release day review

Guys Like Him (Redemption Ridge, Book 1) by Aimee Nicole Walker: RB, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

May 3, 2023 by Denise

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Redemption Ridge, Book 1

Kieran Sullivan is broken when he arrives at Redemption Ridge. A wrongful conviction and twenty months in lockup will do that to a man. The ranch is a place for second chances and fresh starts, but for him, it’s an opportunity to discover who set him up. Get in, get answers, and get out. The plan sounds easy enough until Kieran meets an equine specialist whose sunny smile could warm the coldest heart.

Finley Ashe is a sucker for bruised spirits and sad eyes. The horse whisperer and broken-boy magnet is six months into a hiatus from love when Kieran, the king of emotionally unavailable men, gets assigned to work under his supervision. Mutual attraction is gasoline on proximity’s flame, testing Finley’s resistance in new ways.

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

Guys Like Him is book one in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Guys Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

Title: Guys Like Him
Author: Aimee Nicole Walker

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

Thick gray clouds hovered overhead, rolling like the anger churning inside him. For the past year, he’d expressed his eagerness to put the past behind him and start fresh. That’s what the prison counselors and the people with power over him wanted to hear, so that was the bullshit he fed them. But privately, Kieran tended to his bitterness like a stew on the stove. He knew when to adjust the heat and which ingredients to add to the pot to keep his resentment sharp. And the fucking drab sky and clouds only antagonized him more.

For twenty months, his entire existence had been gray—the floors and walls, the food, and the pallor of the inmates’ skin. The only break in the monotony were the prison scrubs. He would happily go the rest of his life without seeing the color orange again. Kieran had foolishly allowed himself to daydream about the vibrancy he’d see on release day, but he’d just gotten more of the same. Everything around him was wet and shiny from the rain, but it was more of a piss on his parade than a refreshing, clean slate. Kieran’s olfactory senses zeroed in on the motor oil brought to the asphalt’s surface by the shower. It was a scent he knew all too well, and it became a match to his pilot light. Rainwater splashed up on his feet and shins as he walked, but his wrath made him impervious to the chill. Kieran reached inside the padded envelope, removed the wallet, and stuffed it into his back pocket. Then he tossed the envelope with the cell phone into the trash bin. The device was dead, the contract canceled, and there was no one on the contact list he wanted to speak to anymore.

A slight breeze stirred the air, and Kieran closed his eyes and tipped his head back. Yeah, he’d enjoyed fresh air during breaks in the yard, but they never lasted long enough and were controlled by someone else. He’d lived long enough like a marionette, and there was no better time to embrace free will. The weather wasn’t what he’d hoped for, but he got to enjoy it outside the fences, and that was a victory he’d stop and embrace.

A rumbling engine caught his attention, and he opened his eyes in time to see a black king cab truck with a silver Redemption Ridge logo stop in front of the facility. The guy behind the wheel wasn’t a chauffeur, but he was there for Kieran just the same. A year ago, he set a plan into motion, and Cash Sweeney’s presence proved it had worked.

Kieran’s good behavior had gained him access to the K9 programs at Arrowhead, where he’d met Cash and his dogs from Redemption Ridge. The front passenger window rolled down, and a familiar black-and-white head poked out. Patsy, a border collie, was the first dog he’d met during the program, and it had been love at first sight for them. It turned out Kieran had a sixth sense when working with animals, especially the shyest ones. His talents had captured Cash’s notice, and he’d offered Kieran employment and housing on his ranch, where he rehabilitated horses and dogs. Kieran’s participation in the program and the subsequent employment opportunity hadn’t been divine intervention or luck; it was all part of his carefully orchestrated plan.

Oooh, a new series by ANW! **rubs hands together** GIMME!

Set in Colorado on a ranch called Redemption Ranch, this is a long way from her previous books set in Savannah. Run by a former convict turned gazillionaire, the owner Cash likes to give people a chance after they get out of prison. He offers that chance to Kieran who served 20 months for car theft. But Keiran was set up and wants to get to the bottom of it. And how Cash, his new boss, is connected to it.

