Sniper vs Spotter passes the tough second book hurdle with flying colors, amid explosions, flying debris , and blood splatter!
Cari Z and Witt continues moves the relationship between hitmen August Morrison and Ricardo Torralba forward, opening the novel with the men living together, adjusting to a different lifestyle and emotional state.
Itâs that latter thatâs really causing the introspection and , glimpses into their pasts.
Which the authors use as the major source for the drama on multiple levels within the storyline with huge success.
Family is key. Or the keys to unlock the history and personalities of August Morrison and Ricardo Torralba. For August, itâs his sister and their shared traumatic experiences. For Ricardo, itâs his ex-wife Eve (an extraordinary woman, real, grounded in her bitterness and love), their complicated relationship, and the person from the past that now connects them.
Eve is someone whoâs so well crafted that itâs no wonder the authors couldnât leave her to just one story (yes, sheâs going onto the next book).
Kudos to both authors for not demonizing the ex in a marriage. Thatâs one of my pet peeves in writing. I acknowledge that thereâs unlikable ex problems but too often I read ones where itâs a simplistic, cardboard throwaway approach to a character and story element than a realistic human approach.
Sniper vs Spotterâs plot(s) and character development and relationship growth, which happens between not just the main couple but between other people as well, is just as compelling and interesting to watch unfold as the fast action sequences that accompany it.
The authors says these characters are talking to them? I say they are laughing, shouting, snarking their way through an entire series.
If weâre lucky.
Especially as they keep drawing more fabulously complicated people in around them.
So yes, Iâm definitely recommending this series and probably even the ones that follow.
Look for more reviews to come.
The books must be read in the order they were written to understand the events and relationships development.
Mortal-enemies-turned-furniture-breaking-lovers August Morrison and Ricardo Torralba have found a groove that suits them both. Theyâve teamed up as hired guns, they live together, and by some miracle, they havenât killed each other. Itâs the closest to normal theyâll ever have, and they love it.
But their guns-and-roses future is thrown into chaos when Ricardoâs past comes crashing into their present. What begins as a favor for an old friendâwell, âfriend,â but donât tell Augustâquickly spirals into something far bigger than they anticipated. Now theyâre in way over their heads with powerful people on both sides of the law, and itâs going to take more than snark and explosions to see them through.
Nevertheless, there will be plenty of snark and explosions, because this is August and Ricardo, and no one would expect any less. In between the smoke and sarcasm, though, they are determined to bring an evil operation crashing down⊠no matter who they have to work with to get the job done.
And no matter who they have to kill.
Sniper vs Spotter is the sequel to the apparently-it-doesnât-want-to-be-a-standalone Hitman vs Hitman, which absolutely was supposed to be a standalone, but August and Ricardo (predictably) refused to be contained. Our audiobook narrator also shares some of the blame, Michael. So here we are.
No idea why, but Iâm fascinated by hitman romances. Itâs a trope thatâs been written by many authors and each one has a different interpretation of the assassins, their lifestyles, backgrounds, and, of course, professionalism.
Are they psychopaths? People lured inside the profession by expediency or blackmail? Or perhaps something in their pasts now causes them to kill. Or any number of combinations.
All of which makes for dark, entertaining reading and curiouser relationship dynamics between assassins.
Hitman vs Hitman by Cari Z and L.A. Witt is, imo, a delightful âassassin lightâ romantic story.
What torture there is here is minimal is in the past and off page. The killings, while often and with a âboom, explosions, boomâ high body count, arenât gruesome. Those that might sound as such, well, they are off page again.
Itâs bang, boom, shots, flash bangs, quick action sequences, dead bodies sort of assassin type of story.
What Witt and CariZ did so splendidly here was in giving both the assassins such divergent personalities and backgrounds yet their characters were so alike in beliefs and values that the romance actually made sense.
Thereâs the sarcastic humor, snippy bits of dialogue, witty jokes, and incredibly good scenes that interspersed action with past memories and relationship growth.
