Sweet Anticipation by Andrew Grey – Homemade for the Holidays

Greg Hansen’s pregnant sister is on bed rest, so it falls to Greg to finalize the arrangements for her best friend’s bachelorette party. Little does he know he’s in for a sweet surprise. When he arrives at the bakery recommended to him, he comes face to face with the man he never should’ve let get away—Rhys Denning.

Rhys’s business is booming with the holidays approaching, so he can’t agree to cater the party without help—and that means Greg getting his hands dirty in the kitchen, where the two reconnect over sugar, spice, holiday goodies of all kinds, and even some penis-shaped baguettes! But the most satisfying treat might be the second chance they never thought they’d get.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2019 Advent Calendar collection Homemade for the Holidays.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M Second Chance Romance

Greg loves his sister and with her on bed rest due to her pregnancy, Greg is charged with making their mutual friend Cynthia's bachelorette party a hit. There's one problem... Greg knows nothing about throwing a bachelorette party.

When the bakery that his sister wanted is unavailable, Greg seeks out another one that was recommended to him. What he didn't expect was to find an ex-boyfriend.

Rhys is an amazing baker. When he sees Greg again, he immediately apologizes for being young and immature in his relationship with Greg. He also agrees to help Greg pull off an amazing bachelorette party.

These two have sweet, almost young adult chemistry. They make each other laugh and allow themselves to see if they can rekindle their young love relationship. This book was sweet, funny, and had the added bonus of hilarious bachelorette food.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Sweet Anticipation is a quick enjoyable read. Gregory and Rhys had a brief romance in college and get a second change when Gregory hires Rhys to help him prepare the food for a bachelorette party. This is easy-to-read fun story. I really enjoyed the time the men spent in the kitchen. Sweet Anticipation really put me in the mood to do my Christmas baking.

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and now writes full time.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Homemade for the Holidays: Sweet Anticipation by Andrew Grey to read and review.

For Joy by Crystel Greene – Homemade for the Holidays

When college athlete Chad comes out to his parents and gets a nasty reaction, sparkly twink Joaquin “Joy” Acosta offers him shelter in his tiny apartment. Joy’s the sweetest, most beautiful roommate on the planet, and every day, Chad falls in love a little bit more. The problem is, Joy will never know since his banter-loving hipster friends make bear-sized Chad feel all hulking and tongue-tied.

Joy is a sucker for anything handmade, though, and eventually Chad decides to tell him he loves him with a self-knitted pair of gloves. But it turns out knitting is way harder than Chad expected. Fortunately, Joy knows just how to save the day…

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2019 Advent Calendar collection Homemade for the Holidays.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
After coming out to his parents doesn’t go well, Chad’s hairdresser, Joy, takes him in. Chad is such a good guy and the reaction of his parents when he comes out is awful and had me in tears several times. But the romance with Joy is so sweet and full of love, it made me so happy.

I loved reading novellas at Christmas and For Joy is wonderful. I read it in one sitting and it just made my heart sing and the ending is perfect!

The first man Crystel fell in love with was Beauty's Beast. Next came Robin Hood, then Mr. Darcy. Two decades of married life later, she still loves fictional men – especially when there are two of them who are meant to be! She likes it best when she can create their plights and fights herself, and she can always be counted on to throw in some sizzling hotness and a lot of feels. Here's her author promise: no fade-outs when things get steamy or emotional, and an ending that will leave you smiling.

Crystel is a lawyer by training, a lover of pastry, and a believer in Happy Ever Afters. Born and raised in Hamburg, Germany, and a North Sea girl at heart, she lives in the beautiful Austrian Alps with her big, noisy family.

Crystel Greene. MM romance. Sweet, star-crossed, and NC-17.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Homemade for the Holidays: For Joy by Crystel Greene to read and review.

On the Same Page by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams

When a Dom invites a shy bookstore owner to live out his fantasies, more than one life will be transformed.

Words are Heath Snow’s life. He can’t remember a time when he didn’t have his nose buried in a book. He couldn’t make a living as a writer, so he did the next best thing—he bought a bookstore. But when he’s not selling books, he’s living vicariously through the characters he encounters. Real men can’t hold a candle to the hot men in his favorite genre.

The Pride display in the bookstore window may be what captured Xavier James’s attention, but the man enthusing about books interests him more. The BDSM book lying next to the cash register is a pleasant surprise, and when he draws attention to it, Heath’s flushed cheeks and bright eyes pique Xavier’s curiosity even further.

Xavier is about to learn that some things are more important than work, and Heath is about to step out of his comfort zone, into a place where fantasy and real life coexist.

Book 4
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a proper fantasy read. It’s the story of Heath, a shy bookstore owner who is initiated into the world of BDSM by established dom, Xavier. Like the others in the series, this is a fabulously steamy read – with a little heart.

I really like that Xavier and Heath’s role plays explore an uncommon kink. I love the fun they both have with their period roles and I also enjoyed the way they slowly started to build a relationship beyond the bedroom. There’s still enough traditional kink and steamy sex to push this well into erotica territory, but I like that it’s a little bit different than I expected.

Set in London’s Soho, readers get a good dose of bookstore envy and property porn to accompany the kink. Nothing about Heath or Xavier’s lives are terribly realistic but I found it easy to drool over their homes, their jobs, and their kink club. I didn’t love the property development theme that takes over the end of the book (and I didn’t quite understand it either). However, I really enjoy KC Well’s writing and I kinda love Heath as an unsuspecting kink initiate. I also liked getting to catch up with other characters from previous books.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series, and yet I think it could be read as a standalone, and then you may decide to step deeper into the world of Secrets and meet up with some of the characters you meet here.

I really liked Heath and his ordered world. In fact, his life sounded pretty perfect... living above his very own bookshop and making enough to live on, but undoubtedly Xavier brings a whole new level of colour to his life. Thanks to Xavier introducing him to Secrets, Heath also makes some new friends. Watching Heath discover his true nature was very enjoyable, and for anyone who enjoys historical romances, probably made them chuckle at the scenes.

Xavier is a slightly strange character in my opinion. He is clearly working really hard, and doing quite well, but when we get to see him at work, he is unusually cowed and subservient to Church. He also doesn't deal well with having to deal with a serious conflict of interest. By the end I was convinced that he wanted only the best, but his method of reaching that point was rather painful!

An interesting addition to the series, and I loved having a lead character who owned a bookshop.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book. I love the whole shy guy thing. While we didn’t see much of Secrets this time, we did get to catch up with a few of the characters from previous books. I liked Heath and Xavier; they weren’t your typical couple with your typical kink. They worked for me though. There was plenty of steamy sexy time and I enjoyed watching the relationship between Heath and Xavier grow. Good addition to the series.

Also Available in the Secrets Series

Book 1
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For reviews & more info, check out our Before You Break post.

Book 2
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For reviews & more info, check out our An Unlocked Mind post.

Book 3
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For reviews & more info, check out our Threepeat post.

K.C. Wells

I've always written, right from an early age. I was always writing stories as a child, and as I grew up, I had the idea of writing a novel, like so many people do. Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. Wells always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way. K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, where the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter... K.C. now writes full time and is loving every minute of her new career. The laptop still has no idea of what hit it... it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

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KC's Men in Love Facebook Group


Parker Williams

PARKER WILLIAMS began to write as a teen, but never showed his work to anyone. As he grew older, he drifted away from writing, but his love of the written word moved him to reading. A chance encounter with an author changed the course of his life as she encouraged him to never give up on a dream. With the help of some amazing friends, he rediscovered the joy of writing, thanks to a community of writers who have become his family.

Parker firmly believes in love, but is also of the opinion that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (plus a little hurt and angst, too). The course of love is never a smooth one, and Happily Ever After always has a price tag.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of On the Same Page (Secrets #4) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams to read and review.

Rainbows in Sea Glass by Kim Katil – Homemade for the Holidays

Kyle has loved James, his best friend’s older brother, for as long as he can remember. Unfortunately James is a player, and Kyle has no desire to be his latest conquest. When James suddenly turns the full weight of his charm on him, Kyle flees to Cape May Point to collect sea glass and Cape May diamonds to make a St. Nicholas Day present for his aunt.

James has always taken Kyle’s presence for granted and he’s shocked to find how integral Kyle is to his life and future happiness. Braving his family’s well-meaning attempts to help and a sudden winter storm, James heads to the shore to convince Kyle that the most precious thing they’ll find on the beach is each other.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2019 Advent Calendar collection Homemade for the Holidays.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M Friends to lovers romance

Kyle, Maria, and James have known each other since they were kids. It was James who kept Maria and Kyle out of trouble and made sure nobody bullied them while in high school. Maria and Kyle have stayed very close friends, but lately, Maria has noticed Kyle start to pull away from her and her family. Not really sure why, she tells him that no matter what, she's dragging him out.

After James and Kyle share a heated dance, Kyle really isn't sure what to make of it. James has always been a player and Kyle knows that his heart couldn't take any rejection from the one man that he's had a crush on always. Plus, Kyle isn't willing to risk losing the family that he's been part of for so long.

Honestly, while this is a cute story, I didn't really get the chemistry between Kyle and James. Molly and Stan had more chemistry in their short part of the story than the main couple had throughout. While this had great potential to be a cute holiday read, it just didn't really work for me.

Kim Katil patrols the Universe with her dignity of dragons during the Harvest Moon. The rest of the time, Kim lives in the mythical and contentious territory known as Central Jersey. Originally from South Jersey, she is still unsure if Central Jersey is a real place or a Fae construct. Her movement from the lower to middle band of the state was interrupted by time spent living in Ireland, Boston, Uzbekistan, Maryland, Trinidad, and Florida. So far, she has only been asked to leave one country. She currently shares a house with two other adults, three teens, two dogs, and four snakes.

While Kim would love to have a writing cave, she is content to make due with an imaginary yurt that she brings with her for use in airports, on planes and trains, and in hotels. Work-related travel is an unfortunate side effect of the day job but allows her to meet new and interesting people along the way. She has been known to have dinner with random strangers in airports and at street fairs. This level of “peopling” has caused shock and horror in her writers’ group.

A happily ever after is a necessity. Kim loves to give her characters a fun adventure to get them there and a plethora of family and friends to help them along the way.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Homemade for the Holidays: Rainbows in Sea Glass by Kim Katil to read and review.

The Fairy Shop by Tara Lain – Homemade for the Holidays

When Nate Hawthorne meets Asher Dane, the huge, tattooed hunk is the personification of Nate’s dreams. But Nate knows there’s no future, because Asher is also the personification of his beloved five-year-old daughter Delly’s nightmares. She’s frightened of big men. Things turn around for both of them, however, when Delly goes Christmas shopping at the Fairy Shop and begins her quest for a wand that will make her brave. Neither of them guesses that the Fairy Shop will be the source of far more than Delly’s courage. On Christmas Eve, under the influence of a very unusual fairy, Nate’s life will change forever.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2019 Advent Calendar collection Homemade for the Holidays.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

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

Nate and Delly are finding their way. Delly has had some trauma from her mom's abusive boyfriend and is skittish and nervous around large men. Nate is doing his best to help her heal, but being a young father, he also knows that he should have some alone time.

Asher is living his life the best he can. After alluding to some potential PTSD issues, he loves his life.

Nate and Asher meet at a bar and have an immediate attraction. These two characters are sweet, funny, and ready to find love.

When Delly's mom and her boyfriend show up and scare Delly again, Nate thinks there is no way that she'll ever be okay around Asher. He's a mountain of a man. But it's Christmas and with Delly trying to choose her wand that's made by the Fairy Master, they all could use a Christmas miracle.

Delly will win your heart and Nate and Asher will show you that sometimes, all it takes is a little faith and a willingness to take a leap of faith. This is a perfect short holiday story.

TARA LAIN writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Erotic Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, and Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. Readers often call her books “sweet,” even with all that hawt sex, because Tara believes in love and her books deliver on happily-ever-after. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. Her love of creating book titles comes from years of manifesting ad headlines for everything from analytical instruments to semiconductors. She does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog (who’s a little jealous of all those cat pictures Tara posts on FB) in Laguna Niguel, California, near the seaside towns where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says that on her tombstone, it will say “Yes!”

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Homemade for the Holidays: The Fairy Shop by Tara Lain to read and review.

Buried Secrets by John R. Petrie

Teen detectives Wyatt and Timothy are determined to find out what happened to a group of boys who disappeared years ago—but surviving the mystery might be as challenging as solving it.

To make ends meet, Wyatt works construction instead of attending school, and it’s in an old house he’s gutting that he finds a collection of articles about a missing boy. Wyatt knew Bobby LaFleur before he disappeared, and this new clue stirs up Wyatt’s old memories.

Sheriff’s son Timothy Mitchell can’t resist a challenge—or the chance to show his dad he’s more than capable of working in law enforcement. Together with Wyatt, he investigates the disappearance and learns Bobby isn’t the only victim—and that Wyatt and Bobby were more than friends. As the case grows darker and more twisted, the connection between Wyatt and Timothy deepens. But the secrets they uncover could get them killed.

A Harmony Ink Press Title

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆
Buried Secrets is a young adult novel in which local teen Wyatt asks the sheriff’s son, Timothy, for helping in finding out what happened to his friend, Bobby, who disappeared four years prior. Timothy wants to be a cop and agrees to help Wyatt try to solve the mystery, and also hopes to impress his dad.

This story mixes teenage romance and mystery well and also deals with the family lives of these two young teens. I loved the family dynamics we see with Timothy’s family. Timothy is openly gay, and he has accepting and supporting parents. Wyatt’s home life is the complete opposite with a drunk, neglectful mother who is full of prejudice.

On the mystery, as a reader, with a few clues I figured out what had likely happened early on but I enjoyed seeing Timothy figure it out and watching the story unfold. There is a good helping of danger and suspense to keep you a bit on edge right through the story. On the romance side of things, I liked the age appropriate romance. These guys are smart enough to realise they are still young and they don’t go rushing into things they might not be ready for.

I really enjoyed Buried Secrets. It has a good, fast pace and I had a good time reading it. A solid three stars from me.

John R. Petrie grew up in Boston and now lives in the Bronx, NY. Almost his entire working career has been spent around books, from his first job in the town library to more than twenty years bookselling in one of the biggest bookstores in the US. He’s also worked for the Housing Works thrift stores in NYC, Valiant Entertainment Comics, and is now a bookstore manager, which gives him too much access to books and not enough time to read them.

He’s had stories published in True Romance magazine, had a play he wrote produced at his college, acted, danced, and was nominated for a Barrymore award playing Belize in Angels in America.

He stays up too late, eats too much junk food, and has been reading Wonder Woman comics for over forty years.

He is very, very happy to be published by Harmony Ink Press. He hopes to continue writing stories which make people smile.

He likes to hear from people, so say hello.

Connect with John

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Buried Secrets (Timothy and Wyatt Mysteries #1) by John R. Petrie to read and review.

In Safe Keeping by Victoria Sue

He can’t save everyone…

Firefighter Lucas Attiker is mired in guilt by his inability to save his young son, who perished in a fire three years ago. When he rescues a troubled young man and his baby daughter from a Colorado forest fire, Lucas finally begins to forgive himself. But the wildfire is only the beginning of the dangers facing them.

Hell-bent on saving his daughter from his crime boss ex, Owen Michaels is on the run with the baby in tow—fleeing both the killers who are after him and the US Marshals Service deputies assigned to protect him. When his desperate flight lands them in the midst of an inferno, the man who saves them offers hope for more than just survival.

They might have escaped a blazing forest and a hail of bullets, but both men will need to risk their lives—and their hearts—to give a little girl a loving family… if they can make it out alive.

Book 2
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Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

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

Lucas is a firefighter who also helps out when there is a forest fire. He loves his job, but he also hates his job. With family issues that run so far in his psyche under the false sense of guilt, Lucas wants to save others to pay penance for those he wasn't able to save.

Owen is on the run with his daughter. There simply is no sugar coating this. Owen knows that his choices are no longer his own and can't stand by while his partner continues to harm others. But when he finds himself in territory that is unfamiliar and sees that he's in danger, Owen will have to figure out who he can trust and who Damien can pay off.

With nobody to trust but each other, both men will have to decide if what they have has staying power or if the thrill and adrenaline is what brought them together.

This is a fast paced, who done it type of story. I enjoyed the mystery because it kept you guessing as to who was trustworthy and who was not. Also, watching Lucas and Owen figure out their own issues and lean on each other was organic and not forced. Not to mention the major twist at the end... you'll just have to read it!

I will end by saying that I did not read the previous book and didn't feel that I was missing anything.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I will start this review off by saying I did not read the first book in this series, I didn't even realize it was a series until I came to write my review. I don't feel like I was missing any backstory, so this could be read as a standalone book.

Lucas and Owen were so sweet together, they just melted my heart. I love how Owen was with Lucas, even though his life was on the line the entire book. Baby Mia was precious but her saying the dog’s name at 7 months was a little bit of a reach for me, not saying kids can't talk that early but she was a drug addict baby, so chances are she wouldn't be talking that early. The story kept me engaged the entire time and I couldn't wait to see who the leak was even though I had a guess in my head. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced books with a sweet love story.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
This is an explosive whirlwind of action and angst. Part firefighter action, part organised crime thriller, part family drama, and part romance, this is a complicated story with many discordant parts. The novel as a whole works surprisingly well but I don’t feel like any of the many plot threads are developed particularly successfully.

I loved the firefighting action at the start of this story and I enjoyed some of the slower, quieter passages where Lucas and Owen work on their relationships and come to terms with their pasts. The organised crime element of the story was overdone and completely implausible. Lucas’ personal history is far too complicated to work as a minor subplot and each new revelation about Owen and the baby kept me in an escalating state of WTF disbelief. And please don’t get me started on Lucas’ sexuality.

This works as an exciting read but the superficial treatment of difficult themes and situations means that the book just doesn’t have the emotional resonance I expected. There was too much going on for me to properly connect with any of the characters or themes. The implausibility of so many of the story threads made it difficult to invest in the characters.

This works as an action adventure if readers don’t think about it too hard but there is probably enough material for three or four novels packed into a single, slightly bewildering book.

VICTORIA SUE… Wrote her first book on a dare from her hubby two years ago and he says he has regretted it every day since. Loves writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—especially with either a paranormal or a historical twist. Had a try at writing contemporary but failed spectacularly when it grew four legs and a tail. Loves her wolves!

Is an English northern lass but is currently serving twenty to life in Florida—unfortunately, she spends more time chained to her computer than on a beach.

Loves to hear from her readers and can be found most days lurking on Facebook.

Connect with Victoria

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Victoria Sue’s Crew Facebook Group

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of In Safe Keeping (Heroes and Babies #2) by Victoria Sue to read and review.

First Impressions by Jay Hogan

Michael

Two years ago I made a mistake—a big one. Then I added a couple more just for good measure. I screwed up my life, but I survived. Now I have the opportunity for a fresh start. Two years in NZ. Away from the LA gossip, a chance to breathe, to rebuild my life. But I’m taking my new set of rules with me.

I don’t do relationships.

I don’t do commitment.

I don’t do white picket fences.

And I especially don’t do arrogant, holier-than-thou, smoking-hot K9 officers who walk into my ER and rock my world.

Josh

One thing’s for certain: Dr. Michael Oliver is an arrogant, untrustworthy player, and I barely survived the last one of those. He might be gorgeous, but my daughter takes number-one priority. I won’t risk her being hurt again. I’m a solo dad, a K9 cop, and a son to pain-in-the-arse parents.

I don’t have time for games.

I don’t have time for taking chances. I don’t have time for more complications in my life.

And I sure as hell don’t have time for the infuriating Dr. Michael Oliver, however damn sexy he is.

Second Edition
First Edition published by Blackout Books, 2018.

Book 1
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Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
The slow build sexual tension in this book is electric. The family-focused dog handler and the playboy ER doctor hate each other at first sight – but they can’t escape the chemistry that draws them together.

It’s easy to love Josh. He’s a devoted single parent and a genuinely good person. His adorable canine partner is also pretty attractive. But honestly, he’s a little safe and a little bland at times – and it was bad boy Michael who really captured my heart. We first meet him when his backroom hook-up is interrupted by a police raid. He’s gorgeous, talented and arrogant – and he’s fighting some difficult demons. Michael made me laugh and he kept the book from falling into saccharine, white picket fence territory.

I enjoyed the action in this book. From Josh’s first drug raid to Michael’s terrifying run-ins with bad guys, the story is fast paced and exciting. The overall plot wanders a bit (I’m not sure the book needed the storyline about Josh’s parents or the one about the softball team...) and there might be a few too many characters but I liked the characters and I enjoyed their relationships. Some of the action near the end of the story isn’t terribly plausible but I felt thoroughly invested in the very real and relatable characters.

This is part of a very loosely linked series. I read this several months after reading the second novel and there really isn’t much that connects the two books. Michael and Cameron work together at Auckland Med but neither man plays a big role in the other’s story. Plot wise, the two are very different. This story gives readers police action and an organised crime storyline while the second book focuses on a closeted rugby player. I've enjoyed both books but readers don’t need to read them in sequence.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in the series but was rereleased after book two. I really enjoyed Crossing the Touchline, so was keen to read this one too. Cam is the lead in book two, which as you get to know him here, makes a lot of sense.

An engaging mystery, which involves the doctor Michael and K9 officer Josh. They first meet with Michael in a somewhat compromising position – so definitely not a good first impression. However, with time they fall into a friendship/romance. As Michael is on a short contract in NZ, and due to return to LA, he is more than a little reluctant to settle down, even if he has broken all his rules already.

I found the two men were well written, and their hopes and fears well expressed. I did, however, hate how Michael was so selfish in his complete disappearance from Josh's life. Whilst it made sense that he needed the time and space to resolve his demons, he caused a lot of pain and angst that was just cruel. I chose to forgive him because Josh did, but I was not impressed at all!


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

Michael is a successful trauma doctor. He is enjoying being around people who don't know his past. While he's taking this break from LA, being around a different bunch is both comforting and terrifying.

Josh is trying to live his best life. With his daughter and dog walking alongside him in this life, he knows that he can ill afford to screw up. He loves his job and, despite the dangers, can't see himself doing anything else.

Michael and Josh's relationship starts on very rocky territory. Neither man is looking for something real and the fact that Josh can't stand Michael only adds to the stress in both men's lives. But when danger lurks around Michael, Josh can't help but want to protect him.

This is a relationship of more enemies-to-lovers. The chemistry is lacking for me and it seems they really only get together out of spite and a need for release. At times, I found myself skimming the pages because there is a lot of dialogue that just isn't necessary. I enjoyed the mystery behind the danger and liked Josh's daughter a lot. Overall, this was just an okay story for me. It had so much more potential, but just didn't hit the spot for me.

Also Available in the Auckland Med. Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Crossing the Touchline post.

JAY HOGAN is a New Zealand author writing in m/m romance, romantic suspense, and fantasy. She has travelled extensively and has lived in the US, Canada, France, Australia, and South Korea. She has a BA degree in nursing and in theology, and in another life, she was an intensive care nurse, counselor, and a lecturer.

Though a late bloomer publishing-wise, she has always had pen to paper from poetry to fiction, benefitting from the unwavering support of a long-suffering husband and the services of an in-house beta reader—oops, sorry, she means daughter.

She is a cat aficionado, especially of Maine Coons, and an avid dog lover (but don’t tell the cat). She loves to cook (pretty damn good), loves to sing (pretty damn average), and as for loving full-time writing—absolutely… depending of course on the day, the word count, the deadline, how obliging her characters are, the ambient temperature in the Western Sahara, whether Jupiter is rising, the size of the ozone hole over New Zealand, and how much coffee she’s had.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of First Impressions (Auckland Med. #1) by Jay Hogan to read and review.