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On Board (Painted Bay #2) by Jay Hogan: RB, Excerpt, and New Release Review

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Love on the deep blue…

Leroy Madden is in trouble. Big, handsome, Fox Carmody trouble.

Leroy has buried his attraction to the enigmatic fisherman in irritation and pointless bickering, keeping Fox at a safe distance. But with the troublesome man now living in Leroy’s house, it’s becoming impossible for Leroy to keep his true feelings hidden, or the fact that Leroy isn’t so straight, after all.

Leroy hungers for something different between them. He wants more. But Leroy’s business is struggling, his newly mended relationship with his brother is at risk, Fox doesn’t plan to stay, and their mothers are lovers.

Regardless of what Leroy’s heart so desperately wants, his entire world is at stake, and nothing about a relationship with Fox Carmody was ever going to be easy.

Title: On Board

Series: Painted Bay #2

Author: Jay Hogan

Genre: MM Romance

Tropes: Bisexual Awakening | Forced Proximity | Enemies to lovers | Hurt/comfort |Humour

Release date: September 23, 2021

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I stole a sideways glance to where Fox lounged in the passenger seat of my Hilux, his interested gaze soaking up the countryside. The worst of the Monday morning traffic was behind us and the driving was easy, not that you’d know it by my white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.

Sister Sledge streamed through the speakers, Fox’s fingers tapping away on one thickly muscled thigh wrapped in tight stonewashed denim. A fashionable rip mocked me from just above the knee, revealing the faintest glimpse of tanned skin and short dark hair, not that I was looking.

Yeah, right. I was soaking that shit up like sugar in hot coffee.

The universe was definitely fucking with me. Well, that and my mother who’d arrived for Sunday lunch with a surprisingly edible peach cobbler and what she called the ‘best idea ever’ for me to give Fox a lift into Whangarei the next day since I was already going. He wanted to check out some boats, but his car was still waiting on parts.

Fucking wonderful. Why he couldn’t wait for his own vehicle to be fixed wasn’t a question I was prepared to ask based on my mother’s I-dare-you look. I’d caved and agreed.

I could’ve killed her. And by the constipated look on Fox’s face at her suggestion, I was pretty sure he felt the same. It had been a long, long weekend and entirely my own damn fault. Other than forced interaction at work, rugby training, and Sunday lunch, I’d avoided Fox at all costs, and he’d been good enough to play along and pretend he hadn’t noticed, other than a notable drop in temperature whenever he looked my way. I could hardly blame him for that. If only he knew that my epic arseholery stemmed from lust and not disgust.

And the Academy Award for epically fucking yourself goes to . . . yeah. Enough said.

Note to self: don’t get tipsy around the guy. Without the benefit of way too many beers, we wouldn’t have talked and got all chummy on the deck, and I wouldn’t have realised that I maybe, actually liked the bastard, not just wanted to kiss him, or touch him, or have him touch me, or . . . goddammit, wait for the drum roll—fuck me.

I swallowed hard. Me fucking him would, of course, be marginally more acceptable to my brain, but who was I kidding? I’d spent the entire weekend thinking, fantasising, googling, watching, and yep, definitely him fucking me. Good God, the sooner he was out of my house the better. Still, it sounded like it wouldn’t take much to get him to shift back down south, so I could only hope.

“You okay, Leroy?”

My gaze jerked his way. “Fine. I’m absolutely fine,” I lied, because no, I didn’t want to go there, or talk about it, or think about it, or do anything other than bury it as unsuccessfully as I’d done for the last five days, make that a year—my, doesn’t time fly—because I’m chickenshit as all hell and my life is a fucking shitshow of irony.

Why now?

Why him?

Why . . . this?

Bisexual. I’d even practised saying it in front of the mirror, barely able to spit the word out as it sat huge and sour on my tongue. It wasn’t that I hated the man-on-man part, because I was clearly on board with that in so very many, many Fox-shaped, lickable ways. It was more that the admission held an extremely unflattering mirror up to the jerk hypocrite that I’d been, and very likely still was, my entire life.

Whoever said sexuality was a choice, I needed that fucker’s address and a suitably sized cactus to shove where the sun don’t shine.

My head had been buried so far in the sand for so long that I had grit coming out my arse, and that shit had to stop. After my appalling behaviour in the kitchen, I’d sulked and pondered long and hard over the weekend and gotten more than my money’s worth from my broadband provider. It all came with an uncomfortable realisation. The infatuation I had with Fox wasn’t going anywhere, and that meant either making myself and everyone around me miserable or pulling it into the light and stop running. How had I completely missed this rather critical aspect of my nature?

And then it occurred to me, maybe I hadn’t. I had the pieces, but nothing or no one had caused them to fall into place, until Fox.

After reading book 1, Off Balance (On Board can be read as a stand alone if you choose), I couldn’t wait for book 2. I had a feeling it would be Leroy but I wondered how the author was going to redeem this anti social, completely grumpy, formerly a homophobe. It was a journey and I loved it.

Leroy was definitely redeemed. Learning more about him, about his childhood of living in his younger brother’s shadow, of suddenly giving up his dreams to take over the family business, of being utterly lonely made me teary at times and want to hug him. But it wasn’t instant at all. There were plenty of times I wanted to smack him.

Fox is also kind of a mess. Deciding how to start his live over while nursing a broken heart. Sharing a house with prickly Leroy. Missing his home, but not sure if he wants to go back. At least he has his dog.

Leroy and Fox danced around each other for a year of random meetings at their mothers’ house. Even though Leroy was straight, right? So now, under the same roof and ultimately working together, the sexual tension was through the roof.

Leroy is probably the most stubborn character I ever met. But being a stubborn person, I recognized so much. Knowing you are being a jerk, but sticking with it. Refusing to back down even though you want to. Getting caught being nice so then being extra grumpy to make up for it. It was just so real to have him slowly peel back the layers of who he is meant to be. He even takes the time to self reflect on his life to see if he missed signs.

Fox is pretty much an open book. Well, an open wound. But he is drawn to Leroy and even though he “doesn’t want a relationship yet”, he is that guy that needs to be in a relationship.

There was a lot of story in this book. Not just Fox and Leroy, but the farm Leroy works but his mother owns, Leroy and his brother Judah still working on their relationship, a bully from the past needing help, Fox’s ex causing trouble. It wasn’t just filled with sex to make it a longer book. There was a really engaging story that was well rounded and I was never bored.

As I said, this can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend the first, Off Balance, as well.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year.

She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She’s travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel

Find Jay in all the places: https://jayhoganauthor.contactin.bio/

Sailor Proof: An LGBTQ Romance (Shore Leave Book 1) by Annabeth Albert: New Release Review *2

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The sexy Navy chief and his best friend’s adorkable little brother…

It’s petty, but Naval Chief Derrick Fox wishes he could exact a little revenge on his ex by showing off a rebound fling. His submarine is due to return to its Bremerton, Washington, home base soon and Derrick knows all too well there won’t be anyone waiting with a big, showy welcome.

Enter one ill-advised plan…

Arthur Euler is the guy you go to in a pinch—he’s excellent at out-of-the-box solutions. It’s what the genius music-slash-computer nerd is known for. So when he finds out Derrick needs a favor, he’s happy to help. He can muster the sort of welcome a Naval Chief deserves, no problem at all.

Except it is a problem. A very big problem.

When Arthur’s homecoming welcome is a little too convincing, when a video of their gangplank smooch goes enormously viral, they’re caught between a dock and a hard place. Neither of them ever expected a temporary fake relationship to look—or feel—so real. And Arthur certainly never considered he’d be fighting for a very much not-fake forever with a military man.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters. Discover a new Carina Adores book every month!

Amazon

Harlequin/Carina Press

When Annabeth Albert writes a military romance (or let’s face it…all her books) you need to plan to read it, and maybe even read it in one sitting. Yes, to both of these for this reader. 🙂

There’s a lot of fun in this book, fake homecoming kiss, and a weeklong family reunion that allows Arthur to finally break away from the little kids table. But some serious issues as well, because family almost always can make things that may not have been an issue otherwise feel like the weight of the world. On top of it, Arthur’s brother, Derrick’s buddy, doesn’t make it any easier.

Seeing how Derrick stood up for Arthur, and his passion, while still doing the little things to help him, so sweet. Even as Arthur states multiple times that he would never date a military man, having seen the issues with his parents, he can’t help the feelings. These two start out as a fake romance, but quickly start to respect and like each other, before it goes any further.

Albert’s ability to take real life difficulties, infuse romantic gestures and sweetness, all while bringing the heat, is something few other authors can manage. I enjoy each and every moment of it.

One thing that I appreciated was Arthur having an important conversation with his mother, finding out what it really meant to be a military spouse from her perspective. It brought it back to a real world issue that military families must have to deal with every day.

These two were sweet and fluffy (also, Arthur’s BFF was bad ass!), but still heartfelt and sexy. Everything I love about Albert’s books. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

I have a thing for military men that Annabeth Albert writes. I don’t know why, but I just love them. And this is the start of a brand new series! Yay!

You like tropes? Which is your favorite? Because this book has a bunch, but at the same time it feels a bit fresher. We’ve got fake boyfriend, best friend’s brother, forced proximity and virgin. Whew.

What starts out as a fake welcome home kiss to make an ex jealous, to then being fake boyfriends at a weeklong family reunion, Derrick and Arthur are adorable. Arthur being Derrick’s best friend’s little brother. But, yanno, they are just faking it right?

Until Derrick sticks up for Arthur who is a musician in a family of military men. Arthur already had a crush on Derrick, but then Derrick starts to have a crush on Arthur.

Most of the book is spent at the weeklong family reunion. Where they really get to know each other and start falling for each other. It was sweet and a bit romantic (finding Arthur good coffee….swoon) and definitely sexy.

After the reunion, life gets in the way a bit, but at the same time it’s a true test for them.

I really liked this story, although it did take me a little bit to become invested in them as a couple. Partly because there was almost no background story on either of them. We just jumped right in to the homecoming and pretend boyfriend welcome home kiss. But once I was in, I was in and I devoured their story.

There’s very little angst at all, but there is some…stress shall we say. It isn’t over the top fluffy either. Just a good story that I could actually see happening in real life. I guess that’s what I like about Ms Albert’s books- they are very “real life” to me.

4 pieces of eye candy

The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish: Release Day Review

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Can one man’s crowded, messy life fill another man’s empty heart?

Raising a family was always Adam Mills’ dream, although solo parenting and moving back to tiny Garnet Run certainly were not. After a messy breakup, Adam is doing his best to give his young daughter the life she deserves—including accepting help from their new, reclusive neighbor to fulfill her Christmas wish.

Though the little house may not have “the most lights ever,” the Mills home begins to brighten as handsome Wes Mobray spends more time there and slowly sheds his protective layers. But when the eye-catching house ends up in the news, Wes has to make a choice: hide from the darkness of his unusual past or embrace the light of a future—and a family—with Adam.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Amazon

**Side note: This is the first book that is m/m in a traditional Harlequin book, and definitely fell right into that category.**

All the good things about Christmas books, at a time of year when we might need them most, with all the hardships in the world right now. This is one of the books that I would have read as a teenager under the covers in my bedroom with the flashlight after I was told to go to bed. Yes, I was that kid, and not much has changed. 🙂 And this book…this book gives you all the feels of reading those books, which is why I am so excited that Harlequin is adding this into their category romance line, and what a great book to start with.

Now, let’s start with one of the main characters, who was NOT one of the men falling in love, Gus, Adam’s daughter. Gus was amazing, I loved that kid. Her Christmas wish was so simple, and yet led to such complex feelings. Her one wish, that Adam wanted so badly to make come true, brought people together, near and far to try to make a reality.

On to the MC’s. Adam had his heart broken, and decided to return home to work through it and start again. He literally was starting back with nothing, a job in a hardware store (yes, a few characters from previous Garnet Run books make their appearances, and help Adam out immensely). All he wanted was to make life for his daughter good again, after her heart was broken multiple times by Adam’s ex. Adam was hurting, but did all he could to make things right for his child. Meanwhile, he had to learn to believe in himself again.

Meanwhile, Wes, the guy on Knockbridge Lane who was severely misunderstood, couldn’t ignore a young girl, curious about science, who would not take no for an answer. He fell in love with Gus, just as much as he fell in love with Adam. However, he had to learn how to stand up for himself again, in order to love the people he wanted most in his life. My heart broke when he couldn’t do that at first. He was a man who wanted to change the world, but didn’t know how to change his own world.

Another character we met in previous books makes a reappearance, Adam’s sibling, River. River was awesome as a sibling to Adam, while Adam took the time to learn more about River, something he had missed previously. It warmed my heart that River worked to bring Adam and Gus back to Garnet Run, because they needed a place to be, and River needed to see people they loved.

Just a heartwarming story all around. I couldn’t have asked for more from it.

5 pieces of eye candy

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

More info is at my website: roanparrish.com
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Jonty’s Halloween (Unfinished Business) by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review

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Jonty and Devan’s Big Adventure travelling around the world is cut short when Devan’s mother falls ill, and they have to fly home. Leaving Jonty to his own devices is never a good idea and before Devan can say no, Jonty has talked his way into hosting a Halloween extravaganza at The Dunes Hotel.

