December 2020 books part 1: Albert, Walker, Rozan, Easton, Blakely

Save the Date, Annabeth Albert

Randall is his sister's best man. During her bachelorette party, he hooks up with Hunter. Little do they know that they'll be thrown together a lot more as Hunter is best man to the groom. 3 stars, don't plan to read more by this author.

Switched, N.R. Walker

Israel has never felt like he belonged to his cold parents. Unlike most kid's feeling of alienation, he really was switched at birth. Sam, his BFF is with him all the way as Israel decides whether to meet his birth family. 5 stars.

Point of No Return, N.R. Walker

Breaking Point

Starting Point

Matthew is an LAPD dectective working on illegal drugs. He's in the closet. He then meets Kira, boxing coaching and ex-MMA fighter. The sparks definitely there but is Kira willing to stay clandestine forever? Books 2 and 3 are equallly good but this is pretty angsty and has some violence. 5 stars

Upside Down, N.R. Walker

Very sweet story about two ace (asexual) men. Jordan is an awkward librarian. Hennessy starts a local support group for ace/aro/other people. 5 stars

The Art of Violence, S.J. Rozan

Bill Smith, NYC PI, is hired by a jailhouse artist, Sam Tabor, to prove decisively whether or not he's a serial killer. His art and powerful forces in the art world have gotten him released but more women have been killed and they fit the profile of the victim that put Sam in jail. Bill brings in his partner Lydia Chin to help. I really do love this series. There was a big leap forward in the previous book, and it's low-key but still here in this one. 5 stars

Family Camp, Eli Easton

I'm completely biased on this book. Travis was a foster kid taken in by a big mixed family that runs a camp in the San Bernardino mountains in southern California. I live right near there. Travis is now a popular and good baseball player for a local team. He's also in the closet for work reasons. Geo is a new foster parent with 2 unrelated kids who decides to take them to "family camp". They break down on the way up the mountain and Travis rescues them but is put off by an off-hand comment by Geo. However, they soon find that they have a lot in common. I took my 2 kids to a family camp this summer (in the pandemic! I know!) but I'd gone there as a camper, CIT, and counselor. It was really great and I loved this book. 5 stars

Angels Sing, Eli Easton

Jamie works in his uncle's bookstore and is dad to his sister's six-year-old daughter, Mia. Stanton ends up Mia's teacher and has to figure out a pageant too. Stanton is soon crushing on Jamie just as the bookstore looks like it's going to close for good. 4 stars

Tallowwood, N.R. Walker

August is a Sydney detective working cold cases. He thinks that he's spotted a serial killer but all the victims were written up as suicides, including his boyfriend. A new case in northern NSW has him matched with Jake Porter, local constable and LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous Liaison Office. Jake agrees that there's something going on but they find roadblocks from the coroners, their bosses, and everyone. 5 stars

Pieces of You, N.R. Walker

Pieces of Me

Pieces of Us

Hoo boy. This trilogy was really good. Dallas runs a motorcycle repair shop and is in love with one of his employees, Justin. Justin ends up in a terrible accident which wrecks him physically and mentally. He's lost 5 years of memory, including Dallas and the shop. The series is all about Justin recovering as much as he's able, falling in love with Dallas again, and learning how to cope with his new reality. 5 stars

65 Hours, N.R. Walker

Lucas and Cameron are ad execs in a very well-known agency. Lucas is also son of the owner. They've never gotten along personally. When a new, big account asks for a new campaign, good ol' dad sends the 2 off to come up with something in 65 hours. 

5 stars

His Grandfather's Watch, N.R. Walker

Alex works at an antique store as a restorer. Callum brings in an old watch. We end up finding out about two romances. 4 stars

A Guy Walks into my Bar, Lauren Blakely

Fitz is an American hockey player helping his sister get settled into her new college in London and is leaving in under a week. He ends up hooking up with Dean, pub owner, who also play tour guide around London. 4 stars

The Hate You Drink, N.R. Walker

Erik, rich young scion--great family, job, everything. He's BFF with Monroe another young scion. Monroe's always dragged Erik off to parties, to adventures. Now Monroe's spiraling into addiction after the death of his parents. He's finally hitting bottom and an intervention by Erik and his family force Monroe into seclusion with a therapist-to-the-rich to see if he can come out the other side.

