A Kai Audiobook Review: Nachos & Hash (Mary’s Boys #1) by Brandon Witt and Dominic Carlos (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Darwin Michaels is living his dreams in the Mile High City. While Denver offers the perfect job, scrumptious dining, and whirlwind dating options, Darwin is losing hope he’ll find the right man to spark his interest for more than a one-night stand—until he sets eyes on Cody Russell.

Cody has just accomplished his life’s goal—get the hell out of Kansas. In one fell swoop, he lands a job at Hamburger Mary’s and gets a newfound family and the chance to be with other gay people! All that’s missing is someone special. But when Darwin shows his interest, Cody is sure it’s too good to be true. After all, what can Darwin possibly see in the high school dropout serving him nachos?

As Darwin falls in love, Cody struggles to realize his worth. When his past threatens the fragile life he is building, Cody spirals into a moment of dark desperation. But Darwin is determined to show Cody that love and family and home are there for him… will Cody accept what is offered?

Well guys, I really liked this story! It had some characteristics that I tend to when reading an MM, since as: not slow paced, good characters, involving plot… So basically this one would be a killer, right? Well, for the most part yes, but then it was a little rushed sometimes and also in the end there were things missing. I guess it was a HFN story, but I was so expecting a HEA in this one.

I liked the characters complexity and loved to see them growing in an out of the relationship. I also liked the supporting characters and I can’t wait to see their own stories.

The narrative was truly well done. Dominic Carlos did an amazing work giving life to the characters and transporting me to this novella’s world in no time.

If you are looking for a fast paced, interesting, fluid and low angst story, I recommend this one.

Have a good reading and happy 2018 for all!

Cover artist: Angsty G. Love the bright cover, its perfect!

Sales Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Series: Mary’s Boys: Book 1

Written by: Brandon Witt

Narrator: Dominic Carlos

Release Date: November 22, 2017

Category: Contemporary

Length: 3 hours, 30 minutes

An Alisa Review: Deeds & Confetti (Mary’s Boys #4) by Brandon Witt

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Steven Conley loves the excitement of owning his own Hamburger Mary’s restaurant in Denver, Colorado, and his chosen family of coworkers makes life even better. Steven never regretted leaving the corporate grind behind until his father’s harsh deathbed words leaves him doubting himself.

Ryan Fuller abandoned a lucrative career to start his own party-planning business, but he keeps afloat by coordinating funerals for the local mortuary. When Ryan bumps into Steven—his best friend’s uncle and the man Ryan has secretly crushed on forever—the attraction explodes into a night of passionate abandon for both men.

Steven is blown away by the care and deep connection he feels for the hot young mortician—until Ryan admits who he really is. Reeling from the recent upheaval in his life, Steven must decide whether to give Ryan a chance. To find love, they must risk it all….

This was a wonderfully sweet story. Steven has been living the last few years for himself despite his father’s criticism, but his father’s death and his harsh words cause Steven to doubt the life he has built. Ryan has recently begun to live his life for himself and isn’t going to let Steven’s doubt stop them.

Steven has a wonderful support system in his friends and family (excluding his judgmental father). I loved the internal strength that Ryan had and how he wouldn’t let the little things keep him down. I chose this story for the short and sweet aspect it seemed to have which it really did but I loved seeing small glimpses of how Steven greatly affected the lives of those around him. It makes me really want to go back and read the other stories in this series however I didn’t need them to know what was going on.

Cover art by AngstyG is wonderful, I love the visual of these two characters.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 100 pages

Published: September 27, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-63533-749-5

Edition Language: English

Series: A Mary’s Boys Novella

A Stella Release Day Review: Mascara & Bandages (Mary’s Boys#3) by Brandon Witt

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

Ariel Merman is a new drag queen who’s already finding a family at Hamburger Mary’s. After a performance as Ariel, Zachary Cooper walks home in his makeup and is assaulted by homophobes. Zachary’s worry that the attack has thrown a wrench in his good fortune is eased when he looks into the eyes of his doctor.

