Welcome to the Love Bytes 2017 Book of the Year Poll!
This year we have some fantastic books up for your votes! Remember, you can vote for as many as you would like, but you only get one visit! So make it count!
Here they are…in month order. Please click on the book titles to see the reviews in case you missed any. The voting poll is at the very bottom of the page and is in no particular order.
The poll will close at Midnight (Amsterdam time zone) next Friday night, January 19th, so don’t delay! Happy voting!
January
Switched by N.R. Walker
Reviewed by Jen B.
TITLE: Switched
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 269 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 25, 2016
BLURB:
Israel Ingham’s life has never been easy. He grew up in a house devoid of love and warmth. Nothing he ever did was good enough. The fact Israel is gay just added to the long list of his father’s disappointments.
Then a letter from Eastport Children’s Hospital changes everything.
A discovery is made, one of gross human error. Twenty-six years ago two baby boys were switched at birth and sent home with the wrong families.
Sam, Israel’s best friend, has been his only source of love and support. With Sam beside him every step of the way, Israel decides to meet his birth mother and her son, the man who lived the life Israel should have.…Read More »
The Beast Without (Arcadia Trust #1) by Christian Baines
Reviewed by Sarina
TITLE: The Beast Without
SERIES: Arcadia Trust #1
AUTHOR: Christian Baines
PUBLISHER: Interactive Publications
LENGTH: 236 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2013
BLURB:
Reylan is everything a Sydney vampire aspires to be: wealthy, handsome and independent, carefully feeding off companions plucked from the gay bars of Oxford Street. When one of those companions is killed by Jorgas, a hot-headed young werewolf prowling his streets, Reylan reluctantly puts his cherished lifestyle of blood and boys on hold to help a mysterious alliance of supernatural beings track down the beast. It can’t be that hard… not when Jorgas keeps coming after him.
But there’s more to this werewolf than a body count and a bad attitude. As their relationship grows deeper and more twisted, Reylan tastes Jorgas’ blood, reawakening desires the vampire had thought long dead. And what evolves between them may be far more dangerous than some rival predator in the dark…Read More »
February
The Real Thing by B.G. Thomas
Reviewed by Danielle
TITLE: The Real Thing
AUTHOR: B.G. Thomas
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 52 Pages
RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2017
BLURB:
2nd Edition
Bryan Mills has fantasized about cowboys all his life. Real cowboys, that is. He even dresses in what his roommate calls “cowboy drag” when he visits his favorite bar, in the hope of attracting the attentions of a genuine cowboy. But all he usually finds are posers and guys his own age.
Then one night, to his surprise, Curtis Hansen buys him a beer, and Bryan has no doubt this is the real thing. Curtis is a rugged, gorgeous man who is every bit a cowboy. He even owns his own ranch. What follows is about the most amazing night of Bryan’s young life.
But can they move beyond a night of incredible sex when Bryan admits to Curtis that the only horse he’s ever ridden was a birthday party pony? And that he’s nothing but a poser himself? Maybe, just maybe, Curtis can find the real cowboy inside Bryan, and they can ride off into the sunset together!…Read More »
Imago by N.R. Walker
TITLE: ImagoSERIES: Imago #1
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 45 000 words
RELEASE DATE: February 21, 2017
BLURB:
Nerdy, introverted genius lepidopterist, Lawson Gale, is an expert on butterflies. He finds himself in a small town in Tasmania on a quest from an old professor to find an elusive species that may or may not even exist.
Local Parks and Wildlife officer, Jack Brighton, is an ordinary guy who loves his life in the sleepy town of Scottsdale. Along with his Border collie dog, Rosemary, his job, and good friends, he has enough to keep from being lonely.
But then he meets Lawson, and he knows he’s met someone special. There’s more to catching butterflies, Jack realises. Sometimes the most elusive creatures wear bowties, and sometimes they can’t be caught at all.
Lawson soon learns there are butterflies he can’t learn about it in books. They exist only in a touch, in a kiss, in a smile. He just has to let go first, so these butterflies can fly.
Imago is the story of finding love, bowties, and butterflies.…Read More »
March
Falcon’s Fox (Rock Series #4) by Sandrine Gasq-Dion
REVIEWED by Danielle
TITLE: Falcon’s Fox
SERIES: The Rock Series #4
AUTHOR: Sandrine Gasq-Dion
PUBLISHER: Skull Blasters Publishing
LENGTH:
RELEASE DATE: March 15 ,2017
BLURB:
A part of this books royalties will go to Tihan Network. This book is part of a series, preceded by Harley’s Achilles. It can be read as a standalone. It contains homosexual relations and mature content.
Heavy metal rocker Ransom Fox has everything he’s always wanted: fame, money, groupies and a family who has his back. There’s just one thing missing — someone to love. Since he was a young teen, Ransom has had eyes for only one man, a movie star he knows he’ll never meet. Dying dream, meet trite cliche: Never say never.
Now that Ransom and his band have hit it big, they’re rubbing elbows with celebrities all the time — including a ce…rtain handsome Italian actor. A trip to California launches Ransom directly into Sal Falco’s orbit. Unable to resist the gravitational pull, the men find themselves in each other’s arms, beginning a clandestine relationship. As an actor who makes his living as every woman’s dream, Sal has a custom-made closet to stay in. Ransom knows his love life will need to remain secret, one he’ll happily keep for the man who is even better than his best fantasies.
Sal Falco has been hiding his sexuality for years, but a spine-tingling run-in with sexy Ransom Fox has him thinking that keeping secrets is a lot of work with no payoff. When Sal offers to put Ransom up during his trip to California, even a mansion isn’t big enough to keep him from the sexy rocker. Things heat up in a hurry; hell, the Earth moves. How do you argue with a sign like that? Sal finally gets a taste of his heavy metal heartthrob — and happiness….Read More »
Bonfires by Amy Lane
Reviewed by Vicki & Amber
TITLE: Bonfires
AUTHOR: Amy Lane
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 280 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 24th, 2017
BLURB:
Ten years ago Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron George lost his wife and moved to Colton, hoping growing up in a small town would be better for his children. He’s gotten to know his community, including Mr. Larkin, the bouncy, funny science teacher. But when Larx is dragged unwillingly into administration, he stops coaching the track team and starts running alone. Aaron—who thought life began and ended with his kids—is distracted by a glistening chest and a principal running on a dangerous road.
Larx has been living for his kids too—and for his students at Colton High. He’s not ready to be charmed by Aaron, but when they start running together, he comes to appreciate the deputy’s steadiness, humor, and complete understanding of Larx’s priorities. Children first, job second, his own interests a sad last.
It only takes one kiss for two men approaching fifty to start acting like teenagers in love, even amid all the responsibilities they shoulder. Then an act of violence puts their burgeoning relationship on hold. The adult responsibilities they’ve embraced are now instrumental in keeping their town from exploding. When things come to a head, they realize their newly forged family might be what keeps the world from spinning out of control….Read More »
April
Darkest Hour Before Dawn (THIRDS, BOOK 9) By Charlie Cochet
Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Darkest Hour Before Dawn
SERIES: THIRDS #9
AUTHOR: Charlie Cochet
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 224 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2017
BLURB:
Sequel to Thick & Thin
THIRDS: Book Nine
THIRDS Team Leader Sebastian Hobbs and Chief Medical Examiner Hudson Colbourn are as much in love now as they were nearly seven years ago when a tragic event on the job destroyed their relationship. The two drift together only to be pulled apart time and time again. When Hudson draws the interest of dangerous enemies, both within and outside the organization, Seb wants nothing more than to protect the man who still means everything to him.
As life-and-death events, an uncertain future, and startling truths draw Hudson and Seb to each other yet again, they must make a choice: trust their love and take strength from what they share, or lose what matters most… for good this time…Read More »
Enemy Within (The Executive Order #3) by Tal Bauer
Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Enemy Within
SERIES: The Executive Office #3
AUTHOR: Tal Bauer
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 485 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 28th, 2017
BLURB:
The White House, infiltrated.
The president, running for his life.
