A single weekend. A quiet connection. And a choice that refuses to be forgotten.
PHILIP
I wasnโt supposed to meet anyone. My life is already mapped out. Safe. Sensible. Predictable. Then I meet Mark. One impulsive decision turns into a weekend I already know has an end date. Itโs meant to be simple. Temporary. But it isnโt. Somewhere between the slow touches and the way he looks atย meย like I matter, it starts to feel dangerously real. And real is exactly what I canโt afford. So I leave. Because Iย alwaysย choose the life that makes sense, even when it feels like Iโm walking away from something that could have been everything.
MARK
I didnโt expect Philip. I didnโt expect the way he gets under my skin, or how easily he lets himself feel when he forgets to hold back. He tellsย meย itโs just a weekend. I can see the walls he hides behind, the careful distance he keeps. I let him go anyway. Because some people need to make their own mistakes before theyโre ready to choose something real. But when he leaves, he takes more with him than he realises.
Distance should have been the end of it. Instead, it turns everything sharper, clearer, harder to ignore. Because itโs one thing to make the sensible choice. Itโs another to live with it. Some risks arenโt worth taking. And some feel impossible to walk away from twice.
Surprise Me Always is a standalone MM romance set in an interconnected world. It is written in British English and can be read independently.
*****
Review:
I really enjoyed this as an instalove story. The two of them have an amazing weekend together, one where they fall so very quickly. But that’s not how things work, right? It’s not sensible to change your entire life for someone you’ve only known for a few hours, right?
I appreciate that Elias had them separate instead of just spend two days together and live HEA. It works, especially with Philip’s personality, and gives them an opportunity to really reflect on their time together. To decide what’s real.
Surprise Me Always mixes humor and emotion and steam in a fun little package. It’s such an easy read and well paced, with enjoyable characters and an adorable little neurotic hamster that steals the show.
Duet Narration by: Connor Crais & Christine Lakin Also featuring: JF Harding, Sean Masters, Teddy Hamilton, CJ Bloom, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone
*****
Review:
Oh my goodness, daddy Easton is a dream – love me a single dad and reformed playboy mixed together! Even freaking out he’s swoony ๐ Also love how supportive the Baileys are (no surprise) and my heart goes out to Hadley for not having that growing up. I would have liked to see more of her with the other girls because she needs more positivity and support in her life. But Easton definitely shows up for her. Ooof, then there’s Tanner’s mom resolution … Glad they all have created a little family unit together, to be there for each other because there were definitely times they needed it. (Found family like this is one of my favorite things in books.)
My only real complaint with this one is I would have loved a little more of Easton and Hadley from before. They seemed like they had a bit of a connection, not friends-with-benefits but maybe more benefits-with-a-friend. They develop a lovely little unit, pretty quickly, and I would like to have seen some hints of that before, ya know?
Piper Rayne delivers some delicious single dad, fake marriage, close proximity, single bed tropes with this one. I’m sad to see this group of friends go but I really enjoyed how they all got their HEA. And that epilogue not only ties things up wonderfully but definitely gives us a taste of what’s to come & I can’t wait!
When Lane realizes heโs attracted to his straight stepbro, heโs absolutely thunderstruck . . .
Itโs not the worst day of Laneโs life when his team, the Toronto Thunder, drafts his baby stepbro, Trevor, but itโs close.
No. The worst day was when his mom married Trevorโs dad. Trevorโs just too good, too naรฏve, too sheltered. Too hot.
Lane might claim he wants nothing to do with him, but thatโs the worst delusion of all. Heโs always wanted everything to do with Trevor. Even when they have zero in common. Even when Trevorโs always been on the straight and narrow. Literally.
Laneโs the total opposite. Heโs walkedโand danced and sashayedโto the beat of his own drum, forever. Mentoring Trevor now that theyโre on the same team? Sounds like his idea of hellโand heaven, too. Thereโs a reason their teammates call them the demon twins.
But with the final few games of the season and the Thundersโ playoff run looming, Laneโs self-control is weaker than ever. Especially when Trevor confesses that heโs been thinking about it, too.
Suggesting Trevor experiment with their mutual attraction would be a terrible idea, but Laneโs had worse, and thatโs never stopped him before.
And when it becomes way more than just sex? When Trevor becomes the first guy he wants to see in the mornings and the last thing before he goes to bed at night? When theyโre so completely entangled together that he couldnโt get free, even if he wanted to?
Thatโs a special kind of thunder.
Available on:ย Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, paperback (model & discreet), and audio narrated by Darcy Stark (est early July)
I could not put this one down and read it in about a day. That prologue just made me hurt for Lane and it explains so much of the dynamic between the two. But once things become different, once they have the chance to explore an attraction between them … at one point Cam calls men “the most thickheaded morons” when in love and I couldn’t agree more ๐
Both of them are so hesitant and so unsure about the other. But as their experiment turns into feelings and those feelings deepen, things get even more complicated and neither is really sure what to do about it. Especially Lane who has spent so many years having to repress his feelings, and now no longer able to with Trevor in his home. In all his caring, sweet, earnestness while telling him that he may be into guys. Poor Lane didn’t have a chance.
Bolden’s characters are always so appealing and so delicious in their downfall that I don’t even need to read the blurb to know that it’s a must read. And once again she delivers a steamy slow burn, low angst, idiots-to-lovers romance but at least Lane & Trevor are fun in their idiocy.
*****
Author Info:
A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasnโt a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. Sheโs published fourteen novels and five short stories.
I never thought Iโd get marriedโฆlet alone to a man Iโve had to pull a gun on.
Twice.
But I also couldnโt have anticipated some sleazy land developer would threaten to take my home.
If I donโt get married to fulfill some stupid clause in my grandparentsโ willโฆ
Iโll lose everything.
Until game warden Wolf Owens steps in and claims to be my fiancรฉ.
Beyond staring down the barrel of my weapon, we barely know each other.
The handsome, stoic man has no reason to help me beyond protecting the land we both love so muchโฆ
Yet from the moment we share our first kiss as husband and wife, this fake marriage starts to feel very real.
With each heated lookโฆ
Every lingering touchโฆ
We grow closer.
Until the only thing Iโm afraid of losing is him.
Grab this small town romance featuring a feisty veterinarian heroine who doesnโt want to need anyone else and a reclusive man who has never let himself want who find love in the wilderness and hope in each other.
Wolf is on the spectrum but Molly appreciates him for who he is and I love that for them both. They struggle a little trying to figure out how a relationship between them works, neither having any real experience being in a couple. Add in some childhood trauma & insecurities on both their parts and it isn’t a smooth road.
But I’m so proud of Molly for her patience and willingness to understand Wolf but to also push when it’s needed. And Wolf for asking for help and stepping up when required. They are just so sweet together, fully embracing each other and slowly creating a home that fits them both.
There’s a bit of a suspense element towards the end, but really the story is about these two falling in love and I could not have asked for anything more. This is the first book of Parker’s that I’ve read but it is a delightful introduction and I can’t wait to see where she goes with Wolf’s brothers.
*****
Author Info:
Natalie Parker resides in the Seattle area with her husband and two rugrats, but is originally a Michigan girl.
She always enjoyed writing and noticed she had a knack for it while earning her Psychology degree and has always been an avid reader, but never thought of becoming an author until one day there seemed to be a story to tell.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, reading, reading to her kids, drinking coffee, reading, occasional yardwork, reading, listening to music, reading and writing.
I’m not the kind of guy who turns down a dare. This is a lifestyle choice. I have committed to it fully, proudly, and without a single second thought.
So when Greg pointed across the bar at a man reading poetry alone in a black turtleneck and said “get him to agree to a date,” I was halfway out of the booth before the sentence finished.
Enter film student, built like an athlete, reads like a scholar, and has clearly never once left the house without putting on a fashion show for strangers. He saw through my opening line before I finished delivering it. He said yes to the date before I could ask. He also had his own agenda entirely.
His ex had moved on faster than he was prepared for. I needed a dare to brag about. So we struck a three weeks of convincing, mutually beneficial fake dating. His ex would reconsider. My fraternity brothers would think the dare had backfired so spectacularly that I was, apparently, in love with a man.
Easy.
Except when his hand settled on the small of my back in a crowded market and my brain went somewhere it had no business going. Except when he leaned in close to say something and I forgot what language was. Except when I caught myself watching his mouth and had to physically relocate my eyes.
I never met a dare I couldn’t handle. I just never expected one to handle me right back.
Double Dared is the second novel in The Boys of Elmwood U series, but it can be read as a standalone. It features one film student with a broken heart and an ill-advised theory about grand romance, one fraternity jock who has just discovered, somewhat inconveniently, that he has a type, and a fake-dating scenario that will bewilder, boggle, and befuddle its way to an accidentally happy ending.
*****
Review:
Aww, idiots in love. My favorite!
Taylor has so much golden retriever energy – charming, loved by everyone, and always up for something fun. It’s so easy to see why he knocks Harrison off kilter, there’s absolutely no way to prepare yourself for the vibrancy of Taylor. And Harrison’s more subdued, old-soul vibe is a good match for it. As they find themselves spending time together as part of their pact, it takes about half a second to develop into something more. They just need a bit to catch on ๐
Taylor’s go-with-the-flow attitude is apparent as he starts to realize exactly what his growing feelings for Harrison really means. And Harrison is more than willing to help him discover himself, his desires, and his feelings. It’s spicy, a smidge kinky, but very compelling as they explore their connection. Taylor so trusting & open to exploring everything under Harrison’s guidance & care. It’s a bit insta-lust / insta-love but I don’t know that I even noticed how quickly things happen for them. The progression seemed very natural and Hall paces it well.
Low angst, slow burn, and spicy, I’m loving this series by Hall. They’ve been fun to read with a good mix of humor and heat and characters that just grabbed me from page 1. After this and Extra Credit, I’m definitely putting him on my must read list and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
They call me Knight because I’m always trying to save someone…
Unfortunately, I can’t even save myself most of the time. I didn’t save myself from getting involved with the wrong people, from taking the fall for a guy I thought I loved, or from being betrayed by him.
Redemption Road gives me a fresh start. a new family of men who know what it’s like to make mistakes, and a chance to meet a guy who actually deserves my heart. Only problem? He’s a doctor going places far from Riverton–and he’s way too smart to fall for a con like me.
Especially when my past shows up and tries to drag me back into the biker gang I thought I’d escaped.
There’s no running from them. I’ll have to fight if I want my freedom. And there’s a good chance I won’t come out of it alive.
This time, I’ll have to save myself. But as the other ex-cons at Redemption Road step up, I realize I’m not alone. I finally have people who care about me.
And my best friend’s brother, Aiden, tops that list. He’s not only my roommate and casual hookup. He’s becoming the center of my world.
But unless I end this, I can’t stay with him. I’d only put him in danger. So there’s really no choice.
I loved Aiden & Knight together, both of them bringing more than their fair share of baggage into their relationship. Aiden because he carries a lot of guilt and responsibility for his brother’s time in prison and Knight with his feelings of being unworthy because of his past. But they worked so well together, fit just right. Both of them found a way to take care of the other. Lifting each other up and reminding them of their worth.
This is my first book from Jamison but it definitely will not be my last. Knight caught my attention from the first page and held it til the last. It was funny and steamy but also a little heartbreaking as it touched on the difficulties of life after prison and the problems of rural communities getting reliable health care. I’m sure returning readers loved the opportunity to catch up with previous couples but even as a new reader it was fine. I liked this big, boisterous group of friends and how loud & openly they love one another and look forward to seeing them again.
Iโve never met anyone who bothers me more than Chad Sinclair.
Heโs always smiling, always happy โ excited about life in a way I truly cannot comprehend. A spoiled city guy who acts like heโs never heard the word no before.
I canโt believe I drunkenly married him in Vegas.
Or that he showed up at my farmhouse, ready to give up his whole life to play happy husbands with me in the middle of nowhere.
