Waiting For Wentworth

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?