A traitorous general, intent on burning the world to the ground.
When everything falls apart, who do you trust?
President Jack Spiers fled Washington DC on the heels of a devastating attack on CIA headquarters, masterminded by one of America’s own, former General Porter Madigan. While the world believes Jack was killed in the bombing, he embarks on a wild infiltration mission, smuggling himself into occupied Russia to rescue the love of his life: former Secret Service Agent and First Gentleman Ethan Reichenbach.
Reunited, Jack, Ethan, and deposed Russian president Sergey Puchkov, along with President Elizabeth Wall—the only person left in Washington DC who Jack trusts—must work together. They piece together a desperate plan, hunting Madigan to the ends of the earth and the bitter frigidity of the Arctic, where Madigan’s world-shattering doomsday plan comes together.
Outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and outgunned, Jack, Ethan, Sergey, and the rest of the team struggle to put a stop to Madigan and his army. In the desolate extremes of the Arctic, their resolve, their strength, and even their love is tested, pushed to the absolute limits as choices must be made: choices that pit the fate of the world against the love in their hearts, and the loves of their life.
As the world crumbles around them, Jack and Ethan find themselves waging a war on two fronts—against an enemy they can see, and another, hiding within their ranks.
Who can be trusted when the enemy is within you?...Read More »
May
A Worthy Man (The Men of Halfway House #5) by Jaime Reese
Reviewed by Donna
TITLE: A Worthy Man
SERIES: The Men of Halfway House #5
AUTHOR: Jaime Reese
PUBLISHER: Romandeavor, Inc
LENGTH: 124,000 Words
RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2017
BLURB:
Vannguard Shaw has spent the last ten years serving a life sentence and adjusting to the ache of solitude. He accepts his fate, a sacrifice for the only man he ever loved and the one person who saw beyond his rough edges.
Drayton grew up with a trust fund and pre-planned future, but an unexpected encounter one night forces him to abandon everything and start from scratch. He is now a self-made man and developer of one of the most sought after electric exotic automobiles in the world with a fortune greater than that of his birthright. Yet, he’d surrender it all—again—for the only man who’s still ever-present in his heart.
After a decade and entirely too much distance between them, Vann is suddenly released back into a world that has been nothing but cruel. Drayton never lost hope they would once again reunite and pick up where they left off, but Vann’s stubborn nature and repeated encounters with a heartbreaking world prove to be a challenge.
Vann needs to tap into his fighting spirit’s reservoir of strength and hope life doesn’t punish him for taking a chance. Only then will he realize his own value and feel worthy enough to finally have Drayton’s heart. And their chance at forever….Read More »
Redemption (The Protectors #8) by Sloane Kennedy
REVIEWED by Caroline and Jen B.
TITLE: Redemption
SERIES: The Protectors #8
AUTHOR: Sloane Kennedy
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 362 Pages
RELEASE DATE: May 18, 2017
BLURB:
My job is to save lives. But what if the one that needs saving is the one I was sent to take?
At 33 years old, Phoenix Jones once had a stellar military career ahead of him. But when tragedy struck his family, he walked away from the path he’d chosen to be there for the one who needed him most. Except fate is a bitch and when she once again takes Phoenix’s future in the cruelest of ways, he must find a new path.
When a former army buddy introduces him to Ronan Grisham, the leader of an underground vigilante group, Phoenix knows he’s found a new family and nothing and no one is going to take that from him again. So when Ronan asks him to shadow a young man who participated in a brutal crime against Ronan’s husband, Seth, when he was a child and appears to be targeting him again, Phoenix doesn’t even hesitate for a second.
Even knowing what he must do if the young man proves to have gone back to his old ways.
Because family is everything…
I can’t come back from what I did. I’m not sure I even want to…
An ugly childhood left Levi Deming with little to do but dream of a day when he’d be free of his tormenters so he could carve out a simple life for himself, preferably somewhere far away from the family who never let him forget he was less than human. But one terrible choice at the tender age of 16 changed everything…
Wracked with guilt for the role he played during a home invasion gone horribly wrong, a now 24-year-old Levi is trying to piece together a life where he can maybe do a little bit of good, even knowing it won’t make up for the lives he helped take and it definitely won’t give back the future he stole from the young man whose agonized screams still haunt him night after night. If it were only about him, he’d walk into the nearest police station and happily tell them to lock him up and throw away the key.
But it isn’t just about him anymore…
I expected to find a hardened criminal. What I found was something else entirely…
With Ronan’s orders to terminate young Levi if he so much as even jaywalks, Phoenix expects an easy job with one clear outcome. But when a violent encounter forces Phoenix to interact with Levi, he quickly realizes the case might not be as black and white as he thought. Instead of finding a criminal with no conscience, Phoenix discovers a young man battling impossible odds and near crippling guilt.
When his feelings of disgust and anger begin to fade and turn into something else, the would-be hitman is forced to make a terrible decision between the family he needs and the young man more intent on seeking judgement than redemption….Read More »
June
The Monet Murders (The Art of Murder #2) by Josh Lanyon
Reviewed by Sarina
TITLE: The Monet Murders
SERIES: The Art of Murder #2
AUTHOR: Josh Lanyon
PUBLISHER: JustJoshin Publishing
LENGTH: 311 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 25, 2017
BLURB:
All those late night conversations when Sam had maybe a drink too many or Jason was half falling asleep. All those playful, provocative comments about what they’d do when they finally met up again.
Well, here they were.
The last thing Jason West, an ambitious young FBI Special Agent with the Art Crimes Team, wants–or needs–is his uncertain and unacknowledged romantic relationship with irascible legendary Behavioral Analysis Unit Chief Sam Kennedy.
And it’s starting to feel like Sam is not thrilled with the idea either.
But personal feelings must be put aside when Sam requests Jason’s help to catch a deranged killer targeting wealthy, upscale art collectors. A killer whose calling card is a series of grotesque paintings depicting the murders. Read More »
Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford
REVIEWED by Christie
TITLE: Dim Sum Asylum
AUTHOR: Rhys Ford
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 240 Pages
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2017
BLURB:
Welcome to Dim Sum Asylum: a San Francisco where it’s a ho-hum kind of case when a cop has to chase down an enchanted two-foot-tall shrine god statue with an impressive Fu Manchu mustache that’s running around Chinatown, trolling sex magic and chaos in its wake.
Senior Inspector Roku MacCormick of the Chinatown Arcane Crimes Division faces a pile of challenges far beyond his human-faerie heritage, snarling dragons guarding C-Town’s multiple gates, and exploding noodle factories. After a case goes sideways, Roku is saddled with Trent Leonard, a new partner he can’t trust, to add to the crime syndicate family he doesn’t want and a spell-casting serial killer he desperately needs to find.
While Roku would rather stay home with Bob the Cat and whiskey himself to sleep, he puts on his badge and gun every day, determined to serve and protect the city he loves. When Chinatown’s dark mystical underworld makes his life hell and the case turns deadly, Trent guards Roku’s back and, if Trent can be believed, his heart… even if from what Roku can see, Trent is as dangerous as the monsters and criminals they’re sworn to bring down….Read More »
July
Lost and Found by Lucy Lennox and Sloan Kennedy
Reviewed by Christie and Cinnamon
TITLE: Lost and Found
SERIES: Twist of Fate Book 1
AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox and Sloan Kennedy
PUBLISHER: SKLL Books LLC
LENGTH: 330 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 2, 2017
BLURB:
He promised to never leave me. But when I needed him the most, that was exactly what he did…
From Bestselling Authors Sloane Kennedy & Lucy Lennox comes an exciting new series about how a twist of fate can change everything…
He promised to never leave me. But when I needed him the most, that was exactly what he did…
Wilderness guide Xander Reed has spent fifteen years trying to forget the night he turned to his best friend in his darkest hour, only to find the young man who’d sworn to always have his back was turning his on Xander instead. Two thousand miles and fifteen years of building a new life in the quiet backcountry of the Rocky Mountains should have been enough to put the memory of Bennett Crawford out of his mind forever, but old wounds run deep and when Bennett suddenly reappears in his life as part of a wilderness expedition Xander is guiding, the scars he thought long healed break wide open.
