New Release Review: BROKEN SILENCE by Felice Stevens

Title: Broken Silence (Rock Bottom #1) 

Author: Felice Stevens 

Genre: MM Romance 

Release Date: May 15, 2019 

Justin Molina has secrets. He’s served his time but remains a prisoner of his past, unable to  forgive himself for failing his family when they needed him most. Justin’s grief is overwhelming, but he keeps silent and focuses on his goals. About to graduate college, he tries to keep his head above water—no matter how many times life keeps knocking him down. When he’s forced to register for a poetry-writing class, Justin discovers putting words to his feelings might be exactly what his fractured heart needs to heal. Or is it the older professor with the bow ties and gentle smile who gives him a chance when no one else will?

Professor Foster Faraday Harding is a broken man. His divorce is final, and he’s reverted back to the safety of his books. Even his poetry no longer brings him joy; he’s sleepwalking through life. The raw emotion of Justin’s poetry awakens Foster to desires he thought long buried in the ashes of his marriage. When he discovers Justin is struggling financially, Foster offers him a solution that benefits both of them. Soon it’s Foster who’s struggling with emotions he can’t understand: Justin is his student. And a man. One crazy night years earlier doesn’t mean anything. Foster is straight.

After months of denying the growing attraction between them, an unexpected kiss changes everything. Justin and Foster are no longer only professor and student—they’ve become lovers, but the strain of hiding their relationship increases with each passing day. Words have the power not only to hurt but to heal the greatest pain. If Foster and Justin listen to what their hearts are saying, they might break through their silence and live their own love poems—together.

Available in Kindle Unlimited

AMAZON  

REVIEW

★★★★ POETIC STARS!!

Oh man. Oh man. I love this book! Gawd...this author just jabs your heart in all the right places. Emotions are pouring out the pages and getting my insides all twisted up one minute to a gooey hot mess the next.

I loved the pace of this story. It was a nice slow burn that reels you in page after page. Both MC's fight their attraction towards each other because they feel it's the right thing to do. It just slowly progresses and they unravel before the inevitable happens.

Justin is a delightful surprise. He has this bad boy persona but yet has this whole other side to him that just makes you want to love him more. Then you add in some poetry and I'm a goner!

Felice Stevens is a brilliant writer and she flawlessly ties in many factors that check off all my boxes. There's age gap, professor/student, slow burn and opposites attract. All that makes for an interesting read.

Despite all the obstacles, this story was low on angst compared to her other books that usually gut you and put you back together piece by piece but no less amazing. Justin and Foster's journey is super sexy, swoony, and incredibly steamy.

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, Her characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love. 

Felice has written over twenty books in the gay romance genre. Her books been translated into German, French and Italian. Her novel. One Call Away, part of her Soulmates series, was mentioned in Buzzfeed as one of the best “Out for You” gay romances of 2017. 

Felice lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Her day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. She recently retired from the practice law and now daydreams of a time when she can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. 

Although there are bound to be a few bumps along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

NEW RELEASE + REVIEW + GIVEAWAY: THE COINCIDENCE by Felice Stevens

Title: The Coincidence 

Author: Felice Stevens 

Genre: MM Romance 

Release Date: March 21st 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 

Nice guys always finish last, and Coby Epstein is sick and tired of being last. After his boyfriend dumps him, Coby vows to take it slow and not jump into another relationship, no matter what his ninety-five-year-old great aunt says. When Coby sees his ex has moved on, he goes on a series of disastrous first dates and swears off men, determined to be alone. His best friend disagrees and finds the "perfect man" for him online and arranges a date. The only problem? Coby has no idea what she’s done.

Since childhood, Eli Kaplan has been his father’s greatest disappointment, a fact he’s reminded of at every opportunity. For years, he’s struggled with the knowledge that dating women doesn’t work for him. A late-night confession to his brother changes everything and Eli realizes, maybe, just maybe, he can come out, find himself, and find love. Eli takes the plunge and creates a profile on a dating website, not knowing what to expect. One night he chats with an intriguing man, and despite his nervousness, they arrange to meet for coffee. No big deal. They'll probably never see each other again.

On the day of their first date, nothing could surprise Coby and Eli more than to discover that they live in the same apartment building, on the same floor. In a city of eight million people, coincidences don't get crazier than that. But as the two men begin to weave their lives together with cautious optimism and hope for a future, they find an even greater thread holding their families together—one born from the ashes of a final solution that couldn’t destroy their ancestors’ courage, leaving scars that remain almost a century later. Past lives torn apart can be pieced together by a future no one could have ever imagined, where love is more than fate or coincidence. It’s meant to be.

