Review: Spellbound (Fallen Messengers #2 by Ava Marie Salinger

Rating: 3.5 🌈

Ah, time for that all important second book in a series review. So many questions and weighted hopes hangs on this follow up novel if the author is continuing an overall series arc.

Is there continuity and character growth? Does it flow somehow out from the events of the first book? Does it empower not only the characters but our imagination in the same manner the original launches us into this journey?

Hmmm, with Spellbound, the answers are a bit mixed.

Let’s tackle them one by one.

Plots.

The storyline that takes up the majority of this novel is wonderful. It contains so much depth and emotional layering that I expected. There’s a serious mother/daughter flawed relationship built on lies, love, and a great tragedy. Eden, the daughter is so relatable in her anger, pain, and apparent maternal abandonment. Her rage is both poignant and deeply frightening. We get it. This aspect of the novel, and everything that surrounds Eden is absolutely terrific. With an exception.

Eden is a high school student. At the end of this story, she’s found herself in a serious permanent as in forever relationship. With a ancient being. Now while we are all smacking our heads over that flag, I will say the author has several characters bring up the illegality of that issue as well as the idea that she’s not emotionally ready. Ok good.

But there’s no real resolution. So perhaps that’s to be addressed in upcoming novels but Eden clearly deserves a more defined finish here. She’s a marvelous character and so is this entire element of the arc.

Which brings me to

Series Arc plots .

As best I can tell, Salinger is slowly adding bits of pieces to her overall arc mosaic much like a 1.000 piece table puzzle . You fit a bit in here, several snap in together there. So hopefully, Eden and her new Dryad Prince are part of the huge battle group that will be needed to fight the Evil whoever who is trying to do whatever. Still not a clue. But Salinger’s strengths are in her ingenious storylines and layerings. She knows how to build a suspenseful scene, and then top it off with high action.

However , this didn’t move the overall arc along hugely. Did confirm new information about our main characters though.

That brings us to the aspect of characterization. What I thought worked and, frankly, what I felt didn’t.

Eden’s group and storyline. Those characters were new , including her BFF Lois and her family. All the beings that gravitated around Eden and her drama? They really worked as far as realistic emotional scenes and reactions to her dilemma. Again great job.

But, unfortunately, in what should be solid, continuing .character growth for Cassius and Morgan, our main couple and the series biggest heart as well as mystery? It felt as though we got a stripping off of layers instead of a depth of dimension.

In the first story, we saw the ages of wisdom, the compassion and pain coming through for Cassius. Now he’s a pouty, insecure lovesick being? What happened to the serious character of the other novel? He seems to have vanished, replaced by a boyfriend of Morgan’s. Who occasionally transforms into something cool. Morgan too is undergoing a bit of a metamorphosis, although into what exactly is anyone’s guess. But the gravity of these downright elemental or idk other worldly transformations seems to be missing.

Idk maybe they should actually stop having sex for a mo’ and figure out if this pertains to their missing memories, and maybe even the bad guy! Good grief.

Definitely not the same beings I liked in book one. They need to regain their gravitas, their focus, and personalities.

Almost missing main character. You all know how I feel about this. Here it’s Loki the magical cat, a main player in book one and the series arc. He lives with Cassius now. When do we see and here about him here? When the book is about 74% complete. Then Loki is mentioned as part of the growing mystery so , yes, he has to be trotted out in one scene so everyone sees he’s still around. That’s it. Done. He disappears again back into the apartment not to be mentioned again. It fed or whatever. So Loki could have starved because he’s not seen or mentioned even when they are back in the apartment. A huge change from book one when he’s a constant presence, weaving catlike around the feet or in their laps. SMH. Continuity and consistency!

All of which finally brings me to my last bit of griping. Since I had time to notice all the above, then the issues I had with the repetition of adjectives and certain author’s fondness of terms definitely continues on here.

