New Hand by L.A. Witt

Months after his husband’s death, Garrett Blaine desperately needs a fresh start. He sells his house in Seattle, leaves his accounting job, and starts bartending in Bluewater Bay. There he meets a man who wakes up his nearly forgotten libido.

Jesse Connelly’s friend with benefits bolted after Jesse disclosed his HIV status. Stood up and stinging, Jesse tries to drown his sorrows... and finds an unexpected connection with a lonely bartender.

Jesse and Garrett quickly bond over a shared love of comics and card games, and they can’t get enough of each other between the sheets. Not even a bumpy start and a fifteen-year age gap can derail them as they go from strangers to lovers, then friends, then much more.

But as Garrett’s feelings for Jesse deepen, so does his grief for the man he lost — especially as he sees hints of his late husband in his new boyfriend. Now Garrett has to figure out if Jesse is his second chance at true love, or if Jesse’s just filling in for the man he’s never fully grieved. And he needs to figure it out soon, because Jesse’s starting to wonder the same thing.

The Bluewater Bay stories can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

Book 23
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I decided to read New Hand for the very reason I probably shouldn’t have – Jesse’s HIV status. You see, my best friend and partner of nearly a decade was HIV+, and while we weren’t romantically involved, I saw the struggles he dealt with when disclosing his status to others. So I already had a vested interest in Jesse before opening the book and knew this was going to be a particularly personal read for me. However, I had no idea just how hard it was going to hit me until Garrett revealed why his husband died. I actually considered stopping the book right there because I wasn’t sure I could deal with the emotions I knew would come up as I read their story. But I’d just finished reading a romantic comedy the night before and my spirits were still buoyed by it, so I stuck with New Hand and I’m so glad I did – even if I lost track of the number of times I cried while reading it.

Don’t let my emotional reaction to the book scare you off because it’s really not a sad story, it’s just a difficult time of year for me to read a story that hits on two of my biggest issues. In fact, Jesse and Garrett’s meet cute was perfect – the “they don’t make ‘em much gayer than me” guy who’s just been stood up spends the night chatting up the hot bartender at a lumberjack bar and both men part for the evening feeling grateful to have made a real connection with someone, if only for that night. For Jesse, it was a balm to his soul after being rejected by someone he’d considered a friend. For Garrett, it was an indication that maybe he wasn’t as dead inside as he’d thought he was since his husband’s death less than a year ago. Because both men have baggage they’re unsure of how to share, their journey is not smooth sailing – but it is realistic, even as moments of it left me crying for one, the other, or the both of them. And again, I feel like I’m focusing on the depressing parts, but this was an emotional read for me. That said, I loved watching these two geek out over games and things I have no clue about, but it didn’t matter because their shared passion for them was obvious. Their relationship developed slowly in some respects and moved quickly in others, and yet it felt right for them. There was no rush to bed and that allowed them to savor their time getting to know one another and start building the foundation they would need when obstacles tried to derail them – and boy, were there some doozies.

It’s my understanding that this is the final installment in the Bluewater Bay series and I loved how Witt addressed the show that got it all started, Wolf’s Landing. That the author was able to incorporate several of the past characters and include yet another wedding for a couple from a previous book reminded me why I enjoy this series so much. The people of Bluewater Bay and Wolf’s Landing have forged lasting bonds, meaningful relationships, and families – both legal and emotional – over the course of the series. The sense of community and camaraderie that has developed over the past three years has made these characters feel more like friends than fiction, but at least I can revisit Bluewater Bay anytime I want.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Garrett is mourning the loss of his husband. He is wrapped in the pain of surviving, watching someone he loves die, and having to deal with the aftermath. He choses to pick up and start over near friends – away from the pain of his husband's death. He has found a happy place and despite not having the accounting job anymore, he loves being a bartender.

Jesse is living life the best he knows how. Being HIV positive is sometimes a hinderance on his personal life, but he's had it so long that he knows how to handle it. When he finds himself stood up by someone he thought cared for him, he finds himself at the mercy of Garrett.

This story is more than a romance. It is both men working through their own preconceived notions, prejudice of society, and their own family drama. Their relationship begins rocky and kind of stays on that precipice for a while.

I wish that there was less introspection and more relationship, but overall this was a successful story. Both characters grow throughout the story and, for the most part, they find themselves and each other.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
This is the last Bluewater Bay book and I really wanted to love it. But this is a heavy, difficult read and somewhere between the grief, the angst, and the miscommunications, my attention wandered.

I loved Jesse in the previous book and I enjoyed him here. His back story and his struggles as an HIV positive man are difficult, but I loved the fun he has with his work and the relationships he has with his geeky friends.

I’m still not sure Garrett was ready for a new relationship when he met Jesse. His grief overwhelms the story at times. His struggles are awful. His pain is real. But this is supposed to be a romance and I want to know that the men in my romances are meant for each other. That they make each other better people. And I didn’t feel that here. At times, I just saw Jesse getting a raw deal because Garrett was still grieving hard.

There are some lovely moments here. I loved seeing favourite characters from earlier books and watching them come together in this one. I loved Lydia, Simo,n and Ian fiercely in the previous story and I’m glad they’re all back in this one.

I’ve really enjoyed this series, but unfortunately, Garrett and Jesse didn’t quite work for me.

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn't lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don't tell Lauren. And definitely don't tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut...

Connect with L.A.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Blog  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of New Hand (Bluewater Bay #23) by L.A. Witt to read and review.

