Deeds & Confetti by Brandon Witt

Steven Conley loves the excitement of owning his own Hamburger Mary’s restaurant in Denver, Colorado, and his chosen family of coworkers makes life even better. Steven never regretted leaving the corporate grind behind until his father’s harsh deathbed words leaves him doubting himself.

Ryan Fuller abandoned a lucrative career to start his own party-planning business, but he keeps afloat by coordinating funerals for the local mortuary. When Ryan bumps into Steven—his best friend’s uncle and the man Ryan has secretly crushed on forever—the attraction explodes into a night of passionate abandon for both men.

Steven is blown away by the care and deep connection he feels for the hot young mortician—until Ryan admits who he really is. Reeling from the recent upheaval in his life, Steven must decide whether to give Ryan a chance. To find love, they must risk it all...

Book 4
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Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I’ve fallen hard for the Hamburger Mary’s family since the characters were first introduced in Under a Sky of Ash and while I’m sad to say goodbye, it makes perfect sense to finish with Steven’s story. He is the owner of Hamburger Mary’s and it was his decision to leave the corporate world and buy a restaurant that made it possible for all the others to find their happily ever afters.

When we meet Steven, he is questioning everything about his life. He traded a comfortable professional existence for debt, bills, and financial instability. Hooking up with a hot young guy at his father’s funeral makes him feel better – until he realises that his hook up is his nephew’s best friend. Eighteen years is a huge age gap, especially when Steven watched Ryan grow up.

The age gap made sense to me because while Ryan is much younger, he has also made decisions that took him off the path his parents had planned for his life. Ryan is also happier but poorer and he is also building his own business. I’m not sure we got to know Ryan as well as we go to know Steven, which is a shame because I was really intrigued by his character.

This isn’t as fun or as playful as some of the earlier books (though all have darker themes running through them). Steven really wrestles with his father’s disapproval and disappointment. Steven’s self-doubt feels real and raw and I empathised wholeheartedly with Steven’s midlife crisis.

I dare anyone to read the end and not cry. I absolutely I loved the way the Hamburger Mary’s family found to let Steven know the positive impact his choice has had on so many lives.

Also Available in the Mary's Boys Series

Book 1
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 Nachos & Hash post.

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 Vodka & Handcuffs post.

Book 3
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 Mascara & Bandages post.

BRANDON WITT’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about…

Connect with Brandon

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Deeds & Confetti (Mary's Boys #4) by Brandon Witt to read and review.

Mascara & Bandages by Brandon Witt

Ariel Merman is a new drag queen who’s already finding a family at Hamburger Mary’s. After a performance as Ariel, Zachary Cooper walks home in his makeup and is assaulted by homophobes. Zachary’s worry that the attack has thrown a wrench in his good fortune is eased when he looks into the eyes of his doctor.

Dr. Teegan Chau is a little lost after divorcing his wife and coming out of the closet, but he can’t deny the pull he feels toward the young man he patches up. Luckily, Zachary takes the initiative and asks Teegan out. But attraction is the easy part of their blossoming relationship—as they deal with an ex-wife and child, being a drag queen in a heteronormative culture, Zachary’s lingering trauma from his attack, and Teegan acclimating to life as part of an out-and-proud gay couple.

The challenges seem daunting at the start of a romance. Can Zachary and Teegan make it through the rough patches and take a chance on the love that’s been missing from both their lives?

Book 3
Buy Links

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

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I love this series and this is my favourite story so far. I’ve been intrigued by Zachary/Ariel from the start and Zachary’s story doesn’t disappoint. This story starts in a dark place – Zachary is badly injured in a homophobic attack and Teegan is the doctor who patches him up. Instead of feeling pity for his patient, the sense of belonging and love provided by Zachary’s Hamburger Mary’s family draws Teegan’s attention to his own loneliness and isolation.

Teegan and Zachary complement each other perfectly. I loved their first awkward attempts at dating – Teegan’s first ever date with a man. Zachary struggles for confidence after his attack while Teegan struggles to balance his own needs against his parents’ expectations. I love the way these two make each other stronger even as they endure an incredibly uncomfortable first date.

I love Zachary’s experiences as Ariel Merman. The confidence he feels as his drag persona is wonderful and I enjoyed the rehearsals and Ariel’s complicated make-up and elaborate costume routines. Ariel’s relationship with her drag mother is special and I always love Mandonna!

Teegan’s relationship with his ex-wife is really sweet and his interactions with his daughter were lovely (though I’m glad the child stayed at the edge of the story).

By this third book, we know the Hamburger Mary’s family well and I enjoy the characters more with each story. Watching all the characters pull together and care for Zachary while he recovers was really lovely. These books always feel like a warm hug and I really needed this book today.

Also Available in the Mary's Boys Series

Book 1
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 Nachos & Hash post.

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 Vodka & Handcuffs post.

BRANDON WITT’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about…

Connect with Brandon

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Mascara & Bandages (Mary's Boys #3) by Brandon Witt to read and review.

Vodka & Handcuffs by Brandon Witt

Vahin Arora, Hamburger Mary’s sexy bartender, plays the flirtatious role so well even his closest friends—his chosen family at Mary’s—don’t realize Vahin hasn’t had a hookup in months. Then Tall, Dark, and Handsome steps through the door, and Vahin’s libido races back to life.

Being a black cop on the Denver police force is no easy job—Marlon Barton can’t imagine adding being gay to the equation. And while Marlon loves his work as an officer, his life has taken a turn for the hellish because of his new partner, the nephew of a senator.

Fleeing his partner’s company one night, Marlon stumbles into Mary’s for the first time… and wakes up with a hangover in the bartender’s bed. The one-night stand heats up into a budding romance, but not without stress as Marlon’s partner’s actions threaten Vahin’s livelihood and Marlon’s future on the force. Can Vahin and Marlon face the challenges and hold on to the love, friendship, and family they’ve found?

Book 2
Buy Links

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

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This story is darker than the first book in the series and much darker than the blurb suggests. I expected a slightly kinky connection between a cop and a bartender, but the reality is a story about racism, homophobia, and corrupt cops.

This story about race, sexuality, and policing is topical and timely. I appreciated the author writing two POC leading men and I also appreciated the complexity of the problems facing both Vahin and Marlon. But I didn’t enjoy the simplicity of the ‘bad guys’ in this story. People are rarely as awful as Marlon’s partner and his over-the-top behaviour detracts from some of the more realistic experiences that Marlon and Vahin go through.

We met Vahin in book one, where his difficult past is hinted at but not explored. He is still a private character in this book but he shares his past with Marlon. I really liked Vahin’s character but at the end of the story I still wasn’t sure I knew him well. Similarly, Marlon shares his immediate work problems with Vahin, but there was so much more I wanted to know about Marlon as a person. Vahin and Marlon are both great characters, but they are both possibly too complex for the novella format to do justice to.

I’m really not sure this works as a romance. There is initial attraction between these two men, but the attraction leads to a hook up that one of them can’t remember. Marlon’s nervous closeted behaviour doesn’t build any further chemistry between them and their sexual encounters neatly fade to grey. The happy for now ending took me by surprise – I still wasn’t feeling the connection and they were apparently a settled couple.

Vahin’s family at Hamburger Mary’s provides the comfort and security we’ve come to expect in the last two books. ManDonna lifts the story with her humour and Pat provides unexpectedly fierce support for Vahin in a difficult situation.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Vodka & Handcuffs was easy reading despite some serious subject matter in the way of racism and homophobia. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Marlon and Vahin but there wasn’t a lot of overt romance or a lot of sex for that matter. Trouble caused by Marlon's partner, Andrew, causes plenty of drama and almost takes over the story, but I didn't mind.

I am a fan of novellas and Vodka & Handcuffs was an enjoyable read and kept my interest all the way through. 

Also Available in the Mary's Boys Series

Book 1
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 Nachos & Hash post.

BRANDON WITT’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about…

Connect with Brandon

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Vodka & Handcuffs (Mary's Boys #2) by Brandon Witt to read and review.

Nachos & Hash by Brandon Witt

Darwin Michaels is living his dreams in the Mile High City. While Denver offers the perfect job, scrumptious dining, and whirlwind dating options, Darwin is losing hope he’ll find the right man to spark his interest for more than a one-night stand—until he sets eyes on Cody Russell.

Cody has just accomplished his life’s goal—get the hell out of Kansas. In one fell swoop, he lands a job at Hamburger Mary’s and gets a newfound family and the chance to be with other gay people! All that’s missing is someone special. But when Darwin shows his interest, Cody is sure it’s too good to be true. After all, what can Darwin possibly see in the high school dropout serving him nachos?

As Darwin falls in love, Cody struggles to realize his worth. When his past threatens the fragile life he is building, Cody spirals into a moment of dark desperation. But Darwin is determined to show Cody that love and family and home are there for him… will Cody accept what is offered?

Book 1
Buy Links

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

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely loved this story! With less drama and angst than his full length novels, the author has crafted a novella that is just long enough to breathe life into a special romance between two wonderful men.

This is almost a new adult romance. Both Darwin and Cody are in their early twenties and Cody’s previously sheltered life makes him seem even younger than 21 at times. I liked the natural connection between these two. They meet in a bar, a hook-up leads to more – these two are familiar and their romance is sweet. While Darwin is settled into a career, I enjoyed the angst and pressure Cody feels about his future.

There is a dark turn to this story, but it makes sense and feels real. The author highlights the isolation and pain of estrangement felt by so many members of the LGBT community, but also offers hope in the close friendships and support offered within the community.

I love that this is set in the same Denver as Under a Sky of Ash was. Favourite characters from that book are back and I loved seeing Hamburger Mary’s from the awed perspective of two boys from small towns.

I’m a huge Brandon Witt fan and with this novella, it feels like all the pieces fit together perfectly. I’m already looking forward to the next story about one of the Hamburger Mary’s family.

BRANDON WITT’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about…

Connect with Brandon

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Nachos & Hash (Mary's Boys #1) by Brandon Witt to read and review.