Switch-Hitter is the first book in a new sports series by E.M. Lindsey. It exists , per the author’s forward, within a universe where in MLB out athletes are accepted as are those with various disabilities .
Wouldn’t that be a lovely place? And indeed it is, for the characters in Switch-Hitter and readers who will enjoy as I did.
Lindsey incorporates a number of elements that definitely make their characters more multidimensional.
Pietro Bassani, baseball player for the Denver Vikings, is also a man with his own personal issues. He’s ADHD, late in life diagnosed, and he’s hiding it from his team and teammates. He feels guilty that his beloved barely older brother , Gabe, who was just as talented a ball player as Pietro, was injured by a car crash and lost the one thing they thought they’d be doing together. At times he’s just a mess. That doesn’t begin to cover his ex, Herve’ and that damage.
Pietro is one mess of a kind man. Someone the reader relates and roots for , no matter what else is happening. He’s one well crafted character.
Thierry Bourget is his equal. He’s also someone who started off as his enemy. Which makes this enemies to lovers romance even more fascinating. The author takes the path of both men , once they start communicating which is immediately, as people who recognize the toxicity of the person who connected them. It gives the author and the men moments to reflect on what elements made those relationships toxic, and the positive ways they’ve both changed. Just terrific.
The story and the romance, the men, all come across as adult. Each also has to deal with the ongoing issues that stem from Thierry’s physical semi paralysis.
That’s a lot to unpack in one story but it’s done so beautifully here . From exactly how Thierry’s recovery is going, through rehabilitation, and every bit of painful injury both men undergo, it’s believable, well written, and emotional.
Herve’ was the only aspect that felt a tad unresolved. He was too much a tenacious creature to just disappear. I wonder if he’s going to make a reappearance somewhere in another book.
I absolutely enjoyed Switch-Hitter and look forward to more in this series.
If you love contemporary romances and sport’s love stories, put this on your must have list!
Get a personal chef, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.
And then Thierry shows up and Pietro realizes his mistake. Because he knows Thierry. A little too well.
Thierry is the man who told his ex to leave him. Thierry is the man who punched Pietro and ran. Thierry… is his ex-boyfriend’s best friend.
But Pietro also knows the man needs a job. An injury destroyed his former career and Pietro is nothing if not a bleeding heart. Besides, he doesn’t have time to search for a new chef, not with the World Series looming and his team ready to go all the way.
Life gets more complicated, though, when he and Thierry cross a line one night after a lot of wine and several bad jokes. And while hooking up is one thing, Pietro knows the last thing in the world he needs is for his heart to get involved.
Too bad it tends to make decisions without him.
Switch-Hitter is the first book in a fictional MLB series featuring a lonely baseball player with a chip on his shoulder and hope in his heart, a team ready to win no matter what it takes, a grumpy French chef who will defend escargot to the death, and a few bottles of dry red wine leading to the sweetest happily ever after. Each book in the Hit and Run Series stands alone, contains no cheating, and has a happily ever after.
R.J. Scott has written an beautiful, emotionally moving story, one that happens to include a romance, with her latest installment in the Single Dads series .
Listen revolves around the potential adoption of a 3 yr deaf child by investigative journalist Nick Horner. Nick, a widower and single parent to three children, is someone we meet earlier when he’s still deeply grieving the loss of his husband to cancer, and depression has his spiraling.
At that time he meets Elliot Curtis, teacher at St. Joseph’s. Nick’s actions at the time and their interactions have repercussions later on. Nick’s background , his thoughts give us a thorough perspective of the man himself. Especially when we see him together with his children. We grieve with him and connect with him.
Elliot is an amazing character. Scott has poured a huge amount of research of Deaf culture into Elliot and his family. It shows as Elliot comes across so realistically as a CODA or child of deaf adults. Many aspects of the ramifications of this are reflected in Elliott’s memories as a child, as ASL as his first language, to his feelings as being the only hearing person in his family.
This is such a remarkable element. It’s not just Elliott. It’s also Elliott’s family but most importantly it’s Teegan, the 3 year old. It’s concerning her needs , how and what a deaf child needs, develops, and what decisions she might make for herself in the future. In addition, she’s been in foster care and a victim of FASD. Teegan is a child as winning and real on the page as they come.
And none of it feels like a info dump . Indeed , it’s all folded into a fantastic book of deep love, concern for a child , and the family who wants to adopt her. It’s a joyous romance that will slowly become about two men forming a new family.
I heart this book and it’s wonderful characters so much.
Scott has a outstanding, warm-hearted story of second chances, family and love in Listen. It’s one I’ll be rereading and one I’m highly recommending!
He only wanted to make the best home for his new daughter; he never meant to fall in love with the man who might steal her away.
Nick and his husband had always wanted a big family, but when cancer took Danny six years ago, Nick was left a single dad of three. He never considered his broken heart would heal enough to add to his family, but as soon as he meets Teegan he knows he wants to adopt the little girl. Born profoundly deaf, Teegan has been rejected twice already in the adoption process and hasn’t found her forever home. Nick wants to be her hero—her dad—and create a world that is safe and happy for her. He knows he wants to make her life perfect—he doesn’t know how to go about it or understand the best thing to do for his family, and he needs help. Enter Elliot, and Nick finds himself falling for the frustrating, sexy, inspiring, and caring teacher who can make things right.
Elliot is wary of helping the man who appears more interested in public opinion than the needs of his own family. But, learning that Nick, wealthy and entitled, is now adopting a deaf child, Elliot knows this is a step too far and strides into battle. As the child of deaf adults, Elliot knows he is the best person to advocate for little Teegan and, if needed, he is determined to intervene and halt the adoption. Nothing and no one will get in Elliot’s way when it falls on him to protect Teegan. Not even love.
This single dad story features a widower struggling to make things right, a teacher battling for a child’s wellbeing, an adorable toddler, three loving siblings, and a home with a view of the ocean.
I was getting ready for the release of The Long Game, the 6th in Rachel Reid’s fabulous hockey romance series, when I figured out I hadn’t read the 5th story yet!
Somehow I’d missed Role Model. Now was the time to fix that oversight! I’m so happy I did because Role Model is such a fantastic story.
It’s a standout in a truly great series of books as Rachel Reid gives a two remarkable men on a slow path to love and happiness. But the journey is about redemption for one, courage to recognize and acknowledge your true self, and the heart and passion another will give to understand and support him.
Troy Barrett is an incredible character. He’s so conflicted, full of pain, and we meet at at perhaps a time when everything he thought he had in his life that was solid and positive has been lost. His closeted boyfriend has dumped him, his best friend has turned out to be a monster who Troy has now reviled in public, and a team who he thought would support him has traded him to the lowest winning team in the league.
We feel everything this man is thinking, he’s numb, and stumbling.
We’re with him, certain he’s going to grow, just not sure how.
Then we meet the utterly engaging, Harris Drover, team media expert, and we see where Troy’s journey will begin. Harris is open, smart, people oriented, and openly gay. He’s also compassionate and sees in Troy an underlying pain that not immediately apparent to others. He also realizes Troy needs a friend. It’s the start of something beautiful.
They build their relationship over a puppy, a family, cider, so many elements… it’s amazing to be a part of this sexy, thoughtful romance. It’s added by a certain Russian player who also helps Troy see that living as a closeted gay man is denying himself a true life.
I have so much praise for Reid’s writing and characters here. They are relatable. The conflicts they face , within and without, are ones so many other members of the LGBTQIA community face , from themselves, their families, and their own societies.
It’s within the sports world or just a person trying to figure out their sexuality. Reid’s emotional turmoil and thoughtful communication has the ring of truthfulness to them.
I believe in Troy and Harris. I was emotionally connected to them throughout their story and I wanted to stay past the ending, a typical feeling for me on a Rachel Reid book , especially this series.
If you haven’t read Role Model yet I’m highly recommending it as well as the entire series. I’ve listed it below. The 6th is almost out.
Until then, check out and see if you’re caught up before The Long Game arrives!
Happy Reading!
Game Changers Book 1: Game Changer Book 2: Heated Rivalry Book 3: Tough Guy Book 4: Common Goal Book 5: Role Model Book 6: The Long Game
The highly anticipated fifth novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series sees a grumpy professional hockey player meet his match in an out-and-proud social media manager…
The hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup and a recent scandal… Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He doesn’t want to be in the news anymore, and he definitely doesn’t want to “work on his online presence” with the team’s peppy social media manager.
Harris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isn’t happy about the trade—anyone could tell, frankly, as he doesn’t exactly hide it well—but Harris doesn’t give up on people easily. Even when he’s developing a crush he’s sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troy’s smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior, well… That’s a man Harris couldn’t turn his back on if he wanted to.
Suddenly, Troy’s move to the new team feels like an opportunity—for Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to surrender to their growing attraction. But indulging in each other behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all.
Lily Morton is a go to author for me. Her stories are full of humor, believable situations, and emotional, relationships that have the ability to have you laughing and sniffing, sometimes at the same time.
There’s often one particular element I can find, not even a major one, that will have me wanting to sink down into a comfy chair somewhere close by, and become a part of this aspect of that storyline.
For Rule Breaker, it’s Dylan Mitchell’s family and farm. The kitchen especially with its ancient wooden table, full of marks from all the years of the family life it’s seen. You want to sink into their family and ask to join in, stay for a while, become part of the warmth, and believable loving family dynamics that Morton has given us, and Dylan. I could enjoy an entire story with this family! I didn’t get nearly enough time with them.
The romance between Dylan and his boss, Gabe Foster, suffered because, unlike other books, their relationship felt somewhat toxic to me. A fact that even Gabe would admit to.
Gabe Foster is an emotionally damaged man. His past and adolescence haunted by parents and an event that’s slowly revealed in the story. That childhood trauma has caused him to withdraw behind high walls, and to choose a life of noncommitment with his sex partners, guarding his privacy as well as anything truly personal from those around him. He is, by his own words, cold and selfish.
Dylan is the very antithesis of Gabe. Outgoing, funny, gregarious, he draws people to him simply by being interested in them, and everything around him. He’s open, vulnerable, and giving.
Dylan is the pov for 90 percent of the story and , for me, that’s a mistake. In order for Gabe to be likable or at least someone we can understand, we need to see beyond his unfortunate words and mean spirited actions. With the extremely relatable and adorable Dylan as our narrator, we hear the warnings from others about Gabe, and see the toxic behavior Gabe is exhibiting, and want to shout “run”.
It’s not until we start to get Gabe’s perspective, (at 90% ) , then given his damaging back history, that Gabe becomes someone who’s not a total cad, but perhaps a person in need of therapy and something more.
A note here, given the nightmares and his severe trauma, I’m not sure why his friend Henry never tried getting Gabe into some sort of therapy. That’s a question for me here for Morton.
The last ten percent of the story is captivating. They make a wonderful, charming couple. I needed more of this. Less of what came before or more of Gabe’s viewpoint.
I liked this ending. Loved the family and actually looking forward to Jude’s story. There’s some terrific stuff here. But there’s also some things that left me puzzled.
Lily Morton characters are realistic and the situations believable. Otherwise, why would I be picking at them? But it’s the romance I’m thinking about. It’s not my favorite of hers. She has some that are my absolute must rereads!
If you’re a Lily Morton fan, pick it up and tell me what you think!
Dylan has worked for Gabe for two years. Two long years of sarcastic comments. Two long years of insults, and having to redo the coffee pot four times in the mornings to meet his exacting standards.
Not surprisingly he has devoted a lot of time to increasingly inventive ways to murder Gabe. From stabbing him with a cake fork, to garrotting him with his expensive tie, Dylan has thought of everything.
However, a chance encounter opens his eyes to the attraction that has always lain between them, concealed by the layers of antipathy. There are only two problems – Gabe is still a bastard, and he makes wedding planners look like hardened pessimists.
But what happens when Dylan starts to see the real Gabe? What happens when he starts to fall in love with the warm, wary man that he sees glimpses of as the days pass?
Because Gabe is still the same commitment shy, cold man that he’s always been, or is he? Has Dylan had the same effect on Gabe, and has his solid gold rule of no commitment finally been broken? With his heart taken Dylan desperately needs to know, but will he get hurt trying to find the answers?
From the author of ‘The Summer of Us’ comes another scorchingly hot romantic comedy, showing what happens between two men when rules get broken.
This is the first book in the Mixed Messages series but it can be read as a standalone.
Style for Love is A.J. Sherwood’s terrific first book in her new series, Gay 4 Renovations. Located in small town (real place) Plymouth, Michigan, with its Victorians, Tudors, Craftsmen, and other equally charming houses in need of renovating by their owners, the queer business owners , all friends, have their business lives full while seeking their HEA.
There’s Gage, architect and structural engineer. Cohen, their contractor. Riggs, the ultimate in CEO office manager’s and Asher.
First up is Asher, Interior designer of Gay 4 Renovations. Asher, has a toxic family that’s not accepting of his sexuality and a found family that includes everyone at his business as well as Zar, the childhood best friend, a police officer, who’s always been his biggest supporter and protector.
Both Asher and Zar have never had relationships that have worked out, each other’s friendship is their only long commitment they’ve been able to have.
Sherwood’s Style for Love is a wonderful best friends to lovers, contemporary romance. One where the entire town knows what they’ve been oblivious to for years…they were made for each other.
It’s also a sexual awakening story for Zar who, because of unexpected circumstances, becomes aware of his best friend in a way that’s surprising. This is handled in a great and touching manner. I mean Zar, his sister Adah, and Gage, talking through his thoughts and feelings on the revelations that had come about.
Sherwood doesn’t forget about the impact on Asher that this change would bring. The communication and support from his circle of friends that allows Asher to work through his issues is just one more lovely aspect of this story.
I happen to adore Thai and Korean BL stories and happily so do the characters here! Whether it’s Asher and Riggs, or Ami and Shaunice ( two more people who work at Gay 4 Renovations) fan girling over certain actors or storylines in well known BL series, I was there with them! And wanting to add my suggestions as well!
I also lost my heart to BFG , the mastiff mix. I adore him so much. You had me at giant dog! Yes, you did!
There’s a toxic family element. They are frustrating because they seem so realistic in their own phobic behavior and attitudes. It’s painful and sad.
The town itself is real. Yes, I looked it up. It’s seems as cute and lovely as Sherwood makes it out to be. Then I remember Michigan. Cold , and oh no. My desire to move is gone. I’m just going to visit in these stories.
But ,I do have a smidge of a issue here. While this has been labeled a GFY (a term I always have issues with) , Zar is open to all aspects of sexuality. He examines their relationship and realizes they’ve never been in a friendship that’s conforms to the norm for just best friends, and he’s never been exactly straight. What label isn’t clear nor should it matter. He’s never been straight. Whether it’s Pansexual or something else.
That’s not a gay for you. Sry , small peevish moment over.
Style for Love is a romance I absolutely adore. It’s the characters, the setting, the storylines, and the wonderful ending. I really sank into this universe. I expect you will do the same.
Now I need the next in the series. That’s Structure for Love. Hmmm, who could that be?
His dream boyfriend: Park Bo Gum – not check. Sadly.
Straight as a board, childhood bff Zar: check
Zar becoming his boyfriend: che–wait, what?!
