TOMMASO
The furniture district is my personal hell. I don’t know my ass from an ottoman. But when a hot designer comes to my rescue, I realize my problems are bigger than the house I’m trying to furnish.
A scorching kiss over fabric samples makes me question all my choices. But is it too late to change my entire life to get more of them?
CARTER
I need this gig, but my cocky new client leaves out a couple crucial details:
He doesn’t mention that he's a famous hockey player. And he doesn’t own up to the way he’s always trying to undress me with his dark, broody eyes.
The man throws out more mixed signals than a broken traffic light. I've never been more sexually frustrated in my entire life. I need to back away before I do something stupid, like lose my heart.
Oops. Too late.
Sarina
Bowen is just one of those authors that you know what you are going to get, and
you know you're going to love it. Not in a predictable way, in an amazing
writing, awesome characters and a story I won't want to put down. The only
drawback is being busy as hell and trying to figure out how you can read this
book without interruption or the house burning down around me.
Luckily
for me it's school holidays here and the kids are off enjoying the break and I
could hide away and get lost with Tommaso and Carter. And wow was I swept away
with these guys. From the first page I was so invested in everything that was
going on for each of them. It was such a completely different thing for each of
them and they both dealt with their issues in their own ways, but I wanted to
swoop in and make it all better.
I
couldn't get enough of them together. And normally Tommaso being all conflicted
and on the fence, I would be screaming for Carter to run but I just couldn't.
Because seeing why Tommaso was working so hard to fight himself made me want to
grab my pitchfork. Luckily Carter was able to see through the layers and have
the patience to hold out for him to deal with it in his own way.
Carter
had such golden retriever energy despite having so much against him. Having the
book in dual point of view made my love for both of these guys so much
stronger. I personally would have loved a little vengeance and hellfire to rain
down on the people that had upset them, but I guess I can live with the happy
floaty feeling I had when I put the book down.
This
is the first book by this author I've read and I kind of have mixed feelings. I
liked the story but the writing felt kind of off. It was like someone was
telling me the story as an onlooker and it caused a disconnect between me and
the characters.
I
was told and not shown and it kept dragging me from the story. Also I think the
emotions between the characters could have been shown more. I understand that
the author was going for a confused, denial kind of vibe but some affection or
a more detailed insight into some tender moments would have been nice.
The
story was a short introductory novella but a few more pages of them actually
together might have been nice just to close it out. But all of that said I
liked the story and the characters had a lot of potential. I'm adding the next
book to my TBR and hopefully being a full length book I'll get everything I
want from it.
A new male / male hockey romance from 24-time USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen!
My name is Hudson Newgate, but my teammates call me New Guy.
That was my nickname in Chicago, too. And Vancouver. That’s what happens when you keep getting traded. Brooklyn is my last chance, especially after my poor performance last season.
But I can make this work. The new guy knows to keep his head down and shoot the puck. The new guy puts the game first.
What he doesn’t do is hook up with the other new guy—a hot athletic trainer who lives in my building. Gavin needs this job with my team. He’s a single dad with responsibilities.
We can’t be a couple. My arrogant agent–who’s also my father–will lose his mind if I’m dating a dude. And my team needs me to score goals, not whip up a media circus.
Too bad Gavin and I are terrible at resisting each other…
MY REVIEW
VENDOR LINKS
All links in one place: https://shor.by/NewGuy
Amazon: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Amzn
Apple Books: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Appl
Kobo: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Kobo
Nook: https://geni.us/New-Guy-BandN
Audio: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Audible
Sarina Bowen is the
twenty-time USA Today bestselling author of three dozen books, including: the True North series,
and Brooklyn Hockey. She's
the co-author of Him/Us and
the WAGs series with
Elle Kennedy. She's the author of The Ivy Years series,
and more!
Are you looking for a friends-to-lovers story or maybe even a secret baby book?
You can read a list of
Sarina's books broken out by trope and style.
Need to know what's coming
next ? Get all the latest news on Sarina's website, and sign up for her newsletter so you
don't miss a book or a deal.
As
soon as I saw the sign up for a new Sarina Bowen book, I was on it, I didn't
read the blurb, I didn't know if it was part of a series, I was ready for it.
Then I started seeing teasers and I realised it was a hockey book and I was
even more excited to get my hands on it. But the icing on the cake was finding
out it was a MM book. No-one does MM like Sarina Bowen. Perhaps that's because
hers were my first but I just love them. If I didn't know better, I'd think she
was writing lived experience.
Although
in saying that if she writes it I'm buying it and reading it before it's fully
downloaded on my kindle. Seriously all of her books have the perfect balance of
emotions, drama, humour, and just amazing stories. Add in characters that I end
up caring way too much about for fictional characters and I am a little
obsessed. Not in a scary restraining order kind of way, promise.
Hudson
and Gavin had the best hearts. They were just so sweet and loving and
supportive and caring, and I loved them. But they also had wicked hot chemistry
and the sex scenes were mmmm. Then top it off with realistic life problems and
non-problems, just the everyday navigation of a new relationship and a new city.
I would be remiss if I didn't warn you to be careful of when and where you read
this though as I had a lot of surprise laugh out loud moments. As well as a few
times my eyes seemed to spontaneously leak.
I
really struggled to put this down to adult but every time I picked it up again,
I immediately picked it right back up because each time I was away they were
all living in my head rent free. And of course, we got awesome secondary
characters, and I don't just mean the Bruisers and family we already know. I'm
praying that we get books for so many people.
I
do have to say there was a moment at the 70 or 80% mark I was waiting for this
magical resolution. And it didn't happen. But I couldn't even be sad about it
because what happened was just so much more realistic it made it perfect.
Although that happened consistently throughout the book, you would think I
would have stopped trying to guess the next plot twist, but it sure did make
the aforementioned adulting easier.
The
only terrible thing about this book is it's finished and now I have to pretend
to be patient while we wait for the next book. And as we all know waiting
sucks.
Undone by Leslie McAdam is now live!
My new roommate has the worst taste in men.
I mean, Murph’s special. He’s funny and flamboyant and full of life.
While I’m straight, even I can tell these guys aren’t good enough for him.
I had to yell at one date, toss another one out the door, and throw a beer in another’s face.
Kind of embarrassing, really. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.
I ask my sister what’s wrong with me and she says I’m jealous.
Jealous? Please. Me?
Come on.
Only thing is, I hate the thought of Murph kissing any guy. Ever.
Except, maybe ... me?
Undone is a contemporary m/m romance about a dreamy insurance agent that might not be as straight as he thinks, an adorable bartender who adds sparkle wherever he goes, and maybe one or two jokes about swords.
My Review
FREE with Kindle Unlimited
About the Author
Leslie McAdam is a California girl who loves romance and well-defined abs. She lives in a drafty old farmhouse on a small orange tree farm in Southern California with her husband and two small children. Leslie's first published book, The Sun and the Moon, won a 2015 Watty, which is the world's largest online writing competition. She's gone on to receive additional literary awards and has been featured in multiple publications, including Cosmopolitan.com. Her books have been Top 100 Bestsellers on both Amazon and Apple Books. Leslie is employed by day but spends her nights writing about the men of your fantasies.
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Ok, I keep telling everyone how much I love this whole True North world and seriously the books just keep making me repeat myself. The whole thing is awesome. We get the True North world and all of their places and some of their people. Then we get these great new characters mixed in with some returning faces and beautiful new stories. And no matter your genre there’s a book for you because it has it all. Plus it comes from the brain of the amazing Sarina Bowen. I feel like a total fangirl every time I try to write a review for any of these books, even when they don’t work for me.
This one however nailed it for me. Yeah, MM is a genre I love yet rarely read cause I’m weird like that so every single V&V book that sounds good I immediately jump on and I just kept coming back to this one. And thank god for that because, Murph. Murph was just rainbows and gumdrops and so sweet even a straight guy wanted to put him in his mouth 😉 Everything about Murph makes you want to call dibs on being his BFF. He was sweet and caring and fun and confident and just so happy to be himself and love the people around him and in turn you immediately loved him.
Jason started off a little bit quiet and reserved and I wasn’t sure how he was going to go from being straight laced to being with Murph. Not that there was any reason he shouldn’t be with Murph but there was a lot of space between where he started and who he ended up being in a way that he needed to look into his thoughts and beliefs of who he was. And he was a great guy to begin with. He just thought he needed to be who his Dad wanted him to be.
The character development was perfect and watching these guys go from roommates to a couple was a really natural, comfortable progression. And when they started to move forward and everything was happy and smooth sailing around the 60% mark my mind went off on a million tangents. And I was wrong on every single thing I guessed. The whole story was just gooey goodness and I couldn’t get enough of it.
I rarely read MM romance but whenever I pick one up I enjoy it and wonder why I don't read them more often. Today I picked this one up to complete a challenge and ended up adding a new author to my stalking list. And a new series to my TBR.
I really love the fake relationship trope and the blurb on this sounded like the perfect mix of fun and sweet. And it absolutely lived up to all of my expectations. It was sweet and funny and light-hearted, but it also had a load of emotions. And I feel like I connected with both characters.
Damon and Maddox were brilliant together. They both had their own reasons for being reluctant about starting a relationship. And I couldn't fault either of them, especially since they acted maturely and didn't let stupid miscommunication issues come between them.
The whole story was perfect, and I am so happy I grabbed this on KU. I'm even more excited to dive into book two after getting a brief introduction to them as secondary characters.
So, I've been a little hooked on the Vino and Veritas books and a lot hooked on the True North world. Even though I'm not a huge MM reader I had to dive into a couple after either meeting them in the other series or just being sucked into the blurb.
Funnily enough I remember Jon from one of the previous books, but I had no idea who he was when I first picked this up. But I soon realised that really didn't matter because he was so much more than the bars musician. And I enjoyed getting to know him and his son.
Brent was a really likable, sweet character who I felt immense empathy for. He was so long in the middle of this hurricane that had previously been his life and he couldn't see out of it. And God did my heart break for him. He just kept getting hit from every corner every time he thought he had his feet under him he took another hit.
I loved both characters and the story was good. I was dying to see all the walls drop and these two guys to get their happily ever after. And for things to be better for both of them but the story felt a little repetitive about some things. And for me personally, and I want to emphasize that most people probably won't have this issue, it was too descriptive. I kept getting distracted when it felt like it was just filler. Just because I don't care about the tile choices based on the lighting, I want to know what is going to happen with the last plot twist.
And that's a me problem. I have so little quiet reading time, I no longer want the long novels I can get lost in because two 3 year old girls are not letting that happen. So, I feel like I didn't appreciate the authors writing style enough. And I really am struggling with how to rate it. I think I'll hit in the middle and go 3.5.
So, I'm kind of feeling a little out of my depth here. I don't normally read very much MM romance, but I had to read the Moo U books and then that lead to a few of the Busy Bean books. And then I had to read Rainn's book, so I checked out the other Vino and Veritas and this one grabbed me.
And despite it not being my normal go to read I was completely enthralled. Gabe was such a mess, yet he was so sweet and interesting I immediately wanted to adopt him. Alec was a complete grump and yet he was so sweet and understanding of Gabe and all his insecurities that I grew to love him.
The whole story kept me from putting my kindle down as I had to see how Alec was going to get himself out of the knots he had tied himself up in. Plus, there was the slightest bit of intrigue when I could tie my hormones away from thinking about how hot Alec and Gabe were.
I'm so glad I read this book. And now I absolutely have to go stalk this author and the other Vino and Veritas books. Toodles.
BY EDEN FINLEY
Cover Design: Christine Coffey
When I first met Whit, I couldn’t get away from him fast enough. He’s a hockey player, and I hate everything to do with the sport that broke my heart.
But I can’t help feeling sorry for the guy. He’s newly out and desperate to meet someone, but his eagerness seems to scare potential hook-ups away.
Agreeing to be his wingman should’ve been simple. Watching him flirt with other guys made things complicated.
Whit challenges me in every aspect of my life, from my hatred of hockey to the new questions I’m asking myself. Like why a straight man suddenly can’t stop thinking about kissing another guy.
I think the answer lies somewhere on Whit’s lips...
A steady stream of drink orders keeps me busy for a solid half hour, but that doesn’t stop me from noticing Whit moving around the room to flirt with guys. Ultimately, from what I can see, he strikes out and wanders back to me during a lull.
He sits at a stool and bangs his head on the countertop.
A laugh bubbles out of me. “I don’t know how hygienic that is.”
Whit’s lips turn down. “You work here.”
“Exactly.”
“Eww.” Whit wipes his forehead. “Is being gay always this hard?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“I have to admit, this isn’t exactly what I was expecting.”
I lean my hip against the bar. “What were you expecting?”
“I dunno? For guys to see how hot I am and ask to blow me in the bathroom or something?”
A full-blown laugh falls from my lips this time. I have to admit, the dude is funny even if he’s not trying to be.
“So glad my misery is entertaining to you.”
“Sorry.”
“Where are all the easy men who want all the gay sex and no strings or names?”
I purse my lips. “Maybe it’s like that in big cities? The scene is low-key here. I mean, all bars by nature have that hookup culture, but if you’re looking for boys in booty shorts and orgies, you’re definitely in the wrong place. When Harrison opened V and V, he wanted to create a safe and queer-friendly environment that everyone could enjoy.”
