Review of Clickbait by Garett Groves

by Garett Groves

3 Stars

A frustrated journalist. An abrasive internet sensation. Desire even enemies can’t deny.
 
Jeff Taylor is a cable news juggernaut with an ax to grind—particularly with the media industry that made him. After a tough interview with Kile Avery, online troll extraordinaire, Jeff melts down on air and tells the world just what he thinks of the media machine.
 
He’s swiftly fired and blacklisted by every major media organization… except one. NewSpin—the same fluff media company that Jeff most blames for the current state of journalism—wants to hire him to do a piece on Avery.
 
“Avery’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I’d sooner live under a bridge than work with him.”

Kile Avery is a viral blogger who thinks love and traditional media are dead. He’s built an online empire quickly by posting scathing video takedowns. So when Kile’s approached by NewSpin for a documentary series on his meteoric rise to fame, he can’t say no… even if Jeff Taylor is the reporter assigned to the project.
 
“When we started this, I wanted to destroy Taylor. Now I just want to sleep with him.”
 
The two have nothing in common save for their mutual hatred, but they quickly discover they share real chemistry on and off camera—chemistry neither of them wants to admit to, privately or publicly.
 
Can they set aside their differences and come together to make a ratings hit? Or is their story destined to become yet another clickbait headline?

We had so many high hopes for Clickbait, but man, we struggled to finish this story.  We usually really enjoy everything by Garett Groves, but Clickbait just didn’t come together for us.

So let us start with what we liked!  Kyle and Jeff are enemies, they essentially hate each other, and what the pother stand for and believes in.  There is a sexual tension that is palpable; they truly are enemies-to-lovers.  There are some serious sparks between Kyle and Jeff and it one of the few reasons that we kept us from not finishing this book.  Along with them being enemies, there is also a huge age difference between them, and that whole opposites attract is super sexy.

Even with all these good tropes, there is so much that made us scratch our head.  Honestly, the story doesn’t make sense.  Jeff is fired from his million dollar job, and has to take the first available position – really?  Kyle runs an anti-love blog, we think, didn’t really understand the blog idea.  And really the point of the project that they were working on together; following Kyle’s rise to fame, but they only went to his office once? There was confusion about what day it was, and on and on.  As you can see we were confused for most the story.  Clickbait is about 375 pages, not the longest book we have read, but it just felt like it dragged, and got caught up around other characters, mis-communication and co-workers plotting.  It was too much.

We so wanted to love this book; May-December, enemies-to-friends, opposites attract, how could we not?  But there was so much going on in this book that it left us feeling confused and unfortunately not invested in the actual romance.

Review of Strong Enough by Melanie Harlow and David Romanov

by Melanie Harlow and David Romanov

4 Stars

I wasn’t looking for Derek Wolfe.I wasn’t looking for anybody. All I wanted was to start a new life in America. But when I found myself stranded here with no place to go, he came to my rescue, offering me a place to stay.

He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell—I can barely sleep knowing he’s right down the hall. And when the chemistry between us explodes one night with fierce, fiery passion, it’s hard to deny there’s something real there.

But he does. He says he was drunk. He says it was a one-time thing. He says he’s not into guys and what we did meant nothing. He’s lying. Because it happened again, and again, and again. And it’s better every time.  I know we could be good together, and I want the chance to try, but I’m done hiding. If he’s not strong enough to admit the truth, I’ll have to be strong enough to walk away.

This is an interesting story, and if we have understood correctly, the first foray into m/m romance for author Melanie Harlow, partnering with David Romanov.  Strong enough is a story of a deeply closeted Derek, and a man giving up everything to come out of the closet.

Strong Enough is a fascinating story idea; a man, Max, leaving Russia to pursue the American dream, and to being an open gay man.  Max is open, honest and so ready for a change in his life; he is really a joyfully delightful character.  And on the other end of the spectrum is Derek.  Derek is a little older than Max, and SO set in his ways, his beliefs and not straying from who he believes he should be.  Derek isn’t easy to like really, and actually we really wanted to shake him, and then shake him some more. 

This is a dual POV book, which really works.  Max and Derek balance each other, so well.  They are well written characters, and actually this is a very well written, face-paced book.  Their budding relationship and sexual tension kept us enthralled the whole time.  We feel Derek’s struggle with accepting who he is, and want his to step up and be the man that Max needs.  Max is open and loving and it is heartbreaking to see him denying himself what he wants, to be open a free to love who he wants.

The story did seem a little predictable, because let’s be honest, there are only a few ways a deeply closeted love affair could go.  But to be clear, this is not a gay-for-you story, deep down Derek knows why he isn’t connecting to all the perfect-on-paper women he is going pout with, he just isn’t ready to be open to himself.

We did struggle with the progression of a relationship between Derek and Max.  Max states over and over that he is not looking for a relationship, but finds himself falling into a secret relationship with Derek.  We felt that Max was finally able to be free and open, and found it hard to believe that he would tolerate being back in the closet for Derek, after a short time of knowing each other.  Although we love them together, it was hard to understand, and annoyed us a bit – again with us wanting to shake Derek. 

Strong Enough is a moving read, and we so enjoyed getting to know Max and Derek.  The chemistry between these two very different men is seductive, and they play off each other to create a love story that we couldn’t get enough of, and we couldn’t wish hard enough  for two men to get their happy every after.

Review of Hard for my Boss by Daryl Banner

by Daryl Banner

3.5 stars

Benjamin Gage is not only powerful, filthy rich, and totally arrogant... but also irresistibly sexy.

Trevor, the young summer intern, is totally SCREWED.
Working at Gage Communications is an opportunity of a lifetime.
But will Trevor be able to handle it? Or will he succumb to the tension?
The tension is in his pants, by the way.
Between a heavy workload and a hunky, controlling boss, Trevor's summer just got a lot hotter and harder than he bargained for.

We are new to Daryl Banner’s work, and so glad a friend introduced us because Hard for my Boss is a fun, flirty, sexy read that kept our attention cover to cover.  Let’s be honest Hard for my Boss hits all the cliché tropes: intern falling for the boss, alpha billionaire falling for the nerdy awkward guy, or how about a May December Romance?  Yes, Hard for my Boss is all those things, not original at all, but it is a fun book. 

What did we love?  The dual POV’s are great, we LOVE hearing where each character is coming from.  It kept this book moving, and kept the voice always changing which worked when the tropes became a little too much.  Hard for my Boss is funny, we laughed out loud, Trevor is awkward, a nerdy fellow who struggles in social situations, and he made us laugh.  The characters are will written, Daryl created 2 very different main characters with very distinct voices, and at no time were we confused about who’s POV we were reading – such a plus. And it is SEXY, although Trevor is inexperienced but the chemistry is scorching, melting, blistering, and we blushed! 

Truth,  what turned us off?  The tropes, although fun, they did get a bit much.  Trevor is a student, an intern, young, inexperienced, broke, and Ben is the complete opposite, rich, powerful, older, has his life together, it became a bit over the top.  And although the story is fun and flirty, there were a few head scratching moments. 

Daryl Banner’s Hot for my Boss, is an easy read, the characters are great, the banter is fun and the writing has a great flow.  If you can get over the MANY tropes and just enjoy, it is a must read!

Review of Yanni’s Story (Spencer Cohen #4) by NR Walker

by NR Walker

5 stars

When Yanni Tomaras is kicked out of his family home, his parents’ final words are religious insults and an order to never return. Homeless and desperate, he’s lured in by Lance—charming on the outside, an evil predator underneath—who abuses Yanni until he finds the courage to leave.

Yanni should feel free. But by the time Spencer Cohen finds him, he’s resigned to being handed back to Lance and once again being caged by fear.

Starting school and a part-time job, Yanni begins to reclaim his life. But a love for silent films leads him to Peter Hannikov, a man with a kind heart but who’s twice his age. An unlikely friendship between them blooms into so much more. Neither man knows what he wants, at first. Finding out exactly what he needs is Yanni’s story.

“I’d spent years as a bird, caged with my wings clipped, tormented and beaten.

I thought I’d escaped when I’d left my abuser, but in hindsight, I could see that I was still caged, this time by fear and self-doubt.

Spencer and Andrew, and Andrew’s parents, opened the door to the cage that confined me.

But it was Peter who taught me how to fly.”

Gosh, we LOVED this book!  It is heartbreaking, achingly tender, sweet and so redeeming.  When we first met Yanni in Spencer Cohen #2, we despaired how he would ever find his way to be whole again, and we hoped and hoped.

This is book #4 in the Spencer Cohen series, and you really have to read the other books to really appreciate Yanni and Peter.  This is not a sweep you off your feet story, or a love will heal all story, it is redemption, it is taking back your life, it is finding value in yourself and believing in love again.  Amazing. 

NR Walker creates real life characters; these are not caricatures, but real people who struggle with their demons and live real lives.  Yanni’s story does not shy away from hard topics – Yanni was horribly abused by someone who said they loved him, Yanni was abandoned by his family for his sexual choices, and Yanni is broken.  But, Peter sees who Yanni really is, Peters sees that friendship is a lifeline for them both and doesn’t give up.  He is constant, caring and accepts Yanni’s past, and hopes to be part of his future.

Yanni’s Story is slow slow slow burn, but it works so well.  It is a story about Yanni taking back his life and that includes choosing to love and to feel intimate with someone.  And aside from the other critics we felt it worked really well.   Honestly if Yanni had jumped into bed with Peter, don’t think it would have felt authentic.   They have chemistry and that is undeniable that they both feel it, but they can enjoy it and not rip each other’s clothes off.  They also have this daddy kink between them that is sexy sexy sexy.  It isn’t in your face, but there is an undercurrent of Peter wanted to take care of Yanni, to provide for him and to nurture him. We aren’t huge daddy kink reader, but Peter and Yanni fit together that it doesn’t seem like a huge stretch.

Review of Facing West (Forever Wilde #1) by Lucy Lennox

by Lucy Lennox

4 stars

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?

This is a new series by one of our fav authors, Lucy Lennox.  It has all that good Lucy Lennox magic; big families, interesting character and schmoopy love.  A great read!

Nico, Nico, Nico, sigh.  If you are a fan of Lucy Lennox’s Made Marian series you will know Nico.  Troubled, solitary, lovely Nico, and it is about time he gets a happy ending.  We start with a new family here, the Wilde family, with the backbone being Gramps and Doc, a wonderful couple who are in love well into the later years of their life.  Now I personally love the Grannies from the Marian series, but they get a little much.  Doc and Gramps are sweet, and although show that seniors can have an active sex life it is subtle. 

Let’s talk about the good Dr…. Weston Wilde, swoon worthy.  He has stayed close to his roots, taking over the family practice in his small town and is content.  He has friends, a life, a career he loves, but small town living doesn’t have many love options.  He is a pretty average, stand up character, and well likeable, always doing the right thing.  Now Nico on the other had is troubled; by his past, by his memory of the past, and what he wants for his future.  Nico wants to live his life in San Francisco and run his tattoo shop.  But after his estranged sister passes and leaves Nico the custody of her teeny tiny baby, Nico has to go home and face what he left years ago.  

There is a enemies-to-lovers chemistry between Weston and Nico that jumps off the page.  Neither of them really likes each other, add in their past and the struggles over Nico’s sister’s baby these two are oil and water.  Weston is straight laced, and Nico is purple haired tattooed, total opposites but when they finally stop trying to deny their lust, they are combustible together.  So hot, hot, hot.    

However, Facing West isn’t without angst.  Nico thinks he doesn’t belong is small town life, he doesn’t want kids and he doesn’t want a man like West.  But does he???  Oh poor Nico, wants a family and love and a fairytale life, but doesn’t want to admit it to each other.  There are a few times we actually wanted to shake Nico and Weston.  They get on the same page, they have a disagreement, and round and round, and round. 

We really enjoyed Facing West, and excited for a new series.  Seriously how could you go wrong with love, babies and big families!