REVIEW - Charlie Sunshine by Lily Morton

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Charlie Sunshine by Lily Morton

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 Close Proximity, Book 2

Sometimes love is a lot closer to home than you think.

Charlie Burroughs can’t keep a man. All he wants is a good relationship like the ones he sees his friends having, but none of the men he picks ever work out. Despite him trying to be the perfect boyfriend, the men are either threatened by his looks or his epilepsy or a combination of the two. It’s lucky that he has his best friend Misha to turn to. The two of them are closer than peas in a pod and fiercely loyal to each other. He can’t imagine his life without Misha in it.

Misha Lebedinsky is the complete opposite of his best friend. Being the support system for his mum and twin sisters leaves Misha with neither the time nor the inclination for a relationship. Quick and frequent hook-ups are his favourite means of communication and any other pesky emotional needs he has are met by Charlie, who he’s devoted to. He lives a life of happy compartmentalization with no intention of ever changing.

All of this changes when the two best friends move in together.

Being in close proximity means that they suddenly start to see each other in a very different light. But Charlie struggles when his drive to be the perfect partner clashes with the fact that he’s in love with a man who knows every little thing about him. And even if he can get past that, can a relationship ever work with a man who’d need a dictionary to tell him what love means?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a love story about a sunny librarian who has relationship written all over him and a banker who doesn’t even have it in his blurb. This is the second book in the Close Proximity series, but it can be read as a standalone.

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My Rating - 5 Stars!

Charlie Sunshine is a tender hearted, accomplished tale. I love everything about this Lily Morton book from the start. 

This amazing story includes lifelong best friends, secret longings, and a jerk of an ex boyfriend. Charlie moves in with his best friend Misha. I love the way they get along, as you can see from the start how much Misha cares for Charlie. Both men are wonderfully lovable. 


This is a story that heavily explores the struggle of risking a friendship that means everything to you. That fear is loud and clear. The hesitancy is well done. Add in Charlie's epilepsy and wow, this is one phenomenal story. This aspect is written with knowledge and care. 

Do you like book clubs? It's awesome as the author gifts the reader with a book club unlike any I've ever been too. Omg, I love it!


And holy heat! When the time comes, these two are explosive. Then the author goes and adds in some lace, and holy hotness!! Add in some public bathroom sex to up the heat, and wow, just wow!

This is also a story with some great secondary characters, as Charlie's father and step-father add humor and heart to the story.

The writing is fantastic, drawing the reader into every scene. The feelings are there, behind every single moment and action. 

And then there's the title and the significance of it, which is truly remarkable. 
Charlie's a man who always puts on a happy face for the world. But in a real relationship, that isn't possible or necessary. I love this aspect and the true depth of it's meaning. Read it; you'll love it.

Charlie Sunshine will have you crying, laughing, and swooning. I love, love, love this Lily Morton book and can't recommend it enough! The love between these two is insane and all consuming. It's completely heart-felt and emotional throughout. Just read it. 

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The car park is dark apart from the thin light that emanates from the security lamp over the door. Hearing footsteps, I spin round and then immediately relax when I see Misha coming towards me.

“Are you on your own?” he demands.

“Why, Mister Lebedinsky,” I say in dulcet tones, fluttering my eyelashes. “Were you lying in wait to launch an attack on my virtue?”

“I’m about twelve years and ten miles away from a crack at that.” I laugh, and he shakes his head. “Why is it so fucking dark around here, Charlie?”

“Because night has fallen.” He stares beadily at me. “And the owner of the car park hasn’t replaced the bulb in the security light.”

 

“Have you told him that he needs to?”

“No, Misha,” I say sarcastically. “I thought I’d leave it to him. Maybe if I send enough good thoughts over to Malaga, he’ll realise and come straight home.”

“I’m absolutely positive that librarians shouldn’t be this snarky. Is there anyone in the building I can get to google it?”

I shove him. “We don’t google,” I say in a scandalised tone. “We utilise the skills that our very intensive library research course has taught us.”

“And then what?”

I slump. “We google.”

He laughs and holds out his hand for the cloth bag I’m carrying. I shake my head and hand it over, watching with satisfaction as he nearly drops it. “Fucking hell, have you got bricks in here?”

“Why would I be carrying bricks?” I ask, picking up my rucksack and moving over to the neatly parked and very expensive-looking silver Mercedes.

“I don’t know. Who the fuck knows what librarians get up to?”

“We are a very cosmopolitan crew,” I acknowledge.

“After picking you up from the staff Christmas do last year, I’m not entirely sure that cosmopolitan is the right word. Debauched would be nearer the mark.”

“I told Bethany not to get Sue that extra Baileys,” I say gloomily. “Can we not talk about it? I’m getting flashbacks.”

He fiddles with my bag and grins at me. “More books? Do you, or do you not have a very nice iPad with all your books loaded on it?”

“I know.” I sigh, climbing into the front seat after he clicks the locks and setting my rucksack at my feet. “I just can’t resist a new box of books.” He slides into the driver’s seat after depositing my cloth book bag in the back, and I grin at him. “It’s a bit like you resisting the last twink in a club at kicking-out time.”

“Well, why didn’t you say that?” he drawls. “Now I understand.”

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate Lily's new release, we are giving you a chance to win your choice of any book from Lily’s backlist! Three winners will be chosen!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About Lily:

Lily writes contemporary romance novels, and specialises in hot love stories with a good dose of humour.

Lily lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle.

She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else could she get to spend her time with hot, funny men!

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.

Connect with Lily:
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RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Shots on Goal (Stick Side #3) by Amy Aislin

SHOTS ON GOAL by Amy Aislin

Series: Stick Side #3

Publisher: self-published

Release Date January 7, 2020

Length (Print & Ebook): 84,600 words | 330 pages

Genre: contemporary/new adult romance

Tropes: opposites attract, made family

Cover artist: Natasha Snow

Order now:

Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Amazon * iTunes 

Goodreads Link

Book blurb:

Recently traded to the newly formed Vermont Trailblazers, professional hockey player Roman Kinsey needs to focus on helping the team win games and filling the stands, not on the blond, bespectacled part-timer who works at the library he volunteers at. He knows all too well that outing himself equals heartache and ridicule…or worse.

Cody Evans, psych major and grad school hopeful, notices everything and thinks too much. But he doesn’t know what to think when he sees Roman reading to kids. The rugged hockey player just doesn’t look like the type. But it stirs something in him, something he’s never felt before.

When the library is threatened with closure, Cody enlists Roman’s help. As they get to know each other better...much, much better...they realize that they have more in common than books. But Roman’s keeping a big part of himself from his team, and giving in to his feelings for Cody might be more than he’s willing to risk.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Amy Aislin's Shots on Goal is another great hockey romance is the Stick Side series. 

Roman and Cody's story takes place in small town Vermont, which adds tremendously to the storyline. I find the descriptions to be well done, completely bringing the reader into the setting. 

This is a story of being weighed down by the pain of one's past. It's a story of a closeted athlete falling in love and having to make choices he's always feared. 

Both men deal with family issues, as one has a father who doesn't know him well, and the other has a homophobic father. These issues contribute to the plot and drive the men's feelings and actions through the years. I love the way this is developed and carried throughout the book.

In a sweet move, Roman and Cody bond over their love of books. Any avid reader will totally enjoy this and love they way they can talk about books to each other. Seriously, a hot hockey player who likes to read? Yes please!

Cody's demi-sexual, but the author didn't focus on this aspect. Instead, it is just there, which is actually something I came to appreciate a lot.

Shots on Goal is a great combination of romance, angst, athletes, small town living, and the love of books. This Amy Aislin romance is sweet and romantic, with a whole lot of character growth. For me, it's another must read for any sports fan.

Excerpt:

“You read?”

“Why do you say that like I’m an unintelligent jock who’s never seen a book in his life?” Roman asked. He didn’t sound insulted, merely curious.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Or was it? “I guess I figured you wouldn’t have enough time to read.”

“I’m a hockey player, not a doctor. I do get downtime.”

“Enough downtime to come watch my friend’s game sometime?”

Roman finished off his coffee and set his mug on the table. “I suppose. Don’t know why you want me to so bad, though.”

You look like you need friends was not the way Cody should answer. He tried for nonchalant and shrugged. “Why wouldn’t you? The Mountaineers are awesome, Glen Hill isn’t too far from Burlington, and it’s a great way to spend an evening.”

“The University of Vermont has a hockey team. I could just go watch them.”

Cody scowled at the mention of the Glen Hill Mountaineers’ rivals. “Traitor.”

It made Roman laugh and little creases formed at the corner of his eyes, which, for some reason, made Cody grin back at him.

Author Information: 

Amy's lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she's read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she's been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn't at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada's largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram and Twitter, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter here.

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Release blitz giveaway:

Winner’s choice of ONE signed paperback from Amy’s backlist!

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**The Nature of the Game (Stick Side #2) is on $0.99 sale from January 7-13, 2020!**

Early Reviews: 

"With lots of hockey, delicious food, and the sweetest couple ever, Amy Aislin scores a hat trick with Shots on Goal." — Kelly Jensen, award-winning author of Block and Strike

"Shots on Goal is a great wintertime read. Like a warm blanket and a mug of hot chocolate! Huddle up by the fire and enjoy this cozy story!" — Allison Temple, author of The Seacroft Stories series

“I love hockey romance, and this book delivered all the romance I needed alongside awesome hockey.” — RJ Scott, USA Today bestselling author

“I'm already a big fan of Amy Aslin's Stick Side series, so I was thrilled to get an early read of Shots on Goal. Cody and Roman's story didn't disappoint. Shots on Goal is the perfect blend of the beloved sports and small-town romance tropes. Roman's gruff, strained interactions with his ice hockey team play well against Cody's heartwarming relationship with his fellow library lovers. As these two men inadvertently team up to help save the historic library, Roman realizes there just may be someone worth opening up to, and at the same time, Cody learns that sometimes falling in love brings with it tough choices. Shots on Goal is a strong addition to Aislin's delicious world-building surrounding the sexy, competitive world of hockey. We get to visit old friends from previous books, but it is not necessary to have read them to enjoy Shots on Goal.” — Lucy Lennox, Bestselling author

Depth of Focus (Natural Hearts #1) by J.D. Chambers

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Growing up, Travis hated his small town, Slat Creek, and everyone in it. His only goal was to escape for good, and at the age of twenty-one, he thought he had finally achieved it. But when his sister struggles with the death of their mother, he has to return home to care for her.

Whitman grew up believing in the healing power of books, but it wasn't until he moved to a small town in Oregon as their new librarian that he sees that belief in action. He's living his dream professionally. But personally, he's lonely and wondering if he made a big mistake, until he meets a sad teenager and takes her under his wing.

Might an observant and helpful librarian be enough to tempt Travis to stay?

Review 

My Rating - Stars!

Depth of Focus is a great story by JD Chambers, as it's emotional, heartfelt and beautiful.

Travis has been sacrificing his own life to raise and protect his sister, Caitlyn. The death of their mom changed their life instantly. Next thing Travis knows, at the age of 21, he's parenting his sister, working two jobs and keeping a close eye on his suicidal sister. The poor guy doesn't get a break. Ever. 

When Whitman comes to town as the new librarian, his plans are to revive the library. In the long run, he not only changes the library, but also Scott's life, as well as Caitlyn's. Through working with Whitman, Caitlyn finds a purpose with her life. This part of the story is wonderfully touching. 

Travis is a Native American who's always longed to leave his small town. Not only is he tired of everyone being in his business, he also thinks there is nothing for him there. With the help of Whitman, he starts to discover the small ways in which he actually is a part of this town. 

Whitman and Travis are super sweet together. They are two broken men who really help one another, as they strive to survive. Their love is a riveting slow-burn.

Overall, Depth of Focus gifts us with a beautiful glimpse into the importance of family, as well as what family means. It's an emotional rollercoaster that has touched me to my soul. I'm excited to see what JD Chambers comes up with next in this series.