Audiobook Review: Coming Back (Belladonna Arms #3) by John Inman

Barney Teegarden knows what it’s like to be alone. He knows what it’s like to have a romantic heart, yet no love in his life to unleash the romance on. With the help of a friend, he acquires a lease in a seedy apartment building perched high on a hill in downtown San Diego. The Belladonna Arms is not only filled with the quirkiest cast of characters imaginable, it is also famous for sprinkling love dust on even the loneliest of the lovelorn.

At the Arms, Barney finds friendship, acceptance, and an adopted family that lightens his lonely life. Hell, he even finds a cat. But still true love eludes him.

When his drag queen landlord, Arthur, takes it into his head to rescue a homeless former tenant, he enlists Barney’s help. It is Barney who shows this lost soul how to trust again—and in return Barney discovers love for the first time in his life.

It’s funny how even the hardest battles can be fought and won with laughter, hugs, friends, plus a little faith in the goodness of others. All it takes to begin the healing is the simple act of coming back.

Narrator: Shawn Hertel
Listening Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins

I have a serious soft spot in my heart for the Belladonna Arms series by John Inman. Every time I read a new one I’m all, “ooooooh, this one’s my favorite” and then the next one comes and I do the same thing. So, the audiobooks are a real treat to revisit, because each one gets a chance to be my favorite again! Total book logic that makes sense. Don’t question it, just roll with it.

The series is set in my hometown of San Diego which is an added bonus since I can picture every locale the author describes and he describes San Diego very well. Belladonna Arms feels like home when you get invited in, as terrible as it sounds aesthetically, the Arms are home to those who need the love pollen, and the Arms delivers.

While I may be fickle with my favoriting, in all honesty, Coming Back is probably my favorite of the Belladonna Arms series. The characters are extra deserving of the pollen, and the arc spans from books one through three, heavier on the one and three.

Barney is an unassuming everyman, he’s relatable and kind and I couldn’t help but want the best for him from the moment he moved in. He and Arthur, the resident owner/landlord/drag queen extraordinaire, bond from the moment they meet and it’s a perfect friendship for what Arthur ends up planning to bring an original member of the Arms back to the fold.

Arthur has shenanigans planned, he always seems to, and he’s his altruistic self wrapped in yards of organza and feathered boas gets Barney in on his plans. Coming Back is more than just a meet-cute and romance, it’s redemption and second chances and it has a depth beyond rom-com that I appreciated on every level.

I don’t want to go into too much detail, because spoilers and all (even though you can read every other review by now and figure out who comes back home), suffice it to say, Coming Back is everything you want in a redemption, second chance, first romance story. There’s laughs, a little bit of angst and lots of love. Coming Back delivers a John Inman trait that I love. He doesn’t wait until the very end to bring his MC’s together and that is one of the things that makes him a go-to/auto-buy author for me. I get to see the MC’s as individuals and as a couple, I get to get lots of time with them together as they grow and it makes me buy into an HEA easily.

The audiobooks from the Belladonna Arms series have different narrators for each story. I actually love that they’re all different, it gives each story its own voice, both literally and figuratively. Each one has been a great fit and Coming Back is right in line with the first two. This is the first time I’ve listened to Shawn Hertel narrate and he has Barney down perfectly. And his Arthur is spot in. I liked his tone very much, he was just enough without being too much all the way through.

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

Guest Review: Mr. October (Calendar Men #10) by Bailey Bradford

It’s not just the ghosties and the ghouls that you’ve got to watch out for on Halloween!

Jerome is an artist—in his opinion, anyway. Not everyone would agree that what he does is art, but he’d beg to differ. He has a niche following and his business picks up around Halloween. When a handsome stranger walks into his gallery, the attraction that crackles to life between them is instantaneous, and scarier than anything Jerome has ever created.

He’s quirky and possibly downright weird, but for some reason, the sexy doctor seems to be into him. Jerome isn’t sure he can trust the feelings developing between them, and when someone decides Jerome’s studio needs to go, he fears he’ll never have the chance to see what kind of life he could have with Kaito.

Kaito Yoshida is a successful pediatric oncologist, and a complicated man. As serious as any doctor in his position while working, he’s missed out on a lot of things in his personal life. An encounter that, at first, is mortifying, leads to Kaito daring to take a step he’s never bothered to take before.

He doesn’t expect to fall for Jerome Johnson, or for Jerome to fall for him.

And neither of them expect the obstacles they will encounter on the way to love.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Jerome is lonely. He’s sure he’ll never find love until Kato walks in to his studio one day. Unfortunately, Kato also has a hideously behaved boyfriend with him, but if you know Bailey’s writing, you know the man-child will not be stamping his foot at Kato for long! Once he’s dispatched, Kato decides to go back to the artist’s gallery and apologise. Luckily for Jerome, that’s not the only reason!!

Soon romance is in the air and we know it will end well for these two lovely men, despite all the typical calendar men series dramas along the way.

I have enjoyed every book in this series and this one is no exception. I like that Jerome is a shifter and that is just part of who he is. The common thread of all the men who posed for the charity calendar finding love amongst the drama is a beautiful one.

Like the other, this book is short-ish, very sexy and rather sweet with a solid HEA at the end. It’s nice to see the interlinking lives and characters in there well told stories.

Recommended!

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

Guest Review: The Journalist and the Dancer by Liam Livings

Christopher, a quiet, reserved, British journalist, reviews restaurants and night clubs in Ibiza. After a painful breakup and nervous breakdown in the UK, he aims to live a more spiritual possession-free life on the Mediterranean island.

Lucas flees an abusive ex in Madrid to live his dream of dancing in Ibiza’s large prestigious night clubs.

They meet at a night club and both feel an instant attraction which soon develops into an emotional connection neither of them feels ready for.

Sharing their painful pasts with each other brings them closer together, though neither of them planned on being in a proper relationship. But when a family crisis pulls Lucas back to Madrid and a painful encounter with his abusive ex, Christopher deals with painful experiences of his own.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

I was drawn into the story from the outset. This was such an interesting premise for a book. The journalist has burnt out of his previously stressful and money-fuelled lifestyle and given up his life in London to eek out a living as a journalist reviewing nightclubs and such like in the party island of Ibiza. This was how he spots the intriguing Lucas who is trying to make it a nightclub dancer. Their eyes really do meet over a crowded room. It is the most perfect romance novel cliche! However, these are real men, each battling their own inner demons, and the circumstances of life that threaten to keep them apart.

The storytelling is quirky and realistic, clever and entertaining, but at times seems to lose momentum. There was a patch I had to keep myself reading before we got back on track and I read all the way to the end with no dawdling!

I rather liked both main characters, but was extremely charmed by Christopher’s unusual roommate! The ups and downs for the guys were rolling rather than jarring and the ending was sweet. I could easily see a sequel coming to life!

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

Audiobook Review: When Everything is Blue by Laura Lascarso

When they were kids, Chris Mitcham rescued Theo from the neighborhood bullies and taught him how to “be cool.” Now, years later, Theo’s developed feelings for his best friend that arise at the most inopportune times. Theo hates lying to Chris, but in coming out, he might lose the one person who understands him best, a risk he’s not willing to take.

When a relationship with another young man goes south, Theo is forced to confront his own sexuality along with his growing attraction to Chris and his stunted, tenuous relationship with his father. Will Chris abandon Theo when he learns the truth, or will he stand by him in this tumultuous season of self-discovery?

In this quirky coming-of-age romance, Theo’s path to manhood is fraught with awkward firsts and a few haters, but also the unexpected comfort of a friend turned lover.

Narrator: Michael Mola
Listening Length: 7 hours 1 minute

I have to admit that this was a very very good YA story. It’s got seriously smart writing, capturing the awkwardness, the mixed emotions, the turmoil of growing up, all heady with insecurity and doubts and trying to find your place and voice while struggling with desires and pesky hormones. This brilliantly portrays the spirit of youth and lust, first crushes and love!


I also have to admit that this made me extremely anxious. I think I kinda now truly realize why I’m not such a huge YA fan. It’s all those said emotions above that are at times quite painfully nostalgic, contemplating the mysteries of looming adulthood and trying to make sound decisions through perhaps many a misstep. Soooo much is unknown and up in the air, and when you throw in the fear of coming out - which is completely reasonable and understandable - poor poor me was on edge pretty much the entire time.


Even though this is the classic friends to lovers trope where one MC is afraid to tell/show his feelings for fear of losing his bff, Lascarso really just brings her two protagonists Theo and Chris, to stark poignant life. I felt every emotion Theo went through, whether that was mortification, longing, hope, or dismay - all feels he had towards Chris. Chris isn’t perfect but he’s pretty damn close. I loved how these two knew each other so well, cared and looked after each other, and when it came down to it, their friendship was always their first priority. This also isn’t some fairy tale. Though of course I want everything to be 100% perfect and happy, we know real life’s rarely that and despite the wonderful ending here, Theo’s family and friends aren’t saints, and neither is he.


For those who fancy audios, who is Michael Mola and where the hell has he been all my life?! This guy is amazing. Seriously wow. He utilizes his voice with such fine nuance and pacing that I was impressed the entire time, as he wonderfully depicts Theo and Chris, as well as the other supporting characters - warts and all. Here, Mola’s performance definitely elevated my enjoyment!


So, if you like coming of age tales, an ultimately oh-so-sweet friends to lovers evolution that has a good bite to it, then this beautiful (impressively sexy) love story, is assuredly one you need to read or listen to!! Don’t wait, go now!


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

Review: Life is a Stevie Wonder Song by V.L. Locey

Authors know that their muse is a fickle creature. Best-selling spy novelist Steven Ramsey has been in a hate-hate relationship with his inspiration for months. When Steven's publisher lays a legal ultimatum upon him, with a rapidly approaching deadline, he knows he must do something to kick-start his creativity or face the unemployment line. His daughter comes up with a possible answer: a summer camp for the creative soul. With nothing to lose, Steven packs up his laptop, phonograph, and beloved record albums and heads from Greenwich Village to the Catskill Mountains.

There, among a horde of college students attending for extra credits, is Declan Pomeroy, a photographer of fey creatures who is twenty-two years younger than Steven. The woods are a magical place, and he quickly finds himself falling under the spell of the free-spirited photographer. Confusion wars with desire as Steven succumbs to the feelings welling up inside. But, sadly, summer camp always must end. Can a man who has just found himself really leave the person that makes his heart sing?

I have a soft spot for quirky artists and I think that’s because I appreciate their unique views, but in real life I can be just too practical (unfortunately) to be able to appreciate them 24/7, which is why I love to read about them so much. It’s much easier to let go of practical thoughts with fictional characters. The beauty of Life is a Stevie Wonder Song is that there are TWO creative types to swoon over and shake your damn head at.

Steven is a best selling author who has lost his mojo and hates the MC of his novels. He’s in his mid forties with three divorces under his belt and a college age daughter who is the light of his life. (I loved her BTW). Declan is a college student, free spirit, fey photographer who eschews labels and lives his life with respect for his true self. Steven has always identified as a hetero male, but when he sets his peepers on Declan at an artist’s retreat everything he thought he knew about himself comes into question.

These two were so alike in their overall characteristics and it was interesting to read how the author gave each man their own spin on their qualities. I’m going in here with a whole bunch of generalities here about those who thrive in the arts, so forgive me this moment, but it makes sense for these guys in a big picture way. They both have a flair for the dramatic, they both have selfish, stubborn streaks (charmingly so) and they both feel everything with passion. The difference is in how they express these characteristics and that has a lot to do with their ages and their professions. Steven is a wordsmith and Declan swoons over his purple prose when Steven is actively wooing Declan. Declan knows how to set a scene to get Steven’s attention and Steven is SO obviously a smitten kitten every time his eyes land on Declan.

The story is from Steven’s POV, so I didn’t get as much depth from Declan as I wanted, but his little bit of mystery suited his ethereal personality well, so it worked for the story. I just liked him and would love to get to know him more. Steven’s daughter is the best and I loved reading about their relationship. Declan’s bro dude friends at the retreat were obviously good people for Declan even though they were pretty peripheral characters, they gave Declan’s character some grounding and made him seem more accessible.

I really appreciated how Steven accepted his new view on his sexuality with minimal angst. It may not have been the most realistic, but it would be nice to think it could be so. I do believe there were a lot of unspoken revelations that were alluded to by both Steven and his daughter. They both made comments about how some parts of Steven’s history with relationships made more sense now and while Steven’s revelations were not what the book was ultimately about, the way the author portrayed his acceptance was a breath of fresh air. Steven adopted Declan’s view of labels pretty seamlessly, he saw Declan for Declan and not his gender.

Steven and Declan were absolutely perfect for each other and the impractical parts of their relationship (Will they last past the summer? Where will they live? How will they live? Etc. Etc.) didn’t really matter much in the end. These two don’t really play by the rules of adulting that most people do, their lives are driven by their arts and the fact that they can act as muse to one another made me believe in an HEA for them.

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

Audiobook Review: Mad About the Hatter by Dakota Chase

This isn’t his sister’s Wonderland….

Henry never believed his older sister, Alice’s, fantastic tales about the world down the rabbit hole. When he’s whisked away to the bizarre land, his best chance for escape is to ally himself with the person called the Mad Hatter. Hatter—an odd but strangely attractive fellow—just wants to avoid execution. If that means delivering “Boy Alice” to the Queen of Hearts at her Red Castle, Hatter will do what he has to do to stay alive. It doesn’t matter if Henry and Hatter find each other intolerable. They’re stuck with each other.

Along their journey, Henry and Hatter must confront what they’ve always accepted as truth. As dislike grows into tolerance and something like friendship, the young men see the chance for a closer relationship. But Wonderland is a dangerous place, and first they have to get away with their lives.

Listening Length: 7 hours and 8 minutes
Narrator: Joel Froomkin

I loved, loved, loved this audio-book! Not only did I love it, but I could only listen to it when my 14 year old daughter was around as she overheard part of it and loved it too. it's a thing to be treasured, I think, a story that crosses generations and enjoyed by different age groups. The Harry Potter books are a great example of this, and whilst this book is very different from Harry Potter it has that same generational appeal.

A sequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass, Dakota Chase captures the eccentric nature of Carroll's writing whilst retaining a fresh uniqueness that is all her own.

Many familiar characters appear as Henry, Alice's younger brother, falls into Wonderland and starts his own adventure. The voices of the previous characters feel very authentic despite the new aesthetic to this story, the burgeoning romance between Hatter and Henry. Caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire cat, Tweedle-Dum and Dee and of course Hatter are all completely recognisable as Carroll's character's but they aren't tired flagging copies, they are just right to bring this story to life.

The adventure was fun, the narration excellent - in fact I have only one point of dislike about the book. When Henry and Hatter come back into our world, it is a modern day world and this felt out of sync to me. I also wished that Henry and Alice had remained English rather than becoming American - but that's the English in me coming out! These two points would have retained a little bit more truth to the story, but neither were enough for me to knock off a heart.

If you like quirky well written stories then please, please read this one. Actually - the narration is so good, don't read it listen to it! One of my top audiobooks for narration and content, definitiley and all time favourite.

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

Guest Review: Jesus Kid by Kayleigh Sky

Thirty years ago, an asteroid stuck the Earth. Now killer plants hunt the last surviving humans.

Ori Scott is a young junkie running from his mother’s prophecy that he’d one day save the world from the killer plants. Her preaching made him a laughingstock and now he hides in his drugs. But he can’t hide the change in his veins. They are turning green, and the prophecy is dragging him into a dark struggle between invisible forces. Set up on bogus drug charges, Ori is taken to a secret facility where he becomes a test subject in experiments to discover an antidote to the alien plant’s sting.

