The cowboy, the rancher, and a little holiday magic…
TANNER
I met the grumpiest man on the planet and Iโm head over heels in lust. No joke. Oak Ridge Ranchโs new part-time vet slash ranch hand is a bear and heโs built like one too. If I were smart, Iโd keep my distance.ย
In a twist, Iโm not so smart.
But I can tell that under his hard as nails exterior, the cowboy is a gentle giant. Axel is a devoted single dad, a dedicated vet, andโฆI think he likes me. Or he wants me.ย ย
I can work with that.
Thereโs nothing wrong with a little holiday fun, is there?
AXEL
I need the job at the ranch through December, then Iโm out of here. I have a kid to think ofย and itโs time to settle old scores and build a new life.ย ย
But Tanner is making things complicated. Heโs smart, intuitive, and charming, andโ Whoa! Iโve learned my lesson. This is temporary. Iโm not Tannerโs cowboy. I might be attracted to him, but I can handle it.ย ย
I hope.
Okay, fine. I may need some Christmas magic to get out of this with my heart in one piece. Wish me luck.ย
A Cowboy Holiday is an MM, bisexual romance featuring a single dad-cowboy-grump, aย sweetheart of a rancher, and some holiday magic.ย ย
Hayes delivers a sweet, low angst, and quick holiday read. I always love her characters, how they interact, and this one is no different. Tanner is a big hearted, sweetheart of a cowboy and Axel is a little bit gruff, somewhat jaded, but a wonderfully committed girl dad. They find themselves attracted to each other but both have been burned in the past and with a time limit on Axel’s stay things get a little complicated. They are great together and have such a lovely connection, as Tanner helps Axel let go a little and allow himself to be a little more free. It doesn’t take long for their feelings to take over and I appreciate that Hayes doesn’t let things get overly difficult. A Cowboy Holiday is a little bit of grumpy/sunshine with a single dad cowboy twist (I do wish we’d gotten more of Axel’s daughter tho, she’s a cutie) all tied up with a Christmas bow.
**There are a few field trips to the Christmas themed town from Moody’s Grumpy Holiday but the story can easily be read as a stand alone.**
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write. Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find
love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
The hockey player, the figure skater, and the roommate situationโฆ
GUS
No one throws a party quite like I do. Technically, I could have graduated three years ago, but I love Smithton, I love hockey, and the team needs a good captain with a positive outlook. Thatโs me. I love this town, and it loves me.
Well, except for my roommate.
Rafe doesnโt like me at allโtotal mystery. Iโm a nice guy. Ask anyone. Heโs the one with stick-in-the-mud-itis. Or maybe the nonstop partying is too much for him. Itโs definitely taking a toll on me, and Iโm trying to do better โcause in a twist, Rafeโs not so bad.
He has a great smile, pretty eyes, cute dimples, andโ
Oh, man. I think I have a situation.
RAFE
This cannot be happening. Iโm a competitive figure skater with goals and big plans. How did I get saddled with a party-boy hockey-hero for a roommate?
Oh, yeah. I mistakenly assumed the captain of the hockey team would be goal-oriented. Wrong. Gus and I have nothing in common, and I have no idea how Iโm going to survive a year of this.
But oddly enough, weโre good together in a crisis. So good, Iโm beginning to wonder if we could be something serious. Something more than a couple of athletes playing the roommate game.
The Roommate Game is an MM light-angst, college hockey romance featuring a fun-loving captain, a serious figure skater, and a chance at forever.
Prior Reading: recommended but not essential Genre: contemporary, college, sports Tropes: Hockey, college, opposites attract, roommates
*****
Excerpt:
โOkay, wellโฆI got two ideas for you. Favorite karaoke song and best series youโve ever binged.โ
โThat sounds like โhow to look desperate in under five secondsโ advice.โ He made a buzzer sound. โTry again.โ
โNope. Iโve given you gold, Johannsen. Work with it. Everyone has a karaoke story and or a show they freaking love and canโt shut up about. Get him talking while youโre practicing your spins or something. I guarantee youโll have your opening to ask him out. How do you feel about sriracha?โ I held up a bottle.
โI like itโฆsparingly. Too much changes the taste of whatever youโre eating.โ
โTrue, but I like spicy food. I went to this karaoke bar where they served the hottest wings ever. Ty put my name on the list to sing a Britney Spears song. My mouth was on fire and I could barely whisper into the mic, let alone sing.โ
Rafeโs lips twitched with humor as he pushed the cart and perused chicken breasts. โWhich song?โ
โ โToxic.โ I was supposed to make my voice extra deep and Ty was gonna go high, but those damn wings lit a fire in my throat. I wonโt be ordering those any time soon. Itโs a great bar, though. Hey, we should go sometime. What are you doing next Friday?โ I winked. โSee what I did there?โ
He added chicken to our now half-full cart and grinned. โThat was impressive.โ
โThank you. If you need another pep talk, Iโm here for you, but Iโve got do-or-die playoff games next week andโโ
โIโm fine.โ
โI know you are. I believe in you, Rafester.โ
He blushed, then grumbled about the sodium in a bottle of soy sauce. I was a little insulted that he thought Iโd buy his faux-grouchy routine. Iโd been privy to the real grump, so I could tell the difference. But I didnโt call him out on it โcause whether heโd realized it or not, Rafe had let me in.
*****
Review:
Gus has been a pretty terrible roommate but he’s been using his party lifestyle to self-medicate, hiding his issues and his conflict over his future with drugs and alcohol. (I really want to know how he did so well in both his classes and on the ice all things considered.) But he’s finally at the point where things have to change and I really appreciate that Hayes had him getting professional help, not just powering thru on his own. That also has him becoming a better roommate to Rafe.
I don’t know how Rafe lasted as long as he did – the drunken parties, missing food, and messy house … but it’s good thing all around that he’s willing to give Gus another chance. Because it gives him a chance to see the funny, caring man inside. Even if he’s so clueless as to why Rafe may not be his biggest fan ๐
But Sober Gus takes all the enthusiasm of Party Gus and applies it in positive ways. He’s so fun and I love how he brings Rafe along on all sorts of fun adventures, working to help him get out of his head for a bit. And it doesn’t take long for a crush to form. Who can blame him tho the way Gus throws himself full body into everything and that includes being a friend, then friend with benefits.
The newest from Hayes is a slow burn, low angst, sweet “enemies” to lovers situation. I loved these two together – Gus with his big personality & even bigger heart hiding his issues and Rafe with his quiet support and self doubt. Once again Hayes shows finesse with characters, plot, and pacing, delivering a feel good read.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write. Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying! Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
The hockey star, the influencer, and the deal of a lifetime.
TY
Iโm going to the pros, baby! Deal made, contract signed. Now all I have to do is finish out my final season at Smithton and stay out of trouble. I like to have a good time, but donโt worry, Iโll behave.
What I wonโt do is talk to that double-crossing influencer whoโs been badgering me for an interview. No thanks.
I know Walkerโs typeโsweet as pie on the outside, a shark on the inside.
Get thisโฆhe wants to make a deal that sounds a lot like a bribe.
Not interested. No way.
But I am curious.
WALKER
Iโve never worked so hard for an interview in my life. Ugh!
Look, I get that Ty doesnโt like me. As inโฆhe wonโt return my calls and avoids me like the plague on campus.
Too bad. Iโm not giving up.
I donโt want to beg, but Iโm willing to barter. Every man has his priceโand something to prove.
Even Ty.
Something to Prove is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a hockey star and the adorkable influencer whoโs determined to win him overโฆ
There is just so much cuteness with these two. From the light enemies-to-lovers moments to their adorable segments on Walker’s show to their falling in love with a big HEA & epilogue. I just couldn’t get enough.
Walker and Ty may be a bit of opposites attract but they play off each other so well, full of wit and sass and a whole lot of sexiness. There’s light enemies-to-lovers at the beginning (which quickly turns into something else) and not a whole lot of angst, so I wouldn’t pick it up for that. And while their attraction may have been quick to flare, their relationship is more of a slow burn and deepening feelings as they get to know each other better.
This is definitely one of those that you just settle in and enjoy the ride.
The hockey star, the influencer, and the deal of a lifetime.
TY
Iโm going to the pros, baby! Deal made, contract signed. Now all I have to do is finish out my final season at Smithton and stay out of trouble. I like to have a good time, but donโt worry, Iโll behave.
