Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

new release

Bona Fide Fake (Experimental Love Book 2) by Rebecca Raine: RB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

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My new fake boyfriend may not like me, but he needs me. There are worse foundations for a relationship.

Ned

Toni Fairweather is a liar and a fake. I suspected it the day we met, but when he lies to his friends about being my boyfriend, I know for sure. I’ll play along with his deception, but Toni will owe me – big time.

I have my own reasons for needing a boyfriend. Someone who can handle me. Someone who can keep me in line. Toni is demanding enough to fulfil every requirement.

I don’t need to like the man… to obey him.

Toni

I never meant to fake a relationship with the lead singer of a local rock band. But the fib popped out over lunch with my best friend, and now I’m expected to present my new boyfriend at his engagement party next month.

The good news? I’m not the only one in need of a date.

Being boyfriends for a month shouldn’t be hard, but I do have one condition: this won’t be some fake boyfriends deal. I want a real relationship, and Ned’s going to give it to me.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

“Hey there, Ned.”

My head snaps to the right. Toni is halfway down the hall, lounging back against his open doorway. His arms are crossed, one leg bent. The smirk dangling upon his lips isn’t wide enough to reveal his dimples, only his satisfaction at my arrival. “Come on in,” he drawls before moving out of view.

I stand frozen in the corridor, my panting breath loud in the empty hallway. I shouldn’t be doing this, coming to him this way. At a prearranged time, with a predetermined agenda, all to solidify an exchange of time and favours. This is more than a simple hook-up. It’s a transaction.

The thought turns my stomach with its familiarity, but the rest of me is tied in so many lust-addled knots I barely notice the sour taste in the back of my mouth. This isn’t like before, I remind myself. Toni and I are equal partners here. If there’s exploitation to be had, it will come from both sides.

My feet move, eating up the distance between us. He waits for me beside the open door, one hand still on the knob. I don’t make eye contact as I pass him by, coming to a halt in the middle of the living room.

His apartment is tiny, an odd collection of shoe boxes bound together by walls, but it’s spotlessly clean. The small kitchen looks over a combined dining and living area. An open door on the left reveals the corner of a large bed. Another door on the opposite side is closed. And locked. With a key. Who installs locks with keyholes inside their own home?

Behind me, the front door closes with a soft click. I don’t turn around. If I face him, surely all the longing of my greedy soul will show right there in my eyes. He’ll realise how badly I want this, and the balance will shift. Knowledge truly is power, and I have no idea what a man like Toni would do with me if he had it.

Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two quirky kids and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.

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His Fresh Start Cowboy (Woods Ranch Book 1) by AM Arthur: Release Day Review

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Two cowboys will have to risk their hearts—again—to find a home on the ranch.

Hugo Turner’s boots haven’t touched Texas soil in almost a decade, and he’s not sure they should now. Being in the state is complicated, but Hugo can’t resist going back for a job working with his teenage crush. His best friend’s hot older brother is now the ranch’s foreman, so he’ll be Hugo’s boss. Inappropriate? Probably. Will it stop Hugo? Probably not.

Brand Woods isn’t ready for the return of Hugo Turner. He decided long ago to keep his bisexuality private and to focus his life on running the ranch. Working next to the most dangerously tempting man he’s ever known stirs up questions Brand thought he’d put to rest.

The sparks that send their hearts galloping lead to a deeper passion than either man expects. But by giving in to the chemistry without taking a risk and committing to each other—or, more importantly, to themselves and living the lives they’ve always wanted—Brand and Hugo might lose their second chance at true love.

Amazon

Audible

Carina Press/Harlequin

A spin off of the popular Clean Slate Ranch series, Woods Ranch is set in Texas at an actual working ranch. And as much as I enjoyed Clean Slate Ranch, the change of scenery is good.

We do start out at Clean Slate when Colt mentions that his family’s ranch can’t find good help. That gets the attention of Hugo, a guy who was best friends with Colt’s youngest brother while crushing on Colt’s middle brother. But Hugo never let him know the connection.

Hugo has been moving around for almost 10 years. When he finally turned 18 and had had enough abuse from his step brother while his mother and stepfather turned a blind eye. But he misses his mom, misses Texas, so he is ready to go back. And there’s also Brand. The guy he crushed on who is also his new boss.

There was good back story told that really showed how Hugo’s life was when his mother remarried without it overtaking the story.  Hugo turned out not so much to be a loner, but just a guy looking for safety and love. He got that as a kid at the Woods Ranch and he would get it again.

Hugo also rented a trailer from a neighbor, an eccentric retired artist who the town loved to gossip about. He was interesting and I have a feeling he is the bridge to another story in the series.

My heart did absolutely break for Hugo at times. Without spoiling anything, I just wanted to hug him. Instead of letting life beat him down, he just keeps going, refusing to give up.

Back to the romance. Brand is the typical “must take over for my family and not let them down” guy. Which, fine, I get it. Especially on a ranch in Texas when the oldest son ran off instead of telling his family he was gay. Brand works too hard, plays too little and never seems happy. Luckily he has a best friend who smacks some sense into him.

Brand still runs hot and cold until he is really put to the test. Then the loyalty to who he loves comes barreling in.

This was a good story to start the next series. As I said, I liked the change of scenery, talking about the different things at the ranch and moving to grass fed organic. There was quite a bit of that and it almost had me giving up beef. Almost. But if I never have to hear slaughter again I will be just fine.

I would have liked more closure on some of the plot points. A couple of things were just left dangling that needed to be put to bed. But, nothing major.

Bring on book 2 who I think will be about this guy and…..that guy.

4 pieces of eye candy

Baby, it’s Cold by Josh Lanyon: Quick Review

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Talk about Kitchen Nightmares! TV Chef Rocky and Foodie Blogger Jesse have been pals forever, so it should have been the most natural thing in the world to kick their relationship up a notch. Instead, it turned out to be a disaster. But Christmas is the season of love, and someone’s cooking up a sweet surprise…

Amazon

This was short, only about 60 pages, (I think originally from an anthology), but I did enjoy this one. I would love to see it expanded…it’s a wish, I know. 🙂

Jesse, long time friend to Rocky, was trying to be so sweet, and surprise him so they could get back together, when they had a…well…rocky relationship when they started dating. He showed up at Rocky’s cabin up at Big Bear Mountain to cook a romantic holiday dinner for Rocky. Sadly, even though his entire family are in the restaurant business, Rocky being a well known chef himself, Jesse could only get an A for effort, because the food, as well as his round about attempts at reconciliation were all duds. However, Jesse kept trying, even when someone came along and tried to steal his thunder.

These two men needed to learn the art of true communication, and how to get out of their own way. But it was so fun to see the dance, the weave around the third party, as they tried to work through their issues, even as they didn’t admit that was what they were trying to do.

Although there wasn’t a true HEA, there was an HFN that worked well for this story, and did give some room for expansion, should that ever come to pass.

Fun holiday story about second chances.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Josh Lanyon is the author of over sixty titles of classic Male/Male fiction featuring twisty mystery, kickass adventure and unapologetic man-on-man romance.

Her work has been translated into eleven languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Harlequin Mondadori, the largest romance publisher in Italy. Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place). The Adrien English Series was awarded All Time Favorite Male/Male Series in the 2nd Annual contest held by the 20,000+ Goodreads M/M Group. Josh is an Eppie Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads M/M Hall of Fame award.

Josh is married and lives in Southern California.

Because of Ben (Star Crossed, Book 2) by Lisa Henry: New Release Review and RB Giveaway

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Marco Chase is the lead singer for Static, one of the world’s most famous and successful rock bands. Marco’s bad boy rock star image isn’t just one he’s cultivated for his fans—it’s Marco all over. Marco’s past is full of one night stands, bad decisions, and blackouts. Marco never saw a cage he didn’t want to rattle—and from the moment he lays eyes on him, he really wants to rattle sweet, innocent Ben Selden’s cage.

Ben Selden comes from a fundamentalist Baptist family. Ben is struggling under the weight of knowing that he’s gay, and a lifetime’s teachings that tell him that his God will condemn him, and his family reject him, if they ever find out. With a future he doesn’t want already mapped out for him, Ben’s at a breaking point when he meets Marco.

Marco’s teasing, flirting, and obvious interest awakens a hunger in Ben, and he knows this might be his only chance to act on his attraction to a man—if he’s brave enough to risk his future, and his family, to take it. He doesn’t expect Marco to be his savior, but maybe a savior isn’t what Ben needs—maybe he just needs someone to believe in him enough that he’s willing to save himself.

