I quite adore this Regency series. After the last romance with the intense and highly intelligent Lord Christmas Gale and several murders at the center, I wasnāt sure what awaited me here with this couple.
Yes we were given glances of the pair in book 2 but I wasnāt quite prepared for the dry and funny opening here. Honestly, it reads like a Tale of Two Twits, albeit very well dressed and well bred ones.
But this is Rock and Henry , so the twits at hand who are about to make their debut and have their first Season , have a rivalry that starts to spiral immediately into a story of personal growth, a bit of sexy romping about, some madcap adventures and finally true love.
Yes our lovely boyish twits of fashion and the Tonne become young vulnerable and often poignant men who, after some introspection and advice, find the lives theyāve lead a bit lacking in kindness and decide on a new path, together. Happily.
Itās really a kind, sweet, story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Plus it sets up one Iāve been dying to read. That of Lord Soulden. Thatās next up in A Sanctuary for Soulden.
This a just a remarkably great and romantic series, each story contains bits of the others and their characters who are truly noteworthy.
Read them in the order they are written for a simply splendid romantic Regency journey. I recommend all those releases to date.
Series – The Lords of Bucknall Club
A Husband for Hartwell #1
A Case for Christmas #2
A Rival for Rivingdon #3
A Sanctuary for Soulden #4. – coming soon
Synopsis.
He must marry well, to secure his fortune.
The Honourable Loftus Rivingdon is poised to make his debut into Society. Heās beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. If only he could find the right hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Loftus has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Loftus knows just the peerāthe dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing thereās nothing standing in his way.
He must also marry well, to secure his fortune.
The Honourable Morgan Notley is poised to make his debut into Society. Heās beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. And he has just found the perfect hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Morgan has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Morgan knows just the peerāthe dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing thereās nothing standing in his wā
Damn it all to hell.
Their ambitions collide.
When Loftus and Morgan both set their sights on Soulden, the rivalry of the Season begins. Their mutual hatred escalates into spite, sabotage, and scandal, as all of Society eagerly waits to see which diamond of the first water will prevail. Except the course of true loathing, just like true love, never did run smooth. The harder they try to destroy each other, the closer they come to uncovering each otherās deepest vulnerabilitiesāand the more difficult it becomes to deny the burning attraction between them.
A Rival for Rivingdon is the third book in the Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance. The Lords of Bucknall Club can be read in any order.
Itās officially hockey season again and Iād thought Iād celebrate by reviewing a hockey romance by a favorite author who loves this sport and itās athletes as much as I do.
This sport seems to attract wonderful writers who are just as obsessed by its fast paced athleticism and unbelievable drama on ice as itās gorgeous international teams of talented, intense athletes.
Lucky us, the readers!
Risking the Shot is the fourth story in Aislinās Side Stick series, a fantastic group of hockey romances if you arenāt familiar with it yet. Mostly centered around a certain group of LGBTG players in various stages of coming out, finding love, and what the ramifications are for their careers in the NHL, itās a great and varied journey.
Taylor āTayā Cunningham, a forward for Toronto is bisexual and at ease with his sexuality. However, heās ready to come to come out to the public,tired of hiding his truth. Itās a matter of timing. Thereās his teamās run for the playoffs, his college courses, and then the new guy heās seriously crushing on, the single dad from the Foundation.
Tay is such a likable, well rounded character. Easy to picture, so relatable and adorable. The issues he has that become clear? They are ones people see in other families and can connect to.
The man heās crushing on? Single dad and part-time baker Dakota Cotton, brother to another NHL player in Burlington ( we will see him later). Dakota comes with a realistic and absolutely adorable 4 year old boy, Andy.
The relationship and work the men do on themselves, the trust issues, communication channels, goals for themselves and as a coupleā¦ we watch it all get worked through with so much love and care. With a great amount of very hot sex thrown in. Fans self. Plus the added joy of a growing family dynamics with Andy who has his own abandonment issues because of his mother.
I love this little family group so much.
The wonderful addition of the quirky, fascinating characters flowing around them is just that depth of storytelling that gives this series that spice and oomph to make it stand out.
Iām really not ready for book 5 to roll out, not if it means an end to another hockey series. Sigh. I mean the season just got started.
Yes Iām highly recommending this and the series. Start reading in the order they are written. And enjoy!
On an aside note. If you love scotch, this is also a wonderful tour through some of the best scotch brands out there. Iām a scotch person myself and while the author listed many I was familiar with and had tasted, she had some that were complete unknowns and had me making notes. Ty, Amy Aislin!
Synopsis:
Time for distractions? Hardly.
A chance at making the playoffs? Itās a dream for NHL forward Taylor Cunningham that just might come true. If he can keep his eyes on the ballāahem, puck. And study for midterms. Dakota Cotton, eleven years his senior, isnāt just a distraction, thoughāheās everything Tayās ever wanted.
Dakota has no interest in introducing someone who might not stick around to his four-year-old son. Been there, done that, with the divorce to prove it. But thereās something about Tay that hits all of the right buttons and has him wanting to take a chance.
As things heat up between them, and the pressure to succeed hits an all-time high, will they risk a shot at happiness or choke?
Resilient Heart is an expanded short story that appeared in an earlier released collection of stories. Here the author has added an additional 10k words to give her characters a closure to their romance.
I didnāt read the first version and love this author so I thought this was a new release and took it that way when reading it.
Albert takes on some very hard, emotionally traumatic themes in Resilient Heart. Very current and tragic ones that are still impacting families and the country today. Thatās our disabled veterans, and their dire need for support and treatment. Itās just not from our current wars and engagements but also from Desert Storm and wars past. The effects of war donāt cease to exist because the war does, history has taught us that.
Itās a lesson Iām not sure weāve learned.
These themes are woven through a years long relationship/romance between two soldiers. Mackie and Xander. Itās Xander whoās in need of support and treatment, not that heās accepting it.
Xanderās life is shattered along with his NETCOM unit when a IED exploded under their truck, killing most, leaving Xander scarred and an amputee. You might say Xander stands in for that population of our disabled vets, angry, depressed, a victim of PTSD and with a body he no longer recognizes.
A two person POV narrative helps the reader get under Xanderās mindset all the times heās struggling with his emotional and physical ābattlesā and losing. Xanderās not comprehending what is happening to him mentally or equipped to deal emotionally with his disability and ending his career with the Army.
Mackey is harder to connect with here for me because much of the information heās withheld from Xander is also withheld from the reader. Heās back in Xanderās life, after totally realigning his career for Xander and Xanderās rehabilitation. This after years of apparently a friends with benefits only relationship. Nothing more.
Even with Mackieās perspective, Iām not sure I didnāt agree with Xander most of the time here and think nope, no clarity. Itās a complete guilt trip for Mackie.
So when the truth does come out, and the climax of the story hits, it works against the romance for me in a way perhaps the author didnāt intend.
Mackie not only never gave Xander any options or opportunity to have any say but even after itās out, Xander never completely āownsā his truth. Calls himself a coward but never tells Mackie the truth, his truth about those decisions. What he, Xander, would have done given the opportunity. Instead, he keeps it āhidden ā. No clarity between them still.
Felt wrong, felt like an imbalance in this relationship. Just my opinion.
The event does get Xander into therapy and medication is realistic. It ends well for him.
Just an aside. Walter Reed or the Naval Medical Hospital as it both known here locally is 243 acres of clinics, doctors and specialists. Itās sits across the street from NIH, which Iām very familiar with. It too is a small city at its head is a certain Dr. Fauci. National Institute of Health is a small city of 300 acres of buildings, clinics, doctors and scientists. Itās not unusual to see uniforms walking between campuses and white jackets scurrying under the lights across 355 as workdays and worlds intertwine.
Albert certainly gets the area right.
However, Walter Reed has just 244 hospital beds available. The local area alone? Home to Fort Derrick , Andrews AFB, Ft McNair, Joint Base Ft Myer-Henderson, Ft Meade, Aberdeen, more than I can name off the top of my head. You have any idea how many military are deployed in and around this area? 244 beds? Do the RL disabled vets get the same type of experience as Xander? Immediate response to the need for assistance, for therapy, and support? Not really, most donāt.
I only wish it were so.
While I enjoyed the romance Iām not sure a short story can unpack all the aspects of the huge themes and emotional elements Albert was trying to deal with here and do them justice.
There was too much left to discuss in what Mackie had done , to them and their relationship as well as what the repercussions had meant going forward. That was sort of brushed off.
As was his depression and PTSD. That was taken care of far more easily then it often happens in RL. The reality I know of the VA and the disabled veterans clashes too much with the rosy picture painted here.
So yes, some lovely things and some things that seem less than realized. I think thatās due primarily to the length and not the author.
If you like Annabeth Albert, you might have already read this story and will enjoy the relationship epilogue.
Her Out of Uniform series are terrific and Iād look there for a great series to start.
Synopsis:
Originally released as part of the Unconditional Surrender bundle, now available as a stand-alone novella complete with BRAND-NEW 10,000 word short story/epilogue. When a wounded soldier is forced to accept help from his former best friend, both men discover the true strength of their entwined hearts.
Army IT specialist Xander keeps his emotions wired as tight as his NETCOM gear, but when heās seriously injured by an IED, his whole life unravels. Running out of options, Xander must accept help from his ex-friend-with-benefits, Mackey. However, Xanderās had feelings for Mackey for years, and close quarters only complicates his emotions. Further, Xander doesnāt know which is worse: combating his inner demons or dealing with Mackeyās guilty kindnesses.
Mackeyās always kept his emotions close to his chest, but now heās got a secret that could destroy his one chance with the man he cares far too much for. Both men will have to heal their wounded hearts to ensure a future together.
Entwined Future: In this new short story, Mackey has news that could change everything for him and Xander, but a visit from Xander’s family jeopardizes Mackey’s plans–and forces Xander to confront some harsh truths
Recently Iāve been reading books with older characters, in their 40ās and one aspect Iāve appreciated about these stories from various authors is the open and adult communication that flows between most of these characters.
Firefly Lane is a great example of this level of open communication. It exists not just among the primary characters but also throughout the community of the town of Harmony, whether itās blunt questions or advice. Itās still on the open adult communication scale .
Hartās themes for this story run the gamut from the ability to grow and change oneās outlook, no matter your age to the notion that finding your true home has no timetable. Even such basics as you arenāt your parents. Thereās a multitude of storylines here. All unpacked with care and intelligence.
At the heart of the story is not a couple of men but more a intersecting triangles of families, all of equal importance to this story and beautifully crafted.
The first family that launches the novel and action is that of two siblings. Holden Barnett, pilot out of Atlanta, and his estranged younger sister, Marilee Young, and her teenage son Sean. The sister and son in deep need, living in Harmony, NC.
The second family, one thatās deeply established and well liked in town is that of Monroe āRoeā Covington of the huge Covington family, his teenage son Wyatt who he had with his best friend Lindsey. Roe is out gay man to all around him and has been since his teenage years, although his closeness to Lindsey has people thinking , wrongly, they still might get together.
The foundation Hart starts to lay down here for the series is solid. We feel a warm, layered community, full of interesting people, some busybodies, many far more intriguing and caring.
And as we see our way around Harmony and get to know the citizens, the past histories and real issues are coming to the surface within the two families.
Itās never just problems with Holden and Marilee and Sean. Because their heavy issues impact Roe, Wyatt, and Lindsey. All as we watch, we see parents/uncles weighing what effect their adult relationships will have on their sons as well as their sons/nephews relationships. Yes, people actually acting as responsible adults. Love it.
All the while, keeping the romance sexy, endearing, and vulnerable.
Thereās also a back history of parental abuse ( mentioned , never seen) with Holden and Marileeās folks as well as Seanās father Adam, Marileeās absent husband. That plays into much of the story here, and finally figures into the personal growth.
I found this to be a terrific story. So many layers, great characters and foundation Town to get acquainted with.
I canāt wait to the next in the series and eagerly look forward to seeing all these people and couples once more.
Synopsis: At forty-three, Holden Barnett is getting along just fine. His job as a pilot keeps him from getting restless, and heās got a man who doesnāt want promises for the future. One phone call from his estranged sister changes everything. She needs his help, so Holden drops everything and heads to Harmony, a small town in Briar County, which represents everything heās tried to avoid in life.
Monroe Covington is forty-five and happy. He loves his lifeārunning his store, helping at his familyās farm, and spending his days with his best friend, Lindsey, and their son, Wyatt. Sure, half the town likes to forget heās gay, and heād love for the queer population to be bigger, but Roe makes do. He misses dating, relationships, and a man to hold at night, but at least he gets new eye candy when Holden, the brother of the woman whoās renting his cabin, shows up.
The attraction is instant, the friendship not far behind, but between Holdenās initial relationship status, family complications, and the two of them wanting different things, theyāre a disaster waiting to happenā¦only it doesnāt feel that way, not with how much time they spend talking, laughing, and eventually, tumbling into bed, a field, or the back of a truck together. The closer they get, the more Holden realizes that just being fine isnāt enough, and Roe begins to see that his life isnāt as complete as he thought. Now, if they could only sort out the rest of itā¦
Firefly Lane is a small town, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers summer romance with no cheating, mature characters who talk out their problems, like to work with their hands, and have amazing chemistry. Did I mention they watch movies in the company of goats?
Here it is. The final story and the end of a series I really donāt want to say goodbye to. Hmmm perhaps the author will give me a path to potentially seeing them all againā¦.
Anywayā¦ back to Drilled . Itās that wonderful best friends to enemies to lovers story we all love to read.
What? Thatās not a trope? Sure it is. If not perhaps it will be after this book.