Pls, someone either tell her about how to find and replace a word within a document, Thesauruses our old friend , (and edit) or point a great editor her way.

We are back to muscles jumping in every character’s face and often. Adrianne is saying things “leadenly”again. I pity poor Adrianne. No sex and the worst lines. A couple of female characters always “smile softly “.

There’s also a lot of “she___fill in the name___snarled,” “so and so hissed”,

Lots of hissing and no they aren’t snake shifters.

Also “growling “. Cedric growled. But it could have been and usually is another.

Plus a host of clenched whatever… jaw, fist… whatever can be clenched.

You get the idea. Salinger once she uses a word or term in a certain manner, it stays used. To the detriment of the story. And the reader’s, at least this reader’s concentration.

And that’s a shame, because the plots? Both one the book and overall series arc scale are imaginative and layered. They have grabbed my attention and the potential for a really great series shows everywhere….

But there’s some definite tidying up to be done. Both in the major characters personalities and language. I look forward to see what book three brings.

High marks mostly for Eden and her journey.

Fallen Messenger series:

Unbound #0.5

Fractured Souls #1

Spellbound #2

Edge Lines #3

Oathbreaker #4

Synopsis:

Can Cassius and Morgan overcome an elusive enemy and save a young girl’s life?

Eden Monroe has spent her entire existence believing she has no magic. Shunned by her mother Brianna and the magical bureau Hexa, she runs away from home when she is forced to embrace a future she never chose, only to fall into the hands of ghastly monsters from the Nine Hells. After being rescued by a mysterious Dryad with secrets of his own, Eden realizes there is more to her past and future than she could ever have imagined.

When San Francisco PD asks Argonaut to assist them in solving a series of strange bank robberies, Cassius Black and Morgan King uncover a disturbing plot that points to an unknown artifact hidden somewhere in the city. Their investigation soon has them crossing paths with a desperate Brianna, who seeks their help in finding her missing daughter. When the witch reveals the shocking circumstances surrounding her daughter’s birth as well as the deadly magic sealed inside the young girl’s body, the Argonaut agents realize their case is linked to Eden and the weapon of devastating power the bank robbers are after.

Can Cassius and Morgan defeat the malevolent organization behind it all and save Eden from her cursed fate? Or will the young girl suffer a destiny worse than death itself?

Spellbound is the second novel in the gay urban fantasy romance series Fallen Messengers. If you like your paranormal adventures full of action, magic, snark, and a host of steamy angels and demons, then you’re not going to want to miss this jaw-dropping, fun-filled ride!

Spellbound

Review: Soft Place to Fall by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4.5🌈

Soft Place to Fall is a heartbreaker of a book. Full of a broken partnership , a past of broken dreams and broken promises, and a mother who is being shattered by that most Insidious of diseases, Alzheimer’s, this story is one guaranteed to have you sobbing.

Often.

It’s so well written that the pain and sheer exhaustion pouring off Stetson Major as he’s watching his mama rapidly decline tears at you. You feel every bit of his feelings and the fact that there’s very little left for Stetson to give, he’s done in.

That’s where the call goes out to his ex partner, the man his mama is calling for, to please come. And rodeo rider Curtis Traynor does.

What a story. One of reconciliations, of loss, grief, forgiveness, love, and the journey back to home and each other.

The men are strong characters and you absolutely feel the incredible loving pull they have for each other. It’s also easy to see how, in their youth, their stubbornness and goals drove them apart.

The woman dying of Alzheimer’s is difficult element as she’s so realistically portrayed. Muddled one moment, clear headed another, and then wild, anger filled, and needing to be restrained the next. If you haven’t experienced this, count yourself lucky. It’s often a very hard read. As it should be.

That’s balanced by the two men now , years later, still as deeply in love as they ever were, picking their way back to each other over obstacles still strewn across the path as it was years ago.

I was so emotionally connected to these men and their romance I didn’t even notice the pages flying by.

