Lucas is a cheer squad member, a spokesperson for Queering Sports, a dance teacher and an allround passionate guy. Passionate about what he does and wLucas is a cheer squad member, a spokesperson for Queering Sports, a dance teacher and an allround passionate guy. Passionate about what he does and who he does it for, passionate about the kids who should all be given a chance to be themselves, in fact for everyone to be that way and most of all for them all to be accepted by whichever sport they choose.
Cooper is a player, a football player and also a big supporter of Queering Sports. He doesn't flaunt his sexuality but he doesn't hide it either. He loves his career but he needs to start thinking about his future and he wants to leave a mark, working with the Queering Sports team could be the way to go but he desperately wants to make sure he doesn't take the spotlight.
Will Lucas ever believe Cooper has honest intentions? About the support and also about Lucas? Lucas has been hurt in the past, badly, by someone he is possibly now going to have to work with. He really likes Cooper but he has a contract, he also has a fragile heart and trust issues. And he is incredibly independent. Cooper has liked Lucas for a long time, from a distance, now he has a chance to get closer, to show Lucas that he truly cares, the other man is hesitant. Officially the Queering Sports contract forbids anything from happening, Lucas is also being stubborn, or should that be hot and cold but Cooper is determined!
This is a sports story from a new angle and I very much enjoyed it. We get insights into the game, behind the scenes and on the pitch, but this time we also see the sheer talent, efforts of the cheer team too. Plus there is the very important and overarching storyline - the efforts of Queering Sports to make sport more accepting, to show them that everyone can be a part of any game. And of course there is the burgeoning love story between Lucas and Cooper. This book has it all, can its characters have it all too?...more
Someone like you is a phrase that is often intended to be hurtful, thrown at people we consider not good enough, in whatever way, for us. And that is Someone like you is a phrase that is often intended to be hurtful, thrown at people we consider not good enough, in whatever way, for us. And that is the meaning it carries, for a page or two in this book whose title is just that 'Someone Like You.' It is what Isaac thinks of Brody, when he meets him but not for the first time. The first time Brody is disturbing Isaac's peaceful studies, taking his anger out on the vending machine, then he is drunk in the garden of the party of his housemates. It is only on their third meeting that Isaac sees Brody happy, content, covered in grease and working on cars.
Issac has very little money, despite this he originally offered Brody some for the vending machine. Only now he has to pay more for car repairs than he has in his bank account. Brody wants to make him a deal. Halve the price of the repairs in return for a date. Isaac intrigues Brody. But this sets off Issac's PTSD panic attack. Issac does not like Brody and Brody is going to do everything he can to show the other that he is nothing like the someone Isaac assumes him to be, scratch that, that everyone assumes him to be. But will Isaac let him in?
There are trigger warnings for this book and I suggest reading them. For me they hit very close to home but I chose to read anyway and wow am I glad I did. Lyla Dane is incredibly sensitive in her telling of both Isaac and Brody's stories. They have both had very difficult pasts, Isaac especially and as the story unfolds we learn more. We also learn how loving, compassionate and understanding some people truly are. If we can stop for a moment, look beyond our own assumptions and prejudices it is possible to find the people who are going to be the most important in our lives.
This is a compelling, at times harrowing story but the bad guys do get their rightful punishment, the good guys continue on to be stronger and live better lives with people they love and trust because they learned that it is okay to take a chance. Thank you Lyla Dane for a book, a story which stole my heart.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Leo has reached his limit, he needs work and a roof over his head, he has nothing and no-one. Kicked out by his ex, which isn't such a bad thing as thLeo has reached his limit, he needs work and a roof over his head, he has nothing and no-one. Kicked out by his ex, which isn't such a bad thing as the man was not kind, a violent drunk, Leo answers an ad for a personal assistant and as soon as he sets his sights on the house where it will take place he wonders if he is really the right fit for the job. Then he meets James, his potential new boss, is asked to sign an NDA and given a better idea of what this personal assistant role is all about.
James is in the closest. He has built himself up to the house he now owns, has worked hard to earn the money he now has. He is a successful, rich and very handsome business man but he doesn't have everything he wants. Too scared to come out of the closet he resorts to paying for "personal assistants." This is not the usual PA role. It comes with the NDA, a room, a phone and a nice choice of wardrobe. There are beach views too!
Now the question is, as James and Leo get to know one another, as James discovers what happened to Leo just a short time before he came for the interview, as he deals with that situation for his new employee, he finds himself realising he has feelings. In turn Leo realises he is getting comfortable, getting drawn into this life, but his insecurities are never far from the surface.
