It’s Monday! what are you reading?

First seen over on Book’d Out, I’m going to try to do this post regularly, linking to It’s Monday! What are you reading? at BookDate.

It’s been a busy 6 weeks. I was on holiday for 4 and a half of them and attended two book events over east, which I’ll hopefully have time to post about next weekend. This weekend I got to attend a two day event in Perth, again I hope to post about it next weekend. I met some fabulous authors and bought wayyyy too many books. But, it’s an addiction, what can I say.

Because of my holiday I didn’t read as much as I normally would.

In the past two weeks I managed 4 books and 1 audiobook.

Death at Booroomba by A.L. Booth ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ review to come.

Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to come. A beautifully written novel.

The King of Halloween by Ellen Mint ⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to come.

Breathing Under Water by Dylin Hardcastle (Sophie Hardcastle)⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stronger than Blood by Adam J Ridley (Blake Allwood) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This week I am reading

This Might Hurt by Riley Nash

Geraldine by Andrea Thompson

Finding Us by Carole Brungar

Writing this on Sunday night I’m not sure what I’m going to listen to in the morning on the way to work. I’ll let you know next week what I decided.

I hope you’ve all had some good reading lately.

Until next time, happy reading.

New Release Book Review: On the Land, We Shoot Straight by Sasha Avice

I’m a new reader of the West Australian author Sasha Avice, but I absolutely love her writing, with each book having a completely different style and voice. Her new novel On the Land, We Shoot Straight is no exception.

I was immediately drawn into this story about two very different men with very different experiences of life so far.

Jesse Cole’s story broke my heart, as it did Grady’s, but their story brought me happiness, eventually.

Set in 1981 in an imagined town, I actually felt it could have been even further back or even now, this story doesn’t need a time, it’s a story that could fit into any time and place.

The idea, or knowledge that straight men have always had sex with other men if the need arises, it’s just something they don’t talk about, is the premise behind this story. Grady is one of these men, his wife is elsewhere, and itches must be scratched. But there’s nothing more to it, it’s just the way things are done.

Cole arriving on Grady’s doorstep looking lost and needing a place to stay and work, changes everything Grady thought he knew about himself. Drawn to him from the get go, watching Grady become attached to having Jesse around, then realising real emotions were involved, was a real rollercoaster of a journey for me.

Seeing Cole become stronger and brighter, seeing him start to tentatively believe that he is worth something, (after being told and treated by others in ways that tell him he is worth nothing), the more time he spent on the ranch and with Grady, and the horses, added to that rollercoaster. Grady is such a rock, and though he makes mistakes, he is quick to set them right.

This was a gentle book, while at the same time tackling big issues. The characters became very real for me and I won’t forget them quickly.

This book brought up many emotions for me as Cole’s story is uncovered, as well as breaking my heart, I felt anger and rage at what was done and towards the people who did it.

On the Land, We Shoot Straight, was hard for me to put down and I read it over 2 days. Knowing this story was a special one for the author, adds something extra to the book. Sasha Avice is now firmly in my ‘will read whatever comes next’ category and I can’t wait to see what does come next.

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Buy or borrow on Amazon

About the book

“I ain’t no expert on what gets a man spooked.
But I reckon if you ever wanna talk on it, well then…
I reckon I’m all right at listenin’.”

Grady’s been running his ranch and farm just fine on his own since his daddy died. But when young Jesse Cole blows up on his porch, Grady hesitates before sending him on. There’s something in the way Cole turns to leave that makes Grady want to pull him back in.

There are murmurs in town about the kind of boy Cole is. The kinds of things he’s done. But as they work together and then start helping each other out because that’s just what buddies do on the land, Grady begins to feel something he’s never felt before. Something not ‘just buddies’ at all.

As the year rolls on, Grady feels himself drawn deeper into the trauma Cole won’t speak about. He ignores the warnings from his wife in the city and the gossip in town. Cole seems to think this unspeakable thing will define him forever, but the further Grady’s pulled into his orbit, the more willing he is to forfeit everyone else in his life to show him that isn’t true.

#6Degrees of Separation – September 2025

This is a monthly link-up hosted by KateW at Books Are My Favourite and Best. Each month a book is chosen as a starting point and linked to six other books to form a chain. A book doesn’t need to be connected to all the other books on the list, only to the one next to it in the chain. The rules are:

  • Link the books together in any way you like.
  • Provide a link in your post to the meme at Books Are My Favourite and Best.
  • Share these rules in your post.
  • Paste the link to your post in the comments on Kate’s post and/or the Linky Tool on that post.
  • Invite your blog readers to join in and paste their links in the comments and/or the Linky Tool.
  • Share your post on Twitter using the #6Degrees hashtag.
  • Be nice! Visit and comment on other posts and/or retweet other #6Degrees posts

I’m a week later posting this month’s #6Degrees of Separation I was super busy last weekend but I did manage to pick my books.

The starting book this month is Ghost Cities by Siang Lu

Ghost Cities – inspired by the vacant, uninhabited megacities of China – follows multiple narratives, including one in which a young man named Xiang is fired from his job as a translator at Sydney’s Chinese Consulate after it is discovered he doesn’ t speak a word of Chinese and has been relying entirely on Google Translate for his work. How is his relocation to one such ghost city connected to a parallel odyssey in which an ancient Emperor creates a thousand doubles of Himself? Or where a horny mountain gains sentience? Where a chess-playing automaton hides a deadly secret? Or a tale in which every book in the known Empire is destroyed – then re-created, page by page and book by book, all in the name of love and art? Allegorical and imaginative, Ghost Cities will appeal to readers of Haruki Murakami and Italo Calvino.

My first link is with the word Ghost 👻, I went the easy route this month because I really wanted to continue this link up

Ghost Mortem by Jane Hinchley I have this waiting on my kindle, it looks like a fun read.

Join Audrey Fitzgerald in the Ghost Detective series, a paranormal cozy mystery featuring a cat, a ghost, and a murder to solve. 

My next book is also Ghost 👻 but I’ve gone from fun cosy paranormal mystery to paranormal horror.

The Ghost Files by Apryl Bake

Cherry blossom lipstick: check
Smokey eyes: check
Skinny jeans: check
Dead kid in the mirror: check

For sixteen year old Mattie Hathaway, this is her normal everyday routine. She’s been able to see ghosts since her mother tried to murder her when she was five years old. No way does she want anyone to know she can talk to spooks. Being a foster kid is hard enough without being labeled a freak too.

Normally, she just ignores the ghosts and they go away. That is until she see’s the ghost of her foster sister… Sally.

Everyone thinks Sally’s just another runaway, but Mattie knows the truth—she’s dead. Murdered. Mattie feels like she has to help Sally, but she can’t do it alone. Against her better judgment, she teams up with a young policeman, Officer Dan, and together they set out to discover the real truth behind Sally’s disappearance.

Only to find out she’s dealing with a much bigger problem, a serial killer, and she may be the next victim…

Will Mattie be able to find out the truth before the killer finds her?

Carrying on with Ghosts 👻 is an urban fantasy adventure

Ghosts of the Catacombs by Janna Ruth

I’m a ghost whisperer, not a catacomb crawler. But when you live in Paris, sometimes you end up being both.

Urban Fantasy with a French twist. If you like cave-crawling adventures, hopeless romantics, and ghosts, you’ll enjoy Ghosts of the Catacomb, the first instalment of the Parisian Ghosts series. Travel to Paris today to embark on your catacomb adventure.

Next we have something completely different but still with Ghost 👻 in the title. An emotional MM romance dealing with grief.

The Ghosts Between Us by Brigham Vaughn

Dr. Christopher Allen knows how to deal with death. He’s a psychiatrist who works with hospice patients and their families, helping them cope with grief and letting go. But Chris’s job doesn’t prepare him for the sudden death of his devil-may-care brother Cal.

At Cal’s funeral, Chris is completely thrown when he meets Elliot Rawlings, an artist Cal has been dating. Chris is hurt to discover that the brother he knew as straight was actually bisexual. Elliot is angry and resentful of having been kept hidden from Cal’s family.

After the funeral, a night of drinking at the bar with Cal’s friends leads to Chris and Elliot falling into bed together. The next morning, they’re overwhelmed by guilt and grief and agree to never speak of it again.

But Cal’s apartment needs to be packed up and Elliot reluctantly agrees to help Chris, as well as answer some questions about Cal’s life and their relationship. Despite their guilt and initial dislike for one another, they sort through the pieces of Cal’s life and begin to fall for each other.

Despite his best efforts to fix things, Chris’s family seems to be crumbling around him and he begins to question who he is and what his role with them is. As his feelings for Elliot grow, Chris must decide if they’re worth further damaging his fragile relationships with his friends and family.

Elliot’s rough upbringing has left him distrustful of getting close to anyone, much less another man who isn’t willing to acknowledge him in public. The odds seem stacked against Chris and Elliot, but if they can overcome them, they may be able to lay Cal’s ghost to rest, along with their own demons.

Reader Advisory: This story deals with themes related to alcoholism, death (of secondary characters), and past abuse/neglect.

Next and the last title with Ghost 👻 a paranormal mystery MM romance set in a haunted house.

Ghost Hunted by BL Maxwell

Proving ghosts are real is something Jason Thomas had always dreamed of. Visiting the haunted places he’d been obsessed with since he was a kid, and playing amateur ghost hunters with his best friend Wade, is a passion that’s only grown. As the years passed, Jason’s fascination with ghosts was too big to contain, and he’d drag Wade along to different haunted houses or hotels, always hoping to see an actual ghost.
Wade Rivers has always loved spending time with Jason, even if it meant he’d have to endure another creepy, supposedly haunted location. Before he knew it, Wade’s feelings for Jason deepened from friendship into something more. Unfortunately, so did his fear of the places Jason wanted to explore.
The chance to spend a weekend alone in a famous haunted house was too much for Jason to resist, and almost too much for Wade to endure. He knew going to the deserted house was everything Jason had ever dreamed of, so Wade tried to put his fears aside. But when strange things start to happen, admitting to Jason how he feels suddenly isn’t the scariest thing Wade will encounter.
A friends to lovers, paranormal romantic thriller.

My last link is another paranormal mystery MM romance which is also set in a haunted house.

A step-by-step guide to Surviving a haunted house by Addison Acres

This isn’t your friendly neighbourhood ghost story.

Dawson Miller may not have the most conventional of lives, but he’s worked hard and he’s happy with the path he’s taken. He’s a successful social media influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers, his budding music career is gaining traction, and he’s just inherited a house in the WA Wheatbelt with his best friend and stepbrother, Chip. Despite having to manage an anxiety disorder, life is pretty sweet.

Tate “Chip” George has a steady job, is great at sports, and is well liked. On the surface, he’s got his life together. Beneath all of that, he’s a 24 year old demisexual virgin who is in love with his best friend and stepbrother. It’s been a long time since he’s lived with Dawson and he’s rather worried that moving to a small, rural town together will make it much harder to move on and finally accept that he can’t have what he so desperately wants.

When they discover that the old farmhouse they’ve inherited from Grandpa Miller is haunted, they must work together to solve a century-old murder and help lay a vengeful ghost to rest, whilst navigating the changing landscape of their relationship. They’ll fight for their lives, make startling discoveries, and clean their kitchen.

So. Damn. Much.

For a full list of content warnings, please see the inside of the book or visit the author’s website.

I hope you enjoyed my chain for September

Next month (October 4, 2025), we’ll start with I Want Everything by Dominic Amerena a novel about authors and publishing, .

I’m off on holiday for 4.5 weeks, I’m heading to Cairns, Brisbane, Melbourne and Tasmania. I’ll be going to the GLO book event in Brisbane and RARE in Melbourne, I’ve accidentally preordered a lot of books and somehow I need to get them home lol. If you’ll be at either of these events or in town when they are on, I’d love to catch up and talk books.

New Release Book Review: Eva Reddy’s Trip of a Lifetime by Fiona McKenzie Kekic

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

I read this in a day. When I read the blurb on NetGalley, I thought this sounded like something I would enjoy, but I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. It’s also inspired me for my upcoming holiday to celebrate my own 50th birthday, and I’m planning on making the most out of it.

I got off to a bit of a slow start with Eva’s story, I also found the random diary entries from her teens through to her 40s took me out of the story a bit, but as I read on I got caught up in Eva’s plight and her susequent journey and found the diary entries actually added something, even if it was just to remind Eva (and perhaps myself) that she once had dreams and that even though she’d gotten a bit lost on her way, perhaps it wasn’t too late to make some changes.

When Eva discovers her husband is cheating on her, it takes her a moment to decide what to do next. Finding out her parents have gone AWOL in India gives her the push she needs to take action and embark on a journey, which, through many twists and turns and wild goose chases (or wild parent chases), allows her to take stock of her life and how she has arrived at 50 years of age stuck in a life and a marriage she isn’t terribly happy with.

Eva’s mother Debbie, is a riot, and while I can see as a teen she might have found her embarrassing, as an adult, I felt Eva should have been celebrating her quirkiness and fun; instead, she chases after her to bring her home like a misbehaving child (I do get she was concerned, especially about her dad’s deteriorating health, but still…). Luckily, along the way, Eva does come to appreciate her mother and her quirks. I did find Debbie a bit blunt and mean at times, especially when it came to Eva’s looks and weight (parents don’t realise the effect they have on their kids). I hope I can take away some of Debbie’s ‘just go with it, fun-loving’ ways and start living my life more fully.

Having been to India myself, I could relate to a lot of the culture shock and situations Eva found herself in, and I did enjoy her journey and sexy Utkarsh (where can I find me one of him?). Eva gets herself into some humorous situations and learns a lot about herself along the way.

I really enjoyed this read, as someone who, like Eva, is turning 50, whose life hasn’t turned out quite like I imagined at various stages in my life, it reminded me that I have still got plenty of time to make changes and make things happen. Now, to convince some friends to join me for the ride.

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About the book

Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year meets The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Where’d You Go Bernadette in this witty novel about coming of (middle) age and discovering that you don’t have to be who you’ve become.

How hard can it be to find a pair of Bollywood-dancing septuagenarians?

The new funny and uplifting read for book clubs in 2025 about adventure, aging and rediscovery. Perfect for readers Joanna Nell, Marian Keyes and Kathy Lette.

When Eva Moore wakes up on her fiftieth birthday, her drab middle-class life immediately starts to unravel. First, she receives an anonymous Facebook message claiming her husband is having an affair. Next, she is restructured out of her job by her obnoxiously young boss. Then, just when she thinks her life can’t get any worse, her elderly parents wilfully go missing from their group tour of India. The only clues they’ve left behind is an increasingly bizarre series of TikTok videos.

Eager to put some distance between herself and her failing marriage, Eva undertakes a rescue mission, determined to save her parents from certain disaster. She wants to find them. But what Eva really needs is to find herself. If she can do that, she might get a second chance at life and love – and, along the way, become an inspiration to anyone who fears their best days are behind them …

Witty, warm and acutely observed – a book club book from an extraordinary new Australian voice about taking life, and adventure, by the horns. A funny, defiant shout into the face of society’s expectations around ageing.

New Release Book Review: The Road Ahead by Addison Acres

The Road Ahead: An M/X Forbidden romance is one of the books just released in the shared world multi-author series, A Pathfinders Lake Romance.

I absolutely loved this sweet, angst-free novella by local WA author Addison Acres, and I think that Rio and Cooper are my new favourite book couple.

I haven’t read many enby stories; possibly there aren’t many out there, but I really liked the way the author handled all aspects surrounding Rio and their gender and sexuality, including the thoughtful communication between Cooper and Rio. Cooper was so respectful of Rio and their needs, and I really liked that they communicated like adults, allowing for no second-guessing once they had both admitted to being into each other.

Cooper and Rio bonded over anime, specifically a show called Initial D (watch here) and cars when they were younger, and Rio’s most prized possession is their Japanese-imported Trueno AE86 (which I had to Google and was stunned at the prices they sell for here in Australia). I felt the thrill of the ride when Rio shows Cooper just what the car can do, and I can imagine the adrenaline it would cause to be in that car as they took the turns. (There’s a short piece available after you read the book where Rio lets Cooper drive their car. I was highly entertained by Rio’s reticence at letting Cooper handle their baby).

Cooper’s sister Teresa was the best kind of sister and cousin anyone could hope for, while her boyfriend Brad took a while to show he wasn’t the arse he was behaving like. I didn’t rate him at all for most of the book and was still wary at the end, though he does redeem himself.

While the majority of the book is angst-free, there is an event that happens near the end that had me unable to breathe for a while (not relationship-related); the outcome could have been way worse than it was.

This was a wonderful read, and I am looking forward to whatever Addison Acres publishes next. I am off to GLO in Brisbane next month and am looking forward to catching up with her.

This is a low-angst, forbidden love story that features

💛 M/X romance
🤍 Cousins
💜 Low angst
🖤 Drifting
💛 A music festival
🤍 Only one bed
💜 An enby with a crop top obsession
🖤 A sweet paramedic who makes balloon animals for sick kids

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Available now on KU or as a paperback

About the book

Rio

After being disowned by my dad, I left Georgia, finding my way to Pathfinders Lake, to my cousins who’d always accepted me without question. The idea of a week away with them, at a music festival and exploring mountain roads in my Trueno ‘86, sounded like the perfect escape. But then there’s Cooper. My cousin, the one who helped me understand myself, the one who’s always been perfect in every way. I try to push down this old crush that flares up again, but I can’t. He’s gay. Could he ever be interested in a pint-sized enby firecracker with more crop tops than one human should reasonably own? But when we reconnect over the week, I can’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, the road ahead could be more than I ever imagined.


Cooper

Rio’s finally here, and I’m excited—more than I probably should be. They’ve always been the most badass person I know, and now, watching them embrace their truth, I’m proud of everything they’ve become. We’re spending a week at the cabin, and every minute feels like we’re picking up right where we left off. But as we spend more time together, I start to realize something—something I’ve been trying to ignore. The connection we share is more than just family. I never expected to feel this way about Rio, but when I see them, I can’t deny the pull. The road I thought I’d be walking is shifting, and the only one I want beside me is Rio.

New Release Book Review: Gael’s Favorite by Jennifer Cody

I remember reading this as a serial on Jennifer Cody’s FB group and enjoying it, but this new expanded version was even more enjoyable; it was so much fun to read, I didn’t want to put it down once I picked it up. I love these 3 men so much and loved the connection between them all.

For me, Jennifer Cody is the Queen of creating new and interesting worlds and characters (many of whom are quirky in some way) and Gael’s Favorite is no exception.

Gale, Sin and Phineas made a wonderful throuple, and I so enjoyed exploring the connection between them. It was steamy, sweet and emotional, and these guys made me want to hug each of them. It also made me wish I were someone’s favourite. I liked that Sin and Phin got to explore their connection without Gael, even though the circumstances behind his absence were upsetting for them both.

I enjoyed the small excerpts from Sin and Gael’s past. I felt they added background and depth to their friendship without taking anything away from the present, and though they weren’t chronological, they were labelled clearly, and it was easy to follow which part of their lives they were in.

Sin, finding out that the many species that exist, took this in his stride, because he loved Gael so much, there was really nothing he wouldn’t do for him. These diverse beings, which up until this point have had to live with being unable to talk to each other because of an oath they were made to swear, and the dilemma around how they needed to change this due to their relationship, were interesting. I liked how well the changes were accepted and how they opened the doors for many others.

I enjoyed this new world that she has created and would love to read more with these characters and in this setting

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Purchase or borrow on Kindle Unlimited

About the book

Sin:

Obsessive, possessive, absolutely in love? Who, me? I don’t think so. Gael is my best friend, of course I love him. He shares all his favorite things with me. (And I do mean all)

Gael:

Tasty, unique, mine. Sin is all that to me and more. I wish I could explain it to him, but I can’t. No, literally, I can’t. But I would if I could.

Phin:

WTAF? I always thought fated mates came in pairs, and that they were species-specific. So why does it feel like I have two? And what is actually going on between Gael and Sin? I’m so confused.

Gael’s Favorite is a 65k word MMM paranormal romance with fated mates, big secrets, and unique paranormal creatures. There will be angst. See the inside of the book for the content warning

Buddy Read: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Back in June I reached out to some fellow Aussie Book Bloggers in Facebook to see if anyone was interested in doing a buddy read of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I bought this book back in 2003 and remember really enjoying it and felt it was time for a reread.

I only got one taker but today is the day we start reading. If anyone would like to join us I’d love for you to post your thoughts in the comments as you read.

PAULO COELHO’S enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom points Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transformation power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

First seen over on Book’d Out, I’m going to try to do this post regularly, linking to It’s Monday! What are you reading? at BookDate.

I’ve been so tired lately that I’ve barely turned my new laptop on. I’ve also been struggling to stick with any one book, getting halfway through a book and moving onto another and not going back to it for a while. I have listened to plenty of audiobooks this past month, though, they seem to take less brain power. So, I’m just going to pick up with last week’s books and not worry about the past month. Though I will hopefully be posting some reviews soon.

I did go to a really good author event last week, or maybe the week before, Australian crime author Michael Robotham was speaking about his new novel White Crow, where he gets his inspiration from and telling us some of his more harrowing stories of when he worked as a journalist in the UK. If you get the opportunity to hear him speak, it’s well worth it.

Last week’s reads and audiobooks

I read 4 books, all of which were ARCs. I listened to two audiobooks, one audiobook I listened to because I’m attending GLO (Gay Lit OZ) in Brisbane next month and am trying to read one book from each attending author, the other audiobook I listened to was because I am also attending RARE (Romance Author and Reader Events) in Melbourne the following week and am trying to read a few of the authors who are attending there also.

Phantom Faceoff by Rikki Leighton ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 ARC (review coming) MM Romance

Twister by Kayla Halleur ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (my review) ARC, MM romance, Australian author

The Burnt (Declan Hunt Mysteries #3) by Peter E Fenton ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 ARC (Review coming) MM crime/romance. Peter is attending RARE, coming all the way from Canada.

Patchwork (Ink Slingers #3) by K.M. Neuhold ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 ARC (review coming) MM Romance. This was my favourite in this series so far.

The Longing of Lone Wolves (Season of the Wolf #1) by Lana Pecherczyk ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantasy, Speculative fiction, shifters, West Australian author. I met Lana at another book event earlier in the year. I bought one of her books, but it wasn’t the first one, and she has at least three series that all follow each other, so I decided to start at the beginning of the whole extended Fae Guardians series. She will also be at RARE.

Trade Deadline (Chicago Thunder #1) by Jodi Oliver ⭐⭐⭐⭐ MM hockey romance. Jodi will be at GLO and RARE, so I had to read at least one of her books before meeting her. I really enjoyed this one, and the narrators were great.

This week’s reads and listens

This Ain’t No Gay Romance (Perimeter series) by Sasha Avice, MM romance. Sasha is a West Australian author whom I’ll be meeting at GLO, and so far, I’m really enjoying this book. I’m trying to decide which of her books to preorder, even though I’ve already spent far too much money on preorders as it is.

The Forbidden Summer by Raquel Riley (ARC), MM romance, part of a multi-author series (Pathfinders Lake Romance) of taboo-ish reads.

Solace of Sharp Claws (Season of the Wolf #2) by Lana Pecherczyk, Fantasy, speculative fiction, shifters, audiobook.

Better Together (book 1) by BL Maxwell, audiobook, MM romance. BL Maxwell will be at GLO. I’m not overly enjoying the narration of this one, and I’m finding some of the dialogue a bit stilted, maybe. I’m not sure if it’s just the narrator of the way it’s written, but since I’ve bought it and started it, I will finish it.

Dragon’s Child (King Arthur #1) by M.K. Hume, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Australian author. I need to get on top of a few ARCs so I can really sink my teeth into this before book club next week.

So, I’ve got plenty to keep me going, I hope you’ve been reading some good books and have some good ones lined up for this week.

Until next time, happy reading.

New Release Book Review: Twister by Kayla Halleur

Twister was a super sweet insta-love read; Daniel and Marshall were meant to be. I enjoyed reading Daniel and Marshall’s story and adored Rose, the 12-year-old who is sassy and smart. So, yes, their relationship is super fast, about as fast as the twister that brings them together, but it’s fiction, and I was happy to run with it in this case. I don’t always enjoy insta-love stories, but these guys were just too cute.

The whole tornado experience is something I hope I never have to experience myself, and I don’t know how people deal with living in an area where their lives and properties are often at risk.

Daniel’s ex-husband, Jackson’s storyline, was done well. Domestic abuse is never an easy topic, and I thought the way Marshall handled it was perfect. I loved that he and Daniel were so supportive of him. I’m looking forward to Jackson getting his story next. I felt that Marshall’s brother’s abuse towards him was just as toxic as Jackson’s partner’s abuse, and I think the way this was handled was the only outcome; just because someone is family doesn’t mean we should put up with abuse.

This was a fun read with some serious topics, and I’m looking forward to more by this author.

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Purchase book here

About the book

Now that I’ve graduated college, I’m expected to join the family accounting business even though I hate everything to do with finance.

What’s not expected? Getting stuck in a small town on my way home after a tornado nearly destroys my Jeep, or the lonely single dad and his adorable preteen daughter who offer their spare room for my stay.

Sometimes the most unexpected things can lead to the best life decisions.

Marshall
I’ve put off going home after graduating as long as I can, but there’s no excuses left. My cubicle-filled future is here whether I like it or not.

Until I drive into a huge, terrifying tornado, that is.

Now I’m stuck in a small town while I wait for my Jeep to get fixed. Thankfully, the adorable young girl who survived the twister with me talks her dad into offering me one of their spare rooms, so I don’t have to waste money at the local motel or contend with the gossipy motel owner.

Maybe I should’ve declined the offer, but there’s something about her dad that makes me think he’s desperate for another adult to talk to.

I’m only in town for the week, but that’ll be plenty of time to give him a reprieve from his hectic, but lonely, life. If only he didn’t turn out to be everything I was looking for….

Daniel
My preteen daughter is convinced that I’m sad and lonely, and that my life would be infinitely better with someone to share it with. Even if that was something I wanted to explore, my farm takes up too much time and energy to consider a night out.

Meeting someone new isn’t on my radar at all, until a gorgeous guy literally falls at my feet in his effort to escape the twister that sideswipes the local gas station.

Less than an hour later, my daughter invites him to stay with us while he’s stuck in town.

Maybe I should’ve said no, but there’s something about him that makes me want to help and protect him.

I’ll admit that I find myself wildly attracted to him. If only he wasn’t so much younger than me….

Twister is a standalone story featuring an overworked farmer who loves his daughter even when she’s trying to set him up with young strangers, a recent college graduate who doesn’t love the idea of spending the rest of his life stuck in a cubicle, and a love story that blossoms in a small town with some very colorful residents.

About the author

Kayla is a budding new Australian author who feels incredibly lost when needing to talk about herself (especially in the third person), preferring to let her stories speak for her. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found on the couch wrapped in a blanket burrito, with her head in a book. That type of existence suits her introverted heart well, much to the chagrin of her extroverted relatives.
She freely admits that she doesn’t know what the heck she’d doing, but she hopes she’s at least learning as she goes. She’s thankful that you’ve looked her Amazon bio up, and hopes that you’ll give her stories a chance (and will hopefully enjoy them).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khalleur.writes/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khalleur.writes
Newsletter sign-up: https://BookHip.com/TPBAQVT

RELEASE TOUR with exclusive excerpt – The Burnt by Peter E. Fenton 

RELEASE TOUR – The Burnt by Peter E. Fenton 

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡? 

The Burnt is the third book in the Declan Hunt Mysteries series. 

Finding work-life balance isn’t always easy when you’re sleeping with the boss. Charlie Watts is stressed as he studies for his private investigator’s license, starts taking on his own cases and navigates his relationship with Declan Hunt. He thinks he can handle it, but every time their relationship is going well, work always gets in the way. 

While Charlie investigates a threatening note that appears to be from a boy who mysteriously disappeared ten years ago, Declan tries to find the meaning behind the final words of a man who was brutally murdered. As Declan and Charlie work to solve these mysteries, secrets from the past are exposed, Charlie is haunted by ghostly dreams and Declan is forced to confront some terrible truths from a hidden past. 

Ultimately, the truth will be revealed, but at what cost? And will Declan and Charlie be able to solve the mystery of where they want to go next with their relationship before things at work take a terrible turn? 

Purchase Link

Length: 60,000 words 
Series: The Declan Hunt Mysteries Book #3 
Prior Reading: recommended 
Genre: detective/mystery 
Tropes: Mystery, Hot Detective, Age Gap, Workplace Romance, Canadian Romance, Multiple POV, Hidden Past 
Trigger/Content Warnings: While the murders in this book are not graphic, there are three deaths in the book that are described in general terms. There is a description of a ghost that has been burned in a fire…not graphic, but it could be triggering for someone who is triggered by fire. The sex is mostly closed door or fade to black. 
Publisher: Entwined Publishing 

Exclusive Excerpt – Interview with the characters from The Burnt 

What was your writing process like for this book? 

The author has decided to pass this question on to two of his characters. 

Declan: “I’ve been with this author for three books now and I’m not sure he has a writing process. He starts off with an idea, which obviously links to me, and a rough idea of how the story ends, then he lets us run with it.” 

Charlie: “Well, he is in control because he does write everything down as we do it.” 

Declan: “He’s a glorified typist.” 

Charlie: “I’ve heard him talk about the process. He lets us try things out—” 

Declan: “And when he doesn’t like what we’re doing he starts us over and it’s up to us again.” 

Charlie: “Come on. He’s not that hopeless.” 

Declan: “In Mann Hunt he had the wrong killer at first. And he’s the writer!” 

Charlie: “According to his partner Scott there were several options he could have made, and Scott thought the one he ended up with was stronger.” 

Declan: “So, now Scott’s the writer?” 

Charlie: “No! He’s the story editor. He makes sure that what Peter writes is clear. Writing’s a team sport.” 

Declan: “So, I’m right when I say Peter has no plan at the start.” 

Charlie: “Yeah, that’s right…in a way. No plan, but process. And it’s an organic one that experiments with options in order to build the best possible story where you get the bad guy and I get—” 

Declan: “Me!” 

Charlie: “Exactly.” 

What are three movies or shows your characters would enjoy? 

Declan: “This one’s easy—‘The Mechanic’, ‘Snatch’ and ‘The Beekeeper’.” 

Charlie: “They’re all Jason Statham films, and they’re all basically the same thing, over and over again.” 

Declan: “So? They’re great. Bad guy does something wrong to an innocent person which ticks off Statham who takes them down. What else could you ask for in a movie?” 

Charlie: “Well maybe a little romance, like in ‘Love Simon’, ‘Red, White and Royal Blue’ or ‘Heartstopper’.” 

Declan: “Heartstopper doesn’t count. It’s a TV series.” 

Charlie: “Shut up and give me a kiss.” 

What are three songs or artists your characters would enjoy? 

Charlie: “I would definitely go for dance music. Anything that gets my feet moving. Like Antonia Iacobescu’s “Clap Clap”, Elvana Gjata’s “Besame En Rio”, or even that old classic, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!” 

Declan: “I think music is something you talk louder over until it ends.” 

AVAILABLE NOW 

About the author

The Burnt is Peter E. Fenton’s fifth novel (and the third in The Declan Hunt Mysteries series) 

Peter’s first novel, The Woodcarver’s Model was released by Pride Publishing in April of 2022 and was a four time nominee in the Goodreads M/M Romance Readers’ Choice Awards. 

Following the success of the first book, Pride Publishing released The Declan Hunt Mysteries series which includes Mann Hunt (nominated for a Goodreads M/M Romance Readers’ Choice Award and recently translated into Spanish), and Hoodoo House, (also a Goodreads M/M Romance Readers’ Choice Award nominee and just released in Spanish). 

2024 also saw the release of the critically acclaimed teen novella Not Not Normal, published by Lorimer Press. 

Peter’s previous work was focused on writing for the stage, with award-winning productions of The Giant’s Garden, Newfoundland Mary, Bemused, and The Detective Disappears being produced across the country. 

He spent many years working in palaeontology in remote locations including the Canadian Rockies, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. 

Peter lives in Toronto, Canada with his partner of more than twenty years, Scott White. At heart, he is an incredible romantic. 

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