Not Until Noah (Star Crossed #1) by Lisa Henry

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU 
Goodreads Link

Carter Westlake is on the brink of being Hollywood gold. Cast as the lead in a highly-anticipated sci-fi trilogy filming in Australia, he’s primed to be the next A-list action hero: all-American, hot as hell, and straight. The problem is, Carter can only check off two of those boxes. But that’s okay—his bisexuality can remain a secret until these movies are behind him.

Childhood educator Noah Jones has a plan. Work as a nanny for six months, make some extra cash, and move to the UK to teach. He doesn’t expect his new boss to be a Hollywood star. And he certainly isn’t prepared to fall for the guy.

One kiss sends them tumbling into a secret relationship, even though they both agree it can be nothing more than a fling. Carter needs to stay in the closet for the sake of his career, and Noah’s leaving. But when their feelings continue to grow into something deeper, Carter has a decision to make. Knowing that exposing his sexuality could cost him his career, would he rather carry on living a lie, or risk it all to stand tall in his truth?

Not Until Noah is the first book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Not Until Noah is a wonderfully sweet romance. I love this book. Everything about it had me swooning and charmed throughout. 

Emerson is an adorable child who adds plenty of delightful moments to the story. And, omg, I'm so upset by the way the press forces themselves until the children of public figures. As a fan, I am fully guilty of wanting to see famous people with their children. But the author fully reminded me why this is so horrible. Not only are the famous people affected, but their poor, innocent children aren't allowed any privacy. 

This is a story of Carter, an actor who's firmly in the closet. As he falls for the manny, Noah, he can't help but to deal with the demands of his profession. 

Ugh. This book made me so mad about the demands on people to stay closeted. We all know why the industry wants actors to stay closeted, but it's maddening. There's so many forced dates, situations, photo ops. And all the while, Carter is saddened and frustrated by not being able to be open with Noah. 

Now, as for Carter and Noah, swoon, just Swoon! I love every moment of them together. The attraction is there from the start. And the way everything develops between them had me swooning throughout. 

Not Until Noah is one of those easy to fall in love with stories. This Lisa Henry book is wonderfully addictive, keeping me up late into the night. I love it all!

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - Not Until Noah (Star Crossed #1) by Lisa Henry

 

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Not Until Noah
By Lisa Henry

Star Crossed, Book 1

Carter Westlake is on the brink of being Hollywood gold. Cast as the lead in a highly-anticipated sci-fi trilogy filming in Australia, he’s primed to be the next A-list action hero: all-American, hot as hell, and straight. The problem is, Carter can only check off two of those boxes. But that’s okay—his bisexuality can remain a secret until these movies are behind him.

Childhood educator Noah Jones has a plan. Work as a nanny for six months, make some extra cash, and move to the UK to teach. He doesn’t expect his new boss to be a Hollywood star. And he certainly isn’t prepared to fall for the guy.

One kiss sends them tumbling into a secret relationship, even though they both agree it can be nothing more than a fling. Carter needs to stay in the closet for the sake of his career, and Noah’s leaving. But when their feelings continue to grow into something deeper, Carter has a decision to make. Knowing that exposing his sexuality could cost him his career, would he rather carry on living a lie, or risk it all to stand tall in his truth?

Not Until Noah is the first book in the Star Crossed series, where regular guys meet famous ones, and sparks fly.

Universal Link

Goodreads

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Not Until Noah is a wonderfully sweet romance. I love this book. Everything about it had me swooning and charmed throughout. 

Emerson is an adorable child who adds plenty of delightful moments to the story. And, omg, I'm so upset by the way the press forces themselves until the children of public figures. As a fan, I am fully guilty of wanting to see famous people with their children. But the author fully reminded me why this is so horrible. Not only are the famous people affected, but their poor, innocent children aren't allowed any privacy. 

This is a story of Carter, an actor who's firmly in the closet. As he falls for the manny, Noah, he can't help but to deal with the demands of his profession. 

Ugh. This book made me so mad about the demands on people to stay closeted. We all know why the industry wants actors to stay closeted, but it's maddening. There's so many forced dates, situations, photo ops. And all the while, Carter is saddened and frustrated by not being able to be open with Noah. 

Now, as for Carter and Noah, swoon, just Swoon! I love every moment of them together. The attraction is there from the start. And the way everything develops between them had me swooning throughout. 

