Posts Tagged With: chef

Book Review: Place Setting by Claudia Mayrant

Reviewed by Ami

Title: Place Setting
Author: Claudia Raymant
Series: States of Love
Heroes: Cameron Dunlop/Gray Callahan
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 70 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 18, 2019
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Cameron Dunlop has lived in the Lowcountry town of Summer Corners, South Carolina, his whole life. He loves his home, but his little town in the Deep South doesn’t offer much in the way of dating options.

Chef Gray Callahan has enjoyed success in the kitchen, but his last relationship sunk like a bad soufflé. When plans for his sister’s wedding go awry, it provides the perfect excuse to pack up and go home, where he can help out as he decides how to start his life over.

Gray’s path crosses Cameron’s, and he realizes together they might have all the ingredients to save the day—with maybe enough left over for something sweet just for the two of them.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Mature Man’s Guide to Surviving Change by Chris Scully

Reviewed by Ami

Title: The Mature Man’s Guide to Surviving Change
Author: Chris Scully
Series: 2017 Advent Calendar Daily – Stocking Stuffers
Heroes: Joel/Perry
Genre: MM Holiday
Length: 66 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2017
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: In the sunny playground of Palm Springs, growing up was something confirmed bachelor and bad-boy chef Joel avoided at all costs—until a close friend’s death made him reevaluate his priorities. Ever since, he’s been dedicated to helping his widowed friend Perry get back on his feet by teaching him to cook and providing a shoulder to cry on. But when Perry announces that he’s ready to start dating again and then begins receiving gifts from an anonymous secret Santa, Joel is forced to confront the feelings he’s suppressed for so long.

As Joel struggles with jealousy and guilt amid the holiday season, he must decide if he’s ready to grow up and reach for what he’s always wanted but never thought he could have.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2017 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Unbreakable Stories: Ian by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: Unbreakable Stories: Ian
Authors: Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott
Series: Unbreakable Bonds #4.5
Heroes: Ian/Hollis
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 121 Pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 2, 2017
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Unbreakable Stories: Ian is a collection of short stories following the ups and downs of Ian Pierce and Hollis Banner has they navigate their new relationship and the unique complications of dating with a brunch of overprotective “brothers” determined to guard Ian’s heart.

This collection is more than 38,000 words and contains short stories such as:
Midnight Perp
No Boyfriends Allowed
A Night Off
Taking It Slow
This is Us
And a very special bonus.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2017, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: One More Taste by Melissa Cutler

Reviewed by Ami

28220834Title: One More Taste
Author: Melissa Cutler
Series: One and Only Texas #2
Heroine/Hero: Emily Ford/Knox Briscoe
Genre: MF Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Welcome to Dulcet, Texas, home of the legendary Briscoe Ranch Resort, where one man will discover that revenge is a dish best served sizzling hot…

Ambitious and talented, chef Emily Ford has the chops to make it in the cutthroat culinary world—which is why she refuses to accept her demotion at the hands of Knox Briscoe, the new CEO of Briscoe Ranch Resort. He has grand plans that include bringing in a celebrity chef to helm an exciting new restaurant at the resort, but Emily has plans of her own—to do whatever it takes to change his mind…

Knox Briscoe made his millions in the high-risk game of buying and flipping businesses. Cut out of the Briscoe fortune by an old feud that left his family in ruins, Knox grew up dreaming of revenge. Out-maneuvering his uncle for control of the resort is merely the first step in his plan—a plan that doesn’t include the brazen and beautiful Emily Ford. Drawn into her passion, Knox’s world is turned on its axis, and it isn’t long before he’s faced with the biggest risk of all—with his career, with his heart…and with the woman who has captivated him, body and soul.
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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, M/F, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: A Cowboy’s Home by R.J. Scott

Reviewed by Susan65

29424694Title: A Cowboy’s Home
Author: R.J. Scott
Series: Montana #3
Heroes: Justin/Sam
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 218 Pages
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Release Date: July 8, 2016
Available at:  Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: One burned and broken man finds his way home. Can he find peace in the arms of a man easy to love?

Justin made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, battling domestic terrorism, never the man he really was, using hate to avenge the death of his best friend. The friend he’d killed.

What he doesn’t count on is getting shot, and if he’s going to die he wants it to be on Crooked Tree soil. Home.

Sam is as much a part of Crooked Tree as any of the families, and the offer to buy into the ranch is a dream come true. But falling for a hidden, secretive, injured man isn’t the way to keep his head in the game.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Temptations of Desire by Tempeste O’Riley

Reviewed by Morgan

30696085Title: Temptations of Desire
Author: Tempeste O’Riley
Narrator: Jeff Gelder
Series: Desires Entwined #3
Heroes: Alexander James Noble/Dal Sayer
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 6 Hours, 17 Minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 15, 2016
Available at: Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Alexander James Noble is a gender fluid gay man who gave up on finding Mister Right a long time ago. He’s not asking for much, though. He just wants a guy who loves all of him and appreciates his feminine form too.

At the local LGBTQ center where Alex regularly volunteers, he meets Dal Sayer, an officer of the Milwaukee PD. Because he’s been rejected one too many times, Alex doesn’t trust the huge cop and the interest he shows in him, but once Dal sets his mind on something, he goes all out. Pushing aside his preconceived notions, Alex opens up just a little and soon caves.

From their first date—while dealing with his father’s failing health and his parents’ demands for him to settle down and have children—Dal never takes his eyes off his goal of making Alex his. But proving to Alex he isn’t like all the men who couldn’t see him for who he truly was and only wanted to hide him away is harder than he thought.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Morgan's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: Manties in a Twist by J.A. Rock

Reviewed by JustJen

26174733Title:  Manties in a Twist
Author: J.A. Rock
Series: Subs Club #3
Heroes: Kamen/Ryan
Genre: MM Contemporary/BDSM
Length: 283 Pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: April 2, 2016
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Look, I’ll never stop missing Hal, but this Subs Club my friends started to review suck-ass doms isn’t gonna bring him back or give him justice. For me, it’s just another chance to hang out with my friends, even if they think I’m too dumb to understand the important work we’re supposedly doing.

But maybe I’m not as dumb as they think—at least I know when I’ve got a good thing going. Which is why I just moved in with my dom. Ryan’s awesome possum. He’s really short, never makes me feel stupid, and is up for anything. One word: costumes. Two more words: women’s underwear. We’re all about the lace, no leather.

Except when we do pony play. We first tried it as a joke, but turns out I’m ballin’ at it. Now PetPlayFest is coming up, and I wanna take down the Subs Club’s archrival, Cinnamon the ponygirl, in the horse show.

My friends think I’m spending too much time with Ryan and ignoring my obligations to the group. But since when is friendship an obligation? Ryan’s my first serious relationship, and I want to take it . . . seriously. At some point I need to think about my future, not my past.

—Kamen
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Heat by Chris Quinton and R.J. Scott

Reviewed by Susan65

23148325Title: Heat
Authors: Chris Quinton and R.J. Scott
Series: Salisbury Stories #1
Heroes: Lewis Mandineau/Devon Trelawney
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 141 Pages
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Release Date: October 23, 2014
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Serving up passion, family, love and hate, with a side order of arson.

Lewis has lost nearly everything, and now it seems that Devon is here to take the last thing he has left – working in his beloved restaurant, Laurels. But when an arsonist threatens everything Lewis loves, he realises sometimes everyone has their ghosts, and he discovers an unexpected ally who is prepared to risk everything for him.

* * * * *

Set in the small cathedral city of Salisbury, Master Chef Lewis Mandineau no longer owns the Laurels, the restaurant that had been in his family for generations. Betrayed and robbed by an ex-lover, he’s had to sell to Trelawney Enterprises, an American corporation. That isn’t all Lewis has to contend with. Rachel, his beloved younger sister has been left severely hurt by the car crash that killed their parents, and taking care of her has to be his priority.

Enter Devon Trelawney III, sent to assess the viability of the restaurant and its staff. Devon knows all about family tradition. But he also knows sentiment has no place in business matters, and the Laurels’ potential is swamped by the debts it has accrued. Devon is a hardheaded businessman, first and foremost, but Lewis and Rachel test his resolve in different ways. Soon Devon is forced to admit that what seems like an impossible love can sometimes become something very real.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Not Knowing Jack by K.A. Mitchell

Reviewed by Susan65

23292157Title: Not Knowing Jack
Author: K.A. Mitchell
Narrator: Jason Winters
Series: Ohio Books #2
Heroes: Tony Gemetti/Jack Noble
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 6 Hours, 33 Minutes
Publisher: Insatiable Press
Release Date: July 18, 2014
Available at: Amazon and Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Bartender Tony Gemetti has it all: a rich, hot boyfriend, a McMansion in the ’burbs, and unlimited sex in an expectation-free zone. He thought that was all he ever wanted out of any relationship – until Jack begins making excuses for frequent disappearances. Realizing he has more than his libido and enough drawers for his T-shirt collection riding on this relationship, Tony figures it’s time to find out what’s going on.

Jack Noble has spent his life hiding his real self behind a carefully created image. With Tony, he finally knows real freedom, real happiness. Now a past of buried secrets and lies is closing in, and no matter how hard he tries to stop it, the truth is tearing through. Once Tony learns what kind of man Jack really is, he won’t stay. Jack’s sure of it. Suddenly the past shows up in a completely unexpected way, testing the boundaries of their old, coasting-along-on-fun relationship. Tony indeed finds that Jack isn’t the man he went looking for, but it’s too late. There’s too much at stake to just walk away. First, though, he has to make sure there are no lies left for Jack to hide behind.

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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Something in the Way He Needs by Cardeno C.

Reviewed by Morgan

28570209Title: Something in the Way He Needs
Author: Cardeno C.
Narrator: Ezekiel Robison
Series: Family #1
Heroes: Asher Penaz/Daniel Tover
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 7 Hours, 6 Minutes
Publisher: The Romance Authors
Release Date: January 14, 2016
Available at: Amazon and Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Police captain Asher Penaz’s staunch professionalism bleeds into his home life, down to his neatly pressed attire and spartan apartment. He enjoys being the man in charge, and leather bars satisfy his need for dominance—so his sudden and powerful attraction to the lighthearted, free-spirited Daniel Tover throws him for a loop. In his entire life, Daniel has never gotten what he needs, so he moves to the next place, the next job, the next attempt to find something worth staying for, always landing at the top of his game, but never feeling like he belongs.

The chemistry between Asher and Daniel sizzles, so Asher invites Daniel home. As both men struggle to learn themselves while getting to know each other, the lines of desire and control blur. With all that fire comes the risk of getting burned. But if Daniel and Asher can walk through the flames together, they might find what they desperately need.
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Morgan's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment