chez_jae | Entries tagged with series: love in o'leary

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?

Current Mood: pleased

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!

Current Mood: relaxed
Current Music: Paranormal Caught on Camera

The Secret by May Archer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Over the course of 24 hours, I powered through The Secret by May Archer. This is the third part of her "Love in O'Leary" series of male/male romance. Main characters in this one are Micah Bloom, new to O'Leary and trying to establish a floral business, and Constantine Ross, whose family is established in O'Leary, along with their business, Ross Landscape and Flowers.

Con is struggling. His old car just died, and money is tight. He works for the family business without pay, still trying to make amends for something rash and stupid he did in his teens that nearly lost his family everything. Con has no way to pay for a new car...until Micah Bloom, his family's biggest competition, offers him a job. Constantine would like to say no just on principle, but he really does need a paying gig, and Micah is easy on the eyes.

Micah isn't as interested in local business as he is in getting established in the area, which is a wedding destination. That's where the real money lies. Nevertheless, he gamely sets up a booth each Saturday at the farmer's market, where he has to put up with Constantine Ross' antics across the aisle. Con is charming, irritating, and too damned gorgeous for Micah's peace of mind. When he learns his nemesis needs a job, Micah offers to hire him. He could use the help, and he knows Con needs the money. Now, if only he can keep his mind on his business and not on Constantine.

This was a sweet, funny story. I love how Con and Micah bickered. Con can't not wind Micah up any chance he gets, and the two of them dancing around their attraction to one another was epic. It was heartwarming to see them learning more about each other and thus understanding each other better. As always, other characters add a lot to the story, from Con's family (whom we're familiar with from The Gift) to Micah's impudent twin sisters and his unicorn-loving niece. Of course, there are some misunderstandings and hurt feelings, but O'Leary has a way of smoothing the path to true love. Amazing!

( Favorite lines )

Lovely story, start to finish. Five stars!

Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Something to Talk About" ~ Bonnie Raitt

The Fall by May Archer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Winter Storm Nova, my office was closed today. I love snow days, and I love them even more when I don't have to make the Call of Shame. Since I was virtually housebound all day (I doodled out twice to feed the outside cats and shovel my porch), I got cozy on the couch with my cats and my Kindle, and I read The Fall by May Archer. It's the first book in her "Love in O'Leary" series, featuring main characters Silas Sloane and Everett Maior. Story is told in alternating first-person pov.

Small town police officer Silas has lived in O'Leary his entire life. He loves it there, but he could do without everyone knowing his business. For that reason, Silas goes out of town when he wants to indulge in a casual hook-up. Commitment just isn't his thing, but when he meets the new art teacher, he can't help but be drawn to him.
That pun was completely unintentional; I didn't even catch it until I re-read this before posting. Ha! I crack myself up!

Everett is still mourning the death of his husband when his mother begs him to relocate, temporarily, to O'Leary to look after his grandfather, Henry, who has broken his leg. Ev reluctantly agrees, but he hadn't counted on meeting Silas who makes him feel things he hasn't felt in a long time. Everett isn't sure he's ready for another relationship, if ever, but Silas has him tied up in knots.

As Silas and Everett try to navigate their feelings for one another, mysterious disappearances have some locals insisting a serial killer is on the loose in O'Leary. In addition, family, friends and neighbors all seem to be meddling in Silas and Ev's personal lives. Worst of all, however, is that just when Silas thinks maybe being committed wouldn't be so bad, he senses that Everett is stepping back. Now he must find a killer along with the key to Ev's heart.

This was such a lovely story, full of all the feels. Ev is conflicted; he's falling for Silas, but it seems like he's being disloyal to his husband. As for Silas, he's scared of loving and losing and Everett brings all of that confusion to the fore for him. It was a rollercoaster, from their sweet, happy moments to frustrated arguments between them. This was hurt-comfort at its finest, but the angst wasn't over the top.

Favorite lines:
♦ "O'Leary, New York is going to make me a murderer."
♦ Even my fucking dreams were cockblocking me now.
♦ "Afraid she might open a hellmouth if left unsupervised?"
♦ How much was too much to let go?
♦ "No one's cornered Rena Cobb and asked her why she erected--pardon the pun--three enormous dicks in her front yard."
♦ I didn't know if I'd ever held a man's hand unless I was holding him down to fuck him or cuff him.
Meow chicka wow wow, baby!
♦ "You're okay. You are. Grief isn't linear, and it doesn't end, it just evolves."
♦ "Your mind is like a labyrinth; you steer down a path and I never know if you're going to find a secret garden or a dementor." // "Welcome to my life. And here's me without a wand or a Patronus."
♦ "You carry kittens in your pocket?"
This should totally be a thing. In fact, it should be mandatory. Pocket kittens for all!
♦ Oh my God, I thought, recognizing that I was speculating about two perfectly innocent people. I've become an O'Learian. I am the problem.
♦ "We're a bunch of pastry whores."
I can relate.

And, not even this lovely story escaped the Curse of the Breath Line:
♦ I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath until I saw the car was empty and I exhaled shakily.

Sweet and sexy, with just enough angst and danger thrown in to spice things up. Five stars!

Current Mood: hungry
Current Music: Storm Center: Winter Storm Nova

The Gift by May Archer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I finished reading The Gift by May Archer last night. It's the second book in her "Love in O'Leary" series of m/m romance. Main characters are reclusive author Daniel Michaelson and veterinarian Julian Ross.

After critics pan his latest book, his marriage has ended, and his parents are pressuring him to join the family business, Daniel leaves Manhattan behind and buys a rustic cabin on the outskirts of O'Leary. Feeling like a failure at everything from his career to his relationships, Daniel keeps to himself until the day he discovers an injured owl in the woods and rushes it to the local veterinarian.

With a widowed mother and two younger brothers, Julian is used to playing things safe. He doesn't rock the boat, and he prefers to work with animals. When Daniel brings him an injured owl, the two of them form an instant friendship. While Julian finds Daniel attractive, he keeps his feelings to himself until the day he announces to everyone in the diner that Daniel is his boyfriend. Since Julian made his declaration to protect Daniel's reputation, Daniel agrees to play along. Somewhere along the way, however, this 'fake boyfriend' thing starts becoming all too real. Maybe they can make this work, as long as they can work through their secrets and past hurts.

What a lovely and heartwarming story. The angst wasn't over the top, but each of them was certainly in need of some stability and comfort. I enjoyed not just the interactions between Daniel and Julian, but also their interactions with other characters. It was amusing to see how Daniel went from being the 'odd stranger in the woods' to becoming an accepted O'Learian. Characterizations were wonderful, the humor was amazing, and the narrative moved along at a perfect pace.

Favorite lines:
♦ "And that's when shit got complicated," I told the cat.
♦ If I wanted to fantasize about hot guys having sex, I'd open a private browser as God intended.
♦ "Welcome to O'Leary. That seemed weird is practically our town motto."
♦ Love was when your rough corners and missing pieces weren't imperfections you needed to correct, they were the tabs and blanks on a jigsaw puzzle piece that perfectly aligned with someone else's and locked you together seamlessly.
♦ I turned around so we were facing the same direction, specifically so I could hip-check him.
♦ When I finally did laugh, the sound was like a cross between a donkey braying and a balloon deflating, because I couldn't not be awkward.
♦ "I want to discuss the treachery that has been perpetrated at our own table."
♦ They were locked in some kind of staring contest that could only end in death or hard fucking.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I didn't love it quiiiiite as much as other May Archer books I've read. This one gets a solid four.