ARC REVIEW : First Light (Heartsville #2) by Christina Lee & Felice Stevens

Title : First Light
Author(s) : Christina Lee & Felice Stevens
Series : Heartsville book #2
Genre(s) : contemporary gay romance
Publication Date : November 26th 2018
Rating : 5/5 Stars

Buy Link : Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon UK | Amazon Universal Link 

Two years after the death of his wife, Aubrey Hendricks is still weighed down by grief. He can’t focus on anything beyond working at the family farm, First Light. At the urging of a friend, he takes a step toward resuming a normal life and reopens the bakery his wife once ran. He places a Help Wanted ad in the local paper, and to his surprise, an applicant shows up the next day.

When Oliver Hansen gets a second chance at life, he grasps it with both hands. Leaving his stressful life in New York, he plans to enjoy the simpler things. Driving to Heartsville in the Pocono Mountains to thank his heart donor’s widower is a top priority. But the brusque man with the melancholy eyes strikes a chord in Oliver. So when Aubrey mistakenly believes he’s there to apply for the bakery job…Oliver takes him up on the offer.

As Oliver busies himself with the grand reopening, he and Aubrey establish a tentative friendship, which soon shifts to blazing attraction. Oliver falls hard for him, yet he can’t help but wonder if Aubrey’s feelings are an attempt to maintain a connection to the wife he’s still mourning. And Aubrey is unsure if Oliver will tire of the slow pace in Heartsville and go running back to the city he loves. The two must successfully navigate the stormy waters of grief, doubt, and their very different lifestyles, or they risk losing both their hearts—again.

*Please note: This is in the same world as our MMM, LAST CALL, except FIRST LIGHT is MM and a complete standalone.

“It’s never been more right than it is now. With you. Now you’re here, and it’s like you’ve breathed life back into my body.” – Aubrey

 ☕☕☕

Sometimes the road of life takes an unexpected turn and you have no choice but to follow it to end up in a place you are supposed to be… - Unknown.

And that’s what actually happen to Oliver. He come to Heartsville with one purpose, to meet with a person who had given him a second chance but mistakenly took as the new baker by First Light owner, Aubrey.

There’s something in Aubrey's sad eyes that intrigued Oliver and suddenly a new mission grow in Oliver mind, he want to help the man and brought the sunshine back into Aubrey’s life…

First Light is not only a story about a farmer and a lawyers turned a baker, but also a beautiful heart warming journey of love between a heart transplant recipient and the donor's widower. Fate then brought the two stranger from different world together and falling in love…

The writing is beautiful with good plot and slow burn pace, the main characters are very lovable and leave very deep impression in me. I love seeing the change from grouchy and lonely Aubrey to playful Aubrey when he's with Oliver and I also love how Oliver show the man how to live again. Love the dynamic and chemistry between these two and I really enjoying every moments when they slowly growing their feeling and how they build the relationship with strong connection from pure friendship to lovers. Everything feels so natural, believable and perfect!

Their journey to the happiness was not easy, they still must face some obstacles from self doubt, their own insecurities that haunt both Oliver and Aubrey life and also the secret Oliver brought with him, but again I love how they solve their conflicts through communication and finally have courage to confess what they really want. Both Oliver and Aubrey deserve to have their own happiness after what they been through and grab the second chance given to them and cherish the life together. Who knows that fate has put them in the circle of live through grief and another love?

First Light is a beautiful, heart warming story that will warmed your winter this year.

Last but not least, I do really enjoy the glimpse of Quinn, Gray and Emery from Last Call , it made me miss the guys A LOT…

Highly recommended!

ARC REVIEW : Loving a Warrior by Melanie Hansen

Title : Loving a Warrior
Author : Melanie Hansen
Genre(s) : contemporary gay romance
Publication Date : November 26th 2018
Rating : 3.5/5 Stars

BUD/S: six months of the most intense training there is. It’s survival of the toughest, and Matt Knytych is determined to come out the other side a navy SEAL.

Distraction is life or death. And just the sight of former marine Shane Hovland is enough to shake Matt’s concentration.

Shane came to BUD/S training ready to prove himself—again. Semper Fi is forever, but he needs a new start. Not this dangerous heat with a man he barely knows.

Everything they’ve ever wanted is riding on a thin, punishing line. And they’ll have to fight for more than just each other if they want to make it through intact.

After all, the only easy day was yesterday.

Matt turned to bury his face against Shane’s shoulder. “Why are you so perfect for me?” he said raggedly. “Why?” He clutched on to him, twisting his fists into Shane’s damp shirt. “Because you are. Perfect.”

This is the story about Soup and Clown, two strangers who become brothers in arms during the hell weeks on special training…

I thought that it would be some battles scenes in this book, but it seems I’m totally wrong!!

The story mostly only about the BUD/S training and how Matt and Shane spent their hell weeks together during the training before they become SEAL and a glimpse of the life outside the base camp. And I must admit it’s kinda disappointed me a bit and more less affected my mood because I was hoping to find some battle scenes and love story in the middle of secret missions and conflicts that will squeeze my heart while reading it.

The interactions between the MCs were good and so tense right from the beginning. Their growing feeling, the connections, the push and pull all written in slow and heartwarming way. How they support and encourage each others during the rough Hell-weeks on DUI/S training, the UST and strong attraction between the two, the denial, the conflicts and their dynamic and growing relationship all feels so natural and convincing enough. Good plot combine with the slow pace, good writing and loveable characters had made this story become enjoyable enough to follow.

Thanks to all the documentaries and some movies I’ve watched about how hard and brutal the SEAL Team training is, I can picturing all the DUI/S training weeks with no problems at all.

ARC REVIEW : Stuck With You by Jay Northcote

Title : Stuck With You
Author : Jay Northcote
Genre (s) : contemporary gay romance, holidays romance, Christmas
Publication Date : November 23rd 2018
Rating : 4/5 Stars

Buy Links : Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Universal

Two clashing colleagues stuck together for Christmas—will opposites eventually attract?

Patrick has been single since he broke up with his cheating ex almost a year ago. With Christmas looming, he’s resigned to spending it alone with only memories of happier times for company. When a business trip with a co-worker leaves them stranded in the Lake District due to heavy snow, it seems Patrick will have company for Christmas after all. It’s a shame his companion is Kyle, who’s undeniably attractive, but annoying as hell.

Aware of Patrick’s reluctant admiration, Kyle basks in the attention even though Patrick isn’t the type of man he normally goes for. Averse to relationships after being hurt in the past, Kyle enjoys the occasional hook up, but has given up on seeking anything more meaningful.

Stuck together, their antagonism escalates along with a heavy dose of sexual tension until it finally ignites. What starts as a Christmas fling soon feels like something special; but will their tentative connection melt away as the snow thaws? If they’re going to take a chance on finding happiness together, they’ll have to put their differences aside and learn to trust one another.

Contains: enemies-to-lovers, snowball fights, bickering, spanking, a cute dog, a wise old lady, mistletoe, and a happy ending (of course).

This is my first Christmassy theme book I read this year.

I’m so glad that this book become my very first! It’s definitely become a great opening to many holidays theme book following the season.

The story successfully caught me right from the start. The dynamic between the two main characters are mixtures of annoying and sweet at the same time.
Both Patrick and Kyle are way to stubborn to confess that what they feels during their moment together is more than just a Christmas fling, thanks God there’s Mrs. Wilcox who make them finally open their eyes and have the courage to admit what they feels before it’s too late.

Stuck With You is a very cute and sweet enemies-to-lovers story with a nice old lady with a dog, two lovable main characters with their own baggage from the past, enemies from workplace, trapped together because a blizzard two days before Christmas Eve then falling in love…

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as Audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

www.jaynorthcote.com

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REVIEW : Father of The Groom (Love and Care #1) by Silvia Violet

Title : Father of The Groom
Author : Silvia Violet
Series : Love and Care book 1
Genre(s) : contemporary gay romance
Rating : 3/5 Stars

Avery has a good life. He loves his job as a makeup artist, and he’s ecstatic about being Twink of Honor in his best friend’s wedding. He’s more than capable of supporting himself, but that doesn’t stop him from longing for an older man who’ll take care of him.

Graham Hillingdon has finally repaired his relationship with his son, and he’s thrilled to be part of his son’s wedding day, though he wishes he had a plus one to bring with him. Sadly, he has yet to find a man who appreciates both his dominant and nurturing sides; maybe even someone to call him Daddy.

When Avery and Graham meet at the wedding, attraction sizzles between them, and they end up spending an insanely hot night together. Graham makes sure Avery knows exactly who’s in charge in bed, but afterwards, he’s exquisitely gentle. This is just what Avery needs, and Graham is certain he’s finally found a man who desires what he has to give. Neither of them wants to part the next day, but between their age difference and their reluctance to reveal their relationship to Graham’s son, they wonder if they have any chance for a future together. But as perfect as they are for each other, shouldn’t it be worth the risk?

It’s a short, fun, cheesy and a bit meh reading, BUT surprisingly I ridiculously like it…
Well, maybe I’m in my very super duper cheesy mood when I read it.

The story actually a bit fun at some part. I do enjoying the daddy/boy games Graham and Avery play during their secretly short encounter because Avery is actually the bride-to-be-twinky-gay-best-friend and Graham is actually the groom’s father and that put Avery on the same age as Carter, Graham’s son. Graham just come out as gay few years ago and have not good relationship with his ex wife after the divorce. But Carter insisted his father to attend his wedding and Graham couldn’t say no to his beloved son. And be at the wedding means he must faced the awkward situation with his ex wife and her bigot friends.

What he didn’t expected is he meet this cute, sexy twink that caught his attention since the first time he saw him. On the other hand, Avery with his daddy kink also can’t denied his attraction to the smokin' hot daddy he meet while checking on the wedding preparation. They start flirting with each other before later they finally know the truth.

I found that the story is kinda cute and the daddy/boy role play kinda hot but way too short and like a short story that being ripped from a full length novel and ended just like that. Later I know that this is actually just an ‘appetizers’ to the real full book that release not long after this. Like I said before that (surprisingly) I kinda enjoying the book at first, but after some ridiculous and childish moment at nearly end the book I decided to deduct the rating…

Do I want to know what will happen next with Graham and Avery in the next book? Well….I still don’t know yet, but maybe I’ll try it someday when I’m in cheesy messy mood again. Who knows right?

REVIEW : Temptation in Neon by Peter Dawes

Title : Temptation in Neon
Author : Peter W. Dawes
Genre(s) : gay romance, paranormals, vampires, polyamory, trans 
Publication Date : July 17th 2018
My Rating(s) : 3/5 Stars

Danny Turner had sex last night. At least, he’s pretty sure that’s what happened. Memory gaps, strange wounds on his neck, and blood-stains on his clothing lead him on a quest to recreate a wild night spent at his favorite club, Nocturne. When his journey brings him to a vampire feeding den, he finds out that you only get one chance to walk away – and his curiosity blew it. The vampire who marked him is a two-hundred-year-old man named Liam Quinn. Together with his immortal child, Mari, Liam struggles to determine what to make of the headstrong human. After all, you only survive for two-centuries if you have rules. Something about Danny tempts Liam to bend more than a few, though, while Mari determines to break some entirely. Whatever happens next, Danny’s life as he knew it is over. He just needs to stay alive long enough to show Liam that he’s worth the trouble.

Set in the backdrop of 1980s Philadelphia, Temptation in Neon brings the dark, Gothic subculture of the late 80s into the queer struggle of the time. In this setting, Danny Turner comes to recognize that the very shackles which bind him to Liam and Mari also have the power to set him free.

M/M/F with polyamory, trans, and gay representation, steamy scenes, and an HEA.

The blurb really tempting me and it’s been so long since the last time I read gay-vampire-romance. So, when I accidentally stumbled into this book and read the blurb, I said to myself, “Why not?”

The story a bit blurred and confusing at the beginning because we all were ‘forced’ to following Danny’s jumbled mind about what had happen to him though his POV.

Waking up disoriented about what had happen last night or a day before, Danny start the day in huge confused about what had happen to him before. What he only remember is he was out to a gothic club, have a drink, nope….maybe a lot of drinks and then BHAM! – the next thing he know that he woke up on his bed feeling dizzy with memory gap. The only clue he had from what happen is the bite mark on his neck, few drops of blood on his shirt and the almost very vivid dreams he has about meeting a breathtaking beautiful guy named Liam who turned out to be a vampire?

In the middle of his confusion, he decided to following his instinct to find the truth about what had happen to him days before. His search brought him to the club named Nocturne and accidentally meet the girl who also have the same bite mark on her neck. The girl then lead him to this very secret club which actually a vampire feeding den. When he finally meet with the vampire who appeared in his dream, Danny realized that his life might be in danger…

I must admit the story a bit confusing but at the same time its intriguing enough to drew my curiosity. I like Liam and Mari relationship and their strong bond to each other. Mari is a trans, found and ‘saved’ by Liam. Since then Mari become Liam’s ‘child’ and following Liam everywhere. When Danny presence drawn Liam’s full attention and later caused some trouble to Liam’s because it’s broke some of the vampires coven rules had put Liam’s in dilemma, Mari’s patience in opening Liam’s eyes to the fate that lies before his eyes made me love and respect her. How she ‘persuade’ and ‘comfort’ Danny and slowly put Danny into their polyamory relationship is another things that I found interesting.

There’s still a loopholes here and there but overall I think I do enjoying the story enough to leave this nice review.