Come Together - Mia Kerick

Come Together
Mia Kerick
(If I Fell, #3)
Publication date: January 24th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

In the dramatic conclusion to award-winning author Mia Kerick’s IF I FELL Series, lovers Timmy Hale and Cole Ledger meet with danger when they attempt to mend broken family bonds.

Timmy and Cole faced brutal obstacles to their union from the moment they fell in love. It nearly drove them apart for good, but they overcame hostility, distance, and the deceptively alluring escape of alcohol. Now they’re ready to settle into the future as a married couple. With their spirited dog, Blackbird, and a close circle of friends, they’ve made a home and a happy life. But they don’t want to step into marriage until they’ve put complicated family problems behind them.

Cole’s son, Robbie, has turned bitter, refusing to accept his father’s engagement to the much younger man. His cold rejection threatens to destroy Cole. Meanwhile, Timmy’s dysfunctional family turns more treacherous than ever after the couple takes in his abandoned teenage niece, Lucy.

Soon, mysterious, threatening messages begin to appear.

When Cole leaves town on a trip to rebuild the severed bond with his son, the threats become real. Timmy’s brother—Lucy’s missing father—reappears. Addicted, violent, and homophobic he’s determined to either coax Lucy away from the shelter of the couple’s home…or destroy it.

Will the two families come together in an explosive collision or in reconciliation? The journey to marriage takes Cole and Timmy on one more wild ride. Through it all, can they hold on tight to their love and its promised happily-ever-after?

IF I FELL Series: age gap, hurt/comfort, contemporary MM romance

Book 1 Hide Your Love Away
Book 2 Blackbird
Book 3 Come Together

For maximum enjoyment, read in order.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children–all named after saints–and five nonpedigreed cats–all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

My themes I always write about:

Sweetness. Unconventional love, tortured/damaged heroes- only love can save them.

Mia Kerick focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men within the boundaries of blossoming, supportive relationships. She believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. And Mia’s stories are centered around a certain theme: even heroes can be sweet. Sweet, but not completely innocent.

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My Review

Come Together might be able to be read as a standalone, but it really works better if you have read the first two books In these books we meet Timmy and Cole and learn about who they are and their relationship. This third book sees the conclusion of their romance, with them really discovering who they are to one and another and where they fit within each others families.

Like the previous two installments, Timmy and Cole have a lot to face as their relationship grows. Most of it comes from outside, but this book also explores the idea of keeping secrets and why you might hide something from someone you love even in an otherwise honest relationship.

I really enjoyed this final book in the series, having followed this couple through their earlier story. It was a nice way to finish and tied up any remaining loose ends. A good, if fairly quick, read. 

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Unforgotten - Garrett Leigh

 

Billy Daley hasn’t been home in years, and he likes it that way. He’s just fine on his own—he has a
cash-in-hand job at a scrapyard, a half-feral cat to keep him company, and many miles between him, his hometown and all the baggage that comes with it.

Until the job goes sideways. Suddenly he’s back in Rushmere, working for none other than his brother’s best friend—a man whose kiss Billy can’t seem to forget.

Gus Amour’s memories of Billy Daley are all spiky edges, lips crushed against lips and a reckless streak that always ended in trouble. But when Billy needs a place to stay, Gus steps in. He’d do anything for the Daley family, including living, and working, side by side with a man who makes his heart beat too fast and his blood run too hot—two things he’s been running from for years.

It doesn’t take long before their easy banter, lingering touches and heated glances become a temptation too hard to resist. But falling into bed and falling in love are two different things, and love has never come easy to either Billy or Gus. Only when fate threatens to steal away their opportunity for a second chance will they realize they don’t need easy.

They just need each other.

My Review

When I read the first book in the Forgiven Series by Garrett Leigh, Forgiven, I couldn't wait to get stuck into the second book in the series. We had met Gus and in a much smaller way, Billy, in that first book and I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy reading about them. I was not wrong.
Billy has had a difficult time, drifting from place to place and getting himself into all kinds of trouble. He's a damaged young man after the death of his father and feeling that his older brother Luke abandoned him. In many was Gus seems to have everything sorted, but he's experienced much of the same pain and difficulties that Gus has been faced with. Together they begin to heal and put old demons to bed.
I loved the interactions between Gus and Billy. I think that they worked particularly well as it wasn't the case that one had to fix the other, just that together they were able to deal with their own problems.
This was a great read and I really enjoyed joining this family again as they sort themselves out and fall in love. I don't know if there will be further instalments in this series or it will remain as a duet of books. Either way, it's a satisfying and enjoyable read and I'd highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Buy Unforgotten by Garrett Leigh

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9780369700117_unforgotten.html 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unforgotten-Forgiven-Book-Garrett-Leigh-ebook/dp/B08GSMXDDZ/ 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unforgotten-garrett-leigh/1002224728 

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/unforgotten/id1529436811 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Garrett_Leigh_Unforgotten?id=Tq_5DwAAQBAJ 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/unforgotten-19 

About Garrett Leigh

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer.

Garrett's debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess. 

Connect with Garrett Leigh

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5893561.Garrett_Leigh 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garrett_leigh/ 

He Owns My Heart - Evie Drae

He Owns My Heart
Evie Drae
(Owned Heart, Body, & Soul #1)
Publication date: August 11th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

2019 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist in Contemporary Romance

2018 Romance Writers of America® Heart-to-Heart 1st Place Winner in Erotic Romance

2018 Romance Writers of America® Gateway to the Best 2nd Place Winner in Single Title/Contemporary Series

Only true love can free a captive heart.

Landon Jenks, retired four-time Golden Glove-winning shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, is lonely, heartbroken, and in desperate need of simple human contact. Trapped in the sticky fine print of an ironclad contract that forbids him from revealing his very-much-single status until the season finale of his reality show airs, he calls an elite male escort service that caters to the rich and wretched.

Accustomed to servicing his often less than savory clients at more upscale locales, twenty-six-year-old Toby Carmichael is surprised when his handler sends him to a run-down motel off I-55. But “surprise” doesn’t come close to describing the shock that rocks his system when a delightful stuttering mess covered in tattoos and nearly ten years his senior stumbles into the room—and right into his heart.

For the first time since Toby was forced into the life of prostitution, a kiss sparks a desire that has nothing to do with money and everything to do with genuine chemistry and the faintest beginnings of something so much more. But Toby’s dark past and troubled present make it impossible to see a future with Landon. And when the truth comes to light, a horrified and helpless Landon is determined to save Toby at all costs.

Content Warnings: Discussion of childhood verbal abuse by an adult survivor, homophobia from a close family member, discussion of previous self-harm/cutting behaviors by an adult survivor, prostitution with dubious consent (all interactions between the main characters have full consent and there are no on-page depictions of dub-con situations), consensual and experimental Domination/submission play between mostly-novice characters, mild violence between a main character and antagonist, and human trafficking associated with illegal drugs (nothing explicit on-page, only discussions related to and psychological/mental ramifications of addressed in moderate detail).

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Evie Drae is a registered nurse by day and an award-winning male/male romance writer by night. She has won first place in seven Romance Writers of America® (RWA®) competitions, including the prestigious title “Best of the Best” in the 2018 Golden Opportunity Contest. She is a double finalist in the 2019 Golden Heart®, in both the Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense categories, and finished as a second-place runner-up in four additional RWA contests.

One of Evie’s favorite things to do is encourage her fellow writers. To that end, she started the #writeLGBTQ and #promoLGBTQ hashtags on Twitter to support and promote LGBTQ+ authors and allies while providing a safe space to connect and grow as a community. She is married to the love of her life, is the mother of three wonderful fur babies, and runs almost entirely on coffee and good vibes.

Evie loves to link up with fellow writers and readers. You can reach her directly at EvieDrae@gmail.com or find her on her social media accounts listed below. Twitter is where she’s most active but be sure to check out her blog too. She focuses on reviews for LGBTQ+ authors and allies with the occasional quirky advice/recommendation post just to toss things up.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

My Review

I didn't realise when I started this that the book is actually the first in a trilogy that includes the same main characters. When I did discover this, I was a little concerned that I would be left with a cliff hanger and dying to know what was going to happen next. Although there is clearly far more of this story to come, it does actually reach some kind of conclusion that at least gives you a little breathing space and sanity while you wait for the second instalment.

The book itself has a huge amount of warnings about the content. While I think that it is important to warn people about what they may face, I think that some of these were a little unnecessary. Don't be put off thinking that this book is too heavy or too dark. Yes, there are darker themes and both Landon and Toby have faced some pretty bad stuff in their past, but the story itself still has it's lighter and more gentle moments. 

Toby and Landon make a great couple, there are moments where I'd like to grab them both and just tell them to keep talking to one another, but that's often the case with romance books. For the most part they do communicate well and consent is a big part of their story. Probably even more obvious for them, due to what they have both dealt with in the past.

Overall this was a really interesting read and I loved learning more about their relationship. As mentioned before, it's obvious that there is more to come for them and other things to deal with. But, I was still left with a contented smile when I reached the end of He Owns My Heart. Now it's just a case of waiting to see what will happen next for this well-matched couple. 

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The Couple Next Door - Rick R. Reed

The Couple Next Door by Rick R. Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not quite sure how I would classify this book. Is it a romance? A thriller? Romantic suspense? It's possibly actually all three, but it's also very different from anything I've read before. Right up until the very end I wasn't really sure how it was going to all pan out.
When Jeremy meets his new neighbours Shane and John, it's clear that there are plenty of secrets and problems surrounding them. As he discovers more about them he finds himself drawn further and further into their world. Can he really trust what he is told and learns about them?
Although there is romance here and it is that which drives Jeremy's connection to the two other men. The real heart of the story though is the life that John and Shane have been living for years. There are lots of twists and turns here. Although there are some elements that at least seem obvious from the beginning, there's still plenty to keep you guessing. I really don't want to say anything that might give away anything, so I'll leave this review here. I only really want to finish off by saying this is a gripping read that has you guessing right up until the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Forbidden Need - by Lee Colgin

Forbidden Need by Lee Colgin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the 'they bite' series and like the previous books, it features a relationship between a vampire and a shifter. In this case, we have Samuel a vampire over a hundred years old and Rudy, a Coyote shifter in his thirties.
As vampires go, Samuel is a particularly grumpy one. Even so, there is something that is almost innocent about him when it comes to relationships. He has had a number of bad experiences over his long life and although it has led him to become the hardened warrior that he is, when he meets Rudy a softer and more vulnerable side to him comes out. Some of the story is told via flashbacks to both Rudy and Samuels youth and we find out more about what has shaped both of their characters.
I enjoyed seeing the unfolding relationship between them. From the start, Rudy is convinced that Samuel is his, but it takes Samuel much longer to come around. After all that he has been through, he's not convinced that he deserves the kind of relationship and happiness that Rudy is offering him.
This third book is another great read and one that I really enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Feel the Fire by Annabeth Albert

Feel the Fire by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Often when there is a series set in the same place or around the same career there's a danger that the storylines become too similar, but that is far from the case with the Hotshots series. I think this is partially because the characters are all different with different circumstances. There is something a little bit more to it than that. Although all of these stories are set within the world of wildfire fire fighting, the roles that the various characters have are very different. This time we are dealing with Tucker and Luis.
Tucker is involved in fire management and control. He has a past with Luis, but they haven't seen one another since they were teenagers. When Luis is called in to help out in her role of a fire investigator, they find that their attraction hasn't diminished over the years and that they need to address what happened between them before.
This story is as much about following your dreams and it never being too late to do so as it is a romance. Alongside Luis and Tuckers growing love, there are Tucker's twin boys Walker and Wade who are growing up and dealing with similar problems to those Luis and Tucker faced as teenagers.
This was a great read and just as enjoyable as the first two instalments on this firefighter romance series. I'd be more than happy to read any more that come along.


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Are You In - P.W. Steele

Are You In? by P.W. Steele
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Are you in is the first book in the Powerhouse series. The series seems to be set in a gym and focuses around a group of four gay owners who are known as the quad squad. This first book is about Andy who wants to build his body up and goes to the gym. There he meets one of the owners Jack and is instantly drawn to him.
This is a very quick read, not necessarily a bad thing, but it did end with the feeling that this was just setting up for a bigger story. I don't know if future stories are going to be similar, or if this was just setting the groundwork for a bigger story involving Jack and Andy.
There is one sex scene in this, which in all honestly was a bit of an odd one. I did feel a bit as though I'd wandered into someone's personal fantasy. That might just be me though.
I'd be interested to read the next in this series to see where it's going to go next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Burn Zone - Annabeth Albert

Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A couple of years ago, I'd never heard of smokejumpers. This is the second or possibly third series to feature them that I've come across. What isn't to like? Firefighters, fit well-trained firefighters, fit well-trained firefighters who not only put themselves at risk to deal with fire but parachute into danger to do it.
This story deals with Jacob and Lincoln. They have had a thing for one another since Jacob was just nineteen years old and first came out to his family. Nothing can ever come of it, because Lincoln promised Jacobs older brother that he would steer clear. Now that said older brother is dead, there's no way that he can go back on that promise. Especially when hardly anyone even knows that he is gay himself.
This was quite a cute story and although it had much of the things that you expect; life-threatening situations, which make them question what they want. It was well written and gripping. I couldn't help but like Lincoln and Jacob and love them together as a couple.
This is the first in the series and I'm sure that we're going to see more of these hotshots before long.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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