Keiran is kind of a typical kicked puppy kind of kind. Drug addict parents, tossed into the system at 10, no one held out much hope for him to make anything of himself. He wants to be at Redemption Ranch to do some digging. Find out how Cash is connected to his slimy exboyfriend. And while he is there, he plans to keep his head down, work hard and make no connections.

UNTIL he ends up working with the horses with Finley as his boss. Finley who likes to try to fix broken guys. But he wasn’t doing that anymore, right? Right. Six months clean. Even though his hippie mom (she’s fab!) is pushing him to try dating again.

Since both guys are swore off relationships, y’all can guess what happens. It is a romance after all. They did start out trying to be friends. They did pretty well at it. And even though Keiran really didn’t open up and say much, they still really enjoyed each other’s company and just hanging out together. But then they kiss.

And even though Keiran didn’t want to involve anyone, he does tell Finley a bit about his ex and taking the fall for him and wanting to catch him doing illegal car stuff. He doesn’t tell him about the Cash connection though.

There is a fun cast of characters as well. Finley’s mom, as I mentioned. But also his sister who is the cook at the ranch and a bunch of ranch hands with fun personalities.

Honestly, the vibe of this book reminded me a lot of the Clean Slate Ranch series by AM Arthur. And that’s not a bad thing at all. There are some key differences though, which makes it very easy to separate one from the other.

Keiran does get answers and closure. It was a little bit of a stretch for me, but still believable without going over the top.

I’m really looking forward to more!

4 pieces of eye candy

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach me at:
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Finding Mr Fabulous by Con Riley: Release Day Review

April 26, 2023 by Denise

Featuring a duke-to-be with a problem and a thief who could be his solution. Expect fake dates and fiery first-time love in this standalone contemporary MM romance set in London and Cornwall.

Rex Heligan might be known as Mr. Fabulous in the bedroom, but he doesn’t want a boyfriend. In truth, he doesn’t have time between his London banker lifestyle and the Cornish dukedom he’ll inherit. What he needs is someone to watch over his grandfather while he’s away on business.

Rex’s shortlist of caretakers shouldn’t include a thief he once caught stealing, but Devesh Singh-Smith is more than a cat burglar.

Much more.

He’s the only one-night stand Rex hasn’t forgotten.

Rex convinces his grandfather that Devesh is the first boyfriend he’s ever wanted to bring home to their castle where their sizzling spark rekindles. He doesn’t expect the explosiveness of their connection. He also doesn’t expect Devesh to steal his heart by sharing secrets or to leave before their fake relationship is over.

There’s only one way for Rex to steal his heart back.

He’ll have to catch his thief twice and share his own secrets with him, even if it costs Rex his dukedom.

Finding Mr. Fabulous is set in Con Riley’s extended Cornish romance world. New readers can start right here and expect a story rich in heartstring-tugging emotion, and to swoon over a guaranteed HEA, while previous readers might enjoy glimpsing a few old friends.

CW: Past bereavement.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

One of the things I really love about Con Riley‘s books are the interconnection. Even if it isn’t until the very end that we see it connected to a previous book or series. And even though this is a stand alone (I assume, at least for now) we get very satisfying visits with previous characters. And it isn’t forced at all. Completely seamless, fit into the story and were part of the story without taking it over.

Pretty sure the only thing I maybe didn’t like about this book was the title. Only because it seems too flippant for such a great story.

We met Dev back in the book Charles. We also met Rex before, but the memory eludes me. Rex does have a past with Charles, so I assume it was also in that book. They remain very good friends though. Because how can you not love Charles?

You haven’t read Charles? GASP! Go now! Read it!

Honestly, you don’t have to read it in order to be on top of this story.

A ruse after a lie brings Rex and Dev together. As well as the promise of going through the attics on the island. Although Rex is 100% sure nothing in their possession was stolen at any time.

What develops is Dev having an amazing relationship with Rex’s grandfather while Dev and Rex begin to fall for each other through text and phone calls. So what then had a definitive end date now maybe….doesn’t?

There’s a lot to the story. Rex’s parents, one he barely knew before they died, the other a painful memory of their death. Which leaves Rex to inherit the title of Duke when his grandfather passes. There are no other Heligans. The surname will die with Rex one day.

