I’m a fun, chill guy, but around Ty, all I can think about is winning.
Last year, his frat beat ours in the annual TaskFrat challenges, and even though I’m known for becoming Alpha Theta Mu’s prez as a joke, I take my responsibility to my guys seriously.
I refuse to let those fratholes take us down again.
Unfortunately, the only thing bigger than Ty’s inflated ego is his competitive spirit.
I’m supposed to be focused on defeating him, but soon, I discover there’s a spark between us.
Not something a straight guy should be saying about his straight rival.
It’s weird, confusing…and surprisingly hot.
I’m curious, and apparently, he is too.
Living the Greek life with my buddies, we’re always joking about what happens when you frat around.
Now Ty and I are about to find out.
CW: Frat Around and Find Out is a low-angst, steamy romance, but the characters’ backstories include grief over losing loved ones to cancer and dementia.
This is the first book in the Peach State Fratbros Series. Frat Around and Find Out can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
I can’t put my finger on the exact reason but the pacing was somewhat off. I’m not against a slow burn story, and there was nothing too slow about this one, but … it won’t be for everyone, I guess. Ty & Lance go from friends to bi-curious pretty early on, move on to exploring things together, and then figuring out that there might be feelings involved too – pretty straight forward for this kind of story. But it’s low angst and a lot of steam & feels so not everyone’s thing.
This is the first by McCormack for me and based on the other reviews I’m guessing the previous stories had more drama? This one is not angsty, which is ok by me. Instead it’s a good mix of lighthearted fun, a supportive friend group, heat, and exploration of new feelings. There are a few side characters that have great potential so I’m looking forward to what’s next.
(First in the series and can technically stand on its own, but as this is a spin-off some familiarity with the Peach State Stepbros series might provide some additional enjoyment because some of the characters make an appearance.)
*****
Author Info:
Devon McCormack grew up in the Georgia suburbs with his two younger brothers and an older sister. At a very young age, he spun tales the old fashioned way, lying to anyone and everyone he encountered. He claimed he was an orphan. He claimed to be a king from another planet. He claimed to have supernatural powers. He has since harnessed this penchant for tall tales by crafting worlds and characters that allow him to live out whatever fantasy he chooses. Devon is an out and proud queer man living in Atlanta, Georgia.
Devon’s body of work ranges from erotica to young adult, so readers should check the synopses of his books before purchasing so that they know what they’re getting into.
Sleeping with the best man at my cousin’s wedding felt right at the time—he was a hot, available firefighter, and I was the tipsy maid of honor. It’s a rite of passage.
No regrets… until two pink lines flipped my world upside down.
Now I’m wildly unprepared and trying to hide my pregnancy in my small Alaskan town where privacy is a myth and gossip spreads faster than frostbite.
But wait, it gets worse.
Baby Daddy just came back to town—with a fiancée in tow.
And guess who she wants to plan their wedding?
Me.
Keeping the secret was hard enough.
Keeping my distance from the father of my baby? Impossible.
Just when I think I have it all figured out, he reveals his own secret that changes everything.
Author’s Note: There is no cheating in this book. Gasp! We would never.
This is such a slow burn. There’s confusion early on about what’s going on with Finn and why he’s back in town. (No cheating, they promised.) And I have such respect for how well Harper carries herself during those meetings. I don’t know that I could have done it. And props to Finn for doing the right thing (for him) when he needed to. It was so enjoyable seeing them get to know each other and figure out how to be co-parents.
I liked Harper – her insecurities and fear of the future as a mom. And I loved how Finn does so much to show her support and help her see herself as more than capable. He’s so good at pulling her out of her self-doubt spirals. So sweet!
Piper Rayne is a must read for me. The characters are always so well done – they feel like friends, people that are real and are making realistic decisions. Sometimes difficult & sometimes wrong, but always relatable. As always, looking forward eagerly to what comes next!
(Part of a series but Piper Rayne does a good job of making sure that you have all the needed info for each story so you can read them in any order.)
*****
Author Info:
Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
My pro hockey dreams are hanging by a thread. I need to have a great season, and that means no partying, no distractions, no fun. A grad student’s science experiment is the definition of no fun, so…okay.
Pros and cons of agreeing to this deal:
Pro: Positive use of free time. (At least, that’s what my agent says.)
Con: Malcolm is bossy, clumsy, and he doesn’t know the first thing about hockey.
But he’s also cute and he’s got a great sense of humor and—oh, no.
I cannot have a crush on the geek. No way. Not now.
Malcolm
Yes, I’m a serious student, but a hockey project is not serious. Who cares about big, hunky hockey players zipping around a sheet of ice at warp speed? Not I.
According to my professor, however, the only way to attain the required data is to study the specimen in his natural habitat, a.k.a., the ice rink.
Pro: My thesis should lead to a bevy of job offers.
Con: Jett. He’s impossibly big and gruff and handsome and disarmingly charming and—
Fine. Guilty. I like the jock…perhaps too much.
Lately, I find myself wondering if there’s such a thing as a one-time shot at forever.
One-Time Shot is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a charismatic hockey star and an adorkable scientist.
My control was slipping, though. Every fucking thing about this guy turned me on and I couldn’t figure it out.
Malcolm was cute, not hot. He was quirky, not cool. He wasn’t athletic in the slightest, but he had more confidence than a lot of seasoned hockey players. He knew who he was and what he wanted. And he was willing to try something new to achieve his goals. I admired that kind of drive.
I just wished that I admired the curve of his ass in those khakis a little less as he moved to the small kitchen table and held up a pad of paper and a pen.
“I’m ready to begin. We didn’t discuss how much time to allot for these sessions, but I think forty-five minutes will suffice.”
“Uh…right. That works for me.” I licked my lips, tilting my chin toward the windows. Pull it together, Erickson. “Nice place, by the way. I like your plants.”
“Thank you.”
He blushed. An honest-to-God blush with pink cheeks and averted eyes. I found myself grinning again…for no particular reason.
“Do you have a green thumb?”
I half expected him to change the subject, get down to business, so he could throw my ass out the door in precisely forty-four minutes and twenty seconds, but Malcolm glanced at the plants, nodding as he sat at the table.
“I do. My parents have a large vegetable garden in their yard. I took charge of it from the time I was ten till I left for college. I switched out some of the less-yielding crops for lettuce, corn, and squash, and grew tons of tomatoes. They tend to it now. Sadly, not as well as I did.”
See what I mean about this guy?
“You’re bragging, Maloney. I like that confidence.”
Malcolm snorted. “I’m not bragging. I’m stating a fact. My parents are lovely people yet serial houseplant killers. The vegetables stand a better chance outdoors where Mother Nature can care for them till I arrive to save the day.”
“You’re funny.”
“Hilarious,” he confirmed, pointing at the chair across from him. “Shall we begin?”
“Sure.” I sat, shifting under the weight of his expectant gaze.
“I took the liberty of creating a short syllabus, including a diagram of a rink and an index of hockey terminology.” Malcolm pushed his laptop toward me. “I’ve memorized all of them. Quiz me if you’d like.”
I scrolled through his proposed outline covering etymology, history, tactics, rules, and a very fucking long glossary which included slang. “Whoa. Did you google this?”
“It’s a compilation of sources, each credited in the attached bibliography,” he replied.
“You made a bibliography.”
“Of course. One must give credit where credit is due.” Malcolm scooted his chair closer and reached over to scroll through a list of annotations. “See?”
Yeah, I saw. And I was a little pissed at myself for being so slow.
“You’re trying to scare me away,” I stated.
“No, I’m helping you.”
I shook my head. “I don’t see how this helps either of us. What do etymology and history have to do with measuring speed?”
“Well…nothing, but—”
“Here you have ‘biscuit’ and ‘biscuit in the basket.’ ” I gestured at the screen. “These are very unscientific terms, Maloney.”
“True, but I know those. The biscuit is the puck and putting the biscuit into the basket is to make a goal.” Malcolm beamed. “Correct, yes?”
My lips twisted in amusement. “Yes. Can you use this info in your thesis?”
He fiddled with his glasses. “Undetermined, but doubtful.”’
*****
Review:
Malcolm is aaalll the adorkableness that I could want. He’s awkward and sweet and caring and smart. He can be stuffy and old fashioned in his speech but he throws himself full bodied in things that interest him. Including Jett.
Jett may be an athlete and not as academic as Malcolm but he works hard for what he wants, for his future. He’s also got a good head on his shoulders, one that recognizes what a good thing he’s found in Malcolm.
These two shouldn’t work together but they do. They listen and open up to each other and they are willing to put everything on the line when they have to. I just … *sigh* love them together. It may have started out as research, morphed into something a little more intimate but soon it turned into something even more. Timing may not be on their side tho.
I adore Hayes’s books. I enjoy the sweetness mixed with heat, characters that just have me from the first page, and a HEA that never disappoints. I need more from her, and this series, as soon as I can get it.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesn’t mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, who’s pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
She’s been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yes…romance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolate…in any order. Add a book and she’s set!My Readers’ Group, Lane’s Lovers: https://bit.ly/3aIbMYg
Maren Moore is an Amazon Top 20 Best-selling sports romance author. Her books are packed full of heat and all the feels that will always come with a happily ever after. She resides in southern Louisiana with her husband, two little boys and their fur babies. When she isn’t on a deadline, she’s probably reading yet another Dramione fan fic, rewatching cult classic horror movies, or daydreaming about the 90’s.
A steamy Pro Football, Best Friends to Lovers, Fake Relationship Romance from Amazon Top Ten Bestselling author Lisa Suzanne.
Resisting the Running Back
The Nash Brothers series
by Lisa Suzanne
Blurb:
When my ex exposes my secret romance pen name to my students and my world unravels, I turn desperately to the one person who’s always had my back: my childhood best friend Miller Banks. The pro football running back drops everything, leaving in the middle of his wild Vegas birthday party to be by my side.
With my life in shambles back home, Miller invites me to stay with him in San Diego, offering both a sanctuary and a chance to pursue my writing career since my teaching days are over. It’s the perfect setup with the ultimate book boyfriend, though we’ve never crossed that line and never will.
But then I make the mistake of telling my mother that Miller and I are in a relationship, and we tell my ex that we’re engaged. Thankfully Miller plays along, grabbing me into the kind of steamy, soul-shattering kiss I can’t stop thinking about.
As I watch my new roommate work out and cook dinner, it’s becoming harder to ignore the chemistry simmering between us. Especially when our “engagement” hits the media and we’re forced to be a happy couple in public, further blurring the line between real and fake.
We can’t cross that line. I have to continue resisting the running back. If I don’t, we could both lose the very thing that matters most to us.
Lisa Suzanne is an Amazon Top Ten Bestselling author of swoon-worthy superstar heroes, emotional roller coasters, and all the angst. She resides in Arizona with her husband and two kids. When she’s not chasing her kids, she can be found working on her latest romance book or watching reruns of Friends.
A sexy, accidental pregnancy, one night stand, sports romance from bestselling author, Lulu Moore
Home Run
The New York Lions #5
by Lulu Moore
Blurb:
My name is Tanner Simpson and I’m gonna be a father.
I never intended for it to happen, but one thing led to another and now Millie Robinson and I are connected for life.
I have no problem with this as she’s the woman of my dreams and her being the future mother of my child is the icing on the cake.
There’s just one small snag.
She can’t stand me.
Shocking, I know, but nevertheless a problem I must solve, preferably before the baby arrives.
So when she needs a new place to live, an opportunity presents itself for Millie to become my neighbor.
When I’m not on the road fighting for a spot in the post season, I’m with Millie morning, noon and night. She wants ice-cream, I’m getting it. Chocolate brownies, no problem.
Navigating impending fatherhood is nothing compared to convincing Millie to take a chance on me. On us.
She’s been my Home Run since the first day I laid eyes on her.
Now I need to prove to her I’m as lovable as everyone says I am, and the one she needs around forever.
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 her 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.
Waking up 20 years in the past had not been on Maddy’s bingo card. Nor dragging another guy there with her. When Madison Pierce finds herself back in her childhood bedroom after an unexpected incident, she decides to act like everything’s perfectly fine and normal. Because what self-respecting introvert doesn’t want a second go at high-school life, right? Except, none of this is normal and she’s not alone in this mess.
Nate Keaton never thought he could land himself in such a bizarre situation, and all for trying to help out a stranger in need. Except, she’s not a stranger but someone he used to go to school with, who is a bit weird and adorable, can’t shut up, and barely reaches his shoulder.
Now they’re stuck together in 2006, renting movies from video clubs, and browsing CDs in music stores, and… getting hot chocolate?
Suddenly, the pull is stronger than it’s supposed to be and feelings are building up.
But why does it feel like the clock is ticking down? And most importantly, what happens when they inevitably have to go back?
*Perfect for fans of Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies, Elle Kennedy’s The Deal, and Ashley Poston’s The Seven-Year Slip, This Time Around is a contemporary, adult romance with a tiny hint of magic. It is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones. Prepare for a sizzling, swoon-worthy, slow burn romance that features strangers–to reluctant friends–to lovers, delicious tension and spice, banter for days, all the feels, and a time slip that will change their lives forever.*
I am pretty dang impressed with this as the author’s debut novel. It was fun, with an interesting take on her characters getting to know each other. I loved the way they threw themselves into the teen selves and spent time getting to know each other better. An interesting mix of YA and adult contemporary, with the way they enjoyed all of the teen activities but with the outlook that age brings.
It’s fantastic the way that Maddy is able to take her adult perspective (and later her teen experiences as an adult again) and really accept her quirkiness. With Nate’s help she embraces who she is and thrives. And speaking of Nate … such a fabulous friend and then boyfriend. He’s supportive, caring, and oh-so-sweet, embracing all the things that make Maddy unique.
I will say that if I thought too much about it there were things that bothered me. Like, even tho their minds were 30 something, the first half of the book their bodies were those of teens. And while I totally got behind their connection, their physical attraction was a bit … I mean they are mentally grown adults finding themselves attracted to teens. They didn’t really act on it past kissing but … yeah. And no one else caught on that they were different? Friends, family? Also, the reason for the time travel wasn’t explored either. While it didn’t bother me, it seems to be an issue for some.
Overall tho great first outing! Entertaining plot and enjoyable characters, with a HEA journey that tickled me. I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next (fingers crossed it’s Cooper and Liam 🙂 )
*****
Author Info:
Marina Pirlimpou is an English teacher, a self-proclaimed book lover, and a proud introvert who lives for dreary, autumn days, cozy blankets, and hot beverages.
She’s half-Greek, half-Italian, and lives in Athens.
When she’s not explaining grammar rules to her – sometimes – uninterested students, you can find her reading in her favorite nook, listening to music, or writing about all things romance.
If you want to know all about her new releases, be sure to follow her on Instagram!
I thought I’d come to terms with my solitary existence.
Most days, I even told myself I preferred it.
After all, the dogs at my shelter didn’t ask questions about my appearance. They didn’t stare at my scars. They didn’t make me feel ugly.
Then I met Gage. He came to the shelter to adopt a dog, but even after that, he kept returning. Was he just coming to help, like he claimed? Or could I dare hope he wanted to spend time with me?
Would he? Handsome, brave, heroic Gage, who could have any woman he wanted? Could he possibly see me as more than just the quiet, reclusive woman who ran the dog rescue outside town? More than the scarred woman everyone else looked away from?
I liked Rory from the first time I met her.
How could I not? She was caring. Smart. Beautiful. Even though I knew it couldn’t go anywhere, it didn’t stop me from wanting to spend time with her.
Friends was enough, I told myself over and over. It was all I could offer. It was all my wounded self-esteem would allow me.
Until I found her unconscious and injured in the woods, with no memory of how she got there. Until I held her in my arms and realized I’d do anything to protect her. Until I realized just being friends wasn’t enough.
But first, I need to make sure she’s safe. That the person who hurt her is caught. And I’ll draw on all the skills I learned in the Special Forces, along with the help of my Green Mountain Guardians teammates, to make sure no one hurts her again.
Often in these kinds of stories the suspense part is what brings the couple together and I always think of the beginning of Speed 2 when Annie says that “relationships based on extreme circumstances never work out” 🙂 Here Rory and Gage develop a friendship over weeks of him coming to her dog rescue to help out so there was a good basis for their interactions and their deepening feelings. But both have some insecurities that they need to work out and time spent together figuring out what’s going on allows them to come to terms with them.
I did feel like A LOT happened to poor Rory in a short amount of time but everything worked for me. I liked the villain, the reasons why, and how it all played out. Nothing seemed to be a stretch and I liked the way the guys worked together to keep her safe & figure out what was going on.
I had two things going into this – it’d been a while since I’d read a romantic suspense and this is the first story I’ve read by Cobie … and I think I need more of both! I feel like she blended the romance element and the suspense portion well, giving each the necessary time & attention. This seems to be her thing so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Cobie and picking up more of her books.
