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We Could Do This Forever by Emerson Beckett: Blog Tour, Exclusive Book Excerpt, and Giveaway

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.                             .

Preston James did things to me. Things that had me wanting more of him and his dirty mouth, even though I knew better. Things that made my heart race. Things that made me come to realize there was more to my boss’s best friend than met the eye.

Nick Reed
As one of the bartenders at Alejandro’s Bar, I’ve seen it all. I’ve even watched my friends, Christian and Cooper, both find the loves of their life. Six years after breaking up with my college boyfriend, I’m convinced that’s not the life I’m supposed to have until forty-five-year-old Preston James makes me the target of his relentless sexy stares and his straight-forward, dirty propositions.

Maybe being the object of his desire wouldn’t be so bad.

Preston James
The first time I laid eyes on Nicholas Reed, I knew I had to have him. There was something about my best friend’s bartender that captivated me. And I always got my way. But this twenty-eight-year-old grad student has me jumping through all kinds of hoops to get his attention. There’s nothing I won’t do to prove to him I’m exactly what he needs. I’m relentless like that and I won’t stop until he’s mine.

We Could Do This Forever is the first book in the We Could Do This Duet and is an MM Bisexual Romance. Additional tropes: Age Gap; Mutual Pining; Boss’s Best Friend; Secretly Wealthy; Humor.

Title: We Could Do This Forever
Authors: Emerson Beckett
Length: 88k
Series: We Could Do This Duet, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary

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Once the door had closed behind us, I turned and caged Nick up against it, my body blanketing his.

My hands went to his face, and Nick leaned into my touch as I skated them through his soft hair to cup his cheeks. His arms wound their way around me to pull me closer.

“I don’t know how much longer I can restrain myself from kissing you.”

“Then don’t,” he whispered, inching closer.

When our lips met for the first time, the slow sensual glide of our tongues, tasting and devouring each other, became our world as everything else fell away. We could have been in the middle of the street and we wouldn’t have cared.

Releasing a year’s worth of sexual tension made me yearn for more, but I pulled back and placed an adoring kiss on his forehead and on each cheek. I never wanted to take my hands off him.

“Now I really wish I hadn’t waited so long to do that.”

“I didn’t tell you to stop.”

I laughed and looked at him. “What if I can’t stop?”

“I hope you don’t.”

One kiss wasn’t enough when I’d waited so long. I leaned back in with a sensual swipe of my tongue over his lips before diving in for another kiss to explore his beautiful mouth, beginning the journey to learn what he liked and what turned him on. Nick’s moans and whimpers were a road map to pleasuring him.

Breaking the kiss, I laid my forehead against his and swiped my thumbs along his stubble. “For the record, I knew I was right.”

Nick chuckled as he inhaled a shuddered breath. “About what?”

“That we were going to be good together.”

“It’s been less than five minutes. What makes you so sure?”

I looked into his light blue eyes that swirled with the same lust I was feeling. “You’ve had my full attention since the first time I met you. You’re been camped out up here in my brain, and every time you looked at me or told me you didn’t like my shirt, it just threw another log on the fire. And now that I’ve kissed you, it’s like the world is on fire.”

Nick grinned as I turned his head to the left and kissed down his neck. “And I’m sure because of the way you hold on to me like you’re afraid I’ll stop,” I whispered into his ear. I placed more open-mouthed kisses along his neck and down to his shoulder.

Nick was lost in my sensual treatment as he shivered and moaned. When his hips bucked and his cock brushed mine, I almost lost it.

I dug down for the control to stop and pulled back. I watched his tongue snake out again to lick away the remanents of our kiss. And there he went again, throwing another log on my fire. We had to get out of the alley.

“Let’s go, Nicholas,” I whispered, running my hands down his arms to take his hands. I pulled him from the door. “We have work to do.”

Emerson Beckett is an avid sports fan and lover of M/M romance books. She loves her new career as an author of gay romance. It’s even more fulfilling for her when she can combine the two.

Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series, which includes The Quarterback Keeper, Pass Interference, Unnecessary Roughness, Two-Point Conversion, Illegal Motion, Ineligible Receiver, and Roughing the Kicker.

Besides being a retired teacher and author, Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 33 years. She is a mother of three, one of whom is proudly part of the LGBTQ Community and completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance. Even though the kids no longer live at home, they filled the empty nest with an Australian Shepherd, three cats, and a cute bunny rabbit.


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Treading Water by Alex Winters: Release Blitz with Exclusive Excerpt

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Actor Tucker Crawford is having the worst summer ever. Thanks to a viral video of him trying to swim, he’s the laughingstock of Hollywood and his role in a hit TV series is in jeopardy. The only bright spot is Tucker’s sexy new swim coach, Reed Oliver, but even that has its problems—because Tucker is deep in the closet and has never been with a guy.

Reed Oliver is having the best summer ever. He’s just scored a high-paying freelance gig teaching a Hollywood actor how to swim. The two of them have the run of a deserted summer camp, complete with an Olympic-size swimming pool. But when cocky playboy Reed meets shy, virgin Tucker, sparks fly and Reed’s walk-in-the-park coaching job becomes a minefield of temptation. Once they kiss for the first time, there’s no way to overcome their mutual passion and no looking back. But after two weeks of secluded intimacy, can they keep their romance alive in the real world?

Title: Treading Water
Authors: Alex Winters
Length: 310 pages
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary

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Reed squirmed where he stood, tan lines aglow atop the slipping-down waistband of his baggies. His skin was smooth and radiant, almost hairless. No, Tucker realized, he was hairless—smooth and slick as a baby’s butt. Tucker let his eyes covet Reed’s body from afar, admiring the place where his happy trail should be and finding none. The realization made him wonder if Reed was smooth everywhere else as well. All the way down, for instance. Hollywood, Tucker knew, was full of dudes who manscaped to various degrees. He hadn’t taken Reed for a pretty-boy spa-day salon type, but maybe he preferred the feel of nothing, nowhere, anywhere. Tucker couldn’t help but wonder what that might look like—smooth and clean and hairless. He scrubbed the thought away as quickly as it had come. The last thing he needed to be doing at that moment was picturing Reed’s smooth, slick junk.

Or at least, he tried to stop.

“I’m getting mixed messages here, Tuck.”

Tucker chuckled, glad for the return to normal, civilized above-the-waist conversation that didn’t necessarily involve manscaping and literal navel gazing.

He glanced up from Reed’s bare waistline and grinned. “Yeah, I guess I’m all messed up. Hate the Hollywood game but am kind of addicted now. Maybe this hiatus will actually be good for me, you know?”

Reed nodded as he sank down slowly beneath the surface of the crystal-blue water until only his head poked out. His big brown eyes, soulful and searching, made it clear he wanted Tucker to join him.

He licked his lips, torso still broiling in the late August sun, bare shoulders already reddening from an early burn. He sighed and sank down to join Reed. The water claimed his sweaty bare skin and forced a sudden involuntary smile from his lips.

His feet were still firmly on the shallow-end concrete, knees slightly bent, chest buoyant as he clung to the pool deck with one hand, just in case. He realized, in that moment, he had gone deeper than he’d intended to go and far quicker.

Reed gave him a satisfied grin and nodded at his bobbing form. “Look at you, half-submerged and everything. And on your very first day, no less.” His tone, as always, was part nurturing, part smartass. The sound was quickly becoming music to Tucker’s ears.

Alex Winters is the pseudonym of a busy restaurant manager whose curious young staff would love nothing more than to follow him around the dining room reading his steamiest, most romantic passages aloud! When not writing romantic holiday stories of various heat levels, he enjoys long walks with his wife, scary movies and smooth jazz. Visit him at www.awintersromance.com to see what stories are brewing up next!


Connect with Alex:
Website: www.awintersromance.com
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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/awintersromance
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Like I Wanted (Heather Bay book 5) by Charlie Novak: Release Day Review

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Roommates. Best friends. Boyfriends?

Theo and Laurie have been best friends for six years but despite doing everything together, they’ve never been anything more than best friends and roommates.

Then someone calls them boyfriends and upends their neat little world.

As the pair struggle to put a lid on their feelings, a random email from Theo’s brother throws him even further off balance and all Laurie can do is offer a niche form of stress relief. But Laurie’s support doesn’t stop at rope garters. Once the two of them fall into bed, it’s clear things will never be the same between them.

Now, Theo and Laurie must finally address the feelings they’ve tried to hide from and figure out if they really are just friends, or if there’s always been something more between them. Can they give each other everything they ever wanted?

Like I Wanted is a steamy best friends to lovers contemporary MM romance featuring a femme boy who loves zombie horror and weird taxidermy, a goth with a secret love of shibari, interfering adult entertainers, a vicar who takes no shit, and a quest for guinea pigs.

It is the fifth and final novel in the Heather Bay series and is best enjoyed as part of the series.

Please note that one of the MCs is involved in adult entertainment and chooses to remain working in the industry, with the full consent of his partner, once they’re in a relationship. For more information, please see the internal Author’s Note.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

FINALLY!!!!!!! If you know you know! It wasn’t just the original group of friends and their significant others. And probably most of Heather Bay. They acted like they were together. They worked together. They lived together. Were they together? No one knew for sure. But now we do. No. Until now they were bffs. Who lived together, worked together and definitely acted like they were together. But weren’t.

And apparently we ALL saw what they didn’t. That they were perfect for each other and basically already in love with each other but for various reasons, never let the other know.

We are talking about Theo and Laurie of course. Laurie, the resident goth and owner of the local funeral home and Theo, the rainbow chaos goblin who works in the embalming room, is a streaming gamer AND has a porn channel. It’s a wonder he sleeps.

Honestly, seeing them realize what their friends thought was pretty funny. Seeing them realize that they do actually love each other was endearing. Seeing a side of Laurie no one else sees was HOT.

I loved the direction that little tidbit took us. Unexpected, but also totally tracks. Having that dynamic unfold was beautiful actually.

There’s also a bit of a side story involving Theo which really brings out the protective side of Laurie. Swoon. And no, it isn’t Theo’s amateur porn career. Laurie is totally fine with that as long as Theo stays open and honest about what he is doing with whom.

Having Theo and Laurie find their happily ever after- with each other- was SO worth the wait. They were great characters that we got to know so much better and cemented their place in Heather Bay happiness.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Time To Shine by Rachel Reid: New Release Review

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For Landon Stackhouse, being called up from the Calgary farm team is exciting and terrifying, even if, as the backup goalie, he rarely leaves the bench. A quiet loner by nature, Landon knows he gives off strong “don’t talk to me” vibes. The only player who doesn’t seem to notice is Calgary’s superstar young winger, Casey Hicks.

Casey treats Landon like an old friend, even though they’ve only interacted briefly in the past. He’s endlessly charming and completely laid-back in a way that Landon absolutely can’t relate to. They couldn’t have less in common, but Landon needs a place to live that’s not a hotel room and Casey has just bought a massive house—and hates being alone.

As roommates, Casey refuses to be defeated by Landon’s one-word answers. As friends, Landon comes to notice a few things about Casey, like his wide, easy smile and sparkling green-blue eyes. Spending the holidays together only intensifies their bromance-turned-romance. But as the new year approaches, the countdown to the end of Landon’s time in Calgary is on.

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A hockey book, by Rachel Reid, without ILYA??? Gasp!

But a different team brings us new players, new characters, new chances at love. This time we are in Calgary with a farm team back up goalie temporarily replacing the regular back up goalie who was hurt. Landon is a VERY quiet guy. Like, painfully quiet. And then Casey, a temporary teammate he met once before, latches onto him like a koala bear. Casey is the COMPLETE opposite of Landon. Loud, friendly, never stops moving and hates to be alone.

What comes next is two guys, each with their own issues and trauma, who are completely opposite from each other, trying not to fall in love. Because once the back up goalie is healthy, Landon will be sent back down.

So Casey OBVIOUSLY has ADHD and I can’t believe it isn’t mentioned. Like at all. You’d think his friends and teammates would even joke about it, as friends and teammates are wont to do. I found that odd. Add in the actual joking he gets about being “stupid”, I wonder if anyone has actually paid attention.

Moving on. Landon’s trauma is so much deeper. A fractured family that he emotionally and physically distanced himself from after his sister died. He doesn’t have any close connections. Is that because he is so withdrawn and quiet or is he so withdrawn and quiet because he doesn’t have any close connections? He isn’t that guy who obviously has walls up, if that makes sense. He is just pretty much accepted for being a quiet loner. Casey doesn’t accept it though.

I love how settled down Casey gets with Landon. Like he is his own personal Ritalin. He is so tender and sweet and loving with Landon. And while it takes Landon a bit to open up enough, it’s so worth it.

Landon and his family begin to heal as well. Parents admitting they were wrong, how novel. But so amazing.

So yes, another winner here from Rachel Reid. I can’t wait for more.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Find Me Worthy: A small town MM hurt/comfort roommates romance (Safe Harbor Book 3) by Annabeth Albert

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I thought I’d lost myself…

Until Sam found me. I’m back in Safe Harbor, where I haven’t belonged in over twenty years. I’m unsure how I ended up here, yet I’m certain Sam is the key to finally healing.

But it’s complicated.

Sam’s had a crush on me since we were younger. To me, however, he was always the annoying kid tagging along. Now he’s all grown-up and delightfully bossy—and sexy—as he encourages me to reclaim my health.

I enjoy pushing Sam’s buttons, but one button too many leads to a scorching kiss. Soon, we’re using Sam’s cushy bed for way more than sleeping. But I can’t imagine staying in Safe Harbor forever, and no way is Sam leaving.

Sam’s given me a place to stay, a job at his nonprofit coffee shop, and a sense of purpose when I had none. But can I give him my heart? And more importantly, can I overcome my past to make Safe Harbor my future?

FIND ME WORTHY is a hurt/comfort childhood crush-to-lovers MM romance. This unexpected roommate arrangement stars two mature heroes with a minor age gap, mental health representation, and plenty of first times and sexy discoveries for everyone. Deep feels, dual point-of-view, and big fluffy HEA guaranteed.

FIND ME WORTHY is book three and the thrilling conclusion to the Safe Harbor series from acclaimed author Annabeth Albert. This small historic Oregon town has a tight friend group, memorable secondary characters, quirky businesses, and long-held secrets. Each book stands alone with a fresh couple, but the background mystery of the town’s secrets ties the series together, making reading in order more fun!

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Worth, we knew his name, we knew his family story, we knew stories of when he was younger and friends with the guys, but we didn’t know Worth now. We got glimpses through text messages and one disastrous visit, but nothing deep. Until now, when he has returned to Safe Harbor.

Let me say that at the beginning, the depiction of depression was so spot on. It almost brought me to tears. And although Worth continues to get treatment for depression throughout the story, I wish the reality of depression extended further.

Sam being Sam, recognized immediately that Worth was in trouble. I really appreciated that he made of point of saying that HE could not be Worth’s cure to depression.

And since we already know the ending of the mystery of what happened to Worth’s mother, this story could focus more on Sam and Worth as a couple, sort of. At least at the beginning. And Sam’s dreams of continuing Blessed Brew helping out at risk teens and perhaps filling his house with foster kids.

Worth has A LOT of trauma. A LOT. Because it wasn’t just what happened to his family. There was more trauma that brought him back to Safe Harbor. It takes a bit, but he does clear the air with his friends and Cal, the diver who found his mother’s body. Having Sam’s mother around with her profound wisdom was amazing.

Overall I really loved the story. It was a great conclusion to the Safe Harbor trilogy which a very satisfying epilogue. Worth’s recovery was a tad too easy for me and there was a bit more religion than I like but Sam’s dad was the town preacher so…

This whole series was a good representation of small towns, friendship through the years and not letting the past determine the future.

4 pieces of eye candy

You, Again: MM Small Town/Hockey Romance (The Elmwood Stories Book 1) by Lane Hayes: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

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The hometown hockey hero and his best friend’s brother…

Vinnie

Hockey is in my blood. I learned to skate before I learned how to ride a bike. I’ve been on a wild ride, playing at the highest level for some of the biggest and best teams in the league. But now it’s over, and I’m not sure what to do with myself.

So I’m going home to Elmwood.

But I’ll tell you what I’m not gonna do—I’m not going to coach my buddy’s junior hockey league. No chance. I don’t know how to deal with kids, and besides, the other coach—who happens to be my best friend’s brother—hates me. With reason.

That may be old news, yet something tells me we’re going to have to deal with the past.

And that’s almost as scary as coaching teens.

Nolan

No, I don’t hate Vinnie, but he drives me nuts.

He’s cocky, goofy, selfish, and yeah…after all these years, I’m still attracted to him. But I’m a responsible adult now. I run my family’s business, and with the help of my ex, I’ve made Elmwood Diner into a New England institution.

So maybe my life isn’t particularly exciting at the moment, and maybe Vinnie isn’t the worst. Nonetheless, I have no desire to rekindle a friendship with the hockey hero who no doubt will be on the first flight out of town the second he gets bored or gets a better offer.

And I’m not coaching with him. No way.

Ugh…

I can’t believe I’m doing this again.

You, Again is an MM bisexual, best friend’s brother, frenemies to lovers romance featuring old friends, a new quest, and a little hockey HEA!

Title: You, Again
Authors: Lane Hayes
Length: 57k
Series: The Elmwood Stories, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: Bisexual awakening, Best friend’s brother, small town, hockey, frenemies to lovers

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

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We sipped our coffee in silence, lost in our own thoughts.

“Are you staying with your dad?”

“No,” Vinnie replied. “He’s in London for the summer, so I suppose I could have, but I bought the Asburys’ old place. It’s private and it’s in good condition.”

The Asbury estate was more like a log cabin on steroids than a basic house. It was situated at the very edge of town, accessible via a winding dirt road, and surrounded by woods. The perfect spot for someone who needed a little privacy. But it was a lot of house for one person.

I didn’t say that, though. I went with, “I heard the Collinses redid the kitchen and bathrooms before they moved to Burlington last September.”

“Yeah, they did some nice work. You should come by and see it.”

Like that was ever gonna happen, I mused sarcastically.

I cocked my head. “How long are you staying?”

“Through the summer…I think.”

“Then you should coach for Ronnie.”

Vinnie widened his eyes comically. “You think I should do it. Why?”

“Ronnie could use a break. If that’s you…so be it,” I said flatly.

He furrowed his brow hard enough to give himself a headache. “Now I’m really suspicious.”

“Don’t be. It’s a simple proposition.”

“But?”

I sipped my coffee thoughtfully before setting the mug on the counter, my gaze locked on his. The ensuing stare-down was epic. Standing gave me a bit of an advantage, but Vinnie’d had years of practice intimidating opponents on the ice.

I finally looked away and leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “But…I think you’ll walk away when it gets tough or when you get a better offer, or when you just get bored of this place. Like you always do.”

“Ouch. That’s gonna leave a mark.”

“I’m not being a dick. I’m being honest. Your life isn’t here…Ronnie’s is. You can walk away whenever you want and not lose a thing. It’s a little different for the rest of us,” I continued conversationally.

“And this is the part where you’re not being a dick?”

“Trust me, it is,” I huffed.

This is a nice, cozy, friends/enemies to lovers small town story. They kind you wish you were under a blanket in your favorite chair with tea or hot chocolate. And cookies.

Pro hockey player Vinnie is hanging up his skates. Not really going out on top, but definitely not at the bottom. With no real friends and definitely no family in Washington state, he heads home to New England and his small town of Elmwood. There are his best friend, his best friend’s brother and their mother. All of whom he considers family. Except the brother isn’t happy to see him and Vinnie has no idea why.

Nolan has crushed on Vinnie pretty much since he figured out he was gay. He was the third wheel in the friendship trio, but he was always welcome. He’s also back in Elmwood after giving up a career to take over the family diner after his father died unexpectedly. He isn’t happy Vinnie is back. Or that they are working together to coach hockey at his brother’s rink.

Vinnie is that happy go lucky guy who just wants to be friends with everyone. Even after growing up with a father who treated him as an afterthought on a good day, Vin always looks for the silver lining.

Nolan isn’t bitter, really, about giving up on his career. Especially since he redid the diner and make it into a restaurant with a wait list. He adores his mother, his brother and his niece. Vin, he hates but secretly still wants.

Being forced together as coaches plus Vin’s affable charm slowly break down Nolan’s walls. AND Vin actually get him to tell him why he is so mad at him. And honestly, it was with pretty good reason. But they clear the air and keep whatever is going on between them on the down low. Because that always works.

I absolutely adored Nolan’s niece. Precocious, a book worm and a wicked slapshot on the ice, I loved the scene’s with her in it.

The story was a bit cookie cutter, but the characters really made the book so enjoyable. I’m looking forward to the next book who I hope is this guy and that guy. LOL

4 pieces of eye candy

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.

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