Review: Unmanageable (In Vino Veritas #3 ) by Leslie McAdam

Rating: 4.5🌈

Unmanageable (In Vino Veritas #3 ) by Leslie McAdam is another terrific contemporary romance in a series solid with them.

There’s several elements here that immediately spoke to me.

Luke Lagomarsino and his ex-wife Kira have a young daughter, Addison. McAdams makes Kira a complicated, loving individual and mother who deserves to thrive in a rewarding professional career. And has Luke acknowledge that it’s time for him to make the changes and decisions necessary for Kira to be able to take a job that’s important to her emotionally and career wise.

I love a story that doesn’t demonize the wife or any ex for that matter but looks at a family situation from a layered perspective.

That continues to happen with Luke as he has to adjust to returning to his small hometown, being a full time father, and a less “ hands on “ business career.

It’s a great portrait of a man in flux. It’s identifiable and makes Luke someone we can relate to.

Scott Malone, the romantic, sweet younger man who’s both rescued by and rescuer of Luke is a vulnerable and engaging character. So overwhelmed by debt that he’s incapable of facing it or knowing how to ask for help, he’s generous of heart and loving nature. The scenes written with him and Addison, the daughter, feel incredibly believable and grounded in reality.

Luke and Scott’s path to love and family is heartwarming and thoughtful. It’s got layers of realistic personal growth that needs to happen, and communicating between men and family for everyone to come together.

It’s wonderful to read and their happiness is everything!

I’m highly recommending this and the series. There’s something for everyone here.

I’ve listed them below. Check them out and happy reading.

In Vino Veritas series 2:

✓ Wildfire #1 – Garrett Leigh

✓ Counterpoint #2 – JE Birk

✓ Unmanageable #3 – Leslie McAdam

◦ Underdog #4 – LA Witt

◦ Wonderland #5 – Rachel Ember

◦ Dauntless #6 – Victoria DeNault

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showUnmanageable (In Vino Veritas, #3) by Leslie McAdam

Description:

I’ve never been romantic. Just ask my ex-wife.

Since she broke up with me, I get my needs met any time I want, without putting my heart on the line. Exactly how I like it.

But when she is called overseas and leaves me with our child, my bachelor lifestyle ends faster than you can say, “Daddy, I want a pony.”

I need help.

Problem is, help’s come in the form of an incredibly hot nanny.

My employee.

Who is much younger than me.

And also … a guy.

I watch Scott care for my kid and can’t help feeling like he clicks into place in her life.

When he looks at me, though … I get an entirely different feeling. One that makes me long for things I can’t have.

Like him.

Unmanageable is a contemporary m/m age gap romance about a starry-eyed nanny who wants hot-air balloon rides and singing telegrams and a grumpy single dad who most definitely does not.

The first series:

Vino and Veritas #1:

🔵Featherbed (Vino and Veritas 1) by Annabeth Albert

🔵Heartscape #2 by Garrett Leigh

🔵Headstrong #3 by Eden Finley

🔵Undercover #4 by Eliot Grayson

🔵Aftermath #5 by LA Witt

🔵Booklover #6 by JE Birk

🔵Flipcup #7 by Kim Hartfield f/f

🔵Hideaway #8 by Rachel Lacey f/f

🔵Turnabout #9 by Laurel Greer

🔵Unguarded #10 by Jay Hogan

🔵Insatiable #11 by Rhys Everly

🔵Daybreak #12 by Kate Hawthorne

🔵Heartsong #13 by AE Wasp

🔵Stronghold #14 by Ana Ashley

🔵Limelight #15 by E Davis

🔵Unforgettable #16 by Marley Valentine

🔵Showstopper #17 by Regina Kyle

🔵Undone #18 by Leslie McAdams

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Best Love by Lily Morton

Rating: 4.75🌈

Best Love is a previously published short story (Heart2Heart Anthology, old title The Tattoo Artist and the Writer) that’s been reworked, along with a epilogue.

It’s new title, Best Love, is absolutely fitting for the love story of writer Noah Sutton and tattoo artist Sage Higgins. Best friends and soul mates since Sage’s mother and his brothers moved next door to Noah and his single mother at age seven, they’ve been inseparable except for certain college years and Sage’s time spent traveling.

A Valentine’s Day blind date arranged by a app goes wrong and they end up together, going on the dates they would have taken their dates on.

One of Lily Morton’s many gifts is the ability to write a relationship that feels emotionally entwined. One grounded in years together spent in getting to know each other so deeply that the stage where the reader comes in upon them feels rich in shared history and lives spent in a bond that’s become deeply part of each man.

