-
The Christmas Keeper (Laurel Holidays Book 6)Romance · V.L. Locey
A grumpy pub owner is about to have his chilly heart warmed by a down-on-his-luck country singer.
Brann Argraves has never left the charming village of Whiteham before nor does he wish to. As the owner of the Whiteham Taphouse, he is content to spend his life serving drafts of beer to the locals, shooting darts with his buddies, and shutting himself away in his cabin for the duration of the holidays. Who needs all that ho-ho-ho, any who? His sister, on the other hand, not only yanked him out of his happy yet somewhat solitary bubble, but she’s also reveling in it. Planning a winter wedding was plain foolish, Brann feels, as is making people fly to some frozen wasteland in Canada to tie the knot. Now, he’s never been happier to return home after the wedding and get back to his bar, his darts, and his little home on the outskirts of town.
Landing at a wintry airport smack dab in the middle of a nasty snow squall, Brann and his weary fellow flyers are entertained by a handsome, rumpled man busking outside the airport. There’s something almost magical about the man’s dark, sad gaze as well as his angelic vocals. Perhaps it’s the residual merry-merry of his sister’s nuptials, or maybe he recognizes a lonely kindred soul, but Brann steps way out of his comfort zone when he offers the man a warm place to sleep above his bar. Kenan Gardet settles into the pub with ease and Southern grace. The down-and-out singer quickly proves himself an asset to Brann’s business as a good barkeep and as a nightly draw on stage. What he didn’t expect was Kenan capturing his heart one plaintive song and gentle kiss at a time.
0.0 -
The Siren of Lake Killikee (Paranormal Investigators)Romance · V.L. Locey
One speaks to the dead, the other talks to everyone else. Both have hearts that are whispering to each other's.
Archimedes Kee has always had the gift. From his youngest days, he has been able to communicate with the dearly departed. Most of the time, they seek him as a way to correct wrongs or for help moving over to the next plane. Some just want to complain about badly written books. Generally, he does his best to aid the stranded spirits as he juggles working part-time at his grandfather's bookstore, a job he adores, with attending a local college. Stuck in the grind of the day-to-day, he is totally unprepared for the arrival of Phil Kestrel, who blows into the shop like a hurricane with his blond hair, blue eyes, and unparalleled exuberance.
For the first time in forever, Archie can't pull back into the protective shell he has learned to keep up. Phil is not only a charmingly sweet and sexy man, but he's also slowly winning Archie's heart one 80's song at a time. After witnessing an unearthly book club meeting late one night the football star slash film major discovers Archie's secret and proposes a plan. They make a ghost hunter show for extra credit and to bring much-needed foot traffic to the old bookstore. The plan has merit, so they seek out a local legend and face off against an anguished soul who puts their new bond to the test.
0.0 -
Reading the Play (Watkins Glen Gladiators Book 5)LGBT+ · V.L. Locey
Will there be kissing and making up or will Baskoro and Marcus be dropping the gloves?
A new season is about to kick off and Baskoro Huda is ready to win it all. As one half of the Watkins Glen Gladiators two-man tandem goalkeeping duo, Basky, as his teammates call him, is on track to deliver a winning season and everything is going his way. His summer training is paying off, his family and friends are warm and supportive, and his new nephew is the cutest thing ever. He's even had a few casual dates. The only downside to this upcoming amazing season is the fact that he has to face goalie Marcus Newley and the Comets several times. To say there is no love lost between the two men would be an understatement. Granted, Marcus is incredibly handsome and skilled, but those qualities are overshadowed by the man's ego. The tension between the two goalies has been percolating since senior year of college and one more pithy comment from Basky's rival might just be all it takes for a reckoning that's been a long time coming.
Marcus Newley has come a long way in a short time. He's clawed his way to the top of the Comets roster and is now within reach of his dream: winning that championship cup and securing his chances for a call-up to the pros. The brass ring is within reach, and he is not about to let someone like Baskoro Huda and his team stand in his way. He's got one very important person counting on him to make those dreams a reality. Unsure of what he ever did to twist the pretty but irritable Gladiators goalie's shorts into such a tight knot, all he can do is fire back when the verbal barbs are launched from the other end of the ice. The time to focus on hockey is now, and he refuses to let Baskoro take up any more time in his head. It's an all-out war as far as Marcus is concerned and nothing but complete surrender from Baskoro will satisfy those—and perhaps not so hidden—passions.
0.0 -
Reflections of Cypress (Love's Journeys Book 2)Romance · V.L. Locey
When you're forced to walk a different path, the detour just might be what your heart required all along.
Arlo Bonetti has enjoyed a life of unparalleled luxury. As the sole heir to a global olive oil empire, he's traveled the world, indulged in every pleasure, and never known a day of responsibility. While he revels in his lavish lifestyle, his father is less than pleased. Amidst a series of scandals, the latest being the most outrageous in Arlo's eventful life, his father decides to intervene. Taking control of Arlo's trust fund, he issues an ultimatum: he has a year to grow up, or he'll lose access to the family's immense fortune. To make sure Arlo follows through, he's dispatched to Italy, the heart of the Bonetti legacy, to manage one of their renowned olive farms.
Surly doesn't even begin to describe Arlo's mood when he lands in Florence to report to his great-aunt, the matriarch of the family and the only person his father feels can whip the spoiled, truculent young man into shape. It's there, in the city of the Renaissance, that Arlo meets Donvino Marini, the grandson of his great-aunt's housekeeper. The two young men come from vastly different backgrounds: one is a millionaire's son and the other a poor athlete with dreams of making the Italian rowing team. Arlo is instantly charmed by the beautiful, affable rower and what starts off as a flirtation soon turns into something much deeper, something that will change Arlo's world in ways he couldn't have imagined.
0.0 -
Spiral (LA Storm Book 4)Sports · RJ Scott, V.L. Locey
When the worlds of academia and sports collide, a doctor of math and a dyslexic hockey star find that love has its own perfect equation.
Craig learned to skate as soon as he could walk, moving from figure skating to excelling in hockey and succeeding in both despite the challenges of his dyslexia. Visual aids, practical, hands-on learning, and the support of friends not only helped him in school but also honed his skills on the ice, making him a versatile and intuitive player. When he meets Jamie at a team party, Craig is instantly captivated by the handsome professor. Despite the lasting effects of a former abusive relationship that's still haunting him, they end up in bed. Craig's insecurities drive him away—after all, what can a professor possibly see in someone like him? His past relationship makes trusting Jamie hard. Thankfully, Jamie is not only persistent but also understanding, and despite his worries, Craig can't help but say yes. Falling for Jamie is as easy as slipping on fresh ice.
After his ex from hell stole his research and made him the academic communitys laughingstock, Dr. Jameson “Jamie” Hennessy decided to reset his life and moved across the country to live with his best friend. With everything he worked so hard for now gone, Jamie needs funding to stay on the West Coast, and for that, he needs a new approach to his research. After one too many drinks at a team party, things heat up with a sexy hockey player he can't take his eyes off, but after the most incredible sex of his life, Craig leaves him alone in a cold bed the morning after. When Jamie's admiration for Craig and his obsession with mathematics collide, a new hypothesis about movement in sports is born. Could Craig be the answer he wasn't even looking for?
0.0 -
Playing the Man (Watkins Glen Gladiators Book 6)LGBT+ · V.L. Locey
If only getting back into playing shape were as easy as falling in love…
Tanner LaBrie—aka Fossie to his teammates—is feeling every bit of his thirty-eight years. His shoulder aches when it's cold, his arms need to be longer to see the crossword puzzle app on his phone, and his knees are incredibly unhappy about the abuse they've taken. During one of the final games of the regular season, one of his weary joints decides to give way. The need for surgery is not a surprising one for Tanner. He's been putting it off for years, but escaping the knife is not an option now. Post-surgery rehab is a son-of-a-gun, but if Tanner is anything, it's stubborn. Just ask any of his ex-boyfriends. So when his therapist suggests finding a local yoga group, he scoffs at first. Unsure of how he would fit in with the gals in leotards, he nonetheless signs up for a class at his local gym where the teacher is not at all the person listed on the signup form. Not that Fossie is complaining when Keyshaun Williams, the enigmatic and sexy gym owner, shows up with a floral exercise mat, some whale song CDs, and a smile that nearly erases how out of place the defenseman feels.
Keyshaun Williams is living the life he has always dreamed of…for the most part. His new business is a huge success, his family is happy and healthy, and his sister—the only somewhat straight triplet—is a few weeks away from giving birth to twins while his brother is about to open a franchise of Williams Wellness in Buffalo. Yep, life is looking pretty darn great for the former Army dietician/Golden Gloves boxer. Great aside from the quiet house he goes home to every night. Being a few years on the other side of thirty has him seeking someone to settle down with, raise a family, maybe adopt some dogs or raise some goats. Heck, maybe dogs and goats. A man could dream, right? And yes, dreamy would describe the towering, mature, stunningly attractive D-man for the local hockey team who has, it seems, signed up for a senior yoga class that Keyshaun is leading as his sister nests and eats far too many chocolate-covered jalapenos. Tanner LaBrie ticks all his boxes as well as a few he didn't even know he had. Maybe those long looks the hockey player has been shooting his way for months means Tanner is interested in more than achieving the perfect camel pose?
0.0