Familiar Angel by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Amy Lane - Familiar Angel Audio Cover 64gt40Title: Familiar Angel

Series: Familiar Love 01

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Gomez Pugh

Genre: Paranormal

Length: 6 hrs, 50 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (5th June 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: One hundred and forty years ago, Harry, Edward, and Francis met an angel, a demon, and a sorceress while escaping imprisonment and worse! They emerged with a new family – and shape-shifting powers beyond their wildest dreams.

Now Harry and his brothers use their sorcery to rescue those enslaved in human trafficking – but Harry’s not doing so well. Pining for Suriel, the angel, has driven him to take more and more risks until his family desperately asks Suriel for an intervention.

In order for Suriel to escape the bindings of heaven, he needs to be sure enough of his love to fight to be with Harry. Back when they first met, Harry was feral and angry, and he didn’t know enough about love for Suriel to justify that risk.

Can Suriel trust in Harry enough now to break his bonds of service for the boy who has loved his familiar angel for nearly a century and a half?

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Familiar Angel is the first book in Amy Lane’s Familiar Love series. While I love to read and listen to Amy Lane’s audio works, I wasn’t sure what to expect as this is the first book of Lane’s that I’ve read that is a paranormal. Typically, I love the writing style of Lane’s contemporary works and was pleased to see that this translated over into the paranormal story.

Narration for this book was performed by Gomez Pugh. According to my Audible library I’ve got another book narrated by Pugh, also written by Lane, but to be honest (although my review says I liked his work) I have zero recollection of the book. So I kinda went into this one blind. For Familiar Angel, Pugh has done a fantastic job. There are a number of characters, all requiring their own voices, with six secondary characters who are just as important as the two main characters of this story. Pugh made it easy to follow the various conversations and to follow when the book goes to a flashback.

Ugh. Sorry, this leads me onto a bit of a rant and the only reason why I didn’t give this a full 5/5.

I personally can’t stand a book that has a lot of flashbacks. And there were a number of long flashbacks here. I’m a simple person who wants near-instant gratification, particularly when there are flashbacks occurring at pivotal moments and disrupting my flow. The way I see it, especially for long drawn out scene that span a chapter or more, just tell me the important point in the present because I want to get to the guts of the story. While I did find it a bit tedious, both Lane’s writing and Pugh’s animated narration managed to pull off a really enjoyable story that I think I would find near impossible to read myself.

The story starts out when we are introduced to Harry, Edward and Francis in early 1800s California. They’ve lived a rough life and that wouldn’t get any easier, in fact, they would be lucky if they lasted another couple of years. But when Harry and Edward try to escape their predicament, they stumble upon a witch trying to help a beloved demon with the help of another demon and one of God’s angels. It is here that the boys turn from humans to become a witch’s familiar with a significantly longer life span.

More than a century later, the family use their powers to help those without hope – they will do anything to stop human trafficking. Harry has struggles through the decades, the biggest issue for him being his unrequited love for the angel that helped their family, Suriel. However, for Harry his past still haunts him, the fear of what had happened in his human life has followed over into immortality and he needs the help of his family and Suriel to help him defeat it (and as a bonus the family can save the day).

Suriel is a strong being, but he has his doubts and concerns when it comes to Harry. Harry is reckless and his family need Suriel to help save Harry. He knows that Harry is worth falling for, but there is so much uncertainty that Suriel is waiting until the absolute last possible days to figure it all out, when he had been visiting the family for almost a century and a half. However, to be with Harry permanently Suriel has to make drastic changes to his life and his being, going through a horrific trial of his own, as soon as he helps Harry and the family with breaking a massive human trafficking ring.

I can’t wait for the rest of the series. Book 2 is already out (I can’t wait for Edward and Mullin’s story) and there is to be a book 3 for Francis. I think those 2 will go a lot smoother since Familiar Angel has built a very complex world and given backstory for over six characters who are central to this story.

I recommend this to anyone that loves to read paranormal, although there are no shape shifters per se (the boys are familiars and there are no established packs, alphas, etc.), the battle between good and evil with witches, cats, angels and demons is a fun roller coaster.

Tart and Sweet by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Amy Lane - Tart and Sweet Audio Cover 87vxaTitle: Tart and Sweet

Series: Candy Man 04

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Philip Alces

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hrs, 47 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (1st August 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

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

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: In the Army, Robbie Chambers turned on his lover out of fear — and he hasn’t been able to live with himself since. Now he’s out of the Army but still trapped in the closet that brought on his most cowardly moment, and he starts to think he’ll never be able to fight his way free.

Until he sees Cy McVeigh. Beautiful and uninhibited, Cy is dancing on the boardwalk at Old Sac for no other reason than the moment called for it. Robbie not only joins in the dance but is smit-ten from the very beginning.

However, Robbie still has old business to clear up, and when he helps out a kid in need and comes face-to-face with the man he betrayed, he’s forced to come clean with himself. He can’t redeem his mistake if he’s still locked into his old patterns, and he won’t ever be worthy of Cy if he can’t earn Adam’s forgiveness. He’s going to need all the help he can get from the people at Candy Heaven in order to make things right with his past so he can have a future with Cy.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Tart and Sweet is the fourth and final book in Amy Lane’s Candy Man series. It continues with the themes of friendship, healing and romance. While it probably works as a standalone, I recommend reading or getting your hands on the audio of the previous books as there is a lot of interaction with a whole cast of fully developed secondary characters.

I’ve have come to enjoy some of Lane’s books and this book is no exception. I find the writing style is really accessible, in that it is well written and very expressive without too much complicated language, so it’s easy to relax and read or listen to the book. The narration was performed by Philip Alces, who narrates the full series. Alces has a soft and gentle voice that matches the sweetness of the plot and conveys the variety of emotions that tumble through the MCs. It was a wonderful performance and completely on point.

Candy Man has a really cute premise. It’s about this almost hippy-like guy, Darren, who runs a boutique candy store in Old Sacramento and just so happens to have psychic visions about the people that he needs to help, i.e. people that are down on their luck and may not be looking for love but are gonna get it anyway. Really cool.

The characters that have brought together this entire world was Adam, Darren (the psychic Candy Man), Clopper the Dog and Jacob the Cat. It’s also nice that there is the background plot where Ezra has developed the gift to help Darren bringing together people, so Ezra who had his story in the previous book is also quite important in this one.

Robbie Chambers has left the army. He feels a lot of shame for how things had ended there and he was sure that he had lost the man that could have been the love of his life. Life in Old Sacramento after the army is difficult. He picked up the first girl he met at a bar in an attempt to be straight for her very conservative parents. But all that changes when he sees a beautiful man dancing on the boardwalk, attracted to him to no one he had been attracted to in his life. That man is Cy and on top of their sexuality, Robbie knows that his parents would also disapprove of the fact that Cy is black.

But as soon as they meet, Robbie is side tracked by saving a handsome man from being hit by a car – helping the man, Finn, to where Finn’s boyfriend works, he discovers Finn’s boyfriend is his ex, Adam. Adam who had not stood up for in the army and made the end of Adam’s army career hell and breaking Adam’s heart after planning happily ever after together. But Adam has moved on now and the magic of Candy Heaven is throwing Cy and Robbie together, they are now inevitable.

Robbie’s need for healing is the main theme in this plot, he has a lot of mental baggage to deal with and Cy is the man with the patience and strength to befriend and then help Robbie heal with love. They have a great attraction which starts as a friendship of necessity and a strong mutual attraction, before developing into love. An awesome ending to what has to be one of the sweetest, pun fully intended, series I’ve read or listened to.

Hiding The Moon by Amy Lane

Amy Lane - Hiding The Moon Cover hen47Title: Hiding the Moon

Series: Fish Out of Water 04 / Racing for the Moon 02

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

Length: Novel (290 Pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 28, 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Can a hitman and a psychic negotiate a relationship while all hell breaks loose?

The world might not know who Lee Burton is, but it needs his black ops division and the work they do to keep it safe. Lee’s spent his life following orders—until he sees a kill jacket on Ernie Caulfield. Ernie isn’t a typical target, and something is very wrong with Burton’s chain of command.

Ernie’s life may seem adrift, but his every action helps to shelter his mind from the psychic storm raging within. When Lee Burton shows up to save him from assassins and club bunnies, Ernie seizes his hand and doesn’t look back. Burton is Ernie’s best bet in a tumultuous world, and after one day together, he’s pretty sure Lee knows Ernie is his destiny as well.

But when Burton refused Ernie’s contract, he kicked an entire piranha tank of bad guys, and Burton can’t rest until he takes down the rogue military unit that would try to kill a spacey psychic. Ernie’s in love with Burton and Burton’s confused as hell by Ernie—but Ernie’s not changing his mind and Burton can’t stay away. Psychics, assassins, and bad guys—throw them into the desert with a forbidden love affair and what could possibly go wrong?

ISBN: 978-1-64080-936-9

Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Burton is black ops. Basically he is sent to kill for his country. However when he is sent to kill a kid, he is left with different feelings. Feelings he had not expected, seeing as he usually was with women. He was starting to feel things for Ernie and lets just see how far he runs.

Ernie is quite unique. He sees what is happening around him, he sees what is to happen and he can pretty much locate anyone with his thoughts. Oh and lets not forget he can talk to someone with his mind, pretty cool. When Burton comes to kill him but saves his ass, plus lets not forget some sexy hot times, the kid is falling in love.

I can honestly say that if it hadn’t been for the fact that I had just finished book three, this one would have sat in my inbox till eternity ended. The title itself is goofy, but for it to be for two different series is bewildering. This book should have been book three seeing as it has characters in it that should have been seen in that story. It is just off. Also two different series names makes it hard to locate. Second what is with the church reference? Really to call the man you love his church is just about as strange as one can get. Totally throws the whole book off. This is murder, suspense, mystery and some sexy times, and then the author throws in church, totally doesn’t go the way it was wanted I am guessing.

Then there is the way the guys talk, like they have no education. You know they have to have been smart in different ways, but the way they speak is not showing it. Then there is the fact that each characters boyfriend sounds like they have the same difficulties is making cookie cutters normal.

Overall the story would have been a five heart story had the story followed a different pattern than where it went. I actually have come to a final conclusion about this particular series. I felt like the author is pushing religion on her readers. To call someone their church is about as quirky as one can get and lets face it, it made the story drop quite a bit. 

Warm Heart by Amy Lane

Amy Lane - Warm Heart Cover h4u83Title: Warm Heart

Series: Search and Rescue 01, Dreamspun Desires 86

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (226 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-64405-543-4

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (16th July 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

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

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Survive the adventure. Live to love.

Following a family emergency, snowboarder Tevyn Moore and financier Mallory Armstrong leave Donner Pass in a blizzard… and barely survive the helicopter crash that follows. Stranded with few supplies and no shelter, Tevyn and Mallory—and their injured pilot—are forced to rely on each other.

The mountain leaves no room for evasion, and Tevyn and Mal must confront the feelings that have been brewing between them for the past five years. Mallory has seen Tevyn through injury and victory. Can Tevyn see that Mallory’s love is real?

Mallory’s job is risk assessment. Tevyn’s job is full-on risk. But to stay alive, Mallory needs to take some gambles and Tevyn needs to have faith in someone besides himself. Can the bond they discover on the mountain see them to rescue and beyond?

Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Warm Heart is the first book in a new series by Amy Lane for Dreamspun Desires called Search and Rescue. Since reading Amy Lane’s series The Mannies (also for Dreamspun Desires) I have been a great fan of Lane’s writing, I love the writing style and I love the down to earth characters who are quite extraordinary in many ways.

Warm Heart is no exception for me. This book is not only a romance, but there is plenty of drama and danger faced by the characters which force them to face up to feelings that have been buried deep down. I really enjoyed this story and with the groundwork laid out for the rescue workers who appear in the book as secondary characters (makes sense since the series called Search and Rescue), I am looking forward to the next instalment with a lot of anticipation. I really hope that the MCs pop up in subsequent books as well, because I love them both.

So, onto the story.

Tevyn Moore is a world class snowboarder. He has worked hard for his career, despite how dangerous it is. It also helps that the money he earns has allowed him to afford the care for his sick grandmother, who had raised him and he absolutely worships. However, love hasn’t really been anything on the cards for him. Despite his crush on his financial manager (or perhaps just a manager in general I found that description kind of vague?), Mallory Armstrong, he has had a lot of fun exploring his own sexuality with a seemingly endless parade of one-night stands. But that’s ok, because Tevyn is not ready for anything serious and so it easy to dismiss his fun when we finally get Tevyn and Mallory in the same room.

Mallory doesn’t like hanging out at official events, but he arrives at one to find Tevyn urgently. His feelings for Tevyn seem to be obvious to everyone, including Tevyn who just hasn’t examined the reasons for the extra attention and kindness from Mallory. Mallory is too professional and past experiences has Mallory more concerned about taking care of Tevyn instead of ruining what they do have with a romance. The weather is atrocious, but the helicopter pilot is confident and Mallory wants to, needs to, get Tevyn home to his grandmother whose health has taken a very bad turn.

However, with tragedy strikes, leaving Tevyn, Mallory and the helicopter pilot (Damien Ward) stranded in the middle of a blizzard. Damien is in bad shape and Tevyn is the most well equipped to be able to keep them alive as they form to plan to survive while they wait for help. Damien is ex-military and has faith in his friends, who are prominent in the search and rescue business, will find them. Survival and facing death mean that Tevyn and Mallory also find themselves having some rather intimate and truth-telling moments that will change their relationship.

They have fantastic chemistry and I really liked the fact that there were no useless sex scenes while the guys were trying to survive and keep their friend alive. I’ve been burned one too many times with books that slot in sex scenes in stupid places. I am very much looking forward to the next book, which is Damien’s romance with a guy that helps rescue the trio. I’m also super excited at the thought of Warm Heart coming out in audio.

A Few Good Fish by Amy Lane

Amy Lane A Few Good Fish Cover 328rnbwTitle: A Few Good Fish

Series: Fish Out of Water 03

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery

Length: Novel (290 Pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 28, 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: A tomcat, a psychopath, and a psychic walk into the desert to rescue the men they love…. Can everybody make it out with their skin intact?

PI Jackson Rivers and Defense Attorney Ellery Cramer have barely recovered from last November, when stopping a serial killer nearly destroyed Jackson in both body and spirit.

But their previous investigation poked a new danger with a stick, forcing Jackson and Ellery to leave town so they can meet the snake in its den.

Jackson Rivers grew up with the mean streets as a classroom and he learned a long time ago not to give a damn about his own life. But he gets a whole new education when the enemy takes Ellery. The man who pulled his shattered pieces from darkness and stitched them back together again is in trouble, and Jackson’s only chance to save him rests in the hands of fragile allies he barely knows.

It’s going to take a little bit of luck to get these Few Good Fish out alive!

ISBN: 978-1-64080-816-4

Purchase Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Jackson and Ellery are back in the fight. Jackson just can’t seem to stop getting shot, stabbed and well you can imagine. Although this time it might just be worth it to save Ellery. The killer from the past has friends or leaders that want the same reaction as the others. It seems like someone is making killers who have no thought to life. When a young woman is killed in front of her children and another is blamed, it is up to our guys to prove it wrong. It brings some friends into the fight to help.

When Ellery is taken the ones behind it make an even bigger mistake, they take Ace as well. So you have Jackson, Sonny, Ernie and Burton in the mess, but Ellery’s mom as well. The bad guys won’t know what hits them.

The story itself is top notch however the religious aspect in this book was to much. I look for danger, death, sexual heat, excitement but you get that and more. Also the title is what made me not read the book as fast as normally. I didn’t recall the story itself but when I went through my library and saw the title, well I passed it on by. Also the way the guys talk is a bit to much, they don’t come off damaged as well as uneducated which is not the case. But back to the religious parts, it was to much and made the story drop quite a bit in my mind. It almost had me putting the book back down. Plus the boyfriends, Jackson and Sonny come off more damaged then you would expect but Ernie is made to sound the same way. It is like the author has given you one strong and one damaged through out the whole series which is nuts. One is fine but multiple characters with pretty much the same damage is asking too believe to much.

Now the story itself rocked, the danger, suspense, action were pretty much a hit with me. I did like the characters quite a bit but not how they came off. As I said above the title didn’t pull me in but the opposite. It might have been meant to come off catchy but it came off as goofy instead. I am a fan of the plot and characters, however not a fan of the same cooky cutter styles.

Lollipop by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Amy Lane - Lollipop Audio Cover 387txzTitle: Lollipop

Series: Candy Man 03

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Philip Alces

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 9 hrs, 13 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (21st March 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

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

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Ezra Kellerman flew across the country to see if he had another chance with the man he let slip through his fingers. He didn’t. Rico has moved on, but he doesn’t just leave his ex high and dry. Instead Rico entrusts his family and friends with Ezra’s care. Ezra, confused, hurt, and lost, clings to Rico’s cousin and his boyfriend as the lifelines they are – but their friend, Miguel, is another story.

Miguel Rodriguez had great plans and ambition – but a hearty dose of real life crushed those flat. When Miguel finds himself partially in charge of the befuddled, dreamy, healing Ezra, he’s pretty resentful at first. But Ezra’s placid nature and sincere wonder at the simple life Miguel has taken for granted begin to soften Miguel’s hardened shell. Miguel starts to notice that Ezra isn’t just amazingly sweet – he’s achingly beautiful as well. Suddenly Miguel is fending off every sin-gle man on the planet to give Ezra room to get over Rico – while fighting a burning suspicion that the best thing to help Ezra get over his broken heart is Miguel.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Bitter Taffy is the second book in Amy Lane’s Candy Man series. I’ve have come to enjoy some of Lane’s books and this book is no exception. I find the writing style is really accessible, in that it is well written and very expressive without too much complicated language, so it’s easy to relax and read or listen to the book. The narration was performed by Philip Alces, who narrates the full series. Alces has a soft and gentle voice that matches the sweetness of the plot and conveys the variety of emotions that tumble through the MCs. It was a wonderful performance and completely on point.

Candy Man has a really cute premise. It’s about this almost hippy-like guy, Darren, who runs a boutique candy store in Old Sacramento and just so happens to have psychic visions about the people that he needs to help, i.e. people that are down on their luck and may not be looking for love but are gonna get it anyway. Really cool.

I remember that I tried reading this book years ago without reading – or realising – that there were other books in the series before it. I don’t think it went down well, maybe, but to be fair I don’t remember it at all. Regardless, I’m here to say, I recommend hearing this one in order. Also, I’m here to say that I loved listening to the audio and I loved the story.

Lollipop is a story of redemption in a lot of way. Ezra is the ex of Rico from book 2, Ezra regrets how he handled things back in New York at his father’s company. Ezra bowed to his strict Jewish father’s wishes. But a mental breakdown changed that and sent him to Sacramento to make amends.

However, Ezra doesn’t allow himself to stop and think what would happen if Rico had moved on, and for those that already heard book 2, you know that Rico has indeed moved on. Instead, he is not only befriended by Rico’s tough looking, ex-army cousin, Adam (who along with Darren and the dog Clopper and cat Jacob, are the common threads for this series) and Adam’s boyfriend, another friend of Rico and Adam’s takes Ezra under his wing.

Miguel Rodriguez has already had one failed business, which took him back to working at the store Candy Heaven. He is very family orientated and is all around a great, fun loving guy. He’s just still bruised by his failed attempt at going into business for himself. But Miguel’s life changes when he meets Ezra while dog and cat sitting Clopper and Jacob. He feels for Rico’s ex and wants to make the guy comfortable. They have an easy friendship and an instant connection. Although they don’t rush into any romance, the friendship is beautiful and patient as both men come to care greatly for the other.

This is another sweet, low-angst romance that is above healing and friendship. A total joy to listen to on audio.

Bitter Taffy by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Amy Lane - Bitter Taffy Audio Cover 9230klTitle: Bitter Taffy

Series: Candy Man 02

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Philip Alces

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 48 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (9th November 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

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

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Rico Gonzalves-Macias didn’t expect to fall in love during his internship in New York – and he didn’t expect the boss’ son to out them both and get him fired either. When he returns to Sac-ramento stunned and heartbroken, he finds his cousin, Adam, and Adam’s boyfriend, Finn, haven’t just been house-sitting – they’ve made his once sterile apartment into a home.

When Adam gets him a job interview with the adorable, magnetic, practically perfect Derek Hus-ton, Rico feels especially out of his depth. Derek makes it no secret that he wants Rico, but Rico is just starting to figure out that he’s a beginner at the really important stuff and doesn’t want to jump into anything with both feet.

Derek is a both-feet kind of guy. But he’s also made mistakes of his own and doesn’t want to pressure Rico into anything. Together, they work to find a compromise between instant attrac-tion and long-lasting love, and while they’re working, Rico gets a primer in why family isn’t al-ways a bad idea. He needs to believe Derek can be his family before Derek’s formidable pa-tience runs out – because even a practically perfect boyfriend is capable of being hurt.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Bitter Taffy is the second book in Amy Lane’s Candy Man series. I’ve have come to enjoy some of Lane’s books and this book is no exception. I find the writing style is really accessible, in that it is well written and very expressive without too much complicated language, so it’s easy to relax and read or listen to the book. The narration was performed by Philip Alces, who narrates the full series. Alces has a soft and gentle voice that matches the sweetness of the plot and conveys the variety of emotions that tumble through the MCs. It was a wonderful performance and completely on point.

Candy Man has a really cute premise. It’s about this almost hippy-like guy, Darren, who runs a boutique candy store in Old Sacramento and just so happens to have psychic visions about the people that he needs to help, i.e. people that are down on their luck and may not be looking for love but are gonna get it anyway. Really cool.

I dimly remember once reading book 3 in this series without going back to the start.

Bitter Taffy features Rico Gonzalves-Macias and Derek Huston. Both characters popped up in book one with a connection to Adam. Rico being the only family member of Adam, who kicks off the stories within this little world, and Derek both hit on Adam and commissioned some art work off of him. Between Darren, Candy Heaven owner, and Adam, they are the main connections between a majority of the characters that we meet throughout the series.

Rico is forced to leave New York when the man that he fell in love with didn’t stand up for him, which meant that Rico lost his internship after only four months, because that guy was the boss’s son. Rico feels a little like a stranger in his own home, with his cousin, Adam, and Adam’s boyfriend Finn, living in his apartment while he had been away, the two men had made it more homey in a couple months than he ever did in six years. Even his dog, Clopper, seemed to now belong to Adam. With the loss of his internship, Rico is at a loose end but doesn’t want Adam to do him a favour to help him get a job.

All that changes when he meets Derek. Derek Huston is a little older and owns his own company that acts to contract out various people, like Rico who does advertising, to smaller businesses who wouldn’t normally afford a firm to do the same thing. Derek is instantly attracted to Rico. He wants to give him and job and a whole lot more. However, Derek respects Rico’s heartbreak and he is committed to waiting patiently for the man to be ready. The guys take it slowly, getting to know each other while Rico mends. This makes for some great chemistry and sexual tension; it also makes their romance relatable and believable.

An awesome second book to the Candy Man series, now for the next one!

Candy Man by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Amy Lane - Candy Man Audio Cover 34874hgnTitle: Candy Man

Series: Candy Man 01

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Philip Alces

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 4 hrs, 6 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (4th September 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

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

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Adam Macias has been thrown a few curve balls in his life, but losing his VA grant because his car broke down and missing a class was the one that struck him out. One relative away from homelessness, he has taking the bus to Sacramento, where his cousin has offered a house-sitting job and a new start. He has one goal, and that’s to get his life back on track. Friends, pets, lovers need not apply.

Finn Stewart takes one look at Adam as he’s applying to Candy Heaven and decides he’s much too fascinating to leave alone. Finn is bright and shiny – and has never been hurt. Adam is wary of his attention from the very beginning – Finn is dangerous to every sort of peace Adam is forging, and Adam may just be too damaged to let him in at all.

But Finn is tenacious, and Adam’s new boss, Darrin, doesn’t take bullshit for an answer. Adam is going to have to ask himself which is harder – letting Finn in or living without him? With the holi-days approaching, it seems like an easy question, but Adam knows from experience that life is seldom simple. And the world seldom cooperates with hope, faith, or the plans of cats and men.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Candy Man is the first book in Amy Lane’s series of the same name. I’ve have come to enjoy some of Lane’s books. However, I had not got into this series as the ebook predates when I first discovered the author. I have a dim memory of listening to one of the books in the series, but since I had read it out of order I never gave it a chance. Seems unfortunate, but it means that I’ve made an awesome discovery for the audio book format.

The narration was performed by Philip Alces, who narrates the full series. Alces has a soft and gentle voice that matches the sweetness of the plot and conveys the variety of emotions that tumble through the MCs. It was a wonderful performance and completely on point.

Candy Man has a really cute premise. It’s about this almost hippy-like guy, Darren, who runs a boutique candy store in Old Sacramento and just so happens to have psychic visions about the people that he needs to help, i.e. people that are down on their luck and may not be looking for love but are gonna get it anyway. Really cool.

The MC that needs help that introduces us to this world is Adam Macais. He had a really shitty upbringing. His family cursed his own existence, always more than happy to tell him that he was a bastard (honestly, can’t figure out that guy’s mum). When he left to go to the army, the dog that he had loved was euthanised by his vindictive mother. When he came out as gay he was outright rejected. In the army he had thought that he had found the love of his life, but that went awry. When he left the army he went back to school, but being sick meant that he lost his VA Grant. All that he had left was a handful of belongings and a crappy car that would take him to Sacramento. That’s where his cousin, Rico, lives and it feels like that Rico is the only light in his life.

Adam is staying at Rico’s place, looking after Rico’s dog, Clopper, and the decrepit cat, Gonzo, while Rico moves to New York for six months for an internship. Adam is determined to get his life back on track. He’s in the right place at the right time because barely after a day in Sacramento he walks into the store Candy Heaven, where the strange guy that runs the place, gives him an apron and tells Adam he is where he is meant to be.

Adam meets Finn when Finn delivers food from his family’s diner. Finn is super close to his family, they are big and boisterous and for Finn there is nothing bad in the world. He is outgoing and positive. He works for the family business while going to school to become an engineer. The moment he meets Adam, Finn knows that he can’t let the guy go. Good thing that Finn is a scrappy sort of guy because Adam is going to take a lot of getting to know and convincing that he is deserving of love, laughter and happiness.

Adam and Finn have great chemistry together. They are ying and yang but as they get to know each other it is clear that they both have something that the other needs. They are kind of like Beauty and the Beast in a way. Adam is a gritty character from a hard life, but that is only what we get on the surface as Adam has a lot of things to learn in the course of this book.

