Blurb: Hard work and long hours have made Will Kovar’s business, Total Plumbing Solutions, a success. When he’s called to fix a bathroom at the Safe Home for Girls and Boys and sees how tight money is for the charity, he’s happy to donate his time. Meeting the home’s manager, Steve Hayes, is an added bonus, especially when Steve invites Will to dinner to thank him for his generosity. Will learns Steve’s wealthy family isn’t happy about his choice to make a career in social work, but neither man expects Steve’s parents to leave eighteen children out on the street to prove their point. Will is determined to help Steve figure out how to provide a safe and happy home—for both the children and themselves.
Review: This is a short and sexy book, which is the seventh book in Serena Yates’ Workplace Encounters book. Each book is standalone, with new characters and no overlapping characters. This instalment is completely new to the series and it is a wonderful addition.
Let’s face it, who doesn’t like a hot blue collar worker? This is going to be a book that will appeal to a great many people who are into MM.
Will Kovar is a plumber with a heart of gold. He works hard and owns his own business and he’s pretty damn successful. It’s on a call out to the Safe Home for Girls and Boys that he meets an equally as generous man, social worker Steve Hayes. The two just click and while there is plenty of sexual tension there is also a lot of sweetness and cuteness between the two of them. It’s a well-rounded story where we see Will and Steve’s personal and professional lives clash together (and not always in good ways).
Blurb: When successful fashion model Fabio Bonardi discovers his first wrinkle, he knows it’s time to move on to Plan B. He is tired of the loneliness and drama of the modeling world, so he enlists shy financial advisor, Edwin Zachary, to help him start a business. Edwin is the first man who sees something beyond a pretty face in Fabio, and the connection between them is immediate and surprisingly deep. But insecurity, fear of rejection, and the fact they live on opposite sides of the country make pursuing a relationship challenging. Before they can figure out the details, a mysterious stalker tries to drive them apart. Then Fabio disappears after a photo shoot, and both men face an unexpected battle for the lasting relationship they both so desperately want.
Review: I really don’t know how to take this book. I really am finding myself at a loose end, trying to figure out what to say. This is book nine in Serena Yates’ Workplace Encounters and can be read as a standalone book, as none of the books have any plot or characters in common.
The story is about Fabio, a model who is beginning to worry getting old and wrinkles (well, one) at 28. Finding that it is time to retire from the modelling gig, he is ready to move onto some other business plans. He just needs a financial advisor to advise him about what investment or what business he should start. This is where Edwin steps in. He’s a bit of a whiz when it comes to business and it is his job to help Fabio set up a new one.
I think that my problem with this particular book is that it has all the plot devices there set up for what should be a cool book. There are a couple of strong MCs, who also happen to be hot. There is some mystery and danger. There is more than enough drama. And the last, but not least, the spark between the guys is strong. However, for me, these plot devices are not used to their full advantage and so in the end the story falls a bit short.
Blurb: Scarred former model Kyle Anderson leads a double life. By day, he works as a chauffeur for his uncle’s limousine rental company. Since his wages are too low for him to become financially independent, he works nights as an exotic dancer, donning a mask to hide his identity and the facial scars that got him rejected by his parents. Kyle catches the attention of Nick Giddings, a forklift driver who visits the club to let off steam. Nick is stuck in a low-skilled dead-end job after being kicked out of school for a prank he didn’t commit. The two men immediately connect, but when Nick is laid off and Kyle’s uncle pushes him to date a woman, everything comes crashing down.
Review: The Chauffeur is the second book in Serena Yates’ Workplace Encounters series. However, none of the books are related and are stand alone stories. This is the second edition of The Chauffeur, with Dreamspinner Press re-releasing the whole series. I read the first edition and could not tell the difference for the most part (my memory is a tad dodgy, though). Serena Yates herself has said that the difference between the first and second (this) edition is that she added a couple scenes, adding approximately 2500 words to the story.
The plot of The Chauffeur is enjoyable, so before I go into the story I’m just going to put this out there: the writing style is not going to be to everyone’s taste. Sometimes the wording was a bit clunky and some of the details that I wanted to know about Nick and Kyle was lost in the words. Also, the wording of the sex scenes is sometimes rather clinical – e.g. using “ejaculate” instead of “come” or “climax” or “release”. Another thing that I’ve realised since reading other books in the series that the general plot that is followed is very similar, but considering there are no characters to connect the books, this is not really an issue. Finally, I think that the blurb offers information much more clearly than it is presented in the book.
The book itself is about Kyle and Nick. It is told from both their POVs (in third person), something that I enjoy and sometimes prefer over one POV or first person of one character. Kyle was a model and very successful. That was until an accident left him scarred and revealed his family’s true colours – they ignore him after that. He now works as a chauffeur for his uncle’s limousine company. Desperate to supplement his income he becomes a stripper and this is where he meets Nick. Nick is a forklift driver (something that I found difficult to see by the wording used)… to be honest, though, I just got more information reading the blurb than I did the book. However, the main thing is that Nick is a low-skill worker and his job is in jeopardy. No matter the skill level it is a relatable position for most of us in the workforce.
If anything I would have liked a bit more background about both Kyle and Nick. I just felt like I was being teased about their background and what traumas/events are shaping their current lives. These guys have a lot of chemistry and a lot more potential.
Overall, this is enjoyable and a good way to pass some time. It’s the type of book you read if you’re in the mood for something that you don’t need to think about too much as you go along.
Blurb: Mike Brown has been a bricklayer working for the same construction company since leaving high school at eighteen. While building a conservatory for a Victorian house northwest of downtown Baltimore, Mike meets Ash, the landscaper hired to restore the gardens, when Ash distractedly stumbles over some of Mike’s equipment. Mike offers to take Ash to dinner as an apology, Ash hesitantly agrees, and the two men start dating. Then Mike is pulled away from his next assignment of building fireplaces by a promotion he doesn’t want, only to be fired for incompetence two weeks later. Three of the fireplaces have collapsed, one seriously injuring a cleaner. With Ash’s support, Mike must figure out who sabotaged his work, and why, before he faces a lawsuit.
Review: The Bricklayer is the third book in Serena Yates’ Workplace Encounters series. However, none of the books are related and are stand alone stories. This is the second edition of The Bricklayer, with Dreamspinner Press re-releasing the whole series. I read the first edition and could not tell the difference for the most part (my memory is a tad dodgy, though). I could not find exactly how the word count has changed on this new edition.
The plot of The Bricklayer is enjoyable. However, this also has the same problem of the previous books: the writing style is not going to be to everyone’s taste. Sometimes the wording was a bit clunky and some of the details that I wanted to know about Mike and Ash was lost in the words. Another thing that I’ve realised since reading other books in the series that the general plot that is followed is very similar. One or both the MCs are closeted and somewhere along the line, an MC faces losing their job (or business). Considering there are no characters to connect the books I’m not going to consider this to be a major issue.
I like both Mike and Ash – they are great characters with great chemistry. Mike is a mason, he works his butt off and he loves his job. He is close to thirty and still in the closet because he is terrified how his family would react (again, understandable but I love the family’s reaction). In general, Mike is just really sweet and relatable. He is a lot easier to relate to than Ash. Ash, on the other hand, is a landscape gardener who has been hired to work on the same house where Mike is contracted. The guys literally bump into each other, which leads to a rather awkward dinner which may or may not be a date. Ash is a kind of stand-offish characters – or he’s just really shy. But when Mike needs the help, he steps up and things start to fall into place.
I figured out pretty quickly what was going/the direction of the plot. This is a light and enjoyable read, especially if you’re in the mood for something that you don’t need to think about too much as you go along.
Hiya peeps, Serena Yates pops in again today to give us some more details about her upcoming release Eye of Scota. We have a brilliant guest post and a brand new excerpt fro the book, so enjoy out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Eye of Scota
(Dalriata 01)
by
Serena Yates
In 845 a group of Gaels fleeing the Vikings stumbled through the mystic Eye of Scota and found safety on a planet they named Dalriata. Seven centuries later, the arrival of the Crìosdaidh religion changed everything. Fugitives stopped appearing, and the newly established Council of Priests used the energy of Slànach Stones to enforce their religious laws. But by 2500 the Stones’ power is dwindling. The High Priest is desperate—none of the warriors sent to find more Stones have returned.
Cináed MacAlpin, a young healer priest, is chosen to undertake another attempt. He hopes that new Stones will reduce the pressure to heal only those deemed worthy by the priests. But his task is not easy. Cináed must travel to the land of Bunádh and find the Eye that is the source of the Stones. Once there he meets Tadeo Banderas, a spaceship captain exploring the newest Earth-like planet discovered by the Solar Exploration Fleet. Cináed and Tadeo soon find out that the spark of energy between them may hold the key to Dalriata’s future.
1st Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2010.
Hi! I’m Serena Yates and I’m very excited to show off my new cover for Eye of Scota. It’s a science fiction story set in the 26th century on a planet settled by humans in the 9th century using a mysterious gateway to the planet Dalriata. It’s an action/adventure, a quest for answers to age-old questions, and a romance between one of Dalriata’s healer priests and a starship captain.
Eye of Scota
(Dalriata 01)
by
Serena Yates
In 845 a group of Gaels fleeing the Vikings stumbled through the mystic Eye of Scota and found safety on a planet they named Dalriata. Seven centuries later, the arrival of the Crìosdaidh religion changed everything. Fugitives stopped appearing, and the newly established Council of Priests used the energy of Slànach Stones to enforce their religious laws. But by 2500 the Stones’ power is dwindling. The High Priest is desperate—none of the warriors sent to find more Stones have returned.
Cináed MacAlpin, a young healer priest, is chosen to undertake another attempt. He hopes that new Stones will reduce the pressure to heal only those deemed worthy by the priests. But his task is not easy. Cináed must travel to the land of Bunádh and find the Eye that is the source of the Stones. Once there he meets Tadeo Banderas, a spaceship captain exploring the newest Earth-like planet discovered by the Solar Exploration Fleet. Cináed and Tadeo soon find out that the spark of energy between them may hold the key to Dalriata’s future.
1st Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2010.
Title: The Florist (2nd Edition) Series: Workplace Encounters, 10 Author: Serena Yates Genre: Contemporary Length: 121 pages Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 6th, 2016) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts Blurb: When freelance florist Dylan White gets a call that a good friend has died and left him a flower shop, Dylan isn’t sure he wants the commitment. Still, he travels to Florida to speak with the law firm, where he meets defense attorney Sean Mellick in the corridor. Sean makes a point of “running into” Dylan again, and Dylan eventually agrees to a date.
While romance blooms between the two men, their careers aren’t going as smoothly. Dylan faces employee resistance and sabotage, and then inexplicable expenses leave him on the verge of bankruptcy. An offer to sell that sounds too good to be true makes him suspicious and he asks Sean for help. Though they’ve had very little time together, Dylan and Sean need each other to work through the issues and plant the seeds for the future they both want.
First Edition published by Silver Publishing, 2012.
Review: This is the second edition of Serena Yates’ book The Florist, part of the Workplace Encounters series. While it wasn’t a great and fantastic book, in my opinion this was a good book and definitely one of the better books in the series and was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
The set up of this book is the same formula for the rest of the series, although I feel like I need to emphasise once more that these books are getting better with each installment.
