Review & Giveaway - Pole Position

Pole Position

by Rebecca J. Caffery

Publisher: One More Chapter/Harper Collins Publishers

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Kian Walker has always been the golden boy of motorsport. The four-time Championship winner has racing in his DNA – his father was a legend on the track, just don’t let him catch you comparing the two. As reckless and unreliable at home as he was behind the wheel, there’s nothing Kian wants less than to be just like his dad.

Enter Harper James. This year’s rookie called up to compete with the big boys – and Kian’s new teammate. Cocky, hot-headed and with a reputation for breaking as many hearts as he does new track records, Harper’s the opposite of Kian in every way. But when the season starts, there’s no getting away from him.

This might be one of the most dangerous sports in the world, so why then does Kian’s heart feel safer flying around the track at 220mph than when he's anywhere near his teammate?

PJ's Thoughts:

What a ride! Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery pulled me in and refused to let go. Even when I was rolling my eyes at some of the highly-fictionalized racing scenes/shenanigans/management decisions (if you don't follow F1 racing, you probably won't even notice) or wanting to throw Harper off the nearest cliff (seriously, dude, what were you thinking???), I still found myself riveted to the action and immersed in the emotions of this story.

Caffery has crafted an action and emotion-packed story about two adrenaline-fueled elite athletes who, on the surface, could not be more different. From their ages to their attitudes to their career approaches, to their life views, they appear to be complete opposites. And yet, once they begin to sort through the hidden layers beneath the public personae, it's apparent they each provide a missing puzzle piece for the other. Together, they begin to discover a relationship they never dreamed possible...that is, if one of them who hasn't quite managed to work through some significant emotional baggage doesn't totally trash it first. 

Pole Position is a fast-paced, spicy, deeply emotional, and surprisingly endearing story set within the highly competitive world of F1 auto racing. Even when I wanted to throttle them (mostly, one of them), my heart still ached for this unlikely couple and I couldn't bring myself to set them aside until they had managed to navigate their way to their hard-won happy ending. 

 

Do you watch F1 racing? 

Do you enjoy opposites-attract or rivals-to-lovers romance?

What books are keeping you glued to the pages these days?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, March 15 will receive a print copy of Pole Position. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - You're the Problem, It's You

You're the Problem, It's You

by Emma R. Alban

The Mischief & Matchmaking Series - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: August 27, 2024

Reviewed by Santa

“That man is, without a doubt, the absolute most obnoxious…

Bobby Mason is sick of being second best: born the spare, never trusted with family responsibility, never expected to amount to much. He’s hungry to contribute something that matters, while all around him his peers are squandering their political and financial power, coasting through life. Which is exactly why he can’t stand the new Viscount Demeroven.

…insufferable…

James Demeroven, just come of age and into the Viscountcy, knows that he’s a disappointment. Keeping his head down and never raising anyone’s expectations is how he’s survived life with his stepfather. To quiet, careful James, Bobby Mason is a blazing comet in his endless night, even more alive than he was at Oxford when James crushed on him from afar. But Mason is also brash and recklessly unapologetic, destined to shatter the fragile safety of James’s world. Worst of all, he keeps rubbing James’s failures in his face.

…hottest man to ever walk the ton.”

They can barely get through a single conversation without tensions boiling over. Neither Bobby nor James has ever met a more intriguing, infuriating, infatuating man.

If only they could avoid each other entirely. Bad enough their (wonderful but determined) cousins Beth and Gwen keep conveniently setting up group outings. But when an extortionist starts targeting their families, threatening their reputations, Bobby and James must find a way to work together, without pushing each other’s buttons (or tearing them off) in the process… 

Santa Says:

You’re The Problem, It’s You by Emma R. Alban is the second book of the Mischief & Matchmaking series. In the first one we meet Beth and Gwen who fall in love. Bobby Mason and James Demeroven were secondary characters who were like chalk and cheese.  

It’s never easy to get along with someone who grates on your every nerve. However, needs must when your cousin, whom you love dearly, asks you to do your best to get along with them. Bobby Mason can not refuse this one thing from his cousin Gwen. The perfect gentleman Viscount James Demeroven can’t help that he’s gorgeous and that Bobby Mason, a second son with no prospects, must fight that attraction while spending time with him.  

James Demeroven has recently inherited a viscountcy who must contend with his new responsibilities, a vapid mother and a drunkard imposing step-father. To top off his mountain of troubles he is forced to play nice with Bobby Mason to appease his friend Beth who happens to be in a loving relationship with Gwen. Bobby Mason’s laissez faire attitude grates on James’ nerves. Truthfully, the problem is that he has always been attracted to Bobby since he was an underclassman at Oxford. 

These two lead one another on a merry chase and when they do act on their feelings they are nearly caught out. James runs off and a frustrated Bobby complicates matters more with another rogue who tries to blackmail him. The cousins come up with a plan to stave off the rumors by publicly courting. James and Gwen become a couple while Beth and Bobby do the pretty for the ton and blackmailer’s benefit. And the merry chase is on! 

The book really had me cheering this beautiful family with all their quirks and insecurities to find their one true loves. Bobby and James, Beth and Gwen are fortunate to have other family and friends around them who are loving and accepting of the family they create. I really enjoyed this book and hope to see more from the author.

Review & Giveaway - - Waiting for the Flood

Waiting for the Flood

by Alexis Hall

Spires - Book 2

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Quietly heartbroken, Edwin Tully lives alone in the house he used to share with the man he once loved. He tends to damaged books and faded memories, trying to build a future from the fragments of the past. Then the weather turns, and the river spills into Edwin's quiet world, bringing with it Adam Dacre from the Environment Agency. An unlikely knight, this stranger with roughened hands and worn wellingtons offers Edwin the hope of something he thought he would never have again.

As the two men are drawn together in their struggle against the rising waters, Edwin slowly lets down his guard as he comes to accept he can't shield his heart from everything—and perhaps he doesn't even need to try. Because love doesn't only leave scars…sometimes, it heals them, too.

PJ's Thoughts:

What a lovely, lovely story. I am awash in all the feelings. Hall is a master of language and emotion, crafting a gentle, thoughtful story that flows with a lyrical, almost poetic quality. Like the impending flood, I was swept away by the pain, the healing, and the hope within Edwin's world.

Sometimes our hearts are broken. We feel we aren't worthy of being loved. The grief of losing the life we were certain we were meant to live sets us adrift. Those are all facets of Edwin that Hall deftly addresses with an honest but nurturing hand, creating a deeply emotional journey of moving on that I was hard pressed to put down. He made me laugh, touched my soul, and certainly brought about a flood of tears. Through Edwin, and Adam, he shows us that love that ends is not love wasted. Worthy of grief and sadness, certainly, but not a waste. Sometimes, it's just not the right time for that love to continue. And, sometimes, a new love will come along. A love that's better, deeper, healthier, and right for the person you have now become. I'm pretty sure I'll be thinking of these characters and their story for some time to come. 

Alexis Hall wrote Edwin's story almost a decade ago. This book is a reissue of that original story but includes new content. The author has now penned a story for Marius, the former boyfriend of ten years who left Edwin and broke his heart, sending him into a two-year spiral of quiet grief. "Chasing the Light" follows Marius as he deals with the fallout of the events he set into motion when he left Edwin and the possibilities of forgiveness, acceptance, and moving on. It's edgier than Waiting for the Flood, as Marius is a flawed character with a sharpness that at times leans to cruelty. His journey is an interesting character study of both him and the man who comes into his life at a vulnerable moment, illustrating once again that we are all worthy of love and, if we're lucky, will meet that right person who will love us, flaws and all. I appreciated the crossover of characters in the two stories, bringing much needed closure to both Edwin and Marius, enabling them to move forward with a healed heart. 

Waiting for the Flood is a book I'll be visiting again. I have no doubt that each time I read it I'll be moved by something new in Alexis Hall's gentle, masterful prose. 

Have you read any of Alexis Hall's books?

Do you have a favorite?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 1 will receive a print copy of Waiting for the Flood. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Tour Review & Giveaway - - Best Men

Best Men

by Sidney Karger

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 2, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Max Moody thought he had everything figured out. He’s trying to live his best life in New York City and has the best friend a gay guy could ask for: Paige. She and Max grew up next door to each other in the suburbs of Chicago. She can light up any party. She finishes his sentences. She’s always a reliable splunch (they don’t like to use the word brunch) partner. But then Max’s whole world is turned upside down when Paige suddenly announces some huge news: she’s engaged and wants Max to be her man of honor. Max was always the romantic one who imagined he would get married before the unpredictable Paige and is shocked to hear she’s ready to settle down. But it turns out there’s not just one new man in Paige’s life—there are two.

There's the groom, Austin, who’s a perfectly nice guy. Then there's his charming, fun and ridiculously handsome gay younger brother, Chasten, who is Austin's best man. As Paige’s wedding draws closer, Max, the introverted Midwesterner, and Chasten, the social butterfly East Coaster, realize they’re like oil and water. Yet they still have to figure out how to coexist in Paige’s life while not making her wedding festivities all about them. But can the tiny romantic spark between these two very different guys transform their best man supporting roles into the leading best men in each other’s lives?

PJ's Thoughts:

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book and its debut author, Sidney Karger. What I discovered was a fun, breezy story with laugh-out-loud humor and a surprising amount of depth. While the book is a rom-com, it's not all romance and comedy. Primarily, it's a story of fractured relationships, enduring friendships, personal growth, and endearing romance. It made me smile. It made me feel like these characters were my friends. It made me feel like I had an active investment in their happiness. 

While the three main characters - Paige, Max, and Chasten - are all well drawn, with layers, and varying degrees of growth throughout the book, it's Max whose evolution takes center stage. This introverted, soft-hearted, romantic, slightly awkward thirty-something who hasn't quite found his path in life yet, either professionally or romantically, wormed his way into my heart and had me in his corner, cheering him on pretty much the whole way. His frequently awkward and rocky road to self-discovery hit me right in the feels. All the feels.

Karger does a good job of showcasing the thirty-year friendship between Max and Paige, imbuing it with realistic ease, inside jokes, shared memories, and the knowledge that enduring relationships of that length still have the ability to shift and grow.

I wasn't sure about Chasten at first. In fact, I was initially not a fan. However, once the author began slowly peeling back his layers to show us - and Max - the man underneath the social butterfly persona, my affection for him began to deepen. Enough that by the end of the book I was actively rooting for good things to happen for these two.

The book has a slow start and a few too many wordy descriptions that I found myself skimming. However, once it hit its stride a few chapters in, I was happily flipping pages all the way to the end...though I still skimmed some of the more lengthy descriptions. I enjoyed the witty banter, laughter, and sarcasm that had these relatable characters leaping off the page. I liked the realism of the friendship between Max and Paige. I chuckled, even as I cringed, during Max's awkward moments. I drooled over Chasten's cooking, baking, and chocolate making. And, by the time I reached the sweetly endearing conclusion, I couldn't stop either the happy tears or the ear-to-ear grin.  

It was interesting to read my first male-centered rom-com written by a man. It definitely gave this book a different vibe and perspective, one that I enjoyed. I'll be watching to see what Sidney Karger brings to readers next. 

~~~~~~~

Have you ever been a bridal attendant? Was it nerve wracking or easy peasy?

I'm not kidding when I say I spent a lot of time drooling over the food in this book. What's your go-to breakfast specialty (to make or eat) when guests come to call?  

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, June 4 will receive a print copy of Best Men.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review & Giveaway - - Down in Flames

Down in Flames: An MM Firefighter - Hockey Romance

by Kate Meader

Hot in Chicago Rookies - Book 2

A Hot in Chicago Rookies / Rookie Rebels Crossover

Publisher: Kate Meader LLC

Release Date: December 6, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

It was supposed to be a random hookup.

At a crossroads, my life a hot mess, I swiped right on the guy with the washboard abs and the tree-trunk thighs. His handle was Holt (yeah, really) but as soon as he opened the door, I recognized him: Hudson Grey, the hottest prospect in pro-hockey and apparently, secretly playing for my team. Not mind-blowing enough? He needed someone to punch his V-card, and I was only too happy to volunteer as tribute . . .

Then he ghosted me when it got to be too much.

A year later, my life is back on track and I’m a candidate firefighter at legendary Engine 6. While I might be new to the Chicago Fire Department, I’m a veteran in the game of steamy hookups. My No. 1 rule? No newbies. Except now Hudson has been traded to my hometown team, the Chicago Rebels, and he’s out, proud, and ready to date. And he wants my help introducing him to the local gay scene.

My messy past means I’m the worst guy to be mentoring the shy, sexy jock. But neither can I stand by and watch while others touch the man who already feels like mine.

I might have been his first, but I’m about to learn that the new guy has even more to teach me about hunger, hope, and falling hard.

Includes: First times, hot firefighters, sexy hockey players, mini-golf shenanigans, meddling friends, and fighting like hell for the love of a lifetime.

PJ's Thoughts:

What can I say about Kate Meader's writing that I haven't already? She continues to up her game with each book she releases and is, in my opinion, one of the best authors out there writing in the contemporary romance genre. The majority of her books are male/female couples but occasionally she'll write a male/male romance that stirs my emotions like no other. This is one of those stories.

Jude and Hudson are both incredibly complex, well-developed, relatable characters. I loved how they both evolved over the course of their story and how the dynamic of their relationship shifted in accordance with that evolution. On the surface, Hudson seems to be the one who grows the most - from the shy, awkward, closeted virgin to the strong, confident, openly gay hockey player willing to fight for love - but, in actuality, it's Jude who I felt grew the most. My heart ached for him as his cocky, confident persona began to crumble, revealing the mistakes of his past and the vulnerable core so well hidden, bringing me to tears more than once. 

For those of you who like your physical expressions to be on the mild side, this book may not be for you. The sex is steamy and frequent, but also incredibly tender, and used effectively to move this story along. I loved how hot these two were for one another. If you enjoy steam between two consenting adults that's layered with a whole boatload of emotion, this book gives you both...and then some. Jude and Hudson connect on so many levels. I enjoyed how full-bodied their relationship is, the quality of the time they spend talking about a plethora of topics, how they take care of each other, support one another, tease, laugh, and cry with one another. 

As is typical of a Meader book, there's also a lot of humor balancing the emotion and a richly depicted secondary cast of characters. I'll never look at mini-golf the same way again. Hudson's meddling hockey teammates are pure gold (I can't get enough of them), as are Jude's firefighter pals. Then there's Hudson's parents and how they treat Jude. My heart melted and there may have been tears. 

I don't think I could have pulled any harder for these two opposite, but perfect for one another, men to accept the love they didn't always think they deserved. From their awkwardly sweet introduction to their final, heartfelt declarations, they personified the truth that love is love is love and that love is something we all deserve. This one gets my enthusiastic, heartfelt recommendation. 

Note: The initial meeting between Jude and Hudson plays out in the short prequel, White-Hot Hookup, which is currently available to download at no charge. I recommend reading it before beginning Down in Flames. 

~~~~~~~~~~ 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63142010-down-in-flames


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#1 Up in Smoke
 
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COMING SOON
 
#3 Hot to the Touch – Releasing August 22
 
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AUTHOR BIO
 
Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, fire hose, or a hockey stick, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with big-hearted guys and strong heroines - and heroes - who can match their men quip for quip.
 
 
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Website: http://katemeader.com
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Review - - Melting Point

Melting Point  
(a Hot in Chicago novella)
By Kate Meader
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release Date: August 31, 2015

Gage Simpson, youngest of the firefighting Dempsey foster siblings, is the golden boy of Chicago's Engine Company 6. Blonde, blue-eyed, and always ready for a good time, Gage has the looks, smile and rock-hard body that stop men - and women - in their tracks. When he's introduced to Brady Smith, the owner of the hottest new restaurant in Chicago, his only goal is to get the man naked and start a few fires of the personal variety. Be careful what you wish for, Gage.

At no point in his life could Brady Smith ever have been accused of having a light and sunny personality but since returning from Afghanistan the former Marine has been immersed in darkness. Sex with Gage - on Brady's terms - is fine for the hot new chef and restaurant owner but at the first hint of deeper feelings he shuts down and runs the other way.

When an accident brings Gage back into Brady's life and painkillers lower Brady's guard enough to give Gage a glimpse into his real feelings, it gives them the second chance both want but they are still a long way from a relationship. Both men have painful pasts with fears, vulnerabilities, and deep emotional wounds, even though Gage has done a good job of hiding his beneath his easy-going, party-boy exterior.

I fell for Brady and Gage while reading Flirting With Fire and am so glad Kate Meader decided to write their story. I'm also glad she didn't take any easy roads with them. They needed to walk through the fire (pun intended), baring themselves emotionally as well as physically, and facing their painful pasts for the healing to begin. Only then would they have a chance to move forward...together.

I don't normally read M/M romance but I wanted Gage's story from the moment he strutted onto the pages of Flirting With Fire, the first book in Meader's Hot in Chicago series and Melting Point did not let me down. The chemistry between Gage and Brady is scorching with sex that is off-the-charts hot but it's the emotional intensity, the sweetness, and the caring between these two strong but vulnerable men that captured my heart. I just finished reading their story and all I want to do now is go back to the beginning and read it all over again.

Melting Point is good on its own but for a deeper understanding of these characters and a richer, more complete reading experience, I recommend reading Flirting With Fire (Luke and Kinsey's story) first. Then you can join my countdown to the next Hot in Chicago book, Playing With Fire (out Sept. 29th) which tells the story of Gage's firefighting sister, Alex and sexy Chicago mayor, Eli Cooper. I can't wait!

~PJ