Review: Overexposed (In Focus #4) by Megan Erickson

Love runs wild on the Appalachian Trail in the latest from the author of Out of Frame and Focus on Me...

Levi Grainger needs a break. As a reality show star, he’s had enough of the spotlight and being edited into a walking stereotype. When he returns home after the last season of Trip League, he expects to spend time with his family, only to learn his sister is coming back from her deployment in a flag-draped casket. Devastated, Levi decides the best way to grieve will be to go off grid and hike the Appalachian Trail—a trip he'd planned to do with his sister.

His solitary existence on the trail is interrupted when he meets Thad, a quiet man with a hard body and intense eyes. Their connection is stronger than anything Levi has ever experienced. But when Levi discovers the truth about what Thad is hiking to escape, their future together looks uncertain, and uncertainty is the last thing Levi needs...

Grieving his deceased sister, former reality star Levi Grainger decides to hike the Appalachian Trail, which he and his sister had been planning to do. He craves the quiet and solitude the trail brings. That is until he spots a man in the middle of the night sitting on a rock and staring at the moon. When the man makes room for him on the rock, Levi finds himself drawn to him.

After running into each other again, the man, Thad, invites himself to hike with Levi. Thad doesn’t say much and broods most of the time, but Levi welcomes the company. As they work their way through the trail, Thad slowly reveals more of himself. Levi and Thad begin falling for each, but the real world beyond the trail is full of hurdles that they’ll have to overcome.

‘Overexposed’ works great as a standalone. I haven’t yet read the other books in this series, and I didn’t have any trouble.

It would be hard not to love both Levi and Thad right off the bat. With the story told from his POV, I could feel Levi’s grief every time he thought of his sister. And while Thad’s story is revealed more slowly, it was clear from the beginning that he had his own demons that he was dealing with.

The only window we get into Thad’s thoughts are a few texts he sends to someone identified only as ‘M’. However, those texts were enough to feel how lonely Thad was, and how much being around Levi gave him hope.

Levi and Thad become friends before becoming lovers, which I really liked. It happens slowly, as the two hike the trail and share bits and pieces of themselves with each other. This is one of those books where you really get to see the characters fall for each other.

And underneath the slow discovery was a sexual tension that leapt off the pages. The UST was killer! I was anxiously waiting for the two to give in. And once they finally did, it was hot.

However, both Thad and Levi have their hang-ups, which almost ruin their budding romance. When it looked like the two might not make it, my heart hurt along with them. But they do pull through, and it’s in a spectacularly romantic fashion.

“You don’t have to be perfect. Perfect’s boring...But you’re perfect for me. You fill in all of my cracks, all the places where I’m not whole. I can only hope I do the same for you.”

“You do. You so do.”

‘Overexposed’ has it all - two complex and well-developed characters, a sweet and heart-grabbing romance, a fair amount of angst and emotion, and the kind of well-written storytelling that will capture your attention.

I’d definitely recommend this book for all lovers of MM!

For more info on Goodreads!

Guest Review: Tied to Trouble (Gamers, #3) by Megan Erickson

Between love and hate, there's a whole lot of trouble…

Chad Lake only showed up at his sister's party for the free food, but when he spots an uptight nerd at the edge of the crowd, he can't resist trying to ruffle the guy's perfect bow tie and impeccable hair. The hottie's ready for him, though, and in the end, it's Chad who's left wide-eyed, his ears still ringing with the filthy things Bow Tie whispered in his ear. No one gets the upper hand on Chad. Ever.

Owen Hawkins has heard all about the cocky Adonis from Chad's sister—the same sister who holds Owen's career advancement in her hands. He has every intention of steering clear of the other man…until Chad's sexy taunts push him too far. There's something intriguing about Chad, and even though Owen knows that getting tangled up with the infuriating man is trouble, he can't seem to stay away…

**This is part of an M/F series but can be read as standalone**

Guest Reviewer: Samantha

For so long, Chad had been one-dimensional in Owen’s head, and it’d been easy to classify him as Marley’s wild younger brother, the guy Marley always had a funny, unbelievable story about.

