Och, Ness!: Wet 'n' Wild Book 1, Eryn Hawk

This is a new take on a mythical creature shifter romance for me.  Not truly unique, but a slightly different take that I thought was interesting.  The connection Gray had with Nessie and with Hamish was definitely a draw and one of my favorite moments was when Gray checked in with Hamish about their status.  It spoke to something awkward that he wasn't aware of but an honesty and genuine feeling for both entities that was very sweet.

There was something missing though, and I think it was in the actual relationship evolution.  Going from one side of the spectrum to the other, "we have a connection, but let's not pursue it, but maybe we should make the most of our time together, and yet not spend a lot of time together", was an inconsistency and a vacillation that detracted from the relationship growing.  I became more interested in Gray with Nessie more than Gray with Hamish despite them being the same creature.

Ultimately this was a cute story with an interesting take and some good spicy times.  It was the first story I've read by this author and I think I'd be open to more from them.

*$3.49 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Under a Greek Twilight: Love Abroad Series, Jax Stuart

Joshua was actually very real-feeling to me.  He was hurt, struggling, frustrated, sad, lonely amongst friends, yearning, and hopeful...all of his feelings were on the page and I believed them.  What he found with Lysander was definitely story/movie magic that I play out in my head for myself but could never believe would happen to me.  Lysander was a steady presence and I liked his honesty with both himself and Joshua.  They really were a good match.

What detracted was the repeating drama with Lysander's ex.  Ryan was a bit predictable so that was kind of expected, as was his fling-turned fiance-turned scorned lover...  The unnecessary road blocks were manufactured angst that didn't really belong.  There were other things that could have played that role just fine that were far more organic.  But what really didn't belong at all was Ryan's ridiculously petty confrontation at their new job.  It was out of left field, did nothing for the characters or the story, gave no kind of closure, and was just purely annoying.

Altogether this was a really cute story that I could see reading again, so long as I skip the cafeteria scece.  Well, maybe just parts of it, because the players really showed their true colors and they were bright and beautiful.  Overall it was a truly nice way to pass an hour or two.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Bound to Happen: AirB&D Book 4, Olivia Joy

I know these stories are short in this series, but a couple of them have still managed to win me over with their honesty, connection, and chemistry.  This story didn't manage to do that.  While there was chemistry, a really decent amount, that played well to their mutual desires, it didn't translate to a relationship in a real way for me.  Overall it was a nice story, a fairly okay addition to the series, but it wasn't my favorite.

Will was a little easier to know as we begin with his POV and his internal commentary on his life, relationship status, job, and feelings about the situation as well as about Mitch.  Mitch on the other hand, was bland to me.  There wasn't a good enough explanation of his motivations, his redemption for the bet, or a real connecting moment between him and me as a reader.  I just didn't care about him and wasn't convinced that he deserved Will.

The outcome was a tale of two men who got a second chance at a college attraction turned sour and all the spice you'd expect from this series.  It wasn't fully successful for me by the end, but it wasn't an entirely unenjoyable reading experience either.  It was just...meh...and a bit disappointing.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Will Simpson figures he’s the epitome of boring. He works in a cubicle, goes to the beach for vacation every year, and even the ex who only wanted sex once a week left him. So when he gets an invitation to spend a weekend at a B&B in Maine with a bunch of his old frat buddies, Will figures why not do something totally out of his comfort zone. He knows he might see Mitch again, but with enough guys around, it wouldn’t have to be awkward.

Mitch Archer thinks a weekend with his old buddies might be fun, too, but when he gets to Maine, he surprised to find Will is the only one who made it. He’s also surprised to discover that the house itself is more than just a fun place to vacation in small-town New England. He’s always wondered what he and Will could have had together, so he grabs at the chance to test things out between them. He’s ready to explore, and he’s bound and determined to show Will how adventurous he can be.

Press One for Fake Boyfriend: Dial A Man Book 1, Joe Satoria

This was a new-to-me author and I have to say I don't think their writing style completely worked for me.  Awkwardness abounded in the writing's flow, the MC's individually, the retreat, and most of the interactions between each and every character other than Vik.  And Chef Espy?  Yeah, I just really didn't get it.  He was a caricature and made me uncomfortable on a number of occasions to say nothing of his own sketchy interactions with the MC's.

There were a few moments that I thought I might enjoy myself, but those weren't as often as I would have liked.  I just didn't connect with the characters at all, probably because I didn't see or feel a deeper connection between Wyatt and Kane either.  Their chemistry felt scripted more than organic both platonically as well as when things finally became intimate.

Juvenile behavior was one thing, but it was the immaturity from Kane that really threw me.  I didn't believe most things in the story and while Kane's manner was okay in the beginning, his dramatic flight from the retreat showed that all the professionalism he spouted at every opportunity was just lip service in the end.  It was like watching teenagers instead of grown men.  Even with surprising feelings being thrown into the mix there had to be a better way to write their conflict.  Wyatt on the other hand started out truly annoying and uptight and even if he didn't actually have a lot of character growth himself, he ended up less annoying as the story went on because he became less of a robot.

I didn't really dislike the story, it just really didn't work for me and I struggled to finish.  The only bright spot was Vik and his ridiculousness; he was truly a character.  I think the story suffered mainly from trying too hard.  It wasn't a bad story, the synopsis was good and the premise really held promise, it just needed a whole lot of finesse and some objective editing.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Opposites attract when Wyatt hires Kane to be his fake boyfriend.

Wyatt Scott is a highly strung pastry chef who owns a patisserie with dreams of expansion. He always gets what he wants, the exception being a boyfriend.

Kane Dixon is an easy-going creative soul who moonlights as an escort. He's saving to open a pottery studio and continue to make phallic ceramics.

Hired for a weekend retreat, Kane's three rules are going out of the window. No kissing, no drinking, and definitely no overnight stays. Can he pull it back even after going so far?

With a shared bed and close proximity, will they let lust take over? Or quit while they're ahead?

Sink or Swim: RELIC Book 2, Maz Maddox

At first I was bothered by all the intentional needling of Baha by Jackson; it took me quite a while to warm up to him. I already liked Baha and his eternal grumptasticness, though his grumpines sometimes seemed out of spite rather than his default. The moments of more, of the caring, softer side were especially sweet. The gifts, like Dalton's t-shirts, were completely endearing and very early on showed a side of him that was addictive.

Once I liked Jackson it was easy to feel as if I always liked them together, though that was definitely not the case. His interpretation of our prickly spinosaurus' offering tipped me over into love for him. Not only because he could work out Baha's intentions, but his utter gratitude and wonder and adoration of Baha's simple yet powerful actions. Hard not to love a guy who appreciates theropod-style courting.

"This giant, scaly, angry bastard had essentially just showed up with a box of chocolates on a date. But instead of manufactured sweets, he caught me a big, fat shark and put it at my feet. Cowboys didn’t swoon, and neither did pterosaurs. Well, they sure as hell did now." -Jackson

Speaking of the courting scene, it was likely the best scene of the whole dang book. I was the one who was sunk. Seeing Baha's walls come down, his heart opening, those were collectively my favorite moments. They were everything I hoped for when I knew he'd get his own story and HEA.

“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in sixty-five million years." -Baha

As for the drama, it was kept focused right where it should be.  The complications were few and slightly predictable, but well done so it didn't feel formulaic or rote either.  The bad guys were obvious and stereotypical and Baha and Jackson handled them all with humor, fierceness, sly maneuverings, and outright ferocity.  There was a balance to the story once it really got moving and as Jackson burrowed his way under Baha's skin and into his heart.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Trapped on a cruise ship with a man I absolutely hate is not how I wanted to spend this fake honeymoon. Especially when my “fiancé” has a deadly ex on the same boat.

Jackson is everything I’m not: brash, careless and a former fossil thief. But he’s my ticket to getting what I want -- the original Spinosaurus fossils that have been lost for decades. Now I have to play the part, win the fossils and try not to kill him in the process.

The danger of being caught, tortured or killed isn’t what scares me.

Navigating the waters of this fake relationship is threatening to pull me under.

And I’m terrified of sinking.

Commitment Issues: Silver Foxes Book 1, Ali Ryecart

So many tropes to love, such a great author, and two well crafted MC's should have all worked together to make this book sing.  It carried a tune alright, but it wasn't what I hoped for though not a bad way to spend a couple/few hours.

Elliot and Freddie both needed one another platonically, but there was a whole lot of chemistry to work with as well.  What bothered me about that was not how long it took them to get on the same page and between the sheets, it was the constant denial and restrained honesty of feelings that took up more than half of the book.  Slow progress is still progress, but these men set up roadblock after roadblock.  Add in the conniving nastiness that was Gavin and you may as well be in quicksand with how the men were moving forward together.

They did finally work it all out, it just took a long time to get there.  I skimmed a lot of the inner monologuing that happened because it was differently worded reiterations of the same hesitations and denials again and again.  Internal angst can really work, but this edged too far into the self-pitying "woe is me" stuff that wasn't depth of feeling or motivational.

While it's clear I had issues with some things, there were insightful friends, wonderful confessions, and a really sweet epilogue to help things along.

*4.99 on Amazon

From fake date to friends with benefits, commitment's not an issue.

Elliot
Freddie's way too young.  I'm twice his age and old enough to be his father.  He's an adorable mix of sexy, smart, sassy, shy and sweet.  But that doesn't mean I'm going to be forced into taking him as my fake date to my oldest friend's wedding, just because my cheating ex will be there.

Freddie
Elliot's everything I want in a man, he's my ultimate silver fox fantasy.  But I've had my heart ripped out by an older guy before, and I've vowed it'll never happen again.  So why have I let myself be talked into posing as Elliot's arm candy at a posh wedding?

From fake date to friends with benefits, commitment's not part of the deal.  So where does falling in love fit in?

A Flighty Fake Boyfriend: Men of St. Nacho's Book 2, Z.A. Maxfield

These men were a total surprise for me, a fantastic one, in fact.  I went into this thinking it would be pleasant, one of my favorite tropes, with a side of well-written cliched scenario that works out in the end with feels and a touch of humor.  I was both right and so very, very wrong.  This was most of that and yet so much more.

Ryan was ultimately an emotional wreck with a defeated heart and unhealthy habits that could only lead to destruction, well, maybe just an insane ulcer with a side of cancer.  There was an incredible sadness inside him that he hadn't processed until Epic.  The beautifully deceptive Epic.  Under his insightful tenderness and incredible passion he unlocked the grief Ryan had been burying.  With that freedom came fear.

Epic was way more than merely a waiter.  He was vivacious and bubbly and had a zest for life, for experience.  He came across as perceptive and also very young and flighty.  But quite quickly his youthful silliness was shattered as we learned just how much depth there was to this young man.  Being so much more than initially perceived lent a distinct weight to his observations and his care of Ryan.  And his rescue of Ryan not only at the end, but during one particularly messed up scene in the garden at the resort...such a strength and determination in someone still in his early 20's.  He's still young though, so his reactions to Ryan's fear were predictably immature.

The emails.  Damn.  The emails began with hardness, vulnerability, sarcasm, and regret, but bloomed with so much honesty and heartfelt pleas that it was heartbreaking and also the perfect place from which to grow.  Their reconciliation was earned though it was also kept brief.  And then the epilogue sealed their happiness in a way that was so solid and sweet.  It could have packed more of a punch, but it was subtle and not altogether unpleasant.

I was surprised by the story, by the men, and truly enjoyed reading this story.  Epic and Ryan work so well together and their interactions were quietly funny and also very illuminating into who they were individually.  The work Ryan did and the level of intelligence from both men added something extra to this story that made them a little extra special.

*$3.99 on Amazon

All Ryan Winslow needs is a fake date for his ex's wedding. What happens when a fake date turns into real, but impossible, love?

Ryan Winslow has everything he needs to attend his billionaire aristocrat ex's wedding. He's got an out and proud A-list celebrity date, reservations at an exclusive resort in Santa Barbara, and two weeks to enjoy a vacation—his first in six years.

The drive down gives him a chance to visit old friends in tiny St. Nacho's, but that's where things start to go wrong. His workaholic, driven lifestyle takes its toll, and his date calls to say he can't make it. How will he ever find a substitute date for a formal wedding in time?

Epic Alsop waits tables, but that's not all he does. He pays special attention to people, and responds to their needs accordingly. When he meets an overworked, underfed Ryan, he offers him a healing smoothie and a little extra care. When Ryan's date for a wedding cancels, Epic offers to be his fake boyfriend.

What Epic doesn't expect is Ryan's kindness, or the amazing resort vacation he offers. He doesn't expect Ryan's patience, his wit, or his passion.

But they live in different countries, and Ryan's job leaves no room for a social life. The hunger and weariness that drew Epic to Ryan in the first place is only a symptom of the reason they can't be together.

Can fake lovers who fall in genuine love find a way to make their relationship work? Or are they destined to be alone forever?

Legendary Loves Volume 2; Nell Iris, Kassandra Lea, Addison Albright

Told from Hunter's POV, we get an excellent sense of who he is, his loneliness, his motivations, and what life means both with and without Vinge.  We don't get as much as I'd like from Vinge, but his heart and devotion practically leapt off the page.  Through Hunter's eyes we get a surprisingly unbiased view of who Vinge is and it makes their relationship all the more tender because they're both such fantastic men.

The slow-build of their relationship and the light steam was fantastic.  It fit the MC's, but also felt organic to their relationship because we had a lot to learn about the depth and breadth of their connection, as did they.  The steam and their relationship didn't rely solely on the idea of their instant and cryptic connection, but gave us a story of their own in this moment of their lives that was believable.

This was such a sweet story and the reason I signed up to review the short anthology.  It was my first Pegasus story and with such beautiful descriptions and a wonderful story to accompany them I'll need to find more, pronto.  But to find more that are just as beautifully written with characters as compelling as the shifter type will be no small feat.  There was very little I didn't like about this story and right on par with the quality I've come to love and expect from this author.  4.5 stars.

With such incredible elements to work with, I was extremely disappointed in the finished product.  There was very little, if any, real connection between the characters and their chemistry was non-existent.  Keston was annoying with his panic, dramatics, and reactionary behavior and Ness wasn't any better with his sparse explanations and non-information.  We know where he's from and what he is, but beyond that there's nothing about him that we learn or that I want to discover.  There is a lot of mystery with unsatisfactory resolution and no answers.  The dialogue was confusing and underwhelming and the overall voice was confused with words used that came from various times and regions.  I found quite a lot of the exclamations to be cliche and both overly dramatic and entirely too simplistic.  One moment that was baffling to me was the "monster" status in relation to celebrating human notions of holidays...what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?  It was an attempt at humor that fell flat...much like the rest of the story.  2 stars.

This was a good story with characters I enjoyed and an actual plot that worked with the length and theme.  Surrounding the supernatural existence versus the sensationalist take on Bigfoot we have Winston and his unconventional morals as a tabloid writer.  The way he conducts himself as the story progresses gives us a great glimpse into who he really is and why we should like him so much.  Romantically there could have been a lot more.  The connection was there and the chemistry worked well, but we were missing a lot of the evolution.  Their initial connection was good in that it was believable and the end showed promise, but what was missing were confessions that were more than just Winston's attempt to see what Oliver's affections might be, and a progression that could leave us feeling more of an HEA rather than an HFN.  Overall this was a really nice story, I just wanted more from the characters I was beginning to love.  3.5 stars.

*$5.99 on Amazon

Legendary Loves Volume 2 contains three paranormal shifter M/M romances just in time for Halloween! Contains the stories:

In My Arms Again by Nell Iris: Oxen is lonely, feeling like he's waiting for something, and can't focus. But when a very ill stranger collapses on his doorstep, everything changes. The stranger, Vinge, is a Pegasus unable to transform. Both men feel an instant connection that swiftly grows deeper. The questions surrounding Vinge are many. Why is he so familiar? What will it take for the depth of their connection be revealed?

The Murky Depths by Kassandra Lea: Tired of the daily grind of his job, Keston heads out for a weekend at his family's cabin in Kona Woods. Turns out he isn't alone, though, as there are others lurking in the shadows. When a near-death experience brings Ness waltzing into his life, everything Keston thought he knew is turned upside down. Will facing what scares him bring to Keston's life what it's missing most?

Weekend at Bigfoot's by Addison Albright: There's nothing about perky -- twinky? -- Oliver Hughes that would make Sensational News' (Never Fake! We Swear!) reporter Wilson Banks think Bigfoot actually exists. But while pursuing soundbites for a tabloid story about Bigfoot, Wilson witnesses something he wasn't meant to see. In Wilson's new reality, is there room for love with someone whose dreams are as big as his ... er ... feet?

The Winter Quarters, Anna Veriani

Deeply unsatisfied with his life but feeling immense guilt for his dissatisfaction, Kai seeks escape.  It's a good thing his best friend is exactly what his soul needs to find peace and rest.  But Hiro isn't just his best friend, he's also the love of his life.  For one month he can hold his attraction at bay to find solace, right?  Well when that solace combines with finding the place your home was always meant to be, all that's left is for his love to be returned.  Good thing Hiro has a couple secrets of his own to share.

These men.  Seriously.  They were adorable together with a friendship that was so very real, so very warm.  I loved that their evolution was slower with less sexy time in the beginning and middle because the important part of the story was the relationship, but more than that, it was coming to terms with what their individual happiness looked like.  Kai needed to find within himself the stability and love necessary to accept what was on offer from the Asada family.  Hiro needed to stop being resentful of his family and appreciate what Kai was doing for him and to find his own solutions to his romantic dilemma.

It certainly helped that Obaa-chan was the freaking amazing woman she is because she pretty much paved the path for their forever happiness.  Her story was a little bit of a side story yet immensely important to Kai and Hiro's fate.  I loved her so hard right from the very start.  She was the star of the story for me.

The exact right person made the big romantic overtures.  If it was someone else it wouldn't have felt as real as it turned out.  Each character played their role, but sometimes when authors create a slightly more dominant partner whether in attitude, higher self-confidence, or more self-assured, it follows that they would be the ones instigating the big things, the big changes that direct the relationship.  While that was a little present here, it flipped by the end so the person who needed to do the asking was the one who did it.  It was adorably sweet and absolutely perfect for the couple.  I don't know if I could have loved their moment more than I did.

The epilogue was presented in a bit of a unique way and I have to say that it was an interesting way to go about it.  It fit even though it wasn't all sappiness or steam.  The drama that provided the main conflict was addressed in an organic way, that it wasn't too simple nor to complex, and that the solution fit the overall feel of the story.  There weren't any extra bits of drama added in to make things more intense and nothing else was thrown in that could have detracted from the story.  Overall I was happy to have loved this story.  It's definitely going on my re-read shelf.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

Snow, steam, and a second chance.

Reluctant socialite Kai has thirty-five days before his family starts shooting the next season of their reality TV show, revealing a life he’d rather keep private—and one that feels increasingly scripted. Desperately needing a break, Kai escapes to his childhood best friend Hiro Asada’s inn in rural Japan. He finds peace in the thousand-year-old hot springs, but his yearning for Hiro resurfaces at the worst time: Hiro is about to inherit the inn, and his parents expect him to marry within the year.

Hiro’s traditional family loves him for who he is, but they can’t imagine two men running the inn. Meanwhile, Kai has a TV contract his lawyer insists can’t be broken. Hiro and Kai need to think outside the box—and solve their problems before Christmas Day, when Kai’s show shoots its annual holiday special.

Abandoning Ship: Valentine's Inc. Cruises Book 7, Susan Hawke

From terrible puns to inappropriate nicknames for fun appendages to extremely small speedos, the awkward yet charming interplay between Ryan and Sawyer give credence to the idea that marrying your best friend can turn into the best kind of partnership.

I really wasn't kidding about the puns.  I'm a huge fan of them, but the sheer number of them in this story, no matter their cleverness or quality, was a bit much.  It was certainly a unique-ness thing for the not couple/couple though.  The relationship was just as obvious as the pun choices and it was both frustrating and humorous with how they eventually got together.  The shenanigans once they were on the same page is definitely a fine work of fiction.  It induced snickering, eye rolling, swooning, and fanning from the amount of chemistry they had.

While I know all was forgiven in the end with Julia I can't help but feel her forgiveness was given too easily.  She really was all kinds of selfish.  Though I am glad we got a few glimpses into how her chosen partner encouraged her to make amends and to see the effects of her choices.

And the family dysfunction was absolutely ridiculous.  While the homophobia and judging is horrible, it was all included in a slightly softer way.  By making the father an exceedingly caustic human being it lent more humor than pain to the situation.  Ryan still had to acknowledge that it wasn't a complete relief to see his father do what was predicted, so that was good, but it was still a far simpler matter because his dad was truly such an awful person.

Overall I think that's pretty much the way you can sum up all the confrontations and unions—simple and over the top in display.  It was definitely a humorous story with far less angst than the antagonists and friction could have played out so I'd definitely say this was more a light and fluffy story.  The feeling at the end was one of freedom, joy, and love and that despite so many setbacks and mishaps they all proved to be happy accidents that led them to the person and the life that was always meant to be theirs.

*$3.99 on Amazon

When the seas of love grow choppy, sometimes the best course is to abandon ship!

Two years ago, Ryan Abernathy was too tongue-tied, too introverted, and entirely too nervous to flirt with his hot but presumably straight new roommate. So when Ryan’s sister swooped in and scooped the hottie up for herself, he accepted his fate and kept his crush a secret.

Sawyer Muller never meant to find himself in a fake relationship with his sexy roommate's sister. And how was he supposed to know that Ryan would become his bestie and star in way too many of his dreams?

Things get complicated when Julia Abernathy strikes a deal with Sawyer to upgrade from fake boyfriend to groom, though they only need to stay married long enough for her to get her trust fund. They plan a fun cruise ship wedding with her entire family in tow. Sawyer figures it sounds like an adventure, and when they quietly divorce later, he’ll finally be free of all the fakery.

With Julia and Ryan’s homophobic, snooty family present, the pressure is turned up… especially when Sawyer finds himself jilted at the altar and drowning in a sea of blame. His only life preserver is the Abernathy sibling he can’t admit to wanting… Ryan.

Luck of the Ship: Valentine's Inc. Cruises Book 5, Michele Notaro

If you're looking for sweetness, subtle yet powerful chemistry, and soulmates look no further.  There was very little relationship angst, a tragedy that was dealt with with love and concern, and an incredibly affectionate pair of men who both think they're fishing in a pond they don't belong.  I really loved Elio and Lamar together.  They were made of soft, cuddly love with just the right amount of passion to bring a bit of spice.  The story was surprisingly long for one of these Valentine's Inc. stories and what we got was a thorough relationship evolution with depth and all the bits in between and afterward that make a story complete.

Getting a second chance with someone you felt could have been more is always a chance worth taking, especially when it's featuring two seemingly opposite men that clearly belong together.  I really enjoyed the terribly shy Elio and how he blossomed under Lamar's care and attention.  Lamar was accepted for everything he is and finally found a partner that could give him all the stability and affirmation he needed.  Their relationship was dominated by kindness and compassion.  It wasn't without steam though, in fact they were pretty combustible once they moved their relationship forward into a new level.  It was super hot!  As Lamar quoted, it's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

I was pretty shocked at the addition of the grief.  The related story, Color My Kiss, was similar in that it dealt with something rather heavy and Luck of the Ship is no different.  It wasn't out of place, it actually showed a completely different side to relationships and how we learn to lean on our partners when things aren't all sunshine and roses.  While the story didn't take a dark turn, nor did it drag on and on, it was a subject that could have completely derailed the intent of the story; instead it added a layer of humanity and reality and fit surprisingly well in the flow of it all.  It was a truncated timeline with dealing with the grief, so it wasn't entirely realistic, but I think it lasted just long enough to show that even though hearts weren't completely bared through words by that point, it was obvious that Elio and Lamar's relationship was built on a solid foundation.

Overall I found this story incredibly sweet, a little long, but immensely enjoyable.  This particular couple ticked so many boxes for me with their slight opposites-attract dynamic, the shyness, the earnestness, the chemistry, and all the cheesy love I could stand.  It's no wonder why I come back to these themed series again and again when so many of them produce such great stories.

*$3.99 on Amazon

“You won! I have two tickets for the Valentine’s Inc. Singles Cruise in August. All expenses paid for you and a friend.”

Elio~

When I get a call about winning a cruise, at first I think it’s a scam, but when they start sending me the info—and the tickets—I realize it’s the real deal. My best friend was supposed to go with me, but when he dropped out at the last minute, I don’t want to go alone. Somehow he convinces me to call Lamar, the guy I went on one date with a few months ago and haven’t been able to get out of my head. Lamar agrees to go, and now I’m panicking because the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen is going with me… Me, the nerdy, dorky guy that’s so nervous I can hardly speak when I’m around him. 

Lamar~

I’ve been working for Valentine’s Inc. for a while now, so I’ve been on a ton of dates. So many men, I usually forget them after a few days, and none that I want to date for real. But then there’s Elio. It’s been months, and the sweet, shy guy never called me, but I still find myself thinking about him. And then he contacts me, asking me to go on a cruise, and I jump at the opportunity. For one thing, I’ve never been able to travel, so I want the experience; for another, it’s Elio. I’ve been drawn to him since we met, and now I’ll have a whole week where he won’t be able to run from me again.

Maybe with a little luck, Elio and Lamar will find the one thing they didn’t know they needed: love.

Until Joe: Happily Ever Alpha Book 2, CP Smith

Wow.  Possessive, sexy, determined, domineering, intense...every word that could describe Joe could very easily be shared with every stalker or abuser except for a couple things—if he weren't so loving, so full of sweetness under all the gruff and the growls and if I didn't yearn for a man of my own who would think me a woman "worth living and dying for."  Out of all the softer traits, the one that resonates the most with who we learn Joe is, "freed" seems most apt.  Through finding the woman who makes his heart beat, calls to his soul, and fires his blood, he finds a freedom he didn't think existed for him.  Add in a strong Southern woman who knows herself, trusts her heart, and fights for herself as hard as she fights for her man and we've got a pretty fantastic pair.

There were times that I was a little uncomfortable with the overbearing attitude and the in-your-face sensuality at their first face-to-face meeting.  Once things settled a bit (if you can call making a run from a ridiculously tenacious and powerful father along with pretty much non-stop sexy times settled) they got to know one another and while not a ton of it was on the page, I actually believed that they were building something solid.  There's a lot that goes on and I think a bunch of it was a bit over the top, but I don't think you can not have a good amount of drama in this series as with all the connected stories as well.

The drama was pretty contained to one factor even though it dragged out for most of the story.  If it were written any other way, like just appearing at the end to up the conflict, it would have been terrible.  So while I think it was a bit much for such a short story, it was done well and was pretty believable if you considered all the players and the themes of the families' stories involved.

What I loved best was Bernice's intelligence.  When confronted with "proof" she reacted understandably, but then she used her brain to logic out what she was seeing, what she knew of the man she'd fallen for, and kept her sense.  I loved that.  It spoke to her strength and intelligence and even though I liked her before, I was completely won over after that.  She really was a woman of worth and Joe was right to do everything in his power to keep her to love forever.  Their story was quick, steamy, and so full of an intense love, one that I wish I had.  I'm always drawn into this world and this story was a fantastic fit.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Sometimes the greatest love comes in the middle of your life.

Joe Rouger (Uncle Joe from the Until Series by Aurora Rose Reynolds) is ready for a woman who completes him. He finds what he’s looking for in a feisty Southern belle named Bernice Armstrong (Wallflower Series by CP Smith) The question is, can he leave his world behind for a chance at happiness? 

And if he does, can he keep Bernice away from outside sources that threaten to steal what he’s waited for his whole life: a soul mate he can live and die for!

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About CP Smith...

CP Smith lives in Oklahoma with her husband and five children. She loves football, reading, and card games. Writing for her is about escape. She writes what she loves to read, and leaves the rest to those with better imaginations.

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