You can’t help but love these guys. Including Pops. I even shed a few tears. And let me tell you- READ THE EPILOGUE! OMG! Seriously.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Love Song by Christina Lee: Release Day Review

April 20, 2023 by Denise

Thirtysomething bandmates, Nolan Metcalf and Ellis Bloom, have been there for each other through thick and thin. So when a life-changing event sends Ellis to the safety of Nolan’s apartment, he’s grateful for the comfort his best friend provides. They’ve never done anything resembling cuddling and sleepovers before, but Ellis finds he needs it just the same.

Soul-deep conversations and tender moments transform into a passion that shocks them both. Since neither has ever entertained the idea of being with another man, they attribute their confusing feelings to their established nightly routine. Determined to spend time apart, they resume their solo lives. But the desperate, achy neediness only returns, and soon enough they’re back in each other’s arms—and beds.

Before they have time to work through it, the real world intrudes. Admitting their secret status would change not only the chemistry of their band but the trajectory of their lives. Plus, their newfound feelings seem as fragile as the beginning notes of a new melody. They’ll need to rely on the solid foundation of their friendship, and even then, it could all fall apart. Will they become a one-hit wonder or a love song that endures the test of time?

*TW: Discussions of past child abuse and a home invasion involving weapons

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I was pretty excited for this book. It didn’t disappoint. Best friends. Bi-awakening. In their 30s. Recipe for YES!

So many times we get the rock star and the regular guy. What I never see is two regular guys who also play in a band at night mostly for fun. Because they just love it. They don’t aspire to be rock stars. They just want to play music with their friends.

Nolan and Ellis are regular guys. One is a middle school teacher, one works at a music store and gives lessons in various instruments. On Thursday nights they play with two other guys at a local bar. They are also best friends and live in the same apartment building. One directly above the other.

Handy when Ellis needs his friend the most. They are both straight and acknowledge the toxic masculinity out there when Nolan says they can sleep in the same bed. When Ellis has nightmares and Nolan comforts him. When that comforting leads to cuddling. And then more.

Was it a seamless transition from best friends to lovers? Nope. Besides the fact that they both identified as straight, they stumble a bit with family and friends. They recognize that hiding it is also part of their preconceived notions.

At times the language they used was a bit stiff. Making them sound older than they were. But I got over it. Because you could really feel the love between these men.

This was a very easy read with some past trauma that is mentioned as well as the trauma that led Ellis to Nolan’s apartment in the first place. But it isn’t overly angsty at all and definitely focuses more on their budding relationship.

4 pieces of eye candy

Getting Kinky (It’s a Kink Thing) By M.C. Roth: New Release Review

March 29, 2023 by Denise

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Book five in the It’s a Kink Thing series

If your husband hates kink, can you still get kinky?

“ You want to kneel, sweetheart?”

Elliot is stuck in life, living a lie while doing his best to pretend he’s happy with his husband Hunter. Hunter has picked up the pieces so many times that Elliot has lost count, and he feels terrible asking for anything more— especially when it’s something that Hunter hates.

But after Elliot convinces Hunter to attend an event at the kink club Unkinked, Elliot finds a place where he doesn’t have to feel ashamed about the submission he craves.

While Hunter pouts on a bar stool in the club, the mysterious Dom Shelvin is more than happy to give Elliot a tour, somehow knowing in moments what Elliot desires so deeply. Elliot can’t let that night be the last time he sets foot inside Unkinked, even if Hunter doesn’ t understand why.

His brave face only lasts so long, and soon he confesses what he really needs— something Hunter can’t give him.

But making a contract with a Dom who isn’t his husband comes with conditions— conditions that Elliot will struggle not to break.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I’ve been enjoying this series, partially because it doesn’t strictly follow the established path of this genre. Each book is just a bit different than another, but a bit more realistic than some bdsm. That being said, this one fell away from the HEA that I was looking for…in part. I won’t go into how and why, but it did, which since I was reading expecting more of an HEA or HFN, I figured out about halfway through that was not going to happen.

Elliot definitely was lying about loving his life, to himself, as much as others. And let’s be honest…his husband was a world class dick in many ways. But he was still put in an awkward position at the beginning.

