An Unexpected Kind of Love by Hayden Stone

 

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Bookstore owner Aubrey Barnes likes his quiet, orderly London life, thank you very much. His shop may be struggling, his only employee is a menace, and his plumbing is one creaky pipe away from disaster, but he can handle it. Maybe. He cannot, however, handle the film company that’s thrown his Soho street into chaos.

And he definitely can’t handle the charismatic American actor Blake Sinclair.

Which is why he’s extremely reluctant to lease out his shop as a set for Blake's film, but it’s his one opportunity to save his business. Now he can’t get away from the distractingly hot actor.

Then Aubrey finds himself alone with Blake in a trailer, and what happens next turns London’s heat wave into an inferno that leaves him breathless.

Aubrey is not cut out for the high-profile life of dating a celebrity, especially an American actor who’s not even out yet. Good thing their tryst is absolutely not going anywhere.

Of course, when you expect nothing, that’s exactly when it starts to mean everything.

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

An Unexpected Kind of Love is a cute opposites attract romance by Hayden Stone. 

Aubrey and Blake's romance is sweet from the start, with a good getting to know each other element. I enjoy that one's a grumpyish bookstore owner, the other an actor. 

It's all perfectly enjoyable. 

But...

There is a lot missing. I was expecting some tension about the fact that Blake is only in town temporarily. But, for some reason, that part is totally ignored. It would have added a lot to the story. But, even worse is that it is obviously missing, making things a little weird. 

As well, I was expecting some conversation at least about Blake's sexuality. I guess the author was going after an actor who doesn't struggle at all with his sexuality. Which is ok, I guess. But I would have preferred that element to be discussed. 

Overall, An Unexpected Kind of Love is a decent read. I enjoyed this Hayden Stone read, but am not sure who to recommend it to. It's a sweet, easy going romance but missing some development. 

How to Catch a Bookworm (Chester Falls #0.5) by Ana Ashley

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

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Ben has two passions in life, books and Bookmarked, the bookstore he owns in the town of Chester Falls.
When he spots the guy across the bar, all broody, gorgeous and hard muscle, he can't resist reaching out.

Tristan's life could be worse, but moving into a new town and finding your boyfriend cheating on you with a random guy, all on the same day, is pretty up there on the scale of 'how much worse can it get?'
Things start looking up the moment the sexy stranger with the nerdy glasses and deep brown eyes asks him the right question at the right time.

It was a one off.
It meant nothing.
Right?

When fate traps Ben and Tristan into a second meeting, will Ben finally listen to his best friend? And will Tristan put his past aside to catch his sexy bookworm?

Welcome to Chester Falls, where you can expect to meet sweet men, sexy situations, interfering friends and lots, lots of feels.
How To Catch A Bookwork is a 12k, MM romance short story set in the small town of Chester Falls. 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

How to Catch a Bookworm is a great short story in the Chester Falls world. Ana Ashley captures all I love about this small town in this quick read. 

Ben and Tristan's tale starts with a hookup. When they meet up again, everything that follows is pure sweetness. They're adorable together. 

The bookstore is fabulous, with the atmosphere and all the feels coming to life. Ben's love of his store is perfectly heart warming. 

How to Catch a Bookworm is a sweet novella. Ana Ashley delights in this insta love, small town,  whirlwind romance. If you've been reading this series, you'll love it. If not, start now with How to Catch a Prince. The series is full of feel good romances that will leave you happy. 

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

 

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Eleven months had not been long enough to prepare Sophie Lawson for the sight of him . . .

After her mother was bedridden and her father bailed on the family, Sophie became a second mother to her twin brother, Seth, and younger sister, Jenna. Sophie supported her siblings through their college years, putting aside her own dream of opening a book shop in Piper’s Cove—the quaint North Carolina beach town they frequented as children.

But now it’s finally time for Sophie to follow her own pursuits. Seth just got a new job, the family house is sold, and Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance to run an extreme sporting business in Florida.

Much to Sophie’s chagrin, seeing Aiden again resurrects familiar feelings—which she promptly tries to bury in the tumult of the day. As soon as the wedding crowd fades, Sophie turns her focus back to establishing her beloved bookstore.

But then an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove and with the hotels booked to capacity he asks Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. But can Sophie trust Aiden to stick around? And does daredevil Aiden have the courage to risk his heart?

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Bookshop by the Sea is a sweet second chance romance by Denise Hunter. 

Their reunion involves a family wedding, a hurricane, and an injury. Everything is adorable with the way they reconnect and quickly mean so much to one another. 

Sophie's opening her new bookstore, Aiden has a girlfriend, and there's some family issues as well. Sophie has lived a life full of sacrifice for her family. Seeing someone appreciate this is great.

There isn't too much to the relationship. No real angst. Just a nice second chance, as they learn to take chances. 

This is a tender small town romance with some great neighbors and plenty of small town charm. It totally warms the heart.

Bookshop by the Sea is a perfect feel-good read. This Denise Hunter is definitely a wonderful choice the next time you're in the mood for a good beach read. 

REVIEW - Angels Sing by Eli Easton

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Cover Design: Reese Dante

Goodreads Link

Daddy Dearest Series

The Daddy Dearest series features single dads. Each book in the series features a new couple and can be read as a stand-alone.

Book #1 - Family Camp - Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Blurb

Jamie Bailey has not had such a wonderful life. He gave up his dreams of Harvard at 18 to raise his sister’s unwanted baby, and later a prized job to help a sick friend. Now the father of six-year-old Mia, and assistant manager at Raven Books, Jamie’s dreams are dashed once again when Uncle Billy admits the bookshop is in dire straights.

Stanton Potter, son of the most notorious businesswoman in Bedford Falls, loves his job teaching at the local elementary school. But he’s less than thrilled when he is forced to put together a Christmas pageant with first-graders, including Mia Bailey.

When Stanton meets Jamie, angels sing. Jamie’s gender-bending fashion sense and sweet aura have Stanton suffering through the worse crush he’s had since he was a teen. But can there be any hope for them when Jamie and Mia’s lives are about to be uprooted?

This Christmas, it’s Jamie’s turn to receive a little help from heaven.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Angels Sing is a beautiful Christmas romance by Eli Easton.

In this sweet romance, a teacher falls in love with a student's father. Their relationship is one with an age gap and an opposites attract aspect. It includes  a Christmas pageant, a bookstore, and an amazing mother, in addition to giving the reader all the holiday feels.

Jaime's an extraordinary character, full of strength and integrity. Honestly, he couldn't have been written any better. His gender bending ways are written well, and makes him an even more charming man, if that's possible. I love a man who's unapologetically true to himself, and Jaime is just that. Add in all the sacrifices he's made in his life, and he's amazing.

And then there's Stanton. He's a jock who's flustered when tasked with suddenly teaching kindergarten and having to direct the class pageant. As he's Jaime's exact opposite, this makes their connection even more enchanting. Their tale also includes some great first times, as Stanton's never acted on his bisexuality before. 

Angels Sing is a perfectly tender and sweet romance. I love this book. It's a must read when you're looking for a feel good holiday romance. 

About Eli

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.

In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.

Her website is www.elieaston.com

You can email her at eli@elieaston.com

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A Rhythm You Feel (The Rock Gods: East Coast Label #1) by Ann Lister

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Blurb

Blade: As the lead singer of Hard Core, I’ve been taught several key life lessons. Unfortunately, I've also ignored many of them in the last twenty minutes alone, which is why I'm now being chased by a hoard of crazed fans.

But my worst misjudgment today? Going outside in public without security or a backup plan. Screaming fans come with the job and the fame is as much of a blessing as it is a curse, but I still couldn't imagine doing any other line of work.

Music owns me and I am happy to be her bitch.

Nico: I knew who he was as soon as he burst through the front door of my store and I was absolutely starstruck and speechless. Yes, me with my own hardened attitude and jaded outlook on life had lost the ability to talk in the presence of Blade.

I'm an ex-con. I paid my debt to society, and I have my own brand of scars to show from the time I spent behind bars. My life's regrets stain my soul as much as the ink of my tattoos color my skin. Solace for me came with ownership of a bookstore. It was a peaceful place to work until a certain rockstar blew in from the street like a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricane Blade was about to make landfall and I wasn't sure I'd survive the storm.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

A Rhythm You Feel is the first book in a new series by Ann Lister, The Rock Gods: East Coast Label. And, omg, I am so freakin excited!

Immediately, this story has all that I love about Ann Lister's books. Reading one of her books is like coming home. Her rock world is fascinating, and the men loveable and charismatic. But, more than anything, it's her writing style that sucks me in every time. It's smooth, seamless, and riveting. 

Blade's the lead singer of Hard Core. In a fun meet cute, he meets Nico as he's escaping a crowd of fans by running into Nico's bookstore. 

Aww, Nico. His past is saddening, full of drugs and jail time. Meeting Blade, everything changes for the man. He meets the bands, Black Ice and Ivory Tower, which is extremely entertaining. He's in awe and fangirls as we all would. It's fun, sweet, and also sad, as he struggles with some of what he sees. 

One of my favorite parts of the behind the scenes moments are the differences between the older bands and the newer ones. The lifestyle is tamed down for the Black Ice and Ivory Tower guys, while those new to the lifestyle still like to party hard. It's an interesting aspect that the author explores well.

Damn, Blade and Nico have intense chemistry and an even better emotional connection. I love them together. Nico's transformation from a man who works too much and doesn't get much enjoyment out of life, to a man who's happy and in love, is beautiful! To say that meeting Blade was a godsend would be an understatement. Not only does Nico find love, he also finds the joy in life that he was missing. And for Blade, in Nico's he's found someone worth spending his time with, someone who likes him for him and not his fame, and someone worth loving.


Their story is one of finding someone who makes you want to be a better person. It's about trying to mesh two opposing lifestyles to be with the one you love. And it's about the ongoing struggle with addiction.

I can't recommend A Rhythm You Feel enough. I love this book. And I can't wait for more of this series. Once again, Ann Lister had me delighted with every single word. 

Top Shelf (Seacroft #1) by Allison Temple

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Blurb

Martin is a ghost. Well, not really, but he might as well be. Job gone, home gone, self-respect gone, and no one even seems to notice. The only person who really sees him is Seb, the artist who lives above the used bookstore.

Seb haunts the edges of Seacroft in search of beauty. He knows how to excavate the hidden value in abandoned things--whether it's in the pages of forgotten books or in Martin's stuttering attempts to rebuild his life--and transform them into works of art.

Two lost souls, Seb and Martin discover the strength they need to face eccentric townies and their dysfunctional families together. But as friendship sparks toward something more, neither man wants to risk what they've only just found. It takes two to fall in love, but it will take the whole community to bring their beauty to life.

Top Shelf is an 81k slow burn friends-to-lovers MM romance. It features an anxious professor, a drama queen artist, a bookstore that might be haunted, and a full-blown heart-eyes HEA.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Top Shelf, the first book in Allison Temple's Seacroft series, is a unique slow burn romance. 

Martin's a mere shell of the man he used to be, hiding at his new bookstore job. When he meets Seb, the mysterious man who lives above the store, his life is suddenly set on a new path. 

Their story is one of putting the past behind you, not worrying about the future, and finding someone who knows what you need. Martin and Seb take a while to win me over, but in the end I enjoy the way they help one another, as well as being a hot and sexy couple. Of course their road to happiness isn't without some fears and doubts, but the ending is well worth the journey.


I love the bookstore and it's unique way of operating. It's seriously an amazing concept and I'd love getting to shop in a store like that. And, of course, as someone who loves to read, I adore reading stories that take place in bookstores, all the mentions of books, and the natural love of books explored.

Top Shelf offers a lot of promise for this series to be a good one. I'm looking forward to the next book by Allison Temple. 

Not His Man: A Brothers Synn Novel (Brother's Synn #2) by Victoria Light

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Blurb

Ford
It’s my first time doing this kind of thing. I even gave him a fake name. After all, I’m never going to see him again.

Virgil is nothing like my ex, and that's exactly what I want in a one-night stand. He’s alpha-as-hell, an ex-Marine, and when he takes me to his bedroom he checks off boxes I didn’t even know were there. Maybe I’m not as broken as I believed.

It was supposed to only last one night—until Virgil shows up at my book shop driving a delivery truck. Great. Now we seem to be stuck together. There’s no way a man like him would ever fall for a geek like me—and for the best. I’ll never risk getting my heart broken again, no matter how crazy he makes me feel.

Virgil
I don’t usually go for stuck-up nerdy guys, but Ford is full of surprises. He seems reserved at first, but that all changes once I have him on his knees. Now, I can’t get him out of my head.

Him turning up on my weekly delivery route guarantees we’re going to be seeing a hell of a lot more of each other. I don’t mind taking him home for another night or three, but anything more than that? No way. If a decade in the Marines has taught me anything it’s that life’s too short not to live it on the edge. I’m not going to be tied down.

The problem is, the more I’m forced to see him, the more I realize he makes me feel alive in a way that nothing else does.


Not His Man is the book two in the Brother's Synn series. You can enjoy this book without having read the first, and the series can be enjoyed in any order. Not His Man features plenty of heart-pumping scenes both in and out of the bedroom, and even has a few sword fights (in more ways than one, if you know what I mean)! Always an HEA. Mature readers only!

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Not His Man is a fun read by Victoria Light. The second book in the Brothers Synn series, it can be read as a stand alone.

It all starts with a rare one night stand for Virgil, as he hooks up with Ford. Never expecting to see one another again, it seems fate had other ideas. 

This is wonderful story of finding love when you're not expecting it. Virgil and Ford are super sweet together. Their attraction is intense, and they easily fall into great companionship.

The author does a great job of writing a captivating and meaningful romance, full of twists and turns. The issues discussed are varied and important, as there are self-esteem problems and more. The side characters are interesting and add a lot to the tale.

Of course, don't forget this romance is between a strong and confident ex-marine, Virgil, and the geeky employee of a bookshop. Relationships between such opposites are always intriguing.

This line is significant, profound, and advice we all should heed. "Life is full of goodbyes...Don't let it keep you from saying your hellos." 

Not His Man is a story of fear, uncertainties, and taking chances. Victoria Light includes enjoyable banter, some delightful snark, and a whole lot of charm.