The only thing that kept this from an absolute 5 star rating was that I thought it wrapped up too quickly for everything that had gone on before.

I was still happy for them and us at the end.

If you love cowboys and want a heartwarming love story, look no further. Grab up Soft Place To Fall and a box or two of tissues and settle in for a marvelous read.

It’s one I highly recommend.

Synopsis:

Stetson Major and Curtis Traynor are about as opposite as two cowboys can get. Stetson is a rancher, tied to the land he loves in Taos, New Mexico, while Curtis is a rodeo cowboy whose wanderlust never could be tamed. But now Stetson’s momma is dying of Alzheimer’s, and she can’t remember that Curtis hasn’t been Stetson’s boyfriend for a long time. Curtis’s absence makes her cry, so Stetson swallows his pride and calls his ex-lover. To Curtis, Stetson is the one who got away, the love of his life. And Momma is his friend, so he’s happy to help out. Yet returning to the ranch stirs up all sorts of feelings that, while buried, never really went away. Still, the rodeo nationals are coming up, and Curtis can’t stay—even if he’s starting to want to, especially to support Stetson when he needs it most. Stetson and Curtis want to find a place where they both fit, to be there to catch each other when they fall. But family, money problems, and the call of the rodeo circuit might end their second-chance romance before it even gets started.

Soft Place to Fall

Review: Impossible Things (Star Shadow #2} by Beth Bolden

Rating: 3.5 stars

After the emotionally traumatic, narratively heavy first story (Terrible Things), I had wondered how the author was going to top that. It was a great story and had a charismatic couple at its heart.

Did I find that with Impossible Things? Not exactly.

This story has one of the issues that I see in other reviews and stories. A character that is both so well written that he feels believable and isn’t very likable. At least in my opinion. That would be Benji

He’s my grandmother’s Erica Kane, aka the actor Susan Lucci , who my grandmother talked about as though that character was absolutely real and shouldn’t be doing all those awful things.

Characters like Benji have ,unfortunately, caused some poor books to get low ratings because, again, the reviewer just “hated” the character.

Never mind that the writer had done such a superb job crafting that character that the reviewer had become emotionally wrapped up in them. SMH.

Anyway, Benji is that one character here I’m not connecting with. Well done, with motivations you can understand if not agree with. Sigh.

But while I’m not connecting with Benji, my biggest issue here is the central friends to lover romance between Benji and Diego.

What I liked about the first story, the chemistry, the communication, as well as the depth to the couple, seems to be missing here.

Yes, these men face a separate set of circumstances and barriers. It’s how they approach each other, after years of friendship, and supposed knowledge of one another that’s disappointing. It’s fraught with miscommunication, stalling, if not outright lies. Add on to that self promotion, Benji’s hugely ambitious outlook that in itself isn’t inherently bad but how the person handles it, plus Benji never explains to Diego , not once, where his insecurities and need to succeed come from. Nor does Diego ever ask.

That lack of curiosity bothers me. Partners, lovers don’t ask about such major issues?

Elements like that kept me from connecting with them, especially when I had an additional hurdle of not being able to really like Benji to begin with. That could have been overcome if Diego had convinced me to see what he loved about Benji.

Did I ever feel I saw into that? Not really. After all those years, it still felt… unfinished. Unlike Leo and Caleb.

Perhaps they set too high a bar for the other couples to follow. I’ve seen that happen in series too.

So what did I find in Impossible Things? A good well written story with well constructed characters. But with a romance that I thought needed something more. Maybe more layers, more satisfying personal “work” to make it feel as believable as the men.

A Epilogue with them off on vacation together with Diego’s daughter just doesn’t fill in those emotional blanks. At least for me.

Still recommending it because I recognize that not everyone will feel about Benji the way I do.. And if you’re reading the series, you should read all the books in the order they were written.

Now onto Hazardous Things which is Max’s story along with a certain younger brother. I’m looking forward to this.

Star Shadow series:

Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1)

Impossible Things #2

Hazardous Things #3

Extraordinary Things #4

Synopsis:

When Benji saw Diego for the first time, he never expected to fall irrevocably and painfully in love with him.

It wasn’t something either of them could face, so he buried it. For ten long years.

Ten years during which he survived the pain of his own disastrous marriage and the heartbreak of watching Diego raise a child with another woman.

Through the heights of rock stardom and the depths of their band breaking up, Benji’s heart always came back to Diego. To his best friend. His bandmate. His secret desire.

Now, enough is enough.

He knows Diego loves him too. He knows they could have it all, no holds barred, with every string attached — if only they can find the courage to bring their feelings into the spotlight.

It’s time to tackle the impossible: life-altering, world-shaking, totally inevitable love.

Impossible Things is the second book in the Star Shadow series and should be read in order.

https://www.goodreads.com › showImpossible Things (Star Shadow #2) by Beth Bolden – Goodreads

Review: Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1) by Beth Bolden

Rating: 4.5🌈

Terrible Things is another terrific start to a contemporary rock band romance series by Beth Bolden.

Set in southern California, the location allows the author to fold in characters from her other series (Kitchen Gods, Food Truck Warriors) into making guest appearances where needed. Or even serving up as locations ala Terrior Restaurant and Chef Aquino.

Star Shadow is a defunct teenage rock band that disbanded when one of its members disappeared at the height of its world tour. Unable to continue, the band crumbled under the pain and betrayal.

The remaining four members keeping in contact personally while going different directions professionally.

That’ll the surface facts that the story opens up with.

The truth behind that traumatic breakup and the repercussions that are still hammering at the band members presently begin with the return of that missing musician and friend. Caleb Chance. He wants to resume that ill fated tour

Where he’s been, what happened all those years ago, and the deeply held pain and torn relationships is the beginning here.

The format the author employs includes the use of Interludes, important chapters from the past that highlights a pivotal moment in this couple’s and the band’s journey. Whether it’s from the moment they met or the moment it all imploded, the Interludes work better here then any flashback because the contrast emotionally between past and present if often stark and telling.

Told from the perspective of Leo Humphries, the man Caleb Chance left behind and who’s leaving shattered him almost completely, a one person pov makes this a strong story. It’s an unusual choice because I think most writers would have included Caleb’s as well given his own personal demons and battles. But to do that justice would have doubled this story easily.

Their romance, their tortuous journey back to each other, to forgiveness and love is hard and raw. And honestly as it deals with Caleb’s addiction to alcohol and how Leo had to deal with the everyday ramifications of having a alcoholic lover, maybe be hard to read if this is a trigger.

For me it also left some parts feeling less than fleshed out here too with regards to Caleb’s rehabilitation. He used aversion therapy at the end but there’s no real explanation here of that. Just that all other type of rehab clinics hadn’t been effective.

I would have expected something more definitive here. Especially considering that the men are honest about other stages and parts of their feelings and expectations for their new relationship.

I’ve come to relish and prefer stories where the relationships are emotionally adult. They talk, communicating their feelings, thoughts, and share elements with their partners those aspects of their lives that bring them closer together . Or learn how to do that…it’s a process.

That’s shown here in all its pain, truth, recovery, and love.

It’s quite the journey.

I wonder where all the books will take us and them. I intend to find out. I recommend you start here.

Star Shadow series:

Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1)

Impossible Things #2

Hazardous Things #3

Extraordinary Things #4

Synopsis:

When Caleb Chance walked out in Detroit five years ago, leaving his band, millions of his fans and his lover behind, Leo knew he could never forgive.

Some things, no matter what the cause, are unforgivable.

But Leo never expected Caleb to show up again, clean and sober and wanting to get their band, Star Shadow, back together. He definitely never expected to agree to Caleb’s plan.