Chad might have convinced himself weโre meant to be, but I gave up on that kind of future a long time ago.
CHAD
Iโve always believed things work out for me โ and getting my husband to admit he wants me is no exception.
John Sullivan might be grumpy, closed-off, and determined to pretend this means nothing, but he still chose me. He married me. He said I do, and Iโm not ready to let that go just because heโs pretending he is.
He can say thereโs no way we can work, but Iโm stubborn enough to stay and keep proving him wrong.
A grumpy/sunshine MM romance about a woke-up-married couple navigating life after loss, small-town living, and the kind of heat that burns slowest when youโre trying your hardest to resist it.
Please note that this is a standalone spinoff of their Love Without Labels series and that it does not take place on the reality show. It can be read solely on its own.
Tropes: Grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract, woke up married, trust fund x blue collar, city x small town, pierced/tattooed MMC, secret relationship, โno emotions just s*xโ, kink/bdsm exploration (shibari, sensory deprivation, temperature play, dom/sub, restraints/bondage, marking, c*ck-warming, edging, praise, toys), processing grief, only one bed, first times, caretaking, pining
*****
Review:
Chad is the brightest of sunshine-y, golden retriever, sweetheart characters. He’s so kind and positive and happy, the complete opposite of John, but he’s also confident in their relationship. He sometimes comes off as naive so I wish we’d gotten some more of their interactions in Vegas because I would love to see why he is so very convinced about John’s feelings. We get glimpses and I definitely admire Chad for how sure he is of their connection but I wanted even more. (Plus they are adorable together when John lets go and embraces everything Chad.)
That enthusiasm for pretty much everything brings humor & lightness and is a good foil for John’s reserve. He’s a very private person, keeping his feelings close, separating himself from friends & family and dealing with his grief alone. But even he isn’t able to resist Chad. I’m glad we get John’s POV because I think it would be hard to be understanding of how he treats Chad without it. He’s not cruel but he can be pretty curt. (This is another place where I think more of their Las Vegas interactions would have helped.)
Wanting My Husband is spicy & funny & emotional as Chad helps John address his past & look towards a possible future together. John may be in charge in the bedroom but Chad is a rock for him as they lean into their growing feelings. The way that Chad understands and takes care of John as he shows him that it is OK to love again, to be happy again, is just … *sigh* so sweet.
*****
Author Info:
Lexi is an American author who is obsessed with queer happily ever afters. Most of her time is spent with her two kids, but if theyโre asleep, then she is either reading, writing, or watching hockey.
Professionally trained as a nurse, Lexi decided to start writing when she became a stay at home mom and the characters in her head havenโt stopped talking since.
Lexi also loves Diet Coke, traveling, and Halloween. Her house is probably obnoxiously decorated for whatever holiday is next because she thinks that little things that make people smile are important.
Bec Benson is based in the Northeast, lives for the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, and genuinely believes emo music can make you happy. Sheโs obsessed with mgk, a good uninterrupted writing session, and queer romance novels.
Who needs a fairytale, when you’ve got a fancy dress wedding.
Dragged to her best friendโs Tudor-themed wedding at Hever Castle, Hayley Price figured she could handle a few costume changes and a little harmless role play.
She was not expecting a corset out for blood, a hostile hedge, or a persistently problematic peacock.
Paired with Tyler Ashfordโฆ insufferable, inconveniently attractive, and cast as the earl. Their mission is simple: pretend to be madly in love.
Easyโฆ right? Stay in character. Convince the audience.
But as the weekend unravels into a comedy of errors and sparks fly, their fake romance starts to feel dangerously real. Complete with wardrobe malfunctions, rogue hair rollers, and a leading man who thinks the bathtub is a perfectly acceptable place to flirt.
Happily ever after wasnโt in the script, and enemies-to-lovers has never looked so undignified.
