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Review of Better Have Heart by Anyta Sunday and Andy Gallo

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Blurb:

They hate everything about each other, so why do they harmonize so well?

Isaiah Nettles wants a chance. A chance to help his family.

The prestigious Gage Scholarship will secure his future. He needs this. The competition might be hot, but Darren Gage is a golden child. No way will Isaiah let an entitled rich kid be handed the award.

But what if Darren is more than an entitled rich kid?

Darren Gage wants to be seen. Seen as more than just his name.

The Gage Scholarship will let him shine. He needs this. Sure, Isaiah is insanely sexy—and right to stand up for himself—but he is the competition.

No way will Darren let just anyone take his legacy.

But what if Isaiah isn’t just anyone?

Review

This is the second book in the Harrison Campus series by this duo. I’ve already read the third book in this series (which I loved!) but have yet to read the first. The story is a slow-burn opposites attract/enemies to lovers tale that follows two college boys, Darren and Isaiah, who find themselves competing for the same scholarship program.

These two men couldn’t be more different. Darren comes from a wealthy family – a VERY WEALTHY family — and has never had to worry about money. He has also recently come out to his parent, and since then, his father has barely spoken two words to him. Darren is hurt by his father’s reaction and is desperately trying to win his approval. He’s hoping that landing this scholarship will put him back in his father’s good graces.

On the other hand, Isiah is out and proud and has a fantastic relationship with his mother. He grew up with very little money, and his mother works extra hard to support the family. He also works as a yoga instructor to earn extra money to help ease his mother’s burden.

Now it’s worth mentioning that the scholarship program for which they’re competing was initially set up by Darren’s great-grandfather specifically for the Gage men (though that’s not explicitly stated in the rules). Thus, Darren is expected to automatically receive it without having to compete for it. When Isaiah learns of this, he files a complaint with the university. The university decides that the only solution is for the two men to compete for the scholarship, which involves them working on special projects together. The scholarship is extremely important to both of them for different reasons, and each is determined to win.

Initially, it’s pretty rough going for our cut-throat competitors, and most of their early interactions are unfriendly and uncomfortable. What our guys didn’t count on was the intense attraction they felt for their “enemy” and soon begin to form, in spite of themselves, a deep personal relationship. Though it first appears that these two couldn’t be more different, they soon discover they have a lot more in common than they initially thought.

I thought the character development was outstanding, and I really loved both of these guys. They’re both quite complex once we get to know them. Darren is not at all the typical spoiled rich kid that Isaiah had him pegged for and rather is kind, compassionate, principled, and selfless. Isaiah, though he initially came across as super judgmental and a tad hot-tempered, ended up being quite an honorable character: empathetic, also kind and determined. I loved watching them bond over their mutual love of music and, subsequently, fall in love with each other before they even knew it was happening. I loved watching them fight their attraction and, ultimately, losing.

As typical in Ms. Sunday’s book, this was a super slow-burn, so you’ll have to be patient before we get to the steamy parts. What we do have is a lovely, heartfelt college romance between two endearing and admirable characters who both utterly enthralled me and stole my heart. This adorable book brought tears of joy to my eyes a couple of times and also had plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

I look forward to reading more in this series.

Purchase Better Have Heart from Amazon

Review of The Player by Joe Consentino

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The Player by Joe Consentino

Blurb:

When young music teacher Andre Beaufort discovers an antique player piano in the basement of his apartment building, he is visited by the ghost of the original owner: a dapper and charismatic playboy from the Roaring Twenties, Freddy Birtwistle.

Andre has never seen a ghost and Freddy has never been one, so they get off to a rocky start. But when Andre finds his neighbor murdered on his doorstep, he and Freddy join forces to narrow the pool of suspects.

Soon Andre and Freddy discover that opposites attract, even if one’s alive and the other dead. Together these amateur detectives make an enticing team, and it’s a good thing too, because the first murder they solve together won’t be their last. But the real mystery isn’t just whodunit—it’s how a romance between a man and a ghost can have a happily ever after ending.

The Player contains two stand-alone cozy murder mysteries, The City House and The Country House.

Review:

I love stories featuring ghosts — especially romances — so I couldn’t wait to delve into this novel. The Player is actually two gay cozy mystery stories in one book. The first novella is entitled “The Country House,” which opens with Andre discovering an old player piano in his apartment building’s basement. His Aunt, who is the landlord, agrees to let Andre haul up the piano to his apartment. What Andre doesn’t know is that there’s a handsome ghost named Freddy Birtwistle attached to the piano whom Andre inadvertently releases when he begins to play the pianola.

As we soon learn, Freddy, a wealthy meticulously-dressed socialite from the roaring 20s, was shot at the age of 30 by a jealous husband in 1935. Freddy was quite the gay “player” in his day, and if any of his numerous stories about his exploits can be believed, he left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. According to Freddy, he broke the heart of every eligible male Hollywood celebrity, and even his presence would often send spouses/partners into a jealous rage. This part of the book was a lot of fun, though I did find that Freddy’s rambling anecdotes got to be a tad repetitive by the second book.

The novel then takes a compelling turn when one of the tenants in Andre’s building is murdered, and once Andre becomes a suspect, the duo takes it upon themselves to investigate the crime in the style of Holmes and Watson. Through their investigation, we meet all the other quirky tenants of the building as we try to guess whodunit.

Given that Freddy was bound to the piano and couldn’t physically leave the apartment, Andre did all the legwork and then reported his findings back to Freddy. The two men then put their heads together to try to figure out the case. And of course, while working together, they fall deeply in love.

This story was a lot of fun and incorporated several surprising plot twists that I didn’t see coming. I also loved Freddy’s continuous stream of 1920s lingo and expressions, many causing me to laugh out loud.

The second book, The Country House, takes place at Freddy’s former country house, now converted into a B & B. At first, we think that Andre is on his own, but another of Freddy’s original player piano’s is in Andre’s rented room, and a couple of pumps of the pedal bring Andre’s ghostly lover to him.

Once again, a murder occurs, and this time, it’s the surly proprietor of the B & B. Like The City House, this second book is also populated with a plethora of compelling and outlandish characters. I found the second book to be as delightful as the first one. It was fast-paced, delightfully twisty (more so even than the first) with a shocking ending.

Now it’s worth mentioning that given that these two novellas are cozy mysteries, meaning there is no on-page sex, swearing, or violence. What we do get, however, is a sweet romance between a young man and a saucy charismatic ghost from the 1920s, as well as a couple of captivating murder mysteries to solve. I hope the author writes more in this world as I’d love to revisit these two enchanting characters.

Purchase The Player on Amazon

Review of The Vicar and the Rake by Annabelle Greene

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Blurb

As a young man, Sir Gabriel Winters left behind his status as a gentleman, turning his back on his secret desires and taking a self-imposed vow of celibacy. Now he’s a chaste, hardworking vicar, and his reputation is beyond reproach. But, try as he might, he’s never forgotten the man he once desired or the pain of being abandoned by his first love.

Edward Stanhope, the Duke of Caddonfell, is a notorious rake, delighting in scandal no matter the consequence. With a price on his head, he flees to the countryside, forced to keep his presence a secret or risk assassination. When Edward finds Gabriel on his estate, burning with fever, he cannot leave him to die, but taking him in puts them both in jeopardy.

With the help of a notorious blackmailer, a society of rich and famous gentlemen who prefer gentlemen, and a kitten named Buttons, they might just manage to save Edward’s life—but the greatest threat may be to their hearts.

Review

I love M/M Regency Romances, so I was excited to pick this one up. The Vicar and the Rake follows the rakish Edward Stanhope, who, along with his surly servant, returns to his childhood house to hide out after an exceptionally huge scandal involving him and a young man in a darkened room — a scandal that could lead to his hanging. But upon arriving at his home, he discovers Sir Gabriel Winters, his childhood friend and now the local vicar, unconscious from fever on his doorstep. Against his better judgment, he hauls Gabriel inside to care for him.

We learn right away that there were romantic feelings between Gabriel and Edward years ago before suddenly Edward left without so much as saying goodbye. Upon seeing Edward again, Gabriel’s old feelings for him resurface, leading to mixed emotions of desire and betrayal. Though there was definitely heat between these two characters, Edward, who believed himself to be irreparably broken, refused to get close to Gabriel, though, despite his resolve, he did continuously send the man mixed messages.

This ended up being such a fun story. In addition to the romance, there was also quite a bit of added intrigue such as missing diamonds, a price out on Edward’d head, childhood trauma, a ruthless brother, clandestine affairs, a secret society, and a kitten named Buttons. The storyline was compelling, and the author introduced several zany and quirky characters adding to the richness of the tale. Green then ratcheted up the tension by increasing the element of danger, not just to Edward but to everyone close to him.

I thought this book was addictive, intense, and oozing with romance. I really loved the chemistry between our two main characters, especially the slow burn aspect of their relationship, as they each tried to distance themselves from the other unsuccessfully. Additionally, the somewhat quirky and outlandish plot around them was kept steady by the realism and the truth of their romance. Readers who like a little messy romance will definitely get that in spades here – Gabriel’s and Edward’s interactions are funny, awkward, heartfelt, and sometimes exactly as confrontational as they need to be. Yet, everything you love about romance is here: it’s hot and steamy, amusing, charming, emotional, and inspiring, with a lovely feel-good ending all bound together by a beautiful, well-written narrative.

One thing I especially liked about this book is how the romance didn’t overtake the plot. So many romance novels are peppered with way too many repetitive sex scenes that completely take over the plot. Though there are certainly steamy parts in the story, they’re balanced nicely against the storyline.

All in all, I loved The Vicar and the Rake. It was a lovely story with a clever plot and fun, original characters, include the delightful and surprising secondary characters. I’d definitely read more by this author.

Oh, and did I mention? There’s also a cute kitten named Buttons!

A huge thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for the ARC! This book goes on sale on October 12, 2020 but is available for preorder now.

Order The Vicar and the Rake on Amazon

Best Laid Plaids by Ella Stainton

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Blurb:

In 1920s Scotland, even ghosts wear plaid.

Welcome to a sexy, spooky new paranormal historical series from debut author Ella Stainton.

Scotland, 1928

Dr. Ainsley Graham is cultivating a reputation as an eccentric.

Two years ago, he catastrophically ended his academic career by publicly claiming to talk to ghosts. When Joachim Cockburn, a WWI veteran studying the power of delusional thinking, arrives at his door, Ainsley quickly catalogues him as yet another tiresome Englishman determined to mock his life’s work.

But Joachim is tenacious and openhearted, and Ainsley’s intrigued despite himself. He agrees to motor his handsome new friend around to Scotland’s most unmistakable hauntings. If he can convince Joachim, Ainsley might be able to win back his good name and then some. He knows he’s not crazy—he just needs someone else to know it, too.

Joachim is one thesis away from realizing his dream of becoming a psychology professor, and he’s not going to let anyone stop him, not even an enchanting ginger with a penchant for tartan and lewd jokes. But as the two travel across Scotland’s lovely—and definitely, definitely haunted—landscape, Joachim’s resolve starts to melt. And he’s beginning to think that an empty teaching post without the charming Dr. Graham would make a very poor consolation prize indeed…

Review:

This was such a fun romp through 1920s Scotland as somewhat eccentric Ainsley drags Joachim from place to place to prove the existence of ghosts.  

Both of the characters are equally compelling.  Joachim carries both emotional and physical wounds from the war and, for his Ph.D. research, is in Scotland to study the behavior of Dr. Ainsley Graham, who claims that he speaks with ghosts. On the other hand, the flirtatious commitment-phobic Ainsley is quite eccentric and most likely suffers from ADHD. He’s also carrying some deep emotional wounds himself, especially grief from the loss of his brother Charlie.  

Once Ainsley discovers with certainty that Joachim is also gay, he wastes no time in trying to get the man into bed, which doesn’t take him long at all, resulting in many steamy moments of pure erotica; heavenly, tawdry and scintillating.  Typically, I’m not a fan of numerous sex scenes in a story and tend to breeze past them.  They worked really well here, however, and each one helped us to learn a little bit more about the personalities of our guys as well allow us to watch as their feelings continued to deepen for each other.

However, these feelings between our characters take quite a while to develop, given that each of them carries some intense emotional baggage.  That being said, the author does an exquisite job of developing these two characters.  They were so vivid, so distinct that I felt as though I were interacting with actual people in real life.  Additionally, the chemistry between them was off the charts.   It was also fun to watch each man’s desperate attempts to hide his feelings for the other.

As for the paranormal aspect of the story, it was a hoot to journey along with them as Joachim refuses to believe what’s right in front of him. The author threw in a couple of extra added twists to the ghost aspect of the story which added to its intrigue. 

I enjoyed how some of the ghosts popped in and out of the story, and we learn their connection to our two protagonists.  Another character, Ainsley’s friend Barley, who is psychic and is trying to seduce a lad who may or may not be straight, added a bit of extra fun to the storyline.  

I appreciated the commentary about being gay in the 1920s and how the discovery of such could be not only ruinous to one’s career, but could also result in being sent to prison or locked up in an asylum.  So in this way, we see how acting on feelings for another could be extremely dangerous if not deadly. So though two men may love one another, the decision to live as a couple provided an additional level of conflict in the story.

But all in all, I loved this historical romance/ghost story. This fun and beautiful book stole my heart. It’s an enjoyable story that serves up laughs to accompany a thoughtful reflection on loss, grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, and love, all of which the author writes with winning charm.  

But apart from the ghosts and the romance, I found that this book is ultimately also about facing unimaginable heartbreak and coming out stronger on the other side, no matter how long it takes you. 

A huge thank you to Ella Stainton and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book.

Purchase Best Laid Plaids on Amazon

Review of Better Be True by Anyta Sunday and Andy Gallo

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Blurb:

Two friends. One bed. A big Italian Wedding.

Nico Amato is in trouble.

He’s in love with his roommate. Who’s hung up on his ex. This so isn’t part of his summer plans. Luke’s an all-American jock, a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. The kind of guy who thinks Nico is too much.

That doesn’t stop Nico from pretending to be Luke’s boyfriend, once, twice, thrice . . . A friend does what a friend does to make an ex jealous.

Just . . . How many favors before Luke gives up on his ex?

Lucas DeRosa has a problem.

His roommate pushes every one of his buttons. Every. Damn. One. This so isn’t part of the script. Nico is flamboyant, a tight jeans/purple blazer kind of guy. The kind of guy who thinks Lucas is boring.

That doesn’t stop Luke from pretending to be Nico’s boyfriend again, and again, and again . . . A friend does what a friend does to repay a favor.

Just . . . How many favors before he wins Nico’s heart?

Review:

This book pressed all the right buttons for me.  Slow burn?  Check.  Roommates to lovers?  Check.  Fake boyfriends?  Check!  

Better Be True was such a fun, sweet and endearing book, and the principal characters, Nico and Luke, were totally lovable.  Both men have just gone through a horrible breakup:  Luke’s boyfriend broke up with him (via text!) because Luke was to “boring,” whereas Nico’s boyfriend broke up with him because he’s too “colorful” and “dramatic.”

Luke, who was planning on moving in with his boyfriend, is now saddled with a one-bedroom apartment that he can’t afford.  The solution?  Find a roommate.  Nico, who needs to remain in Philadelphia because he’s planning his sister’s large Italian wedding and needs a place to say, answers Luke’s ad.  But there’s one teeny, tiny problem:  there’s ONLY ONE BED.  But the guys can work around that, right?

Things become even more interesting when both guys need a “fake boyfriend” for several events, so they each agree to play the role.  And we can guess what happens from there….

I thought the authors did a phenomenal job with character development here, and I found our two protagonists to be vivid, dynamic, and brilliantly rendered.  These irresistible and wonderfully complex characters came to life for me and felt that they both thrived in their depth and complexity.  Both characters come with past heartache, self-esteem issues, and baggage, all of which added an extra intriguing element to the storytelling.

But what really worked for me was the slow burn romance between Luke and Nico, as we move from strangers, to roommates, to fake boyfriends and finally to lovers. And though we had to wait until the last quarter of the book for them to hook up, when the guys finally did get together, it was HOT!

All in all, I loved this book, through and through.  I found it impossible not to fall in love with the world and characters that the authors created here.  It’s a delightful heart-tugger of a love story.  Snappy dialog, stellar world-building, a lovable Italian family, and a slow-burn romance make this novel standout. 

This is the second book in a series, and though they can stand alone, I believe there is some crossover with the characters.  This one definitely makes me want to read the rest of the books in the series.  I’ve read many other Anyta Sunday books, and they’ve never disappointed, but this is my first experience with Andy Gallo.  I hope to read a lot more from this duo. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Review of Shortbread and Shadows by Amy Lane

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Blurb:

When a coven of hedge witches casts a spell for their hearts’ desires, the world turns upside down.

Bartholomew Baker is afraid to hope for his heart’s true desire—the gregarious woodworker who sells his wares next to Bartholomew at the local craft fairs—so he writes the spell for his baking business to thrive and allow him to quit his office job. He’d rather pour his energy into emotionally gratifying pastry! But the magic won’t allow him to lie, even to himself, and the spellcasting has unexpected consequences.

For two years Lachlan has been flirting with Bartholomew, but the shy baker with the beautiful gray eyes runs away whenever their conversation turns personal. He’s about to give up hope… and then Bartholomew rushes into a convention in the midst of a spellcasting disaster of epic proportions.

Suddenly everybody wants a taste of Bartholomew’s baked goods—and Bartholomew himself. Lachlan gladly jumps on for the ride, enduring rioting crowds and supernatural birds for a chance with Bartholomew. Can Bartholomew overcome the shyness that has kept him from giving his heart to Lachlan?

Review:

What an unexpected gem! This was such a surprising read that took me to places I very much didn’t expect.  The story differs greatly from Amy Lane’s typical angsty romances that I’ve read in the past.  This book follows a group of modern-day witches whose most recent spell has gone terribly, terribly awry. What’s fun about this is that some of the fallout of the spell has to do with Bartholomew’s crush on Lachlan, the sexy woodworker whose booth is often next Bartholomew’s at local fairs and conventions where they both sell their wares.

Bartholomew is one of the witches who cast the runaway spell. It’s worth mentioning that he’s so shy that he’s never been able to bring himself to confess his feelings for Lachlan.  As for the runaway spell, the witches all had to write down and then state their heart’s desire aloud.  The kicker is that for one reason for another, they ALL were lying (some to themselves) about what they really, truly wanted, and “magic” didn’t seem too happy about that fact. Hence, it ripped out the “real” truth from all of them during the climax of the spell — and all manner of chaotic hijinks ensued.  In fact, the beginning of this book read like a freight train running off the rails!

I loved the pining between Bartholomew and Lachlan.  The sexual tension and energy between these two vibrates the pages.  They also are real, complicated, and relatable human characters, which isn’t surprising as Any Lane is a master of building characters that feel relatable.

I also enjoyed the structure of the magical world in this series. Although the witches are like everyday folks, feeling confused and unsure of themselves like the rest of us, they also have a great deal of power and ability, though they may not all realize it. It was this fact that especially endeared these characters to me.  Lane deftly builds a world where magic feels both plausible and inevitable, and inserts this magical world seamlessly into our own.

This cosmic comedy of errors/romance had it all: a gripping plot, tender and funny moments, and some very steamy scenes. Shortbread and Shadows is a fun and light start to a new series, and this delightful, quirky, heartwarming romance will make you believe in love again.  I found this to be an imaginative modern-day romance that’s infused with the whimsy of magical realism.  

I was not only submerged in the sweet and tender relationship – but page after page, I fell deeper into the richly imagined world.  And though the story revolves around the witches and their unfortunate spell, at its core, this story is about love.  So what we get then, is a sweet, achingly romantic, lighthearted, and gentle story as these two men slowly reveal their genuine feelings for the other. And did I mention steamy?? Oh my!

I loved this new quirky, heartwarming romance, and I cannot wait for the next installment. I look forward to seeing where this series is going to go next.  If I could magically make it appear on my Kindle right now, I would!

Purchase Shortbread and Shadows on Amazon