football aspirations, his marriage fell apart, and his dreams of making a difference as an environmental lobbyist are as dead as his fantasies of sports stardom.

But all that could change in one magical night, when Ricky Lee shows up at their high-school reunion.

Title: Bad to the Bone
Author: Nicki Bennett
Release Date: May 15, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 202

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Translations usually happen after a book is published, but Bad to the Bone was actually available in French before it releases tomorrow in English.

When Dreamspinner Press offered me a chance to attend this year’s Livre Paris, the international book fair that takes place in Paris every spring, there was just one problem. The salon du livre was taking place March 16-18, and based on the Dreamspun Desires schedule, which couldn’t be changed, Bad to the Bone wasn’t going to release until May 15.

“No problem,” Ariel Tachna—the head of Dreamspinner’s translation department, who (full disclosure) also happens to be my sometime coauthor—said. “We can have the translation ready in time for the salon. We’re doing it for several other titles too. We’ll offer attendees the chance to get the book signed by the author two months before its official release!”

And so it happened. As the book went through translation, however, another situation arose. Dreamspinner’s French translation coordinator, Jade Baiser, pointed out that the literal translation of the title—Mauvais jusqu’à la moëlle—has a much meaner connotation in French than it does in English.

According to Dictionary.com, “bad to the bone can mean rebellious in an exciting, attractive way as well as irredeemably bad” and mentions the 1982 George Thorogood song as an example. You can read about it here. (Do you have the song running through your head now like I do? If not, listen to this great live version. You’re welcome for the earworm.)

According to Ariel and Jade, the term in French has a much more negative connotation, more like rotten to the core, completely without the sexy, wrong-side-of-the-tracks nuance it has in English. They were worried it could potentially keep readers from picking up the book. So after some discussion, we agree to title the French translation Ricky Lee est de retour, which translates to “Ricky Lee has returned” or “Ricky Lee comes back.”

Livre Paris is an incredible experience. French readers in general, and m/m fans in particular, are passionate! It was raining the night the fair opened, and people were lined up outside the exhibition center and down the street, waiting patiently with bags and backpacks and suitcases (and umbrellas!) to hold all the books they’d buy. So many people stopped by the Dreamspinner booth to talk about their favorite books and meet the dozen attending authors. This year the Dreamspinner booth and those of the three large French LGBTQ publishers were all placed together, creating a happy queer fiction neighborhood.

So those fans who preordered Ricky Lee est de retour or bought it at the salon got to meet Ricky Lee and Alex months before everyone else. They seem to like them, based on the reviews from the French m/m Facebook groups I’ve joined (thank heaven for Google Translate!) Now it’s your chance, and I hope you enjoy reading about them in Bad to the Bone as much as I did writing about them.

Meeting Sam for breakfast had become a morning routine since she joined the Freeland police force. Today, as Alex walked from Morrison Hardware to the Danish Coffee Pot, he scanned the street in both directions but didn’t see any sign of the motorcycle from yesterday afternoon. He wasn’t sure which emotion was stronger, disappointment or relief.

Sam was already seated at their usual booth when he entered the diner. As always, the smells of cinnamon and bacon greeted him, along with a wave and a cheery smile from Brigit, the restaurant’s owner. A cup of coffee sat on the table waiting for him as he slid into the blue vinyl bench seat across from Sam.

“I thought you might need some morning courage,” Sam said. “You looked pretty stunned yesterday when I left.”

Alex took a grateful sip of the strong black brew. He hadn’t slept well the night before as he grappled with eleven-year-old memories. “Surprised, not stunned. I’d given u—I hadn’t expected to see Ricky Lee back in town again, that’s all.”

Brigit bustled over to take their orders—Danish fruit pancakes for Sam and one of the restaurant’s signature cinnamon rolls for Alex.

“Wonder what brought him back now.” Sam smiled a thanks to Brigit for topping off her coffee cup, pausing until the older woman had moved on to the next table. “He didn’t even come home when Old Man Jennings died.”

“I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t consider Freeland ‘home’ anymore,” Alex said. “His relationship with his father was always pretty strained after his mother passed away.” Which was part of what had drawn Ricky Lee and Alex together, but Alex tried to push those memories away, with as little success as the night before.

“Yeah, having the town drunk for a father couldn’t have been easy. I pulled Billy Joe in more than a time or two for public intoxication or DUI myself before he passed.”

