Waiting For Wentworth: 2022

Waiting On Wednesday (580) Foxed by Jay Hogan

Expected publication: January 12th 2023

Genre: M/M, Romance

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings
that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.
(WoW was previously hosted by Breaking The Spine.)

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
FOXED: To be thrown into a state of uncertainty—flustered, bamboozled, bewildered, puzzled, vexed.

AKA, me. Jed Marshall. 55-year-old successful classic car mechanic; divorced, mostly closeted, and whose wholly inexperienced bisexuality has suddenly awakened after one smouldering look and said, ‘Damn, who’s the hottie?’ Or words to that effect.

Cue, Nash Collingwood. 53-year-old scarily smart high school principal; out, gay, confident, and sexy as hell. He’s also my daughter’s boss. So, not complicated at all, right? Nash could ignite a bonfire with a single sultry look, comes fully accessorised with a charm offensive Churchill would be proud of, an easy-going flattery that thrills my heart far too effortlessly, and an impressive track record with men many decades my junior.

In short, Nash is everything I’m not, and everything I’ve avoided for roughly my entire life. He’s the hot rod to my sensible family car, that is if you like your family cars with a few dents, creaky suspension, unexpected backfires, and a dodgy stick.

The last thing I need is a relationship—especially with a man. I buried that pipe dream a long time ago and a little loneliness is a small price to pay. The festive season and long summer vacation are on our doorstep. I’m finally getting things right with my family who mean everything to me, and I don’t want to mess that up.

But Nash doesn’t care about my awkward inexperience, or clumsy excuses, or any of my insecurities. Nash only sees me. He wants me. For the first time in years, I feel alive and sexy and a whole lot more than just a good father and grandfather.

I should walk away, but the closer Nash and I become, the more he fills my grey world with colour, and the promise of a second chance at love I never thought possible.

I've picked another book with mature MCs. I like this author, but I'm used to reading series from her, so I almost don't know what to think about a stand alone book. I hope I like it!

What are you waiting on this week?

Shelf Life
(Hearts & Crafts #2)
by Kelly Jensen

Expected publication: January 16th 2023

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Good things come to those who bake.

Grayson used to love baking, but the recipe for running his parents’ café changes every day. His dad, overwhelmed by grief, is no help. They can’t even talk about Gray’s mom, let alone the failing business. Of less help is the crush Gray has on Sporty—a trainer from the local gym. Gray barely has time for his friends, let alone scratching the itch Sporty inspires.

Aaron suspects he’s not Gray’s type, meaning Gray probably isn’t into fitness, board games, or redheads. Still, that doesn’t stop Aaron visiting the café twice a week. The day Gray finally speaks to him personally could have been the start of something—if Gray hadn’t immediately suffered a heart attack.

The prescription for Gray’s recovery includes exercise, but when Aaron steps in to help, Gray is dubious. He’s never been fond of working out. The more he gets to know Aaron, though, the more they seem to have in common, especially when it comes to games. Aaron has been quietly designing his own, and when Gray shows interest, they embark on a quest to complete it together: a hero’s journey complicated by family, the demands of their careers, their fledgling relationship, and learning to be honest about what they want out of life.

I really liked the first book in this series. The MCs are more mature (older) than a lot of books that are out there, so I can relate a little bit more.

What are you waiting on this week?

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Stick Shift
(Big Bull Mechanics #3)
by K.M. Neuhold

Expected publication: January 6th 2023

Genre: M/M, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:
I made peace with my hopeless crush on my straight best friend, Journey, years ago. It helps that he’s never in the country long and our relationship consists of sporadic texts and video chats at odd hours.

Now Journey is back. Back in the country, in my space, sharing my bed, and something is changing between us.

Neither of us has a clue how to run the small farm his uncle left him, but I’m willing to be the idiot standing next to him, figuring it out. Learning how to shear an alpaca or keep a rogue mini cow out of the kitchen looks easy compared to navigating the sudden change in Journey.

Is he looking at me differently? Is he touching me more? Straight guys don’t normally kiss other men, right? I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I’ll put things in gear and floor it all the way.

I'm not overly fond of the cover, so I'm just not going to include it today, and I really don't care. Hmph. Unfortunately, the characters in this series (and the previous series) are all starting to blend together. And not in a good way. I can't remember who's who, so when they make cameos, it means nothing to me. But overall I've been enjoying the series so far. So that's something.

