Review: The Color of Summer by Anna Martin

Tattoo artist Max Marshall races into his hometown of Sweetwater, West Virginia—and is promptly pulled over for speeding. Max’s luck isn’t all bad, though, because he recognizes the deputy, Tyler Reed, Max’s childhood best friend’s older brother.

Reconnecting with Tyler helps Max settle back in, and it also leads to attraction. But when he tries to explore that connection at the grand opening of his tattoo studio—by kissing Tyler—awkwardness ensues. Max wants more, but has he misread Tyler’s signals?

As a single father raising a six-year-old daughter, Tyler doesn’t have much time to date. He’s ignored his attraction to men for years, but he can’t stop thinking about the kiss he shared with Max. If he can handle the complications of dating in a small town and the possible consequences to his career, this romance could blossom with all the colors of summer.

Anna Martin stories are always so easy to read regardless of the subject matter. She’s the kind of author where the words just flow so I forget I’m actually reading as the story just moves and before I know it I’ve read 200 pages. The Color of Summer is the same and while Max and Tyler’s story could have been angst filled it wasn’t and I was happy for that, the ease of everything matched with the characters personalities well.

The lack of conflict will make this story less memorable than others in the long run though. Tyler had a lot to reconcile with his sexuality, but he rolled with it pretty easily, almost too easily, but as I said, that seemed to fit with his personality, so he would have had to have been constructed differently to add angst and I really liked him as he was. He had an ‘everyman’ quality to him that was refreshing to read for a change. He was a nice guy from a nice family with a nice little girl and there’s nothing wrong with that and it’s probably more true to real life than a lot of characters.

Max is edgier than Tyler with his full sleeve tattoos and the opening of his tattoo shop in the small town he grew up in. He always wanted to open his own shop, and his catalyst for opening it in his hometown now is so that he can be close to his mom after she suffered a stroke. He may seem a little cooler than your average small town cat, but he’s also a good boy who loves his small family.

The best parts of the book were the conversations between Max and Tyler as they got to know one another (again) after not seeing one another for years. Tyler is Shaun’s older brother and Shaun is Max’s best friend since childhood. So the two had a relationship as much as that setup would allow so the chemistry of their new relationship could realistically be accelerated a bit and that worked well. They had history but also the newness that is so fun to read.

I had a tough time wrapping my head around Max and Shaun’s friendship. I was told they were besties but Shaun didn’t have much page time so I didn’t really know him and I definitely didn’t have a feel for the two of them together. So, when Max and Shaun had a confrontation in the kitchen about Max dating Tyler, Shaun’s reaction seemed really terrible and then over. I felt like I was watching from the periphery though without the subtext of their relationship to be able to understand what happened. It really could have been no big deal, but without the extra info, it seemed way more over the top than necessary. But maybe it wasn't, I just don't know.

The buildup was really well done. The feel of the story to me was that I was going to read a “quietly” romantic story. I love those. They are more subtle and believable to me and when it comes time for the feelings I can buy into them pretty easily. The last third of the book felt rushed though. A lot happened and there was some external drama that threw wrenches at the characters heads and served as an unnecessary impetus for things that would have happened eventually anyway. It was kind of a lot to introduce and then wrap up in a short-ish amount of pages. I would have been fine with more focus on the family dynamics as Max and Tyler really started to commit to one another and lost their final hangups. There was too much big stuff crammed into the epilogue that should have had more pages dedicated as what transpired were life changing decisions and declarations.

It was really nice to read a story with families that loved and supported one another and minimal drama. Communication is a lovely thing to read and Max and Tyler were very good at it so while I may not remember the subtle specifics long term, I will remember how the story made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

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

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Gotta Catch Her by Kelly Haworth

Celebrate the release of Gotta Catch Her with author Kelly Haworth and Indigo Marketing! Learn more about the contemporary romance and enter in the $10 NineStar Press credit giveaway!

Title: Gotta Catch Her

Author: Kelly Haworth

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: April 29, 2019

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 34800

Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, contemporary, lesbian, bisexual, social/augmented reality gaming, kids, pets, sexting, workplace issues

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Synopsis

Who says phone games are only for kids? Sometimes they give just the respite you need from a hectic life. At least, that’s the way Ann feels about Ani-min Move, an AR mobile game full of cartoon animals caught with nets. Legendary raids have just launched, and Ann arrives at a nearby park to find it full of people of all ages playing the game, including Rachael, a kind, attractive single mom. And sweet! Rachael is more than willing to teach Ann the proper way to spin her nets to snag the raid boss.

Back in reality, Ann has a lot on her plate: a full workload as a project manager, finding the energy to walk her dog, Franny, and now trying to figure out if Rachael is queer. And how does Ann converse with Rachael about her six-year-old son when she doesn’t know a thing about parenting?

Ann is lost as to how to proceed until Rachael takes the guesswork out of the equation by proclaiming she’s bi—right when Ann gets a massive work assignment that consumes way too much of her time. Life/work balance was never Ann’s forte, but between caring for her sweetheart dog and figuring out how to navigate a relationship with a single parent, Ann’s determined to make it work, especially before Rachael gets cold feet and leaves Ann playing by herself.

So, collect those ultra-nets, Ann. Can you catch her?

Excerpt

Gotta Catch Her
Kelly Haworth © 2019
All Rights Reserved

Why did Ani-min Move have to launch new features on a weekday? The last thing I wanted to do when I got home from the office was immediately drag my ass back outdoors.

“I’m tired, Franny,” I said, putting my feet onto the coffee table, relieved to have them out of the little heels that were the curse of business casual. Frances cocked her head at me, her fluffy ears going askew. “But it looks like they’re launching legendary raids, and I am not missing that.”

After starting the update to my Ani-min Move app, I put down my phone while the update installed. Franny lowered her head to her paws and whined.

“I know, I know. A walk would be better than the apartment’s dog yard.”

Who knew eight hours at a desk would be so exhausting? But doing the same thing every day really grated on a person. Make sure this client has their order placed correctly. Keep that project running on time. Figure out why supplies are delayed. So much communication, so much organization, so much waiting.

I ran my fingers through my brunette hair, scratching my scalp and enjoying the ten seconds of silence.

At least, until Franny barked.

“Okay, honey. Let me get out of these slacks.”

I pushed myself to my feet and strode across the living room, wincing at the tumbleweeds of golden retriever fur under the kitchen table. This is why I’m single, I berated myself. Not that there’d be anyone datable over to see it, especially with my reluctance to use dating apps. And Sacramento was a big city, but dating was intimidating enough for me to hesitate in visiting downtown’s gay clubs. Besides, what would I wear?

I stripped out of my slacks and blouse, tossing them into the pile slowly accumulating on one side of my bedroom, and pulled on my comfy stretch pants and a bright pink tank top.

Oh, it was so tempting to collapse onto my side of the bed—avoiding the piles of fur where Franny slept on her side—and browse the internet or read until I fell asleep.

But that was one of the many reasons why I had Frances. Personal accountability. She got me out of the house every day, kept me walking and breathing fresh air.

“Okay girl, where’s your leash?”

The scramble of nails on the fake hardwood floors echoed down the hall as Franny dashed into the kitchen where she likely took position expectantly beneath the row of hooks for her leashes. I pushed feet into worn tennis shoes and picked up my phone. The update was complete, and I reopened my app, tapping past the screen welcoming me and advertising the new raids. The legendary cat Felesana would show up at local parks for me to battle with my friends! Yes, I got it. Show me where the closest one is. I brought up the augmented reality map, my character standing in the middle of the block my apartment complex resided on, and I tabbed over to the nearby raid window.

Franny let out a whine to remind me I hadn’t put on her leash yet, so I obliged her and giggled as her excitement ramped up from an eight to a twenty, all wagging tail and lolling tongue and shivering with eagerness.

“Honey, I’m so glad it’s this easy to make you happy.”

Heaven knew how hard it was to make people happy. “Where’s the product I ordered”—“Annabel, your surveys have come back less than perfect”—”I’m sorry, I can’t date a lesbian who used to date men”—

Yeah. I loved Franny. Dogs were woman’s best friend too. Not just man’s.

I grabbed my phone and my keys and gave Frances a pat.

“Looks like one of these big kitties is at the park three blocks away. Let’s go do our first legendary raid, girl.”

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Meet the Author

Kelly Haworth grew up in San Francisco and has been reading science fiction and fantasy classics since she was a kid. She has way too active an imagination, thus she channels it into writing. Kelly is nonbinary and pansexual and loves to write LGBTQIA characters into her work. In fact, she doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to write a non-queer couple again. Kelly has degrees in both genetics and psychology and works as a project manager at a genetics lab. When not working or writing, she can be found wrangling her two kids, painting, or curled up on the couch with a good TV show or book.

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Review: 'Twas the Play Before Christmas by Kris T. Bethke

After the death of his wife, Nick Valenti is raising his twins on his own. It’s no surprise when his son, Quinn, gets a part in the holiday show, but Nick is amazed when he shows up at the parent meeting and finds his old high school friend is now his son’s music teacher.

Emmett James is full of passion and energy, and Nick is captivated by him. Volunteering to help with sets gives Nick the opportunity to get to know the man Emmett has become. Sparks fly, flirting ensues, and Nick wants nothing more than to see where the attraction between them goes.

With Christmas in the air, and holiday music helping them along, will Nick and Emmett find a romance that can last?

‘Twas the Play Before Christmas is a sweet little novella and something I’ve come to expect from this author around the holidays. She can always be counted on to wrap you up in some warm fuzzy Christmas love that will leave you smiley.

After the death of his wife five years prior, Nick and his ten year old twins have moved back home to be closer to his parents. They are a pretty picture perfect family, Nick runs a tight ship but he does it with love and respect, you can tell from their interactions they are all very close and love each other very much.

As the season for Christmas programs approach, Quinn, Nick’s son, is anxious to audition. Apparently he has an amazing voice and he’s very disappointed when he doesn’t get the lead. There was the obligatory teaching moment, which Nick handled perfectly, of course, and Quinn ends up being OK with being in the chorus, letting the older kids take center stage since it’s the end of their primary school careers.

When Nick goes to parent volunteer night he realizes that the school music teacher is Emmett James, his own school crush that made him begin to realize that he may not be as straight as he once thought. Nick volunteers to help build sets and he and Emmett end up swooning all over each other.

Nick is a super together guy with alpha level confidence and Emmett loves it. I personally like my MC’s a little more flawed, but I’m not going to knock the story because one of the MC’s isn’t necessarily my jam, because he was Emmett’s and that’s definitely more important. There’s virtually no angst and the conflict is only in the fact that they can’t really spend much time together until after the Christmas program due to sheer lack of time available.

The scene with the phone call though? The one where Emmett plays the guitar for Nick? Damn, that was romance gold right there and took this novella to a higher level for me. The author did a bang up job of showing me how the two MC’s felt for each other and I loved it.

A solid HEA is had, Nick and Emmett really are good together and, while the ending did move them forward pretty quickly and there was no real conflict that will make me remember the story long term (except maybe the sweetness of that phone call) it did make me feel all the holiday Hallmark feelings I love about Christmas stories.

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

Review: Between a Rock and a Hard Place (London Lads #5) by Clare London

Second Edition

Garry’s at the end of his tether. He’s waiting at Glasgow Airport to meet his friend Will, on their way to a holiday in a Scottish Highlands hotel. Now there’s a ten-hour delay to incoming flights, the seat in the lounge is more like an instrument of torture, and he’s beyond tired of airport food.

He’s also dreading having to apologise for the pass he recently made at Will, his colleague at a London bank, under the influence of too many beers and a long-held crush. Now Will’s been offered a new job offer on a continent thousands of miles away, Garry realises it may be the end of their close friendship—let alone anything more.

To add to Garry’s stress, he’s treated to the company of Emily and Max, two young people who think he needs educating in the ways of the world. Struggling with their well-meaning help and the startling mess from spilled ketchup and noxious-smelling sweets, he’s encouraged to re-examine how he feels about Will and to decide what kind of journey he’d really like them to take together.

First Edition published by Amber Quill Press/Amber Allure, 2010.

The airport lounge... not the most exciting place on earth, especially when you're waiting for a flight delayed by 10 hours. Not, perhaps, the first place one thinks of when they think romance (well unless like me you watch a gazillion Christmas films where there are inevitably snow-delayed flights and meet-cutes) but this short story captures a sweet story of friends to lovers - even though only one protag is present for a majority of it!

It's really a story of self-examination (of feelings people, a physical self-exam might be a bit much in an airport waiting area. Might.). Garry, stranded at Glasgow airport waiting for his BFF Will is contemplating the last time he saw Will and what it means for the future. Will is moving on, just when Garry realises it's the last thing he wants Will to be doing. Procrastination, examination, regret, fear... these all guide Garry's thoughts over the long wait. 

Garry's not really a kid lover so of course he gets lumbered with two whilst waiting. Two kids who pass on sage advice in the manner only kids can, all offered in a sticky surrounding of sweets and junk food. It's cute. 

I kinda had to look t'other way and not delve into the 'why is this man making friends with feeding these strangers kids and not trying to find their parents/family/the police' and just accept it as part of the story. It's sort of given a vaguely satisfying explanation at the end if I squint a bit and blur the edges and remember it's just a story. 

As long as I didn't examine that premise too much I could enjoy the story as the cute, sweet, funny friends-to-more story this is. If you like cute shorts then go for it, a great  read for a Sunday afternoon cuppa break.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.