Keep your friends close, and your competitor closer
“Lulu Moore created a perfect book boyfriend in OAR THAN FRIENDS. Oz is the very definition of boy obsessed and his pursuit of Kate is absolutely delicious! This book is sweet and sexy and I didn’t want it to end!” ~ New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy
Oar Than Friends
by Lulu Moore
Blurb:
She’s rowing for Cambridge. He’s rowing for Oxford. But they just can’t keep one another at oar’s length . . .
Arthur Osbourne-Cloud has his future mapped out for him โ graduate Oxford and follow his dreadful father into politics. Except Arthur wants anything but that. Heโd rather spend his days rowing for gold at the Olympics,.
And this year he has the Boat Race to win.
Kate Astley also has her future mapped out. Fly half-way across the world, and win a scholarship at Cambridge University to study medicine. Oh, and crew for the legendary Boat Race. Seems simple enough.
But then she meets Arthur.
For Arthur, this feisty American challenges everything he’s been taught to believe, while Kate battles between what she’s expected to do, and what she wants to do.
The bitter rivalry between their universities ought to destroy them. Or will it just be a matter of time before they surrender to the sizzling chemistry between them?
But In The Boat Race, there can only be one winner. Who will sink and who will swim?
PRAISE FOR OAR THAN FRIENDS:
‘Icould not put this book down‘ Goodreads Reviewer
‘A breathtakingly unique take on the college rivals and sports romance tropes’ Goodreads Reviewer
‘5+ stars!’ Goodreads Reviewer
‘This book gives it all, and I’m not ashamed to say, I laughed, I cried, and I may have bit through my lip because of the tension in the end’ Goodreads Reviewer
‘Itโs a 5-star read – if I could give more I would’ Goodreads Reviewer
Lulu started writing by accident, and somehow found herself stuck in a fictional world of ice hockey, baseball and billionaires. A world she has no plans to leave. She’s the creator of The New York Players Series, The Tuesday Club Series, and The New York Lions – the worst team in the M.L.B.
More recently she’s ventured across the Atlantic to where her latest novel is set – the beautiful cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the annual rowing showdown on the River Thames.
She’s a big fan of strong heroines, because those fierce alphas need someone to keep them in check. You’ll find hear navigating her way through Romance Land one HEA at a time, and trying to figure out the latest social media platform she needs to post to.
A marriage proposal from a deliciously handsome and wickedly charming prince sounds like a fairytale.
But for a nerdy scientist with severe social anxiety,itโs a horror story.
Prince Torin OโGrady, with his mischievous blue eyes and cocky grin, is always in the spotlight. And he needs to marry me to inherit the crown.
But we have nothing in common. Heโs a future king. And Iโm perfectly happy slogging through mud in my work boots.
So why canโt I stop thinking about him?
Maybe because he wonโt stop texting me. And sending me gifts. And making me feel like everything I find awkward and weird about myself is special and amazing.
And thereโs also that little detail of him offering me my dream job and telling me that together we can change the world.
Well, I could probably ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ for him.
And if I have to marry him ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ญ๐บ to get what we both want, then fine. Itโs for the greater good.
It has nothing to do with the way he kisses me. Or that dirty mouth. Or the ๐ณ๐ฐ๐บ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ตhe gives me in the bedroom.
Fine. Maybe it does. Still, itโs only a year. Then I can turn in my tiara and come back to my normal, boring, behind-the-scenes life.
But Torin is determined to turn me from reluctantly royal to royally ๐ฉ๐ช๐ด.ย
NYT & USA Today bestseller Erin Nicholas is writing this fun new modern royal romance under her new pen name Erin Nicolle!ย
She presses her lips together, takes a breath, then asks, โWhat else do you want?โ
I decide to be honest. โI want to whisk you away on my private plane to an actual palace and give you everything and anything you could ever want or need.โ
Her eyes widen. โYou donโt even know me.โ
I tuck my hands into my back pockets. To try to look casual. But also to keep from reaching for her.
โIโve read all about your work,โ I tell her. โI started by just wanting to know about that job you said you hated so much. But then I kept reading. I know all about you.โ
Sheโs staring at me. Sheโs sitting up straighter now and even in the pale light, I can see her shock.
โYouโฆread about me?โ
โNot just about you. I read all of your papers. Your work in college. Your dissertation. The articles youโve published. I even stumbled upon some social media posts.โ
โIโฆOhโฆโ She shakes her head. โI thought you wanted to sleep with me.โ
I chuckle softly. โOh, Abigail, I most definitely want to sleep with you.โ
She swallows hard.
โI wanted that before I knew you are a damned genius who could come to my country and revolutionize agriculture and completely overhaul our economy.โ
I can see that sheโs breathing faster now.
โSo you want to hire me?โ she asks. โWhich means we canโt sleep together because youโll be my boss.โ
I step up on the first step.
โI donโt want to hire you. But I do want to bring you to Cara to do your work.โ
โI donโt understand.โ
I step up onto the next step, but she doesnโt back up. Thereโs only a step between us now. โI want you to marry me.โ
Her eyes widen. But she says nothing.
โBe my princess,โ I go on. โYouโll have influence and resources. You can do anything and everything youโve ever wanted to do.โ
Sheโs staring at me. Then when she realizes Iโm done talking, she laughs.
โMarry you? Is that how things work for you? You just smile that smile, waltz a couple of waltzes, and women just say yes to anything? Even marriage?โ
Wellโฆ
โIโve never asked anyone to marry me before, so I donโt really know,โ I answer.
Sheโs still smiling. โThank you for the offer. But Iโm not going to marry you.โ
โAs princess of Cara you can see your plans in action. Right now, theyโre all just on paper. Youโre not actually doing any of it. Donโt you want to see it come to life?โ
Now sheโs not smiling. Sheโs just watching me. She takes a deep breath. โOf course I do.โ
โThis is the perfect way. Thereโs no red tape. Nothing between your amazing brain and making it all happen for real.โ
โWhatโs the catch?โ
โNo catch. My country needs a prince and princess in place before my grandfather steps aside. The country deserves to know who will be there to step up and take care of them. My grandfather needs a successor in place before his heart gives out.โ
โHe has a bad heart?โ she asks.
โHeโs already had three heart attacks. I really need to get married to give him and the country peace of mind.โ
โSo youโre serious about finding a wife?โ
โI am.โ
She steps down a step.
โAbigail.โ
โYes?โ
โIf you step down one more step, Iโm going to kiss you.โ
She wets her lips.
โSo if you want to just keep talking, you need to keep your sweet ass right there on that step.โ
She looks down at the step that would start the kissing.
โAnd if you donโt want to keep talkingโฆor anything elseโฆ you need to go back inside.โ
Sheโs staring at me. But she seems more fascinated than anything. โOkay. I understand.โ
โGood.โ
Two heartbeats pass.
Then she steps down onto the step right above mine.
I groan and cup her face, bringing her mouth in against mine.ย
*****
Review:
Pretty sure that there isn’t a better book boyfriend (or husband) than Torin. He’s hot, caring, and intelligent. He listens to Abi, really listens, and does his best to make her world perfect. He supports her and helps her navigate difficult situations. He gives her gifts that actually matter to her and makes sure that ALL of her needs are met *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* ๐
Not that Abi doesn’t do what she can to support him in return. She believes in him and helps him embrace his future as a monarch, leading Cara into a delightful future. But no one can do it with the flair that Torin does.
I appreciate that we avoid what could have been a huge conflict towards the end. Instead we are given a satisfying slide into a HEA and a glimpse of a delightful future. Erin has always delivered the heat and the fun, continuing to do so with a new series and a new name, and I’m so looking forward to what she has in store for us next.
(Can be read as a stand alone but there are character appearances and references to previous books.)
Iโve given up on love by the time tall, dark and handsome sweeps me off my feet โ literally.
Mal
Everyone around me is sickeningly in love. And Iโm happy for my friends. I really am. But when is my turn coming? Why am I still a disposable hookup?
Iโm ready to give up on love entirely by the time a bunch of drunk jocks decide to jump me on my way home from the Boyfriend Cafรฉ. But before a single punch can fall he sweeps in, my dashing hero, my literal tall, dark and handsome, the most gorgeous man Iโve ever seen.
Please tell me this isnโt a dream.
Omari
The second I hear a scream I run toward it without thinking. My own teammates are threatening someone, and I rush in to stop them. But the man I save is โฆ beautiful. And funny. And smart. And he brazenly gives me his phone number right then and there.
He has no idea that he just gave his number to the most hunted man at this university.
Iโm Omari Carter, a football player everyone assumes is destined for the pros. Scouts are hounding me. Coach is pushing me to decide on my future. My whole family is depending on me. But Mal doesnโt know or care about any of that.
With all the expectations weighing me down, I donโt have time for love. So why canโt I walk away from this?
Mint to Be is an opposites attract MM romance with a major size difference, a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, an athlete meeting a lovable fashion nerd and spicy open door scenes.
Broccoli cocks his hand back. I stumble away, but Iโm not looking and my foot catches on the curb. I fall backward onto the sidewalk, screaming in terror as I thump to the ground. Itโs a real scream, too, a full-throated shriek of panic as my doom approaches. I cover my head in my hands. It wonโt do a bit of good, but I donโt have anything else to protect myself with. I canโt run. I canโt hide. I canโt talk my way out of this. When that fist comes down on me, Iโm pulp on the sidewalk.
โHey. Assholes.โ
Everything stops as someone shouts at the football bros. Broccoli hesitates, his fist in the air, his dumb neanderthal face going slack with surprise as he sizes up the man sprinting toward us like his shoes are on fire. Seriously, I donโt know if Iโve ever seen anyone that fast in my life.
He doesnโt slow down when he reaches the group, either. He keeps running, slamming into Broccoli and tackling him to the pavement. They grunt and shout, but the new guy has the upper hand. He doesnโt seem drunk, for one thing.
โCut it out, Derek,โ New Guy says.
โFuck, Omari, what the hell? That really hurt!โ Broccoli says.
โAs much as it would have hurt that dude you were about to punch? What is wrong with you, man? You really think Coach wonโt sit your ass on the bench for that shit?โ
โI donโt know, man. I was drunk. He was in our way. He said some shit. I got mad.โ
โWell, get un-mad. Real quick. And then get the fuck out of here, understand?โ
Broccoli nods, and New Guy lets him up. Iโm still on the ground, mouth agape as I watch this interaction play out. The other guys in the group all mutter apologies before they drag their buddy away. And then itโs just me and that new guy, the one they called Omari.
He turns toward me, and I instantly forget how to breathe.
People jokingly call Albert tall, dark and handsome, but this guy is literally tall, dark and handsome. He might be taller than Albert, and heโs built from nothing but lean muscle. His every movement bears an athleteโs grace. When he looks down at me, his eyes are deep and vast and dark, nearly as dark as his close-cropped hair and beard. He extends one smooth brown hand toward me.
โAre you okay?โ he says.
I donโt know how to answer that with my heart flailing around in my chest.
I just got superhero rescued by the most gorgeous man on this entire campus.
*****
Review:
Readers are gonna have to be ok with a bit of a rollercoaster with Ray’s newest. Omari is really conflicted about his future and struggles with how Mal & their attraction for each other can fit into it. Getting both of their POVs helps to see where each of them are coming from so you understand Omari’s struggle. I think my favorite part is that both of them have people there for them. Mal is a little bit better at embracing that support, I think because of how they’ve all been there for each other up to this point, but once Omari accepts they want to help and want the best for him, it leads to a satisfying ending.
There are some complaints about how Omari treats Mal and how Mal reacts, but I remember what it was like to be in college so this really struck true to me. Usually it didn’t end in a HEA tho so I’m pleased that Mal & Omari were able to figure things out. And the way that Mal is able to help Omari figure things out is just the sweetest.
*****
Author Info:
F. A. Ray started writing fiction as a child and has never stopped. When they arenโt writing, they enjoy rock climbing and hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where they live with their partner and cat.
Visit linktr.ee/faraywrites to find out more. You can also sign up for my Patreon, where I post WIPs, updates, bonus scenes, deleted scenes and short stories that donโt appear anywhere else.
A domineering force in Miamiโs volatile criminal underworld, Brad Black is respected. Feared. His deadly accurate trigger finger and indestructible persona has earned him his intimidating reputation and, up until six months ago, hookers, drugs, and protecting the Black empire was the sum of his lifeโs purpose.
Until he saved her.
Wild, brave, and beautiful, Pearl Kennedy is Bradโs kryptonite. A distraction. A young distraction. But with enemies joining forces, coming at them with more force and less mercy than ever before, sheโs also a deadly distraction. Focusing on the end game, finding and killing their enemies, has to remain his priority.
But Brad completely underestimates the power of his connection with Pearl.
And he canโt shake the niggling feeling that thereโs more to her than meets the eye.
Pearl Kennedy was saved from the clutches of human traffickers by one of the worldโs most notorious criminalsโBrad Black. Since being taken back to his familyโs mansion in Miami, sheโs felt safe and protected, despite Bradโs cold, brusque, and confusing treatment. He should disgust herโheโs flaunted his hedonistic tastes unapologetically. But no matter how hard Pearl tries to fight it, sheโs drawn to the lethal, handsome killer.
Yet she knows sheโs living on borrowed time, and to succumb to the attraction would be to expose herself and her secrets.
And then it will be just a matter of who will kill her first.
Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in England, where she lives with her husband, boys and Theo the Doberman. She is a self-professed daydreamer, and has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Writing powerful love stories with addictive characters has become her passionโa passion she now shares with her devoted readers. Sheโs a proud #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, a Sunday Times Bestseller, and her work is published in over twenty-five languages across the world. You can learn more about Jodi & her words at www.jodiellenmalpas.co.uk
Callum Derringer was hired by the Pittsburgh Titans to help rebuild the organization after a devastating plane crash left its future unknown. Now that heโs got the team back on track, itโs time to put some effort into his own life.
When I accepted the job of general manager with the Titans, it was just the opportunity I needed to prove myself to the sports world. Unfortunately, my career isnโt the only area in which Iโve previously made mistakes and the past is about to come back in a big way.
Juniper Ryan isโฆcomplicated. Smart, funny and insanely gorgeous, she was my first love and my first heartbreak. But my loss was my stepbrotherโs gain and sheโs been his wife for five years now. Iโve done a decent job of putting her out of my mind but when Iโm brought home for a family emergency and see the bruises on Juniper, Iโm gutted to learn that she was pushed into the arms of a monster.
Vowing to put our past aside, I learn dark truths about my brother and his marriage to my first love. And to make matters worse, Iโm beginning to realize the feelings I once had for Juniper arenโt tucked quite as far away as I had hoped.
When things take a dangerous turn, Iโm willing to put myself in the line of fire to keep my girl safe. I was a fool to walk away from Juniper the first time and Iโm a man who knows better than to make the same mistake twice.
Grab your copy of Callum directly from Sawyer by shopping the Sawyer Bennett Bookstore! โฆย E-Book and Audio (audio narrated by Jason Clarke and Lessa Lamb): https://bit.ly/STORE_Callum โฆย Signed paperback (available to US mailing addresses): https://bit.ly/Callum_PB
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both womenโs and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If youโd like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
Two conflicted military men. A longing for happiness. One Lonely Diner, where people often search for a recipe for love. (The food is good there, too.)
One man plays it straight. Another grieves over a lost best friend with benefits.
Everyone thought they were meant for each other. Lance, an Air Force computer engineer, and Ryan, a former submariner in the Navy and now a military college professor, are gay men blinded by the painful wounds of their past decisions. Both men are ready for love. But because of their pasts, theyโve slammed the brakes on their desires.
Now thirty years old, a younger Ryan Ball decides he can be happy only by conforming to social expectations. So what does he do? He decides he must have a wife and kids. Though he acknowledges that he can never be straight, he is convinced that with effort, determination, alcohol and erectile dysfunction meds, he can play the necessary roles.
Vikki, Ryanโs girlfriend in high school and now his wife, begs to differ.
At thirty-one, Lance Dingle falls for his best friend and roommate, Randy, a stunt pilot who agrees to a friends-with-benefits arrangement. From Lanceโs perspective, thereโs a spark in their arrangement that Randy denies. Then, tragedy strikes. Lance finds himself alone and lonely, living with memories of Randy and an ever-expanding list of โwhat-might-have-beens.โ Finally forcing himself into the dating scene, Lance discovers that Mr. Right is more elusive than he ever imagined.
Then, Callie Yenti, transwoman, drag performer extraordinaire and entrepreneur, enters the picture. She owns the popular Lonely Diner and possesses an uncanny insight into the workings of the heart.
Even the complicated hearts of her two hard-headed friends, Lance and Ryan.
A HEA gay romance.
Trigger Warning: This novel includes scenes from a sexual assault and a PTSD episode.
Tropes: Military Romance, Coming Out, Overcoming Adversity, Second Chances.
Soon, the table beside Lance became available. A gorgeous, dark-haired man with biceps on the verge of bursting through his shirt sleeves sat down. Lance noticed that he was drinking Liquid Death, often a signal that a bar patron wished to avoid alcoholic beverages. Lance also noticed that his haircut was similar in style to his own. Lance wondered if the body builder might also be a member of a branch of the military.
Lanceโs face turned crimson when the man caught Lance cruising him. Rather than heightening Lanceโs embarrassment with silence, the man, who also had a well-conditioned chest and stomach, asked Lance to join him.
Lance noticed the tremor in the manโs voice.
Ah, heโs an introvert, like me, Lance thought.
Lance cast him a beaming smile. โWhy not? No need for the two of us to monopolize a pair of tables when one will do.โ
Lance grabbed his aleโhis third for the eveningโand carried it with him as he sat in the chair next to the man. โMy name is Lance Dingle,โ he said. He reached across the table for a handshake.
โMy pleasure, Lance.โ A very brief pause. โWait! I think youโre the fellow the infamous Callie Yenti has been devoting so much time finding a way to introduce us.โ
โHoly shit! Then you must be Ryan Ball. Finally, we meet!โ
Ryan laughed. โI guess sheโs included us both in her match-making scheme.โ
โItโs a talent sheโs very proud of,โ Lance said. โYouโre an English professor at The Citadel, right? And before that, you served in the Navy?โ
โDamn! Sheโs thorough.โ Then, Ryan reciprocated with a fact of his own. โAnd I think I remember her saying that youโre an Air Force man.โ
โYep. Thatโs me. A computer geek. Not a pilot.โ
The men chatted about their backgrounds, their experiences in the military and navigating the tricky terrain of being gay in the service, despite the revocation of Donโt Ask, Donโt Tell. Naturally, there were parts of their biographies they were unwilling to shareโlike the sexual assault in DC and Lanceโs torch-carrying for Randy. Lance unwittinglyโand because of the buzz the drinks precipitatedโcame very close to telling Ryan how many physical similarities he and Randy shared. Fortunately, he caught himself before he provided Ryan a very good excuse to abort their conversation.
Then, Ryan popped the same question that was also on Lanceโs mind. โWould you be interested in hanging out sometimes? I mean, itโs fine with me to call it a date. Yโknow, to see if Callie still has her magic touch.โ
But Lance had no chance to respond.
Because a nervous James Manigault appeared at their table, without his cute young diversion, and kissed Lance squarely on the mouth. Lance could taste the rum heโd drunk and smell the pot he and the young man shared before heading to the club.
Then, Lance caught a glimpse of Ryanโs face.
But a look long enough to see that sexy face fill with disappointment, vulnerability and perhaps even distress.
Abruptly, Ryan rose from his chair. It almost toppled over, but Ryan grabbed it on its way to the floor. โI donโt want to intrude,โ he said. โIโll leave you to it. And Lance? It was nice to meet you.โ
Now, it was Lanceโs voice that quivered. โLikewise, Ryan.โ
They shook hands like two businessmen closing a deal. Ryan quickly pulled his hand away and headed toward the exit.
Lance looked with a mixture of anger and annoyance at James, who was now sitting in Ryanโs chair.
And then, James had the fucking nerve to ask if they were still on for their date the next night.
*****
Author Info:
Dann Hazel has been writing both fiction and nonfiction for more than twenty years.
Besides writing romance, he has taught high school English and journalism, college psychology and human sexuality, directed federal grants and worked as a therapist in a psychiatric hospital. His fiction genre interests include thrillers, horror, literary and gay romance. He has published the Some Like It Haute Gay Romance Series, including Room for Dessert, My Own Private Biscuit and Lonely Diner.
Nonfiction works include Witness: Gay and Lesbian Clergy Report from the Front and Moving On: The Gay Manโs Guide for Coping When a Relationship Ends.
Dannโs personal interests include reading and writing, cinema, jogging, Broadway, keeping abreast of current events and travel.
Currently, Dann lives in Central Florida with his husband, Josh, and their American Eskimo canine, Flurry.
How do I choose which heart to break? No matter who I choose, I’m going to be the loser.
Alejandro
Three years ago, Ben walked into my Portland bar and stole my heart with one look. It didnโt matter that Iโm 21 years older than him. All he wants is me.
Benjaminโs beautiful smile and endless charm attract everyone he meets, including my 20-year-old daughter, Anna.
No one knows about all the things he and I have done together. And Iโve made sure to keep it from her.
My carefully constructed life built upon rules and my duty to my family is about to crumble before my eyes because she and I want the same thingโBen.
In the end, keeping us a secret may cost me both of them. Iโm in an impossible love triangle that, no matter which one I choose, Iโm going to lose.
And when someone attacks my bar via social media, itโs all I can take.
So, which do I choose? Annaโs happiness? Or a life with Ben?
Ben
I knew I loved Alejandro Sanchez the moment our eyes met across the bar. There was something about the single dad and bar owner that I couldnโt get enough of.
After three long years, heโs finally okay with us. But when he refuses to tell Anna about us, I take matters into my own hands.
Iโll do whatever needs to be done to keep him in my life, even if it means accepting a date with Anna.
We Could Do This Tonight is an age gap, single dad, boss/employee love triangle romance and the second book in the We Could Do This Duet. It is the tenth book set in the Package Deal World with reoccurring characters from the original series. It is best enjoyed after reading We Could Do This Forever.
Note to the reader: If you have not read the Package Deal Series, you might find it beneficial to start there and refer to the reading order for the PD World within the books. All the books are available through Kindle Unlimited.
When the countdown to midnight started, I stepped back and leaned against the bar. Telling myself I was checking to make sure everyone had champagne, my eyes drank in Alejandro as he stood protectively over his daughter and ex-wife.
When the shouts of Happy New Year began, I turned my gaze from him. But before I could get away completely, I looked up to see him glance at me before he kissed his daughter. When he leaned down to his ex-wife, I turned my body toward the TV on the opposite wall.
Maybe next year things would be different. I didnโt know if he was interested in me, or just enjoyed the flirting we were doing. Snapping myself out of this silly funk, I put a smile on my face and went back to work.
Around one-thirty, we had almost everything cleaned up for when we closed at two a.m. Nick had just left, even though it was my night to close. Heโd stayed to help me put up the chairs before heading out. When the bar was empty, I locked up behind him, then carried the last bus tray of dirty glasses to the kitchen.
I picked up the sanitized ones from the dishwasher and headed back out to restock for the next day. Alejandro had come out of his office and began turning off the lights. Every time he extinguished one, my heartbeat increased. One by one, the lights around the room went out until only the recessed lighting around the bar remained.
The volume on the sound system had been turned down low, but helped to fill the void when everyone had gone home. Adding to the ambiance, the light shining down on the sparkling glassware and the amber colored contents of the glass bottles created the illusion of flickering candles. It was romantic as hell and fed my desire for him.
Lost in my fantasies, I didnโt notice when he walked behind the bar. Alejandro stood beside me, shoulder to shoulder, as I restocked the glasses. I could see him in my peripheral vision and felt the warmth of his body radiating toward mine. His biceps were straining his shirt and his expensive cologne intoxicated me further every time he stirred the air around us.
I breathed in the woodsy scent as he reached over to hand them to me, one at a time, making me smile and slowing me down. โYou donโt have to help. I can do this.โ
โI know,โ he said quietly, โbut I wanted to. And I needed to check on you.โ
Turning my head to look at him, my brow furrowed. One look at him in this dim lighting made my heart beat a little faster. โWhy?โ
Alejandro turned to his side to face me, then folded his muscled arms over his chest. โYou looked a little sad earlier. Thought you might be missing your family.โ
I wanted to laugh and tell him my family was not what I was thinking about.
I wasnโt missing them.
Iโd been imagining what it would be like to kiss him.
*****
Review:
I loved Ben. He’s sweet, funny, happy, and, luckily for Alejandro, forgiving & patient. Even knowing that they are meant to be together, it takes a LONG time to get there and the progression in their relationship is slow going. (I’m not sure I could have been as tolerant as Ben was so I’m glad Beckett had us jumping thru time in the early parts of the books to show how things developed.)
Alejandro is drawn to Ben but he feels like there’s quite a bit standing in their way – their age difference, the fact that they are employer/employee, and his daughter’s crush on Ben. While they find ways to work through the first couple, that last one is really hurting Alejandro (and giving readers some fits based on other reviews). He feels like it would be wrong to hurt her, after all as her father it’s his job to protect her, but he’s getting outside advice telling him to just tell her. (And we as readers know he should just tell her. She’s like 19 years old and it’s just a crush. Plus, Ben has never suggested the feelings could be reciprocated and I’m pretty sure he has a say in this matter too.) Eventually things come to a head, thanks to a little push from outside parties, and we’re good for that HEA they deserve.
Or maybe not! I looked down at this point and realized I was only about halfway thru the book and thought how much more can she put them thru! ๐ Just a little more apparently and of course it all worked out in the end. Although I did wonder about Alejandro a few more times – the man had some seriously wrong reactions to situations. Luckily Ben is willing to wait for him to figure things out, which of course he does and comes out all the better for it, but it is a frustrating and sometimes eye-rolling journey to get there. So, who’s ready for a bit of a roller coaster read?
*****
Author Info:
Emerson Beckett is an avid sports fan and lover of M/M romance books, Emerson loves her new career as an author. It gets even better when she can combine the two. Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series and The Portland Protectors: EHM Security Series with Rheland Richmond. The We Could Do This Duet is her first solo project.
Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 34 years. She is the mother of three beautiful adults, one of whom is completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance.
Emerson is now mom to an Australian Shepherd, four cats, and a cute bunny rabbit.
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 bossโs best friend than met the eye.
Nick Reed
As one of the bartenders at Alejandroโs Bar, Iโve seen it all. Iโve even watched my friends, Christian and Cooper, both find the loves of their life. Six years after breaking up with my college boyfriend, Iโm convinced thatโs not the life Iโm 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 wouldnโt 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 friendโs 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. Thereโs nothing I wonโt do to prove to him Iโm exactly what he needs. Iโm relentless like that and I wonโt stop until heโs 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; Bossโs Best Friend; Secretly Wealthy; Humor.