Morton can accomplish this skill of writing a multidimensional relationship and beautifully defined characters in a short length of page space. Some richly crafted scenes, accompanied by dialogue that enlivens both the characters yet heightens whatever emotions the author’s narrative has in store for them (and the reader). All done precisely but with a true palette of a word artist.

In a short time, we know these men intimately. We know their history together and the feelings they’ve hidden from each other.

And we care immediately for them and the relationship.

Then Morton takes all of us on a journey to HEA.

If you’re not familiar with this author, then you might not realize you’re about to visit some fascinating locations and find out some intriguing elements about whatever place the couple ends up strolling around.

*cracks knuckles, readies Google fu*

It never ever comes across as a travelogue but is seamlessly folded into Noah and Sage’s journey to love and happiness.

Here we both climb up the Minster’s Tower tour in York (a real tour) for a breathtaking sight of all of York below. Then it’s off to Staithes for Captain Cook, artists, and the incredible Painted Illusion Trail.

But that’s all secondary, to the depth of the changes that this long relationship is undergoing as the men slowly open up as they spend all this time together showing the other things about themselves.

Best Love is a short story that manages to feel as though you’re taking a long journey with a couple you’ve known for a long time.

It’s moving, heartwarming, and so rewarding.

It’s one I’m highly recommending.

Plus Google those trips and be prepared to want to visit there yourself. Just as I do.

Bonus:

WordPress.comhttps://environmentalsculptures.wordpress.com › …Staithes Painted Illusion Trail

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showBest Love by Lily Morton

Description:

Noah and Sage have been best friends since they were seven when Sage climbed over the wall between their childhood homes. They know everything about each other apart from one small thing. Noah is hopelessly in love with Sage and doesn’t ever intend to tell him.

However, fate has other plans. A dating website with a glitch in its system leads Sage to challenge Noah. Two days in which they will show each other their best dates. What could possibly go wrong?

At the end of these two days will the men discover that the best love comes with someone who really knows you, or will they fall back into being just good friends?

Review: The Last Nanny in Manhattan (Nannies of New York #1) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.5🌈

The Last Nanny in Manhattan, the first in the Nannies of New York series by K. Sterling, is a snappy, sexy, sweet contemporary romance by a author that’s new to me.

I enjoyed this journey immensely. It’s got age gap, wickedly intelligent 6 year old triplets , a widower who’s overwhelmed by work but most by a sense of failure when it comes to fatherhood and parenting. And , importantly, a gay, effervescent, highly competent Mary Poppins of a nanny in need of a family to fix and fall in love with.

It helps that Fin the irrepressible, remarkable nanny has a thing for gorgeous SavageFenty underwear as well as the ability to bring the chaos the demon triplets have caused to a heartwarming close through understanding, and love.

Finley Marshall comes with an entire faction of fantastic people to support him and to act as main characters in the succeeding novels. There’s Reid, Fin’s oldest brother. Reilly, his best friend. Pennsylvania aka Penn the Gandalf of nannies. And more. The LGBTGIA nanny network of New York and the solid basis for this series. Each one a highly intelligent, and star of the nanny network of the Manhattan wealthy clientele.

What a fabulous start!

Walker Cameron III is the other side. He brings his amazing bisexual sister who I’m hoping we see a great deal more of. Plus his butler, who slowly unbends to Fin, his unusual style of doing things and welcomes Fin into the household. But it’s really about Walker. And his dysfunctional relationship to his children. Walker is a tightly wrapped bundle of pain, stress, mourning, and fear.

Sterling does an excellent job in making these characters and their relationships with all the people around them clear, layered with history and emotional, and relatable.

Walker maybe wealthy but he’s a father who’s inability to connect with his girls is hurting them all. He’s lost his way and the reader hurts for all four of them even as we might be snickering at the ingenious damage the triplets are inflicting on the household.

Watching Fin come in, assess the situation, amidst the turmoil and incoming weapons the children hurl, is amazing. So is the journey the girls and Walker start on back to being a family and normalcy. With one special addition.

It’s got obstacles of course, some drama, but there’s a HEA at the end that so wonderful and heartwarming.

Nannies of New York Book series:

✓ The Last Nanny in Manhattan #1

◦ Giles Ashby Needs A Nanny #2 – January 26, 2023

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThe Last Nanny In Manhattan (Nannies of New York, #1) by K. Sterling

Description:

Walker Cameron III might be one of the most feared men in Manhattan, but he’s no match for his six-year-old triplets. After exhausting all other options, Finley Marshall is the grumpy widower’s last hope.

Luckily for the Camerons, Fin is a master of chaos and can calm even the most beastly of children. But Fin soon learns that the girls aren’t the problem; it’s their father. Still grieving and easily overwhelmed, Walker leaves the servants to cope with his little hellions. Fin wants to prove he’s the best nanny in the city and that his older brother, Reid, should start his own agency. Is Fin willing to risk life and limb to do it, though?

Afraid to lose the most competent caregiver to ever cross his threshold, Walker agrees to an unusual set of terms. He’ll give the girls more of his time and practice better parenting with Fin as his guide. But Walker finds himself with a new and unexpected problem. For the first time in years, he’s having very improper thoughts and can’t stop thinking about Fin. Can he keep his feelings to himself or will Walker fall for the last nanny in Manhattan willing to take on the cursed Camerons?

*The paperback edition will include additional illustrations by Jayla, a short story featuring the Camerons, recipes from the book, and a soundtrack!

Review: The Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch Book 1) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4.5 🌈

The first in a new series, The Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch Book 1) by B.A. Tortuga is another in this author’s lovely cozy cowboy contemporary romances.

This one sets itself apart in that it’s low angst with little to no high drama but instead relies almost solely on the real , relatable characters and elements of foster care and the issues children have when adapting into their new environment.

It does start off with the premise of contract husband but that is quickly discarded when the foster children come into play and their needs as well as troubled history takes center stage.

As it should.

Former bull riders, star Ryder Vittor who was forced into retirement by a broken neck, and , Kase McDaniel, who’s major wreck crushed so many bones in his body, that retiring was never in doubt, are a perfect pairing.

As superbly crafted by Tortuga, they are so familiar with each other, so in sync and comfortable with their actions and thoughts it’s as though they’ve been together for a longer time period. Which they have as bull riders on the circuit. Extremely realistic and easy.

She makes these men absolutely believable in every way, from their speech to their relationship and how they relate to those around them.

That includes the marvelous lesbian married grandmothers who raised Ryder and help run both the ranch and rodeo enterprises. Strong, impactful women and wonderful characters .

However, your heart will truly belong to the four foster children that comes into the lives of everyone who lives on the Chiara ranch. That’s a orphaned family of four. Charlie, a sixteen-year-old girl. Elijah, an eleven-year-old boy, Dani, eight-year-old girl, and tiny Nell, a two-year-old baby girl.

They arrive with a heartbreaking history, separate issues and sets of challenges, and personalities to endear themselves to the family at the ranch and readers alike.

Of course, there’s animals like adorable dogs, goats, and horses too.

This is one sweet, moving, heartwarming romance. You will want to just curl up and sink into this group of characters and children as they work their way into becoming a family .

It’s a marvelous journey and one you won’t want to miss.

I highly recommend it. And wonder what the next story in this series will bring.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThe Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch, #1) by B.A. Tortuga

Description:

Ryder Vittor has almost everything he could ever want. He was a successful bull rider, he runs a rodeo company and a ranch for his family, and he’s right where he wants to be. Until his grandmother issues him an ultimatum. Now he has to get married and have kids if he wants to keep the life he loves, but he can’t exactly produce a man and a baby out of thin air, can he? So he sets out to hire a husband in order to get what he needs.

Kase McDaniel is at the end of his rope. His bull riding career has ended in a bad crash, his family doesn’t want him back, and he has nowhere to go. When Ryder offers to let him come stay at Ryder’s New Mexico ranch, he’s grateful, but he’s stunned when he finds out Ryder intends to make a contract with a stranger to marry him and raise kids with him. Kase has been in love with Ryder for years, so why shouldn’t he put in for the job?

Neither one of them has any idea what they’re setting in motion when they tie the knot, and soon they’re overrun with foster kids, rodeo family, and more. Can Kase and Ryder find something real in all the chaos, or will they be parting ways when the contract ends?

Review: Bet You (Franklin U Book 4) by Neve Wilder

Rating: 3🌈

Bet You is among 8 novels written by different authors in the Franklin U series and each is a standalone featuring a different couple.

Bet You by Neve Wilder has a number of well known themes running through it. There’s opposites attract, the rich easygoing frat boy versus the stressed, overworked middle class student with money flow issues, and a somewhat jock / science nerd aspect as well. But the biggest trope is embedded in the title itself. Bet You.

Yes, that a bet by the rich frat boy that he can make the overworked poorer science student “like, date, fall in love “ with him, whatever the bet is here. There’s been many variations on this theme, but this is the basis for the storyline.