What I wonโt do is talk to that double-crossing influencer whoโs been badgering me for an interview. No thanks.
I know Walkerโs typeโsweet as pie on the outside, a shark on the inside.
Get thisโฆhe wants to make a deal that sounds a lot like a bribe.
Not interested. No way.
But I am curious.
WALKER
Iโve never worked so hard for an interview in my life. Ugh!
Look, I get that Ty doesnโt like me. As inโฆhe wonโt return my calls and avoids me like the plague on campus.
Too bad. Iโm not giving up.
I donโt want to beg, but Iโm willing to barter. Every man has his priceโand something to prove.
Even Ty.
Something to Prove is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a hockey star and the adorkable influencer whoโs determined to win him overโฆ
Sue me. Iโd liked the peppy redheadโs vibe and though Iโd deny it with my last breath, Iโd thought Walker was cute with his wayward curls, tawny-brown eyes, and tight compact body.
But that was before heโd sold out my best friend.
I knew Langley and some of our other teammates thought I was being unreasonable and that Walker had atoned for his mistake, but he was done-zo in my book.
I gave a curt nod and spun away.
Langley followed, flinging a quick, โLater, dudeโ over his shoulder.
โHang on! Ty, may I have a word, please?โ Walker called.
I wasnโt going to reply. I didnโt owe him an explanation, and I was pretty damn sure he knew the score anyway.
But Langley grabbed my elbow and leaned into my space. โBe nice, Ty. New school year, blank slate, and all that.โ
โBullshit,โ I coughed under my breath.
โCโmon, Jett forgave him. You can afford to be magnimonious too.โ
โMagnanimous,โ I corrected.
Langley rolled his eyes. โWhatever the fuck. The point isโฆyouโre going to the AH-fuckinโ-L. No reason to be bitter, right? At least hear him out.โ
With that, Langley strode away, leaving me to deal with the annoyingly cheery Walker Woodrow.
I was a good six inches taller and outweighed him by at least thirty pounds of muscle. My height, brawny size, and less-than-sunny demeanor should have been intimidating, but Walker was apparently immune.
โCongratulations are in order,โ he gushed. โAHLโฆwow! And to Jacksonville, no less.โ
โYouโre a hockey fan?โ I heard myself ask out of the blue.
โHonestly, I think everyone at Smithton isโor they will be, knowing theyโll be able to root for one of our own in the pros.โ
That wasnโt really an answer, but his smile was more brilliant than the last. It made him incandescent, as if he had some kind of inner glow.
I had to admit, Walker had a good TV face. He wasnโt classically handsome, but that spark in him transmitted nicely on-screen. It made him interesting, and it made it seem as if he were interested in you. An excellent quality for a talk show host. Or a con artist.
โThanks,โ I replied tersely. โI have to get going.โ
โIโll walk with you.โ He fell into step beside me, uninvited. โI know youโre probably busy getting ready for classes. I just finalized my schedule and bought a few online textbooks. OMG, highway robbery. Am I right? I canโt believe how much collegiate e-books cost.โ
His melodic laughter rang between the buildings like birdsong.
Do not cave. He might look pretty, but the man is rotten to the core.
I stopped in my tracks. โIs there something you wanted?โ
โActuallyโฆyes.โ Walker bit into his bottom lip and gave a sheepish look. โIโd love to interview you for Whatโs New, Smithton? Our audience will go nuts for a chance to hear all about the draft, how itโs changed your life so far, what you imagine life will be like in Florida next year, andโฆwhat itโs like being an out bisexual athlete on the rise. The interview itself is generally thirty minutes long. Super low-key. We could meet at the rink or at myโโ
โNo.โ
He recoiled as if Iโd punched him in the gut. โIโฆuh, I can work around your schedule, of course, andโโ
โNo,โ I repeated.
โUmโฆis there a problem?โ Walker asked carefully.
โNo problem with me. I just donโt want anything to do with you. And Iโm not going to change my mind.โ I stepped away from him, relishing his pointedly shocked expression. โTell your followers thatโs whatโs new in Smithton.โ
Okay, not my best line, but it did the trick. Walker blinked like an owl, stunned into silence. Good.
I quelled the strong desire to flip him off, settling for the nasty sneer I usually reserved for riling opponents on the ice. Curled lips, ugly stare with dead eyesโฆnot pretty at all. He flinched, which kinda made me feel bad. But fuck that. My anger was totally justified, and it pissed me off that he dared to pull the innocent act.
Did he really think Iโd forget what heโd done? Not fucking likely.
Maybe he didnโt owe me an apology, but I certainly didnโt owe him my time.
I hoped heโd gotten the message loud and clear โcause thisโright here, right nowโwas the last interaction Iโd ever have with Walker fucking Woodrow.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayesย lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
My pro hockey dreams are hanging by a thread. I need to have a great season, and that means no partying, no distractions, no fun. A grad studentโs science experiment is the definition of no fun, soโฆokay.
Pros and cons of agreeing to this deal:
Pro: Positive use of free time. (At least, thatโs what my agent says.)
Con: Malcolm is bossy, clumsy, and he doesnโt know the first thing about hockey.
But heโs also cute and heโs got a great sense of humor andโoh, no.
I cannot have a crush on the geek. No way. Not now.
Malcolm
Yes, Iโm a serious student, but a hockey project is not serious. Who cares about big, hunky hockey players zipping around a sheet of ice at warp speed? Not I.
According to my professor, however, the only way to attain the required data is to study the specimen in his natural habitat, a.k.a., the ice rink.
Pro: My thesis should lead to a bevy of job offers.
Con: Jett. Heโs impossibly big and gruff and handsome and disarmingly charming andโ
Fine. Guilty. I like the jockโฆperhaps too much.
Lately, I find myself wondering if thereโs such a thing as a one-time shot at forever.
One-Time Shot is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a charismatic hockey star and an adorkable scientist.
My control was slipping, though. Every fucking thing about this guy turned me on and I couldnโt figure it out.
Malcolm was cute, not hot. He was quirky, not cool. He wasnโt athletic in the slightest, but he had more confidence than a lot of seasoned hockey players. He knew who he was and what he wanted. And he was willing to try something new to achieve his goals. I admired that kind of drive.
I just wished that I admired the curve of his ass in those khakis a little less as he moved to the small kitchen table and held up a pad of paper and a pen.
โIโm ready to begin. We didnโt discuss how much time to allot for these sessions, but I think forty-five minutes will suffice.โ
โUhโฆright. That works for me.โ I licked my lips, tilting my chin toward the windows. Pull it together, Erickson. โNice place, by the way. I like your plants.โ
โThank you.โ
He blushed. An honest-to-God blush with pink cheeks and averted eyes. I found myself grinning againโฆfor no particular reason.
โDo you have a green thumb?โ
I half expected him to change the subject, get down to business, so he could throw my ass out the door in precisely forty-four minutes and twenty seconds, but Malcolm glanced at the plants, nodding as he sat at the table.
โI do. My parents have a large vegetable garden in their yard. I took charge of it from the time I was ten till I left for college. I switched out some of the less-yielding crops for lettuce, corn, and squash, and grew tons of tomatoes. They tend to it now. Sadly, not as well as I did.โ
See what I mean about this guy?
โYouโre bragging, Maloney. I like that confidence.โ
Malcolm snorted. โIโm not bragging. Iโm stating a fact. My parents are lovely people yet serial houseplant killers. The vegetables stand a better chance outdoors where Mother Nature can care for them till I arrive to save the day.โ
โYouโre funny.โ
โHilarious,โ he confirmed, pointing at the chair across from him. โShall we begin?โ
โSure.โ I sat, shifting under the weight of his expectant gaze.
โI took the liberty of creating a short syllabus, including a diagram of a rink and an index of hockey terminology.โ Malcolm pushed his laptop toward me. โIโve memorized all of them. Quiz me if youโd like.โ
I scrolled through his proposed outline covering etymology, history, tactics, rules, and a very fucking long glossary which included slang. โWhoa. Did you google this?โ
โItโs a compilation of sources, each credited in the attached bibliography,โ he replied.
โYou made a bibliography.โ
โOf course. One must give credit where credit is due.โ Malcolm scooted his chair closer and reached over to scroll through a list of annotations. โSee?โ
Yeah, I saw. And I was a little pissed at myself for being so slow.
โYouโre trying to scare me away,โ I stated.
