Review: Max and Finn (Men of Smithfield #2) by L.B. Gregg

When I walked out of his office after the hottest sex of my life, I thought I’d left Max Douglas behind me forever— along with my favorite argyle socks and my self-respect. The last thing I need is the too-serious, too-sexy former Marine living across the hall from me while he acts as a bodyguard for one of my students. Especially since he fired me from my job tutoring his brother—after we hooked up.

I shouldn’t want him. I should despise him after the way he treated me. But he’s exactly my type: older, experienced, in control—and it’s obvious the lust is still mutual. While I may not be able to keep our relationship strictly professional, I’m determined to keep it purely physical. But when the stalker threats escalate, it looks like Max is going to be sticking around the school for a while—and the more I get to know him, the more I’m in danger of losing my heart.

Pure entertainment. 

Between L.B. Gregg's humorous writing style and Shannon Gunn's ...erhm... enthusiastic narrating, I found my self laughing more often than not. I know that was L.B. Gregg's intention in her writing, but was that Shannon Gunn's intention with the narrating? I'm not sure, but I found him to be freaking hilarious.

It all starts when Finn decides he likes the older brother of the boy he's tutoring. What's the next, logical step in a situation such as this?

Step 1: Go to crush's office
Step 2: Take off your shirt
Step 3: Check to make sure said crush has a hard-on
Step 4: If no - ABORT OPERATION SEDUCTION
If yes - continue to, oh so arrogantly, undress
Step 5: Let him bend you over that desk and have his hard, dirty way with you

I wrote it all out for you, in case you find yourself in a similar situation. Just a public service us unicorns like to offer. *tips unicorn horn*

Anyway, back to Max and Finn. That all happened, but there was a little fallout and they split ways. Then, uh-oh, Max is working private security at the prep school where Finn works. They meet again and there is tension. Finn is remembering how hard Max likes to give it and how hard he likes to take it. *bites lip*

I especially enjoyed Finn and his inner dialogue. Being inside his head, on audio, was so completely amusing and I just fell in love with him. Max was meh. It took a while for him to warm up and become a likeable character to me. Yeah, he's supposed to be a hard-ass, but that whole charade lasted too long for me. I felt the chemistry in a lust kind of way, but not so much in an HEA kind of way. I think I need more time with them as a couple to buy the forever deal with Max and Finn.

It was fun and pretty darn hilarious. I liked the little mystery that went along with their romance and that it was secondary. I will definitely be picking up the third on audio.

Shannon Gunn. *chuckles* I just can't get enough of that guy.

Audiobook Review: His for the Holidays Anthology by Various Authors

Spicing Up the Season

Hope brightens a bleak Edinburgh December. A man gets a second chance with his high-school crush. A decade-long game of cat and mouse comes to a passionate conclusion. And Santa Claus drives a red muscle car. Heat up your holidays with this collection of four festive tales from some of the top talent in the male/male genre.

The anthology includes: "Mistletoe at Midnight" by L. B. Gregg, "Nine Lights over Edinburgh" by Harper Fox, "I Heard Him Exclaim" by Z. A. Maxfield, and "Icecapade" by Josh Lanyon.

Narrators: Alec McKellen, Max Tatch, Jack LeFleur, Max Bellmore
Listening Length: 13 hours and 17 minutes

Mistletoe at Midnight by LB Gregg  4♥s

This was cute, sexy and just fun. All of the things that LB Gregg does best made this quite an entertaining little holiday read. 

Owen and Caleb get a second chance after being apart since high school. They end up reuniting when Owen is spending the holiday with his family. Because of the whole fam being there, crazy shenanigans ensue. 

The side-characters were memorable and fun, the dialogue was funny and the romance was sweet. It really was just a nice, feel-good, holiday read.

Nine Lights Over Edinburgh by Harper Fox  3♥s

Sometimes I just don't get Harper Fox. This is one of those times. 

Her way of writing can be confusing for me, so I didn't really grasp what was happening until at least 25%. And then once I was in, I didn't really buy the romance. I'm sorry, but the rescue mission to save your abducted daughter is not the time to fall in love. It just isn't. I don't care if he realizes that it's weird, I don't care if love happens at unexpected times, it was weird to me.

I did enjoy the characters and the plot, but just not with a love story at the same time.

I Heard Him Exclaim by ZA Maxfield  3.5♥s

Well, this was just darn cute. I admit, the beginning was weird. C'mon, they meet at a gas station, then when Chandler's car breaks down he just goes with Steve. Just gets in the car. WITH HIS NIECE! So he's a nice guy and has Santa eyes... who the fuck cares? STRANGER DANGER! 

Anyway, once I was past the weirdness of their meeting I really enjoyed Steve and Chandler's romance. I love the way Steve took care of Chandler and gave him confidence. They were loving and sweet and had off-the-charts chemistry.  

Icecapade by Josh Lanyon   4♥s

This is my favorite story of the bunch. I love the premise, with a diamond thief and FBI agent there's bound to be some fun banter. And there was.

I'm pretty sure I say this after every Lanyon book, but I wish there was a little bit more post-HEA bliss time. Just a little bit would have sufficed, I would have felt like they really were going to be together. They way it ended felt more HFN-ish to me and, of course, I would prefer something a little more solid.

This was a great anthology, filled with great stories and read by great narrators. Definitely recommended for holiday reading, and if you're an audiobook listener, grab the audio version.

Find on Goodreads!