Apollo Day, the scowling brooding hunk at the Four Bears Construction Company has always been a bit of a mystery man. While not above joining in ,albeit quietly at night, in the groupās company many pranks, and in the Friday night Wollseyās get togethers, he still has managed to remain a bit of a unknown quantity.
Then the newest hire shows up and that threatens to shatter any calm Apollo has demonstrated and the new home heās building within the company. Not that heās admitting that.
The new guy? Thatās forty year old construction builder Ridgeway āRidgeā Tanner. Heās recently returned to Wisconsin, a place he formerly called home. Still, heās shocked to see standing in the office of the company thatās just hired him a man he hasnāt seen in 15 years. Behind them a shared past in which they were once so close no one knew the other better then themselves. Until he detonated everything in a single day and they both lost it all.
Mini explosions start the story off immediately as Apollo wonāt tell Cole and the rest of the company why thereās bad history between Ridge and himself. Ridge wonāt enlighten the crew either. But both are needed on a special jobsite as all the others now have partners/husbands, increasing responsibilities outside of work.
The special work order includes a month long restoration job at a summer camp that both Apollo and Ridge first think is a prank but is in fact an important and large scale camp renewal. At a remote location.
This is a perfect way for the reader and the men to connect/reconnect. Because at first nothing of their former history is mentioned. But the daily construction work and interaction starts bringing up old memories.
Again, the 2 man POV is an intimate format to share the thoughts and feelings of men not inclined to voice their pain and anger , especially of those struggling with their emotions and memories as these two are.
Stubbornness and silence, the need to escape rather then confront an issue, things that seems to be Apolloās fallback measures. All in full force.Until Ridgeās efforts to make Apollo listen to him finally make the past and the events that broke them apart make sense.
Itās a fine line here between what should be revealed and spoilerville. Itās just not worth it because the central conflict is also a major part of the reveal and a revelation. So it will remain not a part of this review. Iāll just say the anticipation leading up doesnāt disappoint.
All the stories have had such different angles to them. Men needing to earn partners trust who have had been relationships, men overcoming their own mistakes and fears as well as assumptions about true love, men coming out of the closet late in life, age gap, a trans man completely at home in his body but a partner to be whoās not, but all those weāve basically followed from meeting to HEA. Even Miller and Demetriās childhood camp past was briefly mentioned but happy mostly , puking incident aside.
But this is the first story where the past severely impacts the menās present. That their history has caused them both such deep emotional damage over the years becomes obvious. Especially in the stunted romantic areas. Neither has had a committed relationship, and neither has forgotten the other.
Nuehold brings the pain one pleasure of remembered past through so clearly here. Itās in the gestures, frustration that boils over, and the stress and strain of the enforced physical presence of each other. The reader feels it as much as Ridge and Apollo.
When all the secrets are revealed, itās not the happiest of environment youād expect. Because then all the What ifs come naturally into play , all the regrets, guilt, and what it all means now in their current lives.
That the reader wants them together is obvious. They are made for each other. But again thereās some very realistic hurdles to overcome here. Do they? Of course, this is the Four Bears Construction series so we and they get their HEA joyous ending!
All the men and their partners/husbands make a showing here. Of course. Thereās humor, because this series is full of laughter. Thereās animals. Cats this time.
And a HEA finale. No really a link to a story that sees all the couples a few years in the future all together at a birthday party. Simply wonderful way to tie it all up.
I had questions because Nuehold has created some memorable characters here that have lived and moved in and out of the lives of our couples. One has been Porter, a full on vet at the end of this story. Poor Porter, Watsonās bestie, went out on dates with a few of the guys and it never ended well for such a sweet man.
He ends up here swearing heāll marry the next big, hunky bear carrying a box of abandoned bunnies he sees. Be still my heart. Pls give this man his bear and bunnies.
Plus through Demetri ,West and yes Ridge, we got familiar with Auggie (Demās neighbor) and Tallahassee (sometime date of two of the guys) from the Big Bull Mechanics Shop. Great news!
Next up from this author? Yup the Big Bull Mechanics series. Auggie is another great character as is Tallahassee. Canāt wait to see them again and maybe one will be Porterās bunny man. I can always hope.
So while normally Iād be bereft at having to say goodbye to these amazing people and their joy-filled, sweet, heartwarming love stories, Iām looking forward to the next group of bears and hopefully a sighting or two from these books.
Honestly what a lighthearted, happy reads each one is. Iām sure Iāll be revisiting them at some time.
Because as Stoney would sayā¦
āNonsense makes the heart grow fonder.ā
Nonsense, humor, sweetness, and so so much love.
My heart is so fond of these couples and books it feels huge.
Yes highly recommended. I think they should be read in order because itās just more fun to see the progression that way.
So hereās the list:
Four Bears Construction series and their animals:
šµCaulky #1: Cole and Renās bees
šµNailed #2: Stone and Dare: Rudy and Nard Dog
šµHardwood #3, Ev and Watson, Hedgehog
šµScrewed #4 Ollie and Daniel: Monty the Python
šµStud #5, West and Sawyer: Huey, Luey, Duey, Darkwing
šµStripped #6, Miller and Dem,
Mars and at the end Shelldon, omg so adorable. Yes tortoises!
šµDrilled #7 the finale. Apollo and Ridge, cat Log and family. Iāve been waiting to see a cat tbh.
šµGoats Like Cake Too: Four Bears Construction Series Epilogue- free story linked on Drilled.
A month in a remote cabin with the last man I ever expected to see again? I canāt decide if I should punch him or drill him. It might end up being both.
After more than a decade, the last person I expected to see walk into the Four Bears Construction offices as a new hire was Ridge.
He was my first crush, and my first heartbreak when he started dating my sister. When he left her at the altar without so much as a note, I wrote him off for good.
No amount of excuses and explanations can erase what he did. At least thatās what I keep telling myself. But when we end up being sent to a remote campground alone to spend a month rebuilding the cabins, itās too easy to remember why I fell for him in the first place.
I know the guys are all taking bets on how long it takes us to start playing with each otherās tools.
Itās going to be a long month.
*** Drilled is a forced proximity, best friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, hilarious and steamy, final book in the Four Bears Construction series. It can be read as a stand alone but you won’t want to miss this whole hilarious and hot series. No bear shifters, only the other kind of burly, hairy bears
So Iām finished with the penultimate book, sigh, as as with all the others there are many great elements here, so much fun and great joy. Also unexpected little narrative gems that continue to leave me smiling, even now.
This is, like most of the books in the series, a low angst sexy, full of love and laughter novel. Yes, a main character has some social anxiety and low body imagery to overcome but itās probably not the one character people are going to expect.
No itās not Miller. Miller is completely at home in his body and identity as a trans man. Heās had a supportive family and a great therapist to help him through his transitional years and issues, both with his dimorphism and his ADHD. Itās the later that has Miller at the gym twice a day, working off the energy and allowing the chemistry in his body the outlet it needs for him to settle and focus.
Miller is funny, mature , and his outlook on the people around him gives us an additional window into the various personalities of the Four Bears Construction Company and their partners. Heās part of the family and also one they admire.
No, the adorable man with body issues and social anxiety brought on by years of men making him feel awful about himself and his perhaps rotund bear like shape is Dr. Demetri Rose. Lover of Ancient Rome, knitting, and his pet tortoise Mars. Demās exes have made Dem feel inferior about everything from his body image to the fact that he likes knitting to even the way he has sex. So now Dem has just retreated into his classroom and his house.
We immediately connect with Dem, the way heās been bullied and hurt. Heās such a sweetheart and the reader wants him to go and find love. Now!
All it take to get these two started is a construction job at the university.
Millerās meet/embarrassing moment with Demetri is both awfully funny and hands to the face just let me die now embarrassing. That it ends with Miller looking still embarrassed but also amazing is why I love this series so.
These men feel real, their romance dance dynamics genuine at every step and absolutely relatable. Itās gentle, at times humorous , moving, and downright sexy. How I love this couple!
From Dem and Millerās frank discussions on the elements in their sex life going forward (both blunt and funny) to dancing in the rain magic, this book sings of moments of joy, laughter, and love.
It also has one of my favorite Stoneyisms. āNonsense makes the heart grow fonder.ā If youāve read these stories, you know that apparently Stone grew up in a household where every well known saying doesnāt exactly come out the way everyone else knows it to be. His mother laying down the ālogā to his father about somethings, the explanation behind each being the absolute best. She laying the foundation of her argument. I must say ,,,, um yep.
Another one āThereās more than one way to pet a cat.ā Because skinning a cat is plain awful. Why would anyone do that. Why indeed.
So Iām with Stoney on most of them. And yes totally right. āNonsense makes the heart grow fonder.ā It definitely does,Stoney.
Yep, another must joy filled read. Another highly recommended romance. Love, love this book and series.
Btw? Adore Mars and his knitted cosies. And Shelldon too. Each story and couple have their own pets to accompany them on their journey to HEA. This time itās tortoises to the rescue!
Special note here too. Demetri has a great neighbor, Auggie. A mechanic who was clearly crazy about the oblivious Dem. Auggie works for Big Bull Mechanics, a auto shop thatās competitive with Dareās Auto. Itās equally full of gorgeous men. We get to meet a few here and in the next story. FYI wonāt be the last weāve seen of this group.
Synopsis: A ripped, transgender construction worker and a tweed-wearing, tortoise-shell-cozy-knitting, bear of a professor… Somebody’s getting stripped.
The last place I expected to run into my childhood camp crush was at the local university, looking all kinds of cute in a tweed jacket with a nervous blush. Iāve always had a bit of a thing for the nerdy professor type.
Demetri says he doesnāt date. I want to believe that itās true and not that heās not interested in a transgender man like me. If all he can offer me is friendship, Iām more than happy to take it.
Coy looks during sweaty workouts, rainy nights on his couch watching him knit shell cozies for his pet tortoiseā¦ Iām falling for him whether I want to or not.
Can I break down his walls and prove to him that he can trust me with his heart? And can I trust him with mine?
***Stripped is a swoony, steamy MM romance that is the 6th book in the Four Bears Construction Series. It can be read as a stand alone, but you wonāt want to miss these bearās antics. This series does not contain any shifters, only the OTHER kind of bears.
Four Bears Construction series:
šµCaulky #1
šµNailed #2
šµHardwood #3
šµScrewed #4
šµStud #5
šµStripped #6
šµDrilled #7
šµGoats Like Cake Too: Four Bears Construction Series Epilogue
Stud, the fifth novel in the Four Bears Construction series, is a great example why one should read these stories in the order they were written.
Over the past four novels and romances, weāve watched the West and Sawyer drama.
Or non drama. Because, although a stone could tell how much in love West has been with the bar owner since the first time they met, Sawyer has firmly kept West in the friend zone, if that. Book after book, glances, even a trip to Hawaii which we get caught up on here, we have seen these two men in serious denial/want about each other.
But in Stud, everything changes. And per this series,the swing in dynamics starts off hilariously. Omg, China dolls! Nope, no spoilers.
West , the nephew of Dareās (Stoneās mechanic husband),has been a great character throughout the series. Heās been supportive, funny, all the while going through his own amount of personal growth as a young man and craftsman. Heās amazing. So Iāve been waiting for him to get his man and HEA.
Neuhold not only obliges with a funny, warm-hearted romance but an unexpected reunion that gives us all a wonderful closure.
Sawyer has been a peripheral character , one we see at Wooleyās, the bar he inherited from Gus , itās previous owner, snd the gangs favorite hangout.
In Stud, Sawyerās past , as astonishingly does Gusās in a remarkably poignant story element, comes into focus. We see exactly why heās held West at a distance for so long despite his feelings, and the turmoil inside him when West declares heās going to start dating.
That declaration jumpstarts Sawyer and his mixed up heart and mind on a strange, funny and quite wonderful path to HEA with West , a restored Victorian, and a bunch of feathered kids. Oh my.
One element Iāve adored in each book has been the great pet/animal(s) per couple. I have sometimes forgotten to mention it. Shame on me because itās a terrific part of each story and couple.
So hereās the list so farā¦.
Four Bears Construction series animals:
šµCaulky #1: Cole and Renās bees
šµNailed #2: Stone and Dare: Rudy and Nard Dog
šµHardwood #3, Ev and Watson, Hedgehog
šµScrewed #4 Ollie and Daniel: Monty the Python
šµStud #5, West and Sawyer: Huey, Luey, Duey, Darkwing
šµStripped #6, Miller and Dem,
Mars and at the end Shelldon, omg so adorable. Yes review to come. Yes tortoises!
šµDrilled #7 the finale. Apollo and Ridge, cat Logā¦ been waiting to see a cat tbh. Review to comeā¦
How do you not love a series that folds in such great animals along with sensitive and funny romances?
Thatās easy to answer. I do. I do love them.
Each different and great couple, each amazing path to love and HEA.
I donāt have many left. Sort of dreading saying goodbye. But not yet. A few to go.
What a wonderful, heartwarming and joy filled journey itās been so far.
Like all the others, I hope youāre on this one with me. I highly recommend this one . Stay with me till the end .
Stud: A boss, knob, or nail head…or, you know, the hot guy whoās way too young to keep asking me out with that adorably earnest smile ā¦
Itās been three years since West walked into my bar and asked me out for the first time. I was relieved he stopped asking after the first few ānoās and a way-too-good-to-be-real kiss. Heās fifteen years younger than I am; it can only lead to trouble.
Of course, now heās running through people off dating apps like itās his job and wearing these lace panties that look really unfair on someone as furry and muscular as he is, and, um…what was I talking about?
I probably shouldnāt sabotage his dates, but Iām only human. I might not be ready to admit that I want him, but Iām definitely not ready to let anyone else have him either.
Heās too perfect, too hot, and I am in way too much troubleā¦
*** Stud is a friends-to-lovers, construction-worker-in-panties, omg-so-much-swoon story that happens to be the fifth book in the Four Bears Construction Series. Every book in this series CAN be read as a stand alone, but theyāre a lot more fun together!
Once again this series goes into a different direction with Everett Aldridge and his road to HEA.
We have had Cole who wasnāt looking for love when he found Ren, his forever Honeybee. Then there was is hilarious bighearted Stoney who managed to find his true love just next door in his neighbor, Dare.
I did rush ahead to get Ollieās story in Screwed #4 but I wonāt spoil how wonderful that turned out here. But there are definitely inklings about.
Nope. Hardwood, double entrendreā intended, is all Everett. And what a story it is. Because itās not just a romance but also Evās path towards coming out of the closet heās sealed himself into for decades. Itās about letting go of his fears, finding himself as a gay man later in life.
Thatās a lot to unpack.
Especially if youāre also a father to a young daughter, Livi, and still have a ex wife ,Valerie, you maintain a good relationship with who needs to be told.
Thereās a LGBTGiA crew and work family that are comfortable with themselves and their sexuality youāve known for years thats clueless youāre gay. Now Everett needs to tell them who he really is. Because no one really knows who he is. Maybe even himself.
Thatās so much pressure and guilt on top of the enormous feelings of insecurity and fear pressing down on Ev that you can almost hear him gasping for air.
The two person POV thatās a format of this series works beautifully to give us real insight into Everettās emotional state and situations as he decides to reveal his sexuality and come out as a gay man.
Itās poignant, frustrating as he vacillates at points on deciding when is exactly the right timing, his fears and excitement on his āgay firstsā. Nuehold does such an outstanding job bringing us along with him on this journey. We are there standing on the edge with Ev time after time as he works up the courage to finally see what and who his truth self is. Bravery isnāt always huge steps but small ones.
And sometimes who need someone to support you and show you the way. That would be Watson.
Watson Bolt, the music teacher, is amazing . From his school interactions with other teachers to his song choices (young tunes and Broadway worthy showstoppers), Wats is a gem of a character. Heās such a lovely layered person, especially flirty, generous, outgoing, engaging, and vulnerable too. Love his hedgehog too.
I have to mention how much I appreciate the treatment Evās ex wife , Valerie, gets here. Sheās a well rounded personality, seen through loving eyes as a great person and good friend. Her part in their marriage and consequent divorce is handled with great sensitivity and love. So well done.
Everettās journey from closeted divorced perceived āstraight dadā to happy out gay divorced dad in a new relationship is a path strewn with small pitfalls, a few barriers , some awful dancing and one memorable finale.
I just loved it. It set me to singing.
Not baby shark, but maybe a Broadway musical tune or two.
Snap this story up along with all the others. Yes š Iām highly recommending it and the series.
Synopsis:
Iāve spent forty-four years of my life telling the world Iām a carpet man. Is it too late to admit to myself and everyone else that deep down Iām really all about the Hardwood?
It took me over thirty-five years to admit to myself that Iām gay, another seven to find the courage to say it out loud to anyone else, and exactly thirty seconds to develop a massive crush on my daughterās music teacher. Itās really not my fault, have you even seen those cute bowties he wears?
After everything itās taken to get here, am I going to work up the nerve to come out to my ex-wife and my best friends? Am I ready to shake up my comfortable, simple life and take a chance on Watson? Or am I going to throw a wrench in my own chance for happily ever after?
***Hardwood is a steamy, seriously so much delicious tension, single-dad, gay awakening, low angst story, which happens to be the third in the Four Bears Construction Series. It CAN be read as a stand alone. There are NO shifters in this series, only the OTHER kind of bears.
I skipped over Evās story ,(Hardwood #3), to get to this one because the characters who are the focus here have been two of the group that have come across as the maybe the most vulnerable and also quite different from the majority of the men weāve met so far.
The vulnerable one would be Oliver āOllieāWilliams, brother to Cole Williams who fell in love with Ren, our beekeeper in the first story. Ollieās unfortunate love life and many failed marriages have become an on-running joke at the construction company, one thatās crushing him emotionally. Albeit unknown to the others. All Ollie has ever wanted is the love his parents have and itās all heās failed at.
That itās become this huge joke is awful and we feel so bad for him and the pain heās been hiding.
The other man? The extremely gorgeous and stylish Daniel McKean, paralegal , Renās best friend. Danielās had his share of terrible relationships and itās made his outlook on true love and soulmates a bit jaundiced. He prefers friendships, expensive clothes and a love them /buhbye lifestyle.
That doesnāt mean heās not about to come to the defense of a man he seeās suffering as the butt of a unfunny joke.
Honestly, I watched these two over the last two books and was going ā¦ āyes, they are perfect ā!
Fierce Daniel and a bewildered Ollie who couldnāt see why he wasnāt lovable. Be still my heart.
Where Nailed was so much laughter (goats and underwear š¤£š±), this is equal parts soul searching/character growth and still laughter, but perhaps a gentler sort.
Thereās too much painful history in both menās romantic history for this to be a giggle fest. Too much lack of trust , too much each has to learn about themselves and what it means to truly love someone and be in a real relationship.
They do it of course. Through that wonderful trope of a āfake husband ā after a drunken wedding in Las Vegas.
What follows is real, funny, sweet, and, like all the others, a remarkably romantic journey towards true love and HEA.
One we adore taking with them.
This is a series where each couple is so different that they become a fav of mine, each in a different way. I love them all. And canāt wait to read the next ones romance.
Honestly I finish each one feeling happy, light hearted, and joyful.
Thatās something Iām thankful for these days.
So yes Iām highly recommending this book and the series.
It doesnāt seem to matter where you start but Iād still start at the beginning. Itās just more fun that way to see the progression.
Synopsis:
I’ve had my fair share of less than proud relationship moments, but waking up married to my brother-in-law’s best friend is a new low.
A drunken wedding to a man who already rejected me once? Check. A hefty bet about how long it will last? Check. My feisty new husband, determined to make our friends pay up? Double check.
I’ve never managed to make a real relationship last nearly a year, there’s no way Daniel will stick around long enough to win this bet. The only problem is the longer he stays, the more the lines blur between what’s real and what’s for show. Does he feel it too or am I totally screwed?
***Screwed is a woke up married, faking it to their friends but also totally hooking up, sweet, STEAMY love story that happens to be the fourth book in the Four Bears Construction series. There are no bear shifters in this series, only the OTHER kind of bears
I mean I have all these other books lined upā¦mysteries, romance adventures, SyFi ā¦ but I keep coming back to these guys and their clumsy, adorable journeys to HEA and true love.
Take Nailed, please. No , really, grab this one right up. Especially if youāre in need of laughter as well as romance.
And dogs. Such adorable dogs. I ā¤ļø Rudy. And Nerd Dog.
I laughed so much here.
One because Stone is one irresistible teddy bear of, well, a gorgeous bear of a man. Sweet, doesnāt understand why everyone wouldnāt like him, huge heart.
Youāre going to adore him. Iām still cracking up over his understanding of traditional āsayings ā. I wonāt spoil them for you but they leave me in giggles even now, I just love him. I do. Soooo sexy too.
Then thereās the neighbor,Dare Maslow . A bit grumpy, solitary but all with good reason as we eventually find out. Layers with this one. Heās also the owner of the adorable Rudy.
This is such a great enemies to lovers story. I laughed so hard in places. I totally enjoyed their antics as they āfoughtā and pranked their way to love. To say that I was thoroughly entertained by every step of their tumultuous relationship is to put it mildly. From highly sexy romps to downright hilarity, this couple kept the story flowing fast and so smoothly I was at the end before I knew it and wanted to be.
Of course, all the other ābearsā and partners are there. Iāve gotten so fond of them as well.
Iām actually jumping over to Screwed because I just need that story NOW.
Iāll come back to Evās immediately after. Honestly, these men.
Anyway, Iām staying the course. Iām reading all the stories here until Iām finished with the series. I need the happiness and laughter these men are bringing into my life at the moment.
Itās such fun and light hearted joy. Iām highly recommending them. Especially this one.
Synopsis:
My new neighbor is a total tool.
He hated me from the second he laid eyes on me, and I donāt have the first clue whyā¦ But, if he wants to hate me, Iām happy to give him a few reasons: mowing the lawn at dawn on the weekend, leaving garbage cans in front of his driveway, renting a petting zoo for my backyard…making a list of ways to drive him crazy is half the fun.
He deserves it with the way heās driving me crazy right back without even tryingā walking around without a shirt on, sweaty rippling muscles on full display, well-worn denim jeans perfectly molded to his…well, you get the idea.
My point is, if he wants a war, Iāll give him one.
***Nailed is an enemies to lovers, neighbors who can’t stand each other, omg the anger banging, drool worthy, low angst story, which happens to be the second in my Four Bears Construction series. It CAN be read as a stand alone. There are NO shifters in this series, only the OTHER kind of bears
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 