โNo, Iโm helping you.โ
I shook my head. โI donโt see how this helps either of us. What do etymology and history have to do with measuring speed?โ
โWellโฆnothing, butโโ
โHere you have โbiscuitโ and โbiscuit in the basket.โ โ I gestured at the screen. โThese are very unscientific terms, Maloney.โ
โTrue, but I know those. The biscuit is the puck and putting the biscuit into the basket is to make a goal.โ Malcolm beamed. โCorrect, yes?โ
My lips twisted in amusement. โYes. Can you use this info in your thesis?โ
He fiddled with his glasses. โUndetermined, but doubtful.โ’
*****
Review:
Malcolm is aaalll the adorkableness that I could want. He’s awkward and sweet and caring and smart. He can be stuffy and old fashioned in his speech but he throws himself full bodied in things that interest him. Including Jett.
Jett may be an athlete and not as academic as Malcolm but he works hard for what he wants, for his future. He’s also got a good head on his shoulders, one that recognizes what a good thing he’s found in Malcolm.
These two shouldn’t work together but they do. They listen and open up to each other and they are willing to put everything on the line when they have to. I just … *sigh* love them together. It may have started out as research, morphed into something a little more intimate but soon it turned into something even more. Timing may not be on their side tho.
I adore Hayes’s books. I enjoy the sweetness mixed with heat, characters that just have me from the first page, and a HEA that never disappoints. I need more from her, and this series, as soon as I can get it.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayesย lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!My Readersโ Group, Laneโs Lovers: https://bit.ly/3aIbMYg
Length: 70,000 words Prior Reading: not required Genre: contemporary, sports Tropes: Light-angst, hockey, enemies-to-lovers Trigger/Content Warnings: n/a
Blurb:
Jake
Favorite things and peeps: hockey, family, friends. Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Mason Trinsky.
I have my reasons, but since youโre curious, Trinsky is a showboat and a loudmouth. Sure, heโs a great athlete. Good for him. I accept that we have mutual friends, and I grudgingly accept that heโll be a coach at Elmwood Junior Camp this summerโhowever, I plan to keep my distance.
Of course, some wise guy pairs us up for a camping expedition, and everything that can go wrong does go wrong.
Guess who Iโm stuck with?
Trinsky
Favorite things and peeps: hockey, surfing, and my kid brother Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Jake Milligan
Look, I might be in the minority, but if you ask me, Jake is a nitpicking diva who wants everything his way. I hope my NHL team crushes his, and this summer, I want my campers to out-prank his. Childish? Nah, itโs all in good fun.
Until it starts to feelโฆcomplicated. I shouldnโt care if heโs happy, should I? I donโt want to be Jakeโs friend. I donโt want to have feelings for him at all.
The only thing that matters is hockey. It’s all about the puck. Not love.
Or is it?
Puck Love is an MM bisexual, small-town romance featuring hockeyโs hottest rivals, a hiking trip gone wrong, and a shot at foreverโฆ
And of course, we had Jake. No description needed, but in case youโre curious, his navy swim trunks matched his ball cap, his backpack, and his Crocs. YeahโฆCrocs.
I didnโt actually hate Crocs, but Iโd diss โem โcause I had the maturity of an eggplant, or so Jake inferred. Besides there was really no way I could be expected to be nice for forty-eight hours straightโฆwas there?
Nah.
โLookinโ Croc-tastic, Milligan,โ I whispered.
Jake frowned and shushed me, which made me want to step on his toes. โI donโt know if this is possible, but we need to come up with a plan to stay out of each otherโs way.โ
โEasy. Iโll take two, you take two. I call Howard and the kid with braces.โ
โWhy donโt you want David?โ
โToo serious and eager for me. Perfect for you,โ I replied, leaning close.
He smelled good, like peppermint and evergreen andโ
Geez, was he wearing cologne? Better questionโฆwhy had I noticed? Maybe I was allergic to peppermint and associated it with terrible things likeโฆuhโฆthe holidays.
Okay, totally false. I loved the holidays, and peppermint was awesome. It was just weird that Jake would smell good and lookโฆ
Ugh, it pained me to admit it, but Jake was kind of sort of handsomeโฆtoday. His summer tan made his blue eyes pop and wove golden strands into his dark-blond hair. Iโd only noticed because I was in dire need of vitamin D. And this entire mental sidebar probably meant I was in desperate need of a vacation too.
