I was getting ready for the release of The Long Game, the 6th in Rachel Reidās fabulous hockey romance series, when I figured out I hadnāt read the 5th story yet!
Somehow Iād missed Role Model. Now was the time to fix that oversight! Iām so happy I did because Role Model is such a fantastic story.
Itās a standout in a truly great series of books as Rachel Reid gives a two remarkable men on a slow path to love and happiness. But the journey is about redemption for one, courage to recognize and acknowledge your true self, and the heart and passion another will give to understand and support him.
Troy Barrett is an incredible character. Heās so conflicted, full of pain, and we meet at at perhaps a time when everything he thought he had in his life that was solid and positive has been lost. His closeted boyfriend has dumped him, his best friend has turned out to be a monster who Troy has now reviled in public, and a team who he thought would support him has traded him to the lowest winning team in the league.
We feel everything this man is thinking, heās numb, and stumbling.
Weāre with him, certain heās going to grow, just not sure how.
Then we meet the utterly engaging, Harris Drover, team media expert, and we see where Troyās journey will begin. Harris is open, smart, people oriented, and openly gay. Heās also compassionate and sees in Troy an underlying pain that not immediately apparent to others. He also realizes Troy needs a friend. Itās the start of something beautiful.
They build their relationship over a puppy, a family, cider, so many elementsā¦ itās amazing to be a part of this sexy, thoughtful romance. Itās added by a certain Russian player who also helps Troy see that living as a closeted gay man is denying himself a true life.
I have so much praise for Reidās writing and characters here. They are relatable. The conflicts they face , within and without, are ones so many other members of the LGBTQIA community face , from themselves, their families, and their own societies.
Itās within the sports world or just a person trying to figure out their sexuality. Reidās emotional turmoil and thoughtful communication has the ring of truthfulness to them.
I believe in Troy and Harris. I was emotionally connected to them throughout their story and I wanted to stay past the ending, a typical feeling for me on a Rachel Reid book , especially this series.
If you havenāt read Role Model yet Iām highly recommending it as well as the entire series. Iāve listed it below. The 6th is almost out.
Until then, check out and see if youāre caught up before The Long Game arrives!
Happy Reading!
Game Changers Book 1: Game Changer Book 2: Heated Rivalry Book 3: Tough Guy Book 4: Common Goal Book 5: Role Model Book 6: The Long Game
The highly anticipated fifth novel in Rachel Reidās Game Changers series sees a grumpy professional hockey player meet his match in an out-and-proud social media managerā¦
The hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup and a recent scandalā¦ Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He doesnāt want to be in the news anymore, and he definitely doesnāt want to āwork on his online presenceā with the teamās peppy social media manager.
Harris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isnāt happy about the tradeāanyone could tell, frankly, as he doesnāt exactly hide it wellābut Harris doesnāt give up on people easily. Even when heās developing a crush heās sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troyās smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior, wellā¦ Thatās a man Harris couldnāt turn his back on if he wanted to.
Suddenly, Troyās move to the new team feels like an opportunityāfor Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to surrender to their growing attraction. But indulging in each other behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all.
Style for Love is A.J. Sherwoodās terrific first book in her new series, Gay 4 Renovations. Located in small town (real place) Plymouth, Michigan, with its Victorians, Tudors, Craftsmen, and other equally charming houses in need of renovating by their owners, the queer business owners , all friends, have their business lives full while seeking their HEA.
Thereās Gage, architect and structural engineer. Cohen, their contractor. Riggs, the ultimate in CEO office managerās and Asher.
First up is Asher, Interior designer of Gay 4 Renovations. Asher, has a toxic family thatās not accepting of his sexuality and a found family that includes everyone at his business as well as Zar, the childhood best friend, a police officer, whoās always been his biggest supporter and protector.
Both Asher and Zar have never had relationships that have worked out, each otherās friendship is their only long commitment theyāve been able to have.
Sherwoodās Style for Love is a wonderful best friends to lovers, contemporary romance. One where the entire town knows what theyāve been oblivious to for yearsā¦they were made for each other.
Itās also a sexual awakening story for Zar who, because of unexpected circumstances, becomes aware of his best friend in a way thatās surprising. This is handled in a great and touching manner. I mean Zar, his sister Adah, and Gage, talking through his thoughts and feelings on the revelations that had come about.
Sherwood doesnāt forget about the impact on Asher that this change would bring. The communication and support from his circle of friends that allows Asher to work through his issues is just one more lovely aspect of this story.
I happen to adore Thai and Korean BL stories and happily so do the characters here! Whether itās Asher and Riggs, or Ami and Shaunice ( two more people who work at Gay 4 Renovations) fan girling over certain actors or storylines in well known BL series, I was there with them! And wanting to add my suggestions as well!
