This is an intriguing, hot, short story that has me interested in more from them. I hope these authors do revisit them and expand to a full story becaThis is an intriguing, hot, short story that has me interested in more from them. I hope these authors do revisit them and expand to a full story because there is a lot of potential for it. A closeted hockey player and internet famous chef and one HOT elevator interlude has to be just the beginning. ...more
4.5 stars A not-so-meet-cute on a wedding weekend sets off sparks. But reconnecting back in New York makes everything even more complicated. Emily need4.5 stars A not-so-meet-cute on a wedding weekend sets off sparks. But reconnecting back in New York makes everything even more complicated. Emily needs a job and Dawson might be the only one that can be convinced to give her one. It’s hard to get past their flirty banter and eventually they don’t want to. But they both have trust issues and fears of being hurt. There’s some history and present complications that really feed all those fears. He especially has some work and healing to do before he can move on and she’s dealing with a lot in her own life.
The back and side stories add layers of past pain, fear, hurt and comfort. Especially for Dawson, because moving on from his pain and guilt have been hard for him to do. And the present circumstances are bringing it all back to him.
There are some secrets that are gradually revealed through the book. I honestly really liked Dawson. He is charming and charismatic, but has this soft inner core of him he kept guarded and it was hard for him to talk about it and deal with it. And Emily is this force of nature. She’s smart, sassy, and challenges him and makes him want to be a better man. He just has to be willing to make himself vulnerable enough for her to understand.
In the beginning, there’s more comedy and awkward situations, sexual tension, and snark. But it morphs into a more emotional and heartfelt story. I really liked them together and I enjoyed the story.
Aaron Edwards finds himself at a last chance gas station in Aqua Vista and it leads to one unforgettable hot hook up. It was so unforgettable that AarAaron Edwards finds himself at a last chance gas station in Aqua Vista and it leads to one unforgettable hot hook up. It was so unforgettable that Aaron heads back there for a bit of vacation and a business proposition. He is a charismatic businessman from San Jose and is finding the small town quirky and charming.
Jack McCoy is from a local family with history deeply entrenched in Aqua Vista with both bad and good memories. He is a bit grumpy, untrusting, closed off, sentimental, and loyal. But he can also be bossy and sweet when the moment calls for it. Even though he liked the idea of seeing Aaron again, he is not interested in selling.
As these two share new adventures, hot times, special moments, and get to know each other it is all supposed to be temporary because their lives do not mesh. But they also begin to inspire each other to maybe reach for more fulfillment and passion in their lives that seemed mapped out.
This is a low angst, sweet and spicy, opposites-attract, city boy-small town romance about trust, healing, and new possibilities. I love the quirky, nosy family and townies. I am looking forward to his brother Johnny's book.
4.5+ stars Gage Beaufort has come back to Devil's Garden after five years and the loss of his adopted father. But he’s barely in town before he finds t4.5+ stars Gage Beaufort has come back to Devil's Garden after five years and the loss of his adopted father. But he’s barely in town before he finds trouble. He had good intentions, but it just led to him getting in the crosshairs of some bad guys. And brings him right face-to-face with Deputy Wyatt Brooks, who was his savior and crush before he left home. And he still stings from his rejection.
It also brings him back to his eccentric, intense, and uniquely talented brothers: Mason, the lawyer; Dominic, the restauranteur and criminal mastermind; Gideon, the priest who runs the foster home; and Ben who is in prison. These brothers have a single-minded focus and that’s to get Ben out, but they’ll have to go through corrupt government and the dregs of society trying to take over their Bayou town in order to get justice.
And now that Gage is a grown man, Wyatt doesn’t seem to have the ability to resist him anymore. The sexual tension and chemistry between the two of them is palpable. And even though Gage seems to be nothing but trouble that ends up with him getting hurt, Wyatt seems to be the one there to save him time and time again. But it’s not good for Wyatt’s reputation to be mixed up with a Beaufort either.
This is a small town, one-that-got-away, bad boy-officer, coming home story with secrets and a dark underbelly. It is not a fluffy book. It’s down, dirty, rough, and doesn’t pull punches. But I was enthralled from the first page.
I really felt for Gage because he seemed like he really did have a good heart and he cared deeply, but he also had some self-worth issues, guilt, regret, and past pain that still affected him. And he wasn’t above taking a beating to try to help someone or do the right thing. And Wyatt is this dependable, good guy, law officer who wants to go by the book, but he finds himself having to bend the rules because of how much he cares about Gage. Their history is all tied up in pain and rejection, but their present is on fire and they just can’t seem to stay away from each other. It might mean that they burn down the whole town and from some of the characters they are dealing with that probably needs to happen. I’m definitely interested in more with these brothers because they are very strong personalities and they all seem to have issues, secrets, and stories to tell.