Shelvin was still willing to put himself in the middle of it, and he doesn’t have any issues with making Elliot kneel right in front of Hunter. He’s definitely the S in bdsm, and doesn’t let Elliot get away with anything. But I wanted to see a bit more of his softer side. That being said, he really didn’t have one.

I didn’t love this, simply because it wasn’t what I was looking for in this book, but still well written, and really hits the realism well.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Confetti Hearts by Lily Morton: RB, Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review *2, and Giveaway

March 15, 2023 by Denise

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Joe Bagshaw doesn’t believe in love or marriage anymore, which is rather a hindrance for a wedding planner.

His own marriage was a whirlwind affair that ended before the ink could dry on the wedding certificate. Nevertheless, even with his divorce pending, he’s getting by. Or at least he was until he finds himself snowed in at a remote Scottish hotel with the wedding party from hell, a terrible ABBA tribute band, and his soon-to-be ex-husband.

Lachlan has missed Joe from the second his husband walked away. He wants Joe back and is prepared to do anything to get him. Being snowed in together seems to offer the chance Lachlan needs, but does he have what it takes to get Joe to trust in love and their marriage again?

From bestselling author Lily Morton, comes a romantic comedy about love, matrimony, and the best of second chances.

This is the first book in the Confetti Hitched series.

Title: Confetti Hearts
Authors: Lily Morton
Length: 81k
Series: Confetti Hitched, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary romantic comedy.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Goodreads

“I didn’t think I’d see you again,” Lachlan says, looking a little awkward.

“Well, unless you get married and can’t organise things on your own, it would be unlikely.”

“Joe,” Louis snaps. “I’m waiting.”

I ignore him and grin at Lachlan. “So, how long are you here for?”

“Until tomorrow.”

“Well, this has a familiar feeling.”

He studies me, his eyes dark and knowing.

“Joe?” Louis snaps.

I spin to face him. “Louis, do you remember ignoring my words of advice? In fact, do you remember the lovely afternoon when you called me a nagging old woman?”

He shuffles his feet. “I thought it would be fine.”

As if on cue, a cascade of clothes comes sailing past us. Freya has obviously moved to the second balcony. Maybe she’s filled in the other pool and is looking for other options. The clothes land in the pool and sink, rather like the subject of the song currently playing. “Recent events are proving that’s fairly wide of the mark.”

He rallies. “Well, I think you’re being paid as our wedding planner. You got an enormous amount of money to do your job so you should get on with it.”

I put my hands on my hips. “And are you married now?”

“Yes, but—”

“But me no buts, Louis. You’re married. Ergo my work is done. I’m the planner. The clue is in the title. Are you expecting that I’m going to stay with you for a few years afterwards and smooth your way through life? Maybe until you’ve had your fifth child. Does that need to go into my job description now? I’m a wedding planner. Not Nanny McPhee.”

He subsides. “I’ll wait.”

“Thank you,” I say graciously.

Right guy, wrong time. Grumpy, sunshine. Forced proximity. Second chance love. This book was filled with all of the tropes. And I loved it.

Part of the book, I think less than half, is a series of stories of Joe and Lachlan together. How they met. How they accidentally met again. How they met on purpose, etc. It’s quite a whirlwind romance between the two. But that ends when they break up and we get a six month time jump.

Joe is a wedding planner in Scotland for a client’s wedding. And so is Lachlan. His ex he hasn’t spoken to in 6 months. The ex who broke his heart. And then there is a snowstorm stranding them at the hotel/wedding venue. And GASP! no rooms left for Joe so he will have to room with Lachlan.

Over the course of just a few days, they finally LISTEN to each other. Talk to each other. Figure out what happened. Admit their true feelings. And while they had some distractions, including a manager who is sick and devil like twins, they were able to focus on each other without regular life interrupting.

I really enjoyed how they came together on something they will do every year to solidify their marriage. They are also, finally, on the same page.

