Guest Review: Love You So Sweetly (Love You So Stories #4) by Tara Lain

Reading his future in a glass of sweet tea.

The youngest son of one of America’s richest families, Remy Merced is so busy trying to save his family company from collapse, he’s never taken time to figure out if he’s gay, much less if he’s happy. Then his meddling mama hires him an assistant who’s everything Remy thinks he doesn’t want. Cute Harper Treadwell, from rural Arkansas, is a brilliant business prodigy… and openly gay. His wit and charm could confirm Remy’s suspicions about his own sexuality almost instantly—if they weren’t both already partnered.

When Remy’s girlfriend and Harper’s boyfriend get a little too friendly, Remy finds that the path to happiness requires a long drive in an old Prius, a growing appreciation for small towns, and a whole lot of sweet tea. But before they can forge a future—they have to let go of the past.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Remy is a lovely character, but his mom is even more so! She’s an amazing matriarch who has held on to her roots despite huge wealth. When she hires Remy a new assistant she’s clearly up to mischief, and Harper is EXACTLY what Remy needs. Of course, Remy resists all Harper's charms and the (often present) existing relationships that are doomed, there is lots to work out before these two lovely men can find their happily ever after.

It was interesting that Remy was acting the part so much that he has lost sight of where his mom and dad came from. Theirs was a great love, but the beginnings were humble.

The story is a nicely written, sweet and rolling tale with intrigue but not too much angst. It’s a lovely addition to the Love You So Series, with a sweet as sugar HEA!

I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: DSP Advent: Homemade for the Holidays Week 1

Choosing the right gift for that special someone can be the most daunting part of the holidays. In a sea of mass-produced items, why buy when you can DIY? The end-of-the-year festivities are the best time for crafts, whether they’re made from yarn, paper, flour, or even code. And with some love and luck, these special presents might inspire a romance that lasts an evening… or a lifetime. Nothing makes the season merry and bright like a gift handmade from the heart, and to bring smiles to the faces of the ones they care about, these guys are willing to get creative.

Tis the season once again and I, for one, am a happy, happy unicorn! We'll be posting reviews weekly of Advent stories and while this week is a bit behind (I'd like to know who's idea it was to make Thanksgiving a week late this year, I really hate when that happens), but December is here and it's time to let the love of the Christmas short story flow.

The Carpenter's Prince by Jayce Ellis

Sean Edwards would do anything for his nephew, including designing the props for a children’s version of the Nutcracker. He’s ready for the long nights and weekends in the workshop—they’re part of the job, especially given the short notice. The insanely sexy head ballerino is completely unexpected, however.

All principal danseur Keni Jackson wants is to surpass last year’s performance, blow people’s socks off, and cement his place in the studio. The last thing he needs is something to shatter his carefully held control—like a cuddly carpenter who favors jazz over Tchaikovsky.

Sean and Keni are drawn to each other, but not everyone is a fan of their relationship. When Keni’s position is threatened, they have to decide whether to walk away for good, or if what they’ve found is worth fighting for.

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

Sean makes this story for me. You know how, when you read about a character, and you fall for them in all the ways within the first bit of page time? That’s Sean. I mostly was down with whatever happened as long as my Sean got his happy ending. And he did, but there was a bit of minor manufactured drama that got in the way a bit.

That little nugget of a plot point didn’t make me super happy, but there had to be some sort of speed bump on the road to the HEA, and as far as speed bumps go it wasn’t terrible, but stilllllllll, Sean was unnecessarily sad and I did not like that one bit. Of course there was another MC, his name is Keni and he’s a dancer and he’s good and all, but he was onboard, albeit reluctantly, with the nonsense that hurt Sean, so that didn’t endear me to him a whole lot. Sean likes him so very much though and Keni does feel the same for Sean, but I need Keni to grovel some more and make sure Sean knows how amazing he is on the daily. In my head that all happens even after the story was done and they got their HEAs.


Christmas Ghosts by Jenn Moffatt

Dealing with the unexpected loss of his mother isn’t how carpenter Steve Browning planned to spend his Christmas. Hoping her costume jewelry can bring some happiness to others, he takes it to the local community theater, where he runs into his first love, Troy Baxter.

Troy’s trying to help his sister put on a gender-fluid version of A Christmas Carol, but no one on the cast or crew knows which end of a hammer to hold let alone use a power tool. Then a face from the past brings a present-day miracle… one that could lead to the happy future they both thought they gave up back in high school.

Ann - 2.5 Hearts

Christmas Ghosts had good bones to it, but the story never fully coalesced for me. There was a lot of info and relationships to get background on in a short period of time. I think because it was a second chance kind of romance, I needed to feel the love Steve and Troy had before and how it evolved and worked in the present. I was told about the love before, but I was told a lot of things and so I never had a sense of their connection and how it could have held together and rekindle over the years.