I’d only ever wanted to protect Xander from getting hurt again. I never considered the one he needed protection from was me…
Bennett Crawford was faced with an impossible choice the night his best friend needed him.
He chose wrong.
As the only son of one of the wealthiest families in New England, he should have had the world at his feet, but losing his best friend at the tender age of fourteen changed everything. And even though Bennett’s managed to hide behind a mask of contentment as he takes his place at his father’s side in the family business, inside he’s searching for the piece of himself that’s been missing ever since Xander Reed walked out of his life. Bennett’s only saving grace is his work with a group of inner city kids, and when he’s given the chance to show the troubled teens that there’s a bigger world out there waiting for them if they just have the courage to reach for it, he takes it.
But when he steps off that bus for what was supposed to be a week of fun and adventure, he’s instantly returned to the past when he discovers their expedition guide is none other than the boy he let go so long ago. Only, the soft-hearted, insecure little boy Bennett once knew is gone, and in his place is a brooding, bitter man who isn’t interested in second chances.
People leave. I know that now and nothing Bennett has to say to me will change anything…
All Bennett wants is another chance to show Xander that friendship was only the beginning. But when a stubborn Xander refuses to even hear him out, Bennett realizes he’s going to need to fight dirty.
Because now that he’s found Xander again, he’s not letting him go a second time… Read More »
Depth of Field (Last Chance #1) by Riley Hart
Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Depth of Field
SERIES: Last Chance #1
AUTHOR: Riley Hart
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 230 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 12th, 2017
BLURB:
Shane Wallace has made a decent life for himself in Last Chance. He built his own home on his mom’s property to take care of her, owns an automotive repair shop, and when he wants to get laid, Portland isn’t too far away. Not too shabby for the boy who spent his childhood getting bullied and feeling alone. Shane’s content to leave his past behind him…until one of his childhood tormentors comes back to town.
Maxwell Sullivan never planned to step foot in Last Chance again. Here, he was Maxwell, a teen who suffered in silence while everyone thought he had the perfect life. Now, he’s “Van,” the erotic artist and photographer. He’s only here to help his mom tie up some loose ends after his father’s death and to apologize to Shane. After that, he’s heading back to LA for good.
Shane never thought he’d have anything in common with Maxwell, but there’s a depth to Van that surprises him. Van knows what it feels like to be alone. He sees Shane in ways no one else does. There’s a shared connection neither can deny. Somehow, despite their rocky history, they get each other.
It’s not long before the two are so drawn to each other that they tumble into bed—sometimes with Van’s camera involved. Their chemistry in and out of the bedroom is undeniable. Except nothing is ever black and white. Shane can’t leave his mom and Van’s life is in LA. With two different lives pulling them in opposite directions, their picture-perfect ending might not be in the cards….Read More »
August
The Long and Winding Road (Bear, Otter, and the Kid #4) by T.J. Klune
Reviewed by Chris
TITLE: The Long and Winding Road
SERIES: Bear, Otter, and the Kid #4
AUTHOR: T.J. Klune
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 346 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2017
BLURB:
Family is not always defined by blood. It’s defined by those who make us whole—those who make us who we are.
And here, at the end, Bear and Otter will be tested like they’ve never been before.
There’s a knock at the door from a little girl who has nowhere else to go.
There’s a phone ringing, bringing news they do not expect.
There’s a brother returning home after learning how to stand on his own.
As these moments converge, all of their lives will change forever.
Beginning in Bear, Otter, and the Kid, and continuing in Who We Are and The Art of Breathing, TJ Klune has told a saga of family and brotherhood, of love and sacrifice. In this final chapter, the events of the past pave the long and winding road toward a future no one could have imagined.…Read More »
Facing West (Forever Wilde #1) by Lucy Lennox
![Facing West: A Forever Wilde Novel by [Lennox, Lucy]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51p3ki83kGL._SY346_.jpg)
REVIEWED by Christie
TITLE: Facing West
SERIES: Forever Wilde, Book 1
AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 312 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 22, 2017
BLURB:
Nico:
I left my family and tiny Texas hometown fifteen years ago to escape small-town gossips and to give my mom and sister the chance at a better life. But when a phone call from an attorney back home informs me that my sister passed away, leaving me custody of her newborn baby, I’m shocked out of the steady life I’ve built for myself running a tattoo shop in San Francisco.
The thing is: I don’t do babies. And I don’t do small towns. Or commitment. And I especially don’t do family. My plan is to go back to Hobie just long enough to sign adoption papers, giving my niece the kind of stable, loving family I could never provide.
But the moment I meet my niece in the arms of Weston Wilde, my sister’s best friend and the town’s handsome doctor, my plans begin to change. Because suddenly, I see a different future. One with the very thing I thought I never deserved: a family. If only I can convince West that I’m not the same good-for-nothing kid ready to bolt when things get tough.
Weston:
There’s one thing I know for sure about Nico Salerno: he was a good-for-nothing as a kid and judging by the purple-haired, tattoo’d punk who shows up at his sister’s funeral, he hasn’t changed. There’s no way I’m letting him take custody of my best friend’s baby.
But the more time I spend around him, the more I realize that his rough exterior is just a shell and that beneath all the tattoos is a scared, insecure man searching for a place to belong. And pretty soon I know exactly where he belongs: in my bed and by my side.
The problem is, he abandoned his family once before, how do I know that if we become a family he won’t do it again? Read More »
September
Locked in Silence by Sloane Kennedy
Reviewed by Caroline and Jen
TITLE: Locked In Silence
SERIES: Pelican Bay Book 1
AUTHOR: Sloane Kennedy
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 284 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2017
BLURB:
I’ve spent years hoping someone would finally hear me. It’s easier not to try anymore…
Ten years after leaving his small Minnesota hometown in his rearview mirror for what Nolan Grainger was sure would be the last time, life has decided to throw the talented musician a curveball and send him back to the town he lived in but was never really home.
At twenty-eight, Nolan has traveled the world as a successful concert violinist with some of the best symphonies in the country. But success breeds envy, and when Nolan’s benefactor and lover decides Nolan has flown high enough, he cruelly clips Nolan’s wings. The betrayal and ensuing scandal leaves the violinist’s career in shambles and with barely enough money to start fresh somewhere beyond his vindictive ex’s powerful reach. But just as he’s ready to get his life back on track, Nolan gets the call he’s been dreading.
After a stroke leaves his father a partial invalid, duty-bound Nolan returns to Pelican Bay and a life he’s spent years trying to forget. When he’s forced to use the last of his own money to keep from losing the family home, desperation has him turning to the one man he’d hoped never to see again…
Even if I could speak, there wouldn’t be anyone there to listen…
Pelican Bay’s golden boy, Dallas Kent, had the quintessential perfect life. Smart, gorgeous, and popular, the baseball phenom was well on his way to a life filled with fame and fortune. But more importantly, he had a one-way ticket out of Pelican Bay and far away from the family who used love as currency and whose high expectations were the law of the land. But a stormy night, sharp highway curve and one bad decision changed everything, leaving Dallas with nothing.
Because the accident that took his parents, his future and his crown as the boy who could do no wrong, also stole his voice.
Despised for the horrific wreck that ended the lives of two of Pelican Bay’s most respected residents, Dallas has retreated to a secluded stretch of land where he’s found refuge in a menagerie of unwanted animals that don’t care that he once had the world at his feet or that he’ll never speak again.
But when the quiet, bookish boy he wasn’t allowed to notice in school suddenly reappears ten years later at Dallas’s wildlife rehab center in desperate need of a job, Dallas is thrust back into a world he’s worked hard to escape.
Dallas’s silence was supposed to send Nolan scurrying, but what if Nolan ends up being the one person who finally hears him?
Will two men who’ve been fleeing from the past finally come home to Pelican Bay for good or will the silence drive them apart forever? Read More »
Up for the Challenge by Riley Hart and Devon McCormack
![Up for the Challenge by [Hart, Riley, McCormack, Devon]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51JtmYqYt%2BL.jpg)
Duoreview by Cinnamon & Danielle
TITLE: Up for the Challenge
AUTHOR: Riley Hart and Devon McCormack
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 246 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2017
BLURB:
ETHAN:
I’m not used to anyone having the upper hand over me, and in a single night, Sean Wright rescues me twice. That’s why he intrigues me–why for the first time, I want another man. I’m used to getting what I want, and I don’t plan to let anything stop me. Only…he continues to get the best of me, and it only makes me want him more. When I start to see Sean’s not just good looks, hot sex, and constant competition, I realize I’m in over my head…and I might like it. He makes me laugh, and he understands the pain I feel over my past, a pain we share. Even more than that, somehow, Sean gets me, but I’m not going to lie and pretend that giving my heart doesn’t scare me.
SEAN:
The night I rescued the presumably straight Ethan Harris…twice, I figured that would be the last time I saw him. However, he keeps finding his way back into my life and into my bed. Guess he wasn’t as straight as I thought. Ethan’s full of surprises, though, and being bi is just one of them. As cocky as he can be, he’s also sharp and witty…and even when he’s being his most arrogant self, he’s charming as hell. He likes to win, but so do I. However, as we get to know each other, I realize there’s more to us than the games we play in and out of the bedroom. It’s a game neither of us have played before–one we could both wind up losing. And with our hearts on the line, the real question is, when push comes to shove, are we both up for the challenge? Read More »
October
Jared’s Evolution by Riley Hart
Reviewed by Cinnamon
TITLE: Jared’s Evolution
SERIES: Jared & Kieran Book 1 (Desire Unleashed Collection)
AUTHOR: Riley Hart
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 181 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 13, 2017
BLURB:
He wants to dominate me…to discipline me. He wants me to call him Daddy…
I’ve always taken care of myself—worked hard to become king of the courtroom and excel in the cutthroat business of winning cases. I’m fierce…brutal…confident. I’m a lie. Underneath my armor, I’m drowning, losing myself under the weight of life. At thirty-three years old, I should be able to handle the pressure.
My neighbor Kieran sees past my spotless suits and manufactured control to the real Jared. The one who secretly craves being dominated, to serve, and to give up control—not just in the bedroom, but in every aspect of my personal life.
I can’t want this…but I do… When I’m under Kieran’s command—spanked, rewarded and caged—I’m free. With Kieran’s care and guidance, my mind is unburdened as my body soars to new heights, and Kieran becomes what we both need him to be: Daddy.
It’s a journey of dominance and submission—of rules, schedules, security and discipline. He opens my world, teaches me, changes me…but he doesn’t let me in. It’s temporary, Daddy tells me, and I’d be wise to remember that, so I don’t get hurt. Read More »
Tender with a Twist (Rainbow Cove #2) by Annabeth Albert
Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Tender with a Twist
SERIES: Rainbow Cove #2
AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 264 Pages
RELEASE DATE: October 2nd, 2017
BLURB:
One kinky wood carver. One younger chef looking to try new things. A series of lessons that bring both men more than they bargained for…
Curtis Hunt has made a name for himself as a chainsaw wood carver, winning national competitions and operating a small business in Rainbow Cove, Oregon. As winter whittles away his tourist traffic, his goal is just to survive the season and try to not get lost in grief for his dead lover. It’s been two years, but he’s sure he’ll never be over the love of a lifetime. However, his body has a certain restlessness that he doesn’t quite know how to calm.
Logan Rosner knows a thing or two about restlessness. It’s what drove him to Rainbow Cove to be a chef at a bar and grill run by his friends. And it’s what drives him to a single sizzling encounter with the local legendary lumberjack. Both men get far more than they expected and learn that first impressions aren’t always accurate…
But when Logan proposes a series of sexy lessons, Curtis must decide how much he’s willing to risk. He knows he can’t afford to get attached to Logan’s good cooking, his easy smiles, or his caretaking, but he keeps going back for more, even as deeper emotions become involved. Soon, Curtis must decide whether to risk his heart again or risk losing Logan for good. Read more
November
Take A Chance On Me (First and Forever) by Alexa Land
Reviewed by Caroline
TITLE: Take A Chance On Me
SERIES: Firsts and Forever Book 15
AUTHOR: Alexa Land
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 369 Pages
RELEASE DATE: October 29, 2017
BLURB:
Free-spirited ballet dancer Quinn is sure he made a terrible mistake by agreeing to be Duke’s roommate. The big cop is the most uptight person Quinn’s ever met, and both men begin driving each other crazy from day one.
Before long though, an undeniable spark of attraction ignites between them. But do opposites really attract? Or will their differences prove to be more than either of them can handle?
This gay romance is the fifteenth book in Alexa Land’s best-selling Firsts and Forever Series, but each novel is written to stand alone, so jump in anywhere. Note: contains adult language and graphic sex and is only intended for adults. Read More »
The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish
Reviewed by Chris
TITLE: The Remaking of Corbin Wale
AUTHOR: Roan Parrish
PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing
LENGTH: 226 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 27, 2017
BLURB:
Last month, Alex Barrow’s whole life imploded—partner, home, job, all gone in forty-eight hours. But sometimes when everything falls apart, better things appear almost like magic. Now, he’s back in his Michigan hometown, finally opening the bakery he’s always dreamed of. But the pleasure of opening day is nothing compared to the lonely and beautiful man who bewitches Alex before he even orders.
Corbin Wale is a weirdo. At least, that’s what he’s heard his whole life. He knows he’s often in a fantasy world, but the things he feels are very real. And so is the reason why he can never, ever be with Alex Barrow. Even if Alex is everything he’s always fantasized about. Even if maybe, just maybe, Corbin is Alex’s fantasy too.
When Corbin begins working at the bakery, he and Alex can’t deny their connection any longer. As the holiday season works its magic, Alex yearns for the man who seems out of reach. But to be with Alex, Corbin will have to challenge every truth he’s ever known. If his holiday risk pays off, two men from different worlds will get the love they’ve always longed for. Read More »
December
A Very Marian Christmas (Made Marian #7) Lucy Lennox
Reviewed by Kimberley
TITLE: A Very Marian Christmas
SERIES: Made Marian #7
AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 246 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2017
BLURB:
12 Marian Men-A-Mating… I mean, A-Meeting
11 Blind Dates-A-Blinding
10 Lords-A-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing (okay, maybe that’s Griff)
8 Kids-A-Complaining
7 Changes-A-Clothing
6 Love Junk Gadgets
5 **DRA-AAG QUEENS**
4 Calling Neighbors
3 Nosy Read More »
Deal Maker by Lily Morton
Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Deal Maker
AUTHOR: Lily Morton
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 335 Pages
RELEASE DATE: December 22nd, 2017
BLURB:
Sometimes your mouth makes deals that your heart can’t honour.
Jude is a highly successful model, but a very reluctant one. His life is full of casual hook-ups with pretty men in glamorous locations, but it’s still empty. However, circumstances decreed a long time ago that this was his path, so he’s resolutely stayed on it and accepted his fate with good grace. He made a deal with himself and his hook-ups. Get in, get out and no ties with anyone.
However, an accident at home one night leads to him making a new deal and accepting the offer of help from an unlikely source. It leads to an unexpected summer of falling in love with a larger than life man and his child.
But by the end of the summer his reasons for not staying are still valid. Will he turn away? Can he?
Asa is a talented actor who has spent time away from the scene to look after his son. But now he’s back, and the last thing he needs are complications from the gorgeous man who is staying with him. Scarred from too many betrayals, he has no intention of forming a lasting tie with anyone. However, he can’t resist the beautiful man with secrets, and to his horror he develops feelings.
But a deal’s a deal and they said it was just for the summer. What can Asa do with a man who has forever in his eyes and goodbye on his lips? Read More »
Wow some brilliant books on this poll. What a hard decision.
You can vote for more then one book , you only have one time to vote though 🙂 so choose wisely 🙂
So glad I could choose more than one. I could never decide on just one. Some awesome books here.