Waiting For Wentworth

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

Expected Publication: October 27, 2022

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:
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?