Review of Depth of Field (Last chance #1) by Riley Hart

by Riley Hart

4 stars

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.

Riley Hart again nails a sexy enemies-to-lover romance in Depth of Field. She creates to main characters both hiding in their own ways who find that they fit so good together.

Maxwell Sullivan was the typical jock growing up, living what everyone assumed was the perfect life, but outside appearances can be deceiving.  Leaving his childhood town at 18 he shed that person and became Van, true to what he wants and who is really is.  Now 10 years later he is making his first trip home to support his mother in the wake of his father’s death, but he knows that he has so many amends to make – especially to Shane who he bullied most of his life.  Shane Wallace had always done the right this, instead of pursuing his dreams he has stayed in his small childhood home caring for his sick mother.  Shane is content in his life, he wants more, but as he thinks who doesn’t.  But when Van shows back up in his life trying to apologize, Shane thinks that he wants more than to just be content.

We really liked Depth o Field, it is an easy read, and although there is angst – cause really the bully coming back to apologize years later – it isn’t overwhelming, and adds to the push pull, enemies-to-lovers theme that Riley Hart masters so well. Shane and Van have this really amazing emotional connection, the history they share from grouping up in the same small town, that jumps off the page and won’t be denied.  There is like this string between the men that even if they try to fight it, it keeps pulling them together. Shane is a generous person, we don’t know if we would have been as forgiving as he was, and we wished that he’d have made Van work a little harder for forgiveness.

So can we say this book is smoking!!!  Burning, smoldering, scorching, intense, passionate we could go on and on.  Van is an artist and takes erotic photos – this ends up in the bedroom and adds this level of voyeurism to the sex between these men.  It is distractingly hot.

Depth of Field is a great read, exciting and moving and SO realistic! We really enjoy Riley Hart’s writing, and the way she creates her characters. She has an authenticity to her writing, these feel like real people in real life, just finding someone to love.  

Review of Lace by KC Wells

 By KC Wells

2.5 Stars

 When Shawn’s best mate Dave breaks up with his girlfriend, Shawn tries not to get his hopes up. After all, Dave’s still straight, right? Wrong. Dave reveals he’s bisexual, and that pounding you hear is Shawn’s heart. He’s loved Dave for so long, but he’s not about to jeopardize their friendship by telling Dave how he really feels.

But when Dave discovers Shawn’s little kink, it opens up a whole new chapter for the two friends. Except Shawn can’t help but worry – if there was no kink, would Dave be there? And is Shawn brave enough to find out?

A standalone short story of lust, lace – and love….

A cute short story that deals with a taboo subject – men in panties!  

Shawn is an out gay man who likes lacey things against his skin, and love love loves his best friend Dave.  Dave has newly discovered he isn’t as straight as he thinks he is when he starts thinking about Shawn in all sorts of hot encounters.  But when Dave stumbles upon Shawn’s secret kink, they admit their lust and fall into bed.

We really like the premise of this short story, best friends that fall into bed, brought together by a little kink.  And we really liked the first few chapters, but fell apart for us for the second half.  The POV switches between Shawn and Dave, and you feel that attraction they have for one another, and their nervousness to take the next step and ruin a friendship.  But after they finally get over themselves they jump into a serious sex-fest.  We found the transition between their friendship and the between the sheets action a little stark.  One minute they are shy and sweet and the next, some hardcore kink and hardcore between-the-sheets. 

Don’t get us wrong, it was hot and we really enjoyed the kink.  We haven’t read much that features men in panties, but really enjoyed how main stream KC Wells attacked the kink.  Be warned that this is a book that will make you blush, woohoo, it is hot between Shawn and Dave.

But outside of the bedroom I didn’t feel the chemistry, and the mis-communication, or rather, lack of communication made the story just too predictable.  This book starts with BEST FRIENDS yet, they never seem to be able to talk?  Like how Dave deals with his bi-sexuality, by not talking to his GAY BEST FRIEND?  Okay, you get our frustration.  Just left us felling, well, disappointed.

Lace deals with an interesting subject, and makes it easy for the reader; unfortunately that wasn’t enough to save this book for us.  We believe this is going to be a series, and although felt Lace missed the mark, we are excited about the next in the series.

