The Court, a series, a drag family ,and fabulous old theatre thatās the home to all three, has just gotten even better with the latest addition of itās new novel and group of characters. Itās definitely my favorite to date in so many ways.
Novakās main characters come from the opposite ends of the Drag Queen story. One is a recognized star! Barbie Summers, a winner of Drag Stars UK but due to some criminal management and her own naivety has had to return home full of debt and heartbreak. The other? A baby Queen, without a name or anything but a vague idea about her identity, needing guidance and the support to find her own way.
Thatās the Queens. And we will get all the others who work, laugh, and snark as family at The Court. Eva Nessence, Bubblegum Galaxy, Moxxie Toxxic, the Twins, I love them all.
But thereās also who these people are when they arenāt in drag. And the chapters designate them as such. Barbie/Anthony and Colin/? have ex boyfriends who have left them with emotional scars, poor body imagery, and so much doubt about themselves and their self worth. Thatās the journey thatās woven through their stories as both struggle with finding an identity as a Queen (Colin), renewed faith for her profession (Barbie), and a layered great loving relationship between them.
Itās got pole dancing, Queens, PhDās in jizz, so much laughter and tears and love. What a great story to read.
Novak introduces quite a few new fascinating characters, seen only in glimpses. But itās enough for me to want to know more about them. So much more.
It was fun seeing characters from the Heather Bay series (Like I Pretended) make appearances in a couple of ways here. Might have to reread the book again.
And Novak is going to give the readers another connected series,
Lincoln Knights Rugby Club, when Mason and Ryan (Legs ) get their HEA in The Tighthead.
Then hopefully itās back to more Queens.
I highly recommend this series and book. Itās such a joyous read. And a grand group of characters to watch get their HEA.
Note to self: falling for the new queen you’re mentoring will only lead to trouble.
Being broke, single, and homeless after winning the UK’s biggest drag show wasn’t how my life was supposed to go. Iām meant to be the one with everything, but thanks to an unscrupulous tour company I’ve got nothing but my image and a mountain of debt.
Moving back home with my mum and taking the first gig Iām offered in a local drag panto is supposed to help me get back on my feet, but meeting Colin tangles me up more than ever.
Colin desperately wants to start doing drag and suddenly I’m helping a baby queen find her feet while falling head over heels for the man behind the lashes.
We all know mixing these power dynamics is a recipe for trouble, but my life is already a mess. Will falling for Colin really spell disaster or is he the only thing keeping me upright in my seven-inch heels?
Nannies of New York is one of my favorite contemporary series. Itās been a memorable journey for a found family of Manhattan nannies who find themselves first in a position to help a family heal and thrive, then love finds them, placing them directly within the heart of the family they have come to love.
Each story has been framed out by elements of psychological drama, historical stories of love and tragedy, trauma and losses. And each new emotional venture turns into something marvelous, full of joy, laughter, often moving scenes as well as hot, sexual moments. All guaranteed to make these characters feel vivid, deeply realized and loved by the reader.
Never more so than in the story of Reid Marshall, co-founder, along with Gavin, his non sexual soulmate, of The Marshall Agency, the exclusive LGBTQIA nanny company at the heart of the series.
In the last book, we saw a hidden side of Reidās life where his need to keep his sexual lifestyle secret, which heās turned into a one night a week affair. Itās complete with its own clothes and accessories, and limited to certain bars. But things immediately go awry when a distraught older royal with family problems gets added into the mix.
Maximilian, Margrave of Hessen, who has two daughters he is desperate to connect with. Max is so unique in the cast of characters we have come to know but it turns out heās perfect. Watching him yearn for his daughterās understanding and love is painful and heartbreaking. Getting it is heartfelt and so amazing.
And the relationship between Max and Reid that slowly built and with great emotional work is truly everything. Itās funny, wrenching, incredibly sexy, and thought provoking.
A sticking point for Reid is his deep love and commitment to Gavin, his platonic soulmate, and their family thatās gathered around them. He finds it difficult to believe that anyone would want to be an equal partner with him in this situation. Itās never given a name. Gavin has a sexual relationship and loving partner in Dash who accepts that Reid will always be a part of their relationship. Polyamory? Whatās in a name. Itās not given one here, just that they are all a unit. Such a great well written aspect of this book and series.
Also their sexual relationship and preferences which are very D/s and beautifully layered into their own stories and personalities but into their romance as it develops.
Sterling hits one high narrative note after another. I laughed, shook my head at the antics and confusion displayed by the characters, maybe cried at certain moments, and fanned myself at certain scenes. But always I was deeply engaged and emotional involved with everyone here. Each and everyone.
I was wondering if this was the end of the nannies. But another interesting development showed up, a character who has been popping up here and there. Apparently heās next!
This is a series Iām thrilled to recommend. But do read them in order. Itās a fabulous journey and watching them find love, learning about the Marshall family, and all the wonderful people and dynamics is a joy to revisit.
Especially the romance of The King of Nannies and the Prince! So fantastic!
Once upon a glitzy Manhattan night, a nanny finds himself in a royal mess.
The Marshall Agency may have begun on a whim, but itās no accident that itās considered the best in Manhattan. Everything goes exactly as planned because Reid Marshall only does things one way: his way.
Reidās content with the life he has built with his platonic soulmate, Gavin, but knows his friends and family would be shocked at what he gets up to off the clock.
Maximilian, Margrave of Hessen, knows a thing or two about living a lie. Desperate to mend his relationship with his daughters, Max turns to the Marshall Agencyās headstrong founder for help. Only to find they have already met.
Max wants more than one night with the nanny and intends to win the fiercely independent younger manās heart. Can Reid resist, or will he too succumb to love and live happily ever after?
One Night with the Nanny is Book 6 of the Nannies of New York series. Itās a fairytale rom-com with a twist, featuring fake dating, found family, a one-night stand that turns into more, and a struggling single dad who happens to be a Prince.
Thin Ice sees us back in Elmwood, one of my favorite places located in a fabulous heartwarming contemporary romance series. Itās a place I canāt get enough of.
This time Lane is serving up a delicious romantic treat of age gap, fresh starts, and two great characters of incredible depth and heart. Plus hockey of course!
Bryson is the older man, father to a AHL hockey player headed to the big leagues. Lane has given Bryson surprising depths and a backstory, one Iāll leave to the book. But it makes Bryson well rounded, funny, stressing, uncertain. In other words, immediately connectable. Especially in regard to his role and relationship to his son, Jake.
Smitty is absolutely his partner in every way. Sometimes thereās an inequality in an age gap romance but here Lane gives us two men who find contentment, peace, total freedom to communicate and be themselves. We laugh, quietly watch as they question this new relationship as it develops, and itās feels real and meaningful.
Elmwood operates as another character in itself. The places, atmosphere, school , people who are now familiar to the readers, and deeply a part of the series and story.
I wish the ending was a bit longer but then I feel that at every Elmwood story, wanting to linger on.
I absolutely recommend Thin Ice and the entire series. Read them in order. Thereās another one coming to my delight!
And yes, the hockey is spot on, whether itās on the pro level or high school. Love it.
Elmwood isnāt good for my love life. Hey, Iām a positive person and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about small-town living, but I havenāt had a date in years. Thatās fineāmy son is and always has been my number one focus.
Except now heās grown and gone. And itās lonely.
Okay, yes, the new hockey coach is hot and single, but heās off-limits. Smittyās trouble with a capital T, and his baggage might outweigh mine. Besides, we said nothing would happen after āthatā night. It was a one-time, never to be repeated deal.
At leastā¦thatās what I thought.
Smitty
Am I sad about retiring from pro hockey? Honestly, no. I canāt remember the last time I wasnāt in pain. I need a rest and I could use a distraction from unwelcome memories at home. Stat.
Soā¦Elmwood.
Look, we all know I wonāt last a whole season of coaching high school kids, but stepping in till they find a better candidate is a good temporary plan. And Brysonās here.
Thereās something about the hot dad with the sunny smile and bad dad jokes that makes me feel alive again. Iām not in the market for foreverābeen there, done that. Look, Iāve taken risks for my sport, but Iām not giving my heart away again. I know thin ice when I see it.
Or do I?
Thin Ice is an MM bisexual, age-gap, small-town romance featuring a silver fox dad, the new hockey coach, and a fresh start on solid ground.
Encountered to Death is a good, in a way emotionally lighter story than the one that preceded it. Jamie and Pete are going to celebrate Peteās older brotherās 40th birthday in Alamogordo, New Mexico and is taking Jamieās highly intelligent, science minded nephew with them.