The world of the Candy Man has a strange type of mystical energy that makes it so easy to get love and hope. Candy Man was a really charming book and I can’t wait for the next one. This is good for people that love a rosy, sweet romance.

A Fool and His Manny by Amy Lane ~ Audio Review

Amy Lane - A Fool and His Manny Audio Cover 2938ygTitle: A Fool and His Manny

Series: The Mannies 04 / Dreamspun Desires 62

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Kenneth Obi

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 18 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (6th December 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

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

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Seeing the truth and falling in love.

Dustin Robbins-Grayson was a surly adolescent when Quinlan Gregory started the nanny gig. After a rocky start, he grew into Quinlan’s friend and confidant—and a damned sexy man.

At twenty-one, Dusty sees how Quinlan sacrificed his own life and desires to care for Dusty’s family. He’s ready to claim Quinlan—he’s never met a kinder, more capable, more lovable man. Or a lonelier one. Quinlan has spent his life as the stranger on the edge of the photograph, but Dusty wants Quinlan to be the center of his world. First he has to convince Quinlan he’s an adult, their love is real, and Quinlan can be more than a friend and caregiver. Can he show Quin that he deserves to be both a man and a lover, and that in Dusty’s eyes, he’s never been “just the manny?”

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: A Fool and his Manny is the fourth book in Amy Lane’s, The Mannies. I have adored every book in this series, so much so that I’ve both read the books and listened to the audio. It is just so super sweet, there is so much love and a crazy, whacky family supporting all the MCs.

It is also the last book in the series, so it’s kind of a butter sweet ending with all the happy couples and seeing the Robbins family and their associated branches grow over about twenty years. This is the second book in the series that goes onto the next generation of the people that are somehow apart of the Robbins family.

This is the story of the oldest Robbins-Grayson, Dustin. His father knocked up his mother, in book one (the hero’s, Tino, best friend and sister) and way before his parents had a bajillion kids. Now Dustin is all grown up and attracted to Quinlan Gregory, the man we met in book 3, a trumpet player and friend of Sammy (Dustin’s cousin) who was taken in and hired by Dustin’s parents to be a manny for their herd of kids. Dustin was a teen by book 3, he isn’t that much younger than Quinlan, so I assure you, it really isn’t as weird as it sounds. This is a relatively low angst book, my favorite kind, and Dustin and Quinlan make a totally cute couple.

I really enjoyed seeing this side of Dustin. He was always a brat when we’ve seen him previously. Now he has grown up and matured into a young man. Quinlan was an ordinary college student and gifted musician when we first met him but there has always been an element of loneliness to him from the start. He is one of those characters that I felt strongly and looked forward to having his own HEA. It makes me ridiculously happy to say that. I love how Lane has developed all the characters over the four books. On a side note, I loved the conversation on the band bus involving Harry Potter and how the kids grew up from cute kids to good looking (yes, we’re talking about Neville Longbottom!).

Kenneth Obi is the narrator and does a wonderful job. Obi did not narrate the previous books in the series (John Solo was the narrator for books 1 and 2, and Peter B Brooke was the narrator of 3), I’m not sure if this was on purpose in terms of what the narrator could bring to the characters, or if it was just a matter of availability. Nonetheless, I’ve enjoyed many of Obi’s performances and this was no exception. He added a depth to the characters with his tone that meant I could feel when the high emotional times popped up.

This is a must read for anyone who has been following the series. I’ve tried to be concise with my description but as you can probably tell, there is a lot of background, hence my recommendation. For those that haven’t read the series, I recommend reading it in order because this is a proper family saga that spans approximately 22 years. If you love a sweet story with a HEA and low angst this is the book for you, especially if you’re a sucker hot guys working with kids.

Familiar Demon by Amy lane

Title: Familiar Demon

Series: Familiar Love 02

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Angels and Demons, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves, Shapeshifters

Length: Novel (241pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (February 12, 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 1/2 Hearts

Blurb: For over a century, Edward Youngblood has been the logical one in a family of temperamental magical beings. But reason has not made him immune to passion, and Edward’s passion for Mullins, the family’s demon instructor, has only grown.

Mullins was lured into hell through desperation—and a fatal mistake. He’s done his best to hang onto his soul in the twisted realm of the underworld, and serving the Youngblood family when summoned has been his only joy. Edward concocts a plan to spring Mullins by collecting a series of items to perform an ancient ritual—an idea that terrifies Mullins. He can’t bear the thought of losing Edward and his brothers to a dangerous quest.

But every item in their collection is an adventure in brotherhood and magic, and as Mullins watches from the sidelines, he becomes more and more hopeful that they will succeed. When the time comes for Mullins to join the mission, can he find enough faith and hope to redeem himself and allow himself happiness in the arms of a man who would literally go to hell and back—and beyond—to have Mullins by his side?

ISBN-13: 978-1-64405-186-3

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: I loved this story about Mullins and Edward. The hunt for the items needed to set Mullins free was an adventure for me. I was rooting for Edward and Mullins even though Mullins had his doubts.

The different characters throughout added a colorful addition to the story as it progressed. Thoughts and feelings from the men gave the reader a deeper understanding of who they are. Overall this was a good addition to the series as we are taken further in by the series with new MC’s at the forefront.

Looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.

Great read.

Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane (2nd Edition)

Amy Lane - Christmas Kitsch CoverTitle: Christmas Kitsch

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Coming Out

Length: Novel (200pgs)

ISBN: 978-1-64080-503-3

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (7th December 2018)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Sometimes the best Christmas gift is knowing what you really want.

Rusty Baker is a rich, entitled, oblivious jock, and he might have stayed that way if he hadn’t become friends with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. When Oliver kisses him goodbye before Rusty leaves for college, Rusty is forced to rethink everything he knows about himself.

But nothing can help Rusty survive a semester at Stanford, and he returns home for Thanksgiving break clinging to the one thing he knows to be true: Oliver is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

Rusty’s parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. But with Oliver’s love and the help of Oliver’s amazing family, Rusty realizes that failing college doesn’t mean he can’t pass real life with flying rainbow colors.

Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Rusty has always gotten everything he wanted without even really trying, he might be expected to follow in his father’s footsteps but he fully admits to being the stereotypical dumb jock. When he meets Oliver his views begin to change, he wants more than to go into his father’s business, he want to do something that makes him happy. Oliver is out and proud, he’s from the wrong side of the tracks and his best friend puts himself down. Kissing Rusty is one of the best things he has ever done and being there for Rusty as he struggles through his first semester at Berkeley keeps him hoping that Rusty will wake up to his true feelings. Rusty heads home for the holidays knowing just what he wants but his parents have very different ideas, when he finds himself tossed out on the street it’s Oliver and his family who help him back on his feet, but can Rusty accept the love that Oliver offers or will his stubborn pride keep them apart?

This is an incredibly wonderful story where a young man finds himself and sets out to live his life in happiness and accepting that family is more than who you are born to. Rusty is a character who is easy to fall in love with, he has no illusions about himself and knows his limits, although he is very hard on himself and self-disparaging. Oliver is a lovely young man who guides Rusty as much as he can to recognize his feelings and to also buff up Rusty’s confidence. They make a perfect couple who have the usual teenage problems involving pride and confidence, but their support of each other is heart-warming.

We follow these two young men as they make friends and develop a friendship that can and does stand against pressure. Rusty is oblivious to many things around him but finds that he has much more going for him in a world he makes for himself, rather than the world his parents want for him. His relationship with Oliver is the cornerstone for all that he wants to build and we see his heartache as he strives to be something he isn’t, we see Oliver and his family pulling around Rusty as his own parents turn their back on him and we see Rusty blossoming into a man to be proud of. Rusty and Oliver’s relationship is an incredible one, they have their ups and downs but it is all based in love and when they are together, it makes you smile.

I adored this story. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what would happen to these two young men as they faced life with love from one side but disapproval from the other side. The story is from Rusty’s point of view but you get to know Oliver perfectly through Rusty’s eyes and Rusty is an honest character, there’s no false pretense in him so what you see is what you get.

The story is written perfectly, the characters come to life and it is a storyline that happens all too often in real life. You get behind these two young men cheering for them as they build their lives, you feel their heartache, pain and disappointment, their confusion and hurt, their love and happiness and their dreams of the future.

I recommend this to those who love young adults starting their lives, fantastic characters, wonderful family, new blossoming love and an incredible ending.

A Fool and His Manny by Amy Lane

Title: A Fool and His Manny

Series: The Mannies 04 / Dreamspun Desires 64

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (230 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (17th July 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Seeing the truth and falling in love.

Dustin Robbins-Grayson was a surly adolescent when Quinlan Gregory started the nanny gig. After a rocky start, he grew into Quinlan’s friend and confidant—and a damned sexy man.

At twenty-one, Dusty sees how Quinlan sacrificed his own life and desires to care for Dusty’s family. He’s ready to claim Quinlan—he’s never met a kinder, more capable, more lovable man. Or a lonelier one. Quinlan has spent his life as the stranger on the edge of the photograph, but Dusty wants Quinlan to be the center of his world. First he has to convince Quinlan he’s an adult, their love is real, and Quinlan can be more than a friend and caregiver. Can he show Quin that he deserves to be both a man and a lover, and that in Dusty’s eyes, he’s never been “just the manny?”

ISBN: 978-1-64080-504-0

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: A Fool and his Manny is the fourth book in Amy Lane’s, The Mannies. I’ve really been looking forward to this as I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous three books, which were all released as part of the house line Dreamspun Desire. This was a really fun and sweet book which I devoured every page as I got towards the HEA.

This is the second book in the series that goes onto the next generation of the people that are somehow apart of the Robbins family, because that family is so damn big there is an urgent need for mannies!

This is the story of the oldest Robbins-Grayson, Dustin. His father knocked up his mother, in book one (the hero’s, Tino, best friend and sister) and way before his parents had a bajillion kids. Now Dustin is all grown up and attracted to Quinlan Gregory, the man we met in book 3, a trumpet player and friend of Sammy (Dustin’s cousin) who was taken in and hired by Dustin’s parents to be a manny for their herd of kids. Dustin was a teen by book 3, so he isn’t that much younger than Quinlan, so I assure you, it really isn’t as weird as it sounds. This is a relatively low angst book, my favorite kind, and Dustin and Quinlan make a totally cute couple.

I really enjoyed seeing this side of Dustin. He was always a brat when we’ve seen him previously. Now he has grown up and matured into a young man. Quinlan was an ordinary college student and gifted musician when we first met him but there has always been an element of loneliness to him from the start. He is one of those characters that I felt strongly and looked forward to having his own HEA. It makes me ridiculously happy to say that. I love how Lane has developed all the characters over the four books. On a side note, I loved the conversation on the band bus involving Harry Potter and how the kids grew up from cute kids to good looking (yes, we’re talking about Neville Longbottom!).

This is a must read for anyone who has been following the series. I’ve tried to be concise with my description but as you can probably tell, there is a lot of background, hence my recommendation. For those that haven’t read the series, I recommend reading it in order because this is a proper family saga that spans approximately 22 years. If you love a sweet story with a HEA and low angst this is the book for you, especially if you’re a sucker hot guys working with kids.

Red Fish, Dead Fish by Amy Lane

Title: Red Fish, Dead Fish

Series: Fish Out of Water 02

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Mystery, Contemporary

Length: Novel (330 Pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 4, 2017)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.

Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.

Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.

Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.

ISBN: 978-1-63533-764-8

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Jackson survived being shot by a mad man, but it would seem that there is still one out to get him. He was living with Ellery but always seemed to have one foot out the door. They had been searching for the serial killer and it was going in so many directions. People were ending up dead and someone was using his house. He just couldn’t seem to get a break. Here is a guy looking for a way out, always saying that living with Ellery was temporary and acting like an ass most of the time. However he has met his match.

Ellery knows Jackson like the back of his hand. He loves the man and is willing to wait. He is also as stubborn as Jackson is. He just needed to find the man responsible for coming for them. The man who wants Jackson and will kill anyone near him to get him, that is the man Ellery wants to go down. These two are as different as night and day, but it seems to work in their way.

It leads us into what is going to happen next. The characters are definitely not cheerful and fun, but they are good together. Although Jackson definitely doesn’t see himself that way. He is about as cuddly as his demon cat, so to speak. It is a very long drawn out story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is definitely one of those stories that will have you guessing. It is an energy packed story. However there were also a lot of things that I saw or heard that doesn’t work right for the story. For one there was why a defense firm would waste so many resources and time on a case that would not get them ahead. Here they have a man who does the investigating for them only to turn around and defend them, just seems a bit off. It does have some great secondary characters that make the story rock even more.

I was and still am not a big fan of these stories. I am not saying that they are not absolutely wonderful stories, but one has to be in the mindset with them. It was such a long book and it lost my attention in some parts. I tend to read series that don’t focus on only one couple. They seem to loose something the longer they go on with the same main couple, but this author makes it turn out pretty good. Although this is just book two, so we will see how the next books work for them. The plot is complex and sometimes a bit hard to follow. There is also quite a bit of action, suspense, danger and some hot sexy times in them.

I can’t see myself reading this story more than once and I hate to say it the first book didn’t stick with me, so I went into this book blind. Most say to read them in order, but I didn’t have any problems with this book. Overall this book was very good and the characters were pretty amazing. I would definitely recommend it.

Stand by Your Manny by Amy Lane ~ Audiobook

Title: Stand By Your Manny

Series: The Mannies 03,  Dreamspun Desires 57

Author: Amy Lane

Narrator: Peter B. Brooke

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 1 min

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (17th July 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Sammy Lowell has his hands full juggling his music, college, some pesky health problems, and making the uncles who raised him proud. He needs help fulfilling his after-school duties with his siblings. Nobody can be in two places at once – not even Sammy!

An injury puts Cooper Hoskins in a tough spot – if he can’t work, the foster sister he’s raising can’t eat. But years in the foster system have left Cooper short on trust, and opening up to accept help isn’t easy. Luckily, family intervenes – Cooper needs a job so he can care for Felicity, and Sammy needs someone who can see past his illness to the wonderful things he has planned for his life.

Each heals the damaged places in the other’s heart. But falling in love is a big responsibility for young men deep in family already. Can the two of them get past their fear of the immediate future to see forever with each other?

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I absolutely adore Amy Lane’s books. They are sweet and beautiful slow burn romances that are just nice to read or listen and relax. They are the type of rather soothing because they are so sweet. This is the third book in Lane’s The Mannies series and I adore it as much as I do the two previous installment. There is nothing short to say, I love the simple, sweet love story between Sammy Lowell and the many hired to care for his siblings, Cooper Hoskins.

The audio was made better by the narration of Peter Brooke, which just hit the mark in tone with each character. It was something that I was extremely curious when I downloaded the audio because this is a new narrator to me and have become quite accustomed to definite set of three or four narrators I regularly hear for MM romances.

Way back in book 1 (The Virgin Manny), and chronologically approximately 10-13 years after, we met little Sammy Lowell. He was just a little kid who was grieving the death of his mother and was now being raised by his beloved uncle. It was brilliant catching up with Channing and Tino – Sammy’s dads for all intents and purposes, who adopted more kids over the years. Now Sammy is all grown up and he can’t help his uncles (I’m sticking to uncles I’ve decided) with the kids as well as juggling his music, college classes and assignments and a very serious health problem. So, Channing (and Tino) decide that they are going to hire a nanny. This is where Cooper Hoskins enters the picture. Cooper comes in to become Sammy’s rock, although that was not without teething problems on both sides, especially Sammy who felt some resentment of having help called in. Cooper, however, quickly sees past the walls that Sammy has built around his mind and heart and sets on the path for a sweet love story.

It was also funny catching up with Tino’s nutty family, which feature prominently in both previous books. And that is one of the main things I love about this series – the absolutely wonderful vibe of family and love is front and center throughout as guys come to terms with who they are, and they find their HEA with an equally wonderful man. I love that the whole Robbins family create of chaotic atmosphere of welcome and love for anyone who comes into the orbit of any of their clan.

Wonderfully sweet, simple about relatable and mostly realistic characters, this was purely enjoyable, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Winter Ball by Amy Lane

Title: Winter Ball

Series: Winter Ball 01

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary, Holiday

Length: Novel (200 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 25th 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Through a miserable adolescence and a lonely adulthood, Skipper Keith has dreamed of nothing but family. The closest he gets is the rec league soccer team he coaches after work—and his star player and best friend, Richie Scoggins.

One brisk night in late October, a postpractice convo in Richie’s car turns into a sexual encounter neither of them expected—nor want to forget. Soon Skip and Richie are living for the weekends and their winter league soccer games—and the games they enjoy off the field. Through broken noses, holiday decorating, and the killer flu, they learn more about each other than they ever dreamed possible. Every new discovery takes them further beyond the boundaries of the soccer field and into the infinite possibilities of the best relationship of Skipper’s life.

Skipper can’t dream of a better family than Richie—but Richie’s got real family entanglements he can’t shake off. Skipper needs to convince Richie to stay with him beyond winter ball so the relationship they started on the field might become their happy future in real life!

ISBN: 1623808987

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Aerin

Review: Oh no, for the first time EVER, I have to say this wasn’t my favorite Amy Lane book. I’m not sure what happened, maybe I just couldn’t connect with Richie, or maybe the whole friends-to-lovers build-up never happened for me, but there you have it. I liked this book a lot, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t love it, and I TRIED like crazy to get more into it.

Richie and Skipper have been best friends for a couple of years now, and neither of them were able to make a significant connection with any girls they’ve dated throughout their lives, and all of a sudden there was this awareness between them that they acted on in two minutes flat. I wanted to see when the attraction started happening and when they started noticing each other’s bodies. I’m normally all over GFY stories, Amy Lane’s brand especially, but not this time. It all happened too fast, without the build-up I crave.

Richie, unlike Skipper, has a family, but they’re a bunch of assholes that take advantage of him and treat him like crap. Somehow, Richie still lives in the garage on his parent’s property, paying them an outrageous amount of rent, still works for the family business, and still takes all the crap they dish day after day. I was honestly baffled because there was no reason good enough to justify such faithfulness from Richie when it came to his family. What really annoyed and upset me was the fact that Richie put his family above Skipper for the most part of the book, and Skipper deserved better than that. 

To be completely honest, this is the first time I’ve liked a secondary character better than a main one in any of the previous Amy Lane books that I’ve read. Carpenter and Skipper were my favorite dudes, and I liked Mason a lot better than I did Richie as well; hell, I liked the soccer team better than Richie and his martyr-ness. 

This was a nice holiday book, and i definitely look forward to more in the future.

Shirt by Amy Lane

Title: Shirt *FREE*

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Short (30pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (18th May 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: After a meet-cute in a bathroom and a whirlwind courtship, Ryan is ready to introduce Scotty to his parents. But a misunderstanding and some stubborn cuff buttons tangle Ryan up in an oxford shirt at a really inopportune time. Can Scotty take this opportunity to teach Ryan one or two more lessons about falling in love?

Previously published in the Curious: A Woman’s Introduction to Gay Romance anthology by Dreamspinner Press, 2010.

ISBN: 978-1-63477-300-3

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Aerin

Review: I’m not a big fan of short stories, but Amy Lane managed to give us the cute moment when Ryan and Scotty meet as well as the utterly adorable moments spent together by the established couple a few months down the road.

Ryan is a formerly straight man who finally finds the spark when he meets Scotty at a party. There’s no hesitation on his part, no arguments and debates about gay versus straight, because the connection he has with Scotty is one he would never and could never question.

Ryan and Scotty are very different from each other but they’re absolutely perfect together and the glimpses we get throughout their fast-paces 4 months long relationship are precious, fun, and dirty as hell, complete with rimming, sex, blowjobs and popping the cherry, not exactly in that order.

I loved this short story, it was fluffy and sweet and almost cheesy, such a difference from the angst-laden Amy Lane world, but it was utterly adorable.

Rampant, Vol. 1 by Amy Lane (2nd edition)

Title: Rampant, Vol. 1 (2nd edition)

Series: Little Goddess|Book Four, Vol. 1

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novel (280 pages)

Publisher: DSP Publications (October 11, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Lady Cory has carved out a life for herself not just as a wife to three husbands but also as one of the rulers of the supernatural communities of Northern California—and a college student in search of that elusive degree. When a supernatural threat comes crashing into the hard-forged peace of Green’s Hill, she and Green determine that they’re the ones in charge of stopping the abomination that created it. To protect the people they love, Cory, Bracken, and Nicky travel to Redding to confront a tight-knit family of vampires guarding a terrible secret. It also leads them to a conflict of loyalties, as Nicky’s parents threaten to tear Nicky away from the family he’s come to love more than his own life.

Cory has to work hard to hold on to her temper and her life as she tries to prove that she and Green are not only leaders who will bind people to their hearts, but also protectors who will keep danger from running rampant.

First Edition published as Rampant: The Fourth Book of the Little Goddess Series by iUniverse, 2010.

ISBN-13: 978-1-63476-349-3

Product Link: DSP Publications | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: A lot happens in this continuing series of Little Goddess. Cory and Green come together to battle unseen forces. Nicky, Cory and Bracken struggle with their lives as they face difficult decisions. I thought the story was interesting except for female parts as I’m an m/m reader but decided to read these since they had been on the list a while.

Thoughtful yet provoking each character added their elements to a well written story that draws the reader into a fantasy world of paranormals and conflicts. I loved the added mix in the story.

I do not want to give anything away in this review so the reader will be able to experience the story for themselves. This is a good story if your looking for a mix in genres. Yes there is a cliffhanger that continues in the next book that is already out.

Great read.

Quickening, Vol. 2 by Amy Lane

Title: Quickening, Vol. 2

Series: Little Goddess Book Five, Vol. 2

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novel (284 pages)

Publisher: DSP Publications (June 13, 2017)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥  4 Hearts

Blurb: The elf queen who infected the werewolf population isn’t going away—and neither are the two heartbeats that will soon be the children in Cory’s arms.

Cory’s used to throwing herself physically into the fray, but as their enemy gets closer and more dangerous, she’s forced to choose between her safety and the people sworn to protect her. Her guardians are tired of worrying about Cory and her unborn children, and Cory is getting plain tired.

The preternatural world isn’t her only worry—basic human birthing rituals are going to be a pain in the ass for a woman whose children will be sidhe. Cory’s mother is still fuzzy on the concept of a polyamorous multispecies marriage and sets her up with an OBGYN obsessed with the inhuman silhouettes of her babies.

Cory doesn’t want her children born in the middle of a turf war, but the people she and Green have nurtured and fought for aren’t about to let her face this enemy alone. This battle is for queen and home, and the babies quickening in Cory’s body are a symbol of hope. Cory’s going to have to give up the idea of being a weapon and embrace the idea of being a mother, or she’ll let down those depending on her most.

ISBN-13: 978-1-63533-441-8

Product Link: DSP Publications | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: I have no words for how I feel about Nimuetia except she is a delusional elf queen with visions of grandeur at any cost. I was disgusted at what she did to the werewolves for her own gain.

There is a lot going on in this installment as battles rage and Cory is pregnant with her mates in full protective mode. The action scenes were quite jaw dropping as was the overall plot with the elf queen. I loved the characters good and bad as they each added their own elements to the book to make for an interesting read.

Though I myself am not a huge fan of this series due to a female being the MC I still liked it. Well written and drama infused this story grabs hold and does not let go until the very end.

Great read.

Regret Me Not by Amy Lane

Title: Regret Me Not

Author: Amy Lane

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (119 Pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 4, 2017)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Pierce Atwater used to think he was a knight in shining armor, but then his life fell to crap. Now he has no job, no wife, no life—and is so full of self-pity he can’t even be decent to the one family member he’s still speaking to. He heads for Florida, where he’s got a month to pull his head out of his ass before he ruins his little sister’s Christmas.

Harold Justice Lombard the Fifth is at his own crossroads—he can keep being Hal, massage therapist in training, flamboyant and irrepressible to the bones, or he can let his parents rule his life. Hal takes one look at Pierce and decides they’re fellow unicorns out to make the world a better place. Pierce can’t reject Hal’s overtures of friendship, in spite of his misgivings about being too old and too pissed off to make a good friend.

As they experience everything from existential Looney Tunes to eternal trips to Target, Pierce becomes more dependent on Hal’s optimism to get him through the day. When Hal starts getting him through the nights too, Pierce must look inside for the knight he used to be—before Christmas becomes a doomsday deadline of heartbreak instead of a celebration of love.

ISBN: 978-1-63533-995-6

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: What a Christmas. Pierce is having such a hard time, both physically and emotionally. He was hurt pretty bad in a car accident, ended his marriage and was trying to get back into shape. So staying in a condo for Christmas in Florida sounded good. He had not expected a very sexy kid to want to help him.

Hal is twenty-three and stuck in his life. His parents are important people who want Hal to do one thing. The problem is he doesn’t want to be a lawyer, he wants to help people. So when he sees a man in the pool, and then finds out he is injured, well he has found what he is looking for.

These two are sweet and so perfect for each other. I got a kick out of Hal, he reminds me of my youngest who is in college. Can’t stick to one major, but will eventually figure it out. This story caught my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end. The characters were a blast to read about and the ending was perfect.

I had a blast reading this and would definitely recommend it.

Crocus by Amy Lane Blog Tour, Guest Post & Excerpt!

Amy Lane - Crocus Banner

Hi guys! We have Amy Lane stopping by for a quick visit today with the tour for her upcoming release Crocus, we have a brilliant guest post from Amy and a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~

Crocus

(Bonfires 02)
by

Amy Lane

Saying “I love you” doesn’t guarantee peace or a happy ending.

High school principal “Larx” Larkin was pretty sure he’d hit the jackpot when Deputy Sheriff Aaron George moved in with him, merging their two families as seamlessly as the chaos around them could possibly allow.

But when Larx’s pregnant daughter comes home unexpectedly and two of Larx’s students are put in danger, their tentative beginning comes crashing down around their ears.

Larx thought he was okay with the dangers of Aaron’s job, and Aaron thought he was okay with Larx’s daughter—who is not okay—but when their worst fears are almost realized, it puts their hearts and their lives to the test. Larx and Aaron have never wanted anything as badly as they want a life together. Will they be able to make it work when the world is working hard to keep them apart?

Release date: 17th April 2018
Dreamspinner Press | Kobo | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Continue reading “Crocus by Amy Lane Blog Tour, Guest Post & Excerpt!”