Tropes: Enemies to friends to lovers, close proximity, agent + player, secret situationship
Blurb:
Thad
Failing to make it in pro ball left me absolutely devastated. Baseball has been my life, my dream, but itโs time to move on.
Becoming a sports agent was always my back-up plan, and now that Iโm interning at the biggest queer-focused firm in the country, Iโm doing my best not to let my bitterness toward baseball affect my future.
Thatโs really difficult when Iโm assigned to babysit Kelley Afton, hotshot rookie pitcher for Philly. He has everything I ever wanted, and he doesnโt even appreciate it. I didnโt become an agent so I could soothe the ego of diva athletes.
His constant need for validation from others frustrates me to no end, but thatโs probably a good thing. Because if he didnโt have that, Iโd find him irresistibly my type.
Attraction could lead to crossing lines which would put my position at King Sports in jeopardy, and I canโt have that.
I have enjoyed the heck out of all of Finley’s books I’ve read and The Backup Plan is no exception. She does a fantastic job of giving her readers interesting characters and believable plots. Some of the characters may be big-shot athletes, musicians, etc but at the end of the day they are just men looking for a connection.
Thad is struggling a little after realizing that a MLB career isn’t in the cards for him. And he’s taking it out on a certain extremely sexy, extremely talented, extremely egotistical pitcher. Once he realizes what is truly at the root of Kelley’s need to be liked, it sends him on a path of little self-reflection. And maybe a little more.
Kelley’s mental health issues may have caused him to take a self-imposed break in the woods, but it also gives him the one person that he feels completely comfortable being his self with. Someone who also helps him quiet the destructive voices in his head.
There is a lot standing between Thad and Kelley, mostly revolving around their jobs, but it isn’t full of drama. Instead we get a steamy, funny, and satisfying read as they find themselves having to decide what they are willing to do, to give up, to embrace a future together.
*****
Author Info:
Eden Finley is an Amazon bestselling author who writes steamy contemporary romances that are full of snark and light-hearted fluff.
She doesn’t take anything too seriously and lives to create an escape from real life for her readers. The ideas always begin with a wackadoodle premise, and she does her best to turn them into romances with heart.
With a short attention span that rivals her son’s, she writes multiple different pairings: MM, MMF, and MF.
She’s also an Australian girl and apologises for her Australianisms that sometimes don’t make sense to anyone else.
While tracking down an escaped felon, FBI Special Agent Evan McGarry and his K-9, Blue, uncover a smoking hot lead on the location of dozens of missing childrenโincluding Evan’s own sister. The shocking discovery reopens cold cases throughout Colorado, along with painful wounds and the heartbreaking guilt Evan’s kept buried for decades.
Three years ago, hospital custodian Marlie Foxe’s world imploded, causing her to cut herself off from the world. But when one of the missing boys turns up at her hospital, he only allows Marlie to get close. Now, Evan needs her help with the boyโand he won’t take no for an answer. When she finally agrees to work with him, Evan suspects there’s more to the woman than she’s letting on. She’s hiding something. The question isย what.
As Evan and Marlie unearth a cult targeting runaways, they’re forced to confront not only dangerous criminals but the truths they’ve both been avoidingโincluding the blistering passion they can no longer deny. But when more children disappear, they’ll have to risk more than just their hearts.
Each book in the K-9 Special Ops series is STANDALONE: * Tough Justice * Burning Justice * Ultimate Justice
โUltimate Justice is romantic suspense done right! It has great characters, a riveting plot, and sizzling romance. Tee OโFallonโs law enforcement background shines through in the realistic and suspenseful plotโฆ The story moves at a brisk pace that will keep the pages flyingโฆ This is one of my favorite books of the year and Tee OโFallon is an author to seek out.โ โ Just Another Damn Book Blog
Donโt miss the other books in the series! Find them on Amazon!
*****
Excerpt:
Evan arched a brow. Liar. The woman looked anything but happy.
Her knuckles were white where she had her long blond braid in a death grip, and the smooth skin over her carotid pulsed rapidly. She shot what he could swear was a panicked look at the door. Bottom lineโฆMarlie Foxe looked ready to bolt faster than a deer on opening day of hunting season.
Her deep blue gaze met his, and he was struck by the sad, haunted look in hers. Heโd seen that look. It was the same one heโd seen in the mirror on his own face and those of his parents in the days and months after Gracie disappeared. He wondered if it would ever stop.
Now, for the first time in twenty-four years, he was, potentially, on the verge of discovering the answer to his familyโs burning question: what happened to their daughter, his sister?
If only he wasnโt exhausted. Make that totally beat to shit. Heโd barely slept, and then only because heโd had to.
