Seizing his one chance to escape, Ethan Hosking leaves his violent ex-boyfriend, leaves his entire life, and walks into the path of a raging bushfire. Desperate to start over, a new man named Aubrey Hobbs walks out of the fire-ravaged forest, alive and alone. With no ID and no money, nothing but his grandfather’s telescope, he goes where the Southern Cross leads him.Patrick Carney is the resident lighthouse keeper in Hadley Cove, a small town on the remote Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia. After the tragic death of his lover four years ago, he lives a solitary life; just him, a tabby cat, the Indian and Southern Oceans, and a whole lot of loneliness. He’s content with his life until a stranger shows up in town and turns Patrick’s head.Patrick never expected to be interested in anyone else. Aubrey never expected to be happy. Between Aubrey’s love of the stars and Patrick’s love of the ocean, these two fragile hearts must navigate new waters. If they can weather the storm of their pasts, they could very well have a love that eclipses everything.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Because I cannot give it all of the stars in the galaxy I guess we will go with the max allowed– 5 STARS!!!

This was not an easy read. I happened upon it in a book rec group. A person was asking for something emotional. I grabbed it because I love a book that makes me FEEL although I was a bit skeptical because most emotional book recs fall flat for me in the feels department.

Ethan is trying to start over after narrowly escaping his abusive ex with his life. The last beating he gave him was the worst yet and Ethan was done being a punching bag. With a raging bush fire causing residence all around him to be forced to evacuate, Ethan did something pretty dumb but completely necessary if he wanted to live another day. Ethan walked towards instead of away from the fire and when he emerged on the other side, Ethan no longer existed. Aubrey Hobbs was now his name and it was time to try and start over.

Patrick is just trying to get trough each day. He lives a life of solitude as the lighthouse keeper and local handyman in a tiny coastal town in Australia that borders 2 oceans. There is a sadness inside of him that will never go away. It almost seemed as if he couldn’t allow himself any sort of happiness as it would be a betrayal to his partner who died at sea several years prior.

Both of these men are broken in their own way and both believe they do not deserve happiness. When the mystery man in town keeps catching the eye of single lighthouse keeper, Patrick is determined to spend more time getting to know Aubrey Hobbs. And the more time the 2 spend with one another, the harder it becomes to resist the obvious attraction. However they are both scared of the outcome should they decide to act on their emotions. Aubrey is damaged goods. No one will ever want him. And Patrick just isn’t ready to give his heart to another after what happened the last time. Little did either of them know in the beginning but they will need one another in order to heal.

My eyes were puffy by the time I finished this book. I cannot count the times I either teared up or flat out bawled. My heart physically hurt. I know what you are thinking- it was only a book. Well you can zip it because this wasn’t just any old book. This book made me feel all the things and I loved it so much. Book #44 of 2024 earned a spot on my yearly top 10 that is for sure.
Now I’m off to investigate. As if my TBR pile isnt already overflowing, I need to know if one of the side characters from this book ever got his own story.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Oh. My. Goodness! *fans self* This book was so HOT! Keyes- closeted biker who is hated by his father. He is a member of an MC and also runs a tire shop. For the most part he keeps to himself. Alec- black sheep of his family. Outspoken lawyer who isn’t afraid to say what he wants. Works for the assistant DAs office who is trying to take down Keyes’ MC. They cross paths one night on a dark highway in the middle of no where. It’s an encounter neither man will be able to forget. These 2 are such an unlikely pair- there is no way they would every work out, right? The chemistry between them was undeniable and no matter how much they tried, the couldn’t pretend what was happening between them wasn’t real. Any sort of a relationship may have been doomed from the start but they were just so perfect for each other. I CAN NOT WAIT for the conclusion of Alec and Keyes story. I really hope it ends in a happily ever after.

Jason loves walking dogs, but he has plans to do something bigger with his life. Not big like change the world kind of big. But big enough to change at least a few lives. So when he sees an empty garden center with a fenced yard, he gets an idea. Maybe he and Jesse could set up their doggy daycare business there.

Tony owns a small clinic downtown that caters to professionals in need of a flu shot or the uninsured who have no other options. Not a lot of in-between cases. So when Harris calls in a favor for a cute boy with a cut that he’d been ignoring for too long, he’s excited for the change. This kid has a smart mouth and a sassy attitude, but Tony can tell that he just needs a Daddy to give him some boundaries without breaking his spirit.

The attraction is instant, but the willingness to accept what is right in front of them takes a bit longer.

This Daddy/boy romance is sweet and sexy with a guaranteed happy ever after.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Jason needs someone who appreciates him for him. Seems everytime he finds someone who at first seems like Daddy potential, ends up not being able to deal with Jason’s bratty side. He needs a Daddy who will love all sides of him.

