A Kind of Home by Lane Hayes ~ Audio Review

Title: A Kind of Home

Series: A Kind of Stories 04

Author: Lane Hayes

Narrator: Seth Clayton

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 8 hrs, 56 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (4th December 2017)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts

Blurb: Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to super-stardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust Isaac, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that he travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. Adam is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.

Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: A Kind of Home is book 4 in Lane Hayes’ totally awesome series, A Kind of Stories. The books follow the lives and loves of what has now become one of the biggest rock bands in the world (perhaps a little emo, ala My Chemical Romance).

If you haven’t read or heard the previous books in the series I strongly recommend you do so, if only to get a handle and get to know the other members of the band and their partners who feature in the background. I have devoured and adored all the previous books in the series and this one was just as awesome to hear the audio.

It’s been a while since I’ve heard or read the previous books, I remember the audio being pleasing but I don’t remember if Seth Clayton has been the narrator for the whole series. Regardless, Clayton has done a marvelous job articulating the tone of the two MCs and absolutely nailing the emotions of both guys. The MCs are vastly different men and I think that their personalities and their chemistry was well reflected in the narration.

The story itself follows the guitarist of Spiral, Isaac Dalton. He is exhausted after relentless touring and recording. The bandmates are friends and so even though they live in each other’s pockets they care for each other. Which is why, when Isaac gets some messages that leads him and the record label to believe that he has a stalker, he doesn’t want to worry the guys unnecessarily. However, when he gets home from tour and finds a house guest when all he wants is to be alone, one that was meant to have only stayed a week months ago.

That houseguest is Adam McBride. Something of a ghost from Isaac’s past. Adam is the older brother of Isaac’s best friend. The McBride family were the bright spot in Isaac’s formative years. He was the adopted child in a small town where his parents got divorced and his mother ran off with his biological father. It’s a complicated back story, which is why the story is there in the first place. As I said, the youngest McBride, Ned, was Isaac’s best friend. The middle McBride taught Isaac how to play guitar and the oldest McBride, Adam was Isaac’s first crush. The problem was, Adam was straight, wasn’t he?

Now that Adam is in New York with Isaac the two get to really know the real men that they have become. Adam is recently divorced and needs to get his head together. He’s pretty much got himself sorted by the time he meets up with Isaac again, but the ex-builder/tradie is now an aspiring baker and has plans to open a bakery in his and Isaac’s small hometown. The two men have a lot to tackle as they get to know each other more as adults and as men who are sexually attracted to each other with a hint of more romantic things to come. The main thing they have to deal with is the craziness of Isaac’s career, including crazy fans, potential crazy stalker fans and zero privacy. They also need to somehow compromise Adam’s dreams too. I love the fact that Adam’s wishes for a career wasn’t totally ignored in favor of Isaac’s insane life as a rock star.

Okay, and this is where I go pop culture. First off, with the name Spiral, all I can think of is Mystic Spiral, the band that was in the MTV cartoon Daria. I think I’ve been waiting for the whole series for someone to go “Hi, we’re Spiral, but we’re going to change the name”, The other thing is that I’ve listened to this audio on the back of watching Bohemian Rhapsody (which is all kinds of fantastically awesome). So, I think my enjoyment of this book was definitely influenced by my love for the movie, mostly because I found my mind wandering back to the movie because there were definitely some shared themes besides the obvious.

A Kind of Home by Lane Hayes

Title: A Kind of Home

Series: A Kind of Stories 04

Author: Lane Hayes

Genre: Contemporary, Arts

Length: Novel (224pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (23rd June 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to superstardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust Isaac, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that he travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. Adam is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.

Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.

ISBN: 978-1-63533-683-2

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I love reading Lane Hayes’ series, A Kind of Stories, about the lives of up and coming band Spiral (I always think of Mystic Spiral like in the cartoon Daria, but whatever). I love Hayes’ tone and style and I love the world created in this series. A Kind of Home is the fourth book. I suppose each book could be read as a standalone novel, but honestly, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice not going back to the beginning and seeing not only how Spiral starts, but how the characters start and grow into their own stories.

This story follows Spiral guitarist Isaac. He’s been in the background since the end of the book 1. He was the replacement of Spiral’s replacement guitar player (Will) just before they were about to get their first big record deal. That being said, as a reader we are only just finding out how tricky fame has been for Isaac. So Isaac is looking forward to the well earned break after the band’s first big tour of Europe. But back home in New York he finds himself sharing space with his very straight first crush (and his best friend’s brother), Adam. But there is more to Adam than meets the eye, and he’s in New York for the hope of being about to reinvent himself and get his life back on track.

