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!

Review of Lost and Found by Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy

by Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy

4 Stars

 

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…

This is new writing partnership between Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy, and a new series - Twist of Fate, with Lost and Found the much anticipated book 1.  We really liked this book, and were so excited after reading the blurb, but a few issues had us put out.

Xander Reed is an adventure guide in Colorado, and his simple life fits him perfectly.  He grew up around the wealthiest families in New England, and never wants to live in that life again.  He thinks he is happier, staying to himself, losing himself in the mountains and keeping his heart locked away after his best friend Bennett broke it years ago.  But a chance encounter brings Bennett back into his life.  Bennett Crawford grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, and a life path already laid-out by his overbearing father, but he is still waiting for the moment in his life where everything changes, the ‘moment’.  Working for his father’s foundation to support inner city kids has brought him to the wilderness of Colorado and smack back into Xander’s life, even if he isn’t wanted.

There are so many good things happening in Lost and Found. If you have read anything by Lucy Lennox or Sloane Kennedy you know they create fantastic, believable characters, and Xander and Bennett do not disappoint.  Xander is broken and bitter, you can feel his hatred for Bennett and the life that Bennett comes from - he wants no part of it.  Bennett is a softer fellow, although he has lived under the thumb of his father, never being good enough, never living up to expectations, being surrounded by wealth; he sees that he can make a difference in the lives of others, even if it is just one child at a time. 

Bennett is heartbroken to know that his actions all those years ago turned Xander into this hard man, his realization of his role in changing his sweet childhood friend to the man he is today is heartbreaking. And when these two men finally stop circling each other it is flammable; a scorching chemistry, a need that burns up the pages.  There is some serious HEAT in Lost and Found, and it adds so much to Bennett and Xander’s push-pull love story.

Lost and Found also sets us up with lots of secondary characters for the series that we completely fell in love with.  Xander’s Aunt Lolly is funny, witty and a total hoot; a little bit crazy and a whole lotta fun.  Friends that enter the story; Aiden and Jake are swoon worthy – and seriously we need both of their stories STAT!  And the troubled youth in Bennett’s care are poignant, listening to the stories of their lives is shattering, you just want to wrap them all in blankets and hug the crap out of them. 

Now the hard part – where we struggled with Lost and Found.  It is long – like 50 pages too long - it feels a bit like 2 authors both writing the same complete book from 2 different POVs and mashing it together, and I guess it is a bit like that, but the story just became too long.  And honestly, there was just too much, too much - back and forth (I want you, I hate you, I want you, I blame you, I want you, I don’t want you), too many silly misunderstandings, internal angst, and monkey wrenches that had us skimming. 

So where does this leave us, well we really enjoyed Lost and Found, the characters, the romance, the sizzling chemistry all make this a must read, and a good start to what should be a great series.  We know the type of books Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy can write and we can’t wait to read the read of the Twist of Fate series!

Review of Delivering Dante by Lucy Lennox

 

by Lucy Lennox

 5 Stars

" AJ: I know Dante’s story better than anyone. After all, I was the one who rescued him from his homophobic, abusive father eight years ago. Since then, I’ve kept my distance, but when I run into him at the Marian House gala and he doesn’t recognize me, I can’t resist the incredible, sensitive man he’s become.

I would do anything to protect Dante Marian, but what if his past keeps me from being part of his future?

Dante: Every new relationship has obstacles, it just turns out that ours involves my bumbling inexperience (ugh), an octogenarian naughty toy party (don’t ask), and being on the run in an RV with Aunt Tilly (it involves the Secret Service— no really, don’t ask).

When my biological father takes his homophobic views on a national platform, the only way to stand up for what I believe in is to claim my past and confront him. So now it’s time to decide: do I put the past behind me and walk away from AJ for good or face my biggest fear and fight for what’s mine?

Well, we all know we are Lucy Lennox Uber-Fans and love everything she writes, but Delivering Dante is one of the BEST in the Made Marion series.  Although the series isn’t really continuous, you do need to read them in order to understand the siblings and their significant others.

So, Dante, LOVE, Dante.  We don’t really see much of Dante in the other books, he is shy, quiet and has a horrendous past, but other than that, the youngest brother is a surprise.  But this book delivers.  As revealed earlier in the series, Dante has a very troubled past and we learn in this book it steams back to his childhood in a seriously religious family that started with camp conversion therapy and ended with fists and broken bones.   And although we have met AJ before (as Angel) we didn’t really pay attention to him.  But AJ is one of the best sibling partner’s she has written; he is sexy sexy sexy and so sweet.

There is something so authentic about Lucy Lennox’s writing.  There is a simplicity in her words that draws you into her stories.  The way she develops AJ and Dante’s characters in Delivering Dante makes you feel their connection, and their chemistry jumps off the page.  Lucy develops a tender sweet relationship, but layers on a need between AJ and Dante that is smoking hot.

But this story isn’t just about the relationship between AJ and Dante, but Dante confronting his past.  The story of Dante’s journey is shattering for us the reader and the issues he still has as an adult are heartbreaking.  That he has let his past still define his future is so sad, but so real.  And AJ is there to help him, but Dante has to own his life and move forward on his own 2 feet. 

Another great thing is the other family members.  Being the 6^th book of the series, it is so fun to go back and visit our other favorite couples and crazy relatives.  Who is now married and who have expanded their families to include children. 

We could go on and on and on about Delivering Dante.  You need to read the Made Marian series by Lucy Lennox, but even if you pick up one book, make sure it is Dante’s story. 

Review of Jumping Jude by Lucy Lennox and Audiobook by Michael Pauley

by Lucy Lennox  and Audiobook by Michael Pauley

5 Stars

Listen to a sample here! 
 

Best 7 hours we have spent in a long time.  If you are new to the Made Marion series by Lucy Lennox, go now and buy them all, seriously, this is THE best new series in the m/m genre in a while. Although you don’t have to read them in order, they flow a bit better when you read brother by brother. 

Made Marion series is based upon the Marion family, and Jumping Jude focuses on the 5^th oldest, and smack in the middle child Jude, and his sexy bodyguard Derek Wolfe.  Jude is a sexy, talented country singer, who beefs up his personal security after a troubling incident and personal threats against him.  His security company brings in ex-marine Derek Wolfe.  Derek thought he would always be a Marine, but is discharged after an injury in Afghanistan.  Both Jude and Derek are still deep in the closet, but their time together brings them closer, and makes everything sizzle!  

It is a familiar story but there is a connection between Jude and Derek that makes the story line standout.  You understand Jude’s struggle between this professional persona and his real self, and Derek’s unwillingness to rock his life with his own truths.  Don’t get me wrong, this is a sweet story, but there is heat between Derek and Jude, and that passion translates easily off the page.   

Now, we have read the book and LOVED it, and thought that the audiobook version couldn’t improve on that perfection, but it made this story so much….more.  We cried, we laughed, we fanned ourselves because in Michael Pauley’s voice the sex is hot, hot HOT!  There were a few issues we had, Jude’s deep southern twang when he was raised in California (?) and the issue that every female voice sounds the same, with almost a junior valley-girl quality – both things that don’t really take away from the story, but make you scratch your head.  Michael is able to bring life to the characters of Jude and Derek, make them real, and invested us  in their journey to find love.  

We can’t say enough about this combo of Lucy Lennox + Marion brothers + Michael Pauley because it equals perfection!  If you are thinking about an audiobook, choose Jumping Jude. And even if you have read the book, the audiobook brings true life to this fantastic story.