Review: Jude (Lucky #3) by Garrett Leigh

Isha has spent the last year watching his BFF get his happily-ever-after. He’s proud of Dom, but…it hurts to see him so free while Isha’s love life is still on lockdown. Only Isha’s ex-wife knows the secret that he’s kept caged for so long—that he’s queer too, and he’s lonely.

Jude’s too chained to his work to notice what he’s missing by being terminally single, but a new face in the village soon catches his attention. City boy Isha is gorgeous, and when he starts to haunt Jude’s reptile shop as well as the hook-up app on his phone, he's a welcome distraction from Jude’s business problems.

For a control freak like Isha, letting Jude under his skin is an existential meltdown, but Jude’s not in the market to be anyone’s queer crisis, not when he’s facing troubles of his own. Unlocking their lives could push both men apart forever, but it might be a risk worth taking if sharing is the key to their happy future.

I actually ended up enjoying this one more than I initially thought I would. Because snakes. Actually, snakes, bearded dragons, leopard geckos... you name it and in case you're wondering, I'm not a fan. However, I did end up learning a couple things about these creatures and I always enjoy that.

In true Garrett Leigh fashion there is much angst and pain in Jude and Isha's journey. Isha is queer and in the closet to everyone except his ex-wife/best friend. For years he's been perfectly fine with his occasional Grindr hookups then along comes Jude and throws everything off-kilter.

Jude is a struggling pet shop owner and a bit... eccentric. I actually really like Jude but he does have a hard time communicating as does Isha which makes the push/pull extra push/pull-y.

They do clearly have some sort of voodoo connection between them that defies explanation and I'm fine with that. Where things got dicey was Isha's closetedness. I honestly couldn't understand why it was such a huge deal. His entire circle of friends are queer, his kids are young enough that they're going to take it in stride and keep on loving him just as much as ever and his ex-wife already knows and accepts him so... *scratches head*?????

BUT, I will say I understand people get things in their head for whatever reason and it's difficult to shift out of that mentality; however, that obscurity doesn't translate well in the written word here especially considering the whole situation was over and done with in the blink of an eye without a backwards glance giving the whole thing an air of contrivance.

Jude ends happily with Isha making the adjustment to blissful domesticity in the epilogue and I enjoyed watching them find their way. Though I would've appreciated a little more happy than the epilogue.

Definitely doesn't compare to Lucky but still an absorbing hurt/comfort romance that stays true to Ms. Leigh's form and one I would recommend to fans of her work.

A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Time Waits (Out of Time #1) C.B. Lewis

Join author C.B. Lewis & IndiGo Marketing on the release blitz tour of Time Waits. Find out more about this time travel romance, read an excerpt & enter in the giveaway for a $10 NineStar Press gift code too! Good luck!

Title: Time Waits

Series: Out of Time, Book One

Author: C.B. Lewis

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: April 27, 2020

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 109300

Genre: Science Fiction, British, gay, intercultural, PTSD, Science Fiction, time travel

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Synopsis

On the run from his former allies in 1943, Janos Nagy’s life is turned upside down when he stumbles through a mysterious doorway and finds himself in the hands of the Temporal Research Institute, a covert organization that verifies historical events through time travel.

The year, he is told, is 2041. Wounded, exhausted, and helpless, he’s in a time he doesn’t know and a world that has changed beyond his wildest imagination. Dieter Schmidt, one of the TRI linguists and historians, offers his aid in making sense of this strange new existence.

But Janos’s arrival has broken the TRI’s prime rule of non-interference. It’s not long until someone in the TRI decides that if the rule can be broken once…well, why not break it again?

Excerpt

Time Waits
C.B. Lewis © 2020
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One
The heavy rain had lightened, which was a small mercy.

The moonlight, thin and sickly, barely broke through the clouds. The trees shone a dull grey in the darkness. Only the rustle of leaves in the wind and the cries of some small creatures out in the darkness broke the silence.

A soldier broke cover from beneath the undergrowth. He stumbled and slithered down a muddy slope towards the track. Grass and dirt tore beneath his boots, and he caught himself against the trunk of a tree to keep from falling, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

In the distance, he was sure he could hear the howl of the dogs, the hunting party. He gulped down a breath before running onward.

He was armed, it was true, but what was one shot against a legion of men? He could turn it on himself, but he had escaped death once. He had no wish to face it again.

Though rough and little used, the narrow track was easier than breaching the undergrowth again. He had to get as far ahead as he could. They wouldn’t continue the hunt much longer, not with the chill of night setting in, but they might follow just long enough.

So he ran.

His legs shook with each step, but terror drove him onward. If he stopped, even to catch his breath, he didn’t think he would be able to start again. If he stopped, he would die. If he rested, he would die. If he did anything but run, he would die.

Something howled in the night, and his heart slammed against his ribs.

It might have been a dog, but it could have been a wolf.

The wind was picking up, whirling around him, the icy rain lashing his face cut through with scalding tears on his cheeks. Running and weeping. No honor. No dignity. All he knew was that he wanted to live.

Ahead of him, the track broadened, which meant it was coming closer to civilization, to people.

He hesitated a moment before plunging off the path and back into the forest, branches whipping at his face and limbs. His foot caught on a root, and he fell, rolling down the slope. He crashed into a stream at the bottom, breaking through a film of ice and plunging into the frigid water below. The cold it cut to the bone, so sharp he couldn’t even draw breath to cry out.

Blindly, he tried to find purchase on the bank. He fell forward heavily onto the ground, a thin keen of pain escaping him as he crushed his left arm beneath him. Warmth spread from the limb. The wound was open again.

“Ángele Dei,” he whispered desperately, “qui custos es mei, me, tib…”

A shout cut him off.

Lights glowed, flickering lanterns visible, like fireflies between the trees.

He pushed himself onto his knees, keening in pain, and grabbed at the low branches of a tree to pull himself upright. Splinters of bark cut into his skin, fresh blood warm on his hands. His legs were numb with cold and pain, but he ran.

The bitter wind cut into his throat and chest. He pushed deeper into the thicker, denser undergrowth—somewhere to hide, somewhere safe, somewhere unseen. Thorns tore at his face and hand, and he tasted blood in his mouth.

He was scrambling over a fallen tree trunk when it gave way beneath him. His ankle folded under him, and he yelped, falling onto his knee. It was only when he fell that he saw the hollow beneath the fallen tree. A hiding place.

Breathing hard, he squirmed through the gap, the tree and ground tearing at him, at his clothing. It was a small space, tight and narrow, but enough to shield him. He pushed dirt up to block the opening, his nose and mouth full of the taste of moss and mud, and lay still and silent as the grave.

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Meet the Author

C.B. Lewis has been making up nonsense since she was able to talk. Now, she puts it into computers and turns it into books. She is chuffed to bits to officially be yet another one of the collective of authors from Edinburgh.

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Giveaway + Blog Tour: Marry Him by Marina Ford

Join author Marina Ford & Riptide Publishing as they promote new contemporary romance, Marry Him out now. Find out more below & enter in the giveaway for a $15 Riptide gift card too.

Blurb:

Joe Kaminski likes to go with the flow, a good trait to have as a young artist living in London. His laidback approach to life makes him a fish out of water when he’s hired at P&B Designs, a high-powered PR agency. The money’s good, but with his poor planning skills, he doesn’t see it lasting.

Harry Byrne likes his life the same way he likes his PowerPoint presentations: structured. Known for his dynamic personality, Harry suffered a blow when his seven-year relationship fell apart, souring his mood. The last thing on his mind is getting into another relationship, especially with a man who can barely make it to the office on time.

They’re not even supposed to like each other. But five years later, Joe and Harry are getting ready to tie the knot. They should’ve known it was only a matter of time before everything starts to fall apart: obstructive friends, well-meaning but meddlesome family, a hovering ex, international incidents, fires, pregnancies, and an airport chase. It seems their “I do”s were doomed from the start. 

Available now from Riptide Publishing!

Bio:

Marina Ford is a thirty-three-year-old book addict, who would, if permitted, spend all of her time in bookstores, libraries, or in her own bed with stacks and stacks of books. Luckily, she has a husband and a dog, who force her to interact with humans of planet Earth from time to time. In fact, she so enjoyed falling in love with her husband that she can’t resist evoking those same feelings in the love stories she writes. She does not believe in love at first sight—but she does believe in the happy ever after, though it must be earned. She likes her stories to be light, since real life can be miserable enough without making up more of it in fiction.

She lives in England, loves rain (gives one an excuse to stay at home and read books, right?), long walks (when it doesn’t rain), history, Jane Austen, the theatre, languages, and dogs. It is her dream to one day possess an enormous country house in which each room is a library (okay, maybe except for the kitchen), and in which there are more dogs than people. A smaller and perhaps more realistic dream is to make people smile with the things she writes.

To celebrate this release, one lucky person will win a $15 gift card to Riptide! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 7, 2020. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. For more chances to enter, follow the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Review: The Dishevelled Duke (A Little Bit Cupid #4) by Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead

Will a photographer be swept off his feet by a duke who’s more dishevelled than dashing?

It’s Valentine’s Day and it’s Billy last shift at The Chelsea Bunn. His photography career never took off, so it’s time to leave London, parcel up the leftover heart-shaped cakes and head back home to Hampshire.

Rumpled Charlie and his two mischievous dogs are Billy’s favourite customers, so when Charlie turns up at closing time with a mysterious wrapped gift and the offer of a whirlwind trip on the London Eye, Billy can’t say no. But Charlie is keeping a secret that could turn Billy’s world happily upside down.

As the snow falls over London and the big wheel grinds to a halt, Billy discovers that wishes aren’t just for Christmas.

This charming little love story knocked my knickers clean off with its cuteness. It’s just the story I want to read for Valentine’s Day, it’s ultra romantic and has loveable characters. Plus, no real angst to speak of! Let’s all hug.

Billy is a photographer giving up his dreams of the London art scene and is heading back home to Hampshire. Of course he’s sad to be leaving his aspirtions behind for now, but another thing that breaks his heart is that he’ll be leaving his favorite customer from the coffee shop where he works behind, without having a chance to say goodbye.

Charlie comes into the coffee shop with his beloved pups on the regular and he and Billy are quite obviously smitten with one another. But, they are both a little shy, and it takes a kick in the booty by Cupid to bring these two together.

Charlie makes the first move and honestly, reading the banter between these two is freakin’ adorable. It’s sooooo sweet, but also balanced with realistic chat so it’s not sickeningly sweet, it’s just . . . just right.

The story makes a turn toward fairytale status via the London Eye when Charlie convinces Billy to go for a spin, literally. As the two share leftover heart shaped treats from the coffee shop, Billy gets a call from the gallery owner where his photos are hanging that will change his life. Once he hangs up, Charlie and Billy get to chatting, confessions are made and it’s like Cupid himself shot all the arrows at them at once because from here on out, the two of them are bombarded with happy accidents and I didn’t care how realistic they may or may not have been, I wanted all the arrows. All of them.

This tale goes on my ‘reread’ holiday shelf.

**a copy of this story is provided for an honest review**

Review: The Captain and the Squire (The Captivating Captains #5) by Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead

Tarquin Bough is a tweedy squire with an ambitious fiancée who controls his every move. He’s also the owner of the finest collection of saucy artefacts in the world. From Christine Keeler’s eyelash to the Virgin Queen’s dildo, they’re all safe in Tarquin’s care. 

Christopher Hardacre is a city-slicker with the tighest jodhpurs and the most smackable bottom in London. He’s given up the ratrace for a country life as captain of the village rowing team. The only trouble is, he’s lost his money to a ruthless scam and Bough Bottoms is his last hope of a home.

But Chris hasn’t reckoned on his late uncle’s will. The house comes with a sitting porcine tenant and if Chris can’t look after his newly-acquired pet pig, he’ll lose his inheritance and his last chance at happiness.

When Tarquin sees Chris it’s lust at first sight, but dare he be honest about his feelings in a village where being gay is bound to be a hot topic? As soon as Chris and Tarquin get together, it’s the hottest summer this little corner of England has ever known.

With a scheming local hotshot out to turn the beloved pig into sausages, can the captain and the squire save everybody’s bacon?

The Captain and the Squire is a total kick. The language is fun, the banter is deliciously dirty and the MC’s are just amusingly quirky. Tarquin and Christopher begin their relationship as enemies, but really don’t take long to delve into some mildly kinky games involving spanking and some right proper saucy talk. I loved the page time the two shared when they were on the same page and were shutting out the rest of Bough Bottoms.

Tarq’s family has a collection of sexual artifacts and he continues on in search of acquisitions. Chris will inherit his uncle’s estate if he can convince the Oracle of Delphi, his uncle’s pet pig to become his own beloved pet. The Oracle has been residing with Tarqs after the uncle’s death and thankfully Tarqs and Chris have become friends and then some so Chris can spend quality time singing show tunes to The Oracle.

Tarquin and Christopher are a match physically and emotionally. As much as I loved their dirty little games, who doesn’t love a man going commando in tight jodhpurs preparing for a little spanking action, I also loved the ridiculous amount of fluff the two threw each others way. Once they moved past just the physical and started falling for each other and contemplating the L word, they were adorably sappy and it wouldn’t have worked for just any characters, but it certainly worked for them. 

I do believe I liked the story more than 3 hearts worth, but cheating is my no-fly zone in stories and the fact that Tarquin and Petunia were engaged for most of the story really bothered me. I could see them being engaged at the start and breaking things off, but they didn’t, Tarquin was committing to marrying that bitch even after he and Chris were soooo obviously in love.

Tarquin didn’t love his fiance and vice versa, they didn’t even like each other. She treated yTarquin horribly and I lost respect for him for taking that nonsense, whether Chris was in his life or not. When Tarq and Chris have their ultimatum/miscommunication moment I wanted to choke my Kindle. I was all, “Dammit Tarq, you stupid hamster! Human up, get your shit together and clean house!” Not even for Chris, but for his own damn sake. The fact that Chris was paying the price for Tarqs epic level of stupid was so annoying.

I get the engagement was a plot point, and necessary for the “mystery” but it detracted from Chris and Tarq for me and that was the party I showed up for, the rest could have been replaced with something less offputting than infidelity.

Thank jeebus for a righteous ending and an even better epilogue. I do believe, in the end, The Oracle is the ultimate hero of this story, but I am ever so thankful that Tarq pulled it together and that Chris is the forgiving sort in the name of love and floggings.

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Giveaway + Release Blitz: Hometown Christmas by Garrett Leigh

Celebrate the release of Hometown Christmas with author Garrett Leigh & Signal Boost Promotions. Find out more about this holiday romance & enter in the giveaway for a backlist e-book from the author. Good luck!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Length: 40,000 approx.

Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

Blurb

Yani Nicolaou is sworn off love for good. After fleeing a bad break-up in London, the only blood, sweat, and tears he has left are for his gyro stall at the Christmas market. Rebound fling? No thanks. He’s sticking to one-night-stands.


Ex-army vet Gavin Richie has even less capacity for romance. Managing a homeless shelter while recovering from injury keeps him far too busy. So what if he’s often alone? He’s content being single, or so he thinks until a chance meeting lights a spark he can’t ignore.


Yani is the warmth and affection Gavin hadn’t known he was missing. As Christmas lights up the city, their lives entwine in more ways than one. Falling for each other is easy. Holding on is harder, unless a hometown Christmas proves their love can last longer than the festive season.

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer.


Garrett's debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.


When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.


Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.


Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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Review: Trusting Jack (MC Securities #1) by Ruby Moone

With only a few days to go until Christmas, Michael Cross has to admit there is something amiss about his latest employee, Jack Whelan. Quiet, jumpy, thin… he never seems to eat. He is also incredibly gorgeous with dark spiky hair that Michael aches to touch. But as his boss, Jack is off limits. And when it comes to relationships, he…well, he sucks.

Jack Whelan is at the end of his tether. He’s living rough in the middle of winter, and paying off a massive debt, so getting a job with MC Securities is a lifeline. His new boss is also the hottest guy ever. Geeky, broody, and scarily clever.

When Michael stumbles upon the reality of Jack’s life, he offers to help. But as Michael’s feelings deepen, and Jack’s terrible past catches up with him, Michael has to decide between believing in the awful truth that is staring him in the face, or trusting Jack.

For such heavy material, Trusting Jack is surprising light on the angst. I was surprised and pleasantly so. But also a smidge disappointed because the lack of angst also made for a lack of memorability. The story is basically hurt/comfort gold, but it’s hurt/comfort-lite and I was expecting more of a visceral reaction to the characters and their stories (Jack especially, obviously) than what happened. 

Both Jack and Michael are likable characters, the kind you root for and want all the HEA action for. Michael is a regular guy, but more, so regular-guy-who-is-worthy-of-being-an-MC kind of guy. Everything about him is just a little better than your average. He has a shy, unsure side that was appealing and more him more accessible though. He needed that and I needed that from him. I didn’t want him to be a knight in shining armor for Jack, that wouldn’t have worked for Jack’s personality.

It was cool seeing him be all heroic and badass when he needed to be, but his unassuming side was what was so appealing about Michael. Jack has seen some shit. He’s been through a lot and has a lot of secrets he’s hiding as he works to get his life together. Michael is curious about Jack’s story and his curiosity gets the better of him. It’s easy for him to indulge though (even though he says he doesn’t want to - methinks he doth protest too much) as Jack is his employee and another employee is concerned. Jack’s story is tough, which is to be expected, but the bad guy didn’t make a lot of sense for me, and in the end, it still didn’t make a lot of sense.

Jack was a good guy in a bad situation. The whole thing was a little too black and white though, I needed a little gray nuance to make the drama work. Honestly, Jack could have just been down on his luck and the story could have spent more time in the development of Michael and Jack as a couple, built some imperfections in there, simplified the story arc by leaving the bad guys out. Michael and Jack had plenty to work with, their setup had me hooked, their personalities were intriguing and I wanted to get to know them without the noise of the villain(s).

I know this reads like I’m bagging on this story, but, I am a huge fan of this author and her historical novels. My expectations were high and while it wasn’t necessarily what I had hoped for, I still enjoyed the story and the characters and I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series.

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Review: Cash (Lucky #2) by Garrett Leigh

Cash is a car mechanic with a secret. Head down, sleeves up, he hides from the past as much as his shattered heart, until a reluctant stumble into a Tottenham bar ends in the one night stand of his dreams.

Hunt saboteur Rae can’t believe his luck when he wakes up the next morning. Cash is gorgeous, and the hottest hook up he’s ever had. He doesn’t expect to see him again, until a twist of fate lands him on Cash’s doorstep a few months later.

United by a cause that’s broken Cash before, they are drawn together. They have more in common than they ever imagined, but with Cash haunted by the past, and Rae so tangled in the present, it’s not long before love isn’t enough to keep them alive.

It takes an extremely talented writer to take two flat characters and a charged topic prone to having readers turn away in disgust and transform it into something readable. Though the romance didn't work for me I do appreciate the edification on fox hunting.

Which, to be clear, isn't actually a sport. It's barbarism in the guise of sport. Hunting is something that takes skill and usually hunters enjoy being challenged. Fox hunting is nothing more than a bunch of toff brutes getting dressed up for the sole purpose of being cruel to animals. What I found so shocking was not just the senselessness of caging an animal, keeping it alive only to later kill it in the most brutal way, but how the dogs and horses were treated as well. In a word, sickening.

The underground world of "sabbing", as it's called brings Cash, a former sab, and Rae, a current sab, together. Rae's crew is short on people and long on fox hunting toffs, so he's sent to see if Ciaran Walsh a.k.a. Cash a.k.a. his hookup from a few weeks ago would entertain re-joining the ranks of saboteur.

Cash isn't keen on this due to a past debacle but then relents with stipulations. The stipulations were kinda wonky and... thin.

Neither of these characters were well defined nor dynamic but their devotion to the cause of saving as many foxes as possible is a laudable one and they get brownie points for good humaning. I can deal with a lukewarm romance for a cause and this cause I honestly knew nothing about until this book. I'd always envisioned fox hunting as an elaborate excuse for a bunch of WASPs to dress up and ride around the countryside whilst male bonding with their dogs.

I know, stupid American.

Anyhoo, I squirrelled. But IMHO the fox hunting took precedence over the romance which was lackluster with pedestrian sex. The sex had so much potential what with Cash having something of a penchant for a little pain but... it never came to fruition on page.

The bright spots in the story for me were Dom and Lucky with my interest waning with Cash and Rae continually waffling on whether or not they wanted to couple. Then again, Dom and Lucky were AMAZING characters who cast large shadows and continued to be amazing in a multitude of ways in this book.

However, I would be interested in continuing with this series. Mostly for the updates on Dom and Lucky but also open-minded enough to be wrecked by another couple too.

As always, my opinions are my own and YMMV. Also, the editing wasn't great so be aware of words missing, extra words, etc.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Introducing Mr. Winterbourne by Joanna Chambers

Lysander Winterbourne appears to lead a charmed life. Handsome, amiable, and a renowned sportsman, he is the darling of London society. As far as Adam Freeman is concerned though, Lysander is just another spoiled aristocrat.

A wealthy mill owner, Adam has no time for the frivolous world of the ton, but when his younger brother becomes engaged to Althea Winterbourne, he reluctantly agrees to be introduced to society–with the Winterbourne clan’s golden boy as his guide.

Resigning himself to a few days of boredom, Adam is surprised to learn that there is much more to Lysander than his perfect surface. But will Adam have the courage to introduce Lysander Winterbourne to his own secret self?

Simply Delightful!

This little story put a smile on my face with the first curricle mention. There's just something about this era that appeals to me, all that buttoned up stodgyness just begging to be ripped open like a kid a Christmas. *shivers* I love it. I also have an age difference kink and there is a slight one here. Plus, if it gets your motor running, Lysander is a virgin.

In my opinion, few others can deliver the Regency goods like Joanna Chambers and she did with this little dumpling. 

Adam and Lysander have an enemies vibe initially, though it's more like animosity on Adam's part since he's been shunned by the aristocracy for being a commoner. A commoner with enviable wealth, to be certain, but a commoner nonetheless. He assumes Lysander is another in a long line who've looked down their noses at him.

Lysander quickly dispels that notion and over the course of a day the two form a connection. The evolution happened right before my very eyes! Every moment they spent together was economic in the relationship development sense and along the way both of their personalities emerged through the dual perspectives as did their attraction to each other. 

Though they only know each other a day, I completely bought into their connection and loved every minute with them whether it be fencing, sharing a meal or dancing in the moonlight, I wanted more, more of the Lysander's sweet shyness and more of Adam's grouchiness and more of them finding common ground and becoming more comfortable as they discover they are cut from the same cloth. Some may naysay the speed of the sexytimes but CARPE DIEM, I say!

Through language and knowledge of the era Joanna Chambers created an atmosphere that immediately transported me to this world and I look forward to re-entering it with "Mr. Winterbourne's Christmas" soon.

Recommend to historical romance fans who like their enemies to lovers trope on the lite side.

A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Wanted - Bad Boyfriend (Island Classifieds #1) by T.A. Moore

His mother. His best friend. The barmaid at the local pub. Everyone is determined to find Nathan Moffatt a boyfriend. It’s the last thing Nathan wants. After spending every day making sure his clients experience nothing but romantic magic, the Granshire Hotel’s wedding organiser just wants to go home, binge watch crime dramas, and eat pizza in his underwear.

Unfortunately, no one believes him, and he’s stuck with lectures about dying alone. Then inspiration strikes. He needs the people in his life to want him to stay single as much as he does. He needs a bad boyfriend.

There’s only one man for the job.

Flynn Delaney is used to people on Ceremony thinking the worst of him. But he isn’t sure he wants the dubious honor of worst boyfriend on the entire island. On the other hand, if he plays along, he gets to hang out with the gorgeous Nathan and piss off the Granshire’s owners. It’s a win-win.

There’s only one problem. Flynn’s actually quite a good boyfriend, and now Nathan’s wondering if getting off the sofa occasionally is really the worst thing in the world.

I had trouble coming up with a rating on this one. There was a lot I enjoyed but just a bit too much distraction that muddled up my love for the story.

This author writes one of my absolutely favorite types of characters, helllllooooo Flynn. I love a strong, quiet hero and Flynn is just that and more. He’s the guy who never even looks in the mirror but has an inner confidence that makes him ridiculously appealing and he has no clue. And, he doesn’t really care. As I read through the story, I liked him more and more. There’s so much more to him than the reader is lead to believe from the blurb or from the beginning.

And since I’ve brought up the blurb . . . .

I don’t think it does the story justice and is frankly a little misleading. Nate isn’t anything like he’s described, I don’t think he sat on any couch for more than five minutes throughout, so I don’t know why anyone would need to convince him to get off his buns. Flynn’s description is more accurate though thankfully, but I expected him to be at least a bit of a dick because everyone in town hates him.

And since I’ve brought up the town . . .

What the hell? Why is everyone so terrible and why do Nate and Flynn want to stay there? The people sound awful honestly and unfortunately it made the town seem like more of a caricature than a true setting and that bummed me out. I love stories set in small English towns and this one didn’t do small English towns any favors.

I very much enjoyed Flynn and Nate when they were together. The push/pull as they got to know one another was delicious and I wish there was more. A good chunk of the story is spent focused on Nate’s wedding planning and Flynn’s rescues. Both things were ok, I liked reading more about Flynn’s rescues and that’s just me because I couldn’t care less about wedding planning. But the forays into their professions were time consuming and distracting. I wanted more investment into two characters I was growing quite fond of together and felt a little short changed as they were constantly interrupted by outside forces that didn’t add a lot to the story.

Flynn’s background is a mystery throughout most of the book, but there are enough clues to figure out what’s what. That does bring me back to the townsfolk again though. Their reactions were incongruous to what Flynn presented so I just didn’t get the animosity. Because I liked Flynn so much, the crap he put up with from people really bugged. He deserved better and if more of the secondary characters had been fleshed out, I don’t think the reactions from people would be so jarring because they wouldn’t be so extreme.

I feel like I’ve been too negative here, but it’s just because the bits I loved, I loved them pretty hard and wanted more. I wanted my beloved Flynn to have a fair and reasonable chance at happiness. The romantic bits were perfectly romantic and I don’t need copious amounts of fluff, I do just want it to be balanced and in the end I think that was my issue. The story was presented as a romance and so that’s what I wanted more of than anything else and some of the beauty of the evolving love story between Flynn and Nate was lost in amongst the rest.

As with every story I’ve read from this author, the writing is tops and the MC’s read realistic. I wanted everything good for them and was happy with, and believed in, their HEA. Thankfully I also believe that Nate will take good care of Flynn (and vice versa), so even though the journey didn’t exactly lead me down the path I expected, I was really happy with the destination when I arrived.

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Review: Nothing Serious by Jay Northcote

Mark O’Brien is finally being honest with himself. His relationship with Rachel is over and he’s moving out of the home they've shared for six years. They get along, but he can’t fix a relationship when the person he's with is the wrong gender.

Jamie Robertson, one of the removal men, is huge and ridiculously gorgeous, and Mark is smitten at first sight. When a cardboard box splits, revealing items of a personal nature that Mark never wanted anybody to see, he's mortified. But it sparks the start of a beautiful friendship with benefits.

As Jamie initiates Mark into the joys of gay sex, the two men get increasingly close and “nothing serious” turns into something rather important to both of them. But communication isn’t their strong point. Will either man ever find the courage to be honest about his feelings?

This is my third go around with Jay Northcote’s Nothing Serious and it charms me every time I read it. It’s a wonderful character driven romance and the author really excels at giving his MC’s full dimension and I get invested quickly into their stories. With the setup, the angst and miscommunication could easily go off the rails, but this is another thing the author excels at, stories with balance. The outcome isn’t tooooo easy, but it’s not unnecessary difficult either.

Mark and Jamie are true to themselves throughout, so for them to be anything less with one another wouldn’t have read genuinely and Nothing Serious is all about being genuine to itself. Sure, things may have been a little simple, especially for Mark, but I think he had already gone through so much struggle before we met him, so we got to see him embark on his new life. Even though he was ending his marriage, it was amicable and his new life seemed so hopeful in a realistic way.

Mark was excited to try his new life on for size, but he didn’t have a plan other than settling into his new flat as a single gay man and finally being able to be true to himself. Come moving day, Mark gets incredibly lucky in that one of his movers, Jamie, is a delicious hunk of man who is as sweet as he is easy on the eyes. And bonus! He’s gay and interested in teaching Mark the ways of gay sex. There really is no better meet/cute than the moment these two had when Mark’s box of sex toys busted open when Jamie picked it up. It was an awkwardly adorkable moment that was a precursor to the charm of the two of them together.

The evolution of their relationship was very sweet and swoon worthy. Having both points of view helped immensely so there was no “does he?” or “doesn’t he?”, I could just enjoy their interactions and watch them get closer and closer to couple-hood as the story progressed.

As always with a Jay Northcote story, two very deserving men received their HEA in a perfectly warm and fuzzy way. And while I’ve already read this story three times, I have a pretty strong feeling that I’ll read it again.

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Jay Northcote

Northcote is in the clubhouse once again! We repeat, Jay Northcote is here today! And Jay's not empty handed! See Jay's visit below and learn how you can win a bit of... Rainbow. ;)

Hi everyone, and happy 5th birthday to Boy Meets Boy Reviews!

Thank you for inviting me to be part of the birthday celebrations. I’m here with a giveaway for a ebook copy of Rainbow Place.

Rainbow Place is the first book in a new series that I started this year. It can be read as a standalone and I promise you there are no cliffhangers. The same goes for the second story, Safe Place (Rainbow Place #2).

http://mybook.to/rainbowplace_JayN

Can Jason find the courage he needs to be the man Seb deserves?

When Seb Radcliffe relocates to a seaside town in Cornwall, he feels like a fish out of water. He misses queer spaces and the sense of community he enjoyed when he was living in the city, and decides to open an LGBT-friendly cafe–bar.

Jason Dunn is the builder Seb hires to help renovate the rundown space where the cafe will be housed. Jason is also gay, but unlike Seb, he’s deep in the closet. He’s never had a relationship with another man—only allowing himself the occasional hook up with guys who are prepared to be discreet.

The attraction between the two men is instant and impossible to ignore. But while Seb is out and proud, Jason is terrified of being exposed. With the grand opening of Rainbow Place approaching, tension is growing among some locals who object to Seb’s plans. When things escalate, Jason is forced to choose whether to hide in the shadows and let Seb down, or to openly support the man he’s fallen so hard for.

Although this book is part of a series, it has a satisfying happy ending and can be read as a standalone.

Giveaway

To win a copy of Rainbow Place, please leave enter in rafflecopter below!

About Jay

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Links

Website: https://jaynorthcote.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jay_Northcote
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/jaynorthcotewriter
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/jaynorthcotefiction
Facebook author group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jaysplayground
Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/JN-readers
Jay’s books: http://author.to/JayNorthcote

Jay is giving away a Rainbow Place eBook to one lucky person!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The giveaway is open until 12:00AM (EST) on 11/10/18. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner!

Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hours or we will choose another winner. Good luck!

Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway HERE! It ends 12/1/18!