The gentleman, the hot mess, and a little British adventureβ¦
Raine
Moving to London is scary and daunting, but I desperately need this jobβand a redo. Okay, so I may have oversold my qualifications. That shouldnβt be a big deal, though. I mean, being an assistantβs assistant seems easy enough, and Iβm a fast learner.
Hold up!
Iβm already in over my head with spreadsheets, new pronunciations, and temperamental appliances. And just as Iβm mentally preparing to face going home early, the big boss offers me an opportunity I canβt refuse. And I definitely should because Graham Horsham is an infuriating, complicated grumpy bear with a razor-sharp tongue, a wickedly dry sense of humor, andβ¦I like him far too much.
Graham
Iβve been bamboozled. Iβm not quite sure how I ended up with an assistant who spills coffee daily, wears wrinkled shirts, and chatters nonstop. He canβt stay, but I donβt want him to go and thatβs madness. The Horsham Group is closing one of our biggest deals ever and I wonβt jeopardize it. This one is personal.
Yet so is Raine.
Heβs a breath of fresh airβsilly, impetuous, lighthearted, good-natured, andβ¦quite lovely. I like him more than I want to admit. For some reason, I can let my guard down with him. Itβs unnerving and probably unprofessional.
But not to worryβ¦I will not, under any circumstances, fall for Raine.
Falling for Raine is an MM, age-gap romance featuring a British gentleman, a desperate but adorable American, and a UK adventure!
What in the hell was going on? It was as though Iβd entered an alternative universe. Everything looked the same, but it was different.
Of course it was Raine.
I studied him shaking hands with everyone in the shop as I shrugged on my jacket. He wasβ¦hypnotic, addictingβa cross between an inappropriate dinner party guest and a fistful of forbidden sweets when you were on a diet. He didnβt fit in this world Iβd carefully constructed, yet I kept inviting him in and forgetting whatever reason Iβd concocted for this to make sense.
Like now.
βPerhaps youβd like to try something on.β I stuffed my hands into my pockets so I wouldnβt be tempted to touch him.
He widened his eyes and sidled close, whispering under his breath, βAre you nuts? One shirt here costs half my rent. Unlessβ¦oh, no. Oh, no, no, no!β
βWhat?β I demanded, pulling him with me outside.
βAre you going daddy on me?β
βExcuse me?β I furrowed my brow, stopping under the eaves where rain sluiced off the roof and fell like a curtain around us on two sides.
βSlow your roll, G, Iβm not looking for a meal ticket, and Iβm not taking hand-outs. I can be talked into bedroom daddy kink, but if you want me to call you Daddyββ
βOh, for fuckβs sake, you daft man. I do not want you to call me Daddy,β I growled just as a well-dressed man stepped onto the mat next to me, pausing for a moment to close his umbrella and dart a quick look between us.
Raine pursed his lips, then burst into laughter when the man entered the shop. βHa! You should see your face. I was kidding.β
βYouβre ridiculous,β I huffed, my lips twitching.
βIβll be good, Daddy. Donβt spank me.β
βDonβt test me.β I pretended not to notice him fanning himself with a slack-jawed expression as I gestured toward the pub on the next block. βIf we stay under the eaves, weβll stay dry, but weβll have to hurry.β
βNo need. I bet they sell umbrellas in there.β
I squinted at the tourist shop at the corner on the opposite side of the street, its windows papered with Union Jack memorabilia. βThatβs crap, Ray-n.β
βSo what? Itβs fun crap. My treat.β
He sprinted into the deluge, dashing into the tourist shop while I stared after him. What was he doing? Now heβd be wet and stuck with a tatty tourist umbrella that would undoubtedly flip inside out at the first gust of wind.
A crack of thunder spurred me into action. I borrowed a sturdy umbrella from Ives and Harris with the promise to return it as soon as possible, then walked down the street to find Raine.
I shouldnβt have been surprised that heβd managed to make a friend in under five minutes. He stood in front of a wall stuffed with tartan throws, holding two compact umbrellas and chatting up a salesman. It took a bit of persuading to convince him he didnβt need the blanketβhowever, I couldnβt talk him out of purchasing two Union Jack umbrellas. I warned him that they were poorly made, but he didnβt care.
We squabbled all the way to the pub, argued over what to order, who was paying, and where to sit before finally settling into a table for two at the window. I frowned when he beamed a sunshine smile my way.
βStop being so happy,β I teased, cradling my glass. βItβs miserable out there.β
βBut itβs warm and yummy in here,β he countered, sliding his calf along mine under the table. βAnd youβre cute when youβre cranky.β
βI am neither cute nor cranky. Iβmβokay, never mind, I am cranky. If weβd come straight here, we could have avoided the queue and had that corner booth.β I pointed at the booth currently inhabited by a gaggle of noisy businessmen. βDo you ever listen to reason?β
βHave you met me?β
*****
Review:
Sometimes reading m/m romances I’ll find their interactions to be written a little … different than I’m used to. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to find them sexy or not and the beginning of Falling for Raine fits into that category. I get the whole one night stand and anonymous sex thing but some of Hayes’s descriptions were a bit much for me. I actually started to put it down but I know Hayes writes excellent stories so I pushed through. And oh am I glad I did! I loved Raine and Graham together. And I liked that their relationship didn’t go the way I expected.
Raine needs to get away, regroup, and get past his troubles. Taking a job in London has a chance to do that, until it becomes apparent that he’s way under-qualified. And to make matters worse, he runs smack dab into a one night stand. As his new boss.
Graham didn’t expect to see Raine again but since he’s not been able to forget him maybe he can take advantage of the situation. As long as both of them agree to certain terms, most important is not getting their hearts involved. Shouldn’t be too hard, right? Right.
Raine is a delightfully positive foil to Graham’s more serious reservedness. It’s entertaining seeing Raine help Graham to relax, take life a little less seriously. To look at things and people in a different way. And to embrace a more carefree person hidden underneath his well tailored suits.
Funny, cheeky, and with a good amount of heat, Falling for Raine proves to me once again that Hayes just knows how to write stories that I love.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters.Β She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.
To celebrate the release of Falling For Raine, Lane is giving away the Winner’s choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
Love is the last thing on Justinβs mind. Sure, heβs noticed the big, shy guy who comes in for his coffee every morning, but Justin doesnβt have time to indulge in a crush. After his last disastrous breakup, he needs to get his head out of the clouds and focus on climbing out of debt with his pile of part-time jobs. The singing telegram gig is the most embarrassing by far, but at least no one will ever recognize him in his ridiculous costumes. Itβs temporary, just through the Valentine season.
Adam is in love. He just needs to drum up the nerve to do something about it. A daily smile from the cute guy behind the coffee counter is the bright spot in his day, keeping him going through the work week in an office filled with jerks. Especially when one of the jerks starts sending him romantic telegrams as a joke. Thereβs nothing he hates more than public humiliation. If he ever finds out whoβs behind it, heads will roll.
Love songs, lies, and an absurd amount of glitter pave the way to a romance neither of them expected. Adam is everything Justinβs ever dreamed of, but he can never discover Justinβs terrible, fuzzy, off-key secret.
This Valentineβs Day, Cupid doesnβt miss, even if he has terrible timing.
The stares started in the parking garage and only got worse as he entered the lobby.
This latest assignment brought him to one of the four high-rise buildings that defined downtown Belleview, the biggest one, some financial firm. It stood out against the mountain landscape like alien architecture that had dropped from the sky, dark and shining and bleak beside the trees and mountains jagged with life.
