Memory Lane (Pine Cove) by H.J. Welch

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU

Goodreads Link

Ever since Jay Coal’s best friend saved his life in high school, he’s harbored a secret love. But Angel is straight, and his thrilling work as a movie stuntman takes him all over the world while Jay has never left Pine Cove. When Angel finally comes back to town, a suspicious work accident leaves him in the dark, and only Jay can light the way.

It’s a second chance for Angel Shields. Trustworthy Jay helps him recover from the accident, and Angel starts to see him in a different light. But are these feelings of attraction new? Or has he always had a secret crush on his best friend? Thanks to the accident, Angel can’t trust his own memories to tell him. Maybe all that matters is how he feels now?

Their life-long friendship is at risk if they make a move, but this chemistry is unforgettable. With more dangers ahead than answers, will they even get the chance to explore this love that’s waiting for them down the end of memory lane?

Book Five of Pine Cove. Memory Lane is a steamy, standalone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Memory  Lane is a sweet as can be friends to lovers romance by HJ Welch. Part of the Pine Cove series, it's a wonderful addition to this small town romance series. 

Two best friends get their long awaited chance at love when Angel is injured and Jay pretends to be his fiance at the hospital. 

Their story is sweet and charming, with plenty of sexual awakening for Angel. Upon developing feelings for his friend, he struggles to figure out his sexuality. 

Their story includes biphobia which has shaped Angel's feelings. With his new look on bisexuality, and his new attraction towards Jay, everything suddenly clicks for the man. And, oh how I love the way he jumps into everything. 

It also includes some outside obstacles they need to overcome. It's light angst, with a whole lot of sweetness. 

Memory Lane is a wonderful, feel good read. This HJ Welch book will definitely have you in a good mood. I love it all and highly recommend it. 

Flirting with Fire (Shore Thing #3) by Grace Kilian Delaney

 

Amazon Link 
Goodreads Link

A stuntman with a love for fire.
A yoga teacher in search of zen.
A holiday season neither will forget.

Stunt performer and self-declared badass, Tate Astbury returns to his hometown to spend another dreaded Thanksgiving with his dad. But his father forgets and makes other plans, resigning Tate to a quiet and depressing holiday alone unless he can find someplace else to celebrate.

When Tate’s mischievous friend learns about the unfortunate twist, he dares Tate to enter a radio contest to become a fake boyfriend for a desperate caller’s holiday dinner, and Tate never turns down a dare.

Endre Michel is a mess. His yoga business is on the cusp of ruin, and his moms are visiting from out of state for the holiday, intent on meeting his boyfriend, a person Endre invented. Through the contest, he meets Tate, a crude, tattooed older man who plays the role of doting boyfriend so well, Endre suspects and hopes it’s not all for show.

Neither man can deny the unintended connection, and they struggle to overcome the distance between Tate’s put-together Hollywood career and the chaos surrounding Endre’s unsteady future—a situation that intensifies when an unthinkable tragedy uncovers a dark and painful truth.

Will Tate and Endre’s future together perish in flames, or can their love rise from the ashes?

Flirting with Fire can be read as a standalone holiday romance with several cups of angst, questionable jokes, a bird with a wicked sense of humor, a bed with loud, squeaky springs, and an HFN/HEA ending.

CW: suicide, substance abuse disorder, grief, mental illness

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Flirting with Fire is a wonderful hurt/comfort read by Grace Kilian Delaney. The third book in the Shore Thing series, it's easily read as a standalone. 

The themes explored throughout this book are heavy. There's a huge emphasis on grief, guilt, depression, and addiction. Everything is written with extreme care, compassion, and heart. It's realistic, emotional, and all consuming. I am downright impressed with the way the author handles everything. 

As for Tate and Endre, they meet via a radio contest for a fake boyfriend for the holidays situation. It's a cute thing and I adore their first meeting, as things get off to a bad start. They do eventually click and end up being great supports for one another.

Learning the details of these men's pasts is as emotional as it gets. Both suffered, and continue to suffer, greatly. The meat of this story is Endre and the fact that his life is at a crossroads. Things with his best friend are strained, he's struggling with his business decision, and he's trying to stay clean through it all. It's a lot to deal with and the reader gets a front row seat for it all. 

One of the highlights of this story for me is the way Endre uses his videos to talk through his pain and addiction issues. He not only talks through his current issues, but we get flashbacks to how he started doing so and why. He's open and honest about his addiction and recovery, putting his vulnerability out into the world. It's remarkable and would be a fantastic way for many people to deal with such issues in real life. I truly love this. 

I love and adore Tate and Endre as a couple. They have a lot on their plates and many reasons to not try to be together, including distance. But through it all, they genuinely are perfect for one another and help the other to heal. Fate is definitely at play for these two.

And then there's Endre and Jackson. What a complicated relationship these two have. Omg, my heart breaks for Jackson and I completely understand his decisions, despite the impact they have on Endre. I am crossing my fingers that we get Jackson's story, as I desperately need him to find love. 

This story has a lot going on. Much of it is the men dealing with their emotional baggage. It has looks into Tate's career as a stunt man and the danger he faces. There's also real life danger to deal with, as well as some twists and turns that help bring this story full circle. I should say, the twists and turns weren't a shock to me, as I suspected the big reveal all along, but I love the way it's developed and executed. Another well done moment for the author.

In the end, Flirting With Fire is a beautiful story. This Grace Killian Delaney book is one hell of a ride. as we're reminded that sometimes what looks like a bad thing can actually be a new opportunity for better things. Definitely consider this book the next time you're in the mood for an angst ridden emotional journey towards healing. You won't regret it. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Living on a Dare (Shore Thing #1) by Grace Kilian Delaney

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

Length: 170 pages

Cover Design: AngstyG

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Stuntman Draven O’Connor never turns down a dare—even if it means getting down on one knee to propose to his former college roommate and friend. The same man he’s been crushing on since the first day they met. The same man that has grown distant over the past year. And the same man who just agreed to be his fiancé.

Julien Bouchard is tired of living a lie. He spent the past year exploring his sexuality in secret, enduring countless dates with women to appease his mother, and dodging his best friend, Draven, who knows everything there is to know about him, except the one thing that could change their friendship. Ready to face his friend, he meets him at a bar and is greeted by an unexpected marriage proposal. The dare isn’t surprising; it’s the scorching hot kiss that sends Julien’s head and heart in a tailspin—and gives him an idea for the perfect plan.

But perfect plans are never go according to plan, and news of their fake engagement spreads to their families as fast as a wildfire, forcing them to confront their true feelings about each other and hope they don’t get burned.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Living on a Dare is a great friends to lovers romance. Grace Kilian Delaney managed to entertain me with Draven and Julien. The bet is cute, and the pretend relationship is even cuter. 

Their relationship consists of secrets, lies, pretending, homophobia, and some hot sex. The angst is excellent and is well developed, entertaining, and fun. The high society attitude of Julien's mother is insane, but enjoyable. She is definitely a smothering mother.

I found myself surprised at the length of deception, as it's a little crazy, but it's a delightful ride, and certainly enjoyable.

Written in dual person pov, it's fun getting to know both men's perspective. I enjoy the writing, but I am rating it 4 stars instead of 5 because I felt there was some background missing, thus distracting me. 

Overall, Living on a Dare is a fun, light read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Author Bio

Grace Kilian Delaney is a LGBT writer, musician, animal lover, and author of the sweet and sexy bisexual romance Living on a Dare: A Shore Thing Novel. She spends her free time performing kitchen concerts to an audience of her two cats and a dog and loves long beach runs. 

Twitter: @GracekilianD

Facebook: GraceKilianD

Amazon Author Page: Grace Kilian Delaney on Amazon

Website: gracekiliandelaney.wordpress.com

Gmail: GraceKilianDelaney

Mailing List: http://bit.ly/2UeYlHC

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