Steve, the brother, is a plasma physicist, and they intend to tour all the sites around the area, from caves to Roswell. Shades of Mulder and Scully! What could go wrong? Plenty it seems.
Thereās aliens abduction tv show hosts, a dead body, so many investigations, as well as great characters in both Steve and the 11-year old nephew, Colin. Colin especially was well crafted. Heās realistically young in heart(emotionally the investigation caused an such a impact on him as it should) , but his imagination and personality also felt in line with someone who has high intelligence to understand a variety of science topics.
The discussions and issues between Jamie and Pete werenāt really dropped but moved slightly to the background to be a part of a larger conversation when they returned home. One car or two meaning a more solid frame for going forward together.
I was throughly entertained by this story and expanded family. Perry continues to keep the reader engaged in this realistic romantic relationship and their literary world where a murder or body can bring about a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment. Love Clintonās word of the day!
Onto the next!
The Jamie Brodie Mysteries – 23 books
ā Cited to Death
ā Hoarded to Death
ā Burdened to Death
ā Researched to Death
ā Encountered to Death
ā¦ Psyched to Death
ā¦ Stacked to Death
ā¦ Stoned to Death
ā¦ Talked to Death
ā¦ Avenged to Death
ā¦ Played to Death
ā¦ Filmed to Death
ā¦ Trapped to Death
ā¦ Promoted to Death
ā¦ Published to Death
ā¦ Cloistered to Death
ā¦ Haunted to Death
ā¦ Obsessed to Death
ā¦ Deserted to Death
ā¦ Drugged to Death
ā¦ Resigned to Death
ā¦ Snowed to Death
ā¦ Enchanted to Death
Dirty Laundry: The Jamie Brodie Short Stories (Jamie Brodie Mysteries)
It seems Jamie Brodie can’t go anywhere any more without a body turning up. Jamie and his boyfriend Pete Ferguson are taking a week of vacation to visit Pete’s brother Steve in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They arrive to find that Alamogordo has been invaded – by fans of a TV show called Alien Visitors. The host of the show, Dixon Gill, was found dead in the lobby of Steve’s building. Gill’s fans believe he was killed by the FBI because he was about to reveal the truth about the government’s cover-up of alien visitations. Jamie and Pete know that’s not true. But who did kill Gill? The director of his show? A competitor on the same network? An angry commenter on Gill’s blog? A shadowy anti-government group? Or one of his ex-wives? The deeper Jamie probes into Gill’s past, the more potential suspects he finds.
The truth is out there – but can Jamie uncover it?
Burdened to Death, the third in the Jamie Brodie Mysteries by Meg Perry, is a complex and compelling story. And itās one not everyone is going to agree with on how this story ends.
For a novel thatās 128 pages in length, Perryās woven a tale of incredible complexity, one that includes highly dangerous and damaging subjects such as suicide, the SA scandals within the Catholic Churchās priesthood, and the emotional/traumatic aftermath of those who survived that abuse.
One of those people is the current boyfriend of James Brodie. Pete Fergusonās confession of his childhood SA trauma in the last novel is continuing to destabilize his relationship with Jamie.
This is one more sensitively handled element of the story and their relationship. The issues are directly connected to Peteās childhood SA. Both men are in individual therapy (another interesting aspect of the story).
Theyāre at an emotional impasse when they get a phone call from Kevin, Jamieās police detective brother, about a dead man who needs identification from Pete.
This dead man will ignite several investigations. Both of them seemingly done by Jamie for Pete, to get closure. But itās never that simple.
Perry manages to wring out deep, wrenching emotions from current events while revealing new perspectives and past histories about the main characters here . While these events happened decades ago, they feel as fresh as they do now because so much of this is still unresolved and the investigations and lawsuits are still ongoing.
And that will bring us back to the ending. Some will absolutely not be happy or satisfied by this. I can see why. Real life works this way. And it would have worked that way back then.
And somehow I donāt feel as though weāre done with this yet.
Perry showed us that James and Pete made some progress in their relationship. Small steps. After enormous trauma. Thatās life.
Thats realistic and a beautiful raw , well written story. And why I keep coming back. On to Researched To Death.
The Jamie Brodie Mysteries – 23 books
ā Cited to Death
ā Hoarded to Death
ā Burdened to Death
ā¦ Researched to Death
ā¦ Encountered to Death
ā¦ Psyched to Death
ā¦ Stacked to Death
ā¦ Stoned to Death
ā¦ Talked to Death
ā¦ Avenged to Death
ā¦ Played to Death
ā¦ Filmed to Death
ā¦ Trapped to Death
ā¦ Promoted to Death
ā¦ Published to Death
ā¦ Cloistered to Death
ā¦ Haunted to Death
ā¦ Obsessed to Death
ā¦ Deserted to Death
ā¦ Drugged to Death
ā¦ Resigned to Death
ā¦ Snowed to Death
ā¦ Enchanted to Death
Dirty Laundry: The Jamie Brodie Short Stories (Jamie Brodie Mysteries)
A phone call in the middle of the night is never good news. When Pete Fergusonās phone rings, he learns that one of his childhood friends, Mark Jones, has committed suicide. Markās family is shocked, and wonders if Mark was abused by the same priest at whose hands Pete suffered. Pete and Markās family want answers, and they ask Jamie to find them. Pete is convinced the priest is connected to his friendās suicide. Jamie isnāt so sure. When the evidence starts pulling them in different directions, will it tear them apart?
NHL veteran Cody Bilson, he of the many exās and impulsive tendencies, is next on the list for his storyline. Cody has been a character thatās been on the outskirts of the previous books and those characters romances.
Honestly, Cody has never made much of a mark on this series and, in comparison with the other characters, he doesnāt come across as strong or as multifaceted as those earlier characters either.
The other main character, rookie goalie, Miles Olsen, is grounded in family, a deep history with his University fraternity , his hockey team, and the city of Nashville itself.
Next to Miles, Cody is less well defined. Most of what we know about him is āas told toā basis. His past and impulsive marriages? Off page as is his behavior that led to them. So is his interactions with the women or anyone. He comes to the story as the most one dimensional character of the series. So itās hard to invest in his journey away from a team and teammates we know to a new location based on the fact heās dodging exās and any familiar faces. Yes, heās running because he canāt say no. Sigh. Hereās a cheaper solution, hire a bodyguard to keep you away from potentially damaging situations. But then thereās no novel.
The dog is a nice touch but Killer is basically handed off to Milesā parents albeit for the right reasons.
So the remaining storyline is sex, questions about past experiences, more sex, Milesā quirky habits ( he is a goalie), and some exploration about Miles coming out to his family.
Miles really carries the emotional heft as far as the relationship and teammates dynamics. When it comes to the authors layering in detailed information and relatable content, they lay it out on Miles to carry. We know about his childhood, his family and his fears about the future and commitment.
Anything from Cody feels like an afterthought.
For me, Bromantic Puckboy (Puckboys Book 6) by Eden Finley and Saxon James is a good book but not in the same category as the previous stories. Even the matter in which they come out seems to say it all.
Itās enjoyable as part of the series.
Do look at the Playlist, Bromantic Inspiration, at the beginning, just wonderful.
The idea of moving away from Seattle was a joke at first.
I have too many failed relationships here. Too much baggage.
So when I find myself signing with Nashville and leaving everything behind, Iām hopeful a new start will cure me of my attachment problems.
I fall fast and hard, and Iām quickly realizing itās not so easy to escape my emotional damage. That follows no matter where I go.
When my new teammate, rookie goalie Miles Olsen, attaches himself to my side, the media are excited to exploit our bromance. Little do they know, heās doing me a favor by keeping me away from making mistakes with women.
Thatās the deal we made at the beginning of the season, but as time goes on, and weāre both going through a dry spell, Miles suggests a different arrangement. One Iāve never contemplated. One I shouldnāt consider.
One I canāt stop thinking about.
Miles
My first day as starting goalie for Tennessee is made mildly more terrifying by coming face to face with NHL veteran Cody Bilson. Hero worship? Me? Never!
He reminds me of my old frat buddies; loyal, kind, easy to trade banter with. But my dude is lost and trying to find himself again–without getting married this time.
I want to help him, and while my suggestion might not be conventional, it sure as hell is effective. The only way to make sure he doesn’t marry a woman again? Blow off steam with a man instead.
We’re both straight, we’re both single, and we’re both down for a good time.
Knowing You is the first in a new series. Words We Never Said, by E.M. Lindsey. Itās a contemporary romance that has multiple core characters with the main characters here each having their own distinct struggles and personal challenges. This includes single dads or guardians as a core group and they have additional layered in issues that arise from their current situation.
Lindsey has developed a story and series that, just from the description, should be immediately relevant and easy to connect with. Thereās single parenting, and children of a range of ages. They too have some depth of character, even though they donāt have as much storylines.
I came thinking I was going to have a quick, engaging experience with this book and characters. Instead, I kept questioning why I wasnāt completely convinced by certain characters or aspects of those characterās personality or even engaged by their storylines.
I was consistently made distant from the characters rather than fully invested by aspects of the story that just felt bulky . So many important elements were piled up on so few characters that it ultimately felt like a fabricated issue mountain rather than people who were just trying to make it with real life stuff.
Thatās unfortunate because if you strip away some of the struggle floss, these characters work separately and together.
Letās start with the manny/nanny (itās an issue), itās filled by next-door neighbor, Bowen Gallons. Bowen is the meet cute, sort of, when Laneās 3year old daughter steals his prosthetic leg and brings it home. No spoilers, thatās in the description. Heās former stuntman who had a stunt go horribly wrong. Then got dumped on top of the loss of his leg and career.
Bowen has a lot to bring to the narrative. In this case, his own traumatic backstory as a recent amputee and being dumped by a ex boyfriend. Thereās an adjustment to his body image and more. Heās a relatable character. I really like Bowen. His background with child development/education works too because of the personality heās been given.
Itās Lane and Briar that had me questioning. Not just the father/daughter dynamic but also the label given to Lane for his behavior (four years or more) . DA is a serious topic. But we meet Lane just as heās in the middle of a screaming match with an absent parent/spouse, Sana. Sana who has been absent for 2 years now on a āforever vacationā with no interest in coming home and had been mostly a visitor when she was younger in the relationship.
For me, sheās the missing link. What we see of her as either in āas told toā by friends or in the tiny scenes of one dimensional caricature of a scheming narcissist. But nothing of any substance or of their own dynamic to support the current situationās labeling. Had the author given us more of them together, let us see their differences, their dynamics, and let Sana have layers. This would have made the thread a better fit and a little more accurate portrayal of what I believe the author was trying to convey.
But instead we donāt know enough of him and his story. We just see him as he is now. Heās a mess, his daughter is suffering from her own abandonment issues (thereās never any mention of getting her therapy here, although a kid who is stealing to get presents has issues), and heās not dealing with anything in his real life. A absent spouse and mother. A daughter in trouble as well as a business who needs his attention.
Thereās a lot going on here. Heās been a mess for years. So what happens? He āsnapsā out of it immediately. From years of being a āspineless idiotā (his words) to a man of action in a day. After years of ignoring advice/input from friends and alienating people and family.
That just doesnāt ring true for me. Then itās followed up with a bisexual awakening, a new sexual , albeit hidden,relationship with Bowen while both are questioning their commitment to each other. Briarās emotional issues are only intermittently mentioned here. She has been relegated to a lesser role until dramatically required for a scene. I have a quibble with that too.
Other characters that will obviously have their own stories are flowing in and out of the narrative and this coupleās relationship. Some to act as a Greek chorus, others to throw in a stumbling block or two on their path to romance.
The climax is one strange dramatic moment that drains directly into a birthday party celebration and a weird off page event that satisfies no one.
Knowing You (Words We Never Said Book 1) by E. M. Lindsey has some wonderful ideas and lovely characters. The potential for a great story is there. I just donāt think it succeeds as a whole.
“Oh my God, Briar! Where did you get that prosthetic leg?”
Things as a parent Lane thought he’d never say for four hundred, Alex.
But thatās par for the course in Lane Ashburyās life considering everything is on the verge of falling apart. He not only has a toddler building her skills as a professional klepto, but heās also on the verge of divorce, and hoping desperately to save his business before it goes under.
Luckily, the owner of the stolen leg might just be an angel in disguise when he offers to be Laneās new nanny instead of pressing charges.
The whole thing would be perfect if Bowen Galanos didnāt make Lane feel things. If he didnāt make Lane question everything he thought he knew about himself every time Bowen’s touch lingered just a little too long.
And when Bowen offers some no-strings benefits to their friendship to see if maybe Laneās not as straight as he thought, Lane finds it impossible to say no. I mean, itās not like heās going to realize heās madly in love with his nanny, right?
That would be absurd.
That would be ridiculous.
And knowing him, that would be exactly his luck.
Knowing You is the first book in a light-hearted, single-dads romance series. It features a toddler with sticky fingers, a tired dad who just wants to be loved, a former stunt actor who craves to be needed, Henry Cavill man crushes, a hint of sweet, a twist of angst, a steamy bisexual awakening, and the happiest of happily ever afters.
Pet Delivery is another tale from Ofelia Grand that showcases her ability to create and deliver characters and relationships a reader can connect with in a short story.
Her characters are usually outside of the main character format and often have body types that are also very relatable and realistic.
If thereās an issue, itās that the story length doesnāt leave time for full development or attention to the characters resolving any drama thatās been introduced.
Both of that happens here but the characters are so engaging that the issues surrounding them with the plot (holes, etc) sort of but not completely make up for that.
Thereās Gabriel Miller, recently a witness to a murder and now stashed by the cops in a freezing cold cabin in a small town where he is a stranger. Gabe is frightened, missing his cats and sister. Heās so scared and we connect to him immediately, no matter his actions.
Then thereās Chris Hart, whose family owns the cabin and comes to the rescue. Small town is written all over Chris but in the best of small town ways.
Grandās writing lets us watch them connect and interact with each other over the situation and bond with each other as they grow together.
Itās a lovely story, plus cats and a sister we donāt see enough of.
Pet Delivery needs fleshing out, more development and details to really work and feel satisfying but the heart is there.
Chris Hart owns the only grocery shop in Nortown, but he isn’t exactly overrun by customers. Some days he wonders why he bothers to open the doors at all. Spending his days smiling at the few people trickling in and his nights alone in bed isn’t the most interesting life a man could lead. But when Chris suddenly gets the excitement he’s been craving, it may be more than he bargained for.
Gabriel Miller loves his life. He’s close to his sister, has a job he adores and is the proud owner of one and a half cats. But all of it is taken away when he witnesses a murder. To keep him safe, the police place him in Nortown, of all possible locations.
Chris can’t believe they’re letting someone live in his gran’s old cabin in the middle of the winter. It’s too cold. When the poor man shows up in his shop looking to buy clothes, Chris’s heart melts, despite the freezing temperature. Gabriel notices the way the shopkeeper looks at him, but it can’t be right. No one looks at a heavyset man with heat in their eyes. Do they?
Up All Night begins a new series called Mount Hope by Annabeth Albert about a small town near Portland, Oregon and a close knit group of longtime friends who have recently come back together.
Up All Night is described as a low-angst, small town romance, and it does work on that level. The small town community is nicely represented, especially through the dinerās various clientele and hospital staff.
I like the newly divorced older former fire captain, Sean Murphy, that Albert has created as a main character. Heās a very familiar figure, the sort of guy whoās recognizable around in a community. The divorced dad of now adult offspring, who is trying to make his way into a future he didnāt expect and isnāt ready for. Heās returning home to help out a recently widowed friend and father deal with the aftermath of his husbandās death. Thatās a wonderfully sweet, compelling storyline.
Everything about Sean feels very real. Except for the fact that his wife, a scientist, late in their marriage, both discovers sheās asexual, and, also has a shot at a dream job in Antartica. So she ends the marriage, making Sean give up his dream of his job, sell his beloved Craftsman home, and leave the area. Thatās a lot. All that fallout from the divorce and heās not mad or even mildly irritated. Heās sad and confused. That feels like a problem.
Thatās just one of the issues Iām having with the story and characters here. Itās that Albert canāt stop with the complications and drama but the story itself is supposed to be low angst and sort of low drama, sweet small town romance. The authorās words.
Itās pulls in separate directions narratively because of the consistent heavy loads the author writes onto her characters and plots. This makes several of the storylines feel under explored and understandably cut short in important elements. Not just in certain aspects of Seanās personality.
Thereās considerably more along these exact same lines.
