Review: Playing for Keeps (Miami Piranhas #1) by Beth Bolden

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Beth Bolden’s new book, Playing for Keeps, is the first in her new Miami Piranhas series about a fake Miami, Florida NFL football team that’s scrambling to come together. New coach and coach teams. And a slew of incoming new players to mesh with the ones already there.

One of those new players is one of the NFL’s legendary players, Sebastian Howard. Howard’s reign as one of the NFL’s outstanding corners is coming to an end as age has caught up with him.

But his agent and the coaches at the Piranhas have gotten him to Miami to talk about playing there.

But there’s a catch. He needs to play safety.

Beau Dawson, assistant coach and son to legendary head Coach Asa Dawson, sees a bright future ahead with the struggling Piranhas. But it includes convincing Howard, a brilliant player, to switch positions.

Playing for Keeps has multiple storylines. All important and all balanced beautifully to maintain our connections to each character, their evolving relationship, and to the team that’s trying to find an identity.

It’s also about family dynamics, juggling how they determine one’s journey in life, and the manner in which each still goes forward.

It’s a lot to pack in but Bolden does so without making this feel dense or heavy.

It was only at the very beginning where Sebastian Howard’s complaining veered towards non-stop whining that it almost lost me. Yes, I got that he was the GOAT at corner. But after a while I wanted his agent to give him a reality smack.

Luckily, it and Sebastian turned a corner and things smoothed out , sort of. Bolden’s run at a struggling NFL team feels believable. Down two, they aren’t functioning as a team. Having several of the people looking at answers feels about right.

The dynamics and talks among players on the queer spectrum? Also real. Putting out the pros and cons, the issues they’ve faced and those to come seems about right. As is the question about coming out while continuing to play. That’s a pertinent question that’s on the mind of many a closeted queer athlete because of toxic environments they play in.

While this is a low angst romance, it’s not without its drama and obstacles that each person raises to the possibility of a relationship. I liked how each man handled it in turn.

The romance between Sebastian and Beau is sexy, believable, and makes for great reading.

Bolden gets the football elements right, from exciting action on the field to tense drama inside the team. Great stuff.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment. Until then, I’m highly recommending Playing for Keeps (Piranhas #1) by Beth Bolden.

Happy Reading!

Miami Piranhas series:

Playing for Keeps #1

https://www.goodreads.com › showPlaying for Keeps (Miami Piranhas #1) by Beth Bolden – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Sebastian Howard is the best damn cornerback in the NFL.

Or at least he was.

Age and injuries have taken a toll, and while most people have written him off, Sebastian isn’t ready to acknowledge that at only thirty-two, he’s already in the twilight of his career.

He signs with the Miami Piranhas intending to prove everyone wrong.

Only to realize that the head coach’s son, out-and-proud Beau Dawson, doesn’t believe he can.

Beau is infuriating but brilliant, and when he offers to help him on the field, Sebastian wants to say yes, but there’s one thing stopping him: the unexpected, inconvenient, and all-consuming crush he doesn’t want to have on Beau.

But Beau isn’t interested in playing it safe, with football or with anything else, and soon they’re embroiled in a hot—and secret—affair that would finish Sebastian’s career if Coach Dawson found out.

As Sebastian falls harder for Beau, he begins to realize that actually the worst thing in the world isn’t getting benched, but losing the man he loves.

Review: Crankshaft (Big Bull Mechanics #1) by K. M. Nuehold

Rating: 4.5🌈

I have been looking forward to this new release since the author’s announcement at the end of The Four Bears Construction series. That’s where we met the men of Big Bull Mechanics Shop, the other automotive shop in town, other than Dare’s, husband to Stone, one of the Four Bears.

Steele’s the owner of Big Bull Mechanics and half of the two POV narrative. He’s weighed down by the responsibilities of small business ownership, it’s long hours and his own feelings making it hard on relationships . Plus, the fact he’s always tasked with bailing out a 40 ish irresponsible younger brother.

His companion, his Husky puppy, Denali.

Dr. Porter Grant, Veterinarian, is our other perspective. He’s a character from Four Bears Construction series. There a intern , now he’s graduated and a Licensed Vet with his own clinic . But Porter is also someone suffering from overwhelming issues hitting him. First time vet, beginning small time business owner, no social life. And a big corporation wanting to buy his clinic or threatening to put his small veterinary clinic out of operation. That’s so much to handle on his own.

Nuehold makes us understand and completely relate to both men and the circumstances they find themselves in.

A one night stand that turns into awkward, clumsy meetings afterwards? Yup. Dates that don’t go as planned because one or both are just too exhausted to mentally or even physically show up? Yes. Nuehold gives us, and her wonderful characters, a firm foundation in every day reality. Steele’s late? He’s also covered in the appropriate grease and grime associated with working in a busy garage. Porter’s on call with animal emergencies that sound exactly right for the season. Lost dogs found overheated from running around in the hot summer day.

Love this that both men are defined so perfectly by their personalities and refined by their love of their jobs.

Even their romance, halting as it is as they work their way through layers of responsibilities into a relationship, is worked out in believable steps, one small barrier crossed at a time. Even their sexual relationship, when they actually have time to have it, is extremely hot!

I found myself absolutely connecting to this couple, and their romance.

Plus each comes with a host of friends that can be considered found family. For Porter, he’s adding a new one that I’m sure will have a story later on. Steele’s friends and brother’s books will follow as well. They are a interesting and wonderful bunch.

I’m looking forward to each and everyone getting their HEA!

Start here . It’s one I’m highly recommending.

Big Bull Mechanics series:

🔹Crankshaft #1

https://www.goodreads.com › showCrankshaft (Big Bull Mechanics #1) by K.M. Neuhold – Goodreads

Synopsis:

I don’t have time for a relationship, not even with the adorably dorky vet I can’t seem to stop bumping into… *sigh * pass the oil and lube

Between running a garage full of beefed up, gear head mechanics and bailing my idiot brother out of trouble every other week, the last thing I have time for is a relationship.

I’ve tried it too many times, and the ridiculous reasons I always find to end it have become a running joke around the garage. But I’ve learned my lesson. No. More. Boyfriends.

I don’t care how many times Porter falls asleep drunk in my bed or how cute he looks covered in oil smears while I teach him how to fix up the vintage car he has rusting away in his garage, I’m not going to fall for him.

Even if I did, what do a mechanic and a veterinarian have in common anyway?

It’s better if we’re only friends… friends who occasionally fiddle with each other’s crankshafts…

🔹Connected to The Four Bears Construction Company series.

Review: Play Dirty (Wages of Sin #2) by Onley James and Neve Wilder

Rating: 4.5🌈

Play Dirty, the second book in the Wages of Sin series by Onley James and Neve Wilder, is the story I thought I was going to get when I initially dived into this series about a group of contract killers.

In my first review I noted that two strong characters that stood out were Madigan and Sadie. It’s Madigan that’s featured here along with another assassin we previously met, the chemist Azrael, known as the angel of Death.

Unrepentant killers, each with a specialty that makes each a top assassin, Azrael and Mads start a bizarre race to see who can beat the other out of a commission. In the most erotic way.

Told from both man’s perspective it’s fascinating watching each killer’s thoughts on the bizarrely entertaining murderous race their having, the toll it’s beginning to have on themselves and their careers, and then the overall series arc that folds in.

These men are borderline psychopaths, but their past history suggests the potential for something deeper between them. It’s interesting, sexy, and funny. In a very dark manner.

And because it’s got crimes and murders strewn all through the story, it’s also highly suspenseful and full of action.

There’s blood play kink, some cutting, and just wild sex. These are still your assassins working out their relationship issues their own way!

Terrific ending and it’s leading up to the third book Head Case which features one of the main characters in their group and a new interesting character introduced here.

Can’t wait.

I throughly enjoyed Play Dirty. It’s dark contemporary romance with a murderous kink or two thrown in.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’m highly recommending it.

Wages of Sin:

🔹Bad Habits #1

🔹Play Dirty #2

🔹Head Games #3

https://www.goodreads.com › showPlay Dirty (Wages of Sin, #2) by Onley James | Goodreads

Synopsis:

“When you talk, chaos follows and I forget who I am.”

