False Start (Tackled by Love #2) by Quinn Ward

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

There was no way for them to be together in the past. Now that Lincoln's retired and the world football is more accepting, can he convince Nixon to give them a chance?

Nixon Cross isn’t wired to share his life with anyone. He’d considered a relationship once, but after the one man patient enough to put up with all his quirks shut him down, he committed all of his energy to football and helping his players. Now, one of his players need more help than Nixon can provide and his former flame is the one man who will know what to do.

Retired NAFL player Lincoln Sims had no choice but to stay in the closet; he was a professional athlete at a time when it was impossible to be honest about his sexuality. After retiring, he confessed his secret to his wife and son because he was tired of living a lie. Now, he’s ready to live his life.

Nixon Cross is the man he left behind but could never forget.

Can these men find a way to recover from their false start years earlier?

My Rating - 5 Stars!

False Start is the second book in Quinn Ward's Tackled By Love series. This part of the series takes overlaps with the first book's timeline, with it perfectly following book one. 

In Down By Contact, we met Nix and Linc. Now we get their story, which I simply love. 

Their journey is one of second chances between two men in their forties. Being together now makes them face their pasts and all the pain and fears it involves. 

They fell in love years ago, but were victims of the times, never able to be out and proud together. 

This story also has a very serious side to it, as a secondary character is dealing with the side effects of repeated head injuries during his football career. It's a tough thing to read and definitely has a major impact on the other characters. I appreciate the author tackling such a serious issue in a way that explores how it effects the injured person as well as those around them. 

I love this book. And I love this series. Quinn Ward is fabulous at writing sports romances. Each of Quinn's sports books holds a spot close to my heart, with the characters who have come to feel like family. 

False Start is a great addition to this series. Quinn Ward once again impresses with this look into the locker room and support staff. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - Millicent Glenn's Last Wish by Tori Whitaker

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

Three generations of women—and the love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets that can bind them forever or tear them apart.

Millicent Glenn is self-sufficient and contentedly alone in the Cincinnati suburbs. As she nears her ninety-first birthday, her daughter Jane, with whom she’s weathered a shaky relationship, suddenly moves back home. Then Millie’s granddaughter shares the thrilling surprise that she’s pregnant. But for Millie, the news stirs heartbreaking memories of a past she’s kept hidden for too long. Maybe it’s time she shared something, too. Millie’s last wish? For Jane to forgive her.

Sixty years ago Millie was living a dream. She had a husband she adored, a job of her own, a precious baby girl, and another child on the way. They were the perfect family. All it took was one irreversible moment to shatter everything, reshaping Millie’s life and the lives of generations to come.

As Millie’s old wounds are exposed, so are the secrets she’s kept for so long. Finally revealing them to her daughter might be the greatest risk a mother could take in the name of love. 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Millicent Glenn's Last Wish is an emotional tale of three generations of women. From the start, this Tori Whitaker read is gripping and will keep your interest throughout.

It's a tale of three women and the tragedies and hardships they faced over the years. The author excels in illustrating that secrets can tear people apart, and the truth can help bring people back together. 

At it's core it's the story of one moment and all that resulted from this moment. It's fascinating that one moment is time can so gravely affect so many people. The author does an excellent job of slowly revealing all that happened that one fateful day. 

It's a beautiful reminder that life has both good and bad and that the bad moments make the good moments even brighter. 

Take note of the major trigger warning. Run far from this book if child loss is a trigger for you. 

Millicent Glenn's Last Wish is a tale that includes the loss of a child and the lifelong ramifications. This Tori Whitaker read is complicated and messy throughout. It's a great hurt/comfort tale with a touching ending. I highly recommend this one as a good book club choice.

An Egg for Ansel (Alaskan Pebble Gifters #2) by Amy Bellows

Amazon Link - Available on KU

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Ansel has a thing for older men.

Specifically his friend’s father Daniel, a penguin shifter who is surprisingly innocent for a forty-seven-year-old man. Ansel probably shouldn’t flirt with Daniel. Or go on a date with him. Or send him photos that Daniel claims are “irresponsible.” But Daniel’s so cute when he blushes, and it’s just a bit of fun. Ansel’s learned that men only want one thing from him, and then they’re gone.

But Daniel doesn’t leave.

In fact, Daniel wants nothing more than to love and take care of Ansel. But Daniel is an omega, just like Ansel, and in polar bear shifter culture a “blood-bond” can only exist between two people who have a child that is genetically related to both of them. If he asks Ansel to be his mate, will he be able to make Ansel happy? Or will he be just one more guy who asks Ansel to settle for less than what he truly wants?

An Egg for Ansel is a second-chance age gap romance with plenty of lace, cuddling, and MPreg of the penguin egg variety. It’s the second book in the Alaskan Pebble Gifters series, and will only make sense if you’ve read the first book.

Review 

My Rating - 5+ Stars!

It's hard to put into words how unique Amy Bellows' Alaskan Pebble Gifters series is. Book one, A Pebble For Lewis, blew me away with it's tenderness and beauty. Book two, An Egg For Ansel, is the perfect continuation of this amazing world of shifters.

Ansel and Daniel are two characters with complex and interesting backgrounds. Their relationship is complicated as Daniel is the father of Ansel's best friend.  Adding to the fun, one is a penguin shifter, the other a bear shifter. Basically, the author knows how to take an idea and run with it!

Both men have been living in limbo. My heart hurts for Ansel and his problems, as he's always been stuck in the middle, unable to do what he wants. Meanwhile, Daniel's always been stuck waiting, for his ex, for something. 

Daniel is 47 and has never had the chance to be sexually active. He may be a father, but he's never had sexual contact outside of for procreation. What follows is a wonderful exploration into how good he can feel. I absolutely love this aspect of Daniel's character. It's fascinating and well as compelling.

My favorite thing about Amy's book are the way she manages to create such unique storylines. This book is  heart-warming, sweet, and tender, leaving me mesmerized and in a book funk afterwards. I hate present tense, but I hardly notice it's written this way. The writing is excellent and the story superb, instantly sucking me into these men and their story.

Honestly, there isn't a moment that isn't amazing. I love it all! The differences between the men leads to some great humor. And omg, the texts! The blueberries! Then add in the heat, and this is a book I want to re-read many times. And that's before we get the nest! I can't stop smiling. Armani! And glitter! Ansel is perfectly lovable! I can't get enough of these nesting scenes! 

This story is one of second chances at love and life. This quote really struck me. "The thing about second chances is that you have to be willing to take them. That's harder than it seems. There's so much opportunity to get hurt."

An Egg for Ansel is the perfect read when you just want to smile throughout a whole book. Amy Bellows excels in this combination of shifters, age gap, second chance at love and life, and lace. So much lace!!


Do be aware however that there are discussions of miscarriage, so avoid this if that's a trigger for you. 

The Secret Thing (The Blackburn Brothers Duet #2) by E.M. Denning

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

On the cusp of starting college, Christian Blackburn has had enough of his meddling, helicopter mother. He lucks into a room in a gorgeous house close to campus and away from the noise of dorm living. His landlord, Brandon, is a surprise. It doesn’t matter to Christian that Brandon is twice his age. He’s good looking, kind, a hell of a cook, and he doesn’t treat Christian any different because of his seizures. 

If only Brandon wanted him back. 

Brandon Hayes is comfortably divorced, but his life would be better if well-meaning people kept their nose out of his affairs. To ease his ex-wife’s concern that he’s living in a house far too big for just one person, he takes on a roommate. 

The much younger Christian is smart and charming. He’s older than his years, and his presence in Brandon’s life wakes something up inside he’s kept hidden from everyone. Having Christian around reminds Brandon of his attraction to men, a pull he can’t ignore. 

One kiss changes everything. 

Their chemistry is off the charts and their lives fit together in a way they never expect them to. Battling the age difference, a nosy parent, and the fear that people won’t accept them as a couple, they agree to keep their relationship secret. After a tumultuous weekend away, Christian decides that he wants Brandon by his side, and doesn’t care who knows about them. But what will happen once all Brandon’s secrets are out in the open?

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

EM Denning's The Secret Thing, the second book in The Blackburn Brothers Duet series, is a fantastic May to December romance.

Christian's a young college student who's desperate to be treated as an adult. After a lifetime of dealing with his overly protective mother, he wants to find his own way. Enter the man who offers to rent him a room in his house. Brandon's a man twice Christian's age who feels like his years of denial and fear have led him to be fake. Even Brandon doesn't know who he really is. Exploring his bisexual side for the first time sees him coming to life.

Written in alternating 3rd person pov, the story closely follows the struggles with Christian's illness, his issues with wanting to be independent, and Brandon's exploration of his sexuality. The author excels in written dialogue, making these scenes natural and flawless. Both men are well developed. It has a predictable plot, but I loved it and found myself completely riveted.

There is a lot going on in this story. The author perfectly entwines family issues, health issues, and sexual exploration to create a hot and steamy emotional read. The health issues are tremendously written, illustrating living with seizures, without ever feeling like a lesson. But most of all, I fell in love with both men as they have very different backgrounds, yet both lack the freedom to be themselves. I enjoy the way they have this similar struggle and the way the author brings it all together.

The Secret Things is hot and emotional as these two men explore a new and exciting time for both of them. This EM Denning read is more than just a romance, as both characters are discovering who they are for the first time in their lives. It's emotional and had me staying up late into the night to finish it. 

New Tricks (Haven Hills #1) by J.D. Light

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

When a relationship with the boss's son goes wrong, and Jefferson Carter is left outed and kicked out of the only place he’s ever lived or worked, he heads to Haven Hills, hoping to find a job and forget all about his old life. What he finds is a gorgeous, sweet, funny and patient man... with a penchant for tricks and manipulation... but in a good way. Of course, he falls for the sexy older man. The thing is, Haven Hills is a small town, and he knows all too well how hard a small town can kick you when you’re down. Could he ever feel comfortable coming out to Byrum? To the town?

Byrum Rodgers knows there is joy to be seen under the dark cloud of gloom that weighs Jefferson down when they first meet, and he makes it his mission to bring it to the surface. He knows it’s a bad idea to bring someone into his home that he is so attracted to and completely inappropriate for, but he can’t just leave the guy hanging in the wind. Their friendship comes easily, and Byrum loves that Jefferson seems to be trusting him more and more with each day that passes, and he’s not surprised at all to find himself in love with the young man.

Acting on their attraction is scary because they both value what they have already, but spending so much time together... something’s got to give. 

Review 

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

JD Light's New Tricks, the first book in the Haven Hills series is a steamy boss/employee romance with an age gap.

Jefferson's new in town and is instantly smitten with the older, hot cowboy. 

Byrum takes in Jefferson, giving him a place to live and a job as his new ranch hand. The chemistry is there, and they can only fight it so long. 

Both men are struggling with their sexuality, making for a fun read. Jefferson's closeted, and his fear of coming out is a large part of who he is. Byrum is an older, closeted man who's just discovering his sexuality, figuring out he's probably pansexual.

My favorite quote is "Nobody should have to feel alone, ever." A beautiful thought, if only the world was so kind.

Their story has some good humor, and they are certainly hot together. The writing is quick, the pace is even quicker, and the storyline skims a lot. With just 108 pages, the characters aren't very developed, and I constantly felt like I was missing something from a prior story. But, what was there is sweet and tender. The alternating 1st person pov is well done. 

New Tricks is a light hearted, easy read. It's fluffy and doesn't dig very deep. But it's perfect when you're in the mood for a short, fun read.  

Snowstorms and Second Chances: A Williamsville Inn Christmas Story by Brigham Vaughn

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Erik Josef is a forty-three-year-old, recently divorced businessman with one goal: wrap up his last project of the year so he can spend the holidays in Tahiti. All he wants is drinks on a beach, served to him by a woman in a bikini.

While waiting at an airport bar for his business partner to fly into Buffalo, New York, he encounters Seth Cobb, a chatty travel writer waiting for a flight to Pittsburgh to visit his family.

After a huge snowstorm grounds all flights, a mix-up at the Williamsville Inn leads to Erik and Seth sharing a room. Seth’s love of Christmas gets on Erik’s last nerve, but a mugful of Seth’s hot chocolate slowly melts Erik’s icy exterior.

When Erik realizes he’s attracted to Seth, he must choose between the life he’s always known, or a new adventure with a man a decade younger and a second chance at happiness.

Review 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Brigham Vaughn's Snowstorms and Second Chances is a sweet holiday romance. 

A Buffalo snowstorm and a hotel mix up results in two strangers sharing a room. Erik and Seth start off with a lot of dislike for one another, causing a lot of tension between them.

Erik is a sympathetic character, as he was in a marriage with no real connection. Hell, they didn't even care enough about their relationship to fight. They just co-existed. It's always wonderful when someone who experienced a lonely marriage finds real love. 

My favorite quote is "It doesn't matter how many people are around; if you don't feel a connection them, it's lonely." Truer words have never been spoken!

My favorite thing about this story may be the ease in which their friendship develops. To go from strangers who dislike one another, to friends, to friends with benefits, and then to lovers is not always carried off this well. 

And the beauty of this tale is the natural way in which Seth brings out a sense of ease in Erik. With Seth, Erik's able to let go of his stress and discover who he wants to be at this point in his life. 

The writing is great, flows well and I actually enjoy the third person pov. I usually find that to be awkward, but the author does a fabulous job with it. The author also excels in the illustration of bisexual awakenning. 

Snowstorms and Second Chances is a heartwarming tale of a man who's discovering and exploring his sexuality later in life. This Brigham Vaughn book is a great christmas read when you're in the mood for something sweet.