Knight of Ocean Avenue (Love in Laguna #1) by Tara Lain

Amazon Link 
Goodreads Link

What if I’m always kidding myself?

Billy Ballew wants to be married, but he’s been engaged to three women and can’t get to the altar.

He wants to be a contractor, but he’s so dyslexic he has to force himself to read and fears the contractor’s license test more than death.

He wants to please his mother, but all she wants is for him to give her grandchildren.

What Billy doesn’t want is to find out he’s gay.

But then he meets Shaz, the one guy so flamboyant Billy can’t even be seen with him without losing all his friends – and his family. One more thing Billy wants and can’t have.

Maybe he should just stay home with his cats.

KNIGHT OF OCEAN AVENUE is a gay awakening, total opposites attract, trying to please your mother, religious confrontation, learning who you are romance.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Knight of Ocean Avenue is a beautiful read. The emotions jump off the pages, making me fall into this story, unable to put it down. The first book in Tara Lain's Love in Laguna series, I can't wait to read more. 

Billy and Shaz meet during the preparation for Billy's sister's wedding. And everything is permanently changed for the men. 

This couple had me consumed with their story and all the complications that accompany it. First of all, I adore the opposite attract nature of this story. Billy's a big, tough looking, macho guy while Shaz is a flamboyant, femme guy. Right away, this had me hooked. And Shaz had Billy hooked too. 

These two men are absolutely fabulous together. Everything is written in a realistic and easy to relate to manner. They work so well together and bring out the best in one another. 

Billy's gay awakening is wonderfully written, as it's well explored, with some sizzling sexual exploration. But it's the emotions that kept me gripped. Billy is the ultimate big macho man. Trying to come out as gay isn't easy for him. And coming out as gay and being with an ultra femme man, just makes things tougher for him. 

Their story includes a pushy family who desperately tries to set Billy up with a woman. The poor man. It's truly annoying. It also includes a little league team and the prejudice of being a gay coach. 

And then there's Billy's anxiety about school and tests. I totally wanted to hug them man and help him through his anxieties. But the best part of this aspect of their tale is definitely the way Shaz helps him gain confidence. Damn! Just damn!

Knight of Ocean Avenue is a fantastic gay awakening romance. Everything about this Tara Lain works for me and I am excited to read more of this series. 

BLOG TOUR, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - Just Friends by Saxon James

 

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Just Friends by Saxon James

 A Never Just Friends Novel, Book 1

Roo

Five years ago, I walked away from Sunbury, Oregon, and left my best friend behind. The move was supposed to get my life on track. I even had a list.

Life-changing epilepsy surgery. Check.

See the world. Check.

Get over my straight best friend … Not exactly.

No matter where I go or who I meet, I can’t let Tanner go.

I’m back to tell him how I feel. To get the closure I need once and for all.

Only now I’m here and falling for him all over again, it’s getting harder to say the words.

Because once I have my closure, I’ll be gone.

And this time it will be for good.

Tanner

When my best friend, Roo, left for Australia, it was the worst day of my life.

I thought we’d have each other always.

But Roo needed the surgery so I let him go, thinking he’d come straight back.

Five years is a long time.

Now he’s here, all I want is to hold on tight.

I need to show him what he means to me.

The problem is, I’m not exactly sure what that is.

My draw to him has always been confusing and different—everyone in town says so. But I struggle to understand it.

All I know is I won’t survive him leaving again.

And I’ll do anything to make him stay.

 Amazon US   *   Universal Link

Goodreads

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My Rating - 5 Stars!

Oh, how I love Saxon James' Just Friends! The first book in the Never Just Friends series, this has the hope of becoming a favorite series of mine. 

Roo and Tanner's story is a second chance romance that combines friends to lovers and forced proximity. I absolutely adore how oblivious Tanner is about his own feelings, let alone Roo's feelings. 

Roo's an Aussie who's back in the US after leaving 5 years ago. When they were separated, it was a tear jerking moment. Now they are temporary roommates and sharing a bed. 

The two men were best friends, and upon being reunited things are a little awkward, which I appreciate. Roo is secretly in love with his best friend and it just ups the tension. Of course, they naturally blend and can't help but to fall into their natural interactions again. 

Tanner's always been straight, and his sudden sexual awakening is well done. They play fight, they banter, and they bring all the feels. Omg. I love it all, including the lipstick scene.

The one thing I don't like is the way the author handles Tanner's dyslexia. It's well done, but a personal pet peeve of mine. I hate when a character is ashamed of his learning difference. I just wanted to yell at Tanner to ask for help. Of course, I have an up close look at how dyslexia can make one feel dumb and ashamed if they don't fully own it. 

Damn. The author's writing style is fabulous. Despite being written in present tense, there is plenty of descriptive phrases around the verbs to keep it from bothering me at all. Told from alternating 1st pov, the reader is fully absorbed into the character's minds, gifting us with an up close look into their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. 

Just Friends is a must read for anyone who loves friends to lovers. I couldn't put it down. This is one of those special light-hearted reads that I could read over and over again. 

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New Excerpt for the Blog Tour:

“Tell me something I don’t know about you,” Roo blurts out.

My eyebrows jump up. “Ah, like what?”

“I don’t know. That’s the point of the question.”

Huh, I guess it is. I frown at the ripples in the water as I try to think of something—anything—Roo might not know about me. “I …” What? Where the hell was I going with that? “I don’t think there’s anything you don’t know.”

“Nothing?”

“Not off the top of my head. What about you?”

He bites his freckled lip as he thinks. “I’m sure there’s probably a lot. Out of curiosity, is there anything I could tell you that would make you hate me?”

I scoff. “Never.”

“What about if I hurt animals for fun?”

The hypothetical takes me a second. “Yeah, okay, that would be a deal breaker.”

“Or if I was an arsonist?”

I shake my head. “But you’re not those things.”

“I’m not. But like you said, things are different. Maybe there are things about me you wouldn’t like.”

And out of all the hypotheticals in the world, those are a steaming pile of stupid. “Nah, because no matter how much you’ve changed, you’re still a good person. So I don’t think anything would make me walk away.”

His expression is full of skepticism. “Remember you said that.”

“Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so.” But he doesn’t look happy.

And Roo being unhappy is unacceptable. Deciding the conversation is over, I grab the hand resting on my shoulder and tug him until he’s behind me, before grabbing his other hand and locking his arms around my neck.

“Tanner, what are you—”

Holding his wrists with one hand, I dive, submerging us again, but this time I don’t let him go. If swimming gets him out of breath, then I’ll make things easy for him, because that’s what I do.

We spend another hour there, Roo holding on as I swim up and down the pool. We toss remember whens back and forth, and his voice in my ear reminds me of old times. Of falling asleep listening to his fierce rants about the world. Or his jokes. Or his plans for the future.

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate Saxon's New Release, we are giving away an e-copy Just Friends and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About Saxon:

Saxon James is an author from Australia who's obsessed with writing queer characters. She has a range of books from YA to adult and they all have one thing in common: swoony, sweet love.

When not writing, Saxon exists on a diet of coffee and chocolate while putting her KU subscription to the test.

Connect with Saxon:
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pg/thesaxonjames/
Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/saxonssweethearts/
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/saxon-james
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Saxon-James/e/B082TP7BR7
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/19404191.Saxon_James
Instagram: www.instagram.com/saxonjameswrites/

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Healing Hand (Perfect Hands, #5) by Nora Phoenix

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Can a broken boy and an unconventional Daddy help each other heal?

Saxton has never been able to make a Daddy stay. He wants one desperately, but they’ve all walked away. He knows exactly why: because he’s damaged. Broken. Unable to give Daddies what they want from him.

When he meets Daddy Gale, who offers to take care of him after an accident, Saxton expects the same thing to happen. But Gale is different in many ways, and he has his own wounds. He has endless patience with Saxton, and he respects Saxton's boundaries.

But when Saxton can’t open up about the trauma that forever changed him, will Gale decide Saxton isn’t worth the trouble after all? Or will Saxton finally have a Daddy who accepts him the way he is?

Healing Hand is a sweet, low heat Daddy care MM romance with loads of hurt/comfort, age play, tender moments, and emotions that will give you all the feels.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Healing Hand, the fifth book in the Perfect Hands series, is an amazing age play/Daddy story. This Nora Phoenix book will grab your attention on the first page, pulling you hook, line, and sinker into this emotional story. I love everything about this multi-layered story.

The book starts with Saxton being brought into the hospital, secretly wearing his diaper. My heart hurt for him immediately. Seriously, I can't imagine. But sweet Gale knows perfectly how to treat him discretely. I love it. 

And from there it just gets better. 

This is a story with many complex layers. Saxton is a little with no Daddy. He's also a little who craves control. In other words, the author once again adds a unique element to age play. 

And then there's the abuse. Saxton is a victim of abuse, so definitely avoid if that is a trigger for you. His story of survival will definitely leave you crying and hurting for the young man. 

I find the author does a wonderful job with the aspect of Gale's dyslexia. It is written with knowledge and relevance. Saxon's gift brought tears to my eyes, as I can understand how amazing a gift that is to someone with dyslexia. I love how well this aspect of the story is handled.

Want more layers? This is a story with a demi-sexual character. Personally I wish more stories had main characters like this. It's helps explain demi-sexuality in a manner in which everyone can understand. 

The author excels in her exploration of the power of words. She clearly demonstrates that words can destroy, and words can heal. 

And then there's the fabulous cast of supporting characters. Gale's family is fabulous, both in their support and praise. And of course, the group of friends from previous books, are truly delightful!

Healing Hand is a must read for all fans of age play. As age play is one of my favorite kinks to read about, I am always excited for an author to explore the world of littles. And no one does it better than Nora Phoenix, as she illustrates the emotions behind this kink that make her stories so damn special. Just read it!

The Story Of Us by Barbara Elsborg

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

BLURB

Two boys. One love. Ten summers.

Are you okay?

The first words Zed says to Caspian, and the first time someone has cared about the answer. On a hot summer’s day, the lives of two boys are changed forever. A rebel and a risk taker, Caspian doesn’t give a damn for the consequences. Studious and obedient, Zed is the good boy who is never good enough.

The two couldn’t be more different, but there’s one thing they share, a need to belong to someone who understands them, someone who cares. Their friendship goes deeper than either can possibly imagine. They’re young, in love, and planning their future when an act of betrayal tears them apart.

Fate deals its hand. Seasons pass. Zed’s words follow Caspian through pain, fear and into the darkest of places. Friendships can last a lifetime, even when the world conspires to crush them. But this is more than friendship. This is love and they’re not going to let it slip through their fingers.

The Story of Us is a tale of love and survival, and the triumph of good over evil against the odds.

The Story of Us is a new adult contemporary romance. It deals with family and social issues, violence and cruelty to children but not sexual assault, sexual situations, and has dark elements and suspense. The events and locations are a mixture of real and fictional. The characters are fictional.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

The Story Of Us, by Barbara Elsborg is a wonderful, long and complicated story that spans many years. 

When we first meet Zed and Caspian, they are young teenagers. Their lives are awful, as they are both dealing with abuse from their families. 

What follows is a story of first love,  true love. It's beautiful and it's complicated. It's a heart-warming example of learning what it means to fully care for someone. 

It is definitely a tough read at times. Included in the tale are some extremely horrific moments and events that made me have to pause for a bit.


It's well written, extremely descriptive and has characters who are detailed and well developed. And what an emotional rollercoaster! I definitely felt every emotion along with the boys/men. I laughed, I cried, and everything in between.


Please do yourself a favor and check out The Story Of Us when you're in the mood for a gutsy, complicated, and long story. Barbara Elsborg has gifted us with a gem yet again.

Nothing Serious by Jay Northcote

Amazon Link

BLURB 

What happens when “nothing serious” turns into something more complicated?

Mark O’Brien is finally being honest with himself. His relationship with Rachel is over and he’s moving out of the home they’ve shared for six years. They get along, but he can’t fix a relationship when the person he’s with is the wrong gender.

Jamie Robertson, one of the removal men, is huge and ridiculously gorgeous, and Mark is smitten at first sight. When a cardboard box splits, revealing items of a personal nature that Mark never wanted anybody to see, he’s mortified. But it sparks the start of a beautiful friendship with benefits.

As Jamie initiates Mark into the joys of gay sex, the two men get increasingly close and “nothing serious” turns into something rather important to both of them. But communication isn’t their strong point. Will either man ever find the courage to be honest about his feelings?

First Edition published with Dreamspinner Press October 23, 2013

Please Note: Although this edition has been re-edited for publication, there is no new or additional content.

REVIEW - 5 Stars! 

Nothing Serious, by Jay Northcote, is being re-released with a stunning new cover. But, as always, Jay is gifting us with a sweet and romantic love story.

When we first meet Mark, he’s broken up with Rachel after realizing there’s no way to fix a relationship if you are with the wrong sex. Then, as he’s standing in just a towel, he meets Jamie, one of the moving men. What follows is awkward and unexpected, as Jamie mistakenly sees Mark’s box of porn, lube and toys.

Mark, newly separated, is completely inexperienced with gay sex, while Jamie loves sex, but has never wanted a serious relationship. Next thing Mark knows, Jamie is offering to help him with his lack of experience, wanting to teach him the ins and outs of gay sex.

Soon, they start a casual, benefits only relationship. But as time goes on, their connection starts to get a little serious and things get complicated as the lines between friends and lovers start to blur. Developing feelings was never part of the plan, and falling in love was never supposed to happen. 

Jamie and Mark’s road to happily ever after is paved with a whole lot of insecurities about being in a relationship, regret for having waited so long to come out, and some steamy sex! Yes, Jamie does a fantastic job of teaching Mark about gay sex!

I love that Jamie has dyslexia. I am familiar with dyslexia and like when it’s explained through a character. Jay Northcote does a great job of handling this with knowledge and compassion. We get glimpses of Jamie’s past, as he reflects back on how difficult school was, leaving him feeling stupid as he could never catch up with his classmates.

And we see how Jamie still struggles with many things, like writing, as a result of his learning difference. Two quotes of his perfectly explain some of his struggles, “‘I just get my thoughts muddled up. I know what I want to say, but I find it hard to structure it when I’m writing.’” And “‘The bloody spell check has underlined nearly every other word as usual.’”

A wonderful addition to Nothing Serious is Jamie’s fun, loveable and wonderful family. And in what is a very welcome change from most stories, Mark’s ex is friendly and understanding.

In Nothing Serious, Jay Northcote continues to enchant me with some regular guys who, when put together, are magical. His writing is riveting, and leaves me wanting to re-read this feel good romance.

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Promises by Ruby Moone

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books

Length: 32,000 words approx.

Publisher: JMS Books

Blurb

Captain Charles Hawkins has returned from the Napoleonic wars desperate for solitude. When the man who saved his life asks a favour, he feels honour bound to agree, but the request fills him with horror.


Sebastian Farrah knows the only useful thing he can do with his life is join Wellington’s army. He has tried everything else and failed. He agrees to his brother’s ridiculous request to spend a month in the country because it is the only way his brother will agree to purchase him a commission.


Charles and Sebastian clash but quickly form a bond that deepens into much more. However, they are running out of time. Charles begs Sebastian to stay, but Sebastian knows to do so he will be forced to reveal what it is that stopped him from succeeding in everything. The shameful secret he carries from the schoolroom.

REVIEW

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Promises is a compelling historical romance by Ruby Moone.

When Charles first meets Sebastian, the other man is a mess, on the road to drinking himself to death. He wants to join the army, but is sent to stay with Charles for a month to figure out what he really wants.

Sebastian, ah Sebastian. I just adore Sebastian, and feel for him, as he is misunderstood. In today's day and age, he would be diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia, but back then, he was just considered stupid. And as he agrees with this label, he assumes all he is good for is joining the army.

His own words describe him perfectly. "Do you know how that feels? What it does to a man to have nothing, no sense of achievement, no sense of honour…?"

We get to watch the beautiful manner in which Sebastian starts to confide in Charles, and they start to fall in love. Charles' reaction to Sebastian's inability to read is perfect! 

As a mother of a child with ADHD and Dyslexia, Charles repeatedly pulls at my heartstrings. I am also super impressed with the manner in which Ruby Moone demonstrated these issues, never giving them a name, but writing them with a great knowledge and understanding.

The characters are written well, with a good depth, and some flaws. Both men are without a hope for the future, with no purpose in life. But through the help of each other, both can start to see a future that they want.

If you like historical romances, be sure to check out Promises. Ruby Moone will not leave you disappointed.

Excerpt

Another week passed, and Farrah had become an integral part of the household. He was everywhere. Working in the garden, eating with him, accompanying him when he left the house to tour around the estate, working with him with the shipping company, although he was still curiously resistant about that. Charles watched him apply himself to his evening meal with gusto. The man ate like a horse but hadn’t a spare inch on his frame. All the physical work meant that he had arrived in reasonable shape for someone who did nothing but gamble and drink, but now, now he was bursting with good health, humour, and a physique that made Charles want to weep with envy as he thought about his own skeletal frame. There was a warmth to his companionship that made getting up in a morning easier. He realised just how much he was enjoying having him in the house. As they talked, he hoped that he was helping Farrah to see that there were options open to him that didn’t involve him risking his life on the continent. To see that there were a whole host of things that he was good at. Farrah’s comment about the army being all he was good for had stayed with him and it surprised him how annoyed it made him that his family had allowed him to feel that way, and constantly surprised that Farrah seemed to believe it.


Coulson arrived with the tea tray and Charles smiled as he realised Farrah had lost that slightly frantic look he’d had on realising there was no port or brandy on his arrival. When Coulson had retreated, Charles raised his cup in a toast.


“Congratulations on another sterling week Mr Farrah.”


Farrah laughed and raised his cup in response. “Congratulations on putting up with me for another week. You deserve a medal, Captain Hawkins.”


“Nonsense. No medals required.”


Farrah tilted his head on one side and observed him. “You really are the best of men. I know I’m not easy to have around. Too loud, too ... much.” He laughed again.


And there he went again. He really seemed to believe that his company would not be valued. That he would be some sort of burden. Charles was stunned when he realised that in that moment he wanted nothing more than to take him in his arms and tell him in no uncertain terms that having him in the house was no hardship, and not only that, he discovered he wanted to hunt down the people who had told him that he was a burden, or a nuisance, and hurt them. It was a disconcerting.


He had to fight to retain his composure and answer in kind. “Piffle. You’ve brightened the place up no end. Once you’d sobered up, that is.” He kept his tone light, but his heart was thumping.


“Really?”


For a big, handsome, seemingly confident man sometimes there was a hint of such wistfulness about him, and it was there full force in that softly spoken word. It was filled with such fragile hope it hurt something inside Charles.


“Really.” Charles spoke softly and something in Farrah brightened. “Now, stop fishing for compliments and tell me what the plan for tomorrow is.” He had to resume his usual brisk tone because if he didn’t, he would have ... Charles' heart stopped in his chest. Oh God. Oh God.


He wanted to kiss him.

My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head...he probably has a point!

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/RubyMoone/?ref=bookmarks

Twitter - @RubyMooneWriter

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rubymoone/

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