Smash & Grab: RELIC Book 1, Maz Maddox

Seriously, dinosaur stuff and paleontology?  Pink mohawks?  A deep love of kids?  Why has no one yet written a dinosaur shifter that is both cute and fierce?  Dalton is absolutely adorable as well as being a punk.  He's thoughtful and considerate even while pushing Simon's buttons.  Well, to be honest, he pushes everyone's buttons, but he knows when enough's enough.

His pretty Simon takes a little while to come around to things, but when he does his devotion to Dalton is just as strong as Dalton's is for him.  I'm completely in love with this story, not just because of the novelty, but also because it was well-written, the pacing was right for the characters and the situation, the relationship was believable, and the set up for a series was really well done. I'm just sold. I cannot wait to see who finds their person next!

*$4.99 on Amazon

My standard issued lab badge reads 'Simon' but it really should say 'unexciting nerd with no social life'

Don’t get me wrong -- I love what I do with a passion, but it doesn’t leave a lot of time for much else.

Especially romance.

While chipping away at my work, I’m suddenly the person between hired cartel muscle and the fossil that will define my career.

Which isn’t the most insane part of the story.

My savior is a chaotic, bat-wielding punk with a bubble gum pink mohawk and a killer smile.

In a mad dash to escape the thieves, my knight in studded armor sweeps me across the country while hitting every tourist trap along the way.

While smuggling a fossil, might I add.

Oh, and did I mention this pink punk can shift into a dinosaur?

Ruby Run: Tin Star Witches - Witches of Ruby Gulch Book 3, Sam Burns

From the very beginning the MC's were interesting and complex. They're not remotely similar to one another and yet there's something more that brings them together. Their personalities are endearing in their own ways and for very different reasons. The overall plot moved forward at an acceptable pace that allowed us to focus on the MC's, their pasts, their current difficulties, and what kind of life they would look toward when they finally reached Ruby Gulch.

I think what I liked the most was the honesty. Griff was admittedly a grouch but he never let that stand in the way of how interesting, adorable, and endearing he thought Augie was. Walt was really a reflection of his owner and yet his heart was soft as well. They made a great guardian/range witch pairing. Add in the adorably vulnerable yet eager Augie with his compassionate soul and earnest heart and they were a wonderful match. I enjoyed how their relationship grew and that there weren't any angsty bits with past lovers or misunderstood intentions. Their honesty made their path relatively smooth.

As for the magic and the plot, there was a huge tilt in the balance toward the explanations and romance and not the mystery that followed them. Because we knew who the antagonist was and that they would eventually have their reckoning, the journey was used to build a foundation between Griff and Augie as well as give us a thorough transition from an uncertain future to a solid plan with intention. The confrontation was between exactly who it needed to be between and it hinted at a whole lot of magically awesome things that are to come for Augie in his new life. I wish we had more of their story after that point, but the epilogue was sweet and clear enough that there were no mysteries as to how their life is progressing, I just wish I got to see the settling down at the ranch.

I truly enjoyed this story and am quite excited to see what else this series has in store. The other books are all by different authors and in the same setting, though I'm not sure how much crossover we'll get between the characters. I have certain hopes that we'll see a larger picture of the ranch and the world they all created though, so I'll be back for more for sure. Except I really hope for a little more explicit definitions as to the type of witches because using the basic "range witch" and "book witch" descriptions just weren't enough to understand the scope of what the witches are and are capable of.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Augustus Ambrose never planned to return to the United States after graduation. His mother’s final letter, with its dire threats about what would await if he did, had been more than enough to keep him away. But when his Aunt Grace dies unexpectedly and leaves him her ranch in the New Mexico Territory, he can’t ignore it. Grace gave him everything, and he can’t let her legacy suffer for his childish fear of his mother.

Griffith Taylor doesn’t want much. Quiet nights on the range, a big blue sky, and no rattlesnakes in his boots. He definitely doesn’t want to travel to Boston to take care of his late boss’s heir. When he lays eyes on his charge, everything changes. Not just because Augie is the best looking greenhorn he’s ever clapped eyes on, oh no.

Someone wants Griff’s new boss dead, and they’re not afraid to use forbidden magic to get the job done. Griff can handle himself in a fight, but this job might be more than he’s prepared for.

Off Plan: Whispering Key Book 1, May Archer

Mason was surly, difficult, and completely misreading nearly everything to the point of his own misery.  I was immediately charmed by him and his vulnerable churlishness.  I just knew there would be more to his story and a huge part that he was missing and I was determined to find out just what he wasn't capable of seeing.  