In the two days heโd been waiting to interview Noah, heโd fully briefed his SAICโSpecial Agent in Chargeโthe FBI director via Zoom, the U.S. Attorneyโs Office in Denver, gotten an arrest warrant for Francis Manello and served another search warrant at the manโs house. He and a team of agents had tossed the house from top to bottom. Forensics was dumping every scrap of information on Manelloโs computer, but all Evan could think about was that Polaroid. He still couldnโt believe it, but it was herโGracieโwearing the same pink shirt sheโd had on the last time heโd seen her. Guilt squeezed his heart tighter than a bank vault door.
Focus, dammit! Focus!
โBlue, come.โ He hitched his head to the dog whoโd been his partner for more than four years.
As Blue trotted to the bed, Evan pointed, and his dog situated himself between Marlie and the bed and rested his head on the edge of the mattress.
Despite Blueโs size, Marlie didnโt cringe or back away.
โCan I pet him?โ Noah looked at Evan expectantly.
โYou bet. Thatโs what I brought him for.โ Pretty much every kid Noahโs age wanted a dog. A dogโs attention and comfort were great for improving emotional health, especially after a traumatic experience. The only thing necessary was for the dog to be gentle and friendly, which Blue was. Except when hunting down a homicidal felon.
It wasnโt quite a smile, but the corners of Marlieโs pink, full lips lifted a fraction as she watched Noah pet Blue. She had the most interesting face heโd ever seen. Heart-shaped. Yet it was her eyes that drew him in. Eyes were the windows to the soul, and he wondered about hers.
โHe likes having his ears stroked,โ Evan said, casting a glance over his shoulder. The good doctor, who looked eerily like an undertaker, would be back soon with those extra chairs. Noah didnโt like the man. Getting him out the door, even for a few minutes, seemed like a stellar idea.
Blue leaned into the boyโs hand and groaned like heโd just scarfed down a meaty T-bone. The deep rumble in the back of Blueโs throat made Noah giggle.
He hadnโt quite reached adolescence and still had the high-pitched voice of youth.
โDo you like dogs?โ he asked, taking the first step in his forensic interview of the boy: establishing rapport.
He nodded.
In the interest of not towering over the bed, Evan sat in the vacant chair, leaving Kinnemara, the FBIโs Office for Victim Assistance advocate, standing quietly by the door.
Normally, heโd approach any interview with methodical calm, but that Polaroid of his sister made him feel like a powder keg with a little fuse. He wanted to trash protocol and dive right in. With children, rushing in too quickly could be disastrous. โDid you ever have a dog before?โ
Noah shook his head, his attention still focused on Blue. โI wanted one, but Sheila and Mikeโmy foster parentsโwouldnโt let me.โ
No surprise there. Noah Lundโs background check had included his former foster parents. Sheila and Mike Hamilton had been too busy peddling drugs out their back door to care about anyone else. Heโd bet theyโd only taken Noah in to get state money for fostering a child. The stateโs screening process was seriously flawed.
More like, seriously sucked.
Evan caught Marlie scrutinizing him. The haunted look in her eyes had been replaced by something else. Suspicion. Still drilling him with those piercing blue eyes, she rested a hand on Noahโs shoulder, telling him something elseโNorth Metroโs custodian was protective of the boy. Somehow, in the span of only two days, theyโd formed a bond, one he needed to be cautious of. Perhaps, take advantage of.
โDo you like baseball?โ The kidโs pjs were baseball-themed.
โYeah.โ Noah kept petting Blue.
โMe too. I played in school.โ
Finally, the boy looked up. โWhat position?โ
โCenterfield. You?โ
Noah shrugged. โDonโt know. Never played on a team. Just with Caleb.โ
โWhoโs Caleb?โ He already knew the kid had no siblings and no other blood relatives the state was aware of.
โMy friend. I think he got caught. Heโโ
Caught?
Squealing came from the hallway as Dr. Strobie wheeled in two more chairs, positioning one beside Evanโs and leaving the other at the foot of the bed for Kinnemara.
Strobie sat and scooted his chair closer. Noah stopped petting Blue and tugged the sheet on his lap higher, gripping it tightly in his fists, as if forming a protective shield. The kid really didnโt like the hospital shrink. If he could eject the doc from the room, he gladly would. The manโs presence had the same effect as slapping a strip of duct tape over the boyโs mouth. Strobie had also procured a legal-size notepad and sat poised with a ballpoint pen in his hand.
This guy was a pain in the ass. The best way to establish rapport and trust with a child was to show them you were listening and that you cared.
Not by writing down every word.
*****
Review:
I’ve only read a couple of O’Fallon’s books (Goodreads shows only one review but I would swear I’ve read more) a while back and I remember liking them. I love the relationship between the men & their K-9 partners and the suspense element was well done. The men are strong, smart, and brave and find women that are a good match.
With her latest, there are a few moments that I want to yell at both Evan and Marlie. He’s got decades of trauma though that help explain why he does some self-destructive things. I’m a bit surprised that he hadn’t had more therapy, especially for a FBI agent doing the job he does, but I do appreciate the emphasis on how much it is emphasized otherwise throughout the book. And he does eventually figure his stuff out.
I think that Marlie does a few things that are just plain stupid and she gets the consequences you would expect. I understand that it works for the way the plot goes but as an observer it is a bit frustrating. But her journey to the shell of a person at the beginning to the woman she is in the epilogue is a pleasure. I feel like maybe Noah’s attachment happened a bit too quickly but I liked her path to a HEA.
Fast paced, with twists & turns and a satisfying ending, I found myself reminded why I enjoyed O’Fallon’s book. Her characters are intriguing, with a plot that’s a good mixture of danger, feels, and steam. I’m definitely adding more of her books to my TBR and will be keeping my eye out for what comes next.
(Part of a series but easily read as a stand alone.)
*****
Giveaway:
$10 Amazon
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
*****
Author Info:
Tee O’Fallon is the author of the Federal K-9 Series and the NYPD Blue & Gold Series. Tee has been a federal agent for twenty-three years and is now a police investigator, giving her hands-on experience in the field of law enforcement that she combines with her love of romantic suspense. When not writing, Tee enjoys cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and spending time with her Belgian Sheepdogs Loki and Kyrie. Tee loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website https://teeofallon.com where you can also sign up for Teeโs newsletters.
When youโre crushing on a guy, the last thing you want is to get caught singing their name while naked in the locker room showers. Thankfully, Ryan pretended not to notice. I can play the denial game with the best of them, but I canโt ignore the growing feelings I have for him. Weโve been rivals on the field for two years, but lately, my eyes keep finding him off the field as well, drawn to his piercing blue stare and brilliant smile.
As fate would have it, weโre paired together for a sequence of Star-Crossed Lovers skits, and while Iโm excited at the prospect of spending more time with him, with rumors of team cuts at the end of the season, it makes me wonder if there is any point in starting anything at all. Maybe weโre just destined to stay on opposing sides.
Ryan
Being on the other side of the world from your entire family is hard, especially when you see everyone else going home to theirs every night. So, when I moved in with Duckie and Ian, I was excited to at least have people to come home to.
But they arenโt the only ones I see every day. Across the alley lives an old man and his cat who greet me with a demonic howl and a gruff reminder that my favorite game isnโt โrealโ baseball.
Good thing Iโm not easily offended, and while I might be still on the fence about the cat, imagine my surprise when I discover the old man is Alan Beakerโs grandfather. Suddenly, my days arenโt just filled with on-field practice and rehearsals with the guy Iโve been crushing on hard, theyโre also filled with time spent with him off the field too.
It isnโt long until I notice just how devoted to his family Alan is, and the more time I spend with them, the more they make me feel like I belong. Now if only I can get Alan to take a chance on us, then I can make this feeling last forever.
Dennis shoves open the locker room door. โDoes anyone know Phillipโs part of the opening number?โ
My hand is up, and Iโm on my feet in a split second.
โYeah, Iโm pretty sure I do,โ I say, and his face lights up.
โGreat, Ryan, youโre with me. Now.โ
I follow Dennis out of the room into the hall where Phillip and Alan are waiting. Phillip is lying on one of the medic stretchers, an ice pack on his head.
โWhat happened?โ I ask, and he removes the pack, revealing a massive black eye.
โI got beat up.โ
โWhat?โ I ask, but Alan is laughing.
โItโs not like that. He got hit in the face by a kidโs bat.โ
โSo a kid beat you up?โ I ask, and Dennis grabs the ice pack out of his hand and shoves it back over his eye.
โKeep that there. Youโll be fine. Now you two,โ he says to Alan and me. โGet over here. I want to see you run it through before we have to be out there. Oh, crap.โ
โWhat?โ I ask.
โIโm not sure you will be able to lift Alan.โ
โIโll be fine,โ I reply, but he doesnโt look convinced.
โSeriously, I bench more than heโs gotta weigh. Iโll be okay.โ
Alan shakes his head. โYou hurt your shoulder, you canโt lift me. What if it makes it worse?โ
โIโm good, I swear. Kyle was overreacting.โ
โIโll do it,โ Alan says, and I want to object and insist Iโm fine, but I also really, really want him to pick me up in his arms and carry me. Shit, how much do I weigh?
โUmm, itโs okay. We can just jump down together.โ
He spins to face me.
โYou donโt think I can pick you up, do you?โ Heโs got one hand on his hip like heโs some diva offended by the implication they canโt do something.
โIโm just heavier than I look,โ I reply with a shrug.
โFuck that. Iโm picking you up. Dennis, start the music. We got this.โ
*****
Author Info:
Becca Jackson writes MM romance that delivers heart, heat, and happily ever afters for some totally adorkable and fabulous guys.
The rookie superstar, the desperate cowboy, and a naughty propositionโฆ
Denny
The press calls me this yearโs hotshot, the rookie who scores at will and conjures plays out of thin air. Truth isโฆIโm a PR nightmare. Seriously. Ask my agent.
My anxiety is off the charts. I canโt talk to the media without breaking into a cold sweat, but once I get through the season, I can regroup at home. Life is simpler in Vermont.
Well, not anymore. Thereโs a new cowboy in town. Literally, a cowboy. At least, Hank looks like oneโhe owns a horse, wears a hat, and did I mention heโs hot?
And get thisโฆhe has a proposition for me.
Hank
Proposition is a strong word. I prefer to call this a mutually beneficial arrangement. See, I could use Dennyโs help with a family business venture, and though I was planning to offer cash, the jock has a sexier idea.
Not gonna lie, Iโm interested.
This could be a fun distraction while Iโm stuck in Elmwood. Nice enough place, however, the locals are wary of an outsider taking over the neighboring mill. Long story shortโฆthey donโt trust me. But they love their hometown hockey hero.
I get it.
Iโve never met anyone like Dennyโskittish in street clothes and a feral beast with cunning instincts on the ice. Heโs fascinating, sexy, smart, andโ
Whoa! Iโm not falling for the hotshot rookie. No way, no how, no chanceโฆ
Too late.
Hotshot is an MM bisexual, age-gap, small town romance featuring a hotshot rookie, a sexy cowboy, and a proposition that changes everything.
โLetโs get this over with. What did you want?โ
โOuch. I canโt remember the last time anyone was happy to see me,โ he groused without heat. โExcept Steve the contractor. He likes me okay, but heโs being paid well. Our employees do well too, but sadly, they donโt like me at all.โ
โI canโt help you with that. Sorry.โ
Hank sipped his beer and shrugged. โYes, you can. Iโm extorting you, remember?โ
โOhโฆyeah.โ I chuckled.
And fuck, I didnโt want to be amused. I didnโt want to like Hank at all, but it was hard not to appreciate his self-deprecating honesty. He emanated โnice guyโ vibes with the right amount of edge. No wonder drunk me had gotten flirty with him. Fortunately, sober me knew he was more than I could handle.
Which was fine since Hank wasnโt interested anyway. He wanted my alleged star power, not me.
So why was I grinning like an idiot?
Fuck, I had a bad feeling my eyes were twinkling too. I had to rein that shit in, stat.
โSoโฆletโs make a deal,โ he said, thankfully unaware of my inner detour. โI need an Elmwood buddy. My dad gave me the all-clear to make my offer sexy, soโฆwhatโll it be?โ
I bugged my eyes out. โSexy?โ
โYeah, something interesting. If itโs money, name your price. Tell me what you want in exchange for your time.โ
You.
The word tripped to the tip of my tongue. I bit it back and swallowed it, clearing my throat to be sure it was gone.
โI justโฆwant to make sure that whatever I blabbed while I was wasted off my ass stays between us.โ
โYeah, but Iโll do that for free. You can trust me.โ
โI donโt know you,โ I retorted.
โTrue,โ he conceded, sipping his beer. โBut you donโt really have a choice. I canโt prove that I wonโt sell you out. Itโs a trust thing. Letโs talk about the sexy angle, โcause I need an Elmwood buddy like yesterday.โ
โI canโt believe Iโm asking this, butโฆwhat does an Elmwood buddy do?โ
โHe shows the new guy the ropes.โ Hank leaned in. โIntroduce me, give me tips on whoโs who and what to avoid. I suck in Elmwood and I need a champion, a liaisonโฆa friend. That can be you.โ
I huffed in amusement, feeling strangely at ease. He was charming as fuck and I was not immune. โHow can you suck in Elmwood? Everyone is cool there.โ
He slumped on his stool. โI donโt know, but Iโm even worse in Wood Hollow. I donโt get it. People in Denver like me just fine. Even you like me.โ
โNo, I like your hat.โ I reached for his water and winked.
I fucking winked.
Me.
That was me flirting. Ugh. Bad, Denny. Bad.
I felt surprisingly relaxed with him. Like I had last weekend when Iโd spilled my guts andโฆother things. The point was, I could talk to him without feeling immediately depleted, and that alone was a minor miracle.
Hank kicked my shin playfully. โNah, you like me. You did last weekend, anyway.โ
โI was drunk, and Iโm still mortified. Go easy on me.โ I took a swig of water as if I were knocking back whisky.
โIโll try, butโฆyou shook your dick at me, then fell buck-ass naked in my bed, so cโmon.โ
My eyes had to be saucer-sized. โI shook my dick at you?โ
He inclined his chin and winked in a touchรฉ move that made my cock swell against my zipper.
โA week later, Iโm still thinking about it,โ Hank drawled.Whoa. Was he serious?
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes 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!
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and I hate that I’m still in love with him.
โ Austin โDaredevilโ Wentworthโ
I hate Greer Rowan.
Hate how I feel when he looks at me, hate the way things ended, and I hate that heโs my older brotherโs best friend.
I hate how badly I want him, and most of all, I hate that Iโm still stupidly in love with him.
But I have a job to do. Greer has hired me to do the impossible with him on an international excursion thatโs going to land us together in his bed. Problem is, I might not hate that.
โ Greer Rowanโ
Iโve been such a fool.
I had my reasons for doing what I did, and I know I hurt him. Austin may never understand, but Iโm going to force him to hear me out. And if pushing all his protector buttons to get him to pretend to be my boyfriend at my nieceโs wedding wonโt do the trick, Iโll dare him to do something else because that angry man is all I want.
Austin is the love of my life. Weโre supposed to be together, and Iโve already wasted too many years without him.
The Billionaire is book three in the Portland Protectors- EHM Security series. It is a not so fake boyfriend, gay for you, brotherโs best friend, grumpy sunshine MM Romance with a swoony HEA.
Greer turned to appraise me with a knowing smile, making my breathing a little raspier than normal. I was no longer Carterโs kid brother. I was more. And his appreciative smile and long assessing gaze that took in my face, my sharp jaw, and my lips said he knew it. And he looked pleased to see me.
โWell, hello there. It’s good to see you, Austin.โ
I smiled and held out my hand to shake his. โHello, Greer. Itโs really nice to see you.โ
He shifted on his stool toward me, then looked momentarily at my hand before sliding his into mine.
When he touched me, a warm sensation started in my hand before heading straight into my pants. I looked down at where our skin made contact and, for the briefest of moments, I wondered if his lips on mine would have the same effect. Would he taste like I’d imagined?
Would kissing him cause an electrical current to run through me, making me want things I knew I shouldnโt? He was my much older brotherโs best friend, and old enough to be my father. But that didnโt stop the tidal wave of longing and desire Iโd carried for him for years. And at that moment, I didnโt think anything could.
Greer held my hand as he looked into my eyes, making me lose track of time. Iโd always been attracted to him, and if the way he looked at me was any indication, he was feeling it, too.
โWant a drink?โ
I felt my face heat as his words registered in my lust-addled brain. Thatโs what he reduced me to every single time I was near him.
โUh, yeah,โ I said, clearing my throat and pulling my hand from his. โIโll have a stout.โ
Greer smiled like my choice of beverage answered an unasked question, then turned back toward the bartender, where he raised a hand to get his attention. I took a breath and righted myself on the stool. His familiar cologne filled my nose again, and I wanted to rub up against him like a cat. I wanted his scent all over my skin.
The close confines of the bar caused my thigh to line up with his, igniting an entirely new wave of scorching desire and need through every cell in my body. No man had ever caused this kind of fire in me. And it was dangerous as fuck.
*****
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.โฉ
For as long as she can remember, Rheland’s had her nose stuck in a book, getting lost in the world of someone else’s creation (She still does). Her love for writing came from her love for reading. She could never have one without the other.
Writing has always been a hobby and a cathartic experience for her. There are many stories lost to the never to be completed or published pile but needed to be written at the time.
She’s just a girl that loved stories so much she decided to write hers.
Rheland would love to hear from her readers and learn more about y’all. So if you get a chance… Get in touch.โฉ
Sabotaged brakes didnโt kill Rueben Sanchez, but waiting for his assailantsโ trial to start just might. A potential witness for the prosecution canโt explore his lusty feelings for the hunky sheriff who saved him, but that doesnโt stop his imagination from running wild. Rueben has already shaped his traumatic mountainside meet cute with Seth Burke into a happily ever after to tell their future grandkids. When the delay threatens to stretch on for years, Rueben feels his dreams slipping out of reach. Should he surrender gracefully or fight for his man?
Pressure and scrutiny are nothing new to Seth, but shouldering his duties has never felt like a burden until they keep him from the man he wants most. Cracking an unsolved murder, safeguarding a high-profile trial, and winning re-election should be enough to keep him busy. But he canโt stop thinking about the perfect weekend he shared with Rueben before everything careened off course. Are they as good together as Seth remembers, or is his memory swayed by the allure of the forbidden? And does he dare to find out?
Late-night phone calls and shared secrets lead to stolen kisses and a lakeside cabin rendezvous. But one encounter isnโt enough, and the two men will risk everything to explore their deepening bond. When a series of chilling events rock the county, Rueben and Seth must put more than their hearts on the line because one misstep could prove fatal.
The Keeper is book five in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Keeper contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
Seth scanned the hallway again, and his gaze landed on the stockroom. โIn here.โ He curled his fingers into fists to avoid doing something stupid like reaching for Ruebenโs hand. Seth opened the door and turned on the light. The space wasnโt huge to start with, and rows of tall metal storage shelves aligned both walls, leaving only a narrow aisle between them. Seth shut the door and gave in to the urge to take Rueโs hand, guiding him past stacks of toilet paper, napkins, and nonperishable food items. They stopped by a section of table condiments toward the back of the room. The aisle was barely big enough for one person, let alone two, and Seth ended up crowding Rueben against the metal shelving. Body heat drew him in, or maybe Rueben gave Sethโs heartstrings a little tug. Either way, it was nearly impossible not to react to the energy pulsing between them. โI want to apologize.โ
Ruebenโs gorgeous mouth curved into a wicked smile. โI canโt fault your style.โ
Seth almost laughed and replied with a snappy comeback, but they didnโt have much time. He went for a direct approach instead, though he didnโt step back to put distance between them. How could he when Rueben smelled so damn delicious? Seth tried not to be too obvious when he inhaled a little deeper on his next breath. Mmmm. Sunshine and clean clothes. โAnd clear the air,โ he added.
โIโm trying to decide if your growing erection is making things clearer or if itโs muddying the water,โ Rueben said.
Sethโs exhale came out sounding more like a needy whimper than the heavy sigh heโd intended. Ruebenโs warm chuckle was such a small sound, but it rippled over him like a seductive caress. Seth needed to take a step back, screw his head on right, and put things in proper perspective, but he settled his hands at Ruebenโs hips and held on for dear life. Being together was so wrong but felt so fucking right.
โNot that Iโm complaining, but Iโm getting mixed signals from you today,โ Rueben said. โYou iced me out at the prosecutorโs office and wouldnโt even look at me. And now, youโre a few heartbeats away from rubbing one out against me.โ Seth hadnโt moved his hips so much as an inch, but grinding against Ruebenโs answering hard-on was the only thing on his mind. โUse your words, Burke. I donโt have enough emotional spoons left in the drawer to guess where your head is.โ He raised his hand and caressed Sethโs jaw with two fingers. โThis one, I mean. The other headโs desires are pretty self-explanatory.โ
*****
Author Info:
Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titlesโwife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.
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My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimeeโs Dye Hards? Weโd love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/
Kieran Sullivan is broken when he arrives at Redemption Ridge. A wrongful conviction and twenty months in lockup will do that to a man. The ranch is a place for second chances and fresh starts, but for him, itโs an opportunity to discover who set him up. Get in, get answers, and get out. The plan sounds easy enough until Kieran meets an equine specialist whose sunny smile could warm the coldest heart.
Finley Ashe is a sucker for bruised spirits and sad eyes. The horse whisperer and broken-boy magnet is six months into a hiatus from love when Kieran, the king of emotionally unavailable men, gets assigned to work under his supervision. Mutual attraction is gasoline on proximityโs flame, testing Finleyโs resistance in new ways.
Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?
Guys Like Him is book one in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Guys Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
Thin Ice is now available in audio! I’m so excited that listeners get a chance to meet Smitty and Bryson. (You an see what I thought about the book here.)
Thin Ice
The Elmwood Stories, Book 4
By Lane Hayes
Narrated by Nick J. Russo
Blurb:
The hunky dad, the hockey coach, and a new start…
Bryson
Elmwood isnโt good for my love life. Hey, Iโm a positive person and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about small-town living, but I havenโt had a date in years. Thatโs fineโmy son is and always has been my number one focus.
Except now heโs grown and gone. And itโs lonely.
Okay, yes, the new hockey coach is hot and single, but heโs off-limits. Smittyโs trouble with a capital T, and his baggage might outweigh mine. Besides, we said nothing would happen after โthatโ night. It was a one-time, never to be repeated deal.
At leastโฆthatโs what I thought.
Smitty
Am I sad about retiring from pro hockey? Honestly, no. I canโt remember the last time I wasnโt in pain. I need a rest and I could use a distraction from unwelcome memories at home. Stat.
SoโฆElmwood.
Look, we all know I wonโt last a whole season of coaching high school kids, but stepping in till they find a better candidate is a good temporary plan. And Brysonโs here.
Thereโs something about the hot dad with the sunny smile and bad dad jokes that makes me feel alive again. Iโm not in the market for foreverโbeen there, done that. Look, Iโve taken risks for my sport, but Iโm not giving my heart away again. I know thin ice when I see it.
Smitty gamely followed me to the next vignette at Pinecrestโs premiere home and furniture boutique. โItโs a coffee table, Bry. It serves two functionsโa footrest and a place to leave dishesโฆand the remote control. Anything is fine.โ
โYeah, right,โ I huffed. โSomehow I doubt the guy who couldnโt live with yellow walls and had lots of opinions about the sectional he special ordered doesnโt care about the coffee table that will go in the same room.โ
Smitty darted his gaze around the store and leaned in close. โPlaces like this intimidate the fuck out of me. It smells like a perfume factory and everyone is smilingโฆbut their eyes are dead. Like theyโre zombies. Is this a Pinecrest thing or a bougie thing? I donโt do well with hot cotchure.โ
I burst into laughter. โHaute couture?โ
โSure, whatever.โ
I brushed my hand against his in a show of solidarity, then linked our pinkies for a brief moment and pointed at a handsome dark-wood coffee table with a wide base. โWhat about that one?โ
Smitty shrugged. โLooks nice.โ
โI think so too.โ I clandestinely checked the tag. โYikes. Itโs pricey. Letโs keep looking.โ
โDo they have a coffee table with cupholders?โ
โAbsolutely not, and why would anyone want a cupholder in a coffee table?โ
Smitty widened his eyes comically. โAre you kidding me? Why would anyone not want a safe place to plop a cup? You never have to worry about spilling a drink or knocking it over, and you wouldnโt have to fumble for it when youโre watching a game, โcause your cup is right where you left it.โ
โOkay, thatโs a whole lot of nonsense. And thankfully, a moot point.โ I glanced at our surroundings as if to be sure that was true and noticed the salesperson watching us from the register. I couldnโt remember her name off the top of my head, but I was pretty sure Iโd sold her and her partner a house two years ago. I lowered my voice and added, โThey donโt have such a thing, but even if they did, Iโd stop you from buying it.โ
โHow? Iโm bigger than you. And Iโm fast. I could whip out my credit card in a flash and shove this fucker into my truck before you could say โNo, bad table!โ โ
*****
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!
Iโm gonna be fighting for flora when Iโm older and it all starts with auditing stats so I can level up for my masters, and lucky for me, the intriguing guy in my class is a math whizz.
Heโs standoffish at first, but after a class where I bet my sitcoms can make him laugh, one bet leads to another and weโre hanging out all the time. Even though I know heโs interested in me, weโre easy friends, until I start to think I might be a little interested in him, too.
The only problem? He seems like a totally different guy in class to when we hang out. I brush it off as him trying to concentrate, but then I spot something I canโt explain away.
A scar. On his palm.
One Iโm positive Benny has never had before.
Benny
Since we were little, my twin brother and I have always switched things upโliterally. It started as funsies, and now weโre college juniors and still taking each otherโs classes. I suck at Math, he sucks at English, and we both have a rule not to make friends in class as the other person. Our system is perfect.
Only Emmett has the audacity to get sick right before stats and I have to actually show up for my own classโwhere I meet my future husband.
Harrison is smart, weirdly into plants, and we instantly hit it off like old friends.
Only of course the gorgeous mountain of a nerd is straight.
Just when Iโm telling myself to let my dreams of matching rings go, our text messages become constant, flirtier, deeper than Iโve had with any other guy before. My butterflies have butterflies every time we catch up.
And then I get a text from Emmett: Iโm so sorry. I think I messed up.
Saxon James writes MM romance about two dumb fools finding their dumber half.
Her books include banter, snark, and schmoopy love, along with queer identities that span the rainbow. From New Adult to later in life, her guys have got you covered.
Harrisonโs love life is a parade of fun, flirty encounters thanks to every dating app you can imagine, but nothing sticks. Finally, sick of the endless cycle of Friday night hookups, he hits uninstall on the apps and challenges the universe to show him that he deserves someone better.
What he didnโt expect was the universe throwing him a curveball in the form of his best friendโs younger brother. Despite being best friends with Gordon for years, heโs never actually met his siblings and even half-joked they didnโt exist.
But there they are, at a party at Gordonโs place, and one brother, Arlo, is seriously hard to ignore. Heโs nothing like Gordon. Quiet, adorable, and totally off-limitsโฆ which sucks. But when Harrison spots an opportunity to help him steady his nerves on his childrenโs book tour, he jumps at the chance to get to know him better, because spending time with him feels like the most right thing heโs done in forever.
The more time they spend together, the less Harrison can imagine being with anyone else. But going after what he wants means betraying his best friend. Can he find the courage to catch lifeโs most unexpected pitches?
While Noah was a ball of energy at the outset, Arlo clutches a book against his front with his casted hand like it could somehow create a barrier between him and everything else in the world.
โIโm Harrison, but my friends call me Harry,โ I say, and he turns toward me. His big gorgeous blue eyes lock on mine and my stomach does a weird spinny thing. I really should have eaten before I came.
โHi,โ he almost whispers, pulling his hand free of his brother and using it to tuck his red hair behind his ears. He really doesnโt look much like Gordon at all, not like Noah. They both have the same flame red hair, sure. But Arloโs is long, and hangs loosely around his face like a curtain he can hide behind, it contrasts beautifully with his porcelain skin and bright blue eyes and I find myself unable to look away.
*****
Review:
Harry has been struggling to find the one, although he’ll admit that using an app is probably not the way to go ๐ Then he meets adorable, artsy Arlo. Unfortunately, Arlo is off-limits as the brother of Harry’s best friend. (I think Gordon might be over-reacting a bit – he admits that Harry is a good person – but he’s had lots of years being the one to watch over his brothers so …) But time spent together has them deciding that their attraction is one that can’t be ignored. Which of course goes the way you think it will and, while I do understand why Gordon might be upset with the way things play out, I can also see why the guys think this is the best way.
There’s not a lot of depth or character growth with Harry and Arlo. It’s a quick read but all sorts of fun. Full of sweetness and deepening feelings as readers are given a peek into their growing emotions and their oh-so-spicy alone time.
I’ve only read one other book by Jackson and, based on these two, I think she’s going on my must read author list. Her characters are interesting and her stories are entertaining & steamy. What’s next, Becca?!?
*****
Author Info:
Becca Jackson writes MM romance that delivers heart, heat, and happily ever afters for some totally adorkable and fabulous guys.
Beccaโs books have all your favorites, small-town romances, bi-awakenings, sports, friends to lovers, and enemies to lovers too, but no matter the trope that takes your fancy, youโll always find a happily ever after.
Perry I moved to San Luco to get to know my brother, and so far, itโs been great. Working as a bartender at Shenanigans, a bar close to Franklin University, there are beautiful men and women everywhere. When a hot guy falls into my arms at a party, Iโm down for some naughty fun. Until I realize heโs way too drunk for anything to happen. Thankfully, we agree to meet up the next day.
One near kiss later, I discover Theo has no idea Iโve been hitting on him. He thinks weโre hanging out as buddies, and to my great regret, says heโs straight. How did I misread this situation when I thought he was giving me all the right signals?
Theo Perry thinks Iโm a nineโฆa nine! Sure, Iโm not into dudes, but itโs flattering that someone as attractive as him thinks Iโm hot. Despite the confusion, Perry and I click and agree to keep hanging out. The more time I spend with him, the more I realize thereโs a part of myself Iโve been ignoring. One thatโs super bi and wants Perry as more than a friend.
Trying to study with him makes things hard for meโฆbelow the belt. Unfortunately, his abandonment issues have him open to a fling and nothing more, while Iโm catching feelings in a big way. Can I be satisfied with a hookup? Or should I find a way to convince him to take a chance on making this something real?
Riley Hart has always been known as the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She won her first writing contest in elementary school, and although she primarily focuses on male/male romance, under her various pen names, sheโs written a little bit of everything. Regardless of the sub-genre, thereโs always one common theme and thatโsโฆromance! No surprise seeing as sheโs a hopeless romantic herself. Rileyโs a lover of character-driven plots, flawed characters, and always tries to write stories and characters people can relate to. She believes everyone deserves to see themselves in the books they read. When sheโs not writing, youโll find her reading or enjoying time with her awesome family in their home in North Carolina.
Riley Hart is represented by Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management. Sheโs a 2019 Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Of Sunlight and Stardust. Under her pen name, her young adult novel, The History of Us is an ALA Rainbow Booklist Recommended Read and Turn the World Upside Down is a Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Award Winner. Join Rileyโs reader group here!
Romantic Reads and Such 