Outside the Lines by Anna Zabo

Miniature artist Ian Meyers has one week to rebuild his damaged set. Needing help, he goes to End o’ Earth, the local comic and gaming shop. Owner Simon Derry pushes all of Ian’s buttons, and he also has steady hands and the skills Ian needs.

Before they can even grab a beer, Ian meets Lydia Derry, Simon’s wife. If Ian had any interest in women, he’d suggest a threesome, but then Simon explains that he and Lydia are polyamorous, and if Ian wants Simon, neither of them will complain. If anything, Lydia encourages the relationship.

Ian’s all in, and it’s fantastic working with Simon to piece together his set and then take each other apart at night. His friendship with Lydia grows too. The only problem is, the more time he spends with Simon, the more he wants everything Simon already has with Lydia: A house. A cat. A commitment. So Ian runs, and shatters the trust he has with them both — right when they need him the most. Piecing their relationships back together might prove harder than a smashed set.

The Bluewater Bay stories can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

Book 22
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 Stars

Outside the Lines is the 22nd installment of the Bluewater Bay series. While it mentions past narrators, this novel can easily be read as a standalone.

Please note: Outside the Lines gives an in-depth look into both polyamory (featuring a married couple MF and an additional M) and the power-exchange of BDSM.

Ian creates miniatures for the production of Wolf's Landing. An accident on-set has Ian scrambling to do his job, find all the necessary supplies, and work within an impossible timeline without help. This predicament has Ian outside of a comic store, hoping they have the necessary supplies he needs at such late notice. Ian found more than supplies. Simon. A fellow artist.

Sparks fly, but miscommunication runs rampant, adding a small dose of angst and frustration for both the characters and the reader.

Simon is a bisexual, adorkable geek, married to Lydia, a sophisticated and open-minded artist, both also polyamorous and closeted with their obsession with Wolf's Landing. Lydia pushes Simon to go after Ian. Simon's a sweet guy, a natural submissive when it comes to his needs. He believes in trust and communication as the cornerstones of his relationships. He's looking for more than just swinging with the wife or seeking a quick hookup.

As you can tell, this leaves big openings for Ian to misunderstand the situation, and for Simon to rush in and explain after the fact. I do appreciate how the author has Simon call himself out for not communicating when it was absolutely necessary, after stating he wasn't a mind-reader but expecting Ian to be one.

As a reader who believes in all the facets polyamory, it was refreshing to read a novel that made it about emotion rather than sexual exploration. Most I've read aren't mature, focusing on which slot goes into which hole, and didn't explore the uncomfortable depths or the tenuous emotions involved. The author did an excellent job exploring all those facets while making sure the sex meant something.

However, there was an ambiguous gray area the reader fell into, where we too had to be mind-readers, since Simon and Lydia explaining the ins and outs of polyamory to Ian was the only way the reader learned how their complicated relationship functioned, and this was close to the end of the novel.

There is a BDSM bent to the novel, the majority of the sex involving the power-exchange as Simon becomes submissive to Ian. I appreciated this aspect, found it accurate, not shock-value, and not added to give the reader a sexual thrill. It fit into the plot, into the characterization, and into their relationship.

The pacing is rather slow, to be honest. Since I was so busy, I read the novel over the course of almost a week, but I did enjoy it as a much-needed escape.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
The sparks are fly between Ian and Simon when they meet and then Ian meets Simon's wife Lydia. Simon and Lydia are up front about their poly relationship and I liked the Ian isn't immediately turned off by this. But Ian assumes it will just be a casual thing with Simon and the relationship between them is going brilliantly and he gets along great with Lydia. But things start to go pear shaped when Ian realises he wants a relationship with Simon like Lydia has, it scares him off.

Outside the Lines shows the importance of communication in relationships. These characters demonstrate if you want to have a successful poly relationship you have to have an open heart and the courage to be completely honest.

Now the romance and love is all well and good, but it has to be said the sex scenes are off the charts hot. The addition of BDSM in bedroom takes everything to the next level of hotness.

As someone in a monogamous relationship, I was fascinated by this poly relationship and the bravery and love it takes to make it work. I'd love to see a follow up book focusing on Lydia and see her have a romance of her own. Outside the Lines is an excellent story and in the I was left feeling all warm and fuzzy in the end.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I think this is possibly my favourite of the Bluewater Bay books. I love, love, love the characters in this book and I love that at book #22 in the series, this feels fresh and exciting. While there is some angst in the story, I loved the playful friendships between Simon, Lydia, and Ian. I loved the way the interests of all three overlap and the way their lives blend seamlessly together.

I had no idea that miniature existed – or that they work on film sets. I was fascinated by Ian’s job – but I was even more fascinated by Ian himself. Ian finds himself attracted not just to Simon but to Simon and Lydia’s life together. Ian’s struggle to find his place in the relationship feels powerfully honest.

Simon is sweet and passionate – and wonderful. He and Lydia are solid and happy and supportive of each other. I love the way they include Ian – there were times that Ian and Lydia’s non-sexual relationship felt almost more intimate than the sex between Simon and Ian (though there are some pretty hot scenes!).

I love that the Bluewater Bay series has pushed beyond typical m/m pairings and explored pretty much the whole LGBT rainbow. This is so much more than a ménage (and there isn’t any m/f/m sex in the story). Beyond the sex, the shared interests and shared lives make this a beautiful – if slightly idealistic – portrayal of a special polyamorous relationship.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really interesting read on a number of levels. Undoubtedly the whole concept of a poly relationship as envisioned by Simon and Lydia, and Simon's new friend, Ian, is key – and it is an absolutely outstanding read. Zabo has an extremely careful and sensitive touch, which brings out so many of the issues that anyone might have and creates a relationship which is intensely interesting and incredibly loving. I would have loved to have another five years of story, but it was a good place to reach all the same.