Finn was stuck up, judgey, and stubborn.  I was less charmed by him and his arrogant self-righteousness.  He became interesting however, as he discovered what he truly wanted out of life and where he felt most like his truest, happiest self.

The story was fanciful while also feeling real.  There were so many amusing characters that made their tiny town so interesting.  It seemed like everyone was so starved for more that they were happy to get caught up in Big Rafe's big dreams.  Only Mason seemed to see the dark cloud and blind to the silver lining.  Finn was determined to find the silver lining if only to prove that he's not a failure at yet another thing.  Together they softened their edges, gave them a sense of belonging and acceptance, and pushed one another to see more than what was before them.  Their adventure and even the dramatic discovery was suitably chaotic and fit right into all the shenanigans and personalities that surrounded Finn and Mason.

It took a little while for the story to really gain traction, but once it did I was all in.  I found it difficult to not get sucked into everyone and everything.  I'm really looking forward to more from this series and felt we were left off in a good place with good people that are very worthy of all the excitement that's surely coming their way.

*$5.99 on Amazon

I came to Whispering Key for a job. That was all. To show the world Mason Bloom could be more than a small-town doctor living a medium-sized life.

Private doctor on a swanky island with a posh resort? Check.

But from the moment I set foot on this island, nothing went according to plan.

I didn’t expect to find the resort falling apart.
I didn’t expect the people here to be so charming and crazy and welcoming and real.
I didn’t expect legends about shipwrecks and buried treasure.
And I definitely didn’t expect Fenn Reardon, the island’s incredibly attractive, incredibly infuriating, incredibly male resident tour guide, to become the one person I can’t live without.

Thirty-five’s a bit late for me to realize I'm not straight, though, right? And I have big dreams that won’t fit on Whispering Key, anyway—dreams that do not include tying myself to a tiny island stuck in the past or to a man who refuses to think about the future.

My head’s telling me I have to leave Whispering Key…
My heart’s telling me there might be treasure on this island after all.

A Wolf Reborn: Blue Moon Shifters Book 1, Isha Fang

I was so incredibly confused.  There was so much that distracted from the flow of the story, the characters got in their own way so dang often, the romantic progression was extremely frustrating, the plot didn't feel focused, and the characters weren't compelling on their own.  The potential came from the incredibly unique ideas that were attempted and the implications for the future that came right at the end of this story.  While I wasn't a fan of how everything was integrated, with some objective editing and streamlining, this series could improve immensely and would be worth a second look.

I don't really want this review to seem more like a rant, but there are some glaring issues that bother me enough to feel it important enough to include so as to caution potential readers of possible struggles.  So with that introduction...on to the not-rant!

The pack dynamics were really convoluted with so many links, relationships, hierarchies, and crossovers.  There was a severe lack of clarity that left me trying to accept confusion rather than parse out who was what and why they were important.  Similarly there was a cultural element here that tried way too hard to be poetic and poignant.  The explanations and practices were nice in theory, but poorly executed and served as a confusion as to why so much of that was important because the culture wasn't truly connected to the plot or the MC's despite the blood relation.

Cillin was ... strange?  He seemed older and focused and put-together, but as soon as his mate is discovered, it's like he becomes a different person.  His stunned moments where he internally freaks out are bizarre, his interactions with Conor are baffling, and his inner dialogues with his wolf are a little more codependent than I'm comfortable with.  And what is with the descriptions, explanations, and the scene with his Fbuddy?  Completely unnecessary and just left me feeling icky when we kinda roll back around to the non-building of his relationship with Conor...which is a whole other thing.  Time jumps, holding back, a bizarre heat, unvoiced feelings, drama and trauma, adoptions...what else can we include but not integrate?

There are quite a few threads that are picked up and left to dangle in the wind only to be brought back up with an unsatisfactory integration.  Cillin is supposed to have a lunch with his father? grandfather? someone regarding the Blue Moon shifter thing that we never read about in any way and then during a cultural ceremony with Conor's family it gets brought up in a way that leaves me with more questions than answers, and not in an intriguing way that would bring me back to the series for more.  And the whole thing with Mark's alpha is kind of given a response after the truly crazy is revealed, but there's no real closure there at all.  That whole convoluted mess is too big to be wrapped up with a couple sentences and yet that's what we're given.

And then there's the voice.  Cillin starts off with a sage sounding voice, but then modern slang and vernacular is tossed in which doesn't fit at all with who we meet initially.  They're supposed to be in Boston but no one sounds like they're from Boston.  There are references and languages being tossed around from Ireland and India and it confuses the entire location at every turn.  With no flow in the dialogues it was so hard to want to keep reading.

What's with all the fainting?  I mean, at certain times it's appropriate, and sometimes with being pregnant there's a bloodflow issue at times (I had very low blood pressure with my second so I get feeling faint), but to completely faint as often as Conor does was excessive to say the least.  None of it served any purpose except to make me feel that Conor was weak which did nothing to give me any hope that he'll actually live up to the powers and responsibility he'll have in the books to come.

Ultimately, the end was the best part with making me want to learn more about the powers and implications of the future.  Who else will be Blue Moon, what will they do, how will everything come together?  I didn't love this story, but felt mildly interested in what will come next.  I wish so hard that this was as good as I had hoped it would be, but that was not the case.

*$3.99 on Amazon

An Omega who thinks he's broken and cannot have a mate.
An Alpha who is ready to find his destined mate!

Conor:
An accident turns violent and ends with me in the hospital. I thought nothing else dramatic could happen.
I was wrong.
My doctor turned out to be everything I crave, but everything I’m afraid of.
I’m nothing special, just an omega that can’t shift.
Cillin is an alpha.
I can’t understand why he wants me and yet, he keeps pulling me in.


Cillin:
What was meant to be a normal day at the hospital turned into the most important one of my life. Working in the ER isn’t a glamorous job, but one I love, and treating patients is an everyday occurrence.
Until the patient turns out to be my fated.
Too late to turn back now; I’ve imprinted on him.
Now, I just have to convince him to stay. He may not see it but I know he’s special.

Will they find their way to each other?
Will fate prove the omega is not broken?
Or will they lose each other forever?

Clayton: Single Dads Club Book 3, Candice Blake

I don't feel that this is a good representation of what the author can produce.  Many of their stories are touching and well thought out.  This story suffered from too quick of a pace and not enough objective thought in how some of it would come across.  Overall it wasn't a bad story, it just really needed more pages and more finesse with creating both men.

Clayton was interesting in the beginning because of his honesty and obvious love and exasperation with his college-bound son, though that relationship was made a focus and then quickly abandoned.  What followed with his interaction with the various men of the Single Dads group was touching in that he was attentive and genuinely enjoyed providing a safe and accepting place for men of all walks of life to cope with, advise, and commiserate with others in similar life situations.  It was his interactions with Westley that had me scratching my head.  I have to admit to becoming increasingly uncomfortable with Clayton's behavior.

Knowing West is straight and yet continually flirting with him is on the edge, less so because of the eyes that West is making right back at Clayton, but the way he pushes for physical intimacy before truly knowing the man and working past the very glaring and obvious emotional impasse is over the line for me.  Using language like, "Come on," when West is saying no in a way that implies no rather than interested hesitance is inappropriate and extremely bothersome.  Many of us who have been pressured into physical intimacy likely have negative connections with those words and those that are similar and I find the entire situation Clayton is pursuing appalling.

West is harder to know because we get so very little of him as a person.  This was likely due to the shorter length of the story and would have been much better if we had more from him.  I can't honestly say that I like him as a person either.  He seems so milquetoast for the vast majority of the story rather than the decisive man we're introduced to.  He wilts as the story progresses, especially under Clayton's pressuring.  While I have a great hope that he gets better there's just no clear evidence that he will.

Maybe the series gets better?  I'll give the next book a shot to see if the series can redeem itself, but I don't really have a lot of hope of that.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Westley: A one-week cottage trip with a group of single dads...what could possibly happen?

I don’t have any expectations for this trip and I certainly don't expect to meet Clayton, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and icy-blue eyes, who makes me question my sexuality.

Stuck inside the cottage in one of the worst snowstorms in years, Clayton and I don’t have a choice but to get to know each other. We start off as just friends, but Clayton’s charming and able to convince me to do things with him I never thought I’d do. Soon, I start having feelings for this handsome, older man.

But once we go back to the real world, I know things will never work out between us. As one of the top neurosurgeons in the country, I've dedicated my life to my work. It wouldn't be fair for anyone to have to deal with my long and hectic hours at the hospital.

So, do we make the best of our short time together and end it at that? Or do I give it a chance with Clayton when we finally go home?

Clayton:

As the founder of the Single Dads Club, I organize an annual trip to my cottage. This year, I extended the invitation to friends and family of my members.

I meet someone named Westley and he reminds me so much of my husband who died ten years ago. When I catch Westley stealing glances at me from across the room one too many times, I make a move on him and test the waters.

There's something about Westley that drives me wild. But he makes it clear that he's straight. As a CEO, I don't give up easily, and I won't give up on someone I find so special.

I'm still healing after my husband's death and it's hard to love again. With my son leaving for college in a year, I'll be all alone. I want to fall in love again, but just the thought of it terrifies me. Westley has the power to change all that.

Will he though?

Darkest Hour Before Dawn: THIRDS Book 9, Charlie Cochet

Seb and Hudson have been dancing around one another for years.  It's no surprise that the drama between and around them is pretty huge as it's part of all the THIRDS crazy, but it's the personal touches and juicy history that makes this story unique.  It was so much more than a case of disappointed hopes, things not working out, or the pitfalls of interoffice dating; Hudson's unbearable grief, Seb's crushing guilt, and a whole slew of villains conspire to keep them apart.

Dex won't take that lying down however, and orchestrates a few "collisions" between them that both help and hurt their second chance.  I didn't mind his meddling at all because he's right.  I also love his blunt acknowledgment of the goods and bads of both Seb's and Hudson's behavior.  For Dex to call a spade a spade in and amongst his silly maneuverings brings attention to the gravity of what's going on.

It's Hudson that really has the most growing to do, I feel.  Yes, Seb has his own part to answer for, but he's also much more grounded in who and what he wants and does his best to respect Hudson's misguided and childish requests.  Hudson bothered me at so many moments because of his immaturity, his selfishness, his "woe is me" attitude, and his general dismissiveness of Seb and his heart.  The tragedy that tore them apart honestly had less to do with their separation than Hudson's continual rejection and that bothered me quite a lot.  Combining that with his treatment of Nina and I was less-than thrilled with the man that I'd previously come to love.

Their reconciliation was good, though I think it really could have been stronger.  The drama surrounding a reprehensible interloper seemed out of proportion to the dangers that could have been the catalyst to bringing Seb and Hudson back together.  It would have been better to focus on the group that wants Hudson rather than the individual that has nefarious designs his backside.  In addition to all that crazy, there's a rather obvious yet surprising reveal that flummoxes everyone and bears incredible implications for so many things going forward.

Shock, steam, sweet feels, and a whole lot of butt-kicking carry this part of the series and paves the way for a whole lot more of all that as we approach the series conclusion.

$4.99 on Amazon

THIRDS Team Leader Sebastian Hobbs and Chief Medical Examiner Hudson Colbourn are as much in love now as they were nearly seven years ago when a tragic event on the job destroyed their relationship. The two drift together only to be pulled apart time and time again. When Hudson draws the interest of dangerous enemies, both within and outside the organization, Seb wants nothing more than to protect the man who still means everything to him.

As life-and-death events, an uncertain future, and startling truths draw Hudson and Seb to each other yet again, they must make a choice: trust their love and take strength from what they share, or lose what matters most… for good this time.

The Rutledge Brothers, Piper Scott

Tragic in the life Seth is forced to lead, and triumphant in how that part of his life ends.  The beginning and end of the story were just right, each giving the exact right feeling for where we began with Seth and where we ended up with him together with Tad.  It was the middle that suffered however, from the length of the story.  There wasn't sufficient character development and with only a basic knowledge of who these men are, there wasn't enough to connect me to them.  I enjoyed both of them on a surface level and appreciated what they brought to one another.  If the dramatic confrontation weren't forced and a "flash-in-the-pan" moment it would have really been powerful with seeing Seth really win against what held him captive both in circumstance and inside him.  This really needed to be reworked into a novel because I just wanted so much more.  3 stars.

By far the best story in the trio, Save Me was full of character depth, relationship growth, self-sacrifice, and the best parts of love.  I believed so much in Elijah and Silas' evolution and in them individually.  What occurred between them was exactly right to allow for Elijah to achieve his potential.  Being so completely brainwashed for much of the story as well as seeing his motives that stemmed from that, it would have cheapened anything he shared with Silas and would have spelled disaster for any kind of mental and emotional healing.  I still wanted more, especially from Silas and why he is who he is, so that I could call the story complete.  4 stars.

Sadly, this was the least developed story of the bunch.  I was incredibly intrigued by Harrison but got no answers as to why he chose a celibate life.  There was a story there and we got literally nothing about it.  Nathaniel was definitely young and I did feel like he knew himself, but there's so much individual growth he needed to achieve.  He kind of straddled the line between being an independent omega and a stereotypical one and I don't think both sides blended well enough.  There was a ton of the "first" moments when people find themselves attracted to someone, but nothing beyond an ill-timed heat to really bring them together.  Where in the previous stories the other brothers played a little role to tie them all together there was nothing here and that was a missed opportunity, especially since it could have served as a bridge to discuss Harrison's history or to guide him through accepting a future with Nathaniel.  Compelling is not the word I would use for the characters, the relationship, or the story overall, which is immensely sad since this was the end cap to the series.  2 stars.

The Ghosts Between Us: The West Hills Book 1, Brigham Vaughn

Tears.  Actual tears came out of my eyes.  The was so much pain and yet it was so moving and beautiful I couldn't bring myself to care that I usually have a harder time with books filled with angst and suffering.  Even the whole brother's-ex-lover thing wasn't as difficult for me to swallow.  This was a long story and while I thought I would be skimming to get to the point of most passages, I was riveted.  With the depth of the story's themes I was glad for all the words because without them, the grief, angst, pain, and healing wouldn't have had enough attention to grow to a climax and then to settle into something like peace.

Sometimes when brothers end up dating the same person (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) it can feel creepy and just wrong.  In this situation it fully explores the guilt and confusion Chris feels over the situation.  It felt believable and a lot easier to stomach the reality that Elliot was just a man in whom both brothers saw something special.  The confessions and difficulties were hard to get through because they felt so real.  I really, really wanted a dual POV with this one though I think that would have led the story down some darker, more painful paths and with the amount of agony already included, I don't think we would have come out of that dark tunnel without additional emotional scars.

We got so much detail in this story that Chris' emotional journey was all-encompassing and felt so complete.  From the shocking revelations that tipped his world off its axis, to the emotional roller coaster they led him on, to the devastation and destruction of his family, and finally to the peace of letting go and moving forward, there was a lot to cover.  Had this book been any shorter and it wouldn't have done that trek justice.  It was a painful ride and while I was shocked that no one seemed to be on Chris' side except Ed, his godfather and mentor, it didn't shy away from everyone else's struggle with the secrets Cal left behind.  I could appreciate that at the same time as being disappointed in certain characters.

With no shortage of torment, it was difficult to see just how everything would work out for Elliot and Chris, but when they got there, it was fitting.  There was no magic cure, no saving moment, it wasn't even a fully healed ending either.  It was real in that grief isn't linear and the path to finding peace among all the inner turmoil is never easy and doesn't always have a terminus.  But love, true and abiding love, being willing to see one another through to the other side, that's what matters.  Accepting yourself and your mistakes, making amends, and moving forward one step at a time gets the results.  I was moved from the very start to the very end.

*$5.99 on Amazon!

Dr. Christopher Allen knows how to deal with death. He’s a psychiatrist who works with hospice patients and their families, helping them cope with grief and letting go. But Chris’s job doesn’t prepare him for the sudden death of his devil-may-care brother Cal. 

At Cal’s funeral, Chris is completely thrown when he meets Elliot Rawlings, an artist Cal has been dating. Chris is hurt to discover that the brother he knew as straight was actually bisexual. Elliot is angry and resentful of having been kept hidden from Cal’s family. 

After the funeral, a night of drinking at the bar with Cal’s friends leads to Chris and Elliot falling into bed together. The next morning, they’re overwhelmed by guilt and grief and agree to never speak of it again. 

But Cal’s apartment needs to be packed up and Elliot reluctantly agrees to help Chris, as well as answer some questions about Cal’s life and their relationship. Despite their guilt and initial dislike for one another, they sort through the pieces of Cal’s life and begin to fall for each other.

Despite his best efforts to fix things, Chris’s family seems to be crumbling around him and he begins to question who he is and what his role with them is. As his feelings for Elliot grow, Chris must decide if they’re worth further damaging his fragile relationships with his friends and family.

Elliot’s rough upbringing has left him distrustful of getting close to anyone, much less another man who isn’t willing to acknowledge him in public. The odds seem stacked against Chris and Elliot, but if they can overcome them, they may be able to lay Cal’s ghost to rest, along with their own demons.

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Unlocking the Doctor's Heart, Liam Livings

A new job brings together Davie and Leo, two men who have histories that are much more likely to keep them apart than bring them together.  When their proximity and respect lead to friendship and then to more, they catch glimpses of a future together.  For one of them, that's appealing though scary.  For the other, it's so frightening it becomes abhorrent and ruins their chance for a meaningful relationship.  It will take strength, humility, and determination to regain what might have been crushed for good.

Davie has so much heart and impressed me with his character.  He had integrity, compassion, and hope.  The way he withstood Leo's charms in the beginning spoke to an inner strength because he was forthright in his decision to not repeat past mistakes.  When he sees what Leo hides beneath his affected charm draws him in and shows him that there's much more to the cocky doctor than first assumed.  That strength didn't disappear when he gave in to their passion, but I was wondering where it went when, time and time again, he allowed Leo in after being brushed off so coldly.  Davie was really the star of the story and even though I don't think Leo ever proved himself enough to be worthy of Davie, I rooted for Davie's happiness.

Leo...Leo...  I'm not impressed.  Not at all.  I get his reasoning behind not having lasting relationships because he has misplaced guilt and a lot of grief he never properly resolved.  That's not the problem.  His callous treatment of Davie whenever he gets scared of the intimacy between them is.  It became so overwhelming that it overshadowed any good qualities he exhibited.  Without enough groveling I didn't believe one bit that Leo was good enough for Davie.

The story overall wasn't bad.  The premise was a good one and there was so much potential.  It started out really strong with humor, interesting characters, and an intriguing connection.  The insufficient evolution of Leo was what brought the story down.  If he weren't so callous and cold over and over again until the last few pages of the story it would have been more satisfying.  As it stands, it made the book average for enjoyability.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Add to your Goodreads TBR list

Headstrong nurse Davie Penrose has moved to London from a small village in Cornwall to start work in the children’s transplant ward. He left to progress his career, but also to escape the painful memories of his ex-boyfriend, a workaholic doctor.

Ambitious Doctor Leo Westbury is in charge of a ward for now, but he has plans to be a medical director soon. Making use of his charm and avoiding commitment due to a painful past, he enjoys temporary relationships with male student nurses.

Clashing over a request to look around the ward before he starts work, Davie thinks Leo

pompous, while Leo finds Davie bossy. Becoming friends over a shared passion for helping

children on their transplant wards, they get closer through the inevitable ups and downs of

caring for sick children.

Physical attraction pulls them together; their pasts push them apart.

Both damaged and hurt in different ways, they might just find their happy ever after together.

Excerpt

Unlocking the Doctor’s Heart

Liam Livings © 2019

All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

“Davie Penrose, senior staff nurse on Twinkle Ward, starting on Monday,” he said into the phone speaker at the ward’s entrance.

“Sorry, can’t let you in. No ID, no entry.”

“I’ve got this letter.” Davie held the letter to the camera.

“Not the same as a photo ID. They’ll get that sorted for you on Monday.”

“I only wanted to have a look around, see the lay of the land. Where the staff room is, how many beds, that sort of thing.” Davie bit his lip, starting to wish he’d not listened to his friend persuading him to apply for the job in the first place.

“Go on, stretch your wings. You don’t want to be stuck in Cornwall forever do you?” Davie’s friend had said. Now, that sounded like quite a nice place to be stuck. “Couldn’t you make an exception, ask another member of staff to walk around with me?” Davie held his room key up to the camera. “I’m in the nurses’ accommodation. Room 1004, see?”

After a long sigh, the voice at the end of the speaker went quiet, he was obviously discussing something with another colleague. A deep, posh, man’s voice came onto the speaker. “Now, let’s see if I can sort this little mess out.” He coughed. “Davie, is it?” Without waiting for a response, he continued, “It’s doctor Westbury here. I’m the senior consultant on call this weekend. I do have other pressing matters to deal with rather than policing the ward entrance.”

Charming! “It won’t take long. If you just look at my paperwork.” Davie held the letter to the camera hopefully.

“One thing at a time, please. Let me finish, will you?”

Disappointed, and frustrated enough to be screaming in his head and wondering who’d died and left this doctor in charge, Davie knew it would be pointless to ask him, because technically as the senior consultant on call, he would be in charge. Instead, Davie said, “I have my passport in my pocket too. Proves who I am. Can’t you check a list somewhere, or something, or other?”

“As I said, one thing at a time. So, I hear you’ve got yourself in something of a situation and you’d like us to bend the rules to let you in.”

“I don’t think it’s bending the rules. Not if I can show you who I am and that I have a job offer here even if I’ve not yet technically started.” Puffing himself up a bit, feeling he was on a bit of a roll now, Davie said, “And besides, I only want a quick look around, see the lay of the—”

“Land, yes, I know. Thing is, see that’s what some old random would say wanting to get inside and make mischief. Or worse. In fact, last week—” Doctor Westbury paused. “—I’m coming out to meet you. Wait there.”

A short while later, after a buzz of the door, Doctor Westbury arrived in a white coat, stethoscope hanging around his neck, brown hair giving the impression he’d just woken. And such deep blue eyes. “Sorry about this, but I can’t bend the rules and let you in.” He folded his arms across his broad chest and shook his head. “I believe you’re starting on Monday, but I can’t take a chance. I don’t know if you noticed, but this isn’t exactly the nicest part of London. Notting Hill it ain’t.” He laughed and raked his hands through his hair. He coughed and looked Davie up and down.

“If I was a random person wanting to get in, why would I have this letter.” Davie waved it theatrically in the air. “And a key to the nurses’ accommodation block.” Jangling it loudly he stared deep into the doctor’s blue eyes. “It’s not bending the rules then, is it? Besides.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his passport. “Look, same name on the letter and passport.”

“I hear your concerns, but as the consultant in charge it would be on my head were anything to happen as a result of this… infraction shall we say.” Carefully checking the passport, letter, and keys he shook his head and tutted loudly. “Seems a bit odd to me, someone wanting to have a look around before starting. Plenty of time for that after you’re properly inducted into the trust.”

“Can’t you use your judgement? I’m sure it must be pretty sound as a consultant.” It was do or die, and Davie needed something to bring this bloody doctor out of his fixation on the damned rules. Holding his head high, the doctor said, “Of course. My clinical judgement is second to none. I have a fantastic record here and received the highest clinical excellence award possible for the

last two years.”

“Very impressive. Well then.” Was it working? Had he taken the bait?

He adjusted his stethoscope around his neck and flattened the collar on his white coat. “I’m thinking. Considering the facts. You.” He looked Davie up and down with a smile. “Rules are rules for a reason. I’m sure they are. I do know. I have worked on children’s wards myself. Where everyone has to be police checked and all that. But really, honestly, do I look like a random. Can’t you just use some of this amazing judgement and let me in. Please?” Davie smiled.

“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

Davie shook his head. He usually never did, so why start now with this high-handed doctor? Why did doctors always think they ran the whole hospital if not the whole world? Thinking better than to voice that out loud, he simply held his letter and keys for the doctor to see. Bringing his judgement into the equation may have just worked…. Davie held his breath.

He sighed, raked his hands through his tousled hair and said, “Tell you what. I’ve looked at the evidence you’ve presented to me and I’m satisfied you are who you say you are. But you’re to stay with me the whole time. No wondering off, all right?”

Davie nodded excitedly. He’d done it! He’d won! One nil to Davie! Entering the code into the keypad, the door opened, and the doctor opened the door. “After you.”

Now, that’s a surprise, Davie thought, expecting the doctor to be something of a me-first-damn-everyone-else man.

Following Davie through the door, the doctor said, “Now, let’s see if we can’t give you a quick tour. I’ll take the flack if I don’t see you back here Monday morning.” He flashed Davie a smile, and butterflies began to stir in Davie’s stomach.

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About Liam Livings...

Liam Livings lives where east London ends and becomes Essex. He shares his house with his boyfriend and cat. He enjoys baking, cooking, classic cars and socialising with friends. He has a sweet tooth for food and entertainment: loving to escape from real life with a romantic book; enjoying a good cry at a sad, funny and camp film; and listening to musical cheesy pop from the eighties to now. He tirelessly watches an awful lot of Gilmore Girls in the name of writing ‘research’. Published since 2013 by a variety of British and American presses, his gay romance and gay fiction focuses on friendships, British humour, romance with plenty of sparkle. He’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. With a masters in creative writing from Kingston University, he teaches writing workshops with his partner in sarcasm and humour, Virginia Heath as www.realpeoplewritebooks.com and has also ghost written a client’s 5 Star reviewed autobiography.

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How Not to Blend: LOVESTRONG Book 1, Susan Hawke

Corbin is struggling getting his increasingly sullen teenager to open up to him.  When he has a "brilliant" idea to enlist the help of a drag queen to give him tips, it gets him an exceedingly sexy Kandi opening his eyes to all kinds of things he never knew about.  It also gets him the unapologetically fabulous Andrew who slowly opens Corbin's heart.  If they can navigate Corbin's relationship with his son, a meddling grandmother, and all the misunderstandings jumping to conclusions gets them, they might be able to turn something fake into something very real.

From the very start I was hooked.  The ridiculous banter between Andrew and his bestie, the feels from Gray's situation, the slow-moving relationship, and even Corbin's obliviousness all worked together to captivate me at the outset.  As things progressed some of those elements didn't grow or evolve and held their story back a bit.  Corbin remained oblivious way too long for my liking and his attitude during their separation didn't do much to win me over either.  Andrew's campiness was endearing for most of the story, but at times it felt affected rather than organic.  Those moments weren't often, thank goodness, but when they appeared it was quite off-putting.  The simplistic detail with which so many things were described felt contrived given the characters involved in the discussion.  And for nearly everyone to be a wiki resource on the topic while Corbin was ignorant of everything at multiple times?  Not really believable.

Grayson really stole the spotlight, though.  As a young teenager coming to terms with their identity and truth, they had a difficult situation combined with bullying and an overreacting father.  What I loved about them was their acceptance and resolve.  They also didn't come across as the token "extra" often used to garner more interest than would be warranted otherwise.  Instead, they were genuinely great.  Their role was more than just to be the non-binary bridge used to bring Andy and Corbin together, they were a fully fleshed out character that was an entity all on their own.  Couple that with a ridiculous grandmother that was full of spunk, dirty jokes, a foul mouth, and incredible wisdom and you've got a cast of supporting characters that really gives this story wings.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Cold Case Psychic Novellas: Spellbound, Blood Song, Hunter's Curse Pandora Pine

  

• Spellbound: Cold Case Psychic Novella 2
• Blood Song: Cold Case Psychic Novella 3
• Hunter's Curse: Cold Case Psychic Novella 5

Shocked by a sizable inheritance from his recently deceased mother, Niall Gallagher has a chance to recreate his life to follow his heart.  His heart leads him to his roots in Salem, Massachusetts where he meets Tobin Woods, the man that might just be his future.  But only if they can figure out why there are spirits threatening and hurting him in order to keep him away from The Black Cat Inn.

Tobin definitely didn't have his life together.  Niall's opportunity gives him a second chance and I like that he made the most of it.  I think their relationship moved incredibly fast and their declarations came way too soon.  I liked their dynamic between sweet and sexy, especially Niall's concussion-confessions which made him way cute.  Their overall story felt a bit disjointed and too hurried without proper depth and growth of a budding relationship.  Despite that, their story was pretty good and with all the action and supernatural elements we come to expect from the Cold Case Psychic stories and crew.  3 stars.

*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Luca is a struggling student and gets a nasty surprise after trying something different to earn more cash.  Answering a B&E call puts Francisco Jackson and Luca on a path to finding exactly who and what they need for a happily ever after.  The song Luca hears tells him they could be mates, but knowing so little of his condition puts them both at a disadvantage.  It will take a lot of trial and error between them to figure it out...unless whoever put Luca in this position gets their hands on him first.

Cisco is a bit of a surprise because of how willing he is to see and help Luca with anything and everything.  He and Luca have a communication issue in the beginning but I loved that Greeley was the one sent to help get Luca's head on straight and that it was Ronan who Cisco reached out to for answers.  Each person helped them sort out exactly how to begin and their natural talents and attraction got them the rest of the way.  I'm eager to see if there will be a reckoning with the instigator of Luca's vampirism...  Overall this was a really sweet story that gave us answers and sexiness and introductions to more characters pivotal to the Cold Case Psychic crew's future.  4 stars.

*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Refusing to join a dark witch's cadre Hunter Conroy is encased in stone as a gargoyle.  Hundreds of years later he finds himself in Salem, Massachusetts in the company of a strange group that oddly feels like home.  It's the first time he's ever wanted to fight against returning to stone form.  A big part of that is Walker Harmon, the only man to fully capture Hunter's heart.  With his deadline quickly approaching it'll take everything the whole crew has, and maybe someone extra, to change his fate so he and Walker can have their chance at forever.

I wasn't exactly a fan of Walker's when we met him in Blood Song and it felt like it took him too long to accept everything that Hunter and the Cold Case Psychic crew was offering him in Hunter's Curse.  It wasn't until much later in the story that he finally went all-in for Hunter.  Hunter felt a little too apathetic for most of the story and I wanted to like him so much more than I did.  Both men eventually got it together toward the end though.  The final confrontation was a little too "surprise, one of you guys are going to go against the plan because you can't seem to think logically or trust one another" and that was frustrating.  Once everything settled I could see where they have the potential to be true partners as well as great additions to the rest of the Cold Case crew.  3 stars.

*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!