RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - The New Next One (Nice Catching You #2) by Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood

Title: The New Next One

Author: Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood

Publisher: Wainscott Press

Release Date: January 22, 2021

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 20,000 words

Genre: Romance, New Adult, Friends-to-lovers, new adult romance, hockey romance, sports romance

Amazon Link - Available in KU 
Goodreads Link

How much are you willing to give up for the man you love?

Best friends Nick Johnson and Tyler Jensen seem to have the world by the tail. The eighteen-year-old stars of their school’s hockey team are looking forward to playing in college and hoping for careers with the pros.

Nick and Tyler know a lot about each other, but there are a few important details they haven’t discussed. To start with, neither man knows the other is gay. Making things interesting, Nick has a massive crush on Tyler, something he’s kept to himself for a long time. And although he’s never said a word about it, Tyler has wanted to date Nick since they met.

On a cold Minnesota night after a big win, Tyler finds the courage to confess his feelings to Nick. When Nick admits his attraction to Tyler, their relationship turns on a dime. As they fall in love, they skate around the challenges of a secret romance in an all-male boarding school, but what will happen when the stakes rise dramatically in a sport not known for being gay-friendly? Will Nick and Tyler make the easy choice or the hard one?

The New Next One is a 20,000-word, new adult, friends-to-lovers romance featuring young athletes, plenty of steam, and a lot of emotion. The events of this book precede those told in the authors’ book Nice Catching You.

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My Rating - 5 Stars!

The New Next One is a sweet friends to lovers romance by Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood. 

This is a tale of two best friends and teammates and their developing relationship into secret boyfriends. I enjoy this story immensely. The poor guys and their need to be secreted is so sad, yet completely realistic. 

I adore sports romances and this one is just that. A young adult tale, set at a boarding school, these two hockey players discover their attraction is mutual, deciding to act on it. 

Their story includes first times, sexual discoveries, and lots of sneaking around. It also includes an obstacle and tough decisions. And plenty of emotion. Oh man, this is a heartfelt read that had me in tears. 

It Nick's start, as he's finding himself and his first love. But don't be looking for a happily ever after. I need my hands on the next book now!

The New Next One is heartfelt young adult/new adult sports romance. This Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood tale is a realistic short story that's perfect when you're in the mood for a tender first love tale. 

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The two of us bundled up and walked south along the lakeshore. We talked about different things—school, what was going on in the NHL, and the big celebration of our championship that would happen the next week when everyone was back on campus. Ty reached for my hand after we passed the cabin. Even with both of us wearing mittens, it felt incredibly good to be out walking on a beautiful day, openly showing affection with my boyfriend. By the time you’re eighteen, holding hands with somebody you’re dating probably doesn’t seem exciting to most people; for me, it was huge, and I wanted to shout out loud. Instead, I pulled us to a stop and kissed him.

Afterward, he tweaked my nose. “I know everybody we play against thinks you’re a real bastard, but you’re actually a sweetheart.”

I gave it right back to him. “They all think you’re a bastard too. Haven’t decided where I stand on that.”

“What do you mean?” He turned his head to the side, looking very cute with tufts of hair sticking out from under his Penguins beanie. “I’ve always been nice to you.”

“I guess so.” I gave him another peck. “Why’d you make me wait all these years?”

I made you wait? Hell, I’m the one who finally worked up enough courage to do something about it.”

Turning him loose, I backhanded his arm and made a silly face. “I guess I’m glad about that.”

His jaw fell into an open-mouthed smile, and he shook his head. “Every man for himself, Johnson!”

He took off running, and I laughed hard as he bent over to pick up a fistful of snow. Quickly shaping it into a ball, he threw it at me and missed by a mile.

“You throw like a girl, Jensie!” I followed that up with a snowball of my own, hitting him in the middle of the chest.

“That’s it, you’re really gonna get it now!”