I am a sucker for the whole friends to lovers’ storyline and things are anything but easy for the guys. I really loved their story. Because of Isaac’s upbringing there are some legitimate hurdles that the couple has to face before making it to their HEA. And, by the way, who can resist a sweet HEA? Certainly not me! They have fantastic chemistry and are really, deep and developed characters with a solid foundation for their relationship by the end of the book.

There was only one thing that annoyed me and that was the very quick stalker plotline that felt like it was thrown into the book, just because. I felt like it took away from Isaac’s and Adam’s true story and added unnecessary drama. I think if that plot line had developed longer (say from the beginning) then I would have liked it more, but how it is leaves me feeling a bit meh about that aspect of the story.

A Kind of Truth by Lane Hayes ~ Audiobook

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Truth Cover AudioTitle: A Kind of Truth

Series:  A Kind of Series 1

Author: Lane Hayes

Narrator: Seth Clayton

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 8 hrs 29 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (3 May 2016)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Rand O’Malley dreams of superstardom. He hopes to one day sing the blues like a god. Moving to New York City and hiring a new manager are steps to make his dreams a reality. But nothing moves as fast as Rand would like, and everyone has opinions, for example that he should keep certain pieces of himself quiet if he plans on making it in the Big Apple. Like his bisexuality.

Will Sanders is a gifted musician who dazzles Rand with his ability to coax gorgeous notes from an electric guitar one moment and play the piano like a professional the next. He’s a geek, but Rand isn’t concerned about Will’s pressed exterior clashing with his tattoos. His focus is music. Yet there’s something about Will that makes Rand think there’s much more to the quiet college student than he lets on. As Rand’s dreams begin to materialize, he’s forced to reconsider his priorities and find his own kind of truth. One that might include Will.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: A Kind of Truth is the first in Lane Hayes’ A Kind Of series. Interestingly enough, this is a book that I had trouble enjoying when I first read it – only rating it a 3.5/5 and I was annoyed at too much “telling”, not enough action and slow plot development. Yet with the audio I absolutely fell in love with the story and the characters and definitely deserves a 5/5. What can I say? Sometimes there are some books that read better as audios rather than off the page and for me this is a perfect example.

This is the story of rock musician, Rand, who like many before him has dreams of fame and fortune in New York. He and his band play gigs and are just doing what they need to in order to find fame – and that includes Rand having to hide the fact that he is bisexual. In need of a guitar teacher, he meets college student Will, who tutors guitar on the side to make extra money. Will’s in debt and will do whatever it takes to get rid of his student loans and whatnot. Quickly, it’s obvious that Will is keeping all kinds of secrets. It’s almost as if this book is essentially an unravelling of Will. The story is generally a very sweet romance, and starts off rather light hearted and at about the halfway point there is a major shift to a more serious frame of mind.

The story is totally from the POV of Rand – our wannabe rocker. Seth Clayton, the narrator, lends the perfect amount of desperation and determination and vulnerability to the character. Unlike when I read the story where I found it difficult to connect with Rand, I completely fell in love with him as much as I completely fell in love with Wil. Will is a positively wonderful character and one that many of us, including myself, could relate to. Will is a fantastic guy and he has so many hidden layers – him wanting to give up everything to go back into the closet for his family was both frustrating and made me upset on Rand’s behalf.

Their romance is beautiful and sweet and they work hard to be together.

A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes ~ Audiobook

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Romance Cover AudioTitle: A Kind of Romance

Series:  A Kind Of Series 2

Author: Lane Hayes

Narrator: Seth Clayton

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 9 hrs 1 min

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (27 September 2016)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.

Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theater. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore. Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is book 2 in Lane Hayes’ A Kind of Stories series. However, this can be treated as a standalone book. Other than an appearance from the couple from book 1, A Kind of Truth, there is no ongoing plot to worry about. I have to say that I find it quite remarkable that I have felt a lot more happiness, joy and romance from the audio of this series than I have from reading the ebook.

This is a totally fun book and really embraces the old saying “opposites attract” because that is exactly what Zeke (he hates being called Ezekiel) and Benny are. Zeke is a well to do Wall Street exec that is also just a tad snobbish. Which is a bit odd since his father and brothers, who run the family bakery, are the most ordinary type people that you could come across. Benny on the other hand is a blue-haired ball of energy who takes life in his stride. And with that all said, both characters do feature in book 1, sort of. One MC, Benny, appears in book 1, Zeke, was mentioned multiple times by his father in book 1.

These guys also have completely different family lives. While Benny works for Zeke’s father, George, on the side, his primary job is to work for his own family. They are Italian-Catholic and to me I saw my own family in that, we may not be New Yorkers but there is that unspoken camaraderie that comes along with coming from an Italian family that immigrated out of Italy. Benny is pretty damn lucky where his family is concerned.

However, Zeke is not quite so lucky. His father was a difficult man to live with after he came out as gay and that is seen in the still mending relationship between father and son. I think it is also interesting how his mother is referred to as “gone”, because she isn’t dead. I assume that she has some form of dementia although it was never stated, and neither was that bit of information crucial to the outcome of the story. It’s quickly evident though, he is just what Zeke needs to loosen up and to make Zeke realize that he has bloody horrible taste in men.

I absolutely adored this audio. Once again, Seth Clayton delivers an absolutely spot on performance for Benny and Zeke. Benny most especially is a very relatable character, although Zeke’s troubles with his ex is also, unfortunately, all too easy to relate to. Seth Clayton totally nails all the emotions and I just didn’t want to stop listening.

A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes

lane-hayes-a-kind-of-honesty-book-cover-sTitle: A Kind of Honesty

Series: A Kind of 03

Author: Lane Hayes

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (231 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (7 Oct 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Music is drummer Tim Chalmers’s great escape and the one thing that’s never let him down. But his band Spiral’s meteoric rise to fame has made it difficult for him to maintain a low profile. Unwanted press pesters him after a public breakup with a volatile ex-girlfriend who loves the limelight as much as he loathes it. Tim’s main goal is to avoid confrontation. However, when a handsome stranger in a dive bar turns out to be someone he might know, everything changes.

Carter Hamilton-Temple might be a successful financial consultant with more brains, sophistication, and charm than most, but he always falls for the wrong guys: closet cases or men with issues. He can’t fight his attraction to tattooed rock star Tim, but can he trust his own judgment? When the thrill of danger combined with a fierce physical connection proves too strong for either man to resist, a quiet liaison away from the public eye and curious friends seems like a safe bet. But some secrets are hard to keep. When rumors threaten to rock his world, Tim realizes it’s time to confront his fear with his own kind of honesty.

ISBN: 978-1-63477-786-5

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/a-kind-of-honesty-by-lane-hayes-7589-b

Reviewer: Prime

Review: A Kind of Honesty is the third book in Lane Hayes’ A Kind of Series.  I’m going to be honest from the outset: while I enjoyed reading this book the plot or the characters didn’t really reach out and grab me as much as I had wished it would. This book had a lot of potential to be more than what it was, but despite this opinion I was more than happy to devour this book – find out what happened and hope to see the characters through to a HEA.

Here we get to know drummer Tim Chalmers. He was featured as a minor character in the first two books and considering 2 of his own friends are also in gay relationships I I would have expected and hoped that he was more inclined to readily come out of the closest – he didn’t have to leap out and sing a song about it, but just be open. Well, actually Tim is bisexual but the moment he meets Carter Hamilton-Temple, it is clear that there is something special about to start here.

Both Carter and Tim are complicated characters. Yet, in many respects Tim is far more complicated than Carter. However, a lot of the dramas in the book are centred around Tim’s family, Tim’s sexuality and Tim’s work as a drummer in a successful band that tours and records music. For this reason a lot of the book is from Tim’s POV, but I actually really liked that and is also one of the reasons why Carter is the less complicated out of the pair.

You don’t necessarily have to have read the series to enjoy this book. But if you have read the series and want to stick to it, it’s great to find out about Tim after his appearances in the previous books and to see him have his own HEA. Seriously, the man needed someone to ground him and settle him down. After all, it does seem that Carter’s presence in Tim’s life brings a peace to Tim that he has never felt before.

A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes Blog Tour, Guest Post, Snippet, Review & Giveaway!

lane-hayes-a-kind-of-honesty-tour-banner-s

Hi peeps, we have Lane Hayes stopping by today with her newest release A Kind of Honesty, we have a great guest post from Lane, a tasty snippet, a fantastic giveaway and Prime’s review, so check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~

lane-hayes-a-kind-of-honesty-book-cover-s

A Kind of Honesty

(A Kind Of 03)
by

Lane Hayes

Music is Tim Chalmers’s great escape and the one thing that’s never let him down. But his band Spiral’s meteoric rise to fame has made it difficult for the drummer to maintain a low profile. Unwanted press pesters him after a public breakup with a volatile ex-girlfriend who loves the limelight as much as he loathes it. Tim’s main goal is to avoid confrontation. However, when he meets a handsome stranger in a dive bar who turns out to be someone he may know, everything changes.