5 stars

December 2020 books part 2: Blakely, Walker, Hart, Wilder

One Time Only, Lauren Blakely

Stone is a high-flying rock star, shagging everyone that comes into reach. Jackson is one of his bodyguards. They get on great but Jackson is having trouble dealing with his growing attraction to Stone.

4 stars, after this and A Guy Walks into my Bar--probably no more by this author

Reindeer Games, N.R. Walker

Leif and his BFF win tickets to the annual xmas masquerade at the tony nightclub, Evoque. Leif designs amazing costumes for them. The owner, Russ, is super lonely but unwilling to do anything about it. Attracted by Leif's reindeer antlers, he's intrigued by this young man who doesn't know who he is and is attracted by him, not his money.

5 stars

Reunion, Neve Wilder

Dane and Cole were BFFs in high school but had a huge falling out. Ten years later they're reunited at Cole's brother's wedding and the flames take over. A little kinky (caning). 4 stars

Collide (3 stars), Riley Hart

Stay, 4 stars

Pretend, 3 stars

Return to Blackcreek, 3 stars

Noah and Cooper became friends when they conked heads during football. They were inseparable until one day Noah and his parents disappears. 17 years later, Noah's back. Family secrets, misunderstandings. 

Wes just lost his sister and is now raising his niece. Braden, who was supposed to be a one-night-stand can't figure out why Wes immediately ducked out after their hook-up.

Mason wanted to succeed on his own and opened a bar rather than join the family's restaurant business. Gavin lost his music teacher job at a (religious) private school when he tried to help a gay student. 

Return is a novella that catches up with all three couples.

Giving Chase (4 stars), Riley Hart

Murphy's Law, 4 stars

Hard Knox, 4 stars

Griff's Place, 5 stars

Chase and Griffin are BFFs. Kellan is Griffin's little brother. Chase has always treated Kellan like a kid brother until one evening when Kellan was 18. Chase joined the marines (already planned) and then became a policeman. He's now back in town and Kellan's looking mighty fine...

Lawson met the reserved musician Remy when they were eighteen. Law helped Remy realize his dreams of being a musician but because of the pressure to stay in the closet, Law left. Now Remy's back.

Callum ends up in Havenwood after a cheating ex where he meets "lumberjack" Knox. Knox's kid Logan has just moved in and connects with Callum. One kiss and Knox realizes he's bi. 

Griff's never felt like he belonged but his brother Kellan suggests he might be ace or demi. Griff's becoming attracted to Josh, Kellan's best friend. 

Dare You To, Riley Hart

Austin spends almost all his time at a LGBTQ youth center, except for a weekly night with his BFF, Dare. Dare's always been on the go, except for when he's with Austin. 3 stars

Exchange of Hearts, N.R. Walker

Harrison is destined to go to medical school just like his father, but all he dreams about it playing the piano professionally. Levi arrives from London as an exchange student to Harrison's prestigious high school. Can Levi convince Harrison to follow his dreams? 4 stars

December 2020 books part 3: Northcote, Easton

First Class Package, Jay Northcote
Jim, a WFH science writer, finds the temporary postman, Patrick, super attractive. Will they ever manage to get together? 3 stars

Rainbow Place (Rainbow Place 1), Jay Northcote

Seb moves to a small seaside town in Cornwall so he can open a cafe/bar. He hires Jason to help renovate the space. When word gets out that the place will be LGBT-friendly, it gets trashed. A bunch of people turn out to help clean up including the local rugby team (we'll see a bunch of their members in later books). Seb's out-and-proud. Jason's deep, deep in the closet with an ex-wife and daughter. Is a chance at love with Seb enough to bring Jason into the light? 4 stars

