Review: Christmas Lane (Lighthouse Bay #1) by Amy Aislin

Rating: 4.5 🌈

As we head into November, it’s time for the Holiday stories (and movies) to start being released.

And for those of us who love to read them (and watch them) to start our holiday feasting!

First up for me was the first in this adorable Amy Aislin Christmas series Lighthouse Bay. Currently running at two books, both holiday novels, it’s a great way to dive into your seasonal reading.

Christmas Lane is a heartwarming age gap, friends to lovers romance set in the appropriately snowy New England (and Hallmarky) town getting ready for its Christmas parade! It doesn’t get more holidayish ( I’m on a roll with yes, those absolutely should be words thing) then that.

Zach Greenfeld’s helping out his sister in the family’s, now hers, store while figuring out his next step. Turns out he gets roped into running the town’s parade, since event planning is his specialty, and ends up next to his forever crush.

Holland Stone, former teacher, now exclusive dollhouse maker and float designer … of his own. And Zach’s crush.

The slow burn romance between Zach and Holland occurs through a parade day countdown format which I love. Day by day as we get closer to the actual parade, the men grow closer through planning the parade, the details of each float, the disasters the arise, the community as it works together and the overall sense of achievement and love that pervades this story.

Everyone and everything has such warmth and depth to it. It may all be covered with the rosy glow of Christmas but by the end there’s no place or town and with no couple you’d rather be spending your time with.

Christmas Lane is charming, heartwarming and romantic. Just a marvelous way to start your holiday reading. I highly recommending it.

Lighthouse Bay series:

Christmas Lane #1

Gingerbread Mistletoe #2

Synopsis:

It’s recent college graduate Zach Greenfeld’s favorite time of the year and he’s just received a temporary gig planning Lighthouse Bay’s Christmas parade. Not only does it speak to his penchant for organization, it also puts him face to face on a daily basis with his unrequited crush–Holland Stone. But his new job starts off in disaster when the most important float–Santa’s sleigh–gets damaged.

Holland needs to win the Lighthouse Bay Christmas parade float competition in order to grow his new dollhouse-making business. The prize is an article in a major city newspaper, and nothing beats free advertising. Except, eager to help the adorable parade organizer, he volunteers to help fix Santa’s sleigh, leaving no time to work on his own float, and putting his prize at risk.

Damaged floats, snowstorms, and a last-minute parade emergency force Zach and Holland closer than ever. All they need is a little bit of Christmas magic to help them realize they belong together.

Christmas Lane is a sweet, May/December, small-town Christmas romance with an HEA!

Christmas Lane (Lighthouse Bay, #1)

Review: As Big As the Sky by Amy Aislin

Rating; 4.25🌈

It’s Amy Aislin’s m/m hockey romances that normally I gravitate towards but that’s primarily out of habit. This author writes a great catalog of contemporary romances that shouldn’t be missed.

That includes this sweet HFN love story As Big As The Sky.

It’s one of those that combines several tropes into a engaging, totally satisfying heartwarming romance. It’s got enemies to lovers, a bit of hurt/comfort. Even quirky animals courtesy of a animal rehab/rescue center. Plus characters we absolutely connect with and wish we could get more of.

The relationship between Sam and Bo is so interesting because the potential for not just a great romance but an amazing one runs through this tale. There is just so many neat elements here. It cries out for a more substantial telling, fleshing out the families relationships, as well as theirs.

Indeed, Aislin has built such a marvelous universe here that I feel so much of what the author incorporates isn’t given its due.

But what we do see as far as the dynamics between Sam and Bo? Incredible and heartwarming.

I love this couple and would love to see the author revisit them and this world again.

I’m definitely recommending this sweet romance and couple.

https://www.goodreads.com › showAs Big as the Sky by Amy Aislin – Goodreads

Sam McAuley isn’t having a great start to the summer. Served with papers? Great. He’s being sued. Perfect, pristine yard overrun with chickens? What the—? Clearly, the new guy running the animal rehabilitation centre next door has no idea what he’s doing.

It’s one town to the next, one school to the next, one job to the next for Bo Novak. Everything is temporary. Even his current job—running his sister’s animal rehab centre while she’s away on a four-month leave—is temporary. And he does know what he’s doing, thank you very much. Sure, things don’t always run smoothly, but the stick-in-the-mud next door could be a little nicer about it.

One overheard conversation, an olive branch, and a baseball game might show these guys that being at odds isn’t really what they want, and that what they want might just be each other.

[As Big as the Sky was first published in August 2017. This new edition has a brand new cover but no content changes.

Review: The Jock Script (The Script Club #3) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 5🌈

Lane Hayes is at her best when it comes to characters deeply anguished by choices they’ve made or failed to make in their lives. People who are now failing under the pressure, stress, and pain the situation they now find themselves in.

Hayes has that ability to deliver that pain, that shame and doubt directly into the readers hearts, connecting us to the characters and their life choices.

Here in book 3, the angst has never been so apparent, the pain of repression and it’s repercussions so widespread.

We start off with Asher Fitzgibbons,genius, works at NASA, immediate-goal to work at the JPL. He’s decided to, one time only, to hook up with a app for a one night stand.

Asher, diminutive blonde genius, has made a number of impactful appearances in the prior stories but here the tiny perfectionist is given his due.

Oh, what a complicated man he turns out to be, with a heartbreak of a past as a foundation.

The man on the other side of the app? That would be Blake Johnson, coach of girls LaCrosse at a posh private school , and very closeted bisexual.

At first you believe that all the anguish, the repression, and the pain is coming from Blake as he deals with years of self denial and the situations at school. This is heartbreaking stuff here.

But slowly it becomes apparent that Asher too is suffering from some deep emotional issues, and past trauma.

How both men work through all the issues and barriers to arrive at a satisfying relationship is a richly rewarding journey and wonderful read.

I adore these uniquely nerdy geniuses and the men they come to love. Apparently the series isn’t over yet. Another holiday novel and book four is coming.

Great characters, well written storylines, including some deep elements all leading up to heartwarming romances.

Yep! Highly recommended!

The Script Club Series:

Following the Rules #1

Rules of Play #2

The Jock Script #3

The Holiday List #4- coming Nov 2021

Synopsis;

The nerd, the coach, and the hookup…

Asher-

Swipe left, swipe left, swipe left. Sure, the idea of a quick, no-strings intimate rendezvous via hookup app sounds oddly thrilling, but it’s simply not me. Or maybe it is me, because it happened…and I liked it. Until I realized he looked familiar for a reason. A bad reason. Now I’ve made a faux pas with the sexiest man on planet Earth, and my internal karma system requires me to fix it. Help!

Blake-

I may seem like I have it together, but the truth is, I’m a hot mess. I’m so deep in the closet that I can’t remember my real name some days. That’s okay. The benefit of one-night stands is anonymity. Until Asher. Not a total surprise. I’ve always had a thing for geeks, but I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s a pint-sized dynamo on a quest for perfection who can help me come out…if I follow his script.

Hmm. I’m in.

The Jock Script is an MM bisexual, geek/jock romance starring a bowtie wearing nerd, a sexy lacrosse coach, and a shenanigan inducing script!

The Jock Script

Review: Rules of Play (The Script Club #2) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 5 🌈

I really wondered about this story because of the character of George.

That’s tall, cape wearing, genius who’s been a bit of an enigma although he’s gotten a lot of page time within the series to date.

Nice trick. Very vampire like.

So who’s he’s paired up with becomes as much as a surprise as he is . And that makes this story more satisfying all the way.

Rules of Play helps fill in George’s important adolescence stage as well as advance the timeline for the focus group of friends. We get his past and see the entire group more settled into jobs or relationships.

Maturity is advancing,,,, somewhat…

But the person about to come back into George’s life is someone very familiar and close to George’s family.

Aiden is one of Simon’s best friends, and Simon is one of George’s older brothers. Aiden also spent much of his younger years at the Murphy house because of his parents dysfunction and love of alcohol.

A broken down car and a night rescue is all it takes to bring Aiden ,as a mechanic, back into George’s life. George’s boss’s unfortunate love life will keep him there as they plot a way for Newton to romance the girl of his dreams.

Close proximity and really heated libidos bring about all sorts of changes in their relationship, including ones Aiden never anticipated. One where he just might be bisexual.

Complicated characters, realistic situations, emotionally charged conversations about sexuality, and, friendship. All those elements wrapped up in a great romance.

Lane Hayes delivers a marvelous tale full of humor, lusty scenes, warmth and love.

This series continues to evolve and get better with each story.

Love this and everyone novel. Recommending them all.

The Script Club Series:

Following the Rules #1

Rules of Play #2

The Jock Script #3

Synopsis:

The genius, the ex-jock, and a new playbook…

George-

My brother’s friend is hot—if you’re into flannel-wearing lumbersexual former jocks who eat donuts for dinner and still scribble to-do lists on their palms. I’m not. I’m a serious scientist in my final year of grad school. Okay, I admit I have few quirks of my own. I also have a broken truck and a boss who thinks I can help him find love. I’m in over my head. Help!

Aiden-

A few quirks? Really? George is the weirdest dude I know. He wears capes in public, brings a book everywhere he goes, and loves all things spooky. He’s also the smartest person on the planet—who somehow thinks I can help him write a How-To-Get-A-Date playbook for his boss. Yeah, that sounds suspicious. I know baseball; I don’t know anything about love. But I can’t say no. The thing is…I’ve always had a soft spot for George. But falling for my best friend’s brother is against the rules, isn’t it?

Rules of Play is an MM bisexual awakening story where opposites attract and shenanigans ensue!

Review: Following the Rules: (The Script Club Book 1) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Lane Hayes has another great series in The Script Club, winning me over immediately with the first novel which introduces us to the central characters and universe.

Following the Rules also sets out the formal by which all the rest of the romances and stories will follow.

There is a main group of genius’ friends in their last semester of grad school. They have similar intellects and are pursuing careers in Aerospace engineering generally, but more complicated. I’ll let each character describe it. Take my word for it… space, NASA, ….

All are huge nerds in different ways, which makes each a vastly unique personality.

First up is Christopher “Topher” Thornton, aerospace engineer studying Astrodynamics… and I’ll leave the rest to him. He’s in need of money as a grant and summer job fell through. His friend, George (and roommate) suggests that his brother Simon needs help to make it through his college courses while he waits to see if he’ll return to the NFL.

That brings up all sorts of issues for Topher as “jocks” both attract him and end up being his Kryptonite.

Simon Murphy, ex NFL player, George’s brother, was cut by his NFL team after a series of injuries, including a number of concussions. Now that he’s finished rehab, he’s enrolled in college to finish his degree while waiting to see if his agent can get him back in a NFL team.

But he’s having trouble with his courses, especially the math snd science so it’s George or more specifically Topher to the rescue.

Except straight Simon starts to realize he’s extremely attracted to Topher in every way.

This is a terrific series that deals a lot with a person examining their perceptions about their own sexuality and then realizing that perhaps they’ve either been repressing or denying their true selves until now.

That meeting, here it’s Topher, the person that makes them able to want to “come out” for themselves and live their truth is everything.

Hayes’ characters are always so well done. They feel so unique but never stray into the cartoonish. Like Topher and Simon, they are opposite personalities but layered enough to feel vulnerable and open to both hope and disappointment.

Theirs is a funny, sweet, and a bit dramatic (of course) romance. It’s lovely and a great way to launch this series.

I’ll tell you right now I adore them all!

And highly recommend them, starting here.

The Script Club Series:

Following the Rules #1

Rules of Play #2

The Jock Script #3

Synopsis:

The geek, the jock, and a new set of rules…

Topher-

My friend’s brother needs an academic assistant and I need a job. Problem…jocks are my weakness. Seriously. I lose my ability to speak coherently around muscle-bound hotties. Oh yeah, I lose my inhibitions too—not a good look for a guy with a genius IQ. So what am I going to do about Simon?

Simon-

Finishing college isn’t high on my list of priorities, but my future in professional football is looking bleak. I need a plan B or C, and I could use some help navigating life as an undergrad. Topher is perfect. He’s also a little strange…but in a good way. And I like the way I feel when I’m around him—as though anything is possible. Maybe if we follow our hearts, we’ll find what we’re looking for. But that means changing the rules…

Following the Rules is a MM, bisexual awakening romance starring a lovable nerd, a cool jock, and some extracurricular fun.

Nerd/Jock MM Romance

Following the Rules (The Script Club, #1) by Lane Hayeshttps://www.goodreads.com › book › sho

Review: Got Me Wishing (Vet Shop Boys #2) by Casey Cox

Review: 4.5🌈

As much as I adored the beginning book in this series? Got Me Wishing just made the series and universe even better.

It brought in heavier themes such as addiction, animal abuse, forgiveness, redemption. It even weaves in kink shaming and how the judgements you make impact others. All done very sensitively and beautifully by the way. All while allowing the romance to remain center stage.

Yes, this story unpacks a lot besides a very romantic and emotionally rewarding love affair turned HEA.

Fulton Meyer, 34 yo vet, BFF to Noah Walters (Got Me Hoping #1), immediately turned into a favorite character of mine out of all the vets and peripheral people in and around the Vet Shop Boys Animal Clinic.

Prone to snarky lines, a funky fashion sense, and a seemingly endless supply of great t-shirts from Etsy that proclaim things like “I Kissed A Pug And I Liked It ~Kitty Purry”😂🙌… well there was just something about Fulton!

He needed his HEA! Plus there was some mystery going on as to why no man had ever stuck around.

Now in Got Me Wishing we get Fulton’s story. Casey Cox delivers the painful personal history that has made him who he is today, including the fact he’s so lonely. Except for all his cats of course. All eight of them.

Into Fulton’s crazy life comes Bishop Turner in one adorable “meet cute” scene turned lusty!

From poignant to adorable to funny to sexy, this introduces shouts destiny!

Trust me, you’ll be into this couple as quickly as they are … uh hem… into each other.

But the relationship? And actually getting to know one another? Each other’s layers? That take time .

This is a story of trust earned, pasts revealed, and love that comes slowly to those that need and deserve it.

I just love everything about this story. Beautiful elements, new characters, so many thoughtful moments between Fulton and Bishop as they explore their romance and future, as well as open up about their past.

If this is any indication where the rest of the series and romances are headed, I can’t wait.

Next up is poor befuddled, broken hearted Gus.

I highly recommend every story and in the order written. Take the journey with all the Vet Shop Boys. It’s one I myself am eagerly anticipating.

Vet Shop Boys series so far:

Got Me Hoping #1

Got Me Wishing #2

Got Me Looking #3- coming in January 2022

Synopsis:

A half-birthday + a second chance = one true love? As. If.

Who needs a man when I’ve got cuddly kittens?

No one’s ever wanted me once they discover my secret. I guess that’s why I’ve thrown myself into my work as a veterinarian, as well as become the proud paw-rent to my eight cat rescues. I’ve even managed to convince myself I’m purr-fectly happy being single.

So when Bishop, a handsome stranger, strikes up a conversation, I don’t expect it to lead to anything else. There’s no way a guy wanting to start over is interested in love. So why has Bishop got me wishing for something more?

Review: Hijacked (Licking Thicket: Horn of Glory #1) by Lucy Lennox and May Archer

Rating: 2.75🌈

You know those books about the professional security agencies with highly trained agents with specialized skills ? Ones who are extremely cool under stress and focused on the job and clients? Even if a romance seems pending, they don’t loose their professional patina or come off as comical.The novels with plots dealing with drug cartels so criminally vile that the scenes and storylines come across as realistically gritty? Those books?

Yeah, this isn’t those.

Hijacked is more a “eye roll” emoji, suspend your belief sort of tale. The type where you can’t believe anyone actually does the jobs they’re supposedly doing but , hey, the novel is fun so let’s just roll with it shall we?

If you can do that, you enjoy this story, otherwise no.

If you can’t put aside your need for any sort of reality check, then this is just one big “ yeah, no”.

The characters, from dialogues that range from “local yokel “ cringe worthy (really… they sound right out of the Beverly Hillbillies) to South Park cartel style criminals, nothing here says take me seriously.