“Not to mention being half Comanche, living on the wrong side of town, losing his mother when he was barely thirteen, and coming out as gay his freshman year of high school. You remember what it was like for him, Sam. High school was a tough enough time even if you were part of the ‘popular’ crowd. Ricky Lee was looked down on and bullied for things he had no control over.”

“You always stood up for him, Alex. That’s something I’ve always admired you for.”

Fortunately Brigit arrived at that moment with a tray piled with food, sparing Alex from Sam’s scrutiny as guilt washed through him. He’d failed to stand up for Ricky Lee when it counted most, and he’d regretted it all the years since. By the time Sam looked up from the plates of thin, crisp-edged pancakes, hash browns, and bacon arranged in front of her, Alex had his expression under control. He hoped.

“Besides, Ricky Lee got into plenty of trouble on his own,” Sam said after taking the first bite of her berry-topped pancakes. “Chief Cowart had me pull up his juvenile records, and he must have been brought in half a dozen times at least.”

“And never convicted of anything,” Alex protested. In his opinion, Chief Cowart had made up his mind that Ricky Lee was as no-good as his father and taken every opportunity to try to prove it. “He never started any of the fights at school. He had the right to defend himself.”

Growing up in Chicago, Nicki Bennett spent every Saturday at the central library, losing herself in the world of books. A voracious reader, she eventually found it difficult to find enough of the kind of stories she liked to read and decided to start writing them herself.

You can find Nicki on her Facebook page.

This Time Around by Aimee Nicole Walker: Release Day Blitz, Excerpt and Giveaway

May 7, 2018 by Denise

At the café Milo Miracle co-owns with his twin sister, coffee and pastries are served up along with his unique blend of sass and snark. Milo knows that small-town life often means that every day is the same as the one before, and excitement can only be found in the gossip that travels faster than the speed of light. When the dark-haired Adonis who broke his heart returns home after a twelve-year absence, Milo unhappily finds himself at the center of Blissville’s favorite pastime.

Andy Mason was practically a kid when he left home to pursue big-league ambitions, but the man who returns to Blissville is humbled by shattered dreams and secrets he’s not ready to share with Milo. Andy’s no stranger to grit and determination, and he’ll need both to win back Milo’s cynical heart.

Strong wills clash with stubborn hearts, triggering combustible passion once Andy starts renovations at the café. Milo would like to keep Andy’s hands busy doing something other than construction. Andy would like to suggest what Milo can do with his wicked tongue besides trade barbs with him. Neither man is willing to budge until they get a little shove from an outside force. Will Andy and Milo learn that trust is a two-way street, or will this time around end as disastrous as the first?

This time around is a witty, sexy, and endearing love story about two men who learn how to balance push and pull, both in and out of the bedroom. It is the fourth book in the Road to Blissville series but can be read as a standalone book. This book contains sexually explicit material and is intended for adults eighteen and over.

THIS TIME AROUND

A ROAD TO BLISSVILLE STORY

AIMEE NICOLE WALKER

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 05.05.18

Design: Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art

Photographer: Christopher John of CJC Photography

Model: Jeremiah

Amazon

When Andy reached the top of the steps, he found a light switch on the wall. Only one socket had a bulb in it, so it wasn’t bright enough for Andy to see anything besides trunks and trunks of stuff stacked everywhere.

I turned my head slightly to the left and saw the outline of a woman’s silhouette out of the corner of my eyes. “Ghost!” I yelled, then dove behind Andy.

“Where?” Andy asked, turning in circles and swinging his flashlight to illuminate every corner of the dark, dusty space. “That?” he asked.

I peeked around his broad back and ducked my head under his armpit to see. In the center of the flashlight beam was one of those old-fashioned wire mannequins they used to hang dresses on. In fact, the mannequin sported a flowing, white dress that looked like something a woman wore in the eighteen hundreds. Of course, the white color of the gown in contrast to the dark space gave it a ghostly appearance.

“Seriously, Milo? I nearly pissed myself over a mannequin.”

“You almost jizzed yourself earlier.”

“Don’t pretend I didn’t feel your hard-on pressing up against mine, Milo.”

“True, but that wasn’t what I was referring to.”

“Then what the fuck are you talking about?” Andy asked, sounding angry all over again.

“Simon!”

“You want to talk about Simon, Milo? We’ll talk about Simon.”

