Guest Review: Jenson (Silver Screen Doms #1) by Meg Harding

Tired of dipping in and out of other couples’ love lives, at almost forty Jenson Delaney is ready to meet a submissive he can call his own.

Mitchell Wellington left an abusive ex in the rear view, but the mental scars linger. Moving on isn’t so easy when every thought is plagued with doubt. Chicago is a fresh start, but he has to find himself first.

An accident lands Mitchell in Jenson’s sights, and he can’t ignore his instincts to care for the young man.

There’s power in submission, and Jenson wants to take the spark he sees in Mitchell and make it burn bright.

In unfamiliar territory, both men must learn how to trust—in each other and in themselves. It’s the only way they’ll overcome the shadow of Mitchell’s past.

Reviewer: Annery

At 24 y.o. Mitchell Wellington has been knocked hard by life. His parents died shortly after he started college and Evan, his first and only boyfriend, unfurled his true colors revealing the abusive and controlling human turd he truly was, isolating Mitch from the world and using him in ways both painful and degrading without Mitch’s consent. Wrapping himself in scraps of courage Mitch escapes to Chicago hoping to hide in the anonymity of a big city and trying, for the first time, to function on his own as an adult.

Jenson Delaney is a renowned movie star who at 40 y.o. is looking to find the same kind of success in his personal love life. He’s a Dom and until now hasn’t had issues sharing Boys with others, being a third, but he’s yearning for something of his own. Some love & domesticity.

Luckily, Mitchell is me driving, and in a panic swerve to avoid hitting a dog hits Jenson’s car. The two meet, and it’s a sweet, slow burn, hurt/comfort, and sexy road to HEA. I liked it very much.

Mitchell’s journey from an abused young man, whose sense of self-worth has been crushed to the ground to someone who’s finally able to stand on his own two feet, albeit or thanks to, the help of friends and a real lover is poignantly and realistically portrayed. That he is able to achieve this within the parameters of a BDSM relationship (mostly D/s) is a love note to an expression of sexuality that is often misunderstood and a testament to how strong & courageous Mitch really is. We also get Jenson as the embodiment of what we hope a partner will be: loving, patient, and all about consent.

Jenson never forces anything on Mitch, his help or love are not subject to conditions. He lets Mitch take every step on his own, lets him decide even when he should probably push, but when Jenson is Mitch’s Dom there is no mistake about who’s in charge. Perfect.

I liked all the friends that come into play, the ones who are clearly set up for future books, and the ones who are just part of this world. I liked that though Mitch found Jenson, or the other way around, Mitch very much saved himself in every way that counts and got someone to love & love him in return too.

Recommended.

Review: Contour (Shape of You #1) by Meg Harding

Jamie “Roxy” Albright has one great love in his life and room for no other. He lives and breathes makeup. Men are nothing more than temporary distractions and romance… well, that isn’t worth his time. With a burgeoning career as a YouTube makeup artist opening doors to never before dreamed of opportunities, time isn’t something Jamie has and distractions aren’t something he can afford.

Instagram model and shirtless wonder Tyler Jackson is quickly falling for elusive Jamie. How it went from a seemingly innocent message to feelings, he’ll never know. Their chemistry is instant and fiery hot, and Tyler’s never been that good at self control. The challenges are endless, though. There’s Jamie’s walls to break through and a country worth of space between them. And just when things are starting to look up, life throws a wrench in the works.

This is such a relevant read at the moment with how on fire YouTube and Instagram are. There are millions of people who are extremely loyal to their favorite online personalities that this read hit me in my happy place. Picture it… Male Youtube make up artist (MUA) lusting over an Instagram model. Add in a private message sent and buckle in for the delicious ride.

I may be a *tad* bit in love with Jamie “ Foxy Roxy.” He’s a 20 year old MUA with a sassy personality. He's honest yet evasive. Jamie's unapologetic and has zero shame. Oh, and he wears MANTIIIIIIIIES. Along with the satin and lace, he has an ass you can bounce a quarter off.

Where were we? Oh yeah, Jamie. He has commitment issues and never sleeps with the same man twice. Due to his past, his ideal gift is lube and condoms in lieu of flowers #practical. He’s also thirsty AF for Instagram model, Tyler Jackson and his two adorable dogs.

Tyler is a country boy at heart and “Instafamous” model by accident. He has dimples, tattoos and abs for days. *growl* Tyler is also really down to earth, caring, and becomes genuinely interested in the beautiful, Jamie. What started with a flirty private message became two different yet compatible men forging a friendship and then those pesky feelings just creep up.

The thing about Tyler is that he’s a serial monogamist while Jamie favors his one and done approach. Jamie is overly guarded for fear of giving away his power. He's closed up tighter than Fort Knox in a way that isn’t rude, just honest. He wants to be in charge of the power exchange that happens when you release the inconsequential and the important pieces of what makes up a person. Jamie has reasons and Tyler respects the boundaries while trying to find a way to chisel at the walls.

“I’m not asking you for forever, I’m just asking you for right now.”

I lovvvvvvvvvvved them together. Every time Jamie revealed a tiny piece of himself I wanted to cheer.

“Jamie was a secret I wanted to unravel. But if I pushed, he’d run, and that was the last thing I wanted.”

The messages they exchanged had me swooning and cackling at their banter. You can *see* how their relationship develops online and then when they meet in person it has a natural progression. The growth was realistic to their circumstances of living long distance. Tyler and Jamie actually communicated. *gasp* I know, I know... relationships are no place for communication but they were very adult about their boundaries, expectations, and who they are as people. Their personalities complimented each other and I was doing my happy dance all the way to an HEA.

The sex. The chemistry. The heat.

Y’all, it deserves its own paragraph. This book wasn’t a sexfest but when it did take place…

Their first time… HAWWWTT.

”I straddled his waist and started to pull my panties down. He stopped me. “Keep them on. Push them to the side.”

Not to discredit the writing of the sex scenes… but, I think what added the cherry on top for me (besides the lace thongs), was the connection and foundation they built before they had sex. They communicated for months and Tyler insisted on a date before they rode their way to orgasm.

With all this gushing over my love for Contour, I had to give it 4 stars. Why, you ask? The ending. This story drew me in right away with Jamie’s voice and had me hooked until the end. The last 10ish% left me scratching my head. The pacing throughout was great and then BAM, the end was rushed. Everything was just tied up in a fast little bow that altered my enjoyment. The “angst” and its resolution were unnecessary IMO and led to a disjointed ending where the MCs didn’t fully act like themselves.

Still, I enjoyed this book, the banter between Tyler and Jamie, and the secondary characters. This is my first book by Harding and I’ll definitely read more of her work as well as any additions to this series. Recommended.

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Contour (Shape Of You #1) by Meg Harding

Meg Harding and Signal Boost Promotions celebrate the release of Contour (Shape Of You #1)! Learn more about the new book today and enter in the giveaway! You could win an eBook from Meg Harding's back list!

Universal Buy Link: books2read.com/ContourMH

Length: 52,000 words approx


Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design


Blurb


Jamie “Roxy” Albright has one great love in his life and room for no other. He lives and breathes makeup. Men are nothing more than temporary distractions and romance… well, that isn’t worth his time. With a burgeoning career as a YouTube makeup artist opening doors to never before dreamed of opportunities, time isn’t something Jamie has and distractions aren’t something he can afford.


Instagram model and shirtless wonder Tyler Jackson is quickly falling for elusive Jamie. How it went from a seemingly innocent message to feelings, he’ll never know. Their chemistry is instant and fiery hot, and Tyler’s never been that good at self control. The challenges are endless, though. There’s Jamie’s walls to break through and a country worth of space between them. And just when things are starting to look up, life throws a wrench in the works.

Meg Harding is a graduate of UCF, and recently completed a masters program for Publishing in the UK. For as long as she can remember, writing has always been her passion, but she had an inability to ever actually finish anything. She’s immensely happy that her inability has fled and looks forward to where her mind will take her next. She’s a sucker for happy endings, the beach, and superheroes. In her dream life she owns a wildlife conservation and is surrounded by puppies. She’s a film buff, voracious reader, and a massive geek.


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Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Meg Harding

Meg Harding is here today with her signature style and a cheeky, sexy fic.

“Could you try and give me some smolder?”
Brady narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips.
I swallowed a laugh. “I didn’t say look constipated. You’re supposed to be looking sexy for me.”
The noise Brady made was as close to a growl as a human could get. He shifted on the stool I’d gestured him to half an hour ago. “I’m not a model.”
He may not have been a model—he sucked at sitting still and he hated the camera—but if he didn’t want his picture taken, he shouldn’t be so damn hot. “I just need you to cooperate for a few good pictures. This is for my class. I’m going to get graded for it.”
Brady rolled his baby blues. “What am I going to get for it?”
I paused in adjusting my lens. My eyebrows rose. Things were about to get… interesting. I hoped. I licked my bottom lip, wetting it. “What do you want?”
Brady propped his elbow on his knee and his chin on his fist. “Hmm. How about for every photo you take, you take off an item of clothing.”
I blinked. I’d been thinking I’d, y’know, blow him. “You want me to get naked in the studio?” It was cold in here, all right.
Brady’s smirk was wide, smugness radiating from him. “Yeah, that’s what I want.”
I tried to save myself. “I was thinking I’d suck you off.” I worried at my lip, knowing how fixated with my mouth Brady could get.
“You can do that.” He grinned. “After.”
I snorted, loudly. “Oh, can I? How generous of you.” Shuffling in place, I thought about it. What did I have to lose other than my questionable dignity? “All right.” Setting my camera down, I then removed my shirt, tossing it aside. My nipples immediately peaked in the cold air. “Now, spread your legs and try to look like you do when I do that thing with my tongue in bed.”
Brady relaxed back on the stool, his legs spreading wide, showing the red of his briefs through the hole in the crotch of his artfully torn jeans. The wrinkles on his face smoothed out as he stopped trying so hard and let himself go.
The shutter clicked.
Brady motioned to my pants.
I juggled the camera as I took them off, leaving me standing in nothing but my briefs.
I captured Brady’s smirk on camera this time, the taunting tilt to his lips.
My briefs came off.
“Now what?” I asked. “I’m out of clothes.”
Brady started to shrug out of his jean jacket, let me capture the moment before it hit the floor. He tapped his thick thigh, grin wide. “Now you come here.”

Strip photography should be a thing. Someone make it a hashtag, STAT! Be sure to let Meg know what you thought of her fic in the comments below.

Author Bio

Meg Harding is a graduate of UCF, and recently completed a masters program for Publishing in the UK. For as long as she can remember, writing has always been her passion, but she had an inability to ever actually finish anything. She’s immensely happy that her inability has fled and looks forward to where her mind will take her next. She’s a sucker for happy endings, the beach, and superheroes. In her dream life she owns a wildlife conservation and is surrounded by puppies. She’s a film buff, voracious reader, and a massive geek.