I also lost my heart to BFG , the mastiff mix. I adore him so much. You had me at giant dog! Yes, you did!
Thereās a toxic family element. They are frustrating because they seem so realistic in their own phobic behavior and attitudes. Itās painful and sad.
The town itself is real. Yes, I looked it up. Itās seems as cute and lovely as Sherwood makes it out to be. Then I remember Michigan. Cold , and oh no. My desire to move is gone. Iām just going to visit in these stories.
But ,I do have a smidge of a issue here. While this has been labeled a GFY (a term I always have issues with) , Zar is open to all aspects of sexuality. He examines their relationship and realizes theyāve never been in a friendship thatās conforms to the norm for just best friends, and heās never been exactly straight. What label isnāt clear nor should it matter. Heās never been straight. Whether itās Pansexual or something else.
Thatās not a gay for you. Sry , small peevish moment over.
Style for Love is a romance I absolutely adore. Itās the characters, the setting, the storylines, and the wonderful ending. I really sank into this universe. I expect you will do the same.
Now I need the next in the series. Thatās Structure for Love. Hmmm, who could that be?
His dream boyfriend: Park Bo Gum ā not check. Sadly.
Straight as a board, childhood bff Zar: check
Zar becoming his boyfriend: cheāwait, what?!
Tags:
Oh look a contemporary romance, GFY, Best friends to lovers, Dumbasses to lovers, not so much slowburn as two idiots standing around on fire, emotional baggage check, HGTV meets BL, family of choice, Asher needs a better family, Zarās will adopt him, healthy choice making (and some impulsive ones), no angst here only cuddles, best friends giving The Talk, yes that one, Gage hates -coughlovescough- them, tropey tropes a lot, yaoi fangirls as co-workers leads to interesting situations, and sexy photoshoots, best supporting character goes to the dog, small town, Asher and Zar are so obvious there is a bet riding on them, Zar uses handcuffs for not sexy reasons, at least the first time, only one sledgehammer was sacrificed in the making of this book
Principles of Spookology is an excellent story , and I expect itās the perfect bridge between the first story where Rain Christiansen, FBI profiler, is a man undergoing huge changes in his life when we meet him. And the final book .
The first? Rain quit his job, went home to Miami . He was denying his ability as a bridge between life and death to help the ghosts heās seen since early adolescence achieve peace and move forward. Here? Now heās actually accepting or at least understands he needs some guidance or training of his abilities. Plus the stability in reconnecting with his family and lover has given him the support and strength to work with his paranormal talents.
This story is as much a bridge showing the growing depth and strengthening relationships that Rain is pulling around him in his return to Miami and home as it is the unusual missing persons/murder cold cases his department is working on.
The cases themselves have a way of reinforcing the growing talents of Rain as well as revealing weird information and aspects of the paranormal world that Rain was clueless about.
The author mixes everything together, the romance, the murdered characters who are now ghosts, the poignancy of their cases, the oddball humor and love of the Christianson family, with the structure of law enforcement investigations and death.
Itās fascinating, gripping, and a read you canāt put down. Well written, terrific characters, marvelous plots!
And itās all leading up to a horrifying case involving a mass murderer on death row, who is asking for Rain to visit him in the last story,Book 3, Spooky Business.
I canāt wait to see how Harmon ties up all the plot threads, brings true acceptance to Rain , his relationship, and a modicum of respect for his Paranormal unit .
Iām moving swiftly on!
Iām highly recommending both preceding stories of this spooky trilogy! Love a romance with a ghostly aspect? Hereās a series you must put on your TBR list!
Rain Christiansen, former FBI agent and current cold case detective, is starting to think it’s the hardest job he’s ever hadāand the most important. He’s determined to accept all the changes in his formerly well-ordered life, but that means embracing a whole lot of weird. There’s no instruction manual for meshing his work with his medium duties, and he’s painfully aware that he’s flubbing the job. So are the ghosts, who are becoming increasingly impatient. And stronger.
To complicate matters, he’s not sure what these spooktacular developments mean for his relationship. It certainly seems like Daniel McKenna, his partner in work and life, is in it for the long haul. But Rain can’t help but wonder how long that patience will last…and what he’ll do if Danny decides the intrusive ghosts are just too much.
Rain thought accepting his supernatural gifts would be the solution to his troubles. But he’s starting to realize his problems are just getting started.
I have had author S.E. Harmon on my auto buy for a while now but somehow I missed this spectacular 3-book paranormal series ! Iām rectifying that now and just finished the marvelous P.S. I Spook You.
Itās the first story in Harmonās The Spectral Files trilogy about a FBI profiler who can communicate with ghosts (heās a bridge from living to the dead), the Detective heās loves, and the cases they are involved in.
P.S. I Spook You lays down the complicated history of and between both men.
Rain Christiansen, FBI profiler, left the man he loved, his family, and hometown of Brickell Bay, Florida behind when he thought he was going crazy, seeing ghosts, ghosts who were talking to him. So he ranā¦all the way to NYC. A new job, drugs, and a doctor who said it was something to be cured.
Detective Daniel McKenna, cold case cop who was left behind with no idea why the man he loved up and ran to NYC.
Harmon details two damaged, haunted men who still are deeply in love with each other. She gives us a remarkable hippy family for Rain thatās a delight and one for Daniel thatās slowly revealed over the course of the book.
But itās the amazing cold case of a missing girl that reunites them that really makes this story soar. Harmonās ghosts are so poignant, from the smallest details in their expressions to the changes that happen as memories return. Harmonās ghosts become tangible and real. Paranormal beings that need help , and Rain is so slow to accept the role heās obviously been given.
This is a incredible element and Iām heavily invested in how Rain is going to grow into a role thatās heās so new and unprepared for.
That goes for his partner and their relationship. Harmonās characters react very humanly. Denial, the avoidance, then communication. Yet you can see the future areas where this ātalentā of Rainās is is quickly becoming a issue between them.
I was so hooked on the characters and storylines I was reading into the early hours. Then started on the next before I just had to stop. These people just got to me.
If you havenāt read this trilogy already? Itās an absolute must. Outstanding plots, fantastic characters and well developed relationships. Itās all here.
Ok I have Principles of Spookology to finish and then itās onto Spooky Business. I canāt wait. Read all three in the order they are written to understand the plot and characters progression and development.
SSA Rain Christiansen used to be the agency’s golden boy. It just takes one moment of weakness, one slight, tiny, itty-bitty paranormal sighting, and all of a sudden, he’s the agency’s embarrassment. His boss gives him one last chance to redeem himself – go down to Brickell Bay, play nice with the local police, and leave the ghost sightings behind. Rain is determined to do exactly that, even if it kills him.
Cold-case Detective Daniel McKenna’s latest investigation is going nowhere fast. Five years earlier, high school student Amy Greene went missing after leaving her part-time job and was never seen again. Daniel is glad to finally have the FBI help his department requested, even if it does come in the form of his ex.
It doesn’t help that Rain is pretty sure he’s falling in love with Danny all over again – if he ever stopped. Add to that the frustration of seeing ghosts at every turn while he works a case that’s stalled in its tracks, and Rain is starting to wonder if second chances and happy endings are just for fairy tales.
Monroe makes us love these men , understand their past histories and the deep relationship theyāve developed. We also get to know Judeās tattoo shop and the people that work there. They will also have stories to come. So will some of the people who work at the bakery with Briar. Both groups gather together when itās time to school Jude in gay culture before he and Briar go to the wedding.
The scenes give us warmth, found family, and genuine love between the people there as well as hilarity and hijinks! From the interactions, we see a new emerging relationship between Briar and Jude that is even more interesting and intimate.
Judeās mental and emotional progression from straight to bisexual is more one of awareness of his pasts thoughts and feelings. And adjusting his vision of himself as he learned more about himself and his own sexuality. It feels like a journey someone would take whoās just finding out their sexuality might be more fluid then they had previously thought.
The book rings out with joy . Of a happy relationship, of two friends who have discovered they are also deeply in love.
Marry Me is sweet, endearing, and sexy. I love the characters and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Each book is very different. So Iāll need to check in to see whatās next.
Meanwhile, if youāre looking for low angst, sweet romance, this is the one for you! Iām recommending it!
With three months before the big day, my friends rally to make sure we come across as authentic as possible. Jude takes to the lessons better than any of us anticipated. Especially the kissing.
Now the fake engagement is starting to feel kind of real.
Radio Static is the first novel by this author and itās a terrific story. A murder mystery romance, it incorporates a number of elements that keep you involved in the many storylines the authorās weaving.
We have two families. One is a single gay dad and his 14 year old daughter. That Mercedes āMercyā Reed and Rae. He had her with his best friend, Tammy (now married) after a series of bad relationships seemed to mean that heād never be a father. Now Raeās his life along with his work. Now itās time to relax, and enjoy some peace and quiet.
The other one? Thatās Nova Charette and his teenage son, Cooper. Divorced although on friendly terms with his ex wife, itās the 16 yr old son he needs to establish a closer relationship with. A summer vacation at their cottages at Lake Lucent should be the thing to get reacquainted.
The perfect place or so each family thinks. Then they find they are living next to each otherā¦ a 16 year old boy and a 14 year old girl. Suddenly, two dads are finding their plans overturned and fighting their own attraction for each other, as well as two hot hormonal teens.
