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

Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what can go wrong?

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

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

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

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

Narrator: Sean Crisden
Listening Length:3 hrs 42 min

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Group Review: How to Save a Life (Howl at the Moon #4) by Eli Easton

Rav Miller looked into the terrified, intelligent eyes of the chocolate Labrador on death row, and knew he’d do anything to save him. When the dog, Sammy, escapes and heads to Mad Creek, Rav follows. Mad Creek. The town had become legendary in Rav’s mind after he’d met that bizarre group last year. Rav dismissed his crazy suspicions back then, but when he arrives in Mad Creek, he knows it’s true. Dog shifters exist, and apparently they all live in the California mountains. It’s enough to blow a bad boy’s mind.

Sammy has something in common with Rav—neither one of them trusts people. After Sammy’s abuse as a dog, he particularly dislikes tough-looking men like Rav. But when Sammy gets a chance to work with rescued dogs at the new Mad Creek shelter, his deep compulsion to help others overcomes his fear. Rav and Sammy bond over saving strays. If they can each find the courage to let someone else in, they might find their way to love.

Sheriff Lance Beaufort doesn’t like humans moving into Mad Creek, especially not the tattooed and defiant Rav. When Rav starts a rescue shelter, the town thinks he’s wonderful! But Lance isn’t fooled. He doesn’t buy Rav’s innocent act for one second. How much does Rav know about the quickened? What is his game? And why did he have to show up now, when Lance and the other town leaders are overwhelmed by all the new quickened pouring in?

Rav knows how to save a life. But can he save an entire town? Can he rescue Mad Creek?

3.91 average!

Lost in a Book - 3.5 Hearts

Mad Creek. How I love thee. After googling Mad Creek, California and finding out it’s just a stream, my plans for moving have been placed on hold until a real shifter town opens. *sigh* I love this series and have loved each and every book…until this one. We met Rav in book three and I was excited to find out that the broody, growly, tattooed dog shelter owner was going to get a starring role in this book.

In How to Save a Life, we are introduced to Sammy, a sweet chocolate lab. Sammy got the spark when his original owner passed away. He moved to a new home that was full of abuse and unfortunately shaped the way he interacted with men. He was terrified of them. Sammy ended up at the pound and met Rex, another quickened who told him about Mad Creek. When Rav rescued him from the pound, Sammy cowered and waited for his opportunity to get to Mad Creek. Using his advanced Quickened brain, he was able to escape from the shelter and start the journey to a town where dogs were like him.

Rav tracked Sammy with his GPS microchip to Mad Creek and immediately realized that either he was crazy or dog shifters were a real thing. Looking into the golden eyes of Sammy the person, he came to terms with shifters pretty quick and wanted to know more. So of course, Rav moves to Mad Creek.

This book follows the transformation of sweet, terrified, and skittish Sammy as he gets to know Rav in a different capacity. Rav gets to know Sammy and the two have quite the journey. Being newly quickened, Sammy is SO innocent.

That’s how I pictured him throughout much of the book. He hasn’t had any life experience and is still suffering from traumatic events and the abuse that followed. Rav does a great job of pulling him out of his head and showing him that not all men are like “Bad Man.”

“The more Sammy watched Rav with the dogs, the more new feelings stirred inside him. He wanted to play with Rav too. No, that wasn't right. He wanted to be touched. He wanted to sit in Rav's lap and feel his strength, feel safe. He wanted to be soothed by those hands. He craved it very much! He felt jealous of the dogs.”

Sammy and Rav stayed platonic for a lot of the book. Their touches and kisses didn’t hold heat, serving mostly as comfort. While their growth individually and together was realistic considering their past, this book had a much different feel than the previous ones. It was hard coming to terms with their relationship even being a possibility for a lot of the book due to Sammy’s childlike thoughts, actions, and emotions. An intimate “mate” relationship seemed icky… until it didn't.

There was a turning point in the book which I am thankful for. Prior to this turning point, anything outside of their platonic comforting touches would have been creeper status to me. But, we were able to gradually see the transition from innocent, childlike Sammy to sweet, brave, I-want-to-have-butt-sex, Sammy. *whew* When they finally took the intimate steps in their relationship, I was no longer in the omg-wtf mind frame and was able to appreciate how far they had come.

“It was almost sad to see the shy, awkward Sammy ebb away. Or it would have been, if the new, more confident Sammy were not so damned appealing. Rav loved seeing Sammy happy.”

One other teeny tiny little nit picky thing that caused a few eye rolls was when broody, growly, and grown-ass-man Rav’s inner frat boy and part teenage girl came out. Nothing wrong with frat boys or growly tattooed men. I like them both. Separately and possibly even as part of a trio. What was annoying was the “bruh” and “bae” that kept on coming. It didn’t fit Rav’s personality and I was pulled out of the story each time.

This book was a decent addition to the series. Milo and his enthusiasm when welcoming Rav still makes me giggle. Definitely my least favorite out of the four but I would recommend it if you're a fan of the series. There is just something about this quirky town that keeps me coming back.

“When a man is a hero, he deserves to be sexed in the ass.” ~Sammy

Adam - 3.25 Hearts

I can’t help but smile when I read a book from the Howl at the Moon series. They’re fun reads that blend sweet romances and an entertaining paranormal setting.

In the series’ latest addition, we’re introduced to Sammy, a newly-quickened Labrador who has been having a tough time since his owner’s death. Sammy stole my heart from the start. He was just so sad and alone. If anyone needed love, it was him.

Sammy spends much of the story slowly learning to be a human, and learning to be brave. He struggles a lot throughout the course of the book, but eventually he finds his place in Mad Creek.

Rav Miller is the other main character. Since his cameo in book #3, Rav has had his suspicions about Mad Creek and the quickened. He ends up in the town because of Sammy, and decides to stay.

Rav and Sammy’s relationship takes a lot of work. While Rav feels an immediate connection to Sammy, Sammy is wary of big men like Rav. But Rav, who’s had his own struggles in life, is willing to take a step back.

Through infinite patience, and a shared desire to rescue dogs, the two slowly build a friendship.

It takes a long time for Sammy and Rav to move on to a romantic relationship. While Rav has feelings for Sammy, Sammy is still getting used to being in a human body. He doesn’t recognize that his feelings for Rav are romantic.

Even so, the two are very cute while they navigate their odd dynamic. Rav is willing to take whatever Sammy gives, and Sammy finds home and happiness in Rav.

When Sammy finally catches up, the two don’t waste any time. They quickly move forward with their relationship, and soon admit to each other how serious they are about it. The two complete each other, and end up a lot happier for it.

As a backdrop to this romance, readers learn more about Mad Creek and the struggling quickened community. One thing that I just didn’t understand in the previous books was where the money for it all came from. Book #4 answers that question.

Rav and Sammy become central to the town’s survival. I thought the solution the author chose was very creative, and believable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Sammy and Rav’s romance was a bit slow for my liking, but it’s still the sweet and fluffy romance that I’ve come to expect and enjoy from this series.


Chelsea - 5 Hearts

Seriously?!? How am I meant to function reading a book with this level of cuteness!?!?!

Poor sad and sweet Sammy. Oh how I loved him! And there's Rav.

*Psst... the man, not the dog*

Who is sexy as hell and possibly a tad too good to be true, but then again so is this entire town.

The first chapter of this book almost broke me, but the story after that was surprisingly light and super fluffy. Lance was the only character close to an antagonist and well…. I love Lance.

I love this whole series, I don't think I can pick a favourite but this one had a level of sweetness we only really found with Milo in the previous book. Yes Sammy is super innocent, but not really any less innocent than Roman was. Roman was just manlier so we didn't notice it at much.

I know I've prattled on about previous books a bit but all these characters are so memorable I can't help but connect all their stories together. Rav and Sammy are an essential and beautiful addition to this series!

I am praying that this isn't the end of the series!! If you haven't read this series and don't mind some fluff, DO IT! Start from the beginning, it's well worth it!!

A copy provided for an honest review.

Guest Review: Year One: Would it Be Okay to Love You? by Amy Tasukada

A robot fanboy. An erotic voice actor. Will their secrets overwhelm their love?

Sato doesn’t get out much. The anime company accountant spends his days at a desk and his nights working on his own small-scale robots. His geeky life is like a dream, but it has just one piece missing…

The world only knows Aoi for his moans. The erotic voice actor has legions of fangirls obsessed with his gasps of simulated ecstasy. And his new boyfriend Sato can barely handle the attention.

As Aoi’s popularity rises and secrets about his past begin to reveal themselves, can the accountant and the voice actor rise above their problems to create something real?

Year One is a short story anthology collection unlike anything you’ve ever read. If you like geeky settings, and sweet romance, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s slice-of-life story.

Reviewer: R *A Reader Obsessed*

This was cuuuuuute.

A quaint romance about Sato and Aoi, they’re an established couple who are just starting to become serious. Basically, this is a month by month look at how they live their lives and how their feelings evolve and strengthen.

Sato and Aoi may be complete opposites, especially in their interests and what they do for a living, but somehow they make it work. Their interactions, their respect, and their kindness and love for each other warmed my cold heart - and there’s a bit of smexy just to keep things interesting.

Overall, nothing fancy, nothing dramatic. Throw in a little insecurity, a little twisty doubt, and mix it with a lot of sweet. Maybe as a warning, this seemed to end all of a sudden; Sato and Aoi have reached a milestone and are strong… I just wanted more of this simple love story.

Perhaps as a consolation, you can sign up for the author’s newsletter to receive monthly snippets about these two. I did!

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

Don't miss the Would it Be Okay to Love You? Release Blitz HERE!

Review: Runaway Rock Star (States of Love) by C.J. Anthony

Just hours before Brandon Harris is supposed to head home to Cincinnati for a Labor Day family picnic, his boss at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame forces him into giving a private tour to bratty British pop-rock star Lucas Black. Before he knows it, he finds himself swept up in a whirlwind road trip through Ohio with Lucas riding shotgun.

Lucas grabs hold of this wild opportunity to run away—even for a few precious days—from the gilded cage that is his carefully managed life. He's just looking for a little fun and freedom as a normal person. From roller coasters to a college football game, Brandon begins to see the real Lucas Black buried under the famous persona. But by the time he and Lucas discover their mutual attraction, they only have one night left before both of them have to go back to their real lives. The fun is over...unless Lucas can run away for real this time and keep their adventure going.

There are a few things that can guarantee my excitement and that is rock stars, boys in the closet and road trips. This book has all of the above and they gave me all that I could have wanted in a short story.

Brandon Harris loves working at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum. His love for music gave me all the feels because I am a self-proclaimed music nerd. When Brandon is given the task of guiding a British pop star on a solo tour that shut down the museum, he is less than thrilled. While Brandon loves music, his tastes don’t lend the pop charts and what he knows of Lucas Black, it’s nothing worth writing home about.

But… things aren’t always as they seem and while the British pop star starts off as annoying they soon change as the men find common ground in what else, music. When they hit the tour and come to John Lennon’s piano, the age old question of who Brandon prefers – Beatles or Stones – is asked and the young men start to let guards down and allow perceptions to fall away.

Being the music nerd that I am I loved going on the tour with Brandon and Lucas. When Lucas invited Brandon to his show that night, I felt for him because he was supposed to be heading home for a family barbeque but he gives in and goes. He has an attraction to Lucas that he can’t deny but tabloids etc. have pinned Lucas as straight so Brandon allows this new possibility of friendship evolve. I did like that while Lucas pop music isn’t Brandon’s bag, he could appreciate the level of showmanship of Lucas on stage live and how the man not only owned the stage but his love of performing was evident. When Lucas slips Brandon a note inviting him backstage, I thought things would get sexy but really, they didn’t because they became more mysterious as Lucas asks Brandon for a ride and then dons a disguise and off they go on an adventure.

The way you make me feel. I know it’s crazy, and we’ve only known each other for a weekend. But I couldn’t walk away from this. I want us to give it a go, see where the road takes us.

The road tip aspect of the story was fun but due to page length it was also short but then again, they were only driving a matter of a few hours to each stop each day so what could they really do. The road trip allowed Brandon to see Lucas as more than the pop idol that he’d become and get to know the young man whose father took his talent as a cash cow opportunity and how lonely and controlled Lucas’ life really is.

Now I love that both men have a thing for Ryan Adams because Heartbreaker is one of my all-time favorite albums and “Come Pick Me Up” is one of my favorite songs but I have to admit that my crush on a pop idol had me picturing Lucas as well, Harry Styles. Don’t shoot me but… chin length hair, green eyes, long limbs, British, pop star who truly wants to make REAL music, dating Taylor Swift for two weeks and having a closet full of beards??? I mean, just those few things alone to me scream Harry and then the music… if you haven’t heard the type of music Harry currently makes as a solo artist and compare it to what Lucas writes during their trip… I am just saying. Lucas is Harry to me and that my friends makes a huge difference because I adore Harry. So much.

Anyway.

As Lucas gets Brandon to go along on this road trip adventure he gets himself caught up in the life of Lucas Black and finds himself wishing that things could be different. Oh but they totally could if either of these young men knew how to flirt or pick up signals! It was frustrating and yet incredibly endearing to see Lucas throwing things out there that went way over Brandon’s head and thank goodness for ex-boyfriends, Halsey concerts and jealousy because they made for one hell of a hot first kiss.

Yup, they finally get there but man it was so freaking bittersweet to know that both Lucas and Brandon wanted more than one night could or would give them but neither of them knowing how to find ad app that could steer them in the right direction for this road trip of romance and life. Le sigh. Le freaking sigh.

I have to say that the end was super satisfying and I would love to catch up with these two again. They were fun and so adorable with their slow burn road trip romance. This book and these two men truly made my Sunday better for spending it with them.

Review: Louder than Words by Siryn Sueng

Derrek is a local teacher in Clearwater, Florida. He frequents a nearby coffee shop before work every morning, where he finds himself enraptured with a young barista, Alex. But Alex never seems to notice him, even when he’s handing Derrek his morning coffee.

After weeks of hiding in his corner under the pretense of working, Derrek finally gains enough courage to ask Alex on a date. He’s crushed when all he gets for an answer is complete silence. He thinks it’s the end, until he finds out that Alex has a disability that has paralyzed his vocal cords.

Sign language is Alex’s way of communication, and it’s something that Derrek knows little to nothing about. With renewed determination, Derrek asks Alex to teach him sign language. Derrek wants to be able to talk to Alex, to tell him how he really feels, and find out if Alex feels the same.

But more than anything, he longs for a relationship that goes deeper than just words alone.

Louder Than Words is an 18,000-word novella.

This is a fence book.

You know those middle of the road books where the blurb has the potential, then you read it. Now you're left in the middle of escaped potential and okay?

That's me after reading Louder than Words by Siryn Sueng.

Nice premise that I was very interested in reading, a main character with a disability. Set in present day Florida, a shy physics teacher named Derrek has been visiting the Starbucks by his school just to get a glance of the hot barista with dreamy green eyes, black hair and multiple ear piercings named Alex. It been months and he was too anxious to make his move... until now.

The meet-cute is adorably hilarious and sweet. Derrek stumbles, Alex stares but doesn't speak. Assumptions are made but a boost from both men's friends help get the pair on the right track. Alex has vocal cord paresis. A vocal cord in paralyzed, his voice isn't strong enough. So his primary form of communication is sign language.

Derrek needs to learn because he wants his guy. So why not ask Alex to teach him? Who better?

The novella had pangs of first-book-itis: it ended at an odd spot and there was no conflict to carry it to the end.

How could this have been better? The author wrote in 1st POV from Derrek's POV only. He's not interesting enough to carry the story. The writing had a tendency to get passive. Or it would re-describe the original point made paragraphs ago... muddled the book.

If the story ever gets re-edited and lengthened - adding Alex's POV would add to the plot. The reader is relying on Derrek conveying Alex's actions and perceptions and even Derrek comments that he can't get a full read on Alex at times. Dual POV would make the internal angst of falling Derrek and vice versa would be the only conflict needed. The story got dull once they fell in love and it dragged. Then a late minute secondary character is added - Kevin. He served no purpose and if you take him away, the story is stronger. The second half was weak. I was swimming in the 3 Hearts range until Kevin and that wreck of a plot twist was added.

The writing needs work. An example being the sign language sessions. The story time jumps a month and half in the future with both men meeting consistently each weekend. After a month a half, they should have moved passed the introductory phase but the dialogue suggests they're initially meeting. These inconsistencies are peppered throughout.

The cute parts are the strongest: the original meeting, the sign language sessions. Also, a strong part: not cheapening Alex's disability.

Overall, a cute story with lost potential. I liked the main characters. I just wished they were fully developed.

Review: Rainbow Sprinkles (States of Love) by Anna Martin

Cooper Reed has a fairly relaxed life for someone who lives in LA. He’s no celebrity—just the guy who makes sundaes at the Dreamy Creamery, and that’s the way he likes it. The highlight of every week is the beautiful guy who turns up and orders a sundae with rainbow sprinkles. Cooper still isn’t sure if that’s a code, because he has a huge crush and the hot guy is terrible at flirting.

Drew Tanner, it turns out, is an original California dreamer. He’s as wholesome as apple pie and twice as sweet, a real-life Disney Prince at Disneyland. But while Drew’s head is in the clouds, Cooper’s feet are firmly on the ground, and their different outlooks might be more than their new relationship can take.

In the mood for something cute, light, easy and breezy? Anna Martin's Rainbow Sprinkles fits that description to a T.

Set in California, Cooper Reed is perfectly content working two jobs, one as a bartender, the other as worker/ ice cream creator at the Dreamery Creamery. He makes enough to get by and he also gets to fawn over his weekly customer with questionable ice cream tastes, Drew. Drew will combine some crazy flavors but never, ever forgets the rainbow sprinkles.

Is it a little pathetic that Mr. Rainbow Sprinkles has been delegated to wank fodder? Maybe, but Cooper's happy to keep his man of his dreams as just that in his dreams. Until one day, Drew shows a little interest.

Then dream man becomes real man. *smile*

Drew is a real live Disney prince! Okay, okay, he acts as one in nearby Disneyland. And he shows behind the Disney scenes in this book. I enjoyed the glimpses. Drew's sweetness and romantic side draws the more sarcastic Cooper in.

Both men are in mid twenties and they read their age. They fall for one another kind of quickly, kind of not, since they shared the employee/customer relationship for sometime prior to the start of the book. And like some twenty-somethings, they don't have it all figured out as of yet. The story has zero angst. We get meet cute into budding relationship into first fights and learning that when it matters, you have to communicate.

The boys drag their feet into resolving the internal conflict. That part kinda pissed me off a little. We go from one of them sending texts over and over on a daily basis (loved that) to just dropping off the face of the Earth when the going got a little tough.

I hope they work on it. I think they could.

The side characters are great and compliment Cooper and Drew. Their BFF's are cute and I was super happy with their development as well at the end.

It's my first foray into Dreamspinner Press' States of Love collection. I'd definitely return. The setting read authentic - down to the temperature, the traffic, the laid-backness. I never been to Cali but I imagine it to be something like this from what I've seen through media. There were tiny spots when the dialogue read British here and there if I had to nitpick.

I think this would work best for Anna Martin fans who like the quieter romance, fans of light, no angst reads and of course, Disney-stans.

Overall, pretty sweet.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: Imago (Imago #1) by N.R. Walker

Nerdy, introverted genius lepidopterist, Lawson Gale, is an expert on butterflies. He finds himself in a small town in Tasmania on a quest from an old professor to find an elusive species that may or may not even exist.

Local Parks and Wildlife officer, Jack Brighton, is an ordinary guy who loves his life in the sleepy town of Scottsdale. Along with his Border collie dog, Rosemary, his job, and good friends, he has enough to keep from being lonely.

But then he meets Lawson, and he knows he’s met someone special. There’s more to catching butterflies, Jack realises. Sometimes the most elusive creatures wear bowties, and sometimes they can’t be caught at all.

Lawson soon learns there are butterflies he can’t learn about it in books. They exist only in a touch, in a kiss, in a smile. He just has to let go first, so these butterflies can fly.

Imago is the story of finding love, bowties, and butterflies.

This read was cute. From start to finish it was cute. Marshmallows and bunnies cute - even if it did feature a very scary forest fire.

Lawson is one of those characters that comes along once in a while who just melts a reader with his  true self. He is unabashedly nerdy - if we want to stereotype him - he owns his quirks and is amazing at being himself. I loved the fact that, while he is a geeky character, he isn't a doormat. He stands up for what he believes in; academically, work-wise and in life in general.

He is passionate about butterflies, and isn't there something incredibly gorgeous about  a person with passion about anything? He is also very caring, so much so that he is willing to risk his own life to save other lives. He may not be a stereotypical hero, but he assuredly is one. To top it off - BOWTIES. He rocks a bowtie, so not only is he intelligent and caring, but a sexy dresser too. Let's face it, what's not to love??

What I liked even more, was that the other MC in this story - whilst still managing ton be of the opposites attract variety, wasn't a macho arsehole who could save the world with what he's got in his pants. You know the type I mean, right? All to often the opposite of 'geek' is 'overly macho'. Not Jack though. He is as passionate about his job in Parks and Wildlife as Lawson is about butterflies, and certainly whilst it is true he physically fitter (owing to the outside nature of his job) he is no less caring than Lawson.

I loved the fact that Jack uses his dog to help him judge people. Rosemary is a most important part of his life and he won't compromise that for anyone. Rosemary, Lawson and Jack made quite a trio and the romance here was - well, I've used the word cute but I do need to use it again, because gosh darn it, it was cute. Cute and lovely and awwwwwwwwwwwww...

A book for lazy Sundays in the sun, or a quiet morning read. I'm pretty sure it will leave you with a smile on your face, it certainly did me!

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
For more information see Goodreads.

Review: Nachos & Hash (Mary's Boys #1) by Brandon Witt

Darwin Michaels is living his dreams in the Mile High City. While Denver offers the perfect job, scrumptious dining, and whirlwind dating options, Darwin is losing hope he’ll find the right man to spark his interest for more than a one-night stand—until he sets eyes on Cody Russell.

Cody has just accomplished his life’s goal—get the hell out of Kansas. In one fell swoop, he lands a job at Hamburger Mary’s and gets a newfound family and the chance to be with other gay people! All that’s missing is someone special. But when Darwin shows his interest, Cody is sure it’s too good to be true. After all, what can Darwin possibly see in the high school dropout serving him nachos?

As Darwin falls in love, Cody struggles to realize his worth. When his past threatens the fragile life he is building, Cody spirals into a moment of dark desperation. But Darwin is determined to show Cody that love and family and home are there for him… will Cody accept what is offered?

 “You sure you don’t want something besides nachos?  I know it’s good to be a cheap date and all, but you’re cute enough to earn a real dinner.”

Darwin’s on the latest of a long string of dates from hell and it’s taking all that is in him not to run screaming from the table.  He’s got his life in order, college, grad school, a successful career and he’s ready to take that next step.  He’s been searching for the man who will help him achieve his dream of the house with a picket fence, the husband and 3.5 kids but after this latest disaster of a date he’s about ready to swear off men for good.  Or for at least a little while.  Fortunately, his newfound resolve is derailed by the adorable little twink of a waiter at Hamburger Mary’s.

“Do we really have to play Britney every night?”

“Of course we do!  She’s like the original diva.  Without her, there’d be no Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato.”

There’s just something about Cody that Darwin can’t seem to resist.  He’s immediately enamored with the little cutie and though he has some reservations about Cody’s age he decides to stick around and get to know him better.

I have a confession to make.  This is my first Brandon Witt book and I have to say… I liked it.  Quite a bit in fact.  I went into this book not knowing anything about the way Witt writes and I was pleased by what I discovered.  By the blurb and the cover I was expecting a light romantic comedy and I got that for the most part, but I also got a whole lot more. 

For me, the overall theme of this book is perspective.  How one person views something is not necessarily how everyone else will see it.  This was clearest to me when Darwin and Cody were discussing their hopes and dreams.  How shocked Darwin was when he found out about Cody’s dreams!  He couldn’t fathom how Cody could be happy with what he wanted out of life and it made him look at it from Cody’s perspective.

There are some darker moments in this story that I won’t get into (I don’t want to spoil anything) and it touched on some very sensitive subjects that had me waiting for the incredible angst but, thankfully, it wasn’t too angsty.

I know some, once they read this, will say it was too ‘insta-love’ between Cody and Darwin and while, yes, they seemed to get together at breakneck speed and the ‘I love yous’ came soon after they got together, it really worked for this story.  It felt organic to me, like it was a natural progression.  I believed in their love.  And for those who say there’s no such thing as love at first sight?  Well, let me just tell you… I met my husband in a bar while he was on a date with another woman.  I could literally feel the connection between us from the moment our eyes met.  He ended up ditching his date and went home with me that night and never left.  Yes, that’s right, we moved in together the day we met.  Now, here we are almost 21 years later.  There is such a thing as love at first sight.  I’ve seen it.  Hell, I’m proof of it!

If you’re looking for a feel good romance with a bit, but not too much, angst that delves deeper than what is just on the surface, look no further than this book.  I think it’s safe to say that I will be reading a lot more of Witt’s work in the very near future.  I see you now, Mr. Witt, and I can’t wait to get my hands on book two! 

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Review: Boyfriend Goals by Clancy Nacht and Thursday Euclid

What happens when a nerd and a jock pretend to be dating for the summer? Social justice whiz Trev needs to convince his parents that his bisexuality isn't a phase, and swim team star Lee needs somewhere to stay until the new semester starts. Forced together for three months at a Vermont lake house with Trev's family, the boys influence each other in unexpected ways, and despite their differences, a real bond begins to form. What will it take for a fake odd couple to become a real one?

Aw, well aren't Lee and Trev just the cutest. 

Trev came out to his family as bi and they kind of brushed it off as a phase. Trev is not the kind of person to take things lightly and will not have his family thinking his sexuality is nothing more than a phase. He decided to take a fake boyfriend back home to convince his family of the validity of his bisexuality. That fake boyfriend is Lee. They meet through a mutual friend and since Lee needs a place to stay over the summer, fake boyfriends seems like the perfect solution.  

I always love a good fake boyfriends trope. There's good tension as the lines between fake and real start to blur. I loved the way their relationship grew over the summer and how they understood each other. They were so adorable and there was snuggling. Lots of snuggles. I'm a big fan of the not-so-innocent snuggling.

Trev isn't exactly a people person. He could be a bit harsh and found his foot in his mouth more than once. But Lee learned how to see through that and really knew Trev. Lee had his own burdens and found support with Trev and his family. Trev's parents aren't exactly the most loving, but they have good intentions and were there for both guys when it really mattered. I do wish there was more showing instead of telling. There was a lot of talk about Trev's lack of people skills and struggles with forming real relationships. Don't tell me all about it, show me. But it wasn't enough to take away my enjoyment of their story. 

I loved all the sweetness this NA romance had to offer. Highly recommended for something low-angst to pull on your heartstrings. 

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: You Belong With Me by J.R. Loveless

Scott has been in love with his best friend Craig for years, but watching Craig with his manipulative boyfriend has worn Scott down, and he knows he needs a break from the pain and maybe a change of scenery and perspective. His twin sister, Karen, convinces him to spend a summer in Paris.

Karen is sick and tired of seeing Scott suffer, and she’s not going to stand for it anymore. She confronts Craig and tells him what he’s been missing by spurning Scott’s affection in favor of a jerk who mistreats him.

When Craig unknowingly breaks Scott’s heart, Craig opens his eyes—and his own heart—to the possibility of a future with Scott. He plans to use the time while Scott’s abroad to orchestrate a romantic surprise that will show Scott they belong together. But when he sees Scott with another man at the airport, Craig fears he’s too late.

Scott and Craig have been best friends for over 10 years. They have done everything together including coming out but after they did and Scott realized he had feelings for his best friend, things began to change. Scott has never had the confidence to tell Craig how he truly feels and instead settles on being his BFF and watching Craig go through a crappy relationship with Derek, who totally doesn’t deserve him.

But Scott is done watching and not being the one Craig cares about romantically. When his meddlesome twin sister Karen goes behind his back to their parents and gets Scott the internship to study and analyze political coverage in France the night of their birthday party, he jumps at the chance. After the scene Scott walks in on with Craig and Derek I can’t blame him for running away from his problems.

I have to say the POV of Karen was pointless to me. It took me so far out of the story and every POV she had could have been dealt with from either Craig or Scott’s POV and flowed with the story. I get that she has her own romance with Stanley and Stanley has issues but it made zero sense to have it in this short story.

But back to the boys and to Craig… he is a bit of a douche but he truly loves his BFF but not in that way, or does he? I like that we got Craig’s POV so we knew what he was thinking and that he did question his feelings for Scott before the big birthday blowout. He always considered Scott’s feelings as a friend and after the one and only time he didn’t he felt awful that he hurt Scott so the fact that Craig has a change of heart, wasn’t that hard to buy. And at least he got a morsel of his own medicine.

You Belong with Me was a cute friends to lover’s story with my favorite, unrequited love. I still think Karen’s POV was unnecessary and after the second time it showed up I skimmed the rest, but Scott and Craig were a mess of hormones and feelings that finally found their way to one another.

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Review: A Christmas Kiss by Annabelle Jacobs

Keeping secrets from your best friend isn’t right, but it’s easier than admitting you’ve fallen in love with him.

Sharing a late-night kiss with his best friend, Alex, is Riley’s dream come true. Waking up to discover Alex was too drunk to remember anything is more like a nightmare. Scared the truth could destroy their friendship, Riley keeps quiet and pretends nothing happened.

Alex can’t shake the feeling that he said or did something stupid on their group’s drunken weekend away—why else would Riley be avoiding him? Although the explanation he finally gets sounds plausible, Riley’s still acting strange, and trying to figure out why that is unearths emotions Alex has worked hard to bury.

Riley knows not telling Alex how he feels is probably selfish, but he wants one last normal Christmas before he has to come clean and face the potential fallout.

He should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.

Thank you, Annabelle Jacobs. I needed this. I needed this book at the exact moment I read it. A Christmas Kiss is an angst-free, flufftastic, best friends to lovers romance. I needed escapism and that's exactly what I got.

Everything started on a drunken night, when Alex and Riley took their friendship to the next level. There was kissing and touching and snuggling. Riley thought that was it. He thought they would wake up and be in lurrrrrrrve for the rest of their days. Unfortunately, Alex was a little too drunk and when he woke up, he didn't remember a thing.

So Riley was back to pining for his best friend, only things were way more awkward. Of course, poor Alex had no idea why everything was weird between them. Maybe if he didn't just up and forget about kissing his bestie, he wouldn't have been so clueless. But I digress.

Both of them were head over heels for each other, but never wanted to say anything and risk their friendship. So typical, right? I mean, how many times have we read his trope? So many. But I never, ever, ever, ever get tired of it. Ever. Their friendship, their chemistry and their tension all mix together to make the best OMG-they-finally-had-sex! scenes. The fact that the story was told from dual POV really drove up the sexual tension between the guys. Yeah... I loved them together.

There was a lot to love about this book, aside from Alex and Riley. The setting was perfectly Christmas-y. They spent the holidays at a cabin in Wales with some friends. Decorated with a tree and lights and mistletoe. So cute and cozy. Their friends were awesome. Fun and 100% supportive of Alex and Riley's potential romance. Their friends mostly tried to stay out of their business, but did give occasional push when they two guys were too dense to just make a move.

But the guys finally got a clue and all the waiting was worth it. Not that I waited all that long, since I gobbled this one up in one sitting. 

It's November. It's time for some sweet holiday reading and I highly recommend adding A Christmas Kiss to your list.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

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Review: Beauty, Inc. (The Pennymaker Tales #3) by Tara Lain

Is beauty only skin deep?

Chemist Dr. Robert “Belle” Belleterre loves flowers, green trees, his best friend Judy, and “his baby”: the new face cream he developed to help put his father’s small cosmetics company on the map. Sadly he gets no help from his alcoholic, gambling-addicted father who loses Belle in a poker game to Magnus Strong, the CEO of Beauty, Inc. the largest American cosmetics company—a man infamous for his scarred ugliness.

Belle finds himself uprooted from his home, living in a wildly crazy apartment in New York owned by Mr. Pennymaker, and completely unprepared for his mad attraction to the charismatic Strong. Feeling like a traitor, Belle fights his passion only to see more and more of the goodness and humility hidden by Strong’s ugly face. But when Belle’s family starts manipulating his life again, the odds turn against happiness for beautiful Belle and his beloved beast.

3 Be our Guest hearts

Dr. Robert “Belle” Belleterre is young, beautiful and forced to work for his competitor, Beauty Inc., when his father gambles away shares in their cosmetics company to Magnus Strong. That means moving away from his best friend, Judy, and the great outdoors of Oregon. Despite his reservations, he begins to warm up to New York. It doesn't hurt that Beauty Inc. does wonderful things for women and various charities. And it most certainly doesn't hurt that Belle's new apartment comes with its own atrium in the lobby, and incredibly friendly neighbors.

Magnus makes for a wonderful "Beast". He's confident, self-assured, and humble. Scarred from a car accident that killed his mother, he has difficulty believing that Belle can have genuine feels for him that don't stem from gratitude. He's so darn likeable that you can't help but root for him.

This story is a really good reimagining of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale; from the polite way Magnus speaks, to the flowers and food themes. It's all happiness, and cheesy-gooey silly in the way only a fairytale can be. I was honestly expecting everyone to break out into song.

Expect that little bit of crazy that comes with all fairytales, as Belle runs from one crisis to another. His family is determined to get Belle back to save their company at any cost, and coupled with jealous men and crisis of the friend variety, drama has a tendency to come out of the woodwork just for him.

And expect the absurd.

(Belle and Magnus are next to each other in seperate bathroom stalls)

Belle’s foot waggled again, then crept across the floor until he bumped into Magnus’s shoe. What the hell did he have in mind?

The foot vanished. A second later it reappeared, shoeless. A burgundy sock clung to the slim foot as Belle searched the premises until his foot again came in contact with Magnus’s leg. The foot slid down until it hooked the bottom of Magnus’s pant leg, then insinuated itself up inside the pants until the stockinged foot made it to Magnus’s bare calf. What kind of gymnastics was Belle having to do to get his foot this far into Magnus’s stall?

I was wondering the same thing!

He shoved the foot right into his crotch, and Belle’s toes began to gyrate, sending shocks of electricity through Magnus’s groin. He ripped off the sock, leaned down and kissed Belle’s bare toes one at a time, then opened his fly, scooted farther forward, and pressed the bare, moist digits against his aching rod. Holy crap...

I can't even imagine how that's possible.

Maybe you're wondering, why only three hearts?

Well, it's told in an odd mix of first person and second person, that read a bit strange and felt unpolished.

It's cheesy at times. Oh so cheesy.

And the rest is all on me. Judy, Belle's best friend, has a health crisis, and if I had a heart, I'd feel really bad about it and instantly love her. But I didn't. I found her annoying. I know *cringes* I'm sorry. I'm in a phase right now where I'm just sick of reading about female best friends that the MC absolutely can't live without. It's just.... I. Can't. Even. Overall, it was a little too over the top for me.

But it was still cute and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a good fairytale with two men who get their HEA.

A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Find out more on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.