And the largest issue with it is that the reader always knows how the plot will play out regardless of author or book. It always goes the same way.

MC Character makes a bet with his friends. Figures out a way to get the 2nd MC to go out with him. The relationship progresses. They fall into (like,love) then MC2 finds out about the bet. He , naturally feels betrayed, they break up. Big drama. Then MC 1 redeems himself. Reunion and HEA.

It’s every story. The MC1 never tells MC2 about the bet.

If there’s a book out there where that happens, shoot me the title, pls.

So Wilder is trying to make a tired trope feel fresh, a tough job. And on top of that it starts with the fact that overworked, stressed Spencer Crowe’s designated parking spot (paid for) is routinely taken by the fraternity brothers next door. The loud, partying, 24/7 obnoxious fraternity. Which is already a huge problem when the scientists next door want to study.

And when he complains to the person he catches in his spot this time , the rich Cory Ingram, the complaints are immediately treated as insignificant. When Spencer’s reaction to being treated as a nonentity is rage, Cory and his frat brothers instincts lean towards bullying, his friends admitting that they park there often.

None of this makes me want to connect with anyone other then Spencer. Especially Cory’s tactics that follow the bet.

Yes he eventually becomes a nice person but for me, that early personality and events cut him and his frat off from engaging in this story.

Basically, I just wanted to tell Spencer to have him , and all others who park there towed , and call it quits.

It would have felt satisfying, however there wouldn’t have been any romance.

Things here just kept annoying me. What year is this that frats party 24/7 without complaints? Because it doesn’t happen here. In fact those chapters get closed down.

Bullying, non stop partying. Infantile actions. I’m sure they still are ongoing on campus’s elsewhere. I guess I no longer have the patience to read about them.

If you do, if all this sounds like it’s something you’d want to read. Then happy reading.

Franklin U series:

✓ Playing Games #1 – Riley Hart

✓ The Dating Disaster #2 – Saxon James

✓ Mr. Romance #3 – Louise Masters

✓ Bet You #4 – Neve Wilder

◦ The Glow Up #5 – A.M. Johnson

◦ The Learning Curve #6 – N.R. Walker

◦ Making Waves #7 – Christina Lee

◦ Football Royalty #8 – Eden Finley

https://www.goodreads.com › showBet You (Franklin U #4) by Neve Wilder – Goodreads

Description:

Spencer
Whose brilliant idea was it to build university housing next to one of Franklin U’s most notorious party frats?

I’m a real student—the kind who actually came to college to learn, not some dumb frat bro who sees Franklin U as a four-year challenge to consume the most booze and throw out the best pick-up line.

Their all-hours lifestyle is driving me crazy. Not to mention, the jerks keep taking my assigned parking spot.

But the worst offender might be Cory Ingram. Sure, he has a smile that could melt a polar ice cap, but no way will I ever be one of his minions. I’m pretty sure I made that clear when I blew my top at him. So I have no idea why he’s suddenly everywhere around me, turning on the charm like I might actually fall for it.

Nope. Not gonna happen.

Cory

From the first day I set foot on Franklin U’s campus, everything has been golden. I have a ton of friends, endless parties to be the life of, and whoever I want in my bed on any given night. Sure, I’m a shameless party boy, but I’m not a jerk. Ask anyone. Seriously.

Even the crotchety old groundskeeper waves and smiles at me when I pass.

Then there’s Spencer Crowe. I’ve never seen a guy’s face get so red over a parking spot. Even when I try to make it right, he proceeds to give me the tongue-lashing of a lifetime—which is about the moment I notice that, in addition to being irrationally irate, he’s also crazy hot.

My friends think I’ve finally met the one person I can’t seduce…

Bet you I can.

Review: Counterpoint (In Vino Veritas #2) by J.E. Birk

Rating: 4.75🌈

Counterpoint by J.E. Birk is such an excellent story. It’s the second in a new round of books about the Vino & Veritas bookstore and bar located in Burlington, Vermont. And a whole new look at the wonderful collection of characters and couples that appear in many of the novels.

The previous linked book here is Booklover https://www.goodreads.com › showBooklover (Vino & Veritas, #6) by J.E. Birk – Goodreads. Aaron Morin, is brother to Jamie, from Booklover and Jeremy Everett, the other love interest, is his best friend. We’ve met them all before if you’ve read that book. If you haven’t, you will want to. It’s amazing.

Honestly, each story now feels like a homecoming if you’ve become as connected to these people, their lives, this small town, from the bar and bookstore to Moo U, as I am.

Our two main characters here have known each other and been close friends for a while , along with Jamie , until a argument Aaron had with his dad about the farm fractured the family, sending Aaron off to Harvard and a isolation that remained until recently (Booklover).

Now Aaron is back, to intern for the summer, at one of the local law offices in Burlington. But Aaron has secrets and isn’t happy with himself or at ease with his family and friends.

Jeremy Everett is on the run from reality. He’s running from phone calls, his family, his mother, his future. And he’s using his playboy image to do it. Until his mother cuts off his funds. And forces him to get a job. In the law office where Aaron is working for the summer.

Birk has created a deeply moving and emotionally satisfying story about love and family. About the types of stress and damage parental expectations can place upon a child as well as many faces of love that a child often cannot recognize because of unbearable situations.

So much painful truths here.

If you’re someone who has a relative or close friend with Alzheimer’s , then this will hit deep. All the denial, the spectrum of emotions that the family uses to deal with the loved one who’s lost to this insidious disease. The pain they inflict on each other . It’s so real, heartbreaking, and believable.

Not just Alzheimer’s but a father’s fears and hopes for a family farm that built and then , targeted a son until all he felt he had to be was perfect. We get to feel and hear from Aaron’s internal dialogue and discussions how damaging that childhood has been. Even after a reconciliation, the wounds are still open and Aaron isn’t recovering.

Birk has given us two seemingly different men on the outside but in the center, they are suffering from the trauma their past history and their struggles with the pain their families have caused.

How they overcome it, especially when working together with a certain event in their own personal history still bringing up stumbles, is funny, heartfelt, vulnerable, and just plain a heartwarming story.

I adore this couple, their friends and the future ahead of them. I’m sure we will see them again.

I’m highly recommending Counterpoint, as well as Booklover if you haven’t read that too.

Get caught up and join into this series!

In Vino Veritas series 2:

✓ Wildfire #1 – Garrett Leigh

✓ Counterpoint #2 – JE Birk

◦ Unmanageable #3 – Leslie McAdam

◦ Underdog #4 – LA Witt

◦ Wonderland #5 – Rachel Ember

◦ Dauntless #6 – Victoria DeNault

The first series:

Vino and Veritas #1:

🔵Featherbed (Vino and Veritas 1) by Annabeth Albert

🔵Heartscape #2 by Garrett Leigh

🔵Headstrong #3 by Eden Finley

🔵Undercover #4 by Eliot Grayson

🔵Aftermath #5 by LA Witt

🔵Booklover #6 by JE Birk

🔵Flipcup #7 by Kim Hartfield f/f

🔵Hideaway #8 by Rachel Lacey f/f

🔵Turnabout #9 by Laurel Greer

🔵Unguarded #10 by Jay Hogan

🔵Insatiable #11 by Rhys Everly

🔵Daybreak #12 by Kate Hawthorne

🔵Heartsong #13 by AE Wasp

🔵Stronghold #14 by Ana Ashley

🔵Limelight #15 by E Davis

🔵Unforgettable #16 by Marley Valentine

🔵Showstopper #17 by Regina Kyle

🔵Undone #18 by Leslie McAdams

Counterpoint (In Vino Veritas, #2) by J.E. Birk – Goodreads

Description:

One playboy. One perfectionist. So many secrets.

I’m considered the biggest playboy in Burlington, Vermont. The party boy. The guy who lives in the moment and makes decisions with no thought for the future. But people don’t know my past. They don’t know why I make the choices I do. Even my best friend doesn’t know the truth about me. Actually, there are a lot of things he doesn’t know…like the fact that I had a one night stand with his brother last year.

Did I mean to hook up with Aaron? Um, no. Mistakes were made, okay? But unlike most of my mistakes, this one has lasting consequences. Aaron works at the law firm where circumstances are forcing me to be their errand boy. Now we see each other every day. Aaron’s such a nervous wreck he keeps tripping over the copy machine. I’m surprised he hasn’t ended up in traction yet.

He and I are opposites in almost every way. He’s got a GPA higher than Mount Mansfield, and I’m barely going to graduate college. He grocery shops with a spreadsheet, and I’ve got YOLO tattooed on my body. But Aaron sees things in me that no one else does, and I see things in him he doesn’t see in himself. Before I know it, we’re sharing late-night office picnics, evenings out at the bar, and long, hot afternoons on my boat. I’m having the best summer of my life, but there’s no way this can end well. My bff will kill me if he ever finds out how thoroughly I’ve corrupted his brother…

Counterpoint is an opposites-attract forbidden romance featuring an incense-filled law firm, meddling friends, and angst and humor in (mostly) equal parts. It stars Jeremy Everett and Aaron Morin, who first appeared in the Vino and Veritas story Booklover, but Counterpoint is a standalone novel.

Review: Kaleidoscope Sunsets (A Color of Love Novella) by V.L. Locey

Rating: 4🌈

Mega sports agent Arn Toras has been a minor staple of multiple stories, popping in to give advice, stand by his athletes, or be a fierce advocate for them when they or anything they might represent is attacked.

His appearances haven’t been long but Arn has always made a huge impact on every scene he’s in.

So it’s lovely that Locey decided to give such a strong and important character his own story.

Long known to be heterosexual and work obsessed, Arn has to undergo some major changes here in order for this story and a romance to be believable.

And in most aspects, it does.

Locey successfully builds onto a personality we are already familiar with. We meet Arn anew. Already incredibly powerful and successful, Arn is not slowing down. But his body , his lifestyle, and frankly his age, are trying too, along with his doctor.

We see a Arn who’s not trying to look to introspectively at the life he’s living, or more truthfully, not living. He’s let work preside over friends, and what family he’s got left. And it’s taking a role on his health.

Arn is realistic and someone we can relate to.

There’s always one more thing that needs to be done before you get to set down. If ever.

That one more thing is signing the next Hockey God, Anders Viklund, a young Swedish hockey player from a small fishing village. Arn is determined his agency will be the one to sign him.

That brings us to the next outstanding element of this story. Kullaka, Sweden. That’s the fishing village and hometown of the Viklund family.

I’m not sure if there’s a real village that Kullaka is a stand in for , but surely there must be. For this small charming place sings with life! From the quays with its bobbing fishing boats, to the castle at the top of the mountain, it’s Eel Festival, and the abbey, it’s a breathing, salty, laughter filled small town you are dying to walk or peddle through.

That includes the small B & B run by Mrs Maja, full of cats and clocks, Arn is forced to stay in as there’s a Eel Festival going on. A stay that becomes part of a life changing visit. This tiny house, full of ticking clocks, cats, and a merry wonderful woman is such a great element here. I loved it!

It’s just a starting point for a beginning of sea changes in Arn’s life. How he views himself and his life.

I would be close to saying I loved this story but the only aspect I’m hesitant about is the romance. Which is sort of a big issue.

Everyone and everything else here is outstanding. Foundation, characters, Arn, his personality and need for a change. Yes!

But the person who’s at the heart of that change? That for me is the weakest link here.

Anders Viklund is all young, blue eyes, gorgeous, sexy, competent hockey player. He loves his dad. He’s gay. He’s nice and kind.

Why don’t I feel like he’s got layers to him?

I never felt like there was a character there that would have had enough substance to have induced the sort of change that was pulled from Arn.

Maybe a “oh know, I think I’m bi” revelation. That would be realistic here. And yes it happens. Immediately. Get that. But the rest?

Anders’ father, Lucas, he was a solid, powerful figure and one that made a significant contribution and impact. More so than his son, in my opinion.

Locey writes beautifully. So many great secondary characters and the magnificent Arn. Along with the entire village of Kullaka.

I just wish Anders had been as good as the rest or as deserving.

A Color of Love is a wonderful series and this is one more terrific installment! Check it out! I’m recommending it.

Review: Getting Married At Crofton Hall by Rebecca Cohen

Rating: 4🌈

I’ll be honest here and admit I’m torn as to how to rate this story.

Here’s the facts.

Getting Married At Crofton Hall by Rebecca Cohen is a novel I’ve been waiting on as I’ve followed the Crofton Earls from Cohen’s historical romances (The Crofton Chronicles) all the way through the Modern Crofton series, of which I thought this was the culmination of them both.

It’s not, but more on that later.

So it fair to say I’m a very invested reader and a person committed to these characters and their relationships. Plus I like the author’s writing style.

Getting Married at Crofton Hall becomes a novel of primarily 4 people, 2 couples. With a scattering of side relationships in their various stages, from completely settled and happy to troubled and verging on disastrous. All of which are either at the Hall or coming to the wedding.

What I should be completely enthusiastic about and happily invested in every element of their story is the main couple , Ben and Ashley, who are getting married.

No, instead they are where I have the biggest issues.

Who do I love? Chris Gamling, Crofton Hall’s new writer in residence, just back from a painful, career low stay in LA that sees him returning home in debt. Chris is such a lovely character, with his dandelion hair, utter sweetness, and a determination to stay true to himself.

Of course, love awaits him in the form of Ashley’s best friend and former bf, Jack Webb. A barrister, he’s here to be Ashley’s best man and all around support for the wedding. Having been recently dumped, he too could use his friend’s support as well.

Jack is snarky, intelligent, deep, and tremendously loyal. Watching these two slow burn connect is amazing. Watch out for that hair brush scene!

They are couple goals. And everything that Ben and Ashley aren’t. At least during this wedding.

Or should I say Ben isn’t . Because up until approximately 86 percent of this novel, I found Ben to be arrogant, unsupportive, oblivious, and frankly, unlivable.

Where is the Ben I enjoyed from the prior books? The one who at least had some semblance of intuition about Ashley’s thoughts and feelings.

Here he is gone. I couldn’t figure out if that personality was sacrificed for the groomzilla/wedding/stress plot needs or just forgotten. Either way to see it bound back remarkably towards the end, then disappear when Ben behaves badly under the influence of alcohol, then appear again. Well, it made Ashley seem like a stressed doormat for the majority of the time.

Their aspect of the story, Ben’s behavior, his expectation that Ashley would just tolerate his toxic words and actions, or that Cohen saw no issues with their relationship at this point, is problematic.

Love works things out . SMH. No, sometimes it doesn’t or shouldn’t.

There’s so much here to unravel. That Ben knew he was wrong and continues. His friend(s) points out some of the glaring issues. They are ignored.

That it take Ashley, not Ben, breaking, to almost make it right.

What is wrong here?

The fact that there’s a lot of healthy relationships in and around Crofton Hall I’m not sure the main couple is one of them.

The rating? For the other couples, the reality of the writing, and the fact that it does feel believable.

I love Jack and Chris. And many of the other couples. I would have told poor Ashley to get Ben into couple counseling before I got married to someone who treated him so poorly then proceeded with such self-involved excuses.

Or maybe if I was Cohen I wouldn’t have written Ben into someone who almost defies any connection from a reader. At least this one.

Cohen writes she has several more stories to tell in this series. If they are in the same vein as Chris and Jack, count me in. I quite appreciative of that pairing.

It’s based on them that this book gets a recommendation.

Modern Crofton series:

🔹Saving Crofton Hall #1 (orig released 2014

🔹Making History at Crofton Hall

🔹Below Stairs at Crofton Hall

🔹Getting Married at Crofton Hall

A spin-off from The Crofton Chronicles-historic romance series

🔹The Actor and The Earl #1

🔹Duty to the Crown #2

🔹Forever Hold His Peace #3

https://www.goodreads.com › showGetting Married at Crofton Hall by Rebecca Cohen – Goodreads

Ben and Ashley are getting married! For the first time in history the Earl of Crofton will be allowed to marry a man.

But wedding admin isn’t always fun, and frayed tempers and bickering are not the best ways to prepare for the happiest day of their lives, but hopefully they’ll make it down the aisle before one of them kills the other. The arrival of two of Ben’s old friends at Crofton Hall does not help matters, especially with their rather messy shared history.

The hall also has a new writer in residence, Chris Gamling, and while he’s not always with the plot in the real world, he’s a brilliant wordsmith. When he meets Jack Webb, Ashley’s best friend, Chris feels the spark he’s been waiting for. Sometimes meeting the love of your life doesn’t have to be difficult.

This is the fourth Modern Crofton novel, featuring Benjamin Redbourn, the 16th Earl of Crofton and descendant of Anthony Redbourn, 1st Earl of Crofton from my historical series, The Crofton Chronicles. Each book in the Modern Crofton series will feature Ben and Ashley, alongside another couple finding love at Crofton Hall.

Review : Camera Shy by E.J. Russell

Rating: 4.5🌈

E.J. Russell has returned to contemporary romance after a two year absence with Camera Shy and its a marvelously entertaining story.

Told from the perspectives of both protagonists, we get a remarkable journey . Starting from a stressed filled professional boss/employee relationship between the arrogant, driven Ari Dimitriou, host of his own talk show, and his overworked, highly competent and engaged PA, Dustin Fremont. The men and the way they relate to each other undergoes a stress-laden journey. From a oblivious boss and overcommitted employee role, to another one that shows a state of emotional reflection happening within two lives , men under going personal growth and the recognition of what’s truly important for their future lives and happiness.