Carter Hamilton-Temple might be a successful financial consultant with more brains, sophistication, and charm than most, but he always falls for the wrong guys: closet cases or men with issues. He can’t fight his attraction to the tattooed rock star, but can he trust his own judgment? When the thrill of danger combined with a fierce physical connection proves too strong for either man to resist, a quiet liaison away from the public eye and curious friends seems like a safe bet. But some secrets are hard to keep. When rumors threaten to rock his world, Tim realizes it’s time to confront his fear with his own kind of honesty.

Continue reading “A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes Blog Tour, Guest Post, Snippet, Review & Giveaway!”

A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes Cover Reveal, Snippet & Giveaway!

lane-hayes-a-kind-of-honesty-reveal-banner-s

Hi guys, we have Lane Hayes popping in today with the cover to her upcoming release A Kind of Honesty, we have the wonderful cover, a great snippet and a fantastic giveaway, so check out the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~

lane-hayes-a-kind-of-honesty-book-cover-s

A Kind of Honesty

(A Kind Of 03)
by

Lane Hayes

Music is Tim Chalmers’s great escape and the one thing that’s never let him down. But his band Spiral’s meteoric rise to fame has made it difficult for the drummer to maintain a low profile. Unwanted press pesters him after a public breakup with a volatile ex-girlfriend who loves the limelight as much as he loathes it. Tim’s main goal is to avoid confrontation. However, when he meets a handsome stranger in a dive bar who turns out to be someone he may know, everything changes.

Carter Hamilton-Temple might be a successful financial consultant with more brains, sophistication, and charm than most, but he always falls for the wrong guys: closet cases or men with issues. He can’t fight his attraction to the tattooed rock star, but can he trust his own judgment? When the thrill of danger combined with a fierce physical connection proves too strong for either man to resist, a quiet liaison away from the public eye and curious friends seems like a safe bet. But some secrets are hard to keep. When rumors threaten to rock his world, Tim realizes it’s time to confront his fear with his own kind of honesty.

Continue reading “A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes Cover Reveal, Snippet & Giveaway!”

A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Romance CR_Banner

Hi peeps, we have Lane Hayes stopping by today with the tour for her newest release A Kind of Romance, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Aerin’s & Prime’s reviews, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~ 

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Romance Cover

A Kind of Romance

(A Kind Of Story 02)
by

Lane Hayes

Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no non-sense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go – not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.

Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theatre. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore. Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.

Continue reading “A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!”

A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes

o-a-kind-of-romanceTitle: A Kind of Romance

Series: A Kind of Stories, #2

Author: Lane Hayes

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 234 pages

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 6th 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Blurb: Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.

Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theater. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore.

Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.

ISBN: 9781634773232

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/a-kind-of-romance-by-lane-hayes-6888-b

Aerin’s Review:  ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

A Kind of Romance started off as a 5-Hearts read, but along the way Zeke made this book lose its shine and I ended the last chapter with a solid 4-Hearts rating…until the epilogue. That epilogue was everything this book needed, it was sunshine and rainbows and wedding bells, but still real, with a touch of sorrow.

Zeke is a Wall Street executive whose no-nonsense attitude makes him perfect for his job. He has a heart of steel and a core of titanium, he’s impenetrable and vindictive. Zeke doesn’t like to lose and if he ever feels cheated or wronged, nothing will stop him from getting revenge. These are the things we see about Zeke at first glance.

What we don’t see is the confused little boy who lost his mother, the only person who fought for him and stood in his corner, to Alzheimer’s. Growing up was hell for Zeke, because his father was severely homophobic, and bullied and belittled Zeke every chance he got. Two decades later, Zeke’s father has had a change of heart. Time has allowed him to understand Zeke and accept him, and he tries as hard as he can to support Zeke and see him happy.

I love how Zeke’s father, George, was written. Homophobia is usually learned, or it comes from a place of fear and lack of understanding homosexuality. The fact that George worked hard at changing his views and accepting (and even rooting for) the LGBT minority was endearing and hopeful because people CAN change and they do it every day. Just look at how far we’ve come! However, Zeke is not one to forgive, and his relationship with his father is shaky at best.

Benny is an amazing character! He has all the sass and spark, but his beautiful, slightly effeminate exterior holds the core of a warrior. Benny loves who he is and never apologizes for it. He would never settle for anything other than being #1 in someone’s life. Benny works at his family’s Italian restaurant and at George’s bagel shop by day, while working towards his dream of becoming and costume designer in his free time.

