Why did it take me so long to get to this book?

It was sweet, funny, heartbreaking, heartwarming.

Loved our hero and heroine, loved that they fought for what they wanted, even though it was a struggle at times. Big love. Forever love.

Can't wait to read more when I read True Bliss.

ARC received for an honest review

When I first signed up for this blog tour, all I saw was m/m and gay porn star - I'm in, that's gonna be hot!!

While yes, Saving Liam is about a gay porn star, it is so much more than that, and so much more then I expected.

18 year old Liam has had a pretty shitty few years. His boyfriend Cord got him off the streets, but really is a doughebag and SOB all rolled into one.

"No one gets a free ride" and has made Liam into an internet porn star, making him make videos with stranger after stranger, week in week out. That's the price he pays to be off the streets, and the price of loving Cord

Ugh, I just wanted to beat the crap out of Cord.

Liam's saving grace is his neighbour Justin. I just loved Justin. Sweet, kind, crushing on Liam since forever. And has no idea what goes on across the hall. And when he does...... well, let's just say it's not good!

My heart breaks for Liam time and time again. He is so emotionally broken from what has happened in the past few years. You just want to give him a great big hug and tell him things are going to get better.

Justin and Liam have a great friendship, but can it become more. We know that Justin wants more, but how will Liam cope? They will never have a hearts and flowers kind of relationship, but I love what they do have together. It is heartbreaking but also heartwarming as they work through their difficulties together.

We get to see different sides of our MC's which I really liked. We see a lot of Justin's life away from Liam ~ his work, other relationships, his innermost thoughts. And we get lots of Liam's dark thoughts, his anguish, his feelings of helplessness.

There were times when I was not sure which direction this story was going to take. I love when a story surprises me like that. I wondered for a while if Liam and Justin would end up together? Could they be happy? Could they be happy together?

DP Denman has touched on some pretty heavy issues in Saving Liam, and she has done it extremely well. The characters get into some pretty dark head space and it is dealt with sympathetically so as to not make a mockery out of the situation.

This is the first DP Denman books I have read, but will definitely be adding more to my TBR.

4.5 giddy up, ride em cowboy stars

ARC RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

Freed carries on from where Used ends, so you will need to read it first.

I have been impatiently waiting for this follow up to Freed.... ah heck, I was just waiting for more John Ransom!!

In the aftermath of Used, things are all a bit topsy-turvy with Denver, Ransom and Greer. It is a very angst-ridden book as Denver comes to terms with her past, Greer's betrayal, her feelings for Ransom.

Ransom goes from smoking hot cowboy to positively swoonworthy as he falls more into his "mini dom" skin. I mean, giddy up cowboy!!! This makes him even more perfect for Denver, as I felt she needed that bit of him controlling her to help her mentally get herself through what has happened in her past.

My heart broke for Greer. Yeah, he did some pretty shitty things, but I couldn't help but want things right for him. I want him to get forgiveness and redemption. I just wanted to grab him and give him a big ol' hug.

The sexual chemistry between Ransom and Denver is Off. The. Charts. I mean seriously HOT. There is no way that these two could ever not be together.

I felt there was a lot of growth in Denver's character. She went from the victim in it all to owning her mistakes and apologising for them. She could move on, could open up her heart, feel hope, love. She confronted those demons and left them in the past where they belonged. The emotions were raw, gritty, real. There was not simple "I'm sorry. You're forgiven. Let's forget about it." The characters had to earn their forgivness.

Ms Halat has drawn me into the world of rodeo, and I don't want to leave (this coming from a girl who thinks horses are the beasts of satan!!). There are twists and turns in every story and always leaves me wanting more.

Now the impatient wait for book 3 redeemed begins **stands tapping foot and staring at the calendar**

3.75 stars - ARC Received via Netgalley for an honest review

I have to say, I LOVED the beginning of this book. Who hasn't wanted to shout from the rooftops what a douche their ex is? And this is why Rae does - through karaoke of course! I would have been up at the front of the crowd cheering her on!!

Rae has finally gotten away from her abusive, stalker ex. Now trying to get on her feet emotionally and financially, she finally confronts her ex, but things don't go as planned. This huge act of defiance should have been the beginning of a new chapter in her life, but turns out things take a different turn.

Enter Parker. Hot. Sexy. Leather clad. Heart the size of Texas. Just loved him from the moment he joins the story.

The attraction is instant with Rae and Parker, and sparks fly between the pair. They are both emotionally scarred from things in their past and are very gun shy. I liked that they did not fall straight into love. Straight into bed, yeah, but the deeper relationship longer. Though I did feel there was something missing in the relationship ~~ maybe it is just that as the story was a little short for us to get right into the nitty gritty of them or what, I can't put my finger right on it.

It was great to be along on the ride as Parker finally breaks down the emotional walls and finally let's people in.

Do Rae and Parker get their HEA? For that you are going to have to read for yourself.

There was a great mix of secondary characters, from Rae's best friends Hunter and Cherry, to Parker's pretty dysfunctional family. Then there is the ex. What a very warped image of love he has in his mind.

There were a few twists and turns along the way too!

This is the first book I have read by Laura Kreiter and I did enjoy it. There was just that little something I was left wanting after reading. It looks as though there is at least one more book in this series (though Love's Paradox is a stand alone read), so I will make sure i read that too.

We quickly met Gio near the end of Forever is Now, and I was instantly intrigued, and when I saw that Double Takes was his story, I was very excited to read more. And you will not have to have read Forever Is Now to enjoy Double Takes, but I would just because it's a great story.

Gio is a pretty much washed up has been of the rock world. Super huge band in the 90's, now his band Three Deaf Mice is pretty much in the twilight of their career, and without the constant touring money isn't flowing like it used to.

Enter his manager who signs him up for a reality tv show - ugh, it is just me or does anyone else hate reality tv as much as me?? - anyway, back on to Gio.

To boost ratings they create a fake gay relationship with a waiter called Kyrie. Aaaaaaand cue the over-the-top gay factor. Don't get me wrong, Kyrie was sweet and I did like him, but he just got a bit too much at times!

Then there is the gay man that Gio acutally is attracted to, Lance Garrett, antiques dealer. At first when I heard antiques dealer i pictured knitted cardigans and cups of tea (I know, very stereotypical but that's where the mind went!) but Lance is anything but. Sweet and sexy, he is the perfect man for Gio.

Lance and Garrett start a friendship that both of them know is eventually going to be something more. I loved that Lance goes a little bit fan boy over Gio, it was sweet and funny. And I love that they start their relationship away from the cameras - both Lance and Gio want it that way.

I love Gio's band mates. Love how they take the piss out of Gio, but are also there to support him, knowing that everything he is doing is for his son Marco. Marco is a switched on kid, and at times has some of the most adult and mature conversations in the book!

It seems everyone has a secret to keep, and as we know, secrets never stay secret forever. Lance has a doozie that throws a real spanner in the works of his fledgling relationship with Gio. It was definitely not something I saw coming!!! It threw the story onto a very different course for a while there. Will it be too much for the hot couple, or can they overcome everything and finally be together for the world to see?

I also loved that Gio and fake boyfriend Kyrie do develop a real friendship away from the cameras. I thought that was a real slap in the face to Gio's manager who would not have expected that when things go the way they go.

We got a little bit of the characters from Forever is Now thrown in too which was a bonus.

Double Takes is a bit of everything. A bit of funny. A bit of sad. A bit of suspense. A lot sexy. A lot of love.

If you are a fan of the m/m genre, definitely check out the Shooting Stars series

ARC received for an honest review

We first met Sean "Mr Dom" Miller in book 1 of the series, Temporary Bliss, but Blissful Surrender can be read as a stand alone.

I read Blissful Surrender straight after reading the first two books in the series, and I really was excited to read Sean's story. There was that air of mystery and intrigue about him in book 1, and I needed to know more.

And I wasn't disappointed. I didn't really know what to expect from him, but BJ Harvey definitely exceeded my expectations. Yes, he's a Dom, but he lost his heart to one girl many years ago. And she has held it ever since.

Meet Sam Richardson. The one who got away. Now she is a tough as nails cop, nicknamed the Ice Queen. And still in love with Sean.

You know what I like about BJ Harvey's characters? She writes strong, smart, sassy, fiery women. None of this simpering "oh why does he like me I'm not good for him" business here. No Siree. Her girls give as good as they take. They know what they want and they go for it.

In the past she has let other people influence her decisions, and now she is trying to not let that happen again. She fights those fears and comes out of it so much stronger than before.

Sean and Sammy are just perfect together. They were a decade ago they will be again now, if they can get over the things that broke them apart before.

I loved that we still get the crossover with the characters from the first two books, as their lives all intersect through common friends.

And as much as I love Daniel and Zander, I think that Sean may just be my favourite Bliss-Boy!! There is something about the mysterious that gets me in every time.

You know when you find a series and you hope that the author never stops writing about those characters? That's how I feel about the Bliss series. I am kicking myself for having the first two books sit on my kindle for so long before reading them!!

In the words of Oliver Twist... Please Ms Harvey, I want some more!!

ARC received for an honest review

Though this is book 2 in the Behind the Words series, Jayde can be read as a standalone book. I have not read the first book (Arianna) yet, but this did not detract anything from this book.

From the minute I read the Prologue to Jayde, I knew I would be shedding a tear at some stage, and that we would be taken on an emotional rollercoaster.

And I was so right!

Feeling she and her boyfriend Cash are drifting apart, she surprises him on the road one day, only to find him in a compromising position, and her heart is shattered. She gets some unexpected news and life sure throws her a curve ball!!!

Nate has been a big part of her life for a long time, and he is the person she turns to when everything turns to crap. She goes ahead and makes some pretty big life changing decisions ~ not always the best decisions.

While I loved Nate and how much he loves Jayde, I just LOVED Cash. Yeah he f&*ks up, yeah he is a damn mess, but there was just something about him that you just can't help but love. He loves Jayde enough to let her go, no matter how much it hurts him to do so.

When tragedy strikes, Jayde hits pretty much rock bottom, and leans heavily on those around her to pull through. But can her heart take any more? Who will be the one to heal her and make her smile again? Or will the secrets and lies from the past keep everyone at arm's length and her heart untouched?

Uh uh, you will need to find out for yourself.

From the prologue to the epilogue, Ms Stewart drew me right into their world. Jayde is a story of love. Betrayal.Tragedy. Loss. Second chances and redemption. It is heart breaking but heartwarming.There were twists and turns in the story that kept my on my toes the whole way through. I am a bit of a sucker for a second chance romance, and this was just a beautiful written story that I couldn't help but love everything about it.

Now I need to go back and read Aria and Bryden's story, while impatiently waiting for Poppy (and I am assuming Riley's story from what happened in Jayde!!) to come out!

ARC RECEIVED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

It is always a bit of a leap of faith when you pick up a book from a 'new to you' author, as Elyssa Patrick was to me. But this book was a real find.

I am a bit sadistic in that I take great pleasure in my books when a one night stand comes back to bite the characters in the bum, and that's what happens in Four Weddings and a Break Up.

Ginny's confidence has been on a downward trend since she was involved in a shooting a year ago, so when at a bar her friends dare her to go up to the tall, dark and handsome stranger across the bar, she reluctantly does i

Wes ... aka Mr Dangerous, is intrigued by the dark hair beauty that follows him outside the bar that night.

Let's just say that things heat up, they give each other a little something-something, and go back to their lives knowing they will never see each other again.

Or will they?

When they cross paths again the next day, things take an interesting turn. There was that mutual attraction and spark between the pair that just can't be denied.

Life in a small town is not fun when everyone gets in everyone's business, so Wes and Ginny make an agreement to make both of their lives a little easier - a fake relationship to keep all the well meaning matchmakers off their backs.
I just love Ginny and Wes. They both have so many things going on in their lives, neither has the time or inclination for a relationship. Ginny has left her career as a school teacher and helps her sister run a dessert/bakery shop. Wes is in town to make amends with his step-brothers and his father.

But no one told their hearts about the fake relationship status, and real feelings become involved.

What will Ginny and Wes do with these real feelings? Uh uh, for that you will have to read for yourself.

I instantly liked the characters in this book. Right from the get go I loved the banter between the MCs, the double entendr`s and witty remarks. Wes and Ginny are just the perfect blend of sweet and sexy, with the right amount of love and lust thrown in for good measure.

There is also a bit of mystery and intrigue that will keep you guessing about a few things.

There is a great cast of secondary characters too. Love love love Ginny's sister and mother - and her sexy scottish gardener! And there is plenty of tension and hurt between Wes and his brothers that you just know that something's gotta give.

What I really liked about this book is how real it felt. The characters, their troubles, their feelings and relationships all felt like they could have been the people across the street or people we all work with. Don't get me wrong, I love escaping into flights of fancy, but it is great to have my feet back on the ground and in the every day.

Four Weddings and a Break Up is a sweet, funny and fun read. It is well written, the story flows seamlessly and I was drawn in from the first word to the last.

This is the first work of Ms Patrick's that I have come across, but I can tell you that I will definitely be seeking out more (and I have my fingers cross that there are more Cape Hope novels in the making!!)