Jack Doll is a cop with a vendetta against the plants that killed his best friend. All he has in the world now is his old friend’s lover, Rive. Together they form an unbreakable bond—or so he thought. Jack has never liked Rive’s friend, Ori, but he believes in Ori’s innocence and doesn’t understand Rive’s strange indifference to Ori’s conviction. Struggling with his suspicions, Jack can’t help digging into a mystery that draws him closer to Ori than ever before—and closer to somebody who has secrets to hide.

Alone and scared, Ori is grateful for Jack Doll’s friendship, and his longtime crush soon blossoms into love. But Ori has no plans to accept his fate. He wants to escape, and he doesn’t care if he takes the cure with him.

Reviewer: NeRdyWYRM

Simultaneously Repelling and Enthralling

So in this dystopian clusterfuck there was a whole lot of "What the hell?!" moments. It's really kind of hard to describe this title in any specificity without giving too much away. There were aspects of this world that were, quite frankly, appalling. I was repelled by some of what occurred here because I guess I didn't expect it. There I go with those damned expectations again!

However, the oddities and the quirks and the contradictions sucked me right in. I could see something pure in amongst the evils right from the start. The characters and the dialogues were literallydiamonds in the rough and man, how they shone.

Ori ... Ori was a hard pill to swallow while being a character you wanted to reach into the book and hug. I mean. He was a survivor and a victim, innocent yet promiscuous, prickly but loving. Ori was a walking contradiction and honestly, not all that likable a lot of the time.

Jack was something else altogether. He's what you might call a 'company man'. Dear old straitlaced Jack was definitely drinking the Kool-Aid™ even though it wasn't necessarily an intentional head-in-the-sand situation. Ori embodied chaos. Jack embodied order.

So, boy oh boy, the angst whenever those two opposites attracted was singularly fascinating. The love-hate, push-pull was a little exhausting. That sounds like a complaint, but really it's just an observation. I always find extreme emotional opposites and characters' minds and hearts warring to be tiring.

I really wanted to reach in and smack them all a few times. Okay, so it was more than a few! That said, I was completely engaged even when my head was spinning.

I loved the turns of phrase and the odd speech and dialogue that was so perfectly idiosyncratic to the setting and the characters. Jack's inner dialogue was beautifully articulate despite his character's penchant for the straight and narrow. He had a lawman's mind but a poet's soul.

"Love is like a green wood," Jack murmured. "Liquid summer yellow. Love is a wild thing. A spray of blossoms blue. Love is you."

That was Ori's song, though Jack had made it up on the day they'd found Rive in The Orchards ...

The world building was pretty spectacular. I really got a feel for how things were. I did not like how things were, but I did believe in the possibility of it. Unfortunately, a society corrupted to the core is no longer as inconceivable a thing for me as it might once have been [shrugs].

There are twists and turns and weird, killer plants. There's a Sodom and Gomorrah meets Wild West kind of society with murderous, abusive thugs abounding. There are good people and bad people and really bad people. My favorite people, like Ori and Jack and Rive and Dobbin, go through some really fucked up shit in the past, present, and likely the future.

A single word does not exist that will describe this book. It just doesn't. All I can say is: if you like dystopian reads with a lot of dark situations interspersed with truly compelling moments of blinding clarity and impossible, beautiful, poetic descriptions to balance it all out, then this is the book for you.

More reviews by NeRdyWYRM can be found on Goodreads here.
Images (when present) may be subject to copyright.
An ARC copy of this title was provided for an honest review.

Review: That Doesn't Belong Here by Dan Ackerman

That Doesn't Belong Here begins when Levi and his friend Emily discover an impossible creature in an abandoned pick up. The thing is wounded, frightened and the two friends cannot leave him to the mercy of rubberneckers and tourists. This novel explores what it means to be a person, as the creature, Kato, begins to display not mere intelligence or friendliness but what can only be explained as humanity. The question of who we are allowed to love arises for Levi and Kato, as they are not just crossing the boundaries of gender or sexuality, but of species.

Well that was an odd little story with an equally odd cover, but it was still quite the charming gem if I do say so myself.

Levi and his bff Emily, happen to find and rescue a sea creature one day while out on the beach. Injured, they help provide a safe place for this mysterious being to heal, and what unfolds is a slow friendship into something more.

For me, where this story excels at is Kato. Perhaps because there is a language barrier, he is seemingly innocent and sweet, and as he’s exposed to Levi and Emily’s world, his wonder, confusion, and interest in everything is what makes this so enjoyable. What’s particularly beguiling is that Kato has no artifice. The world to him is quite straightforward, and it was humbling to see how the messy nuances of being human often get in the way of the truth. As he learns English and more about the lives of his friends, Kato makes known his attraction to Levi. What evolves is Levi’s awakening and realizing who he is and how he defines himself, and it’s exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.

Of course, there’s a bit of plot drama that involves Kato being discovered, and this I didn’t enjoy as much. However, I liked how this takes the metaphor of a mystical being who’s obviously not like everyone else and aptly shows that just because one is different, that doesn’t mean their feelings and their right to live, love, and be free is not valid. The emphasis to not judge or label, to fight for what you want, rings very strongly here.

Overall, I obviously loved the endearing vulnerable character that is Kato and how he changes several lives he comes into contact with, ultimately, with the potential to do more. This excelled at all the awkward and sweet that is NA with a dash of sexy thrown in. As a warning, this kinda ends abruptly in my opinion, albeit, with a hopeful, strong HFN. I only wish that there was an epilogue or a satisfactory conclusion that solidified my belief that Levi and Kato were successful at being truly together despite their many differences.

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

Review: The Mystery of the Curiosities (Snow & Winter #2) by C.S. Poe

Life has been pretty great for Sebastian Snow. The Emporium is thriving and his relationship with NYPD homicide detective, Calvin Winter, is everything he’s ever wanted. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Sebastian’s only cause for concern is whether Calvin should be taken on a romantic date. It’s only when an unknown assailant smashes the Emporium’s window and leaves a peculiar note behind, that all plans get pushed aside in favor of another mystery.

Sebastian is quickly swept up in a series of grisly yet seemingly unrelated murders. The only connection tying the deaths together are curiosities from the lost museum of P.T. Barnum. Despite Calvin’s attempts to keep Sebastian out of the investigation, someone is forcing his hand, and it becomes apparent that the entire charade exists for Sebastian to solve. With each clue that’ll bring him closer to the killer, he’s led deeper into Calvin’s official cases.

It’s more than just Sebastian’s livelihood and relationship on the line—it’s his very life.

This is really turning into a fun series and I believe I enjoyed the second even more than the first. Most probably because when book #1 ended, Sebastian and Calvin were still very “new” and there was a lot of evolution in their relationship in book #2 that I absolutely loved reading.

The mystery kept me connected in a fun and engaging way. If you’re looking for plot twists, turns and surprises at the end of every chapter, this is not that story and I was perfectly fine with that. I read this while on a long weekend away decompressing and this was the perfect level of mysterious for that setting. It was fun while interesting and I didn’t have to think about it too hard to keep up. I could follow along with Sebastian’s OTT shenanigans and just enjoy the ride. Was it realistic for Sebastian to insert himself into police investigations? Of course not, but I didn’t come here for the absolute reality, I came for Sebastian, Calvin, their secondary characters; the mystery-lite was a bonus. Shit happens to Sebastian because it does, that’s all I really need to know to wallow in Snow & Winter happily.

I do so love the quirk and the snark Sebastian and Calvin share, but their relationship carries some extra weight in book 2. Neither of these guys are kids and it’s refreshing to read about two characters who are getting into a relationship while also have some history that they are both working through. As we get older, we become a culmination of our experiences and that is so true for both of these guys. The story was really well balanced between the thrill of new love and the gravity of the past. Calvin’s path could have been a story in itself, but the author kept the tone even enough so that there was no question as to the pain and struggle Calvin lived with, but the chance of new love kept the story hopeful even through the worst of times described.

Major props to Sebastian’s dad, the man is a rock that both Calvin and Sebastian need and he’s one of those quiet, yet amazing characters that hits you right in the feels with a few well-placed words and unwavering support consistently. The relationship between Sebastian and his dad was well described in book 1, but Calvin was included in that mix in book 2 and it created some heartwarming moments that made my heart happy for Calvin.

C.S. Poe has a writing style that is easy to fall into, I forget that I’m reading and just flow along with the words. For me, that’s the best kind of escape and the main reason I love to read to begin with. I’m eagerly waiting for the next installment of Snow & Winter, I can’t wait to read about the next step on their way to their happily ever after.

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

Review: Whiskey Business (States of Love) by Avon Gale

Ryder Waites will do anything to keep the tiny town of Gallows Grove, Kentucky, from vanishing off the map—even sell his family’s whiskey recipe to Bluegrass Bourbon in Lexington. Hopeful that the larger company can provide necessary improvements to the distillery, Ryder’s ultimate goal is to get Gallows Grove on the Bourbon Trail… and bring in much-needed tourism revenue. But to keep producing Hanged Man Bourbon in Gallows Grove, he’ll have to convince company liaison, unbearably stuffy and seriously hot Adam Keller, that he's worth the investment.

Adam comes from an old-money family, but he’s determined to make his own way in the world. When he’s sent to Gallows Grove, he questions the life choices that led him to a rented room in a funeral home, in a town full of macabre-themed businesses. And he doesn’t know what to make of Ryder, the descendant of bootleggers who’s on a mission to save his strange town from extinction. When Adam and Ryder put aside their initial mistrust, the results are as smooth as good whiskey. But after Adam’s assignment ends, he’ll have to decide if small-town life and a future with Ryder is to his tastes.

If reading Whiskey Business doesn’t make you want to grab a glass and pour yourself an ounce or two of the amber goodness, there is definitely something wrong. Whiskey Business is an ideal addition to the States of Love series. I don’t think anyone could have pulled off a town like Gallows Grove like Avon Gale does. It could have easily gotten too kitschy and lost its edge, but instead the quirky characters and all the gothic names balanced with a good story and solid MC’s. Gallows Grove read like a town I would love to visit on the Bourbon Trail and the author kept it from becoming a caricature of what it was meant to be.

Ryder Waites has inherited the family business and in order to keep the town afloat he has sold the recipe for the whiskey his family has been distilling for generations. Ideally, the production will remain in Gallows Grove, the distribution will grow and the town will make it on the map. Problem is, Ryder isn’t heavy on the business savvy side, didn’t completely understand the contract he signed and the town may end up losing Hanged Man Bourbon all together if the distillery isn’t salvageable. So, in comes Adam Keller, a rep from Lexington to determine if they have enough to work with in Gallows Grove.

And thus, the push and pull of the enemies to lovers shenanigans begin.

I definitely had a better feel for Ryder for the first half of the book, which made sense since he was home and surrounded by people who knew his family since the beginning of time. Adam is an outsider, but he still holds his own with professionalism and tact. As the two tour the property, dig into operations and spend copious amounts of time together, they let loose with a lot of snark and a little flirting. The snark starts to get more good natured, the flirting gets a little more overt and it isn’t too long before the two of them cross the line and the clothes went a-flying. But, dammit all, as with the best of the enemies to lovers stories, feelings start to get involved and the future starts to look a little brighter for both yet a lot more complicated too.

Whiskey Business is pretty low on the angst scale and the actions that lead up to Ryder and Adam “splitting up” are pretty realistic given the situation and it all had to go down for a believable HEA to happen. The time apart was well written and kept the story grounded and from being too easy. It was also when I felt like I got to know Adam too. He was back on his turf and his life back in Lexington really explained why he was so reticent to change and why he had trouble accepting the casual, but sincere affection that he received from the town of Gallows Grove in general and from Adam in particular.

