Monday’s M/M Quick Bites & Giveaway

As M/M Reviewers, between us we have read thousands of m/m romance novels over the years and we would like to share our favourites with you, those reads that have been 4+ stars for us. So every Monday we will be bringing you our Quick Bites, short reviews of our recommended reads.

Plus… don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win a Kindle eBook of your choice from this weeks Quick Bites.

 

Honor C by C Zampa

 

Rating 5 Stars

Buy Link ~ http://amzn.to/1d90hsa

Add to ~ GOODREADS

Synopsis

When Honor Castillo convinces himself he isn’t gay, he begins a new life. He ends his affair with his lover, Jorge Villagomez, and marries Rebecca to establish a life with her as a respected San Antonio businessman. They have a son and he tells himself he is happy.
Eleven years later, Jorge returns to San Antonio, and his path crosses with Honor’s once more. The flame of their passion never died, and neither did Jorge’s love for Honor.
When Jorge approaches Honor to design his studio, Honor believes he can walk the line between friendship and lovers. But when a sudden crisis threatens to take Jorge from him forever, Honor must choose between his duty and his heart. Most of all, he’s forced to decide what he’s willing to lose in order to be true to who he really is.

Macky’s Quick Bite

This surprising book, which I overlooked far too long, turned out to be a passionate, tender, sexually tense, emotionally charged story about Honor C, a man who ends up living a lie for years because he has been conditioned by events in his life to deny his true sexuality. Obviously this effects all the people around him, especially his wife Becky and his son and it all comes to a head when the beautiful, flamboyant Jorge (the true love of his life) arrives back onto the scene and all the carefully constructed walls he's built around his so called 'normal' life up to that point start to crumble and fall! All three of them are deeply affected by this situation but not one of them is to blame. Kudos to Ms Zampa for the way she beautifully (and realistically) handles such a touchy, thought provoking subject, because I want to state this is never about cheating. Yes the attraction is strong between the two guys but they fight it, knowing that it’s not just their feelings involved. It highlights just how deeply we're primed by society to be seen to be living our lives a certain way and in Honor and Jorge's case, how they would never have been kept apart at all, if only there was no hatred or bigotry towards same sex love. Honor has some heart-breaking decisions to make and the fallout is at times raw and almost visceral but I still came away from the story feeling truly satisfied and contented with the outcome for all involved, again in awe of how C Zampa manages to pull it all together so sensitively. The ending was poignant yet perfect and Honor and Jorge's love story has stayed with me ever since. One of my most favourite m/m love stories and one I'll revisit many times.

 

Second Chances by T.A. Webb

 

Rating ~ 5 Stars

Buy Link ~ http://amzn.to/1nmnYOO

Add to ~ GOODREADS

Link to ~ Monique’s Full Review

Synopsis

Mark Jennings is at a crossroads. His finance job in the Atlanta nonprofit scene stresses him out, his mother is dying, and his relationship with Brian Jacobs has crashed and burned. He needs a distraction, some way to relax, and a massage seems like just the thing. He never expected his massage therapist, Antonio Roberto, to become his best friend.
Despite their differences—Antonio is a divorced single father—the two men forge a firm friendship that weathers Mark’s reconciliation with Brian and Antonio’s questionable taste in women. Over the years, Antonio remains constant in his support, though others in Mark’s life come and go through a revolving door.
When a young boy runs away from the group home where he works, Mark finds another door opening. Through it all he holds on to the things his loved ones taught him—about family, about friends and lovers, about life and death. Most importantly, he realizes that sometimes the greatest gift of all is a second chance.

Monique’s Quick Bite

This book is the very reason I love to read, and my words would never do this book justice, no amount of gushing or effusive prose could even begin to convey just how incredibly gifted T.A. Webb is, this is without doubt one of my top shelf 5 Star PLUS reads… It’s just Truly Wonderful!

This is not one of those books that gets your adrenaline pumping and has you shouting profanities, however I did want to knock a few heads together at times. It is not page after page of panty melting sex… although when Mark gets his growly voice on – HOLY HOTNESS, I certainly wouldn’t say no!