*****
Review:
I found this book to be a hoot. Very Bridget Jones’s Diary, with a clumsy, trouble-prone heroine and a more staid hero who is charmed by her. Based on Goodreads, it looks like Bell is a new author and she’s got lots of things going for her. There’s entertaining humor and banter, also sweetness as Hayley gets to know Tyler even better. Could there have been more depth? Probably. Were there scenes missing that would have enhanced the story? Sure. I would love to get a better understanding of why Tyler is the black sheep & some of his history and see some more interactions of both of them with their friends. But even with a few plot holes, I was overall just as charmed as Tyler. And I’m definitely going to be looking out for more from this author.
*****
Author Info:
Sarah Bell writes swoony, slow-burn, romances full of flirty banter, emotional depth, and those deliciously heart-twisting moments that lead to unforgettable happily-ever-afters.
She believes love should make you laugh as much as it makes you feel, and her books deliver both in equal measure.
Based in West Sussex, England, Sarah writes from a makeshift office planted firmly in the middle of family chaos, wedged between plastic toys, PlayStation controllers, and far too many abandoned colouring pages.
She writes what she affectionately calls Baby Spice Sarah-lit: perfectly imperfect, emotionally honest romance designed to make you laugh, ache, and fall in love.
Her books blend humour, warmth, vulnerability, and longing, capturing romance at its most human.
A risk prevention specialist with a tight grip on his heart meets the prince of pandemonium who wants to set it free.
For Rayden James, love means devastating loss, so he focuses his energy on growing his private security business and avoiding romantic entanglements at all costs. His dedication pays off when his company lands its largest account yet. But the ink is barely dry on the contract when a chaotic charmer crashes through his defenses and makes Ray crave things he shouldnโt want.
Atticus Livengood is not living up to his name after a teeny-tiny mistake costs him his career, his home, and his dignity. With his self-esteem circling the drain, Atticus makes overhauling his life the top priority. A new job offers the perfect fresh start until a hopeless attraction to the head of security threatens to trip him up.
Sparks fly from the jump, and each new encounter fuels a physical and emotional connection that refuses to be ignored. But surrendering to their desire means making themselves vulnerable to one another and a fickle universe that takes just as quickly as it gives. Will Ray and Atticus stand and deliver for a chance at love or play it safe and walk away?
Tropes: Tortured hero, grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, and a little forced proximity
*****
Excerpt:
Rounding the side of the building, I saw a hooded figure wailing away on a grayish hatchback car with a crowbar. Heโd already knocked out one of the windows on the side I could see and had likely knocked out one on the opposite side too. I ripped my walkie-talkie off the belt and radioed for help as I willed the stupid golf cart to go faster.ย
โAre you fucking kidding me?โ came Archerโs tinny reply.
โNo, damn it. I need backup at the community recreational building. Call the police.โย
โPolice? Whatโs going on?โ
โJust get here.โ Thinking of the sabotaged batteries, I added, โBetter drive our SUV.โ As if to prove my point, the electric motor sputtered and whined. โShit.โย
Clang, clang, clang. Crash!
The assailant was too busy bashing the rear quarter panel and window on the poor car to notice my approach. I wanted to keep it that way.ย
โWhatโs that noise?โ Archer demanded.