Ignoring the gobsmacked expressions on the receptionistsβ faces, he approached the front desk. βHi, how you doing? Iβm here to make a special delivery on the sixteenth floor.β
The older of the two receptionists shushed the otherβs giggling as she dutifully tapped away at her computer. βName?β
Out of habit, Justin almost glanced at a name badge he was no longer wearing. Instead, he passed along the crumpled order form in his sweaty gloved fist. βI represent Seasonβs Greetings, with a telegram delivery for Adam Hubert.β
She perked up immediately, taking in his work uniform with a slowly spreading grin. βAdam Hubert, up in IT? Oh, honey, wish I was coming with you. Thatβs gonna be a sight to see.β
Nothing in her words or her delivery inspired confidence. Oh well, some gigs were more difficult than others. Not everyone appreciated a personalized singing telegram. Justin had already run the gamut of reactions from delight to disgust, and now, he just wanted to get each assignment done so he could move on to the next. βCan you direct me to his office?β
βSays right there on your paper. Floor 16, room 319. I promise youβll know him when you see him; he stands out around here. Not as much as you in that getup, but heβs never exactly blended in either. Big hulking guy, always wears a frown, nobody can get a smile out of him. Folks up on his floor call him βLurch.ββ She added that final aside in a stage whisper with a conspiratorial air that rubbed Justin the wrong way.
He retrieved his order form and stuffed it in his pocket. βThat doesnβt seem like a very nice name to call somebody.β
βHeβs not very popular. Alright, hereβs your badge.β She slapped a little barcode sticker on his furry chest with uncalled-for glee. βThat should let you in the right doors. Tell Charlene up in reception to call me when you get there. I wanna listen in.β
He left with a half-hearted wave, his bossβs ancient boom box weighing heavily in his hand. βThanks.β
This book has all the corn syrupy feels you would expect from a Valentine’s Day novella. Justin and Adam together have that OTT cute & funny thing going on and the meet-cute between the two & the sweet interactions once they start actually talking to each other is just the bestest. There was plenty of awww moments and a quite a few chuckles before the end.
Being a novella, it does’t take long to get to the conflict and their happily ever after but I liked them so much I really wish we’d gotten more. I wanted to know more about why Adam feels the way he does about himself, how he is with his coworkers and others besides Justin. And I wanted more of Justin finally getting a good relationship and getting himself back on his feet. And I really wished I’d gotten a bit of a better conclusion to the “secret admirer”. I guess there’s always some of that with a novella but can we make this into a longer book, please?
But I think the fact that even with all those wants I still finished it with a smile shows that Thomas does a really good job of creating those characters and moving them through well to that HEA ending.
*****
Author Info:
A.C. Thomas left the glamorous world of teaching preschool for the even more glamorous world of staying home with her toddler. Between the diaper changes and tea parties, she escapes into fantastical worlds, reading every romance available and even writing a few herself.
She devours books of every flavorβscience fiction, historical, fantasyβbut always with a touch of romance because she believes there is nothing more fantastical than the transformative power of love.
The first book in the sexy new bodyguard series set in the Package Deal World.
The Rockstar
Portland Protectors- EHM Security Series, Book 1
by Emerson Beckett & Rheland Richmond
Blurb:
Adam Spencer β βThe Rockstarβ
Hereβs what I know — some people arenβt meant to find love.
And as much as I want to be someoneβs everything, thatβs not meant for me.
After a painful breakup, I channeled all my hurt into a song that has skyrocketed my band, Fallen Angel, to the top of the charts.
Now I need protection from the one person who was supposed to love me no matter whatβmy mother.
Whether I want him or not, I now have a sexy, silver-tongued southern charmer as my 24/7 bodyguard.
Iβve tried not to fall for him, because I donβt do relationships. They hurt too much.
But Michael has me thinking I could take one more chance to find love.
Or was I meant to be alone like I thought all along?
Michael Coleman β βPhantomβ
Iβve always been a protector. During my career as a Navy SEAL, my duty was to protect my four best friends.
Now I need to protect the sexy rock star I love flirting with every time he walks in the door to our EHM office.
Adam Spencer lights me up like no one ever has. And thatβs saying something.
Iβll do whatever it takes to protect him, even from himself.
Have I finally found the love Iβve been hoping for with the Rockstar?
The Rockstaris a flirty, friends-to-lovers, bodyguard and rockstar MM Romance that takes place in the Package Deal SeriesWorld. It can be read as a stand-alone book.
Trigger Warning: There is off the page reference to physical abuse to a minor. Off the page domestic violence and death of a mentioned character.
I pulled up to the window and handed the smiling girl my card. βHere ya go, darlinβ.β
Adam went to retrieve his wallet, but I waved him off. βBusiness expense.β
I watched as she gathered our food and put it in the bag.
βWould you like one of our loyalty cards? You can get a free item if you come back enough,β she asked, smiling at me.
βWhy yes, please,β I replied, returning her smile.
I watched as she added napkins to the bag before handing it to me. I then handed it to Adam, who sat there with his head cocked to one side, looking at me.
I smirked and turned my attention back to the girl in the window.
βHere you go,β she said with a wink as she handed me my credit card. βCome back and see us again.β
I smiled at her. βThank you.β
Pulling away from the window, I put my credit card back in my wallet, then placed the loyalty card with her name and phone number on the back onto the dash. When I closed it, I could see he hadnβt moved and was watching me like a bug under a microscope.
I chuckled. βWhat?β
βDo you flirt with everyone?β
βWhat do you mean? She was flirting with me.β
Adam laughed. βYou started it!β
βI did no such thing,β I said, pulling out of the drive thru. βShe started it, and I didnβt want to embarrass her by not playing along.β
Adamβs high-pitched strangled noise drew my attention. βYou called her βdarlinββ like youβre a cowboy on the range wrangling cows or something.β He was mimicking me, and it made me smile.
Now it was my turn to laugh. βI did, but Iβm telling youβshe started it.β
βHow?β he asked incredulously. I imagine if he could put his hands on his hips, he would have.
I guess I had to share this with him. βShe gave me the smile.β
Adam shifted to look at me. βWhat smile? I really think youβre imagining things.β
βNo, Iβm not. She smiled that smile with her eyes, like a girl does when she wants you to ask her out. You know what I mean.β
He barked out a laugh. βNo, the fuck I donβt. Iβm gay.β
βBut youβre a rockstar. Girls have to hit on you.β
He snorted. βYeah, they do. But Iβm usually paying more attention to their boyfriends.β
I laughed at his response and shook my head.
Damn, this was going to be fun.
*****
Review:
I loved this book. Then again, I also loved pretty much everything about the Package Deal series so I’m not surprised. These two deliver enjoyable HEAs time and time again.
Adam has some abandonment and self-worth issues left over from his childhood and he’s feeling raw from the end of his last relationship. Having given up on love, he’s content getting ready for his tour and having fun flirting with a certain ex-SEAL.
Michael is demiromantic and hasn’t really experienced that deeper connection with anyone before. While he enjoys teasing Adam, this time it seems a little different. When there’s a threat to Adam his protective side comes out and it doesn’t take long to realize that it definitely means something more.
Adam and Michael’s interactions are all in fun at first but then quickly develop into a romantic connection. Michael is so patient with Adam as he deals with his trauma from being abused and abandoned by his mother. Michael’s unwavering support helps Adam realize that he is worthy of love & commitment. It’s endearing and low angst and very satisfying.
The stalker/blackmailer story line isn’t as huge a part of the story as the romance, which surprised (and dismayed) some. But it does work to get these two together and to give Michael an excuse to find Adam’s father. Which is all sorts of heart-warming and helps to put some of Adam’s ghosts to rest.
Cole & Patrick’s relationship has a pretty decent side story here too, which makes sense as they are both very important parts of Adam’s life and they’ve all been close for decades. It also heavily sets up the next book, which some found a little too much for this story.
