Stronger Than Longing (Chesapeake Days #3) by Katherine McIntyre

For one night with the man of his dreams, Taran’s willing to break all his rules…..
Taran’s always been the reliable one. Safe. Which is why he keeps getting dumped by the assholes he dates. And after the latest round of “too boring,” he’s ready to drink his blues away. That’s until Silas King shows up – the gorgeous guy he’d swooned over through high school.
Silas wants one more night of distraction before his new reality sets in, and he sets his sights on Taran, his friend’s little brother who’s looking sexier than ever. It’s not like he can get in any more trouble than he’s already found himself in.
After Taran and Silas spend one unforgettable night together, feelings emerge, ones quickly stamped out when Silas confesses why he’s back in town. He’s returned to meet his three-month-old daughter.
With that chaos in his life, Silas can’t pursue anything further with Taran, and having longed for Silas his whole damn life, Taran isn’t sure he’ll survive the aftermath. Yet the more they try to avoid their connection, the more they keep colliding…until the passion between them detonates. 

Readers met Taran in Stronger Than Passion (the second book in Katherine McIntyre’s Chesapeake Days series) which I somehow missed after finishing (and loving) Stronger Than Hope. I’ve since rectified that mistake though, so stay tuned for another back-tracking review – but unlike other back-tracking, the only thing I’m doing out of order this time around is the review writing. Not great progress, but progress, none-the-less.

Readers also met Silas in Stronger Than Passion, but only briefly. Just long enough to find out that he’s one of Taran’s brother’s best friends and get a hint of things to come. Silas was one of Taran’s first crushes, but way out of his league. Silas was well known for his lack of commitment – both romantically and with life in general. He couldn’t wait to get out of Chesapeake, but fate had other plans. Taran knew better than to get involved with Silas, even as a one night stand, but he needed the distraction and evidently, so did Silas.

There were a lot of ups and downs in Stronger Than Longing. Both Silas and Taran had a lot of emotional baggage to get over. Adding a baby into the mix just added to the drama and Taran didn’t want to be used again. He was determined to find someone who loved him for who he was, not what he could do for the other person in the relationship. Silas was a mess and totally unequipped to be a parent, but equally determined not to be the failure at parenting that his own father had turned out to be. He needed Taran’s help, but he also wanted to prove to Taran that a relationship could go both ways. He appreciated Taran’s support, but he wanted to return it.

These two just about broke me more than once. They were both broken in different ways and weren’t used to depending on anyone else. Taran had his family and friends, but he never found that support in a relationship, until he thought he might find it in Silas – which was crazy… right?

This is a series that I stumbled upon and initially picked up because of the familiar local. It turned out to be much more than that as the series progressed. With each book I felt like I’d found my new favorite couple. I kinda love it when that happens. ❤

Real Hazard (West Coast Forensics #4) by Elle Keaton

They’re not looking for love, but it catches them anyway. Can two very different men find common ground and claim a future… together? 
Foster
✓ Things I love
✓ my kid sister
✓ the no-hope dogs I rehabilitate
✓ my job as an EMT
✓ and maybe my new friend Dutch.
But Dutch isn’t gay and physical attraction isn’t something I feel often. Are these feelings real, or am I just tired of being alone?
Dutch
This is all Hazel’s fault. Hazel the Hazard.
✓ Hazel made me come to first grade safety day.
✓ Hazel blurted out—loudly—about the beautiful fireman.
✓ Hazel invited the beautiful fireman over for a party.
I swear I’m not gay, but Foster Jennings is the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, outside and in.
Dutch Schumach is the single dad of a precocious daughter. He moved to Piedras wanting a better life for Hazel and himself. Things are shaping up, he’s landed a permanent job at Brooch Resort and Hazel has quit having nightmares that someone is going to steal her away.
Then everything goes sideways, Dutch’s past threatens his future and he doesn’t know where to turn.
Something is wrong, Dutch is pushing him away and won’t tell Foster why.
When Hazel goes missing Dutch can’t hide anymore, he needs his… Foster to help him get Hazel back.

Let me start off by saying, I adore a book that includes a kid that is more than just a place holder in the story. Hopefully you know what I mean by that. If you’re going to include a kid in a story, give them some personality, a little wit and snark thrown into the mix doesn’t hurt either. One of the many reasons that this book won me over was the fact that Hazel was that kind of kid. Dutch and Foster weren’t bad either 😉

So, yeah. Hazel kinda stole the show in Real Hazard (at least for this reader). It didn’t hurt that she won over some of the other supporting characters that readers already knew either (mainly tough guy Dany ❤ ) Even though the description starts with the fact that Dutch and Hazel are two “very different men” they really aren’t. Not in the way that matters anyway. Sure, they grew up with different backgrounds, but both of them had strong family values. They would do anything to protect the people that they loved.

There was a lot to love about this one. In a very real way, the supporting characters did a lot to shape both Dutch and Foster or at least show readers who they really were. I also loved the way these two were drawn together and how that brought their families together – even the “found” family members that surrounded them both. There were even a couple of bonus “family” members thrown into the mix.

I’m pretty sure that the author has more books in store for the West Coast Forensics series, but in the mean time, I’ve got plenty of books in her back list of series to keep me busy. 😉

The Strings We Play (Artists & Athletes #3) by C.D. Rachels

Wei
As the new music professor at Korham University, I need to focus on my job. I can’t get entangled with that tall and handsome Facilities Manager who I keep bumping into on campus. Did we have a hot moment together at Christmas? Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s taking my music lecture. Students are off limits, no matter how flirty and sexy they are.
The problem is that Logan’s not just a student; we’re co-faculty, neighbors, and we’ve become good friends. I’ve started to peel back the layers that make up who he really is. It turns out there’s more to this sweet guy whom I’ve been growing closer and closer to. As the semester winds down, the days of him being my student are numbered. Pretty soon, nothing will stand in the away of us hooking up. It’s scary, but can an athlete like him really fall for a performing artist like me? Because I’m afraid I’m already there.
Logan
I’ve been broken for a long time, so I make my job at KU my life. No one has been able to tug on my heartstrings for years. So of course I’m blindsided by this talented and gorgeous new professor I meet. He makes me smile and gives me something to look forward to for the first time in so long. The one catch: I’m taking his intro to music class.
That’s fine by me, I can push down these feelings. I can totally ignore the blazing hot chemistry Wei and I have in the tiny practice rooms while he teaches me scales. But as the semester goes on, I realize he can offer me so much more than just a pretty face; it’s possible that everything I lost all those years ago exist in Wei. When he plays a song, or whenever it’s just the two of us, it feels just like magic.
I refuse to make a move on my professor, even though we’re both faculty. Good things come to those who wait, right? I just have to not let him realize I have a massive crush on him and not let him kiss me…again. And again. 

This is another series that I need to catch up on… (do you see a theme here?) Honestly, I don’t do these things on purpose, but in my defense, I only skipped the first book in the series and that’s only because Artist and Athletes wasn’t on my reading radar until I stumbled on The Moves We Make. Which means, of course, that now The Lines We Draw has now made it to my ever growing TBR pile. 😉

Even though I didn’t start from the beginning, I’m proof positive that you don’t have to read the rest of the books in the series to jump into this series with pretty much any book. Especially since the events that take place in The Strings We Play coincide with the events that take place in The Moves We Make. Although, it was kind of fun reliving some of those moments with Landon and Dane knowing how things finally worked out for them.

I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that the inevitable “drama” that took place in The Strings We Play wasn’t what I expected. I could see it coming though and it was heartbreaking as well as the set up for an incredible twist. The Strings We Play turned out to be a story of love, trust and eventual healing. A sweet love story between two characters we deserved to find their HEA. ❤

Reak Risk (West Coast Forensics #3) by Elle Keaton

It’s possible they’re a match but first the two men will have to survive trial by fire.
Chief Flynn is fighting smoke and flames, tirelessly protecting the lives and property of his fellow islanders from yet another spate of fires.
Arson or accident?
When injury puts him on the sidelines, West Coast Forensics Arson Investigator Kimball Frye offers his assistance. Frye is The Most Irritating Man in the World, a condescending know-it-all who rubs Devon the wrong way.

Or does he?
Decades ago an arsonist stole his family from him since then Frye has devoted his life to putting them behind bars. At forty-nine, he doesn’t believe in permanent relationships, instead preferring the company of interchangeable younger men.
Is the arsonist trying to shift the blame onto Devon, or trying to kill him? If it’s the latter it just might work.
Feeling the pull of attraction to Devon as the firebug grows bolder is inconvenient. Will Kimball listen to his heart or his head? The younger men he’s always preferred are nothing like the solid, stalwart Fire Chief.

