Tag: opposites attract

Review: Crankshaft (Big Bull Mechanics #1) by K. M. Nuehold

Rating: 4.5🌈

I have been looking forward to this new release since the author’s announcement at the end of The Four Bears Construction series. That’s where we met the men of Big Bull Mechanics Shop, the other automotive shop in town, other than Dare’s, husband to Stone, one of the Four Bears.

Steele’s the owner of Big Bull Mechanics and half of the two POV narrative. He’s weighed down by the responsibilities of small business ownership, it’s long hours and his own feelings making it hard on relationships . Plus, the fact he’s always tasked with bailing out a 40 ish irresponsible younger brother.

His companion, his Husky puppy, Denali.

Dr. Porter Grant, Veterinarian, is our other perspective. He’s a character from Four Bears Construction series. There a intern , now he’s graduated and a Licensed Vet with his own clinic . But Porter is also someone suffering from overwhelming issues hitting him. First time vet, beginning small time business owner, no social life. And a big corporation wanting to buy his clinic or threatening to put his small veterinary clinic out of operation. That’s so much to handle on his own.

Nuehold makes us understand and completely relate to both men and the circumstances they find themselves in.

A one night stand that turns into awkward, clumsy meetings afterwards? Yup. Dates that don’t go as planned because one or both are just too exhausted to mentally or even physically show up? Yes. Nuehold gives us, and her wonderful characters, a firm foundation in every day reality. Steele’s late? He’s also covered in the appropriate grease and grime associated with working in a busy garage. Porter’s on call with animal emergencies that sound exactly right for the season. Lost dogs found overheated from running around in the hot summer day.

Love this that both men are defined so perfectly by their personalities and refined by their love of their jobs.

Even their romance, halting as it is as they work their way through layers of responsibilities into a relationship, is worked out in believable steps, one small barrier crossed at a time. Even their sexual relationship, when they actually have time to have it, is extremely hot!

I found myself absolutely connecting to this couple, and their romance.

Plus each comes with a host of friends that can be considered found family. For Porter, he’s adding a new one that I’m sure will have a story later on. Steele’s friends and brother’s books will follow as well. They are a interesting and wonderful bunch.

I’m looking forward to each and everyone getting their HEA!

Start here . It’s one I’m highly recommending.

Big Bull Mechanics series:

🔹Crankshaft #1

https://www.goodreads.com › showCrankshaft (Big Bull Mechanics #1) by K.M. Neuhold – Goodreads

Synopsis:

I don’t have time for a relationship, not even with the adorably dorky vet I can’t seem to stop bumping into… *sigh * pass the oil and lube

Between running a garage full of beefed up, gear head mechanics and bailing my idiot brother out of trouble every other week, the last thing I have time for is a relationship.

I’ve tried it too many times, and the ridiculous reasons I always find to end it have become a running joke around the garage. But I’ve learned my lesson. No. More. Boyfriends.

I don’t care how many times Porter falls asleep drunk in my bed or how cute he looks covered in oil smears while I teach him how to fix up the vintage car he has rusting away in his garage, I’m not going to fall for him.

Even if I did, what do a mechanic and a veterinarian have in common anyway?

It’s better if we’re only friends… friends who occasionally fiddle with each other’s crankshafts…

🔹Connected to The Four Bears Construction Company series.

Review: Wicked Heat (Chicago Heat #1) by Ella Frank

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Wicked Heat is the first book of a two story series, Chicago Heat. It’s fantastic and, luckily, with both novels released, the reader is able to read one story after the other as I did.

Combined, they tell the story of the stumbling path to romance, love, and a lasting relationship between PA Ryan Carrigan and troubled CFD firefighter Jameson Clarke.

Both characters are perfectly defined by the author. Ryan by his job as a personal assistant to a popular cable network anchor, his family, and his personality that was formed by his upbringing. We immediately like him, then learn to adore him.

Jameson Clarke’s background is darker, layered in abandonment, drugs, the foster system, and the pain of loss. His is a story that’s slowly revealed as he begins to trust the relationship he’s building with Ryan.