Dylan is a florist who finds himself thrown into a unique situation – he inherits a good friend’s pretty successful floristry business. This leads to meeting some interesting people, interesting employees and a potential mystery for Dylan stemming from difficult finances and an offer that would make him a fortune.
Dylan is also a bit of a free spirit, which is why he is best described as a freelance florist. He doesn’t need anything to tie him down, that is until he meets Sean. He’s a defense attorney who comes across to me as quite… well, placid and not really so tough at first. It certainly took a bit of getting used to. Sean steps up to help Dylan when Dylan is in desperate need for professional help and let’s just say the sparks fly from there.
One thing I did like about this book was that the romance was simple and the guys just clicked, despite my earlier reservations when it came to Sean. The guys just match well together and their friendship is easy and certainly not overstepping any bounds in their characters. This gave way for the secondary plot, which for the most part was a satisfying read.
This is a sweet and simply story.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: The Carpenter, 2nd edition Series: Workplace Encounters, #5 Author: Serena Yates Genre: Contemporary Length: Novella (126 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 17th 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Blurb: Tom Halderson is a carpenter in desperate need of a big project to save the financially troubled construction company he inherited from his father. Tom is a better carpenter than a businessman, and worse yet, Tom’s estranged brother suddenly demands his share of the inheritance.
When Matt Langford hires Tom to renovate his house, things begin to look up. A safari guide, Matt plans to restore and sell the home his grandfather left him and return to his exciting life in Africa. He is not about to let his sudden—and powerful—attraction to Tom persuade him to settle down—not after infidelity destroyed his own family.
But adventurous Matt is exactly what Tom’s life is lacking, and Tom is determined to show Matt what could be between them.
The Carpenter is the fifth book in Serena Yates’ Workplace Encounters series. However, none of the books are related and are stand alone stories. This is the second edition of The Carpenter, with Dreamspinner Press re-releasing the whole series. I read the first edition and could not tell the difference for the most part (my memory is a tad dodgy, though). I could not find exactly how the word count has changed on this new edition.
Once again, it seems that the clunky wording which I criticised in the first few books is no longer a problem. The blurbs also continue to be good and accurate. On the plus side, no unnecessary mystery/melodrama was put in the blurb or the story either, which made a far more enjoyable story.
However, the themes of the previous books (closeted MC and MC facing losing their job/business) are there are again, but since it is a standalone book, it doesn’t matter so much to me.
This series is good for an enjoyable, light right where you don’t need to apply too much brain power to understand. This has a bit more drama in it than the other books, but nothing wholly unnecessary.
Aerin’s Review: ♥♥ 2 Hearts
After reading the fifth book in this series, I’m starting to think this author’s writing style doesn’t match my preferences. When reading a series, I expect progress when it comes to writing, but most of all, I want the stories/books to be diverse if they’re not related. The books in this series are not related and can be read independently, but they’re neither diverse nor original.
Tom is the owner of a construction company, a carpenter at heart, whose brother is causing irreparable damage to his already financially compromised business. Tom is hard to connect with, because he’s the big guy who blushes at the drop of a hat, who’s very innocent, and whose credulity resembles that of a 10-year-old child.
He’s also a doormat and completely spineless, and while some people love MCs like that, I prefer mine with a bit more personality. The dialog between him and Matt, his new contract, is predictable, awkward and somewhat cheesy. I had a hard time believing in them as a couple and the plot was not good enough or exciting enough to make up for that; I was bored and I had a hard time staying focused while reading this story.
Matt is older than Tom, but that doesn’t explain why he needed to take charge and take care of Tom’s problems for him. It’s not like they knew each other for a long time, their relationship was barely a week old when Tom’s brother put in motion his evil plan to destroy Tom’s business; Matt’s desire to take charge and fix Tom’s problems made Matt seem a bit creepy. That coupled with the cheesy lovey dovey dialog made for some awkward reading.
I’m still hoping for some improvement and some originality, and I might get my wish. The next book in this series is pretty good so far, so I’m holding my fingers crossed.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: The Baker Series: Workplace Encounters, #6 Author: Serena Yates Genre: Contemporary Length: Novel (133 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (15 July 2015) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts Blurb: Ian Wallace works as a baker for his tyrannical father in the family-owned Scottish Bakehouse in Casper, Wyoming. He wants to represent the bakery in the upcoming Tartan Day competition, but his father refuses to reveal the secret ingredients that make them so successful—unless Ian gets married and has a son, proving he is fit to continue the family line.
Just before New Year’s Eve, Cameron Lewis, a former Marine turned police detective, comes into the bakery for donuts for his department and some black buns for himself. Cameron is hooked, and as his visits become more frequent, they stir Ian’s father’s suspicions. But threats can’t stop Ian from donning his kilt and entering the competition anyway—to show his father what he can do on his own.
Though he might not have the secret ingredients, Ian and Cameron might still discover a recipe for happiness.
Review:The Baker is the sixth book in Serena Yates’ Workplace Encounters series. However, none of the books are related and are stand alone stories. This is the second edition of The Baker, with Dreamspinner Press re-releasing the whole series. I read the first edition and could not tell the difference for the most part (my memory is a tad dodgy, though). I could not find exactly how the word count has changed on this new edition.
Once again, it seems that the clunky wording which I criticised in the first few books is there but it is not the problem that it had presented before. Although the author’s writing style will not agree with everyone, it can be rather wordy at times. The blurb also continues to be good and accurate compared to the first few books.
However, the themes of the previous books (closeted MC and MC facing losing their job/business) are there are again but it was presented very differently than in previous books.
The story is about Ian, who comes from a very traditional Scottish family in Wyoming. I suspect the family remained traditional because of the family’s bakery which had been started up by Ian’s grandfather and passed onto his father. Ian loves the bakery and he loves baking. The bakery is famous in town, probably because of Ian’s a-hole father’s “secret recipes” which he refuses to tell even Ian, who is set to inherit the bakery.
Around New Years, things change. Ian hears about a new Scottish festival the town’s mayor wants to hold and have a bake contest with the bakery front and centre. Ian also meets Cameron, a police detective who discovers the bakery one day. Ian has to fight his chauvinistic and homophobic father for a job and the bakery he loves, as well as falling for the hunky detective.
This series is good for an enjoyable, light right where you don’t need to apply too much brain power to understand. This has a bit more drama in it than the other books, but nothing wholly unnecessary. The Baker is certainly the best book in this series, so far. I love both Ian and Cameron and their chemistry was wonderful!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Nathan Kappas, newly promoted to second engineer on the cruise ship Sapphire, has eyes only for the vessel he’s about to board. He literally runs into Harper Quade, a singer and dancer hired to entertain passengers. Harper has always wanted to travel, and working onboard the Sapphire keeps him away from his abusive ex-boyfriend.
As they sail to Hawaii, Tahiti, and other exotic destinations, Nathan and Harper soon share a cabin and a deepening connection, which surprises Nathan, who generally prefers the predictability of machines to people. But an employee who feels jilted when Harper gets promoted harasses him, and Harper’s dangerous past refuses to let him escape.
Harper might not be as safe on the Sapphire as he assumed, but Nathan will do anything to protect him.
Review: Finally the pattern has been broken!!! I’m so happy that nobody lost their job in this book as it happened in all 3 previous books in this series; it makes for a nice change of pace. I liked this novella, it was light and the pace was good, it makes for a great read when you’re in the mood for something sweet and without a ton of angst. And virgin alert!!!!
Nathan and Harper’s attraction is pretty much instant, and I liked that because the chemistry between them seemed genuine. Nathan is not very good at being social and communicating with people, while Harper is a social butterfly and chose his career accordingly. The ship engineer and the actor/dancer/singer…an unlikely duo by all means, but they worked together, and I enjoyed how different they were from one another.
Harper’s stalker, the crazy ex from hell made for a nice diversion from all the loving and sexing these two were doing, even if it wasn’t entirely believable. How did the crazy ex find out where Harper was working now to start with, since his job on the cruise ship was pretty much a last minute decision? And even though the author tells us how rich the ex is, who would waste so much time and money to stalk someone around the world? Like I said not believable but entertaining nonetheless.
The relationship between Harper and Nathan was too insta-love for me. And Nathan was a 25-year-old virgin; again, I can’t wrap my head around that to be honest. Kids start having sex in their teen years and I don’t believe Nathan’s socially awkward behavior would stop him from getting laid when he is as good-looking and we’re lead to believe. *shrugs*
This was a pretty good story, the best in this series so far.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Blurb: Dr. Alastair Burrows decides to take a stand after years of escalating abuse by his husband, Cedric Perkins, when he stops Alastair from visiting his brother Grayson after a serious car accident. A few weeks later, Alastair finally escapes his guards, sues for divorce, and begins to openly question Cedric and the pharmaceutical company he runs. As a medical researcher working for Biomedical Inc., Alastair witnessed plenty of dubious practices but had no say. Now he takes a new job with EDT, a company fighting for ethical drug testing, planning to expose Biomedical.
Reinaldo Valverde, intent on stopping drug trafficking, suspects Biomedical is in league with Colombian drug lords. Unable to infiltrate Biomedical, he goes undercover at EDT, hoping to find some leads in their database. Reinaldo meets Alastair and discovers the handsome doctor is also after Biomedical. Reinaldo keeps quiet about his mission, but as Alastair gets closer to the truth, Reinaldo gets closer to Alastair. When they discover Biomedical’s illegal research labs, EDT sends both men on a recognizance mission to Colombia and Brazil.
Lies are revealed, disaster strikes, and they are stranded in the Amazon jungle, facing a fight for survival they cannot afford to lose.
Review: This is book three in the Modern Battles series, but stands alone pretty well. This is Alistair Burrow’s story. He is Grayson’s brother. In Grayson’s story, Alistair wasn’t able to make it back to England due to personal issues with his possessive husband, Cedric. In book two Cedric’s company was mentioned in a plot to undermine Haldor and Danny and get involved in the children’s hospital funding.
This book goes in an entirely new direction. There is lots of intrigue, mystery, espionage, and suspense. Move over Grayson. I think Alistair replaced you as my favourite character in this series.
Alistair is a research doctor. He comes off as meek and mild-mannered, but throughout the story we see him grow and become stronger, not cower down and accept his abuse. Reinaldo is your basic secret agent guy, but I loved him. He takes his job to protect Alistair and find out about Biomedical’s drug trafficking very seriously. I would have liked to seen a little more of Cedric but I think him being evil and controlling came across pretty well.
If you like, a story full of intrigue, secret agents, and hot medical researchers, surviving in the rainforest, natives, and a sweet, spicy romance this is for you.
Blurb: Galen Ocker is nineteen, a music student, and his enthusiasm for life can be quite overwhelming. When he meets Clifford Jeffrey, a twenty-seven year old mathematician, their external differences are obvious but so is their romantic connection. Since Galen believes in romance, he wants to make Christmas special for both of them despite Clifford’s atheism.
With his usual enthusiasm, Galen researches alternatives to Christmas and comes up with the ideal solution. With his best friend’s approval, Galen sets out to make this the perfect holiday for Clifford. But Clifford has his own surprise for Galen…
Review: This is a lovely little story about whimsy meeting intense. These two men are vastly different and yet they still manage to strike sparks off each other. This is a true opposites attract story. On the surface, there should be nothing to attract these men to each other since they are such polar opposites: Older/Younger; Artist/Mathematician; Whimsical/Realistic. It is, however, these differences, which provide them with similarities. They are both very committed and confident within their own skin and it is this that attracts them to each other.
Their romance builds slowly with dates and light caresses as the men get a chance to really know each other. It is in this knowledge that they both decide to make a huge gesture to each other at Christmas. Galen, because he wants Clifford to experience the wonder and joy he feels regardless of if it’s for Christmas or not. And Clifford, because he simply wants Galen to be happy.
The heart of this story is that both men have such great heart separately, together and for each other. And while the men are very different, the story lends itself to the belief that not only will they find their HEA, but also that they just might have the opportunity to build on it.
Blurb: Ethan Turner never liked living in a city, and his job as park ranger at Glacier National Park is just what he dreamed of. He loves protecting the animals and land under his care, and dealing with the occasional tourist — well, all jobs have their drawbacks.
Caleb Sagan, a recent journalism graduate, works at the Billings Tribune. He got stuck with a two-month assignment at Glacier National Park to write a series of articles extolling outdoor life meant to draw more tourists to Montana.
Can these two men overlook their differences long enough to make it to their first date?
Review: Well there are several ways meeting a guy, but nothing beats saving him from distress. There are also many types we like in a guy, but nothing, nothing beat that one and only type that you don’t like surprising the heck out of you.
So when Ranger Ethan was tasked with finding the city-guy, dumb-lost journalist, Ethan was not too happy about it. And I just love reading about the shock these types of characters get when they face their so-called nemesis. And if Caleb were a bit more confident making Ethan lose it a bit more, it would have made my day.
As it was, it was a pretty nice read, quite enjoyable albeit way too short. It leaves you with the wish of more, of being behind a plant when they have their first date, or in the closet when they have their first… uhm yeah, you get me.
So if you like a nice, quick read, settled in the wildness with two gorgeous guys, give this one a try.
Blurb:Danny McBrae is a super-rich playboy, but his devil-may-care lifestyle hides an artist with a sensitive heart who gave up on love after years of hurt. When his beloved great-grandfather, the eccentric Sir Malcolm Witherspoon, dies and leaves a rare piece of land to Oxford Hospital Trust, Danny finds new purpose. He uses some of his inherited wealth to help finance the planned children’s hospital, supporting his best friend, Dr. Grayson Burrows, who heads the project team.
When Grayson is seriously injured, Danny meets Dr. Halldor Magnusson, the neurologist who treats Grayson. Halldor has some weird ideas about keeping Grayson away from James, his lover, so Danny initially dislikes him. But Halldor also has his own, deeply personal reasons for wanting the children’s hospital to become a reality, and the initial mutual distrust changes into interest and attraction. When Danny’s jealous ex-lover attempts to tear them apart and someone is trying to get Halldor removed from the project team, they decide to join forces so they can win the battle.
Neither of the men is looking for love. Yet they discover it may be worth fighting for
Review: Recap: Danny has a playboy image but also has a private side that is quite the opposite. He and Grayson have been friends for years. After Danny’s grandfather’s death, he helps Grayson with the children’s hospital that is in the process of being built.
He met Dr. Halldor Magnusson when Grayson was injured and was interested in him until he almost messed up Grayson’s romance with James. Grayson got better and Halldor decided to try to meet Danny, to get to know him better. He doesn’t do casual flings, so he knows Danny isn’t for him, but the man intrigues him.
This book picks up here. The first couple of chapters recap some of the last book. Enough that if you didn’t read it you won’t be lost at all. Then it follows Danny and Halldor down a very romantic road towards love.
One thing I love about these books is how the romance is very sweet and builds slowly. Not, they meet and fall straight in bed and love. Then out of the blue a twist drops on you like a boulder close to the end, just enough to shake you up.
The characters are in great and very interesting. I love these books and can’t wait to see what’s next.
I recommend his if you like a sweet romance about real relationships, Doctors, artists, and a sweet sensual love.
Publisher:Dreamspinner Press (August 2nd 2013)(first published March 3rd 2012)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb:Eccentric Sir Malcolm Witherspoon has bequeathed a rare piece of land to the Oxford Hospital Trust with only one stipulation: it must become the site for a new medical center. Unfortunately, he left the details unwritten. Now, several hospital departments are fighting to get their visions approved by the Appropriations Committee. Head of Pediatrics Dr. Grayson Burrows believes the land should be used to build a new children’s hospital. Oncologist Dr. James Pearson is certain a cancer research center will do the most good.
It’s a battle neither wants to lose.
Soon, their professional integrity is on the line, and they don’t see eye to eye on medical care: Grayson thinks a holistic approach is optimal, while James knows logical trial and error works best. But when they’re tasked with obtaining the hospital board’s approval for their respective proposals, their personal attraction threatens to take over, making them behave in an entirely unprofessional way. As the deadline looms on the committee’s decision, both Grayson and James must reevaluate their priorities or neither doctor will get what he wants.
Review: James comes to Britain to help get a theoretic research facility. There is only one spot and several departments trying to get it. He meets Grayson, the head of the children’s department and feels a strong attraction for him immediately. He has been hurt before and stays busy so he isn’t hurt again. They have so much in common personally but James bases everything on logic and Grayson is full if heart and believes in holistic medicine. Can they keep their professional and personal lives separate?
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is absolutely beautiful. This story is heartfelt, deep, loving, sensual, sexy, and sweet. I think this is one of the most romantic stories I’ve read in a while. Both characters are very loving, caring, sweet men with deep convictions. The storyline is also poignant on both the romantic and professional fronts. It has a lesson in fighting for what you believe in and trust. The sex is so sensual, and sexy. The description in this story is over the top though down to telling which and is used to do what motion, and tiniest details are given, but I love that, for some it could be too much, but not for me. Oh, wow is there a shocking twist that is unbelievable, I bawled my eyes out!
I highly recommend this story to anyone that loves a good romance, a poignant story with great detail, lots of twists and turns, a tearjerker, and a sweet happy ending with yet another surprise.
Blurb:“Courage is like a cut gemstone: multi-faceted and surprising at every turn.” — The Collector
Nico escaped a fate of running his rich family’s business empire to follow his real calling: discovering ancient artifacts. As a modern-day treasure hunter, he lives for the adventure of researching a lost object, pinpointing its likely location, then hopefully retrieving it. When he finds a mysterious stranger washed up on his beach one day he is intrigued and more than ready to help him find the Aquamarines of Courage. That quest proves to be his biggest adventure yet.
Nayder has a family obligation to find his soul-partner and become the Chief Stabilizer on N’Tyre, making sure water and land are in perfect balance. The entire N’Tyrian culture depends on maintaining the foothold on land their underwater heritage has only recently allowed them to gain. There is only one problem: his father expects him to partner with a woman and produce offspring. Nayder has different ideas and thinks he can do his job without a soul-partner. Defying his father’s orders, he instead attempts to retrieve the Aquamarines of Courage by himself.
But fate has different ideas. Nayder ends up on Earth to discover that Nico may be his soul-partner. Only once they have found the Aquamarines of Courage will they know if they are truly meant to be partnered…
Review: Nico is living the life he loves, searching for lost treasure. Discovering a naked man on his beach, he listens to the man’s strange story and offers his help to embark on an adventure to retrieve the Aquamarines of Courage. Nayder has a duty to find his soul-partner, his female soul-partner so he can continue on the family name and stabilize his planet. Discovering the Aquamarines stolen he sets off to find them, but discovers a man who may just be his soul-partner; together they search for the gems. Finding the gems is the least of their problems when they return to N’Tyre and discover that someone will do anything to prevent the Aquamarines from returning to its safe place.
Oh, this is a fantastic addition to the Gemstone Chronicles with its twists and hidden turns. Nico and Nayder are a wonderful pair. Nico has already shuck off his family responsibilities to live life the way he wants to, while Nayder has no choice but to face up to his. His whole planet depends on him doing his duty. Nayder lives in a society where women rule and gay men are frowned upon. When he discovers that Nico could be his soul-partner, it shakes him up and he doesn’t know what to do. Nico is okay with embracing Nayder and what they could have, but first they both have to survive.
This storyline is fantastic. I never saw the latter part with all its twists coming and it keeps you on your toes as you try to grasp the swift turns that seem to come out of nowhere. There is much more going on than just recovering the Aquamarines of Courage though, there is also have a hidden faction in the N’Tyre world that don’t want the Aquamarines returned and will do anything to stop Nico and Nayder. We also get to visit the Collector and the Chroniclers and we see how they are getting on. Their story interests me as much as the stories that are being created for the Collector do. All the characters in this story are wonderful and although I want to rave about the storyline I don’t want to take away from the pure pleasure of readers discovering all the twists, turns, betrayals and secrets that come up throughout this book.
I am going to recommend this to those who love alternative worlds, hot mermen, hot treasure hunters, great twists and turns, some hot sex and a very happy ending. Oh don’t forget that we get to look forward to the Diamonds of Victory!!
Blurb:Mitchell is proud of his new wrestling persona and trading card, but he hadn’t planned on actually facing his wrestling hero, Whip “Mudshark” Jackson, in the ring…
Geeky Mitchell Dykins loves his new job as marketing manager for a wrestling federation’s participants. After creating a huge online campaign for his company’s wrestlers, he befriends the most fearsome warrior of them all, Whip “Mudshark” Jackson. Whip is so thrilled with Mitchell’s work, he demands that the company create a wrestling persona for Mitchell and therefore he’ll get his own trading card. Mitchell is tickled. This is all good, right?
Unfortunately Mitchell soon finds himself transformed into his wrestling persona, “Mudpit Madman”. When he starts waking up covered in mud, Mudshark lying beside him, he begins to worry. The worst of it is when he defeats Mudshark who then puts a contract out on Mudpit.
Whip claims he knows nothing about what his alter ego is doing. He likes Mitchell. But his muddy wrestling character seems to have a mind of his own…can he be telling the truth?
Is Mitchell completely nuts to still like a guy who probably wants him dead?
Reader Advisory: After reading this book you may feel an urge to eat mud pie – and don’t be surprised if you find traces of mud on your floor…
Review: Mitchell is the marketing manager for a wrestling federation. Whip is the superstar wrestler he admires from afar. Designing the new trading cards was fun for Mitchell, but when another wrestler pulls out Whip, insisting that Mitchell fills in the trading card slot as a gimmick. But, strange things begin to happen.
This is a great novella that has amusing sections that complement the more serious and dangerous scenes. Mitchell Dykins fancies Whip ‘Mudshark’ Jackson, but never dreamed he would get close to the man. Now he is sharing a room with him and Mitchell ends up being dragged into a world he never envisaged. Whip is astounded when Mitchell is forced to fight him in the mudpit and is shocked to the core that the man actually beat him. But, more danger lurks as his fighting persona seems to come to life and someone is pulling strings in the background that endangers all the Elementals.
Mitchell is a great character. He loves his family dearly and will do anything he can for them. But, he discovers secrets that have been hidden when he inadvertently causes earthquakes. Whip is a strong character, wanting to jump in feet first when difficulties begin, but knowing he needs the help and support from his friends. Together they make a great couple and the feelings they have for each other support them when they are apart, and both men need all the support they can get.
We have a wonderful cast of characters with many of our favorites from previous books. All of whom fit nicely into supporting roles as they discover who is behind the disappearances, danger and deaths. There will be times that you chuckle inadvertently. Times when you cringe at memories and times when you sigh as Mitchell and Whip fall in love. There will be moments of danger and moments of pure astonishment with you sitting there repeating to yourself ‘the plughole? Escaped down the drain?’
I have to recommend this to those who love magic, mystery, wrestling, hunky men, danger and two hot men, mud wrestling, slipping and sliding against each other grappling and holding and rubbing and… *cough* (damn I think it’s just got really hot in here) so really…what are you waiting for?
Blurb:Angus, an accomplished linguist who loves research, is a shy but passionate guy. Ayden is a man of action who obtains a mysterious amethyst-covered book for him. Can they overcome their differences and work together to decipher its contents?
“True love is more precious than the rarest of gemstones.” –The Collector
Angus loves ancient languages and sharing his knowledge with high school kids, but his true passion is linguistic research. Love doesn’t come easy for him; despite the amethyst ring his grandmother gave him to help him heal from the traumatic experience that still haunts him. He desperately wants a loving relationship with Ayden, despite their different temperaments, but cannot seem to overcome his fears. Ayden is not a patient man, and Angus is afraid he’ll lose him, so he decides to open up.
Ayden hates the fact he can’t seem to get closer to Angus. When he is shot on a secret mission to free a hostage in Central America, he resolves to find out what is stopping Angus from accepting physical intimacy. Ayden finds him a gift, a mysterious amethyst-covered book, hoping it will show Angus how much he loves him.
But the book has a mind of its own. Mysterious letters appear and disappear. Weird dreams challenge their very understanding of reality. Can they overcome their differences and discover the amethysts’ wisdom?
This book is the second in a series called the Gemstone Chronicles, a collection of unique love stories and romances brought to you from the Void Outside Space and Time. These volumes are hand-selected by the Chroniclers, a team of beings working tirelessly to bring you interesting sensory experiences, works of art and music, as well as entertaining stories. With several dimensions and all of time at their disposal to find the most fascinating tales, the range of adventures is as unique as each individual Collector. A special being with extraordinary imagination, he is the focal point and provides new and interesting ideas that are put together in the Hall of Collections for all to admire and enjoy.
Read more about the Gemstone Chronicles and its various worlds in the special brochure coming soon to the Silver Publishing website! The Gemstone Chronicles Companion will showcase the entire collection as it is built story by story, updated each time a new one joins the group. Don’t miss it!
Review: This book is part of a series and best read in order. Angus and Ayden have been dating for a couple of months, but at the moment seem to fight more than anything else. With Angus being a professor, he likes to research and think things through, but Ayden is a retrieval specialist and is a man of action and dive feet first into everything. Will Angus and Ayden with the help of the Book of Wisdom be able to meld together or will Angus’s past destroy them forever?
It’s so nice to see the Collector and the Chroniclers again as they work together to bring a story of love into creation. Angus has a problem. Even though he wants Ayden, he is scared after a traumatic event in his past. Now he feels like Ayden may dump him, but just when they seem to be working things out, his abuser makes himself known. Ayden knows that he has some making up to do, but finally communicating with Angus seems to be working and getting the truth as to why Angus can be skittish helps. But, accepting the hospitality of the parents of a rescued child brings danger to Ayden, Angus, the twin rings and The Book of Wisdom.
This was brilliant, an absolutely amazing combination of action, adventure, mystery, mystical, magic and love. Angus and Ayden really are a fantastic couple when they combine their strengths and they complement each other wonderfully. Angus learns to confide and trust in Ayden completely and Ayden finally figures out that sometimes it pays to think things through. I loved how both men reacted to the other and how they took their time before jumping into bed, even if they both had different reasons to wait. The reactions of both of them were great. Neither over-reacting, nor down-playing the issues, but both being determined to try to work things out.
The storyline was very interesting and added a great many new aspects to the Chronicles, including where we see the Collector coming to terms with aspects of himself. The Book of Wisdom is a very interesting aspect of the storyline, as are the Amethysians and the story behind the rings. I really can’t wait to see what Serena Yates comes up with in the Aquamarines of Courage (Gemstone Chronicles 03) because she hasn’t let us down with variety yet.
I will recommend this to those who love fantasy, magic and mystical, hot men working through problems, discovering a mystery and a very happy ending with some wonderful hot, gentle sex.
Blurb:Zachary is homeless after escaping his abusive family. Selling a garnet ring given to him at birth by the mysterious Messenger would be enough to rent an apartment. Zohar, a good-looking jeweler, promises to help–but can Zachary trust him?
“Good stories are as rare as flawless high carat gemstones.” –The Collector
Zachary, abused for years by his adoptive parents, finally runs away. He knows he’s safer on his own than in their so-called care. Homeless and desperate for money so he can put down a deposit for an apartment, he decides to sell the antique garnet ring his parents received from the mysterious Messenger at Zachary’s birth.
Zohar Zyngold is crown prince of Zelaria, a world very similar to Earth in a parallel dimension. On his twenty-fifth birthday, during the traditional ceremony, the antique garnet ring his father passed on to him starts emitting an intense red light. Only finding the bearer of the matching ring that has been located on Earth will allow him to fully control his new paranormal powers. Using some of them to cross into Earth’s dimension, he masquerades as a jeweler, hoping to attract the ring’s owner.
Zachary and Zohar are not only attracted to each other when they first meet, their rings emit a deep red light when they touch. Zachary gets scared and runs, but criminals attack him and Zohar when he tries to help. They flee to Zelaria to discover that their problems have only just begun…
This book is the first in a series called the Gemstone Chronicles, a collection of unique love stories and romances brought to you from the Void Outside Space and Time. These volumes are hand-selected by the Chroniclers, a team of beings working tirelessly to bring you interesting sensory experiences, works of art and music, as well as entertaining stories. With several dimensions and all of time at their disposal to find the most fascinating tales, the range of adventures is as unique as each individual Collector. A special being with extraordinary imagination, he is the focal point and provides new and interesting ideas that are put together in the Hall of Collections for all to admire and enjoy.
Read more about the Gemstone Chronicles and its various worlds in the special brochure coming soon to the Silver Publishing website! The Gemstone Chronicles Companion will showcase the entire collection as it is built story by story, updated each time a new one joins the group. Don’t miss it!
Review: Well, this is great start to what looks to be a brilliant collection of 12 stories. Zachary is living on the streets, he ran away from his abusive adoptive parents four years before, and now he is desperate. he decides to sell the ring that he got from his natural parents before they died and meets Zohar, who both scares him and makes him feel safe. Zohar travelled to Earth to find the match to his Garnet ring and his bond-mate, when he finally meets Zachary he’s delighted that he is his bond-mate as well as the owner of the matching Garnet ring. when they flee to Zelaria to escape the men after Zachary, they discover much more than they thought possible.
This is a brilliant story that gives a great background to the Collector, his purpose and the men who work with him. Zohar and Zachary are characters in a story written for the Collector, but are they? Or are they real people, in real worlds, living their lives for the benefit of the Collector’s story? I can’t answer that question, but what I can answer is that this is like a story inside a story. We have the story of the Collector and the Chroniclers, and the Chroniclers are the ones who create what the Collector wants. Do they manipulate time, space, people and places to create the stories? Or do they write the story which is then enacted? I really couldn’t tell you, but we get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Zachary and Zohar meet in awkward circumstances with Zachary being forced to sell his Garnet ring. Zohar knows the basics of what to expect when he meets Zachary, but he is still unsure of what will happen. Zachary is very wary of men. His experience has led him to believe that big men like to use their fists. So when he first meets Zohar, he is frightened by the feelings the bigger man invoke. Zohar has a lot to explain to Zachary, but circumstances force his hand and he has to take Zachary to his home world… and that’s the beginning of their adventure.
So, have I confused you all enough now *snicker* good! So this story has left me wanting more (Amethysts of Wisdom hurry up and get published). Because this one had sweet gentle love, a slower courtship, political intrigue, danger, persecution, physic powers, a kidnapping, a great rescue and some hot sweet loving. This story is really well written and has a fantastic plot, (I am intrigued to see what the rest of the series will be). Great characters and a softer romance, with more getting to know each other and less sex.Did I mind the less sex? Well, no. Not really. Because the sex scene that we do get means all the more for their love, because they did wait *sigh* so romantic.
I am going to recommend this to those who want a sweet gentle love story with danger, hot sex, political intrigue, with dimensional travel to alternative worlds, with physic abilities and a happy ending. Honestly this story is enjoyable and unique, I highly recommend it.
Blurb: Dylan White craves a life of adventure, and his job as freelance florist gives him the freedom he needs. So what will he do with the flower shop he just inherited from a good friend?
Dylan decides to give it a try. Despite the stubborn resistance and sabotage of one of the employees, he manages to do a good job. Until he gets an offer to sell that sounds too good to be true.
Sean Mellick, a defense lawyer at the firm that executes the will, runs into Dylan and is intrigued. He pursues a relationship despite his heavy workload and will do anything to convince Dylan to stay.
Will Dylan be able to stop running and settle down?
Review: Dylan loves his carefree life; the freedom, the excitement and the challenge, but he fears he will lose all of that when he is left a florist shop by a friend. But, now he has a new challenge one that includes the hunky lawyer Sean. Sean is captivated the first time he bumps into Dylan and prays that Dylan will settle down in Jacksonville. But, Dylan isn’t the only change in Sean’s life, as Sean has to make a decision about how far he would go to win a case.
Serena Yates brings us another warm-hearted sweet romance, where the characters come to life, the romance is sweet and loving, and the sex is hot and erotic! Dylan doesn’t like to be tied down; he enjoys being able to go where he wants, when he wants and being creative in his floral designs. But, now he is about to get tied down to one place because he can’t bear to sell his friend’s shop. He has to at least try to make a go of it and he has the added incentive of the sexy lawyer, Sean. Sean is so used to his routine that he doesn’t even notice just how staid his life has become. That is, until he meets Dylan, who adds joy and excitement to his life. He just hopes that Dylan will stick around and does his damnedest to help convince Dylan that Jacksonville is the place stay.
Oh. I loved Dylan and Sean. They complimented each other really well and it was a joy to watch them fall in love. Dylan and Sean’s relationship was easy-going, it was perfect in every regard, now, their work lives is where problems crop up and they are the perfect support for each other, while they deal with their work issues. Now, if you are worried that the relationship is boring believe me it isn’t… just wait till they go horse riding (wow, really hot). And, oh my, *fans self* they are very, very passionate, which can brush over into intense at times.
So, I recommend this to those who love hot, passionate relationships, two hot men, a good and interesting storyline and a happy sexy ending.
Title: Plumber
Title: The Model (2nd Edition)
Title: The Chauffeur (2nd Edition)
Title: The Bricklayer (2nd Edition)
![Florist[The]LG](https://mmgoodbookreviews.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/floristthelg.jpg?w=300)
Title: The Florist (2nd Edition)![Carpenter[The]LG](https://mmgoodbookreviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/carpenterthelg.jpg?w=300)
Title: The Carpenter, 2nd edition![Baker[The]LG](https://mmgoodbookreviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/bakerthelg.jpg?w=300)
Title: The Baker
Title: The Ship Engineer, 2nd Ed.