(Speaking of which – Rheland! Emerson! Why did you have to tease us so much with Cole and Patrick? And seriously that preview for the next book! Readers, don’t read it unless you want to be anxiously waiting for The Linebacker which doesn’t release for another 2 months! I’ll be sitting on pins and needles until March. *sigh*)
Emotional, funny, and sweet, The Rockstar is a gratifying start to a new series. Both characters are likeable, they are entertaining together, and watching their relationship develop into something more made me so happy.
(At first, I thought this one could stand on its own but after reading some of the other reviews I think maybe it CAN but probably shouldn’t. There are a lot of characters from the Package Deal world who are either mentioned or make an appearance. And while they don’t play a direct role here I know that it can be confusing and annoying when you don’t know who they are. But then again those books are good reads so you can’t go wrong starting there are ending here π )
*****
Author Info:
Rheland Richmond
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.
Emerson Beckett is new to the publishing world. As an avid sports fan and lover of well-written M/M romance books, Emerson loves her new career as an author of gay romance. Itβs even more fulfilling for her when she can combine the two.
The journey to becoming an author started with an idea while reading on the sofa. That idea became an email that ultimately resulted in Emerson using those teacher skills to edit novels for three phenomenal MM romance authors. The third referral led to an opportunity to co-write a book series with one of the most genuine and kindest people sheβs ever had the pleasure of knowing- Rheland Richmond. Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series, which includes The Quarterback Keeper, Pass Interference,Unnecessary Roughness, Two-Point Conversion, Illegal Motion, Ineligible Receiver, and one more upcoming book in the series. She plans to release her first solo book in 2023.
Besides being a retired teacher and author, Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 32 years. She is the mother of three beautiful adults, one of whom is proudly part of the LGBTQ Community and completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance. Even though the kids no longer live at home, they filled the empty nest with an Australian Shepherd, three cats, and a cute bunny rabbit.
The hockey has-been, the barista, and some holiday magicβ¦
Court Cut from the team, fired my agentβ¦now what?
This canβt be it for me. Unfortunately, the phone isnβt ringing. My best bet is to head home for the holidays and regroup.
Problem: I donβt know what to do with myself. Helping out at the rink might be my ticket out of here, but nothing is happening fast enough. And then thereβs Ivan. No, no, itβs not what you think. We went to school together. Weβre acquaintance-friendsβ¦nothing more.
But you know, I like him. A lot. Heβs funny and relentlessly upbeat. Iβm a better person when Iβm with himβthe kind who volunteers to deck the halls and wrap garland on lampposts andβ
Whoa. Whatβs happening here?
Ivan I love the holidays! But running the coffee shop on my own during the busiest season of the year is going to be a challenge. And the sudden appearance of my former crush is all kinds of distracting.
See, I spent my formative years mooning over Court Henderson, our high schoolβs hockey phenom, even though he was out of my league. Thankfully, I grew up and left the silly remnants of my youth behind. Or did I?
Grown-up Court is full of surprises, and under his gruff yet extremely fine exterior, heβs a good soul with a huge heart. Heβs charming, sweet, handsome, andβ Uh-oh.
My crush is back. Just in time for the holidaysβ¦
Holiday Crush is an MM bisexual, small town romance featuring a renewed ancient crush, some mistletoe latte art, and a little seasonal magic.
Court shook his head at my amazing, incredible Christmas tree on his way to the door. βI canβt get over that thing. Itβs wild.β
I beamed. βI know. I love it. I buy a regular tree too, even though itβs holiday overkill. But who cares? This is my favorite time of year, and I celebrate to the nth degree!β
He shoved his arms into his jacket, a playful grin on his handsome mug. βAnd do you celebrate by watching scary movies and stringing candy corn and plastic spiders into garland?β
βNo, smartass, but damn, thatβs a great idea for Halloween next year.β
He chuckled. βSoβ¦what do you do for Christmas?β
I braced my left hand on the doorjamb and cast a quick glance at the fireplace to keep from staring at my guest. Standing a foot apart in the cramped doorway between my foyer and living room felt oddly intimate. Court took up space in my tiny abode, with his broad shoulders, towering height, and big muscles. I was more aware of him than ever. It took me a second to gather my thoughts and remember what we were talking about.
Christmas. Right.
βThe usualβdecorate my house, string lights outside, drape fresh garland everywhere. And yes, thereβs always mistletoe. I also watch holiday movies and listen to Christmas music from mid-November till the end of the year. I bake cookies too, which always turn out to be a hot mess, but baking is festive and fun, and my family and friends are kind enough to compliment me anyway. Andβ¦I sign up for every holiday event in town, including the Skate with Santa party at the rink, caroling at Wood Hollowβs Home for the elderly, Toys for Tots Sled Fest next to the Christmas Tree Farm in Fallbrook, and of course, Holiday Bingo. By the way, all of those, including Bingo, have volunteer positionsβ¦if youβre interested.β
βIβd rather shovel snow in Siberia,β he deadpanned.
I grinned. βYour holiday spirit needs a tune-up.β
βYeah, yeah. I donβt do holiday spirit.β
βThatβs an awful thing to say!β
βWhy? Thereβs no point. Iβm usually on the road, so Iβve never bought a tree and I donβt always remember to buy gifts, either. My brother shamelessly shows me up every holiday. Oren bought our folks an oil painting of their ten-year-old golden retriever a couple of years ago. And it was really nice. I bought Mom the same gloves I bought her the previous year and the wrong-sized slippers for Dad.β
βOh, dear. Well, Iβm happy to help you this year. Iβm an expert at gift-giving andβwhatβs so funny?β
βHa. Ha.β I moved by him to unlock the door. βGood-bye, Grinch.β
He snickered. βLater. And thanks for tonight. It was fun.β
βYeah. It was,β I agreed, smiling as he stepped closer.
This was where I was supposed to shuffle out of the way to give him room to slip outside without letting the cold inside, but my feet were seemingly glued to the floor. And now, we were inches apart. So close I could see flecks of gold in his blue eyes and a scar half-hidden in his left brow. I should have jumped away and laughed off this little dance before I accidentally made it awkward.
Too late.
Ugh. Now I was staring at him and he was staring at me andβ¦his mouth was right there, hovering over mine. I could feel his breath on my lips and smell gin and something woodsy and masculine on his skin. And nope, I couldnβt resist.
I leaned in, set my palm on his chest and pressed my lips to Courtβs.
And that was the match that started the fire.
*****
Review:
I loved this story and read it in less than a day. It’s perfect as a holiday read, full of winter cheer & fun with minimal drama.
Ivan is a delight, with his mix of brashness, charm, and awkwardness. He’s a proud romantic and embraces everything about the holidays. Court on the other hand doesn’t really want anything to do with the season, especially now that he’s at loose ends. But a few run-ins with Ivan soon has him embracing what Elmwood has to offer. Especially the sexy barista.
Court already accepts his bisexuality, which helps keep the angst to a minimum. I don’t mind a bi-awakening, they can be interesting and full of emotion (like Next Season). But here our main characters get to move straight into getting to know each other again … and getting to KNOW each other. It’s steamy but also playful and sweet. The first book, You Again, might not have been quite my thing, but everything else by Hayes has been a delight and Holiday Crush is no different. I’m so ready for what she delivers next.
(Although this is book three in the series, I feel like it can be read as a stand alone. There are returning characters, and Ivan & JC’s amusingly unusual friendship was a highlight in book two, there’s not anything that would have directly impacted this story.)
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters.Β She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.
From ex-con to self-made millionaire, thereβs no challenge too tough for Cash Sweeney to conquer. So why has he spent twelve years pining for his best friend instead of doing something about it? Because losing Nick would be like existing with half of his heart. Is it better to settle for what he can have or battle for what he wants?
Banged up and burned out, FBI Agent Nick Scott arrives at Redemption Ridge with a trunkful of luggage and a yearning heart. Cash is easy to love but hard to read, and Nick fears his epiphany has come too late. Does he tuck his tail and run or fight for the man whoβs become his home?