Because of Ben is the second book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Book 1 in this series, Not Until Noah, was a book that I really enjoyed, and in it we get a few little glimpses of Marco. He is “house sitting” for Carter, who is off filming in Australia, adopts a cat for Carter and his family. Marco, despite how much he thinks he’s a bad boy, is a big sweetheart. (Side note: we do get an update on the cat in this book as well…which makes me happy as a crazy cat lady.)

Marco, coming off a tour with his band, always drives home to visit with his parents (See? Sweet!), and stops overnight at the local Marriott, and sees “the Jesus kids”, and especially Ben, a pretty boy, he wants immediately. Marco is no saint. He smokes, drinks, has done drugs, and had sex wherever and whenever he could. However, when he loves, he doesn’t allow it to sit on the sidelines. He is willing to be there, for his parents, for his friend Carter, and for Ben.

Interestingly, he doesn’t have to pursue Ben that hard. Ben, knowing he was gay from an early age, is right there, quickly. When he’s later betrayed by a friend, and his world literally crumbles around him, and really only has Marco to rely on, he works hard to figure out how to rely on himself. I loved that about him. Someone in his position could have easily gone back to what he knew, but he took all the chances in the world to give himself some peace, even if he had to give up his family. Then later was willing to do all he could to be in charge of his own destiny and not rely on his boyfriend with the money.

On the surface, in the beginning, these two did not seem like a good match. However, when the chips were down, they were able to count on each other, and find the sort of relationship neither thought they could ever have.

4 pieces of eye candy

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Body at Buccaneer’s Bay Josh Lanyon: New Release Review

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Mystery Bookshop owner Ellery Page and Police Chief Jack Carson are diving for the legendary sunken pirate galleon Blood Red Rose when they discover an old fashioned diver’s suit, water-damaged and encrusted with barnacles. Further examination reveals the 19th Century suit contains a 21st Century body. Who is the mysterious diver? No one seems to be missing from the quaint and cozy town of Pirate’s Cove. Was he really diving for pirate’s gold? And if not, what exactly did he do to earn that bullet hole in his skull?

Amazon

This is book 5 in the series, and continues the world with the established couple of Ellery and Jack, as the world comes knocking on their door.

I have to say that I felt like this book bounced around a bit too much for me. I struggled some to get into the story, from the beginning.

This established couple is fantastic, and have enjoyed them a lot. However, this book felt a bit stilted to me. There is a lot going on, and for a mystery, not everything is solved to my satisfaction. The ending was, rough, abrupt, and left me feeling a bit disappointed.

I’m hopeful that this is an anomoly, and book 6 brings it right back around.

3 pieces of eye candy

Storm Warrior (Weavers Circle#5) by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott: Release Blitz, Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Hale Anderson

The Air Weaver.

He was the freaking Air Weaver. Not exactly what he expected when he got kidnapped by the pestilents, but Hale’s good rolling with the punches.

He can take a little time away from his pursuit of a doctorate in astrophysics to save the world.

Except that the final spell is poised to kill all the Weavers and their last hope lies with him finding his soul mate.

Hale doesn’t want a soul mate. He just wants Harrison.

 

Harrison William Davenport III

As the Keeper of the Heart of the Earth, Harrison must bring the final key to the Weavers if they’re to stop the pestilents.

He’s trained for this task his entire life. And he’s prepared to die just like his father did with the last generation of the Weavers.

But what if saving the world isn’t enough anymore?

What if the only thing that matters is saving Hale?

Storm Warrior is the final book in The Weavers Circle series. It includes fast-paced action, a dangerous cross-country roadtrip, dirty fun in tents, flying, bi-awakening sexy times, animal shenanigans, nerdy talk about the stars, jealousy, three crazy old ladies, magic, and a fight to save the world!

Title:  Storm Warrior

Series: Weavers Circle#5

Author: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Drake & Elliott Publishing LLC

Release Date: January 14, 2022

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 80k

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Bullets whizzed through the air closer to him with two shots digging into a column not far from his head. He whipped the gun around to spot where two pestilents were running toward him with guns drawn. Hale gasped and backpedaled. He squeezed the trigger, but nothing happened. Shit. The safety.

He fumbled with the little switch, but it was the pounding of feet racing his way from the other end of the porch that caught his attention. A tall man in a suit with raven-black hair and a stern expression was racing to him. Wow. Gorgeous. He was simply gorgeous

So gorgeous in fact, that it took Hale an extra second to realize the man had a gun in each hand.

Fuck! He was only starting to swing the gun toward the man when he fired off several shots right past Hale. The Air Weaver spun to see the bullets hit their marks in three pestilents, killing them instantly.

The stranger saved him. What the—

“What are you doing out here if you don’t know how to protect yourself?” the gorgeous man shouted.

Hale took a breath to say something, but he wasn’t quite sure what. His brain wasn’t working, and his tongue was all tied up. He was overwhelmed. He generally wasn’t the type of person who got overwhelmed, but that described him in the middle of the bloody chaos.

Which was probably why it was so easy for the man to holster one of the guns, grab his wrist, and pull him back into the house.

Hale stumbled after him, trying to get his brain to process the events happening. The man turned toward the left but only glanced in the dining room before sneering at something and moving to the right. He made the same face when he peered into the library.

“Too many damn windows.” Twisting to face Hale, he jerked his arm as if trying to get his attention, but the stranger had all of Hale’s available brain capacity at this point. “What room doesn’t have a lot of doors or windows?”

Well, there was the downstairs half bath that had no windows, but there was no way he was getting shoved into that room, with or without the sexy man.

“The-the armory has no windows and only two doors,” he stammered at first, but finished, proud that he’d clearly remembered the room.

The stranger blinked, seeming surprised to hear the house had an honest-to-goddess armory, but he recovered fast enough. “Good. Take me there.”

Hale hesitated and sniffed the air. “You’re not a pestilent.”

The man gasped, looking appropriately horrified. “Of course not!” Well, that was a plus for him. Not only was he human, but he also knew what a pestilent was.

“Then who the hell are you?” Hale had already met all the Weavers, mates, and goddesses. He couldn’t even begin to guess who this handsome yet scary person was.

“A friend of the Weavers. The goddesses sent for me. Now, the armory? Where is it?”

Oh! That was much better. The guys had never mentioned the goddesses sending in more help, but they certainly needed it.

Hale took the lead, hurrying down the hall toward the armory. There was one main entrance to the room and a set of narrow French doors that connected to the front porch. That made the space much easier to protect.

The man’s quick dark eyes darted across the long table filled with weapons. He released Hale only when he had his back shoved against a bookcase in the far corner that gave him a good view of both doors. The man then moved to the French doors and peered out between the thin white curtains.

“Which of them are you?” the man inquired.

“Hale. Hale Anderson. I just arrived. I’m the Air Weaver.”

The stranger’s head slowly turned toward Hale. His eyes were wide, and his face had become incredibly pale. The bloodbath outside had not disturbed him, but something about what Hale had said had clearly shaken him.

“It’s true,” he whispered. “The Weavers Circle is finally complete.”

The final book in the Weavers Circle series. Yes, you must read the others or you will have no clue what is going on.

The final Weaver showed up at the end of the last book. And once he got his powers, all protections are gone. Which means we open the book with a big fight between the pestilents, the Weavers and a new guy who just kind of jumps in to help.

Turns out the new guy is the Keeper. He literally holds the final piece that is needed for the Weavers to cast the spell and close the rift.

The book was good, but it was sadly my least favorite. There wasn’t enough development of the relationship between Hale and Harrison because they were immediately thrust into the war and road trip to the rift.

Even the characters of Hale and Harrison were a bit underdeveloped for me. Harrison knew that he would end up in this position and figured he would die. But, what else? He lived a life before he met the Weavers. And Hale is literally an astrophysicist and it’s almost like a throw away comment. He turns out to be the Air Weaver and he doesn’t think about the physics of it? He is a SCIENTIST who just totally accepts magic without question?

And the final battle to close the rift was…meh?

Overall, all 5 books are very good. I just wish this last one was more.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have teamed up to combine their evil genius to create intense gay romantic suspense stories that have car chases, shoot outs, explosions, scorching hot love scenes, and tender, tear-jerking moments. Their first joint books are in the Unbreakable Bonds series.

Author Links

Website: http://drakeandelliott.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drakeandelliott/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrakeandElliott

Email: drakeandelliott@gmail.com

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