Sundae's Best (Briar County #2) by Riley Hart

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

Grady Dalton is in a rut. He’s thirty-eight, without a boyfriend, and has yet to find the place that feels like home. The closest he ever got was his best friend, Nathan. But it’s been seven years since he passed, and life isn’t getting easier. That’s how he ends up in Briar County, hoping to grow roots in the place Nathan had loved.

Deacon Sharpe spends his days serving homemade ice cream at Sundae’s Best and his nights alone, pretending he’s getting by after his wife’s death better than he is. His world is rocked when a man shows up, claiming he’d been his brother-in-law’s best friend, and who seems to miss Nathan as much as Deacon misses Patty.

Their losses connect them, but soon, the weight of their loneliness eases with laughter, making ice cream, and Grady reminding Deacon what it feels like to be held again. Deacon tells himself it’s platonic. How can it be more when he’s forty and has never been with a man, never even been attracted to one. But then, he’d never felt those things about anyone other than Patty either. And when Grady touches him…kisses him…nothing else matters and the rest of the world melts away.

Together they can deal with family drama, small-town gossip, and Deacon’s newly discovered feelings. But as it often does, life has one more curveball to throw their way…

Sundae’s Best is a small-town, bi/demisexual awakening romance, with characters who like to be held, swoony moments, a dog named Moose, and lots of ice cream. Sundae’s Best can be read as a standalone.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Sundae's Best is an amazing romance. The second book in the Briar County series by Riley Hart, it's easily read as a standalone.

This story! Omg, I absolutely love it! 

Deacon and Grady are more than I could have ever asked for. Their story is a sexual awakening story that is unique and emotional throughout. The connection between the two is undeniable, and their journey is unforgettable.  

This is a story of forgiveness and understanding. It's a story of making amends and moving forward. 

This is a reminder that sometimes things happen that we don't expect. It's best not to question or judge. Rather, grab love when you can.

Sundae's Best is another amazing story by Riley Hart. I love everything about their tale. It's wonderfully sweet and heart-warming, with plenty of tearful moments. Just read it. 

RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - Tahoe Blue by Eden French

 

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Tahoe Blue by Eden French

A paramedic must face old wounds when his Hollywood heartthrob ex returns home and tries to win back his affections. Will he find closure or will he give first love a second chance?

Coming back to Tahoe was a mistake. At least, that’s what Carson Keaton thinks the minute he returns to his hometown. When he ran away seven years ago, he left everything behind, including Brand West, the only person he ever loved. Not that he had a choice. But now that the danger has passed, he returns home to reclaim Brand. The biggest question is, is it too late?

Brand West is a paramedic with a broken heart. Just after high school graduation, the love of his life hopped a Greyhound to Hollywood, leaving without explanation. Now, seven years later, Brand is determined to forget about Carson by throwing himself into his career, his community, and—thanks to his best friend playing matchmaker—a hot new lover. But now Carson’s back in town, as irresistible as ever, leaving Brand with two choices: find closure and move on, or give first love a second chance.

Universal Link  *  Amazon US

Goodreads

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Tahoo Blue is a wonderful second chance romance by Eden French. 

Carson skipped town, without explanation, leaving his boyfriend behind. Now, seven years have passed, and he's back. What follows is an emotional and heartfelt second chance with his ex.

Unfortunately for both men, it won't be easy. Brand spent the past seven years unable to forget his first love. But he's just now decided to move on and had found the man he wants to do so with.  Then Carson shows up back in town. Cue the heartache. 

Carson's an actor who goes home during a writer's strike. His fame made it tough for Brand to ever forget him, even if he could have.  Their reunion involves some explanations, acceptance, and forgiveness. I love it all. 

Their story includes a homophobic father, as well as years of separation and years of secrecy. I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't a lot of angst. Instead, it's a lot more of trying to win back one's true love. 

There is never a doubt these two belong together. All these years later, the pull between them is as strong as ever. Luckily for the reader, the reason Carson left town was for a valid reason. It's painful and definitely lead their lives on unwanted paths. But, that's what second chances are for. 

This is a short, quick read. Written in alternating 3rd person pov, the emotions of both men fully come to life.  The author does a wonderful job with the setting, fully drawing the reader into the Lake Tahoe atmosphere. As well, Eden keeps the reader riveted with the nice tone and easy pace. Despite it's length, I never felt anything was missing.

Tahoe Blue is a beautiful tale of grabbing onto second chances. This Eden French book is definitely a good choice when you're in the mood for a quick, tender-hearted tale of forgiveness and love. My first time reading this author, I look forward to see what comes next.

 

Brand West reached up to the sky and stretched his arms high until his abs pulled tight in both directions. Holding the position just a minute longer, a small moan escaping his lips, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes. When he had pushed his muscles to the max, he released the stretch and, standing upright, let his body relax.

