RELEASE BLITZ, EXCERPT, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW - Right as Raine (Aster Valley #1) by Lucy Lennox

Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:

Right As Raine

By Lucy Lennox 

Aster Valley, Book 1

Tiller: 

As the first openly gay professional football player, I can’t afford to make any mistakes, on or off the field. And the absolute biggest mistake I could make right now would be to fall for Mikey Vining, my best friend, employee and, more importantly, Coach’s baby boy. I might fantasize about Mikey at night-—every night—but actually touching him would be a serious personal foul. 

And falling for him? That’s completely out of bounds. 

Mikey: 

I’ve learned my lesson about falling for one of my dad’s players. They’re a bunch of spoiled jocks with more muscles than brains. I’ve spent years learning to keep my eyes, and my hands, to myself. But resisting the temptation becomes nearly impossible when Tiller Raine and I end up together in a small cabin in a remote Colorado town. 

Suddenly, there’s not much to do but look at each other. And talk. And hopefully, hopefully touch. 

But what happens when our stay in Aster Valley is over and it’s time to return to the real world? Will Coach blow the whistle on our relationship? Or will Tiller admit there might actually be something he loves more than football after all? 

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My Rating - 5+ Stars!

Omg, a Lucy Lennox sports romance!!!! Right as Raine is absolutely fabulous. A sports romance, it's also the start of the small town Asher Valley series.

I have to note that the cover doesn't work for me. The font of the author's name is more of a regency look than a sports or small town look. It doesn't work for this book. But, as they say, don't judge a book by it's cover.

Again, omg, a sports romance by Lucy Lennox. I am in awe!

This book had me riveted from the first page and had me consumed throughout. I could barely breathe at times, as I was so on edge. 

I love Mikey and all his layers. His family issues made me want to hug him. The expectations on him, and his father's control over him had me angry. His father is downright evil. But, damn, I love Mikey's spirit and his talent. He's truly a remarkable character. 

Mikey's in awe when he meets Tiller. Having grown up around athletes, he's never been in awe of one. Until now. Hired on as Tiller's personal chef, what follows is an amazing story.

Friendship is at the root of this relationship. Mikey and Teller are wonderful together. Full of banter, snark, and plenty of attraction, I love the way the two men mesh. It's shocking that they managed to stay just friends for so long.

But, with an injury, and a month away to the small town of Aster Valley, the extreme forced proximity helps things to finally get steamy between the two.

I love Tiller. Good god, I would love his coming of age/coming out tale. As for what we do know, Oh man...he's an out and proud NFL player, but his struggles with trust are real. And his lack of a love life all these years made me so sad for him. 

And, oh, Mikey. I adore that his love language is food, and that he shows Tiller his love everyday. 

God, I love everything about this story. I love the way the two men interact and their development into more. I love the sports aspect, the forbidden relationship, the small town, the angst, the family issues, and all the secondary characters. 

Basically, everything about this story works for me. I could not put it down. Even through the big ugly tears, chocked up, sobbing. Yes, Lucy made me cry!

The forbidden romance aspect is powerful, as Mikey is the youngest son of Tiller's coach. Coach is an ass, who's tough on Mikey and treats him like shit, making for plenty of devestating moments. His feelings about Mikey and Tiller being together is tough to read. 

And let's not forget about Aster Valley. This small town and all it's charm is fully brought to life. I love everything about this small town. And I adore the way Mikey feels at home here from the start. It's as feel good as it gets. 

Right as Raine is a spectacular sports / small town romance. Lucy Lennox is a leading author in her genre, but this just might be my favorite of hers. I lived and breathed every single moment with these men and I loved every minute of it. 

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Home Plate (Easton U Pirates #2) by Christina Lee

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

Dominic Girard

My final baseball season with the Easton U Pirates feels bittersweet. I’d like to go out on a high note, graduate, and focus on the family business. But a certain pitcher is making senior year a challenge. Not only because Maclain is stubborn as hell, but because he makes me feel things I never have about another guy. With each snarky comment and hard-won grin, he reveals a little more of himself, and before I know it, I’m in over my head.

Mason Maclain

I’ll be graduating college this year, which also means the end of baseball, a sport I’ve played my entire life. It feels like a significant chapter is coming to a close, leaving behind a void I’m unwilling to face. Something else I don’t want to face? The impossibly charming Pirates catcher, whose quick wit and killer smirk poke holes in all my defenses. With each lingering look and quiet exchange, I want to push him away and pull him closer at the same time. I’ve never felt this intense draw before, and there’s no way I’ll ever admit it.

When Coach proposes a team-building activity to improve our chemistry on the field, little does he know things are heating up behind the scenes as well. A flicker of a connection sparks into a firestorm, and soon Girard and I are experiencing things for the first time—together. But outside the haven of our hotel room, reality infringes all too soon. I’m clinging to my fraying relationship with my dad, and for Girard, coming out is still scary, loving family or not. Resisting the pull to Girard seems futile, but I struggle at every turn. Any longer and I’ll lose the only person who makes my pulse thud quicker than a fastball over home plate.

There’s a pitcher-and-catcher joke in there somewhere. 

My Rating - 5+ Stars!

Christina Lee's Home Plate is a fan-freakin-tastic college sports romance. The second book in the Easton U Pirates series, it's easily read as a standalone, but do yourself a favor and read the first book Bat Boy, as it's wonderful. 

It's no surprise that my favorite read is a college sports romance. And this one grabbed me immediately and consumed me throughout. I love every single second of this book. 

This is an emotional read, with plenty of baggage and angst involved. 

The enemies to lovers aspect is a large part of their story, as hatred can often be a disguise for something else. The two men need to work together and drop all their anger for the good of their team. Cue the forced proximity, which is the driving motivator here.

What follows is an amazing romance, as two road roommates give into their sexual desires. There's tension, want, and need throughout. Theirs is a stunning tale of sexual discovery, sexual experimentation, and first times. 

Omg, the sex scenes. They're as emotional as can be, just leaving me in awe of the closeness between the two. I can't praise these scenes enough. Every single touch, caress, and moment between the two is simply brilliant.

The relationship between the two is truly remarkable. They go from enemies to lovers, with many small, slow steps along the way. Their slow experimentation, while placing mutual trust in one another, is beautiful. 

Their tale is also drowning in family issues and heartache. Mason's relationship with his step-father is painful to read. The feelings about his long deceased mother are tear inducing. All of these scenes will leave you wanting to hold Mason and tell him he's worthy. 

This is a tale of fear. So much fear. Fear of coming out to a the only family member you have left, knowing he's homophobic. Fear of facing a future alone.

This is also a tale of baseball and some of the nuisances of the game. I appreciate how many game moments were in this tale, including the importance of the relationship between a pitcher and catcher. The teammate moments are perfectly done as well. I love it all.

And omg, the ending!!! 

The writing is wonderful. No surprise there, as Christina Lee is a marvelous author. She excels in creating memorable characters and a riveting storyline. The characters, their journey, and all that's between them, is written with the emotions jumping off the pages throughout. 

The secondary characters are well developed and add tremendously to the story. Hell, Mrs Girard is absolutely amazing, even though she made me cry big, ugly, fat tears. I was absolutely choked up and glad no one saw me. 

Home Plate is a must read for any sports romance fans. Christina Lee had be consumed throughout this journey of coming out and found family. Christina's ability to combine a love story between two athletes and a heartfelt, emotional tale, makes this a must read in my eyes. Honestly, I love this effin book! Just read it!

When Fate Falls Short by Brooke Edwards

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Goodreads Link

Blurb

Childhood sweethearts Nathan Maxwell and Sean Adams took ten years to realize they belonged together, followed by ten years of bliss. When it is snatched away, Sean is left alone with the aftermath. Lost and grieving in a world that doesn’t make sense without Nathan by his side, he struggles to keep himself afloat… until he meets Jesse Lawrence.

The shadow of a congenital heart defect has hung over Jesse like a dark cloud all his life. Nathan’s death saves Jesse’s life by providing the heart Jesse needs to survive, and a chance encounter between their best friends plants Jesse in Sean’s orbit. But how well can a love triangle between a dead man, his grieving lover, and the one with his heart beating in his chest possibly turn out? Real feelings and pure intentions might not be enough.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It's an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Wow! Just wow! With When Fate Falls Short, Brooke Edwards will take you on an emotional ride like none you've experienced before. 

I fell in love with Nathan and Sean immediately. They way they meet and become friends is absolutely adorable. Their budding friendship, and then romance is filled with fun and tender moments. I love them. Completely, utterly love them.

They're just two young men who fall in love after years as best friends. They are each other's world. And then they aren't, as one moment in time changes everything. And Sean is left to pick up the pieces. If he can.

Enter Jesse, who received Nathan's heart. Sweet, sweet Jesse. You can't hate him, just because Nathan had to die in order for him to live. Jesse's own life story is heart-breaking. Literally. You will cry for Jesse too. 

I love the writing style, as it hooked me immediately. And I have to admit that I am thrilled the story is the length that it is. If Brooke Edwards had developed this story in a more comprehensive way, I would never have survived. As it is, I am still left broken and gutted by just 64 pages. 

When Fate Falls Short is not a happy, uplifting book. Hell, it's main theme centers around what happens when your soulmate dies. You aren't expecting laughs. But, when you're looking for something that will give you all the feels, please do yourself a favor and read this book! It is amazing!