โFine. Iโll take David and Milo. Letโs win this.โ
I furrowed my brow. โWin what?โ
Jake spared me a glance, his lips quirked in vague amusement. โThe whole weekend. I know itโs lighthearted fun, but itโs also basic swim and running relays too. Can you swim?โ
โOf course I can fucking swim,โ I scoffed.
โCool. If youโre faster on the ground than you are on ice, we should do all right.โ
โAre you insinuating that Iโm a slow skater? That is fucking priceless.โ I snorted.
Jake just smiled and clapped along to whatever Vinnie was yapping about. โIf you say so. By the way, you might want to curb your F bombs. This is a G-rated family weekend. Show some class, Trinsky.โ
โFuck yourself, Milligan.โ
โNice one, asshat. Youโโ
Ray or Jay bumped my elbow as he sidled close, camera in hand. โOh, donโt stop on my account. This is perfect.โ
I gritted my teeth and probably would have said something rude, but I was interrupted by a cheer from the crowd.
โAre you ready to party?โ Vinnie hooted, fists pumping the air. โLetโs do this!โ
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayesย lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
Length: 70,000 words Prior Reading: not required Genre: contemporary, sports Tropes: Light-angst, hockey, enemies-to-lovers Trigger/Content Warnings: n/a
Blurb:
Two rivals, one secret, and a shot at foreverโฆ
Jake
Favorite things and peeps: hockey, family, friends. Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Mason Trinsky.
I have my reasons, but since youโre curious, Trinsky is a showboat and a loudmouth. Sure, heโs a great athlete. Good for him. I accept that we have mutual friends, and I grudgingly accept that heโll be a coach at Elmwood Junior Camp this summerโhowever, I plan to keep my distance.
Of course, some wise guy pairs us up for a camping expedition, and everything that can go wrong does go wrong.
Guess who Iโm stuck with?
Trinsky
Favorite things and peeps: hockey, surfing, and my kid brother Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Jake Milligan
Look, I might be in the minority, but if you ask me, Jake is a nitpicking diva who wants everything his way. I hope my NHL team crushes his, and this summer, I want my campers to out-prank his. Childish? Nah, itโs all in good fun.
Until it starts to feelโฆcomplicated. I shouldnโt care if heโs happy, should I? I donโt want to be Jakeโs friend. I donโt want to have feelings for him at all.
The only thing that matters is hockey. It’s all about the puck. Not love.
Or is it?
Puck Love is an MM bisexual, small-town romance featuring hockeyโs hottest rivals, a hiking trip gone wrong, and a shot at foreverโฆ
Y’all, every new Elmwood book is my new favorite. These couples just keep getting better & better and again I have to say that these two may be my favoritist. They just stole my heart. Jake with his quiet seriousness, holding so much of the world on his shoulders. And loud, boisterous Trinsky, who hides a deeper, softer side. Opposites fighting it out on the ice and, mostly thanks to Trinsky’s big mouth, in the media as well. But time spent together gives them the opportunity to see a little further below the surface.
I loved how these two end up spending time together against their will but find themselves slowly getting to know each other. It is so sweet, so touching, as they discover more about each other. Their dedication and love for others, glimpses of the caring men they are. Creating an unexpected connection … and an inescapable attraction.
Puck Love is low angst, adorable, wholesome, sexy, and such a satisfying end to the series. Returning readers will have the opportunity to catch up with characters from past books, but this can be read as a stand alone … why would you want to tho!
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayesย lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write. Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
The geek, the cowboy, and a not-so-grumpy holidayโฆ
Moody
Living in Christmas Town doesnโt make me a fan of the holidays. Quite the opposite. In fact, eleven months out of the year, Iโm perfectly happy running my bookstore in peace and quiet. Of course, that changes in December when itโs mistletoe madness and mayhem. Ugh.
But this year, thereโs a new cowboy in town and itโs not as easy to grumble aboutโฆanything. I admit, Hudson is handsome and hunky, but everyone knows Iโm not myself till January, so heโll have to buzz off and charm someone else.
Bah humbug.
Hudson
Moving to California wasnโt in my plans. I could use the change of scenery, though, and the ranch is a good investment. Thatโs not a sneaky way of saying Iโm hiding from my pastโฆno siree. Iโm following a new path to a new town, thatโs all.
