Tag Archives: first kisses

Cover Reveal: Heart2Heart Anthology: Volume 5 by Various Authors

Heart2Heart Anthology: Volume 5 | Various Authors

H2Hv5 CR Banner

Release Date: January 31st, 2022

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Heart2Heart V5 Cover

Blurb

Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating and community app responsible for bringing together couples from all over the world, encouraged people to do something they’d never done before?

#NeverHaveIEver is trending on H2H, and fourteen authors who’ve never before appeared in a Heart2Heart anthology (and one who’s never left) have come together to show how funny, hot, and heartwarming it can be when H2H app users challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zones – from singing in public, to skinny dipping, to getting their first real kiss – while they manage to fall in love along the way.

As always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

And don’t forget: this volume of the anthology will only be available for 90 days, after which time it will never be offered again!

With Stories By AM Arthur, Daryl Banner, Tal Bauer, SE Harmon, Riley Hart, Kate Hawthorne, Lucy Lennox, EM Lindsey, Louisa Masters, Mia Monroe, Jodi Payne, Spencer Spears, K Webster, Neve Wilder, Alice Winters

All Proceeds go to charity

H2Hv5 CR with Authors

About the Heart2Heart Anthology Series

Since 2018, and across four volumes, the Heart2Heart anthology has donated more than $100,000 USD to LGBTQ+ charities around the world. From large organizations such as Rainbow Railroad and the Trevor Project, to community programs like Kind Space and One-n-Ten, we’re honored to support their work.

A true passion project, Heart2Heart wouldn’t be possible without the incredible efforts and generosity of our support teams:

  • Cover design by Kelley Fox at Sleepy Fox Studios
  • Beta reading, editing, and proofreading by the team at LesCourt Author Services and other incredible volunteers
  • Promotion by Gay Romance Reviews
  • The readers who never fail to bring their creativity when offering suggestions to inspire the authors.

And of course, the authors’ time and efforts and the organisational overlord of the project; Leslie Copeland.

As with previous editions of the anthology, we’re honored to be donating our net profits to three deserving charities.

More information on the Charities chosen for Volume 5

PFLAG Canada

🌈 Pflag Canada is a national charitable organization, founded by parents who wished to help themselves and their family members understand and accept their LGBTQ2S children.

The “coming-out” process can be a critical time for families. When the adjustment period is particularly long or painful, relationships can become permanently damaged, resulting in a lifetime of emotional scars. People cannot always rise above the challenge of accepting themselves or their family members, and the results can be devastating, even fatal.

https://pflagcanada.ca/

CHEW Project

🌈 The CHEW Project’s vision is to provide frontline support, opportunities for health and wellness, and to help find hope for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and emerging adults facing barriers related to:

  • Mental health
  • Oppression
  • Poverty
  • Homelessness
  • Substance use
  • Sexual health
  • Sexual exploitation/sex work
  • And others

https://chewprojectyeg.org/

Pride Centre of Edmonton

🌈 The Pride Centre of Edmonton provides a non-judgmental, welcoming space where people of all attractions, identities, and expressions can be themselves, find support, meet new people, and be part of a caring community.

The Centre offers resources, education, volunteer opportunities, counselling, and sensitive and expert information and referrals for those seeking help. The Centre also organizes programs to help improve the social, mental, and physical health of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

http://pridecentreofedmonton.ca/

These are all great Charities and we need to take care of our youth and the next generation. Love is Love. Be safe and kind. No one should have to suffer for who they are or who they love!

H2Hv5 Coming Jan31

The Authors

AM Arthur
FB: https://www.facebook.com/A.M.Arthur.M.A

Daryl Banner
IG: @darylbanner – FB: https://www.facebook.com/darylbanner

Tal Bauer
IG: @talbauerwrites – FB: https://www.facebook.com/tal.bauer.7

SE Harmon
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sylvia.harmon.94

Riley Hart
IG: @rileyhartwrites – FB: https://www.facebook.com/riley.hart.1238

Kate Hawthorne
IG: @kate.hawthorne – FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorkatehawthorne

Lucy Lennox
IG: @lucylennoxmm – FB: https://www.facebook.com/lucy.lennox.37

EM Lindsey
IG: @emlindseyauthor – FB: https://www.facebook.com/elaine.lindsey.5602

Louisa Masters
IG: @authorlouisam – FB: https://www.facebook.com/louisa.masters.31

Mia Monroe
IG: @miapensromance – FB: https://www.facebook.com/mia.monroe.359126

Jodi Payne
IG: @jodipayne1800 – FB: https://www.facebook.com/payne.jodi

Spencer Spears
IG: @spencerspearswrites – FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011781943689

K Webster
IG: @authorkwebster – FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorkwebster

Neve Wilder
IG: @nevewilder – FB: https://www.facebook.com/nevewilderwrites

Alice Winters
IG: @alicewintersauthor – FB: https://www.facebook.com/alice.winters.31105

grr-tours-promo

IG Sized H2Hv5 Cover Reveal 1

Five More Vino & Veritas Cover Reveals for you

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Here’s five more cover reveals for the Vino and Veritas Series.

Welcome to Vermont!
Vino and Veritas is the fictional wine bar and book shop you need in your life!

This collection of LGBTQ novels has something for everyone.

Chicken farmer vs. slick city bookseller?

Grumpy bar manager?

Nerdy bookseller? FBI agent undercover? Doggy vet single dad?

Pick your poison, readers.

True love is waiting.

Turnabout | Laurel Greer

Vino & Veritas #9

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Release Date: May 10th, 2021

Pre – Order: https://geni.us/AmazonTurnabout

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/35VpOWG

Series Page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/

Shorby: https://shor.by/vino-and-veritas

Blurb

I don’t have time for an unplanned visit home to help out in my father’s struggling letterpress shop. My stint in Vermont will have to be short, for a couple of reasons:

One, I’m a busy executive trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Two, my ex is still my dad’s right-hand man in the shop. And I am not over him.

Nothing has changed at the Burlington shop. Auden still has his infuriatingly sexy Scottish accent. He’s still hot, and still stubborn. Between operating the antique press with his shirtsleeves rolled up, and moonlighting at Burlington’s hottest inclusive wine bar, he pushes every one of my attraction buttons.

My falling-in-love-again buttons, too. Except I’m his polar opposite. I love change, and taking chances. Everything he avoids in life.

So why am I trying to convince him to reach for more than we’ve ever dreamed of—the possibility of forever?

Turnabout is a second-chance romance with interfering family, groveling, and a large helping of artisan stationery geekery.

Turnabout by Laurel Greer

Unguarded | Jay Hogan

vino & Veritas #10

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Release Date: May 10th, 2021

Pre – Order: https://geni.us/AmazonUnguarded

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2M3qdiU

Series Page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/

Shorby: https://shor.by/vino-and-veritas

Blurb

I fled Boston and my cheating jerk of an ex with three hundred dollars and a lip gloss in my pocket. Waking up the next day in Burlington, Vermont, with a crick in my back and a frozen ass wasn’t exactly in the plan. If there was one. Which there wasn’t. Story of My Life.

Three hours later and I’ve been hired as temporary help in the local veterinary and grooming clinic, which is kind of impressive since I know zip about animals and even less about grooming. But one thing I do know—I’m crushing hard on the sexy, absent-minded vet I work for.

My life is a hot mess. The last thing I need is another relationship. Emmett pushes all my buttons, but he isn’t out. He’s overwhelmed with a business to run and a son to look after and the kind of domestic life I never thought I wanted.

I should walk away.

But Emmett believes in me, and I might just be starting to believe in myself. As different as we are, is it possible we’re exactly what the other needs?

Unguarded by Jay Hogan

Insatiable | Rhys Everly

Vino & Veritas #11

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Release Date: May 10th, 2021

Pre-Order: https://geni.us/AmazonInsatiable

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/35VqhrX

Series Page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/

Shorby: https://shor.by/vino-and-veritas

Blurb

It was just a bet . . . until feelings got involved.

This job sucks but someone’s got to do it. My readers expect me to chronicle my very real, very steamy encounters in my novels. I’d never want to disappoint my fans, but the creative well has run a bit dry. Burlington, Vermont, seems like a good place to fill it up. This town offers a tempting array of artists, craftsmen, farmers, lumbersexuals . . . and so many beards.

But no one prepared me for Brody. He’s young. He’s hot. He’s definitely a grump. And he’s getting under my skin. Where I want him is under my bedsheets.