            It’d been too long since he’d hit the trail. Looking around at the towering pines, he inhaled deeply and let the thick scent of spruce and earth fill his body. A few steps forward and he stood on the lookout, Lake Tahoe splayed out before him down below, deep blue and still.

God, he loved it here. Especially these late fall mornings. Those mornings when the air was cold and hinted of winter. He craved the smell of chimney fires, the feel of the crisp, clean air in his lungs, the quiet mornings, and the starry evenings. Ever since he was a teen, he’d climb up to the lookout behind his grandfather’s cabin and sit on the flat boulder for hours, a feeling of peace settling in his soul.

He smiled as he watched the sun peek out from behind the Sierra Nevadas at the opposite end of the lake. The crunch of pine needles and early snow caught his attention. Turning, he smiled as his closest friend, Ryan, rounded the corner. Her dark hair was falling out of the messy bun piled on the top of her head, and her cheeks were rosy from both the chilly air and being winded.

“I swear… to God… I’m gonna fuckin’ beat… you for making me climb this… mountain… before my coffee.” She reached the boulder and doubled over, her left hand flush against her chest.

Brand laughed, the sound echoing down into the valley below. “Coffee, before a run? You really are going to give yourself a heart attack, you know that, don’t you?”

Ryan plopped down onto the boulder and waved him off. “Never gonna happen. Why do you think I keep you around? I got my own personal paramedic to jolt me back to life if I go down.”

“You know I don’t actually carry my AED on runs, right?”

Ryan waggled her eyebrows. “No need. You are a walking talking AED, doll.” She gripped his forearms and ran her fingers along the strong muscle line “Damn, who are you working out for?”

Brand rolled his eyes. Here we go again. “No one. And I’m really not in the mood for another lecture about why I need to be opening myself up for a real relationship. I’m just not interested right now.”

Ryan narrowed her eyes. “Sure you’re not. You know, there are other fish in the sea, Brand. I know you feel there’s no one who can compare to him, but honey, believe me, there is.” She held his hand and entwined her fingers with his. “It’s been seven years, Brand. Seven years, and you mean to tell me that you haven’t met anyone who is relationship material? Not even worth a second date? Are you sure you want to be waiting around for something that may never happen?”

He pulled his hand from hers. “I’m not waiting around for him, Ry. I’ve dated other people. Lots. I’m just… busy. I don’t have time for relationships.” He heard the bullshit flow from his mouth.

You’d have time if he were around, his inner voice poked.

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Tahoe Blue, Eden is giving away a $10 Amazon Giftcard

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Eden French is an American author of erotic queer romance with swoon-worthy heroes and happy ever afters. In addition to writing books that’ll set your blood on fire, she also writes romance stories for an interactive gaming app.

A hot yoga junkie, she often gets some of her best ideas while in a difficult pose. She’s a relentless daydreamer, chocoholic, and Scotch whiskey aficionado who likes life a bit kinky, and spends as much time as possible playing with the sexy characters in her head.

A born and raised California girl, she graduated from San Francisco State University with an English lit degree, and has a borderline obsession for Mexican food. Eden currently resides in the quirky Pacific Northwest with her amazing spouse and five… yes, five fur-babies.

Connect with Eden:
Website: www.edenfrench.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EdenFrenchRomance
Twitter: www.twitter.com/E_FrenchWrites
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17206696.Eden_French
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Eden-French
BookBub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eden-french
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edenfrenchwrites

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Nothing to Gain (Learning the Ropes #2) by E.M. Denning

 

Amazon Link  - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Kicked out of his house as a teenager, Brett McHale is feminine, fabulous, and living with his best friend. His job at a cafe comes with the world’s best boss and the only other thing Brett wants he’s unlikely to get because the men he’s attracted to never seem to feel the same.

Linden Jacobs is finally out of his too-small hometown. He’s away at college, he has a new set of friends, a crush on a hot guy. Everything he’s ever wanted.

Almost.

Everything in Linden’s life has changed, but he doesn’t know how to let himself have what he wants the most.

After meeting Brett and realizing his dreams could be within reach, Linden confesses his desires to explore his feminine side. What starts as an innocent friendship between two men bonding over lipstick and soft clothes becomes something Brett can’t breathe without.

Convinced Linden doesn’t feel the same attraction, Brett tries to keep his heart on lockdown, but he quickly learns that being femme isn’t the only thing Linden is interested in exploring. Brett wants to give Linden more than twinkle lights, but he’s not sure if he’s worthy of being Linden’s ultimate destination, or just a stop on the way.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Nothing to Gain is a wonderful addition to the Learning The Ropes series. I seriously love this EM Denning book. 

Brett and Lindon make for a fantastic couple. They start as acquaintances, and easily go to friends and then more. But most of all, I love that they each love one another for who they are.

Both men have struggled with living authentically. For Brett, it got him kicked out of his house. His problems with his homophobic family are well established. Luckily for Brett, his best friend's family was there to take him in. He lives simple, having never gone to college, but enjoys the job he has. 

As for Lindon, his dad was great when he came out, but he's terrified to be his true self. Not only does he fear his dad's reaction, he also fears other's reaction. 

I absolutely adore the way Brett teaches Lindon how to embrace who he is on the inside. Brett's always wanted to be a femme boy, but fear held him back from doing anything about it. Brett knows all the makeup tricks and understands the clothes options that Lindon will like. It's all wonderful, with all the feels. And through it all, the two become close. 

Their story has lace, dresses, and makeup. It's all about accepting who you are and living authentically. It's about the encouragement to live for you, and not putting weight on what other's think. It's beautifully done. I'd try to pick one quote for you, but there are too many to choose from. The author seriously does a stellar job with this aspect.

My favorite part of it however is probably the twinkle lights. 

Their story is loaded with family issues at it's core. Brett is still struggling with his family, as his brother keeps calling him and trying to get him to come home. His struggles continue throughout and make for a large part of the story. And then there's Lindon's issues with his father, as he's terrified to come out to him as femme. I just wanted to hug Lindon and assure him that everything would be ok. 

Friendship is also a large part of the storyline. Brett has his best friend, but he largely keeps to himself. But with Lindon, he discovers a whole new group of friends and family. 

 

Nothing to Gain is a magnificent heartfelt tale. EM Denning will leave you delighted to have met these men and see them help one another grow. She combines plenty of feel good moments with a tender and sweet love story. It's definitely worth a read!

Gotta Keep Moving (Go Forward Book 2) by Whitney Cannon

Amazon Link 

Goodreads Link

After being kicked out of his parents’ house for being gay, Ty has had to adjust to his new life - moving in with his friend, Patton and attending public school for the first time. While Ty struggles with the loss of his family, he begins to realize that in losing those who would never love him for who he really was, he’s also gained a measure of freedom he’d never known before. Freedom to become the person he wants to be, freedom to pursue his love of music, and freedom to pursue the love of another boy that could change his life forever.

Over a year after becoming paralyzed in a stupid childish accident, Laurie has all but come to terms with the fact that he will be stuck in his wheelchair for the rest of his life. His graduating class has moved on, his single mother works long hours to pay for his medical bills, and Laurie finds solace in sharing his music with the world via YouTube. One thing Laurie has not come to terms with, however, is the fact that he will never find anyone who can look past his disability and love him regardless of his limitations.

How can two boys from two completely different walks of life find each other amidst their own personal struggles? Can Ty and Laurie help each other come to terms with their new realities? Or will their personal demons get in the way of them discovering a love that could heal them both? 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Gotta Keep Moving is an impressive story. This Whitney Cannon book, the second in the Go Forward series, is well worth a read. 

Ty and Laurie are two teenagers who meet online. Both are boys who are familiar with life changing tragedies. Both are boys who could have given up in life. But both have persevered and thrive together.

Laurie is paralyzed, spending his life in a wheelchair after a self-proclaimed stupid accident. Meanwhile, Ty has been disowned after his cult like family discovered his sexuality. I appreciate the way the two can relate to one another and understand each another. 

The author excels in creating these lovable and heart-felt characters. These young men are inspirational and absolutely lovable. And together, they are even more so.

Their story is one of hope and love. It's well written and is a beautiful quick read. And oh how I love Laurie's mom. She is the mom everyone should have. 

Best of all though, is the way Ty sees Laurie, which in turn helps Laurie grow in his confidence. I adore these boys and love their story. 

Gotta Keep Moving is a remarkable tale. This young adult romance is the perfect read when you're in the mood for something inspirational and happy in the world. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - The Christmas Oaks (Laurel Holidays #1) by VL Locey

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | KOBO | Nook | Apple | Universal Link

Cover Design: Designs By Sloan

Goodreads Link

Blurb 

Can the magic of Christmas, and the soft voice of a man who has seen too much, show Bryan a future where anything is possible?

Bryan Graham is shocked to find he’s inherited a hunting cabin in north-central Pennsylvania. From his grandfather of all people; a stubborn man who went out of his way to make Bryan’s childhood miserable. He’d vowed never to go back to the small, rural community of Kutter’s Summit, not that he didn’t have fond memories of the place. It’s just that he’d rather be celebrating a quiet Christmas back in Nashville with his cat and his contracts. 

A couple of weeks of hunting, cleaning, and handyman work, and he can hopefully put the place up for sale and move on with his life. He never expected to find his childhood friend Parson Greer living in the cabin. Parson is no longer a boy, but a handsome, wary man consumed by the demons of a faraway desert war. When a rekindled friendship shifts into something deeper, Bryan finds himself lost in emotions that a workaholic like him has never made time to experience before.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

VL Locey's The Christmas Oaks is a beautiful story of healing. It's a story of two former friends who learn the lesson of taking back the power over one's own life. 

Parson's a recluse who suffers from PTSD, while Bryan's a workaholic who pushes everyone away. Together they make for an interesting couple. It's fantastic the way the author brings these two men together, and the way they influence one another for the better. 

Their story involves a homophobic grandfather, and some lovely twists and turns. I adore Bryan's sister for her demands to Bryan for him to step up and do his part. She's feisty and a lot of fun. And the author excels in her illustration of PTSD with Parson. This aspect is tremendously well done, important while not being too overwhelming.

The Christmas Oaks is seriously a super sweet read. It's a tender story of giving oneself a chance to heal, recover, and find happiness. I highly suggest this amazing holiday read. 

USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

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Storm Clouds Ahead (Black Ops Heroes #2) by Kendel Duncan

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Three lost souls. Thrown together by chance, by circumstance, by life. Two men, one woman. Will they combine to make the perfect storm – creating havoc and destruction all around them, destroying everything they touch, including each other? Or will love prevail and give them what they need, what they desire, what they crave?
Raine Braddock – tough as nails Park Ranger with a heart bigger than the National Park that she lives in, but also a woman who knows what she needs to make her life complete – and that is more than one man to love her. She can’t seem to find men strong enough so she flounders alone, a lost soul in a big park.
Paddington ‘Mac’ McIntyre – Not your typical FBI agent – he’s got piercings, tons of tattoos and enough of an Irish temper to have gotten him into trouble more than his fair share of times. But he’s also got a dark past – a traumatic upbringing by a strict Catholic father has him fighting his true nature, his basic desire, his need – and it’s keeping him angry, confused, lost and unable to find the love that he so desperately needs in his life.
Storm Wilson – DEA agent who has never hid his bi-sexual nature from anyone, not even his co-workers, but with his career stalled as he’s bumped around from every crap case that his supervisor can seem to find, he’s re-thinking his choices and wondering what the hell he’s going to do with his completely lost, lonely, messed-up life.
A series of events: A murder, an opportunity, a chance – bring these lost souls together. Will the love that they find together be enough or will this stormy life try to rip them apart?

Warning – Contains adult subject matter, including graphic language and sex, including: m/f, m/m & m/m/f. It is NOT suitable for younger readers – parental discretion is advised.

Reader Advisory – While the main characters in this book do have an HEA, this is a cliffhanger involving some secondary characters. The secondary characters will go on to become the main characters in the next book in the series. 

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Storm Clouds Ahead is the second book in Kendel Duncan's Black Ops series, and it is HOT!

This book centers around Storm, Mac, and Raine. Their tale is thrilling, suspenseful and oh so steamy. It's fun watching them navigate their feelings while dealing with a whole lot of danger. 

The story is exciting and deep, and is written with a whole lot of humor and tenderness. Admittedly, there are parts of the story that I have to just agree to ignore, as they don't make sense, but I believe an author can take some creative liberties from time to time. 

Mac's background, and resulting struggles with his sexuality is abhorrent. I found my heart breaking so very much for this man and his pain.

I find Storm and Mac to be amazing together. I enjoyed every part of their tale. I wasn't so in love with Raine, but she's ok and adds a lot to the story. She's definitely a bad ass and her sass is fun. 

Overall, the Black Ops series is superb thus far. I am loving the feel we get for Ben and Billy so far and cannot wait to read their story. And as with any good series, I love getting to spend time with the previous characters.



My Reviews of the Series:
Drake Malone

Wells Wednesday - First by KC Wells

For Wells Wednesday, I am going to recommend First by KC Wells.

Amazon

I have to start by saying that I love KC Well's writing.  Always have.  Hope I always will.

That said, First does not disappoint.  

Tommy grows up in the south and has been taught that being gay is wrong.  But when he heads to University, he ends up trying out a gay club. Mike is a bartender there, as well as a porn star.  He's been in the industry for 20 years, but he has no experience with having a real relationship.

The result?
A great story that includes:
-A young gay virgin
-A seasoned porn star
-A gritty, behind the scenes look at the porn industry
-A May - Sept romance
-Having to decide if, when, and how you tell a lover you are a porn star
-Coming out to your very strict, southern, religious family.

Overall, it is a fantastic story that delves into what any young LBGT person has to deal with when their family is not supportive.  The fear of telling them, the fear of rejection, but knowing you have to be true to yourself.

Of course the young virgin and the older, experienced porn star seem like an unlikely pair.  But it works.  And it works well.