Family and friends are roped in to help and perform on the evening, but someone has it in for Jonty, who ends up getting a fright he hadn’t expected.

Join Jonty and his friends and family in a Halloween extravaganza with a surprise ending!

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I’ve loved Jonty from the beginning. He was goofy and fun and had no filter. And I hate to say this, but it is time for him to chill out a bit.

Honestly, it feels like this book should have been a novelette or novella, but added a bunch of Jonty being ridiculous to fill it in to make a full length book.

I except Jonty to be silly. Especially when he is uncomfortable. But it was just WAY over the top for me. The way he spoke to and about Devan was borderline hurtful (IN MY OPINION!!!) and was just to get laughs. He is never, ever serious. His insecurity was a bit much as well.

While it was fun to revisit a bunch of characters, especially Tay and Ink, and the whole Halloween party itself was fun, the drama with the manager was silly and it is just time for Jonty to grow up a bit. Tone it down, feel more comfortable with himself and his relationship. He can still be playful and fun without always being the center of attention at the expense of Devan and others.

3 pieces of eye candy

Betting on His BF: A Friends-to-Lovers, Buddy Trip, Bisexual Awakening Romance (Nerds vs Jocks) by Eli Easton and Tara Lain: New Release Review

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Big Bet. Big Trouble. Big Love.

When Felix the Quiz Bowl Champion reveals other oversized assets besides his brain, it takes PJ, the super-wheeler-dealer, to wangle maximum profits from it—in bets, wet jock strap contests, and Wang of the Week.

But winning money turns out to be second to falling in lust, and sexual escapades replace time at the poker tables as the number-one activity of their wicked week in Vegas.

Still, accepting the hospitality of PJ’s father’s client, the mobster Joey Oretano, proves a nearly fatal money-saving scheme, and brings Felix and PJ face-to-face with the serious side of life.
Very. Serious.

Will someone take the chance to be a hero?
Or will someone wind up dead?

BETTING ON HIS BF is a friends-to-lovers, bisexual awakening, what-happens-in-Vegas-can-win-you-money, dash-of-suspense, MM romance—with large assets.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Let me preface this by saying that I KNOW there are some hard core fans of these authors. And while I don’t know who wrote what parts, I can pretty much guess, but I won’t point it out. But, at least to me, it is super obvious that it was written by 2 different people.

The story started out pretty well. Felix and PJ, characters we know from the previous 3 books, on a road trip together to Vegas. First stop- a buffet. Of course! But they got scammed by the small print and PJ being PJ made a wager to get their food for free. And what he was betting was a continuous theme throughout. Constantly. Always. Like omg we get it. It doesn’t need to constantly be talked about. And if I were Felix, I’d be SO PISSED at PJ. The fact that he isn’t is mind boggling.

Ok. Felix and PJ are cute together. Doing that flirty bff thing. You know there will be more, but it is fun to watch them flirt and squirm.

PJ, who has very wealthy parents, scores a free suite for them from one of his father’s clients. Can you say stereotype? “Mafia” springs to mind. And how these kids didn’t realize is beyond me.

Anyway, PJ really persuades Felix into things he is uncomfortable with (again, friends don’t treat friends like that), but whatever. They are having fun until something happens with PJ’s father, which makes the hotel owner/client of PJ’s father mad and drama ensues.

It was SO convoluted and completely unnecessary. It was like they realized they had to fill in a lot more story to make a book and added this whole nonsense. Eye rolling nonsense.

Literally the best part of the book was the epilogue.

2.5 pieces of eye candy

Hotter Than Hot: A Friends to Lovers Romance (Suntastic Fun Book 2) by Ariella Zoelle: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Baxley has been teasing Callahan for years about wanting to be with him. When Callahan finds out his best friend is actually serious about being with him, his curiosity gets the better of him. Why should being straight stop him from having fun with his sexy best friend?

Callahan

Baxley is a lot of things: an awesome friend, a relentlessly shameless flirt, a little too attractive, and way too tempting when I’m straight. All of his heated teasing is starting to get to me, making me wonder if maybe indulging my curiosity might be worth blurring the boundaries of our friendship for a night. But what if it’s so good that I want a repeat experience?

He promises me an experience that’s hotter than hot, but am I ready to discover that I like what he’s offering me?

