For Immediate Release by Lucy Hawkins

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Life has gotten too much lately for journalist and blogger, Christian Miller. The assignments are piling up, he’s just been dumped and he’s never seen so much red in his bank account. When his best friend offers him keys to his family’s lake house, it’s the perfect chance to escape the city and get some peace and quiet so he can finally catch up on his deadlines.

A-list Hollywood heart-throb, Jonah McGregor wants to get away from it all. The fake girlfriends. The constant nagging from his manager. The paparazzi following his every move. He decides to make a trip back to Kentucky - to the lake house he spent summers at while growing up. When he arrives, he’s surprised to find he won’t be having the place all to himself.

Christian and Jonah have a lot to catch up on, but most of all, it’s Christian’s unrequited childhood crush that becomes the topic of conversation. Jonah is all too happy to fulfill Christian’s longtime fantasy and before the two know it, they’re sharing beds. By the time the week is over, it’s clear the men have feelings for each other but their different worlds mean it can never work.

Christian was happy just to have slept with Jonah. One blissful week where every one of Christian’s fantasies was fulfilled. The last thing he was going to do was out him to the world. His secret was safe with Christian. Until he got stupid drunk and wrote a blog post about it. And then said blog post went viral before Christian even had the chance to nurse away his hangover. Luckily, he was smart enough not to mention names. But speculation is rife and there’s a chance people will put two and two together.

With the media in a frenzy over Christian's mystery man and the story behind it, the job offers start rolling in. Christian soon finds himself in LA and the latest Hollywood gossip journalist. Now that he and Jonah are in the same city, there's hope they might finally be able to give their relationship a shot. Except nothing is ever that simple...

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

For Immediate Release by Lucy Hawkins is a fantastic Hollywood romance.

This story has everything I love in a story. A longtime crush, years passed, a Hollywood star, and a cabin getaway. Heck yes, sign me up!

Jonah needs a break from his Hollywood life, as he's sick of the pressure of being closeted and all the lies that come with it. When he arrives at his friend's cabin, he's reunited with the younger Christian. 

A chance to "get off" leads to more. Their sex is hot, and I love the way Jonah deals with his bisexuality. Of course, this is at the cabin. Returning back to his Hollywood life makes things much more difficult.  

Jonah's fears and desires are well written. As we know, coming out is extra difficult for actors. This is all portrayed well and in a fun way.

For Immediate Release is one of those books that I enjoyed every second of and will definitely add to my feel-good re-read list.

Sugar Daddy by Lucy Hawkins

Amazon Link
Goodreads Link


Blurb:

Elliot Santos had heard enough about the mysterious manwhore who lived in the apartment building above his cafe, Sugar, to know he didn't think very highly of them. Number Nine had sent a string of morning-afters through the doors of Sugar to caffeinate before making their walk of shame. The details? rarely spared. Elliot knew that Number Nine apparently didn't have a type, except male, and that he always sent them away wanting more.

Sworn off a certain type of man and wondering if there was anyone at all out there who would think he was enough, unlucky in love Elliot has put all his energy into Sugar since the demise of his last relationship. On his morning delivery run, he stumbles across a very naughty dachshund running through the apartment building corridor - and a very naked man chasing her. If Elliot had ever been skeptical about love at first sight - this moment might have changed it. Except that the charmingly handsome naked dude happens to live in apartment number nine.

Ken Donohugh made the cross-country move to San Fransico after his divorce was final. It was time for a fresh start, a new job, and new friends. Even if they only ever made it through a night in the sack. Ken was done with real love. He'd been there, done that, and had his life completely turned upside down in the process. Now was his time to do what he liked and what exactly that was, he was letting himself take time to figure out.

When a handsome long-haired sweetheart helps him wrangle his naughty dog, Penny, he knows exactly who his next conquest will be. Except that much younger Elliot owns the bakery below his apartment and he can't give up the delicious sweet treats he bakes. He decides a friendship will be enough - until it isn't.

With two men who want such different things in love, Elliot and Ken must navigate what their feelings mean. Can Elliot learn to love a little less? And will Ken ever be able to tame his ferocious sweet tooth?