Not Until Noah is one of those easy to fall in love with stories. This Lisa Henry book is wonderfully addictive, keeping me up late into the night. I love it all!

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A flash of movement caught his attention, and he looked up to discover a small face peering at him from behind the archway separating the living room from the dining room. It was a little girl with dark hair. She was watching him warily, so Noah flashed her a smile. She wrinkled her nose and smiled back nervously, and he felt a little more at ease at once. Maybe not an entitled little brat then.

Olivia turned and saw the girl. “Emerson, come and meet Noah.”

The little girl darted forward and sat next to him on the couch. “Hello. I’m Emerson.”

Her accent was American, like Olivia’s.

“Hi,” he said. “I’m Noah. It’s very nice to meet you, Emerson.”

She took his extended hand and shook it firmly. “Are you going to be my nanny?”

“That depends,” he said. “Pineapple on pizza, yes or no?”

Emerson’s eyes widened. “Um, yes?”

“That’s the right answer,” he said. “High five.”

Emerson laughed and slapped his palm.

He glanced at Olivia and saw that she was smiling as well.

“Do you like other pizzas too?” Emerson asked him earnestly.

“Yeah, I like all sorts of pizzas,” he said. “What’s your favorite food?”

“Ice cream.”

“That’s another great answer. We already have so much in common!”

Emerson’s smile lit up her whole face. She leaned closer to Noah and lowered her voice as though she was imparting a huge secret. “Those are sometimes foods, though.”

“They are,” Noah agreed. “What’s your favorite vegetable?”

“I like carrots.”

“Me too!”

Emerson beamed at him.

“Noah,” Olivia said, catching his attention again. “This is Emerson’s father, Carter.”

Holy shit.

The guy sitting down beside Olivia was Carter Westlake. Carter fucking Westlake! Carter Westlake the fucking movie star! Noah’s brain shorted out as it struggled to reconcile the fact that a man he’d last paid fifteen dollars—plus more for a popcorn and a Coke—to go and see on a massive screen was an actual human being who was currently sitting right in front of him. Sitting there like a real person, and not just someone who existed in movies, or on the front covers of magazine at the supermarket checkout.

The NDA suddenly made a lot of sense.

And Jesus, but Carter Westlake was just as incredibly gorgeous in real life as he was on screen or smiling for the cameras on some red carpet. His dark hair was tousled, and the dark stubble on his jaw just highlighted the perfect angles of his face. He had hazel eyes framed by dark lashes, a straight nose, and a sharp jawline that Noah wanted to cut his tongue on. He was hot. Stupidly hot. Like Noah had always assumed that celebrities were airbrushed for public consumption, but no, apparently some people were just that attractive. Carter Westlake had won the genetic lottery, no question.

And by the time all of those thoughts had filtered through his brain at the speed of molasses, gumming up the works, he realized he’d been staring for way too long.

“God, sorry,” he said and stuck his hand out. “I’m Noah. Noah Jones. Nice to meet you, Mr. Westlake.”

“Carter,” Carter said with a nod and shook his hand.

He was touching a movie star. This was amazing! Dylan was going to lose his shit! Wait. He’d just agreed to sign a piece of paper saying he couldn’t tell Dyl. Also, had he been shaking Carter’s hand for too long now? He pulled back quickly and then stared down at the NDA just for something else to look at. Something that wasn’t Carter Westlake.

A fucking Hollywood movie star.

Olivia slid a pen across the coffee table, eyebrows raised.

“Right,” he said, his voice cracking.

He picked up the pen and signed.

 

 

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Not Until Noah, Lisa is giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57342/?

---

About Lisa:

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn't know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she's too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

To connect with Lisa on social media, you can find her here:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Bookbub
Twitter

She also has a Facebook group where you’ll be kept in the loop with updates on releases, have a chance to win prizes, and probably see lots of lots of pictures of her dog and cats. You can find it here: Lisa Henry’s Hangout.

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BLOG TOUR, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - A Husband for Hartwell - JA Rock & Lisa Henry

 

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway:
A Husband for Hartwell
By JA Rock and Lisa Henry

The Lords of Bucknall, Book 1

He must marry, or risk his fortune.

The whole of London Society has long assumed Lord William Hartwell will marry his childhood best friend, Lady Rebecca Warrington. After two Seasons, Hartwell remains quite content with bachelorhood--his parents do not. When Hartwell learns they intend to cut his purse strings unless he makes a match this Season, he resigns himself to a marriage of convenience with Becca, and yet he can't help but be drawn to her younger brother, Warry.

He must marry, or risk his sister's ruin.

The Viscount "Warry" Warrington is used to being viewed as the tagalong little brother. Now a grown man about to enter his second Season, Warry is desperate to be seen. When Lord Balfour, a handsome older peer, takes Warry under his wing, Warry thinks his dream is finally coming true. Until Balfour reveals his true intent--to make public a letter that will destroy Becca's reputation, unless Warry agrees to marry him.

Time is running out for both of them.

When an injury forces Warry to recover at Hartwell House, the two succumb to a secret flirtation. But Warry's sudden announcement of his engagement to Balfour drives Hartwell near mad with jealousy--and right into Becca's arms. With the clock ticking for Warry to save his sister, will Hartwell discover the truth of Warry's feelings before it's too late?

A Husband for Hartwell is the first book in the Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance.

Universal Link

Goodreads

My Rating - 4 Stars!

A Husband for Hartwell is a great historical romance by JA Rock and Lisa Henry. A regency romance, it's a lot of fun.

William and Warry's romance takes place in a society that allows same sex marriages. That said, William is expected to marry Clara. 

The twists are delightful, with both William and Clara choosing to deny expectations. 

Their tale includes expectations, blackmail, secrets, and more. It's a slow burn romance that involves a lot of chaos and confusion, as well as heat and ultimately love. 

A Husband for Hartwell is a unique take on a regency romance. The authors add plenty of twists and turns to keep things intriguing. It's definitely worth a read if you're in the mood for a gay regency romance. 

---

Hartwell crossed an ankle over his knee. “I have a proposal. An arrangement that may benefit us both.”

Warry leaned back against the pillows but still held himself stiff.

“You may stay here until your bruises fade, and in return, you must help me learn to court your sister.”

Warry frowned. “You wish to court my sister?”

“Yes,” Hartwell said. “There is no need to sound quite so astonished about it. If she and I are to be married, then I must know her as more than simply a friend.”

“You’re not going to marry her.” It was said with a certainty that dug at Hartwell.

“Of course I am. It was all but decided before we were out of leading strings.”

Warry wrinkled his nose. “She doesn’t want to marry you.”

“She said she did yesterday.”

“She doesn’t want to marry anyone.”

“Well, she must. As must I. And so, we will marry each other. That is decided, Warry. That is not what this conversation is about.”

“It is now.”

This was the Warry Hartwell remembered—an obnoxious little pup, answering back over everything. Hartwell would have carried him outside and dunked him in a pond if he hadn’t looked so bruised and pathetic.

“I know nothing of her romantic tastes. We’ve always avoided talking of such since neither of us…” He shook his head. “Well, we have both, of late, been reminded of our duty, and we have come to an arrangement, but there is no need for that duty to be unpleasant, is there?”

The furrows in Warry’s brow seemed in danger of becoming permanent. “You believe I spend my days thinking on how to court my sister?”

Hartwell sighed impatiently. “No, but I know your sister has had admirers, and I’m certain you’ve seen her reaction to certain types of flowers or…or chocolates or sweet sayings in cards. I want you to teach me what she likes so we might present as a convincing match to Society. And more importantly, to my parents.”

He marvelled at just how simple a solution it was. It was as Becca had said: they would feign courtship in front of their parents. They would marry as friends and live their own lives. She would never hold him back from anything he wanted nor he her. He only wished he hadn’t been too pig-headed to see it that way in the first place.

“If you’re just putting on appearances,” Warry said, “surely she can pretend to like any flower.”

Hartwell struggled to keep the frustration from his voice. “Well, it’s not just pretend now, is it? I love your sister dearly. I wish her to feel I can be a husband to her as well as a friend.”

Warry’s scowl twitched into a near smile before re-etching itself firmly onto his face. “She’s going to laugh at you.”

Hartwell couldn’t hold back a snort of amusement. “Brat.” He stood, stretching, and then winced at the pop of his joints. He noted with some surprise that Warry’s gaze dropped to where the tie of Hartwell’s dressing gown had loosened. “Of course she will. But when she sees the lengths I have gone to in order to make myself a satisfactory suitor, she will be properly awed.”

Now Warry outright snickered, and Hartwell suddenly felt he could sit there all day, trying to make little Joseph Warrington laugh. He reached out to tousle the sandy hair as he had done many times before and halted as Warry flinched away. Hartwell studied the bruises again. Perhaps that was all—Warry flinched because he ached and did not want Hartwell making him ache further.

But a niggling voice in his mind said that perhaps he and Warry had never really been chums. That his only friend was Rebecca, that she was his sole safeguard against a lifetime of loneliness, and that he must now learn to love her as a wife, even though, in all his unformed daydreams, if he had ever imagined himself with someone by his side at all, it had been a man and not a woman.

“Do not laugh at me, Warry,” he said with feigned severity, which only made Warry laugh harder. Hartwell felt a rush of warmth rise up in him, both tender and acute, and for a moment he wished…

But no.

Where on earth had that thought come from?

Even if he had ever thought of Warry as anything but Becca’s younger brother, which he most certainly had not, he was an only son. And Warry was an oldest son, and wishes were for children, not for men who had a duty to their families.

 

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of A Husband for Hartwell, JA & Lisa are giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57204/?

---

About JA Rock:

J.A. Rock is the author of over twenty LGBTQ romance, suspense, and horror novels, as well as an occasional contributor to HuffPo Queer Voices. J.A.'s books have received Lambda Literary, INDIEFAB, and EPIC Award nominations, and The Subs Club received the 2016 National Leather Association-International Novel Award. 24/7 was named one of the best books of 2016 by Kirkus Reviews. J.A. lives in Chicago with an extremely judgmental dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

https://jarockauthor.com

---

About Lisa:

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn't know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she's too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

To connect with Lisa on social media, you can find her here:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Bookbub
Twitter

She also has a Facebook group where you’ll be kept in the loop with updates on releases, have a chance to win prizes, and probably see lots of lots of pictures of her dog and cats. You can find it here: Lisa Henry’s Hangout.

---

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RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - A Husband for Hartwell (The Lords of Bucknall Club #1) by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry

 

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
A Husband for Hartwell
By JA Rock and Lisa Henry

The Lords of Bucknall, Book 1

He must marry, or risk his fortune.

The whole of London Society has long assumed Lord William Hartwell will marry his childhood best friend, Lady Rebecca Warrington. After two Seasons, Hartwell remains quite content with bachelorhood--his parents do not. When Hartwell learns they intend to cut his purse strings unless he makes a match this Season, he resigns himself to a marriage of convenience with Becca, and yet he can't help but be drawn to her younger brother, Warry.

He must marry, or risk his sister's ruin.

The Viscount "Warry" Warrington is used to being viewed as the tagalong little brother. Now a grown man about to enter his second Season, Warry is desperate to be seen. When Lord Balfour, a handsome older peer, takes Warry under his wing, Warry thinks his dream is finally coming true. Until Balfour reveals his true intent--to make public a letter that will destroy Becca's reputation, unless Warry agrees to marry him.

Time is running out for both of them.

When an injury forces Warry to recover at Hartwell House, the two succumb to a secret flirtation. But Warry's sudden announcement of his engagement to Balfour drives Hartwell near mad with jealousy--and right into Becca's arms. With the clock ticking for Warry to save his sister, will Hartwell discover the truth of Warry's feelings before it's too late?

A Husband for Hartwell is the first book in the Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance.

Universal Link

Goodreads

______________________________________________

__________________________________

My Rating - 4 Stars!

A Husband for Hartwell is a great historical romance by JA Rock and Lisa Henry. A regency romance, it's a lot of fun.

William and Warry's romance takes place in a society that allows same sex marriages. That said, William is expected to marry Clara. 

The twists are delightful, with both William and Clara choosing to deny expectations. 

Their tale includes expectations, blackmail, secrets, and more. It's a slow burn romance that involves a lot of chaos and confusion, as well as heat and ultimately love. 

A Husband for Hartwell is a unique take on a regency romance. The authors add plenty of twists and turns to keep things intriguing. It's definitely worth a read if you're in the mood for a gay regency romance. 

______________________________________________

---

 

Special Release Blitz Excerpt:

Hartwell crossed an ankle over his knee. “I have a proposal. An arrangement that may benefit us both.”

Warry leaned back against the pillows but still held himself stiff.