I liked Steve and I liked Troy and I wanted to feel moved by them, but there were too many distractions in the form of siblings and grief in a short story to give the guys the page time they needed to become fully fleshed out characters and in turn a romance worthy of a second chance.


Crochet My Heart by Carol Pedroso

Accountant Tristan plans to make a ton of crochet items for his local LGBT charity to sell at their holiday fair. His only problem? He can’t crochet.

Fortunately the community center offers a class, and it’s taught by Charlie, who is gorgeous and sexy and seems interested. At first. Can grandmotherly fellow classmate Ivy guide the clueless men to each other, or will it take something more serious to help them see the possibilities?

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

This story is just adorable. It has all the elements for a warm and fluffy Christmas story and the author delivered the fuzzy love very well. Tristan and Charlie have a super sweet homespun meet-cute and their banter was enough to feel the chemistry between them as they spent more time together. Tristan’s good intentions to the LGBTQ center he volunteers with have him overextended and needing Charlie’s help to meet his goal to provide handmade crocheted treasures for the holiday craft sale. So, already you know he’s a good guy. Charlie is also a good guy and so I couldn’t help but want to read about them getting their happy on.

There was some outside drama that provided the bit of bitter with all the sweet and the secondary characters kept Charlie in line when he veered off track in a moment of stupidity. Instead of being annoyed by the stupid, it actually made Charlie seem a bit more real because people do dumb things when they are falling in love and he redeemed himself quickly and in the end heroically.


An Elf to Myself by Emy Calirel

The last thing Wilhelm expects to find at Michaels, three days before Christmas and in search of a gift to make for his niece, is one of Santa’s elves—a cute one with a wicked, inappropriate sense of humor and a kinky streak. Alabastair may have been kicked out of Santa’s village, but he’s still a Christmas expert. And he’s determined to give Wilhelm and his family the best holiday he can.

With only two days to turn the Grinch’s house into a Christmassy wonderland, they have a lot on their plate. Among the glitter and the cheer, Wilhelm and Alabastair might find more than just the holiday’s magic. But will it be enough to keep Alabastair in Wilhelm’s bed and life when the North Pole calls him back?

Ann - 4 Hearts

I don’t know how, but the author made me suspend all my disbelief and by into elves as quickly as Wilhelm did. I should have been wanting more backstory and worldbuilding, I mean it’s an elf hanging out in Michael’s and he’s pretty open relatively quickly about who and what he is. But no, I was all “meh, it’s cool, these dudes obviously dig each other, let’s roll with it”. And roll with it, I did. 

I think it worked partially because the elves in question weren’t super magical, etc. They were, for the most part, regular people who just happened to work in the North Pole. I was fine with the modern twist the author put on Santa’s story, so I could pretty much forget about that and just wallow in the pepperminty sweet goodness that was Alabastair and Wilhelm. They both fell pretty hard and fast, but they had enough snark and attitude in their banter to balance the sweetness a bit and make their relationship seem possible for the long haul.


Evan Versus the Sharlotka by Chrissy Munder

Rumpled tech support Evan Carmichael has a crush on pristine programming supervisor Gavriil Cottan. The whole company knows it. Except Gavriil. As a closet romantic, Evan dreams of declaring his feelings with a grand gesture, something out of the movies he loves.

The company holiday potluck luncheon gives Evan a perfect opportunity. He finds out Gavriil’s favorite dessert and is determined to make an apple sharlotka just like Gavriil’s mother used to make. The only problem is, Evan is a disaster in the kitchen. Can he master the mystery of the sharlotka and the intricacies of the springform pan in time to both woo and wow Gavriil?

Ann - 4.5 Hearts

I look forward to Chrissy Munder’s stories every year. They are always amongst my favorites and she always writes characters I fall hard for. Evan is right up there as a guy I rooted for from page 1. He’s an everyman that can’t seem to catch a break and his mom is his biggest cheerleader. On paper, he may not seem like a romantic leading man type MC, but heeee isssssssss.

The story is told from Evan’s perspective and being inside his head is a little sad at times, but he’s forever hopeful. His crush on his co-worker Gavriil is so swoony as told from Evan’s view. While I didn’t get to know Gavriil well, he still felt fully fleshed out and I could completely understand why Evan was smitten. The author does a great job of making the time the MC’s spend together count and their conversations are the perfect vehicle to make the romance progress.

Evan’s attempts at baking Gavriil’s favorite dessert for the office Christmas luncheon was freaking adorable and about the sweetest thing I’ve read in a long time. Gavriil’s reaction made it even better and that had to be one of the most satisfying endings to a short story ever.


The Fairy Shop by Tara Lain

When Nate Hawthorne meets Asher Dane, the huge, tattooed hunk is the personification of Nate’s dreams. But Nate knows there’s no future, because Asher is also the personification of his beloved five-year-old daughter Delly’s nightmares. She’s frightened of big men. Things turn around for both of them, however, when Delly goes Christmas shopping at the Fairy Shop and begins her quest for a wand that will make her brave. Neither of them guesses that the Fairy Shop will be the source of far more than Delly’s courage. On Christmas Eve, under the influence of a very unusual fairy, Nate’s life will change forever.

Ann - 4 Hearts

The Fairy Shop is total Tara Lain reading candy for the holidays and I enjoyed every sweet little nibble. The author knows how to write super fluffy love stories that balance with a bit of drama to give a Lifetime feel that’s easy to dive into and get lost in. There’s a lot of story packed into this one, but everything seemed to balance out in the end.

Delly, Nate’s daughter really read like a little kid at first, but her vocabulary changed towards the end that made her seem like a little adult at times which was a little off putting, but not too bad that I was drawn out of the story.

The secondary characters added to the depth of The Fairy Shop and the only thing I would have liked, was more of Asher’s story. I don’t think that could have really been a thing in this case since it’s a short story and I know Asher’s story would be pretty involved. I really liked him though and while there wasn’t anything missing for him, I just wanted more because the author made me like and respect him so much.

**copies of the Advent stories were provided for honest reviews**

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Love You So Sweetly (Love You So #4) by Tara Lain

Welcome author Tara Lain to the blog as she visits on the Love You So Sweetly (Love You So #4) blog tour! The author not only shares some background on the latest in the popular series, she also hosts a giveaway for a $10 Amazon gift card!

Take it away, Tara!

Big City, Small Town, and Sweet Tea

I’m so excited to be here to introduce you to my new book, LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY. This book, of course, involves my favorite trope, opposites attract, but it also turns on another fun theme -- big city/small town. This theme gave me a chance to revisit my roots in the southeast.

Back in Love You So Madly (book 2 in this series but they all honestly stand alone), I briefly introduced a character named Remy Merced. He’s the youngest son of a very wealthy woman who owns one of America’s biggest retail chains. We meet him in that book as the guy who is responsible for diversifying his family company into technology, and we know that, unlike the rest of the family that hails from Arkansas, Remy was pretty much raised in Orange County, California.
We don’t see much of Remy in Love You So Madly, but his mom does make one tantalizing comment about him being the one person in the family most likely to be gay. That was too much of an invitation to pass up. I had to give Remy his own book. So after totally leaving the Merced family in book 3, Love You So Special, I came back in book 4 to let Remy come out of his closet.

I figured a guy who was raised to SoCal and involved with technology might have grown pretty far away from his Arkansas roots, so I couldn’t resist making his love interest a sweet, slightly nerdy, small-town Arkansas boy who’s much the opposite of everything that Remy thinks he values. Harper’s brilliant in business and he’s left his life in Arkansas because of a hurt inflicted by the town he was so devoted to. Still, they can’t take the small town out of the boy, and Harper’s life sucks Remy in.

It was great fun spending time in my familiar surroundings of upscale Orange County and then driving across the country to my imaginary rural Arkansas town. I hope you’ll check out LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY to discover how these guys resolve their romance that is long-distance in more ways than miles.

Book Blurb:

The youngest son of one of America’s richest families, Remy Merced is so busy trying to save his family company from collapse, he’s never taken time to figure out if he’s gay, much less if he’s happy. Then his meddling mama hires him an assistant who’s everything Remy thinks he doesn’t want. Cute Harper Treadwell, from rural Arkansas, is a brilliant business prodigy… and openly gay. His wit and charm could confirm Remy’s suspicions about his own sexuality almost instantly—if they weren’t both already partnered.

When Remy’s girlfriend and Harper’s boyfriend get a little too friendly, Remy finds that the path to happiness requires a long drive in an old Prius, a growing appreciation for small towns, and a whole lot of sweet tea. But before they can forge a future—they have to let go of the past.

Intro Line: Reading his future in a glass of sweet tea.