Denver Rucker, the ex foster kid with huge abandonment issues, who is now one of the short order cooks at Honey’s Hotcake Hut. Heās the other main character and his problems with commitment run deep. Thereās a small Dom/sub element here within the developing relationship between Denver and Seanās as Sean enjoys exploring his sexuality as a gay man for the first time.
Yes, itās also a sexual coming out, first times, sexual experience storyline. So much is packed into this book.
Foster care, foster children, giving children up for adoption, all those delicate topics are major themes here. The well defined family of their widower friend,Eric, all his four children (each one with their own well defined personality from jock to āneurospicyā) came from the foster care system. But thatās not gone into detail here.
Then there is Denver himself, whose background is painful and left him emotionally vulnerable. And there is another , lesser established thread of substance abuse, that flows through several characters as too. Sometimes itās just a sentence about no longer using/drinking something.
But again, in a low angst story, to introduce such emotional, and potentially triggering topics in a way thatās underwhelming or not thoroughly explored, doesnāt make sense. For me as a reader, either commit fully to a more complex story and well developed narrative. Or realize that, for a contemporary low angst, low drama romance, a little less complexity/issues in the characters history and relationships journey is just fine.
I like many aspects of the story, like the characters and relationships , whether itās romantic or the friendship between the group of men. But for each of the pluses, I get a scene that will raise a question about the character or a relationship. Such as a feeling of homophobia that comes from Seanās son but left unanswered.
Or, smh, that Albert has the younger offspring Wren, in the story, find and put a turtle in a small tank for observation purposes, possibly adding another. Thatās my button being pushed.
If you canāt write animals in a manner that is satisfying (continuity in letting main animal characters exist right up to the end of the story) or in a way thatās realistic and respectful, please donāt. It might be a small thing, but reptiles ,especially native turtles, are increasingly endangered and itās discouraged to take them for pets or any reason. PSA over
Up All Night (Mount Hope Book 1) by Annabeth Albert was on some levels, a nice romantic story, a good start on a new series . In the other hand, it was overpacked with too many sensitive issues, potentially triggering themes and emotionally charged scenes that were, imo, not fully explored or developed for this book and itās overall low angst storyline.
Read it because you are a fan of the author, love a new series by, or any of the many themes here.
I had a stable life as a fire captain in Seattle, married to one of my best friends and raising two awesome kids. Now, my kids are grown, and my marriage is toast. I’m solidly past forty and back in my tiny hometown of Mount Hope, Oregon, filling in as a firefighter. My future is one big question mark keeping me up at night.
Also keeping me up? The short-order cook at Honey’s Hotcake Hut.
Denver might be close to my age, but we’re total opposites. The former rock roadie runs from stability, never puts down roots, and lives for the moment. Point in case, we barely speak before he invites me into his shower.
I’ve never been with a man, but my fresh start has me trying all sorts of new thingsāincluding Denverās shower.
Our future? Hopeless.
Denver doesn’t do repeats, but I convince him to have a fling since we’re both in Mount Hope short-term. The more time we spend together, the deeper our friendship and bond grows. Our time together outside of the bedroom, reveals a caring side to the grumpy cook. Even better, my sunshine-y optimism softens him like butter.
Should a fling give me these deep feelings? Nope.
Worse, the feelings are mutual. Big decisions loom for both our futures, and our time together grows short. I might have Denver’s heart, but his trust is far harder to win. He’s the answer to all my question marks, and I need him to believe in us. Can I convince him to give our love a chance?
UP ALL NIGHT features a grumpy/sunshine pairing for a forty-something firefighter on a path of self-discovery with an UP ALL NIGHT short-order cook. It contains loads of first-time feels with sexual awakening and exploration with a heaping helping of personal growth and deep connection for this opposites-attract couple.
R.L. Merrill has a new contemporary MM romance out, Forces of Nature book 3: Earthquake Ethan.
The Earth shook the morning actor Ethan Bradley arrived in Los Angeles looking for a second chance. He hoped his former producers Reese Matheson and Toby Griffiths meant it when they said to look them up if he were ever in LA because he had no other options. The pictures the paparazzi took at the wrap party for their London show made sure of that. What he wasnāt counting on was the reception he got from their manager, Arthur Frye. He was absolutely the kind of together guy Ethan wished would notice him, and for more than his pretty face and talent. Too bad Arthur only sees Ethan as a complication.
Arthur Frye has his hands full with his best clientsāand best friends. The last thing he needs is another diva to care for, especially one who has a reputation for causing trouble. He has a strict rule against getting involved with the talent, no matter how pretty they are. Only Ethan Bradley shines for real, and when Arthur realizes his nice-guy innocence is genuine, heās ready to do anything to help Ethan get his career back on track and get him out of LA. Heās too much of a temptation, and Arthur canāt afford to lose focusā¦not even for a chance at happiness for himself. Especially not when his star clients are about to risk their professional and personal happiness with their newest creation; a musical about two boys falling in love in the 1960s featuring music written by Reeseās grandfather, whose health is in decline.
Ethan Bradley shakes things up wherever he goes, and Arthur Frye is afraid heāll be left in the wreckage if he gets too close. Can these two opposites find love on solid ground?
Warnings: implied sexual abuse off page
About the Series
Forces of Nature follows a group of talented men who are natural disasters, and the men who love them.
The morning after Ethan Bradley landed at LAX the earth shook. Literally. Being from Iowa, heād always been afraid of earthquakes. He remembered watching footage when he was a little boy of the one that hit Northridge and it stayed with him. Heād even turned down a part in the film San Andreas because he was terrified of the real thing.
Plusāat the timeāheād wanted to be considered a serious actor, and accepting a role in a Hollywood disaster blockbuster didnāt fit in with his professional goals. Instead, heād ended up going to London to film a clever romantic comedy. Then came the stage and more accolades at the age of twenty-six than heād imagined possible.
When his hotel room rattled his first morning in LA and sent him diving under the desk in the early hours, heād wished heād stayed.
But London had nothing to offer him after the paparazzi ruined his life, and he couldnāt go home. So there he was, back in the states, and ready to grovel before his former producerāand crushāfor a role, any role, that would allow him to get back to doing what he lovedā¦acting, singing, performing.
Love was a strong word. It was what he knew, what he was good at, where his God-given talents lay.
Heād come to LA with a plan. Sort of. Go see Reese Matheson. Pray he opened the door and took pity on him. And that he didnāt hold a grudge.
He plugged the Malibu address heād gotten from his London managerās office into the Lyft app and went outside to wait for his ride. And prayed.
If Reese wouldnāt see him, he had a plan B.
Heād go to see Reeseās business partner Toby Griffiths. Which was probably a terrible idea, but the best he had.
Because there was no plan C.
He had exactly fifty dollars cash on him and a credit card dangerously close to being maxed out. Rock bottom was flying up to meet him fast.
The Lyft driver dropped him off at the end of a long driveway leading to a quaint little house that backed up to the Malibu shoreline. He knew nine oāclock on a Sunday morning was early, but the earthquake had shaken him so much, he couldnāt wait to get out of his room at the Holiday Inn. Heād been to LA before to promote his films, but heād never felt comfortable among the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
He climbed the steps, cleared his throat, reached for that enthusiastic confidence that used to come so easy for him once upon a timeā
The door opened before he even had a chance to knock.
The short Filipino man standing there in a pair of scrubs had one eyebrow raised and a hand on his hip.
āCan I help you?ā
His tone didnāt come across as helpful, despite his words.
āYeah, sorry. Iām looking for Reese Matheson? My name isāā
āI know who you are.ā The manās raised eyebrow turned into a frown. āJust a minute,ā he said before closing the door with a little less force than a slam.
Breathe. Itās fine. Reese is a good guy. He wonāt be angry that I showed up. Heās a generous, kind personā
Author Bio
R.L. Merrill brings you stories of Hope, Love, and Rock ‘n’ Roll featuring quirky and relatable characters. Whether sheās writing about contemporary issues that affect us all or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, she loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after.
Winner of the Kathryn Hayes āWhen Sparks Flyā Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, Foreword INDIES finalist for Summer of Hush and RONE finalist for Typhoon Toby, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after.
She writes diverse and inclusive romance, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Petermanās Magic and Mayhem Universe, and works on various other writing and mentoring projects that tickle her fancy or benefit a worthy cause. You can find her connecting with readers on social media, educating Americaās youth, raising two brilliant teenagers, trying desperately to get that back piece finished in the tattoo chair, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more Rock ‘n’ Romance.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 