Elliott Jones is the rookie right-wing on the Portland Evergreens. He is easy-going, charming, cocky, and bends the rules. He is seen as a playboy whoElliott Jones is the rookie right-wing on the Portland Evergreens. He is easy-going, charming, cocky, and bends the rules. He is seen as a playboy who does not take things seriously. Malcolm McCoy is a few years older and is serious, loner, and left-wing. He is focused on studies and hockey and avoids relationships. Elliott is captivated by Malcolm from the minute he sees him. But his big attempt at a pickup was rebuffed and it set off a year of taunting, sniping, irritating, and appearing to hate each other.
But when Malcolm is asked to tutor Elliott in stats, they start to see behind the facades that everyone sees and develop an unexpected friendship, which also has some extra tutoring benefits for Malcolm. And this pushes them closer than they ever expected and opens up a whole new set of complications.
This is an opposites-attracts, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, hockey romance with steam and sweetness. Elliott likes to shake things up and is fun. I loved seeing the stoic Malcolm start to crack and lose his control. Together they rile each other up, explore intimacy, and push and challenge each other to be better on the ice and in life. And they are loyal friends and teammates.
It brings back the other characters from the first book and I am excited for more in this series with Finn, Zach, and the Coach.
Asher Callahan and Maeve Hartley have been friends for over a decade. They met in hard times and have navigated life together. He is a fixer and problAsher Callahan and Maeve Hartley have been friends for over a decade. They met in hard times and have navigated life together. He is a fixer and problem solver and she is more impulsive and finds herself in need of help. They are both good, caring, and protective friends.
But Asher keeps having these imaginative and impure thoughts that he knows should not become a reality. She is also his best friend's little sister and his good luck charm. Their lives are very intertwined with their friend group as well.
But in trying to protect him they win a date for a weekend in Vegas. They are supposed to be in the friend-zone. They are used to big adventures together so it should be a fun time.
Viva Las Vegas! A one-night adventure ends up fulfilling a pact and shocking each other. What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there but things have a way of getting out and complicating matters.
These two are adorable together. They understand and appreciate each other. They complement each other. He is a fixer and she is more impulsive. He tries to keep his feelings hidden while she is a bit more oblivious. They have fun banter, shared history, intertwined lines, and newly found hot chemistry. And they have now set themselves up for a mess of a situation with new feelings, new jewelry, while people are paying attention.
They are trying to fit their fake-marriage-kept-real-at least-temporarily-for-appearances-sake into their real lives, They both have reasons they can't let this situation reflect poorly on them. But a little possessiveness, care, sexual tension, touching, and kissing might just be making things a bit harder to resist. But they also both have issues that make them worry about a real relationship messing up their friendship. So bending the rules just enough while playing house to get as satisfied as they can without totally breaking them.
I absolutely adored these two together. They had such a strong foundation as friends who bonded during difficult times in their lives and maintained this over a decade. They have a shared friend group and so much history together. They’ve always supported and lifted each other up and took adventures together. But now the veil is lifting over their platonic love and they’re either letting in repressed feelings or starting to feel newer or stronger feelings in more romantic and physical ways together now that they’re in this new situation.
And by tying themselves together, they didn’t realize how much it was going to spiral and create so much change in their lives. And each day makes it a little harder to resist and deny the fact that they are actually enjoying life as a (fake)couple, but they both have fears of relationships, loss, not being good enough, being too clingy, or that something would ruin their friendship that is so important for them.
So it’s a delicate dance between playing house and trying to keep things in control and following what their minds, hearts, and bodies want to do. I loved how everything was built bit by bit and dynamics were changing along the way. They were always supportive of each other, but it was fun to see them try to surprise, each other in more sweet and romantic ways. And oh my did they match up well in the bedroom.
But they also struggled and my heart hurt for them. It deals with some difficult subjects such as loss, grief, fears, insecurities, and the importance of mental health. But they are also surrounded by a great crew of friends and family who try to help them see what has been right in front of them all along. They both really grew as individuals and together. The gradual changing of their dynamic and being honest with themselves and each other built up beautifully. And now they are not just wonderful best friends but just the cutest, sweetest, romantic couple with filthy mouths and smoking hot chemistry.
I am looking forward to the next couple of books in the series and I am excited for what was teased.Asher Callahan and Maeve Hartleyhave been friends for over a decade. They met in hard times and have navigated life together. He is a fixer and problem solver and she is more impulsive and finds herself in need of help. They are both good caring and protective friends.
But Asher keeps having these imaginative and impure thoughts that he knows should not become a reality. She is also his best friend's little sister and his good luck charm. Their lives are very intertwined with their friend group as well.
But in trying to protect him they win a date for a weekend in Vegas. They are supposed to be in the friend-zone. They are used to big adventures together so it should be a fun time.
Viva Las Vegas! A one-night adventure ends up fulfilling a pact and shocking each other. What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there but things have a way of getting out and complicating matters.
These two are adorable together. They understand and appreciate each other. They complement each other. He is a fixer and she is more impulsive. He tries to keep his feelings hidden while she is a bit more oblivious. They have fun banter, shared history, intertwined lines, and newly found hot chemistry. And they have now set themselves up for a mess of a situation with new feelings, new jewelry, while people are paying attention.
They are trying to fit their fake-marriage-kept-real-at least-temporarily-for-appearances-sake into their real lives, They both have reasons they can't let this situation reflect poorly on them. But a little possessiveness, care, sexual tension, touching, and kissing might just be making things a bit harder to resist. But they also both have issues that make them worry about a real relationship messing up their friendship. So bending the rules just enough while playing house to get as satisfied as they can without totally breaking them.
I absolutely adored these two together. They had such a strong foundation as friends who bonded during difficult times in their lives and maintained this over a decade. They have a shared friend group and so much history together. They’ve always supported and lifted each other up and took adventures together. But now the veil is lifting over their platonic love and they’re either letting in repressed feelings or starting to feel newer or stronger feelings in more romantic and physical ways together now that they’re in this new situation.
And by tying themselves together, they didn’t realize how much it was going to spiral and create so much change in their lives. And each day makes it a little harder to resist and deny the fact that they are actually enjoying life as a (fake)couple, but they both have fears of relationships, loss, not being good enough, being too clingy, or that something would ruin their friendship that is so important for them.
So it’s a delicate dance between playing house and trying to keep things in control and following what their minds, hearts, and bodies want to do. I loved how everything was built bit by bit and dynamics were changing along the way. They were always supportive of each other, but it was fun to see them try to surprise, each other in more sweet and romantic ways. And oh my did they match up well in the bedroom.
But they also struggled and my heart hurt for them. It deals with some difficult subjects such as loss, grief, fears, insecurities, and the importance of mental health. But they are also surrounded by a great crew of friends and family who try to help them see what has been right in front of them all along. They both really grew as individuals and together. The gradual changing of their dynamic and being honest with themselves and each other built up beautifully. And now they are not just wonderful best friends but just the cutest, sweetest, romantic couple with filthy mouths and smoking hot chemistry.
I am looking forward to the next couple of books in the series and I am excited for what was teased....more
This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed this holiday story. I actually read Brigham Vaughn's installment in Christmas Falls 2, and Ford was juThis is a new to me author and I really enjoyed this holiday story. I actually read Brigham Vaughn's installment in Christmas Falls 2, and Ford was just a small side character but his story spoke to me so I went back to the series and found his book.
Ford is this grumpy, proud, down-on-his-luck, but hard-working man. He was already struggling around the holidays and then he became a temporary guardian for his ex-girlfriend‘s daughter. The way he wants to make her Christmas perfect is just so sweet.
Mason runs a charity in Christmas Falls and he had already offered to help him, but he Ford wasn’t willing to take help until Charlie was involved. But even then he doesn’t like to accept help. But as Ford and Mason spend more time together there’s an unexpected attraction building. But Ford is confused because he’s always felt he was straight and doesn’t quite understand his enjoyment of being around Mason and what it could mean.
This is a sweet, inspirational, opposites-attract, bi-awakening, temporary single dad, make-the-most-out-of-Christmas story. I fell for these two and I loved precocious Charlie and all of the side characters just made it such a heartwarming story about family, friends, and the power of hope and giving to others....more
This is a sweet holiday novella with two guys who were not supposed to be each other's match but eventually could not deny it. Leo is new to town and This is a sweet holiday novella with two guys who were not supposed to be each other's match but eventually could not deny it. Leo is new to town and in love with Christmas Falls and the idea of finding his own true love. So he signs up with Nick who is a matchmaker that he helped set up his website. As Nick sets up Leo on dates, they have a harder time getting each other off their minds. But Nick is older, a widower, and not sure he is ready to move on. And Leo is in love with the idea of being in love and having the fairytale. It's an age gap and small-town romance with some dates that go awry and some that are near perfect. I really liked Leo and Nick together despite their differences. They had great rapport and good chemistry and were both such sweet guys with so much love to give even if it was scary. I loved the cameos from Hayden and Joel from Scrooge You and some of the other guys from the Christmas Falls series and it makes me want to read their full stories now. ...more
These Christmas Daddy books just suck me in. The characters are misunderstood or a bit lost and it’s fun to see them find each other and unexpectedly These Christmas Daddy books just suck me in. The characters are misunderstood or a bit lost and it’s fun to see them find each other and unexpectedly connect.
Robin "Trashmouth" Johnson is Miles' rockstar brother who’s been touring the world and running on fumes. He can’t rest and he’s just purely exhausted. But he borrows the bicep of Ben on a plane ride and gets the best sleep he’s had. They find little connections between their friends and family and interests and now they’re spending the holidays in the same small town. Robin is lonely, lost, and burned out. The small town makes him feel seen and appreciated for himself and not his persona.
Ben Montgomery is the town Doctor and single dad. He has recently seen his brothers fall in love, but does to see it happening for himself. He is seen as grumpy, but he’s really a softy and a caretaker and he wants to make Robin feel better. Ben's steadying presence seems to be a calming one on Robin and he brings him peace.
And there are two small girls and I thought it was fun that they shared the aesthetic of Robin. This little goth, emu, precocious girls, and an equally twinky goth hero, especially in contrast to big Ben's stoic Doctor persona.
It brings back the other couples from the books since they are family and all the small town feels. It’s about finding your person when you least expect it and about trust, acceptance, peace, found family, and a true home. ...more
One hot, mature, daddy-like "Santa". One younger, energetic, flirty, naughty twink. A merry meet cute and sharing some not-so-silent nights in a cabin
ThOne hot, mature, daddy-like "Santa". One younger, energetic, flirty, naughty twink. A merry meet cute and sharing some not-so-silent nights in a cabin
Their chemistry and connection were unexpected and strong. But Boaz is a city boy from L.A. and Ellery is happy in his little isolated cabin in Forestville. He never expected this little chaotic force to infiltrate his home and his heart.
But what do you do when you meet the person that perfectly complements you but your lives are in different locations?
I thought these two were fun together. Ellery‘s got the daddy thing down and Boaz craves that and likes to be the naughty boy. But Boaz has been conditioned to believe that he’s just too much for some people. I liked that Ellery didn’t think so and his structure and discipline actually helped him. And Boaz's energy and enthusiasm inspire Ellery and make him feel young.
They seem to be everything they didn’t know they wanted and needed but were not expecting to find. Ellery is just so patient, loving, and accepting and Boaz is sweet, vibrant, and energetic. Together they are hot and tender, but also have some challenges to face.
This is an age-gap, small town, forced proximity, opposites-attract, size difference, have a gay old time over the holidays story with some Ho Ho Ohs and sitting on Santa‘s lap. It's a sweet and steamy story about finding trust, acceptance, comfort, love, and home.
I have been waiting for Marnin's book from the beginning of this series and it did not disappoint. Marnin Rosser is the broody, snarky, grumpy, loner I have been waiting for Marnin's book from the beginning of this series and it did not disappoint. Marnin Rosser is the broody, snarky, grumpy, loner of this group of friends. He grew up with his best friend, Auden, but left Forestville behind to live in Seattle. He is guarded and hooks up often but does not do relationships. He is a realist, pessimist, and lives an ordered, gray, controlled life. Due to his past, he feels like he is not worthy or capable of real love.
Ennio Frant is Auden's younger brother who is thirteen years their junior. He is a sweet, sassy, stubborn, vibrant, impulsive, sunshiny Chef. He likes pretty things, shiny clothes, make-up, and standing out. He is passionate and longs to find true love, but the pickings in Forestville are getting pretty slim. So he casts a wider net in Seattle and Marnin lets him stay with him.
Both men have some issues going on in their lives and they find themselves supporting the other and finding a deeper, unexpected connection. They have strong physical chemistry and start a friends-with-benefits arrangement. But they also seem to fit in each other's lives better than they ever expected. But Marnin has walls up and big fears to go along with his new big feelings. And Ennio is afraid to even hope that Marnin would want all of him and is trying to figure out what to do about his own future.
This is an emotional, passionate, opposites-attract, best-friend's-little-brother, grumpy-sunshine, age-gap, hurt-comfort romance. I loved seeing into the cracks of Marnin's tough facade to his soft heart. Ennio is so colorful and optimistic and spreads light into his dark world. But Marnin also gives Ennio the support, respect, and acceptance he craves. It was beautiful to see them start to grow and change together and live fuller lives than they hoped for. I loved them together and enjoyed more with the Forestville characters as well as some other cameos.