Nailed (Four Bear Construction #2)

My careful (reckless--with abandon, of course) perusal of the recommendations my Kindle app provided with me, I stumbled upon K.M. Neuhold's Four Bears Construction series. The second book is titled "Nailed".

["My new neighbor is a total tool.

He hated me from the second he laid eyes on me, and I don’t have the first clue why… But, if he wants to hate me, I’m happy to give him a few reasons: mowing the lawn at dawn on the weekend, leaving garbage cans in front of his driveway, renting a petting zoo for my backyard...making a list of ways to drive him crazy is half the fun.

He deserves it with the way he’s driving me crazy right back without even trying— walking around without a shirt on, sweaty rippling muscles on full display, well-worn denim jeans perfectly molded to his...well, you get the idea.

My point is, if he wants a war, I’ll give him one."]

I haven't read the entire series yet, but I can guarentee you, this will be my favorite book. I laughed out loud (so many literal LOLs) the entire time. And when I wasn't, I was smiling like a fool (and there was one moment or two where I was holding my breath (spoiler alert, a doggo was injured in the making of this novel, but spoiler alert part two, he's going to be okay).

Like LOVED this book and these two. One smiling, joking, glass-always-half-full idiot. Meets a grumpy asshole idiot. And then they hate each other for a while. Which leads to hate sex. Which leads to less-hate (then zero-hate) sex. Which leads to a happily ever after with a barn and lots of doggos (spoiler alert part three)

Check out the short story at the end of the book, too! #BabyGoats

#caulky #nailed #hardwood #screwed #stud #kmneuhold #fourbearsconstruction #fourbearsconstructionseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Caulky (Four Bears Construction #1)

My careful (reckless--with abandon, of course) perusal of the recommendations my Kindle app provided with me, I stumbled upon K.M. Neuhold's Four Bears Construction series. The first book is titled "Caulky".

["Ren is in desperate need of a rebound fling. Lucky for him, the smoking hot contractor he hired has just the tool for the job.

The last thing I want is another relationship or another broken heart.

All I need are my bees and the occasional hookup to scratch the itch.

Okay, maybe meeting up with my hot contractor weekly is a little more than occasional. And maybe the way I’m starting to feel about the guy I’ve been anonymously chatting with online should concern me.

But CaulkyAF doesn’t want to meet, and Cole doesn’t want anything serious, so what’s the worst that could happen?"]

This book was a novella. Though it felt a whole hell of a lot longer than a simple novella. Which, honestly, I can't tell if its a good thing or a bad thing (I had a whole pros and cons list, but I don't think you want to/need to see allll of that).

Also, I know I've said it before, but men are dumb asses. But cute dumbasses when they get their shit together (okay, so they're cute when they're clueless, too).

Check out the short story at the end of the book, too! #HappyBirthdayHoney

#caulky #nailed #hardwood #screwed #stud #kmneuhold #fourbearsconstruction #fourbearsconstructionseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Nice Guys and First Times

I decided to look to my Kindle App and see what it would suggest me to do with my life (my reading life that is).

And that's how I found "Nice Guys and First Time" by K.M. Neuhold. A collection of four short stories about, well, nice guys and first times (take that as you will). All sweet and steamy and swoony as hell.

["Always You
A long weekend at my parents’ lake house to celebrate the end of the school year has been a tradition for my friends and me since we were sixteen. But this year it isn’t just any school year ending, it’s our college graduation, and I’ve decided there’s no time like the present to finally tell my best friends the truth I’ve kept from them for years. What I care most about is how my best friend, Dante, will feel. Not that I think he’ll return the ridiculous feelings I’ve been harboring for him, but a guy can hope, right? When a leaky ceiling drives Dante from his own bed into mine, the night might end up getting a lot more interesting than I expected."]

Obviously fucking idiots finally talked. Or ya know, not talked. ;) But they figured it out, so that's all that counts.

["Boyfriend Wanted
I need a fake boyfriend to bring to my family reunion, I just didn’t expect I’d find such a good one by answering a personal ad. With his devilish good looks and interesting piercings, I have to say, Roman is extremely committed to playing the part…even behind closed doors.
But will things cool off when the weekend is over or is Roman feeling things just like I am?"]

Whereas the first one was so fucking sweet it hurt, this one was spicy as fuck. So damn good. My favorite, to be honest. Opposites attract (shy(ish) nerd meets tatted/peirced badass?--yes please). It took these two a while to talk, but they eventually did, so there's that.

["Holigay
I’ve been in love with my best friend for almost as long as I can remember. The only problem is he’s straight. At least I thought he was. But when he gets me to Fiji for Christmas, he’s suddenly looking at me in a way I’ve never seen before. Could this all be real, or is he just HoliGay?"]

Another set of idiots. Then again, most friends-to-lovers scenario tends to be. Unlike the first story, this couple did not talk (until he was almost too late). But at least they got to go to Fiji..

["Chasing Rainbows
When I accidentally wandered into a date raffle, the last thing I expected to meet the mouth-watering ginger bear of my dreams, and I really didn’t expect to win a date with him. The only problem? The date is a full week in Scotland. I’ve never been much of an adventurer, but Tucker seems determined to change that.
Will one week be enough?"]

At least they talked. And got to chase rainbows. And see castles. I wish, sometimes, I could quit my job to travel the world too, though.

#niceguysandfirsttimes #kmneuhold #alwaysyou #boyfriendwanted #holigay #chasingrainbows #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Now What?

I had a plan before all of this. I had one author that I would read through, and did (in a spectrally obsessive and efficient manner). 

And if/when they cowrote a novel with another author, I would simply move to that author and read all of their work (again, obsessively and efficiently). 

Then, when the #BoldBrewseries completely, I obsessively and efficiently read that). 

Except..now what? Do I pick one of those ten new authors to start obsessively and efficiently reading through? Or do I suck it up and go to my many (many) TBR piles on my bookshelves (or the books saved to my #KindleUnlimited wishlist)? Or do I take a break from reading (except, then what will I do with my free time?)? Or like... gaaaaaah! Help, y'all!

#TBR #TBRpiles #nowwhat #reading #readingproblems #reader #readerproblems #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Double Shot (Bold Brew Book 10)

I haven't yet read a series quite like this one. All centered in the same fictional-universe, all interconnected manuscripts, all editions by different authors. The Bold Brew series is a ten book installment by ten different fabulous people. The tenth and final book is titled: "Double Shot" (by #gwenmartin)

["Coffee, with a double shot of desire....

West is still floundering three years after a failed relationship spun his life out of control, and forced him to move back to his hometown. When he meets Rhys at Bold Brew, his curiosity sparks, and he wonders if the alluring photographer could be his shot at embracing the inner Little he suppressed in the past. Rhys's photos are a passionate exploration and call to West's needs and desires. 

Rhys loves to guide and nurture partners—then send them on their way. But something about West is different. The quiet man responds to Rhys's Daddy dominance in beautiful ways. And the camera loves him, too. 

When West agrees to a photoshoot, their chemistry ignites. Rhys and West are a perfect complement to one another's cravings. But can this double shot at love last as long as one of Rhys’s photographs, or will they drink their fill and move on?"]

West was first mentioned in book two (Puppuccino), as he's friends with Mason. And Rhys's best friend is Nick (from book seven, Fair Trade), but mentioned multiple other times throughout the series (like you expect me to remember each and ever one).

This book was a hard read only because they were both going through so damn much and emotionally struggling individually. But together? They brought the calm out after (and before) the storm.

Trigger warning: alcoholism/addiction (no relapse depicted on the page)

Also, a heads up (if you didn't catch it in the blurb), this series is very kink-friendly/forward (in a very, very healthy and communicative way). The Bold Brew coffee shop (the centering aspect of the series) is a LGBT and kink-friendly hub of the community. Just FYI, if you're not into that kind of thing.

#cupofjoe #puppuccino #perfectmatcha #vanillasteamer #orderup #silkysmooth #fairtrade #extrawhip #cinnamonroll #doubleshot #boldbrew #boldbrewseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Cinnamon Roll (Bold Brew Book 9)

I haven't yet read a series quite like this one. All centered in the same fictional-universe, all interconnected manuscripts, all editions by different authors. The Bold Brew series is a ten book installment by ten different fabulous people. The ninth book is titled: "Cinnamon Roll" (by #annazabo). This is the second and final full-length novel in the series.

["This cinnamon roll has plenty of bite!

Maxime Demers has had an eye on Tom Cedric for a while, watching him flit from one awful man to another. So when Tom pins an ad to the community cork board at Bold Brew, Max can’t resist reading it. Tom’s looking for a play partner—someone who’s not a jerk—and Max knows he could give Tom what he needs. But first he’ll have to get the man to talk to him.

Tom Cedric thinks Max is way out of his league. He’s handsome, intelligent, speaks a billion languages, and can make a person kneel with a single look—too damn good for someone like Tom. But he can’t resist the temptation to talk to the man he’s had a crush on since the moment he laid eyes on him.

The connection between them is immediate, hot, and tempting, and when Max needs a replacement helper for an impact demo he’s giving, Tom jumps at the chance. A demo should be safe, right? A few hours. Clothing on. No stakes. Neither man is prepared when that spark ignites, and Tom is absolutely unprepared to discover the sweet man behind those dominating looks."]

We first met Tom and Max in "Extra Whip" (book eight), and you could tell their was a connection their already (besides the fact that Tom is Aaron's coworker/friend and Max is Will's coworker/friend--a blind-date-makers dream) just waiting to brew (horrible pun intended).

And where they so damn cute! They both needed each other, even if they spend years avoiding it. They helped each other heal and expand themselves. And then they got me hungry for french food (including one of my utter weaknesses: chocolate croissants--now I'm hungry, so thanks for that) 

Also, a heads up (if you didn't catch it in the blurb), this series is very kink-friendly/forward (in a very, very healthy and communicative way). The Bold Brew coffee shop (the centering aspect of the series) is a LGBT and kink-friendly hub of the community. Just FYI, if you're not into that kind of thing.

#cupofjoe #puppuccino #perfectmatcha #vanillasteamer #orderup #silkysmooth #fairtrade #extrawhip #cinnamonroll #doubleshot #boldbrew #boldbrewseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Extra Whip (Bold Brew Book 8)

I haven't yet read a series quite like this one. All centered in the same fictional-universe, all interconnected manuscripts, all editions by different authors. The Bold Brew series is a ten book installment by ten different fabulous people. The eighth book is titled: "Extra Whip" (by #lawitt). This is the first full-length novel in the series (and the entire reason I couldn't finish the series before the end of April, so thank you for that).

["Will and Aaron Taylor have a perfectly imperfect marriage. For twenty years, even when their desires haven’t quite matched, they’ve always found ways to adapt…until now. When Aaron’s needs push past his Dom’s limits, their best hope for compromise is finding a unicorn—a third person who checks both men's boxes.

After his estranged father wills him a house he doesn’t want in a town he doesn’t know, Kelly Griffith is itching to find his place in this unfamiliar new world. When he finds an ad from a couple looking for a sub like him, he jumps at the opportunity. A chance to be what someone needs and wants instead of being a perpetual disappointment? Yes, please.

The chemistry sizzles from the get-go. Will and Aaron insist they don’t want to be poly, and Kelly doesn’t want to be anyone’s third wheel, but playing together? Any time, any place. All they have to do is keep emotions from joining the party as the trust and intimacy deepen between them.

But by the time they realize they’re in over their heads, hitting the brakes is no longer as simple as using a safe word."]

I loved and dis-loved this book (hate is a little too strong). I loved the open communication and constant reassurances and unicorn references. The three of them really worked together as a trouple inside and outside of the bedroom. They were cute and honest and talked (and talked and talked) about any and all issues that came up.

But I also felt like the issues these three dealt with (more so Will and Aaron) were talked about over and over and over and over again. I felt as if it could have been shorter, much shorter, and the premise could have been still the same. 

It also lacked some of that fluff I was looking for, too. There was a hella lot of cuddling in bed and cuddling in front of a movie, but not a lot of heart-stuttering, earth-tilting kind of cheesey romantic talk.

Also, a heads up (if you didn't catch it in the blurb), this series is very kink-friendly/forward (in a very, very healthy and communicative way). The Bold Brew coffee shop (the centering aspect of the series) is a LGBT and kink-friendly hub of the community. Just FYI, if you're not into that kind of thing.

#cupofjoe #puppuccino #perfectmatcha #vanillasteamer #orderup #silkysmooth #fairtrade #extrawhip #cinnamonroll #doubleshot #boldbrew #boldbrewseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks