Release Blitz + Giveaway: Oblivious by Colette Davison

Enjoy friends to lovers? See today's release blitz for Oblivious from author Colette Davison and Gay Book Promotions! Read more and enter in the $10 Amazon Gift Card giveaway!

 

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Oblivious

Author: Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Covers by Jo

Release Date: February 14, 2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Best friends to lovers, double bi-sexual awakening

Themes: Trusting in each other

Heat Rating: 3 flames   

Length: 43 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

 Goodreads

 Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Isn’t it obvious we’re just best friends?

Blurb

Adrian is my best friend. We live together, hang out, and he’s the best cake taste tester I could want. 

 Hugs are the norm, along with cuddles while watching horror films. I need someone to protect me during the scary bits, so why not Adrian? He’s almost a foot taller than me, so he makes a good armchair too.

 Life is exactly the way I like it until Adrian’s sister drops a bombshell that leaves me questioning everything I think I know about myself and my straight best friend.

 Can one kiss change everything? I’m about to find out. 

Oblivious is an M/M best friends to lovers novella. It’s a light and fluffy love story, with a double bi-sexual awakening, a little bit of heat and no angst. None. Zip. Nadda. There’s meddling family members and two sweet best friends who are totally oblivious about how much they really care for each other. Oh, and cakes. There’s lots of cakes.

Excerpt 

She hands me an order slip.

“Is Adrian here?” I ask as I read the order. He puts up with me calling him Addy, but to everyone else, he’s Adrian, and I respect that.

“Yes.” She picks up the order I’ve just finished preparing, but instead of turning around and going to serve it, she stares at me.

“What?”

“You knew Adrian was here based on his order?”

“He always asks for the same thing—a cheese and tomato toastie. No cucumber, extra radish. I bet he asked for peppermint tea.”

“You’re so cute.”

“What? Why?”

“You just are, that’s all.” She smiles at me and then leaves the kitchen with an extra spring in her step.

I’m left metaphorically scratching my head. I can’t do it because I’m preparing food. What on earth was that about? I shrug and get Addy’s order ready, then take it out to him. He’s wearing his work clothes—heavy-duty combat trousers, boots with steel toecaps, and a fluorescent vest over a thick woollen jumper. He has to wear a hard hat when he’s working up high, which has left his brown hair mussed up. He’s starting to go grey at the temples. Although the hair on his head doesn’t have any warm tones in it, his beard and moustache are streaked with auburn.

“You didn’t say you’d be popping in today,” I say as I put his food in front of him.

“I finished a job early, so figured I’d come to say hi before I have to be at the next job. Plus, where else am I going to get a mountain of radish with my lunch?”

I laugh. “I don’t know how you can eat that stuff.”

He picks up a thin slice of radish with his thick fingers and pops it into his mouth. “It’s delicious. You’re busy today.”

“Lunch rush. It’ll get quieter in about an hour. Then we’ll get the afternoon tea rush around three.”

“Make sure you take a break.”

“Yes, boss.”

I’ve made a joke of it, but I do appreciate his concern. We’ve been looking out for each other for twenty years now.

Even when we went our separate ways to university, we used phone and email to keep in touch and support each other. Addy did a degree in arboriculture near Preston, whereas I went to culinary school in London. I loved every minute of my course, but those three years were lonely. As kids, we’d popped over to each other’s houses to hang out, but that was impossible to do while living almost two hundred and fifty miles apart. I’d looked forward to every holiday when I could see him in person.

Unlike most of our friends—okay, my friends—Addy has always been a bit of a loner. We both ended up back in our hometown after uni to be close to our families. As a bonus, it meant I got to hang out with my best friend again.

Funny that I should think about that now.

About the Author

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook Page   |  Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

BookBub   |   Twitter  |   Goodreads  |  Instagram: @colettedavison

Mailing List  |   Newsletter Sign-Up

Giveaway 

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Tag Team Review: The Doctor's Secret (Copper Point Medical #1) by Heidi Cullinan

The brilliant but brooding new doctor encounters Copper Point's sunny nurse-next-door... and nothing can stand in the way of this romance.