Oh, that ending.

 *sigh*

I loved it. It was the perfect ending for Adam and Ryder, and for the whole town. It was an all-encompassing HEA that made me thirsty for a Bourbon Press and itching to take a road trip.

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

Guest Review: Good as Gold: A Villainous Love Story by T.J. Land

Being the most powerful superhero in the world can get lonely.

Ask the Golden Ranger. He’s still struggling to make friends after landing on Earth two years ago, even now that he’s become a member of the Remarkables. Humans are just so complicated, with their odd aversion to public nudity, their obsession with sex, and their temperamental genitals.

Thank goodness for his villains. Sure, they’re crooks and it’s his job to thwart them, but at least they offer him a chance for social interaction. And they’re all pretty cool, as villains go. Henry X has a gun that can fire anything from exploding bullets to robot bees, and he's also got these incredible biceps and warm brown eyes – not that the Golden Ranger cares about stuff like that. Light Brigade can create holograms, plus he’s handsome and snarky and covered in tattoos – again, not that the Golden Ranger cares. The Sash can use his clothing as a weapon, which isn’t really fair seeing as how his slinky body would be an effective weapon all by itself. Which isn’t something the Golden Ranger cares about. At all.

It’s possible that the other Remarkables are right when they accuse the Golden Ranger of being a little too intrigued by his rogues gallery. But he thinks they’re just jealous. Even so, when they tell him that Henry X, Light Brigade and the Sash are working for someone who might be a threat to the whole city, the Golden Ranger knows he needs to learn the truth. And what better way to do that than by adopting a civilian disguise and getting to know his villains personally? It’s a brilliant plan. Nothing can go wrong.

65K, M/M/M/M, standalone.

Reviewer: R *A Reader Obsessed*


Well that was certainly different!

Imagine a world where superheroes on a daily basis, go against their set group of villains, trying to thwart whatever current scheme they’re hatching. It’s basically a gentlemen’s agreement - fighting crime/doing crime - a delicate balance of not too much and not too little, keeping the cycle going in order to live to fight another day.

First, you have Golden Ranger, who’s not from these parts. He’s actually an alien who left his planet in search of a purpose, and thus picked Earth to use his indestructible self to do good. This is a guy who’s a little naive, a little innocent, one who doesn’t fully grasp the nuances of human nature but is so eager to learn and acclimate. As a member of the superhero team, the Remarkables, Ranger has been tasked to keep in line three villains, who each have extraordinary, mysterious weapons to aid their escapades. In order to learn more about them, he dons a civilian disguise to covertly do recon.

Funnily enough, Ranger is not fooling anybody, let alone his three villains. These guys are simply ordinary men wanting more out of life, whether that be notoriety, a sense of purpose, or simply to belong. They too, have vulnerabilities and flaws, revealing personal facets that definitely blur the line that sharply delineates “good” from “evil”. As these four dance and interact, all of them come to know each other better, not only through their masked identities, but their true selves outside their disguises. Understandably, feelings change, loyalty develops, and their dynamic slowly evolves beyond their initial fractious beginning, as each is lonely and yearning for more.

So to make a long story even longer, there’s definitely a certain kind of interplay taking place between all the superheroes and their nemeses, creating a somewhat orchestrated environment of peace. However, there’s unseen forces and players manipulating the situation and purposefully influencing these 4 men and how they do their “jobs”. What results is a very complicated relationship that can often be antagonistic, intense, and definitely proprietary, as they ultimately band together to fight a common foe.

I’m finding it difficult to quantify or explain this story, except that it was interesting and unique, with some fun and funny, lending a comic book vibe or oddly enough, akin to the cartoon movie The Incredibles. I was consistently entertained despite no overt smexiness and the need of a good edit. In return though, there is some sweet romance and carnal, emotional scenes that involve all 4 players in various different groupings, and ultimately encompassing the full M/M/M/M aspect. It was well done and totally plausible. Well... plausible in a world of superheroes and villains. Overall, if you want something different and like this particular genre, I don’t think you could go wrong.

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