Forbidden Ink (Get Ink'd #6) by Ali Lyda

 

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I’m not a deadbeat.
I didn’t know my kid existed before Milo showed up, but now that I do, I’m determined to keep my beautiful little Sofie in my life. Even if it means I need to spend time around her irritable uncle, Milo. The man pushes all of my buttons.

He riles me up until I can’t think of anything except kissing him. Definitely not the reaction he expects. He’s not out, but I’m not the type to hide. Is there any way to make it work for our new family?

Family means everything.
Eryk’s a cocky playboy. He’s not good enough to be my niece’s father, but unfortunately, DNA says otherwise. Father or not, I’m not about to walk out of little Sofie’s life.

Which means I have to walk into Eryk’s even though I can’t stand him. So why is he so hard to resist? I decided on a closeted life a long time ago. It’s the only way to stay safe and successful. Could I bring myself to step out of the closet if it means having the true love of a family?

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

 

Forbidden Ink is the sixth book in the Get Ink'd series by Ali Lyda. It perfectly continues this fantastic series, but it's easily read as a standalone. 

There's a lot going on in this enemies to lovers story.

Milo and Eryk meet in an unusual way, as Milo has to bring his niece, Sofie, to meet her father, Eryk. To say that Milo hates Eryk for his reputation is an understatement. 

The enemies to lovers element definitely drives this story, as the two have so much animosity between them. Milo's jealous that Eryk is out and proud. Milo doesn't think Eryk's fit to be a father. And more.

There's custody issues, as well as attraction issues. And I love how it all develops. I adore seeing the small ways things start to change, and the ability to put the child first. 

Milo and Eryk are an interesting couple. Milo wasn't quite father material himself, but both men learn to put the child first. The chemistry between the men is too strong to ignore, and the men are certainly hot together. 

Of course, there's the elephant in the room that some readers won't be able to ignore. Cause yes, Milo is interested in the man who fathered his sister, Maya's baby. I know a lot of people who don't like someone sleeping with their sibling's ex. But, honestly, I barely felt that issue in this book. Eryk's night with her was just that. One hookup that meant nothing to him. They were never a couple. No feelings were ever involved. 

I do struggle with Milo's sister's decision to not tell Eryk that he's a father until she's on her deathbed. That is just something that always pisses me off. But, as this story isn't really about her, I can let that go. 

There's a large issue when it comes to Milo's feelings about Eryk's sexuality. His insecurities and jealousy over Eryk living openly while Milo is closeted and hiding is felt throughout. Milo's frustration and anger are well illustrated and this is a large part of his character. I appreciate where he's coming from and ultimately love the way it's all resolved. 

Forbidden Ink is a wonderful romance. Ali Lyda puts a lot of interesting issues into this story and I love it. Hell, I love anytime an actor feels forced into being closeted. Those are stories that just seem so realistic, so I definitely love that aspect. And the rest is just gravy on top!

The Guy From Glamour (The Guy #1) by Skylar M. Cates

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Blurb

Anthony Carrino loves his big, gregarious Italian-American family, even if his sisters are interfering, and his dad, the local sheriff, knows everything going on in town. He’s happy as a middle school guidance counselor. Despite helping kids and their parents fix their problems, Anthony can’t manage to get his own love life right. If only everyone would stop calling him the “nice” guy.

Dean Pierce doesn’t do relationships. A tough-minded military man, he is dedicated to his job as a Night Stalker, flying Chinook helicopters and not speaking much to anybody. He certainly doesn’t want to deal with a mess of emotions. But when tragedy strikes, Dean finds his hands full with his troubled niece, her irresistible guidance counselor, and a meddlesome family, which includes a rather large puppy.

Review 

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

The Guy From Glamour, by Skylar M Cates, is a tough review for me. I was hooked at the start, but the second half left me wanting.

Dean's world is upended when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of his niece, Nicki. Only having known the military world, he's lost. From the start, the writing had me invested in Dean's life. And you can't help but to love Moose, the puppy.

Anthony is there to help Dean pick up the pieces and help. Ends up the two men are very compatible and have some hot chemistry. Yes, there are some hot scenes!

