Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

romance

Catered All the Way: An MM Holiday Christmas Romance by Annabeth Albert: New Release Review

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Tis the season for a hopeless crush on my older brother’s best friend…

This year will be different. I’m all grown up, my gaming channel is a huge success, and I finally have the confidence to make my move on Atlas Orion, the hottest chief in the navy.

However, I don’t intend for my smooth move to be covering Atlas in cranberry sauce. Not at all how I want to reintroduce myself to my new roomie and coworker. Atlas is in town to help save Seasons, my family’s historic holiday gift shop and event space. Seasons is booked solid with catered parties, so we need to avoid any more disasters.

Like my malfunctioning air mattress. We’re down to one bed, two dudes, and a whole lot of holiday-fling temptation. Atlas has never been with a guy, but I don’t have to do much persuading. And what better way to explore than a secret romp? No strings, and no one has to know.

The problem? With every passing week, I fall harder for Atlas, who’s far more than his drool-worthy muscles and heroic job. He’s kind, funny, makes me breakfast in bed, and each midnight snowball fight brings us that much closer to heartbreak.

Atlas can’t stay in Kringle’s Crossing forever, and I can’t imagine leaving the only place I’ve called home. Our feelings run deep, but is it a holiday illusion? Can we find our way to a lasting future?

CATERED ALL THE WAY is a brand-new, full-length holiday romance from the beloved author of THE GEEK WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS. Lovers of stand-alone swoon-worthy Christmas stories will fall for this geek + military pairing. Full of spicy first times, bisexual awakening, quirky small-town residents, and guest appearances from some fan-favorite characters, this only one bed, brother’s best friend romance is sure to find a place under many trees! Dual POV and the happiest of endings guaranteed.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I love Christmas romances. They are my version of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Except way better.

Annabeth Albert has brought us another adorable, sweet, hot romance just in time for Christmas. Set in the idyllic Kringle’s Crossing, we have Zeb, full time gaming streamer and part time cater waiter and retail worker for his family’s business. Every year he straps in to work the crazy season from Thanksgiving until Christmas. His brother’s best friend, Atlas, is due to arrive on leave from the military to help out. So Zeb finagles it so that Atlas stays with him instead of with Zeb’s brother. Not because he has a crush or anything. 😉

Atlas rather quickly realizes how attracted he is to Zeb. Which is a first for him. Zeb has no problem offering himself up on a platter for Atlas to experiment with. But of course the no strings attached experiment quickly grows strings. And they also have the shared history from when they were teens and Atlas was at their house often hanging out with Zeb’s brother.

There were actually quite a few little, or not so little, details that really caught my interest. Mostly because they gave the story and the characters that much more depth. And it wasn’t just Zeb and Atlas. But also Zeb’s brother and wife. The backgrounds of the men, their jobs, family issues and even a non-binary side character. So great to see that when if there are other LGBT+ characters they all seem to be close friends with each other. Nix worked there and was friendly, but they had their own life going on.

There were Easter eggs for those long time readers. Always fun. And selfishly, I love when a book is set in an area I sort of know. Kringle’s Crossing is fictitious, but other towns and areas mentioned were quite real.

This book will definitely hit you in the feels. Especially if you have experienced any of the situations that these characters have. Ultimately, you’ll be left with a smile and maybe a little Christmas cheer.

4 pieces of eye candy

Drama Queen (The Court Book 1) by Charlie Novak: New Release Review

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Note to self: dumping cocktails into a man’s lap does not count as a meet cute.

Accidentally throwing a jug of Sex on the Beach onto the hottest guy at drag brunch was not how I wanted to start my performance, and forgetting to ask for his name was the cherry on top.

But when he finds me online and invites me out for drinks, it seems like my chaotic shenanigans might have worked out for once. Falling into bed with West is easy, but balancing a gorgeous, rugby player boyfriend with a day job and drag is harder than dancing in eight inch heels.

And when my participation in a local drag story hour draws the ire of certain locals, it feels like everything might fall apart. West doesn’t understand why I won’t step down, but I’ve never been afraid of being myself.

Now I just need West to stand beside me. Because he’s the only man who’s ever loved me as Rory and Bubblegum Galaxy, and I won’t let that slip away.

You can call me a drama queen, but you’ll never dull my sparkle.

Content Warning: This novel contains an attempted homophobic attack, the use of slurs and violent language.

Back to Lincoln we go! This time with a new series and set of characters. Like a drag queen and a pro rugby player. I do love opposites attract.

Our rugby player is West, brother of Theo from the Heather Bay series. The drag queen is Bubblegum Galaxy and as a boy, Rory.

Some of the things I just loved about this book:

Bubblegum is an electrician during the day working with his dad and brother. His dad was a skinhead in his youth but now helps sew sequins onto his son’s costumes. And her brother is deaf so another deaf character is shown using BSL as well as the family using it while speaking.

West is a giant teddy bear. He doesn’t even play at being tough. He is just a nice guy who doesn’t want to ever make waves. He is pretty much immediately smitten by Bubblegum. He is also out so there is no sexuality struggle that we see often.

Bubblegum was definitely the main character of the book. How could she not be in all of her fabulousness?

The story also highlighted the utter ridiculousness of people protesting drag queen story hours. How it is just what the right has decided to focus their vitriol on even though it doesn’t affect their lives AT ALL. And how just one threat can make people scared to be themselves.

We got some awesome cameos from previous characters (Bitch Fit ftw!) besides Theo and Laurie. It was nice to see the three series tied together without forcing it. It was very cohesive.

Overall, I can’t wait for the next book! I am loving this new series.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Hide With Me (The Game Series Book 13) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

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𝐃𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐤 • 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐱 • 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 & 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲 • 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 • 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐩 • 𝐃/𝐬 • 𝐌𝐌𝐌 • 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Don’t mind the sweet scent of waffles. That’s just little Gael breaking the resolves of two protective Daddies, one shy yet sinful bite at a time.

It’s no coincidence Gael Grimes is in Professor Aavik’s class. He’s had a crush on the professor since he first spotted the man in the kink community they’re both part of. According to Gael, Professor Aavik is just super dreamy! Distinguished, charismatic—a total silver fox. But when Gael’s ex-boyfriend ignores the restraining order against him and tries to reach out, another man steps out of the shadows, and Gael is suddenly at a loss for words and can’t describe the intense attraction.

Private investigator Joshua “Santiago” Jones has been keeping an eye on Gael for a while as a favor to a friend. Under different circumstances, he would’ve loved to get closer to Gael. The boy’s cuter than words, definitely on the Little spectrum, funny, smart…but this is work. The only reason Santiago has to get close now is to protect Gael from his stalker ex-boyfriend.
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The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Oh I’ve been waiting for this book! I am a big fan of Cara Dee so I will read all of the books as they come out. But I was craving a new love story. New characters, new loves, new dynamics and boundaries and limits and roles. And I got them.

We knew Dean. As Walker’s step brother he has shown up before. Most notably when Walker and Macklin were figuring their relationship out. Also entering the picture ae Santiago and Gael. They have also had cameo’s in other books. But now we get to KNOW them as they get to know each other.

I always liked Dean, what we knew of him. So buttoned up and proper. A history professor and author. But behind closed doors he is filthy. And still almost proper if you can imagine.

Santiago is the kind of classic bad boy. A former cop who works as a private investigator now. The Tenley brothers have him looking into Gael’s ex boyfriend who is known to be rather stalkerish.

Since Dean and Santiago already knew each other and Gael is in Dean’s college class and Santiago is helping out Gael, it was the perfect storm for these men to find each other and explore what they are and can be.

Gael is so eager. He has zero experience, but mostly knows what he wants. Santiago and Dean have no problem helping him to explore.

Writing a triad story without one person becoming the center of attention or without one couple edging out the third. But Cara Dee knows how to do that. She’s done it before and she did it again. And while this is the third triad (pretty sure) in the Game series, all three triads are different from each other. There’s no falling on what she knows and did before. No changing of names to tell the same story. This one is as unique as the others.

Gael finding his submission and his middle/little self while Santiago and Dean guide him without pushing. He blossoms as he is free to be who he is. Especially after the toxic relationship he was in previously. And I do love that he isn’t one of the stereotypical body types we so often see. Refreshing.

Besides their burgeoning relationship, Gael also gets to experience one of his fantasies. Which, again, Cara Dee writes really well.

As much as I enjoyed this book and story, I feel like the Game included at the end of the book was unnecessary. Especially because it was so soon after the other thing. You’ll see.

And we were left hanging with something which has me like “ARGH!”. I’m sure Ms Dee is laughing knowing we are all probably like that.

Solid entry in the Game series. I can’t wait to hear more from these three. And to find out…..

4 pieces of eye candy

Once Upon a Christmas House by A.D. Ellis: New Release Review

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Ivyrson is the quintessential Scrooge when it comes to anything having to do with the holidays. However, the chance to win a hefty chunk of money and free repairs on his old home is enough to entice the man to take part in a holiday-themed reality game.

Emory has had a crush on his older brother’s best friend for years. When the chance to help Ivy possibly win a reality game comes along, Emory doesn’t hesitate. After all, that’s what friends are for.

The two men have known each other forever, but living together and pretending to be a couple means getting to know each other on a whole new level. Can they convince the viewing audience their fake relationship deserves to win the grand prize? Or will Ivy and Emory get swept up in the holiday magic and find themselves falling in love for real?

Once Upon a Christmas House is a steamy, forced-proximity, fake relationship, M/M Christmas romance between a grumpy Scrooge and his best friend’s cheery little brother.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This story had a super cute premise, perfect setting and tropes galore. And it brought in a very modern aspect of a streaming reality show that has viewers vote every week. Definitely fun.

The grumpy guy is the one who wants to win the reality show so he can fix up his dream house and infuse a bit of capital into his auto shop business. And since the show calls for couples, his best friend offers to fake it with him. Until circumstances happen and he can’t. So his best friend’s brother offers. The gay brother who has had a crush on Ivy forever. It’s fine though, right?

The premise of the reality show was a little weak. Besides a few challenges that they do and daily interviews, there isn’t much to it. Then they added “After Dark” challenges that were a bit cringy. They didn’t have to do those, but they were worth points, so how are you supposed to win by not doing them? *shrug*

The story also leans heavily on Ivy hating Christmas. There are dramatic statements like his father blew up their lives. A little over the top. I kind of wanted to slap him, a la Cher “Snap out of it!”. He’s made it his personality.

Of course Ivy and best friend’s brother, Emory, can’t keep their hands off of each other after just a few days of being fake boyfriends for the show. I did like how Ivy was pretty chill with the fact that he was fooling around with a guy for the first time. There was no big sexuality crisis. He just rolled with it for the most part.

There was a bit of “Christmas magic” in the story as well surrounding the house. I wish that had been highlighted more and shown on the reality show more because it was fun.

This was a mostly cute start to the Christmas book season. Enough to get you in the spirit of things.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

No Backing Down (Zone Defense Book 4) by Becca Seymour: New Release Review

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When we’re both needy and tactile AF, it’s no wonder everyone thinks my best friend and I are an item. But that’s so not what’s going on.

Cassius Britton, the mouthy basketball player for the Minnesota Eagles, is my soul mate. He has been since he shared his gummy bears and let me have all the red ones.

Because that’s the kind of person he is—selfless and sweet. But he’s so much more than that. He’s the man who rescued me from my homophobic parents. He’s the man who brought me and my sister into his family home and wrapped us in love and sunshine.

All of that, and so much more, makes us soul mates—which doesn’t mean he’s meant to be mine.

And when I become a dad and have to balance being a cop in our small town while dealing with grief, of course he steps up, because that’s who Cassius is.

But when I need to get married, when I need a man to step up and be by my side, maybe Cassius is too close. Too much of a risk.

Because how can I possibly marry my best friend and not start to fall, especially when the secrets between us are so explosive, they’ll either burn us to the ground or set our hearts free forever?

Trigger warnings can be on the Blurb page at the beginning of the e-book or on my website’s product page.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I love a good friends to lovers story. And this was guys who had been friends since they were 5. So I was ready.

Overall, it was a good story. I enjoyed that it started back when they were kids. But there were quite a few as they touched heavily on big moments in their lives. Then there is a time jump of like 6 years. I’m unsure of the exact time but college is over and they are both well established in their careers. I wanted to see a continuation of their connection instead of a time jump that brought them together because of a crisis.

Working through the crisis we get explanations of how and when different things happened. But I feel like those things deserved more attention than they got. A lot more.

It was an enjoyable read, but I wanted a little more.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

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Becca Seymour is the #1 gay romance best seller of the True-Blue series. Known for “steamy and endearing” and “emotionally profound love stories” (InD’tale Magazine),
her books have been nominated for multiple RONE Awards.

Becca lives and breathes all things book related. Usually with at least three books being read and two WiPs being written at the same time, Becca’s life is merrily hectic. She tends to do nothing by halves so happily seeks the craziness and busyness life offers.

Living on her small property in Queensland with her human family as well as her animal family of cows, sheep, chooks, and dogs, Becca appreciates the beauty of the world around her and is a believer that love truly is love.

The Mission by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review

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Snow! Tick.
Skiing! Tick.
Christmas! Tick.
Stalker! Er…

When Conrad and his ex split up three months before their upcoming work ski trip, Conrad’s unwavering passion for the slopes overshadows his reservations about a holiday anywhere near his ex and his new partner. But as ‘friends’ keep hinting he should cancel, he wishes he’d seen sense earlier. Now it’s too late to get his money back.

A clash of heads at check-in with a handsome stranger sets Conrad’s heart racing. Arlo is bound for the same Austrian resort, sparking Conrad’s daydreams of shared slopes, shared après-ski, shared hot tubs and more…while fully aware that spotting Arlo in the mountains will be almost impossible.
Little does Conrad know Arlo has orchestrated this moment. Now all Arlo has to do is convince Conrad he has the best of intentions. After all, if they don’t click by the end of the flight, Conrad will never know he’d been stalked.

Warning
There is a short description of sexual assault.

Please note that this story was originally released as a short story as part of the Winter Wonderland Prolific Works giveaway. The story has been revised with over 25,000 words of added content.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

For what it’s worth, I had not previously read the short that this book started as. So I went in with no expectations. Well, I expected to like it a lot more than I did. I like this author. I like her books for the most part. I didn’t NOT like this book, it just left me kind of meh.

Christmas novellas, to me, are about romance at Christmas time. A meet cute, accidental meet, something like that. And the Christmas magic takes over. The story focuses on the two main characters as they find themselves falling in love in a short time. They are sweet and happy and romantic and sexy. There’s Christmas cheer and hot cocoa, often a fresh Christmas tree that doesn’t fit. I need cute and happy for Christmas stories.

And there were parts that were cute and happy. But far FAR too much focused on one main character’s ex boyfriend and the other character’s family. And a lot of obvious filler. Describing things that didn’t need description. But there was just not nearly enough of the 2 main characters together. Alone together. And not alone to have sex. Alone to learn about each other. To flirt and hold hands and stroll around with hot cocoa and have snowball fights that end in laughter.

Sigh. So the book was fine. But definitely not what I wanted or expected. And parts really did seem to be a neon sign that said “added for word count”.

3 pieces of eye candy