“Is everything about gay people in mainstream media wrong?”
“Probably.”
He pushes his empty closer to me. “Can I get another cider?”
“Sure.” I switch them out.
The night isn’t super busy, but the work is steady. I leave him again to serve others but keep stealing glances at him. It’s confusing. Objectively speaking, he’s a good-looking guy. His intriguing eye color is a draw in itself, along with his dimples when he smiles. His suit doesn’t make him look like your typical college hockey player. It’s a mystery why he’s striking out.
Jake reappears at Whit’s side, and Whit’s face lights up. Then Whit’s mouth moves a hundred miles a minute, and Jake’s eyes gloss over.
I can’t hear what Whit’s saying, but I think I’ve found the reason why he’s not having any luck.
Jake turns his head toward me and mouths, “Help.”
Super-bartender to the rescue. Not all heroes wear capes. I give Jake a new drink. “Whit here’s too young for you.”
Jake gives me a grateful look and moves away quickly.
“Oh, age isn’t a big deal to me,” Whit calls after him.
If possible, Jake moves faster.
Whit slumps.
“You don’t want to date that guy anyway. He’s in here all the time trying to score.”
“Aww, that sounds perfect for what I need.”
I cock my head.
“I can’t be a virgin when I graduate in the spring. That’s sad. I mean, ideally, I won’t be a virgin by my next birthday which is in seven weeks, but I’m willing to be flexible.”
Oh dear.
“This has been your opening line to guys tonight, I’m guessing?”
“Well … I told myself not to talk, but then, I don’t know, isn’t that something you should disclose? It feels like something you should tell someone. Because, they have to be, like, gentle and shit, and it’s not like gay sex is something you jump into, right?”
“Again, I wouldn’t know. But has anyone ever told you that you talk a little too much and maybe say things you don’t need to put out there right away?”
“Really?”
“Well, we’ve only met twice, and oversharing and boundary crossing seems to be a common theme.”
Whit groans. “I’m fucking this up.”
“You really aren’t. You’re just coming on a little strong. You’re hot—I mean, I’m guessing. Everyone keeps staring at you and checking you out. It’s your mouth that’s holding you back.”
“So I just have to fill my mouth with something other than words.”
His words make my straight cock twitch a little. Ah, blowjobs. Oh, how I’ve missed thee. I point at him. “That. Right there. Lead with that.”
Whit glares at me, and I have to say his tough face is kind of laughable.
“Or every time you feel yourself rambling, take a drink,” I suggest.
Whit’s head falls to the bar again. “I’ll die of alcohol poisoning.”
It’s not my fault a laugh escapes. Seriously, I can’t tell if this guy is entertaining or plain sad.
He lifts his head. “You should be my wingman.”
I should do what now? “As tempting as that is, I kinda have a job to do already.”
“Yeah, but that’s why you’ll be good at it. You know people, and you’ve seen things.”
“I’m straight, remember? I know nothing about gay hookups. I’d tell you to go on dates and make them feel special before trying to get them into bed.”
“Is it against gay law to go on dates and make each other feel special?”
I throw up my hands. “I don’t know. Which is exactly why I shouldn’t be your wingman.”
“Worth a shot.” Whit finishes off his cider. He stands, and I think he’s going to go back to mingling, but he takes his coat off his chair and puts it on. “Thanks for the drinks.”
MM romance isn’t a genre I actively seek out, I tend to just read the ones by authors I know who write a one off or when it’s a part of a series, which is kind of crazy since I really enjoy them when I read them. So, when this Vino & Veritas series was initially mentioned I figured I would sign up for the promo but not read them. Then we met Rainn in one of the first Moo U books and I had to know what his story was. And then I read the blurb for this and I had to read it immediately.
And here we are.
So, I read this one for Rainn but I loved it for Whit. Honestly, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I was intrigued by Rainn and I wanted more of his story and obviously I knew he was straight so I was expecting some push and pull and a whole lot of confusion and denial.
Once I got to know Whit I wanted Rainn to be sweet and gentle with him because he was such a sweetheart. I swear I read half of the book holding my breath waiting for the freak out or the drama. And when it came it wasn’t even close to what I expected it to be and I loved the way both characters dealt with it.
Through the whole book both characters felt very mature and sincere, and I loved everything about them. Individually they were genuinely great people and together they were hot as hell. I’m so glad I was nosy enough to check this out and I can’t wait to read more of the Vino and Veritas series cause now I need more.