โAn assault on a vehicle. Get here.โ
โIโm already on my way. Almost to the SUV. Should you approach this perp alone?โ
โSo far, the assailant has only brandished a crowbar. I can survive that.โย
The electric golf cart battery died, and I bit back another curse. The hooded assailant jerked his head up, noticing me for the first time.ย
Launching myself out of the cart, I commanded, โDonโt move.โย
The assailant froze like a deer in headlights for all of two seconds before he turned and ran. I pumped my arms and legs fast in pursuit, smiling to myself because I had done my homework, and his chosen path only led to trouble. Sure enough, I rounded the building and saw that the perp had trapped himself between the building on the right, an eight-foot stone wall on the left, and a six-foot privacy fence in front of him that surrounded the outdoor pool, where the occupants jammed to seventiesโ disco music. The only real escape was for this asshole to get past me, and that would not happen.ย
โTogether. Spread โem. Together. Spread โem,โ called out a man on the other side of the fence.ย
The assailant raised his crowbar as if he might charge me, then launched it over the poolโs privacy fence instead. He took two steps back to get a run, then leaped toward the top of the fence, landing in the middle with an awkward splat. The guy somehow held on to the top of the fence and dug his toes into the wood to climb the rest of the way. His slow progress allowed me to hit the fence directly behind him. My lead foot landed in the middle of the board, and I used the momentum to propel me up high enough to see over the top. Gripping the fence, I flung my body over the boards, eyes scanning the surroundings to see where the man with the crowbar had gone. My gaze landed on a bare-chested, hot guy balanced on the edge of a chair with his toned legs extending in front of him. He was stuck in the spread โem position as he gaped at me, which sent my mind to places it had no business going under the circumstances.ย
Awareness sparked and sizzled in my brain as familiar eyes locked on me and widened in surprise. I still couldnโt tell if they were green or brown. The world around us faded away, and my descent seemed to slow. Keeping my attention on Atticus was stupid and dangerous. I needed to survey the rest of the area, but I couldnโt tear my gaze away from him, not even when I landed on the concrete with a jarring thud.ย
That momentary distraction allowed the assailant to take a swing at me with the crowbar. I felt the air move and ducked just in the nick of time, so the blow glanced off my shoulder instead of hitting me in the head. I lowered my shoulders and rammed them into his gut, lunging forward with more strength than was necessary to make the tackle. One minute, my feet were on solid ground, and the next, I was falling through air and splashing into the water. My attacker squirmed in my grip, but I wasnโt about to let go. I wanted to take the fucker down to the bottom of the pool and alligator roll him until he stopped moving. But a cooler head prevailed, and I dragged the assailant to the surface of the pool.ย
*****
Review:
There were lots of times that I smiled at this book and even giggled a few times. Kit is so eager and earnest and he fits in so well with the residents of Silver Maple. I love him for all his clumsy, enthusiastic glory and I love Ray for his steadiness & his appreciation of what makes Kit Kit. They are great together, with Ray helping Kit get his self esteem back and Kit helping Ray to let go of some of his guilt. Both of them have a lot of trauma to address, and a therapist is mentioned but no one actually sees one. I’m hoping that maybe that comes up more as we move through the other books because both of them deserve to be, and love as, their unabashed selves.
And I’m looking forward to the next books because I love the idea of the RAVEN guys. Found family / Band of Brothers type series are some of my favorites and there is so much potential here. These guys have traumas that they need to face in order to be able to truly live again, which means there is a lot of potential here. Unfortunately we didn’t really get to know them all that well. We’re introduced to them and given little hints but maybe we’ll have to wait for their individual books to really get to know them. Which is fine, but it just loses a little of that something special.
As a first book in a new series, taking on the work of introducing a new world, Walker does a good job with Stand and Deliver. It’s spicy and funny but also pulls at the heartstrings as both Kit and Ray, and later his friends, have to address past hurts. It’s a slow burn with a pretty obvious relationship issue that they have to get past, but I like the way Walker handles things and I have faith that she’ll take us somewhere good.
*****
Author Info:
Aimee Nicole Walker is an international bestselling author of Male/Male contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. Her stories guarantee hunks with bigโฆhearts, lots of humor and heat, and the occasional homicide. Aimee is a lifelong dreamer, an avid reader, and an off-key singer. Only two of those traits help her craft captivating characters and charming communities where everyone is welcome. She uses the other quirk to entertain her pets during writing breaks.ย
Aimee has loved the same guy for over thirty years. Her husband is the reason she can write romance novels, and heโs possibly inspired a fictional murder plot a time or ten. They share three adult children, two adorable grandsons, and a menagerie of pets that donโt include goats or donkeysโฆyet. Love inspires everything she does, books keep her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.
Can you believe this? Havertonโs football hero is opening a bagel shop next to my pizzeria and heโs sellingโwait for itโpizza bagels. The nerve!ย
And Rob Vilmer isnโt above using his fame to attract clients. Itโs annoying and yes, Iโm feeling a little crusty about the situation. My temper has gotten me into a few binds, but a pizza-bagel war? This is a first.ย
Iโm gonna crush him.ย
ROB
After years of playing in the pros, Iโm beat. All I want is to open a bagel shop in the town that gave me a shot at the big time. Iโd love some peace and quiet too, however, I wonโt be getting that with Mateo Cavaretti next door.ย
Geez, I canโt believe I had a crush on that guy in college. Sure, heโs still incredibly good-looking, but heโs a grouch. And while I like my business partnerโs idea of settling our dispute with a classic bake-off, Mateo and I canโt be in the same room without fireworks exploding.ย
Okay, some of those fireworks are extra sexy and that might be a problem.ย
Or is all truly fair in love and pizzaโฆand bagels?
Allโs Fair in Love and Pizza is an MM grumpy/sunshine, small-town romance featuring former teammates, a culinary challenge, and a HEA worth fighting for.ย
*A portion of All’s Fair in Love and Pizza was originally included in the Delicious Anthology. This new version has doubled in length to over 40k words and a whole lot of bake-off shenanigans!ย
โWhoa. Wait up.โ I held my hand like a stop sign and stepped into his space. Bad move. I had to tilt my head to meet his eyes now, and that was weird. I was six oneโnot exactly a small dude, but that asshole had sprouted at least another two inches since college. Iโd bet he was six foot six. And yes, he was an asshole. I hadnโt thought so until a minute ago, but nowโฆ โYou canโt sell pizza bagels next to a pizza parlor.โ
โI canโt?โย
โNo, you canโt. Itโs brand assimilation or something. Itโs illegal.โย
โIllegal?โ he scoffed. โI donโt think so, Mateo. Bagels are bagels, pizza is pizza. But I was only kidโโ
โYeah, but a pizza bagel is a piece of dough thatโs dressed up to look like something it isnโt. Itโs shady advertising, not to mention blatant customer poaching. Sell all the bagels you want, but donโt sell pizza bagels. Thatโs a great way to get off to a rotten start. You know what Iโm saying?โย
Rob regarded me for a long moment. โAre you threatening me?โ
โThreaten is a strong word. Iโm suggesting you do the right thing.โ
โOr what?โย
I snort-laughed in my most derisive, supremely irritating fashion. It was the kind of insincere and dismissive gesture that had pissed off opponents on the field years ago and still probably got under my cousinsโ skin. Nothing to brag about, but heyโฆIโd learned how to play with the big kids early. Rule number one: Never show fear. Rule number two: Never back down or give someone else the upper hand.ย
โI โspose youโll find out.โ I turned on my heels, tray clenched to my chest as I sauntered next door.
Yeah, yeah. Look, maybe Rob wasnโt the enemy. Maybe it was a quirky act of fate that heโd happened to lease the property next to mine. The one I wanted.
Fortune had shined upon him and that was nice and all, but Boardwalk Pizza was an institution in this town. We were the experts, we were the ones with decades of experience, and we werenโt going anywhere.ย
So Rob could shove his goddamn pizza bagel up his ass.
*****
Review:
I love Lane Hayes’s books. Her name on the cover makes it an automatic read for me but honestly I struggled a little at the beginning of this one. It’s set up as an enemies-to-lovers or rivals-to-lovers story but I just didn’t get why Mateo was so antagonistic to Rob from the beginning. I had faith tho and kept going and I’m glad I did. Once I got a little further, I loved the two of them together, and individually, and it made for lighthearted fun.
Teo is all sorts of prickly and sarcastic but he loves big and loud. And he’s surrounded by a family that loves just as big and loud and I love that for him. I need more from them because they are a hoot. While Rob may be a little quieter, he loves big too and he adores every bit of Teo’s grouchiness.
I do feel like there was an opportunity to go a little deeper into their issues – Rob’s anxiety and Teo’s reasons for putting up walls. It was originally a novella in an anthology so I’m wondering if maybe the additions just didn’t mesh quite as well as they could have.
Mixing a bit of fun with a dose of family love and some heat, Hayes gives us a nice, comfortable read. It’s not angsty, more a quiet slide into a HEA.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayesย lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheโs 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 yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
