Smitty’s Sheriff by Cardeno C. Audiobook Review

Todd is too flakey. Richard is too stubborn. Together, they're perfect. A May-December couple get a second chance at love.

Retired soldier Richard Davis wants a stable life in a quiet town with a forever man. Becoming the sheriff of Hope, Arizona, accomplishes two of his three goals, but instead of finding a serious partner, he falls for too-young-to-be-committed and too-flakey-to-be-serious Todd Smitty. Richard won’t find the right man if he’s obsessed with the wrong one, so he walks away from Todd.

It’s lust at first sight when Todd meets his sister’s army friend. He sets his sights on the worldly, strong, stable older man, and the more time he spends with Richard, the harder he falls. But after three years together, Richard cuts off all contact with no explanation.

When a mutual obligation requires Todd to move into Richard’s house, he’s thrilled at the opportunity to earn a second chance. Ignoring Todd from across town was hard enough. Can Richard resist temptation under his own roof?

Audiobook Details
Length: 3 hrs, 19 mins
Narrator: Ezekiel Robison

Book 3
Audiobook Buy Links

Amazon Audiobook  ~  Audible  ~  iTunes

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
One of the biggest differences for me between reading a book and listening to the audiobook is that the narrator can change the way I interpret the story simply by how they craft the voices for the characters. In the case of Smitty’s Sheriff, Ezekiel Robison made the power exchange between Rich and Todd more apparent. While all of the books in the Hope series are May-December romances, this one has more of the Daddy-boy feel to it than the others. Now don’t get me wrong, we’re not entering BDSM territory here, but the dominant, alpha male and submissive, younger man roles are more obvious between Rich and Todd and not just because of their age difference – it’s just who they are as people. Some people are leaders (Rich) and some people are followers (Todd) and for these two men, their natural roles click on a romantic level.

Another of the things Robison’s narration makes more obvious is Todd’s thoughtfulness. Yes, the young man can be a bit flighty and forgetful (weren’t we all at that age), but when it comes to the things that matter to him – repairing his relationship with Rich – Robinson captures Todd’s earnest consideration perfectly. Through the narrative performance, for me, Todd went from being a young man with a bit of hero worship turned romantic feelings, into a young man who knew who he was, knew who he wanted, and was determined to find out where they went wrong the last time and fix it, so he could find his happiness again. I liked Todd before, but after listening to the audiobook edition of Smitty’s Sheriff, I absolutely adored him. On a side note, the Big D conversation between Rich, Todd, and Todd’s sister is soooooooo much funnier on audio than it ever was in my head, and I laughed a lot when I read it. Todd can really be a cheeky little bugger.

While I was comfortable with my interpretation of Rich’s alpha male persona, Robinson still managed to add a layer of insecurity more convincingly than I did on my own. Rich’s worries that his controlling nature was or could become abusive towards Todd were performed so well that my heart broke all over again for him. The fact that Rich was even worried about it happening said so much about his character, in a good way. Could Rich’s controlling nature become abusive? With the wrong person, probably. However, he and Todd were made for each other (yes, yes, I know, it’s a book, so of course they were made for one another), but their personalities complement one another – the leader and the follower – so rather than an abusive relationship, it’s a nurturing one… well, once Rich stopped fighting it. I thoroughly enjoyed Smitty’s Sheriff and am so glad that I can listen to the audiobook anytime I like because Ezekiel Robison’s narrative performance made Cardeno C.’s words even more poignant.

On a side note, and because I’ve referred to it multiple times, if you’d like to read my review of the ebook, you can find it HERE on Goodreads.

Also Available in the Hope Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the McFarland’s Farm Blog Tour.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Jessie’s Diner Blog Tour.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Smitty’s Sheriff Blog Tour.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

Connect with CC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram
Cardeno C.'s Cinderfuckingrellas Facebook Group

Hey! My name is Ezekiel but most people call me Zeke. I live out West along the Oregon Trail, where I churn butter and do voice over and other acting things. I live in the potato state, and yes it is true in my case. I do love potatoes in all forms.

I am a performer to the core and I spend a lot of time pretending to be other people… a sane person for example. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Performance from Idaho State University. I’ve also had the privilege to study with wonderful voice over artists including, Scott Brick, Pat Fraley, James Alburger, and Penny Abshire.

I have a deep passion for creative arts and the creative process. I love to explore characters and relationships to find nuance and sincerity. My curiosity in people, oddball perspective, and darker sense of humor give me the skills to attack scenes and characters from a unique point of view. A great remedy for the cliché. Originality and uniqueness are my passion.

Connect with Zeke

Facebook  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free audiobook copy of Smitty’s Sheriff (Hope #3) by Cardeno C., narrated by Ezekiel Robison to read or listen to and review.

Smitty’s Sheriff by Cardeno C. Blog Tour

Todd is too flakey. Richard is too stubborn. Together, they're perfect. A May-December couple get a second chance at love.

Retired soldier Richard Davis wants a stable life in a quiet town with a forever man. Becoming the sheriff of Hope, Arizona, accomplishes two of his three goals, but instead of finding a serious partner, he falls for too-young-to-be-committed and too-flakey-to-be-serious Todd Smitty. Richard won’t find the right man if he’s obsessed with the wrong one, so he walks away from Todd.

It’s lust at first sight when Todd meets his sister’s army friend. He sets his sights on the worldly, strong, stable older man, and the more time he spends with Richard, the harder he falls. But after three years together, Richard cuts off all contact with no explanation.

When a mutual obligation requires Todd to move into Richard’s house, he’s thrilled at the opportunity to earn a second chance. Ignoring Todd from across town was hard enough. Can Richard resist temptation under his own roof?

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

“Todd.” Leanne snapped her gaze toward him. “You’re not too young to know the nickname people used to call guys named Richard, are you?

“Uh.” Todd blinked and darted his gaze between Rich and Leanne. They were finally paying attention to him and all he wanted was to go back to being invisible.

“Dick,” she said. “Big D got his nickname before we met, but some of us in my squad figured it wasn’t just about his last name being Davis. So we had a bet going.”

She flicked her gaze to Rich again, as if expecting him to interrupt.

He didn’t.

“Problem is, we couldn’t agree on which side won because we couldn’t get solid evidence.” She focused on Todd. “But now I have an eyewitness.”

“I, uh, I don’t—” Todd stammered, hating being in the middle of what felt like an argument.

“Don’t let Sparky get to you,” Rich said, still completely unbothered.

“Some of the guys saw Big D in the latrines, and they said he’s big all over, but when they tried to collect on the bet, the other side made a good point.” She narrowed her eyes menacingly at Rich. “If the man’s a show-er, that means he isn’t grow-er, so he doesn’t actually have a big D, now does he? That means the other side should win.”

Todd drew his eyebrows together and tried to follow Leanne’s question. “Are you saying you guys have a bet going on the size of Rich’s dick?”

“Yep.” Leanne leaned against the chairback, looking smug. “And you, little brother, are going to settle that bet.”

Normally, Todd had no problem talking about a guy’s package. Hell, in the right situation, dicks were damn near his favorite topic. But he had never spoken to anyone about Rich’s body or, really, anything else related to Rich because he knew that was off limits. Of course, Leanne was asking him the question because she already knew he had the answer.

Flicking his gaze toward Rich, Todd said, “Am I allowed to…”

“It’s a simple question,” Leanne snapped. “Is he a grow-er or a show-er?”

Rich didn’t tell him to stay quiet so Todd figured he had permission to answer. “Both.”

She blinked.

“Seriously.” He bobbed his head. “Length, girth.” He held his hands far apart. “It’s awesome.” As long as he had permission to share, he figured he should be thorough in his explanation. “His balls too.”

Leanne coughed.

“I mean it. They’re huge. Each one’s a mouthful by itself.”

“Ehm.” Leanne cleared her throat. “Thanks.” Looking decidedly uncomfortable, she held her palm up in a stop motion. “I’m good on the details. You don’t need to keep going.”

“Are you sure?” After a lifetime of being the butt of the joke with his siblings, Todd enjoyed turning the table. “I can sketch you a picture, but I’ll need one of those extra-long pieces of paper if you want it to scale.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Leanne actually blushed. “I’m all set.”

Rich threw his head back and laughed. “Thanks, Todd. Eighteen years these jackasses have had the silly bet going and I do believe you just put it to rest.”

Thrilled with the praise and relieved to be playing and flirting with Rich again, Todd smiled broadly. “No problem. When it comes to your big D, I’m always willing to lend a hand.”

He settled into the chair, comfortable for the first time that night, and when the conversation turned back to stories about people he didn’t know, he truly didn’t mind. Eighteen years was a long time. If Rich had cared about putting an end to the bet, he’d probably had a dozen different chances. That he did it now, meant his goal had been less about the bet and more about a point. Todd knew something about Rich that nobody else did, or at least nobody who mattered enough to meet his friends. That meant Todd mattered. Leanne knew that now. And so did he.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
As a rule, I avoid reading the reviews written by my co-reviewers on the blog as much as possible so as not to let them affect my impression of a book or the review I write. With that said, merely logging onto Goodreads to mark a book as being read can result in my seeing parts of their reviews. In the case of Smitty’s Sheriff, this happened, but it turns out that it wasn’t a bad thing; it’s more that it made me realize why I enjoy the Hope series so much and why this book was yet another 5-star read for me.

The opening line of Sarah’s review is: “Here’s one for everyone with Daddy kinks.” Now I didn’t read past that, but I didn’t need to because when it comes to M/M romance, I do indeed have a Daddy kink. I can’t stand it in M/F romances, it creeps me out (that’s a story for another time). However, I find something comforting and, yes, hot when an age-gap between two men of a decade or two can lead to a successful and believable relationship. I’m a reader who doesn’t have an issue with May-December romances and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that my maternal grandparents were almost a decade apart in age. In the case of Cardeno C.’s May-December romances, the older partner always expresses concern – if not vocally, at least internally – that he may be taking advantage of the younger partner’s inexperience, youth, and/or naïveté. This is what makes this series work for me – there is no attempt by the older, more experienced “Daddy” to use his position of authority to initiate an unfair or unequal relationship. On the contrary, the older partner is more likely to hurt the younger partner by rejecting him due to their age difference, and that’s exactly what Rich does to Todd – I’m just glad we didn’t have to see it first-hand because it made it easier for me to forgive Rich when he finally extracted his head from his derriere when it came to Todd.

As for Smitty’s Sheriff, I adored this story. I fell in love with Todd from nearly the beginning, and having recently listened to the audiobook edition of Jesse’s Diner, I had to know who had Hope’s sheriff all riled up. Todd is a wonderful combination of sweet and oblivious – something I can personally relate to being at that time in my life. My heart hurt for him when he finally realized why Rich had broken off contact with him and based on their recollections of the events leading up to the breakup, I gotta blame Rich for it. As the older and supposedly more mature member of the relationship, not to mention a former military man and a sheriff who supervised other employees, his complete refusal to tell Todd why they couldn’t see each other anymore, especially when Todd repeatedly asked what was wrong, was definitely a Big “D” move (hehe… that’s an inside joke that’ll be funnier when you read the book). Fortunately for Todd and this reader, his sister’s situation provided him the opportunity to get to the bottom of Rich’s issues and demonstrate that he was willing to do what it took to win his man. I particularly enjoyed the scene when Todd realized nothing he said was getting through to Rich and refused to talk anymore, opting to let his actions do the talking for him. I also found the bar scene in the final chapter hilarious and cannot wait to see where the hinted at relationship goes in the next installment in the Hope series – at least I hope that’s who’s up next. Until then, I’ll be looking out for the audiobook edition of Smitty’s Sheriff to add my collection as well.


Angie – ☆☆☆
Man, normally I love Cardeno C's books but this one really missed the mark for me. I didn't like Richard at all, he was a total jerk to Todd. Todd was so sweet and all he wanted was love and didn't know what he did to upset Richard in the past and for Richard to just cut him off like he did. Total jerk move. I didn't feel any of the normal chemistry or love between the characters either. I honestly just wasn't into it at all, which isn't like me with this author.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
Here’s one for everyone with Daddy kinks. Fate throws the stern town sheriff together with the playful young twink he’s never managed to forget. There’s a twenty-year age gap between Rich and Todd, but Todd is desperate to show Rich just how mature he can be.

Those who love a little Daddy play will probably enjoy this more than I did. Rich has rules and expectations and Todd works hard to please him. It’s an incredibly angsty and slightly kinky power exchange relationship.

I think Rich and Todd’s story would have worked better as a formal Dom/sub pairing. Without any clear BDSM boundaries around the relationship, Rich came across as a controlling, condescending asshole at times. Alternately, there were moments where Todd seemed very needy, very young, and far too passive. While we’re treated to both points of view, these two don’t talk to each other and the result is epic miscommunication.

For most of the story, Rich and Todd are forced to live together to care for Todd’s niece. This storyline really didn’t work for me. The combination of the baby, graphic sex, and domestic bliss was a little bit weird.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
This is the third in the series, and whilst it follows a similar issue with an age difference, it takes quite a different slant on what constitutes romance.

It is not often that I find one of the main characters to have too few redeeming features for me to forgive them some huge errors in the past – but Richard may just have managed to achieve it. He is just so unbearable, and seriously lacking in actual maturity, whatever his age. Grrrrrr... That Todd felt he needed to deserve a second chance also made me frustrated.

The writing is good, we get to see the story from both points of view, and thanks to an unexpected responsibility they get a second chance. I'm still not convinced that Richard deserved it, but I guess that is Todd's choice!

Also Available in the Hope Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the McFarland’s Farm Blog Tour.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Jessie’s Diner Blog Tour.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

Connect with CC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Cardeno C.'s Cinderfuckingrellas Facebook Group


Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Smitty’s Sheriff (Hope #3) by Cardeno C. to read and review for this tour.

Exclusive Cover Reveal – Smitty’s Sheriff by Cardeno C.

Retired soldier Richard Davis wants a stable life in a quiet town with a forever man. Becoming the sheriff of Hope, Arizona, accomplishes two of his three goals, but instead of finding a serious partner, he falls for too-young-to-be-committed and too-flakey-to-be-serious Todd Smitty. Richard won’t find the right man if he’s obsessed with the wrong one, so he walks away from Todd.

It’s lust at first sight when Todd meets his sister’s army friend. He sets his sights on the worldly, strong, stable older man, and the more time he spends with Richard, the harder he falls. But after three years together, Richard cuts off all contact with no explanation.

When a mutual obligation requires Todd to move into Richard’s house, he’s thrilled at the opportunity to earn a second chance. Ignoring Todd from across town was hard enough. Can Richard resist temptation under his own roof?

Book 3
Releases July 17^th


Also Available in the Hope Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the McFarland’s Farm Blog Tour.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Jessie’s Diner Blog Tour.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

Connect with CC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Cardeno C.'s Cinderfuckingrellas Facebook Group


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Jumping In by Cardeno C. Blog Tour

When love's on the line, the brave jump in with both feet…

Small town cop Clint Rivera can’t catch a break. His ex of two weeks is suddenly getting married, his dogs tore up his furniture, he’s getting evicted, and he’s out of beer. When he decides to solve his alcohol shortage by going to his ex’s engagement party, Clint winds up too drunk to drive himself home.

Enter gorgeous deputy mayor Hawk Black, the man who constantly shows up unexpectedly and sends Clint’s body and mind into a tailspin with nothing but his whiskey voice and blue eyes. After months of patience, Hawk can finally seduce the man he’s been craving.

Clint’s day might not have started out well, but Hawk’s going to make sure it ends with a bang, preferably in bed. He’ll show Clint some rewards are worth the risk. With love on the line, Clint will need to decide if he can open his heart, tear down his shields, and jump in with both feet.

Author’s Note: This is a 2nd edition without substantive changes from the 1st edition.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords
PayHip  ~  Sea to Sky Books

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This short read has a big message, as well as a deliciously satisfying outcome. Clint definitely cannot catch a break – but he is hopeful that bad things come in threes!

But when the Deputy Mayor, Hawk, rescues him from himself, suddenly everything is looking up. I am not always a big fan of rapid romances, but the scene is set really well, and there is a good argument for a friends-to-lovers scenario. And anyway, they are both cute and hot together!

For a quick read to bring a smile to your face, this could surely be the one.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This story confused me. I couldn’t decide whether Hawk was a slightly domineering and vaguely creepy stalker or if he was just a wonderfully dominant alpha male.

Within a few pages, Hawk rescues Clint from a life that couldn’t possibly get any worse. Add 24 hours and some insta-love and Hawk completely takes over and transforms Clint’s life.

This story is saved by a little dark humour – and by the fact that this might be more erotica than romance. Where romance doesn’t often work in a short story format, erotica is perfectly suited. There is a lot of pretty explicit sex in this book. In erotica, readers expect fantasy men like Hawk. Hey, we all need someone to take us to bed and solve all our problems. Realism be damned!

So, this is sexy, fantasy insta-love. In real life, we’d all probably call the cops if someone on a first date had memorised the details of our life. But this is erotic romance and I was able to get right into this fantasy.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

Connect with CC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Cardeno C.'s Cinderfuckingrellas Facebook Group

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Jumping In by Cardeno C. to read and review for this tour.

Rough Edges by Cardeno C. Blog Tour

Kyle has an unwelcome crush on his nemesis Brent. Brent has a welcome crush on his friend Kyle. As it turns out, the line between a friend and an enemy doesn’t have to be a line at all.

Born on the wrong side of the tracks to the wrong family, Kyle Potter has spent his life clawing his way toward a better future. When he gets the perfect job at the perfect firm in perfect Los Angeles, Kyle is sure there are only blue skies ahead. And then he meets perfect Brent Haralson.

Born with a silver spoon to a well-established family, Brent Haralson has never been interested in leveraging his connections. Friends, success, and dates come easily to Brent and rejection isn’t something he has to deal with in life. And then he meets perfect Kyle Potter.

Kyle despises his unwelcome crush on his lazy, arrogant nemesis. Brent welcomes his feelings for his stubborn, brilliant friend. As it turns out, the line between a friend and an enemy doesn’t have to be a line at all.

Author’s Note: This is a 2nd edition without substantive changes from the 1st edition, which was part of the It Was Always You anthology.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords
PayHip  ~  Sea to Sky Books

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Whilst this is a short story, we get much more than just the bare bones of a satisfying romance.

For me, there was a strong message being subtly delivered. Don't judge a man by his bank account, and certainly don't make assumptions without asking first. Funny thing is that Kyle just doesn't get that his opinions could be reversed by Brent, but he is nothing but friendly. I loved how consistency and caring won through in the end. Along with some serious hotness, of course, these two elements come hand in hand with this talented author.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
I find it difficult to be objective about a story when I really dislike the main character/narrator. And I pretty much hated Kyle from start to finish. A working class boy who worked hard to become successful in finance, Kyle has an irrational hatred for Brent – a trust fund kid who doesn’t need to work.

Kyle’s behaviour towards Brent is awful for most of the story. In turn, Brent is only ever kind to Kyle. As a result, I still don’t understand why Brent put up with Kyle and I certainly didn’t feel any sort of connection between the two.

Romance doesn’t often work well in a short story format. Here, there just isn’t enough character or plot development to make a connection between Kyle and Brent feel plausible. I usually love this author’s novels, so I was surprised by the flat characters and simple storyline.

Short story fans may enjoy this more than I did. Personally, I much prefer the complexity of this author’s novels.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

Connect with CC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Cardeno C.'s Cinderfuckingrellas Facebook Group

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rough Edges by Cardeno C. to read and review for this tour.

Not a Game by Cardeno C. Blog Tour

An accidental meeting and a misunderstanding lead to a life-altering connection.

A new job, a new city, and hopefully a new life. When chubby gamer Oliver Barnaby receives a job offer from the best boutique game developer in the country, he leaves his family and his less than spectacular existence in Oklahoma without a second’s hesitation. Determined to change more than his career and his geography, Oliver implements a plan to finally land a boyfriend. Step one is improving his skills in the bedroom.

A life that looks perfect on paper, but feels empty in reality. Attractive, successful, charismatic Jaime Snow has a life other people envy. His already booming business is growing. He isn’t lacking in friends. And he has no trouble finding a date. But there’s an emptiness in Jaime’s heart and a hole in his life that only the right man can fill.

An accidental meeting, a misunderstanding, and falling in love. When Oliver and Jaime end up at the same bar at the same time, they each see something they want in the other. Going to bed together that first night is easy. Building the lifetime relationship they both desperately crave will require trust, time, and a little misunderstanding.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

Chapter 1

He had chosen the bar because of its name: The Bookstore. It was clever and unusual and he had laughed internally at how happy his mother would be if he told her he was spending time at the Bookstore instead of in front of his computer. Oliver’s entire life, she had mourned the fact he wasn’t a reader, and even though he had now moved two thousand miles away from their home in Oklahoma City, she still sent him books she was sure he’d love. Maybe someday he’d open one of them.

For now, he glanced down at the only book he had read countless times and adjusted it at the edge of his table to make the spine as visible as possible. The title—Coding—wasn’t as clever as the bar name, but the information and the way it was phrased had clicked perfectly in Oliver’s brain when he was a college freshman. He had long since moved past the information inside, but the textbook was the closest thing he had to a security blanket, so he had held onto it through four years of progressively more complicated computer science classes, three dead-end computer repair and technical support jobs, and a move to Seattle to finally, finally, live his dream developing video games. When he had to pick a way to identify himself to the stranger who would guide him on the last phase of his journey toward living the life he had always wanted, the first thing that came to Oliver’s mind was the book that had started it all.

With the spine facing the bar and walkway and his glass empty, Oliver had nothing left to do but wait or get his phone out to play a quick turn on Clash of Clans. He reached into his pocket almost before his brain had formulated the thought. A quick glance at his screen confirmed it was still twenty minutes shy of eight o’clock. Oliver prided himself on timeliness, something his father had drummed into him since he was a boy, and after two months in Seattle, he hadn’t yet gotten a handle on how long it took to get anywhere, so he had erred on the side of caution and ended up arriving half an hour early.

In his head, his mother lectured him about playing on his phone when he should be paying attention to people, but he was twenty-eight years old, and she was too far away to see him, so he ignored her and tried to lose himself in a game. Besides, taking his mind off why he was in that bar would stop him from falling headfirst into an anxiety attack, and even his mother would agree that was a good thing in a social setting. Not that she would ever have the chance to know about his plans that evening, because, despite how close they were, this was one activity Oliver absolutely would not share with his family. Or anyone else for that matter.

Nerves rising, he scratched his upper back through his shirt with one hand and his thigh with the other. Recognizing what he was doing, he forced his hands away before he broke the skin. Hoping for a distraction, he jerked his gaze toward his pop when, suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he noticed someone moving in his direction. Instinctively, Oliver grabbed the glass and scrunched over it, using the act of sipping from a straw as a shield to keep himself from staring at people who inevitably didn’t notice him. But when the man didn’t veer away and instead came closer, Oliver glanced up and realized the stranger was looking right at his book. Which meant he was either coming to tease the chubby nerd for having a textbook at a bar on a Friday night or…

Oh my God. This is him. Oliver kept his head down but couldn’t stop himself from flicking his gaze back and forth between his still empty glass and the approaching man.

Older than Oliver, but not too old, broad shoulders, light eyes, short dark hair, and a sculpted face. The man stopped right next to the table, waited for Oliver to look up, and then said, “Interesting reading choice.” He tapped the top of the cover and tried to meet Oliver’s gaze.

Even though this was one situation where Oliver couldn’t be rejected or laughed at, he still struggled to speak to such a handsome man, and he definitely couldn’t make eye contact with him. And now that he was close enough for Oliver to see him clearly, he definitely knew that was true. He set his gaze on the man’s chin and took in his features.

The dark hair was brown but it had strands of chestnut at the top and flecks of silver in the sideburns, which extended to the bottom of his earlobe. The light eyes were green, a pale shade that still managed to look warm. And the broad shoulders topped a chest so muscular that it stretched the black T-shirt he wore underneath a well-fitted jacket. This guy was fantasy material, and Oliver couldn’t believe he had gotten so lucky.

“Is this book yours?”

“Yes,” Oliver said hoarsely and then cleared his throat. “It’s mine.”

The man’s forehead crinkled. He tilted his head to the side and stared at Oliver.

At first, the odd look discomforted him, but then Oliver remembered the social etiquette classes he had been forced to attend in middle school, and he realized where he had gone wrong.

“Please have a seat,” he said, raising his hand toward the empty chair across from him. Though his voice still shook more than he would have liked, it was a bolder invitation than he usually gave. Of course, usually men didn’t approach him, especially incredibly handsome men, and usually people didn’t want to hang out with him, and usually he didn’t look up escort services and set up a meeting. So today was anything but Oliver’s usual.

“Thanks.” The man pulled back the empty chair, sat, and then scooted it forward. “I’m Jaime.” He reached his hand out.

Oliver glanced down at the hand, blinked, and then remembered his manners. “I’m Oliver.” He wiped his sweaty palm on his jeans, took Jaime’s hand, and shook it. “Oliver Barnaby.”

Oh crap. Was giving his last name in this situation a bad idea? Oh well. If everything went as expected, Oliver would be spending time alone with this man, which would put him at more risk than sharing his name. He had made reservations at the hotel upstairs, which was expensive and not completely secure, but it had to be safer than bringing a stranger to his apartment.

“So, Oliver Barnaby.” Grinning, Jaime glanced at the book and arched his eyebrows. “What are you doing here with this?”

Straight to the point. In Jaime’s line of work, being direct made sense, but Oliver wasn’t skilled at holding an articulate conversation with a live human so he fidgeted in his seat. “Well, uh…” He gulped.

“Late night study session?” The comment was teasing, but the tone held no malice and Jaime’s expression, while most definitely amused, wasn’t cruel.

“Sorry. I’m being silly.” Oliver shook his head. “We both know why we’re here so—” He drew in a deep breath. “I’m not sure how much he told you.” He frowned and thought back to the brief phone call he’d had with the man from the ad. “Actually, I don’t remember how much detail I gave him other than saying I needed someone experienced.”

“Experienced?”

“Uh-huh. Because, uh.” He looked at Jaime’s handsome face and once again lost the power of speech.

He hadn’t thought through how the escort agency would interpret his request but now he realized they had taken it to mean Oliver wanted someone a bit older. As luck would have it, older men were very much Oliver’s type. Or they would be if he had a type. Someone probably needed to go on actual dates rather than just fantasize about them before he could say he had a type.

“Oliver?”

Oliver blinked.

“You were saying you needed someone experienced?”

“Right.” He bobbed his head. “See the thing is, I didn’t hire you for sex.”

There was no missing the shock that crossed Jaime’s face.

“That didn’t come out right.” Oliver quickly backtracked. The last thing he wanted was for Jaime to think he was being stiffed because then he’d get up and walk out and Oliver would have to start his search all over again. The odds of finding someone as attractive and nice as Jaime to teach him were so low they rounded to zero. “I know what escort means and I’m all set to pay you. I have the money.” He patted his pocket and said an internal thank-you for his new company’s generosity. “What I meant was that I don’t want to have sex with you.”

Jaime chuckled and arched his eyebrows, but he didn’t say anything.

“Ugh.” Oliver shook his head. “I didn’t mean that either.” He raised his hand and moved it up and down in Jaime’s direction. “Look at you. Obviously, I want to have sex with you. But it’s not about eating the meal, it’s about learning to fish, you know?”

“I think I’m getting the picture, but why don’t you fill in the details?” Jaime lowered his voice. “And try to keep the whole paying for sex thing out of it.” One side of his lips rose in a crooked smile. “We are in public after all and not everything is legal in Washington.”

Oh God. Oliver jerked his head from side to side, checking to see if anyone was close enough to hear him. The bar wasn’t big and there were a decent number of customers, so someone probably had. He leaned forward, his belly squishing against the table. “Do you think people will call the police? Should we leave?”

“No and”—Jaime’s smile shifted from amused to wicked—“eventually. But first, tell me about learning to fish.” Jaime settled into his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps giving the gray suede jacket a workout. “I assume we aren’t talking about the great outdoors, so what exactly are you hiring me to teach you?”

When he had come up with the idea to hire an escort, Oliver had focused on how much it would cost, where to do it, and what he’d be able to squeeze into one night. He had also spent a decent amount of time second-guessing his plan. But he had never considered how he would explain what he wanted to the man he paid to help him.

“Do you guys have like, uh, confidentiality requirements?” Oliver asked.

Jaime arched his eyebrows. “Confidentiality?”

“Yeah.” Oliver bobbed his head. “What I tell you has to stay between us, right?”

“Well.” Jaime’s mouth turned up at the corners and then he licked his lips, coughed, and said, “I’m not a psychiatrist or an attorney, so there’s not a licensing board out there keeping me honest, but I’ll give you my word to keep this just between us. How’s that?”

After considering the response and his alternatives for a couple of seconds, Oliver said, “That works.”

“Glad we got the preliminaries out of the way.” Jaime smiled. “Tell me what you need, Oliver.”

When he said Oliver’s name, Jaime’s voice dropped, going deeper and raspier. The tone sent a pang through Oliver’s gut and reminded him why this man got paid to do what he did. That made what Oliver had to say even more humiliating, but he didn’t want his life in Seattle to be like his life in Oklahoma, so he pushed through the shame and forced himself to speak.

“I’m pretty sure I’m bad in bed and I want help with that.” He bit his lip. “Real help. Not what people brag about online.” He had read endless blogs and subscribed to chat rooms, but loath as he was to admit it, the internet didn’t have all the answers.

Looking surprised, Jaime blinked a few times, cleared his throat, and then said, “Why do you think you’re bad in bed?”

That question was easy to answer. “My ex told me.”

The good-natured, amused expression disappeared from Jaime’s face. “Your ex sounds like a dick. Find someone else and forget about him.”

“That’s just it. I can’t find someone else.” Realizing he sounded whiney, Oliver took a moment to breathe. He sat up straight, rolled his neck, and then ruined his attempt at looking confident by slumping. “People never like me in real life. I’m twenty-eight and Ted was the only guy who’s ever been willing to sleep with me. That was four years ago.” His voice shook. “I need help.”

“Hey.” Jaime’s eyes softened, and he leaned forward, curling his hand around Oliver’s forearm. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

Jaime’s touch was ten times more potent than his voice, and suddenly, Oliver wanted to follow through on his plans for the night because of something entirely unrelated to learning and improving himself. He stayed perfectly still, letting the pleasurable feelings wash over him until Jaime removed his hand. And then the floodgates opened.

“I just moved to Seattle in August. Did I tell you that already? I want things to be different here. I got this great job making lots of money, and I have my own apartment, but that’s not enough. I’m going to join a gym so I can lose weight, because I know guys aren’t going to be interested in me like this.” He waved his hand up and down beside his too fat, too flabby body. “I’ll never be good-looking like you, but hopefully exercise will help, and I can diet too and then maybe someone will be interested, but then what? At some point we’ll end up in bed and then he’ll never want to see me again.” He took a deep breath, his heart racing. “That’s why I hired you. I need to get better, so if I actually find someone who’s interested, I can hold on to him.” He squeezed and released his hands and stared at Jaime, hoping he’d understand.

“All right,” Jaime said calmly. “I hear you and I’m not turning you down.” He looked at Oliver meaningfully, only continuing after Oliver nodded in understanding. “We can get out of here and do this, but before we do, I want you to know that not every guy is into gym bunnies or twinks. You’re really good-looking, Oliver.”

“You’re getting paid to say that,” Oliver mumbled, dropping his gaze from Jaime’s eyes. Even that part of him was attractive—layers of green far more interesting than Oliver’s own boring brown.

“No, I’m not.” Jaime’s jaw ticced as he spoke, and he sounded so firm that Oliver would have believed him if he hadn’t found the man through an escort ad.

“It’s fine,” Oliver said. “I’m past worrying about being pathetic for paying for sex.” He sighed and dragged his fingers through his hair, hoping he wasn’t making the too long strands stick out in weird directions. “Actually, it helps. I’d never have the nerve to talk to a guy like you in real life, even if it was just to answer a question about directions or something.” He rolled his eyes at his own shortcomings. “Knowing you can’t laugh at me or judge me or turn me down makes this better.” It made it possible. “That’s all I need. Don’t worry about the fake compliments.”

“It wasn’t fake.”

Of course it was. Oliver was good-looking in the same way the bar was a bookstore. But that didn’t matter and Jaime sounded angry, so Oliver stopped arguing and refocused the conversation on the reason they were both in the Bookstore that wasn’t actually a bookstore. “I reserved a room upstairs in the hotel.”

Jaime pulled his eyebrows together and narrowed his eyes and, for a horrible moment, Oliver was sure he had changed his mind and he was about to leave. Oliver was about to plead for another chance, but then Jaime’s face smoothed and he rose from his chair.

“Lead the way, Oliver. I’m looking forward to”—he dragged his gaze over Oliver’s body, his expression unlike any Oliver previously had seen directed at him—“fishing with you.”

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I was thrilled to finally find a book where the hero is a large guy (plus sized). I loved it. Oliver deals with body image issues, issues about his ability in the bedroom, and he isn't great at being social either. I could totally relate to Oliver. His love interest, Jaime, is attractive, outgoing, successful and if it wasn't for the "misunderstanding," Oliver doesn't think Jaime would look twice at him. Oliver is wrong.

Not a Game demonstrates that life is about finding the perfect match for you and not some socially acceptable ideal. On paper, someone might seem like the right fit, but that doesn't mean they are. I love the message in this story and I had a great time reading it.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved this. Original characters, an interesting twist on a familiar storyline, and absolutely no angst makes for a near perfect story. This classic Pretty Woman tale has a wonderful twist and is full of warm, fuzzy, feel-good happiness.

I loved Oliver. M/M romance is full of perfect male bodies and Oliver’s large, hairy body is a wonderfully refreshing change. His unapologetic geekiness, his intense shyness, and his low self-esteem all work together to make a loveable and memorable leading man. But he is also talented, sweet, and bravely working to change a reality he isn’t too fond of.

Jaime is a little more of a traditional leading man, but his attraction and care for his young bear makes him very special. He is possibly a little bit too sweet and too good, but I loved the way he took care of Oliver from the beginning. Like all the best relationships, Jaime and Oliver infuse each other with confidence and even the most serious misunderstandings are met with the cool pragmatism we’d expect of these two tech geeks.

This is a gentle, fun read. I always love books by this author, but they are usually weightier and topical. This is different – it is a simple, sweet, and very well written romance. I recommend it highly and I’m already looking forward to Jack’s book.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Another great sweet love story. I loved how Jaime kept building up Oliver’s self-esteem and truly meant everything that he said. People find it hard to believe when someone doesn’t like what society deems as normal. I personally like a guy with more meat on his bones, muscle or just meat, doesn’t matter, I just prefer it over a thinner, leaner person. So to have that in this book was nice. I loved Jaime and Oliver, and even Jack. Sweet and low on angst, it was just wonderful.

Characters: Well written and easy to relate to
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Not sure
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Oliver isn't your typical main character. He's a bigger man that's sexually inexperienced. He's self-conscious about his size and his inexperience. The first time Jaime sees him, he's interested. Oliver has everything that sets Jaime aflame. Jaime is everything that Oliver is not. Buff, experienced, and confident in himself. Can two complete opposites really come together?

Not a Game is a very low angst read. Some things were glossed over, things that should have been a big fight, but for whatever reason it works. I loved that the main character isn't perfect, sporting a ten-inch cock. I love the realism of the connection. It definitely isn't something you find in the fiction world. It was a refreshing change up.

I can't wait to see what's next for Jack.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
All this author's books are wonderful, and this is another excellent read to add to the collection. That it is the start of a new series makes me very happy too!

From the very first page I was invested in how this was going to work out, and just how the whole misunderstanding would start – and then I was worried about how on earth it would be resolved! But mostly, I was just devouring the story, as I had to know it all as soon as I possibly could. I love all the side plots, often with serious messages, but filtered in so carefully. I was glad that I got to know both sides of the story, so that the feelings of both men were available to us – it helped reduce the worry, although kept the tension high. Deliciously hot, introverted, caring, thoughtful, and fun, the whole book is a veritable feast for both brain and heart. Loved it.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Not a Game (Friends #1) by Cardeno C. to read and review for this tour. Veronica reviewed her personal copy of the book.