He never expected to confront the love of his life again—or the disaster of his past, the hopelessness of his future, and every terrible thing he’s been carrying inside him.

But maybe some things aren’t so terrible after all.

Review: Keeping Kellen (Keeping Him #2) by Amy Aislin

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Well, really my only issue here is with the title. It should be called Keeping Brant because Kellen? He’s a done deal here. Has been for years since he realized he saw Brant as more than his BFF’s younger brother.

So the question here? That’s Brant not Kellen. So yep, a definite change up in title needed.

Otherwise, this is a splendid story that sees us catching up on the lives of the group of men from Keeping Casey. It’s been a while, they’ve graduated from Glen Hill College and moved forward with their partners and future plans.

As with Brant, those years has been ones of growth and now he sees himself ready to move forward again, this time in a familiar direction… home and new opportunities.

Aislin opens a path into Brant’s world with this story, one barely hinted at in the first novel. Now Brant’s past, present, and , his potential future is laid out in all its pain, love, familial dysfunction , and emotional distress. It also includes his boyhood crush which has never faded. And who now has returned as well. Aislin’s writes this all so superbly that you are pulled into Brant’s world and situation, feeling easily a part of it.

Yes, I googled that region even. I could go there, indeed I could.

Then there’s Kellen, the crush. Kellen, an immediately likable and connectable character, is one with a few painful layers himself. Although not as many as Brant.

The story and the men’s relationship begins immediately as they reconnect over a drive home from the airport and bond over Ollie, a “shared dog” and just great chemistry.

Through obstacles and new challenges raised by career changes, this pair grows together by using communication and love to get stronger and solidify their partnership. I just loved that.

No failure to talk things out, no childish misunderstandings. Just two adults working together towards a loving, mutually respectful relationship. Sigh. More pls.

And they treat others in the same manner. Be still my heart.

Ok, yes. I’m so happily on board here.

Even if Keeping Him series stays at two novels , which I expect it won’t become there are others unattached, this is absolutely a book and series I recommend.

Keeping Him series:

Keeping Casey #1

Keeping Kellen #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showKeeping Kellan (Keeping Him, #2) by Amy Aislin – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Brant Harkrader is done living by other peoples’ rules. He may not know exactly what he wants out of life, but he’s perfectly happy letting that question figure itself out while starting a new job as a tour guide.

Too bad the one thing he does want—his sister’s BFF—only sees him as a little brother.

Or so he thinks…

Kellan Shelby-Briggs has never shied away from going after what he wants. And what he wants is the important contract that will put his brand new company on the map—and Brant.

Too bad Kellan’s career keeps yanking him away just as things heat up between them.

Now that Brant is back in town—up close and personal in Kell’s living space—can they finally get the timing right to go after the love that has eluded them both for too long?

Review: Valentine’s Hearts (Owatonna U Hockey #5) by R.J.Scott

Rating: 5 🌈

Ryker Madsen and Jacob Bentsen have been through a lot in their years together but actually making it to their wedding day might be the most trying times they’ve faced yet.

If you’ve been reading this series and the Arizona Raptors one concurrently, as I have, then you’ve watched this couple undergo incredible growth separately and as a couple as they graduated college and moved to Arizona when Ryker was drafted by the Raptors.

Not a smooth transition, emotionally, especially for Jacob who missed his snow, family, and the farm that was lost financially. He had to adapt to a new environment and potentially new goals while Ryker fought to gain footing in what was initially a hostile team.

Scott puts both young men through an education on relationships and balance over the course of both series to arrive here… weeks before their wedding. And a somewhat shaky feeling emanating from both of them.

Reading the previous stories are a must otherwise you will be lost as to what the conflicts are between Ryker and Jacob at the start of the story.

And considering the gravity and huge emotional impact this element will have on them , their relationship, and the entire circle of people around them, knowing what’s behind this turmoil is essential .

