Hey Friends! Twinsie Tenise here with my Top 5 reads for the first part of 2023. 4 out of the 5 happen to be MM Romance. It has been a good year for MM ☺️❤️🔥 In no particular order, I give you my favorite books for the first part of 2023.
Tempt Us (The Next Generation #11) by: JM Walker
-Rowan-
He was sad.
Closed off.
Alluring.
Aiden Donovan was something I never knew I needed.
He had walls up to protect himself, but I was determined to shatter every single one of them.
I would show him that fate brought us together and we were meant to be.
It was just me and him against the world.
But someone from my past didn’t want me happy and would do anything to end what Aiden and I were starting to build.
Even if it meant taking someone’s life.
-Aiden-
He was dominant.
Addictive.
Stubborn.
Rowan Crane barrelled into my life at a time I needed it most.
He was determined to make me see that we were meant to be together and that he would do everything in his power to make me happy.
When I finally started seeing that maybe Rowan was right, the universe decided it had other plans for us.
Knowing Rowan’s history, the force threatening to tear us apart could win.
If we let it.
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Review by Twinsie Tenise
Aidan is a recovering alcoholic suffering from PTSD after serving in the military. Rowan owns an antique store and dabbles in… other things, of which he is working on. They meet in a bar. That seems odd because Aiden is in recovery but you will soon find out the reason for this.
Oh lawd! First off, Rowan is flipping perfect. I love him. He is everything Aiden never knew he needed. He is dealing with his own stuff at the moment but the way he makes Aiden his priority so early on was just breathtaking, awe inspiring, all the adjectives that are synonymous with those words! Yeah, all those things. But the heart knows what the heart wants. Sometime it just takes a minute for the brain to catch up. I loved this book from the first page and the way J.M. Walker writes MM is also all those adjectives I mentioned above! This story gave me constant goosebumps.
Tempt Us is book 11 in the series. The final book in the series. I’m going to miss these kids. I’m going to miss looking forward to the next book in the series. But I know its time to move on. I feel like this series will be one I take with me and recommend to everyone forever. There’s something for every romance reader within the pages of these 11 books. You may even notice a familiar name mentioned A LOT in book 5. I would just like to point out that I have nothing to do with my evil namesake and her craziness. I wanted that villain to be tortured buuuut I digress. Lol…
Thank you J.M. for keeping me on the edge of my seat for that past few years with these kids. I can’t wait to see what your fabulous mind creates next.
J.M. Walker, a Canadian author, is an Amazon bestseller who also hit USA Today with Wanted: An Outlaw Anthology. She loves all things books, pigs and lip gloss. She is happily married to the man who inspires all of her Heroes and continues to make her weak in the knees every single day.
“Above all, be the HEROINE of your own life…” ~ Nora Ephron
Necessary Space by: Kate Hawthorne
Hendrix
What’s the only thing more annoying than my years-too-young neighbor?
The way I want him more than air.
There are plenty of things I don’t like about my new home in California, and my neighbor, Miles, is at the top of the list. He’s smug and arrogant, he speaks out of turn. And even though I should have learned my lesson about fast-talking, younger, assertive men when I broke up with my ex, I want him. For better or worse, Miles and I are on the same page and that’s why we decide there’s no harm in taking things between us someplace a little more private.
Good thing it’s only a physical connection between us because I could never be with a man like him for the long term…
Miles
Can I tease my well-dressed and thick-thighed older neighbor into bed?
I’m not sure, but there’s no harm in trying.
There’s never been a man who twists me up inside the way Hendrix does, and from the very first time he tells me yes, I know I’m going to demand a thousand more agreements out of his gorgeous mouth before I’m anywhere close to being done with him. He says he only wants me for my body, but it’s not long before things between us feel anything but casual. Hendrix thinks I can’t tell he’s being cautious with me, that I don’t know his worries about the past repeating itself are a constant threat in his head.
Joke’s on him, though. Hendrix makes me want to be a better man and I’m not going to stop until I prove that I’m worthy of a partner like him, even if I stumble more than once along the way.
What’s the only thing scarier than falling in love with the older man who’s determined not to trust me?
Giving him the space to discover he can.
—
Necessary Space is a 76,000 word age gap romance where coffee is a love language, annoying neighbors become lovers, kneeling is so much more than an act of service, and love can be found all in good time.
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Review by Twinsie Tenise
Hendrix is trying to adjust to his new life in California. If I’m being honest he was basically just going through the motions daily. Good thing he’s not very fond of how his life is going as of late because things are about to get intresting…
Miles is neighbors with Hendrix. They meet through the fence after an embarrassing moment and Hendrix is unimpressed with his cocky, much younger neighbor. Miles is up for the challenge that is his older, wiser, super hot neighbor, Hendrix . He will do what it takes to prove to him that he isn’t playing games and he wants him for keeps. Even if that means giving them both Necessary Space.
This book made my heart happy. I loved watching the relationship between these 2 men blossom and grow. It was a wonderful story. I’m so happy Hendrix finally got his HEA. I cannot wait to read about the next couple in this series.
About the Author
With over two dozen published romances to her name, Kate Hawthorne has built a recognizable brand around telling emotional stories that pack a figurative (and sometimes literal) punch.
Existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate spends her days dreaming up angsty stories full of heat, kink, and heart. Kate now lives in Louisville, where she writes romance, reads romance, and hides from the humidity.
Visit her website at http://www.katehawthornebooks.com
Sixty Five Hours by: N.R. Walker
Cameron Fletcher and Lucas Hensley are advertising executives who have Sixty Five Hours to pull together the campaign of their careers.
Sixty Five Hours to get along. Sixty Five Hours to not kill each other. Sixty Five Hours to fall in love.
** First published in 2012. No additional content has been added
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Review by Twinsie Tenise
An ad agency has 65 hours to put together a campaign that will wow the client. The best 2 ad executives are put on the job. In order to get the job done, they are basically stuck together for the next few days. One begins to wonder is it even possible for them to complete this job in the time allotted? As the clock counts down to the final hour, a new– dare I say– romance begins to form. And what these 2 men discover about themselves and each other as the chapter numbers climbed was incredible. But will any of what they experienced even matter when Monday arrives and reality comes crashing through their bubble?
Oh my gosh! I already want to reread this book. I loved these 2 men, their chemistry, banter, and the entire storyline. Coming out is not easy, it should be but sometimes fear over what others think or how others may react, make coming out for some a bit more difficult, sadly sometimes impossible. I felt Cameron’s pain and struggle but I also was pleased with response from those he loved most. I was rooting for a HEA and I just cannot say enough great things. 65 Hours is going to be one of my annual Pride Month rereads. I give this cute, enemies to lovers, super steamy, coming out story– 5 rainbow stars!
About the Author
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way. She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.
She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal. She’s been writing ever since.
~
N.R. Walker was voted 2019 Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards All-Time Favorite Author
and 2020 Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards Hall of Fame
Read more on nrwalker.net
Revolving Door (Open Doors #2) by: Vinni George
The grump…
Fletcher Morgan doesn’t like a single thing about Archer Waverly—not his pretty face, his wicked wit, or his perfect body. He especially hates the way Archer flirts with anyone and everyone. Everything about Archer reminds Fletcher of someone from his past he would much rather forget.
The flirt…
Archer thought Fletcher could be the silver fox of his dreams…until Fletcher opened his mouth and told Archer exactly how he felt about him. Now Archer is more than happy to rile Fletcher up and accept the consequences. Sparks fly every time they see each other proving hate is as potent as lust and enemies with benefits just might be hotter than friends with benefits.
The fireworks…
When an unfortunate incident involving Archer’s aging drag queen housemate brings Archer and Fletcher together–in more ways than one–they realize there might be more to the other than meets the eye. Maybe there really is a thin line between love and hate.
Revolving Door is the second full-length novel in the Open Doors series featuring a surly silver fox surf shop owner who refuses to fall in love again, a (mostly) reformed flirt who has never been in love, and a fabulous aging drag queen who has a penchant for platforms and matchmaking.
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Review by Twinsie Tenise
Fletcher owns the local surf shop and loves to surf. He’s 43, alone, cranky, and content with how life is going. Well that is until the sassy, spunky, and over flirtatious Archer storms into his life calling Fletcher Daddy which simultaneously ticks him off and turns him on.
If you read the first book in the series, we’ve met these 2 before. They are both friends of Sam. When I read their little exchange in Sam and Max’s book, my interest was piqued and I immediately grabbed this book upon completion.
Fletcher and Archer could not be more opposite. Fletcher is a loner. Runs his small surf shop with his dog Charlie and is content with things as they are. Archer works at the local magazine. He’s the life of the party and has made quite the name for himself as a player. Fletcher just isn’t in the mood for that crap so he tells Archer he’s not interested. Archer wants the older man and he is not shy about telling him despite Fletcher repeatedly refusing his advances. Problem is, his brain and another part of his anatomy didn’t seem to get the memo. No matter how hard he tries, the other male continues to occupy space in his mind…
And if we check in on Archer, seems he’s faring the same as far as thoughts of Fletcher are concerned.
Grrrr! These 2 men had me feeling all sorts of emotions as the page numbers grew. In the span of 10 minutes I went from swooning, to smiling, to crying, then laughing and cursing the author for trying to make me laugh after they had me crying. I know what you’re thinking. Dramatic much? I was just feeling all the feels. I really loved this couple. There was just something extra special about them and their story. My reader heart is so happy to have stumbled upon this new to me author. 2 books later, I’m now addicted to their words and cannot wait to start the next book in the series.
Vinni George has been a lover of romance novels (of all shapes, sizes, and colors) since she first got her hands on one of her grandmother’s Harlequins and has never looked back. She lives in Ohio with her two favorite guys (her husband and son) and, hopefully—one day—a dog. When not writing her own stories, she can be found helping to polish other people’s novels. In her spare time, Vinni dabbles in performance art, quilting, and various culinary pursuits and enjoys traveling.
Bad Mother by: Mia Sheridan
From New York Times bestselling author Mia Sheridan comes the twisted story of one detective’s pursuit of a serial killer who’s taunting her…and the familiar connection between them that’s haunting her.
When Sienna Walker is nearly fired from the NYPD, the last thing she expects is a second chance in the one place she vowed never to return to. But she can’t afford to turn down the job offer, even if a painful familial past and a broken engagement hardly make Reno, Nevada, home sweet home.
It’s made even less sweet by Sienna’s first case—a serial killer with a curious fixation on her. Along with his victims, the killer leaves perplexing clues and chilling journal entries addressed to Sienna detailing the murders he claims his mother committed. The case continues to get personal when her ex-fiancé is called out by the killer as well. Whoever’s behind the diabolical murders, Sienna can only be sure of one thing…it’s someone close to home.
As the twisted truth forces Sienna to face her complicated feelings, she learns that no matter how far you run from your past, it always catches up to you in the end.
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Amazon
Review by Twinsie Tenise
Well done, Mia. I was guessing and coming up empty for most of the book until about 75% in and my “what if” was correct. After I picked my jaw up from the floor, I was able to complete this pulse- pounding, thrill ride. I finished over a week ago and it’s still replaying in my head. I love when a book is so well written, with such a unique plot– that you find yourself replaying the details long after THE END.
Sienna is a homicide detective who left Reno behind a long time ago, along with the shattered pieces of her heart. She’s not exactly thrilled when her job transfers to the city she ran from as a teen. A city that still includes the boy, who is now very much a man, who stole her heart all those years ago.
Gavin has it all. Well all that money can buy that is, but there has always been something missing. Her. When a psychopathic serial killer drags them into a sick and twisted game of murder and mayhem. The pair must work together to figure out the identity of sicko before anyone else loses their life. And where the clues led them still has me reeling…
This was an excellent Romantic Suspense. I give it 5 stars!
Mia Sheridan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together. Mia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have four children here on earth and one in heaven. Mia can be found online at www.miasheridan.com or www.facebook.com/miasheridanauthor.