PS. I'm feeling sad. I'm reading my favorite Christmas books in the hopes of bringing back the joy, but my daughter has me down in the dumps. Her boyfriend was here visiting with us for a whole month, and he flew back to Australia(!!!) early this morning, so I have a sad, crying 25 year old on my hands. Gah!

What are you waiting on this week?

The Humbug Holiday
by Lane Hayes

Expected publication: December 12th 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Joe:

So, this sexy silver fox rolls into my small New England town and buys a run-down old house in need of renovation. That’s where I come in. My job is to do some basic repairs, so he can write in peace. Yep, the hotshot is a bestselling author, but that’s not why I recognize Cameron Warren.

No worries, I won’t let a one-night stand make things awkward. I could use the work, but is he seriously asking me to help him buy a Christmas tree too?

No way.

Cameron:

I’m a good-natured guy all year long, but I have to admit…I hate the holidays. There. I said it.

This season, I’m hiding away on the opposite side of the country in a picturesque village. My family isn’t excited about my decision, and the only way to assure them I’m fine is to deck the darn halls. Or hire someone else to do it.

The handyman might not be the logical choice for an elf, but his grumpy act makes me smile. Which makes me think the holidays might not be so “bah-humbug” this year after all.

I'm still deeply submersed in my Christmas reading this season. What can I say? It makes me happy.

What are you waiting on this week?

Merry Christmas Cupid
(Hartbridge Christmas #3)
by N.R. Walker

Expected publication: December 8th 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
After a year of tragedy, forty-four-year-old Gunter Zuniga is leaving heartbreak behind and moving to the peaceful and picturesque town of Hartbridge, Montana.

He buys an old house in need of some work, which he naively thinks he can manage now that he’s single and retired—he has nothing but time.

Clay Henderson runs the local sawmill with his dad, and it’s the busiest time of year. Firewood and Christmas trees are in high demand, and a delivery of firewood to the old house on Cedar Bark Road leaves him curious about the new man in town.

Clay has never had time for romance and Gunter certainly isn’t looking, but Hartbridge has a way of working its Christmas magic; the jingle of Christmas bells, snow, and love are ringing in the air.

And Gunter and Clay are about to get the best Christmas gift they never asked for.

I really enjoy this author, and I've loved the previous Christmas books in this series. They're a bit fluffy, very low angst, romantic and the perfect amount of Christmasy. I can't wait for this one!

What are you waiting on this week?

Firecracker
(Honeybridge #1)
by Lucy Lennox and May Archer

Expected publication: November 29th 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
There are three kinds of people in Honeybridge, Maine: The Honeycutts, who know a lot about love and loyalty; The Wellbridges, who think they’re the epitome of wealth and refinement; and the rest of the Honeybridgers, who know better than to get in the way of the centuries-old rivalry between the two.

There wasn’t a time when I didn't know Flynn “Firecracker” Honeycutt.

He’s been my childhood friend. My high school rival. The guy I couldn’t stop dreaming about, long after I thought I’d left him and Honeybridge in my rear-view mirror.

Now he’s the key to the giant promotion that can make or break my career… if I can just convince the man to give me the distribution rights for his award-winning mead.

Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.

Flynn’s not the guy he used to be. His gorgeous eyes used to spark with dreams and fire, but now he looks at me with cold fury. And just like Achilles had his heel and Samson had his hair, I had Flynn Honeycutt, the one man I’d never been able to charm, despite an entire life spent winning people over.

I’m not giving up, though. Because I’m not the kid I used to be, either. And because, if the two of us can survive a long, hot summer filled with his family’s crazy antics and my mother’s single-handed determination to keep the Wellbridge-Honeycutt feud alive, there might just be a chance for both of us to get what we want:

A new dream.

The fulfillment of an old town legend.

And another chance to spark Firecracker to life.

This first book in a new series sounds just as outlandish as this duo's previous series. I enjoy reading both authors, but together they tend to be a bit sillier (juvenile?) and OTT with the puns and funny business. As much as I loved the previous series, I don't want a copycat, so I hope they come up with some new material.

What are you waiting on this week?

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Christmas Spirit
by Annabelle Jacobs
Expected publication: November 22nd 2022
Genre: M/M, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Dylan’s Cornish retreat wasn’t supposed to include a hot bloke and a cupid-playing ghost…

After tearing his Achilles tendon, recuperating by the sea sounds like a fantastic idea, and Dylan happily accepts his best mate’s offer to stay with him and his uncle for a few weeks. But he hadn’t counted on the uncle being smoking hot, or the fierce attraction that blossoms between them.

Swapping the busy streets of London for the easy pace of Cornish life is exactly what Gareth needs to move on with his own life. His new home requires a little TLC, but he’d expected that. What he hadn’t expected was the ghostly resident already living there.

A ten-year age gap isn’t the only issue standing between Dylan and Gareth. Their time together has an expiration date. By Christmas, Dylan will back home in Bristol spending the holidays with his dad, leaving Gareth all alone. Luckily for them, a matchmaking Christmas Spirit has other ideas.

His Last Christmas in London
by Con Riley
Expected publication: November 17th 2022
Genre: M/M, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Falling for his final client won’t make leaving London easy…

Ian ~ A talented, young photographer desperate to stay in London.

Guy ~ An older, fierce food critic, determined to keep him in his city.

Ian shouldn’t be attracted to a scathing food critic like Guy Parsons, not after the last time he fell for someone older, arrogant, and gorgeous. He knows better than to let dramatic good looks sway him since his last heartbreak. Besides, he’s accepted a new job at the far end of the country and won’t be staying.

Having one month left in the city doesn’t seem enough now Ian’s fallen in love with London. Working as Guy’s photographer for December might help him afford to stay for longer, even if he hates Guy’s brand of restaurant reviewing. When Guy turns out to be worlds away from the last man Ian fell for, shared meals soon result in shared secrets and feelings.

And so it begins. I'm diving into my holiday reading and I won't emerge until after the new year. I'm so excited to read some of my favorites again, and to hopefully find some new favorites!

Are you looking forward to any holiday books this season?

The Real Thing
(West Coast Forensics #5)
by Elle Keaton

Expected publication: November 24th 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
An oblivious prince wishes for his knight in shining armor. His knight has been under his nose all along, will he claim him before it's too late for them both?

As deeply as he craves his own fairy tale happily-ever-after, resort owner Cody Prescott doesn't have time for a relationship. That doesn't stop him from crushing on most men on Piedras. Luckily for him, they're emotionally unavailable or already taken, so he doesn't have to worry about getting attached.

Wade Buckner, the island's handiest handyman, is tired of waiting for Cody to wake up and realize Wade is the man for the job. He's ready and willing to rescue Cody from just about anything, even questionable hotel guests.

The Harvest Feast is the kick-off for the resort's one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary and they have a full house. But something sinister is afoot at the resort, something that even his knight might not be able to rescue Cody from.

Are they trying to kill him, put him out of business, or both?

I started reading this series because it had the same setting as her previous series (which I read and really liked.) I also love the crime/mystery/suspense along with the romance in her stories. But the last book strayed from this formula and I found it quite boring. I'm hoping this book will get back to what I enjoy reading from this author.

What are you waiting on this week?

Subway Slayings
(Memento Mori #2)
by C.S. Poe

Published: October 28, 2022 by Emporium Press

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Detective Everett Larkin of New York City’s Cold Case Squad has been on medical leave since catching the serial killer responsible for the Death Mask Murders. But Larkin hasn’t forgotten the anonymously delivered letter, nor its suggestion, that another memento—another death—is waiting to be found.

Summer brings the grisly discovery of skeletal remains deep in the subway system, but the circumstances resemble one of Larkin’s already open cases, so the elite detective resumes active duty. When a postmortem photograph, akin to those taken during the Victorian Era, is located at the scene, Larkin requests aid from the most qualified man he knows: Detective Ira Doyle of the Forensic Artists Unit.

With an unsolved case that suffered from tunnel vision, and the deconstruction of death portraits, Larkin and Doyle are descending down a rabbit hole as complex as the tunnels beneath Manhattan. And if this investigation wasn’t enough, both detectives are struggling with how to address the growing intimacy between them, because sometimes, love is more grave than murder.

The first book in this series, Madison Square Murders, was my favorite book of 2021. This book was delayed a few times, so I totally forgot it was coming until it showed up on my Kindle!! Now that it's been over a year since book 1 came out, I'll have to reread it before I can dive into book 2. I'm so excited!