This book is definitely about family. There's a whole lot of fun with Anthony's family. I love them all. And Nicki is someone who you can't help but to love and root for. She's definitely a teen with a chip on her shoulder, but for good reasons. Dean getting to know Nicki, and starting to get that sense of family, is wonderfully done. 

The bullying is spot-on, and left me hurting for Nicki. We've all seen kids bullying others, and it's awful to read this. Middle School sucks with the jealousy and the desire to cut others down.

The Guy From Glamour is definitely a little longer than I needed. A faster pace would have definitely improved this story, thus the 3.5 rating. But it's still a decent romance. 

Heart of a Redneck by Jodi Payne & B.A. Tortuga

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Blurb

Colby McBride is a blue-collar cowboy trying to make ends meet laying tile in Colorado. A loner by choice, Colby works hard with his hands and finds his peace camping in the mountains outside Boulder. Gordon James is a white-collar restaurateur who owns not one, but two successful establishments in downtown Boulder. He’s a sophisticated urbanite who is devoted to his work and is accustomed to getting what he wants.

The men are friends, but sparks fly when Colby falls in love and decides to show Gordon how much fun a good old boy can be. They’re just beginning to explore their relationship when Gordon’s sister’s suicide leaves him with custody of his five-year-old niece.

Colby comes from a huge family and is eager to help with the girl and to prove his worth to Gordon. But neither of them is ready for the tremendous changes to their already busy lives, or for how this new relationship with Olivia challenges them, complicating the way they interact with each other.

They say opposites attract, but can these two very different men work together to join their disparate lives and form a strong, if highly unlikely, family?

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

I love Heart Of A Redneck by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga. 

In the beginning, I was a little put off by the writing, as it seems jittery and gets off to a slow start. But, wow am I glad that I continued reading. The pace picked up and I soon found myself fully invested in these characters.

When we first meet Gordon and Colby, they're in a casual relationship, involved just hook ups, despite Colby wanting more. But things change immediately when Gordon becomes the guardian for his five year old niece.  Suddenly Gordon is thrown into instant fatherhood, just trying to survive day by day. Admittedly there were times I wanted to yell at Gordon, but I still came to love him. 

I can't praise Colby enough, as he is one of the most gentle characters ever. He is absolutely caring, loving and selfless. He is a rare gem of a man. I also adore Oliva, Gordon's niece, as she's adorable and well written.

Heart of a Redneck does an amazing job of demonstrating how quickly life can change. It's beautifully written and positively gripping. I am thrilled to have found this sweet romance. 

A Family For Keeps by Rheland Richmond

Title: A Family For Keeps
Author: Rheland Richmond
Length: approx 71k
Genre: contemporary, slow burn

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BLURB

Tristan was devastated when his sister died. His only consolation was her newborn daughter. He promised to take care of her like she was his own, but now he’s broken that promise.

After growing up in foster care, Nathaniel's finally built the life he’s always wanted. Now one case of human error could tear it all apart.

An unthinkable mistake that could never be rectified. Two men. Absolute strangers until tragedy and unforeseen circumstances bind them together. They must now find a way to co-parent and make the best of a bad situation. With no shared history to help them and two little girls caught in the middle, they now have no choice but to make it work. What could possibly go wrong?

Can two men put their differences aside for the sake of their children? They both have difficult choices to make, or what they love most will be taken away.

Are there bonds stronger than blood?

REVIEW
My Rating - 5 Stars!

A Family For Keeps is ultimately a sweet, feel good romance.

Tristan has been raising his niece, Sammy, since his sister and her husband died. Sammy has become his entire world. Nathaniel has been raising his daughter since his wife died. 

Tristan and Nathaniel are brought together under unthinkable circumstances. Neither are happy with the other, full of fear and resentment, with two innocent little girls caught in the middle. It takes a lot of courage to do the right thing, which will end up completely changing everyone's lives.

I really enjoyed this story. It is sweet, memorable and very much a page turner. It is written with heart, compassion and understanding. The characters are admirable and vulnerable, and have a great connection in the long run.

A Family For Keeps is definitely a good read that I'd suggest to anyone who enjoys a god bittersweet family romance.