As well as the fledgling romance, there is a wonderful nod to fan-fiction and fan-art, to the impact of a major series being filmed in the area, and the tourists that it brings. I loved how Simon and Lydia behaved when in the presence of the stars, and how Ian was able to give them unique experiences due to his job.

And then there is the amazing model, which brings the men together in the first place. The description of how it is mended, and the amount of effort needed in Ian's role was fascinating. I shall be looking at big explosions on TV far more carefully now!

I would highly recommend this book to you – you get to see how a committed married couple have embraced their poly natures, and what that means to the new person in the relationship, and get an insight into a TV production unit and the impact on the local community. Great mix, I promise.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I LOVED THIS STORY! I loved Outside the Lines so much that not even shouty caps can adequately convey it. The flirting. The sexual tension. The misunderstandings. The theft. The righting of wrongs. The sex. The relationships. A couple who is so secure in who they are as individuals and as a couple that they are able to give each other what they need and do so in a way that is healthy for their relationship – even if what they need is another person. This is perhaps one of the best M/F polyamorous relationships I’ve read.

Hacky sacks are evil. Or maybe not as that instrument of the devil is what led Ian to Simon and Lydia’s comic and gaming shop, End o’ Earth Comics. [On a side note, I’m surprised that Anna managed to keep from killing Anderson. Although, after Natalya got through with him, he was probably wishing Anna hadn’t restrained herself.] While the physical attraction between Ian and Simon might have been instant, they took a bit of time to let the heat simmer – not a slow-burn romance, but a building of anticipation – which is understandable when we learn more about Simon. And I could have died and gone to heaven when Lydia encouraged her husband to pursue Ian, not just because of where it meant the story would go, but because Lydia was written with zero jealousy or pettiness or any other negative trait that is so often seen in female characters in m/m romances. As we watch the two men interact while working on the miniature set, it’s very easy to see why they click so well, at least for me it was. Despite Simon and Lydia’s openness about their polyamorous relationship and the stress placed on the importance of communication, Simon’s failure to tell Ian that he wanted to see if a “them” was possible led to a serious case of heartbreak for both of them. Thank goodness Lydia had no problem taking Ian to task when she got the opportunity to do so and was able to get the two men to TALK to each other. I thought the ending was perfect, especially Lydia’s discussion of the future she saw for the three of them.

I think one of the things that makes Outside the Lines stand out among the polyamorous romances I’ve read is the hetero-romantic relationship that develops between Lydia and Ian. I loved that their relationship became more than just friendship, but there was no attempt by the author to move it in a sexual direction or have Ian give serious consideration to doing so. By writing their relationship that way, Zabo remained true to who the characters were and didn’t try to stuff them into a box that didn’t fit. I thought the author did a great job with the trio’s sex scene because it seemed to feed each of their needs without going places that would have been uncharacteristic of the individuals. Not to mention, it was hot as… well, insert your favorite word because I can’t use the one that’s most appropriate. I really liked how the End o’ Earth Comics was nearly a character in its own right. The manner in which the store renewed the past love of comics for more than one character through the course of the story had me grinning repeatedly. Honestly, I really don’t think there’s anything in Outside the Lines that I didn’t like and it is certainly one of my favorite Bluewater Bay books – they were definitely saving some of the best stories for last.

Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.

Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn’t grow up to be what they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of cufflinks. They can be easily plied with coffee.

Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Connect with Anna

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Outside the Lines (Bluewater Bay #22) by Anna Zabo to read and review.

Operation Green Card by G.B. Gordon

Arkady Izmaylov is a family man. He’s also gay. In Russia. His sister Natalya has been telling him to get out for years, but it’s only after an attack in the street that he finally concedes and says yes to her desperate plan of him marrying a stranger for a green card.

Jason Cooley was taught from birth that he’s no good to anyone. Then the military taught him he was good enough to save other lives, but that purpose got amputated along with his leg. He’s now working security at Wolf’s Landing and sending monthly checks to his ex for their daughter’s education. When Natalya asks him to marry her brother, Jason knows right away he’ll do it more for the mission than the money she’s offering. But when he actually meets Arkady, his mission turns complicated.

Jason quickly discovers he’s not as straight as he thought. He’s also the man of Arkady’s dreams. Arkady must convince Jason that he’s worth loving, and that Arkady won’t disappear from his life like everyone else. Because Arkady has always wanted a family of his own, and he’s not letting go of this one.

The Bluewater Bay stories can be read in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

Book 21
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
Their fake Green Card wedding saves Arkady from homophobic abuse in Russia and allows Jason to pay his daughter’s school fees. But their pragmatic scheming falls apart when their emotions get involved.

Arkady’s situation is bleak. He has lost his job and his life is at risk in Russia. At the start, he is a complicated, damaged man whose fear is palpable. I’m not sure there is enough continuity with his character. I feel like his transition to American life is far too easy and he almost instantly loses his identity as a Russian and a lit professor. I’ve been an expat for a long time and I don’t know anyone, anywhere who has adapted to a new culture so quickly or easily. He uses an American vernacular immediately and becomes quite a bland character by the midpoint.

Jason also had my interest at the start. He’s an intense veteran who keeps his distance from people and keeps his emotions tightly locked away. But again, he also becomes quite bland by the midpoint and we don’t see him work through his issues before he is able to commit to a lifetime with Arkady. We’re given hints about his military experiences at the start, but this isn’t ever explored later in the story.

Neither Jason nor Arkady is a talker. They are both former soldiers who have learned to hide themselves behind protective silence. This makes for great broody Alpha characters, but it doesn’t necessarily make for an easy romantic connection. We learn about the men and their relationship from their own (fairly limited) inner monologues and from other characters’ insights and observations. The problem is the timeframe. It’s hard to believe that these two apparently know and love each other after only a few days together when the don’t seem to manage talking to each other very well.

I’m a little bit conflicted about this story. In some ways, it all happens too fast and I struggled to understand how the lust connection between Arkady and Jason would translate into a lifetime commitment. On the other hand, the whole point of this story is their whirlwind fake romance unexpectedly becoming something real. I want to believe in the magic but I’m not sure I’m completely convinced.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M Romance
Triggers: Homophobia

Hmmm... where to start? I didn't really connect at all with either of these characters. It felt super rushed and stunted all at the same time.

Arkady is living a life he wishes he wasn't. He lost his job due to his sexual orientation and is struggling to make ends meet. He knows that he needs a change, but he is not too sure how or where that change is going to happen. When his sister calls with a possible solution, Arkady thinks about it briefly and then jumps.

Jason is an ex-soldier who had an injury that left him feeling a little angry. He lost a lot in the war and hasn't really been interested in a lot since then. He works himself to death and sometimes finds time to hang out with co-workers, but overall, he's a loner. Despite having a daughter from a previous hookup, he doesn't really have a lot to do with his family. He does, however, want to help his daughter attend a school for the gifted, so he wants more hours and to work even more. When a co-worker approaches him with a solution to his money issues, he warily accepts the offer.

These two have almost no chemistry. It is a struggle because they also are not very talkative and for the most part, we infer a lot in this story. Arkady and Jason's relationship is supposed to be a whirlwind relationship so that Arkady can stay, but this lacked a lot of development for me.

Overall, this was just a "meh" story.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Operation Green Card is a bit contrived. It gives us a fake marriage of a gay guy with a supposedly straight man. But once you get past that it is a good story, although not always easy. Jason is difficult and closed off. Even when the story is being told from Jason's point of view I felt like I wasn't getting to know him very well. In fact, I felt I learned more about him through Arkady's eyes.

Getting Jason and Arkady from a fake couple to friends to friends with occasional benefits to a genuine couple was tough on my heart at times. Jason has a very low opinion of himself and is so afraid of being hurt that he makes it hard for Arkady. And Arkady is open, friendly, and so brave, having left his life in Russia behind to start over in the US, I thought he didn't deserve the crap Jason was dishing out.

Arkady and Jason's struggles are worth it and ultimately, their story is quite beautiful and it left me happy in the end.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆
Oddly enough, Operation Green Card is the second green card marriage book I’ve read this weekend, with the other being a M/F romance. But despite sharing a trope, the stories were nothing alike and there was no déjà vu feeling, thankfully. And fortunately for me, I found the author’s tale of a fake relationship becoming real to be a delightful read. My apologies for my rather disjointed review.

As a fan of the Bluewater Bay series whose schedule has prevented me from reading the last few releases, I was pleased to get to curl up with Gordon’s latest contribution. My pleasure increased once Natalya entered the picture and pitched her rather desperate idea for getting her brother safely out of Russia and to America before his homosexuality got him killed. Natalya’s character is one I’ve enjoyed seeing in several stories in the series and I could sympathize with her fear for her brother’s life. It made her proposal to Jason understandable, just as Jason’s desire to help others – first his daughter and later Natalya’s brother – makes his eventual acceptance of her proposal believable.

I appreciated that Gordon included Jason’s memories from his time in the service to show that his attraction to Arkady wasn’t a new facet to his personality. Showing his past attractions to men made Jason’s decision to make their marriage “real” a natural progression. But a natural progression doesn’t necessarily mean a smooth one, and Jason’s poor self-worth and fear of loved ones deserting him means that Arkady has to fight Jason for their future together. Thankfully, Arkady has the same persistent spirit his sister does and is willing to take the hits necessary to win his man.

I also liked how the author used the couple’s problems as a way for Arkady to develop his own identity outside of the marriage. Rather than being relegated to the position of house spouse, Arkady formed friendships with other Russian immigrants, tutored a new friend’s daughter, and made a business contact that gave him the opportunity to push Jason into a new career – one that had the potential to improve Jason’s vision of himself. More importantly, Arkady’s natural ease when interacting with Jason’s daughter was heartwarming to see and painted a picture of a future they could have as a family, a picture that Jason really needed to see. I enjoyed my return to Bluewater Bay, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, and Operation Green Card was an entertaining addition to the series.

G.B. Gordon worked as a packer, landscaper, waiter, and coach before going back to school to major in linguistics and, at 35, switch to less backbreaking monetary pursuits like translating, editing, and writing.

Having lived in various parts of the world, Gordon is now happily ensconced in suburban Ontario with the best of all husbands.

Connect with G.B.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Operation Green Card (Bluewater Bay #21) by G.B. Gordon to read and review.

Three Player Game by Jaime Samms

Vince’s life has improved immeasurably since he moved to Bluewater Bay two years ago. He’s gone from working for a man he hated, to helping found a company he believes in. And he and his boyfriend, Pete, have built a delicate balance of power between them that keeps them both grounded and thriving.

