New Release & Review – The Geek Who Saved Christmas
November 15, 2021 | Posted in New Release, Review | By Two Book Pushers
His grumpy neighbor needs some holiday sunshine…
Gideon Holiday is the perfect neighbor. Need a cup of sugar? Spare folding chair? Extra batteries? He’s always ready to help. And he’s waited years for his hot, grumpy, silver fox neighbor, Paul, to need him. For anything. But this December, Gideon would be happy if he could just get the Scrooge-like Paul on board with the neighborhood holiday lights fundraiser.
Paul Frost has no intention of decking his halls or blazing any Yule logs. Even if his spunky bowtie-clad neighbor does look perfect for unwrapping, Paul would prefer to hide away until December is done. But when his beloved younger brother announces an unexpected visit, Paul needs all the trimmings for a festive homecoming—and fast.
Luckily, Gideon is there with a color-coded plan to save Christmas. Soon Paul’s hanging lights, trimming trees, and rolling out cookies. And steaming up his new flannel sheets with Gideon. How did that happen?
It’ll take some winter magic to preserve their happiness and keep these rival neighbors together longer than one holiday season.
The Geek Who Saved Christmas is a low-angst m/m holiday romance with a guaranteed happy ending. This grumpy/sunshine, neighbors-to-lovers, found family tale features two heroes in their forties figuring out that maybe their sexily-ever-after was right next door the whole time. It stands alone and is not connected to any of the author’s other universes. However, it does contain a heaping helping of the same emotions and steamy moments readers have come to expect!
The Geek Who Saved Christmas is Annabeth Albert’s newest fun, sexy, neighbors-to-lovers story! She had me at Christmas and the cover sold it! I just love a good Christmas story and this had everything I love. Two sexy neighbors who are in their forties, Christmas cheer, an adorable dog and a great story about love, family and friendship. Paul Frost doesn’t really love the holidays but he lives in a neighborhood where everyone else does. Especially his geeky neighbor with the colorful bow ties. Gideon Holiday lives for Christmas. He decorates his house early, is on the community board and helps anyone who asks for it. It’s just his nature. So when Paul needs help Gideon doesn’t say no. He’s actually excited to spend time with his sexy neighbor and get to know him a little better. Paul thought Gideon was stuffy and pushy, but he quickly learns he’s nothing like that. He’s open, fun, loves to make lists and spreadsheets, and smart. His ties just make him more adorable. After one steamy kiss, they fall into an easy relationship. Decorate, help Paul get ready for his brother to come home for the holidays and spend their nights together. In bed. But what happens when the decorating is done? Will they be over too? Oh man! I just loved Paul and Gideon. Paul is grumpy and Gideon is freaking adorable! They are perfect for each other. It’s a sexy, fun, holiday romance with little angst and the perfect amount of emotions. I laughed and teared up and just loved these two!
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09L4YY1JT
New Release & Review – Shakedown, Lani Lynn Vale
November 11, 2021 | Posted in New Release, Review | By Two Book Pushers
Shakedown
Souls Chapel Revenants MC Book 8
Lani Lynn Vale
Release Date: November 9, 2021
About the Book
Wanted: someone to hand feed me Doritos so my hands don’t get orange. No weirdos.
Belle Pena was an editor. Not a writer.
When her brothers challenge her to create a dating profile, she makes up the most random biography she can think of. She never, not ever, thought she’d find anybody to respond. But she was sorely mistaken.
Sadly, she finds that she has way more interest than she ever could’ve imagined.
But only one profile catches her eye.
Bruno never meant to take the dating app seriously. Being the last single man in his band of misfits, he’s happy being the odd man out. Women spelled trouble, and he had enough trouble in his life to last him through the next decade.
Only his newfound family doesn’t feel the same. One innocent ‘sure’ has the women of the Souls Chapel Revenants MC creating him a dating profile that is too spot on to be comfortable. And just when he decides to delete the app entirely, a particular face catches his eye.
One innocent question of ‘Belle is that you? Do you remember punching me in the throat in high school?’ has him stepping into trouble neck deep, and he doesn’t even realize it until it’s too late.
Purchase Links
✦ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xIG49D
✦ Apple: https://apple.co/3Cm2q36
✦ Nook: https://bit.ly/3hIWGZo
✦ Kobo: https://bit.ly/3hIhmAy
✦ Audio: COMING SOON
Add to your TBR: https://bit.ly/2URnGN1
Shakedown is the eighth book in the Souls Chapel Revenants MC series by Lani Lynn Vale. This series is so good and I’m very sad it’s over, but I loved every minute of it. She saved Bruno for last. The sexy, brooding, scary dude who we don’t really know much about. He had a hard childhood and has been living with a lot of demons from his past. He doesn’t want to date or be happy, but Six knows he needs a good woman in his life. An online profile brings him Belle Pena(we know her brothers and family!) She turns him down, but when they randomly meet in person they feel an instant chemistry. Belle has to have things a certain way. She doesn’t like to be touched, needs soft fabrics, her IQ is extremely high, and she has never been able to find anyone who gets her. Until Bruno. He just seems to sense what she needs before she tells him. But she’s happy to tell him exactly what she needs. When he’s almost killed, she steps in, claims him as her own and they need to hide out together and find out what happened to him. Bruno wakes up from his accident and can’t remember anything but he knows Belle is his. She talks a lot, he mostly grunts and uses one word responses and neither of them is bothered by the other’s quirks. They just get each other. Shakedown is one of my favorites of the series! Their chemistry was off the charts! I laughed, got hot and bothered and just really loved them. I loved how we got to see all Bruno’s friends and Belle’s family and Lani wraps up the series for us. I’m sad it’s over, but I know Lani has something up next that I’m going to love too!
About Lani Lynn Vale
Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.
Website: http://www.lanilynnvale.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/LLV-fb
Instagram: https://bit.ly/LLV-IG
Twitter: https://bit.ly/LLV-twitter
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/LLVgoodreads
BookBub: http://bit.ly/LLVbb
New Release & Review – No Rep, Lani Lynn Vale
July 29, 2021 | Posted in New Release, Review | By Two Book Pushers
No Rep
Madd Crossfit Series 1
July 27, 2021
About the Book
Taos was tired.
Tired of everything that came with living. Not to the point where he was suicidal or anything, but tired enough that he just didn’t give a crap anymore.
He’d seen all the ugliness this world had to offer due to his job as a police officer for way too many damn years of his less than stellar life. After finding a way to sustain his spending habits that didn’t include having criminals point guns at his face, he quits without a backward glance.
Only, he just can’t step away from old habits.
Old habits that have to do with a beautiful young woman that makes his heart feel like it isn’t nearly as broken as it is.
Fran has experienced more than her fair share of crap. After an attack that nearly took her life, she stays hidden in her house, fearful that stepping out of her comfort zone will be the final nail in her coffin.
Then her sister forces her to face her fears, and she joins Madd CrossFit.
There, she meets the man that saved her life a year ago, and realizes rather quickly that he doesn’t even realize who he is to her.
He’s everything she ever thought a man should be and wants nothing to do with her.
Maybe she’ll have to give him a reason to look her way.
And damned if she doesn’t find a way to do it.
She didn’t plan on nearly getting killed for that to happen, though.
At least not again.
Purchase Links
✦ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gwVjw7
✦ Apple: https://apple.co/2Sx9hoN
✦ Nook: https://bit.ly/3eeZye7
✦ Kobo: https://bit.ly/3iN2m5f
Add to your TBR: https://bit.ly/3gDxemj
No Rep is the first book in Madd Crossfit series by Lani Lyn Vale. I love it when one of my favorite authors starts a new series! New characters to love, new places to see, new shenanigans! Taos is part owner and trainer at Madd Crossfit. He used to be a police detective and then one case pushed him over the edge and he quit. Fran is still recovering from her past but she decides it’s time to get out there and she joins a Crossfit class. Guess who’s the teacher? The cop that saved her life. Taos feels an instant connection to Fran but it’s sure why. They become friends and let the attraction build until it just takes over. They crossed paths because of a past tragedy, the present brought them back together and the future is looking good for them. I’m loving the start to the series! I instantly fell for Taos and Fran and their workouts and smiles were the best form of foreplay. Tao and his sexiness and smarts. Fran and her determination and strength. I love the secondary characters and can’t wait for book two!
About Lani Lynn Vale
Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.
Website: http://www.lanilynnvale.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/LLV-fb
Instagram: https://bit.ly/LLV-IG
Twitter: https://bit.ly/LLV-twitter
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/LLVgoodreads
BookBub: http://bit.ly/LLVbb
Release Day Blitz – Falling for the Villain, Rachel Van Dyken & M. Robinson
June 22, 2021 | Posted in New Release, Release Day Blitz | By Two Book Pushers
Release Date: June 22
From Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author M. Robinson & #1 NYT Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken comes a full length, standalone dark romance novel.
“Play for me, Juliet…”
Those four words whispered in my ear again and again until I craved what I used to fear.
Such a simple demand from my captor—the man who stole me and refused to tell me why he wouldn’t let me go.
I was his.
He made me need him, just as much as he needed me.
I broke all the rules of the golden prison he put me in.
During the day he ruled his dark, seedy world.
His subjects and me.
During the night—he bowed before my feet.
Have you ever wondered what happened to the villains in all the fairy tales you read?
You’ll soon find out.
It all started when he kidnapped me and made me his pet.
And it all ended with me…
Calling him master.
*This story is not for the faint of heart and may be uncomfortable for some readers. But, then again, stepping outside of your comfort zone may be exactly the thing you need…
Care to play with us, readers?
Above all, M loves her readers more than anything and loves to connect with them! She is on all social media platforms but you will find her in her happy place the most. Her VIP Reader Group on Facebook or her second favorite happy place, Instagram.
Connect with Rachel Van Dyken
Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Reader Group | Amazon Author Page
Hosted By:
New Release & Reviews – Courage for Fools, Monty Jay
May 22, 2021 | Posted in New Release | By Two Book Pushers
Quinn Michelson has lived her entire life on ‘what ifs’ and the hopes of leaving her mundane town in her review mirror. When a sudden discovery changes her perspective of existence, she decides to hit the road in search of the one thing she’s been needing all these years—herself. Ahead of her is nothing but the open road, her agenda, and a famous rockstar?
Rhett Kennedy has a silver lining heart. One that gets him in trouble more often than not. Having lost touch with his music, he doesn’t think twice about bombarding Quinn on her trip of self-discovery.
Rhett is looking for music.
Quinn is looking for herself.
Together, they’ll find laughter, heartache, a little courage and if they’re not careful, the very thing that makes the world go round—— Love
Monty Jay likes to describe herself as a punk rock kid, with the soul of a gypsy who has a Red Bull addiction.
New Release & Review – Quit Bein’ Ugly, Lani Lynn Vale
April 20, 2021 | Posted in New Release, Review | By Two Book Pushers
Quit Bein’ Ugly
The Southern Gentleman Series Book 3
Lani Lynn Vale
Release Date: April 20, 2021
About the Book
There’s a crush, and then there are the type of feelings that Croft Cruisie evokes from a person.
He’s everything that any straight woman would want: tall, handsome, charismatic, muscular, and sweet.
At least, Carmichael thought he was sweet, until he brings another woman to the gym she owns with her brother, on the night that’s to be their first date, and lets her know in a quick and painful, non-verbal way that her feelings are not reciprocated.
Fast forward six months, and she’s still trying to move on from the rejection.
It doesn’t help that the jerk moves in next door to her, and that she has to see him workout shirtless every single day.
How can a woman get over a silly crush when that silly crush won’t so much as give her room to breathe?
***
Croft doesn’t know what happened.
One day he was supposed to go on a date with the girl that wouldn’t leave his thoughts for even a second, and the next she’s avoiding him like the plague.
No matter how hard he tries—and admittedly, it isn’t all that hard due to the biggest case of his career taking over his life—he can’t get her to tell him what he did wrong. She refuses to give him a second chance.
At least, not until he’s nearly killed in front of the courthouse, that is.
The moment he sees his chance, he pounces. Or, more literally, he limps.
But the limping is what draws Carmichael in. The Southern charm that was instilled in him since birth will be what gets her to stay.
That’s his plan, anyway.
Funny thing about plans… they never seem to work out how you expect them to.
Purchase Links
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Z4DFXe
Amazon Intl.: https://geni.us/SYPr
Apple: http://apple.co/3a3KKNP
Nook: http://bit.ly/3jCHufF
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3736pUr
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2LC9gMz
Quit Bein’ Ugly is the third and last book in the Southern Gentleman series by Lani Lynn Vale. Hissy Fit was my first Lani book and I’ve read every book she’s written since then, so this series has a special place in my heart. We finally get Croft and Carmichael’s story! They have known each other for years and have crushed on each other for years. Just when they decide to go on an actual date, Croft brings another girl to the gym and Carmichael acts appropriately, being mad and not talking to him. After six months, Croft realizes he was a moron and wants to make things right. He wants Carmichael. Once they figure out what they want it’s on! There’s a little danger, a little sexiness and a lot of fun. We get to see Ezra, Raleigh, Flint and Camryn again and Shultz will be getting a story in a new series! I loved Croft and Carmichael! I love that they work out and eat and just have fun together!
THE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN SERIES
HISSY FIT: The Southern Gentleman Series, Book 1
He is the one that never looks her way.
He is handsome and strong.
He is rough around the edges and mean.
He is everything she’s ever wanted.
He doesn’t even know she exists.
Her life is a joke.
***
She doesn’t step on cracks in the sidewalk.
She laughs at inappropriate times.
She talks when she shouldn’t.
She is clumsy and trips on air.
She is finally on his radar.
God help her now.
Purchase Links
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3aUSUHp
Amazon Intl.: https://geni.us/04fSN
Apple: http://apple.co/373PMYG
Nook: http://bit.ly/2N9dLPb
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3a5s5kG
Audible: http://adbl.co/3p41dpH
iTunes: http://apple.co/3pa3UFY
LORD HAVE MERCY: The Southern Gentleman Series, Book 2
Poor judgment: knowing better yet doing it anyway.
Flint Stone is a professional in every way.
He’s a police officer with the K-9 unit and works at Gun Barrel High as the school resource officer. In his spare time, he’s working his heart out to create a successful gym from the ground up.
He’s loved by every single person he ever encounters—student, faculty, and employees—Everyone but Camryn Elvis Presley.
The only thing they have in common is their mothers’ poor excuses for names.
Period. The end.
So why is it every time she crosses his path that he has the urge to mess up her perfectly curled hair? Or unbutton a few of her prim and proper buttons?
He knows he should stay away, yet like the high schoolers he’s around every day, he has no choice but to react first and think about the consequences later.
Side note—bad decisions are made, leading to lapses in judgment that threaten both of their jobs. Yet when the time comes, neither one can seem to find the wherewithal to care. Why? Because being bad feels so good.
Purchase Links
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2NbORyy
Amazon Intl.: https://geni.us/ZSDdJ
Apple: http://apple.co/2LC52Ve
Nook: http://bit.ly/3jBbFnn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LGrcWw
Audible: http://adbl.co/3aUVehB
iTunes: http://apple.co/3tKrnRE
About Lani Lynn Vale
Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.
Website: http://www.lanilynnvale.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/LLV-fb
Instagram: https://bit.ly/LLV-IG
Twitter: https://bit.ly/LLV-twitter
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/LLVgoodreads
BookBub: http://bit.ly/LLVbb
New Release, Review & Excerpt – Featherbed, Annabeth Albert
March 17, 2021 | Posted in Excerpt, New Release, Review | By Two Book Pushers
Release Date: March 15, 2021
Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonFeatherbed
Add to Goodreads here: https://bit.ly/3mKWKXJ
Vino & Veritas Series Page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/
Cover Design: Christine Coffey
Blurb:
When a bookworm on borrowed time meets a younger, free-spirited chicken farmer, sparks and feathers fly…
Harrison Phillip Fletcher, III isn’t supposed to be here. Not in Burlington, Vermont, not running Vino & Veritas, a quaint inclusive bookstore and wine bar, and definitely not still alive, at forty-two. Also not supposed to be here? An unexpected delivery of chickens.
Finn Barnes knows chickens. The burly organic farmer knows all about rare breed poultry, but dealing with a hot, older bookseller is an entirely different matter. City slicker types like Harrison never end up staying in Vermont for the long-term.
They should steer clear of each other. But the flare of attraction is mutual. And somehow amid book discussions and farm tours, they discover plenty in common. Now they’re stealing kisses in Finn’s barn, sneaking out like teens, and burning up the sheets.
What starts as a fling brings very real feelings for two lonely souls, but a future together seems as unlikely as chickens in a bookstore. Feathers may be flying, but learning to trust takes time neither may have. Can they take a leap of faith together before it’s too late?
Featherbed is a stand-alone novel in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. This opposites-attract, age-gap romance features a low-angst, fluffy—and feathery—romp as a fish out of water discovers the home he never thought he’d find.
Featherbed is Annabeth Albert’s newest fun, sexy romance with an older bookstore owner and a young chicken farmer. I love a good age gap romance and this one was so good! This is a standalone in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. All of these books are going to be awesome! This is Finn, the sexy farmer and Harrison, the new to Vermont bookstore/wine bar owner. A mix-up with a chicken delivery brings these two together and the instant attraction keeps them coming back for more. Excuses to see each other again. Brief, hot kisses that lead to more. But they are both so busy so it’s just going to be casual. Until it’s not. Finn is afraid Harrison won’t be able to stick it out in Vermont. Harrison has anxiety about his future. But can they work past their fears and admit it’s more than they asked for? It’s actually everything. I love this story! It was funny and sexy and sweet and a little dirty and I don’t mean the chickens! I loved the way Finn and Harrison bantered and just meshed their lives without even really knowing it. It’s a feel good romance with fun characters, family, sexiness, books and cute little animals. What’s not to love!
“What’s next?” Harrison was so serious that I wasn’t sure whether he meant us or the shelf project, but I couldn’t resist messing with him a little.
“Screwing,” I deadpanned.
Predictably, Harrison made a sputtering noise. “Pardon?”
“With a drill, Harry.” I held up the trusty cordless I’d retrieved. “With a drill.”
“No one calls me Harry.” His mouth pursed. I wanted to kiss it. Perversely, the more uptight he got, the more I wanted to unravel him.
“Not even your mom?” I found the correct drill bit for the project and slotted it in.
“Ha.” Harrison had locked his gaze on my hands in a way that made me both self-conscious and more than a little turned-on. “I call her Mom only because she dislikes the formality of Mother.”
“Whereas you love the formality. I get it. Harry.” I put deliberate emphasis on the nickname, so that I could categorize all the different shades of pink and purple he was turning. Besides, it was a good distraction from how his shrewd eyes made me feel.
“I said—”
“You’re fun to harass.” I grinned at him, which earned me an eye roll in return.
“I try. Now give me something to do.”
“Okay, okay. Back to work. You can help by measuring to mark each of the screw holes.”
“Why do construction terms always sound so suggestive?”
“Because you have a dirty mind, Harry.” I gave him an exaggerated leer.
“You better stop that.” He didn’t sound particularly convincing.
“Stop teasing or stop looking at you?” Laughing, I waggled the drill in his direction. “I’ll remind you that I’m the one holding power tools.”
“So you are.” Harrison kept holding my gaze, eyes soft and expectant behind his glasses, tongue darting out to lick at his lips. In that moment, he was infinitely appealing and nothing at all like Astin.
Maybe I’d been mistaken in thinking he was a branch of the same tree of rich dudes who had no issues taking what they wanted. Like him, Astin had favored designer clothing, pricey-looking watches, and the same luxury brand car, and had also dropped clues about inheritances. But unlike Astin, there was a certain humility to Harrison, and he didn’t try to tell me how to do my job.
Oh, Harrison was still a city slicker, and probably not sticking around, but he wasn’t an entitled asshole either. He wanted to kiss me. That want was all over his face, but so was his restraint. As with the woodworking, he’d let me lead. He’d wait for me to make my move and didn’t have a ready arsenal of slick lines. His uncertainty was perhaps the most charming thing about him.
And so, still meeting his eyes, I set the drill back down on the workbench. “No power tools now. You still want to shut me up?”
I stepped closer, in case he had any doubt as to my intent. He smelled good. Expensive, like someone had married delicate herbs and leather scents in an aftershave that probably cost more than a year’s supply of my soap.
“Yeah. I think I do.” His cultured voice had gone husky, but still contained that vulnerability I found so damn intoxicating.
“Show me.” Touching the sleeve of his waffle-knit sweater, I turned him toward me. There. I’d made my move. The next was his.
New Release, Excerpt, Review & *Giveaway* – Starting From the Top, Lane Hayes
March 14, 2021 | Posted in Excerpt, Giveaway, New Release, Review | By Two Book Pushers
Title: Starting From The Top
Series: Starting From, #5
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Lane Hayes
Release Date: March 8, 2021
Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 83k
Genre: Romance, Age Gap, Rock and Roll, Hurt and Comfort, Bisexual, Contemporary Romance
Add to Goodreads
Synopsis
The guitarist, the dad, and a band on the rise…
Johnny
A quiet place to live and some time to recharge before my band heads out on the road again sounds amazing. I wouldn’t mind a distraction too, but my new neighbor is off-limits. There are rules about not getting involved with your bandmate’s ex, right? And Sean isn’t my type anyway. He’s too bossy, too commanding, and he has way too much baggage. I’ve learned that it’s best to let go of the heavy stuff. So why am I so drawn to him?
Sean
Coming out later in life has taught me to protect my privacy at all costs. And while juggling a handful of businesses and two kids isn’t easy, I excel at the art of multitasking and keeping everything separate. But Johnny blurs those lines. He’s easy-going, sweet-natured, and cool. In short, he’s everything I’m not. I want to know all about him…starting from the top.
Excerpt
The cheery sound of family fun drifted through the house…the dog barking, cupboards closing, and a girlish squeal of delight. And more dog barking.
I chuckled at the chaotic homey cacophony. I would never have envisioned this was Sean’s life. He’d always seemed like a badass boss to me—not a man who’d wear an apron to bake cupcakes with his daughter while his son had a guitar lesson. His chocolate mussed hair and concerned parental frown made him look goofy and yet very…endearing. In a hot dad way.
Okay. Definitely time to go. I reached for the knob just as Sean did.
“I’ll walk you out,” he insisted, holding the door open.
I stepped onto the porch and blinked against the bright afternoon sun at the hilltop view of the city. “Wow. This is nice.”
“Yeah,” he agreed absently. “How was he?”
“Amazing. The next Chuck Berry.”
Sean sighed grumpily. “Less sarcasm, please.”
“Sorry, Dad.” I snickered. “He was great. I mean, he sucked, but I think he had fun. I told him to keep the guitar and practice on his own. If you want me to come back, I will.”
“Really? That’s good.” He stared at the horizon for a moment before glancing my way. “I wanted to—why are you smiling at me?”
“You’re fuckin’ covered in chocolate. It’s in your ear.” I made a face and tugged at my own ear.
He gestured at the apron. “Baking isn’t my thing.”
I flashed a megawatt grin at him. “Sure, it is. Are you decorating those cupcakes with anything besides frosting?”
“Sprinkles. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Thanks, but I don’t want to crash your family time.”
Sean inclined his head. “So…did he talk to you?”
“It took a little coaxing. Full disclosure…we played video games before we picked up the guitars. You’re not paying me, so I don’t really feel guilty. I just don’t want you to think it was a jam session from the start.”
“I know.”
“You know?” I repeated.
“I snuck in to see how you were doing. Hulk let you down. You might want to go with Iron Man or Captain America next time.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I snort-laughed, then sobered. “As for Parker…he’s a good kid. He’s shy, reserved, and likes organization. He seems like the kind of person who excels at things he can control. I bet he builds killer Lego sets. He might learn a few songs, but I doubt he’s a savant. You never know, though. Kids are sponges. They pick up stuff you and I would never catch.”
“That’s true. I’m impressed. And you’re right…about everything. He keeps a lot inside. He’s always been that way. Very thoughtful and methodical. He sets a high bar for himself. He likes to get things right the first time. He does well in school, but he’s struggling with the transition to junior high. His old friends tried out for sports and he opted not to. It’s left him feeling ostracized and alone. Hormones don’t help. I thought it might be good for him to spend time with someone cool who—”
“Cooler than you?”
“Well, let’s not get crazy.” Sean flipped the corner of his apron and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I just…thanks for doing this. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Hey, if he really is interested, we can do this regularly. My schedule is light for the next couple of months, but it’ll get crazy again in late spring.”
“I’ll call you.”
“Text me. I hate phone calls.” I held out my right hand and snatched it away a second later, narrowing my gaze. “You have frosting on your nose.”
“My nose?” He wiped his hand over the apron, then across the tip of his nose. “Did I get it?”
“No. Come here. Let me help you.” I stepped into his space and brushed the sugary goodness away.
“Did you get it?” he asked in a huskier than normal tone.
“Yeah, but it’s on your ear and your chin and…”
“Where else?”
“Here.”
I ran the pad of my thumb under this bottom lip. “Got it.”
I didn’t move. I should have, but something held me in place. I studied his features, noting the flecks in his eyes. I wondered what color they were…gold, green, brown? I traced a line at the corner of his mouth, rubbing the scruff of his neatly-trimmed beard. I stared at his full lips for a long moment before meeting his gaze. Then I inched closer and…kissed him.
Purchase at Amazon
Starting from the Top is the fifth book in the Starting From series by the talented Lane Hayes. I have read so many books by Lane and every one becomes my new favorite. Her writing just keeps getting better and better. I’m seriously in love in love with Johnny and Sean. Johnny is young, fun, talented, but he had a hard childhood and he doesn’t see himself as famous. Sean is older, has kids and needs to have control over everything in his life or he’s afraid it’s all going to fall apart. What starts out as a fun thing that’s just physical, turns into something more meaningful. They become friends. Johnny spends time with Sean and his kids. They talk about themselves, their lives. What they want. But what happens when feelings change? When it’s more than just fun? Oh my! I couldn’t get enough of this story! I loved how Johnny saw the world and that he learned and grew just from being with Sean. I loved how Sean lightened up and relaxed more and actually let Johnny in. And Parker and Penny, they were so funny and real! This is the perfect age-gap, rock star, family fun book!
Meet the Author
Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, and 2018-2019 Rainbow Awards.
She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a not quite empty nest.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Bookbub
Get the Entire Series Here!
Giveaway