REVIEW
My Rating - 4 Stars!


Sugar Daddy by Lucy Hawkins is a sweet and fun romance.

Elliot and Ken meet while Ken is naked, and it's the result of a mouse. Yes, seriously. This is how they meet, and it's great! Elliot's opinion of Ken is already that he's a man-whore and he's sick and tired of hearing about his conquests.

Ken's moved to a new city after his divorce, which left him insecure and broken. As a result of being burned by his marriage, he's off exploring the willing men in town. 

Elliot works in the bakery below Ken's apartment, and keeps meeting Ken's men the next morning. Elliott, himself, is also broken, as he's still living with the effects of his ex's judgements.

The two men end up bonding over helping each other out after a drunken night out and an episode of the flu. As Ken wants to get to know Elliot better, Elliot is weary due to all the men he's seen leaving Ken's. But a friendship is formed, and they eventually grow closer and the attraction is hard to deny anymore. 

Now, these two broken men have to decide if they can take a chance of love again, and if they are even worthy of love.

Sugar Daddy is a sweet, and adorable romance. Lucy Hawkins has created two characters who are definitely better off together and helps them to overcome their past issues. It's definitely worth a read when you're in the mood for something light-ish. 

Dumped by Lucky Hawkins

Amazon Link

Blurb:

Wedding planner, Alex Haynes, is left heartbroken and humiliated when his fiancé leaves him at the altar. Too ashamed to show his face in Manhattan again, Alex flees for his Upstate hometown and vows never to plan another wedding again. When his best friend announces her engagement, she begs him to reconsider his decision. Torn between his duty as BFF and his newly acquired cynicism for love, Alex reluctantly agrees. Little does he know that by agreeing to do so, he’s also agreeing to work with his high school bully, Hank.

Once a college football star heading for greatness, Hank Morrison now runs the inn he inherited from his aunt in the small town of Redwood. The problem is his aunt’s beloved inn isn’t getting business and with the bank threatening repossession - Hank needs to come up with a way to acquire money fast. When his high school crush and nemesis Alex shows up wanting to plan a wedding at the inn, he can’t turn down the kind of money on offer. Even if it means having to deal with the uptight wedding planner who always thought he was too good for him.

Forced into close proximity, the two can’t help getting to know each other. Uncovering each other’s secrets and painful pasts pulls them closer together. But with so much complicating each of their lives and their warped views on love, will it ever be possible that they’ll be on the same page?

REVIEW:

My Rating - 5 stars! 

I am so excited I had a chance to read Dumped by Lucy Hawkins. I found myself intrigued by the blurb, and the book did not disappoint.

Alex, a big city wedding planner, is dumped at the altar by his fiancée. He is devastated and shocked. In shame, he returns to his small hometown. There he is reunited with his Hank, his former High school bully and a retired pro football player. They are forced to work together on planning a wedding for Alex's friend. This allows them to get to know each other. Neither are the same person that they were in high school.

In time, Alex is able to see that his former relationship with his ex-fiancée was not so good. He realizes that he constantly had to bend to his ex's demands. He thought his ex wanted what was best for him, but now realizes he just wanted to mold Alex to his needs. His sister works at making him realize that he needs to learn to love himself now. 

As Alex and Hank become friends, then start to learn more about each other. For instant, Alex learns that Hank is actually gay.  That starts a romantic relationship.

Alex and Hank have obstacles to face along the way.

Alex is hesitant to continue as a wedding planner. He is also reluctant to enter into another relationship. Hank, meanwhile, is on his own, trying to keep his deceased aunt's inn open

. He is also searching for his brother who disappeared. He won't allow himself to  give up hope of finding him. This means that Hank's financial situation is not very good.

One of my favorite themes about this book is that things are not always as they seem. Alex's perception of Hank during high school could not have been more wrong. And, even more importantly, people need to move on from their past. You cannot let what people have done in the past define your life now.

I also love how things can change for the better when you have someone helping you. 

Dumped is a well-written, small town romance. It is sweet, funny and romantic. Lucy Hawkins does a fantastic job of making you remember that sometimes bad things happen for a reason. I highly recommend this book.