So what do we get from this novel? It is a love story, of family, friendship and lovers, it tells of strength, faith, understanding, courage, forgiveness and second chances… and, it is profoundly moving and emotional and holds your heart hostage for the duration.The World can pass you by yet you are totally and completely captivated and engrossed. These characters become your best friends with all their pain and joy becoming your own. Their lives are painted in such vivid pictures before your eyes with every expression and quirk familiar, whilst all the time your heart is running through a gamut of emotions… and as for any friend,  you are there to hold their hand.

 

City Mouse (Country Mouse #2) By Aleksandr Voinov & Amy Lane

 

Rating ~ 5 Stars

Buy Link ~ http://amzn.to/1gbgixE

Add To ~ GOODREADS

Link to ~  Monique’s Full Review

A magical weekend, a breathless declaration, a happy ever after . . . Right?
Wrong.
When Malcolm Kavanagh took his first step toward emotional maturity by declaring his love to Owen Watson, that was just the first chapter in their story. Anyone who’s ever been in love knows that happy endings take a lot more work than that.
One problem: Malcolm has never been in love. He doesn’t know the rules of a relationship and isn’t confident enough to trust that his is real. He learns the ropes by sharing his life and his flat with Owen, but relationship boot camp proves a challenge. Everything is a struggle, from accepting Owen’s low-status job to putting his boyfriend above his personal trainer.
Luckily, Owen knows a little more about relationships, and labors patiently to survive the first six weeks of their life together. From the art galleries of Cambridge to the tawdry majesty of the Dominion theatre, Owen adapts to England while Malcolm adapts to the whole human race. Maybe, if Owen is patient enough and Malcolm learns to give, the two of them can make it past Relationship Armageddon to a real happy ending.

Mark’s Quick Bite

As I featured Country Mouse last week then I have to include the sequeal this week. Why? Well, I actually liked this one even more than the first one. A sequel that really finishes and rounds off the relationship that brings Malcolm and Owen home. It is also not without it's very British humour which had me laughing hysterically in parts.

I really liked that this sequel dealt with the period when the honeymoon period is over and the faults start letting themselves show. It is at this point that makes or breaks a relationship. The stage where any couple has to ask themselves can we love the faults as much as the good points. If the answer is yes then it can work.

 

Same Page (How the Light Gets In #1) by Lily Velden

 

Rating ~ 5 Stars

Buy Link ~ http://amzn.to/1eKwc2m

Add to ~ GOODREADS

Synopsis

Book One: How the Light Gets In
He was like the only splash of color in a black-and-white photograph.
The man was beautiful.
At an exhibition opening in Sydney, jaded Hollywood heartthrob Jaxon Moncrieff lays eyes on publicity-shy artist Liam Lassiter for the first time and is immediately captivated. But he doesn’t get far into their first conversation before he realizes what he’s feeling is attraction, which brings him up short. Jaxon has always been a womanizer.
Despite his reservations, Jaxon makes a play for Liam, but Liam has his own issues. Unlucky in love and orphaned at sixteen, he is reluctant to open his heart to anyone, and dismisses Jaxon out of hand.
Driven by a need he doesn’t understand, Jaxon organizes a return to Sydney to film his next project. If he can’t be with Liam, maybe they can be friends. Of course, that creates a whole new problem. Now Jaxon is falling in love for the first time. How can he move their relationship from friends to lovers without destroying the trust he’s worked so hard for?

Tina’s Quick Bite

Same Page is a heart-warming yet gut-wrenching read, it’s a lovely story about two men from two very different worlds forming a close friendship that eventually turns into something very special.

Jaxon Moncrieff, a world famous American actor who is seemingly straight and Liam Lassiter, a publicity shy Australian artist who is openly gay, meet at the opening of Liam's art show in Sydney. Jaxon falls head over heals for Liam, but Liam wants nothing to do with the extroverted actor...

The slow build of Jaxon and Liam's relationship is great to watch. I was with those wonderful guys every step of their way and loved every minute of it. Same Page is a sweet, hot and beautiful read. It’s the first book of the How the Light Gets In series and recommended to those who like a sweet, funny romance with not too much angst.

 

Giveaway

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