Review : Status Update (#gaymers, #1) by Annabeth Albert

Title: Status Update (#gaymers, #1) 
Series:  #gaymers Series
Author: Annabeth Albert 
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Release Date: December 7th 2015
Read : April, 24th, 2016
Rate : 4 Stars

"Because you like being a couple with Adrian. Even a pretend one. Even with the awkward jokes and all the eyes on you..."

Being closeted gay-virgin-professor at a conservative Christian university was not easy for Noah. For years he build a wall around him that put him away from his family and make him live a lonely life.

Works become his hiding place.

Until he meet Adrian. Noah then learned that he want something more that he'd forbid himself for years....

Being abandon by his date on the campground alone with no wallet on his supposed to be "a romantic trip" to Denver for his sister wedding was not what Adrian expected will happen in his life. Especially when his sister will married his ex!

So, coming home with a date was something crucial for Adrian, at least to safe his dignity.

But then Trent leave him with nothing after they have huge fight.

Then came Noah, like a good Samaritan offering his help to stay with him for a night at his RV. With nothing left on him except cloth his wearing and Pixels, his tiny dog and last dignity he has, Adrien must accept Noah offers and stayed with him while hoping that Trent will comeback tomorrow.

But Trent never showed again. So Adrian being stranded in the middle of campgrounds in the cold winter with a stranger.

Noah then offering to take Adrian to Denver, and then....the most romantic journey begin...

It's a bit awkward at the first time, but it not take to long for both of then fall into 'a comfort daily routine'. Noah working, Andrian cooking, driving, walk the dogs. Everything fall so perfect in just days count. Both Noah and Adrian can not denied the growing attractions between them.

Adrian want to be every "first" on Noah life. First gay kiss, first make out, first humping, first dance, first make love. He wants to show Noah what he'd been missed all these years. He wants Noah to feel everything and Adrian wants him to be all Noah's first time.

But then Noah did what he think it's good for both of them, and leave Adrian heart broke into pieces....

Will there's a chance for them to together again?

***

I've read this book twice before I finally can write the review. And both read give me exactly same feeling. I love every-single-things that happen in this book!

Both Noah and Adrian have adorable characters.

I love how the author put everything together. For the story that only happen in days count, I didn't feel it too rush. On the contrary, I can feel the slow burn when they growing the feeling.

And it make everything in this story feels so perfect.

“Dance with me.” Adrian started swaying. 

“Adrian?” Noah asked against his neck. “What are we doing here?” 

“We’re making memories,”Adrian said hoarsely. “Let’s make some good ones. I’m going to think of you whenever I hear this song from now on. And I’m going to remember driving in the snow and Thanksgiving picnics and this. Dancing...”

HIGLY RECOMMENDED!

ARC is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of a fair and honest review.

Review : Imperfect Harmony by Jay Northcote

Title: Imperfect Harmony
Author: Jay Northcote
Publisher: Jaybird Press (self published)
Genre: Contemporary gay romance
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh
Release Date: Friday 15th of April 2016
Series info: This book is a standalone
Rate : 4 Stars

Blurb

Imperfect harmony can still be beautiful…

John Fletcher, a former musician, is stuck in limbo after losing his long-term partner two years ago. He’s shut himself off from everything that reminds him of what he’s lost. When his neighbour persuades him to join the local community choir, John rediscovers his love of music and finds a reason to start living again.

Rhys Callington, the talented and charismatic choir leader, captures John’s attention from the first moment they meet. He appears to be the polar opposite of John: young, vibrant, and full of life. But Rhys has darkness in his own past that is holding him back from following his dreams.

Despite the nineteen-year age gap, the two men grow close and a fragile relationship blossoms. Ghosts of the past and insecurities about the future threaten their newfound happiness. If they’re going to harmonise in life and love as they do in their music, they’ll need to start following the same score.

Excerpt

          Luckily there were still some parking spaces outside the church hall where Maggie’s choir met. John made sure they arrived a little early so Maggie wouldn’t have to walk too far. She was managing well on one crutch, but she still tired easily. After he parked, he got out and hurried around to help her out of the passenger door.

          “Thanks, love,” she said, patting him on the arm. “I can manage now.”

         A vicious gust of wind whipped a strand of hair into her face. It was dark, still sleeting, and probably slippery underfoot. There was no way John was going to leave until she was safely indoors. “I’ll just see you inside. Let me take your bag.”

          Maggie let him have it without argument, and he popped it over his arm. He hovered close to Maggie as she made her way slowly to the double doors. He held one open for her and was hit by a blast of warm air. Then he accompanied her inside as she crutched along the corridor towards an open door. Yellow light flooded out, and the sound of a tenor voice singing “I Can See Clearly Now” raised the hairs on the back of John’s neck with its pure, clear beauty.

          “I thought you said the emphasis was on fun rather than perfection?” he said quietly. “He’s got quite a voice.”

          “That’ll be Rhys, our choir leader,” Maggie said with a smile. “Come and meet him, even if you’re not staying.”

          Maggie paused when she reached the doorway and put a finger to her lips. They listened and waited for Rhys to finish singing. John peered over Maggie’s shoulder, hoping for a glimpse of the man the voice belonged to. Rhys, John presumed, was alone in the room. With his back to the door, he stood at a table pushed to the edge of the room, shuffling through some papers as he sang. All John could see of him was that he was small and slight, and quite young, based on the cut of his clothes. A hood covered his hair.

          When he finished, Maggie started clapping.
          Rhys wheeled around. “Oh my God! You made me jump.” He pushed his hood down and his face lit up as he beamed. “Maggie. How are you?”

          John’s eyes widened as he took in Rhys’s front view as he approached Maggie and gave her a careful hug. His hair, which was shaved at the back and sides, was long on top and dyed peacock blue. His eyebrow was pierced, his arms were covered with tattoos, and the front of his T-shirt was emblazoned with a glittery equals sign in rainbow colours. All in all, he was at least twenty years younger than John had expected and completely unlike how John would have imagined a choir leader to look. In this dingy church hall in their small market town, Rhys looked like a bird of paradise that had accidentally ended up in a cage full of sparrows.

Review

This is story about love, grieving and the second chance...

"Death sucked, losing people sucked. It was as simple as that."

Only those who had lost their love one will know what grieving feels like...

John Fletcher, 42.

Losing his partner on terrible car accident two years ago, had put John life feels like hell. David was his life and losing him took everything away from him, including his passion in music.

"He did miss making music, but he missed so much more than that. Music represented the joy he’d lost when David died."

Then there's Rhys....a new choir leader local community choir.

He was everything John wasn’t—young, confident, vibrant, and full of life, and John couldn’t look away...

Rhys has brought back the feel that had gone away along with David...
His passion in music...

Rhys pulled him in like a magnet, and John didn’t have the energy to resist his growing affection.

Rhys Callington, 23.

Young, confident, vibrant, and full of life, that's what people see in Rhys from outside, but no one know what sadness hide behind all those cheerfulness he'd put as a mask. Rhys then seeking for some peacefulness in the elderly smile.

Then there's John....

"It wasn’t unusual for people to be moved to tears by music—such was the power of harmony singing. John had looked utterly bleak during the gospel song they’d sung. Choked by emotion, pain had been etched into his features, raw and open. The sight of it had resonated with Rhys, triggering an echo of his own familiar grief."

And Rhys knew what it felt like to grieve...

Two broken hearts.
Two people who had lost their love ones.
Meet by fate through music....

Will there's be a second chance for these two found their happiness after their loss, guilt,  and grief?

Could Rhys make John "see" their future together over the age gap issue?

Will they could make beautiful harmony from their imperfections?

Find the answers in Jay Northcote newest book, Imperfect Harmony.

The imperfect harmony still can be beautiful....
Indeed.

Goodreads

Buy Links 

Amazon US
Amazon UK

Global Amazon Link
 

Author Bio:

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.
She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

www.jaynorthcote.com
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Review : Winter Oranges by Marie Sexton

Title : Winter Oranges
Author : Marie Sexton
Genre : Gay Romance
Rate : 5 Stars
Read in April 2016

I’ll cherish every moment you choose to spend with me...

I’ll find a way...

Anything for you...

Being trapped in a snow ball for a hundred fifty years make Ben's life so boring. And like a ghost, no one can hear or see him, until Jason....

Former children prodigy in Hollywood now turn to class B movie stars, Jason Walker, feels tired and decided to buy an old house and planning to "hide" there for some privacy from paparazzi.

On the first night there he saw someone had watching him from the guesthouse above the garage and start to panic because he think there's someone had found him.

But when the sheriff found that no one is up there, Jason start to realized that he probably dealing with a ghost.

But when Jason found out that his ghost actually not a ghost, Jason start the unique "friendship" with Ben.

From this moment the story begin to interesting!

I really ENJOYING every minutes I spent when I'm reading this book!

I laugh with Ben. I cried with Jason. And I'm in love with both Jason & Ben and their story.

This is definitely one of the BEST BOOK I've read this year.
And I REGRETTED EACH DAY WHY I DIDN'T READ THIS BOOK SOONER!

This book overwhelmed me in a way I can not explained.

RECOMMENDED!!!


ARC is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of a fair and honest review.

Review : Spencer Cohen Book One

Title : Spencer Cohen Book One
Author : N.R. Walker
Genre : Gay Romance
Rate : 5 Stars
Read in March, 2016

Before I write my review, there's something I must 'confess'....

Actually, I'm not into a guy with beard at all. So, knowing that one of the MC has it, it was a huge challenge for me to start this book!

But hey! It's N.R. Walker ya know!

How I can avoid reading her book ffs!

Yeah, I admit I'm a bit late in joining the 'party', and trust me, I REGRETTED EVERY SECOND OF IT!

So, here's - FINALLY - my review....

And then there was you...

I've been in 'dilemma' about N.R. Walker newest series since day one.

In one part I feel so excited about this book, but in other part... Yeah, back to the reason I told earlier (which is so silly I guess).

So, I keep pending to start this book (another stupid thing I done. Yeah!).

Until one day, out of the blue, I open my Kindle and start read the book just to find that this story hooked me from the very first page!

I know, the story looks 'simple' but guys, nothing is 'that' simple if it comes from N.R. Walker, right?

The story start with simple meet between Andrew who hire Spencer to be his 'pretend boyfriend' to get his lover back.

Things start bit awkward at first, since it not Andrew idea to hire Spencer but it his sister and her new friend which is turn out to be one of Spencer best friend, Lola.

Spencer know since the very first time that his newest client feels bit different and affect him in a way he never felt before.

Fighting his own 'rule', Spencer lowered his guard and start to care for Andrew more deeper.

But when things happen as they'd planned, will Spencer let Andrew go and back to his ex? 

***

Have you ever feel the bookgasm?

This book give me 'I see the stars orgsm' even in fact, there's no sex scenes at all in this book!

I know Spencer came with his own baggage while his job is 'trying to help' some people with their love problems.

There's so many time I tried to hold back the tears when I read the book, but then....only by a simple words....

My tears start to flow, and I cried like an idiot at the end of the book!

N.R. Walker succeed opening my eyes and make me falling deeply in love with this guy with beard!

And suddenly, I saw Spencer Cohen as the most handsomest guy with beard in the world!

I love on how the author make everything start very smooth and slowly. The growing emotions between both MC were the part I love the most, all simple things that happen between them feels so natural and right on the place.

And at the end...

I'm falling deeply in love with SpenDrew. Period.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!