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Group Review: Marc's the Spot by Meg Harding

Marcus “Marc” Lacroix, a red panda shifter, knows who Lucas Grayson is, and up until playing with him during the world cup of hockey, didn’t much care for him. But when he finds out the jaguar shifter with the hot body has a personality to match, he’s a bit blown away. A night of celebration leads the two of them to the bedroom, and they discover that one night might not be enough to finish this thing between them.

Passion grows to love and more than a little kink, and the two make things work despite the obstacles standing in their way. Lucas plays for the Aces and Marc for the Hares, the distance and crazy schedules of a pro-hockey player keeping them apart. Lucas discovers it's harder to let go of things than he'd thought. When ill-fate strikes, Lucas spirals and Marc has to try and hold them together. It's one match Marc doesn't know if he'll win.

Average of 4.3333

Sara - 4.5 Hearts

Call me biased. Call me a fangirl. Call me whatever you will but I simply adore Meg Harding’s work.

I remember reading To Arizona and falling in love with a league of shifter hockey players. Not only was the couple – Dustin and Chandler – adorable but the entire team of Arizona Hares stole my heart with their shifter ways. I clearly remember how much I loved Marc when he would shift into his Red Panda form and cuddle with his teammates, so I was beyond excited when I learned Marc was getting a book and he was gonna fall in love with a Jaguar on an opposing team.

Oh yeah. This was good.

The book starts off with Marc and Lucas, who normally play on different teams, playing side by side during the World Cup of Hockey for Team Canada. We get the game and they win and everyone goes out to celebrate. Marc has always noticed the veteran hockey defenseman Jaguar shifter that is Lucas Grayson even when playing on Marc’s biggest rival’s team. But when drinks start flowing, when Marc’s hand randomly falls on Lucas’s thigh and Lucas likes Marc’s hand there… the two leave the celebration to have a party of two. Goodness, the first night was hot and it was also all sorts of adorable because these two are simply made for one another.

The story is told in what I will call vignettes. We get the first night with Marc and Lucas and the interest of seeing one another again but they are professional hockey players on different teams living in different cities so we get pieces of them along the way. The beginning of their situation gave way to texts between the men and the few times they can be together when they are in the same city. It also gave way to teasing from Lucas’ teammates when he is late one morning and to Marc’s when they catch him smiling at his phone. I adored the time the men spent together and that they recognize what they have may have started as a one night stand but when they consume each other’s thoughts, it’s hard to think once would ever be enough.

I love the shifter time we get in the story as well though it wasn’t as much as To Arizona and yet, I was completely fine with that because while the men are shifters, the story is about more than their animal forms. That may sound odd for a book with shifters in it but it fit for me, the story was about the romance between Marc and Lucas, about both men accepting changes in their personal and professional lives. They are shifters and we do get moments between them but just like some shifter romances that focus on pack politics and less of the human side, this was a good balance of both to me. Plus, if you’ve read To Arizona, the world building kinda happens there. *shrugs* Oh and I would LOVE to see a copy of the pictures the men took IN their shifter forms for the photo shoot for NHL All-Star Weekend… because OMG HOW FREAKING CUTE!

But as I was saying the story is told through moments of time, sometimes months, before Lucas and Marc can be together yet trust me when I saw each time is so worth it. Not only are the men hot in bed, the way they start to develop and acknowledge real feelings was amazing. I felt terrible for Marc after a devastating loss with his team but how he shows up at Lucas’ and what he learns that night was so memorable and emotional, to me his loss was worth what he gained.

The story spans three years of their lives together and we get to a point where Lucas’ career goes in a direction he wasn’t ready. But the direction allowed Marc to be there for Lucas in a way he never had the opportunity before and it gave Lucas a chance to see how strong and sturdy his goalie is off the ice and in his life. The men have a few bumps along the way but with amazing teammates – loved seeing Chris again and knowing him and Dustin still float – who support them on and off the ice and this world that accepts shifters, the book was nothing short of a fantastic read.

Marc’s the Spot is a wonderful addition to the world Ms. Harding had built of shifters in the game of hockey. It’s a story where the men not only find themselves, but find new strength and vulnerability in loving one another. That end was so damn good and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Well, I could ask for more in the series but as I said, I am biased to the author.

SheReadsALot - 4.5 Hearts

"I want to take you apart," admitted Lucas, spreading Marc's cheeks, then pushing them together. "I always want to take you apart."

*growl*

Did you see that quote?

Marc's the Spot backs it up and then some. Meg Harding returns to the AU world where shifters are the ones playing contact sports. In To Arizona, we met the Arizona Hares, a popular hockey team with a menagerie of animal shifters.

In Marc's the Spot, we get red panda shifter goalie, French Canadian Marcus aka Marc as a lead! Spanning about three years, the story starts at closer to the beginning of Marc's career as a goalie. (Forgive me sports people, because I will surely bungle up some sports term) Marc and a hockey rival, older jaguar shifter Lucas play together in a world cup sort of hockey game for their home country, Canada. Once the game is over, teammates go back to rivals...but not quite.

See the two guys have chemistry. And a little booze and flirting leads to a hot hook up.

What was supposed to be a one night stand, stays as one since Lucas plays for Las Vegas and Larc is in Arizona. Their teams are bitter rivals. But they never delete the other's phone number. And they never forgot about each other. It's gotta be the sex right? So if they happen to be in the same town, playing a game against each other, afterwards, they can just hook up again. No one needs to know.

Then the hooking up, when it was convenient, moves into something more. And that's the magic of this story. I found To Arizona to be more cuddlier than this one. And for good reason. Harding delved deeper into Marc and Lucas's background. The story is told through dual POV, we get to read about the important connections they have in their life, the sacrifices they've made for a sport they love.

And parallel to their relationship is the peaks and lows of each man's hockey career. The story is told in a pattern of vignettes through the most important moments for the guys and it really got the point across. It was a character driven romance and I bought it hook, line, and sinker.

There is a good amount of sex! Lucas is dominant and demanding. And Marc is eager to please.

Cum marking, spanking, D/s, rimming... Baby was happy!

Lucas loves a good ass. And I can't blame him in the least. He's obsessed with the ginger panda's ass.

Thing of beauty, I say.

I liked Marc and Lucas separate, but I loved them together. The time the reader spends with them makes their relationship believable. No insta-love here. They communicate when they're faced with problems, be it through use of mouths or bodies. (Love and lust hard) I don't think either of them were looking for a relationship but that chemistry is the glue, their love of hockey the cement.

The story is low angst, heavy of the sex and blends paranormal really well with contemporary. If I had to say I had a gripe, it would probably be the lack of in between, meaning I wouldn't have minded reading some more about couple learning each other rather than cutting to this highlight and the next. The story works. But I think it's partially from me being a greedy reader.

I think this is beginning to be a new fave trope of mine: fuck buddies to more. I am enamored with this world Harding created - it's a sports romance that this non-sports person can get behind. I wasn't lost. And I really like the ease to her shifter stories. I can easily see myself binge reading her books. I haven't been disappointed in what I've read so far. I think this was stronger than To Arizona and I really dug that, so I have to rate higher.

Recommended.

P.S. I hope there's a certain otter that will have his story in the future! *fingers crossed*


Optimist King's Wench - 4 Hearts

I really want to review this book properly but all I can think about are RED PANDA CUDDLES!!!!

DFGHJIOPLKJHGTRT56Y7UIOP#$%^&**&^$@#$%^&!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get directly into my pocket, please. R.T.F.N.

And squirrel...

When I was but a mini-cupcake I went to the zoo and saw my first red panda. I fell in love. I remember being perplexed as to why I couldn’t get to it-for the cuddles-and thinking my parents would quickly remedy this situation and that lil bundle would be coming home with me. Imagine my astonishment when they told me that the animals at the zoo lived at the zoo! Wut? Why would they live at the zoo? When they. Could live. With me!?!?!? I still find this logic faulty.

Anyways. There I go again. Digressing and whatnot.

So. Marc is a red panda shifter and he embodies all the things I envisioned a red panda would want. Specifically: CUDDLES! That’s right. Marc is a cuddle monster and he usually shifts to do so. He cuddles in his regular form too and usually still sleeps on top of Lucas. So cute!

He’s also an NHL goalie in the AU world Harding has created wherein all sorts of shifters live amongst humans. Marc’s the Spot is a follow up to To Arizona but can be read as a standalone if you must, but whyyyyy? Why would you do that? One word: otters. 🙌🏾

Marc meets Lucas and is immediately hot for the jaguar shifter who plays for a rival team as a defensemen and is slightly older (10 yrs). He’s also BIG. YUM! And bossy in the bedroom! Double YUM! The boom boom scenes are stellar: mild D/s, begging, spanking, drooling cocks, begging, face fucking, rimming, begging. Did I mention begging? He also has a tendency to carry Marc around a little bit. #dead And someone had a hands free orgasm! #DEADISAY!!!!!!!!

Their story is told over 2 yrs with them progressing from fuck buddies to exclusive to living together. There is no instalove nor is anything contrived about their relationship. How relatable Harding’s characters are is what I like best about her writing. She crafts imperfect characters and Marc and Lucas occasionally get it wrong. After an unexpected hardship forces them to redefine their relationship, they have to work out how they’re going to fix it and sometimes that requires outside help. Where everything was easy before, everything is hard after and they traverse those ups and downs together. This is where Harding shines, in capturing those ebbs and flows while still maintaining their connection. When an author can show me unwavering devotion even through the shit times, that goes a long way towards convincing me of their longevity.

She also does hockey really well and I loved all the team stuff. The Hares shift together, piddle around in the pool and have each other’s backs. Plus there are some SUPER CUTE shifters on this team. A chipmunk! I so hope there will be more from this universe. Specifically Chris’s story, because something is amiss betwixt him and Eli and I’m hoping it might could involve some hate sex to work it out.

#DYINGOFCUTENESS

Recommend to red panda and shifter romance fans!

Review copies were provided.
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Release Blitz + Giveaway: Finding Home by Meg Harding

Meg Harding, along with Signal Boost Promotions, visit the clubhouse to promote Harding's newest contemporary release, Finding Home. And there are gifts: an excerpt AND Accepting the Fall eBook giveaway!

Good luck!

See our review of Finding Home HERE!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 68,000 words

Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Blurb

Jaden Matthews has never known his father or his father's family, but he's about to get a crash course on having siblings. With the recent passing of his grandmother, he's discovered he has three half-brothers and part ownership of a gym. In Serenity, Florida. His life in New York has hit a rocky road, so maybe this is the vacation he needs to get things back on track.


Chase Michaels lost his future in a car crash almost ten years ago, and he's made a new one for himself in Serenity. One that doesn't include getting emotionally involved with people who are just passing through. But Jaden makes his common sense flee and his gut react. He's got one month with the man who made him believe in taking a chance.

Excerpt

“Is everything all right?” asked a warm, very male voice from behind him. It sent a shiver racing down Jaden’s spine. Huh. That was weird.


He turned.


Standing on the shoulder of the road was a Calvin Klein model. He was taller than Jaden, probably some insanely genetically gifted six foot something, and his legs…. Jaden’s mouth might have watered a little. They were really long and very shapely. His jeans were molded to his thighs. His big, muscular thighs. Jaden swallowed heavily. His plain white shirt clung to an equally wonderful chest, outlining defined pecs and hinting at the type of abdomen Jaden watched porn to see normally. He was tan, with a chiseled jaw and high cheekbones, big, luscious pink lips. His eyes were hidden by his sunglasses, Ray Bans, and his hair was a silky ear length fall of chestnut.


Jaden had to wonder if he’d passed out in his car from the heat and this was all a fantastic hallucination. If the guy took his shirt off, that’d answer the question.


Maybe he should cut back on the porn….


“You okay?”


He blinked. The guy’s shirt was still on. So this god was actually here to be his knight in shining armor. Wow. Too bad he was about to make himself look like a giant dumbass. “My car is out of gas,” he said. “And I don’t know where I am.”


The man smiled. He had dimples. Two of them. One in each cheek.


Jaden’s knees felt weak. Man, the heat was really getting to him. He leaned against his car for stability. Sweat was trickling down his neck, under his collar, and over his spine. When he licked his lips, Jaden tasted salt. So he was lost and grossly sweaty on the side of the road. Definitely the picture one wanted to present to the hottest man he’d ever seen in person.


“You’re on State Road 22, about ten miles outside of Serenity.”


Jaden’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me, right? Ten miles? All this car needed to make it was ten more miles?” If he had a junk car like Mr. Hottie, he’d kick it in frustration, but he drove an Audi so he settled for stomping his foot. Unreal. He was so close to his destination.


“I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you’re headed to Serenity, then?” asked the man, and he may have been beyond sexy, but the smirk on his face was starting to irritate Jaden. Jaden’s frustration wasn't amusing, damnit.


“I am,” he said.


This got him a thorough head to toe evaluation from his potential rescuer. He straightened, trying to make his shoulders look broader. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to fix the sweat dampened mess. He felt like he had to be coming up wanting in this man’s judgment. In his ear, the operator asked, “Can I let you go now, or would you like me to keep wasting my time?”


He hung up on her. If he ended up dead, his ghost could haunt her.


“I can give you and your small horse there a lift to the gas station and back,” he offered, holding out his hand to Magneto, who cautiously walked toward him, black and white ears slicked to his skull and nose twitching. He’d never been a fan of strangers. It’d taken him weeks to get used to Drew, simply because Jaden had been the one to pick him up as a puppy from the shelter. Originally, Magneto was an intended birthday gift for Drew. Jaden’s plan backfired, but he couldn't say he was sorry about it. As Jaden watched, Magneto tentatively sniffed the proffered hand and then his large tongue flicked out and left slobber in its wake. The man smiled and laughed, crouching to put himself face to face with Magneto. The next kiss landed on his cheek.


Jaden guessed that answered the question of if he could trust this guy. Obviously his dog did, and that probably meant something. “I’d appreciate it. Thank you,” he said. He shifted awkwardly. Should he offer to pay him for the assistance? Maye once they were at the station. Caution urged him to wait to reveal his wallet.


Just on the off chance Magneto was displaying poor judgment.


“You’re welcome.” He directed his blinding smile at Jaden, scratching behind Magneto’s big, floppy ears all the while. “I’m Chase Michaels. What’s this guy’s name?”


“Magneto.” Chase Michaels…. Why did the name sound vaguely familiar? Jaden couldn't place it. He shook his head. It was probably nothing. “Like the X-Man.” He tacked the line on automatically now, to beat the other person to the inevitable question. Magneto trotted over at his name, abandoning Chase’s attention for Jaden. He rewarded him with an under the chin scratch. “And I’m Jaden. Matthews.”


Chase wiped his slobber coated hands down his jeans as he stood. Jaden winced. “Nice to meet you. Want to get going or do you need to get anything from the car first?”


“Let me grab his leash.” While he picked the leash up, he slipped his wallet into his pocket. He remembered at the last second to take his keys. Locking himself out would be the cherry on top of his day. He didn't like cherries.


The first thing Magneto did when he jumped in the backseat of Chase’s car was drool all over the far window. Jaden stared at the smears in dismay. “I’m sorry,” he said, trying to head off any unpleasant attitude. “I’ll pay for you to get your car cleaned.” Drew had refused to allow Magneto in his car, and he’d always thrown hissy fits when Magneto smudged all the house windows trying to watch the squirrels outside play.


Jaden was a master window cleaner now. Maybe if he couldn't get another accounting job, he’d switch to that. He could run his own company and do the the books for it.


But Chase laughed, not looking at all disgusted by the mess it had taken Magneto all of two seconds to create. “It’s fine,” he said. “I’ll roll them down for him.”


His car smelled like apples, and a discreet glance around found the culprit to be a smoothie sitting in the middle cup holder. It was a not so appetizing oatmeal color. He expected country music to come over the speakers, so he was pleasantly surprised to hear something else. Indie rock maybe? He’d never heard this song before, but the beat was good and the singer had a clear voice.


Should he make small talk and ask who this was?


“What brings you to Serenity?”

Author Bio

Meg Harding is a graduate of UCF, and recently completed a masters program for Publishing in the UK. For as long as she can remember, writing has always been her passion, but she had an inability to ever actually finish anything. She’s immensely happy that her inability has fled and looks forward to where her mind will take her next. She’s a sucker for happy endings, the beach, and superheroes. In her dream life she owns a wildlife conservation and is surrounded by puppies. She’s a film buff, voracious reader, and a massive geek.

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Review: Finding Home by Meg Harding

Jaden Matthews has never known his father or his father's family, but he's about to get a crash course on having siblings. With the recent passing of his grandmother, he's discovered he has three half-brothers and part ownership of a gym. In Serenity, Florida. His life in New York has hit a rocky road, so maybe this is the vacation he needs to get things back on track.

Chase Michaels lost his future in a car crash almost ten years ago, and he's made a new one for himself in Serenity. One that doesn't include getting emotionally involved with people who are just passing through. But Jaden makes his common sense flee and his gut react. He's got one month with the man who made him believe in taking a chance.

This is another winner for me from Meg Harding.

Finding Home is a character driven quiet romance with low angst combined with sweet and extremely sexy moments. It was the perfect read on a Sunday morning during a holiday weekend.

Jaden Matthews and his Great Dane, Magneto, are on his way to a town he’s never been, to meet three half-brothers Jaden never knew existed at all because his late paternal grandmother they share whom he never met left him part of a business and her house. Jaden has nothing to lose after being laid off from his job and left by his soon to be ex-husband after he cheated on him with a med student, so why not drive from New York to Florida to finalize the things he never knew he had to move on with his life.

But visiting and then staying in a town called Serenity for a high strung guy like Jaden is bound to have all sorts of consequences.

Chase Michael’s had the world at his feet as a star college football player on the path to and NFL career when one night of too much partying and a bad decision changed everything. An accident that messed up his shoulder and leg forced Chase to rethink his life and fall back on the business degree he earned. Laying down roots in Serenity, opening a smoothie shop and becoming close friends with Jaden’s family was never his plan, but the town has a way of welcoming you in and never letting you go. It’s a small town thing right along with raccoons that hold you hostage from your front porch and sea turtles laying eggs on the beach.

The meet cute with Jaden and Chase was super cute because rescuing a stranger on the side of the road always turns into more and Chase and Jaden have chemistry immediately. Though both men do not know the other is gay, they form crushes and settle for friendship that moves along beautifully.

The memory of their Grandmother and who she was to her family and the town was bittersweet. Everyone loved her and her office filled with binders, pictures and notes shows how much she loved her family, even her asshat of a son who donated his sperm, but never took responsibility for the children he created. Jaden’s brothers were a complete joy to have in this story as it is one that focuses on family, a theme I am beginning to associate with the author. Jaden had never met his brothers, Phoenix, Zane and Elliot but considering the men arrived in Serenity in much the same way Jaden did, it’s not surprise that they want to get to know him and immediately take ownership of him as their brother. I loved each of the “Bannister boys” for many reasons but I have soft spot for the one with the long blue hair with his love for all animals and being their knight in shining everything but after a slip at the beach when discussing sexuality… I want Phoenix’s story and I kinda want it bad.

But back to the romance of Chase and Jaden. Both men know that Jaden is only there for a short amount of time to settle the new affairs he acquired from his grandmother. They know this and don’t deny their attraction mutual attraction and fall into one another with eyes wide open. Their eyes aren’t the only thing that’s open and with every “Can I try something?” from Jaden, he and Chase open their hearts to one another. Their time spent in bed was smoking hot with a side of small serving of kink from a bossy Jaden that both shocks Jaden for doing it and Chase for liking it. But it’s all what happens out of bed that is the romance and how Jaden, who has been repressed by making everyone else happy, is finally able to let his dork out and just be his true self because Chase lets him. It was adorable watching Jaden let go and let Chase in, even if neither of them are ready to spill their souls to one another.

The moral of the story is that pressure can be a bitch, and it doesn't matter where it comes from. At some point we have to realize we need more than one priority, and those priorities shouldn’t interfere with our well being. Figure out what you want, and do the selfish thing for once.

That quote right there is the moral of this story really. It’s too often that we can get caught up in doing for others that we forget to do things for ourselves. Even when we think we are being selfish, we tend to put others first and that can lead to a miserable existence. Jaden needed to learn this but needed to learn it where we could let go and find his own peace of mind.

I really liked that the story felt realistic down to the last word. As the reader you know where things are going and why you don’t want separating of angst for Chase and Jaden, you know it has to happen. It’s a good thing that end was totally romantic and so damn worth it.

Now I have to add…

The only thing for me that didn’t make this a five star read was terribly picky on my part and totally personal. For Chase to teach yoga, it bugged me that the first class he taught in the book didn’t make much sense. I’m not a professional, but I’ve been practicing daily for over two years and could not figure out what positions he was getting students into without giving any of them a name at all. Then we get that he was in Kapotasana on the beach, which is a very advanced pose in the second series of Ashtanga Yoga, and we were given the Sanskrit name of it out of the blue instead of calling it Pigeon Pose. It was just really odd to go from Chase giving no name to the poses before and then nailing this one. I am not sure why this pose was chosen, but including how it’s a back bend plus a heart opener could have added to Chase needing it at that moment and what deep poses like that can do to emotions. It’s ridiculously picky on my part, but it bugged me to the point I couldn’t see Chase as this yogi who practices authentically as he was supposed to. Even if some of yoga sounds new age-ish or hippy etc. using the language, even the non-traditional names for it give more meaning as it seems to be applied to Chase and not just some class he teaches like step aerobics.

