Posts Tagged With: Friends to Lovers

Book Review: Taking the Long Way by Max MacGowan

Reviewed by JustJen

28542635Title: Taking the Long Way
Author: Max MacGowan
Heroes: Rye Bellamy/Marcus Townsend
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 234 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 12, 2016
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Male escort Rye Bellamy is looking for a way out. Any way out. He’s getting older, and clients are getting more dangerous. If he doesn’t find something better, he knows he won’t survive.

He sees his chance in Marcus Townsend, a functionally blind Army veteran. Marcus, who refuses to accept his condition as immutable, has a shot at seeing a specialist who might be able to help him—but that doctor’s based on the other side of the country.

When Rye and Marcus meet, they realize they can help each other. Marcus can’t drive, but Rye can. Marcus knows what Rye is, but he likes him anyway. In fact, he more than likes him. Driving cross-country with a near stranger is a daunting task, but Rye’s biggest risk is falling for the gentle, stubborn-hearted soldier—and it might already be too late to stop that.

They plan to part ways when they reach their destination, but plans change as the affection between them grows. Now neither wants their journey to end, but continuing means finding a way to bridge the distance between who they were and who they’d like to become.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Debut Authors, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Lone Rancher by Andrew Grey

Reviewed by Morgan 

28476691Title: The Lone Rancher
Author: Andrew Grey
Heroes: Aubrey Klein/Garrett Lamston
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 192 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 15, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  He’ll do anything to save the ranch, including baring it all.

Aubrey Klein is in real trouble—he needs some fast money to save the family ranch. His solution? A weekend job as a stripper at a club in Dallas. For two shows each Saturday, he is the star as The Lone Rancher.

It leads to at least one unexpected revelation: after a show, Garrett Lamston, an old friend from school, approaches the still-masked Aubrey to see about some extra fun… and Aubrey had no idea Garrett was gay. As the two men dodge their mothers’ attempts to set them up with girls, their friendship deepens, and one thing leads to another.

Aubrey know his life stretching between the ranch and the club is a house of cards. He just hopes he can keep it standing long enough to save the ranch and launch the life—and the love—he really hopes he can have.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, LGBT, Morgan's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Cherish the Land by Ariel Tachna

Reviewed by Morgan 

28234361Title: Cherish the Land
Author: Ariel Tachna
Narrator: William James
Series: Lang Downs #5
Heroes: Seth Simms/Jason Thompson
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 8 Hours, 35 Minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: November 24, 2015
Available at: Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Seth Simms never wanted to be a cowboy, although to listen to his best friend, Jason Thompson, tell it, he isn’t one. He just happens to have lucked out in coming to live on Lang Downs with his brother ten years ago. He found enough stability to finish high school and go off to university, but he never really believed Lang Downs would be the same haven for him that it had become for so many others. He’s too messed up in the head. No one would accept someone with his issues.

All his life, Jason has had one goal: to come home to Lang Downs as resident veterinarian when they need his skills and jackaroo when they don’t. And it means he gets to spend time with Seth during his occasional visits, even though his dream of going from friends to lovers is hopeless since Seth is straight.

When Seth unexpectedly comes home to stay, Jason takes it as the boon it is. But juggling a relationship with another jackaroo and his friendship with Seth isn’t easy, and that’s before Jason realizes how deep Seth’s issues run and how dangerously Seth chooses to cope with them.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Morgan's Reviews, Published in 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Strong Side by Alison Hendricks

Reviewed by JustJen

28668239Title: Strong Side
Author: Alison Hendricks
Series: Eastshore Tigers #1
Heroes: Jason Hawkins/Derek Griffin
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 264 Pages
Publisher: Alison Hendricks
Release Date: January 20, 2016
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Their chemistry on the field is undeniable. But can they ever be more than friends?

Jason Hawkins is about to throw the biggest Hail Mary pass of his career.

If he can’t turn NFL recruiters’ heads this year, he’ll lose his shot at the one thing he’s ever been good at. But every quarterback needs a man he can count on down-field. For Jason, that man just might be the Tigers’ new receiver, Derek Griffin.