Tender gestures and heartfelt conversations lead to thrilling revelations neither man can ignore. No more what-ifs or maybes. Cash and Nick are all in. And theyβll need each other more than ever when a devious enemy emerges from the shadows to put their promising future at risk. With the stakes so high, will the guys double down or fold to pressure?
Saints Like Him is book three in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Saints Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.
Content Warning: homophobia, abuse, and conversion therapy are briefly discussed in this book, though no graphic descriptions are used.
Cash pursed his lips while studying the chip selection at the grocery store in Last Chance Creek. What snack was most suitable for a forty-nine-year-old man while bingeing the newest season of Heartstopper? Cash wasnβt one to use his age as a reason to avoid many things, but he wasnβt proud of his obsession with the series about queer teenagers and their first loves. Their vitality and innocence sometimes made him feel older than dirt, but mostly it made him grateful that a new generation could see themselves in the characters.
It was unlikely Cashβs life wouldβve turned out differently if heβd had positive representation as a teen. Heβd lost his mom to poverty and drugs and had gone to live with strangers at a time when he was figuring things out about himself. Cash hadnβt felt comfortable coming out, or letting others in, until he was thirty. Heβd rebuilt his life from the ashes of his past and had been tired of living a lie. The penniless dirt track racer had to pretend, but the successful technology inventor did not. Cash had thought his newly gained wealth would insulate him from scrutiny and scorn, but it only perpetuated the narrative that he was an outsider who didnβt belong. But those closed doors and snubs didnβt deter him; they fueled the perpetual fire in his soul and made him richer.
He couldnβt think of a single hard knock heβd change because theyβd all led him to this point. Well, maybe not to standing in a grocery store staring at the same bag of Fritos for a solid ten minutes. He meant his ranch, his people, and the journey heβd taken to have them in his life. Contentment didnβt negate his few regrets or warm his bed, but the one man who could fix both problems was across the country. Who the hell was he kidding? It wouldnβt have mattered if Nick was at Quantico, on Mars, or standing beside Cash. He was off-limits. Cash just needed to convince his foolish heart of that factβa feat he hadnβt accomplished in twelve years. But had he really tried that hard?
A warm, masculine chuckle invaded his thoughts, and Cash jerked his head to find Seth Burke approaching him. He bit back a snort. Burke didnβt approach; he swaggered with big dick energy. The sheriff was a good five inches taller, a few years younger, and had the persistence of a bloodhound when it came to Cash. Burkeβs uniform consisted of a pressed khaki shirt, dark denim jeans, boots, and a white Stetson hat. Cash wasnβt sure what shone brighter in the storeβs overhead lightsβthe shiny sheriff star pinned to Burkeβs shirt or his white, toothy grin. Damn, but the man was fine as hell with jet-black hair, gray eyes, and sun-kissed skin. No matter the time of day, that superhero square jaw was clean-shaven to show off his magnificent bone structure. Why the hell couldnβt Cash return the manβs interest? He could trade heartache for the kind of twinges and stings that left a man smiling instead of moping.
βWhatβd that bag of chips do to you?β Burke asked when he reached Cash. His voice was jovial, pure good ole boy, but the tension around Burkeβs mouth betrayed him.
Cash snorted and faced his friend. βI was just lost in thought.β He glanced down and saw Burke had already placed several items in his basket. βI didnβt see your truck in the parking lot.β
A dark brow arched. βOr you wouldβve kept driving?β
Cash sighed. βOf course not. I was just making conversation.β
βThe inane kind you make when youβve been avoiding your friend?β Burke pressed.
Were they friends? They met for lunch regularly at the diner and texted often, so definitely more friendly than acquaintances.
*****
Review:
This series has not been stand alone stories and the latest is no different. Someone else mentioned it felt like an extended epilogue and I think I can agree with that. We find out why Salvation Anew has been causing trouble for Redemption Ridge and get to see Cash & Nick finally decide to stop dancing around each other. It’s satisfying from an overall story perspective but may leave some readers wanting for something more robust.
I love Cash – how level headed, caring, and strong he is. He obviously cares about his guys and his community, willing to do just about anything to help them and to right any wrongs he can. We’ve known since the beginning that there was something going on between him and Nick but we didn’t know exactly what. And we finally find out. I can’t decide how I feel about Cash with Nick though. For someone who has come across as so put together for so long, it’s a bit of a disconnect to see him so unsure and vulnerable. On one hand it’s reassuring to know that he has a weakness for someone so important to him but it’s also a little discomforting. Kinda like life.
We also find out a lot more about Nick & his feelings about Cash and we get small glimpses of their time together. The connection they have is strong enough to survive 12 years of separation and the hardships that life gave them. But those long years of only being friends also means that when they finally decide to chance their friendship for what their hearts have been craving they slide right into being a couple. There’s very little drama but a whole lot of sweetness as they show each other how much they care with special gestures, small and large.
I don’t know if this is another of those times when the fact that I’m a straight female means that I ask “is that sexy” or “do people really say that” more than once. I don’t think I did that in the first two stories (and I didn’t mention it in eitherreview) but I did notice it in an unrelated book I read by this author. It may be the way Walker writes or it may just be me π
Steamy and emotional, Walker brings her readers the resolution to this couple that they have been waiting for. And sets up future stories wonderfully – I can’t wait to see what trouble Rue can cause or what makes Owen & Tyler finally get their act together. Looking forward to more of the men from Redemption Ridge.
*****
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.
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Thor meets Tony Hawk in this comedic, low-angst/high spice MM romance about a serious hockey goalie who is drawn out of his shell by a bratty skateboarder, a dare involving cake, and a lesson in how to use joysticks-for video games of course.
Bad Pucking Influence
Colorado BulldogsΒ #2
by Michele Lenard
Blurb:
On the surface, Iβve got it all. Iβm the starting goalie and Captain of the Colorado Bulldogs hockey team. Iβve got more money than I know what to do with. I can count an entire team of elite athletes as my friends. And according to the pundits, Iβm an eligible bachelor.
That’s the image everyone sees, but itβs just a role I play. A part dictated by my career. I have to be just as perfect off the ice as I am on it since everything I do reflects on my team in some way or another. So, those questions I have about why I donβt crave sexual contact the way my teammates doβquestions Iβm afraid to ask with the world watchingβ¦ I decided a long time ago it didnβt make sense to look for answers until after I retire.
Then I ran into him.
Tripp is loud, obnoxious, and full of confidence. Some people find his sass off-putting, but not me. I find it intriguing, and I admire his ability to be himself, consequences be damned. Apparently, I also admire the way he looks, since my eyes seem to linger on him longer than they should, and when he sets his sights on meβ¦
Waiting for retirement to explore who I am seems like too big a sacrifice, so when Tripp offers to help me answer some of those questions about myself, I jump.
I’m tired of pretending to be Mr. Perfectβ¦ Tripp and his playboy antics might be just the thing I need to figure out who I am outside of hockey. The only problem is, everyoneβincluding our mutual friendsβsee him as a bad pucking influence.
Bad Pucking Influence is a low-angst, high-spice MM romance featuring a hockey player and a brat, not a hockey book featuring a romance. Fans of bratty playboys and gentle giants will enjoy this light-hearted, steamy yet touching love story.
Since I first saw Tripp at a team barbeque Xander dragged him to last summer, Iβve found myself noticing him more and more. In my defense, itβs hard not to. Standing at six feet, with perfectly mussed bleached-blond hair and dark stubble thatβs hard to miss since the contrast is so stark, itβs the mischievous tilt of his lips that really captures my attention. I often find myself wondering whatβs going on in his mind, particularly since heβs a professional at giving people the shock-and-awe treatment. His antics amuse me more than they should, even when they involve silly excuses to measure my biceps with his hands.
