Release Blitz ~ Rick by Stella Shaw (Reviews + Excerpt + Giveaway)

Book Title* Rick, Love at the Haven book

Book Author* Stella Shaw

Publisher* self-published

Length* 140 pages / 40k words

Release date* 11 Feb 2021

Subgenres* Contemporary, MM, romance

Other* Available at Amazon and in KU

BUY LINK* books2read.com/rickhaven2

Book Blurb*

A gift of a man for one night. The promise of so much more.

When Rick Thatcher’s beloved aunt leaves him the run-down Haven Hotel, he’s amazed to find a group of young men running an escorting business out of it. Intrigued and impressed, he allows them to stay. But sacrifices have to be made to keep the hotel running. The hotel is always short of funds, and the guys… they’re sexy, they’re fun, they’re loyal friends. But they can also be a bunch of trouble. Rick has no time left for romance.

Until the night Eliot Walker arrives at the Haven, naïve but brave, looking to discover what it’s like to be an openly gay man at last. He wants to spend the night with a man, one who can excite and guide him. But an escort? He’s nervous of what he’ll find.

He finds Rick. Just the kind of man he’d choose to have his first experiences with, if it was possible. And from Rick’s point of view – on this one special night, and for this one special man he can’t take his eyes off – why shouldn’t it be?

If only this could be more than one night. But their potential happiness and the Haven’s security may already be under serious threat.

Excerpt:

“How’s your week been?” I asked my companion.

He gave a half-smile, as if he knew I was trying to put him at his ease, yet he was grateful for the small talk.

“It’s been crap. That’s why I’m here, actually. I didn’t want to go straight home after work tonight.”

I murmured in an understanding way and carefully put both my hands on the top of the bar, fingers spread. I was inviting him into conversation. Didn’t want to look grabby.

“Do you know what you want, instead? Are you ready to talk about it?”

His laugh was more of a bark. “Do I still look like I’m confused?”

Yes, I thought, but didn’t say. “It’s just that I find it’s better to be frank. Practicality clears the air. Lets us all know where we are.”

“Practical. Yes. I guess that’s what this place is. What the whole… thing… is.”

I nodded again. Because it was.

He took a slow breath and seemed to settle. “Well. I’d like someone experienced.”

“Most of us are.”

“Oh. God, yes, I’m sure. I mean, someone who’s mature. Calm about it all. I’m not looking for melodrama. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

God, he was gorgeous. So serious, so sensible, talking about what his body needed, what he might be craving. His gaze was steady, but the flicker in his eyes was incendiary. So bloody needy, even if he didn’t admit it to himself.

“Any preference as to age? Looks? Ethnicity? Build?”

He swallowed. His gaze ran quickly, guiltily over my forearms. I’d rolled up my sleeves while I was helping Arne in the kitchen earlier, and never bothered to smarten myself up again. My muscles were thick, I knew. I was proud of them. But I’d loomed over him as we walked into the bar, like some hulking bear beside a more graceful, fragile creature. My hands must be half again the size of his.

“Well, maybe,” he said, his voice low. “Someone who will… Oh, shit.”

“Just say it. You can’t shock anyone here, believe me.”

“Someone who’ll spend time with me. I know what I want to happen, but…”

“You’d like some courting.”

“What an old-fashioned word. But, yeah.” He looked ridiculously relieved. “I haven’t… well, that’s a kind way of putting it.”

“We don’t throw you on a bed and ravage you,” I said, but gently, so I hoped he saw the joke. “Unless you ask for it, of course.”

He chuckled. “I know. I mean, someone told me this was a safe space. A place I’d be understood.”

I’d have to find out who recommended us to this lovely young man. They deserved thanks.

“As I said before, you’re the client,” I continued. “You can ask as much or as little as you like. We follow your instructions.”

“You do?” There was another spark of lightning in those winter-wind eyes. “And the escort is my choice?”

“Yes, of course. You can have all that, everything you described. The Haven can give you that.”

**~ * ~ Jo‘s Review ~ * ~**

4 Stars

I haven’t read the first book of this series based around a hotel which the Rick of this title has inherited and is now struggling to keep afloat. Obviously, in the first one, he takes it on and allows the boys to rent rooms—so you can work out what kind of boys they are. It actually didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the first as these facts are pretty clear from the early on in this story; in fact it’s pretty much in the blurb. I picked this book as I love stories about guys discovering their sexuality and, with the added twist of mistaking Rick for one of the ‘boys’, I thought this would be right up my street. I wasn’t wrong. It’s quite short, but really fun and there’s a clear connection between the two. The chemistry bounces off the page, and Elliot’s exploration of Rick’s body, as well as discovering himself, is hot, but also sweet and emotional. The added twist of their unknown connection, as Rick struggles to finance the hotel, makes this more than just a ‘oh we click in bed, I really like you’ plot. Still low on real angst, it gives it enough of a lift to keep you interested and more involved with the characters’ journeys. I liked that the author didn’t make Elliot into a wilting flower; there’s a strength to him that he doesn’t necessarily see at the beginning, but grows through the story as he goes after what he wants.

I enjoyed this story a lot and I’d definitely recommend it is you’re looking for a fun, short read with likeable characters, a plot, and a feeling that family is who you choose. I’ll be going back to read the first, too.

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement.***

**~ * ~ Racheal‘s Review ~ * ~**

4 Stars

In this endearing, opposites attract love story, I was enthralled with the passion, understanding, and the witty conversations that the two main characters centered themselves around. Although the chemistry was off the charts, it was the dialogue between the two main characters that captured my attention the most.

Rick’s character is the type that works hard and gives himself to so many, but takes so little for himself. So when a client comes in and mistakes him for an escort, Rick finally grabs a little happiness for himself, if only for an evening.

Whereas, Eliot is extremely driven; he works hard so that all his long, stressful hours will hopefully pay off and soon he will get that promotion. He doesn’t have much of a social life and, besides his ex fiance now best friend, he hardy has alot of true friends. She was the one that he finally came out to.

It was because of her that Eliot had the courage to walk through those doors and have his life changed forever. Just a brief encounter changed both Rick and Eliot’s life. However, outside the walls of the Haven Hotel, their real worlds collide, and their budding relationship starts to unravel like a bank robbery gone unhinged!

Between the long talks, the heat between the sheets, friends with wicked mouths, and endearing hearts that hold so much love, this is definitely a storyline you need to read!

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***

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