There were some weddings in there that offered some great humor as well as some smoking hot sex scenes. A page turner for sure.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

It seems like I’m always gushing about Lily Morton‘s books, but there is a solid reason. As I’ve said before, this author is one of the best in this genre in romantic comedy. Hands down. In fact, I very rarely highlight books at all, even less so with ARCs. I had over 10 highlights of some of the most hilarious parts of this book. I’m not going to quote here, because you have to read them yourself, but a couple of ones to watch for are 1) Acapulco 2) game night. I could NOT stop laughing. (I might have scared a cat off my lap…she’s fine, she resettles quickly. 😉 )

Some of my favorite tropes were in this book. Second chance at love, only one bed, and a marriage planner who didn’t believe in marriage. And it all worked so well!

These two took a while to figure their sh1t out. They were both idiots in one way or another…mostly Lachlan, but Joe was not that much better. Lachlan was so afraid of commitment (despite asking Joe to marry him) that he basically pushed Joe out the door. Meanwhile, Joe, Mr. Impulsive, wasn’t exactly a great communicator (they both sucked at it, tbh). His go-to was run, far and fast.

When they finally have no choice but to be in the same room together, they slowly start to work their way through the mess they both made of their marriage. Lachlan turns out to not be a bad guy, just was stupid there for a while. In the end, Lachlan did a lot of great things to help Joe, while Joe was working on what would have been one of the most stressful weddings.

I didn’t get a chance to read Vow Maker because it came out right after I had a pretty major leg injury, and I’m sad that I didn’t get to meet Joe that way, and now I need to go back and read that one, to finish off the Mixed Messages series, which is also hilarious. **Seriously if you haven’t read Rule Breaker with Dylan and Gabe, and the emails…oh, you have to…in fact, maybe I need to go back to that now! Apparently, I will be reading Lily Morton again for a while. 🙂

Loved this one, grab it, read it, laugh with it, and enjoy the happy. And now…who do we get next in this series? Hmmm….

Off to read the additional short story! Yeah!

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Lily is a bestselling gay romance author. She writes love stories filled with heat and humour.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

Lily has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – Chocolate Baileys.

Stitch Me: MM Romance (Bears-4-U) by K.C. Carmine: Release Day Review

February 24, 2023 by Denise

A cuddly bear with a burning need for a steady relationship. A bad-boy immigrant who’s down on his luck and desperate for security. When a new dating app brings them together, their chemistry is instant and explosive.

His career a mess and the excitement of his sex life fading, Rod is ready for a change. He needs someone who can fit into his world as a true partner, but also feed his dominant and sadistic sides. Impossible? Maybe, but he needs to try. He signs up for a new dating app, just as a feisty young man catches his eye.

Desperate to escape his dead-end existence in the US, Caleb flees to England in search of a different life. But without a proper job, he might be forced to return home. Along comes a trusted friend, a new dating app, and a chance to find a cuddly bear to submit to.

Consumed by his white-hot passion with Caleb, Rod pushes hard for their relationship to progress. He refuses to let his perfect sub slip from his grasp, and he’ll do whatever it takes to earn his love before they run out of time.

A high-heat MM romance.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this book. I haven’t read this author before, and I didn’t read any of the other books in this series yet. But this was a cute premise, basically an app that matches people who are looking for Bears.

That isn’t how the MC’s initially meet, though. They meet following a bar fight, where the sweet Bear Rod takes care of Caleb, and gets a smoking hot kiss in return.

Caleb has a lot of issues around what he left in Chicago (Shout out to Portillo’s! Just had it last week!) and trying to find a way to work within Bristol in the UK. Since he doesn’t have a work visa, and is waiting for that, he resorts to illegal means to get whatever money he can to survive. And his mom…and entire family…what a piece of work. Caleb deserved so much better than what he received in return.

Meanwhile, Rod just wants to take care of Caleb, make sure he isn’t hurt, and do whatever he can for him. Caleb accepts some of it, but not as much as Rod would like. Rod was so patient, knowing that he wanted to lock up Caleb to keep him safe, unsure if he would even return to him when he left, but he never wavered.

There were a few places that left me wanting a deeper resolution, although one of them came through at the end. That being said, it almost felt like an afterthought, in how easily it resolved.

Overall, a book I would recommend if you’re wanting a BDSM with a side of sweet bear.

4 pieces of eye candy