Diverse Reader: Deanna Wadsworth

Review

There are times when it’s just fun to pick up a book you have no expectations about. I’ve never read anything by either of these authors (though that will change in the future!), murder mysteries are not my usual go-to if I’m being honest, but the blurb intrigued me enough that I knew I had to give this book a shot. I’m so glad I did. Murder Most Lovely by Hank Edwards and Deanna Wadsworth was highly entertaining, full of plot twists that kept me guessing, and the main characters were thoroughly engaging.

Michael Fleishman is the local mortician in Lacetown, Michigan and as such is somewhat of an outcast. He’s shy and a bit nerdy and well, his job puts a lot of people off. When a dead body washes up on the shore of Lake Michigan it’s the beginning of a whirlwind for Michael, especially when it involves the sexy and charming local hairdresser, Jasper “Jazz” Dilworth. Who just happens to be involved in the case.

This was such a fun read and I found myself laughing out loud often, even when I was trying to figure out the mystery. Michael and Jazz are fabulous together and their romance was as swoony as it was hot. I loved the fact that both men are in their 40’s and not the perfect male specimen we’re used to reading about. The secondary characters added so much to the story, and I can’t decide if Michael’s cat or his grandpa were my favorite. Murder Most Lovely is a well-written, perfectly paced book, and I really could not put it down. The characters were so well developed, the mystery so well done I couldn’t figure it out until the very end, and the romance and humor kept a smile on my face. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series, and I sure hope we see more of Michael and Jazz. Don’t miss this one, you’ll be sorry if you do.

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Friday, December 28, 2018

Random Review: The Boyfriend Cruise by Deanna Wadsworth #Review #Giveaway

Author: Deanna Wadsworth
Title: The Boyfriend Cruise
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Publication Date: December 25, 2018
Length: 216 pages

Reviewed by Racheal

Synopsis

The Pride of the Caribbean is a cruise ship unlike any other. Paranormals working on board the enchanted ship hide in plain sight, under the benevolent protection of a demigod captain and his fairy husband.

And this is a shipboard romance unlike any other.

Josh Gilbert’s well-meaning family booked a gay-friendly cruise for Christmas in order to find Josh a boyfriend. Hoping to escape the constant parade of bachelors—and the collapsible fishing rod dangling mistletoe his mom keeps in her purse—Josh takes solace in a growing friendship with the ship’s photographer, Nathan. Though Josh is falling for Nathan, he worries it will never be more than a shipboard fling.

Nathan recently became aware of his incubus heritage and has finally learned how to control his demon side. But Josh has awakened more than just the demon’s need for orgasms—Josh has awakened Nathan’s heart. What’s developing between them is the real thing, but can Josh ever accept Nathan’s promiscuous past… and love a sex demon?

Amid lush tropical settings, family hilarity, holiday costume parties, sexy snorkeling adventures, gingerbread martinis, and mythical creatures, will Josh get his Christmas wish and finally find the true love he’s wanted for so long?

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Review

Welcome aboard The Pride of the Caribbean. The most exciting and friendly family oriented gay cruise ship. Where lonely gay men and women can hopefully find that one special person. Well that is the hope of Josh Gilbert's family when they secretly planned this Christmas cruise.

Josh Gilbert, to say the least, has been very unlucky when it comes to finding love. Add to the fact that he is very uncomfortable with his overall appearance doesn't help matters. So with the help of his very loud and somewhat annoying family poor Josh is in for a long week abroad.

Nathan Bradshaw the shipboard photographer has lived a life that not too people would understand but has left black marks on his past. Because of the person that he is, he has lost not only family but a big part of himself. Distant to a life of loneliness changes the instant he sees Josh.

These two characters were instantly lovable to me. A sinfully sexy man draw to an average looking man made this love story even more appealing to me. Then to make it even more enjoyable the author writes a little paranormal into their love story.

Deanna Wadsworth's story telling of The Boyfriend Cruise, is a heartfelt tale of love that sees what's inside of the person and less of what's on the outside. It's the understanding that each person comes with their own insecurities no matter what they may show on the outside and even a little magic can go a long way.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Release Day Review: La Famiglia by Deanna Wadsworth #Review #Giveaway

Author: Deanna Wadsworth
Book: La Famiglia
Series: Men of Gilead Novel #2
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain
Publication Date: January 23, 2018
Length: 324 pages

Reviewed by Erin

Synopsis

A Men of Gilead Novel

Forrester Giordano comes from a huge, nosy Italian family, and with their homophobic jokes and slurs, he’s decided to stay in the closet. He finds respite in his bookstore in the quaint village of Gilead—where he has a huge crush on one of his customers, Kyle Benson.

Kyle is determined to live his dreams, and though life isn’t easy being deaf, one by one he’s making them come true. He’s scored a great job practicing law, bought a cute bungalow where he can finally have a big flower garden, and he has a dog he loves, Jasper. Now he just needs one thing to complete his happiness: a family of his own to make up for the one he never had.

Forrester and Kyle’s relationship starts off hot and heavy, and neither man can deny the depth of their connection. When Forrester’s little brother gets mixed up with their heroin-dealing cousin and his mother falls ill, Forrester has a decision to make—maybe the hardest of his life. For the first time, he’s found a man worth coming out for.

Unfortunately nothing ever goes according to plan with la famiglia.

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Review

We return to the quaint and charming small town of Gilead in Deanna Wadsworths' new book, La Famiglia. It's book two of her Men of Gilead series, though it's a standalone so no worries for you if you haven't read the first one yet. There is something quite captivating about the town Wadsworth has set this series in, and I find myself falling more and more in love with the setting and the people with each book. And if you're a fan of big families, book stores, and cute dogs, this is definitely the book for you.

Forrester Giordano comes from a huge Italian family. You know the kind ... where everyone is all up in your business, where you sometimes have to shout to be heard, and where insults are flung far and wide on a regular basis. None of this is anything that Forrester can't deal with, except when the insults are of the homophobic variety and he has to keep his true self hidden away from those he loves most. He loves his job at the local bookstore, especially as it lets him indulge in his big time crush on his favorite customer, Kyle. Kyle Benson is a man who goes after what he wants and hasn't ever let anything, not even the fact that he's deaf, stop him. He's got a great job, a fabulous house, and his dog, Jasper, is his best companion and friend. The only thing that would make his life better was someone to share it with and it doesn't take long before Kyle thinks Forrester might just be that person.

I really loved how Wadsworth lets the relationship between Kyle and Forrester flow. It progresses so naturally, and the two really seam to click, no matter that Kyle is deaf or that Forrester is still in the closet as far as his family is concerned. Their is a gentle friendship that is just so lovely and really fits with the overall vibe of the story itself. The Giordano family is big and loud and could have easily taken over the entire book, but they didn't and I was so happy about that. Sure, they play a big part, but the focus remains on the romance between Forrester and Kyle. This was a really sweet, mostly quiet book that I enjoyed from beginning to end. I recommend you give it a chance and fall in love with The Men of Gilead, too!

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Monday, July 24, 2017

Release Day Review: The Rhubarb Patch by Deanna Wadsworth #Review #Giveaway

Author: Deanna Wadsworth
Book: The Rhubarb Patch
Series: The Men Of Gilead #1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain
Publication date: July 24, 2017
Length: 284 pages

Reviewed by Erin

Synopsis

City boy, sci-fi novelist, and recovering pushover Scott Howe doesn’t know what to expect when he inherits his grandmother’s house outside the quaint village of Gilead, Ohio—but it isn’t an enormous bald man in nothing but tighty-whities and orange rubber boots shouting at him to keep his weed whacker away from the rhubarb patch.

Scott has never met anyone like Phineas Robertson: homesteader, recluse… Republican. A tender—if unlikely—friendship grows over the summer while Phin and his schnauzer, Sister Mary Katherine, teach Scott about life in the country and the grandmother he never knew. Opposites attract, but widower Phin worries his secret will send Scott running faster than his politics, and Phin isn’t convinced he deserves a second chance at romance.

Scott is convinced—rural life, and his one-of-a-kind, older neighbor is the future he wants. Before he can settle in, his mother drops a bombshell that strains their already tenuous relationship, and a cousin who believes he is the rightful heir to the property puts Scott in danger. It’ll take a lot of compromises, and even dodging a few bullets before they’re out of the weeds, but nurturing something as special as true love always takes hard work.

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Review

If you're a fan of the opposites attract trope--and really, who isn't?--then you're definitely going to want to check out The Rhubarb Patch by Deanna Wadsworth. Two neighbors, one a city boy who suddenly finds himself in the middle of the country, the other a farmer who likes his solitude, find out sometimes even the most unlikely of people can make a connection. At first glance, Scott and Phineas (what a FABULOUS name!) might not seem like they fit, but they sure will make a believer out of you.

When Scott Howe finds out he's inherited his late grandmother's farm in small town Gilead, Ohio, he's surprised to say the least ...and it couldn't have come at a better time. After a nasty break-up with his ex-boyfriend, Scott is more than happy to get away. Finding himself completely out of his element--he doesn't know a weed from a rhubarb plant--he slowly begins to see that his life isn't going exactly as he'd wanted. Of course, his neighbor, Phineas, rubber boot wearing and tighty-whitey wearing guy that he is might have something to do with that, too. These two couldn't be more different, but once they stop sniping and start talking to one another, they find that their differences might not be so bad, Phineas's Republican leaning notwithstanding.

The Rhubarb Patch was a sweet, next to no angst book that pretty much had me smiling from the first page. I loved Phineas. He was so careful to trust, but so in need of having someone he could call his own. And Scott, boy did he need the time and space to figure out he wasn't quite as helpless as people liked to make him think he was. I loved watching the slow dance between Scott and Phineas, their opening up and discovering things about one another. I could have done without the melodrama with Scott's mom and her husband, but other than that one little complaint, there really wasn't anything not to enjoy about The Rhubarb Patch. A quaint, small town, two characters who were genuine and likable, and a romance that was quiet and sweet made this book one I'd definitely recommend.

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