And so far, so good. Exceptโฆmy attraction to the nerdy bookstore owner is throwing me off my game.
Look, Iโm not interested in anything other than a casual hookup. But Moody is a mystery and I want to know more about the adorable geek with a sunny disposition who turns into a holiday grump every year.
For some reason, he feels like home away from home. December may be the last month of the year, but something tells me this is our beginning.
Moodyโs Grumpy Holiday is an MM grumpy-sunshine, romantic comedy featuring an adorkable geek, a hunky cowboy, and a little seasonal humbug.
*****
Review:
Hayes latest is a fun, sweet, and humorous holiday romance. When Hudson first meets Moody, he’s funny, upbeat, and quirky. They spend a couple of days together, and one steamy evening, before Hudson heads back home … with a warning from Moody not to come back until January.
December Moody is very different from every other month Moody. While he’s a little bah humbug-y, he’s not horrible about it. He still finds things he enjoys, is willing to help friends and family, and makes his bookstore a welcoming place (in an entertaining way by bringing the opposite of the rest of the town’s Christmas cheer). We find out eventually why he has such an issue with the month, and its understandable why the month isn’t his favorite.
Hudson is smitten after his first visit and just as smitten with grumpy Moody. He slowly and carefully brings Moody back around to enjoying the holiday season again – from convincing him to go tree shopping to making a gingerbread house. He’s sensitive to Moody’s feelings but also sees hints that suggest that Moody isn’t as sour on the season as he wants people to think he is.
So far I have loved everything I’ve read from Hayes. It’s her characters that keep me coming back over and over again. Only one hasn’t been my cup of tea but even he was interesting & well developed and I enjoyed the heck out of his story. Hayes is a favorite and I look forward to every book that she comes out with.
The fabulous stylist, the absentminded professor, and a Parisian adventureโฆ
Winnie
Hey, I donโt regret taking an oddball assignment to assist a British professor abroad. I could use a break from my life as an aspiring hair and style guru in LA. The only worrisome snag is that the professor is determined to do everything on his own.
Not acceptable. Iโm here to help the impossibly smart geek with mismatched socks who just happens to be my best friendโs boss.
Alistair
Paris calls. And somehow, I have a new temporary assistant.
Winnie is a technicolor, whirlwind American with a wicked laugh and the subtlety of a steamroller. Heโs brash and ridiculous andโฆfunny, warm, lovely, andโ
Oh no.
Winnie can take Paris, but he canโt take my heart.
Winnie Takes Paris is an MM romantic comedy featuring a fabulous diva, a nerdy professor, and the Parisian adventure of a lifetime!
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have loved these two together more! Winnie is fabulous and outrageous and so dang joyous. He loudly embraces life with energy & enthusiasm, finding delight in things big and small. He may be feeling a little down lately but he’s not going to let it defeat him, instead uses it as an opportunity to revamp himself.
And that radiance is a great foil for Alistair who tends to get caught up in his work and forget the rest of the world even exists. Winnie lets him for a little while but soon has him out seeing the sights of Paris, while getting to know each other. He may not know what Winnie sees in him at first but it doesn’t take him long to fall under Winnie’s spell, just like us.
Winnie Takes Paris is full of heat, humor, and heart. These two couldn’t be more different but complement each other so well – Alistair supports Winnie when he has doubts and Winnie reminds him that there is more to life than his studies. We could all do with someone who matches with us that well.
Hey, I donโt regret taking an oddball assignment to assist a British professor abroad. I could use a break from my life as an aspiring hair and style guru in LA. The only worrisome snag is that the professor is determined to do everything on his own.
Not acceptable. Iโm here to help the impossibly smart geek with mismatched socks who just happens to be my best friendโs boss.
Alistair
Paris calls. And somehow, I have a new temporary assistant.
Winnie is a technicolor, whirlwind American with a wicked laugh and the subtlety of a steamroller. Heโs brash and ridiculous andโฆfunny, warm, lovely, andโ
Oh no.
Winnie can take Paris, but he canโt take my heart.
Winnie Takes Paris is an MM romantic comedy featuring a fabulous diva, a nerdy professor, and the Parisian adventure of a lifetime!
I tapped my cup to his flute awkwardly. โTo Paris.โ
Winnie watched me cautiously. โDid I get your tea right? Raine said you like a smidge of milk and sugar.โ
โUh, yesโฆbrilliant. Thank you.โ
He grinned. โYouโre welcome. What should we do now?โ
โWait for the train,โ I replied evenly.
Winnie threw his head back and laughed, drawing a few curious glances our way. The lounge wasnโt exactly a library, but there was an unspoken acknowledgment that this was a quiet zone.
โGot that. I meant, what about work? Iโm your assistant. If you need me to do anything, just say the word and Iโm there.โ
โThank you. I appreciate your diligence, but thereโs no need. Enjoy your champagne,โ I said in a tone that clearly marked the end of the conversation.
Winnie didnโt take the hint. โDo you like champagne?โ
โNo, I donโt.โ
He flattened his hand over his heart. โWhy not? Champagne is the elixir of the gods, sunshine in a flute, bubbles for the soul.โ
I shrugged. โIโm afraid I donโt care for bubbles at all. I donโt want to drink them, anyway.โ
โMm, youโre missing out. I would bathe in champagne bubbles if I could.โ He hummed indulgently.
โThat soundsโฆsticky.โ
Winnieโs lips twitched. โYouโre right. It also sounds like a waste of a good thing, and I wouldnโt sacrifice a single sip of this stuff.โ
I wasnโt sure how to respond or if I was supposed to, but this was probably a good time to remind Winnie that I didnโt need him to entertain me or vice versa. Or perhaps this was an opportunity to ask him a few questions and be done with prerequisite niceties.
What sort of questions, though? I had no clue. This was the sort of thing Raine usually handled for me.
I set my cup on the side table, pulled my cell from my pocket, and typed, Questions for a new acquaintance.
Google suggested the following: Number one, ask personal informationโlikes, dislikes, favorite color, hobbies. Not a chance. In my admittedly limited experience, that line of inquiry invited reciprocity, and there was no point in pretending we shared any common interests.
Number two, comment on something pleasant, such as the weather. I glanced out the rain-streaked window and quickly abandoned that suggestion. Too dire.
Number three, pay a compliment. That seemed like a safe option. Winnie was veryโฆwinsome. He had beautiful olive skin, perfectly coiffed hair, a flair for fashion, andโ
โYou have lovely eyes,โ I blurted.
Winnie froze midsip, quirking his head as he slowly lowered his glass. โAre you flirting with me, Professor?โ
โIโno! No, Iโฆno,โ I sputtered, wrinkling my nose, licking my lips, and blinking in rapid succession. โThat was a statement, not a flirtation. I donโt do flirtations, so youโre quite safe there.โ
โAm I?โ
He was teasing. The spark in his eyes held pure mischief, but I didnโt know the rules of engagement at all. Was I supposed to say something clever in return? Possibly, probably. Witty banter wasnโt my strong suit, so I went with the truth instead.
โI couldnโt help noticing that youโre wearing makeup andโฆyou look quite smart.โ
His megawatt grin hit me like a bolt of lightning. โI do? How so? Iโve never been told my application of Chanel Stylo Yeux in espresso gave collegiate vibes.โ
โUh, no. I didnโt mean smart in that sense. That is to say, Iโm sure youโre very intelligent, but I meant that you lookโฆnice.โ
His smile didnโt waver. โThank you.โ
โYouโre welcome.โ Well done, old chap. Now, leave it alone. Unfortunately, I couldnโt shut my gob. This was badโฆvery bad. โAncient Egyptian men wore cosmetics, and depending on their rank and social class, they wore a lot of it. The kohl liner they used had practical purposes, too. It shielded one from the sunโs rays and repelled insects. They used animal fats and oils to create moisturizers, shampoos, and even to prevent baldness. Interesting, isnโt it? Theyโd rub fat from a snake or aโโ
โOkay.โ Winnie held his hand up. โThatโs a lot of information.โ
โThatโs hardly the tip of the iceberg,โ I assured him.
โI bet.โ He gestured to the corner of his eye. โI made a last-minute trip to Sephora for this stuff. Much easier than wrangling a snake.โ
โSephora, derived from the Greek sephos, or beauty.โ
Oh, bloody blooming bollocks. What is wrong with me?
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayesย lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.
Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
Romantic Reads and Such 