5 Stars!!!

What a lovely, super cute read.

Felice Stevens is one of my top five MM authors. Her characters and stories are always relatable to real life situations and depicts real life struggles in the LGBTQ community. Yes, some people love to read to escape reality and while I myself love that as well, there is just something in the way that this author delivers her stories that just touches your soul.

Eli and Coby's journey will do exactly that. You can feel the raw emotions and utter sadness from Eli as he struggles with who he is and stepping out of his comfort zone to finally live a happy life. And Coby who so wants to find true love but struggles with his worthiness of it.

I can't even begin to describe how effortlessly beautiful this was written. Where I'm normally all about the sex, lol, I'm so glad Felice Stevens stuck to such an easy flowing pace between these two men. Their story, their bond, and their love couldn't be rushed. Fate and destiny were behind these guys and the author did a phenomenal job delivering their journey to a happily ever after. 

It was bittersweet to finish because I just wanted more of Eli and Coby. I feel like their journey was just beginning and I wanted so much more for them.

*** ARC received in exchange for an honest review ***

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, Her characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.

Felice has written over twenty books in the gay romance genre. Her books been translated into German, French and Italian. Her novel. One Call Away, part of her Soulmates series, was mentioned in Buzzfeed as one of the best “Out for You” gay romances of 2017.

Felice lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Her day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. She recently retired from the practice law and now daydreams of a time when she can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there are bound to be a few bumps along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

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NEW RELEASE: REVIEW + GIVEAWAY - HIS UPTOWN GUY by Felice Stevens

Title: His Uptown Guys (The Landmarks Series) 

Author: Felice Stevens 

Genre: MM Romance Release 

Date: January 24, 2019 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 

When Jesse Grace-Martin loses his father on 9/11, his charmed life is gone forever. People look menacing, and the streets no longer seem safe. After experiencing a brutal mugging, Jesse retreats to his apartment in the landmark Dakota building. Five years later, his first attempt to walk outside those famous gates again is a disaster—except for meeting the gorgeous maintenance worker who helps him through his crushing panic attack. Jesse can’t stop thinking about the guy but hesitates to reach out, knowing he has little to offer.

Dashamir Sadiko has big dreams. Money in the bank tops his list, and his peek into the life of the uber-wealthy at his job at the Dakota is all the incentive he needs. Struggling to work full-time and go to college, Dash desperately wants to break the cycle of poverty his parents had hoped to leave behind in Albania. When the two men become friends, Dash isn’t sure what to expect but can’t help his growing attraction to sweet and sexy Jesse. It’s nice to see how the other side lives, but his affections can’t be bought; Dash wants to be his own man.

Defying the Dakota’s co-op rules, the two share lunches, their hopes and dreams, and ultimately their hearts. Jesse slowly regains his courage, but he’s worried he’ll never be the person he once was and that he’s not good enough for Dash. And Dash isn’t convinced the son of poor immigrants’ has a place at the table with a blue-blood, trust-fund man. Jesse needs to realize that money can’t buy happiness and love, while Dash must learn to trust that what they have is real, that he’s more than Jesse’s walk on the wild side with an uptown guy.--

★✩ REVIEW ★✩

5 Stars

Another fabulously delightful read from this amazing author. I love Felice Stevens writing style and her characters are always relatable in one way or another. I love the emotions your able to feel and experience while reading her stories. This book is no exception. 

There's always that one character you just want to wrap up and cuddle and Jesse is that character for me in this story. His struggles is so sad and I just wanted to hug him and keep him safe. But at the same time I was so rooting for him to overcome his fears. His determination was amazing and so beautifully written. 

Jesse and Dash was just too damn adorable together. I think these two are my favorite couple to date from this author. I loved everything about this story. This definitely gave me all the FEELS! 

***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, Her characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.

Felice has written over twenty books in the gay romance genre. Her books been translated into German, French and Italian. Her novel, One Call Away, part of her Soulmates series, was mentioned in Buzzfeed as one of the best “Out for You” gay romances of 2017.

Felice lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Her day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. She recently retired from the practice law and now daydreams of a time when she can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there are bound to be a few bumps along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

Bookbub

a Rafflecopter giveaway