Tag: LGBTGIA contemporary romance collection

Review: Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology by Lily Morton, Eden Finley, et Al-vol 6

Rating: 4.25🌈

I love the Heart2Heart charity collections. They have a great selection of authors and stories to read.

This time there’s 14 in the collection. My favorites have ❤️ next to them. There are 2 I’m not a fan of. One because of the author’s very odd inclusion of a dog character and then it’s 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, “what if.” 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 ❤️

2. Keeping Him in Cornwall by Con Riley ❤️

3. Hate 2 Love U by Daryl Banner

4. Love Down Under by Eden Finley

5. Rock, Paper, Scissors by Kate Hawthorne 😐🤨

6. Dog Days by Kelly Fox ❤️

7. The London Chance by Lane Hayes ❤️

8. My Darcy by Lily Morton ❤️

9. A Drag Made in Heaven by Max Walker

10. Connection by Nicole Dykes

11. Worst. Date. Ever. By Onley James❤️

12. Down the Mountain by Rachel Ember

13. The Anti-Wingman by Saxon James ❤️

14. The Choice by Sloane Kennedy 😱🤦🏼‍♀️🤨

1. Thank You Heist of Hearts by Alice Winters ❤️

The question:

“In case of zombie apocalypse, what skills do you bring to the table?”

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 ❤️

Question:

“How do you feel about Cornish pasties?

Farmer Stef Lukens and Mark, Stef’s younger brother’s 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

“If Cerberus needed mouth to mouth resuscitation, which mouth would you give it to?”

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

“What animal do you identify with most?”

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 😐🤨

Mountains, beaches, or both?”

Xavier with Bagel his late grandmother’s 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 it’s part of the story at times, and discard it altogether is never a good idea.

Not a fan.

6. Dog Days by Kelly Fox ❤️

“Kirk, Picard, Sisko, or Janeway?”

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 Hayes❤️

90s most underrated jam? Most overrated? Most perfect song?”

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 ❤️

“What is your most controversial opinion?”

Pure Lily Morton. I laughed, and found myself throughly invested in the romance of Freddie, a tailor who’s 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

“If you were a drag queen, what would your name be?”

The characters had little chemistry. I was not pulled into the relationship or story. Even with Malik’s job at the Tampa Aquarium, it was one dimensional and lacked depth.

10. Connection by Nicole Dykes

“Do you believe in soulmates?”

Oliver, tattoo artist 25, meets Eli, traveling photographer 27 in Hawaii. Sweet romance with lovely characters.

11. Worst. Date. Ever. By Onley James❤️

“What’s the worst date you can think of and would you do it with me?

Cade, contract killer and Tris, 23, ADHD. Tris answered Cade’s 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. ❤️

12. Down the Mountain by Rachel Ember

“What’s your favorite midnight snack?”

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 James❤️

“Have you always painted your fingernails with yellow emoji faces on them?”

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 Kennedy😱🤦🏼‍♀️🤨

“If you could go back in time and make one different choice, what would that be?”

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, it’s main character Hudson, and his relationship with his employee, Andrew. Frankly, the story made me queasy. There’s a huge difference in the stations, there’s a issue of power imbalance from social to monetary to business as Hudson is also Andrew’s boss. Even age as Hudson is considerably older than Mouse. Hudson has complete control over almost every aspect of Andrew’s life and acts without regard to Andrew’s personal finances and considerations (buys him a new car without asking permission, selling Andrew’s old car also without permission), but won’t (as a closeted gay man) keep his other employees from bullying Andrew when that’s 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.

There’s also actionable events that occurred during a bar scene where Andrew’s PTSD was engaged as well as he was almost assaulted. It’s really one flag after another. But it’s 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 it’s the strongest that’s 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.

There’s a group of wonderful holiday stories here that I would recommend and a few I’d give a pass to. That’s 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.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showHeart2Heart: A Charity Anthology, Volume 6 by Leslie Copeland

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: Finding Home: The Complete Series by Lily Morton

Rating: 5 🌈

The Finding Home, The Complete Series, is a splendid collection. I love being able to read one story right after the other of the men of Chi an Mor, House by the Sea.

The first novel is my favorite of the collection. That’s

🔹Oz.

It hit all my buttons, as far as a contemporary romance, and it’s everything I’ve come to expect from a Lily Morton story. It’s alternatively hilarious, so believably authentic that you feel you’re actually seeing the places and people moving through the events as they unfold, smelling the lavender, feeling the salty winds drifting through the warm fields and gardens of the golden stoned manor.

So sure everything exists because they feel so real and grounded for you.

Oz Gallagher and Silas Ashworth , the Earl of Ashworth, are absolute perfection. Oz, small, fierce Irish born Londoner, with his firsts in Art History but a common background that will always insure no reputable firm will hire him, is that quick witted, smart mouthed soul . He’s instantly someone you love. An affair that deepens, page by page.

It’s helped along by Oz’s instantaneous connection with Chewwy, a mournful Italian Spinione , who becomes his shadow, to our delight.

Silas, the Earl and local vet, is just as warm and charming as Oz, but in a totally different way. He’s, posh but without the snobbery. He’s Cornish, where the land and house have as deep a hold onto him as for it to be cellular. He loves his land, his people, and , everything about Silas telegraphs that immense connection through Morton’s wonderful descriptions and thoughtful dialogue.

Theirs is a slow paced romance, working through each other’s issues to arrive at a wonderful HEA and heartwarming epilogue.

There’s so many outstanding secondary characters, many of whom we will see again in other stories, including those in this collection.

5🌈

🔹Milo is next. This is a more somber story as it deals with issues such as domestic abuse and it’s lasting effects upon the person who suffered.

Milo Ramsey had a stutter , caused by a childhood accident, that also made him a target for bullying. This story addresses that as well. The Milo we met in Oz’s novel is one that’s had some time to recover.

This story gives us the Milo we hadn’t met yet, the trauma he endured, and the journey he took to recover and recognize the characteristics of the man he loves aren’t like the one who abused him.

It’s one of self-discovery, forgiveness, and bravery.

There’s a age difference between Milo and Niall. Milo’s romance with Niall Fawcett, estate manager to the Earl of Ashworth, that is.

But it’s a wonderful romance, and thoughtful story, working through all the serious issues that’s being discussed here, and what that means for Milo, first and their future.

Very satisfying. 4.75.

🔹Gideon is last.

Gideon Ramsey is Milo’s older brother, close friend to Niall and Silas. They grew up together at a nearby house, close to Chi an Mor. But where Milo was kept close to home, Gideon, like Silas and Niall , was shipped off to boarding school.

Gideon became a famous actor. Hiding the fact that he was “gay “ on the advice of his toxic agent. The fast lifestyle caught up with him in his late 30’s, drugs, sex, alcohol. Until it almost kills him with a bout of bronchitis.

Enter Milo and Niall, with an intervention of sorts. A cruise and a nurse to transport him to Chi an Mor where he’ll recuperate.

Eli Jones is believable as the nurse and engaging. Gideon is acerbic , dryly funny, and charming. The cruise is a great way to have them get to know each other before they land and Eli is off to another job.

I felt there could have been more in the section with Gideon’s agent. That happened abruptly. The cottage visit was lovely.

I liked this story but the other two were clear favorites. The epilogue, however, was splendid! I could picture that so easily. What a grand way to send them off.

4.5🌈

All in all just an amazing collection of stories. I wish Chi an Mor was real and I could pay to visit. I’d be on the next plane out.

One small note just because it bothers me. Of the 3 covers. The one for Oz? Has absolutely no connection to any main character . Oz? Tiny sharp faced black haired blues eyes Irish man. Silas? Tall, black haired, blade like nose Cornishman.

https://www.goodreads.com › seriesFinding Home Series by Lily Morton – Goodreads

Finding Home

Description:

The bestselling Finding Home series is now available in one collection. Set in Cornwall, the series follows a group of friends as they each find love with a lot of heat and humour along the way.

Oz 

Oz Gallagher does not do relationships well. Bored and jobless after another disastrous hook up, he decides to leave London for a temporary job in the wilds of Cornwall. Surely managing a stately home on a country estate will be easier than navigating the detritus of his relationships at home.

However, when he gets there, he finds a house in danger of crumbling to the ground and a man who is completely unlike anyone he’s ever met. An earl belonging to a family whose roots go back hundreds of years. Silas is the living embodiment of duty and sacrifice. Two things that Oz has never wanted. He’s also warm and funny and he draws Oz to him like a magnet.

Will falling in love be enough to make Oz stop moving at last and realise that he’s finally home?

Milo 

Milo has been burying himself at Chi an Mor, hiding from the wreckage of his once promising career and running from a bad relationship that destroyed what little confidence he had. Niall, his big brother’s best friend, has been there for him that entire time. An arrogant and funny man, Niall couldn’t be any more different from the shy and occasionally stuttering Milo, which has never stopped Milo from crushing wildly on the man who saved him.

However, just as Milo makes the decision to move on from his hopeless crush, he and Niall are thrown into close contact, and for the first time ever Niall seems to be returning his interest. But it can never work. How can it when Milo always needs rescuing?

Content warning: There are descriptions of domestic abuse in this book.

Gideon 

Gideon has everything he should want in life. Fame, money, acting awards – he has it all. Everything but honesty. At the advice of his agent, Gideon has concealed his sexuality for years. But it’s starting to get harder to hide, and his increasingly wild behaviour is threatening to destroy his career.

Then he’s laid low by a serious illness and into his life comes Eli Jones. Eli is everything that Gideon can’t understand. He’s sunny tempered, friendly, and optimistic. Even worse, he’s unaffected by grumpiness and sarcasm, which forms ninety percent of Gideon’s body weight. As Gideon gets to know the other man, he finds himself wildly attracted to his lazy smiles and warm, scruffy charm that seem to fill a hole inside Gideon that’s been empty for a long time.

Will he give in to this incomprehensible attraction when it could mean the end of everything that he’s worked for?

Lily Morton Books

April 5, 2022

Pages: 885