An epic snowball fight followed as we whooped and hollered, tossing chirps back and forth almost as fast as we volleyed snowballs. We worked our way into the woods as we ran. Ty was a good shot, and we played like little boys on recess after a hard morning at school. When we were both covered with snow and out of breath, Tyler stared at me until my heart raced with anticipation. Finally, he broke into a run. His hug was bone-crushing, and the hungry kisses were messy and delicious. The moment was all fire and promise, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the dorm. He pulled away from my mouth and mumbled, “You’re the most beautiful thing I ever saw, Nick.”

I huffed in cold air while my heart tried to hammer through my ribcage. “Not as beautiful as you.” I pulled him closer for a slow, deep kiss, and when that finally broke, he got a naughty gleam in his eye.

“We’re already covered with snow, so—” He pushed hard, and I tumbled backward into a snowbank. He jumped on top of me, and we wrestled around, making out while we laughed and played. My scarf slipped out of place, and Ty kissed my throat over and over, making me as hard as one of the trees surrounding us. After more rolling around, I was on top, and we lay humping in the snow. We had on heavy parkas, and it was too cold to take off any clothes, so our game was destined to end in frustration. All the better for a mind-blowing first time later that night.

We’d long since removed our mittens, and when we stilled, I wiped some snow off his cheek. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve never felt this way before.”

“Nothing’s wrong, Nick. Everything’s right for once. We’ve got each other.”

Purchase at Amazon

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Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood met in law school and were married in 2017. They live in a suburb of Washington, DC, and share their home with a big, cuddly German shepherd. Ryan and Josh enjoy travel, friends, and advocating for causes dear to their hearts. Ryan also loves to swim, and Josh likes to putter in the garden whenever he can. The romance they were so lucky to find with each other inspires their stories about love between out and proud men.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | Instagram | BookBub

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Giveaway

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RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - To Be Honest by SM James

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: To Be Honest (#lovehim series book 2)

Author: S. M. James

Publisher: May Books

Cover Artist: Story Styling Cover Designs

Genre/s: YA LGBT romance

Length: 81,000 words/380 pages

Heat Rating: 1 - 2 flames

It is a standalone story.

Release Date: November 15, 2018

Add on Goodreads

Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Paperback US

Paperback UK

Paperback AU 

Blurb

2400 miles. Four friends. One big secret.

Angus Reid is pretty sure he's being catfished.

After spending the last half of junior year talking online to the guy of his dreams, Angus wants to meet. In person. So when Scotty brushes it off with excuses of not being ready, red flags go up.

Determined to either catch Scotty out, or take a shot at real love, Angus embarks on a summer road trip with his adorkable roommate, Tyler. But as summer stretches on, and mixed messages fly between them, Angus finds his heart torn.

His potential catfisher?

Or his straight best friend?

And while their road trip takes them across the country, Angus is headed for one destination.

Either a happily ever after ... or a broken heart.

All books in the #lovehim series are stand alones. The series number is recommended reading order.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

To Be Honest is a wonderfully refreshing young adult romance. This is the third book in SM James' #lovehim series, but is easily read as a standalone.  

It has all the elements of young love and finding yourself. The teens struggle with their doubts, their feelings and more. All as they take a road trip. We follow along as they deal with their fears, wants, confusion and mistakes.

The author does a fantastic job of incorporating a lot of elements into this tale. Catfishing, homophobia, mental health, suicide, bullying and assault are all addressed in a realistic and honest manner. 

To Be Honest is a great coming of age story. SM James has created a charming, fun and romantic tale. At it's heart, it's a complicated story of young love riddled with fear. I enjoyed every second of it, and I need to go back and read the first book in the series now.

Excerpt

I pull out of the parking lot and Tyler directs me to the campsite. The ground is rough as anything, and it’s lucky it’s summer, because I can just imagine that in winter we would be driving on ice.

“Just here,” Tyler points to a space ahead, confirming it on the map the campsite admin handed us.

It’s reasonably busy and we’ve had to drive a bit further down. There’s forest pushing in all around us and I can only spot two other tents. Not that those monstrous things could be called tents.

“Just do you know,” I say as I put the car in park and follow Tyler out. “If I get killed, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

“If you get killed, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“I’ve got to tell you though, I’m not planning on dying a virgin.”

He throws a smirk at me over the roof. “Don’t worry, neither am I.”

I open the trunk and start shifting some of our stuff into the front while Tyler lays down the back seats. When I climb in, a thrum of electricity passes over my skin and I have to remind myself to cool it. We’re just friends. Tyler slides in after me.

“Here.” He hands me some blankets and we set to work making it comfortable before lying back, heads rested at the opening.

It’s so peaceful. The night is still and quiet, holding the warmth of the day, and the stars stretch out above us endlessly, smudges of silver blurring them together. I fold my hands behind my head as Tyler takes off his glasses and tosses them in the front.

“And that right there,” Tyler says in a nasally voice, pointing through the back windshield of the open trunk. “Is the ubulla majorious.”

I give him the side eye, not sure if he’s joking or not. “Oh yeah, and what’s that?” I point to another cluster.

“The fibrosious enema.”

“And that?”

“Ursulla’s Uranus.”

I snort, rolling onto my side to look at him. “You are so full of shit.”

“I swear.” He lays a hand over his heart. “See? There’s Angusius’s Titianus.”

He finally gets a laugh out of me and I shove his shoulder a little. “I think your brain’s broken.”

“Nope. It remembers everything, remember, Angus?”

“I do remember. Which is why I wouldn’t be surprised if you knew all the actual names of the constellations and were just goofing around.”

He tries to hold back a guilty smile.

We lapse into a comfortable silence, him staring up at the stars, and me staring at everything but him.

I hesitate. “Thanks for not bailing on me.”

“Are you kidding? It was a choice between this and going home. Trust me, it was a no brainer.”

“I’m honored.” I roll my eyes.

He chuckles softly and pokes me in the bicep. Two fingers. Just like the first day we met. “You should be. You’re always my first choice.”

My cheeks heat and my stomach twists painfully. I’m well aware of his teasing tone but somehow my body completely misses it. “I mean, I wouldn’t say you’re my first choice. At least second or third, though.”

“Ho-oh!” He hangs his head back, showing off his long neck. “You’ve wounded me.”

“Need mouth to mouth?”

He cracks up. “I’d probably enjoy it too much.”

He’s teasing. Teasing. But damn it, if I don’t get this flirting under control it’s only a matter of when not if our friendship implodes.

I’m dying to trace my lips over that long, smooth stretch of skin just below his ear.

He rests his head to the side, looking at me, and a chunk of hair flops down in his eyes. “Have you heard from Scotty yet?”

The lust dries up as worry kicks in. “No, actually. I’m trying not to think about it.”

“I’m sure he’s fine.”

“If he’s done something—”

“No. He wouldn’t have. From what you’ve told me it was his choice, you can’t think like that.”

I scrub a hand over my face. “I basically forced it on him though.”

“Hey.” Tyler’s fingers circle my wrist and he tugs my hand away. “Nope. We’re not doing this. You don’t control other people’s choices. Not today, not tomorrow, just don’t.”

“If only it was that simple.” I sigh.

“It is.” He’s so certain I almost believe him. Instead I reach out and pull the back door closed.

“I’m tired,” I say, tucking up my legs. And if my legs are too long for the space, Tyler’s definitely will be.

With the door closed the outside world is cut off. Tyler turns back to the window, looking up at the sky, and for the thousandth time this year, I wish I had someone to share my feelings with. It sounds lame as hell but I could really use a hug. I just want somebody to be my somebody.

And with Scotty gone, I’m further from that than ever.

About the Author

S.M. James writes books for teens about squishy sweet characters. ​While not writing, SM is a readaholic and Netflix addict who regularly lives on a sustainable diet of chocolate and coffee.​​Unapologetically dishing out HEAs for LGBTQ characters.

Author Links

Blog/Website

Facebook

Instagram

BookBub

Goodreads

Giveaway 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of the following:

$30 Amazon gift card (AU or US only)

2 x paperbacks international (That Feeling When or To Be Honest)

3 x eBooks international (That Feeling When or To Be Honest)

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RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

GRL 2018 SPOTLIGHT - NR Walker - Exchange Of Hearts

In my attempt to cover some of the attending authors for this year's GRL,
I am reviewing 

NR Walker's Exchange Of Hearts!

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

BLURB

Eighteen-year-old Harrison Haddon has grown up alone. Surrounded by wealth, nannies, and material things, all he craves is the approval of his father. Sent away to the boarding school his father and grandfather attended, it’s assumed he will follow in their footsteps from Sydney’s prestigious Ivy League school straight into medical school.
But Harrison doesn’t want to be a doctor.
He dreams of music and classical piano. His only true happiness, his escape from the world expected of him, is dismissed by his intolerant and emotionally detached parents.
Levi Aston arrives from London for a three-month student exchange program. Free-spirited and confident in who he is and what he wants to do with his life, Levi convinces Harrison not give up on his dreams.
But convincing Harrison not to give up on his family might not be so easy.

**39,000 words. New Adult, Gay Romance.

REVIEW

My Rating - 5  Stars!

NR Walker is a proven author is her genre. Her writing style is as good as it gets, as she writes with such heart, emotion, and eloquence.

Exchange Of Hearts is a wonderful coming of age story. Harrison and Levi meet while Levi's in Australia for three months of a student exchange program. Harrison's struggling as he doesn't want to follow the path his father has set out for him; he wants to be a musician, not a doctor. As the two young men are set up as roommates, Harrison is shocked by how open and accepting Levi is. He's also surprised by the fact that Levi is openly gay and secure in his sexuality. 

What follows is a beautiful and tender tale of Levi trying to help Harrison stand  up to his dad. The two form a strong bond as Levi wants to help Harrison to be the man he wants to be. They know they won't be together long, but their friendship is strong, important and supportive. This story delves into many of the tough issues that arise when a young man can't accept his sexuality, and needs to learn to be confident in himself. 

Exchange Of Hearts is written with a beautiful message of following your dreams. NR Walker writes with so much passion and will leave you thrilled to have found this amazing love story. 

NR Walker

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don't let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She's been writing ever since... 

The Stamp of Nature by Chris Cheek

Amazon Link

Blurb

Peter Harvey is a second year undergraduate in the Oxford of 1968. At school, two years earlier, he had an affair with John, a younger boy, whom he then dropped. Now, John is coming to the same college.

Memories unlocked and Peter faces the issue of his sexuality, aided by his old friend and mentor, Arthur Benson, the school’s deputy head. Peter and John meet and resume their relationship, but can it survive the events of a traumatic summer?

Five years later, we see Peter returning to his old school as a teacher, seeking to build a new life. He settles in with help from Arthur Benson and new colleagues Terry Fowler and Ian Palmer.

The school has problems, though: it is stuck firmly in the past. A new headmaster, Bob Jordan, has plans for sweeping changes, but he faces opposition from a cabal of teachers, sixth formers and governors. They will use any weapon in their fight against reform.

Can they succeed? Will they destroy Peter’s new life? And where is John in all this?

REVIEW
My Rating - 4 Stars!

At it's core, The Stamp of Nature is a well crafted tale of homophobia, the fear it creates, and the long lasting effects from it.

The story is not a light and easy read, both due to the nature of it's contents, as well as the writing style.

The writing style is interesting, as it constantly jumps around to different points of view, sharing the mindset of many characters and the many events that take place. It is not faced paced in it's action, but rather by the way in which it is told.

The stories of both John and Peter are heart-wrenching overall.

John has spent his life believing that he can't allow himself to be gay, and trying to allow himself to be "cured." As a result, many people are deeply affected, and John has some self-reflecting to do.

Peter has accepted his homosexuality, but still struggles with having to hide, as well as being rejected by John. As he's told to move on and create a life without John, he still struggles as the effects from loving John and losing him are many and long lasting.

The setting for the story, a school for boys, set in the late 1960s and early 1970s allows us a look back at the early days of fighting homophobia and trying to stand up against it.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed The Stamp of Nature, but do not be fooled. It is not a romance, but more of a detailed read that revolves around love.