Between his loud looks and even louder personality, he doesnβt exactly fade into the background, and if Iβm being honest, I find his brash nature freeing. I sort of like that heβs become a bit of a regular fixture in our social circle. Whatβs confusing to me is that itβs not just his personality that catches my attention. His appearance fascinates me, especially now, with him skating around shirtless.
Tall and lean, every muscle is on display, showing off a smattering of tattoos that would otherwise be hidden. Theyβre kind of mesmerizing to watch as they ripple under his skin. So is the youthful gleam in his eye. Itβs not arousing exactly, but itβs something. Something Iβve yet to put a label on, but I only seem to experience it around him. Which might mean sitting here watching him is a bad idea, at least until I sort out some of my confusion.
If only I could look away.
*****
Review:
I liked the characters – Noah is a big, ol’ teddy bear and Tripp is as in-your-face as you can get – but there’s definitely something more lurking beneath the surface of both. We get an understanding of Noah’s pretty early on, and Tripp is definitely all in for helping him explore his sexuality, which means he also brings his own baggage into their situation. There’s a reason he’s not willing to get involved with people and it takes a while to share it with us. I don’t know that everyone is willing to put in the time needed to go from casual sex to Tripp opening up & spilling all his secrets but I found it a satisfying resolution to their relationship.
While it isn’t necessary to have read the first book, Bad Pucking Timing, I do think it will help with how quickly Noah and Tripp fall into a sexual relationship together. It also gives a better look at the fun, & supportive, side of Tripp and how he & Noah have gotten to this point. While the beginning is oh-so-steamy, I think that foundation may be needed so that Tripp’s bratty side is better understood and to help readers get through the slower transition of their relationship.
*****
Author Info:
Michele is a tomboy who writes contemporary romance (usually sports themed) that is both sweet and steamy. Her goal is to make you fan your face as you wipe a tear from your eye. Her books are part of a series but there are no cliffhangers so each can be read as a standalone. When she isn’t reading or writing she enjoys the outdoors, something that pops up in her books from time to time.
My time playing pro hockey will be up soon. I can feel it. And Iβve heard the rumors: heβs too old, heβs had too many injuries, heβs lost his edge. I donβt want to admit it, but they could be right. Next season might be my last.
Or this season. Because of course, this is when the universe decides I need another concussion. Itβs a doozy tooβthe kind thatβs going to keep me off skates for a while.
Which is how I end up in a small New England town in the middle of nowhere Vermont, eating every meal at a diner where a grumpy chef from Quebec makes haute cuisineβ¦and burgers. Jean-Claude is funny and charming andβ
Okay, I have a crush on a gay man.
This is a new one.
Jean-Claude
Confused straight men are entertaining. But Riley isβ¦fascinating, sexy, and curiously vulnerable. His injury has rocked his confidence a bit, so perhaps heβs in need of a friend. Any friend. Even moi.
Iβm an unlikely choice, but maybe he just likes my tuna salad.
Noβ¦I think itβs me.
And though Iβm happy to help him explore his bisexual curious side, I have career concerns of my own. See, the things I love most about Elmwood seem shaky and uncertain, but not Riley. Heβs solid and genuine. Suddenly, this temporary secret liaison feels more real than anything in my life.
I need more than this season. I want it all. With Riley.
Next Season is an MM bisexual-awakening romance featuring a grumpy chef, an injured hockey player, and a big HEA in a small town where anything can happen.
Riley shook his wrist and stole a glance my way. βYou donβt strike me as the type who likes to follow rules.β
βNot true. Religion was a big part of my life when I was a child. Church on Sundays and high holidays, Catholic school. I always did well with structure and discipline. Hockey gave me that too. The practicing, the camaraderieβ¦the game is always bigger than one player, but your contribution matters. Itβs like that in a kitchen too. Everyone has a role to play, and weβre better at it when we work as a team. Rules are good, butβ¦β I pulled the dough from him and grinned. βItβs fun to break them.β
He snickered, diligently pushing and folding the dough. βUh-huh. Now, me? I was a quintessential rule follower. Even after I left home, I made my own rules aboutβ¦everything in my life. Food restrictions, daily exercise, sleep, alcoholβ¦I even had a no masturbation rule twenty-four hours before a game.β
I wrinkled my nose in distaste. βIs this some kind of testosterone bullshit?β
He blushed, and it was so fucking cute I couldnβt resist looping my arm around his waist, nuzzling his neck, and pressing kisses behind his ear.
βCut it out.β He wriggled in my arms, then leaned against me. βTo be honest, I got carried away with the rules. I have a mild obsessive-compulsive streak, and Iβm hard on myself. I was like this as a kid tooβalways trying to be the best and do the best. Itβs fucking exhausting.β
βI bet. I canβt relate. I was terrible.β I sighed. βMy poor parents. I was the kid who fell asleep in church, ditched school to smoke with my hooligan friends, and the D-man who showed much promise, but spent far too much time in the penalty box for using my fists instead of my brains. Itβs not that I didnβt want to follow rules, but some of them seemed pointless to me.β
βYeah, that sounds more like you.β
βOui. I had too much energy or not enough. I never got the balance right until I worked in a kitchen and found out the hard way that everything I touched would turn to shit if I didnβt pay attention. So I learned to be patient and put in the work. And because of that, I donβt have to cross my fingers or double-check my recipes. I know this bread will be amazingβ¦unless you fucked it up somehow.β
Riley swatted my ass with a dish towel. βI made it better. Admit it.β
βWe shall see.β
*****
Review:
I loved this story. It’s low angst, so sweet, and I didn’t even mind that 90% of it is just the two of them together (although seeing JC interact with others is a hoot and a half). It is a joy getting to know all of JC’s secrets as Riley gets him to open up bit by bit. He had a few forks in the road that helped make him into the grumpy, caring, funny man he is today.
Riley is impatient to get back on the ice, but JC proves to be a good distraction. Maybe too good as Riley starts to realize that his feelings are turning a direction he didn’t anticipate. I didn’t mind that Hayes lets them explore this new side to Riley without a lot of drama. He just goes with the flow, evaluating his comfort level every step of the way, and JC’s calm support definitely helps as things get steadily more steamy.
When I read You, Again I felt that any issues with the book were squarely on me and I was right. With this follow up book Hayes reminds me what I like so much about her stories. Her MCs are great together – I love JC’s playfully gruff personality and Riley is a superstitious mess as he faces his future & his feelings for JC. Together, they are loving, so supportive, and they made me very happy. I’m excited that there’s a holiday story coming soon because I’m ready to get back to Elmwood.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.
Readers who love books about books will fall for Erin La Rosa’s latest rom comβa friends (with benefits)-to-lovers story about a romance author who’s never been in love, and needs to find out why before her next manuscript is due! For fans of BY THE BOOK and BOOK LOVERS.
Plot Twist
by Erin La Rosa
ISBN: 9781335458117
Publication Date: November 14, 2023
Publisher: Canary Street Press
18.99 US | 23.99 CAN
Blurb:
Romance author Sophie Lyonβs ironic secret just went viral: sheβs never been in love. Though her debut novel made readers swoon, Sophieβs having trouble getting her new characters to happily-ever-after, and she blames it on her own uninspired love life. With a manuscript deadline looming, Sophie makes an ambitious plan to overcome her writerβs block: reunite with her exes to learn why she’s never fallen in loveβand document it all for her millions of new online followers. Which also means facing her ex-girlfriend Carla, the one person Sophie could have loved.