How they meet, how they find each other, and all the many issues that arise between them are humorous, realistic, painful, emotional, and, especially sad when you consider how much gentrification is going on today.

It’s interesting that some of the characters from Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine’s Dare To Try series make appearances here, either by mention or by actually being a part of the story. Nice to see them again.

But the heart here is the developing relationship between Ryan and Jameson. It’s a great beginning. And it ends at midway with so much promise.

So do yourself a favor, pick both up if you love contemporary romances, and read on for the rest of their HEA.

I’m highly recommending both.

Chicago Heat:

🔹Wicked Heat #1

🔹Wicked Flame #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showWicked Heat (Chicago Heat, #1) by Ella Frank – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Ryan

Kind, caring, and protective. Those are the three qualities I’m looking for when it comes to my dream man. In a city as big as Chicago, you wouldn’t think he would be that hard to find, right?

Wrong.

Sure, my boss found a super-sexy detective and my best friend fell madly in love with the most eligible bachelor around. But the only person I’ve met recently is a broody bad boy who saved me at a sketchy pub.

He’s grumpy, rude, and honestly, not that likeable at all. Hardly my “dream” guy.

So why can’t I stop thinking about him?

Jameson

I don’t do friendships. I don’t do relationships either. The very last thing I’m looking for in life is to fall in love and live happily ever after.

So saving some rich guy from losing his wallet is the last thing I want to do on a Friday night. Especially when he looks like someone who just stepped off the cover of GQ.

Fate seems to have other ideas, though, and every time I turn around, he’s there.

A wicked heat simmers between us, threatening to ignite, and though I’ve been trained to put out the flames, I can’t help but think: What’s the worst that could happen if I let this desire burn out of control?

Wicked Heat is book 1 of 2 in Ryan Carrigan & Jameson Clarke’s story.

Review: Flare (Style #1) by Jay Hogan

Rating: 4.5🌈

Flare is a very intense contemporary romance set in Auckland’s high fashion world. The first of a new series that will incorporate , at least from looking at the description of Strut, the second novel, high fashion, models, a certain circle of friends that starts with this fashion line, and, unfortunately, a element of assault.

That’s certainly a center theme here and if it’s a trigger for some readers, please take note.

Here it occurs in the Prologue to the main character, Rhys Hellier, when he was 16, sneaking out to a gay club with a friend.

The ramifications from that night’s assault are a haunting, realistic thread of one man’s continuing to deal with living with the aftermath of rape. Rhys has PTSD, and has only told a few trusted people about his trauma.

It, naturally, has effected his relationships, and his need for constant control. I think Hogan does an excellent job with the character of Rhys. He’s believable in his vulnerability as he is in his fierceness to protect what he’s built.

It takes the addition of Beckett Northcott, Professor of English literature and uncle to troubled teenager Jack. When Beck arrives to heat up things, so will the need to start the conversations going between them when they begin their relationship as to the full extent of the damage the assault has done to Rhys emotionally and mentally.

Without turning the book into something clinical, Hogan works a great therapist, open communication, necessary breakdowns, and , more into this engaging and wonderful relationship. It makes them easy to root for and love as a couple.

And it’s not just them alone. There’s an entire group of found family around them. For Beck, it’s his nephew, Jack, for whom he’s becoming a father figure. And his sister, Serena, in prison. And fellow professor, Rafe. For Rhys? It’s his mother, the irrepressible Kip ( his assistant), BFF photographer Hunter, Alec ( newly discovered model), Leon (shop owner), Greg, and Drew, a trans teenager for which Flare represents a safe haven from home , an abusive situation.

This is a wonderful story full of amazing characters. Most of which inhabit the world of fashion. Which is Flare, Rhys’s fashion line and store.

There’s another plot thread concerning the store, which is emotionally fraught with threats and action. It’s a great balance for the other elements here.

I would have wished for more of a foundation or history behind all the villainy. But it was still resolved in a manner as to satisfy the characters and readers.

The next installment will center on Alec , the model discovered here, and Hunter, the photographer best friend of Rhys. That’s Strut. Out later this year.

From the description, it too has an element of assault. I’ll be waiting for the release date to check it out.

