Waiting For Wentworth

Waiting On Wednesday (464) Why I Held Your Hand by Augusta Reilly

Expected publication: October 23rd 2020

Genre: 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:
Laura Delaney loves her small mountain hometown of North Powell with its quaint charm, stately Victorian homes and surrounding hiking trails. Unfortunately, when it comes to attracting travel dollars, it can no longer compete with the flashy hot springs and ski slopes of nearby competitors.

That’s why she hires a hotshot marketing team to figure out how to inject the old magic back into North Powell’s sagging tourist trade. What she doesn’t expect is for the team to include David Harper. Smart, funny, handsome, and amazing in bed, he’s the perfect man. All she needs to do now is keep their relationship under wraps until the project is over.

But that’s easier said than done when she’s assigned to work with Spence Markham, the company’s offbeat “idea man” and David’s professional nemesis. When Spence suggests hosting a Dickens Festival to revitalize the town’s once-booming holiday season, Laura is thrilled. She’s even more thrilled when Spence falls in love with Powell House, the dilapidated Victorian that Laura hopes to renovate and turn into a town museum. But is Spence falling in love with her as well?

As the Festival nears, Laura’s feelings for both men intensify. Her relationship with David has only gotten better—and hotter—and yet she finds herself counting down the days until she can see Spence again.

Soon, what started as a simple assignment becomes a tale of two possible futures. But which one will Laura choose?

I really don't read too much M/F romance lately, however, I like this cover. Shallow, I know. I don't like cheating, though, so hopefully that part of the story doesn't piss me off.

What are you waiting on this week?

Last week I whined about my computer crapping out on me, now my clothes dryer crapped out. We've only had it a little over a year! Not a good time for it - my husband tested positive for Covid-19 so we're all quarantined for 2 weeks. 2 weeks!! This sucks.

AND my birthday was Monday, so we relied on an Amazon delivery, and luckily, my brother lives close and dropped off a cake on the front porch for me. Go away 2020!!!!

The Heart Heist

(Crimes of the Heart #2)

by Elle Keaton

Expected publication: October 20th 2020

Genre: M/M, Romance

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

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jacob stole Duff's heart and he didn't even know it.

Duff has no plan, he's a leaf on the wind letting himself go where life takes him.

Except it keeps taking him back to Jacob the sexy yoga instructor.

Duff and Jacob are just friends, right?

This whole friends with benefits arrangement was ending up a whole lot more complicated than Duff expected.

I had so many books to read that were released in September that I didn't get around to reading the first book in this series. I still have time to catch up, though, before this one is released. And then book 3 comes out in November. SO many books to read, and not enough time. AND sometimes it's hard to decide what to read next!!

What are you waiting on this week?

Headlines (Prime Time #3)
by Ella Frank
Expected publication: September 28th 2020
Genre: M/M, Romance

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

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Xander
If I had to describe Sean Bailey, it would be as the sexy, caring, wonderful man I’ve gone and fallen in love with. I never could’ve imagined a world where he was my everything. But with each passing day, the connection between us grows stronger, and the idea of a world without him is something I can’t imagine.

But Sean’s love doesn’t come without complications. As the older brother of my lifelong best friend, this new love has caused relationships to break down and communication to become stilted, and the one question that remains is: am I willing to give up the love and friendship of one for the chance of love and forever with another?

Sean
I didn’t mean to fall in love with Alexander Thorne, my brother’s ex and the number one prime-time news anchor in the country. I mean, no one could’ve seen that coming—least of all me. But that’s exactly what happened over these past couple of months: I fell in love.

That’d be complicated enough, I suppose, but Xander? Well, he fell in love with me too, and while it’s caused some major upset in the dynamics around here, I have to believe that a love this real can only lead to somewhere amazing.

This thing between us started out as a job, a friend helping out a friend. But after playing the role of Xander’s boyfriend, I find myself wanting the job full-time, because neither of us are playing anymore.

This series turned out to be okay. I haven't read any other books by this author because they just don't seem like I would enjoy them. I'll have to keep an eye out for her future books to see if anything appeals to me.

I'm going to whine and wallow in my self pity for a moment - my computer died and I'm sad and I miss it SOOOO much. Why did you die on me, computer? I'm sorry I looked at another computer that is prettier and newer than you, but you didn't have to crap out on me. I wasn't really going to replace you, I was just looking!!

Now I'm using my old, steady, reliable, best friend in the world laptop. And oh how I hate this 'new' Blogger interface that looks like it's from pre 2007 - you know, before they improved it and made it so easy to edit posts without having to know code. What IS this? Am I the only one having this much difficulty formatting blog posts?

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

Feinted Love
(Crimes of the Heart #1)
by Elle Keaton
Expected publication: September 17th 2020
Genre: M/M, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A gambit for love, a half-baked revenge plot; one hot Seattle summer…

Arnie

One minute I’m minding my own business enjoying the sunshine, next I’m wearing my iced coffee.

I’m going to teach Tobias Barrington a thing or two; first: you don’t always get what you want. I have no idea what the second is, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Falling in love with Tobias is not on the list.

Tobias

I've never forgotten Arnie Ferguson, or the night we had together. When I find him again, I want to get to know him—as more than a friend.

I may come from a wealthy family; but I know better than most that money can’t buy happiness. But brash, socially awkward Arnie Ferguson makes me think happiness is possible when you let your heart choose.

Feinted Love is a first person, dual POV, following Arnie Ferguson and Tobias Barrington as they do their best to awkwardly fall in love. No cliff hanger, HEA guaranteed. Heat level, 3+.

The Hitman's Guide to Tying the Knot Without Getting Shot
(The Hitman's Guide #3)
by Alice Winters
Published September 15th 2020
Genre: M/M, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Leland
Is a nice little wedding with Blow-up Randy and Jackson My Love too much to ask for? Clearly, because someone’s trying to kill one of us… again. Generally, this would be my thing and I would jump right in singing my murder song, but they want Jackson dead and I will do anything (and I mean anything) to keep him alive—including and not limited to: ten Dobermans, bulletproof glass, and dragging Cassel in with the promise of more Jerebear. These people have no idea what they’ve done targeting the man I love because I’m coming after them. But when it feels like everything might be lost, I start to understand that I have a family now who will stand by my side and do everything they can to make sure we end this on our terms.

Jackson
When someone attacks me, it’s clear they want something from me. The issue is that I have no idea who they are or what they’re after. And if I don’t figure it out soon, I’m afraid Leland is going to smother me with his overprotectiveness (or put me in a bubble at the top of a tower). The issue is that time is ticking and with the price tag on my head, there’s no telling who is coming for me or when. Together, Leland and I have to decipher who is telling the truth in this game of life or death because I have plans to marry the man of my dreams and no one is going to stop me—especially with Leland by my side.

This 100k word book contains humor, action, romance, bad behavior on a golf course, sort of abducting a child who lacks kung fu power, enough car chases and shooting to make even Leland happy, and spontaneous singing.

There is another series that I love love love from Elle Keaton, so I'm hoping (fingers crossed) that I will enjoy this new series from her.

I still need to read the 2nd book in the Hitman's Guide series, so maybe I'll read them back to back.

What are you waiting on this week?

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

Spooky Business
(The Spectral Files #3)
by S.E. Harmon

Expected publication: September 14th 2020

Genre: M/M, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Being insatiably curious is a good way to end up dead.

Rain Christiansen, cold case detective and reluctant medium, is very aware of that fact. But when infamous serial killer Thomas Kane wants to meet, there’s no way Rain can say no. He also can’t refuse Kane’s offer—find his missing wife, Delilah, and he’ll reveal the location of his victim’s bodies.

Rain has never turned down a good quid pro quo, and he doesn’t intend to start.

The hunt for Kane’s wife leads to yet another cold case, three copycat murders, and an investigation where nothing is as it seems. Soon, Rain is dealing with a ghost unlike any he’s ever dealt with before…a ghost capable of doing things he shouldn’t be able to do. How can Rain control something he doesn’t even understand? And what will he do when the unknown threatens the safety of the most important person in his life?

Rain is starting to realize that he can only battle the supernatural with the supernatural, and that is spooky business indeed.

The Curse of Redwood
(Ivy Grove #2) by Jaclyn Osborn

Expected publication: September 9th 2020

Genre: M/M, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Secrets lie within the walls of Redwood Manor.

The murders, alleged curse, and ghost stories have fascinated Carter ever since he moved to Ivy Grove. After attending a Halloween ball at the mansion and meeting a man almost too beautiful to be real, Carter is captivated even more.
But the man disappears after that, leaving Carter with nothing but the memory of a kiss.

Despite the warnings to stay away, Carter delves deeper into the mystery of Redwood, desperate for answers. He soon finds himself tangled up in a century old curse, one that has claimed countless lives in the past. And at the center of that curse is the man who’d swept him off his feet.

Who is Ezekiel Warren? And how is he connected to the curse?

As Carter unravels the secrets of the mansion, he begins to fall in love with the charming blond who haunts its halls.
Redwood is a place for dead things, yet Carter’s never felt more alive than when in Ezekiel’s arms.

One thing is clear: Redwood Manor has a hold on Carter now. And it’s not only his life on the line, but his heart as well.

*The Curse of Redwood is Book 2 in the Ivy Grove series and features a paranormal romance with an elegant but grumpy ghost, a meddlesome twink, and a few scares. Best to read in order. HEA guaranteed. *

I'm SO happy about Spooky Business! The first book in this series was originally a stand alone. WHY???? You can't end a book on a cliffhanger when the guy can SEE AND TALK TO DEAD PEOPLE! What is that????!!!! Thankfully, the author realized there was a demand for more, so here we are at book 3. Hmph.

My other pick this week is The Curse of Redwood, which is the second book in this series. I have the first book waiting on my Kindle, so I'll probably read these back to back.

What are you waiting on this week?

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

Stay (In Midsummer #3)
by Jessica Frances

Expected publication: September 4th 2020

Genre: M/M, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

One screaming baby. One too many diaper disasters. One surprise shooter. One victim. One perpetrator. One blast from the past.

Having a surprise baby dropped at your doorstep has to be the worst kind of relationship buzzkill in history. Instead of dating, now Rocky and I have shifted into becoming exhausted parents with zero time for any kind of fun. Everything is moving so fast that something has to give. I just hope that something won’t be us.
Then, when a shooter comes after Rocky and their aim is a little too close for comfort, important questions need to be answered. Who wants Rocky dead? How far are they willing to go to make it happen? How much luck can one person have before it runs out? And where on earth did Rocky put those spare baby diapers?
With someone gunning for not only Rocky but also our relationship, one has to wonder just how many hits we can take before it all falls apart.

Screwed (Four Bears Construction #4)
by K.M. Neuhold

Expected publication: September 2nd 2020

Genre: M/M, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I've had my fair share of less than proud relationship moments, but waking up married to my brother-in-law's best friend is a new low.

A drunken wedding to a man who already rejected me once? Check. A hefty bet about how long it will last? Check. My feisty new husband, determined to make our friends pay up? Double check.

I've never managed to make a real relationship last nearly a year, there's no way Daniel will stick around long enough to win this bet. The only problem is the longer he stays, the more the lines blur between what's real and what's for show. Does he feel it too or am I totally screwed?

***Screwed is a woke up married, faking it to their friends but also totally hooking up, sweet, STEAMY love story that happens to be the fourth book in the Four Bears Construction series. There are no bear shifters in this series, only the OTHER kind of bears.

There are a lot of September releases that I am looking forward to!

I want to read Stay (In Midsummer) even though book 2 wasn't the greatest. I want to like this series, but the stories keep falling flat for me. The mysteries aren't interesting, and the romance is just okay. I want to keep reading to see how things turn out, but man, I hope it gets better!

Screwed is the 4th book in a series that I'm actually enjoying! I like that the characters are all friends, so there is a bit of a crossover in each book. Ollie is in love with being in love and keeps rushing into marriages that are quick to fail. It'll be interesting to see how this fake marriage works out. (2 thumbs down on that cover, though!!)

What are you waiting on this week?

The Sugared Game
(The Will Darling Adventures #2)
by K.J. Charles

Expected publication: August 26th 2020 by KJC Books

Genre: M/M, Historical, Romance

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

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It's been two months since Will Darling saw Kim Secretan, and he doesn't expect to see him again. What do a rough and ready soldier-turned-bookseller and a disgraced shady aristocrat have to do with each other anyway?

But when Will encounters a face from the past in a disreputable nightclub, Kim turns up, as shifty, unreliable, and irresistible as ever. And before Will knows it, he's been dragged back into Kim's shadowy world of secrets, criminal conspiracies, and underhand dealings.

This time, though, things are underhanded even by Kim standards. This time, the danger is too close to home. And if Will and Kim can't find common ground against unseen enemies, they risk losing everything.

A 1920s m/m romance trilogy in the spirit of Golden Age pulp fiction.

I just finished reading the first book in this series, so of course I want to read this asap! I adore Will, but Kim is such a shit!! I hope my opinion of him improves.

What are you waiting on this week?

A Guy Walks Into My Bar by Lauren Blakely

Expected publication: August 19th 2020 by Little Dog Press

Genre: M/M, Romance

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

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Every bartender should follow one simple rule—don't go home with the customers.

That’s been easy for me to stick to, until the night a cocky, confident, and sinfully charming hockey star walks into my bar. This sexy athlete is too hard to resist, especially when he makes it clear how much he wants the “sarcastic, witty, hot AF” guy behind the bar—also known as me.

Still, I’m not keen on breaking my own rules since I know where that can lead—no place good.

But when that man makes his case with one bone-searing kiss on the streets of London, I throw resistance out the window.

What could go wrong with a hot, dirty, no-strings-attached fling before he leaves town in five days?

Trouble is, soon our nights together lead to days, to long conversations, to getting to know each other, and to something I never expected—falling ridiculously hard for a man who’s getting on a plane to America when I live a world away.

My life is here. His is there. And no amount of falling or feeling will change that one big problem.

Warning: contains hot hotel sex, loads of dirty talk, PDA all over London, and two sexy, witty, charming alpha heroes…

I've never read anything by this author before. This is her first foray into M/M, so I'll see how it goes. Wish me luck!

What are you waiting on this week?

Pages

Waiting On Wednesday (464) Why I Held Your Hand by Augusta Reilly

Waiting On Wednesday (463) The Heart Heist (Crimes of the Heart #2) by Elle Keaton

Waiting on Wednesday (462) Headlines (Prime Time #3) by Ella Frank

Waiting on Wednesday (461) Feinted Love by Elle Keaton and The Hitman's Guide #3 by Alice Winters

Waiting on Wednesday (460) Spooky Business by S.E. Harmon and The Curse of Redwood by Jaclyn Osborn

Waiting on Wednesday (459) Stay by Jessica Frances and Screwed by K.M. Neuhold

Waiting on Wednesday (458) The Sugared Game (The Will Darling Adventures #2) by K.J. Charles

Waiting on Wednesday (457) A Guy Walks Into My Bar by Lauren Blakely