Catching Chance (Gilcrest University Guys, #2) by M.E. Parker

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Blurb

What happens when you suddenly get everything you ever wanted?
First, you don’t believe it’s real.
Then you want more…
Let’s be honest, gay nerds from small towns in North Carolina don’t get to date the hot, popular quarterback. It’s just one of those impregnable laws of nature. Even if he was my best friend growing up. Even if it turns out by some miracle that he’s gay too. So, forgive me if I was a bit skeptical when Chance Wyrick asked me to be his boyfriend. That sort of thing just doesn’t happen in real life.
Sure, he has only shared his secret with me. And yeah, we’ve been fooling around for a few weeks. But again, let’s be honest, who else does he have to fool around with? He has to keep his secret. I’m safe. I’m just the first guy he’s ever fooled around with.
I’ve been in love with him for almost as long as I can remember. I’ve fantasized about what it would be like to be his boyfriend. So, when he asked, of course I said yes. It doesn’t matter that he’s not out. It doesn’t matter that it has to be secret. It doesn’t matter that I have to pretend. All that matters is that he asked me to be his boyfriend and that I said yes.
That’s what I was thinking the day Chance Wyrick asked me to be his boyfriend. Everything was fine until it wasn’t. Everything was fine until I wanted more …
Catching Chance is the second book in the Gilcrest University Guys series. It’s a full-length, “friends to lovers” romance novel. It has “coming out” and “first-time gay” themes, is stocked full of STEAM, heartache, and laughter, and it has a guaranteed happily ever after ending. The series will follow the love stories of four college friends. Catching Chance is the second of two books that concludes Andy and Chance’s love story. It can be read as a standalone, but if you want to follow Andy and Chance’s journey from the beginning, start with Book One, Chasing Chance. Look for book three, Resisting Rein (Cam’s story), to come out early this summer!

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Catching Chance is a fantastic sequel to Chasing Chance. I love this story. Now a couple, Chance and Andy still have a lot to deal with. 

Chance is closeted, which bothers both men, yet the fear of coming out is huge. This is personally one of my favorite storylines, as I just adore closeted athletes dealing with coming out. The fear is real. And the strength required to come out is real. Always a good plotline, this one definitely succeeds as a worthwhile read. 

The relationship between the men's moms is amazing. They're supportive, loving, and funny. The moments with them are wonderful, funny, and charming.

And of course I love Chance and Andy together. Their love is strong, beautiful, and built up over a lifetime together. I adore the depth of their friendship, and the strength of their love.

Catching Chance is a fantastic friends to lovers romance, with all the emotions throughout. This ME Parker gem is absolutely a must-read-in-one-sitting book for me. Hopefully we'll see more books in this world, as there's definitely a lot of potential for storylines.

A Cowboy's Home (Montana #3) by R.J. Scott

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Blurb

One burned and broken man finds his way home. Can he find peace in the arms of a man easy to love?

Justin made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, battling domestic terrorism, never the man he really was, using hate to avenge the death of his best friend. The friend he'd killed.

What he doesn’t count on is getting shot, and if he's going to die he wants it to be on Crooked Tree soil. Home.

Sam is as much a part of Crooked Tree as any of the families, and the offer to buy into the ranch is a dream come true. But falling for a hidden, secretive, injured man isn’t the way to keep his head in the game.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

A Cowboy's Home, the third book in RJ Scott's Montana series, tells the story of Justin's return to Crooked Tree Ranch.

Having disappeared along with Adam, Justin sneaks back to the outskirts of the ranch while injured. Enter Sam. Swoon. Sam finds him and saves him, literally. 

Justin's struggles are many, he doesn't feel worthy of being back with his friends and family, and he certainly doesn't feel worthy of love. He's living with the guilt of his past and it's haunting him. He's also in danger and fears bringing that danger back to the ranch.

Justin and Sam's story is about finding the strength to forgive oneself. It's about saving a stranger and falling in love with him. It's also about a troubled past and missing years.

RJ Scott excels in setting the scenery which is well described, transplanting directly me to Montana. A Cowboy's Home definitely adds to the fun of the Montana series, and it's great to see returning characters. 

Covet Thy Neighbor (Tucker Springs #4) by L.A. Witt

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Blurb

Welcome to Tucker Springs, Colorado, where sparks fly when opposites attract—but are some obstacles too great to overcome?

When tattoo artist Seth Wheeler meets his new neighbor, it’s like a revelation. Darren Romero is everything Seth wants in a man: hot, clever, single, and interested. For a minute he seems perfect. Then Darren drops the bomb: he moved to Tucker Springs to be a pastor at the New Light Church.

As a gay man whose parents threw him out, Seth has a strict policy of keeping believers at arm’s length for self-preservation. But Darren’s perseverance and the chemistry bubbling between them steadily wear down his defenses.

In a small town like Tucker Springs, Seth can’t avoid Darren—or how much he wants him. Which means he needs to decide what’s more important: protecting himself, or his feelings for his neighbor.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Covet Thy Neighbor is a great addition to LA Witt's Tucker Springs series. 

When tattoo artist Seth meets his new neighbor, Darren, he's thrown for a loop. The attraction is instant, but one is an atheist and the other's a minister. Being a couple is gonna be a complication.

Their story is full of wonderful angst  based on realistic issues. This is all well developed and certainly a great topic to explore. I personally enjoy stories with religious conflicts, but if you don't, steer clear. I did have to separate my realistic views this time around, however, as I just can't imagine a pastor falling for an atheist. But, for a story sake, it's a fun plot.

Together, Seth and Darren are hot. Starting with a hook-up, things soon start to heat up, and they can't fight their feelings when things start to feel serious.

Covet Thy Neighbor is a sweet, feel-good romance. I definitely enjoyed it.

Second Chance Ranch (Montana #5) by R.J. Scott

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Blurb

Rob runs to Crooked Tree determined to find a safe place for his nephews. A family for them is the final thing on his list, and then he can vanish completely. Falling for a local paramedic along the way is a disaster in Rob’s otherwise perfect plans.

Paramedic Aaron, the middle of five brothers, would like someone to love. A great believer in fate he is convinced though, that one day he’ll find someone. He just never thought it would be a man in so much pain, or that children would be part of the package.

Rob is ready to leave. Aaron wants him to stay. Their love has an expiry date, and it’s tearing them apart. Can they find a way to save what they have? 

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

RJ Scott's Second Chance Ranch is the fifth book in the Montana series. It is a wonderful second chance romance, full of all the feels.

Rob arrives at Crooked Tree Ranch searching for some help from Justin. Rob's suddenly in charge of his niece and nephews, and needs help finding a good life for them. We slowly get to know Rob's motivations, and it certainly had me in big ugly tears. Meeting Aaron is definitely not something he expected, throwing a wrench into his plan. 


Rob and Aaron are great from the start. Their relationship develops naturally, and just feels right. Their story is full of twists and turns that are fantastic. And snark. So much snark and banter, which I always love. I truly love these two as a couple.

Overall, this series is just wonderful. Full of different families, and many family members, everyone and everything is entwined and I love it all. And this book is certainly about family!

Second Chance Ranch is a story of fear, fear, and more fear. It's a tale about not giving up, and grabbing any chance you have at life. It will grab you, taking you along on a beautiful, emotional rollercoaster. Basically, RJ Scott has managed to wow me again. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - 717 Miles by Sophia Soames

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: 717 miles

Author: Sophia Soames

Publisher: Self published

Cover Artist: Miriam Latu

Release Date: April 30, 2019

Length: 104 969 words/ 371 pages

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Heat Rating: 4 flames 

Trope/s: New adult

Themes: Coming of age, Au pair (Manny), Travel, Family, Airline Industry, 

London, UK, Oslo, Norway, School. Enemies to lovers. Bisexuality. Gay. Out and Proud.

TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Deals with serious bullying. 

For US readers, this story is set in the UK where the age of consent is 16. 

The MC’s are 17 and 19. Mature content.

It is a standalone story.

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Blurb

The calculated flying distance from Oslo to London is equal to 717 miles which is equal to 1153 km. If you want to go by car, the driving distance between Oslo and London is 1732.79 km. If you ride your car with an average speed of 112 kilometres/hour (70 miles/h), travel time will be 15 hours 28 minutes.

Adam Vik Solheim should not be in London. He’s not supposed to be anywhere near the British capital, because Adam Vik Solheim, age 19, is supposed to be on a beach in Bali. He is supposed to be on the first stop on an Asian backpacking trip of a lifetime. That was the plan. That is where he is supposed to be. Not here. Alone in a weird house in a strange city, being paid to look after some troubled 17-year-old.

Felix Haugland has to survive the final 3 weeks of school. Make it through 21 more days of hell. Then he is going to hide out in his room for the rest of the summer until he can figure out how to get his life back on track. Find a school far far away, where he can start over and not make mistakes.

He doesn't need a flipping babysitter. He just doesn't. His life is messed up enough as it is.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Sophia Soames' 717 Miles is a wonderful coming of age romance. 

Definitely a great romance, Felix's world is shaken off it's axis when Adam shows up as Felix's new babysitter. Both men have tragic backgrounds, Felix's full of horrific bullying, Adam's with a problem with his friends. The bullying is bad, and I definitely suggest you skip this one if that's a trigger. However, the bullying is well explored, including the nightmares that Felix struggles with. 

I love these two, both individually and as a couple. They definitely have a lot to offer each other, and drastically help heal one another. An enemies to lovers tale, they develop a strong connection as Adam develops compassion and caring for the scared younger man.

Their story is one of pain and fear, as well as guilt and regret. It's an emotional ride as they deal with their relationship, homophobia, and bullying.

Felix's mother is such an enigma. She's both an absentee mom, yet she also has a wonderful relationship with Felix, and offers him the world, literally. I found this part of the story to be frustrating and interesting.

Written in present tense, I was a little uncomfortable, as I don't enjoy present tense writing. That's just a personal issue of mine.

Overall, 717 Miles is a heartfelt story of healing and love. I was a little weary of the blurb, but I am thrilled I decided to try this one. It is truly a great read. 

Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited

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Excerpt

I don’t notice him at first, wrapped up in a blanket sitting on the sofa. The house is dark and quiet and if it wasn’t for the light from his phone, I wouldn’t have noticed him at all. He just looks up and meets my eye for a second. Looking a little bit sad.

“Where is your mum? I thought you were going to hang out today?”

“Gone to her boyfriend’s. Not sure when she will be back. Didn’t check. She left you money on the side there.”

“Oh.”

I don’t know what to say. Apart from that I’m sorry she is a bit of a shit mum. I mean she left him here alone, whilst she’s gone off to see her bloke. Then, I kind of think that we are all adults. Well, Felix might be. I am not. I still don’t know what to say.

“Philip went on the group chat. I got bored.” Felix gets up from the sofa. Walking over to the kettle and flicking the switch. At least it fills the silence, the kettle humming quietly as the water heats up.

“I saw that, it was funny. Really good.” I pretend to check my phone.

Felix gets a cup down. Pulls out a teabag. Tilts his head towards the coffeemaker.

I get a coffee pod out and load it whilst Felix gets another cup. Nudging my hand as he places it in the brewer, which makes me jolt back. I don’t know why. I just don’t know how to act around him when we are alone. Like this.

He is leaning back against the counter. Chewing on his bottom lip with his arms crossed over his chest. Wearing joggers that are slung low over his hips, and a hoodie that just doesn’t quite cover the blond fuzz on his stomach.

I am standing there biting my nails and fiddling with the envelope on the counter. I try to catch his eye. Staring at his lips and thinking dirty thoughts. Then, looking away the minute he looks up.

It’s different flirting with girls. If Felix was a girl, I would be all charming and touchy-feely and wink and compliment her and we would both know where things would end up in the end.

With Felix, I haven’t got a clue. I don’t know where he falls, whether he is straight or gay or whatever he defines as. He might just think of me as some big brother figure. Someone who makes him feel safe. Someone who he kisses and clings to and cuddles. He seems as confused as me. His hand shaking a little as he pours the boiling water in the cup. Stirs with a teaspoon. Spills a little on the side.

I try to be helpful. I mean, I try to wipe it up with a tea towel, only to nudge his arm with my elbow which makes us both jump. I spill half of his tea. The cup spinning on the worktop. Felix’s hand touching mine, as we both try to catch the cup before it falls. Me catching it and Felix jolting back like he has been burnt. He is sucking his finger into his mouth. Catching my eye and not looking away. He just looks at me, all eyes and hurt and feelings and… I don’t know. I suppose it’s heat. Desire.

It makes me a bit crazy. I mean, I am already crazy, but I think I must be crazier than should be allowed, because I grab his face with both hands and launch at those lips. Just smashing my mouth on his. Walking him backwards until he is being squashed against the kitchen table that is creaking and scratching along the floor under the weight of us.

I am panting. Hard. Being the worst kisser in the world. There is nothing sensual or soft about me and my kissing. Not like I would kiss a girl. I am kissing Felix because I need to. Because I am desperate and because his hands are fisting the hair on my head, pulling and scratching my scalp whilst he catches his breath. Letting his forehead rest against mine, breathing hard and fast against my lips.

Then, he starts to kiss me. Properly kiss me. The way I should have been kissing him. Lips and tongues and more than a little bit of teeth, hard and hot and making me feel lightheaded. I am not breathing properly. Not getting enough oxygen to my brain. Grinding against him. Rutting and jerking whilst he is whimpering and panting and making all these little sounds that just egg me on.

I don’t know what I am doing. I don’t know what got into me. I let go. I let him go. Pull my hands back and step away from him. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Stumbling backwards and blinking into the light like I have just woken up.

“I shouldn’t have done that.” I mumble. Well I shouldn’t. I wasn’t supposed to do that.

About the Author 

Sophia Soames should be old enough to know better but has barely grown up. She has been known to fangirl over tv-shows, has fallen in and out of love with more pop stars than she dares to remember, and has a ridiculously high-flying (un)glamourous real-life job. 

Her long suffering husband just laughs at her antics. Their children are feral. The Au Pair just sighs. 

She lives in a creaky old house in rural London, although her heart is still in Scandinavia. 

Discovering that the stories in her head make sense when written down has been part of the most hilarious midlife crisis ever and she hopes it may long continue. 

Miriam Latu is a Norway based artist, specializing in hand drawn pencil portraits. She works with old-school pen and paper, and more of her work can be found on Instagram. 

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Giveaway 

Little Harbour, my first novel, will be FREE on all Amazon platforms from April 30 until May 4.

Go grab it if you haven’t already read it!

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RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

FF - What Works For Us by TL Travis

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Blurb

A lady walks into a bar…

Isn’t that the way it always starts? Bad joke or not, this is what my life had been reduced to. How does one begin again over the age of forty?

Instead of China, as was the customary gift for your twentieth anniversary, my husband decided to serve me with divorce papers. Literally that very day. Instead of citing irreconcilable differences, he informed me that not only did he have a girlfriend, but she was pregnant.

It took me weeks until I felt strong enough to venture out into the land of singles. And when I did, I quickly found it wasn’t the place for me. I’d resigned myself to call it a night after dismissing the final tool spewing his BS pick up line, when all I thought I knew about myself was swiftly cast aside when she spoke.

Her voice alone sent shivers down my spine… 

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

TL Travis's What Works for Us is a great lesbian romance. It's a short story full of heat and spice.  At just 37 pages, it's a fun, hot read!