Almost, anyway.

Pete’s job on the set of Wolf’s Landing is demanding. He needs lots of downtime off set, and that’s where Vince’s firm but gentle control isn’t always enough. And for Vince, Pete’s constant high-energy needs are turning out to be more than he can handle alone.

It’s no surprise to either of them, then, that sparks fly when Vince’s coworker Lee enters the picture. Outwardly, Lee is tough and confident, but when a bad back confines him to Pete and Vince’s spare room, the cracks start to show and his desire for connection begins to peek through.

Pete and Vince both like what they see under Lee’s prickly outside, but now the three men must learn that love isn’t about beating the game — it’s about balance, trust, and letting each other in.

The stories in the Bluewater Bay universe can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

Book 20
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publisher

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This was a hard book for me to follow. There was so much going on in terms of the different relationship dynamics, and the communication between the three characters was muddled a lot of the time.

Vince is used to Lee bossing him around in the office. Lee is trying to recover from a professional disappointment as well as a personal one. However, despite all of the hints about his personal issues, you are never truly given the layout of what actually happened to make him so skittish.

Then you have the established relationship between Vince and Pete. Pete likes to serve Vince while at home. It's a dynamic that you wouldn't suspect given Vince's office job. However, it works for them.

Vince and Pete have toyed with the idea of adding a third, because both believe that they aren't enough for each other – they are both looking for more, but what they have now is all each other can give. That's where Lee fits in. He can balance the needs of both Pete and Vince.

I think this story fell short because Lee pushed too hard to not be in a relationship and we only had truncated snippets of the relationship communication between everyone.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
Vince and Pete are an established couple who decide to add a third partner to their relationship. They are a persuasive duo and I’m still not sure if Lee ever really has a chance to say no to the arrangement.

This isn’t my favourite book in this series – or by this author. Some of my reservations are personal – I like my BDSM to stay in the bedroom or playroom and I struggle with lifestyle power exchange relationships. I found it impossible to reconcile the two sides of Pete in this story. At work, he’s a competent, confident director on a successful show. At home, he is almost infantilised with Vince struggling to care for his many ‘needs.’

There are also two sides to Vince. At work, he’s the office lackey. At home, he’s a controlling dom. Again, the two sides of this character don’t quite match up. And while I was attempting to get my head around this Jekyll/Hyde couple, Lee was thrust into the mix. And I don’t feel like we ever learn much of anything about him, his past, or even his desires for the future.

Ultimately, this didn’t feel much like a romance to me. Vince and Pete decide that Lee belongs with them. They tell him that he belongs with them. They chase him when he runs away and drag him back to them. There is a whole lotta angst between Vince and Pete as they discuss their hopes for Lee, but we see little emotional engagement between Vince/Pete and Lee himself. Found it all a bit odd – especially as Vince and Lee are coworkers.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Vince brings work colleague Lee home after Lee has a fall and hurts his back. Both Pete and Vince and keen on Lee and would like him to join their relationship. But Lee is a very prickly customer and doesn't trust easily. Vince and Peter take care of Lee, and are patient and affectionate even when he is being difficult. For me their warmth and affection is the highlight of the story.

Lee starts to connect well with Pete but is scared of what Vince makes him feel. So when Pete isn't around as a buffer, things don't go so well. But when things are going well and the three of them are in sync, it is beautiful and very sexy.

While I did struggle early on with this story, mostly because I found Lee unlikeable, I ultimately really enjoyed reading Three Player Game. It left me feeling warm and fuzzy.

Jaime has been writing for various publishers since the fall of 2008, although she’s been writing for herself far longer. Often asked why men; what’s so fascinating about writing stories about men falling in love, she's never come up with a clear answer. Just that these are the stories that she loves to read, so it seemed to make sense if she was going to write, they should also be the stories she wrote. These days, you can find plenty of free reading on her website. She also writes for Dreamspinner Press and Total E-Bound.

Spare time, when it can be found rolled into a ball at the back of the dryer or cavorting with the dust bunnies in the corners, she's probably spending reading, drawing, gardening (weather permitting, of course, since she is Canadian!), or watching movies. Well. She has a day job or two, as well, and two kids, but thankfully, also a wonderful husband who shoulders more than his fair share of household and child care responsibilities. She graduated some time ago from college with a fine arts diploma, with a major in textile arts, which basically qualifies her to draw pictures and create things with string and fabric. One always needs an official slip of paper to fall back on after all...

Connect with Jaime

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Three Player Game (Bluewater Bay #20) by Jaime Samms to read and review.

Get a Grip by L.A. Witt

If a tree falls in Bluewater Bay... could it be fate?

A year after his divorce, Shane Andrews isn’t interested in dating — not that he has time, between three kids and a demanding job as a grip. When a windstorm knocks a tree onto one of the Wolf’s Landing soundstages, Shane’s there to help with the mess... and so is firefighter Aaron Tucker.

A former smoke jumper, Aaron’s an adrenaline junkie and way too restless and reckless to be relationship material. As far as he’s concerned, monogamy is for penguins, and he’d rather be alone than tied down. Signing up to be a stepparent? No, thank you.

But after a scorching-hot night together, they’re hooked. Aaron is a taste of the excitement Shane’s been lacking, and Shane’s pushing buttons Aaron didn’t know he had. The more they’re together, the less Aaron craves wild nights with other men... but the more Shane wants to play the field like he never got to in his twenties.

This could be the love neither man knew he needed, but only if Shane gets his feet back on the ground before Aaron walks away.

The Bluewater Bay stories can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

Book 19
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M Romance

This is a sweet story where Shane is trying to figure out how to juggle being at work and co-parenting his three kids with his ex-husband, Leo. When a bad storm hits the town where Shane lives and works, he has no choice but to head towards the destruction to try and save the equipment.

Aaron is a firefighter who loves his job, but it's a poor substitute to what he used to do – smoke jumper. Despite being unable to jump any more, he still loves saving people and being a firefighter. He isn't into family time and doesn't do long term relationships, but he's willing to take the hot guy to bed who he met at the job.

Aaron and Shane have a somewhat youthful relationship. Shane is secretive with his kids and Aaron isn't sure this is a relationship he wants. Leo is Shane's ex-husband and truly wants Shane to find someone to love. It's a good story where family comes together to support each other and new relationships take off, but overall, it lacked chemistry and an organic development of the relationship.

Despite it being a sweet story where there is a happy ending, I thought that there needed to be more "grownup" dialogue between the two main characters – it just had young adult feeling to it.


Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

Get a Grip is the 19th installment in the Bluewater Bay series. The series features standalone titles by various authors, which can be read out of order or as a standalone with little to no confusion. The town setting and the production of Wolf's Landing are the connecting factors in the series.

I'm a sucker for second-chance romance, especially dealing with divorce or widowed characters. I enjoy the more mature approach to relationships and romance, expecting an emotionally mature character. Toss in kids, some pets, and a firefighter and I'm sold on the story. (I was a volunteer in a department for fifteen years, so I'm always drawn to stories featuring that aspect of my former life.)

In his mid-thirties, Shane is a divorced (two times) father of three, and he's a bisexual man ready to get back into the dating scene now that his kids are getting older. Aaron's a volunteer firefighter in his mid-forties, but he owns a garage. Mother nature intervenes, drawing the two men together.

Get a Grip was sweet and fluffy, an easy read that was a great escape. So why not give out 4 or 5 stars?

With this being a second-chance (or more) romance, involving a man in his mid-30s and one in his mid-40s, with three children involved, I expected more maturity from life experience. Their interactions, actions and reactions, and speech patterns, were suited more for late teenagers or young men in their early twenties.

My tastes run more toward building tension, making the characters work for the climax, but they are instantly infatuated with one another, giving into lust quickly after meeting. While Witt delivers the steam, to me, it just felt like it was 'the end' before it began, leaving little room for character development.

The epilogue comes out of nowhere and feels slightly rushed, but it left me with a sense of the warm and fuzzies.

I'm a fan of the series, and look forward to more. However, it's hit or miss with me when it comes to L.A. Witt. I either gush fangirl praise or find the book middle of the road. That doesn't mean it wasn't worthy as a novel, or that I didn't enjoy it, just that it didn't resonate with me, not leaving a lasting impression.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

Firefighter Aaron and Wolf’s Landing grip Shane meet when a storm causes damage to Shane’s set. The attraction is immediate but life gets in the way of a relationship between these two.

I’m slightly conflicted about this one. I like that it is a story about grownups with complicated lives. These guys both have demanding jobs and their schedules don’t always coordinate. Shane has kids and ex-partners. As a reader of a similar age, this is a refreshingly realistic story.

However, I tend to read romance as an escape from the adult responsibilities in my own life. Arranging dates around ex-husbands and babysitters isn’t terribly sexy. Kids and work commitments preventing sex? Also not sexy – and far too realistic. I’m also guessing that anyone who has ever been a single parent will cringe with sympathy at Shane’s attempts at online dating.

For older guys with life experience, these two are both still pretty terrible at relationships. Their communication skills are pretty awful and they are both far too old for the ‘no commitment’ nonsense.

This isn’t one of my favourite LA Witt books. It was a sweet story and a quick read but I felt it lacked chemistry, passion, and romantic tension.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
First off, I loved this book. I found it seriously hot. The chemistry between Aaron and Shane is off the charts. In preparing to write the review I was trying to think of why I clicked with this story. It is well written but isn't a new story to me. Two guys who want a no-strings attached affair that end up wanting more. Plenty of stories out there along similar lines.

Then I realised Shane was the reason I was so sucked into this book. Shane becomes a parent young and is now a single dad to three kids who are starting to grow up. Twice divorced, he is now wanting to go out and have the kind of fun he missed out on when he was young. That I can relate to. As a parent whose child is soon to hit adulthood, I understood Shane and had a ball living vicariously through him. There was plenty to like around Aaron too. He is a volunteer fireman and an animal lover and I adored the way he treated and interacted with his fur babies.

Get a Grip is another great Bluewater Bay novel.

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn't lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don't tell Lauren. And definitely don't tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut...

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Get a Grip (Bluewater Bay #19) by L.A. Witt to read and review.

All Wheel Drive by Z.A. Maxfield

Healey Holly is battered, depressed, and looking to go to ground in his childhood home. He wants to rent the garage apartment, but it’s Diego Luz’s place now, and the last thing Diego wants is to share it.

Diego is recovering too — from the accident that put him in a wheelchair and the death of his mother shortly after. The garage apartment is where he’s keeping his mother’s things, and as long as they’re up those stairs and he’s down on the ground, there’s no way he can deal with his loss. And that’s just how he likes it.

Healey believes in science. Diego believes in luck. It will take a blend of both, and some prayer thrown in besides, for these two to learn that it’s the journey and the destination that matters.

The Bluewater Bay stories can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

Book 18
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
The angst! Diego and Healey have way too much baggage. and at times it was almost painful to watch them tiptoe around each other. Healey is a scientist recently injured in an accident. Diego has learned to live with the injuries that put him in a wheelchair but he is grieving his mother and terrified of relationships.

It took me a while to even like either of these surly men. We learn about their pasts slowly and we see some pretty arsy behaviour before we know enough to have empathy for either of them. But they grew on me. Diego’s vulnerabilities around sex and his disability are heartbreaking. But so are the memories of the mother he’s lost. And it was impossible not to love Healey once I knew more about his accident and the toxic relationship that preceded it. But while I loved these two by the end, it took me some time to really engage with Diego and Healey.

While the chemistry between Diego and Healey is hot, Diego’s disability makes the actual sex quite complicated. And while the sex scenes are sometimes uncomfortably realistic, they are also surprisingly sexy. Because of the trust involved, the sex between these two builds a really beautiful intimacy between these two.

Unlike most of the Bluewater Bay books, this one doesn’t completely stand alone and readers will probably need to read Healey’s twin brother Nash’s book Hell on Wheels before they will fully understand this one. Here, Healey’s past is drip fed to readers out of sequence in a way that could potentially be confusing.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
My first impressions of Diego and Healey were not great. Diego seemed like a bit of an a-hole with a chip on his shoulder and Healey seemed really stubborn and pretty clueless for a guy that is supposed to be super smart.

For a while I was wondering how these two were going to end up together because: 1. the first few interactions they had were cringe worthy, and 2. they both had heaps of baggage. But during one of their conversations Diego points out that they are complete opposites, and from that point on things started to improve for the characters and I really started to get into the story.

If, like me, you like lots of conversation in your books, you'll like All Wheel Drive. Diego and Healey talk a lot – even during sex. And not really sexy talk either. With Diego’s spinal cord injury, sexy times require a bit of adjusting and considering, but the sexy times are still sexy.

I would have liked to have delved more deeply into Healey's relationship with Ford. Certain things are hinted at and I was hoping to have more detail. Early in, that was what I was expecting. I was waiting for a big scene or reveal to make me cry, but it never panned out that way.

When this story wound up, I felt that it could have kept going. This is couple I'd be happy to see more of in the future to see where their life leads. So my verdict is 3.5 stars. I rarely give a half star rating but in this case, I'm making an exception. I really enjoyed All Wheel Drive. It is worth reading.

Z.A. Maxfield is a fifth-generation native of Los Angeles, although she now lives in the O.C. She started writing in 2007 on a dare from her children and never looked back. Pathologically disorganized and perennially optimistic, she writes as much as she can, reads as much as she dares, and enjoys her time with family and friends. If anyone asks her how a wife and mother of four manages to find time for a writing career, she’ll answer, “It’s amazing what you can do if you completely give up housework.”

Connect with Z.A.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of All Wheel Drive (Bluewater Bay #18) by Z.A. Maxfield to read and review.

The Burnt Toast B&B by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz

After breaking his arm on set, Wolf’s Landing stuntman Ginsberg Sloan finds himself temporarily out of work. Luckily, Bluewater Bay’s worst B&B has cheap long-term rates, and Ginsberg’s not too proud to take advantage of them.

Derrick Richards, a grizzled laid-off logger, inherited the B&B after his parents’ untimely deaths. Making beds and cooking sunny-side-up eggs is hardly Derrick’s idea of a man’s way to make a living, but just as he’s decided to shut the place down, Ginsberg shows up on his doorstep, pitiful and soaking wet, and Derrick can hardly send him packing.

Not outright, at least.

The plan? Carry on the B&B’s tradition of terrible customer service and even worse food until the pampered city boy leaves voluntarily. What Derrick doesn’t count on, though, is that the lousier he gets at hosting, the more he convinces bored, busybody Ginsberg to try to get the B&B back on track. And he definitely doesn’t count on the growing attraction between them, or how much more he learns from Ginsberg than how to put out kitchen fires.

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆
For me, this story is all about Ginsberg. He is big-hearted and full of life. Ginsberg is a transgender man and it is clear that he has not had the easiest of lives, but he is still so optimistic and strong and brave.

Derrick, on the other hand, is anti-social, grumpy, and has huge issues with his sexuality and making sure he is a "man." I thought over time I'd grow to like Derrick, but it didn't happen. He was weak and far to inept for a man his age.

I really enjoyed seeing the impact that Ginsberg had on Derrick's life, especially watching the turn-around at the B&B. Also, this being my first book with a transgender main character I was curious about the sex. This is not a book where the characters jump into bed together right off the bat so I had a bit of a wait, but it was worth it. The sex was hot. Overall, The Burnt Toast B&B was a good read.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
Derrick is a Bluewater Bay local, running what is notoriously the worst B&B in the area. When a sodden and injured stunt man shows up looking for a room, Derrick tries his hardest to send him running so he can shut down his business. But Ginsburg has lived in worse situations and he isn’t going anywhere.

I loved Ginsburg. A formidable ball of energy, he’s slight but fierce and he starts sorting out Derrick’s life and his B&B from the moment he arrives. Unapologetically high maintenance and more than slightly camp, he is bewildering to Derrick who has spent much of his adult life in logging camps. As a trans man, we see momentary flickers of self-consciousness but he is more sure of himself and his gender identity than Derrick ever is.

Where I loved Ginsburg, I really struggled with Derrick’s character. Trapped in a life he didn’t ever want, he is full of emotional baggage and quick to unleash his anger on others. He is supposed to be the older man, but his insecurities make him seem quite adolescent and far too helpless at times.

Because I struggled with Derrick, I also found it difficult to invest in the relationship between Derrick and Ginsburg. Every time Derrick hurt Ginsburg with his “manliness” insecurities, I wanted Ginsburg to run from him and not look back. Instead, Ginsburg just lets Derrick be awful to him. I liked the way Ginsburg gave Derrick confidence, rebuilding the B&B and his sense of identity, but I didn’t feel these two ever became full partners.

I wanted the end of this story to tie everything together neatly for me, but it left things a little too blurry. Happily for now works well in young adult and new adult writing, but it doesn’t quite work for two men in their thirties. There are some lovely moments in this story, but it isn’t one of my favourite Bluewater Bay books.


Erica – ☆☆☆
The Burnt Toast B&B can be read as a standalone, and out of series order. I started the series by reading the newest ones, and have been slowly working my way through from the beginning, with absolutely no issue with confusion.

While enjoying the storyline, I struggled at the start due to the slower pacing, detailing, and the showing of physical actions. Once I connected with the characters, I had an easier time reading without interruption and found it to be an enjoyable, lighthearted read.

Derrick is a burly lumberjack who is now forced to run a B&B after his parents passed away. He's struggling to make ends meet, while systematically pushing clientele away. I was confused by his inability to run the B&B after being the sole owner for 2 years, after his backstory stated he did maintenance/cleaning/cooking all through his childhood, so why now at 35 is he completely clueless? Resentful, grieving, struggling, Derrick decides it might be best to close the doors on the B&B.

The B&B opened in 1997 (stated by Ginsburg's narration), this book was published in 2015 when Derrick was 35. I need to point out, Derrick's backstory featured bullying and being the brunt of jokes all through school for being a 'maid' in the B&B. BUT, due to his age, the B&B opened the year he graduated from high school/just after he graduated from high school, as a legal adult. I just needed to point that out. I only noticed because Derrick and I are exactly the same age. This contradicts the backstory entirely.

Just as Derrick makes a decision to close the B&B's doors, in walks in Ginsburg, needing a place to recuperate from an arm fracture for 8-12 weeks. He's a 31-year-old stuntman on the show the Bluewater Bay series revolves around. Ginsburg is a FTM transgender. I need to state that The Burnt Toast B&B doesn't delve too deeply into Ginsburg being transgender. Which I appreciated, because Ginsburg is a person, not just a transgender person – his characterization was about his character, not his gender. I will state, the novel tries very hard to break down gender stereotypes and generalizations, but this may come off as preachy, in-the-face to some readers.

Derrick's gruff, slightly immature, and emotionally stunted due to the need to appear manly – he also seems to have an issue with effeminacy, yet is okay with it at the same time. Derrick is a walking contradiction in all things, with his characterization never nailed down, so I couldn't predict how he would react/behave in any given situation. I felt the authors were conflicted on how to write Derrick – as this was a joint venture, perhaps this is why Derrick felt as if he had two conflicting personalities.

Ginsburg is easy-going and helpful (I truly enjoyed Ginsburg – an amazing character). They both bring out another side in each other. The balance of their relationship was solid. While there is attraction from the get-go, it is in no way insta territory. Their romance has more of a slow-burn feel, which I appreciated greatly. They bond while Derrick tries to push Ginsburg away by making the place unlivable, which reminded me of The Money Pit in how dilapidated it was. I was slightly thrown-off by this, as this was Derrick's inheritance, and it was disrespectful to his parents' hard work and memories to systematically destroy the place.

The conflict was miscommunication-based, which is why I couldn't rate the novel higher, mixed with the timeline inconsistencies I mentioned above, as that is a pet-peeve of mine when it comes to plot development. I also didn't feel as if I got a real grasp on who the characters were. There was so much depth that Ginsburg could have shown, but it just skimmed the surface of his character.

Overall, The Burnt Toast B&B was an enjoyable read, a good addition to the Bluewater Bay series, but I felt it fell short of its potential.

Heidi Belleau

Heidi Belleau was born and raised in small town New Brunswick, Canada. She now lives in the rugged oil-patch frontier of Northern BC with her husband, an Irish ex-pat whose long work hours in the trades leave her plenty of quiet time to write.

She has a degree in history from Simon Fraser University with a concentration in British and Irish studies; much of her work centred on popular culture, oral folklore, and sexuality, but she was known to perplex her professors with unironic papers on the historical roots of modern romance novel tropes. (Ask her about Highlanders!)

When not writing, you might catch her trying to explain British television to her newborn daughter or standing in line at the local coffee shop, waiting on her caramel macchiato.

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Rachel Haimowitz

Rachel is an M/M erotic romance author and the Publisher of Riptide Publishing. She's also a sadist with a pesky conscience, shamelessly silly, and quite proudly pervish. Fortunately, all those things make writing a lot more fun for her... if not so much for her characters.

When she's not writing about hot guys getting it on (or just plain getting it; her characters rarely escape a story unscathed), she loves to read, hike, camp, sing, perform in community theater, and glue captions to cats. She also has a particular fondness for her very needy dog, her even needier cat, and shouting at kids to get off her lawn.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Burnt Toast B&B (Bluewater Bay #5) by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz to read and review.