Day: July 29, 2015

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Bitter Taffy (Candy Man Book 2) by Amy Lane

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6687

BitterTaffyBlurb

Rico Gonzalves-Macias didn’t expect to fall in love during his internship in New York—and he didn’t expect the boss’s son to out them both and get him fired either. When he returns to Sacramento stunned and heartbroken, he finds his cousin, Adam, and Adam’s boyfriend, Finn, haven’t just been house-sitting—they’ve made his once sterile apartment into a home.

When Adam gets him a job interview with the adorable, magnetic, practically perfect Derek Huston, Rico feels especially out of his depth. Derek makes it no secret that he wants Rico, but Rico is just starting to figure out that he’s a beginner at the really important stuff and doesn’t want to jump into anything with both feet.

Derek is a both-feet kind of guy. But he’s also made mistakes of his own and doesn’t want to pressure Rico into anything. Together they work to find a compromise between instant attraction and long-lasting love, and while they’re working, Rico gets a primer in why family isn’t always a bad idea. He needs to believe Derek can be his family before Derek’s formidable patience runs out—because even a practically perfect boyfriend is capable of being hurt.

Review

From Candy Man we meet Rico, Adam’s cousin who is in New York doing an internship who has just admitted to Adam that he’s gay and has found his love in Manhattan. The book opens with Rico and Ezra (the lover) breaking up spectacularly when Ezra’s dad discovers their relationship.

Rico moves back to Sacramento (almost 2 months early) heartbroken, happy that Adam and the miraculous Finn are there to help him heal. And of course there’s Darrin, the psychic candy shop owner who knew Rico was on his way before Rico did.

Rico gets hooked up with Derek, the provider of Art jobs for Adam, both romantically and as an employer. But it doesn’t always go smoothly, Rico is seriously cautious and doesn’t want a repeat of his last workplace romance.

In the end, Derek’s perfection and his persistence pay off and we get another HEA.

**

What I LOVED about this story, besides seeing so much of Finn and Adam, was how much healing we got to see Rico go through. His family is SO toxic and it takes some serious balls for him to come out – not just for himself but for Adam’s sake as well – and he does it so well!

I loved how steadfast both Derek and Finn were and what good examples their families provided for both Rico and Adam.

Of course the pets are wonderful as are Darrin and the other secondary characters.

Reading this is EXACTLY like a trip to your favorite candy store. You know you will be sad when the book/candy is over/gone but you just have to devour it as quickly as you can because it’s so enjoyable!

I can’t wait for Ezra’s story and for these to come out on Audio.

So, so wonderful!

6 of 5 hearts

amazing

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Shawn’s Law Audiobook by Renae Kaye Narrated by Casey Hunter

Dreamspinner Presents:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6717
ShawnsLawAUDMEDBlurb

Shawn is a frequent victim of Murphy’s Law. Can he and Harley stumble toward love despite insecurity and epic bad luck? Shawn is single, twenty-nine, the full-time carer of his Alzheimer’sstricken mother, and a frequent victim of Murphy’s Law—although his family calls it Shawn’s Law. Other than caring for mum, his day consists of painting nude men and spying on the guy who walks his dogs along the street every day at four o’clock. When Shawn takes a spectacular fall on his front steps, who is there to witness it other than the man of his dreams? Harley doesn’t believe in Shawn’s Law—but he soon changes his mind. The two men make it through a memorable first date and Shawn’s sexual insecurities to begin a relationship stumbling toward love. But when Shawn’s Law causes Harley to be injured, Shawn is determined to save Harley’s life the only way he knows how—by breaking up with him. Not once, but twice. Throw in a serial killer ex-boyfriend, several deadly Australian animals, two dogs called Bennie, a mother who forgets to wear clothes, an unforgiving Town Council, and a strawberry-flavored condom dolly, and Shawn’s Law is one for the books.

Review

(Posted Previously on this site)

Shawn is a HOT MESS. If you can think of someone who’s a clutz, that’s Shawn times a thousand. He’s so accident prone the ER staff knows him by name. He’s got the auto club on speed dial and the Ambulance driver’s are his friends.

But he’s also super adorable with a giant heart. He loves his mother and cares for her as she suffers the last stages of Alzheimer’s. He helps his sister with her budding family and he thinks nobody could want to (or should want to) be involved with him in a boyfriend-type-way.

Harley, aka “Hippy Hotpants” is Shawn’s new “neighbor”. He’s actually going out of his way when he takes his daily walks to be seen by and to see Shawn working in the garden and when yet another accident throws Shawn literally at Harley’s feet, it’s the start of a wonderful, if rocky, relationship.

Between Shawn’s own insecurities, his numerous accidents, his family and his need to “protect” Harley from Shawn’s law they don’t exactly have smooth sailing … but when they do connect it’s mind blowing.

Finally, after what seems like the true and final last straw, they do manage to come together at last for a very, very HEA – well a well-bandaged HEA.

**

As you know I’m a huge Renae Kaye fan. Her writing keeps improving with each book she puts out. This story is definitely a bit different from her others in that it relies far more heavily on humor than her other books, but is no less full of tenderness and a loving relationship as we have come to expect.

As usual, she also gives us a host of amazing secondary characters, fully developed who are rich additions to the story – Shawn’s mother with the Alzheimer’s, his sister- with no verbal filter, Harely’s dad- a true ex-hippy, and Shawn’s best friend- who talks to Shawn in verbal short hand as though they share a brian. To name a few.

I devoured this in one afternoon, I couldn’t put it down. The humor was contagious and Shawn and Harley just had me wrapped around their proverbial fingers.

If you are looking for a book with almost no angst, but still plenty of substance, this is the book for you. It’ll brighten your day and lighten your heart.

Audio

Casey Hunter is a new narrator for me, he does not have an Australian accent – so that was disappointing… but he was still quite good! He did a really nice job with the emotion, and especially the humor. He didn’t do a lot to change the voices, but it was always clear which character was speaking. I really enjoyed this and it absolutely added to the overall enjoyment of the story.

6 of 5 hearts!

amazing

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