Release Day Review: Coasting by Yvonne Trent #Review #Giveaway

Author: Yvonne Trent
Book: Coasting
Series: States of Love
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht
Publication date: August 23, 2017
Length: 112 pages


Reviewed by Morningstar

Synopsis

What happens when you need something but don’t know what it is? Why not look in a place you never heard of?

Out and proud elementary school teacher Cal Hamilton thought he was happy in Philadelphia, but after a breakup, he steps back to reassess his life and discovers something is missing. He gets in his car and drives south with no idea what he hopes to find. The flip of a coin leads him to a small town in Mississippi—practically a different world from the city where he grew up.

Police officer Billy Labarre keeps his sexuality mostly to himself, but he knows just what he needs to fill the hole in his quiet small-town life: the right man. Unfortunately attitudes toward gay men still leave a lot to be desired in the rural South, and it’s hard to meet someone. It’s not likely his perfect match is just going to show up out of the blue….

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Review

Another sweet read for the States of Love stories!

One of my favorite parts of these stories is visiting places that I’ve never been or revisiting places I have through someone else’s eyes. This one was no different. The descriptions of the beach and the small town was fantastic and beautiful. Is it a novella so like any of them I wish for a more in depth story although nothing significant is technically missing.

Billy and Cal had some chemistry, but the story was low on heat and mostly fade to black. Their connection was easy to see with a warm base of friendship and love. It was a quick, easy read that had you falling in love as they did and hoping they’d find their HEA.

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Random Review: Ride Along by Meghan Maslow #Review #Giveaway

Author: Meghan Maslow
Book: Ride Along
Series: States of Love~ Maryland
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh
Publication date: June 14, 2017
Length: 122 pages

Reviewed by Meredith


Synopsis

Drew Nolan is a loud-and-proud mystery writer with a brutal case of writer’s block. He needs practical experience with the Baltimore police beat to get his latest manuscript to his publisher on time. When he wins a ride-along at a writer’s conference, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot… until he meets his partner.

Closeted cop Josh de Oliveira lost his family, his partner, and the respect of his unit—all for doing the right thing. Recently busted back down to patrol, he’s relieved to get a cushy assignment at the Author’s Police Institute where he’ll take one lucky writer on a ride-along. Unfortunately, his author looks like he belongs in the backseat of Josh’s squad car—long, ginger dreadlocks, piercings, and an “I would bottom you so hard” T-shirt. But there’s something about Drew Josh is having a hard time resisting.

It’s going to be a long night and one hell of a ride as opposites attract and realize they share a lot in common beneath the surface. As animosity becomes desire, they realize they can help each other out—in more ways than one.

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Review

It didn't take me long to know I was going to really enjoy this story. I found Drew to be like sunshine. Him being a ginger only added to my happiness. He felt like one of my people with his attitude, outlook, and personality. It starts with his POV and I think that helped in me falling into this book. He's at a convention and hoping for a ride along with a police officer to help him out of his writer's block for a new book. Enter Josh.

The first impression of Josh is not a good one, people. I was very much, "What an attitude." But when the POV shifts to him, we see. We see all too clearly why he acted how he did with Drew and all he faces on a daily basis. You don't stay angry with Josh very long.

This is labeled a novella but it is on the long side for a novella. And typically speaking I'm not fulfilled with them. I always feel like there are gaps and holes and I'm missing things or it's rushed. I didn't feel that way with Ride Along. Were there issues I felt needed tightening? Yes. But not to the extent it aggravated me. I would have loved more closure for Josh and his backstory issues but the author does close it up so you aren't left really wondering too much.

It's an enjoyable and sweet story about love and strength. About standing up for yourself and finding your person who will stand beside you.

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Release Day Review: Joy by C.S. Poe #Review #Giveaway

Author: CS Poe
Book: Joy
Series: States of Love
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Publication date: April 5, 2017
Length: 69 pages


Reviewed by Morningstar


Synopsis

Down on his luck is Gideon Joy’s default state. He doesn’t know why he expected anything different on his cross-country trip, but not surprisingly, the hits keep coming—literally this time. Gideon strikes a moose with his car in New Hampshire, not only totaling his own vehicle, but damaging one belonging to local construction worker Silas Bright. He has no choice but to stay in Lancaster and take a job that’ll pay for the repairs. And in a town so small, Gideon’s always running into Silas. What starts as annoyance between them soon blooms into something much more romantic. But when Gideon’s notorious bad luck rears its head yet again, how many disastrous dates will Silas be willing to weather before realizing Gideon’s not worth it?

Despite Gideon’s desire to remain in the quaint community that has accepted him as one of their own, past fears of inadequacy threaten the very joy he left Los Angeles to discover. If he’s to find a happily ever after with Silas, Gideon must learn that sometimes it’s okay to not be the best. And true happiness might be waiting in a small town nestled among the great White Mountains.

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Review

Ever have that moment when you read a part in a book, stop, go back and reread it just to experience the emotion it gave you all over again? That was this book for me.

I loved the author’s writing style, and the two guys that she created were easy to fall in love with. She wrote each character, so clearly, it was easy to visualize them and sense who they were. Silas a big guy that looks tough but is such a good guy with a gooey middle. Gideon was funny and light with a bit of insecurity. Together they were that cute couple that gives you those happy bubbles in your belly, and you just want more.

And more is what I needed. As much as I loved the story, I felt it was just too short to get a real connection between these guy beyond funny and cute together. I don’t have a clear sense of how they feel about each other. Yes, they said it to themselves, to each other. But I didn’t feel it. I just needed a bit more show to get me there.

The scenes that we did have were well constructed and fun and gave a clear impression of the town and the type of atmosphere it had. I loved George, the owner of the Eatery and Mrs. B the owner of the Bed & Breakfast. The bets that Silas' crew had going was cute and well done. I liked that even in small town New Hampshire this was more about Gideon’s insecurities than any homophobia.

There is just a bit of kissing, so super low heat level. It was also an HFN with no I love you. I know some are pretty particular on that. I’m not sure it needed that but for where these two guys are in their relationship and the decisions that Gideon makes, you'd think there was at least that.

Cute short story with funny, cute banter and two guys you will swoon over.

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