Trope: Double bi-awakening, best friends to lovers, roommates, found family, hurt/comfort, big Golden Retriever energy, exhibitionism
Blurb:
Isaac
For three years Jamie has been my best friend, my roommate, and my wingman. We do everything together, and we live by one simple rule: work hard and play harder. Everything was perfect until what was supposed to be a meaningless threesome between friends changes everything.
Now I canβt stop thinking about that night, and how I couldnβt take my eyes off him. I want Jamie, even if I donβt understand why. We might both be straight, but I canβt ignore the pull between us.
I donβt want to risk losing him, but I canβt keep pretending like nothing happened. And the more time that passes, the more I wonder if he feels the shift between us too.
Jamie
Isaac isnβt just my best friend and roommate, heβs the person I trust most in the world. Weβve been inseparable for three years, and weβre rock solid. Then a mutual ex of ours suggests we have a threesome, and what should have been a fun experiment between friends sends my life into a tailspin.
Now Iβm seeing Isaac in a new light. I want him, and I donβt understand why. I try to ignore it so I donβt risk ruining the best friendship Iβve ever had, but that night awakened something in me, and the more time that passes, the more I think it also awakened something in him.
We might both be straight, but that doesnβt stop me from picturing my best friend on his knees for me. Or remembering how he looks when he comes.
Isaac and Jamie have been best friends for 3 years, but one night changes everything as they start to see each other in a different way. I feel like it might need a warning that this is VERY low angst. Just a super sweet (and funny and steamy) story of two best friends realizing, and working thru, their attraction for each other. It’s a lot of bi-awakening and exploration of their sexuality, and thanks to their deep friendship and support from a close friend group its not a difficult transition.
It’s Complicated isnot going to be for everyone, and that’s ok, I really enjoyed these two together. They have typical bro moments while also being super supportive, pushing where needed or just being there for each other when things are tough. This is my first book by Dixon so I’m not sure how normal this is for her. But if this is any indication I’m going to have to add some books to my TBR.
*****
Author Info:
What can I say about myself? Itβs kind of like being the new kid in school and being asked to tell everyone a bit about yourself. Anyone else forget everything theyβve ever liked, thought of, and even their name in those moments?
A few facts about me; Iβm a veteran, Iβm Canadian, and I love books! Iβve been writing my own stories since I was eight and wrote my first novel at sixteen. Iβm the first to admit those attempts werenβt my best work, but they started me on a journey of creating stories that has led me to fulfilling my dream of becoming an author. Iβve written and published in several genres under different names, but MM is by far my favorite, and Iβm so happy to be able to share my stories with people today.
I currently live on Canadaβs east coast with my kiddo and my cats. I have a shoe collecting addiction, and I enjoy taking long walks, discussions with friends, and reading anything and everything I can get my hands on.
A heroic, sworn bachelor risks his neck to save lives, but his heart needs a daring rescue.
Kerry likes his beer cold, his coffee hot, and sex without strings. Running an emergency response crew takes up most of his time, and he reserves the rest for his family. Besides, heβs experienced enough heartache for two lifetimes and isnβt looking for more misery. Kerryβs carefully crafted peace shatters when he meets Keegan, a hazel-eyed hottie and his brotherβs new friend.
Falling for Kerry is a collision waiting to happen, but Keegan canβt resist the heroic hunkβs charm. Smoldering eyes and wicked grins tempt Keegan to go flat-out, even when heβs barreling toward a dead end. Rejection is the last thing his newfound confidence needs, but the crash might be worth the risk if Kerryβs there to give him mouth-to-mouth.
A crowded bar. A slow song. Months of mutual pining reach a fever pitch, and the invitation is out of Kerryβs mouth before he can stop it. Three minutes. Two battered hearts. One dance that changes everything.
Brick by brick, Kerry and Keegan dismantle the walls around their hearts to build something beautiful together. But old habits die hard, and traumas are slow to heal. Their love will either be the most beautiful gift or the messiest mistake.
The Beautiful Mess is book six in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Beautiful Mess contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
βOh! What about him?β Sven gestured to a tall, dark-haired guy approaching the bar. A pale blue Henley stretched across an impressive chest, and dark-wash jeans hugged a nice ass. βHe has a gorgeous smile, and look at those dimples. Bet he has a matching set just above that fine ass.β Sven mimicked an alarm going off. βAnd Iβm picking up big dick energy, even from this distance.β Keegan wasnβt sure what range Sven got with his big-dick detector, but he wasnβt about to question the masterβs verdict. Sven waggled his brows at him and said, βI know you have a thing for dark-haired, brawny men.β
It was the closest his friend had come to calling out Keeganβs crush on Kerry, who also happened to be Svenβs stepbrother. Lately, Keegan detected a little push in Kerryβs direction from Sven and the rest of the Hart clan. The idea was ridiculous, especially since Sven had once cautioned him against falling for Kerry. Keegan would neither confirm nor deny his friendβs suspicions. He tilted his head and considered the hot guy who leaned against the bar while waiting for the bartender. The man was fit and fine, for sure. He wore his dark hair short and neat, but the gelled strands didnβt invite someone to touch them. Kerry was a few months past due for a haircut, but the longer curls framing his face were sexy and tempted Keegan to test their softness. Keegan usually loathed beards or facial hair, which shouldβve been a point in the strangerβs favor since he rocked a clean-shaven look. But Kerryβs thick bristles made him look more like a plush-mouthed pirate and didnβt remind Keegan of the bearded Salvation Anew members whoβd wielded crushing slurs as painful as physical blows.
βAhh. Have we found a winner?β Sven asked.
He hummed as if considering the question. The guy turned and scanned the room, and Keegan saw that his eyes were light, not black as pitch. Miriamβheβd stopped thinking of her as his motherβhad warned him about black-eyed demons and the chaos they could cause during her fanatical religious teachings. Heβd grown up looking for soul-snatching beasts around every corner, but it had taken Keegan twenty-three years of abuse and nearly two years of intense therapy to recognize the real monster had given birth to him. Keegan had since witnessed the visual representation of the black-eyed demons Miriam mentioned while watching reruns of Supernatural. Kerryβs eyes werenβt anything like those portrayed on the show, but Keegan was sure the man was on a first-name basis with chaos.
βWell?β Sven prompted.
βHeβs cute.β
Sven growled and briefly hung his head before meeting Keeganβs gaze. βCute? Baby, no. We donβt throw that word around unless we want to insult someone. Cute is for kittens and puppies. Cute is the kiss of death for a romantic endeavor.β
βOh.β Keegan mentally added that to the list of things he didnβt know or understand. Who the hell made up these dating rules, anyway? βSorry.β
*****
Author Info:
Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she makes a living by telling stories to others. She wears many titlesβwife, mom, and grandma are just a few. Love inspires everything she does, podcasts keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.
Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYjMy favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimeeβs Dye Hards? Weβd love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/
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 itβs time to move on.
Becoming a sports agent was always my back-up plan, and now that Iβm interning at the biggest queer-focused firm in the country, Iβm doing my best not to let my bitterness toward baseball affect my future.
Thatβs really difficult when Iβm assigned to babysit Kelley Afton, hotshot rookie pitcher for Philly. He has everything I ever wanted, and he doesnβt even appreciate it. I didnβt 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 thatβs probably a good thing. Because if he didnβt have that, Iβd find him irresistibly my type.
Attraction could lead to crossing lines which would put my position at King Sports in jeopardy, and I canβt 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 childrenβincluding 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 boyβand 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 isΒ 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 avoidingβincluding 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
βUltimate Justice is romantic suspense done right! It has great characters, a riveting plot, and sizzling romance. Tee OβFallonβs law enforcement background shines through in the realistic and suspenseful plotβ¦ The story moves at a brisk pace that will keep the pages flyingβ¦ This is one of my favorite books of the year and Tee OβFallon is an author to seek out.β β Just Another Damn Book Blog
Donβt 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 lineβ¦Marlie 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. Heβd seen that look. It was the same one heβd 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 familyβs burning question: what happened to their daughter, his sister?
If only he wasnβt exhausted. Make that totally beat to shit. Heβd barely slept, and then only because heβd had to.
In the two days heβd been waiting to interview Noah, heβd fully briefed his SAICβSpecial Agent in Chargeβthe FBI director via Zoom, the U.S. Attorneyβs Office in Denver, gotten an arrest warrant for Francis Manello and served another search warrant at the manβs house. He and a team of agents had tossed the house from top to bottom. Forensics was dumping every scrap of information on Manelloβs computer, but all Evan could think about was that Polaroid. He still couldnβt believe it, but it was herβGracieβwearing the same pink shirt sheβd had on the last time heβd seen her. Guilt squeezed his heart tighter than a bank vault door.
Focus, dammit! Focus!
βBlue, come.β He hitched his head to the dog whoβd 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 Blueβs size, Marlie didnβt cringe or back away.
βCan I pet him?β Noah looked at Evan expectantly.
βYou bet. Thatβs what I brought him for.β Pretty much every kid Noahβs age wanted a dog. A dogβs 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 wasnβt quite a smile, but the corners of Marlieβs pink, full lips lifted a fraction as she watched Noah pet Blue. She had the most interesting face heβd 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.
βHe likes having his ears stroked,β 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 didnβt like the man. Getting him out the door, even for a few minutes, seemed like a stellar idea.
Blue leaned into the boyβs hand and groaned like heβd just scarfed down a meaty T-bone. The deep rumble in the back of Blueβs throat made Noah giggle.
He hadnβt quite reached adolescence and still had the high-pitched voice of youth.
βDo you like dogs?β 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 FBIβs Office for Victim Assistance advocate, standing quietly by the door.
Normally, heβd 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. βDid you ever have a dog before?β
Noah shook his head, his attention still focused on Blue. βI wanted one, but Sheila and Mikeβmy foster parentsβwouldnβt let me.β
No surprise there. Noah Lundβs 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. Heβd bet theyβd only taken Noah in to get state money for fostering a child. The stateβs 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 Noahβs shoulder, telling him something elseβNorth Metroβs custodian was protective of the boy. Somehow, in the span of only two days, theyβd formed a bond, one he needed to be cautious of. Perhaps, take advantage of.
βDo you like baseball?β The kidβs pjs were baseball-themed.
βYeah.β Noah kept petting Blue.
βMe too. I played in school.β
Finally, the boy looked up. βWhat position?β
βCenterfield. You?β
Noah shrugged. βDonβt know. Never played on a team. Just with Caleb.β
βWhoβs Caleb?β He already knew the kid had no siblings and no other blood relatives the state was aware of.
βMy friend. I think he got caught. Heββ
Caught?
Squealing came from the hallway as Dr. Strobie wheeled in two more chairs, positioning one beside Evanβs 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 didnβt like the hospital shrink. If he could eject the doc from the room, he gladly would. The manβs presence had the same effect as slapping a strip of duct tape over the boyβs 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 Teeβs newsletters.
When youβre 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 canβt ignore the growing feelings I have for him. Weβve 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, weβre paired together for a sequence of Star-Crossed Lovers skits, and while Iβm 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 weβre 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 arenβt 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 isnβt βrealβ baseball.
Good thing Iβm 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 Beakerβs grandfather. Suddenly, my days arenβt just filled with on-field practice and rehearsals with the guy Iβve been crushing on hard, theyβre also filled with time spent with him off the field too.
It isnβt 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. βDoes anyone know Phillipβs part of the opening number?β
My hand is up, and Iβm on my feet in a split second.
βYeah, Iβm pretty sure I do,β I say, and his face lights up.
βGreat, Ryan, youβre with me. Now.β
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.
βWhat happened?β I ask, and he removes the pack, revealing a massive black eye.
βI got beat up.β
βWhat?β I ask, but Alan is laughing.
βItβs not like that. He got hit in the face by a kidβs bat.β
βSo a kid beat you up?β I ask, and Dennis grabs the ice pack out of his hand and shoves it back over his eye.
βKeep that there. Youβll be fine. Now you two,β he says to Alan and me. βGet over here. I want to see you run it through before we have to be out there. Oh, crap.β
βWhat?β I ask.
βIβm not sure you will be able to lift Alan.β
βIβll be fine,β I reply, but he doesnβt look convinced.
βSeriously, I bench more than heβs gotta weigh. Iβll be okay.β
Alan shakes his head. βYou hurt your shoulder, you canβt lift me. What if it makes it worse?β
βIβm good, I swear. Kyle was overreacting.β
βIβll do it,β Alan says, and I want to object and insist Iβm fine, but I also really, really want him to pick me up in his arms and carry me. Shit, how much do I weigh?
βUmm, itβs okay. We can just jump down together.β
He spins to face me.
βYou donβt think I can pick you up, do you?β Heβs got one hand on his hip like heβs some diva offended by the implication they canβt do something.
βIβm just heavier than I look,β I reply with a shrug.
βFuck that. Iβm picking you up. Dennis, start the music. We got this.β
*****
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 propositionβ¦
Denny
The press calls me this yearβs hotshot, the rookie who scores at will and conjures plays out of thin air. Truth isβ¦Iβm a PR nightmare. Seriously. Ask my agent.
My anxiety is off the charts. I canβt 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. Thereβs a new cowboy in town. Literally, a cowboy. At least, Hank looks like oneβhe owns a horse, wears a hat, and did I mention heβs hot?
And get thisβ¦he has a proposition for me.
Hank
Proposition is a strong word. I prefer to call this a mutually beneficial arrangement. See, I could use Dennyβs help with a family business venture, and though I was planning to offer cash, the jock has a sexier idea.
Not gonna lie, Iβm interested.
This could be a fun distraction while Iβm stuck in Elmwood. Nice enough place, however, the locals are wary of an outsider taking over the neighboring mill. Long story shortβ¦they donβt trust me. But they love their hometown hockey hero.
I get it.
Iβve never met anyone like Dennyβskittish in street clothes and a feral beast with cunning instincts on the ice. Heβs fascinating, sexy, smart, andβ
Whoa! Iβm not falling for the hotshot rookie. No way, no how, no chanceβ¦
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.
βLetβs get this over with. What did you want?β
βOuch. I canβt remember the last time anyone was happy to see me,β he groused without heat. βExcept Steve the contractor. He likes me okay, but heβs being paid well. Our employees do well too, but sadly, they donβt like me at all.β
βI canβt help you with that. Sorry.β
Hank sipped his beer and shrugged. βYes, you can. Iβm extorting you, remember?β
βOhβ¦yeah.β I chuckled.
And fuck, I didnβt want to be amused. I didnβt want to like Hank at all, but it was hard not to appreciate his self-deprecating honesty. He emanated βnice guyβ 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 wasnβt 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.
βSoβ¦letβs make a deal,β he said, thankfully unaware of my inner detour. βI need an Elmwood buddy. My dad gave me the all-clear to make my offer sexy, soβ¦whatβll it be?β
I bugged my eyes out. βSexy?β
βYeah, something interesting. If itβs money, name your price. Tell me what you want in exchange for your time.β
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.
βI justβ¦want to make sure that whatever I blabbed while I was wasted off my ass stays between us.β
βYeah, but Iβll do that for free. You can trust me.β
βI donβt know you,β I retorted.
βTrue,β he conceded, sipping his beer. βBut you donβt really have a choice. I canβt prove that I wonβt sell you out. Itβs a trust thing. Letβs talk about the sexy angle, βcause I need an Elmwood buddy like yesterday.β
βI canβt believe Iβm asking this, butβ¦what does an Elmwood buddy do?β
βHe shows the new guy the ropes.β Hank leaned in. βIntroduce me, give me tips on whoβs who and what to avoid. I suck in Elmwood and I need a champion, a liaisonβ¦a friend. That can be you.β
I huffed in amusement, feeling strangely at ease. He was charming as fuck and I was not immune. βHow can you suck in Elmwood? Everyone is cool there.β
He slumped on his stool. βI donβt know, but Iβm even worse in Wood Hollow. I donβt get it. People in Denver like me just fine. Even you like me.β
βNo, I like your hat.β 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 Iβd spilled my guts andβ¦other 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. βNah, you like me. You did last weekend, anyway.β
βI was drunk, and Iβm still mortified. Go easy on me.β I took a swig of water as if I were knocking back whisky.