What are you waiting on this week?

Sass
(Style #3)
by Jay Hogan

Expected Publication: October 27, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
For two years I’ve kept Leon Steadman at a safe distance, ever since the night he turned me down flatter than a pancake with a side order of syrupy disapproval. His loss. The world is full of sexy men. One and done is simply good math and efficient use of my time. Or it would be if I hadn’t been lusting after the irritating, judgemental, gorgeous, mountain of a man, ever since.

The less I see of Leon, the better. Bad enough that his tattoo business sits next to Flare, the fashion store I manage, and that he’s friendly with my boss. But now he’s apartment-sitting above the shop, as well. Every time I turn around, Leon is there. In my store. In my space. Messing with my head. Being all nice and charming and acting like maybe he’s not the biggest jerk to walk the earth, after all.

Well, I don’t want or need Leon’s apologies, but maybe if I can have him, just once, it might put an end to this ridiculous hunger that sparks every time I lay eyes on him.

Yeah, I’ll get back to you on that.

The first 2 books in this series were focused on the bad side of the 'modeling industry'. So I'm happy this book is set at the retail store and tattoo shop instead. These two men were side characters in the first 2 books, so I'm happy to see their story finally.

What are you waiting on this week?

Unstable Connections
(Valor & Doyle #3)
by Nicky James

Published: October 17, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Missing children are reappearing, and ties to a thirty-year-old cold case can’t be ignored.

Between his shaky, brand-new relationship with reformed office playboy Detective Aslan Doyle, his sister’s case going from cold to hot overnight, his father insisting on being involved, and his boss breathing down his neck, Detective Quaid Valor is on edge.

The stress of the case is impacting Quaid’s whole life. He isn’t eating or sleeping, and every time he and Aslan are together, he is overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, which threaten to ruin the one good thing he has. Aslan’s patience seems unending until something happens to turn his life upside down too.

Can their relationship survive the personal and professional pressures they’re facing, or will it crash and burn?

Between media rumors and unstable connections, Quaid and his team need to work quickly to piece together a complicated case before more children fall victim to their unknown serial kidnapper. Maybe once everything is solved, Aslan and Quaid will have time to work on their rocky relationship and find stable ground once again.

I love, love, love this series! I was late to the party, so I just read the first 2 books in this series in August. SO.. not much of a wait, and damn I'm glad this book is already waiting for me on my Kindle. (See the reason below as to why I haven't started reading this yet.) Also, please let there be a book 4 in my future.

(I'm currently binge reading the entire Big Bad Wolf series. Yes, ME, reading about werewolves!! I'm on the last book and loving it and don't want it to be over. Insert sad face emoji. BUT... there's a spin off, so I have a whole 'nother werewolf series to look forward to!)

What are you waiting on this week?

Dirty Trick
(Palm Island #3)
by K.M. Neuhold

Expected publication: October 14, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Can you be friends with benefits with a guy who hates you? What about enemies with benefits instead?

Was pretending to sleep with tons of men to keep my crush from hooking up with them a Dirty Trick? Sure. Do I regret it? Not one bit.

Telling Boston I have a thing for him would’ve been the logical thing to do. Unfortunately, logic hasn’t always been my strong suit. I decided to go the “get under his skin until hostility turns into affection” route instead, and I think it’s finally working.

But once he’s worked off all his annoyance with me, will there be real feelings underneath? I guess only time will tell…

Let's not talk about the weird character names in this series. In this book we have Trick and Boston. I did not like Trick in the previous books - or at least I didn't like the way he was written. Shallow, petty, immature, and sleeping with everyone he came in contact with. Now it turns out his whole persona was a sham to keep the guy he actually liked from sleeping with those other people. Hmm. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

What are you waiting on this week?

Bad Deal
(A-List Security #3)
by Annabeth Albert

Expected publication: October 6, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
I’m a bodyguard and far from ideal boyfriend material, but agreeing to this fake dating scheme might be the best bad deal I’ve ever made…

I’m a fixer. As a SEAL chief, I succeeded in impossible no-win situations. Now I’m retired and determined to improve the lives of my former military teammates through our Hollywood security firm. Plus, I get to guard intriguing people like Ambrose Sterling, creator of one of my favorite TV shows.

Of course, I want to keep Ambrose safe. When he’s attacked, I leap into action to save him and his scrappy little therapy dog.

But my good deed results in a coastal road trip with me pretending to be Ambrose’s boyfriend to keep him out of more danger.

I don’t do relationships, and I’ve never thought about dating a man before, but here I am, sizzling with every touch and dreaming about more stolen kisses.

I’m blue-collar, and Ambrose is Hollywood elite. I want a happy ending more than anything. Can I turn this fake boyfriend gig into the real thing, or am I just a guest star?

I'm enjoying this series more than I thought I would. This author writes a lot of 'military' romance, which I don't enjoy. But this series is ex-military and pretty much sweet and light, so I'm glad I gave it a chance.

What are you waiting on this week?

Petty Crimes
by Eden Winters

Expected publication October 1, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Why can't life give him a break?

Five years ago, Jerry Wilkerson was running with a biker gang, making mistake after mistake, till he ended up in the hospital with a gunshot wound, facing criminal charges for drug distribution. On top of everything, he'd fallen in love with the narcotics agent who took them all down. Or rather, with Cyrus Cooper, the man that agent pretended to be.

Making a deal with the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau kept Jerry out of jail, sending him undercover as Brody Jenson, a petty criminal able to get into places other agents can't. He's satisfied with his life—or would be if he wasn't still longing for someone who never existed.

Then a man steps out of his dreams and into his life, who's everything Jerry ever wanted.

Except for the part where Jerry might have to arrest him.

Petty Crimes is a spin off from this author's Diversion series, which I haven't read books 8 and 9 yet... But this Jerry character was originally in the 3rd book of the Diversion series, which I read in 2017 and don't remember a single thing from. So do I re-read book 3 to get caught up for this book? Or not? Maybe I'll skim it for the relevant parts so I'm not completely lost.

What are you waiting on this week?

Bad Bishop
(Perfect Play #2)
by Layla Reyne

Expected publication October 4, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When a marriage of convenience becomes more than either husband bargained for…

Special Agent Levi Bishop needs to:
Keep his son and family safe.
Prove his boss was framed for a crime she didn’t commit.
Convince his selfless cowboy husband that his needs matter too.
Make a bold play before love slips through his fingers.

Special Agent Emmitt Marshall needs to:
Protect his husband and stepson.
End the nightmare that’s haunted him since his mentor’s murder.
Hack through layers of deception to identify the real threat.
Stop hoping someone will choose him.

Marsh is determined to go it alone, to guard his family and his heart.
But Levi’s life and heart are on the line too.
Cornered, Levi will chance any play to save the marriage and man he needs.
Rings were exchanged and promises made.
Marsh kept up his end of the bargain.
Now it’s Levi’s turn.

I'm still not on board with the reason behind the 'marriage of convenience'. In the first book, both the 'romance' and the 'getting to know you phase' were non-existant, so I'm hoping for some relationship development in this second book. I think I need more than just a crazy ass plot and unstable characters to enjoy this series more.

What are you waiting on this week?

One Vote for Murder
(Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #7)
by S.C Wynne

Expected publication September 28, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Frenemies and psychopaths keep life interesting. If they don't kill you, that is.

Maxwell foolishly hoped things might settle down once he found the perfect new location for his medical practice.

Not. So. Much.

After a shocking revelation, Maxwell finally knows why River Martin hates him with a passion. And River isn't willing to let bygones be bygones. To put it mildly.

In addition to protecting Maxwell, Royce is dealing with a rich, powerful, and very vindictive family in town who have organized a special election to recall him as Sheriff of Rainy Dale.

As if that isn't enough for the duo to handle, someone is knocking off potential candidates for sheriff. Will Royce be accused of murdering the competition, or will he become the murderer's next victim?

While I'm enjoying reading about Max and Royce's progressing relationship, I'm SO tired of River. If this is the last book in the series, I'd like the focus to move away from River and his underhanded antics. Give me a good HEA and make me a happy reader.

What are you waiting on this week?

Sundays With Oliver
by Kelly Jensen

Expected publication September 12, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Two empty-nesters. Two bruised hearts. One chance to make things right.

Oliver expected to miss his daughter when she left for college, but he’s surprised by the size of the hole she leaves. Or maybe he hadn’t expected to spend his days watching grass grow and making sad cookies. Or to lose his job. Meeting Nick—the uncle of his daughter’s roommate—is a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy forecast. Nick is focused, talented, and as beautiful as the dollhouses he builds. Being near him might bring light and purpose to Oliver’s life.

Nick expected to miss his niece when she left for college, but he’s still figuring out how to cope with her absence, when his brother reappears after twelve years, complicating the emotional puzzle. Then there’s Oliver, the sweet, calm, and competent man who looks at Nick like no one ever has. Spending Sundays in Oliver’s company is the balm he needs, though Nick is waiting for Oliver to decide their relationship is too much work.

But just as Nick begins to get comfortable, Oliver’s need to provide for all of the people he loves threatens to pull them apart. If their relationship is to survive, they will have to learn to let go. For Oliver, this means asking himself what he really wants, this time around. For Nick, it means letting himself grieve the people who can’t come back and love the people who always will.

This author once wrote a series I loved. But I haven't read anything else from her. I don't know why. So I plan to read this in the hopes it will spark my desire to read her other books. Sounds like a good plan. Let's see if it works.

What are you waiting on this week?

The Sunny Side
(The Model Agency #1)
by Lily Morton

Expected publication September 6, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jonas Durand is successful, rich, and controlled. He owns a prestigious modelling agency and has the world at his fingertips, but a turbulent childhood has taught him to be focused and never deviate from a plan.

Dean Jacobs threatens that stance. He’s one of the world’s most sought-after supermodels, but he’s also laidback and lighthearted and free in a way that Jonas has never quite managed.

Dean has always been interested in Jonas and has never made any secret of his admiration, but from the beginning, Jonas put him in a neat little box labelled, “Don’t touch,” turned the key, and never looked back.

However, the universe seems determined to thwart Jonas’s plans. Over the course of one hot summer, the two men come together, and Jonas’s well-ordered life becomes something a whole lot wilder.

Moving from the glamorous worlds of London and Paris Fashion Weeks to the sleepy South of France, Jonas finds himself liberating partridges, chasing his supermodel, and falling in love.

I've enjoyed a few of this author's previous series, so I'm looking forward to something new from her.

What are you waiting on this week?

Stroker
(Big Bull Mechanics #2)
by K.M. Neuhold

Expected publication September 2, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Is there an easy way to tell your lifelong best friend that you secretly married his brother eight years ago? Asking for a friend…

When Gates shows up needing a place to crash, I offer him my spare room. Whatever happened between us nearly two decades ago is water under the bridge. I don’t lie awake at night wondering what could have been. Nope, definitely not.

But Gates seems determined to get a rise out of me. He’s tie-dyed all my clothes, removed my bedroom door, and replaced my hand soap with lube. I’m not sure if he’s hoping I’ll kick him out or kill him, but he won’t break me that easily.

We put our feelings behind us a long time ago, and there’s no way I’ll let Gates break my heart again. No amount of fiddling under the hood will fix everything broken between us. From here on out, it’s purely physical. Right?

I knew these 2 were acting funny around each other in the first book. I never would have guessed that they were secretly married! Alrighty then.

What are you waiting on this week?

Real Hazard
(West Coast Forensics #4)
by Elle Keaton

Expected publication August 25, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
They're not looking for love, but it catches them anyway. Can two very different men find common ground and claim a future... together?
Foster
Things I love:
✓ my kid sister
✓ the no-hope dogs I rehabilitate
✓ my job as an EMT
✓ and maybe my new friend Dutch.
But Dutch isn’t gay and physical attraction isn’t something I feel often. Are these feelings real, or am I just tired of being alone?
Dutch
This is all Hazel’s fault. Hazel the Hazard.
✓ Hazel made me come to first grade safety day.
✓ Hazel blurted out—loudly—about the beautiful fireman.
✓ Hazel invited the beautiful fireman over for a party.
I swear I’m not gay, but Foster Jennings is the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, outside and in.
Dutch Hansen is the single dad of a precocious daughter. He moved to Piedras wanting a better life for Hazel and himself. Things are shaping up; he’s landed a permanent job at Brooch Resort and Hazel has quit having nightmares that someone is going to steal her away.
Then everything goes sideways, Dutch’s past threatens his future and he doesn’t know where to turn.
Something is wrong, Dutch is pushing him away and won’t tell Foster why.
When Hazel goes missing Dutch can’t hide anymore, he needs his… Foster to help him get Hazel back.

I've been enjoying this series so far. This is the 3rd (I think) series by this author set on the same island, and each book features different main characters, which works for me. (Except I'm starting to wonder just how many gay men can fit on this small island? lol)

What are you waiting on this week?

Death at the Deep Dive
(Secrets and Scrabble #7)
by Josh Lanyon

Expected publication August 14, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Pirate Cove's mystery bookstore owner and sometimes-amateur sleuth Ellery Page discovers a vintage diving collection bag full of antique gold coins tucked away for safe keeping in the stockroom of The Crow’s Nest, it sets off a series of increasingly dangerous events, culminating in meeting Police Chief Jack Carson’s parents. Er… Culminating in murder.

So, this thing happened. This thing where the author has written book 7 of the series before book 6. Mostly because the pre-orders are up on Kindle and other booksellers, and to cancel it would be akin to death. Or close to it. So.... is that weird? I'm going with it for now, and hopefully it all makes sense in the end. (But I feel for those that don't follow the author on social media, because they'll be wondering what the heck happened to book 6???

What are you waiting on this week?

Meet Me There
by K.M. Neuhold

Expected publication August 5, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Two men, dozens of cities, and a connection they just can't seem to shake.

We haven't spoken in fifteen years, and Marlon is the last person I expected to run into in a bar on Bourbon Street.

He's not my gangly internet pen pal anymore, he's all muscles, body hair, and temptation.

Our friendship feels like it never faded, but the heat between us is brand new.

We're both in different cities every few weeks, hustling to build our careers and soaking up all the perks of being young, hot, and untethered. But our paths seem to be crossing more and more often.

“Meet Me There…”, they're my new favorite words. Honestly, I think I'd follow Marlon anywhere. Does he feel it too?

I've read quite a few of this author's books in recent years. In fact, she's in the middle of writing 2 series that I am reading. This is a stand alone, and marketed as swoony and low angst with an HEA, so we'll see how I like it.

What are you waiting on this week?

Hacked
(Licking Thicket: Horn of Glory #3)
by Lucy Lennox and May Archer

Expected Publication: July 29, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Well-known computer security infiltration specialist Jasper Huxley has never met a system he can’t hack. Whether his assignment is accessing a highly-classified Pentagon server or modifying his little brother’s high school report card, he’s always got a botnet, an exploit, or a little bit of social engineering he can call up to get the job done.

But there are certain things he can’t finesse, no matter how hard he tries:

•Beating the infuriatingly adorable and maddeningly handsome Kevin Rogers in the ice mammoth expedition during Horn of Glory’s first annual Horn Master Championship week. (Robbery.)

•Accessing stolen cartel data on a device that’s never connected to a network. Pretty sure it’s the fault of a certain busybody gamer who will not be named. (Kev.)

•Sharing a house, and worse – a network - with Kev. (Gah.)

•Being forced to allow a non-trained, non-serious, and non-resistable civilian to take part in a critical intel operation. (•side-eyes Kev)

•Navigating social situations with grace when he continues to run into Kev - his new gamer “boyfriend” - at society events during the course of a critical mission. (Like any serious relationship starts during a game.)

•Keeping Champion Security’s system safe from increasingly sophisticated black hat threats. (Not Kev, but still… annoying.)

In short, when Kevin Rogers is in the picture, the safe and peaceful life Hux has managed to construct for himself gets suddenly and irrevocably… hacked.

(And it’s all Kev’s fault.)

I enjoy reading both of these author's individual books. So together they are twice as fun. (Ususally.) Let's see how I like the third book in this series. And hey, I like that cover!

What are you waiting on this week?

Hide and Seek
by Josh Lanyon

Published July 15, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
For museum curator Andrew Allison, the sleepy little Maine village of Safehaven has always lived up to its name—until now. Fleeing an abusive relationship, Andy has returned to Safehaven for a few weeks while he figures out the future and helps his elderly Uncle Cuthbert run his antiques shop. But when Andy arrives, he learns Uncle Cuthbert is in the hospital, critically injured, the victim of a late-night break-in.

Worse, one of the first messages on the shop answering machine is from Marcus, Andy’s ex, demanding to know Andy’s whereabouts.

Nor does the bad news stop there. It seems whoever broke into Time in a Bottle is still looking for that mysterious whatever. Something they didn’t find the first time. Something they now believe Andy has.

Something worth killing for?

The good news is former bad boy Quinn Rafferty, Andy’s high school crush, is back in town and interested in renewing their acquaintanceship.

Quinn is not a man to run from things that go bump in the night, be they mysterious midnight prowlers or a relationship-shy fish-out-of-water museum curator.

But Quinn has a few secrets of his own…

This was a serialized book on the author's Patreon page, but I held off on reading it until the final edited version was available. So now I get to enjoy it all at once.

What are you waiting on this week?

Fish in a Barrel
(Fish Out of Water #7)
by Amy Lane

Expected publication July 26, 2022

Genre: M/M, Romance

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jackson and Ellery face their toughest case yet—against the criminal justice system itself.

Jackson Rivers and Ellery Cramer have worked difficult jobs before, but usually it’s getting the facts that’s the problem. For their newest client, the trouble isn’t finding the truth—it’s corruption at the highest levels of the justice system. It isn’t enough to find the actual perpetrator and unveil a heartless plot—not when the DA is the bad guy and he’s using cops as his goons. Keeping their vulnerable client alive and out of jail takes blood, sweat, and tears.

When one of their major antagonists is killed and the DA tries to pin the death on Jackson, he’ll need every ounce of luck and all his resources to clear his name—and to find the perpetrator before the DA can use the murder to further his own agenda. They soon find that it’s easier to spot an honest man in a field of thieves than it is to shoot fish in a barrel—and both the man and the fish will be lucky to survive….

I love this series. But.... Dear author - please stop injuring your characters. Enough with the near fatal encounters in every book. And I'd like to see Jackson and Ellery's relationship evolve beyond "being in a relationship". It's been a loooooong time at this stage, so some progress would be great. Thanks!

What are you waiting on this week?

Pages

Waiting On Wednesday (580) Foxed by Jay Hogan

Waiting On Wednesday (579) Shelf Life (Hearts & Crafts #2) by Kelly Jensen

Waiting On Wednesday (578) Stick Shift (Big Bull Mechanics #3) by K.M. Neuhold

Waiting On Wednesday (577) The Humbug Holiday by Lane Hayes

Waiting On Wednesday (576) Merry Christmas Cupid (Hartbridge Christmas #3) by N.R. Walker

Waiting On Wednesday (575) Firecracker (Honeybridge #1) by Lucy Lennox and May Archer

Waiting On Wednesday (574) Christmas Spirit and His Last Christmas in London

Waiting On Wednesday (573) The Real Thing (West Coast Forensics #5) by Elle Keaton

Waiting On Wednesday (572) Subway Slayings (Memento Mori #2) by C.S. Poe

Waiting On Wednesday (571) Sass (Style #3) by Jay Hogan

Waiting On Wednesday (570) Unstable Connections (Valor and Doyle Mysteries #3) by Nicky James

Waiting On Wednesday (569) Dirty Trick (Palm Island #3) by K.M. Neuhold

Waiting On Wednesday (568) Bad Deal (A-List Security #3) by Annabeth Albert

Waiting On Wednesday (567) Petty Crimes by Eden Winters

Waiting On Wednesday (566) Bad Bishop (Perfect Play #2) by Layla Reyne

Waiting On Wednesday (565) One Vote for Murder (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #7) by S.C. Wynne

Waiting On Wednesday (564) Sundays with Oliver by Kelly Jensen

Waiting On Wednesday (563) The Sunny Side (The Model Agency #1) by Lily Morton

Waiting On Wednesday (562) Stroker (Big Bull Mechanics #2) by K.M. Neuhold

Waiting On Wednesday (561) Real Hazard (West Coast Forensics #4) by Elle Keaton

Waiting On Wednesday (560) Death at the Deep Dive (Secrets and Scrabble #7) by Josh Lanyon

Waiting On Wednesday (559) Meet Me There by K.M. Neuhold

Waiting On Wednesday (558) Hacked (Licking Thicket: Horn of Glory #3) by Lucy Lennox and May Archer

Waiting On Wednesday (557) Hide and Seek by Josh Lanyon

Waiting On Wednesday (556) Fish in a Barrel (Fish Out of Water #7) by Amy Lane