Page's Dirty Dozens for 2016!!

Happy New Years!!  I have enjoyed spending the new start to 2016 by reading as many books as possible, and I have to say, this year si starting off very impressively!

I have pulled together a list of the Watch and Word Society's "Dirty Dozen" in both standalone books (or books that are standalone as of right now) and a "Dirty Dozen" of MM series.  In order to make the series list, I read every book that was published in the series in 2015.

In no particular order, here are some AMAZING reads that I had the pleasure of enjoying in 2015!

(Links will go to my review of book or series, when available, and to Goodreads, when not.)

Single Books:

   1.     Winter Ball, Amy Lane

   2.     Out of the Blues, Mercy Celeste

   3.     Forced Silence, Cate Ashwood

   4.     Borrowing Trouble, Kade Boehme

   5.     Staus Report, Annabeth Albert

   6.     Blueberry Boys, Vanessa North

   7.     Vespertine, Leta Blake and Indra Vaughn

   8.     Carry the Ocean, Heidi Cullinan

   9.     Kick at the Darkness, Keira Andrews
   10. Inthe Absence of Light, Adrienne Wilder

   11. Godsend, Sloan Johnson

   12. Misfits, Garret Leigh

     Series:

     1.     Fated Hearts, Aimee Nicole Walker

     2.     Bend or Break, Amy Jo Cousins 

     3.     Chaos Station, Kelly Jensen, and Jenn Burke

     4.     Minnesota Christmas, Heidi Cullinan

     5.     Love in Laguna, Tara Lain

     6.     Gay Amish Romance, Keira Andrews

     7.     Resilient Love, Melanie Hansen

     8.     Indulgence, Lydia Gastrell

     9.     Sex in Seattle, Eli Easton 

     10. Homeruns, Sloan Johnson

     11. GlasgowLads, Avery Cockburn

     12. Fall or Break, Barbara Elsborg

New Release: So Into You, by S.E. Harmon, PI Guys #2

Title: So Into You

Author: S.J. Harmon

Publisher/GR Link:  Dreamspinner, Goodreads

Genre: MM Contemporay

Vice: Hollywood, PIs

Rating: 4 stars

Lock this book up:  3 keys…the sex is hot and supports the romance. 

Length:  Novel

Satisfaction:  HEA

Cover Impressions:  Very hot!

Synopsis: Screenwriter Noah Ashley has a few four-letter words for his agent when she suggests he improve his script by shadowing a PI. Still, because he’s an artist dedicated to his craft and she knows where the bodies are buried, he agrees. Then he spends a little time with the gorgeous PI, and suddenly it seems like a really good plan. The PI doesn’t seem to entirely love the idea, but Noah has never been afraid to go after what he wants.

PI Drew Rodriguez is used to people depending on him. He’s the classic rock for his family. Responsible. Dependable. The classic rock would never succumb to the borderline sleazy temptation of friends with benefits, no matter how sexy that temptation is. Drew is looking for something enduring.

Despite Drew’s misgivings, it’s not long before they’ve got all the requisites for friends with benefits going. Friendly, good conversation? Check. Fun times in and out of bed? Check. Hot, electrolyte-sapping sex? Double check. Falling in love? Yeah. About that….

Impressions:  Book #1 in this series was one of my favorites from last year.  I loved the banter between the Mac and his lover, Jordan, but also with his PI partner, Drew.  When I saw that we would get to enjoy Drew’s story, I was chomping at the bit to get to it!

I love Drew, and his dependable, predictable life.  I enjoy his quiet strength, and his “straight man” to Mac’s crazy antics.  Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to see someone really shake up Drew’s staid life.

Noah was a great match from Drew, and he definitely kept him on his toes.  I am not generally a big fan of “those big Hollywood types” so Noah was going to be a hard win for me.  I was a little wary going into this with Drew and Noah, because I really wanted Noah to get the man that he deserved and needed. 

In the beginning I will say that I read this book for Mac and Drew more than Noah and Drew, but about 30% in, Noah started really winning me over, and by the middle of the book, I was really rooting for these guys to get their needed HEA.

I loved this book, and it was a treat to see Mac and Jordan again too.  You will be won over by Drew’s story, and you will love watching him make Noah work for the love that he can give him.

5 Star Holiday Review: Winter Ball, by Amy Lane

Title: Winter Ball

Author: Amy Lane

Publisher/GR Link: Dreamspinner, GR

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: Holiday, OFY, sports

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Lock this book up: 4 keys.  This is a hot book where the sex adds to the romance.

Length: Novel

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: Adorable and wintery

Synopsis:Through a miserable adolescence and a lonely adulthood, Skipper Keith has dreamed of nothing but family. The closest he gets is the rec league soccer team he coaches after work—and his star player and best friend, Richie Scoggins.

One brisk night in late October, a postpractice convo in Richie’s car turns into a sexual encounter neither of them expected—nor want to forget. Soon Skip and Richie are living for the weekends and their winter league soccer games—and the games they enjoy off the field. Through broken noses, holiday decorating, and the killer flu, they learn more about each other than they ever dreamed possible. Every new discovery takes them further beyond the boundaries of the soccer field and into the infinite possibilities of the best relationship of Skipper’s life.

Skipper can’t dream of a better family than Richie—but Richie’s got real family entanglements he can’t shake off. Skipper needs to convince Richie to stay with him beyond winter ball so the relationship they started on the field might become their happy future in real life!

Impressions: I love Amy Lane, and I gobble her books up as soon as I can, sometimes over and over again.  This book was a perfect wintery, holiday read.  I LOVED this gem!

Richie and Skip are too adorable, and this was a low angst, OFY, friends to lovers, Christmas miracle.  I read, after reading this, that it was a modern, MM take on a Cinderella tale, and what an adorable idea!  

Richie was adorable, and I couldn't wait to see him get away from the troubled people in his life and get his prince Skip.  Skip is the head of their soccer team, and he has everything to offer and no one to give it to.  When he realizes that Richie is that person, his love is patient, kind, and so supportive. 

I could  go on and on about how cute this one was, but I don't want to waster your time.  Go get it and cuddle up for a book about love, friendship, and happily ever afters.