Hi Everyone!

As we approach the tail end of the year, I’ve found myself needing to escape the daily hustle of preparing for the upcoming holidays by diving into books about faraway places and way-out storylines.

So this month’s selections are a mixture of good old fashioned fantasies, action adventure and stories with mysteries to solve. All my favourites to read, and I hope yours too.

“Then Sawyer Happened” by Hurri Cosmo

From the blurb:

Trace has had a run of bad luck. He lost his job, his boyfriend of two years was cheating on him, and his apartment building burned right to the ground with all his worldly possessions.

So Trace heads for the ranch owned by his aunt Lois. But before he arrives, Lois is in a terrible car accident that nearly takes her life, and Trace finds himself in charge of the ranch kitchen. Sounds simple enough and it’s the least he can do for his recuperating aunt.

Then Sawyer happens.

Sawyer is his aunt’s sexy straight ranch manager. Meeting the man should have been okay, except it was in the middle of his aunt’s kitchen at five in the morning and Trace was nearly naked. Then the next day Trace proceeded to set his aunt’s house on fire and the brooding Sawyer comes to the rescue. Not to mention Aunt Lois’s “accident” was actually attempted murder and it seems those same people want Trace dead, too.

Looks like Trace’s luck followed him. How can Trace figure out who’s trying to kill him AND keep Sawyer from finding out he’s hot for the cowboy? He probably can’t. But he’s going to try.

My Thoughts:

Then Sawyer Happened is an excellent mixture of cowboy fantasy and whodunnit mystery. It’s sexy, humorous, compelling, the mystery elements are well constructed. All in all, a fun read. A warning though: there are a couple of slightly disturbing scenes of violence (and threats of violence) which may be upsetting to some readers. These are brief, but worth pointing out.

“Clashing Hearts” by Nicky James

From the blurb:

EASTON

There is nothing I hate more than when some big-city outsider stirs trouble in my peaceful little town. When Mr. Arrogance himself waltzes in and thinks he can slap a price tag on my land, he doesn’t know what he has coming. I’m not just a hick cowboy who’s going to bend to his good looks and charmless personality. No, sir.
I don’t care how smart he looks in his fancy suits, all he cares about is money.
I just wish I’d known who he was before I kissed him.

LACHLAN

The last thing I wanted was to get stuck in a small town with a plethora of quirky people. If the stubborn cowboy doesn’t see sense soon, I don’t know what I’ll do. Failure is not an option. I was sent to make a deal, and I’m not leaving until it’s done.
I don’t care how hot he looks in his low hanging denim, boots, and hat, he wouldn’t see a good opportunity if it smacked him in the face.
I just wish I could get the taste of him off my tongue.

City and country collide in this enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, low-angst MM romance novel.

My Thoughts:

More cowboys, only this time it’s an enemies-to-lovers romance with a touch of angst stirred in. Despite Easton and Lachlan seeming like total opposites, both men are remarkably similar in that they are both stubborn and refuse to accept that life means change. But slowly, over the course of a summer, they begin to see they aren’t so different and that change doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Wonderful characters and a lovely story – an excellent weekend read.

“Jon’s Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case” by A.J. Sherwood

From the blurb:

I’m Jonathan Bane, a licensed psychic who consults for the police. I routinely help the police put the bad guys away and, for that reason, the criminal world doesn’t like me much. People like to take a swing at me, or go stabbity, or try for a gun. It makes for interesting times. My psychic ability prevents me from handling anything electronic—and I do mean ANYTHING, I fry it in seconds—so calling for help isn’t always a possibility.

I need an anchor, a partner, but I’m resigned: it’s just wishful thinking. At least, I thought so until he walked through the door.

Donovan Havili looks like a thug and has the soul of a superhero. He shines so bright in my vision it’s like watching a supernova. He definitely has the right mindset and skills for this crazy job. But asking anyone to take me on long-term is a bit much. And now we’ve got multiple cases to handle, a Chinese exchange student falsely accused who needs our help, and someone taking random shots at me. It’s a bit much for any new guy to handle and I’m half-afraid that my new partner will run for the door.

But in Donovan Havili, the criminal world has met its match. And maybe, just maybe, I have as well.

My Thoughts:

This one was just plain fun! A good natured action/adventure/mystery with a nice romantic subplot. Jon and Donovan are brilliant characters, the story is instantly engaging and this book is just so much fun to read. The first in a series, I can’t wait to start the next book and see what happens next. Highly recommended.

Employee Of The Month

Well, that’s all from me for this month!

I hope you all have a fantastic month. Stay safe, read lots of books and be kind to one another.

Lots of Love

Alex Leslie

Uncategorized blog post blurb book books novel reading recommendations review