Can a closeted business man and a young man who is still hoping to find some happiness and his way in life, find one another, be what the other needs, be the other's forever? A gorgeous story, soul-searching, spicy and fun.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Winnie has has a difficult time in the last few years with a cheating boyfriend and a mother who is convinced she just needs to fill the house, and WiWinnie has has a difficult time in the last few years with a cheating boyfriend and a mother who is convinced she just needs to fill the house, and Winnie's flat, with things. But Winnie is an organiser. She has created a system. She is the one people call. She is also the one who arrives at her new job a day late, has the best kiss ever and discovers she is going to be living and working in a castle for a man (at least she thinks he is a man) who is most certainly rich and eccentric but is also a brilliant kisser and utterly gorgeous.
Alaric has no choice other than to have his home tidied. His mother has threatened to host her ball there and she would like nothing more than to find him a bride. But Alaric is refusing to marry, after all he has been fine for 500 years, why change now? Alaric is a vampire and he likes his solitude but Winnie in his home, tidying his home, understanding him? It is more than he has ever experienced and he is coming to like it.
Is it dangerous for a vampire to come close to a human who doesn't yet know who he really is? Is it dangerous for that same vampire to come close to having feelings? It could be. But what of Winnie? Being in the village and the castle for a few weeks she begins to make friends, particularly with the curious book club and that soon turns into involvement in a murder mystery the village is caught up in - there is a rogue vampire on the loose.
A twisty turny storyline, lots of giggles, classic English Village meets dark Transylvanian castle, man meets woman or should that be vampire meets human? This story has all of the above, and so much more. I could write paragraphs about how wonderful the story is. Steffanie Holmes' writing is soothing, addictive and full of the best humour. This is a fabulous romantic vampire comedy and there is promise of more to come!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Liam has been recommended, by a friend because that is the only way these things happen, to work for the Elite agency for some additional funds to putLiam has been recommended, by a friend because that is the only way these things happen, to work for the Elite agency for some additional funds to put towards his dream. So, he is doing just that, working as a high class escort and when he is asked, literally at the last minute, to spend a week in Hawaii as the boyfriend of a CEO he says yes.
Matthew is at his wits end. His new VP seems to be intent on undermining him at every step, including disrupting the plans for a company team building retreat by suggesting they allow partners to join them. Matthew doesn't have anyone so he does what every self-respecting CEO would do, he hires an escort to pretend to be his boyfriend for a week. He isn't sure he can pull it off but it is worth a try.
When Liam gets off the plane, with high hopes for the week ahead only to see his childhood nemesis holding a sign with his name his heart sinks. When Mathew realises that his original fake boyfriend is not coming and that Liam, his childhood nemesis is here instead, his heart sinks. Now what will the pair of them do. They grew up as neighbours with a vendetta against one another. What followed was a childhood of pranks and one-upmanship. So now what? They have to pretend not only to like one another but to be boyfriends?!
They decide to give it a try, for one night. It becomes very obvious very quickly to the pair that despite the animosity of childhood they actually know one another incredibly well. And Liam is not only charming Matthew's colleagues but gaining the upper hand with that VP too. Maybe this won't be all bad? But then there is the room with only the one bed...
You may think you know where this story is going, and you may be right but you will very likely also be very happily surprised for this story is very much full of surprises, for the characters as much as the readers. It had my smile growing bigger with every page, it had me laughing and swooning in equal measure. I started and I read until I finished, I was hooked! I hope you will be too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
There is so much more to the Royal Dragons of Drakoria, as the wolf shifters are slowly learning. After centuries of mistrust between the two species There is so much more to the Royal Dragons of Drakoria, as the wolf shifters are slowly learning. After centuries of mistrust between the two species they are finding themselves forced to work together to take down an enemy intent on destroying both their species.
The chosen champions for the two races are Niko and Saige. Both seasoned and strong warriors, both strong-willed, both powerful. Heads butt, it is inevitable when both are so strong, when both are fighting for the survival of those they love and all those of their species. But there is more than a power struggle about to burst to life between these two. Niko is no ordinary dragon shifter, he is half angel too and has begun to notice a strength to his powers which could prove deadly unless he learns how to control it. Saige is a powerful wolf shifter. An orphan, taken in by her new pack she has worked long and hard to earn her position and her strength and she is not going to make it easy for Niko. But they need to work together to ensure they defeat the enemy.
As we follow them, as they track the foe, we learn more about each of them, more about their skills and abilities, their thoughts and feelings, dreams and wants. They learn this of one another too and they soon find they work incredibly well as a team. But there is more. There are feeling growing between them, feelings which could prove to be dangerous or could prove to bind them and help them against their enemy and secure a peace for their peoples.