The gentleman, the hot mess, and a little British adventureโฆ
Raine
Moving to London is scary and daunting, but I desperately need this jobโand a redo. Okay, so I may have oversold my qualifications. That shouldnโt be a big deal, though. I mean, being an assistantโs assistant seems easy enough, and Iโm a fast learner.
Hold up!
Iโm already in over my head with spreadsheets, new pronunciations, and temperamental appliances. And just as Iโm mentally preparing to face going home early, the big boss offers me an opportunity I canโt refuse. And I definitely should because Graham Horsham is an infuriating, complicated grumpy bear with a razor-sharp tongue, a wickedly dry sense of humor, andโฆI like him far too much.
Graham
Iโve been bamboozled. Iโm not quite sure how I ended up with an assistant who spills coffee daily, wears wrinkled shirts, and chatters nonstop. He canโt stay, but I donโt want him to go and thatโs madness. The Horsham Group is closing one of our biggest deals ever and I wonโt jeopardize it. This one is personal.
Yet so is Raine.
Heโs a breath of fresh airโsilly, impetuous, lighthearted, good-natured, andโฆquite lovely. I like him more than I want to admit. For some reason, I can let my guard down with him. Itโs unnerving and probably unprofessional.
But not to worryโฆI will not, under any circumstances, fall for Raine.
Falling for Raine is an MM, age-gap romance featuring a British gentleman, a desperate but adorable American, and a UK adventure!
What in the hell was going on? It was as though Iโd entered an alternative universe. Everything looked the same, but it was different.
Of course it was Raine.
I studied him shaking hands with everyone in the shop as I shrugged on my jacket. He wasโฆhypnotic, addictingโa cross between an inappropriate dinner party guest and a fistful of forbidden sweets when you were on a diet. He didnโt fit in this world Iโd carefully constructed, yet I kept inviting him in and forgetting whatever reason Iโd concocted for this to make sense.
Like now.
โPerhaps youโd like to try something on.โ I stuffed my hands into my pockets so I wouldnโt be tempted to touch him.
He widened his eyes and sidled close, whispering under his breath, โAre you nuts? One shirt here costs half my rent. Unlessโฆoh, no. Oh, no, no, no!โ
โWhat?โ I demanded, pulling him with me outside.
โAre you going daddy on me?โ
โExcuse me?โ I furrowed my brow, stopping under the eaves where rain sluiced off the roof and fell like a curtain around us on two sides.
โSlow your roll, G, Iโm not looking for a meal ticket, and Iโm not taking hand-outs. I can be talked into bedroom daddy kink, but if you want me to call you Daddyโโ
โOh, for fuckโs sake, you daft man. I do not want you to call me Daddy,โ I growled just as a well-dressed man stepped onto the mat next to me, pausing for a moment to close his umbrella and dart a quick look between us.
Raine pursed his lips, then burst into laughter when the man entered the shop. โHa! You should see your face. I was kidding.โ
โYouโre ridiculous,โ I huffed, my lips twitching.
โIโll be good, Daddy. Donโt spank me.โ
โDonโt test me.โ I pretended not to notice him fanning himself with a slack-jawed expression as I gestured toward the pub on the next block. โIf we stay under the eaves, weโll stay dry, but weโll have to hurry.โ
โNo need. I bet they sell umbrellas in there.โ
I squinted at the tourist shop at the corner on the opposite side of the street, its windows papered with Union Jack memorabilia. โThatโs crap, Ray-n.โ
โSo what? Itโs fun crap. My treat.โ
He sprinted into the deluge, dashing into the tourist shop while I stared after him. What was he doing? Now heโd be wet and stuck with a tatty tourist umbrella that would undoubtedly flip inside out at the first gust of wind.
A crack of thunder spurred me into action. I borrowed a sturdy umbrella from Ives and Harris with the promise to return it as soon as possible, then walked down the street to find Raine.
I shouldnโt have been surprised that heโd managed to make a friend in under five minutes. He stood in front of a wall stuffed with tartan throws, holding two compact umbrellas and chatting up a salesman. It took a bit of persuading to convince him he didnโt need the blanketโhowever, I couldnโt talk him out of purchasing two Union Jack umbrellas. I warned him that they were poorly made, but he didnโt care.
We squabbled all the way to the pub, argued over what to order, who was paying, and where to sit before finally settling into a table for two at the window. I frowned when he beamed a sunshine smile my way.
โStop being so happy,โ I teased, cradling my glass. โItโs miserable out there.โ
โBut itโs warm and yummy in here,โ he countered, sliding his calf along mine under the table. โAnd youโre cute when youโre cranky.โ
โI am neither cute nor cranky. Iโmโokay, never mind, I am cranky. If weโd come straight here, we could have avoided the queue and had that corner booth.โ I pointed at the booth currently inhabited by a gaggle of noisy businessmen. โDo you ever listen to reason?โ
โHave you met me?โ
*****
Review:
Sometimes reading m/m romances I’ll find their interactions to be written a little … different than I’m used to. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to find them sexy or not and the beginning of Falling for Raine fits into that category. I get the whole one night stand and anonymous sex thing but some of Hayes’s descriptions were a bit much for me. I actually started to put it down but I know Hayes writes excellent stories so I pushed through. And oh am I glad I did! I loved Raine and Graham together. And I liked that their relationship didn’t go the way I expected.
Raine needs to get away, regroup, and get past his troubles. Taking a job in London has a chance to do that, until it becomes apparent that he’s way under-qualified. And to make matters worse, he runs smack dab into a one night stand. As his new boss.
Graham didn’t expect to see Raine again but since he’s not been able to forget him maybe he can take advantage of the situation. As long as both of them agree to certain terms, most important is not getting their hearts involved. Shouldn’t be too hard, right? Right.
Raine is a delightfully positive foil to Graham’s more serious reservedness. It’s entertaining seeing Raine help Graham to relax, take life a little less seriously. To look at things and people in a different way. And to embrace a more carefree person hidden underneath his well tailored suits.
Funny, cheeky, and with a good amount of heat, Falling for Raine proves to me once again that Hayes just knows how to write stories that I love.
*****
Author Info:
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.ย She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.
To celebrate the release of Falling For Raine, Lane is giving away the Winner’s choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
There are bad days, and there are unbelievably bad days.
When Olivia woke up, she thought it would be one of those perfect days that put a smile on her face. She had a stable boyfriend, a job that paid the bills, a terrific colleague and best friend, and no clouds looming over her perfect morning.
But that same morning, Olivia got fired. It was a bad day.
And she was dumped by her boyfriend. It was an unbelievably bad day.
She needed to think, regroup, and come up with a plan to fix the mess. What better place to get a grip on her life than the Olympic Peninsula, where she spent her childhood summers?
There, that was the plan. She would be on her feet in no time. At least, she thought she would be until she realized she was stuck in a cabin, under six feet of snow, with a grumpy, sexy mountain man.
A cabin that didnโt have a TV, Internet, or a functioning phone. Well, looking at the bright side, she had zero distractions to come up with her master plan.
She only had to avoid staring at Noahโs biceps, threatening to rip the t-shirt, or how his sweatpants hugged his toned backside.
The Grump and the Chef is an easy, short, spicy rom-com featuring a bubbly, cheerful chef, a grumpy, sexy handyman, and a rooster with a soft spot for blond curvy guests.
There were a few things that weren’t quite believable (like the idea that Olivia would have to spend months in a cabin with a stranger with no way out) but overall I enjoyed this book a lot. Olivia is fun and funny, Noah is sexy and a bit of a curmudgeon. But it doesn’t take long for Olivia’s sunshiny personality to start working on Noah. Turns out he is more grumpy by circumstance than by nature and time together has him looking at the world a little bit differently. Once they give in to their attraction he is amazing at helping Olivia realize and embrace her sexiness, her confidence eroded by past partners. While a little more conversation might have avoided a few of their troubles, their circumstances aren’t exactly normal and it makes for an entertaining HEA ending. It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect given the rest of their relationship ๐ From what I can find, Ashford is a new author so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what she comes up with next.
*****
Author Info:
Wendy Ashford loves to write spicy small-town romance novels that end with a Happily Ever After. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, dog, and cat. She loves the beach during winter and walking in the snow.
She likes to read, play with Legos, and watch romantic comedies on Netflix when not writing.
What happens in the woods, doesn’t always stay in the woods …
Whatโs the worst thing you could do when youโre stranded in the woods with your rival? Sleep with him. Thatโs what.
Not only is Rowan Whitlock my sisterโs ex, but weโre both vying for the contract that would save my family farm.
So why did it have to be Rowan who came to the rescue after I fell on a remote hiking trail? When the weather turned unexpectedly, we were forced to find shelter and ride out the storm. Only that wasnโt the only thing I ended up riding.
We promise ourselves what happens at the cabin stays at the cabin, but when we get back to Sugarloaf, itโs impossible to stay away from him. Those blue eyes captivate me, his strong body comforts me, and he makes me feel beautiful.
Which is crazy, right?
If only my stupid head would listen and stop this before my heart gets involved, but I keep going back because Iโm already in too deep.
I shouldโve known that the temptation wasnโt worth the risk because when it all falls apart, our promises are broken, and Iโm afraid my heart will never recover.
Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed–reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
Romantic Reads and Such 