“You may stay here until your bruises fade, and in return, you must help me learn to court your sister.”

Warry frowned. “You wish to court my sister?”

“Yes,” Hartwell said. “There is no need to sound quite so astonished about it. If she and I are to be married, then I must know her as more than simply a friend.”

“You’re not going to marry her.” It was said with a certainty that dug at Hartwell.

“Of course I am. It was all but decided before we were out of leading strings.”

Warry wrinkled his nose. “She doesn’t want to marry you.”

“She said she did yesterday.”

“She doesn’t want to marry anyone.”

“Well, she must. As must I. And so, we will marry each other. That is decided, Warry. That is not what this conversation is about.”

“It is now.”

This was the Warry Hartwell remembered—an obnoxious little pup, answering back over everything. Hartwell would have carried him outside and dunked him in a pond if he hadn’t looked so bruised and pathetic.

“I know nothing of her romantic tastes. We’ve always avoided talking of such since neither of us…” He shook his head. “Well, we have both, of late, been reminded of our duty, and we have come to an arrangement, but there is no need for that duty to be unpleasant, is there?”

The furrows in Warry’s brow seemed in danger of becoming permanent. “You believe I spend my days thinking on how to court my sister?”

Hartwell sighed impatiently. “No, but I know your sister has had admirers, and I’m certain you’ve seen her reaction to certain types of flowers or…or chocolates or sweet sayings in cards. I want you to teach me what she likes so we might present as a convincing match to Society. And more importantly, to my parents.”

He marvelled at just how simple a solution it was. It was as Becca had said: they would feign courtship in front of their parents. They would marry as friends and live their own lives. She would never hold him back from anything he wanted nor he her. He only wished he hadn’t been too pig-headed to see it that way in the first place.

“If you’re just putting on appearances,” Warry said, “surely she can pretend to like any flower.”

Hartwell struggled to keep the frustration from his voice. “Well, it’s not just pretend now, is it? I love your sister dearly. I wish her to feel I can be a husband to her as well as a friend.”

Warry’s scowl twitched into a near smile before re-etching itself firmly onto his face. “She’s going to laugh at you.”

Hartwell couldn’t hold back a snort of amusement. “Brat.” He stood, stretching, and then winced at the pop of his joints. He noted with some surprise that Warry’s gaze dropped to where the tie of Hartwell’s dressing gown had loosened. “Of course she will. But when she sees the lengths I have gone to in order to make myself a satisfactory suitor, she will be properly awed.”

Now Warry outright snickered, and Hartwell suddenly felt he could sit there all day, trying to make little Joseph Warrington laugh. He reached out to tousle the sandy hair as he had done many times before and halted as Warry flinched away. Hartwell studied the bruises again. Perhaps that was all—Warry flinched because he ached and did not want Hartwell making him ache further.

But a niggling voice in his mind said that perhaps he and Warry had never really been chums. That his only friend was Rebecca, that she was his sole safeguard against a lifetime of loneliness, and that he must now learn to love her as a wife, even though, in all his unformed daydreams, if he had ever imagined himself with someone by his side at all, it had been a man and not a woman.

“Do not laugh at me, Warry,” he said with feigned severity, which only made Warry laugh harder. Hartwell felt a rush of warmth rise up in him, both tender and acute, and for a moment he wished…

But no.

Where on earth had that thought come from?

Even if he had ever thought of Warry as anything but Becca’s younger brother, which he most certainly had not, he was an only son. And Warry was an oldest son, and wishes were for children, not for men who had a duty to their families.

 ____________________________________

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of A Husband for Hartwell, JA & Lisa are giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57204/?

______________________________________________

---

About JA Rock:

J.A. Rock is the author of over twenty LGBTQ romance, suspense, and horror novels, as well as an occasional contributor to HuffPo Queer Voices. J.A.'s books have received Lambda Literary, INDIEFAB, and EPIC Award nominations, and The Subs Club received the 2016 National Leather Association-International Novel Award. 24/7 was named one of the best books of 2016 by Kirkus Reviews. J.A. lives in Chicago with an extremely judgmental dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

https://jarockauthor.com

---

About Lisa:

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn't know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she's too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

To connect with Lisa on social media, you can find her here:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Bookbub
Twitter

She also has a Facebook group where you’ll be kept in the loop with updates on releases, have a chance to win prizes, and probably see lots of lots of pictures of her dog and cats. You can find it here: Lisa Henry’s Hangout.

---

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A Desperate Man by Lisa Henry & Tia Fielding

 

Amazon Link   

Goodreads Link

When they were teenagers, Quinn MacGregor and Aaron Larsen fell in love over the course of one magical summer. It ended in bloodshed and tragedy.

Now, ten years later, Quinn is back in Spruce Creek, Nevada, to inherit his family’s criminal cartel. His cousin Jimmy has been making friends -- and enemies -- in dangerous places, but that doesn’t mean he’s happy to hand over leadership to Quinn. And Jimmy might not be the only one who wants Quinn out of the way for good, especially if Quinn’s secret comes out.

Aaron Larsen is back in Spruce Creek to sell his former family home. Aaron lost a leg in Afghanistan, and he’s drinking too much and battling depression and PTSD. The last thing he needs is for Quinn MacGregor to drop back into his miserable life. But when Quinn is shaken by the news that he left more behind in Spruce Creek than his bad memories, he turns to Aaron like it’s old times, and Aaron doesn’t know how to say no.

The events of ten years ago cast a long shadow, and in a town where they can’t trust anyone else, Quinn and Aaron just might have to learn to trust each other again. 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

A Desperate Man is a nice small town romance by Lisa Henry and Tia Fielding. 

Quinn and Aaron are two men with a complicated cast. Both return to their small town at the same time, giving them a chance to make amends. 

If you enjoy complicated, troubled characters, look no further.

Both men are trying to find their way, both at a crossroads. Aaron is back to sell his family home. He's an amputee and he drinks way too much. And there's a new discovery he's about to make. 

Meanwhile, Quinn comes from a dangerous family and they want him to run the illegal family business now. But he wants to quit and go the legal route. It's complicated to say the least.

The danger added by Quinn's family is ever looming. It's well written, keeping me intrigued and invested throughout. And damn, this part made me so angry. 

There's a lot of surprises in this story, so I am trying not to say too much. 

The whole story kept me intrigued throughout. I love Lennon. I enjoy the connection and chemistry between the men. Things aren't easy for them, as they have a lot of obstacles in their way. And of course there's a fun twist, as Quinn has a secret - Ohh...love it!

This is a story with depression and PTSD issues. It's a story of resentment and anger that leads to chemistry, forgiveness, and love.

The small town aspect is well done, fully bringing the small town to life. And the authors keep you invested with some twists and turns along the way. 

A Desperate Man is a nice redemption/second chance romance. This Lisa Henry and Tia Fielding read mixes second chances with family issues, danger, and a little bit of heat. It's a fun read that left me glad to have found it.

RELEASE BLITZ - The Parable of the Mustard Seed by Lisa Henry

Title: The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Author: Lisa Henry

Publisher:Self Published

Release Date: 3 April 2020

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 79 000 words

Genre: Romance

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

The past never stays buried forever.

John Faimu is an Australian-Samoan police officer who deals with hurt kids every day. He loves what he does, but he’s tired of the grind of shift work, and of trying to find a balance between his job, his family, and the young man who straddles the increasingly blurry line between both.

Caleb Fletcher was the teenager John saved from a cult eight long years ago, and he’s now the young man John wants in ways that neither of them should risk.

Eight years after his rescue, Caleb is still struggling with PTSD and self-harm. John has always been his rock, but now Caleb wants more. Can he convince John to cross a line and love him the way
they both crave? And when the monsters from Caleb’s past come back seeking to silence him for good, will John’s love be enough to save him?

The Parable of the Mustard Seed is an mm gay romance featuring hurt/comfort, first times, found family, and angst with a happy ending.

Excerpt

Fucking hospitals.

John scrubbed his knuckles over his scalp. He felt more tired now than he had for a long time, and it wasn’t just the shift work. It was Caleb, and this place, and the knowledge that they’d been here before and they would be here again. Different hospitals, different beds, different scratchy blankets and too-cold air conditioning, but all of them stuck in the same old cycle.

Eight years of this.

It wasn’t always this dramatic. Most of the time it didn’t end in a hospital. Most of the time it was increasingly erratic behaviour. It was risk-taking. It was subtle and pervasive, but John knew how to read the signs. He’d talked Caleb down from plenty of metaphorical high places before. Enough to wonder every time if he was only delaying the inevitable. If Darren was, and the psychiatrists and psychologists were, and the pharmacists.

John sighed.

Of course it felt hopeless. It was almost three in the morning and he was sitting in a fucking hospital. Shit always felt dire in the middle of the night.

John reached out and brushed his fingertips against the back of Caleb’s right hand. His skin was cold to the touch, his fingers white and bloodless. Several of his knuckles were grazed. The wounds weren’t fresh.

Darren had said last week that Caleb had punched a wall. Out of nowhere. No warnings signs, no meltdown, just a sudden, furious burst of anger that had broken over him. And afterward, Darren said, when Caleb was sitting on the floor nursing an icepack, he’d refused to talk about it.

Sometimes even Caleb didn’t know what the fuck was happening in his head.

John’s fingertips brushed the wrinkled edge of the tape that held the canula in the back of Caleb’s hand. The plastic tape was dry and rough.

“I bleed and you’re here.”

Fuck.

John straightened and turned his face toward Caleb’s. His face was pale, his lips colourless. Dark circles carved out hollows under his eyes.

“Your dad called me,” John said. “He’s on his way.”

Caleb’s gaze dropped away.

John leaned closer and frowned. “What the fuck are you doing, mate?”

“Bad night.” Caleb pressed his lips into a thin white line.

“Were you clubbing?” John gestured at his clothes: dark jeans, a tight shirt, and—what were the kids calling them these days?—expensive kicks.

Caleb inspected the bandages on his arm. “Yeah.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Caleb.” John was always there to pick up the pieces, but he didn’t coddle Caleb. He never had, not even at the start. “You think I drove all the way here to listen to you lie to me?”

“I was with a guy.” Caleb flinched as he said it.

“Were you safe?”

Caleb’s gaze faltered. “I was with a guy.”

“So you said.” John wondered what reaction Caleb had been expecting. “Were you safe?”

Caleb nodded, turning his face away.

John studied him for a moment, unsure how to react. A part of him was afraid to react at all in case any reaction was an overreaction. Caleb wasn’t coming out as gay—he’d done that at nineteen—but
by admitting to a sexual encounter he was coming out in another way: Caleb was coming out as human being who wanted to be touched. A human being with sexual needs. This was a big step. The biggest in a long time. Nobody had expected him to remain celibate forever; nobody thought that was remotely healthy. But fuck, this big step had turned into a hell of a stumble, hadn’t it? Caleb was in
freefall.

John reached out and squeezed Caleb’s shoulder. “Did this guy try something? Something you didn’t want to do?”

“No.” Caleb shifted. His worried gaze found John again. “No, it was me, not him.”

John nodded.

“We went to a hotel.” Caleb’s gaze slipped away again. “He said I was a slut.” His voice hitched. “Said I was bad.”

John moved his hand from Caleb’s  shoulder to his cheek. Caleb was still so cold. “If you tell me he was being a prick, I’ll track the fucker down.”

“The way he said it, I was supposed to like it. Wasn’t his fault.” Caleb closed his eyes. “I didn’t even mind, not much, not when he was there.”

John sighed. “What happened when heleft?”

Caleb shuddered. “When he left, all I could hear in my head was Ethan.”

John tensed, and tried not to let Caleb feel it.

“So loud,” Caleb sighed.

John withdrew his hand. “Look at me.”

Caleb opened his eyes.

“Next time you hear Ethan Gray in your head, you don’t listen to him.” John shook his head. “You call you dad, or your doctor, or you call me, doesn’t matter what time, you call me and I will be
there. You understand me?”

Caleb jerked his chin in a nod.

“You don’t cut yourself, Caleb.” John frowned. “You understand me?”

“Okay,” Caleb murmured.

The worst part, John knew, was that Caleb meant it, and would go on meaning it right up until the next time he was holding a blade against his wrists.

You’ll break my heart one day, Caleb Fletcher, I know you will.

John forced a smile. “Okay.”

Caleb sighed and closed his eyes.

John watched him until he fell asleep, then got up and hunted down a blanket.

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Meet the Author

 

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn't know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she's too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government
minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English,
neither of them very thoroughly. She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Lisa has been published since 2012, and was a LAMBDA finalist for her quirky, awkward coming-of-age romance Adulting 101, and a Rainbow Awards finalist for 2019’s Anhaga.

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