Tag: friends to lovers

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Quiet Nights (Mangrove Stories #2) Audiobook by Mary Calmes Narrated by Greg Tremblay

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6431

QuietNightsAUDMEDBlurb

It’s a lovely little life Kelly Seaton leads. He’s got his own landscaping business, a nice little house, and his best friend, Cosimo Renaldi, and Coz’s goofball family who have adopted Kelly as their own. Sure, it’s a little lonely at night, but it’s a sweet deal, and Kelly can’t chance ruining it by letting on that he wants more—has always wanted more—with Coz.

Then Kelly’s past comes to town, bringing bad memories and hurt feelings that start to break Kelly down, and Coz just doesn’t understand why Kelly won’t let him be the support and strength that Kelly’s always been for him. They’ve already been through war, Coz’s devastating injury, and starting new careers in Mangrove, Florida. Why shouldn’t they face their chaotic pasts and build their future of quiet nights… together?

Review

(Reviewed previously)

Oh Mary, how I love thee, let me count the ways!

This is the second book in her new Mangrove Stories series. So… yep we get to see Dwyer and Takeo again. (Yay!)

Kelly and Coz are best friends and have been since their days in the military. Kelly is Coz’s de-facto brother, his family disowned him for being gay. Kelly saved Coz’s life but Coz still lost an arm, and as a result still feels inadequate in the realm of romance.

Takeo actually is to be credited with pushing Kelly and Coz together, because it is his matchmaking endeavors that sort of push Coz into dating which makes Kelly so jealous he can’t see straight!

This is a short story, so we get a little build up and a little steamy smexy times and lots and lots of warm feels.

One of my favorite quotes from the book illustrates this exactly. Coz is talking to Kelly. “You’re who I think of telling shit to, who I miss even when I’m busy doing something and you’re who I want to roll over on top of in the morning.” See? Build up, smexy times, and lots of great feels!

4 of 5 hearts

Audio

Greg Tremblay did an amazing job with this. I just love diving into his stories – he is so compelling – adding a layer to Mary’s work that just makes everything exponentially wonderful.

5 of 5 hearts

Overall 4.5 hearts

4.5

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Gambling Men by Amy Lane

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2916

GamblingMenBlurb

Quent Jackson has followed Jason Spade’s every move in business and in poker since their first day as college freshmen. Eight years later, when Jace finally decides Quent is the one man he can’t live without, he sees no reason for that to change.

But as much as Jace believes that poker is life, no one gave Quent the same playbook. After their first passionate night, the real game of love and trust begins, and Jace has been playing alone too long to make teaching the rules easy. Jace only speaks two languages: one of them is sex, and the other one is poker. Between the two, he needs to find a way to convince himself to take a chance on love—and Quent to take a chance on him. It’s a lucky thing they’re good at reading the odds, because they’re playing for keeps, and this is one high-stakes relationship that’s definitely worth the gamble.

Review

Quent and Jace have been friends and roomies since college. Quent is the easy going type, content to let Jace lead, but not afraid to tell him off if he strays. Jace is the stoic, quiet type – strong, bull-headed and almost always right.

One day – seemingly out of the blue – Jace hits on Quent and suddenly their relationship has changed from friend to lover.

It turns out that both men have been pining for the other. Though Quent has never had a male sexual partner before, he’s always had eyes for Jace and is quite happy to explore that further.

**

First – this is my all time FAVORITE Amy book. I love these boys and have re-read this book over and over and over. (I PRAY they will make it into an Audio book – so please – go out and buy this!)

What I loved about this book is the sideways “non”conversations that the boys have with one another. They manage to navigate their relationship with a series of poker metaphors and pointed looks. It’s hysterical. The sex is phenomenal – neither is inhibited and Jace is so growly then cuddly – it’s a perfect blend.

Quent is both the social follower but their emotional leader in the relationship. Jace has so much to learn about expressing himself but when he does it just tears your heart out and makes you want to hug him.

I also LOVED Jace’s family – Mike and Jefferson were such great role-models and I loved their life lessons through poker.

In relative Amy terms – there is almost no angst in this book – but there is lots of deep emotional bonding and lovely relationship building and some fantastic “newbie” sex to be explored. Not to mention that it is hysterical.

If you haven’t read this wonderful book by Amy Lane I highly recommend it.

6 of 5 hearts

amazing

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The Price by Andrew Grey

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6276

Price[The]Blurb

Hunter Wolf is a highly paid Las Vegas escort with a face and body that have men salivating and paying a great deal for him to fulfill their fantasies. He keeps his own fantasies to himself, not that they matter.

Grant is an elementary-school teacher who works miracles with his summer school students. He discovered his gift while in high school, tutoring Hunter, a fellow student. They meet again when Hunter rescues Grant in a club. Grant doesn’t know Hunter is an escort or that they share similarly painful pasts involving family members’ substance abuse.

After the meeting, Hunter invites Grant to one of the finest restaurants in Las Vegas. Hunter is charming, sexy, and gracious, and Grant is intrigued. With more in common than they realized, the two men decide to give a relationship a try. At first, Grant believes he can deal with Hunter’s profession and accepts that Hunter will be faithful with his heart if not his body. Both men find their feelings run deeper than either imagined. For Grant, it’s harder than he thought to accept Hunter’s occupation, and Hunter’s feelings for Grant now make work nearly impossible. But Hunter’s choice of profession comes with a price, which could involve Grant’s job and their hearts—a price that might be too high for either of them to pay

Review

Basically Hunter and Grant knew each other in high school and are re-connecting again. Hunter doesn’t believe in love and Grant is the optimist. After a little bit of struggle, the couple realizes that Hunter can’t keep his current job and have the relationship he wants with Grant – so they split until it becomes clear that love is more important.

Andrew Grey always delivers solidly in the writing department and he does a nice job here of incorporating back-stories of alcoholism into the current relationship. I liked that Grant was able to identify that the father he knew as a child and the father he knows now are different people and that’s okay.

I really liked Grant and thought Hunter’s friends will make a nice new series if it goes that way.

4 of 5 hearts

4

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Thirty Things by Cate Ashwood

Dreamspinner presents

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6217

ThirtyThingsBlurb

All their lives, Finn and Nate have been inseparable, sharing everything, and when a childhood accident left Finn broken, Nate stood by his side as all his other friends left. After all their years together, there’s one secret Finn still hasn’t revealed: he has been in love with Nate since they were eight years old. Hiding his feelings for twenty-one years—terrified of what might happen if Nate ever found out—has been difficult, but losing his best friend would be worse than living with a bad case of unrequited love. Unfortunately for Finn, Nate doesn’t make it easy.

Nate believes there are some things that just have to be done before your thirtieth birthday. As a gift to Finn, he plans an adventure to check off a list of thirty things to experience before hitting that milestone. Starting in Crawfordsville, Indiana, they tour the country, trying new things and meeting interesting new people. Nate’s having the time of his life, but he can tell Finn is holding something back. As the days count down, navigating the back roads suddenly seems easier than figuring out where their relationship is heading.

One thing’s for certain. There will be no turning back.

Review

This is a stupendously cute story of friends turned lovers. Finn has been crushing on Nate his whole life and it takes a trip across country for Finn to realize that Nate feels the same way.

I loved the individual tasks (30 of them) Nate set up – I want to go on that trip too! (For the record Portland is an awesome town!) It was a fun, light read full of sweet moments, some sexual tension then release and lots and lots of feels.

Though there were times I thought some of the relationship stuff was a bit unrealistic: why Finn was still a virgin, why he kept assuming Nate was just experimenting, why he thought this could ever be anything other than a real relationship… they were minor.

The writing and editing are excellent and the story left me smiling!

4.5 of 5 hearts

4.5

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As You Are Audiobook by Ethan Day Narrated by Jason Frazier

Wild City Press Presents:

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/As-You-Are-Audiobook/B00T50SF3U/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1424112874&sr=1-1

as you areBlurb

Operation Danny….

That’s all bartender and recent college graduate, Julian Hallowell has had on his mind for the past year. Julian may have no idea what he wants to do with his life, but he definitely knows he’s in love with the boy next door: the one in the next room to be exact, his roommate, Danny Wallace.