Anyway, gripe aside I really loved this story. I liked the romance, I liked the family dynamics and I liked how the town of Serenity became a character as well with its own charms. I am going to say again, a book about Phoenix exploring more than just a one off would be amazing and I’ll leave it at that.

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Review: Accepting the Fall by Meg Harding

Confronting the past is never easy.

Cole Whitaker is happy. He has the job and boyfriend he always wanted. His heart’s in no danger of being broken, and he can’t ask for more from life. As a kindergarten teacher, he sees it all; however, one troublesome student has him reaching out to the parent, wanting to help. There’s something about Savanah that tugs at his heartstrings.

He never expected her father.

Zander Brooks hasn’t had an easy life, and he’s made some mistakes. Freshly retired from the military and working as a firefighter, Zander thought he’d left Cole in the rearview mirror. He’s not expecting him to appear in St. Petersburg, Florida, of all places, teaching his daughter’s kindergarten class. Suddenly, his biggest mistake is being shoved in his face.

This is Zander’s chance to close a door he’d never fully shut, but time with his former flame might change his mind.

This book is not helping the author crush I have on Meg Harding. Not one bit and I love it.

Cole Whitaker is in a good place in life. He’s a kindergarten teacher with a passion for animals and attempting to manage decent culinary skills to create edible food for himself and his current boyfriend. When a new student in his class starts behaving along the lines of bullying, he makes a note that he needs to meet with young Savannah’s father as he has learned from the little girl, her mother left. Cole is used to meeting with parents of his students but is so unprepared for who shows up as Savannah’s dad.

Time had done nothing to dull Cole’s memories of Zander Brooks, though he wished it had. He was supposed to be over this.

Zander Brooks is a local firefighter, a position he’s taken after leaving the military and receiving a child on his doorstep with a note telling him she is his daughter. Zander had no idea that a one night stand with a now faceless woman resulted in the creation of a child and now Zander is floundering with learning the process of becoming a parent to a five year old girl with a stubborn streak as wide as the day is long. When Zander decides to finally man or rather dad up and have a conference with Savannah’s teacher, his past comes rushing back to him in the form of Cole and with that, a level of regret disguised as mistakes.

Oh but I am a sucker for a second chance romance and when you add in Zander and Cole being teenagers meeting on a Military base, being each others first and everything for months, back when feelings were involved and hearts were broken and we are now 17 years later? GAH! My heart just aches for the story, for the backstory of what happened now and how will these two navigate the present as the waters of their past threaten to drown them in a tide of emotions.

Oh boy. The angst and UST in this were so damn good!

I have to throw this out there… I LOVE how Cole is with his animals and I am totally jealous of all that land he has. Le freaking animal sanctuary sigh, Cole. Le Sigh.

So, Cole has a boyfriend but while Patrick has become comfortable and safe in his life, he’s never felt the emotions and love he did and still does for Zander. When Zander literally rescues Cole and then they are forced into more interactions with Savannah and class field trips, the men start to remember what it felt like to be with one another and we start to get flashbacks of them together.

This has been… things have been weird since I walked in here months ago. Maybe it’s all in my head, and maybe it’s just me, but we’ve got tension. Our chemistry… it’s still there. I was, in my own roundabout way, trying to tell you that I don’t think we’re in the past. I don’t know that I can pretend we don’t have a history.

I was beyond happy that we get both POV’s in this story. So happy.

Zander has always believed that if you don’t get attached you don’t get hurt, it’s why he ended the relationship with Cole almost two decades ago and why he’s reluctant to care for anyone now. But with Savannah’s introduction into his life and the surprise of Cole reappearing in his life, it’s hard for Zander to stay aloof and unattached. He has the feeling that all he needs to do is fuck Cole out of his system and I wanted him to do it so so so bad because I just knew he was going to fail. A love, even a young love like Zander and Cole had that ended without closure, doesn’t disappear when the one you loved, is standing right in front of you wanting the same damn thing.

Kids in books are never a problem for me. I guess having kids and being one of those kids who was always told they were “four going on forty”, I know that kids don’t always act their age nor their shoe size for the general public. Savannah hasn’t had an easy life in her few years on this planet and she uses what she’s learned to her advantage. It’s a good thing Cole recognizes issues with problem students as something deeper and gives Zander some options to help his daughter. It’s natural for Cole to feel affection for his students and his relationship with Savannah was sweet but OMG watching Zander fall in love with his daughter was nothing short of gorgeous.

Now I mentioned Cole has a boyfriend in this book but for those who need to know, there is no cheating. Cole is a good guy and so is Zander and while both men feel a pull toward one another, neither crosses the cheating line.

What happened between them seventeen years ago hadn’t been teenage lust or infatuation. Everything he’d felt then, he felt now. Except now… now it was so much stronger, though no less confusing.

There is fate and there is serendipity and I believe Cole and Zander truly are the targets of both. Throughout the book the men are thrown together in situations outside of school that would seem contrived if they weren’t so genuine. Once they decide to give what they have between them a second chance I was a goner. Good lord. I love a slow burn romance and this was done so damn well that you feel it. It gives you all the feels you need and they smolder from the heat.

Phew… yeah. This one was good and it was so down to earth and real. There was no need to suspend any sort of reality because all that Cole and Zander have is real and once they open up and trust – again – it’s perfect.

You want to know what else was perfect? That epilogue. Goodness me that was beautiful and everything I could have wanted for everyone involved.

First loves are so important, they can either make you or break you but they are always remembered. When you have a first love like Cole and Zander, one that ends but it’s never had closure, it’s hard to let go of. When that love comes around again, with a second chance of a new ending and a happily ever after, there is nothing else to do take that leap and accept the fall.

An ARC was provided.

Don't miss the Accepting the Fall release blitz + giveaway HERE

Giveaway + Blog Tour: Accepting the Fall by Meg Harding

Meg Harding is here today promoting the release of her newest, Accepting the Fall! See our 5 Heart review HERE! Happy Release Day! Be sure to enter to win an ebook below! Good luck!

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 61,000 words

Cover: Black Jazz Design

Blurb

Confronting the past is never easy.


Cole Whitaker is happy. He has the job and boyfriend he always wanted. His heart’s in no danger of being broken, and he can’t ask for more from life. As a kindergarten teacher, he sees it all; however, one troublesome student has him reaching out to the parent, wanting to help. There’s something about Savanah that tugs at his heartstrings.


He never expected her father.


Zander Brooks hasn’t had an easy life, and he’s made some mistakes. Freshly retired from the military and working as a firefighter, Zander thought he’d left Cole in the rearview mirror. He’s not expecting him to appear in St. Petersburg, Florida, of all places, teaching his daughter’s kindergarten class. Suddenly, his biggest mistake is being shoved in his face.


This is Zander’s chance to close a door he’d never fully shut, but time with his former flame might change his mind.

Excerpt


Time had done nothing to dull Cole’s memories of Zander Brooks, though he wished it had. His stomach rolled, and he had to lock his knees to keep upright. Breathe, Cole, you’re being dramatic. Of all the places for them to see each other after nearly two decades…. It was some consolation, a very small amount, that Zander appeared equally as shocked to see Cole. He stood in the doorway, unmoving and silent, his lips parted. Cole could feel Zander,s gaze on him like a physical touch. It made his skin prickle, his heart skip a beat. He was supposed to be over this.


Cole needed to find his words. He was a professional, and whatever personal history they’d had, it was just that. History. It was irrelevant in this room. He played pretend with his class sometimes. He could do that now. He cleared his throat, feeling a bit like a cat with a hairball. “Hello, Mr… Emerson?” It was less confident than he’d been going for, but it would have to do. Zander took a minute to noticeably reorient himself. He walked into the classroom slowly. His pace could even be considered hesitant. Cole tried to ignore the observation, the nagging surge of satisfaction that he wasn’t alone in being off kilter.


From behind him, Savanah snorted. Cole glommed onto the excuse to look away from Zander and turned to her. Savanah’s pert nose was scrunched. “Can I play outside?” she asked, gaze darting between Cole and her father.


Jesus. Zander was a father. Zander was the father who Cole had been wanting to meet. If Cole didn’t regulate his breathing, he was going to have a full blown panic attack. He’d been in love with one of his student’s fathers. He’d had his heart broken for the first time by him. Seventeen years later and it somehow still stung. “No, but you can use one of the stations,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound too strangled. He ran a hand over the back of his neck, damp from sweat. He thought it was possible he’d had a nightmare like this before.


Savanah pouted but went in silence to the reading corner. She made sure to scuff her shoes over the carpet on the way.


“It’s Mr. Brooks,” said Zander, sounding much closer. His voice was the same, deep and smooth like velvet. It sent parts of Cole’s insides fluttering in a way he hadn’t experienced in years.


Cole retreated under the guise of picking the workbook and pencil off the floor. Savanah had Goldfish crumbs littered around the legs of her desk. “Ah, I see. My apologies.” He aligned the book and pencil symmetrically on the scarred desktop. A few of the workbook’s pages were crinkled now, folding in on themselves. He tried to smooth them down and noticed in the process that Savanah had been working ahead. He made a mental note of it.


He was going to have to stop delaying and face Zander eventually. Could he play this off like he hadn’t recognized Zander or was that cat long out of the bag? “Why don’t you take a seat? I’ll be right with you.” He cupped his hand at the edge of Savanah’s desk and used his other to sweep eraser crumbs into his palm.


“Uh.” Zander coughed, shuffling his feet and rustling his jeans in the process. “Here?”


Cole managed to look at Zander at last. His lips even twitched into a half-smirk of their own accord at the picture of Zander squeezed into a child-sized seat. The smirk didn’t last long. Zander was too close. Cole could make out the nearly golden striations in his irises, could see the slow progression of his pupil taking over the brown. He had a scar at his temple now, a jagged slash from hairline to the arch of his eyebrow. Stress lines looked to be permanently etched in the dark brown skin at the corners of his eyes and mouth. If Cole didn’t know better, he’d have said he was staring at someone in their forties. The years they’d been apart had not been overly kind to Zander.


Strangely the realization left Cole with a hollow feeling, a tinge of… disappointment, maybe. He’d been angry with Zander with every fiber of his teenage being, but buried underneath had always been a quiet hope that Zander would figure out how to be happy.


Clearly he’d not.

Author Bio


Meg Harding is a graduate of UCF, and recently completed a masters program for Publishing in the UK. For as long as she can remember, writing has always been her passion, but she had an inability to ever actually finish anything. She’s immensely happy that her inability has fled and looks forward to where her mind will take her next. She’s a sucker for happy endings, the beach, and superheroes. In her dream life she owns a wildlife conservation and is surrounded by puppies. She’s a film buff, voracious reader, and a massive geek.


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