But now Owen had met Chad, and despite that he wanted to keep him flat, Chad was slowly ballooning into a 3-D person. A guy with feelings and secrets. He wasn’t classified now. Not at all. He was in the breeze, all on his own, and Owen didn’t like it when he couldn’t pin someone down and figure them out quickly.

Chad Lake is a bit of a wild child. He doesn't settle in one job for too long, doesn't stay with the same person too long... he doesn't really commit. For most of his life, that's worked out just fine, but Owen is about to shake that all up.

Owen works for Chad's sister, and despite the near instant clash of personalities, teetering on the line of hatred, there's something about Chad that just keeps drawing Owen close - close enough to get in his pants a time or two. It's not like Owen at all; he doesn't say those things, do those things... but just maybe Chad is shaking up his life too. There may be something to the saying that opposites attract, and Owen and Chad are about to find out.

“Chad, you’re…” Owen waved his hand, searching for words. “You’re light and fun and spontaneous. Shiny things distract you.” Owen took a step forward. “I wanted to stay shiny for you.”

This is the first Megan Erickson story I've read due to time constraints. I was really looking forward to it, as I've only heard good things about her MM stories. I went into the story with an open mind, and I'd say that my expectations were met pretty well.

The story is a fun and fast read. Once you get into it, the pages fly by easily. There's nothing particularly original about the story line. We've all read opposites attract, a romance between the impossibly uptight nerd and the relentless bad boy. Still, I would say that the story was a cute representation of the trope, even if the club situation toward the end was predictable.

I really enjoyed the side characters. Marley was a strong female, and it's always nice to find those in books. I would've actually loved to see more of Ace too, as he was pretty intriguing. The balance of the number of side characters was spot on. Not too many, but enough to pad the story. One thing I do wonder about is if Gamers ever got that advertising account. We never did find out.

Oh, and how can I forget? The sex. Steaming. I'll never be able to look at a bow tie the same way again. The idea of Dapper Dick was just super fun and a nice little addition to the story.

In sum, this is an enjoyable, no-stress read. It's something I could see someone reading on the beach or on the deck while getting some sun. I look forward to hopefully reading more of Ms. Erickson's books in the near future.

For more information on Goodreads or Booklikes!

A copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.

Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway: Wish Come True Anthology

Proceeds will be donated to Lost-N-Found Youth , an Atlanta-based nonprofit corporation whose mission is to take homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths to age 26 off the street and transition them into more permanent housing.

It's a five hearts read all in all, I'll give my individual story ratings below and a general review of the anthology - let's face it, with this author line-up it was inevitably going to be a fab read! Including *squee* three of my absolute favourite authors, Suki Fleet, Kaje Harper and Anyta Sunday,

A Very English Christmas by Keira Andrews - five hearts
For anyone who read and love Isaac and David from Keira's Amish series, this is a must read. Their first English Christmas and the author nails it on the sweet romance stakes. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. A fabulous start to the anthology that gets you right in the feels!

Mr Perfect's Christmas by Joanna Chambers - four and a half hearts
Sam is trying to fit into Nick's shoes, and from where he's standing they're pretty big shoes to fill. Sometimes though, if you just look at things from a different angle they can be quite different. I really enjoyed this story of love being found where you last expect to find it.

The Christmas Ship by Amy Jo Cousins - three and three quarter hearts
Beware of the internet! A cute little story of twink meet jock. Best buddies online but when they meet in real life one of them is in for a big surprise. Or is he? Does he know more than he's letting on? I enjoyed this story, it had all the right ingredients for a cute Christmas tale.

That Thing by Megan Erickson - four and a half hearts
When your twin sister is a wedding planner who needs an assistant it's really hard to say no. So Devin doesn't, and when he meets the best man he's really pleased he didn't. The flirtation between Devin and Adrian is ho,t and although we pretty much can guess how the will they/won't they will go it plays out really nicely and left me grinning.

Just Like Heaven by Suki Fleet - five hearts
If I was forced to choose one favourite story from this anthology, it would be this one. By a whisper. Something about Suki Fleet's writing gets me every time. I love her characters and David and Jess are no exception. The gritty reality that is Jess's life collides with David and there starts a story of hope and love that is perfect for Christmas. I adored it.

Not Your Grandfather's Magic by Kaje Harper - five hearts
This is another strong contender for favourite story. Like Suki, Kaje writes wonderful characters; characters I can't help but fall in love with. And it's not just the main characters of Zeb and Matt, but the wonderfully quirky secondary characters that I want more of. I wasn't sure how this story was going to go if I'm honest - but I love the direction it took. Matt stole my heart, every accident prone inch of him, and it was a great story.

Bottle Boys by Anyta Sunday - five stars
I knew this anthology was for Christmas, and really it made my Christmas. My three favourite authors with stories in a row. Anyta Sunday is a wonderful and unique writer. I adore her characters (again!!) and the way she seamlessly pens a storyline. EAsy to read and without fail full of UST, this story was the perfect way to end this anthology.

I cannot recommend this anthology enough, a line up of excellent authors, Christmas stories and the proceeds go to Lost N Found. It's win, win, win.

Question – What's your favorite holiday-themed movie?

Keira Andrews - So hard to choose just one! There are certain movies I watch every Christmas, including While You Were Sleeping, Bridget Jones's Diary, Elf, and Die Hard.

Joanna Chambers - No contest: It's a Wonderful Life. A huge treat last year was watching it all the way through with my older son for the first time. He loved it and got it 100%. My younger one was a bit bored and kept wandering off, but he was really upset when the old pharmacist gets mocked in the bar in the alternate future.

Amy Jo Cousins - Ahhh! I have a dozen! We watch It's a Wonderful Life and The Muppets Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve at my mom's place. Then I go home and wrap presents until the wee hours of the morning because I am a terrible procrastinator. Midnight present-wrapping requires both wine and Love, Actually on the DVD player (yes, I know, it's a terrible movie with terrible plots and characters, but I can't help it! I love it). In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I also make sure to fit in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Boris Karloff narrating the animated version, not Jim Carrey, please), Miracle on 34th Street, and Christmas in Connecticut. That last one, with Barbara Stanwyck, is one of my favorite movies ever. She's so glamorous and everything about the movie is so funny. *sighs* I love it.

Megan Erickson - Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer

Suki Fleet - Die Hard or Gremlins.

Kaje Harper - I'm not a movie person although It's a Wonderful Life is a classic. I love books, though. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Gift of the Magi and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and many more.

Anyta Sunday - Romantic, touching, and funny, my favorite holiday-themed movie is Love Actually. I love the cue card To Me You Are Perfect scene. Melts my heart every time.

Kanaxa (cover artist) – Love, Actually. I rage at Alan Rickman for the gift scene with Emma Thompson. Every. Single. Time.

Lenore DiTrani (editor) - I might not care for Christmas music but I love Christmas-themed films! Let's see, some of my favourites. Bad Santa by Terry Zwigoff (I love Billy Bob Thornton!), Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, Millions by Danny Boyle, Eastern Promises by David Cronenberg, Love, Actually by Richard Curtis, Trading Places by John Landis….But I think my all-time favourite is Monty Python's Life of Brian. What do you mean it's not a holiday-themed film. Of course it is!

BLURB:

First love. Young love. Holiday love...

Wish Come True is a collection of contemporary, new adult, holiday short stories by some of our favorite authors!

