S.E.X. Review~ According to Design by Nicole Dennis

Amid turmoil and triumph, two men weave through all the colors of life to find one another.

As construction on the Charm wraps up, multi-media artist Wyatt McBride creates special metal and glass designs to add the finishing touches. When his brother accepts an overseas military duty, he takes in his teenage nephew, Collin. Things are already upside down since he’s lost a dear friend to AIDS, and now he has to deal with teenage angst and losing his heart to a brilliant but shy teacher.

To keep his mind out of the past, Keegan Donaghue comes to Shore Breeze to take a position as a high-school science teacher and part-time forensics detective for the sheriff’s department. A special student connects him to the local artist, but he’s still running from his past. Addiction and abuse remain there, lurking in his mind, along with mild PTSD-induced panic attacks. Cryptic, troubling emails from his ex-boyfriend don’t help the situation either. 

Shy of relationships and opening their hearts to trust, these two men learn to weave their lives together during the trials of daily life. Neither one expects everything to go according to fate.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes involving PTSD, as well as the discussion of, and flashbacks to, domestic violence and drug addiction. There is a scene of assault involving homophobic slurs, a scene of violence and attempted kidnap, as well as a very brief reference to rape.

Things began to wrap up in Nicole Dennis’ According to Design, Southern Charm series. The B & B and restaurant was about to open and the men of Shore Breeze settled into their lives of happiness and love.

Wyatt, resident artist and art dealer agreed to care for his high school aged nephew while his parents deployed to the Middle East. Keegan came to town for double duty~ science teacher and forensic specialist. Together, Wyatt and Keegan formed a loving relationship, based on friendship and eventual love.

I enjoyed the dynamics of Wyatt and Keegan but the interaction between Wyatt and his nephew Collin appeared at times stagnant. The conversations were forced and did not flow. Additionally, the parent-teacher conference seemed over the top in the men’s desire to solve Collin’s problems with a magic wand.

Ms. Dennis gave justice to all the previous books by interjecting the characters and allowing them to maintain an integral part of the current story. The books should be read in order to maintain a sense of the flow and world building.

Book provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

Frisky but nothing to Kinky

A three and a half handcuff review 

Pride Publishing Buy Link

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2016 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

S.E.X. Review~ Following the Law by Nicole Dennis

Can a sheriff untangle the mysteries invading his town and those which surround the local IT geek who’s captured his attention?

Sheriff Robin Burke is pissed off. His quiet seaside town is troubled with all kinds of problems. Looking for the man who tried to poison Samuel Ashford is high on his priority list, but there is more in store. When someone he crushes on returns, he hopes to ignite his non-existent love life.

Returning from London, Beau Courtenay discovers his home has been invaded by his troubled half-brother. Dealing with the chaos, he is busy with a massive backlog of work and renovating the entire Southern Charm system. He finds another troubling detail in the form of random USB interfaces around Shore Breeze that don’t belong there. And there’s also the allure of the sheriff distracting him and threatening to reveal his darkest secret.

What will happen when Robin connects his suspect to the handsome IT geek with the delicious British accent and tight ass? Can Beau help the sheriff follow the law to prosecute anyone who dares to attack their beloved town?

Reader advisory: This book contains the use of homophobic language. 

The saga continues in the quiet town of Shore Breeze in Nicole Dennis’s Following the Law, Southern Charm series. Sheriff Robin Burke is taken by IT guru Beau Courtenay and soon decides to court the man, full-stop.

The dynamics between the two characters was interesting as Ms. Dennis touched on a subject not often written about or maybe even heard about~ asexuality. The author thoroughly researched the topic as delineated through the carefully written dialogues between Robin and Beau and the understanding and sensitivity given to the subject. Kudos Ms. Dennis!

I adored the men’s personalities and their penchant for taking chances and finding love. The author’s ability to intertwine characters from the other books in the series while keeping in line with the time references was well done. I would highly recommend reading the series from the start as the characters traverse each book as the sequence of mysterious events unfold (beginning in book one).

Following the Law was well written~ considerate in subject matter with memorable characters.

Book provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

Sexy and Sizzling

A four handcuff review

 Pride Publishing Buy Link

2015 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

S.E.X. Review~ When in Bloom by Nicole Dennis

Could the personal challenges of a former Army doctor and a brilliant florist get in the way of a chance at life and love?

Fighting Type One diabetes since childhood, Jude Sebastian runs to prove he can live a normal life, until epileptic seizures begin to change his life. Even with Dawson, his Medical Alert Golden Labrador, at his side Jude finds daily life difficult. He owns the floral shop, Flowers in the Breeze, and designs everything from simple bouquets to elaborate themes for weddings and celebrations.

At the Shore Breeze Clinic, Jude comes across a man clearly suffering with a PTSD episode. A new arrival in the small town, Doctor Elliott Sheffield, a retired Army Ranger doctor is looking for a second chance after what he saw in the Middle Eastern deserts.

Wanting a normal relationship, Jude tries to deny his disorders, but something is happening. He can’t regulate his sugars and his disorder worsens. When he returns to the clinic, Dawson alerts him to an oncoming seizure.

Will the personal issues and challenges of both men get in the way of a chance at love?

Reader Advisory: This books contains scenes referencing PTSD, seizures and diabetes. 

When in Bloom by Nicole Dennis is part of the Southern Charm series. Jude and Elliott are more mature characters, secure in their lives, both personally and professionally. What they each lack is a man to love and come home to.

Ms. Dennis did a nice job of showing the realities of those with disabilities. Whether Elliott’s PTSD or Jude’s diabetes and seizures, the author infused plausible scenarios.

Unfortunately, When in Bloom did not hit the mark for me. I found the dialogue between the characters clinical and without feeling—especially for men who were older and more mature. Even though Jude and Elliott were falling in love, the chemistry just wasn’t there.

As a fan of Ms. Dennis I do look forward to the next book in the series. I would also recommend the series be read in order.

Book provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

Frisky but nothing to Kinky

A three handcuff review 

Totally Bound Buy Link