Tony is a single doctor. When a mouthy patient shows up at his practice in need of treatment, he leaves quite the impression. Once he leaves Tony can’t seem to get the boy out of his mind. He takes a chance and asks Jason on a date. They get to know one another and when they finally connect on a more intimate level, there’s no turning back.

This was a fun, quick, hot af read. It has been fun getting to know all of the men in this series.

Born and raised in beautiful California, Aria enjoys the year round sunshine and laid back environment of the west coast. Her career started out in tech writing and web development and has evolved into all things marketing with fingers in everything related to book publishing.

She lives with her husband and two children and more pets than she can keep track of. Despite her crazy schedule, she loves the time she carves out to read and write. Whether it’s on the beach or on the couch at 2am, she is a woman obsessed!

She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to drop her a note or visit her at www.ariagracebooks.com.

If you’d like to know when Aria’s next book is coming out or where she’ll be signing, join her mailing list at: http://bit.ly/AriaGraceFanList

Harris didn’t want to spend fourteen hours on the road during a storm, but when he hears about a dog in need of a home a few states away, he makes the trek. Not long after his journey home, he passes a bus stop with a person who doesn’t even look alive.

When Jesse snuck out of the trailer in the dead of night, he didn’t have a plan. He just needed to get away. And after an hour of walking, he realizes how stupid he was to leave on foot. Just because he wasn’t going to die at the hands of his ex tonight doesn’t mean he won’t freeze to death on his way out. Curled up in the corner of a bus stop, he closes his eyes and waits for peace to finally find him.

But when a strong man picks him up and puts him inside a warm pickup truck, he has to wonder if maybe an angel found him after all. And good ol’ vigilante justice is the only thing that makes Jesse feel safe. Well, that and the man he aches to call Daddy.

This Daddy/boy romance is sweet and sexy with some dark moments and a happy ever after.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Harris is on a little road trip to save a dog when fate intervenes. Jesse is running from an abusive boyfriend. He ends up in a bus enclosure, freezing and barely clinging to life. Harris finds Jesse just in time and he wants nothing more than to protect this stranger. He will do anything to keep him safe.
This was a cute short story about a Daddy finding his boy. Harris and Jesse were meant for one another. I enjoyed getting to know the 2 of them as I read their story. This was book 1 of 9 in the series. Each book is about a different couple.

When Theodore Davenport decides to switch his mundane job for a career, he walks into Holden House Publishing with enthusiasm and determination to succeed. As he settles into his new role, makes new friends, and dreams of making it to the top, everything is going to plan.

Until he meets James Holden, CEO of Holden House.James

Holden hasn’t been able to stop thinking about his encounter with the timid man he met in a club bathroom last week, and when he discovers the one haunting his dreams is an employee, he can’t seem to stop himself from pursuing him.Just a little fun – that’s what James tells himself. He can’t afford to care for someone who can never reciprocate, not once they find out who he really is. James believes nobody deserves the burden of being attached to him. He’s a complicated man. Damaged. Difficult. Demanding.Broken.

Is Theodore strong enough to confront James’ demons? More importantly, is James?
(M/M romance. Not suitable for readers under 18 years of age due to language and sexual content. ***Please note*** This book contains scenes of self harm, mental illness and suicidal ideation which may be uncomfortable for some readers.)

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

I usually go into books blind but I’ve had a real struggle as of late finding a book to grab my attention. This seems to happen to me a few times a year, as such, I was gathering recs from an MM book group when I happened across this one. I skimmed the blurb and dove in.
There was something about this book. It had my rapt attention from the first page.
The title should have been enough of a warning that my heart may end up breaking but the author managed to fix that before the last page. Mental illness is nothing to be taken lightly and I feel like the author did a wonderful job of handling the subject with finesse. Please read the author note as the subjects covered in this book may be triggering to some.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

I can’t stop smiling. Lance is so poetic. I love him. He’s just perfect.
He’s gentle, kind, and patient. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes to sweep Hudson off of his feet.
Hudson is anti relationships and there is nothing his teenage crush can do to change his mind. Things are perfectly fine how they are. Lance worked hard to try and earn Hudson’s trust and hopefully his heart. It was adorable.

The way A.d. creates a world where you want to know more about book after book is beyond me. I’m excited to see what happens next in this series.

“The perfect binge listen.”—Yahoo Lifestyle

Instant #1 New York Times bestseller.

The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him….

More praise for The Silent Patient:

“Absolutely brilliant… I read it in a state of intense, breathless excitement.”—Stephen Fry

“Smart, sophisticated storytelling freighted with real suspense—a very fine novel by any standard.”—Lee Child

“The Silent Patient sneaks up on you like a slash of intimidating shadow on a badly lit street. Michaelides has crafted a totally original, spellbinding psychological mystery so quirky, so unique that it should have its own genre.”—David Baldacci

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Whoa! I will keep this short and sweet as I feel this book needs to be experienced by the reader without much information to go on. There were so many plot twists. I didn’t see them coming. I love a good mystery; one that makes you think and this one freaking delivered! I couldn’t tell you how many times I was just like what the $&%@ did that just say?! I’m still sitting here processing The Silent Patient, 8 days later. I’m sure I will eventually be able to pick up another book.

Alex Michaelides was born and raised in Cyprus. He has an M.A. in English literature from Trinity College, Cambridge University, and an M.A. in screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. The Silent Patient was his first novel and was the biggest-selling debut in the world in 2019. It spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list and sold in a record-breaking forty-nine countries. Alex lives in London.

Cash DeMarco

Five years ago, I gave my heart and soul to my professor. He made me fall for him, only to destroy me with his silence. I’ve never been the same. I finally have the chance to leave this town, start over, and try to move on with my life. But what happens when fate insists the chapter of your life that haunts you isn’t over?

Stone Philips

He was the temptation I shouldn’t have divulged in. The secret that ruined everything. He was the beginning to my end, and when I left, I left as the shell of the man I once was. Just like with the angriest of storms, when he walks back into my life, destruction and chaos are never far behind. The universe has a funny way of bringing everything full circle, opening old wounds, and forcing you to face your destiny.

*Kismet is a full-length, standalone, MM romance novel about missed opportunity, right person/wrong time, heartbreak, and second chances.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

I’m pretty sure I just finished my favorite book of the year. This one may have even made my top 10 ever list. Every once in a while I read a book and think 5 stars just don’t do it justice. A whole lot of boxes have to be checked in order to meet those requirements.

I want to start by saying I’ve never been drawn to student/teacher romance. I’ve read a couple of good ones but they aren’t my go to. I happened upon this book when I was looking for something to read and it took like 2 days to find something.  From the beginning, this story just “felt” different. I was intrigued with the plot and the 2 men, Cash and Stone, had me slowly becoming obsessed. Speaking of slow, it took me 12 days to read this book. Some days I would only read 1 or 2 chapters. Not because I didn’t like the book, quite the opposite actually, I honestly just wanted to savor every page. Without giving too much away, let’s dig into the boxes it checked…
• I didn’t want it to end. When I feel that way the book is at least rating a high 4 for me.
• My heart freaking hurt on more than one occasion for these characters. By end end of Part 1, I was bawling!
• Nothing about this was easy or instant. There was angst and I love me some angst. The character development was superb. The raw emotion displayed by these 2 men had me invested in their relationship and hoping for a positive ending to their story.
• I laughed, I felt and I cried. But most importantly, I ugly cried. I know I’m not with the majority but if someone tells me a book made them ugly cry I’m like- tell me more. Lol

I know above I mentioned student/teacher but it was also a 2nd chance at romance and I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for them if they are well written. And I believe this one was very well written. This was my first read by Ashley but certainly not my last. I’m looking forward to exploring their backlist.

About the author

Hey friends! We, The Twinsie Girls (Angie, Melinda, JM, Kelly, Tenise, and Dee) talked to some of the readers attending Writers on the River to see what they had to say about the event.  As we come down from our book signing highs from July and start to prepare for 2025, YEAR 10, we wanted to see what some of the attendees are saying about Writers on the River.

Today we are chatting with the one and only Amy Schaffer.  You can find her where ever Kate Hawthorne is as Amy is The Kate Keeper.  I just made that up but we are going with it.

Well that is all for today. Check back all month long for more reader and volunteer spotlights.

SAVE THE DATE

Tickets for for the 10th annual Writers on the River go on sale November 4, 2024!

For event location, dates, times, list of 2025 attending authors, and other important information, please follow the link below to the event web page.

https://writersontheriver.com/

Hey friends! We, The Twinsie Girls (Angie, Melinda, JM, Kelly, Tenise, and Dee) talked to some of the readers attending Writers on the River to see what they had to say about the event.  As we come down from our book signing highs from July and start to prepare for 2025, YEAR 10, we wanted to see what some of the attendees are saying about Writers on the River.

Today we are chatting with Amanda and her husband Mr. Man. If one of the names sound familiar, you must have been there for the Raffle drawings because Mr. Man cleaned house! Whoop! I was so happy for his wife. Lol We hope to see you 2 again in 2025!

SAVE THE DATE

Tickets for for the 10th annual Writers on the River go on sale November 4, 2024!

For event location, dates, times, list of 2025 attending authors, and other important information, please follow the link below to the event web page.