When my friend bets I’ll never be able to get Brody there, I make winning my mission. Turns out being with Brody is more than a plot device. He’s so very wrong for my life . . .  but is he right for my heart?

Insatiable is a standalone book in the Vino & Veritas series by Heart Eyes Press and contains a big/small, grumpy/sunshine pairing, a bed-hopping author, a jilted sugarmaker and a reluctant fake relationship.

V&V WTE (1)

Daybreak | Kate Hawthorne

Vino & Veritas #12

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Release Date: May 10th, 2021

Pre-Order: https://geni.us/AmazonDaybreak

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/38YImHR

Series Page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/

Shorby: https://shor.by/vino-and-veritas

Blurb

When a sunny young musician gets stranded with a grumpy mechanic during a snowstorm, a lack of heat is the least of their problems…

Liam Luckett is on an adventure. He’s dropped out of his Master’s program without telling his overbearing parents and set off on a road trip across the country. Armed with little more than his guitar, he’s looking for his best life. He never expected his car to break down in the middle of nowhere Vermont with a huge storm pending, leaving him stranded and at the mercy of a hunky local mechanic.

Jasper Cunningham is in a holding pattern. Three years after the death of his husband, he still hasn’t moved on. A hot, younger, stranded tourist is exactly the sort of complication this mechanic has been avoiding. But he also can’t leave him in the snow. He brings Liam home and lets him sleep on the couch. The air is heavy with more than snow, and when the power goes out, the two men become closer than either of them expects.

Every silken note Liam sings on that guitar thaws Jasper’s heart a little.  Suddenly, Liam’s itchy feet aren’t so eager to move on. When their feelings get too big to ignore, the bond they’ve formed is tested. Will daybreak leave them going their separate ways?

This opposites-attract, hurt/comfort romance features a grumpy widower who is only soft for one specific blue-eyed musician, a remote farmhouse, a friendly dog, and enough snow to knock the power out until love catches fire. 

V&V WTE

Heartsong | A.E. Wasp

Vino & Veritas #13

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Release Date: May 10th 2021

Pre-Order: https://geni.us/AmazonHeartsong

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3bRqTTq

Series Page: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/vino-and-veritas/

Shorby: https://shor.by/vino-and-veritas

Blurb

The best music comes from the heart.

Sean Anderson has spent his life waiting to get the hell out of West Virginia. His plans got derailed when his dad shipped him off to “pray the gay away,” but he’s over it, ready to prove that he’s a grown-ass man who can take care of himself. Of course, he’d have a better chance convincing himself if he could stop lusting after his grumpy roommate.

Army veteran Cooper Hill returned to Vermont minus one leg and one career, but determined to build a new life. When an army buddy asks Cooper to keep an eye on his nephew, a junior at the local college, Cooper can’t say no. He’s expecting a sheltered kid. What he gets is a gorgeous young man whose brilliant poetry gives voice to everything Cooper’s been trying to express. He wants Sean more than he’s ever wanted anything. And somehow, miraculously, Sean wants him too.

But wanting each other isn’t the same as being good for each other . . . especially when past pain threatens to write its own verse in their song.

A stand-alone novel in Sarina Bowen’s True North world, HEARTSONG contains first love, found family, kisses around the campfire, and two caring men who discover they make beautiful music together.

Heartsong by AE Wasp

Group+SQ

A bit lacking in tension but still an overall enjoyable romance

48999098._SY475_Trade Deadline by Avon Gale & Piper Vaughn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one but it was definitely less tension driven than the others in the series have been.

The main drama points came from uncertainty about Daniel’s ice hockey future and Micah’s internalising fears over their relationship long term.

That’s not to say that it wasn’t a good narrative though, I did still love the setting and I adored all the stuff with Micah’s job as a marine biologist.

I also really appreciate it when authors have strong female characters and don’t make ex wives of girlfriends into complete witches.

Tabby and the kids were a nice presence without being overwhelming or distracting the focus from the new relationship.

Loved seeing all the Venom guys and I liked that Daniel didn’t have some unbelievable impact on his new team, but felt realistic about the challenges of moving to a new place.

Overall another successful entry in this sports romance series from Avon and Piper.

#ARC kindly received from the publisher Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.

View all my reviews