I remained absolutely committed to the men, the storylines, and their relationship.
I could use several more tales with this newly adjusted killer couple in the future. Oh wait, they do. And Iâm onto it next!
Such a excellent story! One Iâm highly recommending.
Ricardo Torralba and August Morrison donât agree on much besides the fact that they hate each other. According to Ricardo, August is a spoiled brat who really needs to knock off the sass once in a while. August insists that Ricardo needs a sense of humor, a good lay, or a well-placed bullet. Maybe all three.
Fortunately, the assassinâs profession is a solitary one, and they can go about their lives without getting in each otherâs way.
Usually.
When a contracted hit turns out to be a setup for both of them, they narrowly escape with their lives. Now, even if they donât like it (spoiler: they donât), August and Ricardo have to work together if they want a shot at survival.
In between firefights and questionable interrogation methods as they hunt down their would-be killer, the cranky assassins discover that under all that mutual loathing is a spark of chemistry they canât ignore. They want to ignore it, they probably should ignore it, but August canât help flirting to annoy Ricardo, and Ricardo can think of at least one way to shut him up for a while.
But they need to focus, damn it, and figure out whoâs gunning for them and why.
Assuming they donât kill each other first.
Hitman vs Hitman is a standalone* gay romantic suspense featuring two men whoâd rather chew glass than fall for each other, a whole lot of inappropriate comments, and some buttons that will need resewing.
* Okay, it was supposed to be a standalone, but August and Ricardo refused to be contained, so now they have a sequel, Sniper vs Spotter.
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Unless itâs noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer
I have been waiting for Chief Mendozaâs story since Walker started her teasers and hints throughout all the rest of the Savannah series about Mendozaâs attraction to his longtime friend, Sheriff Abraham Beecham.
Chief Mendozaâs been a rock solid presence at the Savannah PD , a favored , strong personality thatâs as much a part of the family and lives of all the main characters we love . He is a central figure in the foundation of this ongoing series universe.
No surprise that Beecham started to work his way up and into the same role , via his relationship with Mendoza and that of Sgt. Royce Locke (of the partnership in every way of Locke and Key).
Just Say When finally pulls back the curtains on their long relationship, their friendship, and the passion for each other thatâs finally gone from hidden to unrestrained.
I love that Mendozaâs back history includes a great mixed modern family dynamics. His combined family includes his teenage son, Alex, who he shares with his ex. In a totally appreciated departure from the norm in other stories, his ex wife , a well rounded character, is still very much a friend. Also in law enforcement, sheâs strong, great at her job , smart and loving, has a terrific marriage with her husband. Their family includes Mendoza and Uncle Abe Beecham, whoâs known everyone for years.
This quartet of personalities and relationships drives the multiple storylines forward with a narrative heft that includes compelling acceptance of sexuality, bigotry within a family framework, and a healthy modern mixed family culture.
Walkerâs characters flow through a mystery and dramatic setup thatâs got its own twists to satisfy any reader.
I love her Savannah universe and all the characters and stories that have come out of it. Just Say When is simply one more in that rich line of storytelling that you will never tire of and always be sorry to leave.
Iâm highly recommending it and all the books around it.
Someone wants Police Chief Emilio Mendoza dead. And if his unknown assailant doesnât kill him, pining for Sheriff Abraham Beecham just might.
Abe and Lioâs thirty-year journey has taken them from heated rivals to best friends with countless labels and pit stops along the way. Romance is the only avenue left unexplored but not from lack of love or desire.
Abe pushes people away before they can get too close, and Lio doesnât engage in situations he canât control. Theyâve reached an impasse, and neither are willing to risk their friendship until fate intervenes, forcing them to reassess their priorities.
But when an unhinged enemy targets Lio, will their gamble be too little too late, or will their love truly conquer all?
Just Say When is a standalone romantic suspense novel within the authorâs Savannah universe. This book contains mature content and is attended for adults.
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Unless itâs noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer
I havenât read the other books in the Boyfriends for Hire series, but that didnât keep me from reading and enjoying Felix, the fifth installment.
Felix is very much a holiday story and it works somewhat well as a standalone novel. While I was unfamiliar with the characters from the agency that Felix works for, thereâs just enough background information that a new reader has a good idea of the universe we are falling into.
That said, while I had a good grasp on the character of Felix, the character of Ethan, the scientist, came about more slowly. I wasnât sure what to attribute certain aspects of his personality to. Was his scattered thoughts and inability to focus on social situations part of being on the spectrum or something else. Else as it turns out.
But it leaves him as a lesser formed individual than say Felix who we have a firm grasp of.
Their relationship and itâs path is slow but sweet. It has some dramatic moments that turns Ethanâs character into one grounded in a believable, painful journey to healing, new hopeful future for them both.
Felix is a sweet, loving, heartwarming holiday tale. Even without the other books, itâs a lovely read and one I enjoyed immensely.
Hiring a fake boyfriend for a school reunion seems to be the only solution, but love was never part of the equation.
Felix has enough on his plate looking out for his parents, let alone agreeing to being hired for a date with the friend of a friend. His instant attraction to the scatter-brained scientist has him making impulsive decisions he hopes he wonât regret. But, somehow, heâs agreeing to more dates, and more time with sexy Ethan and his non-stop talking. When stolen wintry kisses turn to love, and Christmas works its magic, Felix knows heâs losing his heart.
The science of chemistry makes more sense to Ethan than connecting with potential boyfriends, and heâs wary of romance. Unsettled by a string of failed hookups, he knows itâs on him when everything goes wrong and he canât help but wonder what has made him this way. His friend Jared says that Ethan needs to close metaphorical doors on past hurtsâwhatever that meansâand that the school reunion might just be step one. Determined to show himself as confident and happy, he hires Felix to be his date for the night, but a kiss to make up for the one he missed at prom, and abruptly, itâs not the past that is consuming his thoughts.
Now all Felix has to do is show Ethan that itâs okay to love and be loved in return, and that chemistry can lead to a happily ever after.
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Unless itâs noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer
N.R.Walker takes us back to that incredibly beautiful and charming place, Hartbridge, Montana, supposedly for the last time, in Merry Christmas Cupid.
No Aussies this time, except for newly transplanted Gunter Zunigaâs interactions with our couples from the past two stories.
Gunter Zuniga, 44 years old, grieving the loss of his father and a breakup of a longstanding relationship on the day of his fatherâs funeral, relocates to a small town heâs never forgotten for their kindness and support towards his father and himself towards the end of his fatherâs life.
The old heritage home calls out to him, and thatâs how he meets Clay Henderson, a man whose generosity sparks a friendship, a ease into the town, and a new journey forward for both.
Merry Christmas Cupid is a slow, lower angst romantic tale. Clay learns to fully embrace his bisexuality and come out to those that matter. Gunter gains a new found family and close knit set of friends.
Hartbridge, Montana is picturesque and Hallmark descriptive. From the citizens weâve met before in previous books to new ones that call out for new romances of their own, Merry Christmas Cupid is a lovely holiday gift for fans of this author and lovers of seasonal fiction.
Iâm certainly sorry to see this series end if Merry Christmas Cupid truly marks a ending to the Hartbridge Christmas stories!
Pick it up and enjoy Walkerâs trademark well crafted characters, heartwarming plot, and heartfelt moments!
After a year of tragedy, forty-four-year-old Gunter Zuniga is leaving heartbreak behind and moving to the peaceful and picturesque town of Hartbridge, Montana. He buys an old house in need of some work, which he naively thinks he can manage now that heâs single and retiredâhe has nothing but time.
Clay Henderson runs the local sawmill with his dad, and itâs the busiest time of year. Firewood and Christmas trees are in high demand, and a delivery of firewood to the old house on Cedar Bark Road leaves him curious about the new man in town.
Clay has never had time for romance and Gunter certainly isnât looking, but Hartbridge has a way of working its Christmas magic; the jingle of Christmas bells, snow, and love are ringing in the air. And Gunter and Clay are about to get the best Christmas gift they never asked for.
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Unless itâs noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer
Cowboy Healing has some good narrative elements to it. The basic storyline is good. The characters with the children are very well written. And while it took me a hot minute to connect with a cowboy whose sole aim for working for a overwhelmed widowed parent is to ingratiate himself into his good graces in order to get his family off the ranch, well, yeah. I bet Iâm not the only one.
Caleb , a well crafted character, starts off as a unlikable cowboy, whoâs aiming to take back his familyâs ranch that was sold out from him, partly out of his negligence, partly because of a agentâs criminality.
Patrick, a orthopedic surgeon, is a widower and father of two children. Heâs a bit obsessive about his practice and out of his comfort zone on the ranch, which was his husbandâs dream.
I liked Patrick but, again, major events occur that should propel him towards more introspection and character growth. That really doesnât happen. Instead, itâs Caleb asking for change, even short term. Itâs Patrickâs character thatâs seems to have a unformed foundation, as though the author isnât as sure of this character as they are of the cowboy.
Patrick complains of the âlost yearsâ due to his profession. Yet is oblivious of his drive and itâs effects upon his family. Even when Caleb asks for help, itâs a ranch hand , not a orthopedic assistant which is intended.
Is the author unaware of the characterâs issues that sheâs writing into the story and relationship?
That part of his character, added to the elements below just keeps me from totally investing in the story, the future for the family, and the relationship.
Issues:
1. Editing issues. See example below:
ââThatâll be up to them. Weâll see.â The doc didnât seem too convinced on that front. âMaggie is more interested than Caleb.â
That should be Mason. Not Caleb. A easy edit/error catch. Especially given the very next sentence below.
âCaleb bit back a grin. Yeah, he might be a bit scary if they were city kids.â
2. Second larger issue: The disappearing dogs. Four to be exact.
âHe agreed, although the dogs were becoming off-leash beasts now that there were only two. âI would be fine with that, then.ââ
And with that small, throwaway line, the author disposed late in the book of a fairly significant story element. That of 4 husky puppies that were hugely loved and important to Mason, son of Patrick. The fact that Mason loved, trained, named,and spent most of his hours with these 6 dogs , (now only 2 as 4 have vanished into thin air with no explanation) during the story . The author made them a integral family element only to carelessly discard them in this way towards the end of the book. Whereâs Ginger? All the rest? Honestly, itâs is something I canât understand.
It changes a deeply held belief about Masonâs character and promises made ( he built structures, spent hours on researching sleds, training) only for the author to trash this part of the story for no discernible purpose. All Tortuga had to do, basically, was not mention them other than to say dogs versus the individual husky names.
Why eliminate a beloved book aspect and something we deeply associated with not only Mason, but the family as a whole?
This is where a great editor would have stepped in and challenged these decisions. As well as corrected the easy editing mistakes made along the lines I pointed out earlier.
Most writers, well people in general are aware of the unwritten rule . Donât kill off the animal characters in films/books, etc. Because your audience/readers will take note. And be very unhappy.
Issues like these make a book come off as unpolished ,their odd narrative choices throwing a reader out of the storyline, never to recover.
I enjoy B.A. Tortuga as an author but the books lately have more a feeling of being piecemealed together instead of one thatâs been finely tuned, beautifully edited with an eye towards hard decisions and fine details.
Thatâs a shame because sheâs got one of the best ear for location, colloquialisms, and regional variations as far as culture when talking about Texas and certain parts of that country that I know of. From the rodeo to the raw dry landscape of New Mexico, when sheâs in her element, thereâs no one finer.
Thatâs the reason Iâll keep reading in hopes of finding that complete book again.
As for Cowboy Healing, maybe the things that bother me arenât deciding factors for you. In which case, Iâm sure you will be fine with it. Itâs the first in a new series.
Patrick Kelly needs some help. His husband passed away a while ago, and now he has a thriving medical practice, two busy kids, and one ranch outside Aspen, Colorado that he’s not really sure how to run. Patrick doesn’t want to give up on any part of his life, but he knows he can’t do it all alone, so he turns to a service to hire a cowboy to help run the ranch and free up some of his time.
Caleb Warren wants his family ranch back. So he hires on to work as the foreman there through the Cowboy Wanted service, just waiting for the fancy doctor who owns the place to get tired of roughing it and sell out. The problem is, Patrick’s kids love the country life, Patrick is a good man, and Caleb can’t quite get past the guilt he feels about being on the road with the rodeo when his family had some real troubles to deal with.
The two of them find more common ground than they expect, and between everything from animals to parent teacher meetings, Caleb lends and hand and Patrick learns to lean on Caleb for help. Can the two of them give up the past and embrace the future together?
I love the Heart2Heart charity collections. They have a great selection of authors and stories to read.
This time thereâs 14 in the collection. My favorites have â€ïž next to them. There are 2 Iâm not a fan of. One because of the authorâs very odd inclusion of a dog character and then itâs treatment in the narrative. The other because every element is a red flag, to my surprise. From the one MC to scenes I could write an entire review on.
But the majority are well written and warm-hearted in spirit.
See the lineup below and individual reviews below that.
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To those two little words, âwhat if.â Questions thrown at singles by the dating Heart2Heart app . These stories are the answers, kinda. Remarkably so.
Complete list of stories:
1. Thank You Heist of Hearts by Alice Winters â€ïž
2. Keeping Him in Cornwall by Con Riley â€ïž
3. Hate 2 Love U by Daryl Banner
4. Love Down Under by Eden Finley
5. Rock, Paper, Scissors by Kate Hawthorne đđ€š
6. Dog Days by Kelly Fox â€ïž
7. The London Chance by Lane Hayes â€ïž
8. My Darcy by Lily Morton â€ïž
9. A Drag Made in Heaven by Max Walker
10. Connection by Nicole Dykes
11. Worst. Date. Ever. By Onley Jamesâ€ïž
12. Down the Mountain by Rachel Ember
13. The Anti-Wingman by Saxon James â€ïž
14. The Choice by Sloane Kennedy đ±đ€ŠđŒââïžđ€š
1. Thank You Heist of Hearts by Alice Winters â€ïž
The question:
âIn case of zombie apocalypse, what skills do you bring to the table?â
Reed and Dylan. Reed the former thief and Dylan, the former cop who arrested him. And a date gone spectacularly wrong. I love this so much. Fabulous dialogue and characters.
2. Keeping Him in Cornwall by Con Riley â€ïž
Question:
âHow do you feel about Cornish pasties?
Farmer Stef Lukens and Mark, Stefâs younger brotherâs best friend.
OMG, Con Riley! How did you quietly wring so many emotions out of my heart with this gem of a story. Sweet, endearing, beautifully crafted and grounded in a farm we feel like we know by the sea in Wales. A must read and one I wish was longer.
3. Hate 2 Love U by Daryl Banner
âIf Cerberus needed mouth to mouth resuscitation, which mouth would you give it to?â
Pete Knott, clumsy nerd vs Teague Jensen, jock superstar. Assumptions versus facts eventually turn into a relationship. Sweet.
4. Love Down Under by Eden Finley
âWhat animal do you identify with most?â
A Sloth. Those things are so pathetic, other animals take pity and leave them alone. Reminds me of how I survived high school.
Dorian, tour guide at Cassowary Rock Sanctuary meets Kero , a recent newcomer to the area and on the tour courtesy of his big brother. The location is a feature and the characters are great.
5. Rock, Paper, Scissors by Kate Hawthorne đđ€š
Mountains, beaches, or both?â
Xavier with Bagel his late grandmotherâs Australian shepherd who wears clothing aka bandanas
And adorable matching shoes to eat a doggy safe bacon donut every Tuesday . Big plot point that goes nowhere. MC seems annoyed with dog that his grandmother loved and left to him. And intends not to to really honor the will.
. Meet cute with bakers brother from the mountains, Bastian. Romance ensues.
Dog used as more as a contrived story prompt than an actual beloved character. This aspect made me dislike the story as the treatment of Bagel took me out of the romance. If a author must have a animal in their story, pls keep in mind that having their MC act indifferently towards it, forget itâs part of the story at times, and discard it altogether is never a good idea.
Not a fan.
6. Dog Days by Kelly Fox â€ïž
âKirk, Picard, Sisko, or Janeway?â
Alfie Fellows, family therapist and vol w/ small breed rescue
Judi Dench the teacup poodle mix
Gideon Northman, aka writer Everett Goodnight
Beautifully written, well crafted characters, with deep elements as well as a romantic aspect that makes this a well rounded story and a memorable one. The dog character is so well done and a great personality and part of the storyline!
7. The London Chance by Lane Hayesâ€ïž
90s most underrated jam? Most overrated? Most perfect song?â
Chance Robbins, 35, California , sales and marketing, meets Roman Crawford, industrial engineer, a business owner from Toronto, living in London.
Finally meeting after texting thru the Heart2Heart app. Cute, funny, and romantic.
8. My Darcy by Lily Morton â€ïž
âWhat is your most controversial opinion?â
Pure Lily Morton. I laughed, and found myself throughly invested in the romance of Freddie, a tailor whoâs also a Jane Austen guide who likes to dress in Regency clothes, and his best friend since childhood, archaeologist Darcy Griffiths. As they guide a small group of widely entertaining tourists through a Jane Austin section of a literary bus tour, it turns into a romantic adventure for themselves too.
9. A Drag Made in Heaven by Max Walker
âIf you were a drag queen, what would your name be?â
The characters had little chemistry. I was not pulled into the relationship or story. Even with Malikâs job at the Tampa Aquarium, it was one dimensional and lacked depth.
10. Connection by Nicole Dykes
âDo you believe in soulmates?â
Oliver, tattoo artist 25, meets Eli, traveling photographer 27 in Hawaii. Sweet romance with lovely characters.
11. Worst. Date. Ever. By Onley Jamesâ€ïž
âWhatâs the worst date you can think of and would you do it with me?
Cade, contract killer and Tris, 23, ADHD. Tris answered Cadeâs H2H ad and got the date of a lifetime. A contract killer with a need for a alibi, the worst date ever, an assumed HEA as told by Onley James. Funny, dark, and murderous. â€ïž
12. Down the Mountain by Rachel Ember
âWhatâs your favorite midnight snack?â
Vic Ricci sees his ex , Bennett Walker, alpine Skier Team USA, after 2 years absence from small town Garden, CO. Reunion and romance ensues.3 stars. Little feel for any relationship or chemistry.
13. The Anti-Wingman by Saxon Jamesâ€ïž
âHave you always painted your fingernails with yellow emoji faces on them?â
Effervescent , impulsive Kai needs a anti-wingman to keep him from repeating his relationship mistakes. Wry, cautious Ryland needs a wingman to jumpstart his journey into a relationship. A funny group of text messages starts a path to romance that utterly engaging.
1. The Choice by Sloane Kennedyđ±đ€ŠđŒââïžđ€š
âIf you could go back in time and make one different choice, what would that be?â
Hudson Warner, older boss and ranch owner , deeply closeted gay
Mouse aka Andrew , small, bullied employee, hidden identity
Cody, Wyoming
I could write an entire essay about all the issues with this story, itâs main character Hudson, and his relationship with his employee, Andrew. Frankly, the story made me queasy. Thereâs a huge difference in the stations, thereâs a issue of power imbalance from social to monetary to business as Hudson is also Andrewâs boss. Even age as Hudson is considerably older than Mouse. Hudson has complete control over almost every aspect of Andrewâs life and acts without regard to Andrewâs personal finances and considerations (buys him a new car without asking permission, selling Andrewâs old car also without permission), but wonât (as a closeted gay man) keep his other employees from bullying Andrew when thatâs exactly the one avenue where as a boss he might be expected to have the right to take responsibility for all his employees actions. Does that happen? No.
Thereâs also actionable events that occurred during a bar scene where Andrewâs PTSD was engaged as well as he was almost assaulted. Itâs really one flag after another. But itâs insta love . SMH.
The most questionable decision here is why close out a romance collection with what has to be one of the worst stories , IMO, ( one of two) here. Usually itâs the strongest thatâs selected.
All this does is leave me with a very bad impression and a need to go find something else to read so I can forget I ever came across this.
Thereâs a group of wonderful holiday stories here that I would recommend and a few Iâd give a pass to. Thatâs the great thing about a collection, the ability to make choices. Or find new authors. Or new stories by authors you love.
Pick up Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology by Lily Morton, Eden Finley, et Al-vol 6 and decide what to read for yourself.
Lanes Hayes has written a heartwarming holiday story in The Humbug Holiday. One of my favorites this season, itâs has a gentle romance between two men whose histories include adolescent pasts with deep emotional pain associated with the Christmas holidays.
One, Cameron Warren, a famous author of mysteries, has escaped his LA home , family, and notoriety for a newly purchased old Victorian in small town Fallbrook, Vermont . Heâs there to write and hide from the holidays.
However, his elderly aunts have temporarily accompanied him to make sure heâs settled, alive, and decorated in his new home. One that needs a ton of work.
Joe Linton, Handyman, is hired by one aunt to help make the beautiful old house livable for the winter, and start with the crusade to get their nephew to decorate.
Hayesâ characters are real in their faults, charming in their own ways of thinking about life and their feelings for the holidays, decorating and the town. Each manâs story will slowly come tumbling out , piecemeal, as one writes, the other puts the house in order, and their relationship grows.
Itâs warm, like sitting next to a fireplace, chatting, learning about someone. Itâs believable and grounded in small town culture and the strengths of that lifestyle.
My heart was easily invested and flowed with the story, right through to the end. So charming and wonderful.
Perfect for the holidays and one Iâm absolutely recommending.
Two grumpy bears and a holiday season neither will forgetâŠ
Joe
So this sexy silver fox rolls into my small New England town and buys a run-down old house in need of renovation. Thatâs where I come in. My job is to do some basic repairs, so he can write in peace. Yep, the hotshot is a bestselling author, but thatâs not why I recognize Cameron Warren.
No worries, I wonât let a one-night stand make things awkward. I could use the work, but is he seriously asking me to help him buy a Christmas tree too?
No way.
Cameron
Iâm a good-natured guy all year long, but I have to admitâŠI hate the holidays.
There. I said it.
This season, Iâm hiding away on the opposite side of the country in a picturesque village. My family isnât excited about my decision, and the only way to assure them Iâm fine is to deck the darn halls. Or hire someone else to do it.
The handyman might not be the logical choice for an elf, but his grumpy act makes me smile. Which makes me think the holidays might not be so âbah-humbugâ this year after all.
The Humbug Holiday is a bisexual, age-gap romance featuring two grumpy bears who find unexpected magic and learn to embrace everyoneâs favorite time of year!
Con Riley has quickly become a go to author for me for contemporary romance. Rileyâs characters and movingly detailed plots manage to capture my attention as well as my imagination. I end up loving the couples, their stories, and the cast around them.
His Last Christmas in London is a perfect example. After a bitter experience with a mentor who took credit for his work and then refused him references when he wanted out, Ian Fisher, photographer, is forced to face reality and a move back home to Cornwall. In a short period, Riley gives us a intimate glimpse into a man who is hurting, full of self doubt, and questioning his own abilities.
It takes his friends, and one last chance, a job for a well known food critic, for everything to change course, albeit slowly.
Guy Parsons, food critic, widower, man of amazing depths, if you can get the chance to see beyond his walls. Guy is another amazing character and one I could easily spend another book with. The two of them , together, exploring London, is magical.
I truly wasnât ready to let them or their romance go. I wanted to tag along aside as they wandered through Cornwall, or perhaps France. It honestly didnât matter. They charmed me.
I suspect they will you too.
Itâs why Iâm definitely recommending His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley. Itâs a holiday read to take to heart!
Falling for his final client wonât make leaving London easyâŠ
Ian ~ A talented, young photographer desperate to stay in London.
Guy ~ An older, fierce food critic, determined to keep him in his city.
Ian shouldnât be attracted to a scathing food critic like Guy Parsons, not after the last time he fell for someone older, arrogant, and gorgeous. He knows better than to let dramatic good looks sway him since his last heartbreak. Besides, heâs accepted a new job at the far end of the country and wonât be staying in London.
Having one month left doesnât seem enough now Ianâs fallen in love with the city. Working as Guyâs photographer for December might help him afford to stay for longer, even if he hates Guyâs brand of restaurant reviewing. When Guy turns out to be worlds away from the last man Ian fell for, shared meals soon result in shared secrets and feelings.
More than attraction sparks between them as Christmas approaches. Intimate moments lead to intense passion, but is being well matched in the bedroom enough to stop the clock counting down to Ian leaving London, and Guy, for good?
â„ Steamy, snarky, and sweet, His Last Christmas in London is an utterly British, low-angst, age-gap, workplace gay romance set in London and Cornwall. â„
Celebrate the holidays with a lovely long novella full of heartfelt hurt/comfort and second chances from Con Riley, author of the much adored Charles: Learning to Love.
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Unless itâs noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer
Iâve been waiting for this story since I started the series. Itâs been hinted at throughout each book and Coach Asa Dawson is such a powerful person that heâs been able to help make each coupleâs story and romance more interesting and real as it developed through the framework of the team and game.
So the references to a past drama and a unrequited love story thread for Coach just drew me in. I wanted to know what happened.
Winning The Season, the penultimate book in the Miami Piranhas series, is Beth Boldenâs love letter to the Coach of this mixed team of players of all sexualities and athletic backgrounds.
Heâs been the glue to hold them together and the force to make them into a winning team.
So now he gets his own HEA.
But not without several hurdles, a bunch of painful barriers to overcome, and major forgiveness over past years wounds to old relationships.
I really loved the characters here. They rang so true. Scott Callaway, the old friend since college. He and Asa a unit since their college football playing days, through the years as a team as coaches on the smaller fields as they worked up through to the university level, always together.
Their history, deep friendship, passion for the game and each other, it all comes through so beautifully.
As does the painful experience when it all goes so badly.
The reunion is not a happy one. Nor should it be. The path back to each other is tough and paved with arguments and bad feelings. Which makes the real shift back into a truce and then more so rewarding and heartwarming.
The ending will bring out the tissues and a few sniffles I expect. I wasnât expecting that. But it was perfect.
Winning The Season is my favorite of the series. There is one more book to come. I canât believe it would be any better a series finale than this but Iâm looking forward to reading it.
Until then, Iâm highly recommending Winning The Season (Miami Piranhas Book 4) by Beth Bolden.
Coach Asa Dawson has fallen wildly in love only twice in his life.
First with football.
Then with Scott Callaway.
But Scott isnât just the one who got away.
Heâs the one personâthe one manâAsa hoped might finally show him how all-consuming passion could be.
Instead, fate (and football) intervened and they never got the chance to explore their attraction. Their friendship ended in ruins, Scott left, and Asaâs been torn between hating him and loving him for the last seven years.
Asa doesnât think heâll ever see him again, but when his bad habits catch up to him and he doesnât have a choice but to accept help, heâs horrifiedâand exhilaratedâto learn Scottâs been hired to assist him.
With the final stretch of the Piranhas season falling during the holidays, maybe what Asa and Scott have needed this whole time was a little Christmas magic to remind them the most important job isnât to win the seasonâbut to finally win each otherâs hearts.
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Unless itâs noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 