Random Review: His Uptown Guy by Felice Stevens #Review #Giveaway

Author: Felice Stevens
Title: His Uptown Guy
Series: The Landmark Series
Self Published
Publication Date: January 21, 2019

Reviewed by Racheal


Synopsis

When Jesse Grace-Martin loses his father on 9/11, his charmed life is gone forever. People look menacing, and the streets no longer seem safe. After experiencing a brutal mugging, Jesse retreats to his apartment in the landmark Dakota building. Five years later, his first attempt to walk outside those famous gates again is a disaster—except for meeting the gorgeous maintenance worker who helps him through his crushing panic attack. Jesse can’t stop thinking about the guy but hesitates to reach out, knowing he has little to offer.

Dashamir Sadiko has big dreams. Money in the bank tops his list, and his glimpse into the life of the uber-wealthy at his job at the Dakota is all the incentive he needs. Struggling to work full-time and go to college, Dash desperately wants to break the cycle of poverty his parents had hoped to leave behind in Albania. When the two men become friends, Dash isn’t sure what to expect but can’t help his growing attraction to sweet and sexy Jesse. It’s nice to see how the other side lives, but his affections can’t be bought; Dash wants to be his own man.

Defying the Dakota’s co-op rules, the two share lunches, their hopes and dreams, and ultimately their hearts. Jesse slowly regains his courage, but he’s worried he’ll never be the person he once was and that he’s not good enough for Dash. And Dash isn’t convinced the son of poor immigrants has a place at the table with a blue-blood, trust-fund man. Jesse needs to realize that money can’t buy happiness and love, while Dash must learn to trust that what they have is real, that he’s more than Jesse’s walk on the wild side with an uptown guy.

Buy Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Review

The best thing about reading, for me, is when I learn through stories about different nationalities. In His Uptown Guy, by Felice Stevens, I actually learned a little about Albanian cooking.

This is an inspiring story about two men with totally different backgrounds and who were both raised to see the world a little differently. 

Jesse who was raised on the privileged side- living in one of the oldest buildings in New York-  has never really had to struggle with some of the common necessities that average day to day people do. However, his apartment has become his own personal nightmare. His life started falling apart the day he lost his father on 9/11 only to be shattered further when attacked two years later. 

Dash's life is constantly on the go. From working as a porter at Dakota, to helping his family, then to his tiny apartment in the Bronx to finish his college work in the evening. All Dash wants to accomplish, is finishing his schooling to get a good job to get his family out of the gang infested neighborhood.

When the two meet it's under unusual circumstances but their chance encounter leads to a growing friendship. Two men with hardy anything in common find that special something in one another. Dash is what Jesse has needed and Jesse is what Dash has needed.

Great read!

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway

Contest ends January 31st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Random Review: Under the Boardwalk by Felice Stevens #Review #Giveaway

Author: Felice Stevens
Book: Under the Boardwalk
Series: The Landmark Series
Self-Published
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Photographer: Eric McKinney
Publication date: August 7, 2017
Length: 119 pages


Reviewed by Michael


Synopsis

Beneath the famous Brooklyn landmark, love is hidden but not denied:

All his life, Alexi Kharpov has dreamed of traveling to unknown exciting places instead of working at his family’s frozen custard stand on the famous Coney Island boardwalk. Every year is the same until a gorgeous man picks a spot in front of his stand to sing, captivating him with his beautiful voice. After two summers of listening, it might finally be time for him to cross that boardwalk and take a chance.

Opera singer Cameron Maxwell has traveled the world, but the sight of the beautiful man serving custard to tourists touches his heart like nothing ever has before. A summer fling might be exactly what he needs to put his problems out of his mind, but the last thing Cam expects is to want the summer to last forever.

It’s a season of discovery for both men who learn to dig deep within their heads and hearts to decide whether secrets old and new should remain buried, or if love is too important to keep hidden under the boardwalk.

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK
iBooks | Nook
Kobo

Review

The Landmarks Series is shaping up to be one of the best on the market.  The series, co-written by Kade Boehme and Felice Stevens, centers around well known New York City landmarks, and the lives and loves of the men that frequent these places.  Each book is a stand-alone.  You don’t need to read each one in order to get the full scope of the story, and they can be read in any order.

Felice populates all of her books with real people, and “Under the Boardwalk” is no exception. 

Alexi is the son of Russian immigrants, stuck in old-world values.  Somewhat naïve, he hasn’t come out to his family for fear that those old-world values would force his family to reject him.  Stuck working at his families custard stand on The Boardwalk, he has dreamed of leaving New York and traveling the world, but the crushing sense of responsibility to his family has kept him where he is. 

Cam is just the opposite.  A musician by training, he spends his summer days singing on The Boardwalk. His parents not only know of his sexuality, but are fully supportive of him.  Giving up the fast-paced lifestyle of the city, his parents have instead moved to a remote cabin.  Cam himself is a world traveler.  Don’t be fooled, however.  Cam has had his share of setbacks, including a medical scare.

Alexi and Cam are truly sweet together, each recognizing in the other qualities that, when put together, have the potential to create a truly dynamic couple.  The differences the two create the perfect environment for not only conflict but also mutual support.  Alexi’s wanderlust and Cam’s medical condition can either serve to bring the couple closer together, or tear them apart.

This book is an perfect addition to the series!

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway 

a $10.00 Amazon GC

Contest ends August 31st!

Thanks

a Rafflecopter giveaway