This part of the novel is really my favorite. The meeting of the families over the instant teenager magnet action that happens between their kids , so realistic and on point funny. It makes for just great reading. From the dads reactions, to their teenagers snarky put upon dialogue, and yes, the swimsuits that dadās just not really ready for, you get it. These are terrific fathers and parental role models. The issues they cover with both kids are one every parent should be on solid ground with their children. The doubts, the pride, love . Nicky James obviously gets what it feels like to be a parent. It flow through both characters!
To make matters increasingly interesting, Nova and Mercy? They find each other just as mutually attractive as their kids are finding each other. Awkward! Because, while Nova has always been open about his bisexuality, the one person whoās unaware? That would be his son, Cooper. One of the best scenes is the father coming out to his son here. Wonderful!
The romance is complicated by their kidās relationship, each manās past, the fact that Mercy is a single dad whoās developed tunnel vision with regard to his responsibilities and any other relationships just makes the fumbling and hesitation towards something they want believable.
The mystery and murders are fine . I liked the element of the voice over the crackling radio airway that grabs everyoneās attention with sparse details that lures them into a maze of mystery and murder in the small town.
That I almost immediately glommed onto who the villain of the story was because the author has strewn a lot of clues around which made this interesting to see how it would play out instead of anxious to see who the murderer was. Like this part but didnāt necessarily love it.
For me, what saved the mystery was the families part in it, especially at the end. That was thrilling and emotional. I was invested in Mercy and Nova as well as Rae and Cooper. I needed to see all home safe and sound. Happily and romantically.
At least the dads! And thatās what happened! Wonderful ending.
So Iām off to seek out another by this author. Iām highly recommending this to lovers of contemporary romance and murder mysteries. Enjoy.
Two single dads. Two headstrong teenagers. One dead body.
A cabin in the middle of nowhere, nature all around, peace and serenity. It was supposed to be a vacation to help Nova reconnect with his son. But he didnāt expect to fall for his neighbor in the cabin across the lake. He didnāt expect an erratic and unusual broadcast on a radio station no longer in existence. And he definitely didnāt expect a dead body in the water.
Mercy likes his mysteries to stay within the pages of his novels. When strange things start to happen at his summer cabin, he and his daughter team up with the man and his son on the other side of the lake to get to the bottom of it. A little amateur sleuthing wonāt hurt anyone, right?
Someone out there knows the truth. Who is the man on the radio? What does he know? Mercy and Nova are determined to solve the mystery, but are they willing to risk life and limb for answers? Because someone doesnāt want their secrets revealed.
**Radio Static is an MM romantic mystery involving two single dads in their midforties.**
Well, this just got way more fabulous and complicated!
Buried Mage immediately corrects the one issue I had with Gathering Mage, and thatās where the author had divided that section of his 2-part story. Heād gone past their arrival home and into new events when it made sense to stop at their arrival.
Buried Mage has at the beginning the Cliffs Notes versions of the preceding books to catch you up if you need a refresh and then we ( and those fantastic characters) all together, start at the moment when Sandy and Jason return from the Gathering, having come through stronger and with new powers due to the trials and events that occurred there.
Itās time for them to get caught up with everything and everyone who was left behind at the House. Itās a great way too , for the author to reacquaint the readers with all the characters who were missing for a story, except for a mention or two.
Now with one celebration, itās found family time , and we get to embrace our fondness for them and the quirky House as well . Plus we get to meet another Companion. Mr. Tubbles, Tylerās worn and torn older cat. Heās a real enigma.
But soon Jason and the House of Louisville are off and running as they, with Jason as the spark , start to experiment with new forms of combat, enhancing it with their own magic abilities , including runes they make, experimenting through techniques they picked up with glasswork. Great stuff here. This is so simplified because the book ās elements regarding this are fun, and complex. I enjoyed every bit . Those who want a boom and the magic wand does the trick?
Hmmm , no. This really isnāt the book or series for you. Why?
All this is described in fascinating, wildly imaginative details! The characters are excited about whatās happening, and weāre along with them every step of the way, as they fail and as they finally succeed.
Taggert has quite the imagination and itās full of humor. His grannies, his ass blasters, the miners and surfer dudes! Love each and every one! Plus the respect that Jason shows his creations. Iām hoping that really comes into play further down the series because thatās such a joyous element.
Naturally, the villains, Marius and Karl, that have been lurking the past novels come back horrifically here. They are some very nasty pieces of work .
No spoilers but again some incredible scenes, Jason goes through terrifying trials that shove him up into the growth he needs , essentially, to power up. But , wow, painful. Very gripping and so well written that it keeps us on the edge til itās over.
Truly, the synopsis just canāt do justice to what youāre going to find inside this story. Itās a bit like saying āoh, Moby Dick? Ah yeah, itās got a whale.ā
Buried Mage has at the least ā¦a magical sword that wants to be a vase, zombies students, evil villains, adorable cats, tiny Magical Grannies who suck up magic, a House that gives you a family and everything you wantā¦for a price. And so much more.
I will say we get a great conclusion to this 2-book mini arc and a very fun slide which will start the next 2 book arc (thatās the format the author seems to prefer).
This series, which has a fifth book coming, is addicting. Itās ever expanding universe, a growing cast of amazing people and beings who continue to develop personally and in their relationships.
Iām so sold!
That means Iām highly recommending the entire series to date, which should be read in the order they were written.
The Gathering only lasted for seven days, but it ended up being a lot more of an adventure than Jason had expected. Now itās time to head home, and Jason is excited to sleep in his own bed and hang out with John, Tyler, and Annabeth again.
Jason learned a lot, and heās eager to put that knowledge to use. If his ideas work, it could totally revolutionize how Sandy and the crew make charmsāallowing them to heal, train, and defend the House even better than before.
So when the rotten mages show up, Jason is still feeling confident in himself and his new knowledge.
He has a new shield. Heās fought for his life in the arena. His matrix is much denser than before.
Heās a warrior mage now and stronger than ever before.
An Iron Fist, third novel in Nazri Noorās Arcane Hearts series, gives us a greater sense of Jackson Pryde and Xander Wright ās growing relationship as well as each characterās individual growth.
Jackson continues to learn more about his heritage from hidden vids his deceased parents left within the familyās AI . Heās also growing more determined to rebuild the Hall of Makers, the one whoās explosion killed most artificers, including his folks, a task Xander is supporting him on.
But the deadly purple Chrysanthemysts and the chaos left behind is center here. Noor starts to enlarge the mythology and creates a another layer thatās beginning to encroach on the one our main characters inhabit.
Thereās mystery, exciting action, more of our found family, maybe even adding a member of two, but most importantly we get the revelation of whoās comingā¦The Who behind all the murders, the upheavals, and the chaos.
It sets up the next book and the biggest fight looming in the future.
Noor has a great arc with excellent characters with an extremely fascinating universe to explore.
Iām ready to dive into the next story and see where the author takes his characters and storylines.
In the meantime, Iām recommending this book. But read the series in the order they are written in order to better understand the progression of events and characters relationships.
Might and magic, fist and flame, to send evil back from where it came.
Jackson Pryde and Xander Wright delve into the mountain halls of the dvergar, the dwarven people of Norse myth known for their mining and metalwork. Seeking jewels and ore, they make a deadly discovery instead: a cluster of Chrysanthemysts. How did they grow underground? Where are they from? And who sent them?
The masters of the Black Marketās guilds grudgingly unite to stop the fatal flowers at their source. But digging deeper only reveals another conundrum: a legendary gemstone known as the Heart of Oberon. The fae havenāt walked the earth in forever. Why has the Heart resurfaced now?
And why is the gemstone whispering?
An Iron Fist is a 70,000-word M/M urban fantasy romance with a HFN ending. Join a fast-talking artificer and a snarky sorcerer, childhood friends who become bitter enemies, then lovers, as they explore a world filled with strange flora, mythical fauna, and magical murders. If you like your urban fantasy with humor, horror, and a whole lot of heart, youāve come to the right place. Experience An Iron Fist today.
Anthologies/collections are a fantastic way to get to know new authors or rediscover writers you havenāt read for a while!
If anyone asks me to recommend one collection of contemporary stories? It would be this one! You have a great selection of writers who have never had their work in this charity anthology before, and the stories here are just incredible. Honestly 5 star reads! All together in one place to savor.
Not familiar with these authors? What a treat lies within. Most are on my Auto read-must have lists, but I added to mine as well here. Happy happy joy joy!
Plus all proceeds from the charity anthology go to benefit LGBTGIA + charities.
The overall Collection is always the H2H dating app, but this collection has the theme of #NeverHaveIEver for 14 Authors and their romance stories.
The H2H app users challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zones. And fall in love along the way.
I have listed all the stories and authors below. An extended version with a mini-review of each is on my website, scattered thoughts and rogue words dot com. Honestly, itās a tad long for here! But these stories deserve it. Heart eyes, folks!
Love it so much!
Stories and Authors:
1. Never Have I Ever Fallen In Love by Lucy Lennox
2. Never Have I Everā¦Cold Called A Strangerās Phone Number by A.M. Arthur
3. Never Have I Everā¦ Ridden A Bike by Alice Winters
4. Never Have I Everā¦ Dyed My Hair Flaming Red by Daryl Banner
5. Never Have I Everā¦worn That For Halloween by E.M.Lindsey
6. Never Have I Everā¦Sung In Public byJodi Payne
7. Never Have I Everā¦Gotten Lost by K. Webster
8. Never Have I Everā¦Taken A Vacation by Kate Hawthorne
9. Never Have I Everā¦Spent the Night With Blanche by Louisa Masters
10. Never Have I Everā¦Had A Makeover by Mia Monroe
11. Never Have I Everā¦Flown in A Airplane by Neve Wilder
12. Never Have I Everā¦Gone Skinny Dipping by Riley Hart
13. Never Have I Ever ā¦ Watched The Godfather by S.E. Harmon
14. Never Have I Everā¦ Kissed Someone On the Lips by Spencer Spears
15. Never Have I Everā¦Been On A Date by Tal Bauer
16. Never Have I Ever Fallen In Love by Lucy Lennox-part 2. The End
And now for my blog šā¦..
1. Heart2Heart by Lucy Lennox
Jonah , on behalf of his employer H2H, went off to Alaska,taking an adventure in a floatplane to create content for their latest event.
His taxi to the town, a tiny floatplane from Knockwood Aviation, flown by Pilot Pete Valentine started his adventure immediately. And so did my laughter. As Pete and Jonah go on many āneverhaveIEverā firsts for Jonah and his article, their attraction and feelings for each other grow.
The story is split in half,as it begins and ends the anthology.
Itās a fav of mine š itās also a prequel to Lennoxās next series focusing on Knockwood Aviation.
2. Never Have I Everā¦Cold Called A Strangerās Phone Number by A.M. Arthur
āFor A Good Time Callā¦ā says a note stashed in a library book. What Charlie finds is romance where he never thought heād find it, with the help of his jock roommate, Jasper.
Heartwarming, sweet, and lovely.
3 Never Have I Everā¦ Ridden A Bike by Alice Winters
Owen, the baker , writes ānever have I ever ridden a bikeā into the H2H app chat, and with those words , Alice Winters sends Owen, his roommate Lance, and their cat Thor the Destroyer off on a madcap afternoon of zany insanity, also includes bike riding lessons! Not surprisingly it ends happily and with declarations of love! Hilarious, sweet, and pure Winters!
4. Never Have I Everā¦ Dyed My Hair Flaming Red by Daryl Banner
Stagehand Zakary Tisdale wrote ānever have I ever dyed my hair a wild colorā on the H2H forum. Itās his birthday and heās naked in his bathroom , looking at himself in the mirror.
I wasnāt familiar with Daryl Banner but after reading this wonderful story Iām putting him on my list to seal out what else heās written. Because this is a little gem with lots of heart. One flaming red hair color changes everything, including the way he thinks about himself. Love it.
5. Never Have I Everā¦worn That For Halloween by E.M.Lindsey
Baker Domenico has loved his
best friend, Shiloh, since they were children. But heās been afraid to tell him until the H2H forum NeverHaveIEver persuaded him to post a comment about Halloween. Now heās committed to a couples costume. And everything is about to change.
Lindsey has written a beautiful, moving story, about deeply layered characters and their love for each other. Itās absolutely one of my favorites here.
6. Never Have I Everā¦Sung In Public byJodi Payne
Nathaniel Killineyās a dentist who admits on the H2H forum heās never sung in public.
Ethan Lowman is a high school theater/arts teacher and Nathaniel Killineyās crush when they were in the very same high school yearās ago.
Nathanielās comment on the H2H forum brings about a reunion thatās full of promise, for a romance as well as letting Nathaniel finally being able to sing in public. Very sweet.
7. Never Have I Everā¦Gotten Lost by K. Webster
āA single line āNever have I ever gotten completely and utterly lostā in the āMeet local friendsā thread in the H2H forum starts Hunter obsessing over this as if anyone could get lost in the age of almost instant GPS availability and map directions
Hunterās never been lost . So heās scanning quickly through the comments until he sees one from like minded Dallas Drew. Dallas aka Andrew, who claims to also never have gotten lost. Both are Americans that now live and work in Norway. Both also have elements to them that make that fact something thatās capable of drawing them together for a meetup.
Andrew, on the high functioning end of the ASD spectrum is lost in his life. Alone and missing his mother after her recent death, is going to try for an adventure. Something this meetup with Hunter represents. Hunter is feeling alone ,depressed, and his self image has taken a big hit due to his awful last relationships. Now heās reaching out for a change and a chance for someone and something more.
What follows is a wonderful, vulnerable, magical journey. I heart this story so much. Adding this author to my must have more of pile.
8. Never Have I Everā¦Taken A Vacation by Kate Hawthorne
Jermaine. Never have he ever taken a vacation. Raised by a struggling single parent, that wasnāt an option and his job as a flight attendant makes flying to other places something thatās just a stopover.
Milo, a travel blogger . For him, nearly every day was a vacation. One flight to New Orleans when they meet provides the sparks for changes they never expected.
Sexy, and unexpected!
9. Never Have I Everā¦Spent the Night With Blanche by Louisa Masters
H2H forum line Golden Girls prompts a user to sayā¦.Never Have I ever binge watched the Golden Girls.
Soon thereās a planned Golden Girls marathon at a coffee shop/ bookstore for everyone, especially the one whoās severely lacking in knowledge of the Blanche. Thatās Fin.
At the marathon, he meets several ppl , among them Clayton Hollingsworth Devereaux. Clay and Fin instantly hit it off.
10. Never Have I Everā¦Had A Makeover by Mia Monroe
Constantine needs a makeover. A company offers a professional event geared just for that very thing. There he meets a stylist named Deacon who sees a quiet, lovely teddy bear of a professor with self image issues. Con is just the man Deaconās been waiting for, and this makeover is the pathway to the start of a beautiful relationship.
A terrific story with relatable characters.
11. Never Have I Everā¦Flown in A Airplane by Neve Wilder
Beau , a musician, had never been on a airplane. Now he had to fly to a old friendās wedding in Venice, Italy. Beau mentions this fact on the H2H forum and gets a reply from UpRightPosition that he has to visit a certain restaurant in Venice while heās there and have a safe flight!
So itās so of fated that UpRightPosition turns out to be Jack, the hugely attractive flight attendant flying from Atlanta with him to Venice. That flight to Venice is the beginning of many firsts and a HEA.
A very sweet story.
12. Never Have I Everā¦Gone Skinny Dipping by Riley Hart
Mikey on the H2H message board: Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.
Shy, awkward, the one who never followed through Mikey. With a secret pen name. Who had a crush on someone heās only known online since he was 16. Itās been 2 years of steady chatting and every time itās been time to meet, Mikey has found excuses not to.
So it stopped. And that became Mikeyās biggest regret.
Now heās secretly writing erotic novels under another name when heās not being Mickey Boring, the librarian ( his real name) by day.
Time to change things up!
Ronan Winters runs the local coffee shop , Extra Shot, and runs a queer podcast Sex with Ronan.
Things are going to happen online personalities and real life collide, revelations occur and thereās a HEA waiting at the end.
Very well written and sweet romance.
13. Never Have I Ever ā¦ Watched The Godfather by S.E. Harmon
Ad: Looking for someone to go see to movies in the parks , Iāll bring the popcorn and snacks.
Ashton Westlake, lawyer, in Michigan, while things get smoothed over with the client he offended at his fatherās law offices. Loves baking.
His cousin puts the ad in the H2H message boards hoping to get company for Ashton as he watches movie classics, for the first time, in the park.
Levi, HistoryBuff24/7 , answers CoolLawDudes ad . Professor of American History, Late of a bad relationship. And also former teacher of Ashton!
Whoād had a very obvious crush on him.
Fifteen years difference in age, but equal in attraction. The reunion at the park sees a return of the sparks of attraction from so long ago.
What follows is an absolute delightful romance of two men finding their way back to each other at the exactly right stage in their lives, through movies, tv shows, and baked goods. Itās totally charming, and I was engaged from start to finish.
14. Never Have I Everā¦ Kissed Someone On the Lips by Spencer Spears
Westley: Never ever have I kissed someone on the lipsā¦
Thatās Wesleyās post on the H2H board. Heās shy, awkward, 20, and never been kissed.
Heās in DC for an internship , from Connecticut, sweating out the wonderful Dc summer (the author has our summer right). Living his Professorsā Washington DC row house , he finds himself hiding up on the roof deck, watching a neighborās party . Itās sad and pretty til a thief jumps out of their window with a haul of jewels, causing Westās world to upend in the strangest way possible.
Oh, Spencer Spears! What a fabulous tale that youāve written! I was with these two all the way! And I need more! I want to know if West called him! Give me that sequel!
A favorite!
15. Never Have I Everā¦Been On A Date by Tal Bauer
H2H board. Never have I ever been on a date
Cletus, heliopilot for a mission for Strickland, mngr for National Science Foundation for Antarctica. Responsible for 3k lives spread between 3 bases, now holding a bloody uniform as they lifted off.
Damien Bronson, Dino Doc to his students at the South Pole, came to Antarctica chasing his dream of proving his thesis right, that the bones of dinosaurs exist there. Heās also nurses a very big crush on pilot Cletus.
When their boss Dr. Strickland asks the men to find the body of the scientist that disappeared and whoās bloodied garment Cletus has now found, it sets off a series of events that could only have come from the fabulous Tal Bauer. Exciting, horrific, fast paced, and romantic, itās an A ticket ride the whole way. Outstanding!
And finally the last half of
16. Never Have I Ever Fallen In Love by Lucy Lennoxā¦ part 2
Jonah is flying around in a floatplane, trying first time adventures for his article for H2H , and Knockwood Aviation and the Valentines family, especially one in particular,Pete, Is keeping him busy.
Never Have I Ever Been To Alaskaā¦.
Now Jonah and Pete have been everywhere, theyāve spent time getting to know one another and Jonah has had time to make some life changing decisions.
Lucy Lennoxās story brought us a great new universe and engaging family, the Valentines. The Knockwood Aviation company, in all its elements, and all the Valentines are Lennoxās next series. This story is the absolutely perfect prequel to launch it.
Iām invested in these people and their romance, but also in the tiny town and itās citizens.
I canāt wait for more.
What an outstanding collection of authors and stories this is! You have a great selection of writers who have never had their work in this charity anthology before, and the stories here are just incredible.
Not familiar with these authors? What a treat lies within. Most are on my Auto read-must have lists, but I added to mine as well here.
And on top of fabulous romances, the proceeds go to support LGBTGIA + charities.
Win win!
Iām highly recommending this anthology. Grab it up before the next one comes out. Thatās the kinky oneš
Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating and community app responsible for bringing together couples from all over the world, encouraged people to do something theyād never done before?
#NeverHaveIEver is trending on H2H, and fourteen authors whoāve never before appeared in a Heart2Heart anthology (and one whoās never left) have come together to show how funny, hot, and heartwarming it can be when H2H app users challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zones–from singing in public, to skinny dipping, to getting their first real kiss–while they manage to fall in love along the way.
As always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!
Thick As Thieves is the Aster Valley finale and itās a wonderful story to bid the series goodbye with.
Best friends to lovers is a great trope and Lennox gives us two endearing characters who have known each all all their lives, being each otherās one to go to in all times.
Never is that more true or needed when Parker Ellisā wedding day is shattered. His bride dumps him as heās getting ready to say I do.
Julian Thick is there to pick up the pieces and Parker, after itās called off. Julian takes Parker to Aster Valley to his new cabin to recover but both men get far more then they anticipate when hidden feelings are revealed.
Julian has loved only Parker. But Julian has watched him for years with someone else who was female, thinking Parker was straight. That pain is buried deep within Julian now.
Thereās issues of trust, examinations of sexuality, friendship, and , of course, finally, declarations of love.
Other couples from the previous books make appearances here too.
Itās funny, genuine, romantic, and lovely.
Plus Lennox brings in characters from her next series Knockwood Aviation for us to get a glimpse of. Thereās two men I really want a romance for.
If youāve been a fan of this series like me, grab up this story and give it a happy send off.
If not, it can still be read as a standalone, itās just richer with a context.
I’ve been in love with my best friend since forever. Okay, fine. Like, kindergarten. It started out platonic, obviously, but then became… nope. Still platonic. The problem is that Parker Ellis has been straight since forever. And that makes it difficult to convince him the two of us are meant to be together.
And now there’s no point. All is lost. He’s gone and gotten engaged to his high-school sweetheart which means I have to grin and bear it while pretending to be the happy, supportive best man while he prepares to commit his life to a woman I can’t even fault. She’s great. We’ve all been friends forever. I know he’ll be happy with Erin, just not… just not as happy as he could be with me.
Parker:
I’ll admit. Sometimes I press the easy button. Like when Julian Thick had offered me half his sandwich back in grade school after noticing I didn’t have any food. Or when I’d needed a date to homecoming in tenth grade and Erin told me she was it. Or when I’d used the one thing that came easy to me, skiing, to get my college tuition paid for. Or when Erin had showed back up in my life six months ago and told it was time to marry and start a family…
But for the first time in my life I’m facing something that’s not at all easy. It’s my wedding weekend and I’ve just been left at the altar. Not only that, but when my best friend whisks me away to drown my sorrows in a snowy cabin in Aster Valley, I accidentally discover Julian’s been keeping secrets. Big secrets.
The kind of secrets that lead to hot experimental kisses in front of a blazing fire, tenative physical exploration in a way I’d never imagined before, and the kind of intimate, true confessions I’d never even dreamed of between me and the one person who’s always been my true home.
But after twenty-plus years of thinking of Jules as my friend without benefits, is it truly possible to change who we are to each other? There’s no easy button this time, but I’m willing to do the work. I only wonder if Julian is ready to trust I really mean it.
Thick as Thieves can be read on its own or enjoyed as part of the Aster Valley series.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 