While I’m surprised it’s not worked in earlier in the book, I’m also not sure how the author could have recapped such a large storyline with so with to tell with this story too.

Anyway, this brings into Valentine’s Hearts such an emotionally heartbreaking and shattering new stage to this couple and their relationship as they face together the unthinkable.

Without any spoilers, Scott’s in her element here with this section of their story. The treatment is responsible, we feel , so painfully so, that we have a window into the traumatic impact and ongoing nightmare that Jacob’s life becomes.

And the love, support, and therapy that gets him through it.

I love the simplicity and paired down ending. After everything they’ve been through, it seemed perfect.

Plus we have the finale to look forward to and it’s out now.

While it’s hard to say goodbye to this series, we still have the Raptors so really it’s not a forever goodbye.

I’m definitely recommending this and the previous stories.

Just make sure you have a bunch of tissues at hand.

Owatonna U Hockey Series: 6 books

Ryker #1

Scott #2

Benoit #3

Christmas Lights #4

Valentine’s Hearts #5

Desert Dreams – #6 series finale out now

Synopsis:

Will broken hearts replace the wedding they dreamed of?

Ryker’s heart has space for three things—his family, hockey, and Jacob. As their wedding grows closer, it seems that nothing can stand in the way of an idyllic celebration, surrounded by friends and loved ones. But things appear to be changing; Jacob is forging a future that might take him away from Ryker, and Ryker alternates between pride and fear when a new man comes into his fiancé’s life. A hockey season from hell has him doubting his life choices, but worse, he’s driving Jacob into another man’s arms. How has their perfect life suddenly gone so wrong?

Life has certainly thrown many twists and turns in Jacob’s path. Most of the goals he’d set for himself as a teenager had to change, but one has remained constant: finding his heart’s desire and marrying him. That aspiration was reached when Ryker said, “I do”. Planning their wedding was meant to be the best time of their lives, but Jacob unwittingly puts his trust in the wrong man and finds himself in danger. Is their love strong enough to survive the fallout?

https://www.goodreads.com › showWeb resultsValentine’s Hearts (Owatonna U Hockey #5) by R.J. Scott – Goodreads

Review: Tic-Tac Mistletoe Christmas by NR Walker

Rating: 4.5🌈

Yes, my holiday reading is in full swing! And here’s another book guaranteed to bring about an onslaught of the Christmas cozies and a need to bake a gazillion sugar holiday cookies!

It’s N. R. Walker’s Tic-Tac Mistletoe! What a Christmas heartwarmer!

It will, as it itself will tell you, bring up the imagery of every great Hallmark Christmas movie, including all the spot on elements we expect to see in those holiday stories and happily delivers us a Walker Hallmark Christmas story that exudes so much heart, Christmas cheer as well as poignancy, family, and love that you will want to include this as a holiday story to return to.

It even has an adorable doggy character and memorable quotes from one of my favorite movies. And no, surprisingly, it’s not a holiday one.

Walker’s characters are perfectly imperfect, layered and connectable. And so easy to love. Here it also includes a town straight out of every Hallmark tale and it’s citizens.

My only issue is that stories like these end far sooner then I’m ready for. I can always linger a tad longer than the pages allow.

Maybe next season there will be a return and a wedding. I can always hope.

Til then, make this a part of your holiday reading list. Yes I’m highly recommending it.

Synopsis:

Hamish Kenneally is moving from Australia to the US for a fresh start, starting with Christmas at his sister’s place in Idaho. When a snowstorm diverts his plane to Montana and leaves him stranded two days before Christmas, he hires a car and drives right into a blizzard.

Ren Brooks has always called Hartbridge, Montana, and his family hardware store, home. After a few failed attempts at love, he’s resigned to being single forever—after all, no guy wants to stay in his sleepy little town for long. And after his dad’s passing earlier in the year, Ren’s Christmas is looking bleak. But when a car runs off the road in front of his property, Ren pulls the driver out and takes him home to get out of the cold.

With the storm and the holidays leaving Hamish with nowhere else to go, Ren kindly offers a place to stay. Hamish is certain he’s crashed right into a Hallmark Christmas movie, despite more car delays and road closures and the prospect of not seeing his sister for Christmas. And with help from Hamish, Ren is beginning to feel a little Christmas cheer.

These two unlikely strangers have more in common than they first realise, and after two days of Christmas decorations, cookies, and non-stop conversation, it looks like Christmas might be saved after all

https://www.goodreads.com › showTic-Tac-Mistletoe by N.R. Walker – Goodreads

Review: As Big As the Sky by Amy Aislin

Rating; 4.25🌈

It’s Amy Aislin’s m/m hockey romances that normally I gravitate towards but that’s primarily out of habit. This author writes a great catalog of contemporary romances that shouldn’t be missed.

That includes this sweet HFN love story As Big As The Sky.

It’s one of those that combines several tropes into a engaging, totally satisfying heartwarming romance. It’s got enemies to lovers, a bit of hurt/comfort. Even quirky animals courtesy of a animal rehab/rescue center. Plus characters we absolutely connect with and wish we could get more of.

The relationship between Sam and Bo is so interesting because the potential for not just a great romance but an amazing one runs through this tale. There is just so many neat elements here. It cries out for a more substantial telling, fleshing out the families relationships, as well as theirs.

Indeed, Aislin has built such a marvelous universe here that I feel so much of what the author incorporates isn’t given its due.

But what we do see as far as the dynamics between Sam and Bo? Incredible and heartwarming.

I love this couple and would love to see the author revisit them and this world again.

I’m definitely recommending this sweet romance and couple.

https://www.goodreads.com › showAs Big as the Sky by Amy Aislin – Goodreads

Sam McAuley isn’t having a great start to the summer. Served with papers? Great. He’s being sued. Perfect, pristine yard overrun with chickens? What the—? Clearly, the new guy running the animal rehabilitation centre next door has no idea what he’s doing.

It’s one town to the next, one school to the next, one job to the next for Bo Novak. Everything is temporary. Even his current job—running his sister’s animal rehab centre while she’s away on a four-month leave—is temporary. And he does know what he’s doing, thank you very much. Sure, things don’t always run smoothly, but the stick-in-the-mud next door could be a little nicer about it.

One overheard conversation, an olive branch, and a baseball game might show these guys that being at odds isn’t really what they want, and that what they want might just be each other.

[As Big as the Sky was first published in August 2017. This new edition has a brand new cover but no content changes.

Review: The Jock Script (The Script Club #3) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 5🌈

Lane Hayes is at her best when it comes to characters deeply anguished by choices they’ve made or failed to make in their lives. People who are now failing under the pressure, stress, and pain the situation they now find themselves in.

Hayes has that ability to deliver that pain, that shame and doubt directly into the readers hearts, connecting us to the characters and their life choices.

Here in book 3, the angst has never been so apparent, the pain of repression and it’s repercussions so widespread.

We start off with Asher Fitzgibbons,genius, works at NASA, immediate-goal to work at the JPL. He’s decided to, one time only, to hook up with a app for a one night stand.

Asher, diminutive blonde genius, has made a number of impactful appearances in the prior stories but here the tiny perfectionist is given his due.

Oh, what a complicated man he turns out to be, with a heartbreak of a past as a foundation.

The man on the other side of the app? That would be Blake Johnson, coach of girls LaCrosse at a posh private school , and very closeted bisexual.

At first you believe that all the anguish, the repression, and the pain is coming from Blake as he deals with years of self denial and the situations at school. This is heartbreaking stuff here.

But slowly it becomes apparent that Asher too is suffering from some deep emotional issues, and past trauma.

How both men work through all the issues and barriers to arrive at a satisfying relationship is a richly rewarding journey and wonderful read.

