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Game Changer
READER RECOMMENDED: Game Changer by Rachel Reid $2.99! This is the first book in a series of the same name and is a M/M hockey romance. I know other books in the series have been reviewed on the site. Are you a fan? Do you have a favorite?
New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter takes his pregame rituals very seriously. In this case, it’s not just a lucky smoothie he’s craving—it’s the man who made it.
Pro hockey star Scott Hunter knows a good thing when he sees it. So, when a smoothie made by juice bar barista Kip Grady precedes Scott breaking his on-ice slump, he’s desperate to recreate the magic…and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.
Kip knew there was more to Scott’s frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott’s penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon, never mind touched everywhere all at once. When it happens it’s red-hot, incredible and frequent, but also only on Scott’s terms and always behind his closed apartment doors.
Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can’t afford to do anything that might derail his career…like introducing the world to his boyfriend. Kip is ready to go all-in with Scott—but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?
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Thirsty
Thirsty by Mia Hopkins is $1.99! This is book one in the Eastside Brewery series and I’ve heard and see many romance readers recommend this one. Have you read it?
A gangster hiding from his past. A single mom fighting for her future. Can she show this bad boy the man he’s meant to be?
My name is Salvador Rosas. Back in the barrio, my past is written on the walls: ESHB. Short for East Side Hollenbeck, my father’s gang—my gang. Hell, it’s a family tradition, one that sent both my brothers away. They used to call me “Ghost” because I haunted people’s dreams. Now I’ve got nothing going for me except a hipster gringo mentoring me in a new career. An ex-con making craft beer? No mames.
Still, people in this neighborhood look out for one another. That’s how I became Vanessa Velasco’s unwelcome tenant. Chiquita pero picosa. She’s little, but with curves so sweet they’re dangerous. I remember Vanessa from the old days, the straight-A student with big plans. Plans that were derailed by another kid stupid enough to think he was bulletproof. Now Vanessa knows better than to believe in empty promises. There’s fire in her . . . and if I touch her, I might get burned.
I’m trying everything I can to go straight. But when East Side Hollenbeck comes calling, I might have to risk it all to find out if there’s a future for Vanessa and me. Because she’s the only one who can quench my thirst for something real.
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The Foxglove King
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten is $2.99! I mentioned this one in a previous Hide Your Wallet. I did start reading it, but wound up putting it down pretty early. However, I think my short attention span lately is more of a me problem than a book problem.
When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.
Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.
Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.
But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.
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Kingdom of the Wicked
RECOMMENDED: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco is $2.99! I’ve mentioned this YA fantasy romance a couple times on the site. Once in Hide Your Wallet and another in Get Rec’d. I definitely think it’ll appeal to fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Kerri Maniscalco introduces her next series, a dark tale of a beautiful young witch, a troubled demon, and their epic romance, set against a 19th century Italian backdrop.
Emilia and her twin sister Victoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Victoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to discover who did this, and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.
Then Emilia meets Wrath, the outlier among the seven demon brethren, always choosing duty over pleasure. He’s been tasked by his master with investigating a series of women’s murders on the island. When Emilia and Wrath’s fates collide, it’s clear this disturbing mystery will take a bewitching turn…
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One of Kate Canterbary’s newsletters recommended Mia Hopkins’ Eastside Brewery series, as well as the Filthy Rich series by Angelina M. Lopez. THIRSTY above is also on sale at Amazon UK for .99.
I think GAME CHANGER is possibly the weakest of the six books in the Game Changer series. Kip seems little more than a “pretty, painted boyfriend” (Scott’s words), and I never quite got the couple’s connection. It’s worth reading as an introduction to the rest of the series (characters do recur), but someone noted that Reid adapted the book from her own Captain America/Bucky Barnes fanfic—and I think it shows. On the other hand, the next book, HEATED RIVALRY, is one of my all-time favorite comfort rereads. Go figure.
Thirsty is FANTASTIC. I used to live in the areas of LA she writes about, and it made me terribly homesick. She paints everything so vividly I felt like I was there. The characters were really interesting and the story kept me engaged all the way through. Would read again (in fact, I already have and I don’t often read books more than once)!
Another big thumbs up for Thirsty. Actually, the whole series is great and doesn’t get as much recognition as it deserves, especially since it features underrepresented characters in a gritty, urban setting just trying to live their lives and be the best that they can be, not to mention a hot romance.
Bindle Punk Bruja is $1.99 – I feel like I saw this recommended in the comments here at some point, maybe in a Whatcha Reading? In any case I added it to my wishlist…
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/bookinfo/bindle-punk-bruja/
Another wholehearted rec for Thirsty and the whole Eastside Brewery series – in certain romance circles, there is often some fetishization of ex-cons, which, not to yuck anyone’s yum, is not realistic (to put it generously). This series shows people whose lives have been impacted by the criminal justice system with realism and sensitivity, while still telling a story that is super engaging and really, truly sexy.
Louder than Love is free on Amazon. This is not a perfect novel, but it is one of my favorite rock romances. Something about flawed protagonists working their way to happiness just hits the spot for me.
