The Geeky Jock Paradox (College Boys of New Haven #5) by Hayden Hall

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

History will repeat itself if I fall for another straight(ish) guy.

Isaac

When my roommate-to-be opens the door wearing nothing but a wet towel and a smile on his face, I only know one thing for sure: my world is about to be turned upside down.

A wrestling jock, a hottie, and as straight as a plank, Hunter is not the guy I should want. But all the shoulds and shouldn’ts fly out the window when it turns out that Hunter is actually a huge geek and not nearly as straight as I thought.

The fact that my high school crush asked me to wait for him until after college only makes my problems worse. But some terrible timing and an unlocked bedroom door end up being less of a problem than the ticking clock.

Can this college-only fling really be all that I have ever wanted?

Hunter

My new roommate is a total cutie, which is the weirdest way to describe a guy when you’re straight.

The more time I spend with Isaac, the less certain I am about everything I thought I knew. Either I am not myself, or I never have been. The weird thing is, I’ve never felt more alive.

It doesn’t matter, though. A no-good, terrible, horrible guy from his past leads him on with the sweetest promises and I’d be a fool to get involved.

Yet I need to have him, even if it’s for a little while.

The Geeky Jock Paradox is the fifth and final book in the College Boys of New Haven series. It's the perfect match for all fans of college MM romance, high steam and low angst, bisexual awakening, and nerd/jock pairings. It features the sweetest the-right-one-was-there-all-along moment and a very happy ending. All College Boys of New Haven books can be read as stand-alones and in any order.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

The Geeky Jock Paradox is the fifth book in the College Boys of New Haven series. 

This story is just downright fun and cute. 

Hunter and Isaac are both great guys who are easy to invest your emotions in. Hunter's a wrestler who's one of the sweetest jocks you'll meet. 

Meanwhile, Isaac is a nerd who's been waiting for his best friend to finish college and finally settle on just him. The boy man just needs to stop waiting and move on. 

I love the way Hunter brings Isaac to see himself in a new light. He grows in confidence and self-esteem and it's all beautiful to see. 

This is a bisexual, sexual awakening story with a college fling which turns to love. It's all perfectly low angst and enjoyable throughout. 

I highly recommend The Geeky Jock Paradox to anyone looking for a nice escape. You won't regret taking the time out of real life to enjoy this Hayden Hall book.

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT & REVIEW - MF - Afterglow (Busy Bean #10) by Aria Wyatt

 

AFTERGLOW BY ARIA WYATT

Release Date: September 13, 2021

Amazon: https://geni.us/AfterglowAmazon

Apple: https://geni.us/AfterglowApple

Kobo: https://geni.us/AfterglowKobo

Nook: https://geni.us/AfterglowNook

Google: https://geni.us/AfterglowGoogle

All the links in one spot: https://shor.by/busy-bean

Add to Goodreads here: http://bit.ly/3p6Z8cA

Series page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/busy-bean/

Cover Design: Elle Maxwell Designs

I’m a numbers girl.

Or at least I thought I was, until my formula fell apart. Back home in Vermont, with my dream on hiatus, I’m working at the Busy Bean and taking online classes. As long as I keep my focus, I’ll be back in New York City next semester. Hopefully.

When Declan O’Shaughnessy storms into the café, all muscles and tattoos, wielding his sexy Irish brogue like a weapon, the only equation I can solve is one that lands me in his bed. Even more dangerous is my growing affection for his cherub-faced little boy.

But Declan has complications of his own. He’s cagey, but I’ll win him over.

Yeah, about that focus… mine is all on him. Can we have a harmless fling without getting hurt?

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Afterglow is Aria Wyatt's contribution to the multi-author Busy Bean series. Each book in this small town series is read as a standalone. 

There's a lot going on in this book. There's alcoholism, mistakes, regrets, a custody battle, jealousy, death of parents, and grief. 

Declan and Solana are amazing together. And holy dirty talk and chemistry. These two burn up the sheets together. 

And, oh, how he handles Solana in the bedroom. Finding out she's a virgin might scare him off, but damn, he recovers. He's dominant and powerful and knows what he wants. 

And of course I adore Solana. She's definitely a little confused about her life and future, but she's the perfect person to balance Declan. Her past is horrible and I am in awe of the way she's survived it all. 

The heart of this story however lays in the hands of Declan's son. What a total charmer he is. There's plenty of custody issues, and the boy hears way too much for a kid his age. But, this presence is what makes this tale. 

I love Declan as a father. Love him. And my heart hurts for him. I appreciate the way Solana is able to help him, and I love the way everything wraps up. 

And of course, Solana's brother is around. And oh god, this part of the story is maddening yet so well done. He's caused her years of pain, so it's nice seeing them talk finally.

Declan and Solana's journey isn't easy. There's plenty of pain along the way. But it's well worth it for them in the end. 

The writing is great, and the storyline nice and developed. I just don't love reading an accent in my books, as reading the Irish brogue starts to get on my nerves after a while. 

Afterglow is a great addition to this small town world. And I absolutely love the ending that Aria Wyatt gave this sweet couple. 

The Busy Bean reminds me of my father’s pub in Galway, where I had my first drink and started my love affair with Irish whiskey. I’ve traded booze for hot cider, but I crave the inviting pub vibe of this bakery. There are plenty of bars in town—like the place right across the car park—but I don’t dare set foot in one. This is the closest I’ll allow myself.

“Hi, what can I get started for you?”

I spin toward the lilting female voice and frown. I come here just about every day and I’ve never seen this woman. She’s a pretty little thing who barely comes up to my shoulder. A black T-shirt peeks from beneath the bright yellow apron that covers her breasts. She’s cinched the tie around her waist, showcasing her hourglass figure.

“Hello?” She props both hands on her hips. “Would you like to order something?”

My gaze snaps to her face and locks on to a set of eyes the exact shade of golden amber as whiskey. With her tanned skin, and thick, honey-blonde hair, I’d swear I walked into a distillery. My throat tightens, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as I try to find the words to answer.

Her mouth starts to move again, drawing my focus to her lips. Full and pink, like a wild Irish rose. “I brewed a fresh pot of coffee and the drink of the day is a dirty apple chai.” She licks those plush lips and adds, “With apples from the Shipley orchards, of course.”

My stomach twists into a knot as I glance at the section of countertop that looks like a bar. I’d give my left arm for a pint of Guinness. And I’d give both arms for some whiskey. Desperate to derail that train of thought, I force my gaze to the display of artisanal honey from some of the local apiaries. Funny how the warm amber color also reminds me of whiskey, making my mouth water.

Then again, maybe it’s blondie who’s got me salivating. Whiskey be damned, I’d sell my soul to the Devil for a taste of her.

Suddenly Beck (Belong to Me #1) by Vawn Cassidy

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU ?????
Goodreads Link

A surprisingly sweet, sinfully sexy, and deliciously hilarious romp along the Cornish coast.

Nathan Elliott has run away from home at the age of twenty-six. His teenage rebellion may have come ten years late, but better late than never. Leaving behind a world of wealth and privilege, and a strict patriarchal family that would never except a gay son, he’s ready to embrace life and make up for lost time, but nothing’s ever that simple. A coin toss, a delayed train, and a wrong bus later, and Nat finds himself in a small bay in Cornwall being hauled out of the ocean by a gorgeous stranger and wondering how the hell his life got so off track.

Beck Ainsley lives life by a very simple ethos, don’t get attached, don’t get involved and don’t fall in love. He’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt that reads I’m a gullible idiot. Now, he keeps his life simple; all he needs is his dog, his art, his rambling sea cottage overlooking the bay and a few choice waves to surf. He’s not looking for love or commitment, but when he ends up plucking a posh boy from London with incredible blue eyes from the ocean, Cupid doesn’t just shoot him with an arrow, he decides to club him senseless with the bow too.

One simple agreement. A summer fling, a chance to act on the insane attraction between them with no strings attached, and at the end of the summer they walk away.
There’s just one problem, fate is a fickle and capricious creature, and she has no intention of letting them walk away unscathed. They’re about to discover that sometimes the heart wants, what the heart wants…


From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes this hot and sweet, first time, MM romance that will leave you laughing out loud and fanning yourself from the heat…

Can be read as a Standalone

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Suddenly Beck is the first book in the Belong to Me series by Vawn Cassidy. It's a wonderful, feel good read set in Cornwall.

From the start, this story pulled me in. We meet Nathan under some circumstances that leave him struggling and confused. 

As he says, he's off to find something better. "...I didn't know where I wanted to go, I just knew where I didn't want to be." And thus starts his tale. 

Nathan and Beck are great together. I enjoy the way they meet and the natural way things evolve for them. I love that Nat helps Beck's family while they help him in return. It's all heart-warming and sweet. These men are perfect together and I just love the way they compliment one another.

I love this little small town and all the charming characters, such as Molly. There are so many secondary characters who fully come to life and add to the fun. The setting is wonderful and I could easily imagine living there. But best of all, is the way the town, and Beck's family take Nat in, making him a part of this supportive community and big family. 

Written in alternating first person pov, the author fully brings the characters to life. It's definitely more detailed than I needed. For example, I didn't find the detailed surfing lessons necessary and found myself skipping forward. 

Suddenly Beck is a wonderful small town romance. I am happy with this Vawn Cassidy read and can't wait to see what happens next in this sweet series. This is perfect the next time you're looking for a sweet, small town romance. 

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - Catching Kalen (Diamond Dreams #1) by Maya Nicole & Britt Andrews

 

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Catching Kalen
By Maya Nicole & Britt Andrews

Diamond Dreams, Book 1

The call never came.

So, I did what any major league hopeful reject would do: I went to the bar to escape my reality.

When I locked gazes with a pair of gorgeous blue eyes, I knew the night was going to be anything but normal.

Especially since I’d never been with a man.

One night of passion left me questioning everything. It was supposed to be a random hookup but when I walked into my summer school course there he was, standing at the front of the room.

My professor.

Will Monroe catch me, or will he strike out?

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Catching Kalen is the first book in the Diamond Dreams series by Maya Nicole and Britt Andrews. 

It took me a little while to get into this one. I'm not always a fan of one night, first time gay, hook ups. But, I'm thrilled I kept reading. 

Obviously, there's something special about Monroe. And Kalen feels it immediately. 

Unfortunately, as strong as the chemistry is between them, their relationship is forbidden. Yes, after the hookup Kalen walks into Monroe's classroom. 

And, damn, I enjoy everything that follows. 

These two are fabulous together. Their connection is intense, and the sex between them is steamy. They cannot deny their feelings, no matter how hard they try. 

Their relationship has plenty of up and downs that make things even harder for the two. 

Their story is one of bisexual awakening, or possibly a gay awakening. The sex is amazing. And the love between the two is spectacular. 

It's a long, hard fought road for these two, but they are definitely going to be stronger as a result. 

The writing is great, with a story that's easy and fun to follow. The pace is great and the twists and turns add tremendously to the entertainment. 

Overall, it's a delightful combination of sports, teacher/student, age gap, controlling father, homophobia, and sexual awakening.

Catching Kalen is a great sports romance. The authors do a great job starting off this series with a delicious and emotional age gap romance. 

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I stepped out of the way, just enough for him to squeeze through. His chest brushed against mine, and I inhaled his scent. Fuck, he smelled like expensive cologne and a hint of tequila. In one word, temptation. He smelled like fucking temptation.

Slipping the Do Not Disturb sign on the outside door handle, I let the heavy door swing closed. I turned to find him across the room at the window, looking out at the street. His body was a work of art with strong shoulders and a waist that tapered in just the right amount, leading to his pert ass.

Our eyes met in the window reflection as I walked up behind him. I slid my hands around his waist to rest on his stomach, feeling the ripples of his abs through his shirt. I buried my face against the back of his neck, inhaling the faint scent of aftershave and leather.

"You smell so fucking good." I trailed my lips across the back of his neck to his ear. "I can't wait to sink my teeth into your ass," I whispered as I moved my hands under his shirt and traced the contours of his abdomen. He must spend hours working out for a body like this.

He trembled as I moved my hands up to his chest and slid my thumbs over his hard nipples. His breath was already speeding up, and I smiled against the soft skin right below his ear before licking the shell of it.

"Jesus." He stumbled forward a foot and put his hands on the window. The windows had privacy film on the outside, so I wasn't worried someone would see him. Not that I cared, but he might.

I moved my hands down to the bulge in his pants. He groaned as I palmed him through the fabric of his jeans. He was thick, and I bit the lobe of his ear. "A dick like this is meant for my fist."

 

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Catching Kalen, Maya & Britt are is giving away a paperback (US Winner) & ecopy of Catching Kalen!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57215/?

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About Maya:

Maya Nicole is an author of Paranormal Reverse Harem & Contemporary MM Romance novels. She's a former elementary school teacher who decided to pursue her second passion and write full-time. She has always loved reading and writing, and loves being able to bring that love to others.

Connect with Maya:
www.mayanicole.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mayanicoleauthor
https://www.instagram.com/mayanicoleauthor/

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About Britt:

Britt Andrews is an author of Paranormal Reverse Harem & Contemporary MM Romance novels. She loves eating Mexican food, reading all the books, and living her best mom life in rural Ohio. Britt is a high energy extrovert who loves shattering glass ceilings and expectations. She tries to bring her humor across in her words, hoping to make every reader laugh out loud in public at least once, trust us, she'll get you when you least suspect it.

Connect with Britt:
www.brittandrewsauthor.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BrittsMagicalMisfits
https://www.instagram.com/authorbrittandrews/

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RELEASE TOUR, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - Coaching the Nerd (Nerds Vs Jocks # 2) by Eli Easton & Tara Lain

 

Release Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Coaching the Nerd
By Eli Easton & Tara Lain

Nerds Vs Jocks, Book 2

Super-bod meets super-brain

What happens when marshmallow-bodied supernerd Sean volunteers to be on the jocks’ flag-football team? It screws Bubba’s fraternity’s chances at the coveted flag football title, that’s what.

Bubba is drafted to be Sean’s personal trainer. He has to whip Sean into shape and make sure he doesn’t F up their team.

Sean may be a supernerd, but to Bubba he’s funny, and wise, and kinda cute. He’s also the one person on campus who doesn’t see Bubba as a big, stupid jock.

One BIG problem. Sean’s motivation for getting into shape is to lose his virginity -- and Bubba isn’t happy when guys start sniffing around.

But Bubba’s straight. Isn’t he?

Can a big, dumb jock from Nowhere, Wisconsin change his whole life for a genius who just wants to get laid?

COACHING THE NERD is a total makeover, opposites attract, My Fair Lady trope, bi awakening, campus romance – that grabs your flag.

Universal Link

Goodreads | BookBub

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My Rating - 5 Stars!

Coaching the Nerd is a fabulous college sports romance by Eli Easton and Tara Lain. The second book in the Nerds Vs Jocks series, it's easily read as a standalone. 

Sports romances are my absolute favorites, and this one is great. You get jock vs nerd, complete opposites, forced proximity, GFY, and controlling parents. And more. 

Bubba and Sean are complete opposites. They would never be friends, but they meet as part of the forced proximity this series brings about. Sean's a nerd who joins the flag football team, having no athletic ability, and no idea what he's doing. Bubba's the athlete who ends up helping him, as well as helping him to get into better shape. 

I love the way these men get to be friends, naturally falling into a close relationship. Everything about them just melts my heart.

With Sean looking to get laid before graduating college, he thinks he needs to get fit in order to accomplish this. Cue the little makeover, which I actually would have preferred not happening,  as it would be nice if he found love without any makeover. But, yes, he needs a little confidence more than the makeover itself. 

They're super sweet together, and I adore the way they start to catch feelings for each other.

Bubba's always been straight, but suddenly he finds himself interested in Sean. Yay, a GFY romance! Love this! Sexual awakening is always a fun read.

The two don't have a lot in common on paper, but end up having plenty to talk about, and complement one another well. Best of all though is the way they help one another. They both need to stop letting others define what they can and can't do. Sean wants to get fit to prove he can be fit and smart. And Bubba wants to be more than a mechanic. This aspect is beautiful. I don't want to spoil anything, but I absolutely love everything about this element. 

Their tale includes some fun first times for both men, as Bubba has never been with a guy before, and Sean's a virgin. Oh, so much fun. Love these scenes, as they're hot and also sweet and funny, which is appropriate for these two.  

I love the group of friends in this story. But, damn, some of the family issues leave you hating both men's families. 

The writing is wonderful, with charming characters, an entertaining storyline, and a flawless flow. I love the journey throughout this story. Unlike many of the sports romances you will find out there, there is no real struggle with coming out or homophobia. There is some angst though, but all due to some outside factors. 

Overall, Coaching the Nerd is a beautiful story. This Eli Easton and Tara Lain romance is a must read if you enjoy college romances. I love everything about it. If you enjoy some good character growth, you'll love this story. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series. 

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Special Release Tour Excerpt:

I managed to get upstairs at the Sigma Mu Tau house without encountering anyone or having to explain why I was covered in mud. I took a shower, using soap to clean a scraped area on my knee and palm, applied antibiotic from my first aid kit, and put on some comfy PJs.

Then I sat on my bed. My roommate, Dobbs, was out. I should study, but I didn’t.

It had started to rain again, and I stared out the window, unable to get certain words out of my head.

“Well, I sure as hell hope not. Because if you were stupid on top of that, you sure would have been dealt a raw deal in life.”

That being my body, which was woefully pale, weak, and pathetic, like the guy who gets sand kicked in his face in those famous old Jack LaLane ads. That was the objective truth, so why should Bubba’s words hurt me? He hadn’t even been mean. He’d been nice to me, in fact.

Did that make it worse? Possibly.

Well, of course I was out of shape! Why did he think I volunteered to play ridiculous flag football in the first place? Yes, I wanted to help my fraternity meet Dean Robberts requirements so our house didn’t get closed. The dean told my frat, the Sigma Mu Taus, that we had to have two of our guys on the Alpha Lambda Alpha flag-football team to prove we could all work together or he’d shut us down. Of course, I wasn’t going to let that happen. But mostly, I volunteered because it gave me a chance to get in shape. I mean, those ALAs were buff. They were gorgeous, and I figured some of that could rub off on me.

I was a senior. It was February. I only had a few months left of my undergrad years. And I was still a virgin. I’d spent my high school years taking advanced classes and having no social life. My social life now consisted of role-playing games, video games, and watching TV with my SMT housemates.

I knew where I was going in life. My parents were both geneticists. They worked for the same company—that was how they met. Genome sequencing. They were bright and dedicated. They worked long hours at their research. That would be my life too. But before that, until then, I wanted to… to….

To live a little. I wanted to step outside the box, do something un-Sean McKinney-like. I wanted to party, to ride in fast cars, to have wild-and-crazy sex.

Or any sex!

And to achieve that goal, I needed to be more attractive. Hell, I wouldn’t want to have sex with the limp noddle physique I saw in the bathroom mirror. I desperately wanted to increase my hotness factor. That’s why I’d made it my one and only New Year’s resolution to get fit.

My palm stung. I pulled back the dressing to peek at it, and my stubborn streak kicked in.

Screw you, Alpha Lambda Alpha, you A-hoes. If you think a little scrape is going to discourage me, you’ve got another thing coming. I will play flag football. And I’ll get in shape, too, because I am going to get laid!

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Schooling the Jock, Eli & Tara are giving away a $20 Amazon Voucher.

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57139/?

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About Eli:

Coming from a background in computer game design, Eli has written over 35 books in m/m romance since 2013. The Mating of Michael (2014) and A Second Harvest (2016) both won The William Neale Award for Best Gay Contemporary Romance, and Eli’s books have won many awards from the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Reader’s Choice Awards. She is best known for her Christmas romances, the Howl at the Moon series of rom coms featuring dog shifters, and her Sex in Seattle series, which revolves around a sex clinic in Seattle.

Connect with Eli:
www.elieaston.com
Facebook: Eli Easton
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164054884188096
Twitter: @elieaston

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About the Author:

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters - and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn't believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara's characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara's creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Tara loves animals of all kinds (even snakes), diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers.

She has around 57 books published or scheduled for publication.

Connect with Tara:
Website: https://taralain.com/
Facebook Reader's Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255111391312743
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taralain/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taralain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taralainauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tara-lain

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Date in a Pinch by Brigham Vaughn

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

A sweet geek and an experienced Dom: someone’s about to learn their lesson …

When chemistry teacher Neil Greene gets an unexpected delivery at Pendleton High, he's mortified when his fellow teacher and crush sees the contents that hint at the adventurous love life he’s dying to explore. Curious but inexperienced, Neil has no idea how to live out his fantasies until the hot lit teacher offers a helping hand.

Alexander Ford likes to be in charge in the bedroom and he’s happy to tutor Neil in all things naughty. But when Neil asks him to pretend to be his date for the Sweetheart’s Game at Pendleton Bay’s Love Fest, Neil may be the one teaching Alexander about love. 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Date in a Pinch is a sweet fake boyfriend romance by Brigham Vaughn. Everything about this book works for me. 

This is a story of sexual exploration, as one man teaches the other about BDSM.

I'm surprised and happy that it's much more about their emotions and developing relationship than about their sex scenes. At first, I expected a lot of the scenes to be written out fully. Instead, the author does a great job adding most of their scenes into the tale as off page events. Rather than getting all the details, we get one of the characters thinking about the scene after the fact. I am pleased with how well this was written and definitely enjoyed this aspect.

And the emotions. Omg, the emotions. These are two men who ooze emotions. Neither was looking for a relationship. But, scene by scene, moment by moment, time spent together slowly draws these men towards loving one another. It's just beautiful. If you enjoy an emotional slow burn, this is it. 

Both men have a past that keeps them holding back emotionally. One feels guilt for having let down his former sub, thinking he can't go through something like that again. And the other has a history full of pain and baggage, that has caused him personal issues as well as family issues. 

I truly adore this story. The emotions are everything for this developing relationship.

This is a must read when you're in the mood for two men starting a BDSM relationship and slowly falling in love. It's tender and sweet, in addition to all the heat and pain. 

The BDSM scenes are great, with amazingly sweet aftercare moments. They don't seem like the typical aftercare moments to me, but I enjoy them none the less. There's a whole lot of tenderness involved which just makes me smile.

Overall, Date in a Pitch is a great read. I love how Brigham Vaughn brings so much emotion to this story. She combines sexiness and sweetness in this kinky romance and it's absolutely delightful.