Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Chomping on the Bullet
SERIES: A Loving Nip
AUTHOR: Charlie Richards
PUBLISHER: eXstasy Books
LENGTH: 25,000 words
RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2021
BLURB:
Just a little Love Bite: When a man runs to his brother for help, he discovers the best help comes in the form of a creature he never knew existed.
After being kicked out of his parents’ home at the age of fifteen due to being gay, Tony Harsnen always felt grateful that his older brother, Jerome, took him in. That’s what had urged him to work uber hard to make his own way. The last thing he wants to do is run back to his brother when he has a problem. Unfortunately, Tony has to put his pride aside for the needs of a friend.
When Tony helps his best friend, Shellie, escape her abusive ex-husband, he should have known that wouldn’t be the end of it. After the controlling bastard discovers Shellie is pregnant, he comes after her. Tony knows he can’t keep Shellie safe on his own, considering the man’s extensive network of just-as-abusive friends. Tony flees back to his brother’s side.
Tony is surprised to learn Jerome is in a relationship with a guy, but that’s not the biggest shock. His brother is living on a ranch…full of vampires. Not only that, but the second-in-command of the vampires, Kellan Harlon, expresses an interest in him. While Tony’s first instinct is to run, he resists. Shellie needs him, and Kellan and his vampires can keep them safe.
Will Tony give in to Kellan’s seduction before his need to bolt overrides his common sense?
REVIEW:
Note: While this is the 24th book in this series, it can be read as a standalone. Some of the characters were featured in previous books, so slight spoilers for those books but it won’t impact the stories of each of the couples.
Tony is on the run with pregnant best friend Shellie. They are secretly on their way to what Tony hopes will be safety with Jerome, his brother. He is living on a ranch and after Tony and Shellie are attacked and their car breaks down, Tony has no choice but to contact him and ask for help and a pickup. He discovers that things have changed for his brother and their friend Stanton as well and both are now in relationships with men who also live on this same ranch.
Tony and Shellie are both wrung out from their ordeal. Shellie’s abusive ex is not willing to let her go after discover she is pregnant with his child. He’s got a long reach and both Tony and Shellie need the refuge offered by the men at the ranch. What Tony doesn’t expect is to feel a pull towards one of the men who rescue them, Kellan, who has taken a sudden and overwhelming liking to him 😉 He’s shocked about his brother being with a man and also the warmth with which he and Shellie are received. But then he realizes there is something not quite “normal” about Kellan. When it’s confirmed he’s a vampire, Tony is more than a little shocked.
While Jerome and Shellie and Stanton try to explain the new world in which Tony has found himself, he is nervous. And he doesn’t want to interact with Kellan at all. But Kellan and Shellie and Jerome come up with a plan because Kellan is miserable knowing his beloved is so close and yet won’t accept him. Their plan is a good one and Kellan is thrilled. Of course they can’t completely avoid the bad guys chasing them, but there are mountains for support for the whole group 🙂
So Tony and Shellie are BFFs which I really liked. Tony is obviously a good guy taking care of his abused pregnant friend. I liked his relationship with her and with Jerome. It was good to see some of the couples and characters from past books, including Taming War, Navigating the Vampire Maze and the previous book, Fighting for his Fox. This book of course follows the typical trope – fated mates finding each other, working through their difficulties and ultimately bonding. I felt like this one was a little short. I also wanted to hear more about Karina and Sheliie but we don’t see them too much. I’d also like to see more consequences for Barry, the evil ex, but maybe we’ll see it in an upcoming book. Overall, this was a quick fun read that doesn’t cover much new ground. For fans of this series, I think you’ll enjoy this short story of Tony and Kellan.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
eXtasy Books