Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

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Up All Night (Mount Hope Book 1) by Annabeth Albert: Release Day Review

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What happened to my predictable life?

I had a stable life as a fire captain in Seattle, married to one of my best friends and raising two awesome kids. Now, my kids are grown, and my marriage is toast. I’m solidly past forty and back in my tiny hometown of Mount Hope, Oregon, filling in as a firefighter. My future is one big question mark keeping me up at night.

Also keeping me up? The short-order cook at Honey’s Hotcake Hut.

Denver might be close to my age, but we’re total opposites. The former rock roadie runs from stability, never puts down roots, and lives for the moment. Point in case, we barely speak before he invites me into his shower.

I’ve never been with a man, but my fresh start has me trying all sorts of new things—including Denver’s shower.

Our future? Hopeless.

Denver doesn’t do repeats, but I convince him to have a fling since we’re both in Mount Hope short-term. The more time we spend together, the deeper our friendship and bond grows. Our time together outside of the bedroom, reveals a caring side to the grumpy cook. Even better, my sunshine-y optimism softens him like butter.

Should a fling give me these deep feelings? Nope.

Worse, the feelings are mutual. Big decisions loom for both our futures, and our time together grows short. I might have Denver’s heart, but his trust is far harder to win. He’s the answer to all my question marks, and I need him to believe in us. Can I convince him to give our love a chance?

UP ALL NIGHT features a grumpy/sunshine pairing for a forty-something firefighter on a path of self-discovery with an UP ALL NIGHT short-order cook. It contains loads of first-time feels with sexual awakening and exploration with a heaping helping of personal growth and deep connection for this opposites-attract couple.

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I’ve been a fan of this author since about forever. I’ve read, and thoroughly enjoyed, all of her books. And I love series where they are set in a small town and/or there is a friend group, etc. You get to know all new characters and when it is their turn for a happily ever after, you also get to revisit previous characters and couples. Needless to say, I was looking forward to this book.

And, whoa. This book definitely had the feel of other Annabeth Albert books, but it was MORE. I feel like her writing has grown and entered a new era. She isn’t shy in saying she had quite a few personal life changes in the past few years. And I really think those things opened her up. The characters really came alive for me. And not just the main characters and one or two side characters. I mean Sean’s other friends, the kids, The waitress Denver works with overnight. And although Denver doesn’t have family, Sean does. And instead of focusing on a character’s family as fall back when things get tough, the focus has shifted to friends. Friends they’ve had for 20 years. Friends they work with. Friends they just met. It just changed the FEEL of it for me.

Denver and Sean also have things in their past that could have really damaged them. But they came through with just a few scabs. No permanent scars. Denver calls himself a no relationship guy, but he just really doesn’t know what a relationship entails. Growing up as he did, he never SAW it. Sean is a relationship guy 100%. He’s like a golden retriever looking for a home.

Another thing I loved is that these guys are adults. 40 years old give or take. People have a much different perspective on life at that age compared to their 20’s. Nice to see mature men finding love.

Great start to this new series and I really cannot wait for more.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Parts of Us (The Game Series Book 14) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

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The Game Series, #14 • Doll Parts Sequel • MMMM • M/s • DD/lb • Hurt/Comfort • Found Family • Angst • HEA
Grab your favorite stuffie and join Cam, Lucian, KC, and Noa as they jump over life’s hurdles together with their kinky friends as support. Brat shenanigans are to be expected, starting with an Easter Egg Hunt—that has a twist—and continue until they’re off on their Caribbean cruise.

I could admit, when my boyfriend and I finally got together with our Master and Daddy Dom, I’d thought that this was it. I was going to cruise through the rest of my life high on love.

Six months later, I knew that the reality of a happily ever after was much more complex, messy, and beautiful. I learned to see it in the little things. Like in the smiles between Master and Daddy that whispered of their thirty-year-long friendship, in how my boyfriend lit up when he got a new stuffie, and in how we painted the walls of our home with all the raw emotions life brought. I saw it in the way our dynamics evolved, how we truly were four parts of a whole, and how we overcame obstacles.

We did have one obstacle we couldn’t postpone any longer. My boyfriend still hadn’t told his mother that he wasn’t dating only me. He was dating her ex-husband, the man who’d been his stepfather. We also had to convince our Master to cut down on work because he was stressing himself out, and his blood pressure was already high.

Then one night, I lost my footing when he collapsed and an ambulance drove off with him.

We couldn’t be us without him. If one was missing, we were just…parts.

____

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.

The characters in the Game Series cross over in multiple books, as we follow not only new love interests but the background friendships and dynamics of a thriving kink community. This is the second story that follows KC, Noa, Cam, and Lucian. Parts of Us is best enjoyed if you’ve read Doll Parts first.

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Settle in everyone. This book is thick.

Obligatory you really should read at least Doll Parts first, but if you don’t, you’ll figure it out. Plus there are A LOT of characters from across this whole series and most of them make appearances. Just fyi.

Last we saw Lucian he was grabbing his chest and people were calling 911. Seriously, Cara Dee left us hanging like that. Mean. And then made us wait through other books! Super mean. But this book brings us Lucian’s recovery and with that, he kind of falls in love with his men, and they him, all over again. Swoon.

The fallout from Lucian’s health scare lead to some trust issues, Owner/slave issues, what role do I play issues and “who am I now” issues. There is a good focus on how something like that affects other people- especially those closest to you.

Noa has also run out of excuses to talk to his mother about his relationship with KC. So that’s a thing and more fallout to deal with.

We also get some flashback scenes with Lucian and KC and I LOVED them. I love the dynamic these two have so seeing where it came from was super fun.

Now here’s where I complain. A little. I think this book should be been broken into at least two. Once Lucian is on the slow road to recovery and the foursome has mostly gotten their feet back under them, everyone goes back to McLean House for fun and games. And while that did allow some more introspection by Lucian and some wise words from founders, it just didn’t feel like they should be there yet. I think they needed more alone time first. I wanted to see them make the changes in their house to make it more HOME. I wanted to see them give up the condo. I wanted to see what would drawn Lucian in as a hobby now that he wasn’t working.

That is not to say I didn’t enjoy that story line and that part of the book. I did. And trust me, I don’t think there is another author who can write such a creative “multiple partner” (yanno, the O word. The other O word) scene that makes sense and it’s not just a crazy free for all pile of bodies. It’s almost poetic in it’s fluidity.

And that brings us to the epilogue. And I am sure there is a method to her madness (I say that with love) but it wasn’t an epilogue so much as a very long beginning to the next book.

It was worth the wait, even though I hate waiting.

4 pieces of eye candy

The Science of Attraction: A Mackenzie Country Story by Jay Hogan: Book Excerpt and New Release Review

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I am Mackenzie Country born and bred. Farming the high country runs in my blood, like my father, and his father, and my great grandfather before him. My future has been mapped out for me since the day I was born. Or at least it was, until Liam Skelton walks onto Lane Station, lights a fire in my heart, and turns my whole world upside down.

Bossy, tatted, and out and proud, Liam is everything my father abhors.
And I want him.
Badly.

But having a chance with Liam means risking everything. My family. My future. And my life in these mountains that I love.
Still, the heart wants what it wants, and mine wants Liam.

With so many things against us, maybe we don’t have a chance.
Maybe we’ll crash and burn.
Or maybe we’ll find a way to have it all.

Title: The Science of Attraction

Series: Mackenzie Country #3

Author: Jay Hogan

Genre: MM Romance

Tropes: Hurt comfort | Opposites attract | Humour | Small town | Homophobia | Closeted/coming out | Bisexual awakening | Different worlds | Overcoming odds | Courage

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

When we arrived back at the cottage, Jules looked pretty much like I figured I did—grilled to within an inch of his life. I’d barely stepped in the door when he grabbed my hand and pulled me back out onto the veranda and proceeded to kiss me like he hadn’t seen me for months. I loved it, along with far too much of the man actually doing it considering I’d only known him a month.

“I’m so sorry,” he apologised, brushing my hair out of my eyes. “How bad were they?”

“It was fine,” I reassured him. “I just have to be nice to you if I don’t want my balls fed to Holden’s stud Angus bull while they’re still attached. A terrifying thought if I let myself dwell on it too much.”

“Oh god,” he moaned. “I’m gonna kill him.”

I laughed and grabbed his arm before he could follow through. “Forget it. Besides—” I lifted up on my toes and pressed our lips together. “—I have zero intention of being anything other than very, very nice to you.” I palmed his dick through his jeans and squeezed. “So, I figure I’m safe.”

His eyes rolled back in his head and he thrust into my hand, adding in a strangled voice, “The kennel shed out back should be friend-free if we hurry.”

“No time for that.” Zach waggled his brows at us through the window.

“Fuck me,” Jules groaned under his breath.

“I heard that.” Zach smirked. “But Gil needs a hand on the barbecue and your name was volunteered.”

“Go on.” I gave Jules a shove toward the front door and then slapped his butt on the way. “We have all night.”

He grumbled over his shoulder, “If there’s anything left of my nerves after the Gordon Ramsey of the Mackenzie is done using me as his bitch.”

I laughed and gave him another shove.

Oh man I knew this would be good, and I was right.

Full disclosure, this can be read as a stand alone, but you should really read the first two for quite a bit of back story.

Ok. Julian. Jules. Golden son. First born. Running the sheep station since his father had a stroke. His very bigoted father. The one who kicked out his other son for being gay. Which is why Julian has buried the fact that he is bisexual. That’s a can of worms he doesn’t want to open. They have enough problems with his father still trying to run the station even though he physically and mentally can’t.

So the family hired one of the best therapists in New Zealand to help Paddy with his rehabilitation. And when he just walks into the family home in the middle of a situation, Jules worries about that can of worms.

Liam is out and proud and isn’t afraid to call people out. Even people he is hired to help. Like Paddy. There’s quite a bit of tension which just reinforces Julian’s desire to bury his attraction to men. Except Liam ticks a bunch of boxes Jules didn’t even know he had.

This is a great story that really allows Julian to grow and to come into his own. He is moving the station into producing better wool, spending where it needs to be spent as an investment. Without the support of his father. Or his father’s best friend who lives there as well.

But with his father out of the day to day grind, Julian shines. He is a great boss, working right alongside the other men, never expecting them to do something he wouldn’t. Which is the biggest reason most of them know he’s been sneaking around with Liam.

I won’t say much more because there’s a lot of story there. But none of it was tedious. I gasped, I cried, I swooned, I cheered.

I will say that I love that Jay Hogan (and other authors) from New Zealand or Australia don’t pander to American readers. Kiwi slang is used often and it’s fun looking things up. Plus I feel like I learn stuff reading these books. I google everything to get a good idea of where the story takes place.

I think this one is the strongest story of the three. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. But this one, with Julian standing up for himself, growing into his own man, I loved it.

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://www.jayhoganauthor.com/landingpage 

UnConVentional Kiss (The UnConVentional Series Book 1) by by Katherine McIntyre and K.C. Carmine: Release Day Review

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One Comic-Con. One chance encounter. One kiss that changes everything.
Beck

I never claimed to be easy to love. My steady stream of ex-girlfriends is proof positive, and my anxiety pretty much confirms I’ll be alone for the rest of my life. No matter who I date, I can’t ever feel completely myself.

At least until I met Cay, who’s bright, charming, and captures my attention from the start. And one kiss at a Comic-Con sparks some very not-straight feelings in me.

Cay

I’ve spent my whole life trying to make people happy, yet all my effort never seems to be enough. But when a blind double date lands me next to the guy I’ve been thinking about ever since Comic-Con, I’m ready to claim something for myself. Even if I’ve never been into guys before and I have no clue what I’m doing.

That single kiss sparked something in both of us that we can’t seem to deny, and we agree to fool around, exploring where this chemistry leads. All too fast, feelings take the wheel, steering me off the course of fast and easy. However, being bi is new for both of us, and when the time arrives to come out, I don’t know if I’ll be taking that step forward with Beck…or alone.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This was cute. I mean, there’s not a ton to say about it except it’s cute.

Beck seems to blame his dating woes with his anxiety. He has more than anxiety though. As a friend says, he definitely has a touch of the ’tism. He reminded me a bit of Sheldon Cooper. But not a genius. He expects things to be a certain way and doesn’t like anything that veers off of that course.

Cay is a people pleaser, which is how he ended up kissing Beck- a total stranger- at a convention. He’s a nice guy, but he lets people walk all over him. Bit of a wet noodle.

Beck and Cay reconnect after both being set up on a double blind date with 2 different women who are friends. The guy who did the setting up prides himself on his matchmaking. But, no. You’ll see.

Beck and Cayden navigate what it means to have feelings for a guy. And how that fits into their lives. Or the lives they have created. This was not part of Beck’s plan to say the least. They even swap costumes for an event- which was definitely on the cute side, but it also kind of clues their friends in a bit.

It was so cute I almost, ALMOST, looked past the fact that they called each other Supes and Bats. Ok, mostly Cayden calls Beck Supes but still. Stop it. Granted I am a Marvel girl more than a DC girl, but I just don’t think shortening it to Supes flies. HAHAHA! Flies! Get it?

If you need a no real angst, coming out, cute af story, this is it.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Unloved (The Unlucky Ones) by Marley Valentine: Quick Review

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From USA Today bestselling author Marley Valentine comes an all new emotional, hurt/comfort, polyamorous romance.

We longed. We lost. We loved. Desperately.

I thought I had my life all figured out. But after a college football accident leaves me deaf, I was learning how to live all over again.

I expected the anger, the frustration, and the struggle to readjust, but what I didn’t expect to happen amongst the chaos, was to fall in love.

Especially not with two men.

Rough-edged puzzle pieces, Rhys, Samuel, and I were nothing but aching memories, painful realities, and hidden scars.

We were products of our pasts, abandoned and unloved, messy and complicated. Individually we had baggage; together we had mountains to climb.

But when the three of us were tangled up in one another, spilling secrets in the dark, hearts beating in sync, nothing else mattered but them.

We needed to break the cycle, because they deserved love… And who knows, maybe I finally did too.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I am such a complete sucker for angst. Add in friends to lovers, bi awakening, a throuple AND a deaf main character? It’s like catnip. And the story didn’t disappoint.

I didn’t read book 1 so everything was new to me. There seems to be quite a bit of overlap of stories with book 1 and 2, but really it’s fine if you haven’t read book 1. But you know I am going back for it!

Lennox becomes deaf without warning. He grew up in the foster system and had no idea that this was a genetic possibility. Until he took a hard hit in football and never heard again.

You could feel his fear. Fear, being overwhelmed, feeling excluded, anxiety, depression. All completely new feelings to a college football player. His best friend Samuel is there for him every step of the way. Especially since his brother took off after a bad break up. He does have a close friend group who went through foster care with him and they all rally around Lennox during this huge change.

On the outskirts is Rhys. Fresh out of rehab for the millionth time. He wants to stay sober. His sponsor is one of Lennox’s foster siblings. And Rhys has a deaf sister so he knows ASL. Sounds like the starts aligned, right?

Wrong. Samuel is still exploring being bi. Being bi with his best friend. Who is now deaf. And Rhys who is struggling to stay sober, helping Lennox learn sign language and falling for both men. And Lennox, learning how to navigate life while deaf, trying to repair his relationship with his brother, exploring a romantic and sexual relationship with his best friend AND his feelings for Rhys. It’s a lot.

And yet all of these things unfold with sensitivity and realness. No shortcuts were taken on their road to heeling and self discovery.

I adored these men together. They were absolutely made for each other.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Until We Meet Again (Roosevelt College book 2) by Christina Lee: New Release Review

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Bruce “Bones” Lanning and Emil Ettinger had a decent roommate arrangement at Roosevelt College—other than Bones leaving his dirty socks lying around—so they agree to share the same space again. Their relationship has always been ridiculous banter and competitive streaks, and they assume this year will be the same.

So why are they suddenly enjoying nights holed up in their room together?

Bones can’t figure out what’s changed, why he likes being around Emil so much and why he’s suddenly falling asleep in Emil’s bed. And as far as Emil knows, Bones is straight, so why does he seem jealous when Emil arranges a random hookup, then asks all sorts of questions about what it’s like to kiss another guy?

To put an end to his roommate’s endless queries, Emil kisses Bones, convinced he’s just goofing around. But one encounter leads to another, until Emil begins seeing Bones in a different light. Underneath the clueless, carefree facade lies a deeper emotional underpinning that allows Emil to become more vulnerable too—and maybe even admit that spending time with his roommate is the best part of his day.

Still, Emil isn’t about to become another jock’s experiment, so he makes it clear that their hookups are totally casual. Until they’re not.

*TW: References to the death of a sibling

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

If ever there was a character with golden retriever energy, it’s Bones. College football player, unknown direction for a major, no long term relationships AND living up to the pedestal his parents put his dead brother on.

Emil is pretty much the opposite. Knows what he wants to do, plays in the marching band, also a dancer, would love a boyfriend and an only child who’s parents adore him but don’t push.

Which is why after freshman year rooming together they decide to room together again. Because even though they shouldn’t get along, they do.

You know where this is going, right? But it’s cute. So cute. Especially since they already lived together for freshman year so they aren’t strangers. And Bones is one of those guys who is trying to do better after knowing better. Like when his teammate came out last year (book 1, XOXO, you know you wanna). So he checks himself. He recognizes that just because people are different from him doesn’t mean, literally, anything to him. But it’s cool to see someone actually making an effort.

Experimenting turns into fwb turns into more. All while navigating school and football and marching band and families. Emil is so great as a quiet support system for Bones when he needs it.

These guys were super adorable both together and when they were with their friends. Their budding relationship seemed very natural and didn’t offer those “omg we will be together forever and ever” thing that often makes me roll my eyes.

So although Bones has a sticky family situation, most of the book is pretty light hearted and easy reading. Perfect story for sitting on the couch with hot chocolate when it’s cold out.

4 pieces of eye candy