Dr. Hong-Wei Wu has come to Copper Point, Wisconsin, after the pressures of a high-powered residency burned him out of his career before he started. Ashamed of letting his family down after all they’ve done for him, he plans to live a quiet life as a simple surgeon in this tiny northern town. His plans, however, don’t include his outgoing, kind, and attractive surgical nurse, Simon Lane.

Simon wasn’t ready for the new surgeon to be a handsome charmer who keeps asking him for help getting settled and who woos him with amazing Taiwanese dishes. There’s no question—Dr. Wu is flirting with him, and Simon is flirting back. The problem is, St. Ann’s has a strict no-dating policy between staff, which means their romance is off the table… unless they bend the rules.

But a romance that keeps them—literally—in the closet can’t lead to happy ever after. Simon doesn’t want to stay a secret, and Hong-Wei doesn’t want to keep himself removed from life, not anymore. To secure their happiness, they’ll have to change the administration’s mind. But what other secrets will they uncover along the way, about Copper Point… and about each other?

2.75 Heart average

Lost in a Book - 2.5 Hearts

Ermm… *checks author name*

Heidi Cullinan wrote this?

I was all ready to play doctor when I cracked this open but the sugary fluff was wafting off the page very early on.

My past reads with Cullinan have raked my emotions over the coals while chasing it down with tissues and a bottle of wine. This wasn’t that experience at all. I’m all about branching out but The Doctor’s Secret left me wanting more substance while trying to come down from a sugar high.

Dr. Hong-Wei Wu moves to Copper Point to live a slower paced lifestyle and just be a general surgeon. He ran away from Texas to a small town and is greeted at the airport by his new surgical nurse, Simon.

Simon is a very positive and competent surgical nurse that has lived in Copper Point all his life. He’s very involved in the community and has a thing for K-Pop, Asian TV, and apparently hot AF Taiwanese doctors. Unfortunately for both of them, the hospital policy prohibits getting together with other employees.

I didn’t get Simon and Dr. Wu together. They had insta-love with no real depth. They wen’t from we can’t date to I love you way too fast. Dr. Wu remains closed off throughout (which might be more his culture than poor character development) and the way his “secret” was hyped, I was ready for something huge. Like it has to be a BFD. *sigh*

Everything seems so fantastical and the lack of strong characters was off putting. I hate to say this but I was bored reading the story.

I did enjoy the town, the endearing secondary characters, and the antics of Simon’s surgeon friends- My favorite parts didn't involve the MCs. I’m still a big fan of Heidi’s other works but this just wan't for me. Not recommended but YMMV.

Adam - 3 Hearts

Dr. Hong-Wei Wu, or Jack, moves to a small-town Wisconsin hospital to escape the pressures of a demanding family and an exhausting city hospital residency. He questions his decision to move, but the one-man welcoming party goes a long way in making Hong-Wei feel better.

Surgical nurse Simon Lane wasn’t expecting the new doctor to be his living wet dream. Simon’s immediately smitten.

But the hospital’s policy against inter-staff relationships throws cold water on anything happening between the two.

However, it’s impossible for the two men to deny what’s building between them. They begin as friends, with Simon going out of his way to make sure Hong-Wei feels welcomed to Copper Point, Wisconsin, all the while trying to hide what he really feels for the handsome doctor.

And as Hong-Wei begins to build a life in the community, he falls head-over-heels for Simon.

While Simon toes the line, Hong-Wei refuses to let a silly rule get in the way of something that could be special. So Hong-Wei sets out to woo his slightly gun-shy nurse.

Despite the forbidden-love angle, the romance in this book is fairly low-drama. Simon and Hong-Wei’s relationship grows slowly, as the two become comfortable with each other.

Though low on the heat, Simon and Hong-Wei bring lots of soft touches and sweet words.

Slowly, Hong-Wei and Simon begin building a life around the no-dating work policy.

I have to admit - I found myself bored for most of the middle section, because nothing really happens. Plus, Simon’s damsel-in-distress routine got a bit old.

Most of the slight angst/drama comes in the latter half of the book as the two MCs fight against the no-dating policy. It’s resolved pretty quickly.

I was happy to see Simon and Hong-Wei get their perfect HEA, though I wasn’t as invested in their romance by the end as I was before the story dragged a bit around the halfway point.

Even so, this was a very sweet romance, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes next!

Review: Under the Felt Mistletoe by Nell Iris

The most wonderful time of the year is about to get even better. 

On a cold, rainy December morning, Finn’s beloved Grampa, his best friend and rock, makes a friend outside their home who he invites in for coffee. The last thing Finn expects is Nelson, a man with a painful past, who is beautiful and generous and turns Finn’s knees into jelly.

What starts out as a chance to get out of the rain, soon becomes more as Nelson helps Finn get ready for the Christmas market. They bond over coffee and fabric and Mariah Carey. Can handmade Christmas ornaments and an understanding heart give Nelson the love he’s been denied?

So much Christmas fluff packed into one little novella.

Nell Iris is a master of the fluff and Under the Felt Mistletoe embodies that skill. The MC’s are delightful and I loved them. I’m usually not one for overly sweet stories but around the holidays, all that gets thrown out the window and I devour it like Nelson’s perfect gingerbread.

Finn lives with his meddling, heart-of-gold grandfather who is his best friend and his rock. It’s a two way street as it’s obvious Grandpa feels the same about Finn. When Grandpa invites a stranger, who was trying to visit a neighbor, in out of the rain for coffee, the meet-cute commences.

The beauty in this story is the shy flirtation between Nelson and Finn. I don’t seem to read that often enough these days and it’s just so pure and warm. They both did their fair share of blushing and stuttering, but not overly so. It stayed charming and I loved reading their banter.

All the obligatory Christmas accoutrements are present, so Under the Felt Mistletoe is literally the complete package for holiday fluff lovers. Christmas markets, family, gingerbread, mistletoe, stars and so much love you could just about drown in it. If it weren’t a Christmas story it would be too much sweet, but embracing all the cuteness this time of year totally worked for me.

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

Audiobook Review: Love Happens Anyway by R.J. Scott

Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what can go wrong?

Derek is facing yet another Christmas where his life feels out of control. He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.

Luke is twenty-thousand dollars short for the renovations on Halligans; his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.

But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space.

It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.

Narrator: Sean Crisden
Listening Length:3 hrs 42 min

Very much so like the snowman on the cover, this book is cute and full of Christmas fluff.

I’ve listened to Sean Crisden’s audiobook narrations before, so I knew I’d have no reason to worry. He always manages to keep me engaged and entertained. The audiobook for ‘Love Happens Anyway’ is very well done.

I had no trouble just relaxing and listening to this sweet holiday novella.

High-powered yet lonely marketing exec Derek offers to pay Luke twenty thousand dollars to pretend to be his fireman boyfriend for the holiday season.

Luke, who needs some cash to finish renovations on his family bar, agrees to go along with the ruse despite his misgivings.

What starts off as a business transactions quickly turns into something more.

I’m a fan of the fake boyfriend trope. The set-up in this book was pretty funny - Derek had already spun a background story for his parents well before he’d met Luke. And poor Luke had to keep track of the story while playing Derek’s lover.

But Luke was more than up to the challenge. He was definitely a sweetheart, so willing to put up with Derek’s demands.

Derek’s likeable too, but his uptight personality did get to be a bit much at times. I also wasn’t entirely sure why he was so tense about his parents. Their meddling in his life didn’t seem to be that excessive at all.

But regardless, the transition from fake boyfriends to real boyfriends was adorable. Between holiday engagements and parties, Derek developed a respect for Luke, and Luke’s protective side started to come out.

And neither man could deny that he found the other very attractive. This isn’t a particularly steamy book, but the sexy times didn’t leave any doubt about the MCs’ physical chemistry.

The story progressed in a fairly predictable manner, ending with a cute happy ever after (with a mistletoe on top) for Derek and Luke.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘Love Happens Anyway’. If you’re looking for an easy-to-listen-to holiday MM audiobook, give this a try.

Audiobook Review: Stand by Your Manny (The Mannies #3) by Amy Lane

Learning to trust and falling in love.

Sammy Lowell has his hands full juggling his music, college, some pesky health problems, and making the uncles who raised him proud. He needs help fulfilling his after-school duties with his siblings. Nobody can be in two places at once—not even Sammy!

An injury puts Cooper Hoskins in a tough spot—if he can’t work, the foster sister he’s raising can’t eat. But years in the foster system have left Cooper short on trust, and opening up to accept help isn’t easy.

Luckily, family intervenes—Cooper needs a job so he can care for Felicity, and Sammy needs someone who can see past his illness to the wonderful things he has planned for his life. Each heals the damaged places in the other’s heart. But falling in love is a big responsibility for young men deep in family already. Can the two of them get past their fear of the immediate future to see forever with each other?

Narrator: Peter B. Brooke
Listening Length: 6 hours, 1 minutes

Reviewer: Annika

You probably know by now that the books in the Dreamspun Desires line is mostly fluff and have that harlequin feel to them. Stand by Your Manny was no exception, but hey, I love my fluff so I don't mind that at all. You know what to expect when you pick these books up.

Cooper Hoskins works in construction. He's dirt poor and turns every penny to make ends meet so that he can take care of is foster sister Felicity. An accident at work puts him out of commission and in a tight spot to care for his small family.

Sammy Lowell wants to stand on his own two feet. Wants to work with music, tour with it, at the same time he's also taking care of his siblings. It's a stressful life for sure and his health is getting worse, and he knows in his heart he's not taking care of himself as much as he should have and he can't keep going in the pace he's set for himself. He needs to accept some help.

Their love story is a sweet one. It's not a hot and heavy one. But one of exploring, of discovery, first kisses, first touches and first times. Cooper and Sammy have so much in common, the deep caring for others, nurturing. The feel things deeply. The need for family. This book is all about family, the blood kind, but mostly the one you choses. Helping and loving each other through the ups and downs. It's a pure sweet and feel good romance.

Peter B. Brooke was an okay narrator. Not a great one, but okay. His narration felt a bit stilted a lot of the time and didn't quite have that natural flow of words. Adding pauses where there shouldn't have been. Which meant I spent a lot of the time focusing on his narration instead of the story he tried to convey. It wasn't an effortless listen, I really had to focus on it and that's not something I particularly enjoy with my audiobooks. I want to be immersed into the story, be a part of it, but Brooke didn't manage that. Another issue of mine, and that is a preference of mine, was that he added no real feeling to his narration. He was just reading the words in front of him, he felt detached and it made me feel detached from the story so I was never invested one way or another.

Stand by Your Manny was at the core a cute and fluffy read/listen. I would say that you should go for the printed version rather than the audio this time around, I think you'd enjoy that more.

A copy of this audiobook was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: Soul Bond by J.S. Harker

Stealing his heart.

As a thief and a warlock, Noah survives by using his wit and charm to prey on the privileged. His dangerous criminal boss wants an enchanted dagger belonging to a family of wealthy mages, including their pampered—but handsome—son, Ben. Failing to complete the job will be hazardous to Noah’s survival.

Noah bumps into Ben at a lavish party, and as soon as they meet, the connection’s undeniable, and it goes much further than ordinary attraction. Their bond reaches into their souls, entwining and changing their magic.

Which Noah thinks he can use to get to the dagger. After all, he isn’t sure this soul bond Ben seems so obsessed with is even real.

He also doesn’t count on being caught red-handed…. Or falling in love.

Another winner in the Dreamspun Beyond series and this one really balanced out the paranormal with the fluff so darn well. I was hooked on Noah and Ben immediately and was ready to learn all about Mages, Warlocks and the mythical/unattainable soul bond.

It isn’t possible. It is a story.

Being a hopeless romantic I am head over heels for the possibility that fate has one person out there for you and that usually, it’s the least person you’d expect. Maybe it’s because my husband and I on paper don’t make sense at all and yet we’re going on two decades together or maybe it’s just me being in love with love and watching fools fall… you know? Either way, the idea of fated mates or magical beings that can bond to one another that creates a romance far beyond the normal really turns my crank.

Being told with dual POV’s we get Noah first as he goes from a waiter at a high class Mage party into a bathroom to use magic to change his appearance. The description of the act was perfect down to the smell that happens when magic is used and we begin to know what Noah who is not a mage is doing at this party. It appears he has a job to do and that job is to steal a dagger. We aren’t told right away if being a thief if Noah’s normal MO but we are introduced to one hell of sexy man that turns Noah on at first looks and stirs his magic more than anyone ever has.

Oh but I adored Ben! Sure he is the son of a powerful Magus, but Ben is truly his own man. He is a fellow hopeless romantic and believes in the soul bond and has been searching for the man who would be his everything. When he spots Noah at the party and they touch, the spark is undeniable and even the knowledge that Noah is about to steal from his family doesn’t stop Ben in pursuit of what most believe will never be found.

“A soul bond is a rare occurrence. Some seek it their whole lives. Some believe they achieve it, only to discover someone else.”
“But it’s just a story.”
“Didn’t use to be. Once upon a time, everyone could find their mate if they tried.”

I am not going to ramble per my usual about this, but trust me I could. I loved every bit of this book to the masquerade element of Noah changing his appearance at the party to the Cinderella aspect of leaving his coat behind and Ben coming after him. I loved the opposites attract trope with not only Ben being a mage and Noah being a warlock, but the men being from opposite sides of the magic society and still choosing their bond and love above everything. This was super romantic full of suspense regarding the dagger Noah was to steal and what it will cost him if he doesn’t complete the job. It was amazing with these two as they learn what their magic can do when they are together and how to control it. It was beautiful to witness the intense and intimate moments between them and how I hope in my heart they begin to change the way their worlds react to each other and one day blend together to be stronger.

I simply loved this story of Ben and Noah and wish them nothing more than a bond that even the stills can’t break and many more breathtaking moments of love.

Review: Bad to the Bone by Nicki Bennett

A second chance at first love—if he has the courage to take it.

Alex can’t think of himself as anything but a failure. In high school, he was on the fast track to a career in pro football when he forged an unlikely friendship with a half-Comanche boy from the wrong part of town, Ricky Lee Jennings. Their shared love of books could have grown into more—but a homophobic teammate attacked Ricky Lee, and Alex wouldn’t risk his scholarship to defend him. Ricky Lee was kicked out of school, and Alex never heard from him again.

Now Alex’s glory days are nothing but a memory. An injury ended his football aspirations, his marriage fell apart, and his dreams of making a difference as an environmental lobbyist are as dead as his fantasies of sports stardom.

But all that could change in one magical night, when Ricky Lee shows up at their high-school reunion.

This was so damn fluffy that I am still trying to feel my seat under my butt and I love it.

Second chance romances are a favorite of mine and when they MC’s have history that goes back to their childhood I am head over heels in love.

Told from the POV of Alex as he is getting ready for his 10 year high school reunion, we learn about this high school football star who was best friends with the half Comanche boy he met in the town library. Ricky Lee and Alex became fast friends as pre-teens and then best friends as the years passed. With Ricky Lee living in a toxic home environment, he spent a lot of time with Alex and his family and that time gave the boys a chance to bond. But during the end of their high school years, when that bond turned into more and Ricky Lee kissed Alex in the same library where they met, a vicious classmate saw the kiss and caused enough trouble to get Ricky Lee kicked out of school. No, he wasn’t kicked out because of the kiss but the kiss was the catalyst for the school bully to get his way.

Now, as Alex is back in his hometown of Freeland running the family hardware store with his sister after the death of his parents, the end of his football career and dissolution of his marriage, Alex comes face to face with the one boy he could never forget. On the surface, Alex and Ricky Lee seem so different with Alex still in the closet and Ricky Lee riding out and proud on his Harley with its rainbow patch. But that friendship they shared and that first kiss left an impression on both boys that followed them into adulthood and this reunion, is the beginning of something beautiful.

This book was so sweet. I adored Alex with his morning runs alongside his dog Buck, his relationship with Sam – the only female police officer in town and Alex’s high school girlfriend turned BFF – the way he takes care of the town and still manages to fight the good fight of environmental efforts while running the family store. Alex considers losing his football career to health issues a failure, because he came home, but he’s taking it day by day. When he sees a slick Ricky Lee at the reunion accompanied by an assistant, Alex thinks they could be together and it deflates a bit of his anxiety and hope. But what Alex doesn’t know this new Ricky Lee and some of that is how Ricky Lee, never forgot his first kiss either.

I really enjoyed watching these two get to know one another again and how they would reflect on the past. Sure, Ricky Lee has a secret he didn’t tell Alex immediately but the way the communicated regarding the issue was refreshing and making out to make up is always totally worth it. These two have amazing chemistry and the fact that their friendship goes back year’s makes the ten year separation is just like a decade worth of foreplay.

The deal with Odell, the bully that saw their first kiss, and the library irked me because I just wanted these to be happy and Alex to be okay with being open about his sexuality. I guess it gave opportunity for Ricky Lee to kidnap Alex and take their relationship to a new level and I was so giddy during that time.

Goodness. This book really made me smile and that end was totally worthy of a movie ending. It was perfect and adorable for these two who I hope have a long and wonderful relationship and they do show their hometown that love, really is just love.

Review: Cruising by Cate Ashwood

Best friends Dylan and Jake have been inseparable since college, but Dylan has one secret he can’t bring himself to share with Jake—he’s completely, utterly in love with him.

Jake’s friendship is the most important thing in the world to Dylan, so as much as it hurts to see him with other people, Dylan keeps his mouth shut about his true feelings. When Jake wins a cruise to Alaska, he asks Dylan to go along, but what Dylan doesn’t know, is that there’s more on offer than a dream vacation.

Can Dylan and Jake sail off to their happily ever after, or are they cruising toward disaster?

Cruising is a sweet little nugget of relatively angst free adorableness. It’s not really long enough to give a lot of character depth, we basically know Jake and Dylan in the context of one another only, but if you go into this with the knowledge you are getting a steamy little romantic interlude between these besties-to-lovers, you will end the story with a warm and squishy heart.

I was in the mood for a story with no drama and sweet feels and Cruising is exactly that. The story switches POV’s by chapter so you know what both characters are experiencing throughout which was a total treat. It was sweet to read how Jake and Dylan pined for one another while still being completely clueless. The author did a really good job of showing how they felt for one another through their thoughts and actions. There were a lot of speechless moments as one of them would get bowled over by a look or a smile and it was just too damn cute.

Jake and Dylan have been in love with each other for pretty much ever, but have been going on and on as best friends because neither wants to ruin the best part of their lives. So while the cruise itself isn’t necessarily a meet-cute, it is an adorable device to bring the two of them together. Finally! And while it didn’t go exactly as Jake had planned, the outcome still worked. There was some obligatory morning-after trepidations, but it didn’t go on for too long, and as I said, the dual POV’s keep the reader in the loop even if these two still had to work through their worries. The story did need a little something to keep it from being too sweet and the smidges of anxiety kept it out of saccharine territory.

While I may have wished for a bit more depth to each of the characters, I can attribute that to really liking the bits I did get to meet and that’s a good thing. When the story ended I was all smiley and probably said “D’awwwwwww” out loud. Keep this story on standby when you need a sweet book hug with a healthy dose of heat.

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

Guest Review: Mr. March (Calendar Men #3) by Bailey Bradford

Curiosity didn’t kill this cat…

Jason Eddings is a foreman for a construction company by day and a mountain lion at night. He got suckered into doing a calendar shoot when he lost a bet to his sister. Little did he know that his sister Joy was hoping to set him up with Gregg, another man on the calendar shoot. That never happened because Gregg met Albert.

Jason’s posing for Mr. March, working, and running from some memories, and maybe even himself. One night, he runs right into a tranquilizer dart. When he wakes up at a wildlife refuge, he finds himself intrigued by the veterinarian who is watching him.

Casey’s not only a newly graduated veterinarian, he’s also a shifter. He doesn’t advertise it and he works to smell like a human because of an incident that happened years ago. He thought there was something special about the mountain lion, but he didn’t have a clue how much his life was about to change.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Jason is a construction company foreman by day and a mountain lion by night. He’s been guilted into posing for a charity calendar shoot by his twin sisters who work as doctors. The shoot is outside his comfort zone, but he’s easily gorgeous enough! As he goes for a run in his lion form, he runs into a tranquilizer dart, which is odd since he’s running on his family’s property. Fortunately he winds up at an animal sanctuary and is taken care of by a very handsome veterinarian, Casey, but all is not as it seems…

The premise of the calendar is well established by book three, and the people involved are almost caricatures of themselves, which is all good fun.

Jason is potentially in big trouble at the sanctuary, until Casey steps in to save Jason from the villains. Since we have a HEA to be getting to, our guys hit it right off, as soon as Jason is back in his human skin that is! The villains re-emerge later, of course.

The bad guys in the story are pretty awful, but get what’s coming to them, as do our heroes.

The HEA is a sweet fix in this relatively quick read. There are check-ins with characters from earlier books which are lovely, sexy times which are steamy and plenty of leering at hot studs in the photo shoot!

If you like a nice fluffy, lowish angst story, this one could be for you.

Audiobook Review: Getting His Man (Getting His Man #1) by B.G. Thomas

A love story worthy of an old movie… with a new twist.

Artie needs a hero, a man like those he’s always revered in Golden Age films. His drug-dealing jerk of a roommate got him arrested, and since his savior isn’t likely to sweep in and save the day, Artie calls a bail bondsman.

August has always imagined himself a hero from a black-and-white movie, but he’s never found a man willing to let him play that role—at least not until he gets the call from Artie.

Both of their dreams might come true, but not before August must use his skills as a bounty hunter as well as a bondsman. Artie is on the run for his life, and August must protect him and help him clear his name. Only then can they both finally get their man.

Listening Length: 5 hours and 52 minutes
Narrator: Kenneth Obi

Criminey


This really was all sorts of charming and cute and fun.

This starts out with Artie, who has the terrible misfortune of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s quite the sheltered guy and a hopeless romantic, and truly just wants to find someone he can just be his goofy self with. Artie’s an adorable MC with a heart of gold, and one just wants him to get his HEA.

It’s just that shine that draws bondsman/bounty hunter August, to do things he knows he shouldn’t - and that’s to get messed up in the the troubles of someone he just bailed out. However, August can’t resist, nor let go of his protective instincts in helping Artie out, for he believes deep down that Artie is innocent and doesn’t deserve what may be coming.

What ensues is a bit of comedy of errors as Artie can’t seem to not stay out of trouble through really no fault of his own. He falls quickly for August, and when his situation seems dire, Artie only wants to save the tough handsome man of his dreams from the harm that inevitably seems to be ahead. August in turn, just wants to do what’s right and to make sure Artie gets out of this ridiculous and unfair predicament unscathed.

Rest assured, these two MC’s are very very likeable. When you throw in some sweet sexy, a bit of suspense, and Artie and August being absolutely perfect for the other, you have quite the nice read. Narrated by Kenneth Obi, he set the tone just right and brought Artie and August to life. This was definitely easy listening, and it had me laughing out loud, shaking my head at the various shenanigans, and going “awwww” a few times. If you want a no fuss romance with good dashes of humor, action, and tons of sugary goodness, then this is for you. Enjoy!


Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for and honest review.

Review: Sweet Nothings (Amuse Bouche #1) by T. Neilson

Will a bitter bite from the past spoil a sweet romance?

Tristan Love, the youngest of seven brothers, is back in his hometown. He’s left the New York food scene and an abusive relationship behind him, but he holds his love of French pastries close to his heart and is determined to put his skills to use in a bakery of his own.

Returning to his childhood home means his meddlesome brother Simon will butt into his business, but before the bakery even opens its doors, Tristan’s delectable creations have the town’s mouths watering, and Jake, a cute mechanic, asks Tristan out. It all seems worthwhile….

That is, until the bakery burns down, Jake’s criminal past comes to light, and Tristan’s nasty ex rears his head where he is decidedly not wanted.

Take the title to heart when it comes to this book because it’s super sweet. Like so sweet it made my teeth hurt but I’ve got a thing for sugary romances.

I love books that deal with food and the people that create either baked goods or epic masterpieces in the kitchen. Even as a vegan veteran of 23 years, I find creative people intriguing with how they can take simple ingredients and make amazing meals that blow people's minds and pallets.

When we meet Tristan Love, he is on the road toward his hometown of Lake Balmoral after leaving his fiance in New York with nothing but the ring and a note. Tristan has had it with Christopher and his control issues and is ready to move back home, open his own bakery and start again. When he stops in for a few grocery ingredients before moving onto this rented cabin, he has an awkward but adorable meet cute with a handsome stranger who doesn’t flinch at Tristan’s lack of flirting ability at that exact moment. That stranger is Jake and what better name could a MC have for me to have a crush on?

Jake is amazing. You know from the blurb and everyone in town talking about him that Jake has a past and Jake has been in jail. We don't immediately know why but we are told that Jake has a white knight complex so whatever happened, I was sure Jake wasn’t the one who did it. He just took the fall. And speaking of taking the fall, I loved watching him go after Tristan regardless of the threats the Love brothers or the coffee shop owners toss at him. Jake knows he has done his time, knows that what is in the past can stay there and he knows that he can be good for Tristan. It’s a good thing Tristan knows that too and hates the way his brothers try to run his life.

I had so much fun with this book. I loved being in Tristan’s head while he figures out how to start his own business and not have his heard of older brothers butting their way in to fix things. Tristan is the youngest of seven brothers and having lost his father when he was six, his brothers have always tried to step in and be there for him. But they need to learn Tristan is a grown man and can make his own decisions, even if they don’t know the full truth behind why he made them.

This story is so damn sweet but it does have a bit of darkness to it regarding both Tristan’s and Jake’s pasts. I was ready for some of Jake’s but a few things hurt and when we find out why Tristan left, it broke my heart. I did love who he told about it first and when his brothers find out, their response was heartwarming.

Simon is mentioned in the blurb and he is one of the brothers who is mostly in the story. I am happy that he will be next to get a book, even though I thought it would be Nate, but Simon is so grumpy it will be great to see him get knocked on his butt by love.

Sweet Nothings was such a fun read. The connection between Jake and Tristan is so strong from the beginning and both men were respectful of how fast the relationship moved but they talked about it and decided they were both on board. They really put surfaces to great use in Tristan’s bakery and I hope we get to see them rebuilding the bakery after the fire in the next book.