Review of Frog by Mary Calmes

by Mary Calmes

5 stars

Weber Yates's dreams of stardom are about to be reduced to a ranch hand's job in Texas, and his one relationship is with a guy so far out of his league he might as well be on the moon. Or at least in San Francisco, where Weber stops to see him one last time before settling down to the humble, lonely life he figures a frog like him has coming.

Cyrus Benning is a successful neurosurgeon, so details are never lost on him. He spotted the prince in a broken-down bull rider's clothing from day one. But watching Weber walk out on him keeps getting harder, and he's not sure how much more his heart can take. Now Cyrus has one last chance to prove to Weber that it's not Weber's job that makes him Cyrus's perfect man, it's Weber himself. With the help of his sister's newly broken family, he's ready to show Weber that the home the man's been searching for has always been right there, with him. Cyrus might have laid down an ultimatum once, but now it's turned into a vow-he's never going to let Weber out of his life again.

Truth – we LOVE Mary Calmes.  And Frog, is one of our favorites.  Another truth, this must have been our 6^th time reading this much-loved Mary Calmes love story.

Weber Yates has not lived an easy life, but meeting Cyrus Benning was easily one of the best moments.  Webber is a Bull rider who has not had his big break but while working on a dude ranch in Texas meets Cyrus, on a vacation with friends.  Even though these 2 are very different men, they somehow belong to each other.

This is one of the best love stories out there.  We loved Webber, his down home charm, how he doesn’t really see his worth. How from the first chapter Mary Calmes spins a web that we want to get lost in and never leave.  After 3 years of Weber coming and going from his life, Cyrus is desperate to keep Weber and really how lovely is that?  That someone would do almost anything to keep you, sigh.

In a luck of fate Cyrus’s sister find herself a single mother of 3 and needs help to look after her boys.  And Weber is there, with his soft manners, his love of everything simple and his steadfastness.  So Weber stays to help.  Weber builds a foundation that everyone needs, that makes everything work, and just all together better.

This book is simple, like a warm hug, with no angst or mis-communication.  Just 2 men coming to terms that what they both need is standing in front of them.  Finding that sometimes you have to kiss some Frogss to find your prince. But like every Mary Calmes loves story there is some steam with the sweet.  The chemistry between Weber and Cyrus is off the charts hot, and from the first chapter you can feel it, and man want more of the passion they have for each other. 

Mary Calmes is truly a genius at love stories, they grab you from the first chapter and make you want and believe.  Frog is a must read, and full of so much love and comfort.

Review of St. Nacho's by Z.A. Maxfield

by Z.A. Maxfield

 3.5 Stars   

Cooper has spent the last three years running from a painful past. He's currently moving from town to town, working in restaurant kitchens, and playing his violin for tips. As soon as he starts to feel comfortable anywhere—with anyone—he moves on. He's aware that music may be the only human language he still knows. Ironically, the one man he's wanted to communicate with in all that time is deaf.

Shawn is part of a deaf theater group at the nearby college. Shawn wants Cooper as soon as they meet and he begins a determined flirtation. Cooper is comfortable with down and dirty sex, just not people. As far as Shawn is concerned, dirty sex is win-win, but he wants Cooper to let him into the rest of his life as well.

Cooper needs time to heal and put his past away for good. Shawn needs to help Cooper forgive himself and accept that he can be loved. Both men find out that when it comes to the kind of healing love can bring, the sleepy beachside town of Santo Ignacio, “St. Nacho's” as the locals call it, may just be the very best place to start.

Z.A. Maxfield has woven a heart-sweet love story between 2 unlikely men.  Cooper is a man on the run from his life, content to drift through town after town just existing, but finds a home-away-from home at St. Nacho’s.  Shawn is a deaf college student that sees the true beauty of Cooper and although they are from two completely different worlds they fit together.

We really liked this booked to about 50%.  The first half was a building romance of 2 people finding each other and some sweet heat between the sheets, and then, bam, Cooper’s past comes back to claim him.  Jordan, Cooper’s ex, has some unresolved business and Cooper is drawn back to his hometown to help him find his way. 

We understand the 2^nd book of the series focuses on Jordan, but his story in St. Nacho’s didn’t endear him to us.  Jordan’s story takes up too much time from Cooper and Shawn.  It felt like Z.A. Maxfield forgot about the love-story of Cooper and Shawn and started on the sequel in the middle of the first book.  We wished we could have has more of Shawn’s backstory and understand where he is coming from. 

What did we love about St. Nacho’s.  We loved Cooper, he is a fantastic character with a sad story that he is trying to outrun.  He is loving, loyal and does not seem his own value.  But Shawn does and we adored the love between the 2 of these men. 

St. Nacho’s is a fantastic love story not to be missed, and even though Jordan ate up a lot of time we will totally be picking up the next story!

Review of Strange Bedfellows by Cardeno C.

by Cardeno C.

4-stars

Steamy, sexy, sweet love story is a HIT!

Ford Hollingsworth is a newly elected Congressman from the great state of Missouri, following in his staunchly Republican Senator father’s footsteps.  He e has been raised in a very conservative household where you honor the flag, go to church, get married and have a family.  And at the age of 37 finds himself moving away from his roots when his need for a personal connection with a man grows too hard to ignore.  Picking up a stranger to easy the ache his finds himself in bed with non-other than Trevor Moga.  Although Trevor is the son of the sitting Democratic President he hates politics, and has built a successful career for himself without his parent’s interference.   

Strange Bedfellows is steamy, Cardeno C’s books create some serious heat, and the spark between Trevor and Ford starts on the first page.  There are so many great things about this book, the relationship between the main characters is so genuine that you feel like you fall in love with them.  There is a secrecy about their relationship, and you feel the urgent need when they come together.  They are sweet, fluffy and endearing couple. 

There is lots of politics in this book, and we actually really liked them.  The struggle Ford has to honor his love for Trevor and the need to be re-elected.  We wish this could happen in real life, when political people are actually out! 

Now let’s talk about the good stuff…..whoowhoo, and it is good!  The sex in this book is hot!  There is quite a bit, but not overwhelming, and the dirty talk from Trevor is off the chart good.  The sex adds to their booty call- to – love story and adds to the realness of their feelings.

So, if you are looking for a feel-good, snuggle down on the couch and read a hot love story, then Strange Bedfellows is for you!

Review of The Company we Keep by Kay Simone

 by Kay Simone

4.5 Stars

Another can’t-put-it-down m/m hot-as-hell romance by Kay Simone!

The Company we Keep by Kay Simone focuses around a crime lord A.R. Carrow, and his gang The Company.  This diverse group of criminals out of California is on the AIIB’s list of must-infiltrate, and Federal Agent Charlie Judge has been training his life to be the done to take them down.  The Company loses a man in a heist and replace him with Agent Judge turned  Dust Wrenshall demolitions expert.  But once happens when the people and place you are working to destroy are the ones you want to protect – fireworks.

Kay Simone is one of our favorite romance authors, she can create a story that is pure magic, and The Company we Keep is no exception.  It is fast-paced, exciting and hot as hell.  The sexual tension between Dust and Carrow leaps off the page and the sex doesn’t overwhelm the story.  This book captures your attention from the first words and keeps you turning the pages.  There is vulnerability in these 2 alpha-strong males, that somehow they don’t really know each other, but need each other.  Kay creates this hope that even though you know that things can go so wrong for Dust and Carrow you are wishing for their happy ending.  

Not only does this story capture you with the heat, heat, heat between the 2 main characters, but introduces us to some fantastic supporting characters.  In many of Kay’s books she creates a cast of characters that does not disappoint.  The Company’s members are a diverse group of people and although we were a little confused about who was who, they each have personalities you won’t soon forget.  The story walks you through Dust actually infiltrating The Company, so as Dust learns of the gang, so do you, it makes you feel like you actually know individual members and their quirks. .

For some reason this was on our Kindle for a long time, and we should have known better as how can you go wrong with Kay Simone?  The Company we Keep is a fantastic, sexy read, that needs a sequel…..seriously!