woke up married trope – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Rating: 5🌈

Brewtiful’s is the heartwarming, wonderful finale story in L Eveland’s fantastic Culinary Creatures series. I’m so sorry to see this series end.

Bluz, the preceding novel, is a small masterpiece of storytelling that combined a old musical sounding style of Appalachian dialect , a vanishing American mountain voice, with a vivid location, mouth watering BBQ and layered memorable characters. It remains a top tier book for me.

Now Brewtiful’s, with characters, especially one, that could have been written as tragic but end up as triumphantly beautiful and with a joyful ending that brings this series to a satisfying conclusion.

Why have I fallen in love so quickly with this story? I’ll start with one of the main characters. Tripp Powers.

Tripp Powers has the emotional power to move the reader to tears but it won’t be immediately evident why. The clues, his halting words as he assembles his thoughts and sentences to give voice to his own inner feelings. It’s those beautifully written scenes that will carry Tripp’s sometimes jumbled excited messages that will melt the reader’s heart and that of Nicola Lightwing, a mothman he meets in Las Vegas.

You see Tripp is suffering from an injury that comes from being a ex-NHL hockey player. He’s got head/brain trauma from taking a hit. He’s in forced retirement, has memory issues, migraines, and more. He’s lost his passion and focus. But in an extraordinary way, found a new one.

Tripp is real, heartbreaking, and inspiring. And he wakes up married.

To a mothman.

Yes it’s a wake up married, bi-awakening, hockey romance in a paranormal world with antennas and it’s fabulous.

Tripp has a well written bi-awakening journey along with finding true love. Done with another character, Nicola Lightwing, a mothman. We met Nicola before in Bluz but he comes fully into his own here. He’s a successful agent who sacrifices his private life for his clients and now , because of an impulsive decision, has the potential to make changes for himself and Tripp.

Eveland’s story weaves a gentle reminder that sometimes the simplest thing can bring the best possible outcome to a person’s life. A cup of coffee, an act of kindness, a smile or even a positive saying to start the day with. Or find true love and happiness.

The author gives the characters depth of personality, intelligence, interesting uses of otherworldly sexuality, love in all its forms, and as always, a fabulous recipe at the end. Never miss out on those.

L Eveland’s Culinary Creatures is four books and I’ll always regret it isn’t more. But those four books are on auto reread for me, the last two in particular. The entire series is a must read for just splendid storytelling.

Pick up the series today and prepare for some joy in your day.

Culinary Creatures with great recipes at the end of each story:

✓ Brimstone #1

✓ Beefcake #2

✓ Bluz #3❤️+

✓ Brewtiful’s #4 ❤️-finale

Buy Link:

Brewtiful’s: A High Heat, Low Stakes MM Monster Romance Novella (Culinary Creatures Book 4)

Blurb:

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…unless you accidentally marry a mothman.

My name’s Tripp Powers, former NHL star, notorious playboy, and aspiring coffee connoisseur. My plan? Open a chain of coffee shops to brighten everyone’s day. All of that was going according to plan until I woke up in bed with a man.

And not just any man, but Nicola Lightwing, a mothman!

It’s a mistake we’re both keen to undo as fast as possible until we realize we have a lot in common. Nicola is smart, suave, and almost as obsessed with coffee as I am. With his help, I might even be able to make my coffee shop dreams into reality.

There’s only one problem. Until today, I was sure I was straight. Yet I can’t help but want to drink Nicola up, especially when he’s promised he’s good to the last drop.

Can I resist his bold advances? Or is a lifelong romance brewing?

• Publisher: Grim Cat Press LLC (November 15, 2023)

• Publication date: November 15, 2023

• Print length: 138 pages

Rating: 5 🌈

If you’re familiar with Brigham Vaughn’s hockey series , Road Rules, then you’ll know where the reader’s seen the characters before:

“…Charlie appeared on page in Unwritten Rules, I knew I needed to tell his story. I had already planned to revisit the Toronto Fisher Cats team who were featured in Bending the Rules and knew Dustin would have a story.”

— Author’s notes, The Husband Game : An M/M Hockey Romance (Relationship Goals Book 1) by Brigham Vaughn

I have to admit I wasn’t. But after reading this outstanding story of recovery, resilience, and love, I’m absolutely backtracking to pickup those two books and the rest of that connected series.

However, I don’t believe I was missing anything by not reading those books prior to coming at this new series and novel. Vaughn’s ability to thread certain elements and subjects into her storylines and character traits beautifully prepares her readers for the real issues that arise here that Dustin and Charlie need to address.

Ah, those wonderful men ! Vaughn has created two incredibly compelling and different characters in Toronto Fisher Cats ice hockey captain Dustin Fowler and former Olympic figure ice skating champion Charlie Monaghan. They quickly became two of my all time favorites.

Dustin is a new captain trying to make his team come together after some trying times and an emotional retirement of a beloved teammate. Charlie has deeply hidden illnesses, rooted in his childhood, his abusive relationship with his mother, and the sport he loved but grew to see as so toxic.

I think this is one of the best examples of the “woke up married “ tropes I’ve read in that the author working back from that ridiculous scenario, starts to build a beautiful and believable relationship story between these two people.

Especially when one is still fragile and hiding a secret that’s so important to his health and well being. This condition is one that’s slowly revealed in the storyline but it’s no surprise , given the sport, that we’re talking about an eating disorder.

Brigham Vaughn’s realistic and sensitive written treatment of anorexia, including scenes and discussions about eating disorders, come with a trigger warning from the author. So please read.

Charlie is a layered, endearing character in a multitude of ways. His mother has damaged him , emotionally and physically with her parenting skills or lack of, and her husband enables her. The way it’s implied until the end is so skillful.

Charlie is amazing, from his outlook and continued resilience that’s making his recovery so successful to the bravery that will let him go forward with the relationship.

Dustin too, shouldering the weight of the team , needing help and learning how to deal effectively with his own struggles with being a better leader.

I loved the way the author lead us and the characters through a new chapter in each other’s lives, slowly becoming friends and then as they grow closer, more confident together, falling in love.

This was a great surprise and a total favorite. I’m highly recommending it as well as going back to read those other books.

There’s another story on the way. Check it out below.

Relationship Goals:

✓ The Husband Game #1

◦ The Head Game #2 – Sept 22,2023

Description:

Hockey Captain Wed in Secret Vegas Ceremony – Partner’s Identity Remains a Mystery

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Or does it?

Toronto Fisher Cats ice hockey captain Dustin Fowler attended the NHL awards and came home with more than the Ted Lindsay Award.

A cryptic social media post from the hockey forward himself revealed that he was wed in a secret ceremony in Las Vegas this past weekend.

His caption stating, “Sorry, ladies, Toronto’s most eligible bachelor just went off the market. I married my kitten tonight and I’ve never been happier,” sent tongues wagging across the league.

But who is “Kitten”?

Without verification from either the team’s head office or the new groom, rumors swirl about exactly who Fowler’s partner is.

A credible source from within the organization suggests that “Kitten” is none other than retired men’s figure skating champion Charlie Monaghan.

We here at JockGossip would like to offer our warmest congratulations to the newlyweds.

TRIGGER WARNING: Contains scenes and frank discussions of eating disorders (anorexia) and past parental abuse/neglect.

Buy link:

The Husband Game : An M/M Hockey Romance (Relationship Goals Book 1)

Tag: woke up married trope

Review: Brewtiful’s (Culinary Creatures Book 4) by L Eveland

Review: The Husband Game : An M/M Hockey Romance (Relationship Goals Book 1) by Brigham Vaughn

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