Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Hot Lips
SERIES: The Hot Cannolis (Book 4)
AUTHOR: Tara Lain
PUBLISHER: Tara Lain Books
LENGTH: 326 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2022
BLURB:
Sometimes there are too many closets to come out of.
For two years, Tito’s been hiding from his past in the midst of his uncle and aunt’s big, crazy, compound full of relatives in a tiny town in California.
Now his past’s come to get him – and threatens not only Tito’s life, but to reveal the secret that will get Tito kicked out of the family he loves.
Time to fight back!
Ari Cohen, a tough cop on the hate crimes task force, knows about hiding and fighting, since he spends his life undercover searching out bad guys.
Ari’s got a big secret too that perfectly matches Tito’s –both in and out of bed.
But don’t play hearts and flowers yet.
The price they have to pay for the match may send them running back to their closets – if Tito can stay alive long enough to get there.
HOT LIPS is a M/M romantic suspense mystery, packed with sexy secrets, danger, family love, and a crazy, one-eyed cat.
REVIEW:
Wow! Did not see this one coming!
Tito is the quiet, computer genius cousin that has moved to California after being mugged in New York City. He has been on the compound living over the garage in the small apartment for the last two years. We got glimpse of him at family dinners and knew he basically kept to himself. When threatening emails continue to show up on his in-box he knows that he has to talk to someone but that means opening doors to closets he would rather remain closed. His Uncle may have come around to accepting that his son Mike is gay and now with Shane, and his son Donny is bi and with Dell. He even has accepted that his brother Ricky has been hiding his sexuality for years until his work and now life partner John came into the picture. But accepting who and what Tito is would most probably too much. When Uncle Ricky brings in his friend, and special hate crime task member, Ari Cohen to work with Tito he had no idea that both men had eyes immediately for the other. But how can Ari get Tito to open up and see that their attraction is mutual.
I never saw Tito coming! He was nothing like the shy guy at dinners in real life. Yes he has more baggage, both figuratively and physically, than the average guy. And Ari’s deceptive plan to get him to stay with him so he can unravel the woven wall that Tito has constructed was perfect in more than one way. His house finally becomes an open and warm home with Tito’s advice. But getting to uncover the real Tito was a treat.
I loved that Tito was a fierce personality underneath his many layers. I hated that he felt he had to hide that all away after the NYC attack and from his family. It what he truly was and he shined when he let his true personality out. Unfortunately letting it all out put him back in the spotlight for the nasty side of humans and their danger.
Ari was the perfect match for Tito. They were the ying to each other’s yang. But he had a lot to do to convince Tito that he desired all sides of him, not just his alter-ego side. I loved that he didn’t just dismiss what looked like Tito’s PTSD. He actively went out to investigate and never discounted his concerns. And his protective side was such a turn on. That man was gorgeous both inside and out. Just like Toto was but never saw it in himself when he was Tito.
I also enjoyed getting to visit the Lavender Heights area of Sacramento. I would love to have had the chance to try the scones at Lavender Scones and take in a show at Purely Pink. Especially if the lovely Tina Bellissima is the guest performer that evening! What a lovely area to explore.
I have truly enjoyed this entire series of a very close Italian family of hot men. I really loved the big Sunday family dinners and support they had for each other. I am not sure there are more books in this amazing series but have my fingers crossed!
RATING: 
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