Safe Place (Rainbow Place 2), Jay Northcote

Alec is firmly in the closet but hopes to escape it when he goes away to university. Unfortunately, he fails a required exam and is now stuck. When caught by his father in a compromising position, he's kicked out and fired from his job. He ends up staying with Cam but Cam's not willing to act on their mutual attraction. 4 stars

Better Place (Rainbow Place 3), Jay Northcote

Joe is taking a break to concentrate on his writing. His partner, Harry, is not keen on it. Dylan finds Joe enticing and is worried when he overhears some of Joe and Harry's interactions. 4 stars

Mud & Lace (Rainbow Place 4), Jay Northcote

Wicksy has only been attracted to women before, but finds Lady Gogo, a new drag queen to be amazingly attractive. Charlie loves being in drag, and even dressing feminine to make himself and Wicksy happy. 4 stars

Happy Place (Rainbow Place 5), Jay Northcote

Quentin has been burned by noncommittal men but finds a kindred spirit in George who's just now dealing with an attraction to a man. George was strictly brought up to believe that gays are evil. Can he overcome it? 5 stars

Imperfect Harmony, Jay Northcote

John stopped being a musician when his partner died two years ago. When he ends up helping his neighbor after her operation, she entices him to join the local community choir since he's driving her there anyway. 4 stars

Cold Feet, Jay Northcote

Ryan and Sam are old friends. They head to a remote Welsh cottage for a meet up with 2 other friends. They make it but their friends don't, and are snowed in for a few days. 4 stars

The Trouble with Tony, Eli Easton

After a gunshot, Tony left the police force and became a P.I. He's taken on a case where a young woman committed suicide, but her parents don't believe it. Her husband has an alibi. As Tony investigates, he finds that the young woman was seeing a therapist as a sex clinic. Could the therapist be involved? 4 stars

The Mating of Michael, Eli Easton

Michael is a nurse and part-time sex surrogate. The latter has caused several relationships to go south. He gets a chance to meet J.C. Guise AKA James Gallway, his favorite SF writer. James caught polio while traveling in India with his mother. He also believes no one would ever want to be with him. 5 stars

Puzzle Me This, Eli Easton

Luke designs video games from home and walks his dog up into the nearby woods everyday. He suddenly realizes that the daily crosswords hold secret messages for him which means someone is watching...Alex is a crossword and logic puzzle creator, also working from home and wheelchair-bound. Can Luke make Alex realize that they may be able to make a happy life with each other? 5 stars

The Enlightment of Daniel, Eli Easton

Daniel has always been driven, just like his father. When his father gets a terminal diagnosis, he tells Daniel to stop working so hard and figure out what will really make him happy. Daniel realizes that he's lusting after his business partner and best friend, Nick. Nick is unhappily married with 2 kids. Is there a HEA for everyone? 5 stars

The Redemption of River, Eli Easton

River has always traveled and studied eastern philosophies. A licensed massage therapist including tantric massage, he's housesitting for 6 months or so in Seattle. He meets Brent, who owns several coffee shops, through his work. They get on like a house afire including River giving Brent an idea for a new style of shop. Is Brent enough of an attraction to keep River from floating on to the next interesting place? 4 stars

Secret Santa, Jay Northcote

Theo is gay but hooked up with his female BFF and ended up with part-time custody of a super cute kid. He decides to join an online dating app and finds Luke who's tired of hook-ups. Theo decides to keep his dad status a secret until he's more sure that this might be going somewhere and Luke's made some disparaging comments about kids too. Then Theo takes his son to see Santa at the mall, not realizing that it's Luke. Will their secrets drive them apart? 4 stars

What Happens at Christmas, Jay Northcote

Justin and Sean have been friends since college. The timing has never seemed right for Sean to make a play for Justin until now, when Justin is smarting from a breakup. They decide to pretend to be dating at Justin's work's holiday party... 4 stars

A Family for Christmas, Jay Northcote

Rudy comes from a close-knit family while Zac grew up in-and-out of the foster care system. While drunk at an office party, Rudy invites Zac to join him and his family for Christmas... 4 stars