I adore these uniquely nerdy geniuses and the men they come to love. Apparently the series isn’t over yet. Another holiday novel and book four is coming.

Great characters, well written storylines, including some deep elements all leading up to heartwarming romances.

Yep! Highly recommended!

The Script Club Series:

Following the Rules #1

Rules of Play #2

The Jock Script #3

The Holiday List #4- coming Nov 2021

Synopsis;

The nerd, the coach, and the hookup…

Asher-

Swipe left, swipe left, swipe left. Sure, the idea of a quick, no-strings intimate rendezvous via hookup app sounds oddly thrilling, but it’s simply not me. Or maybe it is me, because it happened…and I liked it. Until I realized he looked familiar for a reason. A bad reason. Now I’ve made a faux pas with the sexiest man on planet Earth, and my internal karma system requires me to fix it. Help!

Blake-

I may seem like I have it together, but the truth is, I’m a hot mess. I’m so deep in the closet that I can’t remember my real name some days. That’s okay. The benefit of one-night stands is anonymity. Until Asher. Not a total surprise. I’ve always had a thing for geeks, but I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s a pint-sized dynamo on a quest for perfection who can help me come out…if I follow his script.

Hmm. I’m in.

The Jock Script is an MM bisexual, geek/jock romance starring a bowtie wearing nerd, a sexy lacrosse coach, and a shenanigan inducing script!

The Jock Script

Review: Rules of Play (The Script Club #2) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 5 🌈

I really wondered about this story because of the character of George.

That’s tall, cape wearing, genius who’s been a bit of an enigma although he’s gotten a lot of page time within the series to date.

Nice trick. Very vampire like.

So who’s he’s paired up with becomes as much as a surprise as he is . And that makes this story more satisfying all the way.

Rules of Play helps fill in George’s important adolescence stage as well as advance the timeline for the focus group of friends. We get his past and see the entire group more settled into jobs or relationships.

Maturity is advancing,,,, somewhat…

But the person about to come back into George’s life is someone very familiar and close to George’s family.

Aiden is one of Simon’s best friends, and Simon is one of George’s older brothers. Aiden also spent much of his younger years at the Murphy house because of his parents dysfunction and love of alcohol.

A broken down car and a night rescue is all it takes to bring Aiden ,as a mechanic, back into George’s life. George’s boss’s unfortunate love life will keep him there as they plot a way for Newton to romance the girl of his dreams.

Close proximity and really heated libidos bring about all sorts of changes in their relationship, including ones Aiden never anticipated. One where he just might be bisexual.

Complicated characters, realistic situations, emotionally charged conversations about sexuality, and, friendship. All those elements wrapped up in a great romance.

Lane Hayes delivers a marvelous tale full of humor, lusty scenes, warmth and love.

This series continues to evolve and get better with each story.

Love this and everyone novel. Recommending them all.

The Script Club Series:

Following the Rules #1

Rules of Play #2

The Jock Script #3

Synopsis:

The genius, the ex-jock, and a new playbook…

George-

My brother’s friend is hot—if you’re into flannel-wearing lumbersexual former jocks who eat donuts for dinner and still scribble to-do lists on their palms. I’m not. I’m a serious scientist in my final year of grad school. Okay, I admit I have few quirks of my own. I also have a broken truck and a boss who thinks I can help him find love. I’m in over my head. Help!

Aiden-

A few quirks? Really? George is the weirdest dude I know. He wears capes in public, brings a book everywhere he goes, and loves all things spooky. He’s also the smartest person on the planet—who somehow thinks I can help him write a How-To-Get-A-Date playbook for his boss. Yeah, that sounds suspicious. I know baseball; I don’t know anything about love. But I can’t say no. The thing is…I’ve always had a soft spot for George. But falling for my best friend’s brother is against the rules, isn’t it?

Rules of Play is an MM bisexual awakening story where opposites attract and shenanigans ensue!

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