A MelanieM Review: Open Road by M.J. O’Shea

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

open-road-by-m-j-oshea Angus has been with the same guy for ten years. When his boyfriend breaks up with him the night of his thirtieth birthday party and announces his engagement to a twenty-two-year-old less than ten hours later, Angus is… a mess. To put it lightly. He spends days in bed, drinks himself into a stupor every night, and ends up losing his job and his apartment. His best and oldest friend, Reece, decides it’s time for an intervention. And a change of scenery.

Reece and Angus take off on a buddy trip across the US. They don’t have much of a plan; they just start driving. It takes Angus a couple of days to do much more than grunt when Reece talks to him, but slowly he opens up. They drive, talk, heal, shout, drink a bit too much sometimes, dance, meet new friends… and somewhere between Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Maine, they fall in love.

Which was the last thing in the world Angus expected.

Open Road by M.J. O’Shea just hit all my buttons in a contemporary romance. It had the right amount of realistic angst, terrific changes in location, a deep friendship that felt as real as an old school picture you keep on your wall, and a romance that slowly unfolds over the course of a journey. One both geographical and emotional.

Of course it starts off with a romance that ends horribly with one half of the couple shattered and humiliated. Our MC had already been feeling inadequate in almost every way in his relationship but Angus becomes depressed and unable to cope when his long term boyfriend leaves him for a younger version of himself. I felt myself falling completely into understanding and love with Angus here. He is so believable as he reels from the humiliation he feels, the shame that he didn’t realize he had been cheated on, all the thoughts going through his head that leave him unable to function. O’Shea puts us aside him, whether its laying next to him on the bed or crumpled on the floor, and makes us believe in this shattered man.

Our hopes (and his) will lie in his best friend. That would be Reese, someone his old boyfriend despised and tried to cut out of his life to no avail. These two have loved each other for most of their lives, have known each others families, they fit together like puzzle pieces, except that Reese is straight of course. Reese is another wonderful character here. Layered, warm. I could see Reese clearly in my mind just within a few pages of O’Shea’s descriptions. I knew exactly who Reese was. and what he meant to Angus.

But the real adventure for them and us starts on the road. Circumstances which I won’t reveal compel Angus and Reese to head out on the road. From city to city, where slowly Angus recovers and they discover that the love they have always felt for each other is something not just deep friendship but something more. Its tenderhearted, authentic and moving. And Angus’ recovery is not a smooth or easy one. It can’t be with all he has emotionally gone through. I appreciated that especially and it made where this couple ended up all the more meaningful.

Highlights of the road trip? It has to be New Orleans. I almost wanted them to stay there. It was magical, sexy and hot. The ambiance that is New Orleans oozed off the page as did the love the author clearly has for the city and its people. It left its spell on the couple and on me with this story. I remember other locations, true, but none like I do their time in New Orleans.

The only thing that kept me from giving this a 5 star review was the last couple of pages. I don’t know…something about the ending felt a little too abrupt for a book and romance that took its time realistically getting to its final destination. Perhaps I felt I didn’t need it, I was so happy with the story that came before. Even now I’m not sure why the epilogue doesn’t sit quite right with me. I know others won’t feel that way, just my opinion. But all the rest of the story? Glorious. From rock bottom to recovery to love, this is a couple and novel I absolutely recommend. Open Road by M.J. O’Shea is a terrific contemporary romance. Grab it up and get started today.

Cover art by L.C. Chase is nice and has elements from the story.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published July 25th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

Original Title Open Road

ISBN 1634773160 (ISBN13: 9781634773164)

Edition Language English

URL

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Marriage of Inconvenience by M.J. O’Shea

Rating: 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 stars out of 5

perf4.250x7.000.indd Lights, Camera, Lies.

Kerry Pickering has a problem. As a publicist for Hollywood bad boy Jericho Knox, it’s Kerry’s job to keep Jericho in the news. So far, Jericho’s partying and public escapades have made it easy. But Jericho has a secret, and when that secret is revealed in the most spectacularly disastrous way, it’s up to Kerry to spin it.

The team decides the best course of action is to make the public fall in love—with Jericho’s secret committed relationship. The one that doesn’t exist. Yet.

The team wants someone they can trust. Someone in the inner circle. That someone is Kerry. But what will happen when Kerry realizes that for him, the romance is no longer pretend? Can Jericho love him back, or is he just playing a role?

Marriage of Inconvenience by MJ O’Shea was another fun read in the Dreamspun Desires series from Dreamspinner Press. Who hasn’t seen those tabloids or TMZ? Right, expose’ city! Here M.J. O’Shea uses it as the launching pad for the story and the romance of Marriage of Inconvenience. Jericho Knox literally gets caught with his pants down by the paparazzi and now its up to his agents and publicists to put a spin on it that his followers will not only swallow but eat up and make him even more popular. Hmmm. What could that be? Well how about a secret romance? Now all they need is someone to fill the role. Turns out the perfect person is the one who came up with the plan. Kerry Pickering.

Author O’Shea does a lovely job of defining her characters. We get conflicted closeted Jericho risking his career in a seedy bar, we understand shy driven Kerry trying to hold onto a job that isn’t the dream he hoped it would be. Hollywood full of smashed hopes and fake imagery. We get it. Both Jericho and Kerry have to find their way through to their own reality about themselves and the possibility of a future together, if there’s even is one. That’s both the fun and the drama of this story.

It moves along quickly, the romance builds nicely and the ending when it happens, although I felt it was a little rushed, was still the happy ending I expect from this series.

I happen to love the Dreamspun Desires Series. Really its almost impossible to go wrong here. The stories are quick reads, fun, wonderful romances. The tropes usually recognizable and they translate well into M/M fiction. What’s not to love? I highly recommend you try them. Why not start here? Work your way through the series. They make great summer reading or anytime of the year.

Cover art by Paul Richmond shows a brooding cover boy. Not my favorite cover for the series.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 214 pages
Expected publication: August 15th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634775287 (ISBN13: 9781634775281)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lila Audiobook Review: Duke in Hiding by M.J. O’Shea and Rusty Topsfield (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Duke In Hiding Every gentleman has something to hide.

Meeting Heath Blackwood, a gorgeous English farmer, is probably the most exciting thing to ever happen to small-town landscaper Theo Brody, who has lived in quiet Maplehurst, New Hampshire, all his life. The sexy and secretive Brit shakes the foundations of his orderly world as they are swept up in a springtime romance neither can resist.

But Heath’s secrets run deeper than Theo ever imagined. He’s actually Heathcliff Pierrepont Blackwood, Duke of Kingston, in hiding from recent death threats. Suddenly there’s more separating them than the Atlantic Ocean, and Theo doubts he’ll ever fit in with English nobility. Though Heath and Theo are opposites in almost every way, their love might bridge the gap—if they’re willing to take the risk.

Duke in Hiding is a lovely friends-to-lovers story with a fairy tale twist. It’s a slow burn account of two men from two different worlds coming together to enjoy the simplicity of life in a small American town.

Heath comes to Maplehurst, NH to hide after receiving death threats. He’s the Duke of Kingston but is assuming the identity of a British farmer to avoid recognition. There isn’t much to do in town but his luck changes when he meets Theo Brody, a landscaper moonlighting as a bartender.

The night a brooding Brit entered the bar he worked part-time, Theo found him infuriating, but the more time they spent together, the more they learned how much they had in common. Through their daily meetings and following dates, we get to see how their relationship developed into true love. They had great chemistry, and their friendship was the base of their relationship.

There’s a lot happening in this story and more characters than necessary. Even when I enjoyed the story, I think it has a pacing problem. Some parts are too slow, and others are taken care with a line or two. We get unnecessary details through the story. And areas, where the reader might want to know more, were ignored.

Perhaps a little less time learning about plants and more getting to see more of the story resolution would have given this book a higher rating.

Rusty Topsfield did an excellent job making both main characters realistic. The author did create two distinct men, rooted in their countries’ characteristics and the narration helped the overall enjoyment of Heath’s and Theo’s relationship. All the secondary voices were spot on and gave the story a deepness that only reading couldn’t accomplish.

Paul Richmond’s cover matches the rest of the Dreamspun Desires series and the cover model fits Heath’s description.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Rusty Topsfield
Length: 5 hours and 8 minutes

Published: May 16, 2016 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B01FMPWXZC
Edition Language: English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pawsitively in Love by M.J. O’Shea

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

What Austin Lloyd lacks in academics, he makes up for in his love of the animals who frequent his pet salon. He’s not lucky in romance, though, and his family would like him to settle down with a good man. Austin—and his golden retriever, Maggie—couldn’t agree more.

Evan Partridge isn’t good at letting people in. His messy family life and the past that’s shaped him aren’t worth bringing up. But his pug, Dexter, sure likes the pet salon owner.

Austin and Evan get off to a rough start, but being friends soon turns into something more. Unfortunately, Evan’s secretive behavior nearly does the relationship in, and the budding love affair almost crashes and burns when Evan’s troubled sister shows up on his doorstep.

Not speaking to each other is killing them both, but Evan doesn’t know how to keep Austin and help his sister at the same time. He just knows he has to try. Winning back Austin’s trust back, however, is going to take a whole lot of work.

Austin Lloyd is a cutie. He’s also smart and ambitiou, and though he didn’t go to college, he owns his dog-grooming business, Pawsitively Purrfect. After a long, stressful day, when the owner of a pug puppy fails to show up to claim him, Austin is spitting mad and takes it out on the owner as soon as the guy arrives after closing time.

Evan Partridge is a dark-haired, good-looking college professor who’s also had a bad day. He was delayed by a staff meeting, and not one, but both of his cars broke down today. He literally ran to pick up Dexter and then was berated by a guy who he would have considered cute in other circumstances. Now he can’t wait to get away.

An inauspicious start to a romance, but no fear, the author arranges an unexpected meeting in the grocery store, and the two guys decide to call a truce and start again. Right from the beginning, Evan tells Austin that he doesn’t do relationships. He’s not good with people and doesn’t want to cause any problems. Austin accepts that, and the two begin a friendship—a friendship that eventually leads to more, and they seem to be headed for their HEA as they create a little family with Dexter the pug and Austin’s young golden retriever, Maggie.

But fate has other plans, and when Evan’s emotionally damaged and very dependent sister arrives with all her worldly possessions and then takes one look at Austin and decides she hates him, everything goes topsy-turvy, and their sweet little bubble of happiness bursts.

Can the insurmountable be surmounted? After all, Evan has practically raised his sister, and he’s helpless in the face of her unhappiness. But he’s more than unhappy himself, and he knows Austin must be devastated because they haven’t spoken in weeks—ever since Evan pushed him away after his sister’s arrival. For a while, it seems impossible to believe these two can find their way back to friendship, trust, and a happy ending.

I enjoyed this story immensely. It’s light and sweet throughout most of the book, but there’s a ton of heartbreak once Evan’s sister arrives. It’s also got lots of UST, and I personally love unresolved sexual tension in my stories. The guys don’t make it to the bedroom until the 75% mark, but this story isn’t all about the sex anyway. It’s about forming relationships—friendship, trust, and love—and the author does a wonderful job with that. If you like a sweet love story, especially one with adorable pets, an MC who is clueless about his own needs and how to say no to family members who drive him crazy, and an MC who is willing to love and forgive his man despite the obstacles thrown in their way, this is the story for you.

Cover art by L.C. Chase is pawsitively adorable and perfect for the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: March 4th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634770231
Edition LanguageEnglish

Sales Links

Share this:

Sales Links

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: