New Release Review: The New Normal by L.J. Hayward #Review #Giveaway

Title: The New Normal
Series: Gold Coast Collage #1
Author: L.J. Hayward
Self Published
Publication Date: May 25, 2020
Length: 240 pages

Reviewed by Sammy

Synopsis

Brian Stagliano’s life should be pretty sweet right now. Two of his closest friends are getting married, and he’s taking a new, exciting step in his career as a doctor. Most amazing though, his best mate has been given the all clear from cancer. But Brian’s normal has just been tipped A over T and the friendship he’s relied on for years is in danger. All because of five little words.

Andrew Fitzroy should be on top of the world. The cancer that’s haunted him is gone. He can finally get on with his life—except he doesn’t know what that life is anymore. Is he brave enough to come out as bisexual? Should he pursue architecture or stay in construction? Either way, Andrew knows happiness won’t be his until he has what his engaged friends have—love, joy, passion. So, he says those five little words to Brian—I’m in love with you.

Friends since childhood, Brian and Andrew have always been closer than brothers. Best mates. Nothing could ever tear them apart. Except for those five little words. Now, Brian’s not sure about so many things—their friendship, his own desires—and the foundation Andrew’s built his world on feels like its crumbling. But if they manage not to destroy everything they have together, Andrew and Brian might just find a new normal with each other.

Purchase Link

Review

Andrew is six months free of testicular cancer and finally feeling strong and able to face the life he has put on hold while recovering. His ex, Elle, who remained his good  friend and another bestie, James, are about to get married and he has been asked to be best man. Andrew should be over the moon but all he can see is what he doesn’t have—the love he desperately wants from his longest friend and roommate, Brian.

Brian is about to start his new rotation on his way to full doctor status in Accident and Emergency. It has been a long haul caring for Andrew as he went through chemo and the entire cancer process and Brian was by his side through it all and would have it no other way. Since they were young and Andrew stood up for him on the playground at school, Brian and Andrew have been best friends. The idea that he nearly lost his mate still scares Brian. But all that is behind them and they are celebrating with their small group of friends, two of whom are about to be married. It’s a great night until a slightly inebriated Andrew confesses that he is in love with Brian and the world drops out from under both of them.

The New Normal is the first foray into L.J. Hayward’s work for me. I can see why this author has the following they do for this story is rich in emotion, soul searching moments and discovering how deeply friendship is intertwined with falling in love. This is not an insta-love trope but rather a real journey of finding out about one’s sexuality and how deeply connected one man can be to another. Brian is absolutely sideswiped by Andrew’s declaration and instead of taking it back the next day, Andrew tries to explain his feelings to a very frightened and slightly angry Brian. To say things are awkward in the beginning of this story is an understatement. But Andrew has been hiding how he feels for quite some time and hiding the fact that he has known he is bisexual for even longer. Brian, on the other hand, has never thought of himself as anything other than straight—until Andrew’s declaration--which gives the young doctor lots to think about. Can you be gay for just one man? Is he bisexual like Andrew? It’s all so confusing for Brian and he is not eager to label himself when he’s unsure what the label should be.

Thankfully Andrew not only understands but never pushes Brian to declare his sexuality. Instead the affection between them slowly morphs into an intimate relationship that they hide from their small circle of friends. It is lovely to watch these two become a couple—the honesty they share and the respect with which they treat each other is wonderful. Seriously if their friends would have just left them alone all would have been great and the rating for this novel would have been a solid five.

I think all the drama with Elle and James and their wedding, the multiple couplings that happened prior to this story beginning (Andrew and Elle, Brian and Andrew’s sister, Simone), and the feeling that they all lived in each other’s back pockets (and not in a good way) made this novel really stall for me. There were honestly times when I just wanted that whole group to go away—much like Andrew says more than once to Brian. It was too much and took away from the real central plot which should have been Brain and Andrew falling in love and discovering their “new normal” and how to live in it.

But truly there are some stellar moments in this book—I loved the cat and the way the two guys treated her. I applauded how the author had Brian grapple with the labeling of his sexuality and how his friend, Sean, from the hospital, led him through it all. I do wish the thing between Andrew and the architect had been settled somehow—that felt as though it was left unsatisfactorily moot—not really taken care of but no longer a threat. However I did love watching Andrew grow stronger in terms of asserting himself and standing up to their friends who were so upset when they discovered he and Brian were a couple.

In the end there were many things to enjoy in The New Normal and I will say this story left me hankering to read more by this author in the future.

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway

Contest ends May 31st

thanks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: The New Normal by L.J. Hayward #Giveaway #Excerpt

Stunning Cover Reveal & Giveaway:
The New Normal by L.J. Hayward

 

Releasing: May 25

 

A Gold Coast Collage Novel, Book 1

Brian Stagliano’s life should be pretty sweet right now. Two of his closest friends are getting married, and he’s taking a new, exciting step in his career as a doctor. Most amazing though, his best mate has been given the all-clear from cancer. But Brian’s normal has just been tipped A over T and the friendship he’s relied on for years is in danger. All because of five little words.

Andrew Fitzroy should be on top of the world. The cancer that’s haunted him is gone. He can finally get on with his life—except he doesn’t know what that life is anymore. Is he brave enough to come out as bisexual? Should he pursue architecture or stay in construction? Either way, Andrew knows happiness won’t be his until he has what his engaged friends have—love, joy, passion. So, he says those five little words to Brian—I’m in love with you.

Friends since childhood, Brian and Andrew have always been closer than brothers. Best mates. Nothing could ever tear them apart. Except for those five little words. Now, Brian’s not sure about so many things—their friendship, his own desires—and the foundation Andrew’s built his world on feels like its crumbling. But if they manage not to destroy everything they have together, Andrew and Brian might just find a new normal with each other.

 Website Link

 

---

Special Cover Reveal Excerpt:

“Do you want to have sex with me?” It was out before Brian even knew he was wondering about it.

“What? No.” Andrew spun away and stalked to the far side of the lounge room, then turned back and went into the kitchen. “What the hell, man? Who just asks that?”

Brian gaped at him. “I don’t know,” he snapped. “A guy whose best friend said he’s in love with him, maybe?”

“Jesus.” Andrew got another beer and unscrewed the cap but didn’t drink.

“I think it’s a fair question. I mean, you say you love someone and most of the time that means wanting to have sex with them. Sure, some people don’t and they have these asexual romances. I learned about them when we were covering sexuality and gender. They’re more prevalent than you think, but mostly people in love have sex with each other. You said you’re in love with me, ergo, you want to have sex with me.”

Andrew was staring at him wide eyed like he did when Brian got caught up in some fascinating—and usually gooey or gory—medical wonder and rambled. It made Andrew look innocent and a bit lost, and rather inviting. For a moment, Brian thought about kissing him. What would it be like? Would it really be any different from kissing a woman? There was stubble, yeah, but otherwise the pertinent anatomy was the same. Andrew would probably like a tongue in his mouth, and his lips sucked on. Would his earlobes be sensitive? Brian’s were, to an embarrassing degree.

He was moving forward without thinking. Right then all he knew was he wanted to know what it would be like to kiss a man. Well, no. He wanted to know what it would be like to kiss Andrew.

His friend, his best friend, watched him advance wide-eyed, mouth slightly open, lips curvy and plump and a healthy pink. In the dim interior light, the bristles of his pale five o’clock shadow were all but invisible but Brian’s lips tingled with the mere thought of how they would feel. Soft like the regrowth on his head had been, or prickly?

Oh fuck. He wanted desperately to kiss Andrew, and he was actually going to do it.

---

Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate L.J.'s new release, we are giving away $10 Amazon GC and an e-copy of your choice of one of L.J. Hayward's backlisted books.

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a576/?

---

About L.J.:

Hi! I’m L.J. Hayward and I’ll be your author for this biography.

Official Blurb

 L.J. Hayward has been telling stories for most of her life, a good deal of them of the tall variety. She loves reading but doesn’t seem to have enough time between wanting to be a more disciplined writer, being the actual erratic writer she is, and working for dollars in a dungeon laboratory. She also lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, but rarely sees a beach and can’t surf, though she thinks living on a houseboat might be fun. At least then she’d have an excuse to get a cat.

Me Just Rambling & Stuff
I’ve been telling tales (some of them of the tall variety) for most of my life. The first book I ever produced was about Easter, as I recall, and was written in crude pictographs. In my defence, I reckon I was about three. Stapler-binding was the format of choice (way, way before the advent of the e-book). First story with words (and pictures) was about a trip to the moon, in which I included the exhaustive research I did on the matter by saying it took three days to get there. Sadly, the trip was cut short when a puddle of blood (!! – quite gory for its day and age) was discovered on the moon, so the characters had to leave before the murderous aliens found them. Nail bitting stuff!

Beyond that, I don’t recall exactly when I began to think seriously about writing. I always enjoyed a creative writing exercise in high school, but hated scientific writing in university. Not enough room for drama or humour or unicorns. But even before I began writing stories down, I was writing them in my head. Serious writing started around the mid-twenties. Good writing started a couple of years later. Even better writing is still in progress.

As a pathology scientist, blood and medicine is a big part of my life and, naturally, have an influence on my writing. My first book, Blood Work, had its origins in how blood behaves in transfusions (vampires drinking blood is basically a transfusion, right? Right.).

Of course, recently I've moved into M/M romantic suspense, with the publication of Where Death Meets the Devil. I'm blaming Manna Francis's Administration series for hooking me into the wonderfully wide and diverse realm of queer fiction. It's a genre pool I plan on wallowing in for good long while. ;)

Connect with L.J.:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/thesaxonjames/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3357919950947183/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/L-J-Hayward/e/B00MT509K0/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3103648.L_J_Hayward
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lj_hayward
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lj_hayward/

---

---

Promotional Post: When The Smoke Clears~ A Multi-author Charity Book #Charity

Meg Bawden, the organiser of this anthology knows what it’s like to lose everything. After going through floods in her hometown, then seeing the devastation caused by the Australian bushfires, she wanted to do something to help.

And help she did, gathering several Australian and New Zealand gay romance authors together to help raise funds for Firefighters and Wildlife.

When the Smoke Clears is the result.

𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘈𝘯𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘩, 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘤𝘢 𝘚𝘦𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘺𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘓.𝘑. 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴, 𝘓.𝘑. 𝘏𝘢𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺, 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘔𝘦𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘸𝘥𝘦𝘯, 𝘕𝘢𝘰𝘮𝘪 𝘈𝘰𝘬𝘪, 𝘕𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘳, 𝘛.𝘈. 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥, & 𝘡𝘰𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘳.

The anthology will be available during the month of March ONLY in e-book and paperback.

All proceeds will go to:

Country Fire Authority (Victoria)

https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/home

and

Wildlife Victoria

https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/

BLURBS:

A Little Bit Like Love by Ann Grech

A politician who’s determined to save the forest. A property developer who wants to cut it down. Two men, a grudge and the bushland standing between them. The unstoppable inferno in the distance draws closer, threatening their piece of paradise. As it razes everything in its path, will these two enemies survive the night? Can they find something a little bit like love together in the midst of disaster?

High Alert by Becca Seymour

When fire threatens Ross’s parents’ home, he’s thrust into a situation that brings him close to danger as well as into the arms of his brother’s best friend, Dan. This is hardly the time to be chasing first kisses or finally acting on a crush he’s had seemingly forever. But Dan doesn’t seem to mind.

Dan’s protective instincts kick in whenever he thinks Ross is at risk. While that’s nothing new, he’s fully aware that his feelings for the younger librarian go beyond friendship. With fire creeping their way and exhaustion chasing his heels, admitting his feelings to Ross shouldn’t be at the centre of his thoughts. But when the stakes are high and emotions are running wild, sometimes you just have to show your hand and go all in.

Safe in His Arms by Bronwyn Heeley

I can’t say things with Eddie and me weren’t going to end up this way when we first met volunteering to fight fires up the coast. But he may just be everything I’ve been searching for.

Every Picture Tells a Story by LJ Harris

It had been eight months since the first spark of the Australian bushfires had been lit, cutting a relentless path through millions of hectares of land. Seven days since firefighter Jack Sweeney had been able to return to his family home on the south coast of New South Wales to rest his weary bones. Exactly two hours, eight minutes, and sixteen seconds since he’d met a man named Hunter.

Hunter Everett, all-around good guy and photojournalist for an online Eco magazine, had been travelling throughout Australia to document the devastation of the country’s most unprecedented fires in living memory. Dozens of brave, beautiful souls lost. Homes, hearts, and livelihoods razed to the ground. A billion animals wiped out. And one naughty dog by the name of Buddy, who would not only become Hunter’s friend, but change his destiny for good.

Flying Embers by LJ Hayward

Helicopter tour pilot, Logan Star, has flown over the Blue Mountains thousands of times. He’s seen them in sunshine and rain, in vibrant colour and drought. He’s never seen them burn like this before, though. As fire engulfs the land, Logan must race to rescue the man he loves—and lost—from the danger of flying embers.

New Year’s Day by Lisa Henry

Elliott Krause expected to be bored out of his mind these school holidays. But that changes in a heartbeat when a monstrous bushfire threatens Mallacoota. Suddenly Elliott and his family are in danger, and they’re not the only ones. When Elliott sees the boy with the horse, he’s compelled to help him. If Elliott and Sam can just make it through the day, they may both discover that a friendship forged in fire can bloom into something more.

After the Blaze by Louisa Masters

Friendship can be everything… until it’s not enough.

Charlie Madden left his city life behind to help his great-aunt run a quilting shop in rural Lakes Entrance. He loves his quieter new life… almost as much as he loves Archie Tucker.

Archie, his closest friend in town and everybody’s favourite person, has no idea how Charlie feels, and Charlie’s not willing to risk their friendship by making a move. He can be content to love from afar as long as Archie’s still in his life.

But then bushfires sweep the region, and CFA volunteer Archie is called out to battle the blaze… and as Gippsland burns, Charlie realizes that some things are worth the risk.

Smoke and Ash by Meg Bawden

Cameron hates the smell of smoke, it reminds him of summer and the days his husband comes home after fighting a bushfire as a RFS volunteer. There’s never been bushfires like this though and Cameron’s anxiety of losing Graham is worse than ever. He’d never stop Graham from doing what he does best, but staying at home and wondering if his husband will return to him at the end of the day will never get any easier. When Australia’s worst fires rage and threatens their own home, it’s Graham’s turn to worry. Can Cam get out in time?

Wild Heat by Naomi Aoki

Bushfires steal so much from people, but Lyam refuses to be one of their victims. His family spent generations building the Wildlife Park, providing a home for both native and exotic animals and he refuses to let the approaching bushfire steal it away from him. He’d do anything to protect it and the animals who rely on him.

Even if that means risking his own life to do it.

But as the fire races toward the park, it’s not just Lyam taking risks. Jordan fears for his friend and can’t let him go play hero without knowing of his feelings for him. He takes a risk that their friendship will survive the revelation and leaving Lyam with a choice.

Facing the Heat by Nic Starr

Trent Masterton is no stranger to loss, but it now looks as if his dreams are coming true. Callum, a man he thought was out of reach, takes a starring role in his life, and suddenly the future looks bright. But a raging bushfire has other ideas, and once again Trent is faced with losing everything he holds dear—his home, his business, his new-found love. In the devastation that follows the fire, Callum holds Trent together, giving him the strength and determination to rebuild his life. However, it looks like the fire might have the last say and be the thing that tears them apart.

When Sparks Fly by TA Bellmond

Dace Daniels is Australia’s favourite evening news reporter. His newest assignment is to seek out and interview bushfire victims. When Dace comes across a man sobbing amid his fire-devastated property, his immediate instinct is to comfort rather than interview. The haven Brodie created when he escaped from his past has been incinerated. When his identity is discovered by a reporter, he fears things may go from bad to worse. But the reporter is beautiful and kind and offers Brodie a safe place to stay. Brodie accepts the man’s kindness, but will it come with a price?

Cinders by Zoe Piper

Kiwi firefighter Paul 'Chalky' White, doesn't hesitate to volunteer when fires decimate the Australian bush. He expects to find heartache and devastation. What he doesn’t expect to find is a tiny abandoned kitten and a sexy vet in the middle of nowhere.

Dr Hayden Wheeler only has a few minutes with the soot-stained firefighter and is left with a memory of piercing blue eyes and regret for not getting his number.

A chance encounter in Auckland months later has the two men reuniting. Will they be able to build something on the embers of their first meeting or will it all turn to ash?

Cinders is a 10,500 short story set in the Kiwi Guys world.

LINKS TO PURCHASE:

➙ Amazon US: https://amzn.to/32CH8gt 
➙ Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/39dwzCT 
➙ Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2PD6yoO 
➙ Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/387swHb 
➙ Smashwords: www.smashwords.com/books/view/1007207 

#wtsc_live #AussieBushfires #GayRomance