Dustin believes in Ari’s passion for LGBTGIA causes and drive to expose those that have caused the community and it’s Allie’s enormous harm. But Dustin also has a past that has damaged him greatly, and a corrosive adolescent and history that continues to haunt him. Not that Ari is aware of any of that.

Ari is obsessed with winning, especially against a man he’s sure is a adversary. And that dangerous tunnel vision combined with a tv interview with the man goes south quickly for the arrogant Ari.

Russell uses this setup to frame out the fake fiancé trope and turn it into a journey of self revelation and love amidst LGBTGIA wedding planners and tv producers.

It works on many levels, it engages the reader by allowing Russell to create some fabulous characters and put them into scenes both funny, moving , and ultimately serious enough to induce the need self reflection and emotional growth to make their new relationship work and feel believable.

I laughed and enjoyed so many elements about Camera Shy but mostly I hoped it wouldn’t be another 2 years before Russell wrote another contemporary romance as marvelous as this!

Highly recommended!

Amazon US

Amazon Universal

Synopsis:

Never assume…

…that your uber competent personal assistant will get it when you announce your (fake) engagement to him during a live on-air interview with your archnemesis.

Never waver…

…from your plan to punish your arrogant celebrity boss for his presumption by turning your (fake) wedding into a reality competition for event planners.

Never admit…

…that the feelings blossoming between the two of you through seven (fake) engagement celebrations, six (fake) bachelor parties, five (fake) wedding party luncheons, and four (fake) rehearsal dinners are about as (real) you can get.

Camera Shy is a boss/employee, fake-engagement, right-in-front-of-your-nose romantic comedy featuring a former child model-turned-PA who is so done with cameras, a cocky LGBTQ activist/talk show host who does not lose, more scarves than midwinter in Boston, and banter. So. Much. Banter.

Review: About Last Night by Aimee Nicole Walker

Rating: 5🌈

There’s something so soothing and wonderful about reading a contemporary romance that’s about an emotionally healthy, adult relationship.

About Last Night by Aimee Nicole Walker is a perfect example of that. The novel, one who’s characters are part of the author’s Savannah, Georgia universe (Sinister in Savannah, Sawyer and Royce series), are people we’ve met and become extremely fond of through prior stories.

Detective Christopher “Topher” Carnegie, who’s previous relationships haven’t been a success, has slowly become aware he’s attracted on many levels to a man his family has all but adopted. One he considers a close friend.

That’s Julian Fine, clothing designer (he of the corsets Sawyer loves), and best friend to Harper, one of Topher’s sisters.

This joyous journey begins at their first meeting and moves through the passage of time as Julian and the Carnegie family becomes a wonderful, heartwarming unit that stabilizes Julian’s life and anchors both men to each other.

It’s low angst and includes a bisexual awakening that’s mature, and realistically portrayed. There’s support from friends and family for them, adult communication, as well as a sexy, fun, loving exploration as they realize they are willing to take the next step towards everything they both want.

I laughed, sighed, and throughly love this couple and their path to romance.

I believe you will too.

You don’t have to have read the other series and books to read this one but it certainly gives the reader a richness in terms of foundation and universe if you have.

Plus I adore those stories.

And highly recommend this and all of those! Excellently written, outstanding characters, and a beautifully crafted storyline. Sink into it and this couple’s journey to HEA and enjoy!

https://www.goodreads.com › showAbout Last Night by Aimee Nicole Walker – Goodreads

Synopsis:

The bicurious cop and his sharp-dressed man…

Detective Christopher “Topher” Carnegie is unlucky in love. He either tries too hard, doesn’t try hard enough, or hasn’t found the right person yet. But recently, he’s started seeing Julian Fine, his sister’s best friend, in a new light. If there’s one thing a fabulous tailor knows, it’s how to take a person’s measure. Julian recognizes a straight man when he sees one, but that doesn’t stop him from falling head over heels for the unattainable man.

Just a few short days and one shared bed…

When a white lie backs Julian into a corner, Topher steps in to save the day. He’s worked plenty of undercover assignments before, but pretending to be Julian’s boyfriend during a family wedding might be his most dangerous mission yet. Julian challenges everything Christopher knows about himself, and soon, reaching for each other feels as natural as breathing. But can their newfound feelings survive the real-world challenges they face? There’s only one way to find out.

About Last Night is a low-angst standalone romance within the author’s Savannah universe. This book contains mature content and is intended for adults.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Connected series- same universe and characters:

🔹Sinister in Savannah

🔹Sawyer and Royce: 2 series

Separate Novels-same universe

🔹About Last Night

🔹Just Say When – December 20, 2022

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