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review

Code Blue by N.R. Walker: New Release Review

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Steve Frost had dreams of wearing the national championship belt in mixed martial arts, maybe even going pro, but instead, finds himself working as a security guard for the rich and famous in LA.

Quickly earning a reputation for his blunt and precise people management skills, he lands a position on the security team for an up-and-coming boyband, Atrous. Years later, he’s head of security. He knows these boys, and with countless tours, flights, car trips, public events, concerts, he’s closer to one band member in particular.

Jeremy’s been a pillar for Atrous since day one, but even more so these last few months. Now the face of the band more than ever, he’s also got himself the attention of a delusional stalker-fan.

When the fame and stress become too much, when Jeremy’s health takes a hit, Steve becomes Jeremy’s lifeline. But as Jeremy knows already, and as Steve is about to learn, not even the brightest star can shine forever.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I was eagerly awaiting this book! After reading Code Red- which focuses on a band of 5 male members- I knew I wanted more after Maddox got his HEA. But Maddox was the only member who identified as gay. The other four identified as straight. And while a lot of readers seemed to really want a Blake and Luke (BLUKE!) story, instead we get Jeremy. Which is fine with me. “Bluke” would have been an easy way out, if that makes sense. With Jeremy we get his struggle with identity as well as a stalker and a medical problem. All with Steve, the head of security, living with him and making him struggle with said identity.

Something else I really liked about this book is that it is after book 1, but several years have passed. So other relationships have formed, the band has continued on, etc.

This is definitely a slow burn, but it is SOOOOO worth it. Steve is gay, but not out. Not necessarily in the closet but he works so much he wouldn’t have time for a relationship anyway so why bother? Steve started crushing on Jeremy in the first book at least so we have a few years of unrequited feels right there.

Jeremy gets mad at himself- and Steve- for the feelings he is developing because he is straight. He finds no other men sexually attractive. But he also hasn’t hooked up with a woman in a while. BECAUSE OF STEVE. It was kind of cute when he got pouty about the feelings he didn’t understand.

Add a stalker into the mix and some sketchy health issues and Jeremy’s life is kind of fubar. The stalker story line turned out to be pretty interesting at the end when it was all connected and tied up. At one point I was thinking, meh, that’s it? Silly me.

We get plenty of the guys together as well. They are truly a brotherhood of men who love each other fiercely. The book takes place after an 8 week world tour so at least they are home and generally in one place.

Couple other things: Steve-sexual cracked me up. Roscoe and Maddox are still swoony. Why is it so sexy when a main character plays the piano in the middle of the night and the other watches him in secret? Sigh

Honestly, this book is the perfect ending to Atrous. There’s no drawn out thing of maybe this one will be gay or bi, etc. There was closure, the guys were happy and the epilogue was absolutely EPIC.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Sapphire Sunset by C. Travis Rice: Blog Tour, Excerpt and New Release Review

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For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice writes as C. Travis Rice. Under his new pen name, Rice offers tales of passion, intrigue, and steamy romance between men. The first novel, SAPPHIRE SUNSET, transports you to a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their heart’s desires.

Logan Murdoch is a fighter, a survivor, and a provider. When he leaves a distinguished career in the Marine Corps to work security at a luxury beachfront resort, he’s got one objective: pay his father’s mounting medical bills. That means Connor Harcourt, the irresistibly handsome scion of the wealthy family that owns Sapphire Cove, is strictly off limits, despite his sassy swagger and beautiful blue eyes. Logan’s life is all about sacrifices; Connor is privilege personified. But temptation is a beast that demands to be fed, and a furtive kiss ignites instant passion, forcing Logan to slam the brakes. Hard.

Haunted by their frustrated attraction, the two men find themselves hurled back together when a headline-making scandal threatens to ruin the resort they both love. This time, there’s no easy escape from the magnetic pull of their white hot desire. Will saving Sapphire Cove help forge the union they crave, or will it drive them apart once more?

Amazon

Apple Books

Nook

Kobo

Google Play

Goodreads

“Wow.” Logan’s voice echoed through the rocky chamber.

Here, the sounds of the ocean surf softened into something that was more like a gurgling brook. What whitecaps the cave’s mouth captured were filtered down into something frothy and inviting amidst the labyrinth of low rocks within. The basic security lights at foot level threw a soft golden light across the metal struts that secured the rock ceiling overhead.

“I used to come here all the time as a kid with my friends,” Connor said nervously. “There’re all kinds of caverns back here we used to play and hide in before my mom found out and busted us. She still has no idea they don’t go that deep. She still thinks you could get lost in here. But I’ve got an excellent sense of direction.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah, I usually know where things are headed.”

“Makes sense, I guess. Your life’s kinda laid out for you, right? You’ll probably run this place someday, right? Heir apparent and all that.”

“Oh, God. Do they still call me the prince?” Connor turned, resting his butt against the guardrail so he could focus on Logan.

“Kinda.”

“Is that a good thing? Should I be annoyed by that?”

“Better to be the prince than a peasant, I guess,” Logan said.

“Are those really the only two choices?”

Logan laughed, but there was relief in it. As if Connor’s snarky response had shined a light on possibilities he hadn’t seen before now. “I guess not.”

“Whatever. I’ll let it go.”

Silence then, save for the gurgling of the sea pushing its way past them and deeper into the cave.

Connor rested his elbows on the rail on either side of him, an attempt to look casual even though the sight of Logan leaning against the cave wall, hands in his pockets, studying Connor with a half smile made Connor feel welded in place. “All right, your turn.”

“My turn for what?” Logan asked.

“I told you mine, and my grandpa’s. What’s your magic moment?”

“Okay.” Logan straightened. “So if I remember correctly, it’s like a moment when you’re doing something you love and you feel the most satisfied by it. Is that right?”

“Exactly.” Connor was thrilled that Logan had listened so closely.

“Well, my life is kind of starting over, so I’m kind of figuring out what it is I love to do. Kickboxing’s up there, but that’s more of a fast and furious kind of thing, and the high is mostly when I’m done. Not sure there’s really a magic hour there. There was some stuff about the Marines that I loved, especially once I was a staff sergeant and I was in the zone for gunnery sergeant. But a lot of it was tough, and a lot to hold.”

“I’m sure.”

When Logan started toward him through the shadows, Connor’s breath caught. His feet felt planted to the boards, and the sides of his face got tingly and hot.

“So if I had to pick,” Logan said, “I’d pick this one.”

“Walking rounds?”

“No. I’d pick the moment when I’m finally all alone with a guy who drives me wild, and I know we’re about to kiss, but I’m not sure when. So there’s this tension in the air, and I can feel it. Everywhere.”

They were inches apart now, so close Connor had to look up at him to maintain eye contact.

“And we’re both circling, waiting for the right moment. And I’m trying to take it kinda slow because I know one little touch”—Logan gently grazed Connor’s cheek with the side of one finger—“and it might turn into a lot more than a kiss. But first, there’s a promise to be kept.”

“What promise is that?” Connor asked in a squeaky whisper.

“I believe you promised me a dance.”

“Or you promised me one.”

“Either way, seems like time.”

This is a LONG book, almost 500 pages. However, I will say that it really doesn’t feel that long when you are reading it. It actually went really quickly. I’ll also say I haven’t read anything by this author before, but of course needed to give this one a shot, considering who the author was.

I really loved this book. I loved the story. Love the characters, and even the setting was beautiful. These two MC’s were so well written, and given a really strong backstory, which helped in understanding the reasons why they did the things they did in that first period of time.

One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was how Connor and Logan had a chance, five years previous to the main portion of the book. They clearly had a love at first sight meeting, spending time together that night, kissing, before Logan remembered that his priority needed to be his job, and his father. Although it wasn’t necessarily a prologue (it was a little to long for that) that first section of the book had me crying. However, it was easy to understand how Logan felt such a need to take care of the man who loved and truly cared for him, despite the things that could have made him NOT love his son.

Connor needed a chance to grow up a bit, as well, become the man he would have liked to have been, but would never have been able to at that point in time. That piece just worked so well.

When they meet up five years later, after the initial “I hate you”, etc, they really did well trying to figure out how to make a relationship work for them.

There’s a particularly bad guy, who you end up feeling a little sorry for, and a really nasty lady, who it’s hard to feel sorry for her, but you still do a little. But of course, love and happily ever after win in the end.

My one little peeve with the book was the vocabulary. There was a lot of vocabulary used that I don’t think would have necessarily come out of a man who didn’t go to college, and spent time in the Marine Corp. But I suspended that belief, because I just loved the characters so much.

I definitely am looking forward to any future book in this series.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

C. Travis Rice is the pseudonym New York Times bestselling novelist Christopher Rice devotes to steamy tales of romance between men. Christopher has published multiple bestselling books in multiple genres and been the recipient of a Lambda Literary Award. With his mother, Anne Rice, he is an executive producer on the AMC Studios adaptations of her novels The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches. Together with his best friend and producing partner, New York Times bestselling novelist, Eric Shaw Quinn, he runs the production company Dinner Partners. Among other projects, they produce the podcast and video network, TDPS, which you can find at www.TheDinnerPartyShow.com.

Connect with C. Travis Rice

Website: http://www.christopherricebooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.rice.writer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrisricewriter

Till Death Do Us Wed by Jason Wrench: Excerpt and New Release Review

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Planning a wedding is hard enough without international politics, an assassin, your fiancé’s ex-boyfriend and your mother to deal with.

NYPD Detective Frank Schultt and his fiancé, FBI Agent Aaron Massey, have bought a new condo, adopted a dog and are planning their wedding. But when an international assassin starts killing people on the streets of New York City, Aaron and Frank must work together to find the killer before she strikes again.

Combine the assassin with the pressure of Frank’s jealousy when Aaron’s ex-boyfriend comes back to town, and can their relationship withstand the pressure? Will Aaron and Frank make it to the altar on time, or will the assassin and Frank’s destructive behavior stop their wedding before it ever heads down the aisle?

Publisher’s Note: This book is best read as the sequel to Twelve Days of Murder.

Amazon

Frank stared around the pink office, wondering if a bottle of Pepto Bismol had accidentally spilled. He watched the perky blonde woman sitting in front of him, doing his best to pay attention. It wasn’t exactly how Frank liked to spend his Saturday mornings. But it was Aaron’s big day, so he’d promised to grin and bear it.

“With Central Park wedding locations, we are definitely somewhat limited. For example, the Bow Bridge only allows for ten guests and the Belvedere Castle Terrace only allows thirty. The North Garden, Southern Garden, Wisteria Pergola and Cherry Hill each allow for up to one hundred. What size are you two thinking?”

“Eloping,” Frank muttered.

“Twenty-five to fifty,” Aaron said, shooting Frank a sideways glance.

“I’m joking,” Frank reassured, patting Aaron’s leg and giving it a squeeze before turning to the woman. “Whatever Aaron wants, I want him to have.”

NYPD Detective Frank Schultt and FBI Special Agent Aaron Massey had met the previous year during a serial murder spree. The Twelve-Day Killer, as dubbed by the media, had terrorized NYC over the holidays. Aaron and Frank had put their lives and careers on the line hunting the bastard down. In the process, they had found each other.

Frank glanced over at the man he loved. God, where would I be without him? He reached up and rubbed the back of Aaron’s neck gently. From the top of Aaron’s head with his dark brown quaff haircut and his Caribbean ocean-blue eyes, to his lithe but fit body, Frank took in this man sitting beside him who was going to be his husband. Frank was still stunned at his good fortune in landing the affection of such an amazingly intelligent and gorgeous man.

Realizing his thoughts had drifted, Frank brought his attention back to the woman sitting in front of him, who was rattling on about Central Park weddings. He glanced down at her nameplate, ‘Amber Wethersfield’. The woman was in her late twenties. And judging by the giant diamond on her wedding ring, her husband was definitely wealthy. Frank glanced across the pink office looking for personal items and was surprised by the lack of photos. For a woman who sells marriage, where are the pictures of her happy day?

“So, do you have an officiant for your wedding lined up? If not, I have a list of great people who work with LGBTQIA+ people.”

“Huh?” Frank blurted before he could catch himself.

“Officiant…the person who will oversee the ceremony and the exchange of your vows,” Amber offered.

“No, you listed off a bunch of letters,” Frank said.

“Oh.” Amber perked up. “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer-questioning, intersexed, asexual and others.”

Dear God, that sounds like a gay BLT. Frank was about to make the snide comment, but a quick glance from Aaron told him that he’d better hold his tongue. Instead, Frank just nodded his head and gave a thin-lipped smile.

“Actually, we have a few people in mind,” Aaron noted. “Frank knows a judge who volunteered her services, and we have a couple of other names in the hopper as well.”

“Oh, good,” Amber said. “You’d be amazed at how many people totally forget the officiant until the last minute. I even have a license I got from an online church because I’ve had to step in at the eleventh hour when something went horribly wrong. I just don’t enjoy being in the wedding party, because it makes it harder for me to run things behind the scenes.”

Frank leaned back in the chair and watched as Aaron and Amber discussed the wedding. This wasn’t Frank’s first. He’d been married, but his husband had been murdered in a liquor store robbery on Christmas Eve over six years ago. As much as Frank loved Aaron, there was still a vast hole in his heart that had been left by Adam’s death. But Frank loved Aaron and was going to make sure their wedding day was every bit of glitz and glamour that Aaron desired.

“Well, if you have questions,” Amber said, bringing Frank’s attention back once again, “just let me know. You have my email, cell phone, home phone and office phone numbers, so never hesitate to reach out. I look forward to working with both of you on your big day.”

Amber stood up from her desk to usher the couple out of her office. She pushed herself up, exposing her pregnant belly.

“When’s the due date?” Aaron asked.

“Mid-March. But I swear she’s ready to come out any day.”

Frank stared at her belly and just thought, Are you sure there’s only one in there? But once again, he held his tongue.

“Don’t worry. I won’t miss your big day. When I’m out on maternity leave, my assistant will take over the day-to-day preparations, and he’ll be in constant contact with me. When I had my first baby, we were texting right up until they told me to push.”

“Well, it was really was nice meeting you,” Frank said.

“Likewise. And I just have to say, you two make such a cute couple.”

“Thank you,” Aaron said. “I think he’s a keeper.” Aaron gave Amber a little wink before turning to leave.

As Frank followed suit, Aaron’s hand rested in the small of Frank’s back. Frank leaned into Aaron in response.

“Earth to Frank!” Aaron said as they exited onto the sidewalk. The February chill immediately caught Aaron off guard, and he lifted the collar on the trench coat to protect his neck.

“Huh, what?”

“I said, “Earth to Frank.” What’s going on inside that head of yours?”

“Overwhelmed, I guess.”

“How so?”

“The whole wedding planning is just bringing up some memories.”

Aaron squeezed Frank. “I hadn’t thought about that. I forget that you’ve done this before.”

“Yeah,” Frank said, scrunching his forehead. “It’s surreal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to be marrying you. I hope you know that. It’s just that it brings up memories of Adam.”

“I get it,” Aaron said. “I would be surprised if it didn’t, to be honest.” Aaron hesitated for a second before adding, “Just know…I will never try to replace Adam. I know what you two had was special—”

“What we have is special too.”

“I know,” Aaron acknowledged. “I just want you to know that I love you and would never try to change you…warts and all.”

“God, I hope I don’t have any warts.”

“We all have warts. Some have them physically and others have them metaphorically.”

“Sure thing, professor,” Frank teased.

After dealing with the Twelve-Day Killer, Aaron had taken a teaching position part-time with the John Jay School of Criminal Justice. He was technically still on the FBI’s payroll, but his utility as an undercover agent had taken a hit after the amount of press the Twelve-Day Killer had received. And with the forthcoming publication of his new book about the case, Aaron and Frank both knew a fresh round of press attention was right around the corner.

“So, we didn’t have breakfast after the gym this morning,” Aaron said. “Shall we have a quick brunch before heading back to the apartment to get ready?”

“Do we have time?” Frank asked, glancing down at his watch. “It’s already ten a.m. What time is the car picking us up for the reading?”

“The reading’s at two o’clock, so the car is scheduled to pick us up about one-fifteen.”

“I guess we have plenty of time. Any suggestions on where we should eat?”

“How about 9Ten?” Aaron asked, referring to one of their favorite diners.

“Lead the way.”

I really enjoyed book 1, so finding out there was a book 2 was a super happy moment. Book 1 had some seriously sad moments, but of course ended with the HEA these two deserved.

This book really centered more on the mystery of the new killer they were investigating, with a bit of a side story about Frank’s extreme jealousy and insecurity when it  came to Aaron.

The mystery was very well done, with lots of avenues to go down, and incorporated a lot of new side characters. Although we didn’t really learn much about the side characters’ lives, we did get to see their crime solving skills, along with some great one liners. (My favorite is still the ME, and her flirting with Frank. Makes me laugh every time.)

When all was said and done, the killer…well, we’ll go with, there is still more questions in regards to the killer. And Frank’s mother, well that seems to be a story that still needs to be finished. There is a lot of baggage to unpack there.

Frank, with his jealousy that reared up often, had work to do himself. I really liked that he finally was beginning to open up to the therapist, after all the time that he had been seeing her. Finally, he was talking about things that really meant something, and not just the things he was forced to talk about. It seemed so realistic for the place that Frank was at, both personally and professionally.

I’m hoping we get to see another glimpse into these guys, as they seem to work well together.

4 pieces of eye candy

Jason Wrench is a professor in the Department of Communication at SUNY New Paltz and has authored/edited 15+ books and over 35 academic research articles. He is also an avid reader and regularly reviews books for publishers in a wide number of genres. This book marks his first full-length work of fiction.

Find out more about Jason at his website – https://www.jasonwrench.com/

Jason Wrench – https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11780

Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez: Graphic Novel Pre-Release Review

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Watch things start to really heat up in the kitchen in this sweet, queer, new adult graphic novel!

Now that college is over, English graduate Ben Cook is on the job hunt looking for something…anything…related to his passion for reading and writing. But interview after interview, hiring committee after hiring committee, Ben soon learns getting the dream job won’t be as easy as he thought. Proofreading? Journalism? Copywriting? Not enough experience. It turns out he doesn’t even have enough experience to be a garbage collector! But when Ben stumbles upon a “Now Hiring—No Experience Necessary” sign outside a restaurant, he jumps at the chance to land his first job. Plus, he can keep looking for a writing job in the meantime. He’s actually not so bad in the kitchen, but he will have to pass a series of cooking tests to prove he’s got the culinary skills to stay on full-time. But it’s only temporary…right?

When Ben begins developing a crush on Liam, one of the other super dreamy chefs at the restaurant, and when he starts ditching his old college friends and his old writing job plans, his career path starts to become much less clear.

Amazon 

Oni Press

Wow, what can I say about this? I absolutely loved it! From beginning to end.

This a graphic novel, and I’ll be honest, I haven’t read one in *cough cough* too many years to count. But this was superbly done. The visual artistry was amazing. Beautiful graphics, which told the story, even without the words.

Ben, a recent college graduate majoring in English, moves in with his three friends, and begins the inevitable job hunt. While unsuccessful with his graduate field, he finds a job at a restaurant, where he is given challenges to see if he can work there full time. The “judge” is a pig named Watson (who’s “backstory” when told is laugh out loud hilarious), who seems to have a bit of a crush on Ben. Liam, the dreamy chef that Ben meets is sweet, and supportive, and exactly what Ben would want in a boyfriend.

There were several laugh out loud moments in this graphic novel. There was also the very real challenge that many people Ben’s age have of “what should I do for the rest of my life”. Young people are often challenged to know this, even though they’ve barely finished growing. Ben finds this challenge with his parents, who believe that his becoming anything but a writer is beneath him. As Ben becomes more confident in himself, and his skills, he is able to decide what it is HE wants to do with his life. And he gets to kiss his dream man.

This graphic novel was so much fun, and I can’t recommend it any more. Grab it, sit down with a glass of wine, and a gourmet vegetarian meal, and just enjoy it. Adorable, cute, a little sexy, and all kinds of fun. Worth every second!

5 pieces of eye candy

Finding Finn (Forever Love Book 2) by Charlie Novak: New Release Review

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What happens when a quiet boy with a secret falls for his best friend?

Finn has always kept people at arm’s length. Being quiet and shy doesn’t get you many friends outside your family, and it’s even harder when you’re running a spicy, secret side project.

But Gem might be the exception to the rule. The game designer is clever, self-deprecating, and appreciates Finn’s affection for all things nerdy. He’s the one man who can find the real Finn… if Finn lets him in.

When Gem asks for Finn’s help opening a new board game store, it brings the two of them closer than ever before. Soon things become complicated as lines of friendship blur between them, and Finn begins to worry Gem will find out his secret.

But maybe that wouldn’t be as bad as it seems. Maybe Gem already knows the secret Finn’s keeping. All he has to do is convince Finn to share…

Finding Finn is a 78,000-word contemporary MM romance featuring late-night shop shenanigans, far too many nosy siblings with no boundaries, two best friends, and some steamy audio fantasies. It contains no love-triangle, no cheating, and no angst.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

From the first time we met Lewis and his mixed family of crazy love, I couldn’t wait for more. And it helps that they all identify somewhere on the rainbow except for Richard. But he provides plenty of comic relief when he tussles with his brothers.

Book 1 of this series was another brother, Eli and aforementioned Richard’s best friend. That was fun.

This is book 2. Finn, by far the quietest and most unassuming of them all. I also think he is the youngest, so all of the other siblings dote on him. And even though he is quiet in real life, he works as a book narrator. Apparently a good one as he is always in demand. In previous books he tends to be the brother just watching the goings on, never really getting involved. I think a lot of big families have a member like him.

Finn is crushing on his best friend, but his best friend always seems to be seeing someone. Until he isn’t. I will say that whole break up was pretty lame in the context of the book. We never saw Gem and Jesse as a couple here, so their break up didn’t hold much weight. But it is what it is.

Gem works at Jacob’s book store (previous book and series, definitely recommend) and has dreams of being a board game designer. That is refreshing as it is old school board games and RPGs, not video games. But at 38 he feels like a failure because he hasn’t been successful in selling any of his games.

And then a storefront just down from the bookstore becomes vacant and his friends convince him to open a games store. A lot of the book is Gem, and by default Finn, going through the red tape, etc to start a small business. But he and Finn are spending a lot of time together and Finn’s crush might just be reciprocated.

The play the “oh it isn’t serious, just having some fun” thing that happens way too often because neither one wants to admit to their true feelings. But…each man is exactly what the other needs. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, no spoilers, sorry.

It was sweet, cute, very VERY hot at times and I loved that it kind of full circled back to the Roll For Love series.

And the epilogue was PERFECT!!!! I adore a good epilogue and this one was *chef’s kiss*.

Here’s my obligatory, yes it can be read as a stand alone but seriously go back and read the 3 books of the Roll For Love series and then Always Eli, book one of this series.

I am giving it 4 pieces of eye candy because I really liked what Finn had going on. If it wasn’t for that I would knock it down half a piece simply because of the friends without strings blah blah that is kind of tired. It is still a well written book and I enjoyed it.

4 pieces of eye candy

Luke: Learning to Love #3 by Con Riley: RB, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Can Luke learn to love the man who left him?

Headmaster Luke Lawson is committed to saving his boarding school before a cash crisis sinks it. He’ll do anything to keep it afloat, even if that means accepting help from the man who broke his heart at uni.

Nathan’s offer to teach for free could be a blessing as long as Luke can harden his bruised heart. That’s tough when they’ll need to share living quarters and have a history of hook-ups. But Luke knows being compatible in bed isn’t enough to build trust. It can’t be when Nathan has always left him before morning.

This time around, it feels different. Nathan’s work overseas has changed him. Touched him. Opened a locked chamber in his heart that Luke is beginning to think must have been bruised in the past too.

As pressure mounts, can Luke trust that Nathan’s committed this time—not only to his school but to a shared future with him long term?

♥ Featuring a second chance at first love in close proximity, Luke is the third standalone novel in the Learning to Love series. Set in England’s glorious county of Cornwall, each book has a fulfilling happily ever after. ♥

CW: Non-explicit mentions of childhood anxieties.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Book #1 – Charles

Book #2 – Sol

Book #4 – Austin (Out June 23)

Oh how I have been waiting for Luke to get his happily ever after! Always so stoic, worried about the school and the students. He sacrificed everything he could for that school and those kids. He always seemed so grumpy in the previous books, but it was really the weight of everything he took on.

We finally get Luke’s background story when it is his turn to speak about career paths. What led him to that path was his background. The author is just so good with sucking us in to the pain and trauma without really telling us EXACTLY what caused the pain and trauma. I mean, from previous books we know what happened with Sol’s nephew and we learn about another student. But it is never explicit. It certainly doesn’t mean you aren’t going to feel it.

With all of this, Luke is trying to make something real with Nathan. The college friend/roommate/friends with benefits he has had for years. Nathan works with Syrian refugees normally so it isn’t like he is in England often. But Luke decided he was worth more than being a port in a storm. And Nathan agrees.

And of course he is still trying to save the school, especially since they sent an accountant to look over everything and he isn’t very positive about the outlook.

Luke and Nathan learn more and more about each other. Showing that their previous relationship wasn’t deep at all. But they both held back. Each for their own reasons.

Let me tell you this book hit me in the FEELS and made me cry more than once. I love a book that can make me feel so deeply, to think about the characters even after I’ve closed the book for the night and desperate for my 9pm reading time the next night.

This can be a stand alone, but really you need to read the first two. They are excellent as well, but Luke is my favorite.

4.5 pieces of candy

CON RILEY lives on the wild and wonderful Welsh coast, with her head in the clouds and her feet in the ocean. 

Injury curtailed her enjoyment of outdoor pursuits, so writing fiction now fills her free time. Love, loss, and redemption shape her romance stories, and her characters are flawed in ways that make them live and breathe. 

When not people-watching or reading, she spends time staring at the sea from her kitchen window. If you see her, don’t disturb her — she’s probably thinking up new plots.

FACEBOOK GROUP: facebook.com/groups/458421868222590

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: amazon.com/Con-Riley/e/B00F8GT35Oa Rafflecopter giveaway