βIβll try, butβ¦you shook your dick at me, then fell buck-ass naked in my bed, so cβmon.β
My eyes had to be saucer-sized. βI shook my dick at you?β
βA week later, Iβm still thinking about it,β Hank drawled.Whoa. Was he serious?
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnβt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoβs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheβs 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 yesβ¦romance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateβ¦in any order. Add a book and sheβs set!
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and I hate that I’m still in love with him.
β Austin βDaredevilβ Wentworthβ
I hate Greer Rowan.
Hate how I feel when he looks at me, hate the way things ended, and I hate that heβs my older brotherβs best friend.
I hate how badly I want him, and most of all, I hate that Iβm 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 thatβs going to land us together in his bed. Problem is, I might not hate that.
β Greer Rowanβ
Iβve been such a fool.
I had my reasons for doing what I did, and I know I hurt him. Austin may never understand, but Iβm 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 nieceβs wedding wonβt do the trick, Iβll dare him to do something else because that angry man is all I want.
Austin is the love of my life. Weβre supposed to be together, and Iβve 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, brotherβs 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 Carterβs 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.
βWell, hello there. It’s good to see you, Austin.β
I smiled and held out my hand to shake his. βHello, Greer. Itβs really nice to see you.β
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 shouldnβt? He was my much older brotherβs best friend, and old enough to be my father. But that didnβt stop the tidal wave of longing and desire Iβd carried for him for years. And at that moment, I didnβt think anything could.
Greer held my hand as he looked into my eyes, making me lose track of time. Iβd always been attracted to him, and if the way he looked at me was any indication, he was feeling it, too.
βWant a drink?β
I felt my face heat as his words registered in my lust-addled brain. Thatβs what he reduced me to every single time I was near him.
βUh, yeah,β I said, clearing my throat and pulling my hand from his. βIβll have a stout.β
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.
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.
Sabotaged brakes didnβt kill Rueben Sanchez, but waiting for his assailantsβ trial to start just might. A potential witness for the prosecution canβt explore his lusty feelings for the hunky sheriff who saved him, but that doesnβt 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 canβt 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 isnβt 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. βIn here.β He curled his fingers into fists to avoid doing something stupid like reaching for Ruebenβs hand. Seth opened the door and turned on the light. The space wasnβt 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 Rueβs 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 Sethβs heartstrings a little tug. Either way, it was nearly impossible not to react to the energy pulsing between them. βI want to apologize.β
Ruebenβs gorgeous mouth curved into a wicked smile. βI canβt fault your style.β
Seth almost laughed and replied with a snappy comeback, but they didnβt have much time. He went for a direct approach instead, though he didnβt 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. βAnd clear the air,β he added.
βIβm trying to decide if your growing erection is making things clearer or if itβs muddying the water,β Rueben said.
Sethβs exhale came out sounding more like a needy whimper than the heavy sigh heβd intended. Ruebenβs 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 Ruebenβs hips and held on for dear life. Being together was so wrong but felt so fucking right.
βNot that Iβm complaining, but Iβm getting mixed signals from you today,β Rueben said. βYou iced me out at the prosecutorβs office and wouldnβt even look at me. And now, youβre a few heartbeats away from rubbing one out against me.β Seth hadnβt moved his hips so much as an inch, but grinding against Ruebenβs answering hard-on was the only thing on his mind. βUse your words, Burke. I donβt have enough emotional spoons left in the drawer to guess where your head is.β He raised his hand and caressed Sethβs jaw with two fingers. βThis one, I mean. The other headβs desires are pretty self-explanatory.β
*****
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 titlesβwife, 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.
Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj
My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimeeβs Dye Hards? Weβd 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, itβs 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 proximityβs flame, testing Finleyβs 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 isnβt good for my love life. Hey, Iβm a positive person and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about small-town living, but I havenβt had a date in years. Thatβs fineβmy son is and always has been my number one focus.
Except now heβs grown and gone. And itβs lonely.
Okay, yes, the new hockey coach is hot and single, but heβs off-limits. Smittyβs trouble with a capital T, and his baggage might outweigh mine. Besides, we said nothing would happen after βthatβ night. It was a one-time, never to be repeated deal.
At leastβ¦thatβs what I thought.
Smitty
Am I sad about retiring from pro hockey? Honestly, no. I canβt remember the last time I wasnβt in pain. I need a rest and I could use a distraction from unwelcome memories at home. Stat.
Soβ¦Elmwood.
Look, we all know I wonβt last a whole season of coaching high school kids, but stepping in till they find a better candidate is a good temporary plan. And Brysonβs here.
Thereβs something about the hot dad with the sunny smile and bad dad jokes that makes me feel alive again. Iβm not in the market for foreverβbeen there, done that. Look, Iβve taken risks for my sport, but Iβm not giving my heart away again. I know thin ice when I see it.
Smitty gamely followed me to the next vignette at Pinecrestβs premiere home and furniture boutique. βItβs a coffee table, Bry. It serves two functionsβa footrest and a place to leave dishesβ¦and the remote control. Anything is fine.β
βYeah, right,β I huffed. βSomehow I doubt the guy who couldnβt live with yellow walls and had lots of opinions about the sectional he special ordered doesnβt care about the coffee table that will go in the same room.β
Smitty darted his gaze around the store and leaned in close. βPlaces like this intimidate the fuck out of me. It smells like a perfume factory and everyone is smilingβ¦but their eyes are dead. Like theyβre zombies. Is this a Pinecrest thing or a bougie thing? I donβt do well with hot cotchure.β
I burst into laughter. βHaute couture?β
βSure, whatever.β
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. βWhat about that one?β
Smitty shrugged. βLooks nice.β
βI think so too.β I clandestinely checked the tag. βYikes. Itβs pricey. Letβs keep looking.β
βDo they have a coffee table with cupholders?β
βAbsolutely not, and why would anyone want a cupholder in a coffee table?β
Smitty widened his eyes comically. βAre 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 wouldnβt have to fumble for it when youβre watching a game, βcause your cup is right where you left it.β
βOkay, thatβs a whole lot of nonsense. And thankfully, a moot point.β I glanced at our surroundings as if to be sure that was true and noticed the salesperson watching us from the register. I couldnβt remember her name off the top of my head, but I was pretty sure Iβd sold her and her partner a house two years ago. I lowered my voice and added, βThey donβt have such a thing, but even if they did, Iβd stop you from buying it.β
βHow? Iβm bigger than you. And Iβm fast. I could whip out my credit card in a flash and shove this fucker into my truck before you could say βNo, bad table!β β
*****
Author Info:
Lane HayesΒ lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnβt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoβs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheβs 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 yesβ¦romance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateβ¦in any order. Add a book and sheβs set!
Iβm gonna be fighting for flora when Iβm 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.
Heβs standoffish at first, but after a class where I bet my sitcoms can make him laugh, one bet leads to another and weβre hanging out all the time. Even though I know heβs interested in me, weβre 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 canβt explain away.
A scar. On his palm.
One Iβm positive Benny has never had before.
Benny
Since we were little, my twin brother and I have always switched things upβliterally. It started as funsies, and now weβre college juniors and still taking each otherβs 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 classβwhere 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 Iβm telling myself to let my dreams of matching rings go, our text messages become constant, flirtier, deeper than Iβve had with any other guy before. My butterflies have butterflies every time we catch up.
And then I get a text from Emmett: Iβm 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.
Romantic Reads and Such 