Hi guys, we have Felice Stevens popping in today with her new audio release Under The Boardwalk, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 Amazon GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~ p.s. keep an eye out for the audio review coming soon!
Under The Boardwalk
(The Landmarks 01)
by
Felice Stevens
Beneath the famous Brooklyn landmark, love is hidden but not denied: All his life, Alexi Kharpov has dreamed of traveling to unknown exciting places instead of working at his family’s frozen custard stand on the famous Coney Island boardwalk. Every year is the same until a gorgeous man picks a spot in front of his stand to sing, captivating him with his beautiful voice. After two summers of listening, it might finally be time for him to cross that boardwalk and take a chance.
Opera singer Cameron Maxwell has traveled the world, but the sight of the beautiful man serving custard to tourists touches his heart like nothing ever has before. A summer fling might be exactly what he needs to put his problems out of his mind, but the last thing Cam expects is to want the summer to last forever.
It’s a season of discovery for both men who learn to dig deep within their heads and hearts to decide whether secrets old and new should remain buried, or if love is too important to keep hidden under the boardwalk.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (27th July 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Timothy left home when he was 18 to get away from his reckless mother, but he never stopped visiting his grandfather, who taught him what love was all about. Now that Grampy has passed away, Timothy finds that the old man’s legacy is everything Timothy has dreamed of – and more.
Inside the house Timothy loves so much is a cache of coins with historical value…and a mystery, because one of them isn’t supposed to exist. In memory of his grandfather, Timothy sets out to make sure that the mystery and the coins are given their due honor. In his quest to keep the government from confiscating his grandfather’s legacy, he meets Joiner, whose interest in Timothy is as clear and open as Timothy is guarded. There are things about Timothy’s life and his past he doesn’t want anyone to know, not even the kind man who is helping him with the complications of legal tender.
Review: I love Andrew Grey’s Art series, so I was very much looking forward to the audio of this book. In fact, I think the first book in this series was one of the first Andrew Grey books I read after starting on his Love Means… series. I think I always say this, but I love how Andrew Grey takes ordinary guys – guys that are so relatable and spin a completely relatable and interesting story. There is no insta-love, the characters go through their struggles, in fact I love how we get to see the characters develop and actually get to know each other before thinking, “there might be something here”. Legal Tender is the fourth book in Grey’s series and while you don’t need to be familiar with the three previous books, I recommend it because there is some overlap with the plot lines and there is also a pleasing appearance of some of our previous heroes. In fact, of the 3 previous books in the series, it is really books 1 and 2 which are most relevant.
Legal Tender follows shy guy Timothy and lawyer Joiner Carver. Timothy has not had the best life and upbringing. His mother is a drug addict, though she had not always been but her habit led to some major damage to Timothy’s psyche after he suffered a horrible trauma. The only love he had known in his life was from his grandfather, Tim called him Grampy, and his best friend as a child, Dieter (that’s right, that’s Dieter from book 1!). Part of Grampy’s legacy were some priceless coins, including a coin that could be confiscated by the US Government if Timothy ever reported that he possessed the object. It’s through Dieter and Dieter’s lawyer husband Gerald, that Timothy meets Joiner and Joiner is immediately on the case to help Timothy keep his grandfather’s legacy. Joiner is an ambitious lawyer, I think that has to be a given, but he is also sweet to a fault and has some fairly rigid morals.
There is an instant attraction between Joiner and Timothy, but Joiner is an honorable lawyer (shock horror, lol) and will not let anything risk his case, yet at the same time he will do anything for Timothy. I love how the plot forms and how Andrew Grey weaved together the threads to make a coherent case for Timothy’s legacy, as well as giving us a lot of sweet romance.
This story can be best described as a legal mystery story with a good dose of romance and sexy thrown in. John Solo is also one of my favorite audio narrators, so this audio was pure joy to read with the wonderful tone that Solo brings to the characters and to the story.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (11th July 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Frank Jennings is an FBI agent looking for redemption. Leslie Carlton is an Interpol agent looking for a thief. Attraction flares from the moment they meet on a case, searching for a stolen triptych of unique Tiffany windows. But after a single night of stunning passion, Leslie is called back to London to continue his search there. When the case heats up again, Leslie returns to the States – and to Frank – but their investigation is complicated by their tumultuous feelings. Is it possible for two dedicated detectives to pursue each other while they’re tracking down stolen art and the unscrupulous man who steals it?
Review:I love Andrew Grey’s Art series, so I was very much looking forward to the audio of this book. In fact, I think the first book in this series was one of the first Andrew Grey books I read after starting on his Love Means… series. I think I always say this, but I love how Andrew Grey takes ordinary guys – guys that are so relatable and spin a completely relatable and interesting story.
There is no insta-love, the characters go through their struggles, in fact I love how we get to see the characters develop and actually get to know each other before thinking, “there might be something here”.
Artistic Pursuits is the third book in Grey’s series and while you don’t need to be familiar with the two previous books, I recommend it because there is some overlap with the plot lines and there is also a pleasing appearance of some of our previous heroes.
Artistic Pursuits follows FBI agent who is out to prove himself, Frank Jennings, and English Interpol agent Leslie Carlton.
This is an action, mystery type of story with a good dose of romance and sexy thrown in. John Solo is also one of my favorite audio narrators, so this audio was pure joy to read with the wonderful tone that Solo brings to the characters and to the story.
Hi guys, we have Lain Hayes stopping by today with her audio release Leaning Into The Fall, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and enter that giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Leaning Into The Fall
(Leaning Into… 02)
by
Lane Hayes
Nick Jorgensen is a quirky genius. He’s made a fortune in the competitive high tech field with his quick mind and attention to detail. He believes in hard work and trusting his gut. And he believes in karma. It’s the only thing that makes sense. People are difficult, but numbers never lie. In the disastrous wake of a broken engagement to an investor’s daughter, Nick is more certain than ever he isn’t relationship material.
Wes Conrad owns a thriving winery in Napa Valley. The relaxed atmosphere is a welcome departure from his former career as a high-rolling businessman. Wes’s laid-back nature is laced with a fierceness that appeals to Nick. In spite of his best intention to steer clear of complications, Nick can’t fight his growing attraction to the sexy older man who seems to understand him. Even the broken parts he doesn’t get himself. However, when Wes’s past collides with Nick’s present, both men will have to have to decide if they’re ready to lean into the ultimate fall.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (14th September 2017)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: A fairy-tale vacation—if he can get the ending right.
American nurse Finch Mason steps beyond the comfort of his orderly life and takes a dream trip to England, complete with a National Trust Pass so he can visit numerous historical sites. At the first one on his list, he’s warmly welcomed—and told he bought a pass good for two.
Finch doesn’t hesitate to offer the pass to Benedict, a handsome Brit also there on an outing. They spend a magical week touring the countryside, and while it’s too soon to get attached, Finch wishes their time together would never end.
Then Finch finds himself stuck abroad with no money, and he has no one to turn to but Benedict. Benedict is happy to help, but he also owes Finch some answers—such as who he really is and why he was at the estate where they first met.
Review: Two For Trust is by Elle Brownlee and published under the Dreamspun Desires imprint. I have already read this book and so unlike when I read the book (going into the book completely open minded since I wasn’t sure if I’d read anything by the author in the past, still not sure by the way), I knew what to expect when I listened to this one.
I was looking forward to the OTT drama and romance. I was looking forward to the whole “Lord of the Manor” type of thing, bordering on a Mr Darcy like personality that is totally attractive, especially if you’re into take-charge, strong aristocrats. I used to be addicted to ready regency romances with rakish Marquises and devilish dukes, so I was more than happy to pass time on my flight to visit family and friends with this audio.
The story is about American nurse, Finch, and the charming Englishman, Benedict. (Yes, I’m sure some of you are thinking Benedict Cumberbatch and sniggering, I know I did that a bit).
Sweet guy with a tragic past, Finch, is on his dream holiday of a life time in England. A mix up in ticketing leaves him with a double pass for one week instead of one pass for two weeks. Handsome Englishman, Benedict, happens to be at the National Trust Site Finch is visiting when he finds out this information and Finch happily invites Benedict to take on the second pass. However, this being a romance fiction, it is all too obvious that there is more to Benedict than meets the eye. After the week finishes Finch feels he is ready to part ways, though there is a definite spark between the guys. But when all his belongings are stolen, Finch has no one but Benedict to turn to – which is where he learns the truth.
OK, I really did enjoy reading this book, I truly did, but I didn’t fully connect with the characters. However, I think that Andrew McFerrin’s narration injected enough emotion that I liked this book far more in audio than I did when I read the eBook. There isn’t a lot of hot and heavy romance (in fact there was no sex), which I would expect from a love at first sight sort of trope, but it was nice to see the guys get to know each other for a week before getting all angsty.
If you’re into sweet, old fashioned and very English types of stories, this might be your type thing. For those that hate insta-love (and I know there are lots of you), you’d probably do best to stay away from this one, particularly since there is no actual sex going on as well (I personally find insta-love tolerable in even the worst cases if there is hot sex).
Hi guys, we have L.A. Witt popping in today with the tour for Before There Were Three: Ethan & Rhett, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~
Before There Were Three: Ethan & Rhett
(The Distance Between Us 0.5)
Narratored by Charlie David
by
L.A. Witt
Before Kieran….
Seattle, 2000 – Ethan Mallory is counting down the days until he moves back to Toronto. He loves Seattle, but it’s time to go home.
So it’s just his luck that, with a month to go, he meets Rhett Solomon. Their chemistry is off the charts, and in bed, Rhett is everything Ethan’s been craving. He’s witty and charming outside the bedroom too.
Ethan’s not about to change his plans for a man he’s just met, but what could this become if they had a little more time? Is this just a sizzling hot last hurrah before he returns to Canada? Or is leaving Rhett behind a huge mistake?
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (3rd August 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Brian Watson knows close friends Gerald Young and Dieter Krumpf have an ulterior motive when they invite him to their Christmas party. Brian has taken over the case to secure the return of the famous painting called The Woman in Blue to Dieter, but they don’t want Brian to be all work and no play. They intend to set him up with a friend, but he’s not who catches Brian’s eye. Instead, it’s Nicolai, the deaf art restorer caring for the works already returned to Dieter.
But pursuing Nicolai won’t be easy. A year ago Nicolai had to fight to regain his independence after a bad break-up, and he’s reluctant to give up his freedom a second time. Plus, Brian has competition in Justin, Nicolai’s ex, who wants him back badly.
Nicolai’s reluctance isn’t the only roadblock. Brian was married to a woman for almost 10 years. Now he has to confess to his mother, his ex-wife, and his young daughter that he loves a man, all while conducting a potentially groundbreaking court case and trying to convince Nicolai that love isn’t about co-dependence, it’s about support.
Review:I love Andrew Grey’s Art series, so I was very much looking forward to the audio of this book. In fact, I think the first book in this series was one of the first Andrew Grey books I read after starting on his Love Means… series. I think I always say this, but I love how Andrew Grey takes ordinary guys – guys that are so relatable and spin a completely relatable and interesting story. There is no insta-love, the characters go through their struggles and I’m a bit of a sucker when he adds adorable kids and making big loving families by the end of the book.
Artistic Appeal is the second book in Grey’s series and while you don’t need to be familiar with book 1, I recommend it because the two characters who are the best friends in this book are the starring characters of book 1. It was great to revisit these great guys and also see their characters evolving. However, Artistic Appeal is all about Brian and Nicolai.
Brian is a successful lawyer, working for Gerald from book 1. He is the lawyer that Gerald and his partner Dieter look to for to help and to take over the case of regaining Dieter’s family treasures in the form of artwork by a famous painter. As I said, there is some carry over in the plot of Gerald and Dieter in book 1 but knowing all the details aren’t necessary. Brian’s life is a little complicated by with an ex-wife demanding alimony, but the light of Brian’s life is most definitely his daughter Zoe, of whom he has full custody. While he knows he is gay and a select few friends know of his sexual orientation, he isn’t =out. His harpy ex-wife doesn’t know and his mother (who does have a major harpy vibe too) definitely don’t know at the beginning of the book. Brian’s life is shaken when he meets Nicolai and while dealing with challenges on the professional front, his personal life is suddenly more complicated.
Nicolai is a super sweet art restorer. He’s done work with Gerald in the past, but this is the first time he’s encountered Brian. I think I fell in love with his character immediately. Nicolai is also deaf and I have to admit that I have a soft spot with strong characters that live with a more or less permanent disability. Nicolai has been in an abusive relationship before, which makes him wary of the possibility of a new relationship, especially with a man who isn’t completely out of the closet.
I think it is Brian’s daughter Zoe who played a part in helping Nicolai and Brian together. Zoe is completely adorable and very accepting of Nicolai, even going as far as wanting to learn sign language before her father even gets there.
This is a super sweet yet sexy book. John Solo is also one of my favorite audio narrators, so this audio was pure joy to read with the wonderful tone that Solo brings to the characters and to the story.
Blurb: In crime, like in love, there can be no half measures….
Fashion model Zane Stryker needs money – badly. At almost 30, his glory days are behind him, and he needs capital to start over. When his luggage is switched with a bag containing contraband he’s forced to deliver, it’s either the worst thing that’s ever happened to him…or the best.
Enter Sebastian Gigoni, formerly of the British Special Forces, who has to decide just where Zane’s loyalty lies and why. Sizzling attraction erupts between them, but that doesn’t mean they can trust each other. They double down in a race for their lives – and their love – but are their purposes at odds? As they struggle to reconcile their goals, their consciences, and the needs of their hearts, one thing is clear – they must go all in or give up altogether.
Review: All In is the third in Ava Drake’s Wild Cards series and apart of the Dreamspun Desires imprint. The story works as a standalone book, with only a minor appearance from previous characters where you don’t need to know any back story.
The story follows Zane Stryker, a fashion model who battled addiction and got himself back together and is now trying his best to make a come back for what would be the final couple years of his modelling career. He knew he was getting too old for the job but he wanted to make sure he had enough money to see him through a while and end his career on a high note. He’s on his way from Europe to New York where he intends to revive his career when his luggage is lost and he’s pulled up by customs in New York, turning his life upside down.
This is where Sebastian Gignoni enters the scene, he’s ex-British SAS and now working for the protection agency Wild Cards Inc. He’s been sent to the US on a case and Zane and the contraband placed in his suitcase are the direct he needs to break open an international conspiracy. Sebastian is instantly attracted to Zane but he needs to know if the man is in on the crime or if he is an unwilling participant who is being dangled with a most tempting payment.
I’m still not completely sure on my thoughts on this story. Makes me sound a bit boring I suppose, but I felt that it was an effort to suspend my disbelief for this one. I think what I had the most problem with was the insta-love/attraction which meant during some really dangerous moments, the tension was killed with “oh, let’s have sex”.
I enjoyed, I liked the characters, I loved the narration but I suppose I was just not completely grabbed by the main plot line.
Series: The Teddy Bear Club 01 / Dreamspun Desires 39
Author: Sean Michael
Narrator: John Solo
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 5 hrs 9 mins
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (10th October 2017)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Two lonely men. One perfect family.
Aiden Lake adopted his institutionalized sister’s two daughters, and he’s a good dad. He works nights on websites and gets in his adult time twice a week at the Roasty Bean, where he meets with other single gay parents.
Devon Smithson wants to be a good dad now that his 16-year-old sister asked him to babysit her newborn…three months ago. But he’s overwhelmed with the colicky baby. An invitation to the daddy-and-kid gatherings at the café is a godsend. The pot is sweetened when his friendship with Aiden develops into more – maybe even something that can last.
But the mother who kicked Dev out for being gay wants to get her claws into the baby, and she doesn’t care if she tears Dev, Aiden, and everything they’re building apart in the process.
Review: The Teddy Bear Club is a totally cute and sweet romance that was everything I expected after reading the blurb and getting excited. It is narrated by John Solo (I don’t think there’s been a book he’s narrated where I didn’t dislike his narration) and so for me this was a no-brainer – I had no choice, I was going to listen to this book.
The story follows Aiden Lake and Devon Smithson. Aiden has adopted his sister’s two kids after she was institutionalized with a severe mental illness. His nieces/daughters are adorable, and they are a cute little family.
Devon’s sister dropped off her baby son three months and now Devon is making changes in his life to be a father to his nephew – which includes a much-needed name change. However, he is feeling overwhelmed and needs advice and support, which he finds at the Roasty Bean where there are a group of single gay parents who meet up to chat, drink coffee and generally hang about in the company of like minded adults.
The road to romance and HEA is not exactly smooth. Aiden and Devon are willing to take the chance and support each other. There really isn’t much more for me to say than that I loved the loving family’s and the sweet romance. I’m looking forward future books in the Teddy Bear Club series.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (13th September 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Loren Smith has been in love with Eliot Devlin almost his entire life. During their turbulent childhood and teen years, Loren didn’t always understand Eliot, and sometimes he could be a challenge, but Eliot was the only one to ever truly ease Loren’s deep loneliness and accept him. When Eliot’s increasingly erratic and self-destructive behavior culminates in a suicide attempt at 17, Loren is devastated.
Upon meeting again by chance nine years later, Loren is enjoying a successful career as a police officer while Eliot’s life has been a constant struggle for stability. In and out of mental hospitals, with a rap sheet a mile long, he continues to be buffeted by the twin storms of mania and depression. Loren’s love and protectiveness for Eliot are deeply ingrained in him, however, and their feelings for each other are quickly rekindled.
Loren has issues of his own that he’s dealing with, and trying to understand and cope with Eliot’s bipolar disorder isn’t easy. They believe they’re meant to be, and Eliot brings a fulfillment to Loren’s life that no one else will ever match. But, as they both come to realize, love by itself can’t cure all.
Review: Unquiet is the third book in Melanie Hansen’s series Resilient Love and this book certainly lives up to the title. I’ve been one to do trigger warnings in my reviews but I feel that I need to for this as there is one character who suffers from a severe mental illness, to the point of attempting suicide. This book left me raw and I think I cried throughout the entire 10-odd hours that the book went for. Michael Stellman, a new narrator for me, was just perfect, hitting the right tone and emotion.
This is the story of Eliot and Loren.
Loren is a cop who we met in the previous book as the best friend as one of our heroes (FYI he is Kai Daniels’s best friend), but it’s ok to read this one as a standalone book. Loren knew that he would be a cop when he was a kid, it was family thing for him but it is a job that he loves. There was really only one thing that was left a loose end for him and that was the sudden loss of his best friend, Eliot Devlin when they were in high school. Eliot was always different but until the suicide attempt he had never known that his best friend had had all the signs of bipolar disorder, even as a kid. As kids their relationship was very sweet because they were each other’s everything until one day Eliot tried to kill himself and then Eliot and his family suddenly moved away without Loren ever knowing what happened to Eliot.
Ok, I’m seriously starting to cry just writing about this book. This left such a mark on me, it’s one of those books that just stays with you for days and weeks after you finish. With that said, I’m going to keep the rest of this review short.
Fast forward to the present day and Loren took up an opportunity that could mean a promotion to detective for him. By chance he encounters Eliot after so many years. Loren immediately tracks down his best friend, even after finding out the horrifying and sad truth of his illness. At first Loren understands on the surface but he really needed to experience more of Eliot’s illness to fully comprehend what life would be. Eliot is used to being alone but as soon as Loren comes back into his life it was like a switch was flipped and their old friendship is something of an anchor to him despite his issues. However, Eliot’s issues are not minor and can just be glossed over to a quick HEA and I think that is what I loved about this story. I am glad, too, that Hansen’s didn’t fall into the trap that Eliot would suddenly be better just because he found love with Loren.
Sometimes I wanted to kick Loren because he didn’t see what that sometimes his behavior did negative things to Eliot’s state of mind. But I knew that this was on the bumpy road to Loren understanding Eliot and maybe, just maybe there would be a chance of a future together.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (21st March 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Successful lawyer Jeremy Speer has it all – a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a cherished dream that’s about to become reality. He’s learned not to take happiness for granted, meeting the challenges of life and love head-on with unwavering commitment and fierce devotion. A series of tragic events leaves Jeremy shattered, adrift on a sea of unimaginable pain. He’s able to piece his life back together, but instead of embracing it, he merely exists, using isolation and punishing physical exertion to keep the world at bay.
High school teacher Kai Daniels has a heart for at-risk kids – he was one himself, and a teenage brush with the law and some troubled years behind bars left him scarred inside and out. With courage, hard work, and the support of friends, he’s built a fulfilling life that leaves no time for a relationship.
An intense encounter with Kai at a gay club ignites a spark in Jeremy that he thought was extinguished forever, but he’s unwilling to destroy the fragile peace he’s managed to create, and he leaves Kai humiliated and disappointed. Things should have ended there, but a bizarre occurrence brings the two together in a way neither of them expected.
Review: Signs of Life is book 2 in Melanie Hansen’s Resilient Love series. I hadn’t been sure what to expect. I had read book 1, about 2 years ago, and from reading my review of that I loved it, though I had trouble remembering all of the plot. Regardless, I went into the audio of book 2 with an open mind and hoping that I didn’t need to do a proper re-read of book 2. While I’m sure it would be best to read the books in order, I find that Signs of Life also works perfectly well as a standalone book. However, be warned, it’s probably best to have some tissues handy for this one.
The story follows Jeremy Speer, a lawyer with a tragic past after the death of his family, and passionate school teacher who works with troubled kids, Kai Daniels.
Jeremy has a lot of baggage and emotion to work through before even thinking about a relationship beyond sex. After their first encounter, work brings the two men back together and Kai is not a very happy man about seeing the man he thought as an asshole. For Jeremy, the fact that he barely knows Kai, especially since their first encounter is in a dark, dingy gay club, he has to open himself up before completely fucking up any chance he could have with Kai.
The plot line itself is fairly simple and I’ve tried to keep this review spoiler free, which is the reason why it is so short. For me though, this book was all about the emotion – the loneliness, hurt and grief which has the opportunity to transform into acceptance, love and hope.
I’ve not heard a lot of books narrated by Robert Nieman, and while he is not among my absolute favorite narrators, I nonetheless enjoyed listening to his narration.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (10th August 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Starting over and falling in love.
Tino Robbins’ sister, Nica, and her husband, Jacob, are expecting their fifth child. Fortunately, Nica’s best friend, Taylor Cochran is back in town, released from PT, and in need of a job.
After years in the service, and recovering from grave injury, Taylor has grown a lot from the callow troublemaker he’d been in high school. Now he’s hoping for a fresh start with Nica and her family.
Jacob’s cousin Brandon lives above the garage and thinks “Taylor the manny” is a bad idea. Taylor might be great at protecting civilians from a zombie apocalypse, but is he any good with kids?
Turns out, Taylor’s a natural. As he tries to fit in, using common sense and dry wit, Brandon realizes that Taylor doesn’t just love their family – he’s desperate to be part of it. And just like that, Brandon wants Taylor to be part of his future.
Review: Manny Get Your Man is the second book in Amy Lane’s series, The Mannies. I suppose that this does work as a standalone book, but I think that you really need to get acquainted with first book if you haven’t already. If nothing else you’re doing yourself an injustice by not reading an excellent book. Manny Get Your Man features a lot of characters from The Virgin Manny and is set about 10 years later, so you find out about all the characters (major and minor) we fell in love with in book 1. In fact, the first sentence of the blurb does assume that the reader has read the first book.
I really loved Manny Get Your Man. Taylor and Brandon’s story was just… awesome. We met Taylor back in book 1 – he was the obnoxious, brash best friend of hero Tino’s (The Virgin Manny of the title) sister Nica, who hit on Tino while Tino was busy getting his HEA with Channing. But 10 years later and after a stint in the military, Taylor has grown up – A LOT – and starts his journey of redemption (at least for the reader). Taylor is returning home after recuperating from injuries and his job is to be the manny for his best friend Nica, who is about to have her 5th kid with her brother’s best friend, Jake. It is here that Taylor meets Brandon, who lives in the garage apartment of his cousin, Jake.
I know, it’s a tangle. I won’t stop you from getting a paper and pen out to draw the family tree. I absolutely loved this story. John Solo’s narration of the book is wonderful to hear, but then again, I think I could listen to almost everything narrated by John Solo and be exceedingly happy. That man can narrate a book like nobody’s business.
If there was one criticism it is that unlike book 1 where Sammy (Tino’s charge) was a major character of the book, Nica and Jake’s kids are not really characters, only occasionally getting the spotlight with their manny. Though I must say, this would have been tricky to work through with that many kids… seriously, five kids before 30! But with my belief suspended, I fell in love with both Brandon and Taylor. Their story is beautiful, and it was just awesome to be able to revisit old friends. The guys just clicked with their chemistry and were super relatable.
Blurb: Can he step out of the shadows and into love’s light?
Eight years ago, Christian Hernandez moved to Jamaica Plain in southern Boston, took refuge in his apartment, and cut himself off from the outside world. And that’s how he’d like it to stay.
Josh Wendell has heard his co-workers gossip about the occupant of apartment number one. No one sees the mystery man, and Josh loves a mystery. So when he is hired to refurbish the apartment’s kitchen and bathrooms, Josh is eager to discover the truth behind the rumors.
When he comes face-to-face with Christian, Josh understands why Christian hides from prying eyes. As the two men bond, Josh sees past his exterior to the man within, and he likes what he sees. But can Christian find the courage to emerge from the darkness of his lonely existence for the man who has claimed his heart?
Review: I loved the plot of this book. I love KC Well’s writing. I also read the book and wondered how much my opinion would change between formats. Often I find that a narrator adds the right tone and emotion to the characters that allows me to enjoy stories more. Unfortunately that was not the case. However, that is not to say I didn’t not like the narration. On the contrary, I really enjoyed listening to the narration of Finn Sterling, the first time I’ve had the pleasure to hear his narration.
This is a book for those that like a bit of insta-love, are all for a Phantom of the Opera type of disfigurement and a smoking hot, young handy man who seems a tad naiveté or too good to be true. My only criticism is that I desperately wished that it had a lot more depth of emotion, particularly from Christian’s side and part of me wanted more trepidation, more dating because Christian is agoraphobic and if there had been a chance to develop the emotion and plot a little more would have made the characters more believable and more relatable.
Christian Hernandez moved Jamaica Plain – an idyllic housing development south of Boston – eight years ago from Colorado. He learnt a hard lesson when he became disfigured and then decided to hide away from the world.
Honestly, I can’t say much more without blowing his entire back story. I suppose you can call him agoraphobic, he refuses to leave his apartment but it all comes down to vanity and hating the stares his looks usually attracts. (This dude needs to go back to counselor or psychologist, stat). He has everything delivered to his and works from home. Everything is ordered in his little world until he finds out that his kitchen and bathroom is going to undergo a much needed renovation. That means the handyman that does a lot of the work around his building needs to enter his home. Something that Christian can’t have, even if that handyman is the hot guy he often admires from his window.
Josh Wendell is young and idealistic in many ways. But he is the handyman that is going to renovate Christian’s apartment. There have been many rumors about the occupant of apartment 1, but nothing could prepare Josh for what happens. This is especially because his first impression is that Christian had locked himself in his bedroom all day while Josh was working (unknown to Josh at first). Josh has just the right amount of sweetness and understanding to help Christian get out of his shell. A little bit of romance doesn’t hurt either!
Hi guys! We have Robert Winter stopping by today with his audio release September, we have the first part of a fabulous interview with the narrator Kale Williams, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $25 Amazon GC giveaway for two lucky winners, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
September
(Pride and Joy 01)
by
Written by Robert Winter
Narrator: Kale Williams
A May-December contemporary gay romance for lovers of second chances
David James is smart, successful, handsome… and alone. After the death of his lover, Kyle, from cancer, he buried himself in his law practice and the gym. At forty-eight, he is haunted by his memories and walled off from the world. When David injures himself working out, he’s assigned to Brandon Smith for physical therapy. The vibrant young therapist is attracted to David and realizes he needs a hand to get back into dating. What begins as a practice coffee date escalates to friendship, passion, and maybe something more, as they navigate a new relationship in Washington, DC, and the gay mecca of Provincetown.
But David remains trapped behind the barrier of fear and guilt. Will he remain loyal to Kyle’s memory if he moves on? Can he and Brandon manage a twenty-two-year age gap? Brandon thinks he understands David’s concerns, and for him, the answer to those questions is yes. He wants to be with David, and he believes he can overcome David’s barriers. But Brandon fails to account for the world’s reaction to a handsome young man attached to an older, wealthy lover.
David’s memories, Brandon’s pride, and an unexpected tragedy might cost them something very special…
Blurb: For the last year, Jay Warren has struggled to find the nerve to tell his wife he’s gay. Every time he gets the chance, though, he freezes up. He’s ashamed of hiding it all this time, he doesn’t want to hurt her, and the guilt has been almost unbearable.
When his wife dies suddenly, Jay’s conscience threatens to eat him alive.
Funeral director Scott Lawson deals with the bereaved every day, and he’s all too familiar with the inside of the closet. He offers Jay some much-needed compassion and understanding, and from that connection comes a friendship that quickly – perhaps too quickly – turns into something more.
But are grief, guilt, and loneliness the only things tying them together? Or, will Scott get fed up with being used as an emotional crutch before Jay realizes what he has?
Review: Not going to lie, this was a difficult book for me to get through. It wasn’t so much the story, I enjoyed the story and have enjoyed similar story lines immensely in the past. It is most like a combination of factors, which I will explain. I will try not to be too negative in my review because there was definitely a number of elements that I did enjoyed and allowed me to finish the book instead of just quitting.
For me L.A Witt is not on my go to author list, in fact her books are very much hit or miss and half the time if it’s a miss I can’t pinpoint exactly why. Unfortunately, For the living is one of those books.
What you read in the blurb is what you get in the book, so no big surprises there. One of the problems I had with this book was probably the amount of angst – I’m not a massive fan of angsty books – and another problem is that the story was a tad slow. I think normally I would have been ok with slow for the past part but combined with mid-level angst I was sorely tempted to skip parts (in fact, I will admit, I skipped the end of some chapters to move along a bit).
However, despite that, the story itself is more than pleasing for me. I liked reading about the sweet romance between Jay Warren and Scott Lawson. Jay has been battling his inner demons where his sexuality is concerned for some time now. When he had finally gathered the courage to tell his wife, he loses her. That is the tragedy at the center of this story and the grief and guilt is almost crippling. Scott is a funeral director, working in the family business. He meets and befriends Jay, but before anything can happen Jay has A LOT of baggage to work through.
In a lot of ways, the story is predictable and yet I don’t consider it a bad thing, it makes the difficult story line and feelings a lot easier to enjoy. Additionally, despite Jay being an (understandably) angsty arsehole at times, it was so easy to relate to him and Scott. In fact, Scott was such a sweetie and fell in love with him.
A quick note on the narration, it was, to put a fine point on it, wonderful. This was the first audio book I’ve heard narrated by Charlie David and I really enjoyed the different tones he was able to add to the book. I have to admit, if I had been reading this book it could have very potentially been a DNF. I’ve never heard any of Charlie David’s work before but he is certainly a narrator I wouldn’t mind hearing again.
Hi guys! We have K.M. Neuhold stopping by today with tour for her audio release From Ashes, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
From Ashes
(Heathens Ink 01)
by
K.M. Neuhold
“When the broken man with scarred skin walked into Heathens, asked for a job, and showed me a sketch of a phoenix, it felt like fate.”~ Adam
It started with an anonymous post by someone who didn’t want to live anymore. I read it over and over again, unable to get it out of my mind. What if my brother Johnny had posted something like this before he’d taken his own life? Would someone have been able to save him?
I’ve been living a lie for 16 long years and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to keep it up. And when a beautiful, broken man walks into my tattoo shop asking for a second chance at life, I know I’ll never be able to turn him away.
“When I was so far down I couldn’t even see the light, a stranger reached in to save me”~ Nox
I didn’t have anything to live for, until a kind stranger pulled me back from the brink. With physical and emotional scars I have nowhere to turn now but to that same stranger who saved my life without realizing it. But as my feelings for Adam grow, will I ever be anything other than a surrogate for the brother he couldn’t save? Am I even worthy of his love?
**From Ashes is the third book in the Heathens Ink series, each book in the series CAN be read as a standalone.
CAUTION: this book contains graphic descriptions of domestic violence and drug use that may be disturbing to some readers.
Blurb: In their differences, they’ll find strength – and love. Alpha werewolf Eli Hammond returns from a fishing trip to discover a nasty surprise – five members of his pack murdered and the rest missing. He needs help locating and rescuing his pack mates, but the supernatural council in Asheville, North Carolina, turns him away.
Except for one man.
As they work together, Eli is stunned – and not especially thrilled – to discover half-elf Arden Gilmarin is his destined mate. But as Arden and his friends struggle to help Eli in his quest, Eli surrenders to the demands of his body – and his heart. They’ll need to bond together, because the forces opposing them are stronger and more sinister than anyone predicted. The evil has its sights set on Arden, and if Eli wants to save his mate and the people he is entrusted with protecting, he’s in for the fight of his life.
Review: This is yet another book which I’ve read but couldn’t resist the audio, in fact, I was looking forward to the audio. It certainly helped that I am quickly becoming a fan of the narrator, Andrew McFerrin. He’s definitely in my top three of narrators, I loved the tone he gave the characters and the emotion he added to the plot line just using his excellent voice.
Out of the Ashes is the first book in McKay’s Asheville Arcana series and the first book of the Dreamspun Beyond imprint, which is contemporary romance with a paranormal twist. From start to finish, this was an engaging and sexy romance, with a hot shape shifter wolf alpha. I’m a sucker for soul mates/fated mates and the hard road to their HEA.
Eli Hammond is a strong and sexy alpha wolf, who comes home from a brief getaway to find his pack in disarray. He needs help and it seems that no one is willing to help. That is all except half-elf Arden Gilmarin. As soon as they meet its fate – these guys are meant to be. Well, for Eli anyway, Arden can’t recognize that Eli is his mate but is determined to help the wolf shifter all the same. However, he struggles to come to terms with having a mate and actually being able to accept his mate while helping Eli find his kidnapped pack members.
Eli and Arden have wonderful chemistry together. I love that Eli is a growling, grumpy alpha wolf that needs love in his life, especially after the kidnapping of his pack members. Arden is a total sweetheart, he is totally caring and loving once he comes to terms with his mating. He is a totally positive sort of person that Eli needs in his life. Arden is yin to Eli’s yang.
I am so glad that this is the first book in the Asheville Arcana series, because I absolutely fell in love with Arden’s best friends and confidants, Julian and Whimsy. In a lot of ways Julian and Whimsy are the heroes to this story and I want to hear their stories and hope they find their respective mates and get a sweet and sexy HEA! Too much to ask for? I hope not.
Blurb: Tate Buchanan is a troublemaker who can’t keep a job, no matter how many times his lucky argyle sweater gets him hired. Add to that a learning disability and an impetuous nature that sends him into altercations to protect the defenseless, and he hardly manages to make friends, let alone find a man who’s interested in him for more than one night.
Most people think EMT Jaime Escobar is a player, but the truth is he wants a serious partner – he just can’t justify wasting time on guys he knows aren’t a match. But when he treats a gorgeous redhead after a fight, he finds the spark he’s spent so many years looking for.
Jaime wants to take the next step with Tate, but it’s clear Tate’s not going to curb his impulsive behavior – his next fight sends him to the hospital. Jaime’s relationship with a near criminal isn’t something his family is ready to accept, not any more than Tate is willing to be kept a secret. Jaime will need a lot of understanding – and some luck of his own – to keep them both. But this is one fight he’s going to see through to the end.
Review: Just Add Argyle is the third book in KC Burn’s series Fabric Hearts. I recommend that you start with book 1 and 2 in the series, if you already haven’t. This is a quirky little world that Burn has created and to do it justice you definitely should start from the beginning.
Honestly, with a series title called Fabric Hearts I expect to enter the world of a happy little sewing circle, not a bunch of guys who have a penchant for certain fabrics but working for a gay porn website. That was probably a crass summary but I stand by it. The narrator of this series is David Ross. I’ve not heard many books he narrates. I enjoyed the tone he gave the story although I must admit that for this book I wasn’t completely sold on the narration.
The story is about Jaime Escobar and Tate Buchanan.
This story is a little different to the previous installments of the series where neither character has no direct connection to Idyll Fling. We met Jaime way back in book 1, Tartan Candy. He is the cousin to one of the heroes. As a secondary character he always had a certain amount of energy that made me feel he needed to find his own man and get a chance of HEA. Jaime is an EMT and has a massively kind heart. He meets Tate Buchanan on a call out and is immediately drawn to the man. Tate is something of a good Samaritan with the tendency to be a bit scrappy. He has a learning disability which meant he could not finish school and the only jobs he could get were low paying service jobs. Not that that is a bad thing, but Tate has a lot of potential. He doesn’t have much self esteem either and in some major need for a lot of love, kindness and tenderness.
Tate and Jaime are a sweet couple. They have a lot of heart and kindness to spread. I am just so glad that Jaime got his HEA.
Blurb: Two years after his life fell apart, Will Dawson moved to Florida to start over. His job in the tech department of Idyll Fling, a gay porn studio, is ideal for him. When his boss forces him to take on a new hire, the last person he expects is Dallas Greene – the man who cost him his job and his boyfriend back in Connecticut. He doesn’t know what’s on Dallas’ agenda, but he won’t be blindsided by a wolf masquerading as a runway model. Not again.
Dallas might have thrown himself on his brother’s mercy, but his skills are needed at Idyll Fling. Working with Will is a bonus, since Dallas has never forgotten the man. A good working relationship is only the beginning of what Dallas wants with Will.
But Dallas doesn’t realize how deep Will’s distrust runs, and Will doesn’t know that the man he’s torn between loving and hating is the boss’ brother. When all truths are revealed, how can a relationship built on lies still stand?
Review: Plaid Versus Paisley is the second book in KC Burn’s series Fabric Hearts. I recommend that you start with book 1 in the series, Tartan Candy if you already haven’t. This is a quirky little world that Burns has created and to do it justice you definitely should start from the beginning. Honestly, with a series title called Fabric Hearts I expect to enter the world of a happy little sewing circle, not a bunch of guys who have a penchant for certain fabrics but working for a gay porn website. That was probably a crass summary but I stand by it.
The story is about Will Dawson and Dallas Greene.
In the world of Idyll Fling, a porn network which we were introduced to in Tartan Candy, Will Dawson is the king of the IT department. In fact, he is the only member of the IT department that keeps the site running despite the fact it is abundantly obvious that he needs help. However, Will was burned at his last job where he was a supervisor who lost his job and given to someone else, specifically to Dallas Greene.
Dallas had always looked up to Will and is confused as to why Will obviously hates him and refuses to allow Dallas to do his job. Dallas went to Florida where his half-brother Stefan runs Idyll Fling. Dallas has been through hell – including illness and rejection from his family. He had never really fit into his privileged family and when everything falls apart all he can do is pray that his half-brother will be willing to help. It is a totally heartbreaking part and I love Stefan for stepping up to the plate. I don’t know what one would expect as the stereotype of a guy who runs a porn website, but Stefan is just the biggest sweetheart. I liked him in Tartan Candy but in Plaid Versus Paisley he is hands down the best secondary character in the series.
There is a lot going on beneath the surface with Will and Dallas. Will is obnoxious at first and full of hate, while Dallas is broken and nervous, waiting for something to happen in a second. He is also paranoid as fuck and there were a couple times I wished I could slap him. These guys have a rocky journey, but it is all worth it. On top of that, there is also a heck of a lot of sexual tension and steamy sex.
The narrator of this series is David Ross. I’ve not heard many books he narrates, I think Tartan Candy was the first I heard, I enjoyed the tone and voice he gave the characters. I was especially able to connect to sadness surrounding Dallas.
Series: Dreamspun Desires 36 / Romancing The… Book 2
Author: Clare London
Narrator: Joel Leslie
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 7 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (19th June 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating:♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Is this the makeover of a lifetime?
Ambitious fashionista Perry Goodwood lands the project of his dreams – track down a celebrity family’s missing brother in the Scottish Highlands and bring him back to London for a TV reality show. But first he must transform the rugged loner into a glamorous sophisticate.
Greg Ventura has no use for high fashion. He lives on the isolated island of North Uist to escape the reminder that he’s nowhere near as handsome as his gorgeous brothers and to avoid the painful childhood memories of being bullied.
Greg wants nothing to do with city life, and Perry’s never been outside London. When Perry is stranded on North Uist, this conflict seems insurmountable. But Greg is captivated by the vivacious Perry, and Perry by both the island and his host. However, Perry’s one heartfelt wish remains: that ugly duckling Greg fulfill his potential as a swan.
Review: There is a lot for me to love with this book. Firstly, I love the author – I love the sweet English romances by Clare London. I suppose to sum up her writing in a word would be “enchanting”. I loved the first book in this series and that is absolutely true of the second book. Secondly, I love reading about someone meeting their true love and finally seeing themselves in the beautiful light that their love interest sees them. I find that truly uplifting, to see self esteem grow over the course of a book, because hey, I can be sappy. And thirdly, the audio book to me was the sheer enjoyment of listening to Joel Leslie, I’m pretty sure for the first time, and loving every moment of the hustle and bustle of England and the calm solitude of the Scottish Highlands (and yes, I am an Outlander fan and have been for a decade, I blame that!).
Greg Ventura is the guy who left the hustle and bustle of the city to live in an island in the Scottish Highlands. He comes from a family and famous, ridiculously good looking and ridiculously talented brothers. He’s the Ugly Duckling. He doesn’t think that he is as good looking as his brothers – mostly because his brothers instilled this thought into his mind. But now his brothers are calling on him again. They need him to be part of a reality TV show and look like a happy family.
That’s how Greg meets Perry (Peregrine) Goodwood. Perry is an ambitious about his career as a designer/fashionista. It’s hard to explain his career except that he is the guy that does the fashion makeovers. He’s been hired by Greg’s brothers to find Greg, make him over and get him to London to his family. The problem is that Perry gets more than he bargained for when he discovers the gentle, carefree soul that is Grey Ventura – very much unlike his brothers. On top of all that, he needs to be in London because he needs his job desperately, as mistakes from his past threaten to keep him in debt for longer than he can handle.
I love the story and the whirlwind Scottish romance. It is as simple as that. It appeals to that side of me that loves everything about British dramas and the Scottish Highlands (even with all his rain and cold).
Title: Legal Tender
Title: Two for Trust
Title: All In
Title: The Teddy Bear Club
Title: Unquiet
Title: Signs of Life
Title: Manny Get Your Guy
Title: Out of the Shadows
Title: For the Living
Title: Out of the Ashes
Title: Just Add Argyle
Title: Plaid Versus Paisley
Title: Romancing the Ugly Duckling