Baxley

When everything about Callahan lights my insides up like a fireworks finale on the Fourth of July, I knew from the moment I first saw him that he was the one for me. The only thing stopping me from making him mine is that he’s straight. But that excuse goes out the window when he kisses me, like he’s been dying for a taste of me for years.

If he’s ready to take a chance on me for one night, can I make him fall in love with me forever?

Hotter Than Hot is the second and final book in the Suntastic Fun duet. This novella features a friends to lovers, bisexual awakening, no angst romance. If you love cute sweetness, sexy fun, and scorching-hot banter that will make you laugh and swoon, you’ll adore this satisfying HEA without cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone but is best enjoyed in order.

Hotter Than Hot was originally published as Turn Up the Heat for the Boys of Summer M/M giveaway. A new epilogue has been added for publication.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

It was precious how Callahan blushed at the sight of my arousal. “Now that I know you haven’t been with anyone for years, your raging horniness makes a lot more sense.”

I reached down to stroke my length as I held his gaze. “This has everything to do with finally being blessed enough to have the chance to prove to you I’m not all talk.”

He blinked at me several times with a dazed look.

Not wanting to overwhelm him with too much too soon, I stopped touching myself. “Are you having second thoughts?”

He shook his head, making me breathe a sigh of relief. “No, I’m confused.”

“About what?”

He bit his lower lip. “You’re going to laugh at me.”

“In theory, that should reassure you since that’s the norm.” My words earned me the chuckle I knew they would. “But if it’ll make you feel better, I promise I’ll try really hard not to.”

He took a deep breath as he squared his shoulders with resolve. “I might have had a few inappropriate late-night thoughts wondering what it would be like if I ever said yes to your offers to suck my dick.”

What a delightful kernel of knowledge that was. Rather than thanking him for giving me something new to fantasize about, I nodded to show I was listening, and he should continue.

“We’re always clothed when you tugged my pants down when I reached the point where I couldn’t take the teasing anymore.” He looked away in embarrassment. “I never pictured either of us being completely naked.”

“Would it make you more comfortable if I put my clothes back on?”

“No, but I feel like I’m supposed to have a squeamish straight-guy reaction to seeing you jerking off, but, um…”

I was dying to know how that sentence ended. “You can tell me.”

He looked up at the ceiling with a pained expression. “I can’t say it. It’s going to make me sound so self-centered.”

“That’s fine. It’s hot when your ego comes out to play a little.” Grinning at him, I tried to convince him some more. “It should be fairly obvious by this point that I love it when you’re a bit of a bastard. Lay it on me.”

It took him a few moments to build up the courage to confess. “Instead of being grossed out watching you touching yourself, it’s kind of…um, well, it’s sort of sexy seeing how turned on you are because of me. I don’t know what to do with that reaction.”

“You’ve got plenty of time to overanalyze it later. All that matters right now is you’re into this.”

He drew a shuddering breath. “Way more than I was expecting.”

I closed the distance between us to give him a searing kiss to refocus his attention on what was happening. He whimpered into it as I let my hands wander over his bare skin. I slowly worked down to his shorts, unbuttoning them and sending them to the floor.

I stopped shy of my goal, even as I took a moment to appreciate the bulge straining in his navy briefs. “Do you want me to keep going?”

“Dear god, please.”

This was kind of a continuation/off-shoot of It Might Be Hot: A Friends to Lovers Gay Romance (Suntastic Fun Book 1), so similar to the first book, this one was about the same. Lots of sex, LOTS, and a couple that were friends, become lovers and are in love pretty much overnight.

It was very, for want of a better word, schmoopy. Very gushy, with Baxley being in love with Callahan from the first time they met. It was insta-love three years later. 🙂 With lots of sex. lol

I did enjoy that we got to learn a bit more about these guys than the first book, and we did learn that the reason Bax was so flirty with Callahan was not because he was just a huge flirt, but because he kept hoping Callahan would just take him up on it.

It was low angst, very sweet, and you felt for Bax who had been in love with his best friend for all this time. However, there was definitely a lack of meat to it. With it being a beachy/summer read, though, that’s what you’re generally looking for. A fun, quick read.

3 pieces of eye candy

Ariella Zoelle adores steamy, funny, swoony romances where couples are allowed to just be happy. She writes low angst stories full of heat, humor, and heart. But sometimes she’s in the mood for something with a bit more angst and drama. If you are too, check out her A.F. Zoelle books.

For real time updates on her writing progress, please join her Facebook group for exclusive teasers or follow her on Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter to gain access to bonus chapters, previews of upcoming books, exclusive visual guides, and more.

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