Luckily, Sophieβs reclusive landlord, Dash Montroseβa former teen heartthrobβhas social media all figured out and offers to help. But he doesn’t mention that heβs an anonymous online crafter, a hobby that helps him maintain his sobriety. No one knows about his complicated relationship with alcohol and he intends to keep it that way. His family is Hollywood royalty, so Dash has to steer clear of scandal.
As Sophie and Dash grow closer, they discover a heat between them that rivals Dash’s pottery kiln. But Sophie needs to figure out who she is outside her relationships, and Dash isnβt sure heβs stable enough for the commitment she deserves. So Sophie suggests what any good romance author would: a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Surely a casual relationship wonβt cause any troubleβ¦
More specifically, sheβd had one (or three) too many the night before. So instead of falling asleep on her bed, she was lying on the couch with a paperback book as a makeshift pillow. Her legs were tucked up in the fetal position inside her billowy dress. And as she licked her lips, she tasted vodka and fried chicken, which she didnβt remember drinking or eating.
She attempted to open her eyes, but her lashes stuck together from the makeup sheβd forgotten to remove the night before. With the help of her index finger and thumb, she managed to peel one lid open. White-hot summer light poured in through the arched living-room window and her mint green walls, a color sheβd specifically chosen for its soothing properties, were mockingly chipper.
But even more unsettling was the book on the coffee table directly in front of her, Whisked Away. Sophieβs first published book. She closed her one good eye and wished sheβd never opened it.
Her mom had always dreamed about Sophie filling an entire bookshelf with all her titles, the years of working multiple day jobs while tinkering on romance books finally worth the struggle. But, as it turned out, Whisked Away would be Sophieβs one and only book. Had she known sheβd be a one-hit wonder, she wouldnβt have ordered the little placard for her writing desk: Ask Me about My Tropes.
The worst part was that she had sold a follow-up bookβor, at least, a pitch plus the first three chaptersβbut she hadnβt been able to finish The Love Drought (a title so tragically similar to her own personal problems that it made her cringe). Sheβd been given multiple extensions but missed all of them. And, per her contract, her publisher had the right to terminate their deal if those deadlines werenβt met. But no matter how many drafts she started, Sophie couldnβt find her way to the happily ever after that all romance books promised and that she loved.
The phone call with her agent started with We need to talk⦠and ended with You have six weeks to finish this book or your contract, plus the advance, will be taken back.
Sheβd spent most of that advance, though, along with the royalty checks that grew smaller and smaller as interest in her last book waned. She needed money from turning in the next book if she wanted to continue paying for things like food or a place to stay.
She shouldβve seen the implosion coming. Her horoscope had warned that the entire month of June would be bad for important communication. But the damage was done: Sophie was a romance author with writerβs block, and in six weeksβ time, sheβd lose her publishing deal.
So sheβd done the only thing she knew would make her feel better: called Poppy. And her best friend had suggested a night out at their favorite downtown karaoke bar to drown away the loud whir of failure.
She cautiously sat up, then settled her feet into the woven jute rug. Her legs were as firm as Jell-O when she stood. Still, she managed to make it to the hallway mirror, where she saw that her normally side-swept curtain bangs had morphed into Medusa, snakelike tendrils across her forehead, and she had more flakes on her face than her pet goldfish had in his bowl.
She cringed. Rain Boots. Her goldfish was twelve years old and the longest relationship sheβd ever had. She planted her hand on the wall for support and shuffled over to her bedroom where a large glass fishbowl sat on her bedside table. Rain Boots swam in the exact middle and blinked at Sophie with large accusatory eyes.
βIβm sorry, honey,β Sophie croaked out. βI know we have our bedtime routine, but Mommy got horribly drunk.β
She tapped the glass with her index finger and waited for a response, but none came. Eventually the silence broke when her doorbell loudly ding-donged and caused her to jump in surprise. The next, and bigger, surprise came when she made her way to the front door and saw her landlord waiting on the porch.
Dash Montrose wasnβt a tall man, but he had presence. Part of that was because he always seemed to be fidgetingβtapping his fingers, shifting his feet, or pacing slightlyβbut also, he had thick arms with swirling, inky-black tattoos.
Itβs not that Sophie had stared at those arms in prior instances butβ¦well, yeah, she probably had.
Still, her first instinct was to hide behind the couch because what the hell was Dash doing there? She and Dash lived next door to each other, but they were not close. In fact, Dash hardly ever acknowledged her existence. He lived in the large house tucked behind her bungalow, but he was always walking away in some kind of a hurry. If she waved, he only ever nodded back. She didnβt think he was intentionally being a jerk, but he clearly had no interest in interacting with her. They hadnβt spoken actual words to each other in at least a few months. She Venmoed him the rent, and sometimes he left a thumbs-up in response. That was the extent of it.
But there he was, in jeans and a T-shirt. What could he want? Did he somehow know her funds were about to run out and he was preemptively evicting her? Sophie avoided confrontation at all costs, but she couldnβt run away from him, not when his face was pressed against the window of her door and he was peering directly at her. She clutched her arms across her chest, extremely aware that she was still dressed in her clothes from the night before, as she made her way to him.
When she opened the door, she was hit not only with the heat from the high sun above but by the sight of Dashβs wet hair slicked around his face. Water trickled down his neck and splotched his faded shirt, like heβd come straight over from a shower. Which meant a few minutes prior heβd been totally naked, covered in soap and water andβ¦
βHey, uh, whoa.β His voice cut through Sophieβs thoughts. When she glanced up, Dash gave her an uneasy expression, then gestured down the length of her. βWhat happenedβ¦β
She never left the house without a minimum of tinted moisturizer, but of course Dash came on the one day where she closely resembled a Madame Tussauds wax statue melting in the sun. Sophie gently swiped her index finger under her eye, and it came back coated in black liner. Excellent.
βVodka happened,β she muttered.
She rubbed the liner between her fingers. Something was wrong. Mercury mustβve been in retrograde. If thirteen-year old Sophie had known that she would be renting a place from Dash Montroseβformer teen heartthrob movie star turned still hunky landlordβand he was seeing her hungoverβ¦sheβd be even more embarrassed than she already was. And sheβd probably also be delighted. Because Sophie had maaaybe had a photo of him from a magazine cover on her wall when she was growing up. His film Happy Now? was her all-time favorite movie.
She absolutely did not have a crush on adult Dash, though. Well, he was undeniably hot. No point in glossing over that thick, dirty-blond hair, the dimple in his chin, or any of the other tatted-up details. But he was Poppyβs brother and so off-limits that Sophie had built a wall around Dash in her mind. Though bits of the wall appeared to crumble at the sight of his strong jaw and the dark circles under his eyes that made him all the more mysterious to her.
βPoppy asked me to come check on you. She said you werenβt answering your phone.β He glanced behind her, as if searching for a potential thief holding her cell hostage.
βMy Poppy?β Sophie had worked at Poppyβs spa, Glow, for yearsβone of the many day jobs sheβd had before quitting to write full-time. Though, now that she had endless writerβs block, she might have to beg for her old job back.
βSheβs my sister, so sheβs technically our Poppy.β His hands landed in the pockets of his jeans.
Sophie looked behind her to where the phone usually was, and blessedly, while sheβd been drunk enough to use a book as a pillow, sheβd been just sober enough to plug in her phone. She rubbed at one of her throbbing temples and walked over to her desk, grabbed her phone, then held down the power button and watched the white icon flash back.
As she waited for the phone to boot up, she walked back toward Dash.
βOkay, she wants me to tell you that thereβs a video of you going viral?β Dash gestured to his phone, which made his forearm flex and Sophieβs eyes widen in response.
She tried to process what heβd said. She needed an intense boost of caffeineβmaybe a matchaβto be able to comprehend the words coming out of his mouth. βA video?β
βI donβt know, she said you needed to see it. And that I needed to make sure you saw it.β He shrugged, but the small motion lifted the edge of his shirt up just enough for Sophie to catch a glimpse of his boxers.
Sophie didnβt want to be impoliteβDash was Poppyβs older brother, after allβbut what was she supposed to do? She couldnβt so much as look at a candle shop without rushing in to buy one. Dash was the male equivalent of fresh beeswax. She was definitely staring.
Just then, her phone erupted in a series of pings, vibrations, and what sounded like one deafening goose honk. If she owned pearls, sheβd be clutching the hell out of them. The screen filled with notificationsβemails, texts, missed calls, and push notifications from Instagramβbut she pulled up Poppyβs text conversation first.
Soph, are you up?Β
Itβs 10. You never sleep this late.Β
Iβm at work, ARE YOU OKΒ
Iβm sending Dash over.
YOUβRE NOT DEAD! YIPPEE!Β
OK, hereβs the vid. Donβt freak out!
Dashβs phone pinged too, he looked down, then sighed. βDid you get it?β He sounded a little irritated.
Sophie frowned at the blurry thumbnail of a woman, but clicked the link, which sent her to the TikTok app. Then, almost immediately, she saw herself reflected on the screen. The video was taken at the karaoke bar, and Sophie was the main event. She stood onstage as the undeniable background music to Elton Johnβs βTiny Dancerβ played. She had requested that song, hadnβt she? The small pieces of her lost-memory puzzle began to click into place.
Only, in the video, she was sobbing, with tears running down her cheeks, as she gazed wild-eyed into the crowd. Poppy ran onto the stage and attempted to coax Sophie off, but Sophie grabbed the mic and shouted, βIβve never been in love, okay?!β Her voice so angry and vehement that she appeared to be deranged. The person holding the phone zoomed in at that exact moment to capture Sophieβs grimace as she shrieked out, βLove isnβt real!β Then Poppy yanked the mic out of Sophieβs hand and dropped it for her. End of video.
βStop, stop, stop!β The words screeched out of her as she furiously poked the screen to try and delete the video. Then she remembered this was not her videoβsomeone else had uploaded it. Eventually, her eyes drifted down to the caption, which read Relatable! The video had over two hundred thousand views and thirty thousand likes.
βOh my holy hot hell.β She was a writer but could not think of any other words in that moment. Her mind raced at the thought of hundreds of thousands of people watching her have a public meltdown and liking it.
Normally, Sophie was an optimist, but after the last twenty-four hours, she was beginning to understand the appeal of pessimism. Her hand instinctively went to her chest and her fingers tap-tap-tapped at her pacemakerβsomething she always did to steady herselfβas she scrolled through the comments and saw that not one but multiple people had recognized her.
Sophie Lyon is FUN
Sophie Lyon is secretly unhinged and itβs sending me
I hated her book, but I like this?
βJust breathe.β Then Dashβs hand was on her back, steady and warm, which momentarily distracted her, but not for long.
The heat outside had intensified to Palm Springsβlevel boiling and caused Sophie to break out in either hives or a rash. She furiously clawed at her throat with her free hand. She walked away from Dash and down the porch steps. Her bare feet hit the cool blades of grass in her yard, and when she looked up, the iconic Hollywood sign perched in the Santa Monica Mountains shined pearly white in the distance. Seeing those letters from her yard every morning used to make her feel closer to the success she so deeply craved, but now she felt buried under the weight of its implied expectations.
She stumbled, and Dash was next to her within seconds, holding her steady. He grabbed her elbow with one hand, and the other wrapped around her waist to cup her hip. His skin was warm against her, even through her dress. Her stomach flipped, probably from the lingering alcohol. βSophie, you really need to sit. You look like youβre about to faintββ
The sound of her phone pinging cut him off. And when she looked down, a familiar name flashed across the screen. Carla. Sophie stopped scratching her throat. Her ex. The woman who had single-handedly led her on for close to a year. A year in which Sophie could feel herself beginning to fall head over heels, and thenβ¦ Carla had ended it and dragged their relationship to the trash. Sophie stared at Carlaβs name, and the text underneath, which read Saw the videoβ¦ As in her ex had seen the video of Sophie having a full-on meltdown.
It was at this moment that she tilted her head back, let the punishing sun burn her eyes, and shouted as loudly as she physically could. When she eventually stopped screaming, her head felt light. The edges of her vision blurred with the realization that she had nothing left, her life was over, and she was completely mortified.
βSeriously, Sophie? My ears are ringing.β
Sophie was so focused on her own humiliation that she mustβve forgotten that Dash was right there.
βAre you on something?β Dash asked.
Sophie frowned. No, she was not on something. She may have been braless, hungover, and hanging by a thread emotionally, but what kind of an accusation was that?
And even if she were on ayahuasca and beginning to see rainbow caticorns encircling her feetβwhich sounded great, actuallyβwhat she did with her body was absolutely none of his business. She paid her rent on time. This was her place. He was the one whoβd come bounding over, all wet and wearing a too-tight shirt, and now he had the nerve to suggest she was the one out of line?
Β Β Β Β She would tell Dash that he needed to leave. But when she opened her mouth to say as much, she felt the bile rise in her throat. Her eyes bulged wide as she closed her mouth and held back something akin to a burp. Dash clocked her panic, and his eyes narrowed. She shook her head, but there was no use. She was definitely going to hurl all over her high-school celebrity crush. And without even being able to call out a warning, she projectile-vomited all over Dash.
*****
Author Info:
ERIN LA ROSA is a writer living in Los Angeles. As a writer for BuzzFeed, she frequently writes about the perils and triumphs of being a redhead. Before BuzzFeed, Erin worked for the comedy websites Funny or Die and MadAtoms, as well as E!s Fashion Police, Wetpaint, and Ecorazzi. Erin has appeared on CNN, Headline News, Jimmy Kimmel, and The Today Show on behalf of BuzzFeed. She is the author of Womanskills and The Big Redhead Book.
Merrick has the perfect life: a husband, a baby, and a great future ahead of him. Until all that is ripped away, and heβs left alone with his daughter. After two years, he knows itβs time to move on. To find a new life for him and Willow. It comes in the shape of a derelict mill house nestled in the hills above a Devon seaside town.
Drew
When Drew loses the chance to buy and restore the house heβs loved all his life, the last thing he wants to do is renovate it for the mysterious new resident. But something about Merrick Green intrigues him, and he feels compelled to lift the heaviness surrounding him. The fact that Merrickβs daughter seems to have taken an instant infatuation with Drew makes it easier.
As the two men become friends, Merrick battles with his attraction to Drew. How can he be interested in the ruggedly handsome when heβs still in love with Josh?
Letting go of the past is hard, but with Drew by his side, he finds a way forward.
Life After Loveis a sweet small-town, opposites-attract, hurt/comfort romance with low angst and a sweet little girl that everyone falls in love with.
Warning: The book deals with the loss of a loved one.
As I approach my truck, a man is looking at it. No, heβs taking a photograph. βCan I help you?β I put my toolbox into the open flat bed.
The man blushes and takes a step back. βOh, is this your truck? Iβm sorry. I wanted to get a photo of your contact details. Iβm looking for a building contractor.β
He must be the latest resident in our small beachside town. The new owner of the Mill House. Heβs incredibly good looking. Iβd say around my age, thirty-five. About the same height as me at five eleven and has eyes the colour of soft, faded denim. His hair is short at the sides, but with honey-blond curls on top, which I envy. My hair is straight and long enough to tie up. I should get it cut. The amount of dust, plaster and sawdust is a bloody nightmare to wash out every night.
I pull a notebook out of the side pocket on my shorts and the pencil from behind my ear. βIβm sure I can do that for you. What sort of work?β
βUm, itβs pretty much everything. The house is a bit of a wreck. Iβd hoped to do some of it myself, but I know thatβs out of my abilities. I donβt know if itβs something youβre interested in doing?β
I get the feeling the guy is overloaded with things that need immediate action and has got himself lost in the process. βWhy donβt you show me? Iβve got nothing else planned for the day.β
He lets out a sigh. βThat would be so good. Itβs Mill House. Do you know it?β
I smile. My suspicions this is the new guy were right. βI do. I was born and bred in this town. I can follow you there if youβd like?β
βOkay, thank you so much. See you in a few.β
I wait until heβs in his car, then start the engine on mine. His smart, new, not-cheap-at-all BMW is something else for the gossips to talk about. Handsome, single, and seemingly rich. Melanie will be waving her knickers on a pole in front of him in the blink of her false eyelashes.
The drive takes ten minutes, winding through the town and up parallel to the river that runs down to the sea. The Mill House still has the original water wheel. Although the river has been diverted away from the property, itβs still an impressive feature of the house.
He turns to me. βThis is my daughter, Willow. Iβm Merrick Green.β
βIβm Drew Roberts, but you probably guessed that from the signage.β
βOh, yes, well, itβs nice to meet you.β Heβs flustered as he juggles the sleeping toddler to shake my hand.
He gestures with his head. βWelcome to my home. Or what will be my home. Come on in.β
I follow him up the stone steps to the solid oak door.
He pushes the door open. βItβs a bit of a mess. Please be careful where you walk.β
βThanks for the heads-up.β I step in, holding back my smile. I used to come here a lot when I was a kid. Itβs not as bad as I remembered.
I wait in the hallway as he places the sleeping child on a sheet partly covering an old mulberry velvet sofa that has been here forever.
βI havenβt been in here for years,β I say when Merrick walks back out.
Surprise flashes in his eyes. βYou know the house?β
I chuckle. βEveryone whoβs grown up here has played around in this house. Not that we were supposed to, but kids will be kids. School-leaving parties took place here, and teenagers just wanting to hang out would come here. Itβs about time someone came and loved it again. Itβs a good place to live and raise a family, Merrick.β
A flash of pain rocks over his face, and he closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath.
βHey, are you okay? Iβm sorry if I said the wrong thing.β
βNo, itβs fine. Can I get you a drink? Iβve got some bottled water or some juice. Then we can walk around, and Iβll show you what needs your attention as soon as you can.β
βIβm good, and is it just the urgent work you want me to do, or are you looking for a quote for all the renovations? Who else have you spoken to?β
βNo one else. Iβve only been here a couple of days.β
βYouβre not staying in the house now, are you? I donβt think itβs safe.β
He looks at the cracked walls and sagging ceilings and chuckles. βNo, Iβm staying in a hotel for now. But if you could give me a quote for the initial work, we can discuss the rest of the work when I have the plans back.β
I scratch my chin. βYouβre putting a lot of faith into a man youβve just met.β
βI asked around. You were the first name mentioned. Plus, you look like a decent guy.β Finally, he gives me a small smile.
βWhen does your wife arrive?β
*****
Review:
I’m amused that the things I liked the most about this story are the things that have it getting some lower * reviews. I mean I get that everyone has their own preferences (there’re lots of romances that are loved that I didn’t even finish) but it’s just funny that those are specifically what is called out π
Life After Love is definitely slow burn and low angst, with very little conflict between the two main characters. Instead it’s about Merrick finally starting to get over the death of his husband and choosing to move on with his life. Meeting, and falling in love, with Drew is definitely not something he expected but maybe something he needed. (The little encouragements from Josh are touching and the push that he needs at the right time.)
I enjoyed both Drew and Merrick as characters. They are good-hearted and sweet together, making me pull for them from the first page. Merrick has a lot he needs to face, just getting up was hard for a long time after Josh died, but a change of scenery and new friends are definitely helping. Drew shows a lot of patience and understanding as he gets to know Merrick and his daughter (who is just the sweetest). It’s easy to see why Merrick opens up to him and gives him his trust & eventually his heart.
The supporting characters are good for Merrick as well. From Drew’s meddling sister and her friend, to Luke and Benny at the cafe, everyone is welcoming to the little family and there for both Drew & Merrick when they need it. Definitely need to see more of Merrick’s sister and best friend. Both are good eggs, full of heart and support. And I’m hoping that Harper gives us more of Josh’s brother. We didn’t get to know him well but he seemed like a stand up guy who’s hurting as well. Drew’s friend definitely needs a resolution … ok, so there’s a lot of opportunity here. I hope you have big plans Harper!
This is a new author for me and obviously I’m looking forward to finding out what’s in store for us next.
*****
Author Info:
Just in case you donβt know me. Iβm a simple soul that puts all my hopelessly romantic thoughts down on my computer. Iβm usually in the living roomβtyping awayβwith my wayward Great Dane, Siddiqi, next to me on the sofa.
Iβm a hopeless romantic, always falling in love with my men, determined to make sure they get the happy-ever-after they deserve, even if they do have to work hard for it.
I live in a tiny village in Lincolnshire, UK, with my husband and dog, who are forever patient with me when I forget the time, and the dinner!
Preston James did things to me. Things that had me wanting more of him and his dirty mouth, even though I knew better. Things that made my heart race. Things that made me come to realize there was more to my bossβs best friend than met the eye.
Nick Reed
As one of the bartenders at Alejandroβs Bar, Iβve seen it all. Iβve even watched my friends, Christian and Cooper, both find the loves of their life. Six years after breaking up with my college boyfriend, Iβm convinced thatβs not the life Iβm supposed to have until forty-five-year-old Preston James makes me the target of his relentless sexy stares and his straight-forward, dirty propositions.
Maybe being the object of his desire wouldnβt be so bad.
Preston James
The first time I laid eyes on Nicholas Reed, I knew I had to have him. There was something about my best friendβs bartender that captivated me. And I always got my way. But this twenty-eight-year-old grad student has me jumping through all kinds of hoops to get his attention. Thereβs nothing I wonβt do to prove to him Iβm exactly what he needs. Iβm relentless like that and I wonβt stop until heβs mine.
We Could Do This Forever is the first book in the We Could Do This Duet and is an MM Bisexual Romance. Additional tropes: Age Gap; Mutual Pining; Bossβs Best Friend; Secretly Wealthy; Humor.
The dance these two go thru getting together provided quite a few entertaining moments. Drunk Preston laying out everything he thinks and feels for everyone is downright hilarious and I can’t blame Nick for finding him irresistible. Once they finally give in, Preston is an attentive and giving boyfriend, taking care of Nick and showing him as much as telling him how much he cares.
But while I liked Nick and Preston’s story overall, there were a few issues. Mainly that these two REALLY need to work on their communication skills. A good portion of the beginning of the book is spent with them giving each other googly eyes, but not going anywhere because they won’t have an actual conversation. Throw in that once they do get together there’s a lot of suggestion about things but no talking and when something that Nick knows needs to be talked about comes up he … avoids it. Does he think it’s just going to go away? And then there’s the whole third act breakup and Preston, because of his additional years of maturity, works thru it like a grownup, right? Uh, no. He handles it about as well as he did the actual conflict, which was not well. At all. I liked the two of them together, but sheesh there were moments.
I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything that I’ve read from Beckett and I’m definitely looking forward to Alejandro’s story to complete this duet. I’m also really hoping that introducing Nick’s friend Evan means that we’re going to get some new football players in San Diego. Please!
*****
Author Info:
Emerson Beckett is an avid sports fan and lover of M/M romance books. She loves her new career as an author of gay romance. Itβs even more fulfilling for her when she can combine the two.
Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series, which includes The Quarterback Keeper, Pass Interference, Unnecessary Roughness, Two-Point Conversion, Illegal Motion, Ineligible Receiver, and Roughing the Kicker.
Romantic Reads and Such 