“Fine, I’m going first. Since when does your uncle want to fix you up with your cousin? What kind of fuckery is this?”

“Paul isn’t my biological uncle,” Andy said. “He and my dad are best friends. Uncle was an honorary title I gave him when I was a kid.”

“Oh.” Yeah, that took the wind right out of my sails. “Are you going to take Simon on a date?”

“Should I, Milo? Is he good in bed?”

I gasped dramatically, of course. “Are you slut shaming me?”

“Are you acting slutty?”

“And if I was?” I demanded to know.

Silence. “You make me fucking crazy, Milo.”

“That makes two of us.” I realized what I said. “Wait. I meant that you make me crazy too. So crazy that I can’t even think. You rob me of my ability to snark.”

“You act as if that’s a talent,” Andy scoffed.

I am a wife and mother to three kids, three dogs, and a cat. When I’m not dreaming up stories, I like to lose myself in a good book, cook or bake. I’m a girly tomboy who paints her fingernails while watching sports and yelling at the referees. I will always choose the book over the movie. I believe in happily-ever- after. Love inspires everything that I do. Music keeps me sane.

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And the Beagle Makes Three by Geoffrey Knight: New Release Review

May 3, 2018 by Denise

When Stuart Summerfield finally realized he was gay, he knew that telling his beloved wife Claire would be one of the hardest, most heartbreaking things he would ever do. Unfortunately Stu’s coming out wasn’t simply heartbreaking… it had the most unexpected and tragic consequences imaginable.

Now, almost one year after the car accident that took Claire’s life, Stu has buried himself in his work to push through the pain and guilt while doing his best to raise, Atticus, their young son, who has himself handled his grief in his own unique way. While getting by one day at a time proves difficult enough, it never crossed Stu’s mind that the family’s annual weekend away at the lakeside home of his sister-in-law, Bethany, would still go ahead now that Claire was gone.

Atticus, however, has other ideas. With his loyal beagle Digby by his side, Atty makes a phone call to Aunt Bethany in an effort to keep the family tradition alive, no matter what chaos and calamity might ensue.

And so over the course of one weekend filled with commotion—and emotion—Stu and Atty are about to learn that healing can open up your heart, that grief can sometimes be good, and that nobody travels the road to recovery alone.

Amazon

Ok, so this is the first for me by this author, but a cute kid and a puppy on the front? A must have, right?

So, I was a little bit confused by the beginning of this one, the puppy follows the kid into school and nobody says anything? Then, these reports, or, whatever they’re doing in the class, seems a bit old for 8 year olds. I wasn’t even doing things like that in middle school, let alone elementary, as a matter of fact…everyone seems to treat Atty like an adult, rather than an 8 year old.…. And those teachers, while maybe well meaning, were extremely disrespectful, in my opinion…Speaking of disrespectful… I spent a good half of this book, fuming with all the disrespect. Be prepared for that.

Now, on to the story… Stuart and his son Atticus are trying to get on with their life after a terrible car accident takes the life of Stuarts wife, (Atticus’s mom)…. Seems she left in a hurry when finding out that Stu was in fact gay. I felt bad for Stu, because it was obvious he loved his wife, and his son; but he couldn’t deny who he was any longer. On the way to her sister Claire’s, she had an accident and didn’t make it.

Now, Atticus had planned their traditional weekend away at Claire’s, even though neither of them wanted to, they packed their things and went anyway. Claire and her family were the epitome of the worst kind of people. Her children were spawns of the devil, and Claire herself was just…..awful. I don’t care if she sort of redeemed herself at the end, nothing excuses how nasty, hateful and just mean she was throughout the whole thing. I literally hated every second that nobody put them in their place.

All through this terrible weekend, we see only a few glimpses of the officer that pulls Stu and Atty over, I hoped he had a bigger role in the story, but… he didn’t. Once in the beginning, once in the middle, and once at the end. That’s it. They do share a kiss at the end, but that’s it. I was kinda disappointed by that.

And lastly, the twist at the end, broke my heart. It was a good bad kind of twist, one that I did not see coming and had me tearing up a bit… poor Digby, and poor Atticus. It was the best part of the story, that twist, and it was a gut wrencher.

Overall, though…. I just couldn’t get over how terrible everyone was to Atticus and Stu… It was a lot to take, and too much to get over for me. I don’t think this is one I”ll be revisiting.

3 pieces of eye candy from me