Danny owns a used textbook store just off campus, and while Julian has done his level best to make Danny fall for him, all his hard work appears to have been in vain. Danny doesn’t seem to view Julian as anything other than that–a roommate and friend. So when new guy in town Andy Baker asks him out on a date, Julian can’t think of a good reason to say no.

Julian has already instituted a Reverse Operation Danny plan, which he’s positive will purge all thoughts of love and lust for his roomie out of his head. He’s ready to move on and start looking for his next Mr. Right, and Andy just might fit the bill.

Review

Julian has had a crush on his roommate, Danny, forever, and just when he’s given up on having him – ie moving on – Danny makes a play for him.

There is a lot of humor in this story. Julian is a hysterical gay man with a lot of fun quirks – clumsiness, sugar addiction, a flair for fashion. His mother is hysterical as well, and has a big heart.   Gabby, the female best friend also provides comic relief.

Danny – well, I just never liked Danny. As the story progresses we see and finally “understand” more about Danny and his motivations, but it was really hard for me to forgive him… and that, ultimately influenced my opinion of the book.

I think that this is one of those books that will either hit it’s mark and make you a fan, or it will count as a miss. For me it was a miss (not enough to deter me from trying another Ethan Day book). The romantic in me was just so unsatisfied by the ending. I really needed Danny to do more to win Julian back and the lack of “making up” left a sour taste in my mouth. (It is a HEA, though.)

Writing/Editing 3

Romance 2

Sex/Heat   4

Storyline 2

World Building/Characterizations 5

Humor 5 – it is really funny!

Overall for the book 3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

Audio

Jason Frazier, hands down is one of THE BEST narrators of this genre. He is a PERFORMER. He gets inside the heads of all the characters and makes them all unique and outstanding.

I had read the book before and was not impressed by the story overly much (as you can tell by review) but when I saw that Jason Frazier narrated the book I had to have it anyway.

I’ve said it before and it still holds true, Jason’s narrations remind me of the old days of radio soap operas in that he can create this entire “movie” without pictures for us just by how much personality he puts into each one of his characters.

There are a few truly gifted performers in this genre who bring a story to life more than just tell a tale and Jason is one of them.

I adore his narrations and give this one a 6 out of 5 hearts.

amazing

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Quiet Nights (Mangrove Stories #2) by Mary Calmes

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6022

quiet nightsBlurb

It’s a lovely little life Kelly Seaton leads. He’s got his own landscaping business, a nice little house, and his best friend, Cosimo Renaldi, and Coz’s goofball family who have adopted Kelly as their own. Sure, it’s a little lonely at night, but it’s a sweet deal, and Kelly can’t chance ruining it by letting on that he wants more—has always wanted more—with Coz.
Then Kelly’s past comes to town, bringing bad memories and hurt feelings that start to break Kelly down, and Coz just doesn’t understand why Kelly won’t let him be the support and strength that Kelly’s always been for him. They’ve already been through war, Coz’s devastating injury, and starting new careers in Mangrove, Florida. Why shouldn’t they face their chaotic pasts and build their future of quiet nights… together?

Review

Oh Mary, how I love thee, let me count the ways!

This is the second book in her new Mangrove Stories series. So… yep we get to see Dwyer and Takeo again. (Yay!)

Kelly and Coz are best friends and have been since their days in the military. Kelly is Coz’s de-facto brother, his family disowned him for being gay. Kelly saved Coz’s life but Coz still lost an arm, and as a result still feels inadequate in the realm of romance.

Takeo actually is to be credited with pushing Kelly and Coz together, because it is his matchmaking endeavors that sort of push Coz into dating which makes Kelly so jealous he can’t see straight!

This is a short story, so we get a little build up and a little steamy smexy times and lots and lots of warm feels.

One of my favorite quotes from the book illustrates this exactly. Coz is talking to Kelly. “You’re who I think of telling shit to, who I miss even when I’m busy doing something and you’re who I want to roll over on top of in the morning.” See? Build up, smexy times, and lots of great feels!

PS I LOVE the cover – so beautiful and doesn’t Kelly look awesome?!

Writing/Editing 5

Romance 5

Sex/Heat 5

Storyline 4

World Building/Characterizations 5

Overall 4.8 rounded to 5 of 5 hearts!

5

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Friends With Benefits by Cheyenne Meadows

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5989

friends benefitsBlurb

Playboy wolf shifter Wiley can’t duck out of his pack’s biggest annual event, despite knowing his grandmother has possible suitors lined up and waiting. Wiley has no intention of settling down, and the situation dangles just above disaster. Thankfully, Wiley’s best friend, lion shifter Ram, agrees to pose as Wiley’s boyfriend for the weekend.

They find out fate has other plans when they kiss on a dare, and the passion erupts, so hot and intense they fear the couch may spontaneously combust beneath them. Neither man is able to push the small act of affection from his mind, but both struggle with uncertainty and the ramifications of following where their libidos lead.

If they can’t outrun their feelings, they’ll have to muster the courage to face their fears before they lose everything, including their friendship.

Review

Wiley is trying to avoid a family matchmaking by bringing home his best friend Ram as his “boyfriend”. Ram agrees because he’s a nice guy and wants to help.

While at the family picnic, they are forced to acknowledge that they’ve been in denial about their feelings for one another. Neither is ready to commit to being Mates, but it looks like their combustible passion will force the issue.

**

Man I wanted to love this book. First, we get that awesome Reese Dante cover. She is so amazing! Second, I really enjoyed the previous book I’d read by Cheyenne Meadows, Feline Persuasion. Third, Shifters!

But… even if you allow for some of the bizarre-ness that can come with shifter romances, this was just too much for me. I was very put off by the grandma storyline and Ram’s constant “she’s hot”. The little kids with the weird sex questions was a turn off, too.

The “hurdle” of Wiley being a playboy rang false when we never heard anything about him lusting after others or his prior exploits or any inkling at all of his feeling constricted as the relationship between him and Ram developed. Instead, he seemed almost virginal in his responses to their lovemaking.

The dirty talk wasn’t sexy, it was cheesy and porn-like. (And not good, sexy porn either!)

I wasn’t sure why Ram freaked out like he did after they had sex – that never made much sense – and I wasn’t at all convinced of their longevity as a couple, even after their mating and the “I love yous”.

I dislike shifter books where we don’t’ see them shifted! In this book, there was no real connection to Wiley and Ram being shifters. It was more like any two friends who become lovers and end up having a lot of (I will admit very hot) sex. Sure, their feelings might be a little motivated by their animals, and there is the biting, but in my opinion, if you took “shifter” out of the story, there wouldn’t be a heck of a lot missing. (Well, some of the weird family stuff, but even so that could be just a quirky family, not necessarily explained by being shifters.)

I also didn’t understand the “aging”. Are they immortal? Grandma is 800 but acting like a teen-ager. At 60 Wiley is still living at home and in UnderRoos? It didn’t make a lot of sense.

So… though I really love shifter books, give them LOTS of latitude in terms of expectations, this one was really pretty bad.

I give it 2.5 stars for the cover, good grammar and editing, hot sex and some funny lines.

2.5

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The magic of Christmas by Pelaam

MLR Press Presents http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=PTHEMAGC

 

Blurb

On a friThe_Magic_of_Christmasends’ getaway in a winter wonderland, Jared and Casey discover real Christmas magic.

Jared joins his four best friends on an early Christmas holiday in a beautiful winter wonderland. He’s been in love with the talented and extroverted Casey for years, but lacked the courage to say anything.

Casey loves Jared, but despite his gregarious exterior, inside lurks someone shy and insecure and so he’s never spoken up.

Both men are about to experience real Christmas magic.

 

Review

Surprisingly sweet – this is a paranormal Christmas story of two friends who have harbored a love for one another but haven’t had the guts to admit it. They end up going on a holiday together with other friends to a spot that is “haunted” by the Snow Queen. Luckily, they end up being rescued by Kris Kringle, his lover Jack Frost and their mighty shifter Rudy.

It’s a lovely mishmash of Christmas lore, contemporary romance and some New Zealand culture.

I really enjoyed it, thought it was a full and complete story told in only 49 pages and would recommend it to someone looking for a short story full of fantasy, humor and a little hot sex!

4 of 5 hearts

4

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