So, do you have to read the first 2 books in the West Coast Forensics series to read Real Risk? I honestly have no idea because once again, I jumped in mid-series. *sigh* What I can tell you is that even though I didn’t have whatever background was built in Real Trouble and Real Danger, it didn’t confuse me or cause me to not totally enjoy my time spent with Devon and Kimball.

I honestly adored both Devon and Kimball, even though they didn’t “adore” each other in the beginning. Actually, Devon considers Kimball’s appearance an intrusion. That opinion is reinforced when he finds out his meddling sister has offered his spare room without even asking. It turns out his sister knew him better than he knew himself – or at least knew what he needed. 😉

The back and forth banter between the characters, along with the suspense, mystery, danger, attraction and heat between Kimball and Devon and the fact that there wasn’t a lot of down time kept the pages turning. I was honestly sorry to see the story come to and end… which means that even though I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by skipping the first two books in the West Coast Forensics series, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be adding them to my TBR list. 😉

Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper

There are three things you need to know about Preston “PK” Kingsley:
1) He’s a writer, toiling in obscurity as an editorial assistant at a New York City publishing house.
2) He is not a cliché. No, really.
3) He’s been secretly in love with his best friend, Art, since they once drunkenly kissed in college.
When Art moves in with PK following a bad breakup, PK hopes this will be the moment when Art finally sees him as more than a friend. But Art seems to laugh off the very idea of them in a relationship, so PK returns to his writing roots—in fiction, he can say all the things he can’t say out loud.
In his book, PK can be the perfect boyfriend.
Before long, it seems like the whole world has a crush on the fictionalized version of him, including Art, who has no idea that the hot new book everyone’s talking about is PK’s story. But when his brilliant plan to win Art over backfires, PK might lose not just his fantasy book boyfriend, but his best friend.

Okay, so I really adored this one… even though I felt like shaking PK more than once.

PK was one of my favorite kind of characters. He was adorably awkward and because of that, being in his head was quite entertaining. That’s a good thing, since Book Boyfriend was told totally from PK’s point of view. Although I love getting multiple POVs in one book, this wouldn’t have been the same story if readers had known what was going on from Art’s perspective.

Along with Art and PK, there was an entire cast of characters who really added to the story. PK had a lot of friends who tried to keep him straight. The really bad part was that PK thought he had things under control, until he realized that he really didn’t. I think I felt worse for him in that moment than I felt for Art, basically because he just didn’t get it – even when things totally fell apart. *sigh*

This is my third book by Kris Ripper, but stay tuned because it definitely won’t be my last. I have at least one that I’ve already added to my TBR pile that I missed at the beginning of The Love Study series and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for readers next. 😉

Not A Boy (All American Boy Series) by Elle Keaton

Henry should have kept on walking by when he spotted the younger man sitting alone on the beach. He should never have stopped, never sat down, and certainly never kissed him. Because now Henry is experiencing feelings. And he doesn’t like it one bit.
Things happen for a reason, even random hook-ups. Ben was supposed to get off work early that night. It was no accident the sexy stranger stumbled on his beach hiding spot. The Kiss was destined, as well as what happened afterward. It wasn’t as if Ben believed in love at first sight, but this was damn close.
It’s a good thing Henry lives three-thousand miles away or he might do something stupid, like ask for Ben’s phone number.
Ben’s hometown boss begs him to return and he agrees, only regretting not being able to say goodbye to his snarky divorce lawyer. But all the wanting in the universe isn’t going to bring them together again, he doesn’t even know Henry’s last name. Besides, home is on the west coast, not Maine.
Sometimes the universe is a funny place.

I’m not exactly sure why, but this one took my totally by surprise. I adored both Ben and Henry. They were both a little lost and a little bit broken and they found each other at just the right time, even though neither one of them knew they were looking.

My heart broke a little bit for Henry in the beginning. He had no idea that Ben had the same regrets about how short that their time was together.

Age gap romances can go either way for me, but in Not a Boy, it was hardly noticeable and really a non-issue. The real issue, once they found each other again, was the jaded view on finding a lasting love that Henry had.

This was a short sweet story about the crazy turns that fate can take to bring two people together that were definitely meant to be. My only regret about Not a Boy is that I would have loved to have been able to spend more time with Ben and Henry.

Going Public (Jade Harbour Capital #2) by Hudson Lin

A boss. His employee.
And a scandal that’s about to change everything…
As an operating partner at Jade Harbour, Raymond Chao prides himself in fixing even the most disastrous of portfolio companies—no matter the cost. While his colleagues might not always like his methods, they love his results. But his latest business partner isn’t cooperating, and what’s worse, Raymond’s underhanded tactics have landed him in hot water with the law.
Elvin Goh has been Raymond’s assistant for years, and he’s been in love with the charming, ruthless playboy for just as long. There’s very little that Elvin won’t do—or hasn’t done—for Raymond. Impossible crush aside, it’s his job. But this time, even Elvin can’t see a way out.
When long nights in the office lead to whispered confessions and a newfound intimacy, it seems like a dream come true—for both of them. But with the prospect of failure on the horizon, can this dream team beat the odds and come out the victors in the office and in their hearts?

This was another read that I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about when I finished. I adored Elvin and I have to admit that even though I wasn’t sure about Raymond in the beginning, he kind of grew on me and I began to see what Elvin saw in him. On the surface, Raymond seemed to be a cut throat business man that went through men without a second thought. It also seemed like he used Elvin more than he appreciated him, but that was on the surface. It turned out that he thought about Elvin and cared about him more than even Elvin realized.

I liked the building relationship between Elvin and Raymond and I understood why Elvin felt compelled to support Raymond, even though he didn’t agree with his actions. I could sympathize with Elvin in that way because I didn’t agree with a lot of Raymond’s actions. Which is the crux of my issue with Going Public. Unfortunately, I can’t really say a lot more about really bugged me because I don’t want to give away anything. Let’s just say that the ending wasn’t what I expected and didn’t leave me nearly as satisfied as I was when I finished Hard Sell. *sigh*

Only for Ollie (Star Crossed #3) by Lisa Henry

Xander Finch is a top-ranked MotoGP rider, desperate to get back to the circuit after an injury. He’s going stir-crazy in his parents’ house in Ventura while he works on his recovery. Xander has tunnel vision when it comes to his sport—it’s all he’s ever wanted to do in life. When he hires a massage therapist to help speed up his recovery, he’s not expecting the guy to completely flip his universe on its head.
Ollie Baker is living in his car after a disastrous break-up, and jumps at the chance to earn some extra cash through massage. Xander Finch might be hot as hell, but Ollie’s not going there. He’s never going to let some rich guy screw him over again. Besides, Xander’s straight. Isn’t he?
When their friendship deepens into something more, Xander discovers that Ollie makes him feel a way that nobody ever has before, and maybe motorbikes aren’t his only passion after all. Navigating Xander’s newly discovered demisexuality isn’t the only challenge they’ll have to face if they’re going to be together, because Ollie’s been burned before. It’s hard for him to trust Xander, to believe that he’s really willing to make room in his life for Ollie as well as his racing—assuming he recovers enough to race at all.

What was my first reaction when I finished Only for Ollie? “I think I have a new favorite in the Star Crossed series.” Of course, I’ve thought that after I’ve finished every book in this series so far, but Ollie and Xander’s story so sweet. *sigh*

There was a little bit of a cross-over between Only for Ollie and Because of Ben, but this time readers got the “accident” from Xander’s perspective. It was really only touched on in Because of Ben, but if you’ve followed the series, you knew it was coming. FYI – it didn’t make it any easier to read. Although it wasn’t life threatening, it was definitely life-altering. Xander wasn’t good at staying idle and patience wasn’t one of his virtues. The down time gave him the opportunity for a little self-discovery that he never saw coming.

As much as I grew to love Xander, it took me no time at all to adore Ollie. He deserved so much more than life had dealt him so far and it was getting harder and harder for him to catch a break. Trust didn’t come easy to him so it took him a while to let himself believe that Xander was actually someone he could rely on and believe that the attraction that he felt was mutual.

I think what really made this story for me were the supporting characters. Ollie’s best friend and Xander’s family were amazing. Xander’s parents were adorable and readers already knew that Xander’s twin brother was great. The interactions and support that they gave were both entertaining and heartwarming – for both Ollie and Xander.

Stronger than Hope (Chesapeake Days #1) by Katherine McIntyre

Fresh out of a relationship, Nate’s searching for a change—what better way is there than renovating his uncle’s old coffee shop in Chesapeake City? He has a new job, in a new town, and a new lease. And when he almost runs over his hot neighbor, Linc, who happens to be his contractor? Well, based on the explosive attraction between them, maybe he’ll find something new there too.
Linc’s been treading water ever since his wife passed away in childbirth, focusing all of his energy on raising his son, Beckett. The obvious solution? He needs to get the hell out of Chesapeake City. But when Nate charmingly fumbles his way into Linc’s life, he finds his defenses lowering for the first time in years. One date leads to another, and hell, this man makes him feel in ways he’d forgotten.
Even though Nate just finished piecing his heart back together, he falls fast. Yet Linc’s made it clear he’s a bad bet. The man hasn’t clicked with anyone since his wife, and if Nate ends up being “not enough” again, that won’t shatter just his heart—the fragile home he’s trying to build in this town will crumble too.

Confession time… I obviously don’t need a lot of reasons to pick up a book, but in this case, the series title had a lot to do with my decision to request this title. I’ve lived fairly near the Chesapeake (Bay) for most of my life. Actually, for the past 20+ years my family’s lived on a peninsula that’s surrounded by the Atlantic on the East and the Chesapeake on the west. So yeah, the series title intrigued me – even though I knew that I wasn’t familiar with the exact location that the series took place. Like I said, it doesn’t take much. 😉

Regardless of what prompted me to pick up Stronger than Hope, I’m glad that I did. It turned out to be a very sweet romance that had its characters pulling me in from the very first awkward meeting between Nate and Linc.

Both men had reasons to be wary of starting a relationship, but the attraction between them was hard to ignore. The fact that Nate seemed to have an almost instant connection with Beckett was another strong pull for Linc. He just had to decide if that connection and his attraction was enough to keep him in Chesapeake City.

This story had pretty much everything I love in a sweet romance – including a kid that was smart, witty and an integral part of the story. Stronger than Hope was my first read by Katherine McIntyre, but since I’m pretty sure that I’ll be continuing with whatever comes next in the Chesapeake Days series, it definitely won’t be my last. 😉

Winter Kill by Josh Lanyon

Clever and ambitious, Special Agent Adam Darling (yeah, he’s heard all the jokes before) was on the fast track to promotion and success until his mishandling of a high profile operation left one person dead and Adam “On the Beach.” Now he’s got a new partner, a new case, and a new chance to resurrect his career, hunting a legendary serial killer known as The Crow in a remote mountain resort in Oregon.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Haskell may seem laid-back, but he’s a tough and efficient cop — and he’s none too thrilled to see feebs on his turf — even when one of the agents is smart, handsome, and probably gay. But a butchered body in a Native American museum is out of his small town department’s league. For that matter, icy, uptight Adam Darling is out of Rob’s league, but that doesn’t mean Rob won’t take his best shot.

Have I mentioned before that I’m happy that Josh Lanyon is shedding some light on books from her back list? I’m pretty sure that I have, but I think it’s worth mentioning. Especially since I feel like I jumped on the “Josh Lanyon” train kinda late. I’m really enjoying some of the author’s newer offerings, so I’m thrilled that there’s so much to choose from while I wait for the next books in some of my favorite series. (Secrets and Scrabble, Bednobs and Broomsticks, etc.) Although I adore her lighter offerings, I’m a huge fan of romantic suspense, which is most definitely where Winter Kill falls.

Adam Darling is spending his time chasing leads on a serial killer. Basically he and his partner are doing the grunt work and trying desperately not to screw anything up. He’s pretty sure that his trip to Nearby is a huge waste of time, and he’s right, or is he?

Robert Haskell admires Agent Darling, but that doesn’t stop him from being annoyed about the FBI being on his turf. One night with the not so uptight agent is more than he expected, but still left him wanting just a little bit more. He never expects to see him again, but then things take another turn in Nearby.

I liked the connection between Robert and Adam and the mystery had just enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning. There turned out to be more than one secret kept in Nearby. 😉

Although Winter Kill is a standalone, there was a character near the end that is part of Lanyon’s The Art of Murder Series. Anyone want to take a guess about what just landed on my TBR list? Stay tuned 😉