Book Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45891332-love-you-so-sweetly
Kindles: https://amzn.to/2HEwNHu
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-sweetly
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-sweetly-tara-lain/1131798101?ean=9781644055687
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-sweetly/id1463653860?mt=11&app=itunes
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Tara_Lain_Love_You_So_Sweetly?id=s-CaDwAAQBAJ
Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-sweetly-by-tara-lain-10756-b

Excerpt LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY -- Dasher

But he and Felicity hadn’t had sex in weeks. Shouldn’t he have a set of horns that would put Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer to shame? Hell, he was in his twenties. Even if he was sleepwalking, shouldn’t he be ready to stick his cock in anything female that passed within five feet of him? Wasn’t that the way most guys felt? Shit, these questions haunted the back of his brain all the time while the front worried about the business. And it wasn’t like he didn’t know why it worried him.

He sipped coffee and glanced at John Jack, who was smiling at his wife with open lust. It’d be nice to have somebody he trusted to tell him straight if he was undersexed or asexual, or…. He sighed softly. But he and John Jack didn’t have that kind of relationship. John Jack was seven years older and was more a product of Arkansas than California. He put a lot of store in “being a man,” and Remy was scared of what John Jack would say if Remy tried to get personal. Remy worked all the time, so everyone he knew was associated with the company, and since Remy was the boss, who the hell was he going to tell his troubles to?

His mama’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen, telling Nigel she’d like some more ice cream.
Felicity turned to Remy and leaned in. “I’m going to make my excuses. I’m too tired.” She put a hand on his arm. “Sorry, dear.” She kissed his cheek, rose, said a fast goodbye to Trudy and John Jack, and was gone before Mama even made it into the room.

Remy had a pretty good idea he shouldn’t be smiling.

Series Information

Link above image to Amazon: https://amzn.to/2M0bb7O

Book 1:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39509418-love-you-so-hard
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2Ekn197
Audible: https://amzn.to/2LZWDFr
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-hard
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-hard-tara-lain/1128265129?ean=2940159114952
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-hard/id1357837139?mt=11
Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-madly-by-tara-lain-9634-b

Book 2:

Book Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39674254-love-you-so-madly
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2s1SCrU
Audible: https://amzn.to/2LklXYm
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-madly
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-madly-tara-lain/1128729869?ean=2940161525616
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-madly/id1383081348?mt=11
Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-madly-by-tara-lain-9634-b

Book 3:

Book Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41073532-love-you-so-special
Kindles: https://amzn.to/34risrU
Audible: https://amzn.to/2ZDY1YV
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-special
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-special-tara-lain/1129437342?ean=9781640809611
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-special/id1416432464?mt=11
Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-special-by-tara-lain-9894-b



Author’s Bio:

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters – and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her best-selling stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes — the beautiful boys of romance — and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Likely a Gryffindor but possessed of Parseltongue, Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers. She also loves to hear from you.




Author Links:
Website: http://taralain.com/
Blog: http://www.taralain.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taralain
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/taralain
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tara-lain
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2ICPcCZ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4541791.Tara_Lain
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/taralain/
Newsletter: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=jwbsibjab&p=oi&m=1109217838793&sit=bt77devgb&f=53f7942e-58f8-4890-8011-f710698f5d46

Giveaway: 

Win a $10 Amazon gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway


LINK: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b4c0001d416/?widget_template=57632a0204f50f8c0cf21a68

Audiobook Review: Spell Cat (The Aloysius Tales #1) by Tara Lain

2nd Edition

When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But sadly, Killian walks away. He doesn't do physics professors. In fact, he doesn't do humans, because Killian is the most powerful male witch in 10 generations and, though gay, he's expected to save his declining race by reproducing.

He can't even have sex with Blaine, because he's been taught that sex with humans depletes his power. But if that's true, why can young human, Jimmy Janx, dissolve spoons with a thought? Somebody's a lying witch.

With his powerful cat familiar, Aloysius, on his shoulder, Killian brings the lightning against deceit and greed to save Blaine from danger and prove love is the greatest power of them all.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 48 minutes
Narrator: K.C. Kelly

Reviewer: Shee Reader

The story opens in Killian’s lecture theatre and is engaging from the outset. There are a multitude of twists in the tale and the adorable and feisty Aloysius the familiar. Our guys, Killian and Blaine have a bumpy road to happiness fraught with not only the usual relationship type challenges, but also magic and deceit. There are such huge untruths and manipulations trying to keep our guy from their HEA, not least Killian’s mother who has been lying to him from the start.

The audio was nice to listen to, but I didn’t love a couple of the narrator’s accents. I listen to lots of audio books, and some really add to the writing and others don’t exactly make it any better than reading the words myself. This was one of those.

I really liked the character Blaine, and I will look out for the next Aloysius story, but I’m a bit disappointed that Killian didn’t make me care about him more.

The writing was engaging and easy to connect to, the dialogue was good and I look forward to other stories that will hopefully shine a light on some of the supporting characters from this story.

I was given a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Home Improvement - A Love Story by Tara Lain

Romance on Aisle Sixteen—opposites attract amid the hammers and screws of the home improvement store.

Gabe Mason became a father at seventeen, and his daughter, Ellie, is the most important thing in his life. But being the parent the courts demand means Gabe has given up most of his dreams—education, making furniture, a gay social life—to be a model dad with a steady, reliable job in a home improvement store. Life’s predictable until Jerry, a shy, eccentric guy in a hat and sunglasses, begs Gabe to oversee the renovation of his run-down mansion.

Gabe loves the house and the work, and Jerry's pretty lovable too, but when Gabe discovers Jerry’s secret identity, he fears their passion could overturn both their lives forever.

Home Improvement is exactly what I expect when I read a book by Tara Lain. There’s likable characters I want to root for, relationship dynamics I get sucked into and just enough melodrama to be super entertaining.

She also writes great “every man” type characters. Gabe is just such a good guy who has sacrificed his own future when he was young to raise his daughter in the best way he knew how. He’s in his early thirties and his daughter is now 17. He works at a home improvement store and is liked by pretty much everyone.

When an odd customer shows up at the store one day and seems to only trust Gabe when it comes to his home improvement project. Gabe is strangely intrigued, but also very practical so he’s not too quick to jump at the opportunity to help renovate Jerry’s (weird dude) classic home. But Jerry’s shy and sweet demeanor quickly breaks down Gabe’s defenses and Gabe agrees to tackle Jerry’s home. 

Jerry sees some of Gabe’s handmade furniture and falls in love with it, which was pretty much the way to Gabe and his daughter’s hearts. Ellie, Gabe’s daughter is his biggest champion and I really liked the relationship they shared. As Gabe and Jerry spend more time together, I got to see that Gabe wasn’t the only really good guy here and while it was obvious Jerry has some secrets, he was good to his core.

There was the prerequisite angst that came with Gabe’s ex, Ellie’s mom. She’s not always been the most dependable, but they’ve always gotten along well, keeping Ellie’s well being in mind first and foremost. But, she’s hooks up with a religious man who is anything but good (and this is where the melodrama comes in). He’s OTT enough to be a caricature more than anything else but he does add the necessary villain that is fun to hate. He’s too ridiculous to win anything here, but he does galvanize the rest of the characters together.

I don’t want to go into who Jerry was outside his home, that’s not for spoilering, that’s for reading and it’s a fun revelation that isn’t overly surprising, but is written so that the discovery is a fun ride. I liked the whole unwrapping of Jerry, theatrics, declarations and all. The ending is sweet, fluffy and perfect for Home Improvement.

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

Cover Reveal: Love You So Sweetly (Love You So #4) by Tara Lain

Welcome author Tara Lain & Dreamspinner Press who are here today to reveal the cover for Love You So Sweetly (Love You So #4). Find out more below!

Title: Love You So Sweetly

Series: Love You So

Author: Tara Lain

Release Date: September 13, 2019

Category: Contemporary

Pages: 168

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Blurb:

A Love You So Story

Reading his future in a glass of sweet tea.

The youngest son of one of America’s richest families, Remy Merced is so busy trying to save his family company from collapse, he’s never taken time to figure out if he’s gay, much less if he’s happy. Then his meddling mama hires him an assistant who’s everything Remy thinks he doesn’t want. Cute Harper Treadwell, from rural Arkansas, is a brilliant business prodigy… and openly gay. His wit and charm could confirm Remy’s suspicions about his own sexuality almost instantly—if they weren’t both already partnered. 

When Remy’s girlfriend and Harper’s boyfriend get a little too friendly, Remy finds that the path to happiness requires a long drive in an old Prius, a growing appreciation for small towns, and a whole lot of sweet tea. But before they can forge a future—they have to let go of the past.

Buy Link:

eBook: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-sweetly-by-tara-lain-10756-b

Author Bio:

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters—and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her stories, which star her unique, charismatic heroes and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey, and her soulmate dog decided they wanted fewer cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon, where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Likely a Gryffindor but possessed of Parseltongue, Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zooeys, and her readers. She also loves to hear from you. 

Email: tara@taralain.com

Website: www.taralain.com

Blog: www.taralain.com/blog

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4541791.Tara_Lain

Pinterest: pinterest.com/taralain/

Twitter: twitter.com/taralain

Facebook: www.facebook.com/taralain

Tara Lain’s Beautiful Dream Reader Group: www.facebook.com/groups/255111391312743

Barnes & Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Tara-Lain

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Tara-Lain/e/B004U1W5QC/

Audiobook Review: Love You So Special (Love You So Stories #3) by Tara Lain

Can a man’s secret yearnings be revealed in a tank full of fish?

Artie Haynes knows he’s nothing special, with just-your-regular-brown hair, a solid plumber’s job, not much education, and a family that can barely get off the couch. But Artie has quirks—like his love of tropical fish, a landlord who’s a professor of existentialism, a passion for the amazing piano music he hears at a concert hall while he’s fixing the bathrooms—and the fact that he’s never come out as gay and probably never will. But when he’s hired to build a guesthouse for the pianist whose music enchanted him, Artie is swept up into an unimaginable world.

Francois Desmarais may be famous, rich, and revered as one of the world’s great classical composers and pianists, but he’s soothed and challenged by the inquisitive, stalwart, protective man in his back yard. When Francois’s terrible fear of crowds turns into a dangerous plot, Artie can stay in the closet or prove just how special he is.

Narrated by Ry Forest
Run Time 5 Hours, 18 Minutes

Oh my.

 This story (and the narrator) spoke to the squishy underbelly of my heart. The bit that soaks up all the romance candy regardless of realism, in fact, that’s the bit that thrives on the fantastical OTT bits of romance. Tara Lain knows how to write those stories for me. They aren’t crazy OTT by any means, but they are heavy on the rom-com feel so they are really fun to escape into and just flow with the love. The Love You So series is all of this in a pretty, pretty nutshell.

Firstly, there is Artie, he is one of my favorite kinds of MCs. Artie is humble, solid and his heart is too big not to be in love. He’s a plumber by trade, but an overall handy and responsible guy who ends up being the foreman on a remodel at the home of Francois. Francois is a world renowned composer and pianist whose mother is his manager and he lives under her heavy control of his career and life. Artie is in the closet out of fear of disappointing his family (who he supports financially) while Francois is out with no apologies about who he loves. If opposites attract is your treat, then this is your story.

Artie first falls in love with Francois’ music and as the two spend time together he begins to love Francois the person and the feelings are reciprocated. I loved reading about the two of them together. Artie is so protective of Francois, but in a sweet and respectful way that allows Francois to still have strength and pride. Francois is endlessly supportive of Artie when he considers coming out in his own time. The two of them really were made for each other regardless of their different backgrounds.

The narrator owns these characters so well. This is the first time I’ve heard Ry Forest, and after I listened to Love You So Special, I filled my audible cart with the rest of the stories he narrated, all by Tara Lain. It was a lovely week of bingeing. He captured the sweet charm of Artie and his Francois was a kick that kept with the spirit of the series. Francois has a French accent (stating what is pretty obvious here, but I want you to know where I’m going) and it is slightly reminiscent of Jean Girard talking to Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights which amused me to no end. It wasn’t so much that it drew me from the story, but it was just enough to keep in the vein of the rom-com, slightly OTT theme. I loved when the two of them would banter, it was a kick to listen to.

The story took a weird turn with some stalker fans of Francois and honestly it didn’t need to go there. That was the only moment that was legit OTT and the story had enough meat without it. I didn’t need that distraction from Artie and Francois as a couple.

The family angst that could have been, on both sides, wasn’t and that was fine. That’s where the realism isn’t a thing, but I wasn’t here for that and I wasn’t expecting it, so I mentally acknowledged it and went back to wallowing in Francois’ accent and Artie’s sweet, sweet heart.

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

Audiobook Review: Love You So Madly (Love You So #2) by Tara Lain

Ben Shane has it all...and he'd like to give some of it back. While he loves his job heading a foundation that funds worthy causes around the world, his engagement to one of America's wealthiest men leaves him feeling more like a trophy wife than a valued partner. The first warning that his relationship might not be designed to last is his irresistible lust for Dusty Kincaid, the golden-haired, bright-eyed handyman for his company.

Though Dusty is odd for a 23-year-old - no liquor, no sugar, and he can't even drive - the more Ben gets to know Dusty, the more he admires him. But is Ben going to give up a guy who drives a Ferrari for one who takes the bus?

He must be mad. Dusty knows he and Ben can never work. After all, Ben's perfect...and Dusty isn't. But Ben might surprise everyone with proof that he's only mad in love.

Listening Length: 4 hours and 36 minutes
Narrator: Ry Forest

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Ah this story was so great it made me smile for days! Ben is a charming guy engaged to a guy who doesn’t really seem to ‘get’ him. Ben loves his home that is mid remodel, but Alan wants him to sell it as soon as he can and live in his over-styled penthouse apartment. It’s almost like Alan doesn’t know who Ben really is, and anyway, what is Ben doing being engaged to a wonderful man and boggling the handyman at work. Clearly there isn’t a match made in heaven, but Ben and Dusty clearly are meant to be!

This is a lovely sweet tale that explores a few big issues and manages to resolve the relationship conflict without anyone doing anything terrible! It is low on angst and high on charm, with supporting families, outrageous philanthropists and a sweet as can be happily ever after. We also get to check in with the lovely couple from the first book in the Love You So series, which is great.

It’s a quick-quick-wish listen which is superbly narrated by Ry Forrest who brings all the characters sparkling to life.

Highly recommended.

I was given a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Trex or Treat by Tara Lain

Josh Harris is all dad all the time. A busy college professor and devoted single father, Josh tries to be happy with only his son for company. But then Bradley “Trex” Trexler moves in across the street with his stepbrother, Bogo, and takes advantage of their empty home, making it into a haunted house for Halloween.

Josh's son, Ernie, can't wait to go, so Josh dresses up like a movie cowboy and saunters over. It’ll be the best Halloween of Ernie’s life, but there’s another sharpshooter roaming the dark corridors, and this one might have a special treat for Josh….

Second Edition
First Edition published by Etopia Press in Halloween Heat (IV anthology), October 2012.

3 Halloween Hearts!


I wanted a little spooky spirit to get me going for the fall, and this shorty was just the ticket!


Assuming this is typical Tara Lain, this was a little over the top, a lot enthusiastic, with fast simple easy progression to the good stuff. *wink*


Single dad and slightly older professor Josh, spies his new neighbor Trex, moving in across the street with his younger half brother. When Josh discovers Trex is a grad student/TA at the college he works at and not completely off limits, Josh dares to hope there might be something more between them. Thankfully, Trex does an annual haunted house so there’s no better way to feel things out other than to dress up and enthusiastically participate!


Don’t be surprised that things move very quickly between these two, but that can’t be helped seeing as this is only 34 pages. An enjoyable story that’s basically pwp, which was just what I needed to put me in the mood for more upcoming holiday reads!


Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Audiobook Review: Love You So Hard (Love You So Stories #1) by Tara Lain

Third Edition

Craig Elson’s life has hit rock bottom. Even though he’s one of the best strategic planners around, a more confident guy takes credit for his work, and despite being a good-looking man, he suffers insults from the slimiest creep at the bar. Taking care of his beloved mom, who has Alzheimer’s, uses all his funds, leaving him in a plain, depressing car… and a plain, depressing life.

Until he sees gorgeous grad student Jesse Randall and his T-shirt that reads “I Would Bottom You So Hard.” The message seeps into Craig’s soul, and he asks Jesse to teach him to top.

Jesse’s had his eye on the quiet hottie who comes into the coffee shop, and he’s more than eager to perfect his tutoring. He sets out to get Craig a new job, a new apartment, and a new life so far outside plain and depressing that it’s unrecognizable.The problem is, Craig loves his lessons—and his teacher—too much to want to graduate. How can Craig reach the top without losing his sassy bottom?


First Edition published by Love Has No Boundaries, June 2013.

Second Edition published by Tara Lain, October 2013.

Listening Length: 2 hours and 55 minutes
Narrators: Ry Forest & Stephen Kurpis

Reviewer: Shee Reader

This story has everything: a gorgeous guy with low self esteem, a series of bad days at work and lots of pressure, a confident hotty and a bunch of fake dates. Perfect!

After seeing a guy who stole his ideas promoted above him, Craig decides to take some leave from work and decides to proposition the adorable guy he’s seen at the coffee shop.

Jesse has had his eye on Craig, and when the opportunity presents itself, he leaps at the chance to ‘tutor’ Craig in how to top. Of course all this pretend boyfriend stuff leads to true love - hooray! - but will Craig blow it (and not in the fun way!)?

This is a wonderfully entertaining, fast listen that is narrated beautifully. I liked everything about it and will definitely be looking out for more in the series.

I liked how the author dealt with the awful truth of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Craig is obviously a good guy and Jesse is just what he needs. The HEA is adorable.

Highly recommended.

Giveaway + Blog Tour: Rome and Jules by Tara Lain

Tara Lain is here today to promote her new Dreamspun Beyond novel, Rome and Jules. See our 4 <3 review HERE!

Check out the excerpt and be sure to enter in the giveaway for a $10 Amazon gift card below! Good luck!

The Power of Paranormal

Hi! I’m Tara Lain and I write The Beautiful Boys of Romance. I’m so happy to be here to introduce you to my new romance. As you may know, I mostly write contemporary stories like my Love in Laguna and Balls to the Wall series. I love creating characters that are just slightly larger than life, putting them in complicated real-life situations full of the frustration and sorrow that all of us experience, and finding a way to give them a happy ever after. It’s satisfying. But I also write paranormal stories. In fact, my Tales of the Harker Pack and Aloysius Tales are so popular, some readers may think of me first as a paranormal author. Actually, I’ve only written a total of six paranormal romances – and now there are seven! The new book I’m introducing this week is a paranormal romance. In fact, it’s a werewolf story. It’s called Rome and Jules.

Since I hadn’t written a paranormal hero in a couple years, I had to reacclimatize myself to all that power. I’m the Queen of the World! In paranormal, the author gets to say how the world works and it’s an almost scary level of control. But in fact terrific paranormal romance is just another way of showing us something important about our human condition. Vampires in the hands of great writers like ZA Maxfield or Charlaine Harris reveal the complexities of true devotion when extended to eternity. Dog shifters written by Eli Easton show the love and devotion we so value in our puppies translated to human expression. Great shifter stories like Lynn Lorenz’s Bayou Dreams make us smile at the delights and frustrations of daily life when you have a bit more power than most of us. In Rome and Jules, we get to see how having more strength and speed doesn’t necessarily mean you’re more enlightened. In fact it means you can be twice as ignorant. My hero may be possessed of “alpha advantage” but he is just as messed up by his family’s and community’s expectations as any human. Paranormal romances are particularly good vehicles for showing us that excluding any group from our society robs us of richness and steals our own power. After all, a werewolf may be powerful, but love is the greatest power of them all.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy Rome and Jules.

Rome And Jules

by Tara Lain

Blurb:

Two werewolf households, both alike in dignity….

Rome Siracusa, youngest son of the alpha of the nouveau-riche Siracusa pack, wants to be a faithful son and pack member, but he’s got two big secrets. One, he’s blessed with enhanced hearing, vision, strength, and the ability to shift at will. Second, he’s gay, a fact he can’t admit to his deadly homophobic father.

Rome crashes a party at the mansion of his pack’s greatest enemy, the ancient, pure-blooded Havillands. Jules, the gay son of the drunkard alpha, is being married off to a rich entrepreneur. Smitten and moved by the beautiful male’s plight, Rome tries to find a way to save Jules—while digging himself deeper into pack politics and navigating his own arranged marriage. Secrets climb out of the caves as the werewolf gods speak through the mouths of their children, and the two great families clash, suffocating the hopes of star-crossed lovers.

Available for purchase at 

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | iTunes | Dreamspinner

Excerpt

Crawling through the balcony window wasn’t exactly nonconfrontational. He plopped on the grass and pressed his back against the trunk of a tree. Maybe pebbles on the window? And if it’s not his room, dumbass? It made sense he’d have the one balcony on this side of the house. Do I risk it? He’s probably still out with Asshole Anderson. Man, that idea nauseated him. He closed his eyes and bumped the back of his head against the scratchy bark.
Lights shone against his closed lids, and he flicked his eyes open. Somebody’s in that room. He rolled up to a crouch and stared at the french doors. Like he willed it, one of them opened and out walked Jules.
Whoa. Rome sucked a breath, and his alpha-advantage eyes focused clearly on the scene, even though he was many feet away. Jules’s fair hair hung onto his shoulders, shimmering in the moonlight. He’d left his shirt open, and the white fabric barely contrasted with his pale chest—the chest that showed off those surprising muscles. He leaned on the parapet and sighed. Though hardly a whisper, Rome heard it clearly. He slipped a step closer.
Jules’s head snapped up. “Is there someone there?”
Wow. Could he hear that? Think fast. “But soft. What light through yonder window breaks?” Rome stepped out from under the tree branches and stopped. If Jules was going to scream, he needed a head start on the pursuers.
Instead, Jules gave that head cock, full of curiosity and unselfconscious charm. “I’ve always liked the sun.”
Rome let his smile break free. “I thought when I saw you that your hair looks like a great fall of sunlight.”
“How poetic.”
Rome walked slowly to the foot of the balcony and gazed up at Jules. Wild overgrown vines grew on trellises, some of them hanging away from the wall with the weight of the unkempt greenery. Rome pointed toward the window in front of him. “Is there someone sleeping inside?”
“No. There’s no one else in my end of the wing on either floor.”
“How nice.”
Jules rested his forearms on the balcony rail and leaned his chin on them. “When you broke in the other night—and I still don’t know how you did that—you said you wanted to be my friend and that you were worried about me being a pawn in a political game.”
“Yes. That’s all true.”
“Umm. But I don’t have any friends who recite Shakespeare to me. At least not Romeo and Juliet.” He smiled ever so slightly.
Rome’s heart beat hard. “And what does that suggest to you?”
“That the youngest son of the rich, powerful, and very homophobic Siracusa clan… is gay.”

About the Author

Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 32. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.  She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books.  Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at Lain

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