Scene after scene of situations where nothing feels believable , written by the author, so purposely really bad judgment on everyone’s part, just keeps occurring.

Like , the drug cartels guards who most likely are crazy homophobic are coming down the hall so let’s have sex now! SMH!

They, of course, just assume there’s no cameras or listening devices so it must be ok. Because, duh… professional.

So yeah… entertaining on a fun, cartoony way. Quick read . No depth of character and the plot is one that continues into book 2.

Yep, it’s a series.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, you have several books to look forward to.

Synopsis:

Renowned cardiologist Carter Rogers is used to having things under control. His life, his prestigious reputation, his career, his future.

Things he can’t control this time around:

• His meddling grandfather

• His annoying gamer cousin

• Buggy South American jungles

• Being the meat in a feuding cartel sandwich

• Getting kidnapped by a monologuing drug lord

•Falling for the very hot, very mouthy ex-soldier from his past

In short, Carter’s peaceful, well-planned life has been… hijacked

Hijacked (Licking Thicket: Horn of Glory #1)

Review: Offside Rules (Met His Match) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4 🌈

Sometimes love takes balls.

A very sweet, sexy contemporary romance that I throughly enjoyed. It’s just the lovely HEA tale that Louisa Masters writes so well that it feels easy and the story flows so smoothly from start to finish.

There are peripheral characters that form a cohesive group of friends garnered from other stories in this series. That’s a great element as we love getting to interact with all of them again, depending where u are in reading the Met His Match stories.

The main characters of Simon Wood, retired footballer ( that soccer for us in the US) and Lucian Morel are very well crafted, each fascinating on their own and beautiful when drawn together as a couple. Especially when facing obstacles and life challenges.

There’s a wonderful center theme of a charity to help underprivileged children obtain their goals which I appreciated and thought was well executed.

All in all, a great sweet romance in a contemporary series you might want to put on your TBR list!

Met His Match Stories:

Charming Him

Offside Rules

A Christmas Chance

Between the Covers

Synopsis:Taking on his next challenge. His plan for a charity to provide funding for underprivileged children to pursue football as a career has passed its first hurdle: he has backers and an executive consultant. Now it’s time to get the ball rolling.

Lucien Morel, heir to the multibillion-euro Morel Corporation, is shocked—and thrilled—to learn his father has volunteered him as consultant to a fledgling football charity. Better yet, the brains behind it all is heartthrob Simon Wood, his teenage idol and crush.

Although Simon and Lucien get off on the wrong foot, it’s not long before they’re getting along like a house on fire—sparks included.

But with the charity under public scrutiny, can their romance thrive?

Previously published as The Athlete and the Aristocrat

https://www.goodreads.com › showOffside Rules by Louisa Masters – Goodreads

Review: Dearest Milton James by N.R. Walker

Rating: 4.75🌈

I just love this story! It just ticks so many of the “make me gush out loud” boxes when I think of stories that just hit me right in the heart.

Starting with the fact that, yeah, it’s N.R.Walker, who’s able to do that book after book.

Then it’s that dead letter theme. Beautifully written, emotionally fraught messages from the past that emerge, lightly dust laden, to prompt an incredible journey , one that also turns into one of self discovery and often love. Whether it ends in a bittersweet , heartbreaking revelation or one of heart-stopping joy, those letters from the past represent a haunting mystery that grabs both at your mind and heart.

I can name movies, tv series, novels,…and this theme never becomes tired or shallow. Because the potential for pain and for hope is too huge here no matter the media. Our minds are already reaching out for the ending, we want to know what happens….

In Walker’s hands, we’re in for an emotional, heartwarming journey. Our introduction to the “dead letter office “ is through the amazing, delightful, effervescent character, Malachi Keogh as he’s being ushered onto its premises and his first day on the job by his father.

I’ll not go into the details as I’ll leave that to Malachi and the story to relate. It’s a gem by the way.

There, Malachi meets his boss, Julian Pollard, all sexy and well, beige. Then a cast of characters to charm your socks off, co workers you will become so intimately familiar with as to feel they are part of your regular lives. Much as they become a deep part of Malachi’s.

Julian’s , eyes gleaming with quiet humor and enjoyment, is an absolute jewel of a man and character. Such a memorable Walker personality in a ocean of them! He’s so perfect for Malachi!

I love that their romance proceeds with communication, humor to go with outstanding chemistry and off the charts dynamics! Love this couple.

The letters at the heart of the mystery and story title grabs your heart and rattles poignantly to get your attention . You can easily imagine the era they were written in and the couple involved.

And like Malachi, you fear for the outcome and the revelation as you get closer to finding the person who wrote them.

No spoilers here. But this romance is all about finding your place and true love as Malachi does.

It’s a story you will want to put under comfort reads. And recommend to others.

That’s exactly what I’m doing now. Beautifully written, memorable characters, incredible story. Pick it up and read it now.

Just a small picky note: one thing that is sure to get me is the disappearing animal character in a story, it sort of happens here. It surprised me because Walker is huge with her animals in books. So when Buster is a fun, very much alive animal character I was disappointed not to see that Malachi hadn’t in some way appropriated him for themselves because clearly he was theirs and not the neighbors.

I imagine him still waiting by that window door for it to be opened and I’m so sad.

Review: Got Me Hoping (Vet Shop Boys #1) by Casey Cox

Rating: 4.25🌈

New author, new story, new series!

Got Me Hoping is the first in Casey Cox’s new Vet Shop Boys contemporary romance series and it’s a winner.

Sweet, heartwarming, light, and romantic! Plus animals! Because it centers around a veterinary clinic and the vets that work there.

Vet Shop Boys is the name of the clinic, a twist on the 80’s boy band .

I liked the series setup and characters immediately. Each one engaging and adorable. Plus soooo in need of a HEA that you can’t wait for each person’s story.

First up is Noah Walters, 34 year old vet with three broken relationships behind him. He’s gorgeous, kind, giving, and uncertain about opening up to another heartbreak.

He’s also owner to the adorable Buddy, a golden retriever!

It’s at the vets favorite bar, where a game of Never Have I Ever reveals that Noah’s a complete stranger to one-night stands. It’s not something he would do.

But a meeting that night changes his mind and future.

Haze Adams is at a bar when he sees a gorgeous man and has a one night stand that changes his world. The man is gorgeous, kind, funny, and their connection is unlike anything Haze has ever experienced.

Haze is a terrific character. Full of doubts about himself, his own direction in life, and pain caused by his last relationship, he too is caught unaware by his feelings towards Noah.

This wonderful tale of unexpected love, rearranged goals and a new combined future is just so lovely.

We get to know everyone at the clinic, plus people important to Haze who will, I expect, be popping up in stories down in the series….*cough* Tate.

There’s Gus the clinic owner, what a mess,there’s Chase, and of course, Fulton , Noah’s BFF vet with all his hilarious t-shirts. Honestly, the author must have had a great time looking at Etsy and other sites for the sayings and those exact shirts! Plus I need now to know what’s the mystery about Fulton?

Luckily, his story is up next! So I don’t have to wait long.

I love finding new authors and books! Here I get a series too! So happy!

I’m definitely recommending it!

Vet Shop Boys series:

Got Me Hoping (Vet Shop Boys, #1)

Got Me Wishing (Vet Shop Boys #2) out Oct 4th

Synopsis: It’s just a one-night stand, they said. It’ll be simple, no-strings fun, they said. They. Lied.

I’m done with love and being broken-hearted. The only dogs I want to deal with are the ones I treat in the veterinary clinic I work at.

But at thirty-four, having my first one-night stand can’t hurt. Right? The rules are pretty simple.

1. Don’t spend the night.

2. Don’t see him again.

3. Don’t share anything personal.

4. Don’t fall in love with him.

But when Haze, the guy I spent a blazing hot night with and haven’t been able to forget about, shows up as our new receptionist, the rules fly out the window.

There’s no way one night could lead to anything more. So why has Haze got me hoping this might just last?

Got Me Hoping is book 1 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect plenty of humor, found family, an adorable golden retriever, a foul-mouthed parrot, a whole new way of getting clean (as well as very, very dirty) and a heartwarming happily ever after

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