A Very English Christmas by Keira Andrews
Isaac and David have created a new life together outside the Amish world. Living “English,” they’ve left behind the rigid, isolated community where they discovered their forbidden love. Staying with Isaac’s older brother in San Francisco, they yearn for a home—and bed—of their very own. As they experience the bright lights and merry carols of modern Christmas for the first time, can they make their holiday wishes come true?

Mr Perfect's Christmas by Joanna Chambers
Sam Warren’s new job hasn’t been going so well so the last thing he’s in the mood for is the obligatory office Christmas party, particularly since Nick Foster’s going to be there. Nick–the guy whose shoes Sam has been trying to fill–seems to take very opportunity to point out where Sam’s going wrong. But when Sam receives an unexpected Secret Santa gift at the party, he’s forced to question his assumptions about his rival. Could it be that he’s been misinterpreting Nick’s actions all along? And is it possible that his reluctant attraction to Nick is reciprocated?

The Christmas Ship by Amy Jo Cousins
When a twink who's finally ready to grow up accidentally catfishes a college football player headed to the NFL, it's going to take a lot of honesty and all the faith they can muster in their own One True Pairing to set this Christmas ship sailing.

That Thing by Megan Erickson
Helping his wedding planner sister work an event is not Devin Master’s idea of what he wants to do on his winter break from college. But saying no to his sister isn’t in his wheelhouse, which is why he finds himself embedded in a drama-filled wedding. His first task? Babysit the “troublesome” best man.

Adrian Alvarez wants to do just about anything on New Year’s Eve except attending his best friend’s wedding. Ever since Adrian came out, he’s been shunned in his hometown. By everyone but his best friend, Tony. Which is why he finds himself trudging through the airport to fulfill his best man duties. He doesn’t expect to find out his ride to the hotel is a hot blond with a cocky grin.

Devin can’t get involved with a member of the wedding party, or his sister will kill him, and Adrian just wants to lay low and not draw attention to himself. But neither can resist the chemistry between them and they have to decide if they are willing to ignite or let their attraction fizzle out.

Just Like Heaven by Suki Fleet
One rainy night in December, David helps a busker with pretty eyes get his stolen money back. He doesn’t imagine the strong attraction he feels is mutual. But after overcoming his shyness, David discovers Jess is definitely interested.

Jess just isn’t interested in anything but a one night stand. Or maybe two. Falling for David is definitely not part of his plan. But when David gets trapped in a snowstorm the night before Christmas Eve, Jess realises a night or two is never going to be enough.

Not Your Grandfather's Magic by Kaje Harper
A month away from Zeb Crowe’s twenty-first birthday — just a month before the ceremony that will awaken his psychic heritage — Zeb’s grandfather predicts cryptically, “Hold your mind and heart ready, and something good will come to you.” Shortly afterward, Zeb meets Matt, a smart, gawky, unexpectedly appealing guy who might warm the lonely corners of his heart. But is Matt really the “something good” his grandfather predicted? And is it fair to get close to him, when very soon Zeb’s whole life will change? If Zeb’s dad wasn’t missing, or his grandfather wasn’t such an enigmatic old bastard, his path to love, or power, would be so much clearer.

Bottle Boys by Anyta Sunday
Benjamin Otto is a bottle of liquid luck. Good looks. Good brain. Whatever the challenge: good odds. Except, what happens when those odds change?

Dad’s had enough bankrolling Ben and requests him to get a job. The challenge: make enough money to finance Christmas or face telling his little brother the holidays are dead.

Then there’s Sebastian. The guy from his politics class who is always coming in second after him. The guy who steals Ben’s idea to collect bottles for quick cash. The guy who makes Ben wonder if any amount of luck will be enough to win him what he really wants…


Edited by Lenore DiTrani
Cover by KaNaXa

Proceeds will be donated to Lost-N-Found Youth , an Atlanta-based nonprofit corporation whose mission is to take homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths to age 26 off the street and transition them into more permanent housing.

BOOK INFO:
Title: Wish Come True
Authors: Keira Andrews, Joanna Chambers, Amy Jo Cousins, Megan Erickson, Suki Fleet, Kaje Harper, Anyta Sunday
Genre: Holiday, New Adult, Contemporary
Length: approx. 100k words
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Buy Links: Here are the buy links:
Amazon
Amazon UK
Smashwords

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Ebook copies from each of the participating authors’ backslists (7 in total) AND a $50 All Romance Ebooks gift certificate!

Review: Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.

All the stars, this book gets all the stars.

It is fair to say I devoured this book, after reading a couple of BDSM orientated books this was exactly what I wanted to read. My favourite ever storyline in any book, show, film etc is friends to more. There is something so special about two people who have that basis of friendship, of trust and love, to letting things - or needing things - to move a step further. I can't explain how much I love it. When the friendship is there first and it's not all just crazy wanna get in your pants lust, it turns me to marshmallow. I've always, always wanted friends to fall in love - or admit they're in love maybe..Anyway, this book completely fulfilled my FTM urges.

*happy, happy sigh*

Justin is taking one last trip - bid for freedom really - with his best friend Landry straight after graduation. Justin is retracing the steps of his father from years earlier and spreading his fathers ashes on the way. This is more than just a trip though, it really is that junction in Justin's life where he has to decide whether to follow the path that has been decided for him or to follow his heart, his gut, and choose the life he actually wants.

On one hand everything is clear-cut, he'd be the person his mom wants him to be, make her happy and follow the narrow little path set out for him. It's all so...certain and definite and it is what he has been working for the last four years. It could be considered the easy option (if you think going against what you wan,t to keep those you love happy, easy), it is probably the safe option...but it's not what Justin wants. On the other hand is the possibility of everything he desires, if could just have the guts to admit it. The fact that he's hidden who he really is from everyone, including - especially -his BFF, does not make for an easy decision.

The story line here was pretty perfect as far as I was concerned. Justin had his decisions to make, but he's not the only one. Megan Erickson writes in such a way that I fell so into the story, into the lives of these two men that I couldn't put it down. I had that feeling inside when my stomach tightens and my heart squeezes. I so wanted an HEA but the journey was truthfully bumpy. It felt like the forever the characters got was a real forever and the right choice.

Simple truths are sometimes the hardest to acknowledge. They can be the most fragile, the ones kept closest to the heart and therefore the ones that can hurt the most. I felt this with Justin - how much he wanted to tell Landry everything and yet how scary that prospect was. To carry on as he is, he might not be happy but (as far as he could see) he hadn't lost anything. To admit to the truth, well then he really could lose everything and end up alone. And it wasn't just Justin who had these choices, but Landry too. As the story develops it is equally hard for Landry. What is the price of love? How do you know if you'll both end up unscathed?

Of course his mom is portrayed as a bit of a mini monster...I think by the end she has redeemed herself but I always have to remind myself when I read stories like this that there are people out there who can't accept their son or daughter as gay. As a mum myself I truly can't imagine how anyone can cut off their child because of who they love or chose to have sex with. I think this is why I find these story lines so difficult to comprehend and they are the ones that hurt me the most. It could have been so easy for the mom in this story to have grown into an even bigger monster...but the author didn't let that happen. Although I didn't like the woman to start with I appreciated her own journey and liked who she had become at the end.

I can't think of anything I didn't enjoy about this book...I suppose all I would say is that, at times, they felt a little younger than their twenty-two years. I'm not sure why, maybe it's just a reflection on my own life and that by that age I had a mortgage etc already so...yeah, they felt more eighteen/nineteen to me but it didn't detriment my enjoyment of the story in any way, shape or form.

If friends to more is your thing this book IS for you. At about 90% my heart stopped. It really did and there was definitely tissue needed. Just when I thought everything was sorted...it was a...twist I didn't expect, but I still adored this book. Looking out for more from this author for sure.

For more about this book check out Goodreads
This book was given in exchange for an honest review.