Madigan has spent his life indulging in the world’s most hedonistic pursuits, his skills as a sharpshooting killer-for-hire paying his way.

Azrael, an assassin referred to as the angel of death, is a chemist and a loner, his poisons as lethal as they are undetectable.

A chance encounter leads to a passionate night and a heated rivalry that spans years, but after they’re both offered a chance at big money by taking out elite targets on a mysterious hitlist, they find themselves once again in each other’s way. And then in each other’s arms.

Trust doesn’t come easily for either of them, but no matter how far they stray, fate always seems to pull them back together. In a profession where your partner is just as likely to kill you as kiss you, maybe trust is as close to love as they get?

Play Dirty is a steamy, action-packed thrill ride of a romance with a HEA and no cliffhangers. It features two stubborn rival assassins who can’t seem to stop tempting each other, a bit of knife play, a Die Hard-style Christmas, plenty of dark humor, and true love. Because even assassins deserve their soulmates. This is book 2 in the Wages of Sin series. Each book will follow a new couple.

Review: Below Stairs at Crofton Hall (Modern Crofton #3) by Rebecca Cohen

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Just that fantastic cover draws you to Below Stairs at Crofton Hall, third story in the Modern Crofton series by Rebecca Cohen.

Yes, that’s definitely Karl Vinter, new under butler, on the cover. The very portrait of his profession. Karl is maybe one of my favorites, aside from the main couple of course, and Dara.

From his unexpected exit from his last employer to the way he starts making Crofton Hall and it’s inhabitants, his home and extended family, is a subtle and charming story.

It’s a two-way love story. For Karl is in need of a place and people who not only accept him enthusiastically in every aspect, but allow him, through respect and kindness, to shine and grow his responsibilities (and friendships) in ways he never expected. And Crofton Hall, Ben, Ashley, Dara, get a subtly inspired under butler who’s becoming one of them, and irreplaceable.

Watching Karl fall in love with Crofton Hall, maneuvering through the hallways, and staff,and realizing he’s finally home? It’s everything.

The other element? That’s Val Blake, a younger gardener who’s come off an abusive relationship, lost a business, and a home. All at once. Prickly, basically a emotional mess when we meet him, Val and Karl start a friends with benefits relationship that fraught with anxiety and issues from the beginning.

Honestly it’s not really a relationship I rooted for. I liked Karl far more than Val. And while Val was admitting he was parroting the same toxic characteristics as his ex, it took a while and some pain he inflicts, before he seeks therapy. Realistically true to a person recovering from being gaslighted. It wasn’t until the end that he turned around, and it still seemed a little bit fast for everything that went before.

Maybe I got the timeline wrong and it had been longer since they’d seen each other.

Val’s section was written to feel like you had a window into the mindset of someone who was still so screwed up by the person who’s narcissistic personality had damaged him so badly to the point he was using it himself. It felt real, he was a train wreck, and he needed help.

That’s terrific writing.

The relationship between Karl and himself? Along the same lines. I loved Karl so much and Val had just started his therapy that I’d almost have loved to have seen them have a 2-part story to pull it out naturally.

But I’ll settle for this . That was a lovely ending. And of course there’s a fabulous secondary or even main romantic thread running with Ben and Ashley, that follows directly into the next story to be released in September.

Ben and Ashley’s thread is a romantic winner and absolutely sigh worthy at the end.

Highly recommending all the stories. It’s fantastic reading full of great characters and entertaining, romantic, and heartwarming plots.

Read them all in the order they are written.

BUY LINKS

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh – Black Jazz Design

Modern Crofton

🔹Book #1 – Saving Crofton Hall – Buy Here

🔹Book #2 – Making History at Crofton Hall – Buy Here

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-TBR September 2022

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

Karl Vinter joins the staff at Crofton Hall as the new under butler. He’s too busy to bother with relationships, but he’s more than happy to explore a friends with benefits arrangement with gardener, Val Blake. He couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to settle into is his new life at Crofton Hall. Pity pesky things like feelings start to get in the way.

Meanwhile, Ben Redbourn, 16th Earl of Crofton, is trying to find the perfect way to propose to Ashley, his boyfriend. He’s going to need all the help he can get, especially after at least one misstep and that he’s never given Ashley any indication he wants to get married.

This is the third 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.

Review: Making History at Crofton Hall (Modern Crofton #2) by Rebecca Cohen

Rating: 4.75 🌈

I fell in love with Crofton Hall when I started reading Rebecca Cohen’s historical romance series, The Crofton Chronicles. That featured Anthony, the 1st Earl of Crofton and the man who would forever hold his heart, the Elizabethan actor Sebastian Hewel. Those three books followed the incredible story of the twin Hewel siblings, a engagement that went weirdly, wonderfully awry, and then how two men thwarted the monarchy, the laws and the ton to stay together for their remaining days. All under disguises and slights of hand. Fantastic reading and a grand romance.

The first in the new series, Saving Crofton Hall, I read when it was written in 2014. Again. I loved being back in Crofton and watching the descendants of Anthony start to discover some of the secrets the Hall had kept hidden all these years.

Then nothing. The series was forgotten.

But now the author is writing this series once more and it’s amazing to return not only to Crofton Hall in the present but also to the fabulous love story of Anthony and Sebastian as their love letters and true romance is revealed to the present day occupants and people of Crofton Hall. And many more.

In every book we get two couples. The main couple of Ben Redbourn, 16th Earl of Crofton, and Ashley Niven, Events Manager at Crofton Hall, continues as their relationship deepens, moves past more obstacles that bring up Ashley’s sense of inferiority and inequality. How that’s worked out through their personalities and with help is real, a little painful and loving.

They are the series couple.

After them each book has its own couple to feature. Here’s its historian, Dara Callaghan, and TV producer, Nathan Lorimer. Both brought to Crofton Hall because of the TV series to be filmed there about the mystery of a extra casket in the ancient family vault and the identity of the person inside.

Dara gets hired to sort through what’s essentially rooms or buildings worth of history that Crofton Hall has stored within herself, including the letters and documents about the relationships of Anthony and Sebastian. Between Nathan and Dara, Ben and Ashley, and others the hidden story of a lifetime unfolds.

So does slowly a romance between Dara and Nathan. I have always loved Cohen’s ability to create such incredible characters that resonate so within the story. Nathan who’s grieving still the loss of his husband and trying to figure out how to move forward into another relationship. And Dara, the Irish romantic, who wants a real relationship, a man with a gentle heart, obsessed with history.

Great characters with stumbling blocks to a romance but friends all around who are there to lend a ear or bit of guidance to get both on the path to a working relationship.

It’s such a pleasure to read. It’s sexy, fun, with smart, dialogue. Everything just flies together so beautifully.

I highly recommend this series and the historical romance series that preceded it. I love the characters, the relationship dynamics, and the entwining threads of loves, lives, and families.

Read them in the order they are written for a grand and entertaining time!

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh – Black Jazz Design

Modern Crofton

Book #1 – Saving Crofton Hall – Buy Here

Book #2 – Making History at Crofton Hall – Buy Here

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 – TBR September 2022

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

Making History at Crofton Hall – Goodreads

Crofton Hall is buzzing with anticipation for the filming of the Secret Histories TV special about a scandalous affair that has been hidden for over four hundred years.

The hall’s new historian, Dara Callaghan, is drawn not just by the hall’s rich history but to TV producer, Nathan Lorimer. Nathan is finally ready to start dating again, several years after the death of his husband. There’s something about Dara, a quietly spoken Irishman, and the romance that surrounds Crofton Hall, that makes him want to take a chance.

Meanwhile, Ben Redbourn, 16th Earl of Crofton, is trying to persuade his boyfriend Ashley Niven that he’d like to don doublet and hose and play Sebastian to his Anthony. But Ashley’s not having any of it… until someone else agrees to the take the part of the 1st Earl of Crofton’s lover.

This is the second 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. While designed to be read as a standalone, events that lead to this novel follow chronologically from Saving Crofton Hall.

Trigger warnings: discussion of grief and dealing with bereavement

Review: Wicked Flame (Chicago Heat #2) by Ella Frank

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Wicked Flame, the second half of the Chicago Heat series, literally picks up almost a sentence after the end of Wicked Heat. The flow between the two books is close to seamless, making it ideal for a binge read.

As the relationship progresses between Ryan and Jameson, so does the deeply buried emotional issues become even more apparent. Ones Jameson realizes he needs to look at and deal with in order to move forward.

The elements are heavy ones. And Frank takes care when having her characters move through these sensitive areas with realistic feelings and believable behavior. When Jameson finally has that all important discussion with his sister about her addiction, it’s done for the right reasons and at the right time.

And all the scenes with Ryan’s family and the competitive curling? Warm-hearted fun that you could see contributing as a new element in Jameson’s life. Acceptance and joy.

Everything here, emotionally, kept moving the men forward. It’s sexy, wonderful, beautiful, and romantic.

Especially that last scene. Be still my heart!

Treat yourself to a fabulous two book series! Chicago Heat’s Wicked Heat and this, Wicked Flame!

Both wonderful romances you’re sure to enjoy!

Chicago Heat:

🔹Wicked Heat #1

🔹Wicked Flame #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showChicago Heat #2 – Wicked Flame – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Jameson
Life is hard. I learned that at an early age growing up on the South Side of Chicago. I accepted it, even came to expect it. With a sister who was a constant source of worry, and a track record of losing anyone even remotely close to me, trouble seemed to follow me no matter where I turned.

Some people were born lucky. I was just born.

That’s what I used to believe, anyway, until GQ. The gorgeous guy in the fancy clothes who for some reason decided to look twice at me. He gave me a place to call my own, a space to feel safe, and he made me believe in the impossible—that love was more than just a four-letter word.

Ryan
Life is unexpected. I learned that just recently when I walked into a bar on the South Side and found the love of my life—Jameson Clarke.

He’s everything I’ve always wanted, and yet somehow even better than I imagined. He’s brave, brash, protective of those he loves, and under all that bravado is a vulnerability that calls to my very soul.

Jameson’s a storm cloud, but he thinks I’m the sun. If that’s true, then I’m determined to break through the shadows of his past and steal his heart the way he’s stolen mine.

Wicked Flame is book two in Ryan Carrigan & Jameson Clarke’s story and should be read after Wicked Heat.

Review: Wicked Heat (Chicago Heat #1) by Ella Frank

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Wicked Heat is the first book of a two story series, Chicago Heat. It’s fantastic and, luckily, with both novels released, the reader is able to read one story after the other as I did.

Combined, they tell the story of the stumbling path to romance, love, and a lasting relationship between PA Ryan Carrigan and troubled CFD firefighter Jameson Clarke.

Both characters are perfectly defined by the author. Ryan by his job as a personal assistant to a popular cable network anchor, his family, and his personality that was formed by his upbringing. We immediately like him, then learn to adore him.

Jameson Clarke’s background is darker, layered in abandonment, drugs, the foster system, and the pain of loss. His is a story that’s slowly revealed as he begins to trust the relationship he’s building with Ryan.

How they meet, how they find each other, and all the many issues that arise between them are humorous, realistic, painful, emotional, and, especially sad when you consider how much gentrification is going on today.

It’s interesting that some of the characters from Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine’s Dare To Try series make appearances here, either by mention or by actually being a part of the story. Nice to see them again.

But the heart here is the developing relationship between Ryan and Jameson. It’s a great beginning. And it ends at midway with so much promise.

So do yourself a favor, pick both up if you love contemporary romances, and read on for the rest of their HEA.

I’m highly recommending both.

Chicago Heat:

🔹Wicked Heat #1

🔹Wicked Flame #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showWicked Heat (Chicago Heat, #1) by Ella Frank – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Ryan

Kind, caring, and protective. Those are the three qualities I’m looking for when it comes to my dream man. In a city as big as Chicago, you wouldn’t think he would be that hard to find, right?

Wrong.

Sure, my boss found a super-sexy detective and my best friend fell madly in love with the most eligible bachelor around. But the only person I’ve met recently is a broody bad boy who saved me at a sketchy pub.

He’s grumpy, rude, and honestly, not that likeable at all. Hardly my “dream” guy.

So why can’t I stop thinking about him?

Jameson

I don’t do friendships. I don’t do relationships either. The very last thing I’m looking for in life is to fall in love and live happily ever after.

So saving some rich guy from losing his wallet is the last thing I want to do on a Friday night. Especially when he looks like someone who just stepped off the cover of GQ.

Fate seems to have other ideas, though, and every time I turn around, he’s there.

A wicked heat simmers between us, threatening to ignite, and though I’ve been trained to put out the flames, I can’t help but think: What’s the worst that could happen if I let this desire burn out of control?

Wicked Heat is book 1 of 2 in Ryan Carrigan & Jameson Clarke’s story.

Review: Puck Drills & Quick Thrill (CU Hockey #5) by Eden Findlay and Saxon James

Rating: 4.5 🌈

I looked for this story after reading these authors’ new series , Puckboy. There ,some events and secondary characters that were referenced in Egotistical Puckboy , drew from this story.

Westly Dalton , who was the NHL player roommate and bestie of D-man Ezra Palaszczuk, is the man who left his career to raise his younger siblings after the death of his parents. Ezra makes an appearance here. Something that’s mentioned in his book.

So with all these crossovers, I needed West’s story. And his romance with math Professor Jasper Eckstein, who also pops up in the Puckboy novels.

Puck Drills & Quick Thrills is the fifth and last book in the CU Hockey series but I didn’t find my lack of reading any of the prior novels a issue.

Probably because the main characters aren’t college students but people who’ve had that experience and now are on campus to teach . For West, he’s back as an assistant Hockey Coach. And Jasper’s an unpopular math professor.

Eden Findlay and Saxon James make both characters very believable, both in their careers and in their current personal situations. For West, the painful reality of losing his dream of playing NHL hockey, of returning home to essentially shoulder the stressful responsibilities of a parent for five kids of various ages still in mourning. Ones he’s unprepared for. That’s realistically conveyed here as West feels overwhelmed, drowning in emotional issues, and a college age brother who resents him.

The personalities are just so well crafted.

Add to that volatile mixture is a Professor who dislikes athletes (with good reasons).

Jasper Eckstein is a man who’s history is full of instances of bullying, including one so horrific that it left permanent damage.

The culprits? Athletes.

This story is as much about letting go of the past, self acceptance, assumptions, as it is about two men so clearly in need of one another to find a way out of their past to a new future and family.

I really enjoyed the dynamics at play here. The barriers each man raised, the fear, and the courage it took for them to go forward.

The younger brother remains a bit of a hockey playing jerk. But as I expect him to show up in the Puckboy series, he’ll probably redeem himself there.

I’m highly recommending Puck Drills & Quick Thrill (CU Hockey #5) by Eden Findlay and Saxon James. It works as a integral part of both the CU Hockey series and Puckboy series. Or as a standalone.

I’m not going to read the others just yet. Too many on my TBR pile. But hockey romances! I’ll get to them. Because these authors write terrific characters, creating great stories, and leave me satisfied with the ending.

As Arnold would say “I’ll be back”.

I’ve put the list of the series below.

CU Hockey

🔹Power Plays #1

🔹Face Offs #2

🔹Goal Lines #3

🔹Line Mates #4

🔹Puck Drills & Quick Thrills #5

https://www.goodreads.com › showCU Hockey #5 – Puck Drills & Quick Thrills – Goodreads

WESTLY

The fall from NHL superstar to domestic disaster was swift and painful. When I became the legal guardian of my five younger siblings, I had no idea what I was doing.

One year later, I’m still lost.

Coaching CU’s hockey team might be the only thing I’m excelling at. But when our star forward is failing math, I have to do what it takes to keep him on the team. Even if it’s going head-to-head with Jasper Eckstein.

One minute I’m confronting the notorious hockey-hating professor, and the next I’m agreeing to be his date to his twenty-year high school reunion.

I don’t know how that happened.

JASPER

My rules are simple. I don’t give extra credit. Ever. No matter how entitled jocks think they are, I refuse to give them special treatment.

It’s not because I hate them. It’s not because a hockey player broke my nose in high school.

It’s fair.

But when Westly Dalton bursts into my office like a hurricane, all my principles fly out the window.

Suddenly I’m giving extra credit.

And I have a date to my reunion.

After one explosive night together, I want more, but his home life is a mess, and I don’t want to get in the way. If all we can have is quick thrills, I’m okay with that.

It’s not like I could ever fall for a jock.

Review: Last Gasp (Kip O’Connor Mystery #1) by S.C. Wynne

Rating: 3.5🌈

I’m a fan of the cozy mystery so I was interested when I saw this series by author S.C. Wynne.

It has all the elements one expects of the cozy mystery. Small town , Pearl Bay, where everyone knows everybody. Main character, Kip O’Connor, who’s lived there his entire life. And has a semi-unusual job, in this case a dog walking and animal day care business. With chatty employees who have a pipeline to the town’s gossip!

And a small town/village police chief who’s the would be romantic interest. Here it’s Police Chief Merrick Dawson, best friend of Kip’s older brother.

There’s a lot of history between Kip and Merrick, none of it pleasant as Kip was bullied by his brother and friends as a child. Something they’ve never apologized for.

I enjoyed the author’s characters and plots. It’s right along the lines of a cozy with several mysteries happening at once. And like any main character in this type of mystery,Kip, at one point, goes off to investigate on his own.

Unlike other novels where the plots and details are more gritty and the investigations are tightly realistic (and my expectations higher), the holes both in the exposition as well as in the small town police work just sort of blend together.

I think what bothers me most about the dynamics here between Kip and Merrick is the lack of communication. Merrick has known Kip all their lives. Merrick and Kip’s older brother played “pranks” on the much younger brother that to the present have caused emotional harm. Neither older man has ever apologized but expected Kip to “get over it”.

Even towards the end, after an explanation, there’s not a real connection or understanding of the harm that bullying causes.

Thats not a relationship or character that’s relatable for me.

The mysteries also had little complexity. While some might think that’s not a issue with a cozy, I’ve read many a cozy mysteries that layered their mysteries with greater depth and I’m missing that here.

The book ends with a promise of a friendship. And two more books in the trilogy.

I’ll probably save the rest for late summer reading.

If light cozy mystery with no romance is the thing for you, pick up Last Gasp (Kip O’Connor Mystery #1) by S.C. Wynne.

Kip O’Connor Mysteries :

🔹Last Gasp #1

🔹Last Date #2

🔹Last Chance #3

https://www.goodreads.com › showLast Gasp (Kip O’Connor M/M Mystery, #1) by S.C. Wynne | Goodreads

Cozy gay mystery romance.

Kip O’Connor lives a simple life in the little seaside town of Pearl Bay. Unless it’s tourist season, things tend to be pretty peaceful. There is, however, one never ending source of irritation in the form of Police Chief Merrick Dawson.

Merrick is Kip’s older brother’s BFF, and nothing seems to bring Merrick more joy than nagging Kip about silly things. You’d think a Police Chief would have more important things to do than lecture Kip on parking tickets and picking up pet waste, but somehow Merrick always finds the time.

Kip decides to take an art class at the local community college, and he’s annoyed to find Merrick has also enrolled in the course. The instructor takes a shine to Kip, and soon they become friends outside of class. Merrick warns Kip of the dangers of blurring those lines and befriending his teacher, but Kip is flattered by the attention.

When his art teacher is found stabbed through the forehead with a palette knife, Kip is determined to figure out who killed his new friend. Merrick naturally thinks Kip getting involved in the investigation is a horrible idea, but when has Kip ever listened to that irksome, pig-headed Merrick Dawson?

This is book one in my brand new Kip O’Connor M/M Cozy Mystery series. Each book has a cozy feel to it and there is a strong romantic (slow burn) story-line in each book. No on page steam but some mild violence. I hope you enjoy reading this series as much as I enjoy writing it.

Review: Remedy (Tulip Farm #1) by Alex Hall

Rating: 4 🌈

Remedy , the first in the Tulip Farm series by Alex Hall, is a very good contemporary story. The author certainly knows the show circuit or at least has done their research most effectively so that the world of competitive jumping, and later Dressage, is absolutely believable.

From the heartbreaking prologue to the story lines that involves the recovery of a high performance/level mare and rider , who were destined for the Olympics before a tragic accident sent both to various hospitals and clinics for surgeries and assessments.

Peter Griffin , one of the legendary McAuley-Griffin family and riding barns, is finally coming home after that devastating accident. But his future as a rider is unclear.

His mare is also at the barn, recovering, and waiting on a direction for her future too.

The key for both is Reed Androku. A Russian emigrant who’s specialty and passion is holistic equine rehabilitation, something that’s made them extremely well known in the equine world.

They are working for Peter’s sister at Tulip Farm and have use of another barn for their own animals.

Hall builds a great universe around this big Irish American family that’s equine royalty, their history and the Farm. Then brings in the haunting and painful background that arrives with Reed.

Reed works to bring Peter into decisions that need to be made about Annie’s future as a high level performance athlete, one’s Peter’s been ignoring as well as not dealing with his own.

These elements are real, grounded in the horse world, and , you genuinely get a great feel for all the characters as tenuous relationships and friendships are built over the knowledge and love of these animals.

The horse world, something I’ve been a part of my entire life (although not at this level) , the various levels of people you meet, the animals from show ponies to rescues are all well represented here.

Love every aspect of this part of the story and characters.

There’s other plots threaded into the romance one as well, including one that seems to overflow into the next book in the series.

There’s several mysteries, both of which have the culprits revealed but only one gets a semi resolution.

I would have been very happy with this book but a couple of things kept taking me out of the narrative. Things so easy to notice because frankly, it’s stands out. It’s a description Hall uses repeatedly to have Reed describe Peter’s eyes.

Once, twice even . Ok. But I was noticing this phrase so much that I started to guess when I’d see it next. Not a good thing when I’m paying more attention to counting certain words than content.

A few examples…

“Peter’s Lake Baikal eyes sparkled.”

“The gorgeous specimen in front of Reed rolled Lake Baikal eyes.

— Remedy (Tulip Farm Book 1) by Alex Hall

And when Lake Baikal eyes weren’t sparkling, then Reed’s eyes were peering up through their lashes…a lot.

Things like that should be caught, its ok to say blue. And Reed can just look up at Peter, without any lashes whatsoever coming into play.

When descriptions or phrases become overused to the point they are noticeable? Time to edit. At least in my opinion.

This book is so good without this taking away from the reader losing themselves in a lovely relationship and romance.

There’s another story coming soon. Absolute. I’ll be there to check it out.

If you’re a fan of Alex Hall, of contemporary romance, equine elements, this is a terrific place to go for all three.

Tulip Farms:

🔹Remedy #1

🔹Absolute #2 – summer 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showRemedy (Tulip Farm, #1) by Alex Hall – Goodreads

At just 28, Peter is one of the youngest athletes ever to secure a spot on Team USA’s Show Jumping roster for the Paris Summer Olympics. With the support a large, equestrian-centric family behind him Peter’s a shoo-in to win individual gold—

—until a freak on-course accident badly injuries Peter and the talented mare he’d been riding. Dreams of success in Paris quickly coming apart, he holes up at the family complex, Tulip Farm, to rehab and re-assess. His parents and three siblings try to keep his spirits up, but it’s hard to focus on the future when by night he’s plagued by reoccurring headaches and by day he can barely walk without pain.

Reed Androku has recently chosen to follow their passion: holistic equine rehabilitation. Tulip Farm – an immaculate facility run by the famous McAuley-Griffin clan – seems the perfect place to chase that dream, and when the family unexpectedly opens up Barn A to boarders, Reed jumps at the opportunity. They’ll happily take advantage of roomy stalls, heated arena, and state-of-the-art footing even if it means putting up with Peter Griffin, the family’s youngest son and ex-Olympic hopeful.

Peter needs healing, and a reason to hope. Reed’s got a knack for rehab and a soft-heart for hard cases, but they also have a dangerous secret. Fate throws Peter and Reed together, sparking a passion that could turn into something deeper, but first they must weather Peter’s recovery, the McAuley-Griffin family’s obsessive need to meddle, and Reed’s violent past.

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