Four years ago, Derek nearly lost everything after being outed by his teammates.

Now he finally has a chance to get it all back as a walk-on for Eastshore College… if he can resist his immediate attraction to the gorgeous and very straight star quarterback.

An instant connection during practice leads to an easy friendship that only grows stronger off the field. Derek is convinced friendship is all it’ll ever be, but a very confusing moment of impulse leaves both of them fumbling for answers about their relationship.

As curiosity gives way to passion and passion gives way to something deeper, Jason and Derek will have to tackle their own personal demons to bring home the win and earn their happy ending.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Debut Authors, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Blue Moon Rising by Bailey Bradford

Reviewed by Morgan 

28423565Title: Blue Moon Rising
Author: Bailey Bradford
Series: Coyote’s Call #3
Heroes: Roman Jonas/Abraham Evans
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 168 Pages
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Release Date: February 9, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Love can conquer all, if he’ll only believe…

Roman Jonas has spent years recovering from a violent assault when he was just a teenager. He’s worked hard, and finally found his place in the world. Now, if he could only get his coyote to agree. As a medicine man for his pack, he isn’t able to shift. It’s frustrating to say the least, but not as frustrating—or confusing—as the feelings he has for former Ranger Abraham Evans.

Abraham lost the ability to do his job effectively when he was shot. His right arm and hand are close to useless, and he’s had a hell of a time not dying over the past month. Sometimes it seemed like it’d be so much easier to just give up, but a certain hazel-eyed man had captured his heart, and it wouldn’t stop beating.

When Abraham is released from the hospital, he moves to Del Rey to be closer to Roman, and because he has no one else in his life who truly cares about him.

Slowly, he and Roman begin a tentative friendship that turns into something more enduring than they’d ever dreamed of, but enemies from the past threaten everything and everyone Roman and Abraham love.

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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Morgan's Reviews, Published in 2016, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dual Book Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Charlie Cochet

Reviewed by Susan65 and JustJen

22714914Title: Catch a Tiger by the Tail
Author: Charlie Cochet
Series: THIRDS #6
Heroes: Calvin Summers/Ethan Hobbes
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 216 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 5, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Calvin Summers and Ethan Hobbs have been best friends since childhood, but somewhere along the line, their friendship evolved into something more. With the Therian Youth Center bombing, Calvin realizes just how short life can be and no longer keeps his feelings for his best friend a secret. Unfortunately, change is difficult for Ethan; most days he does well to deal with his Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety. Calvin’s confession adds a new struggle for Ethan, one he fears might cost him the friendship that’s been his whole world for as long as he can remember.

As partners and Defense Agents at the THIRDS, being on Destructive Delta is tough at the best of times, but between call-outs and life-threatening situations, Calvin and Ethan not only face traversing the challenges of their job, but also working toward a future as more than friends.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2016, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Legally Wed by Cecil Wilde

Reviewed by Susan65

28516063Title: Legally Wed
Author: Cecil Wilde
Heroes: Blake/Xander
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 107 Pages
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Release Date: January 10, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: When your best friend is gay and you are straight life can present some interesting challenges…especially if chance and circumstances conspire and you find yourself married…To each other! Legally Wed from romance author Cecil Wilde is a perfect mix of friendship, love, and humor; with a few twists and turns to keep you turning the pages of this contemporary GLBT romance.

Blake’s a thirty-something lawyer climbing the career ladder to his dream job of DA. He’s sacrificed any kind of life away from work to get to where he’s going, and he’s determined to get there.

Xander’s a contract lawyer stuck in a dead-end job and a string of unfulfilling relationships with men he can’t love. He’s been in love with his best friend almost since they first met in law school, but he’d never say anything, because he knows Blake can’t love him back.

During a desperately needed vacation for both of them, they wake up after a night on the town in Las Vegas–married. To each other. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they soon realize that the story coming out would tank Blake’s career and ruin Xander’s life, so they can’t afford to get a divorce.

Their only choice is to fake it. For Blake, that means pretending he’s not as straight as he’s always said he is, and for Xander, it means the torture of getting what he’s always wanted in the worst possible way. Add to that the trials of married life, and what starts out as an adventure quickly turns sour as life happens, confessions are made, and tragedy strikes.

With his tentatively happy marriage hanging in the balance, Blake must engage in some serious soul-searching to find out that what he’s always wanted had been right in front of him all along. But will it be too late to convince Xander of his intentions, after years of not being able to see him for what he was?

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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2016, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Painful Lessons by S.C. Wynne

Reviewed by Morgan 

28096522Title: Painful Lessons
Author: S.C. Wynne
Heroes: Brett Bridgeworth/Sam Hawthorne
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 200 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 1, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  As a freshman both in love and in college, sometimes there are painful lessons to be learned.

Excited to begin his first year of college, Brett Bridgeworth has just one problem: he sucks at math. Luckily there’s the sensual and mysterious math tutor, Jeremy Price, to help him out. It isn’t long before Jeremy is tutoring Brett in more than just pie charts, but it isn’t until they split up that Brett discovers Jeremy’s twisted, obsessive side.

Sam Hawthorne is two years ahead of Brett, and they share a strong mutual attraction. When Brett breaks it off with Jeremy and gets involved with Sam, disturbing things start happening. It soon becomes obvious that Jeremy isn’t willing to let Brett go without a fight.
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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Morgan's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audio Review: Second Hand by Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton

Reviewed by Morgan

28685931Title: Second Hand
Authors: Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton
Narrator: Iggy Toma
Series: Tucker Springs #2
Heroes: Paul Hannon/El Rozal
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 5 Hours, 11 Minutes
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: January 22, 2016
Available at: Amazon and Audible
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Paul Hannon moved to Tucker Springs for his girlfriend, but she’s left him with a house he can’t afford and a pantry full of useless gadgets. All Paul wants is to get back to normal, even if he’s not sure what that is anymore. When he wanders into Tucker Pawn for a gift to win her back, he meets El Rozal, pawn shop owner and all-around cynic.

El Rozal doesn’t do relationships, especially not with clueless straight boys still pining for their ex. El may make his living dealing in castoffs, but that doesn’t apply to men. Still, when Paul starts clearing out his old life, pawning kitchen equipment he never wanted in the first place, El is drawn to Paul in spite of himself.

Paul and El have nothing in common except a past full of disappointments. There’s no reason to believe the two of them could fit, but in El’s line of work, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. When it comes to love, El and Paul may learn that secondhand doesn’t mean second best.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Audio Review, LGBT, Morgan's Reviews, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: An Affair in Autumn by Jennifer Haymore

Reviewed by Heather C

28453749Title: An Affair in Autumn
Author: Jennifer Haymore
Series: A Year Without a Duke #4
Hero/Heroine: Markus Hawkins/Caroline Addison
Genre: MF Historical Romance
Length: 100 pages
Release Date: February 1, 2016
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: A Year Without a Duke

The duke has died. Long live the duke! The only problem is no one knows who the new Duke of Beckworth is. All of England wonders, but no one more so than the people who depend upon Beckworth for their livelihood. In 1816, a year so cold that the word “summer” is a cruel joke, that livelihood is even more uncertain. However, they are all about to find out, with the duke away, there is nothing more warming than scandal and love…

An Affair in Autumn, Book 4

On a mission to locate the missing Duke of Beckworth, Lord Markus Hawkins boards a ship bound for America, where he finds himself trapped in close quarters with his childhood friend-turned-enemy, Caroline Addison.

Caro is headstrong, frustrating, selfish, wickedly intelligent, and so damn beautiful Mark can’t see straight when she’s near. Torn between wanting to kiss her senseless and wanting to strangle her, Mark has no idea how he’s going to survive the torture of the long weeks ahead.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, M/F, Published in 2016 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment