Falling Together (The Den Boys #6) by A.T. Brennan

Amazon Link - Available in KU
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I’ve been in a fog for the past year. Haven’t really felt like myself in the last six. ~ Tristan

Losing my best friend in a war I hadn’t understood, fighting for a military that had cast me out when I’d outlived my usefulness, had sent me on a path of self-destruction. Now, four years later, I had my life back on track. Or so it would seem. I had a job I liked at a bar where my coworkers had become my family, but there was always something missing that kept me from ever feeling true happiness. A trip back to my hometown to try and find closure was supposed to have been a promise I kept to a friend, but it turned into so much more the moment I met my best friend’s brother.

Max is the opposite of what I’d pictured and exactly what I’ve always wanted. I know I needed to keep my distance to keep him safe, but when he offers me a job at his family’s inn, I'm powerless to do anything other than agree.

It didn’t matter how hard I worked or how much I tried, I was always second best. ~ Max

After spending the last eighteen years living and working as a chef in New York City, I was back in my tiny hometown trying to restore and reopen my family’s inn. It was supposed to be a new chapter for me, a way to finally realize my dream of having my own kitchen, but coming back to the place I’d fled at seventeen wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Especially after I ran into my little brother’s best friend and impulsively asked him to help me with the renovations while he was still in town.

It’s obvious Tristan is grappling with demons few people could understand, but there’s something about the handsome and enigmatic man that makes me want to know what those demons are, and to help him chase them away

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Falling Together, the sixth book in The Den Boys series, is an amazing read by AT Brennan. Although the bar, The Den, continues to be a fantastic background, I still find this can easily be read as a standalone. 

Tristan's a complex character; a man who's barely hanging on. Returning home to find closure, he ends up being hired by Max to help fix up a newly inherited inn. The two men knew one another as kids, but the years have separated them. What follows is a complex enemies to lovers tale, with misplaced grief and anger. 

And in the end, this is an impressive tale, tackling many deep issues. Their story is one that delves deep into homophobia and HIV. Their story also tackles the need for the right combination of domination and submission. Their story includes drug use, depression, grief, guilt, and mental issues. The author excels in developing and illustrating all these issues, leaving me impressed by all of it. 

In addition, the author throws in small town issues, both the good and the bad, family issues galore, and some pleasant surprises. The author spares no expense in the deep issues involved with Tristan's experiences with sex. It is well written, emotional, and beautifully developed. 

I really love this book. The characters are intriguing and endearing, the storyline is compelling, with some wonderful moments, and the pace flows seamlessly. I wouldn't change a thing about the writing style or the story line. 

Overall, Falling Together is one of those books I didn't want to see end. I feel like I need to dive back into it and re-read it immediately. I highly recommend this story.

As for me, now I need to read the books in The Den Boys series that I've missed. If they are anywhere as fantastic as this book, I will happily devour them too. 

Dancing with a Star (Shore Thing #2) by Grace Kilian Delaney

Amazon Link - Available in KU

Goodreads Link

Blurb

"You had my heart as a boy, and whether you realized it or not, you’ve kept it all these years."

Androgynous fashion model Quinn Bouchard knew this day was coming. Hours before one of the most important photo shoots of his career, his wife asks for a divorce—a divorce they had agreed upon before exchanging vows—causing upheaval in his otherwise happy queerplatonic relationship. As if the day wasn’t hard enough, Quinn learns Xander Engstrom, his childhood best friend now a movie star, is part of the photo shoot, and their reunion awakens something Quinn hasn’t felt in years, leaving him sure of only one thing: he needs Xander back in his life.

Movie star Xander Engstrom has regrets, and the epic fight spread across the tabloids between him and his ex-boyfriend—an addict that won’t leave him alone—is the biggest. To control the damage, Xander agrees to an interview and photo shoot with a well-respected publication where he meets Quinn, the first boy he had a crush on. Xander’s pathetic, romantic heart falls all over again for his long-lost friend. The only problem is the type of relationship he’s thinking of isn’t possible with the stunning model.

Living on opposite coasts and worlds apart, they navigate through months of coordinating schedules, the whims of a finicky film company, and nights in hotel rooms to spend time with each other until secrets force them to choose between a future together or letting their pasts tear them apart.

This friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance contains implied sexual abuse, one photogenic gargoyle, and discussions about cannibalism.

Can be read as a stand-alone book as Quinn’s story starts before Julien’s in Living on a Dare (Book One) and ends a year later.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars! 

Ahhh, Grace Kilian Delaney's second book in the Shore Thing series, Dancing with a Star, is a fabulous read. 

Quinn and Xander are two former best friends who are reunited on a photo shoot. Love these guys and their complexity. Quinn's an androgynous model who's in a platonic polyamorous relationship with two women that is about to end in divorce. It's complex, and it's wonderfully explored. This is definitely something unique and worth a read. It's full of intense emotions that truly help drive the story, and is handled with care. 

Xander meanwhile is a movie action star. He's super lovable, but he's been burnt by his controlling ex Todd. And to say Todd was controlling is an understatement. That man is trouble with a capital T, as he's extremely abusive and manipulative. Honestly, this part isn't heavily explored, as the emotional impact isn't mentioned much, thus keeping this a lot less heavy than it could have been.

Quinn and Xander's relationship is extremely slow burn, as most of their story is about life and character growth, rather than romance. Their developing friendship is impressive in it's honesty, and the slowness to become lovers is fantastically natural. 

The careers are both men are explored nicely, shedding some light into the world of the famous, both the good and the bad. 

This story is heavy on the serious topics, so read with some warning. I love the complexity, and the moments of light humor that soften things up. A story build upon character development, this story needs some of those lighter moments. 

Dancing with a Star kept me intrigued and entertained throughout. The characters are interesting, leaving me wanting more of them. I'm impressed with the way Grace Kilian Delaney explores different kinds of love, relationships, and sexuality, and I highly recommend this book.

Doctor's Orders (Paint #3.5) by Emma Jaye

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Blurb

Cutting, coke, calling Nate.
All three would help the clawing anxiety caused by the upcoming trial of Alex’s father. All three would cause Dr. Cooper to rush home from his life-saving job to deal with his neurotic boyfriend.
Adding watching kink to his list of coping techniques, particularly his secret medical fetish, helps until a little voice in his head persuades Alex to try one of his fantasies.
Who knew that adult stars lie about their innocence and that acting out scenes can have horribly awkward, painful consequences?
It can also lead to your dreams coming true.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Aww, I just adore Emma Jaye's Paint series. Doctor's Orders, book 3.5 in the series, is a short, hot read.

This is the story of Alex and Nate. Alex is suffering from major anxiety about his father's upcoming trial. After already getting help from Nate to kick his drug habit and his addiction of cutting, now Alex needs to find a new outlet for his current anxiety.

Their story includes the use of pain for sexual pleasure, especially sounds. It's hot, and oh yeah, hot. 

The author does a wonderful job developing everything in this short story, including the men and their sexual desires. I highly enjoyed Doctor's Orders, as well as the rest of this Paint series.

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.