*****
Author Info:
Gia Cobie is an award winning author living in upstate New York with her husband and small zoo of animals. She loves writing about protective heroes and the strong women they fall in love with.
In her spare time (when she has any!), Gia enjoys reading and spending time in the Adirondacks, and also has a weakness for reality romance shows, wine, and buying way too many books!
There are two sacred rules in the Montagalo household:
Family comes first.
Don’t date my brother’s teammates.
Of course I went and broke both…
It started with a little banter on a dating app.
A teeny, tiny secret:Flirty messages with Luca Babineaux, the sweet, charming—and stupidly attractive forward on the Houston Baddies—who makes sweat and bruises look so f’ing hot. One spark turns into a secret first date. A few kisses become way more.
Now I’m tangled in a full-blown secret romance and every time Gio walks into the room, I have a full-blown anxiety attack.
Dating in secret? Thrilling. Lying to my brother? Exhausting.
Falling for Luca Babineaux obviously wasn’t part of the game plan.
He wants to go public with our relationship. I’d rather not.
Now I have to decide what matters more: keeping my promises to my dumb, overprotective brother…or choose myself for once.
I didn’t love this one QUITE as much as I did Hit Me With Your Best Shot, but it was definitely a fun read. Luca is a good boyfriend – supportive and loving of Nova’s every messy inch. He’s emotionally solid and seems to have his life together. Except he doesn’t have someone to be with.
Nova is unabashedly loud and, well, a lot. She’s struggled to find someone that accepts all of her. Until she meets Luca. Someone she should not be getting involved with.
I enjoyed these two together – their flirty texts and unconventional dates. There were times when I actually laughed out loud at their antics. I wasn’t 100% behind the resolution to their issues, and really feel like Nova needed to step up a little more, but I really enjoyed their romance. It ends in just as amusing a way as it started 🙂
*****
Author Info:
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
Carter – I’m used to pressure. Used to privilege. What I’m not used to? Having the fate of an entire town resting on my shoulders, and my long dormant libido smacking me in the face mid-back rub.
That’s what happened on Monday morning, when my assistant sent in a masseuse—and in walked Sloan. With strong hands, soft eyes, and a very firm directive for me to undress… Let’s just say it relieved the tension, though not in the way I was expecting.
It should have been a one-time thing. A tension-reliever. A professional service.
Instead, it’s my undoing.
Because Sloan isn’t just anyone. He’s an employee. The one person I should never touch—especially with my father on the board that decides whether I sink or save the ski resort that keeps this small town alive.
And yet, every time I look at Sloan, every rule I’ve lived by starts to unravel.
I can fix the resort. I can fix my relationship with my father. But can I do it without destroying the one man who makes me feel like I’ve finally found home?
This spicy small-town MM romance features a workaholic, a do-gooder, costumes with way too much latex, and a drinking game you’ll have to try for yourself.
Author’s Note: Privileged is written as book two in the Adrenalin series, although it can be read as a standalone. This slow-burn, workplace romance with adult themes and humor will have you dreaming of the mountains, craving small-town charm, and wishing you had a reason besides Halloween to wear a costume. HEA guaranteed.
*****
Review:
*minor spoilers*
Oh Carter *sigh* I just want to give him a hug. His younger years as a pro skier had many positives, but it also left him at a disadvantage at people-ing. Add that he’s spent a year by himself, giving his all into figuring out how to save the ski resort, and by extension the town, well … it means that he doesn’t have the best reputation with the locals. And that he’s carrying all sorts of stress on his own. Until he meets Sloan.
I like Sloan. He’s a stand-up guy, hardworking and big hearted. He’s compassionate, giving, & loyal and just what Carter needs. He’s able to help Carter set down some of his burden, ask for help where he needs it, and open up to others. Together they are just the sweetest and I couldn’t get enough of them together.
For me, third act breakups can be an obvious choice but Lenard’s work. This one just about broke my heart but I appreciate where they were both coming from and why things went the way they did. And I really like how it all gets resolved.
I am really enjoying Lenard’s books. She delivers relatable characters, interesting story lines, and a good mix of heat & heart. Her Adrenalin series so far has been feel good, lower angst, and charming. It’s got a lovely found family, small town charm and satisfying HEAs.
Romantic Reads and Such 