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The Night by May Archer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Have just finished reading The Night, which is the 5th "Love in O'Leary" book written by May Archer. The main characters in this one are Gideon Mason and Liam McKnight.

Five years ago, Gideon and Liam met in Las Vegas and impetuously got married. They had an instant, intense connection, but when Gideon went to get coffee, he returned to find that Liam was gone. Now Liam has hunted Gideon down in O'Leary and is asking for a divorce. Merry fa la la-ing Christmas.

Five years ago, Liam met and married the love of his life. Not two days later, he got a phone call that upended his world and left him raising his best friend's little girl, Hazel. In his panic to get home, Liam never got Gideon's phone number. Now that he needs to do some estate planning for Hazel, his attorney has advised him to tie up the loose end of his Vegas marriage. Only, the more time Liam spends with Gideon, the more he remembers why he married him in the first place. With the holidays just around the corner and Hazel insisting that Santa is real, will Gideon and Liam find a Christmas miracle of their own?

Oh my gosh, this story was just...aah! It was over almost at the beginning, because as soon as the adorably interfering O'Learians realized that Liam was Gideon's long-lost husband, they were determined to get them back together, meaning it was all over for our main characters. Cue every notary public in town suddenly being unavailable to notarize the divorce papers, no rooms to be had anywhere for Liam and Hazel (thus insuring they'd have to stay with Gideon), and Hazel herself working some Christmas magic of her own. A sheer delight from start to finish, very low angst, high heat (once it got to that point), holiday shenanigans, and utter hilarity.

Favorite lines:
♦ Kiddie Bop Christmas. Perhaps you've heard of it?--was a form of torture surely outlawed by the Geneva Convention.
♦ Maybe you were born knowing things that life made you forget.
♦ "You never really know which is the real Santa. That's where the magic happens."
♦ "Stop talking sense. This is O'Leary. Around here, logic is always the last resort."
♦ "My asshole cat who hates people genuinely adores my asshole grandfather who hates cats, and the feeling is mutual."
♦ "Jesus Christ in a manger! It's a poltergeist!"
♦ "They have gone too far this time. I am going over to Parker and Jamie's house this minute, and I can only hope they are having sex. Fuck, I hope they're naked and about to climax because I am going to knock on their windows and yell Christmas obscenities. I will bring eight maids a'milking and however many lords a'leaping right through their living room, and a bunch of goddamn klieg lights too, to make sure everyone sees the show. I will bring a fucking children's choir to sing Hazel's Kiddie Bop Christmas songs with their chipmunk voices and kill any potential boner Parker and Jamie might ever have again. I will camp out on their lawn dressed as The Grinch and demand cookies and eggnog every hour on the hour every damn night until New Year's."*
♦ "You've already fought a terrible toast fire and survived tea party etiquette lessons from a seven-year old."
♦ There were probably more awkward times to talk about shit like this than after you'd had a Santa-induced meltdown while trying to have sex, but I couldn't think of any.
♦ "It's going to be inappropriate jokes and fucking."
♦ Light companies sold the strands pre-tangled, right out of the box, to ensure maximum frustration.

I loved this story. Liam and Gideon are so perfect together, and it was great reconnecting with characters from earlier in the series. Makes me wish I'd read it in December, but at least I didn't pick it up in August. LOL! Eh, I would have loved it just the same. Five stars! Can we award more than five?

24 Dares of Christmas by Lee Blair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Last night I finally finished reading 24 Dares of Christmas by Lee Blair. It's set in the same verse as the author's "Tap That Brewery" series. The characters in this one are Warren, a holiday loving marshmallow, and Reed, who's lost his Christmas cheer. The story is told in alternating povs.

Reed has quit his job in Portland and will be starting a new job in Seattle right after the holidays. In the meantime, he's been drafted to spend December in Dahlia Springs to take care of his aunt's dogs while she's in Europe. Reed figured he'd spend the time holed up at Katherine's, watching cheesy Christmas movies and ordering take out. What he didn't expect was that his aunt's tenant would be young, hot, and...a guy?

Warren is eager to meet Katherine's nephew. From spending time with Katherine, he feels like he already knows Reed. Warren is delighted that Katherine has given Reed an advent calendar with 24 holiday-themed dares to complete. Warren is happy to help, and he finds himself falling for Reed. When Reed is cajoled into helping the chamber of commerce market Dahlia Springs in hopes of winning a grant, Warren is also talked into helping. Reed's career is in marketing, and working with small businesses reminds him why he used to love his job. Warren had to give up on his dream of owning his own photography studio, but with their new project, each rediscovers what they enjoy most about their chosen careers. It also gives them a chance to develop feelings for one another, but Reed will be leaving after Christmas...right?

What a lovely, fun holiday story. I loved the setting and seeing it through Reed's eyes as he got caught up in all the holiday madness. I enjoyed Warren's mad family and how Reed learned to interact with them. All the characters were fully realized, including Katherine's dachshunds. While there was some low level angst regarding Reed's impending move, the author was skillfully laying the groundwork for everything to work out, giving our mc's their HEA.

Favorite lines:
♦ Nothing killed the Christmas spirit faster than entitled customers.
♦ Definitely need to get out of the house if I'm coming up with fictional scenarios involving the dogs arranging my murder.
♦ "It might not be intentional, but that doesn't make it less hurtful. There's a different pain in being invisible."
♦ "You think I'm sexy?" // "Are you kidding? You're looking at me like I'm a Red Lobster biscuit."

This was basically a Hallmark movie in book form. Delightful! Five stars.

Sweet as Honey by Lucy Lennox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I began reading Sweet as Honey late last night and finished it this afternoon. It's the second book in author Lucy Lennox's "Aster Valley" series of male/male romance. The main characters are Sam Rigby and Truman Sweet.

Needing a break from his dysfunctional family in Houston, Sam has decided to visit friends in Aster Valley. Before he even enters town, however, he comes across an adorkable young man in a bee costume being harassed at the side of the road. Sam intervenes, putting himself into the middle of small town drama. The more time he spends with Truman, however, the more Sam is thinking of uprooting from Houston and taking up residence in Aster Valley.

Truman tries to stay under the radar. He keeps his head down, runs his business, and tries to avoid the Stanner family. When he's saved from one of the Stanner brothers by a hottie on a motorcycle, Truman begins to want different things from life--things for himself for once. As the danger around him escalates, so too does the heat between Truman and Sam, and for once in his life, Tru is determined to fight for something.

This was difficult to read. I loved the story, the setting, and the characters, but I swear my blood pressure nearly went through the roof each time poor Truman was hassled, harassed, and hunted. It brought forth my inner Irish brawler! Grr! It was lovely, however, to see Sam supporting Truman all while giving Tru the courage to stand on his own. This was on top of Sam being gaslighted, manipulated, and taken advantage of by his mother and sisters. Galling! It was also wonderful for Truman to realize that he had a stronger support system around him than he'd been aware of, and to learn to lean on others for help. The plot was gripping, and characterizations were marvelous--even the "bad guys" were portrayed well. I enjoyed seeing plenty of Tiller and Mikey from the first book in the series, and I'm looking forward to more.

Favorite lines:
♦ It was so frustrating to see grown adults cut off their noses to spite their faces.
♦ "Why don't I fix it for you while I'm in town?" // Truman's mouth opened, but nothing came out. // "It's the least I can do for helping you yesterday and having my bike crushed by your assailant." // His mouth closed with a click. "That's sarcasm." // "Indeed."
♦ How many kinds of cumin were too many for a cumin chicken date?
♦ "Sometimes protecting yourself means you can't keep protecting everyone else."
♦ "That guy is a meddling prick," I muttered. // "No kidding. Also a pompous windbag, which is an expression I've always wanted an excuse to use."
♦ "This doesn't call for some kind of slapdash payback attempt. This calls for a magnificent, well-planned, and expertly executed vengeance extravaganza."

Exciting story (although not always the 'good' kind of excitement!), and I am eager to read more in the series. Five stars.

The Fire by May Archer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Since I had a 3-day weekend, I indulged myself by reading The Fire by May Archer. It's the 4th book in her "Love in O'Leary" series of male/male romances. The main characters are Parker Hoffstraeder and Jameson Burke.

It's been 11 years, 4 months, and 28 days since Parker left O'Leary and Jameson behind, not that Jamie is counting. But now Parker is back, and even though Jamie still finds him infuriatingly attractive, there's no way he's going to give Parker a chance to break his heart again. Because Parker doesn't plan to stick around this time, right?

Parker left O'Leary to get away from a broken heart when Jamie broke up with him. Now he's back. His big plans to open a bar in town and re-root himself goes up in flames, literally, when his bar burns down. With the insurance claim still up in the air, Parker is adrift. When he finds himself without a place to stay, he accepts defeat and decides to go to AZ, where his parents live now. Parker is thwarted when a blizzard hits, trapping him at the side of the road. It's just his (bad) luck that Jameson Burke is the one who comes along to save him.

Trapped together at Jamie's house during the blizzard, they agree to a truce of sorts. Being in close proximity reminds each of them of what they once had. The truth, although neither will admit it, is that they still love one another--they never stopped. With each of them too scared to confess feelings, it's going to take some interference from their fellow O'Learians to get Parker and Jamie back to good.

These two were nearly the death of me. It's so obvious to everyone but themselves that they still love one another. Jamie is convinced that O'Leary isn't big enough for Parker's dreams and his talent; thus, he's certain Parker will leave again. As for Parker, he hasn't forgotten that Jamie all but pushed him to Boston with a foot on his ass, not realizing that Jamie was acting selfless in setting him free. He has no desire to leave town again, but he needs Jameson to give him a reason to stay. Misunderstandings abound, but O'Leary has a way of working things out.

Favorite lines:
♦ Individually, girls were lovely. But in a pack, they sorta reminded me of hyenas. Hungry ones.
♦ How many times did I need to be whacked by the universe's fuckery stick before I got the message that it was time to leave town?
♦ "Every time I think I have gotten to the end, that the last domino has fallen, that there are no more fucking shoes waiting to fall on my head, life says hold my beer."
♦ "I have smiled, I have kept a stiff upper lip, and I have employed so much positive thinking that by rights I should have my own goddamn horde of innocent woodland animals traipsing along behind me while I walk through town."
♦ "Then it's on. Chicken Wing Death Match."

This one touched on all the feels: angst, anger, betrayal, love, lust, regret, and a healthy heaping of hurt/comfort. It was almost painful to read, but it made the end that much sweeter. Five stars!

Pick One by May Archer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Shortly after midnight I began reading Pick One, which is a novella in author May Archer's "Sunday Brothers" series. It was engrossing enough that I finished it in the wee hours. Main characters are math nerd and statistician John Curran and the effervescent Teagan Donahue.

Teagan has just ended a six-month relationship after catching his boyfriend cheating on him. While waiting for a friend of his brother's to come help him move his couch he unloads on his BFF, Fern. Teagan ends the call, only to find a burly man standing in front of him. Assuming it's Jace's friend, Teagan drags him along to retrieve his couch. What he didn't realize is that the stranger in front of him is his new roommate.

John walked into his apartment building and was immediately drawn to Teagan's emotive melodrama. Intrigued by the fiery redhead, he agrees to help him fetch a couch. When the two of them learn that they're now roommates, each privately decides to keep things platonic between them. Unfortunately, as time goes by, both of them fall hard for each other. It's going to take some friendly intervention and a spot of jealousy for them to realize what's been in front of them all along.

This was a lovely story. The two of them balance each other out so well: John's steady calm versus Teagan's chipper exuberance. Despite this being relatively short, the characters were portrayed well. Although neither one was a 'Sunday Brother', they did meet up with one of them, and he played a pivotal role in getting John and Teagan to acknowledge their feelings for one another.

Favorite line: She had a point. But that point was not my point.

A fun, light read. Four stars.

Facing West by Lucy Lennox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I stayed up to the wee hours to finish reading Facing West by Lucy Lennox. It's the first book in her "Forever Wilde" series of male/male romance. Main characters are Nico Salerno and Weston "West" Wilde.

Nico ran away from his home in Hobie TX at the age of 15. He hoped by leaving he'd give his mother and sister a chance at a better life. Fifteen years later, Nico has carved out a place for himself in San Francisco, where he owns and operates a tattoo shop. His world is upended, however, when he gets a phone call informing him that his sister has died and left him custody of her baby. Nico returns to his small home town intent on settling Adriana's affairs and signing the adoption papers to give his niece the loving family he could never provide. He wasn't prepared to meet Dr West Wilde, Adriana's best friend, nor was he prepared for the feelings that West and baby Pippa evoked in him. Feelings that have Nico thinking of things like home and family.

West can't believe that Adriana left custody of Pippa with her good-for-nothing brother, Nico. He remembers Nico as a punk kid, and the pierced and tattooed man who shows up in town isn't doing anything to change West's mind. Never mind that Nico Salerno is possibly the most beautiful man he's ever seen. As the two of them spend time in one another's company, West develops a grudging respect and admiration for Nico, who's had to learn to care for the baby while they navigate through the adoption process. West has always felt protective of Pippa, but now those feelings extend to Nico as well. West knows Nico plans to return to San Francisco as soon as everything is settled, but he can't help but wish Nico would stay.

This story was a study in hurt/comfort. Nico has had a rough life, leaving him with a chip on his shoulder the size of a boulder. West is angry at him for turning his back on Adriana all those years ago, leaving her alone and adrift during the tough times she endured herself. Nico's narrow view of his homophobic home town gets skewed when West's big, crazy family welcomes him with open arms. Part of him thinks he could stay here and build a life with West and Pippa, but the larger part of Nico doesn't believe he deserves that life. It will take some meddling from the Wilde family patriarchs to give West and Nico (and Pippa!) the chance they deserve.

I enjoyed the book, which is why I powered through it in 24 hours. Lord, I wanted to knock West's and Nico's heads together, though. Reading this was often frustrating. It also lacked the humor that I've enjoyed in other books by Lucy Lennox (alone or co-authored with someone else). Nevertheless, I liked the story. Characters were stellar and the plot made sense as it moved forward.

Favorite line: "At least you're not the only kitten who's smitten."

Very good, although I would have liked more humor. Solid score of four.

Firecracker by Lucy Lennox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I stayed up past my bedtime last night to finish reading Firecracker by May Archer and Lucy Lennox. It's the first book in their "Honeybridge" series of male/male romance. Main characters are JT "Rainmaker" Wellbridge and Flynn "Firecracker" Honeycutt.

Ever since the founding fathers of Honeybridge (a Honeycutt and a Wellbridge) had a falling out, there's been a rivalry between the families. These days the rivalry is mostly relegated to softball games and floral displays, but JT and Flynn have always had a peculiar animosity between them. All through school they antagonized one another even as they gravitated to each other. As adults, they shared a night of passion, but JT left for NYC afterward and hasn't been home in three years. Now, however, the high-powered distribution company he works for wants him to secure a contract with Honeybridge Mead, which is Flynn's business. JT knows he'll have his work cut out for him. Flynn doesn't trust JT's motives, but the more he sees JT around town the more he realizes how much he missed him. He wants nothing to do with JT's business offer, but perhaps a summer fling with JT is just what he needs to purge the man once and for all.

This was almost painful to read. There's so much water under the bridge between JT and Flynn to begin with, and then when it seems they're putting it behind them, misunderstandings rear their ugly heads to set them at odds with one another again. I just wanted to lock them in a small room with a large bed for a few days. LOL! Characterizations were phenomenal, from JT and Flynn to their crazy families, the locals, JT's odious boss and a business rival, and the insufferable Brantleigh, who needed to be backhanded off his high horse. The authors made the tiniest nod to their "Licking Thicket" series, which delighted me. The plot kept me engaged as I waited to see what new setback would befall our heroes before they got their shit together. All the anxiety and hurt/comfort made the ending that much sweeter.

Favorite lines:
♦ My brother was a bit of a try-sexual--as in he'd try to sleep with just about anyone.
♦ "These things blossom and take on a life of their own!" // Not if I stomped them dead and salted the fields.
♦ I stopped paddling and took a few deep breaths, closing my eyes and concentrating on filling my lungs with with the clean evening air. A mosquito went up my nose and down my throat. God fucking dammit. I angry-kayaked the rest of the way to the island while choking on mosquito guts.
♦ "Hayden, I could kiss you. With tongue." // "Wow. I mean, I usually work on commission."
♦ Who the hell spelled JT wrong?

Lovely story with complex characters. Can't wait for more in this series. Five stars!

Cherry Picked by May Archer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I used my day off to finish reading Cherry Picked, which is the third book in May Archer's "Sunday Brothers" series. I deliberately waited until this weekend to begin the book, as I knew I wanted to wallow in it. LOL! Story is told in alternating first-person pov between the main characters, Hawk Sunday and Jack Wyatt.

Hawk has been carrying a torch for Jack, his brother's friend and his boss, since he was 17. Now that he's 24, Hawk is tired of waiting for Jack to notice him as anything other than a friend, an employee, and a de facto little brother. Hawk is also tired of reading about romance and not experiencing it himself. Therefore, while out hiking with Jack one day, Hawk asks him to be his first.

Jack adores Hawk; he has ever since they met seven years ago. He can't imagine his life without Hawk in it, but Jack doesn't do relationships. When Hawk propositions him, Jack is utterly bamboozled. He turns Hawk down, but now he can't help but notice that his "little brother" is all grown up and hot as hell. And when Hawk starts talking about creating a Grindr account, Jack is horrified. Worse still is when Simon, the slick, handsome representative of Evola (the company that wants to build a resort near Little Pippin Hollow) starts sniffing around Hawk. Jack is convinced Simon just wants to use Hawk, and he's not going to sit by and allow it to happen.

As always, it's the characters that make these stories so wonderful. Not just the main characters, but familiar ones from previous books, as well as familiar townsfolk. I utterly adored Hawk's friend Crys. She was a riot! Hawk is dead set against the development project, for fear Evola will destroy the pristine wilderness they want to pitch as a marketing ploy. Jack is looking at the development from a more practical standpoint, as in the influx of money that could boost the Hollow's revenue. Hawk takes his stance to the extreme when he initiates a one-man camping protest. While Jack admires him for taking a strong stand, he also can't help but miss Hawk and worry about him. Muddled feelings, misunderstandings, and mix-ups abound, but it all adds to the story and makes the ending that much sweeter.

Favorite lines:
♦ Fortunately, the death blow to my pride and the slow bleed of my smashed-up heart didn't have visible symptoms.
♦ Spontaneous human combustion in Little Pippin Hollow! Film at eleven.
( So many more... )

A delightful read, and one I've been looking forward to for quite some time. Can't wait for the next one, which I'm guessing will feature Reed Sunday and other-Chris. Did this book have its drawbacks? Sure, but I loved it and I'm giving it five stars.

Right as Raine: An Aster Valley Novel by Lucy Lennox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I spent a chunk of the weekend reading Right as Raine by Lucy Lennox. It's the first book in her "Aster Valley" series of male/male romance. Main characters are pro football player Tiller Raine and chef and nutritionist Mikey Vining.

Tiller is the first openly gay player in the NFL. As such, he knows he needs to remain above reproach. He's gotten by with a string of meaningless, discreet hook-ups until he finds himself falling for Mikey Vining--his live-in chef and nutritionist, personal assistant, and the coach's son. Mikey is off limits.

Mikey learned his lesson about hooking up with football players. He intends to stay focused on his job, save money, and pursue his ultimate dream, which is to publish a cookbook and/or run his own restaurant. However, the more time he spends with Tiller, the more Mikey longs for his employer. Tiller is off limits.

When Tiller ends up on injured reserve over the holidays, he and Mikey travel to Aster Valley, CO for some R&R. Away from the pressures of football, family expectations, and the media, Tiller and Mikey succumb to the heat that has been building between them for years. Both of them are reluctant to return to the status quo, and they'll need to decide how much they're willing to gamble and sacrifice to pursue their budding relationship.

This one hit all the feels. Tiller seemed to have it all, but he was lonely. You couldn't help but feel sorry for Mikey. His entire family was a shitty piece of work, from his father who treated him like an afterthought to his older brothers, all of whom were star athletes of one stripe or another, to his oblivious mother, who never once stepped up for him. Aster Valley, with its small town feel, queer-friendly populace, and welcoming vibe, was the perfect place for them. Although the story featured drama and angst, it was mostly sweet and lovely with plenty of humor sprinkled throughout. There was a 'blink and you'll miss it' reference to the author's "Licking Thicket" series, which amused me. I also appreciated that the author made Tiller a wide receiver, instead of the more glamorous quarterback.

Favorite lines:
♦ "Cry into your giant piles of money."
♦ "Is that Tiller Raine?" // I shook my head. "Bobby Simplethorn. You probably know him from that hemorrhoid commercial."
♦ "Golf isn't much different than glorified fly swatting."
♦ He was probably wondering how someone so dorky could possibly whack the dork meter even higher.
♦ Everything in my body wanted to curl up into a fragile ball of crybaby.
♦ "He looks at me like I'm a piping hot supreme pizza and he's spent days eating nothing but raw beetroot."
♦ I needed to get into the mindset of a pro football player with a giant ego. I also needed an iced coffee from Starbucks and possibly one of their cookies.

Very good story. You couldn't help but cheer for Tiller and Mikey and their HEA. Five stars.

Liars by Lucy Lennox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Earlier today I finished reading Liars by Lucy Lennox and May Archer. It's the second installment in their "Licking Thicket" series of male/male romance. Narrative is in alternating, first person point of view of the main characters, Parrish Partridge and Diesel Church.

When Parrish encounters tough, tattooed Diesel trying to comfort a sweet baby girl, Parrish's heart melts. And when Diesel asks Parrish to pretend to be his fiancé in order to give him a better chance to win custody of his niece, Parrish knows he should refuse. When Parrish fails in that, he's soon all-in and falling in love, not just with Diesel, but with adorable Marigold as well.

Diesel can't believe that charming, successful, oh-so-put-together Parrish would agree to his impulsive scheme, but he's damned grateful for the support. Diesel also can't believe how well Parrish fits into his life, but he also knows that Parrish deserves better. The longer Diesel and Parrish spend in one another's company, the more their lies become their truth.

What a sweet, fun, poignant story. You couldn't help but cheer for Diesel in the custody battle, not just because he truly loved Marigold, but because his sister's adoptive parents are aloof and reserved. They may be wealthy and able to give Marigold every advantage in life, but children need love. Of course, the entire, ridiculous town of Licking Thicket manages to get involved. It was great to reconnect with familiar characters, and I laughed out loud when Paul trotted out Brooks' "Big Daddy" nickname again. Characters were remarkable, even the odious Payne, and the authors' stellar characterizations included Diesel's chickens. LOL! Only one thing bothered me...( Spoiler )

Favorite lines:
♦ "No one's ever gone wrong with an apology casserole."
♦ "Oh my God, my apology casserole visit is going to need an apology casserole," he whispered in shock. "This is unprecedented."
♦ "Oh dear God on a golf ball."
♦ I winced, remembering how I'd interrogated him like a graduate of the Dunn Johnson school of interrogation.
♦ "If it were any peachier, it'd be pie!"
♦ "He's all sauce and no wings."
♦ "Oh, sweet blessed corn niblets!" I yelled, like the most idiotic idiot to ever accidentally have sex.
♦ "Who donated a new washer and dryer set to the firehouse last year when theirs succumbed to the most ironic lint fire in history?"
♦ "We planned an apology surprise for you." // "An apology surprise?" // "It's like an apology casserole but with 100 percent less cream of mushroom soup."
♦ "My character was unassailable, right? So boring and basic, I didn't even have a parking ticket to my name."
♦ "You're telling me that our whole relationship was a lie, based on an apology casserole you never even ate?"

A wonderful story, full of all the feels. Five stars!