When Zeke’s father tries his hand at matchmaking and pesters them to go out on a date, Zeke and Benny agree so that they can shut George up. They both know they’re not each other’s type and there will never be anything serious between them. But the chemistry burning bright can’t be ignored. A kiss turns into a series of intense, passionate, amazing nights of sex. But there’s also friendship and mutual respect forming between them, as they start getting to know each other. I LOVED them together!

The only downside was Zeke and his stubbornness to admit there’s more between them than a friendship with benefits. I understood it at first, but it took mostly the whole book for him to admit even to himself he loves Benny and wants him. The frustration I experienced was mollified by the intense feelings of possessive emotions Zeke got every time he was around Benny. Zeke wanted to crawl into Benny and never let go, which was stupidly hot!

The secondary characters were amazing. I just loved every single one of them! This book was significantly different from other Lane Hayes books, because it deals with the more challenging issue of losing a loved one, and all the angst and sorrow that comes with it.

There were times I couldn’t help but tear up, since Zeke’s internal sorrow and sadness over his mother and his relationship with his father was very real and very heartbreaking. And I believe this was the first time EVER that I cried with sadness and smiled with joy during an epilogue. Prepare for FEELS, people!!!

Prime’s Review:  ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

This is book 2 in Lane Hayes’ A Kind of Stories series. However, this is a standalone book. Other than an appearance from the couple from book 1, A Kind of Truth, there is no ongoing plot to worry about. Which is good, I think, if you do not like you rock gods settling down with a boyfriend but prefer Wall Street exec from an ordinary family falling for an ordinary guy.

This is a totally fun book and really embraces the old saying “opposites attract” because that is exactly what Zeke (he hates being called Ezekiel) and Benny are. Zeke is a well to do Wall Street exec that is also just a tad snobbish. Which is a bit odd since his father and brothers, who run the family bakery, are the most ordinary type people that you could come across. Benny on the other hand is a blue-haired ball of energy who takes life in his stride.

These guys also have completely different family lives. While Benny works for Zeke’s father, George, on the side, his primary job is to work for his own family. They are Italian-Catholic and to me I saw my own family in that, we may not be New Yorkers but there is that unspoken camaraderie that comes along with coming from an Italian family that immigrated out of Italy. Benny is pretty damn lucky where his family are concerned. However, Zeke is not quite so lucky. His father was a difficult man to live with after he came out as gay and that is seen in the still mending relationship between father and son. I think it is also interesting how his mother is referred to as “gone”, because she isn’t dead. I assume that she has some form of dementia although it was never stated, and neither was that bit of information crucial to the outcome of the story.

It’s quickly evident though, he is just what Zeke needs to loosen up and to make Zeke realize that he has bloody horrible taste in men.

I absolutely adored this book. Benny most especially is a very relatable character, although Zeke’s troubles with his ex is also, unfortunately, all too easy to relate to. However, there were a couple times, because this book was completely told from Zeke’s POV that I wanted to know Benny’s POV. He’s a ball of fire that I related to on many levels and there were just a few times when I wanted to know what was going on inside his head.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

 

A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes Cover Reveal, Teaser & Giveaway!

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Romance CR_Banner

Hi peeps, we have Lane Hayes stopping by to show off the gorgeous cover to her upcoming release A Kind of Romance, we have a teaser and a fantastic giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~ 

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Romance Cover

A Kind of Romance

by

Lane Hayes

Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no non-sense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go – not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.

Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theatre. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore. Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.

Release date: 6th June 2016

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A Kind of Truth by Lane Hayes Blog Tour, Interview, Excerpt, Reviews & Giveaway!

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Truth FB Banner

Hi guys, we have Lane Hayes stopping by with her new release  A Kind of Truth, we have a short interview with Lane, a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Aerin’s & Prime’s reviews, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Truth FINAL_2

A Kind of Truth

(A Kind of 01)
by

Lane Hayes

Rand O’Malley dreams of superstardom. He hopes to one day sing the blues like a rock god. Moving to New York City and hiring a new manager are steps to make his dreams a reality. But nothing moves as fast as Rand would like, and everyone has opinions, which include he keep certain pieces of himself quiet if he plans on making it in the Big Apple. Like his bisexuality.

Will Sanders is a gifted musician who dazzles Rand with his ability to coax gorgeous notes from an electric guitar one moment and play the piano like a professional the next. He’s a geek, but Rand isn’t concerned about Will’s pressed exterior clashing with his tattoos. His focus is music.  Yet there’s something about Will that makes Rand think there’s much more to the quiet college student than he lets on. As Rand’s dreams begin to materialize, he’s forced to reconsider his priorities and find his own kind of truth. One that might include Will.

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