Audio book Review: A Fool and His Manny by Amy Lane Narrated by Kenneth Obi #Review #Giveaway

Author: Amy Lane
Narrator: Kenneth Obi
Title: A Fool And His Manny
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: 6 hours and 18 minutes

Reviewed by Morningstar

Synopsis

Seeing the truth and falling in love.

Dustin Robbins-Grayson was a surly adolescent when Quinlan Gregory started the nanny gig. After a rocky start, he grew into Quinlan's friend and confidant—and a damned sexy man.

At twenty-one, Dusty sees how Quinlan sacrificed his own life and desires to care for Dusty’s family. He’s ready to claim Quinlan—he's never met a kinder, more capable, more lovable man. Or a lonelier one. Quinlan has spent his life as the stranger on the edge of the photograph, but Dusty wants Quinlan to be the center of his world. First he has to convince Quinlan he’s an adult, their love is real, and Quinlan can be more than a friend and caregiver. Can he show Quin that he deserves to be both a man and a lover, and that in Dusty’s eyes, he’s never been “just the manny?”

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 Review

I’ve said before these books are sometimes a hit and miss for me. Most are pretty good but what Amy Lane did in this story was beyond amazing. The way it’s structured, the many characters—who not once confused me because each was so clear—and the sweet and sexy romance within a sweet and loving family.

Quinn and Dusty together were perfection! They fit, and they worked, and they had so much freaking chemistry it was hard with all that, not to see them together. I can’t tell you which one was my favorite because they both made me love them for who they were. Dusty and his gruffness that hid a sweet and loving man with a fierce protective streak for those he loved. Quinn with his gentle nature that hid a strong and stern man who would stand up for the kids to anyone and love them like no one’s business.

The secondary characters were freaking great! The kids with their cute names like St. Peter and Princess. Each one had a fully fleshed out personality that was easy to see them for who they were. The scene in the damn lawyer's office had me tearing up, so thank you for that. I loved Mika and Jacob for being the parents Quinn needed even when he couldn’t see the family he had right in front of him.

I’ve never heard a Kenneth Obi audiobook but I was highly impressed, and his voices seemed to fit each character. His inflections and tone gave a like to this book. Every joke and sexy bit, every loving moment and take down, was acted to perfection.

This will definitely be a highly recommended book from me and one I will listen to over and over again.

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Indie Spotlight: Blowing It by Kate Aaron

Author: Kate Aaron

Title: Blowing It

Self Published

Publication Date: February 22, 2015

Length: 317 pages

Synopsis

Being famous sucks.

All Owen Barnes wanted to do was write, but with success comes more than just literary award nominations. His new relationship with gruff, gentle Magnus Cassidy is at risk, and Owen isn’t going back into the closet without a fight.

When a photo circulating online threatens his squeaky-clean image, Owen seizes his opportunity to lash out, not realising he’s hurting the man he’s doing it all for.

Can Owen find a way to reconcile his public and private lives, or has he already blown it?

Contents: passive tops and slutty bottoms, bitchy best friends, bad jokes, sexy underwear, an excess of beards, and a smattering of angst. May contain nuts. 

Links

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Amazon UK

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Release Day Review: Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles #Review #Giveaway

Author: KJ Charles
Title: Any Old Diamonds 
Self Published
Publication Date: January 30, 2019
Length: 229 pages 

Reviewed by Sammy


Synopsis

Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes is the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, with a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary—so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it.

The Duke's remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: he'll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec's new best friend.

But Jerry is a dangerous man: controlling, remote, and devastating. He effortlessly teases out the lonely young nobleman’s most secret desires, and soon he’s got Alec in his bed—and the palm of his hand.

Or maybe not. Because as the plot thickens, betrayals, secrets, new loves, and old evils come to light. Now the jewel thief and the aristocrat must keep up the pretence, find their way through a maze of privilege and deceit, and confront the truth of what's between them...all without getting caught.

Buy Links

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Review

KJ Charles introduces a new series with the release of Any Old Diamonds, book one of the Lilywhite boys. Historical Fiction is this author’s strength and fans, old and new, will not be disappointed with this latest offering.

Alex lives simply doing illustrations for various publications. No one would realize that he is actually the son of the Duke of Ilvar, particularly since said Duke has essentially disowned all his offspring in favor of the woman he married shortly after their mother’s death. Having lost the support of their father means Alex and his siblings are living as best as they can and have had more than their fair share of hardships beginning with the death of their beloved sister Cara. All Alex wants is to see his father own up to his cruelty and pay for Cara’s death. In order to do that Alex must not only associate with a pair of renown thieves who he will employ to steal his stepmother’s prize jewels but he must also safeguard his siblings by making them hate him for going back to their father begging for forgiveness when all have sworn never to do just that. Alex has so much to lose in this endeavor but he also has one thing to win—vengeance and that is what motivates him.

Jerry Crozier is one of the Lilywhite boys—a clever pair of thieves who have never been caught—yet. When he decides to take on the job for Alex little does he ever intend it to get personal. Theirs was to be a friendship in public only so that Jerry had a way into the fortress that was the Ilvar estate. But the more Jerry gets to know about his client the more he realizes that Alex is not just in need of a thief but also someone to take control and that is right up Jerry’s alley. Before long there is more than just plotting between Alex and Jerry, there is an ever increasing attraction that defies society’s boundaries and feeds something deep inside both men. But all is not as it seems concerning this jewel heist and before long Jerry will be confronted with some truths that could spell the end of his thieving days and his growing affection for Alex.

I don’t think I could name one author as gifted at historical romance as KJ Charles. Her novels are cleverly composed, intelligently written and teeming with characters who captivate the imagination. The plots are multi-layered with enough twists and turns to keep any avid mystery lover invested and the time period so well investigated that every element of the story bears up under intense scrutiny from any history buff. But honestly these books are just plain fun—regardless of the seriousness of their subject matter, this author writes with such humor and honesty that one can’t but help fall in love with the characters even when they are on the wrong side of the law.

I am not sure there has ever been such a lovely man as Alex. He is kind and considerate and merely wants to avenge his sister’s death at the hands of a vile, neglectful parent. He is a man who craves his independence and yet needs something quite different in the bedroom. It’s this dichotomy that draws one to Alex. He fears what he is about to do yet knows that It must be done and so pulls on every ounce of inner courage he has in order to accomplish it. Along the way he allows a man who he knows may never really love him as he desires to take charge in a way that soothes his inner fears like no other. Jerry is a bad boy and yet beneath that layer of seeming indifference beats the heart of a man who has fallen for the sweet displaced Lord of the manor. The two of them together are explosive, intense and erotic.

Any Old Diamonds is an intriguing beginning to a new series that promises to be just as exciting as the many others this author has written. There are loathsome folks to watch fall in this novel and lovely romance that takes flight as well. All in all there is a little bit of everything from mystery to revenge to love to payback in this story and it is bound to thrill fans of this author’s work to no end.

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Random Review: The Case of the Voracious Vintner by Tara Lain #Giveaway #Review

Author: Tara Lain
Title: The Case of the Voracious Vintner
Series: The Middlemark Mysteries
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Kanaxa
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
Length: 290 Pages

Reviewed by Truus


Synopsis

Where Bo Marchand comes from, gay men are just confirmed bachelors who never found the right girl. But now Bo’s a successful winemaker on the central coast of California, supporting his whole damned Georgia family, and all he really wants is the beautiful, slightly mysterious Jeremy Aames.

Jeremy’s vineyard is under threat from Ernest Ottersen, the voracious winemaker who seems to know all Jeremy’s blending secrets and manages to grab all his customers. Bo tries to help Jeremy and even provides a phony alibi for Jeremy when Ottersen turns up dead in Jeremy’s tasting room. But it’s clear Jeremy isn’t who he claims, and Bo must decide if it’s worth tossing over his established life for a man who doesn’t seem to trust anyone. When Jeremy gets kidnapped, some of the conservative winemakers turn out to be kinky sex fiends, and the list of murderers keeps dwindling down to Jeremy. Bo has to choose between hopping on his white horse or climbing back in his peach-pie-lined closet.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Review

This author knows how to write stories. With the precise amount of ingredients, temperature, and equipment she creates a delightful appealing read with just enough heat.

The buildup is very cleverly done, the whole story has good in balance. 

Bo can’t get his eyes off the stunning, somewhat mysterious, newcomer in the winery. Jeremy peeks, hopefully inconspicuous, at Bo... the beautiful man of the famous vineyard.

Bo isn’t out and with a family like his, it’s difficult to even think about coming out. He knows Jeremy is out and both men can’t hide their attraction to each other. 

They start a friendship which quickly turns into a secret relationship...

Jeremy’s business seems to be getting undermined by unknown enemies. Bo wants to help...

It’s all very complicated! Jeremy is not the person Bo thinks he is... there is a lot to discover.

A widely written story. So much is going on. There is romance, there is more than one sneaky character, there are irritating family members, but also lovely ones! There is angst, kidnapping, and even a dead body. There is conspiracy coming from an unexpected corner.

This whole story is smoothly written, easy pacing, and the scenery quite realistically described. There are secondary characters with important roles. It has a surprising  and original plot.

I was astonished to meet the amazing Llewellyn and Blaise from ‘The Case of the Sexy Shakespearean’ again!

Overall a story that kept me reading and reading till I was finished.

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