Widowed mom with a young daughter becomes involved with the singer/guitarist who presents a musical program for kids at the local library. Unbeknownst to Mom and Daughter, Adrian has a secret identity. I reread this every couple of years or so.
Please note that this book has a new cover, and in the context of the story the cover is too awful for snark. However, the price is indubitably right.
Over the past two weeks I binged the whole Game Changers series by Rachel Reid. Partly e-books (books 1-3), partly audio (books 4-6). My favorite was the sale audiobook that started it all – Role Model (book 5). Book one was low angst compared to other books, but is a good introduction to the series and overall enjoyable.
@DiscoDollyDeb:
I agree. It’s hilarious that a bookish acquaintance of mine loves the first book the most and didn’t like “Heated Rivalry” very much, while I thought “Game Changers” was weak, especially compared to “HR”. It’s one of those that YMMV – I honestly read the rest of the series just to see more of Ilya and Shane. I still read them all very quickly and didn’t mind paying regular price for them one bit.
I read the series out of order and I think it made a bigger impact to read Heated Rivalry first, then check out Game Changer next. That first book is so low-key and matter of fact that the punch isn’t felt until seen through the lens of other characters.
I liked most of the Game Changer series, but I’m with @DDD and others who find GAME CHANGER the weakest and HEATED RIVALRY the best. The only one I haven’t read is the THE LONG GAME because I’m worried it will change how I feel about HR. I liked how HR ended, and I enjoyed the Ilya cameos throughout the rest of the series which hinted that things weren’t all sunshine and roses with him and Shane, but that they were together. Often as an author progresses through a series, there’s so much “look how perfect our lives are” scenes with previous books’ MCsvthat the current MCs almost become secondary in their own books – Fearne Hill’s TO MEND A BROKEN WING comes to mind.
So yeah, all that to say I’m essentially scared to read THE LONG GAME!
Free:
– Rocking the Cowboy’s Christmas (Rowdy Ranch Book 4) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
– A Kiss Beneath the Stars (The Malone Brothers Book 1) by S.L. Sterling
$2.99:
– The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
@DeborahT, I actually read The Long Game without having read Heated Rivalry, and loved it. I loved how Ms Reid gave me such a strong sense of all the relationships, and she writes all the characters with such warmth and affection. I have the series on my e-reader, and am looking forward to reading it from the beginning, LOL.
Thanks, @flchen1 – maybe I’ll get over myself and try it!
@DeborahT, I totally understand—sometimes I hesitate to start a book I’ve been awaiting for fear that it isn’t going to meet my expectations. That, and if it remains unread, it’s still suspended in that nebulous “it’s going to be amazing” state, where I can hold it in reserve for when I really need that for-sure great read…
Whenever you do decide to read it, I hope The Long Game turns out as to be a terrific read for you too!
I haven’t read Terry Pratchetts last books as I’m terrified I’ll be disapointed (likely considering his illness at the end) and sad I don’t have anything new to read by him
I read Heated Rivalry First, I think I liked Common Goal the least.
Though I am said that Rachel Reids new book out this month is pretty much $20 AUD for the ebook. (HR is $15 and the others are $6 essentially) Thats a bit steep for my tastes
@DeborahT: I feel similarly! I don’t have any intention of reading LG because to me, HR didn’t need a sequel, and I was content with the ending as it was. I know that they weren’t public, but they had achieved sufficient emotional connection and commitment that I felt confident in them as a couple, and somehow that was all I needed.
In general, I have found that I care more about couples reaching the point of emotional no return than I do about them reaching the stage of publicly acknowledged commitment. It’s the latter that the genre seems to consider a “HEA”? but for me, as long as all the plot threads are resolved, I often kind of prefer books to end with what other people call a HFN.
@PamG, you aren’t joking about the new cover – content disconnect. Who approved that?! I don’t know if I would have read this book with this cover. Not judging a book by its cover can be a challenge.
@Shem, I was fortunate enough to read an ARC of Rachel Reid’s Time to Shine and LOVED it, but agree that the price is incredibly steep. I will be checking the library for sure!
That is great to know @flchen1 unfortunately my libraries don’t seem to be big on the Hockey Romance bandwagon (and even less on the queer hockey romance bandwagon) Barely get any Regency romance (and only the big big names)
So I’m just going to hope it gets discounted at some point!
Ugh, how disappointing, @Shem! I’m sure it will eventually go on sale later! I think our library has most of the Game Changers and the Ashlyn Kane series in Hoopla, which was a pleasant surprise. Is there a mechanism you can use to request books at your library? I think many of them do have that so that they can better serve their customers.
@Shem: Definitely ask your public library about how to request that they purchase materials! My library calls it “Suggest a Purchase” and allows all cardholders 2 of them per week – it resets on Mondays. I get an email if they purchase the item with a link to place it on hold. Libraries love it when you ask them to buy things for the collection – it helps guide their purchasing decisions and get items of interest to the community.
Everybody knows about ereaderIQ.com right? It’s a website that notifies you when a book you’re tracking goes on sale.
@MaryK: I’ve had eReaderIQ pretty much since I got my Kindle back in 2011. I really need to clean up the account, but it has definitely helped me keep tabs on ebooks that I want going on sale.