Dr. Teegan Chau is a little lost after divorcing his wife and coming out of the closet, but he can’t deny the pull he feels toward the young man he patches up. Luckily, Zachary takes the initiative and asks Teegan out. But attraction is the easy part of their blossoming relationship—as they deal with an ex-wife and child, being a drag queen in a heteronormative culture, Zachary’s lingering trauma from his attack, and Teegan acclimating to life as part of an out-and-proud gay couple.

The challenges seem daunting at the start of a romance. Can Zachary and Teegan make it through the rough patches and take a chance on the love that’s been missing from both their lives?

The Mary’s Boys series by Brandon Witt has truly conquered me, I’m enjoying every new installment the author releases. I think Mascara & Bandages is my favorite novellas so far, maybe because I’m a huge fan of the Little Mermaid and so I was gone for Ariel Merman since I first saw her. Maybe because I like my characters to be a little bandaged and here, apart from the physical healing Zachary will need to do, both MCs had gone through rough phases in their lives, and their suffering made them more real. I felt Zachary be scared, be lonely and then be loved and protected. And I saw him being fabulous when he is Ariel. I liked to see Zachary and Teegan together, how they were soon attracted to each other but wait to tumble in bed because no sex on first date, per Zachary’s rule. And they were surrounded by new small characters like Kelly, Teegan ex-wife, an amazing woman, supportive and funny, and their little daughter.

Apart from the well done writing, which it’s not a surprise, by now I think everyone is pretty aware the author can write, I adored I was able to meet again my favorite people in the series, ManDonna, Pat, and all the people who took care of Zachary and act as his family like they already did with Cody in Nachos & Hash. I hope there will be more chances to meet all of them together again, who will be the next person to get his HEA?

The cover art by AngstyG follows the style of the cover of the previous book, it’s well done and fitting the story. I like it.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 121 pages

Expected publication: July 12th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN13 9781635336603

Edition Language English

Series Mary’s Boys #3

A Stella Release Day Review: Vodka & Handcuffs (Mary’s Boys #2) by Brandon Witt

RATING 3,5 out of 5 stars

Vahin Arora, Hamburger Mary’s sexy bartender, plays the flirtatious role so well even his closest friends—his chosen family at Mary’s—don’t realize Vahin hasn’t had a hookup in months. Then Tall, Dark, and Handsome steps through the door, and Vahin’s libido races back to life.

Being a black cop on the Denver police force is no easy job—Marlon Barton can’t imagine adding being gay to the equation. And while Marlon loves his work as an officer, his life has taken a turn for the hellish because of his new partner, the nephew of a senator.

Fleeing his partner’s company one night, Marlon stumbles into Mary’s for the first time… and wakes up with a hangover in the bartender’s bed. The one-night stand heats up into a budding romance, but not without stress as Marlon’s partner’s actions threaten Vahin’s livelihood and Marlon’s future on the force. Can Vahin and Marlon face the challenges and hold on to the love, friendship, and family they’ve found?

I was so happy to have Vodka & Handcuffs in my hands, the previous book in the Mary’s Boy series, Nachos & Hash conquered me and I was so curious to see what I will get next. I’m sorry to say this new release was just an okay read and nothing more to me. And I am so used to have so much more from Brandon Witt books, that I’m disappointed.

It feels to me that everything I know about Vahin and Marlon I got it from the blurb, the story actually told me nothing else. And that’s the problem. It should have been more focused on the MCs together, how much they wanted each other, but I actually saw no connection between them, I wanted to know more about their past and the present they are living. Instead the story is focused on some nasty things that are happening with Marlon police partner, and even if this gave the story reality, it was at the expense of the main couple’s romance which was almost non-existent. And even the ending was just meh

As I said Vodka & Handcuffs was an okay reading, the book is well written like everything Brandon writes, there are some secondary characters I was so hoping to meet again, I saw Cody and was happy to know he was doing great. I saw ManDonna being fabulous as always. That’s why I gave the story 3,5 stars. Now, if I could have Zachary story right this second, I would be so happy.

The cover art by AngstyG follows the style of the cover of the previous book, it’s well done and fitting the story, I can easily picture Marlon and Vahin in the models on it, I like it.

Sales Links

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 112 pages

Expected publication: April 26th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1635334330 (ISBN13: 9781635334333)

Edition Language English

Series Mary’s Boy #2

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