Once again Skylar Cassidy brings us an emotional rollercoaster, a battle hungry story of good vs evil, of opposites attract, of action, passion, love and laughter. It is fantastic to have a second book in this series, I am sure there will be more, after all Niko and Saige are working to win this battle but there are bound to be more bumps in the road for them all.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Will the holiday become a disaster if the plane you are on is forced to make an emergency landing? If you are forced to stay with your brother's best Will the holiday become a disaster if the plane you are on is forced to make an emergency landing? If you are forced to stay with your brother's best friend in the last room in the B&B? With only one Queen-size bed? In a middle-of-nowhere town, in the snow, with a Christmas festival?
It could do, if you wanted it to. If you truly believed that your luck was so bad the world was completely against you.
It could also become the best holiday ever. A chance to find out things about yourself, about that best friend of your brother, about the things you truly find joy in (if you are brave enough to try), about your family. It could be the making of you and it could also be the start of an incredibly promising future, the one you always wanted but never dreamed you could have.
It is Winter Break. Both Ethan and Kingsley are going home. They are at the same College but a year apart and doing different subjects. Ethan wants to avoid Kingsley at all costs, even though he chose to follow the other boy (man) to College... It all began many years earlier when they became neighbours. Kingsley and Ethan's brother became best friends. Ethan and Kingsley's sister became best friends. They spent a lot of time with one another but despite each boy crushing on the other nothing ever happened. After all Kingsley was straight, popular, had lots of girlfriends, was sports captain whilst Ethan was gay, studious, loved animals, socially awkward. Ethan was also of the opinion that Kingsley disliked him. Yet that didn't stop him crushing on the other boy.
Roll forward to the present. Not only are they both going home for Winter break they are sat together on the plane which means that from there on out they are stuck with one another. It is when Kingsley begins to do nice things for Ethan - help with his heavy case, hold him when the other is scared, hold his hand to warm him - that Ethan begins to wonder but he daren't hope. Or can he?
Kingsley is trying really hard to break down the barrier he can see Ethan has created. He has no idea why it is there. And, having learnt that he is bi-sexual and realising that he has been crushing on Ethan all these years, he wants to try and explore what there could be between them. As they gradually begin to open up to one another, to share their thoughts and feelings they find their family acting oddly but that is a mystery that remains until the end. In the meantime we find ourselves sharing in the true wonder and enjoyment they find as they explore what could be between them and the wonderful small town they have found themselves in. With a cast of excellent supporting characters, who I hope will also have a story to be told, we are captivated.
An easy to read story, light-hearted, warm-hearted, funny and serious this is a feel good romance. Set in the depths of winter, with Christmas just around the corner I would quite happily read it at any time of year for its feelgood factor!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
From childhood to adulthood everything happens differently. Children and adults see things differently. Children grow into adults, they leave behind mFrom childhood to adulthood everything happens differently. Children and adults see things differently. Children grow into adults, they leave behind many things. But when you grow up together and one of you is a bully, finding ways to be mean, can you, when you both become adults, forgive?
It is hard to say, as a generalisation, but for Jenny Pineapple's 'Solar Eclipse' novella it is certainly something that we think, and begin to hope, we can see coming. Sebastian, when he was younger, was a little bit of a bully towards Noah. At least that is how Noah see's it. From Sebastian's perspective Noah was the shy boy who he barely noticed. A lot has changed since they last saw one another.
Both are at College. Sebastian in the US, Noah in Europe where he is studying art. Both are currently home, for holidays, for the eclipse and, for Sebastian, to begin to mend a broken heart after being cheated on by his girlfriend. What he doesn't realise is that, much as he didn't notice Noah when they were children, Noah noticed him, had a crush on him. But Sebastian knows he is straight. Isn't he?
Can the eclipse, the world falling into darkness for a few hours, be the start of something between Sebastian and Noah. Can all the pent up emotions that they have had not just for the last day, though those are strong and clear, but for al the years prior, come together in an explosion worthy of the event that they are supposed to be marking with their families? Can these two turn their animosity into something more positive and see a way to find a future with one another? A fantastic short story, full of simmering passions ready to explode. I loved every word, it is short, sweet, spicy, sexy. It is a fabulous quick read. Grab yourself a copy and let's hope for more like it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Is it possible to learn to live with heartache, to think that, 10 years after ending things with the one you knew was the love of your life, you can aIs it possible to learn to live with heartache, to think that, 10 years after ending things with the one you knew was the love of your life, you can accept that you will never get them, or that love back? Jax is quite certain that is the case for him. Only now, now that he is moving away from the place he met that first love, to a new and well-respected music school, he once again chances on that first love. Can he ever make amends? Can he ever hope for forgiveness?
Noah is a musical genius but following an accident that may have marked the end of his musical career he is hiding in his family in a charming and quiet lakeside town, upstate New York. As he heals his physical injuries and tries to heal his heart and soul he takes on a few private students and tries to consider what to do next. A run in the quiet of the evening is a solace for him, time to allow himself into his memories. Memories of the quartet he has been playing with but also college, the love he had for his professor and the way it all ended.
When one of those runs brings Noah into contact with Jax, quite literally, it seems fate has plans for the two of them after all. Jax is in town to stay with his best friend and the man's family - wife and two sons with another child on the way any day - before starting his new job. Neither man expected they would ever see one another again but neither has forgotten the love they shared and neither can truly deny that they would like to know if they can ever get it back.
Slowly, oh so slowly, another healing process begins. Their hearts begin to heal and with that healing comes heartfelt and honest conversations. Jax's friends are his rock and when Noah's father comes to join his son for a few weeks he has a few wise words to share - his character is expertly written and woven into the story! Ten years is a long time to have been apart but it could be that hearts never forget and can forgive.
There is nothing orchestrated about the love between Jax and Noah (well maybe that first kiss, when Noah practically launched himself at the other man was) but there is a mutual passion for music. There a number of strands to this story, sub stories that continue around out main characters which gives the story additional depth, really helps us, as readers, to make a connection to them. We can almost feel ourselves enjoying days out with the family, quiet times with Jax and Noah and almost see the cracks in their hearts mending as they allow themselves to heal, trust again, love again. AJ Buchanan writes with a raw honesty that will grab at your heart strings, and yes pun intended!
I am intrigued to know what is coming up in the next books that will form part of the No Strings Attached series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
By turns so dark I thought my heart might break and yet also so bright, so vibrant, so full of love and redemption that I thought again might heart miBy turns so dark I thought my heart might break and yet also so bright, so vibrant, so full of love and redemption that I thought again might heart might break only this time for very different reasons.
The prologue is perhaps one of the darkest moments in the story, it is certainly not an easy opening to read but remember, there is a story to follow. A story that, whilst it might be filling in some of the gaps between then and now (the prologue is a couple of years before the main story) is also setting up the now and the future for Hunter and for Kai.
Until that fateful night two years ago Hunter was in a great place. He was happy. Almost everything was torn away and that night changed him into a new person but when Kai returns, having finally finished his career in the forces, the Hunter he knows and loves so well is still there, he has just been buried deep. These two have been the best of friends for what seems like forever and their bond is absolutely beautiful. I felt breathless many times throughout the story, Romeo Alexander has a way with words which causes that and the soul-deep connection he gives Hunter and kai made me feel that way. Everything about this story is dark and it could be just that, a dark story of revenge but it is so much more. There are so many layers to this story, so many emotions that it causes to run through you as you read. There is anger, disgust at the way officials treat those who are at their lowest. There is the acceptance that sometimes this is simply the truth of society. Yet there is the redeeming love of friends old and new, friends who will be there for you whether they know your full story or not. Friends who will never pry but will always offer a shoulder. Then there is that one person, the soulmate, the one you are bound to in ways it is impossible to explain.
I have to admit that part of me is struggling to write this review because this book is so powerful I am not sure my words do it justice. But that word is a good one for this is a story about justice, about finding it, your own way. It is also about healing, knowing that you have lost something irreplaceable but that the heart is big enough, strong enough to do it all again, to take risks, including the risk of admitting your love for someone who may not be able to return it in the way you would most desire.
Every single book I have read by Romeo Alexander has had my heart racing because of the threat of danger and the passion, the love, between two people. It has made me smile, the banter between characters, lovers or friends, is perfect but the way in which he melds that with the darkness, the darker side of life, it somehow just fits. In 'Passion and Payback' it isn't a case of a 'just fit' it is a mould of perfection and I urge you to read the trigger warnings and then to give yourself over to this story if it works for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
When a rockstar meets the owner of a fashion boutique, one with talent as a designer too, you might expect glitz, glamour, the high life. But this is When a rockstar meets the owner of a fashion boutique, one with talent as a designer too, you might expect glitz, glamour, the high life. But this is Foggy Basin. Everyone knows everyone else, there is a gentle calm to the town, the shops have all the best names and there is an air of calm.
Foggy Basin is Ezra's home. It is home to his boutique. His whole life has been spent here and he wouldn't have it any other way. Does he have dreams and ambitions? Of course he does but that doesn't mean he has to give up his home and his life for them.
Foggy Basin is Tess's home. Has been for about the last ten years. She traded a California mansion for a small cottage. She doesn't need to work but working for Ezra is so much fun and she adores the boutique.
Foggy Basin is a town Olly knows nothing about, other than that his aunt lives there. He, and his identical twin brother Zayden have never been, life has been non-stop writing, recording, touring and so they have taken their mother and their Aunt Tess away on trips but never been to see their aunt at home. Foggy Basin is exactly where Olly needs to be. Two years after discovering the man he thought he was falling in love with in bed with his brother for them to then both learn the man was a stalker and worse have left Olly with PTSD, panic attacks and a need to get away from it all. So to aunty Tess he goes. Of course his brother and the lead singer of the band have to come too, they are caring but also nosy! And that is how the rock star meets the boutique shop owner.
The usual phrase that might follow is: ...and the rest, as they say, is history... But there is so much more depth to this story. It might be hidden under the fluff of a beautiful and burgeoning romance but it is there and I for one, as someone who is also living with and working through PTSD found it an incredible read. Kota Quinn has a magical way with words, pouring heart and soul into the story, treading with sensitivity but not using kid gloves. This story spoke to me, it warmed me and it very much made me smile. Two souls who were fated to meet do. They meld. They are made for one another. This is a charming, funny and sweet romcom. Oh and make sure to check out the artwork at the start of each chapter - its sublime!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Sappy. Totally and utterly adorable. 'Nuts and Bolts' had my heart racing and a big grin plastered across my face. It is an unashamedly sappy, romantiSappy. Totally and utterly adorable. 'Nuts and Bolts' had my heart racing and a big grin plastered across my face. It is an unashamedly sappy, romantic story with so much heart. I adored it.
This is the story of the saving of a small town hardware store. Now, I may live in the UK but we too have many small towns, and they, when I was younger had hardware stores. The memories that some parts of this story bought back for me, of the smells and sounds of the hardware stores my dad used to take me to, of my wonder at everything in them gave this book a whole new level of wonder for me. That, coupled with the beautiful romance that quite simply blossoms, captivated me, mind and heart.
Jack has been working at Nuts and Bolts since he was 16. The owner gave him a part time job then and he is now effectively the manager. He may worry that over the last 5 years not much has changed in his life but he can shelve those feelings now, that is all about to change!
Hudson has spent the last 10 years in Sacramento. He has a good job, nice apartment but doesn't even hesitate to drop it all and go home after a phone call with his dad who tells him that he is considering selling the store. The store that has been in their family for two generations, the store the town rely on. Like Jack, Hudson's life is about to see change...
For Jack growing up gay in a small town has not been a serious issue, he has a 'friend' to hook up with but pickings are slim. Hudson on the other hand is jaded after bad experiences. When the pair meet sparks fly but for the wrong reasons. Jack is very protective of the store and worries about Hudson's motives for coming home. Hudson is not prepared for the feelings that hit him, instantly, for the younger man. Fitting back in to small town life is not as hard as Hudson imagined and Jack is pleasantly surprised by how much he comes to like the other man.
As their romance blossoms so does their passion for the store, for saving it, for making it part of the town again. And when they find out what has really been going on, how Hudson's father has been under pressure from an unscrupulous businessman, the fun really kicks in. Rocking chairs, elderly gay men, a scrumptious bakery, lots of cobwebs, a hardware store, a missions and a passion for making a difference are going to bring Jack and Hudson together. Their romance is adorable, this story will have you smiling wide from page 1, with some giggles too. The Foggy Basin series is a charm.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Thief. We all have opinions of the meaning of this word so, for the sake of clarity, mine agrees with the Oxford English Dictionary which defines it aThief. We all have opinions of the meaning of this word so, for the sake of clarity, mine agrees with the Oxford English Dictionary which defines it as:
One who takes portable property from another without the knowledge or consent of the latter, converting it to his or her own use; one who steals.
So, on seeing the title of Jae Greyn's latest book in the 'All Bite' series I, of course, had thoughts about where this story might be going, who we might meet. A thief, someone stealing from those we have already met perhaps. In some ways I wasn't wrong but in others I was very wrong.
This is the continuation of Remi's story. His life has pretty much been falling apart, he is starting all over again. Of course this is part of the plans that the gods have for him. They are tricky after all.
This is also Syn's story. Syn and his brother Naven don't get along. Naven is convinced that Syn has stolen everything from him - house, magic, girl. He is now trying to stop Syn having his son, Summer too. Only two of the three are true. Syn got the house and the magic. Not the girl. Hopefully he will also get Summer and become the father figure the boy needs. But for now what matters is this house. Syn has the house because he has the magic. The house hides the basement, home to snarky magical objects that the new Thief is gradually returning.
Syn is intrigued by this french-speaking Demi-deuil he sees via his basement security camera - set up to make sure his brother doesn't steal anything. This Thief is new, gorgeous and Syn would love to steal him away. It soon seems he is not the only one who feels this way and our Thief isn't sure what to make of it all, the attention, the want, the need, the new role. Will it be too much or can the ideal MMM relationship develop for them all?
There are strands upon strands in this story, it builds all the way from Fire Ridge Pride, through Blood Rights and into All Bite. It turns preconceived ideas on their head, it presents magic and the gods as you may not have ever thought of them. There are shifters too. Complex family and societal bonds add to the mix. I am addicted. Jae Geryn writes in the first person present tense, it takes a few pages to get into but ... wow! The feeling of reading these stories is like nothing else.
If you need to start at the beginning and work towards 'Thief' then do. Go and start now. This series of stories is mind-blowing. Expect dark paranormal urban fantasy romance and then ... pause the expectations!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
A beautiful story that had me captivated from page 1. Why? I think it was something to do with the gentleness of the two main characters, their calm, A beautiful story that had me captivated from page 1. Why? I think it was something to do with the gentleness of the two main characters, their calm, beautiful natures which oozed off the page and right into my heart. It was not only the way they interacted with one another but with others around them. They are the kind of people (and yes I know they are fictional but I hope there really are Callum's and Trent's out in the world) who reassure you that people are wonderful, kind, caring and ask nothing in return.
Callum is handyman for Trent. Trent has moved to the small town in the mountains to open a B&B. Things didn't work out for him in Sydney and he has invested everything in this venture so he wants to get it right. It is proving costly but it hasn't taken long to realise he did the right thing in hiring Trent and giving him the little cottage in the grounds. Trent is professional, very good at all the handyman tasks and great company. It doesn't hurt that he is also very handsome!
Callum loves his job. Loves working on the property, doing the small jobs, the bigger ones, working with his hands and seeing the results of his labours. He gets on well with his handsome boss too. Yes, Callum has eyes and although he tries not to focus them too much on his boss, well he is only human. And when said boss keeps inviting him to share meals and even takes him out for one, what can he do other than say yes.
The pair are sort-of tiptoeing around one another, uncertain as they are boss and employee but whilst the work on the house brings them into close contact and helps them get to know one another better there is a threat. A big one. This is a threat that could destroy their homes, Trent's business. It is the threat of the wildfires. They are the worst that have ever been seen in the area and whilst the fire crews are doing their best the B&B is nearly lost. Callum's hard work, knowledge of what to do to hold back the fire and daring rescue of Mushroom the cat are the final catalyst for the pair.
My heart was beating a strong beat through most of this story, beating for the obviously growing love between Trent and Callum (and of course Mushroom). It was also beating with the tension of the ever encroaching wildfires. I thought it might beat out of my chest when Trent was stuck outside town owing to closed roads and couldn't contact Callum. We get to see both men's perspectives which does help but try telling my heart that!
I was compelled by this story. A dark fascination with bush fires might not be normal but as a UK resident it isn't something we have to worry about so it was fascinating to read the detail. It truly made this fictional story real. But so did Trent, Callum and Mushroom, they all felt real, feel read and Nic Starr's writing style, ability to tell a story that I didn't want to put down is one that I am thrilled to have discovered. Make sure you do too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
There is a saying that there is no place like home. There is another that home is where the heart is. Chassidy Ann has taken the first as the title foThere is a saying that there is no place like home. There is another that home is where the heart is. Chassidy Ann has taken the first as the title for her book, the second in the Men of Steel series, but the second applies equally to this story. As it all unfolds she shows us just how meaningful those two sayings are, how we should listen to the words they are telling us, with heart, body and soul. If you have found that place you can call home, where your heart is, you will know what I mean. If you are yet to find that place, know it is out there for each of us and read this story for all the feels. They are all here and they are raw, honest, beautiful and so worth all the ups and downs.
No one has ever said finding your true home is going to be easy. Justin and William, as well as Maddox and Emmanuel in the background, show us how challenging and nerve-wracking it can be. I love that with this second book in the series we focus on a new relationship but don't lose sight of the one that was the focus of book one. It is a perfect blend.
'No Place Like Home' is Justin and William's story. Justin is best friend of Maddox and Henry, working with Henry and William's father Isaac at S&H Contracting. Justin, Maddox and William all worked there as teens too and for a while Justin and William were best friends. When William fell in with a new group who looked down on Justin that all fell apart. Justin was bullied until he left school and went to College. An accident took the life of his stepfather and bought him home to look after his mother and sisters. A job at S&H Contracting alongside Maddox and Isaac was a lifeline and has been something he has truly excelled at.
William went away to New York, following his dream of becoming a sports journalist and it has been a huge success. But as with so many of these roles, the ones that bring you into contact with the rich and famous he becomes perhaps a bit too complacent about his life, the possibilities and his supposed boyfriend. This supposed boyfriend, it soon transpires, is not in the closet, rather he is engaged and enjoying William as a bit on the side. Disgraced William has to return home, to his parents' house and a job in his dad's firm. Seeing Julian there, having made such a success of his life hits him hard and he reverts to his childhood bully self.
A business trip which Isaac and Maddox partly engineer to ensure Julian and William have to go, could be a turning point for the pair. William has begun to see how awful he was as a child. He really does want to make amends, to apologise for the past but also to move on. He is also realising how handsome Julian truly is and realises he has growing feelings for the other man. But has he really overcome his old ways? Can he cope when jealousy rears its ugly head? You will have to keep reading, traverse the ups and downs of Julian and William's developing relationship to find out if they can each find their true home.
This is a heartfelt story. We are given glimpses of the working lives of these men of steel, of the ups and downs of working as a contractor and it works, it is interesting and it fits the story. We have Julian and William's ups and downs to traverse with them and the passion is hot, hot, hot! We have side stories too, that blend seamlessly, fit the story as they are there for a purpose. A well thought-out story this one address some serious issues - the death of a parent, having to give up dreams to support a family, a fall from grace, childhood bullies and so much more. It is done with an open and honest approach, these could be people you and I know. Yes, it is fiction but it feels real and there can be no better accolade for an enemies-to-lovers romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Robbie, a potter, artist and aristocrat. Caleb, a financial advisor and working class lad.
It is around these two men, Robbie's large and rambunctious Robbie, a potter, artist and aristocrat. Caleb, a financial advisor and working class lad.
It is around these two men, Robbie's large and rambunctious family, Caleb's family, mentor and boss and, perhaps most importantly, the future of Robbie's family's ancestral home that the first book in The Art of Love series centres.
Hawthorne House has been the ancestral home of the family for generations but, as with many ancestral homes, it was used during the first world war as a hospital, then became a boarding school. Once the lease ran out the family kept most of the changes and created a Creative Arts Centre running classes for local people, offering Renaissance weekends and other innovations to ensure they could continue to live in their family home and share it with their community. However there are huge companies out in the world always looking for a cheap way to make big gains. In their world that is. A multi-million dollar offer for the property has been put forward, by the owners of a theme park venture. Do the family want to take it? No. Do they have any choice? Possibly not.
This is where the story begins. A family meeting. This is when Robbie, potter, teacher, meets their new advisor, Caleb and the pair take an instant dislike to one another. Robbie's dislike comes from his preconception that Caleb is just another businessman coming in and telling them what to do. To Caleb, Robbie is just another entitled aristocrat with far too many airs and graces who will simply look down on the working class boy trying to make his way in the world.
However fate seems to want to throw them together. First there is a tour of the house, then an art class. Later there is a Renaissance weekend and a fantastically humour-filled jousting competition. A weekend away turns into a potentially outstanding opportunity but also some errors in judgement. What it does do is show both Robbie and Caleb there might be more between them than hate, if they would both stop being so stubborn! With truths about the people around them coming out, a stressful takeover bid to destroy the Brotherhood enter the story, Keith the ex leaves the story (thankfully) and it looks as though all could be well... For now... There are more family members to learn about first!
What a fantastic story. Reflecting on class differences, the way in which we all too often let our preconceptions guide us and the way in which help can come from the most unexpected of places this book will cause many gasps, lots of giggles and some heated moments. It is well-written, thought-through and captures something that we miss in this modern world. The good old fashioned hands on approach of a family holding on to their history, to one another, to the arts and crafts they love and building an amazing community around themselves.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Outstanding. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think about this story. There are many more and I will. endeavour to use them in this reOutstanding. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think about this story. There are many more and I will. endeavour to use them in this review. First a few serious words: this book could be triggering, please do read the authors trigger notes; this book is part of a series. You don't have to read the other books first but many of the references make more sense if you have.
Now to my review of an outstanding book. A complex story that couldn't have been straightforward to write. One that has many threads which Beck Grey manages to keep from tangling, rather like the ropes that Kaino is so fond of and his lovers come to enjoy too. These threads are important to the story, they bring many important thoughts together yet they are gentle, almost tender underneath their apparent harshness. I don't think I will look at rope in the same way again but then neither will I be able to think about garlic bread without thinking about Gays in the Park... Trust me it is one of the most bizzare ideas but it works and it is a breathtaking scene in the story!
Now, more about this story. The sixth book in the Love in the Pacific Northwest series, this is Bjorn's story. If you have been following the books then you may have heard him mentioned. He is Astrid, Erik and Gunnar's older brother. A policeman who willingly took a knife to his side to save a stranger. That of course meant hospitalization and that is where we first meet him. With his brother, and Jules (Erik's fiancee). There are other family members who come in and out but it is Kaino and Xander who make the biggest impact. Both are ex lovers, both heard about how Bjorn nearly died and so have come to visit. What none of them expect is the way in which Bjorn's near-death experience is going to change all their lives.
His life will change as an MXM relationship develops. The bond, which in the past has been tense, with his family will strengthen, they will all find themselves mending certain bridges, bringing characters from past stories into play and showing us what a strong support group, family group, friendship group they all have. And, we must not forget Bjorn's beautiful dog Pita, her role in the story is equally important to the roles played by all the humans.
I have read stories with non binary characters. One of the stories in this series in face, but never a story with an MXM relationship and not only does Beck Grey introduce this concept, alongside the idea of polyamory but it is done without judgment, without any sense of the reader needing to be fully aware of the dynamics and with the utmost care and tenderness. Yes, this is an erotic story and those scenes are seriously hot, but this is also a story that helps characters and readers understand how relationships such as this one, can work. How they do work but how, as with any relationship, patience, understanding, being a good listener, they are all equally important skills. We are encouraged to understand how important open communication is, how misleading judgement can be and how we should all aim to be ourselves, to act how we wish to act as long as we are not hurting others, in any way, in the process. The characters all have their failings. Bjorn is controlling and finds it hard to relax, Xander is needy and can get very jealous, Kaino can lack empathy but they accept and recognise their own traits, leading the reader to understand them and sit back to look at themselves too.
Outstanding is the word that comes to mind when I want to describe this story and yet somehow that doesn't feel like enough. This story was not only a fantastic book to read but, for me, an important one too. The whole series has been and it has given me an incredible opportunity to remind myself that I am human, I am me, I should celebrate me. Thank you Beck Grey for delivering another outstanding, thought-provoking, absolutely beautiful book....more
Take two college boys, put them in the same room and they become friends as well as roommates. After a couple of years they become a little bit more tTake two college boys, put them in the same room and they become friends as well as roommates. After a couple of years they become a little bit more to one another (read between the lines here). They are still roommates of course, now they are in an apartment and both doing an arts masters with the hope of progressing to doctorate.
Meet Mark and Logan. Mark is the quiet type, unassuming but, in Logan's eyes he is gorgeous. There is a little antagonism when we meet them though. It is September which means Logan is getting ready for Halloween... Yes, really! Oh and then there is the super hot model in their life drawing class, the one Mark is certain he knows. When it transpires they used to have lab together they decide to try and rekindle their friendship. Much to Logan's chagrin but then, well he hasn't worked out how to tell Mark that he's in love, with him, his best friend, special buddy, roommate. Will the hunk of a model, who also happens to be quite rich, win Mark's heart or will the Halloween and holidays obsessed Logan find his words?
Discover how actions can speak louder than words but how words can be helpful too in this delight of a short story. A M/M romance through and through, an easy and quick read that will have you laughing and rolling your eyes in equal measure!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Now, I’m not sir what my boss would say if I was to suggest our library started up a matchmaking service on the side but then again people can, and doNow, I’m not sir what my boss would say if I was to suggest our library started up a matchmaking service on the side but then again people can, and do, surprise you. Which is exactly what this story wants to show us. Oh and how a human and a fae can fall in love. Can be compatible. That opposites do attract and sometimes, well sometimes there is no reasoning it, just accept it and go with the flow of your feelings.
As an English professor Irving knows all about words but somehow is not prepared for the deluge of them that come from Sylvan. Neither is he impressed by the hour long walk to the fae's tiny single bed cabin in the woods, his broken glasses, or anything about the date he really didn't want to be on.
Irving is still healing after his fiancée cheated on him, sylvan on the other hand has decided it’s time to find his true love. The dating service matches them and it’s never been wrong before… could it have got it wrong this time or are this pair, well mostly Irving, simply fighting the inevitable because a fear of being hurt again is lurking? And yet Sylvan is a beautiful person, a beautiful fae, peaceful, kind, generous, talented. Maybe he does talk a little too much and maybe Irving can be a little gruff but surely they can find a way to meet in the middle?
A gentle, gently amusing, deeply loving story where opposites really do attract, hopefully, and can find themselves happy with the one who is meant for them, even if it dos take them a little encouragement to get there! Olivia Day's series continues with this third beautiful novella, a charmingly addictive read that certainly had my cheeks aching, since I smiled from beginning to end!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
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