Tags:
Oh look a contemporary romance, GFY, Best friends to lovers, Dumbasses to lovers, not so much slowburn as two idiots standing around on fire, emotional baggage check, HGTV meets BL, family of choice, Asher needs a better family, Zar’s will adopt him, healthy choice making (and some impulsive ones), no angst here only cuddles, best friends giving The Talk, yes that one, Gage hates -coughlovescough- them, tropey tropes a lot, yaoi fangirls as co-workers leads to interesting situations, and sexy photoshoots, best supporting character goes to the dog, small town, Asher and Zar are so obvious there is a bet riding on them, Zar uses handcuffs for not sexy reasons, at least the first time, only one sledgehammer was sacrificed in the making of this book
Marry Me , the first in Mia Monroe’s Tattoos and Temptation series, is a absolutely sweet , low angst best friends to lovers romance. Throw in that terrific fake fiancé trope, along with a bisexual awakening and you have a wonderful contemporary story about two men who ,over the course of their friendship, have slowly fallen in love with each other. But it takes the approaching wedding of a wedding, anxiety over seeing an abusive ex to make them realize it, including one to see his friend in a new way sexually.
Monroe makes us love these men , understand their past histories and the deep relationship they’ve developed. We also get to know Jude’s tattoo shop and the people that work there. They will also have stories to come. So will some of the people who work at the bakery with Briar. Both groups gather together when it’s time to school Jude in gay culture before he and Briar go to the wedding.
The scenes give us warmth, found family, and genuine love between the people there as well as hilarity and hijinks! From the interactions, we see a new emerging relationship between Briar and Jude that is even more interesting and intimate.
Jude’s mental and emotional progression from straight to bisexual is more one of awareness of his pasts thoughts and feelings. And adjusting his vision of himself as he learned more about himself and his own sexuality. It feels like a journey someone would take who’s just finding out their sexuality might be more fluid then they had previously thought.
The book rings out with joy . Of a happy relationship, of two friends who have discovered they are also deeply in love.
Marry Me is sweet, endearing, and sexy. I love the characters and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Each book is very different. So I’ll need to check in to see what’s next.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for low angst, sweet romance, this is the one for you! I’m recommending it!
The idea of facing my cheating ex at a friend’s upcoming wedding sends me right back to the chubby, insecure guy I was when I met my very straight best friend. Since then Jude has been the most supportive person in my life. So when I ask him for a favor, he steps up and becomes the best fake fiancé a guy could ask for.
With three months before the big day, my friends rally to make sure we come across as authentic as possible. Jude takes to the lessons better than any of us anticipated. Especially the kissing.
Now the fake engagement is starting to feel kind of real.
This wedding should be really interesting…
Marry Me is a steamy, best friends to lovers, fake fiancé, gay awakening, low angst story. It is book one in the Tattoos and Temptation series featuring hot Miami nights, Latin desserts, and guys with ink.
Anthologies/collections are a fantastic way to get to know new authors or rediscover writers you haven’t read for a while!
If anyone asks me to recommend one collection of contemporary stories? It would be this one! You have a great selection of writers who have never had their work in this charity anthology before, and the stories here are just incredible. Honestly 5 star reads! All together in one place to savor.
Not familiar with these authors? What a treat lies within. Most are on my Auto read-must have lists, but I added to mine as well here. Happy happy joy joy!
Plus all proceeds from the charity anthology go to benefit LGBTGIA + charities.
The overall Collection is always the H2H dating app, but this collection has the theme of #NeverHaveIEver for 14 Authors and their romance stories.
The H2H app users challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zones. And fall in love along the way.
I have listed all the stories and authors below. An extended version with a mini-review of each is on my website, scattered thoughts and rogue words dot com. Honestly, it’s a tad long for here! But these stories deserve it. Heart eyes, folks!
Love it so much!
Stories and Authors:
1. Never Have I Ever Fallen In Love by Lucy Lennox
2. Never Have I Ever…Cold Called A Stranger’s Phone Number by A.M. Arthur
3. Never Have I Ever… Ridden A Bike by Alice Winters
4. Never Have I Ever… Dyed My Hair Flaming Red by Daryl Banner
5. Never Have I Ever…worn That For Halloween by E.M.Lindsey
6. Never Have I Ever…Sung In Public byJodi Payne
7. Never Have I Ever…Gotten Lost by K. Webster
8. Never Have I Ever…Taken A Vacation by Kate Hawthorne
9. Never Have I Ever…Spent the Night With Blanche by Louisa Masters
10. Never Have I Ever…Had A Makeover by Mia Monroe
11. Never Have I Ever…Flown in A Airplane by Neve Wilder
12. Never Have I Ever…Gone Skinny Dipping by Riley Hart
13. Never Have I Ever … Watched The Godfather by S.E. Harmon
14. Never Have I Ever… Kissed Someone On the Lips by Spencer Spears
15. Never Have I Ever…Been On A Date by Tal Bauer
16. Never Have I Ever Fallen In Love by Lucy Lennox-part 2. The End
And now for my blog 😂…..
1. Heart2Heart by Lucy Lennox
Jonah , on behalf of his employer H2H, went off to Alaska,taking an adventure in a floatplane to create content for their latest event.
His taxi to the town, a tiny floatplane from Knockwood Aviation, flown by Pilot Pete Valentine started his adventure immediately. And so did my laughter. As Pete and Jonah go on many “neverhaveIEver” firsts for Jonah and his article, their attraction and feelings for each other grow.
The story is split in half,as it begins and ends the anthology.
It’s a fav of mine 😍 it’s also a prequel to Lennox’s next series focusing on Knockwood Aviation.
2. Never Have I Ever…Cold Called A Stranger’s Phone Number by A.M. Arthur
“For A Good Time Call…” says a note stashed in a library book. What Charlie finds is romance where he never thought he’d find it, with the help of his jock roommate, Jasper.
Heartwarming, sweet, and lovely.
3 Never Have I Ever… Ridden A Bike by Alice Winters
Owen, the baker , writes “never have I ever ridden a bike” into the H2H app chat, and with those words , Alice Winters sends Owen, his roommate Lance, and their cat Thor the Destroyer off on a madcap afternoon of zany insanity, also includes bike riding lessons! Not surprisingly it ends happily and with declarations of love! Hilarious, sweet, and pure Winters!
4. Never Have I Ever… Dyed My Hair Flaming Red by Daryl Banner
Stagehand Zakary Tisdale wrote “never have I ever dyed my hair a wild color’ on the H2H forum. It’s his birthday and he’s naked in his bathroom , looking at himself in the mirror.
I wasn’t familiar with Daryl Banner but after reading this wonderful story I’m putting him on my list to seal out what else he’s written. Because this is a little gem with lots of heart. One flaming red hair color changes everything, including the way he thinks about himself. Love it.
5. Never Have I Ever…worn That For Halloween by E.M.Lindsey
Baker Domenico has loved his
best friend, Shiloh, since they were children. But he’s been afraid to tell him until the H2H forum NeverHaveIEver persuaded him to post a comment about Halloween. Now he’s committed to a couples costume. And everything is about to change.
Lindsey has written a beautiful, moving story, about deeply layered characters and their love for each other. It’s absolutely one of my favorites here.
6. Never Have I Ever…Sung In Public byJodi Payne
Nathaniel Killiney’s a dentist who admits on the H2H forum he’s never sung in public.
Ethan Lowman is a high school theater/arts teacher and Nathaniel Killiney’s crush when they were in the very same high school year’s ago.
Nathaniel’s comment on the H2H forum brings about a reunion that’s full of promise, for a romance as well as letting Nathaniel finally being able to sing in public. Very sweet.
7. Never Have I Ever…Gotten Lost by K. Webster
‘A single line “Never have I ever gotten completely and utterly lost” in the ‘Meet local friends’ thread in the H2H forum starts Hunter obsessing over this as if anyone could get lost in the age of almost instant GPS availability and map directions
Hunter’s never been lost . So he’s scanning quickly through the comments until he sees one from like minded Dallas Drew. Dallas aka Andrew, who claims to also never have gotten lost. Both are Americans that now live and work in Norway. Both also have elements to them that make that fact something that’s capable of drawing them together for a meetup.
Andrew, on the high functioning end of the ASD spectrum is lost in his life. Alone and missing his mother after her recent death, is going to try for an adventure. Something this meetup with Hunter represents. Hunter is feeling alone ,depressed, and his self image has taken a big hit due to his awful last relationships. Now he’s reaching out for a change and a chance for someone and something more.
What follows is a wonderful, vulnerable, magical journey. I heart this story so much. Adding this author to my must have more of pile.
8. Never Have I Ever…Taken A Vacation by Kate Hawthorne
Jermaine. Never have he ever taken a vacation. Raised by a struggling single parent, that wasn’t an option and his job as a flight attendant makes flying to other places something that’s just a stopover.
Milo, a travel blogger . For him, nearly every day was a vacation. One flight to New Orleans when they meet provides the sparks for changes they never expected.
Sexy, and unexpected!
9. Never Have I Ever…Spent the Night With Blanche by Louisa Masters
H2H forum line Golden Girls prompts a user to say….Never Have I ever binge watched the Golden Girls.
Soon there’s a planned Golden Girls marathon at a coffee shop/ bookstore for everyone, especially the one who’s severely lacking in knowledge of the Blanche. That’s Fin.
At the marathon, he meets several ppl , among them Clayton Hollingsworth Devereaux. Clay and Fin instantly hit it off.
10. Never Have I Ever…Had A Makeover by Mia Monroe
Constantine needs a makeover. A company offers a professional event geared just for that very thing. There he meets a stylist named Deacon who sees a quiet, lovely teddy bear of a professor with self image issues. Con is just the man Deacon’s been waiting for, and this makeover is the pathway to the start of a beautiful relationship.
A terrific story with relatable characters.
11. Never Have I Ever…Flown in A Airplane by Neve Wilder
Beau , a musician, had never been on a airplane. Now he had to fly to a old friend’s wedding in Venice, Italy. Beau mentions this fact on the H2H forum and gets a reply from UpRightPosition that he has to visit a certain restaurant in Venice while he’s there and have a safe flight!
So it’s so of fated that UpRightPosition turns out to be Jack, the hugely attractive flight attendant flying from Atlanta with him to Venice. That flight to Venice is the beginning of many firsts and a HEA.
A very sweet story.
12. Never Have I Ever…Gone Skinny Dipping by Riley Hart
Mikey on the H2H message board: Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.
Shy, awkward, the one who never followed through Mikey. With a secret pen name. Who had a crush on someone he’s only known online since he was 16. It’s been 2 years of steady chatting and every time it’s been time to meet, Mikey has found excuses not to.
So it stopped. And that became Mikey’s biggest regret.
Now he’s secretly writing erotic novels under another name when he’s not being Mickey Boring, the librarian ( his real name) by day.
Time to change things up!
Ronan Winters runs the local coffee shop , Extra Shot, and runs a queer podcast Sex with Ronan.
Things are going to happen online personalities and real life collide, revelations occur and there’s a HEA waiting at the end.
Very well written and sweet romance.
13. Never Have I Ever … Watched The Godfather by S.E. Harmon
Ad: Looking for someone to go see to movies in the parks , I’ll bring the popcorn and snacks.
Ashton Westlake, lawyer, in Michigan, while things get smoothed over with the client he offended at his father’s law offices. Loves baking.
His cousin puts the ad in the H2H message boards hoping to get company for Ashton as he watches movie classics, for the first time, in the park.
Levi, HistoryBuff24/7 , answers CoolLawDudes ad . Professor of American History, Late of a bad relationship. And also former teacher of Ashton!
Who’d had a very obvious crush on him.
Fifteen years difference in age, but equal in attraction. The reunion at the park sees a return of the sparks of attraction from so long ago.
What follows is an absolute delightful romance of two men finding their way back to each other at the exactly right stage in their lives, through movies, tv shows, and baked goods. It’s totally charming, and I was engaged from start to finish.
14. Never Have I Ever… Kissed Someone On the Lips by Spencer Spears
Westley: Never ever have I kissed someone on the lips…
That’s Wesley’s post on the H2H board. He’s shy, awkward, 20, and never been kissed.
He’s in DC for an internship , from Connecticut, sweating out the wonderful Dc summer (the author has our summer right). Living his Professors’ Washington DC row house , he finds himself hiding up on the roof deck, watching a neighbor’s party . It’s sad and pretty til a thief jumps out of their window with a haul of jewels, causing West’s world to upend in the strangest way possible.
Oh, Spencer Spears! What a fabulous tale that you’ve written! I was with these two all the way! And I need more! I want to know if West called him! Give me that sequel!
A favorite!
15. Never Have I Ever…Been On A Date by Tal Bauer
H2H board. Never have I ever been on a date
Cletus, heliopilot for a mission for Strickland, mngr for National Science Foundation for Antarctica. Responsible for 3k lives spread between 3 bases, now holding a bloody uniform as they lifted off.
Damien Bronson, Dino Doc to his students at the South Pole, came to Antarctica chasing his dream of proving his thesis right, that the bones of dinosaurs exist there. He’s also nurses a very big crush on pilot Cletus.
When their boss Dr. Strickland asks the men to find the body of the scientist that disappeared and who’s bloodied garment Cletus has now found, it sets off a series of events that could only have come from the fabulous Tal Bauer. Exciting, horrific, fast paced, and romantic, it’s an A ticket ride the whole way. Outstanding!
And finally the last half of
16. Never Have I Ever Fallen In Love by Lucy Lennox… part 2
Jonah is flying around in a floatplane, trying first time adventures for his article for H2H , and Knockwood Aviation and the Valentines family, especially one in particular,Pete, Is keeping him busy.
Never Have I Ever Been To Alaska….
Now Jonah and Pete have been everywhere, they’ve spent time getting to know one another and Jonah has had time to make some life changing decisions.
Lucy Lennox’s story brought us a great new universe and engaging family, the Valentines. The Knockwood Aviation company, in all its elements, and all the Valentines are Lennox’s next series. This story is the absolutely perfect prequel to launch it.
I’m invested in these people and their romance, but also in the tiny town and it’s citizens.
I can’t wait for more.
What an outstanding collection of authors and stories this is! You have a great selection of writers who have never had their work in this charity anthology before, and the stories here are just incredible.
Not familiar with these authors? What a treat lies within. Most are on my Auto read-must have lists, but I added to mine as well here.
And on top of fabulous romances, the proceeds go to support LGBTGIA + charities.
Win win!
I’m highly recommending this anthology. Grab it up before the next one comes out. That’s the kinky one😉
Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating and community app responsible for bringing together couples from all over the world, encouraged people to do something they’d never done before?
#NeverHaveIEver is trending on H2H, and fourteen authors who’ve never before appeared in a Heart2Heart anthology (and one who’s never left) have come together to show how funny, hot, and heartwarming it can be when H2H app users challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zones–from singing in public, to skinny dipping, to getting their first real kiss–while they manage to fall in love along the way.
As always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!
Thick As Thieves is the Aster Valley finale and it’s a wonderful story to bid the series goodbye with.
Best friends to lovers is a great trope and Lennox gives us two endearing characters who have known each all all their lives, being each other’s one to go to in all times.
Never is that more true or needed when Parker Ellis’ wedding day is shattered. His bride dumps him as he’s getting ready to say I do.
Julian Thick is there to pick up the pieces and Parker, after it’s called off. Julian takes Parker to Aster Valley to his new cabin to recover but both men get far more then they anticipate when hidden feelings are revealed.
This is a great story with many aspects to it. Parker has to examine his past history with his former fiancé, determine exactly why he let himself be lead into a engagement, and then rediscover the feelings he buried about his best friend.
Julian has loved only Parker. But Julian has watched him for years with someone else who was female, thinking Parker was straight. That pain is buried deep within Julian now.
There’s issues of trust, examinations of sexuality, friendship, and , of course, finally, declarations of love.
Other couples from the previous books make appearances here too.
It’s funny, genuine, romantic, and lovely.
Plus Lennox brings in characters from her next series Knockwood Aviation for us to get a glimpse of. There’s two men I really want a romance for.
If you’ve been a fan of this series like me, grab up this story and give it a happy send off.
If not, it can still be read as a standalone, it’s just richer with a context.
I’ve been in love with my best friend since forever. Okay, fine. Like, kindergarten. It started out platonic, obviously, but then became… nope. Still platonic. The problem is that Parker Ellis has been straight since forever. And that makes it difficult to convince him the two of us are meant to be together.
And now there’s no point. All is lost. He’s gone and gotten engaged to his high-school sweetheart which means I have to grin and bear it while pretending to be the happy, supportive best man while he prepares to commit his life to a woman I can’t even fault. She’s great. We’ve all been friends forever. I know he’ll be happy with Erin, just not… just not as happy as he could be with me.
Parker:
I’ll admit. Sometimes I press the easy button. Like when Julian Thick had offered me half his sandwich back in grade school after noticing I didn’t have any food. Or when I’d needed a date to homecoming in tenth grade and Erin told me she was it. Or when I’d used the one thing that came easy to me, skiing, to get my college tuition paid for. Or when Erin had showed back up in my life six months ago and told it was time to marry and start a family…
But for the first time in my life I’m facing something that’s not at all easy. It’s my wedding weekend and I’ve just been left at the altar. Not only that, but when my best friend whisks me away to drown my sorrows in a snowy cabin in Aster Valley, I accidentally discover Julian’s been keeping secrets. Big secrets.
The kind of secrets that lead to hot experimental kisses in front of a blazing fire, tenative physical exploration in a way I’d never imagined before, and the kind of intimate, true confessions I’d never even dreamed of between me and the one person who’s always been my true home.
But after twenty-plus years of thinking of Jules as my friend without benefits, is it truly possible to change who we are to each other? There’s no easy button this time, but I’m willing to do the work. I only wonder if Julian is ready to trust I really mean it.
Thick as Thieves can be read on its own or enjoyed as part of the Aster Valley series.
Code: Blue is the sequel to N.R. Walker’s first book about a band in its last stages of its life. Code: Red was it’s last tour and the romance between its singer Maddox and his manager Roscoe.
Code:Blue , the last album, signals the turmoil that’s ongoing between the band’s label, the band members and the unhealthy physical and mental health conditions they now find themselves in after years of constant touring and stress.
Jeremy, the other band member that’s been a well defined character in Code: Red, gets his story and romance now. Jeremy is physically breaking down under a decade’s worth of abusing his body and not listening to doctors instructions. He’s a diabetic and his lack or inability to stay on target to the nutritional structure he needs to stay healthy has finally taken its toll. He’s a mess.
And no one knows the full extent of how bad it’s gotten.
Jeremy is a wonderful character. He’s well developed, and his personality as well as his diabetes is worked into this story extremely well. We get to know him, his trust issues, and his confusion over his sexuality.
We “see” him through the loving eyes of his security manager/guard, Steve Frost. The story is told from Steve’s perspective. A issue I talk about below.
Steve is another terrific character. Older , with a painful history, that tbh, didn’t seem realistic to need to be hidden given its the music industry. He’s protection/security. That element seemed a bit contrived. I liked many aspects of Steve’s personality but there’s also others that fell short given how long he’s been in the business.
When the danger to Jeremy becomes clear, Steve does up Jeremy’s security system. But then the couple , together and separately, proceeded to take chances , that I can’t see any professional security manager or team doing. Even with the emotional involvement.
You know the cameras, drones, media are looking at you everywhere… yet they do things that make you smack your head.
So yes, I liked perhaps loved and got behind this couple’s romance. But it took an occasional suspension of belief in the professionalism here.
I had to wonder why I was having issues with both stories. I honestly like Code: Blue better then the first book.
And I think there’s several answers.
Sexual Identity: Let me tackle the sexuality aspect first. Why was the only choice Jeremy has when he’s so confused about why he’s now suddenly attracted to Steve is you are either straight or now you’re bisexual. What happened to being pansexual or omnisexual? Both made more sense here, but it’s as though they didn’t exist on the sexual spectrum. That bothers me.
The Rock/Band/Theme:
This element needs several sections to deal with. First because both novels could be standalone stories, without any attempt to attach them to a band theme.
It’s that whole band theme is a one dimensional layer that’s just a element in name only, except for the songs written at the end of each story.
Why?
First, the books are about the band and it’s musicians/rockstars. But both are told ,not from the perspective of any of them but from someone who, however close, is not a musician and not a band member. For me, that’s a odd choice to begin with. That loss of an intimate viewpoint from a heart of a story is never made up for.
These voices stay missing in other ways too.
You have five members. The author makes much of the band’s symbol and the fact that they are brothers that can’t be broken apart.
The two books? Atrous the band? Nonexistent except that we see their label, managers, fans, and talking about the tours, the promotional lineups. Them actually on stage? Nopes.
Where’s the band? Where’s the on stage synergy ? That electric, everything is jamming, loud, louder, the crowds out of its mind, sweating, rocking, mind blowing synergistic feeling that rock bands truly exhibit only out on the stage? I know writers who know how to pull that into their narrative when writing about musicians and bands.
The band members. Except for occasional appearances, the only defined members are Maddox and Jeremy. The other three? One dimensional characters, basically character sketches.
We get the band as it’s ending. The last tour…we don’t actually get the tour. Just some written songs at the end. Plus they tell us it’s the last tour.
Code: Blue, the definition and reason for that name comes much like the first novel’s did, at the end of the story. It signaled the last album.
Ok . But we don’t get the guys putting together the album, the emotions, or anything at all of what it felt like to put a last album together. So why a band theme at all? It’s really missing in both books if you think about it.
These guys could be any celebrities and their manager/ security guard. Doesn’t change a thing.
Just seems like a half hearted effort.
Romances are fine. The main characters are nice, sweet, I especially liked the dog, but there’s not much foundation.
That’s not like Walker .
Read it for the romance and if you’re a fan of this author.
Steve Frost had dreams of wearing the national championship belt in mixed martial arts, maybe even going pro, but instead, finds himself working as a security guard for the rich and famous in LA.
Quickly earning a reputation for his blunt and precise people management skills, he lands a position on the security team for an up-and-coming boyband, Atrous. Years later, he’s head of security. He knows these boys, and with countless tours, flights, car trips, public events, concerts, he’s closer to one band member in particular.
Jeremy’s been a pillar for Atrous since day one, but even more so these last few months. Now the face of the band more than ever, he’s also got himself the attention of a delusional stalker-fan.
When the fame and stress become too much, when Jeremy’s health takes a hit, Steve becomes Jeremy’s lifeline. But as Jeremy knows already, and as Steve is about to learn, not even the brightest star can shine forever.
I missed this book when it first came out and am now playing catch-up prior to the release of Code: Blue, the second in the Atrous series about a rock band.
The story is told only from the perspective of Roscoe Hall, the personal manager of rockstar Maddox Kershaw. Maddox is one of five boy band members of the super group Atrous who have played together since they were teenagers.
We miss all the history of both men and drop into the band and the men’s relationship at a point when the band has reached superstardom and it’s taken a substantial toll on themselves, and those around them.
But mostly it’s impacting Maddox who’s hiding something important from everyone.
Walker does a realistic job in portraying (as much as you can without living it) what that intense, controlling, isolating lifestyle might do to a person, especially if they’ve been living it for closer to a decade. It’s sounds not only exhausting but frankly unlivable no matter how much they pay.
The story concentrates, naturally on Maddox, who’s breaking down, and his relationship with Roscoe, who’s loved him for years but kept it professional. There’s a age gap (not that it makes a difference) but I have to admit something about the manager/client aspect and Maddox’s fragility bothered me. He kept saying Roscoe was the only one he trusted as he was coming apart, there were clear lines, contractual ones, between them, that got ignored by both. That bothers me too. Too many things just didn’t ring right here.
So that relationship just didn’t gel for me.
Great characters, just not the romance.
With Maddox finally admitting to his anxiety / panic disorders , and acknowledging he needed professional help, having someone who was both your boyfriend and manager seems like additional stress as well.
The depiction of Maddox undergoing a panic attack, displaying characteristics of someone with an anxiety disorder is very believable. You feel for him and the strain he’s under.
This is where it would have been wonderful to have had Maddox’s pov, actually we needed it throughout the story. It felt lacking without his voice filling in his viewpoint on their history, relationships (personal and professional), and his illnesses.
And that wasn’t the only area I felt we needed more. There’s five band members. Supposedly all so close they are like brothers. But as I read the book the only other band member I felt I had even a smidge of knowledge of his personality was Jeremy. The others? Nothing.
They are a blank, totally odd for a band, even a close one, that lives 24/7 together. Where’s the every day ups and downs of enforced togetherness? Missing.
I got no sense of there even being a band. And this is a series about a band.
Could have been about any famous group of people..
I missed that about this story. A sense of foundation. Of being centered in something. Atrous itself isn’t there.
Perhaps it will come along in books to come.
I’m going onto Code: Blue because N.R. Walker is a auto buy for me and I want to see what happens with Jeremy who’s up next. And Steve, because other than Jeremy, he’s the other name I can remember here.
If you’re a Walker fan, you’ve read this and have your hands on the second story. If you’re new to the series and author, I tell you ( lots others will to ) go find Red Dirt series which remains one of my all time fav series and reads!
Maddox Kershaw is the main vocalist of the world’s biggest boy band. He’s at the top of every music chart, every award show, every social media platform, and every sexiest-man-alive list. He’s the bad boy, the enigma, the man everyone on the planet wants a piece of.
He’s also burned out and exhausted, isolated and lonely. Not in a good headspace at the start of a tour.
Roscoe Hall is Maddox’s personal manager. His job is high-flying, high-demand, high-profile, and he loves it. Maddox has consumed his entire life for the past four years. Roscoe knows him. He sees the real Maddox no one else gets to see. He’s also in love with him.
When the tour and stress become too much, when the world begins to close in, Roscoe becomes Maddox’s lifeline. But as Maddox knows already, and as Roscoe is about to learn, the brighter the spotlight, the darker the shadow.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 