In the meantime, I’m highly recommending Flare. It’s a terrific contemporary romance. Wonderful characters. But please take note of the triggers.

Style series:

🔹Flare #1

🔹Strut #2 TBR July 14, 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showFlare (Style, #1) by Jay Hogan – Goodreads

FLARE
My own fashion label. The shiny new sign above the door means everything. My dream. My life. Worth every gruelling hour I’ve spent making it happen. Nothing can stop me now. Not the fear. Not the nightmares. Not my sad excuse for a love life. And certainly not Beckett Northcott, the sexy English professor who wouldn’t know a fitted shirt if it slapped him in the face and who has flannel down to an art form.

I don’t date for a very good reason, and yet Beck makes me want to break every damn one of my rules. But with my debut at Fashion Week looming, my business in trouble, and Beckett Northcott peeling open my terrified heart to a future I’ve never imagined, the threads of my carefully woven life are unravelling at the seams.

I could walk away. Or I could take a chance that Beck and I might just have what it takes to fashion a new life, together. A fresh design from a new cloth.

This book contains references to past sexual assault.

Review: Nothing Ordinary (A Hit and Run story) by E.M. Lindsey

Rating: 3.5🌈

I’m not sure exactly where the author intends Nothing Ordinary to fall in their series, except as a prequel perhaps.

It was originally written as a series, then re-edited, new material added, and now re-released just as the first book in the series was arriving. So it acts as a informative lead-in for Pietro’s story. Much of Pietro’s history and his relationship with his brother is relayed here. So if you loved that book like I did, it’s worth it for that alone.

But this is Gabe and Ezra’s story. So the events run almost concurrently to those in Switch – Hitter (Hit and Run #1) . Many scenes will seem familiar if you’ve read the other book.

Gabe, the older brother who, due to a car accident, lost his career in the Major Leagues, his marriage, his self esteem. He’s now a private school high school volleyball coach, angry, and alone. Not a happy man.

Ezra Mandel , the new culinary teacher is many things:

A culinary genius.
A first-time teacher.
An anxious mess.

He looks the same age as his students and has a deep case of social anxiety, made worse by an

abusive ex. None of those elements make him think his experience as a teacher in high school is going to go well.

It doesn’t. He runs into Gabe in the teachers lounge on his first day who yells at him to get out, thinking Ezra’s a student. It goes downhill quickly from there.

This story of opposites attract, enemies to lovers has a lot of promise. Each man has problematic areas to their character. Gabe is dealing with issues of self esteem, anger, loss of career, and even sibling jealousy/envy. He feels he’s never good enough. Anger is his fall back emotion.

Ezra is full of anxiety, a people pleaser who can’t tolerate loud voices, especially those raised in rage. His low self esteem pounded into him by an abusive ex who enjoyed hurting him. A culinary genius who can’t stand the pressure of the kitchen.

These are all complicated elements and needs it’s equal in storytelling. While Lindsey did a good job dealing with Ezra’s anxiety (therapy, communication, meds) and Gabe’s issues of career loss, low esteem, and envy, I not sure Gabe’s elements got addressed enough. Of all three characters who had emotional issues, (Ezra, Pietro, Gabriel) , Gabe is the only person not seeing a therapist. I kept thinking anger management classes were the least he needed. If you have to continually excuse a teacher’s behavior because he’s “complicated’?

Flags , people, flags.

Which brings me to a couple of major concerns or issues I have here. And spoilers territory ! I like these characters. I do. I find them sympathetic, mostly.

Continuity.

Lindsey has both Pietro and Gabe use their celebrity influence as MLB players, past and present, to make important local changes. Include a trans player on a team against the Administration’s wishes, push rulings, whatever. They use what they’re are , rich and well known, to make changes. Over and over. They are local boys made great. Point made.

Even if Gabe feels like a has been, he’s not.

If Lindsey had just explored all the ramifications of these two polar opposites getting together, it would have made for a fascinating story.

But there’s another ugly element thrown in. One of an attempted sexual assault. It happens, it’s over. And other then a very minimal amount of mentions to the aftermath. Done. Yes, Therapy. Yes. Fired. Yada. Yada. But basically , that’s it for such a serious topic.

To my mind, if you’re going to introduce such a sensitive and horrific situation, (it happens on the page, but is swiftly dealt with), then I think there’s an obligation to make this section as relevant and responsible as possible. Gabe and Pietro have the influence to have this person arrested, he’s a sexual predator, who’s been in a high school.

But there’s no follow through here. On any aspect really of this situation.

It’s pretty much glosses over considering the gravity and scope of the scene.

I just didn’t get it. The story flies quickly to the end, and Gabe and Ezra’s HEA.

I didn’t read the serial so I have no idea which sections were added and what’s original. But if the assault scenes were added afterwards, it makes sense, because they don’t feel as thoughtfully written as Ezra’s anxiety or Gabe’s relationship with Pietro.

So it’s worth reading if you want to read the entire Hit and Run series and want all the background. This is great for that.

Read it for Ezra, and yes Gabe. I’m sure we will be seeing them again later on in the series, not just in Pietro’s story, which I highly recommend.

Hit and Run series:

✓ Nothing Ordinary #0

✓ Switch-Hitter #1

◦ Line Drive #2 – out July 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showNothing Ordinary (Hit and Run #0) by E.M. Lindsey | Goodreads

Synopsis:

Ezra Mandel is many things:

A culinary genius.
A first-time teacher.
An anxious mess.

And helplessly attracted to the rudest, most grumpy man he has ever had the misfortune of meeting.

Ezra knows his first semester ever teaching at a private school is going to be a disaster. What he doesn’t expect is to get into a rivalry with the volleyball coach who can’t stand him. But the more he gets to know Gabriel Bassani, the more he starts to realize his pain is a lot deeper than the surface of his skin.

And Gabriel is a complicated man. He’s lived in the shadow of his MLB star brother for most of his life, his past marriage was a disaster, and he’s long-since stopped believing in love. But Ezra—persistent, beautiful, irritating Ezra—is the kind of man who refuses to give up, and Gabriel isn’t sure if he wants to beg him to stop, or beg him to keep going.

Whatever they have isn’t ordinary, but then again, ordinary isn’t something either of them has ever wanted.

This book features a low-angst, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance with a nervous sunshine culinary professor in his first year of teaching, a grumpy ex MLB player with a chip on his shoulder the size of Wrigley Field, a gaggle of students who enjoy making bets on the teacher’s lives, and a happily ever after that just might feel like a world record breaking home run.

Nothing Ordinary is a previously released serial novel in the Hit and Run series, now with 15,000 words of revised and additional content.

Review: Aleron (Chosen Champions #3) by Macy Blake

Rating: 5🌈

You know how, somewhere in a series, you always find one story that’s just it for you? Even in a series you adore? It hits all your buttons, emotionally, just satisfying AF in every way?

That’s Aleron for me, the third novel in Macy Blake’s fantastic Chosen Champions series. This is a series that exists within a multi-connected series universe. I believe there’s four that has The Chosen One as it’s foundation. Each interacts with each and has a overlapping arc which is developing in a nicely layered way here.

Aleron is Aleron Eastaughffe, a immensely wealthy griffon. We’ve met him and his cousin, Victor (Magical Mates) previously. But here Aleron shines like a griffon should.

Blake gives us a romance between two completely different beings, complicated men who have existed in such opposite circumstances, mentally and emotionally, that’s it’s almost impossible to think of them together. Except that they are immediately,hopelessly , and inarguably drawn towards each other.

Each is at a loss to explain the attraction, or know what to do about it.

Aleron lived as a fabulously rich hedonistic player. A lifestyle of one. Until he was pulled into Logan’s pack. Where he’s been accepted, needed, and enveloped into the pack structure. Now Aleron is firmly established as pack. A griffon with two families, one of blood and that he’s found within the pack structure.

Blake , through the two person perspective, brings us into Aleron’s mind and emotional state about his changing status and potential new feelings about Spencer Walsh.

Spencer Walsh. He’s the hedge witch the pack has brought in to help solve the latest mysteries with the strange runes associated with the evil mage who kidnapped/tortured Raj and his friend. The same dark mage that’s causing harm throughout the city.

Spencer is such an amazing character. He lives alone, in a forest, drawing his power from the land his family has lived in forever. He’s socially not just awkward, but even unaware, so focused on books and learning. His lives always by himself, loves the quiet which lets him focus. His only friend, another witch, Merry (another fabulous person).

Watching the interactions and slow burn between such opposites is one of the best elements here. It’s so well written, each person trying to figure out why they can’t get the other out of their brain. Perilously close to both humor and pathos. It’s charming, heartwarming, and lovely as it slowly proceeds from confusion to reflection to recognition of their emerging relationship and deep feelings.

All that complicated thought processes happening while the overall arc continues with some great action and plotting.

This is a real pleasure to read . I will re-read to savor all the elements and characters again.

Plus I have to wait until January of next year until the series finale is out. Sigh.

Until then, read the series in the order they are written for plot and character development.

Plus if you’ve missed out on any of the connected series, I listed them as well. Dive into them and the whole Chosen One universe! It’s a winner.

I’m highly recommending it.

Chosen Champions:

✓ Logan #1

✓ Gideon #2

✓ Aleron #3

◦ Scout #4. – January 31, 2023

All part of The Chosen One Universe connected group of series:

The Chosen One universe series

Hellhound Champions series

Magical Mates series

Chosen Champions series

https://www.goodreads.com › showAleron (Chosen Champions, #3) by Macy Blake – Goodreads

https://www.amazon.com › Aleron-…Aleron: Chosen Champions Book Three by [Macy Blake] – Amazon.com

Synopsis:

Aleron Eastaughffe is a billionaire griffin who knows what he wants…

Namely, a gorgeous city penthouse, a life of luxury, and the respect and admiration of his peers-–all the things he’s come to expect as one of the Eastaughffes. But when Aleron finds himself connected to a rag-tag group of shifters and forced to work alongside the most awkward yet utterly captivating human witch in all the realms… he realizes he might want something very different after all.

Spencer Walsh is a witch who knows where he belongs…

And that is alone, in his remote cabin, where there are no annoying people around to give him strange looks when he spends his days reading, or to complain when he gets hyper-focused on research and forgets they exist. But when an old friend needs help researching a mysterious set of runes, Spencer joins forces with a group of shifters–and one gorgeous, provoking griffin–and learns that the world might just be more accepting than he thought… and more dangerous than he ever dreamed.

If Aleron and Spencer want a chance at a future together, they’ll have to let go of what they think they know, and face some hard truths together…

The truth about the runes and the magic they hold.

The truth about what love and belonging really mean.

And the truth about how much they’ll compromise to make each other happy… and how hard they’ll fight to keep each other safe.

Review: Hot Seat (The Hot Cannolis #1) by Eli Easton and Tara Lain

Rating: 4.5 🌈

I hadn’t read Fireman’s Carry (The Hot Cannolis #0.5) by Eli Easton that was the source and inspiration for this series by Easton and Lain. I will certainly go ahead and do that now that I’ve read this book and the romance of those characters.

What is started there , a major fire and rescue of over 60 people by firefighter Mike Canali and civilian Shane Bower is where this novel’s storylines begins. With the aftermath of those events,weeks later, in everyone’s lives.

The events in that story are recounted somewhat so it’s not necessary to have read it to step into the people and their situations here.

One important detail, however, that’s not mentioned anywhere, either in the descriptions or authors note. There is a on page attempt at suicide, although it’s never actually termed that out loud. Also character depression. If any of this is a trigger for a reader, please know this in advance so you be the best judge about whether to read the story or not.

There are so many terrific elements here. The characters are very well done. Shane Bower and his Pops are amazing. From the moment Shane makes his appearance on the page with his book club (who I also adored hugely) I was immediately engaged. He was believable, likable, vulnerable, just everything you knew would end up pulling at your heart strings. Then I met his grandfather, Pops. And I was all in. Pops is another great character. Throughly realistic and wonderful.

I think most readers will have mixed feelings about the Cannolis, the enormous Italian firefighter clan that Mike Cannoli belongs to. I feel they are pretty realistic myself in the way they are portrayed. I’ve know a family very similar to them and while some may argue they may seem too black and white in their characteristics, I can argue that those personality traits are also very believable and true .

The men , father and brothers, were very homophobic and followed that old hard core machismo that impacted every part of their lives from childhood up. For Mike, having to live up to their ideals and endure their rigid idea of masculinity made the stress upon his daily life an ever increasing pressure he wasn’t even aware of. Until he was. When the very out Shane Bower enters his and his family’s life.

The authors accurately portrayed what happens when the status quo is upset within a traditional Italian family, with the women on one side and the men on the other.

The majority of the story deals with Mike and his coming to grips first with his sexuality, then with the idea of a relationship, then the overwhelming fear of being known as gay to his family. This is really his story and it’s a realistic, painful one.

Shane is just as much a part of it as a out and proud gay man in love with someone who can’t accept himself. That’s another element and equally hurtful. To Shane and Mike.

The support characters, from the wonderful women of the Cannoli family to Shane’s friends to a surprise in the form of Donny, give this story extra depth. I love them all.

Mike’s depression and the events that follow feel accurate but deserve a trigger warning. FYI.

I am recommending this story. I wouldn’t call this a romantic comedy however. There’s humor but the focus is serious and dramatic while still including the romance.

I liked that the authors recognizes that not everyone would be able to come around and accept Mike’s new sexuality completely. That’s just not realistic given his family. Thanks for keeping it real!

I’m really looking forward to the next in the series. It’s Donny’s story, Hot Winds. Can’t wait.

Until then pick this up and enjoy!

The Hot Cannolis series:

◦ Fireman’s Carry (The Hot Cannolis #0.5) by Eli Easton

✓ Hot Seat #1

◦ Hot Wings #2 – March 29, 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showHot Seat (The Hot Cannolis #1) by Eli Easton – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Wait. Can a Canali be gay?

Hero firefighter, youngest of six macho Italian brothers and—in love with Shane Bower, who never met a unicorn T-shirt he didn’t love? How does that even work?

When Mike Canali meets Shane Bower, his attraction to the guy is off the charts. But then his huge family and intense job full of rules and expectations intrude and he never calls.

Until they both get a medal—
and his mom falls in love with Shane at the ceremony—
and all of a sudden Shane’s all over his life, whether Mike likes it or not.

The butch Canali family face-to-face with sparkly Shane Bower? This is a wildfire of its own.

Shane worked damned hard to be who he is—fantastic, femme and in-your-face. He won’t compromise that, even to have the super-hot man of his dreams. But can he really ask Mike to give up his family and future just to have his fabulous self? Especially when he’s falling in love with the Canali family too?

HOT SEAT is a hot firefighter, big crazy family, coming out, opposites attract, forced proximity, romantic comedy—with all the feels.

Review: The Christmas Tenor (Laurel Holidays #3) by V. L. Locey

Rating: 4.5 🌈⛄️

My holiday reading continues with V.L. Locey’s The Christmas Tenor, the 3rd novel in her Laurel Holidays series, each a standalone story.

The Christmas Tenor is a very sweet, sexy holiday romance between a older, withdrawn widower and a young confident singer,. The older man is Cabriolet Vermat who withdrew from everyone and everything following the death of his famous actor husband from cancer . The exceptions being his twin brother and his incredibly successful business, Cabriolet Chauffeur Services and the people who help him run it.

Cabriolet and his twin brother, Pierre, are incredible characters. Indeed, it’s actually hard to separate them I. My mind. Not because of their personalities, because those are quite distinct! But because the author has done such a fabulous job of creating such a tight emotionally deep close bond between these brothers that , even for them, to be separated feels wrong.

From the ages old banter that flows between them to the ability to hurt as well, this brotherly dynamic (and Pierre’s flare with his wardrobe) was as popular with me as was the main romance. Adore these brothers…and now Pierre needs a true love FYI!

Those two are dealing with so many compelling issues. There’s Cabriolet’s inability to move past his husband’s death. Pierre’s inability to accept their mother’s rejection of their gayness and essential abandonment. Age has nothing to do with loss and pain and love.

This is handled so beautifully.

Julian Baez is also a fascinating, well defined character. Younger, decisive about his goals for himself and his needs, especially what they consist in a relationship, Jules is a dynamic, sexy personality. Who likes older black men. He’s extremely clear on why that is, his expectations, and the need for someone like that in his life. While making it less like a PowerPoint presentation and more a reasonable life choice.

I loved Jules too. Maybe not with the adoration I have for Cabriolet and Pierre but it’s definitely there. They are a great match. Locey makes us see the chemistry and get how it works for them both.

The only reason it’s a smidge under 5 🌈 is I felt that ending was a bit rushed. It went from Cab slowly making one decision, to one change, then another, then another. That may be how it works in the mucin world but I didn’t think how It showed Jules handled it was in keeping with the character “who was a take charge “ of his future sort.

So I thought there was a bit of fumbling there at the end to get them where the author needed them to go.

However, that’s a slight issue. The epilogue is wonderful and the journey to get there overwhelmingly heartwarming and sweet.

I really enjoyed this. I think you will too. Add it to your TBR holiday list. I’m highly recommending this!

Laurel Holidays series:

https://www.goodreads.com › seriesLaurel Holidays Series by V.L. Locey – Goodreads

A trip that he thought would bring him only pain is about to present him with the greatest gift of all.

For three years now, Cabriolet Vermat has put off, wiggled out of, and outright lied to get out of making this dreaded trip east. The owner of Cabriolet Chauffeur Services in Los Angeles has avoided the yearly invitation to the small town of White Bridge, New York, to speak at their alumni winter gathering but this year they’ve outfoxed him. They’re throwing a dinner to honor his late partner’s dedication to his alma mater and have asked Cab to speak. This time he has to go no matter how much pain it will stir up. Arriving in the picturesque small town beside one of the Finger Lakes, Cab is treated to a special performance of holiday songs and there he sees Julian Gabriel Baez for the first time.
The young singer captivates him immediately, and he finds himself seeking out the much younger man after the performance. The pull he feels toward Jules is unlike anything he’s felt since he met his partner years ago. Confusion and desire war within him, but the outgoing young tenor wins him over with his engaging smile and kind heart. A two-day trip soon turns into an extended holiday vacation. Cab worries that the magic of Christmas will quickly fizzle out and he’ll be alone once more. Or will this festive season bestow a blessing of the heart upon a man who thought he would never love again?

The Christmas Tenor is a standalone small-town gay Christmas romance with a beautiful May-December relationship, a lonely widower, a rising opera star, loving families, and plenty of holiday joy.

Review: The Fairy Dance by Tara Lain

Rating: 4 🌈⛄️

The Fairy Dance by Tara Lain is a sweet Christmas romance. Running at the size of a novella, this is a very quick read which works as it’s one of this author’s love at first sight stories.

She does a great job of making us believe in the instant connection between Henri the dancer and Jed, the head of his own building maintenance business .

Yes, that whole “maintenance man’ thing is a bit of a misdirection in a way as Jed is a very successful business man who’s company just happens to include maintenance as well as electrical work etc among its many services.

That aside, Jed is a wonderful character, with a found family of interesting employees to like and an adorable Lab to throw heart eyes at. Instantly relatable!

So too is Henri, especially the more we learn of his circumstances, his boss, and the pressures he’s under.

He’s beautiful, both a man of personal grace and strength while demonstrating great emotional fragility. I love him.

This is an instant where I thought it worked so well. The characters, the plot, and the length of story. It’s a HFN, as it should be.

I thought the “I love you’s” came about a tad quick but that’s just me.

Otherwise The Fairy Dance by Tara Lain is a lovely Christmas story to add to your holiday reading list. I’m definitely recommending it!

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Fairy Dance by Tara Lain – Goodreads

Synopsis:

What if the man of your dreams dances into your life—and he’s a nutcracker?

Maintenance man, Jed, might yearn for an alpha-femme guy, but where’s he going to find him in his small Oregon town?

New York ballet rising star, Henri, just wants to dance, but his desire for top roles only leads him into the pervy artistic director’s bed.

The chances of these two meeting are less likely than a grand jete. But then they do, one pre-holiday evening in a less-than-one-night stand that leaves them both yearning. Still, one short hookup on a kitchen floor doesn’t turn Jed and Henri into a match made in heaven. Not when all the world sees is a janitor and the ballet boss’s potential boy toy.

Sounds like a job for the Sugarplum Fairy.

The Fairy Dance is an opposites-attract, big city vs small town, holiday MM romance—in tights.

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!

Review: The Blacksmith and the ExCon(Farthingdale Ranch #2)by Jackie North

The Blacksmith and the Ex-Con(Farthingdale Ranch #2) by Jackie North

Rating: 5🌈

One theme that became easily apparent among all three Farthingdale books is that each contains one man’s journey from an abusive, traumatic past into a new renewed bright future. His path , one we accompany him on, is marked by a series of obstacles of varying elements, from small sidesteps off the path to what might seem insurmountable boulders to scale before he can recover and get, along with his true love, their HEA.

As I’ve mentioned in my other reviews, I started with the third novel in the series, went back to the beginning, and now end here at The Blacksmith and the Ex-Con while I await the release of the next stories.

So I can say this is probably the one novel most guaranteed to bring out the sniffles, that box of Kleenex, and the carton of ice cream. With one spoon.

Because Ellis and his history is heartbreaking! What he’s been through, yes, including the extremely poor choices the man made himself and paid for, he’s in our hearts. From the minute we meet him, bloody, beaten, filled with fear, hearing his story….we’re connected to Ellis. Mute, brutalized from his time in prison,Ellis is perhaps the most broken of all the traumatized men we’ve met in all these stories.How could you not hurt for him?

Jackie North has written such a vulnerable, heartbreaking character here that you want to enfold him , wrap him up safely so as to keep him from further harm.

Jasper, our Blacksmith, who’s self isolated himself within his work and cabin has such tight boundaries to begin with. But from his past history , we understand what caused him to establish them to begin with…a need to protect himself. However nothing prepares him for Ellis. Jasper will come to feel that its Ellis who’s in need of protection and more. But it will take time and an adjustment of his mind and heart to get there. Something we get a window into.

Both men are incredibly complex, emotionally and mentally. Life has added so many more layers of trauma and pain filled history between them to navigate that each tentative movement towards each other is often over a minefield.

Yet in a small cabin by a slow flowing River it becomes a thing of physical poetry, raw and emotional and shy.

All interspersed with the heat of the forge, the stamp of horses hooves as they wait to be shod or for a carrot treat, or any of the other daily ranch duties scheduled that flows through their lives and story.

It’s a found family at this ranch and all the people there seamlessly move around this couple and on the ranch as to make the reader see and feel apart of a living, working guest ranch. And this amazing group of people.

When the showdown comes, and in the utter relief at the end , I was reflecting on how much Ellis and Jasper had been through and how far they had come, and us with them.

What a journey! I was almost crying. In joy. What a story and couple. I look forward to seeing more of them in future stories as I know I will.

Another true pleasure with this remarkable series. I highly recommend this and all the books in this series.

Synopsis:

“If anybody ever needed him, Ellis did. Ellis was broken. Jasper liked to fix things.”

Jasper has the perfect life. He’s a blacksmith at a small guest ranch in Wyoming. The last thing he needs is to have that perfect life interrupted by a shifty-eyed ex-con, but the ranch needs the tax benefits the ex-con program will bring.

Traumatized by his time in prison, Ellis can barely speak. He’s about to be offered parole. He knows he will hate working on the guest ranch, but what other option does he have?

It’s not love at first sight. It’s not hate at first sight, either, but something in between.

A gay m/m cowboy romance with age gap, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, forced intimacy, emotional scars, trauma leading to mutism, grumpy/grumpy, and baths. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a guaranteed HEA

Need a new series to read and love? Start here. I’m recommending them all.

Out now:

The Foreman and the Drifter #1

The Blacksmith and the Ex-Con #2

The Ranch Hand and the Single Dad #3

Coming Soon – The newest books in the Farthingdale Ranch Series! soon…..

The Wrangler and The Orphan #4

The Cook and the Gangster #5

The Trail Boss and the Brat #6