My lovely readers and followers. :3
I hope you’re ready for a sweet novella by Annabeth Albert?
Level Up, set in the #gaymers series universe, is out now as standalone title, former released in the Exposed Anthology. 🙂
Let’s celebrate the release day with full of cool stuff. Next to my review there is an excerpt and you get the chance to win a really cool price in the giveaway. 🙂
Happy reading. 🙂
Level Up by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
If I have to narrow down what I love most in books, it’s quite clear I love the trope friends-to-lovers, gamers and other geeky/nerdy stuff, addiationally spiked with guys (or ladies ;)) who love animals or have a heart for children.
With Level Up Annabeth Albert gives me almost everything from this said check list.
The book is most exquisite in how it fleshes the characters out; I adored Landon right from the start; actually I was curious in the other #gaymers books when or if he get his book and his HEA, but have also admit I haven’t been focussed this much on him.
Landon is sweet, geeky and adorable. I was fond of him as a person but also immediately of his looks; his slim, small build, the longish hair, captured in a small ponytail and the delightful frecles here and there. :3
The total contrast with having a second main character like Bailey is adorable too. I love burly, sensitive guys who are attentive and take care of their beloved ones. I mean, how swoon-worthy is it, to be protected by someone like him? On the other hand, some parts made my heart ache, especially when it came to the problems Landon has, how his panic attacks due to an sexual, physical assault, are making his live difficult and how he is thinking he’s better without a partner, that this way he doesn’t hurt anyone and won’t be hurt also. It broke my heart several times, the off-page discussion about the topic was heavy enough, and I have to say: thank you for the trigger/content warnings at the beginning of the book – without these I would have been totally blindsided.
In fact I liked how Annabeth Albert dealt with the topic in the book. She makes it an important part, but nothing which totally the reason why Landon fears to start relationships. True, it’s close connected but Landon’s hesitancy isn’t just coming from this, and – the most important thing – the author isn’t trying to magically heal Landon. In fact, she creates a second main character who’s trying to to his best to support, but sees how limited some actions are or can be – but in the end how, if the trust is there and both parts are talking about the issue, about the topic, there is a way to get along with it.
Bailey is aware of his helplessness, of how Landon must feel, though as not experiencing he can only try to support and help him, but never take it away from Landon or “cure” it.
I really loved how Bailey is displayed as a sensitive guy, as someone who’s waiting and giving their relationship a try. Of course, he is aware it won’t be easy but he’s thinking it’s worth the try. I was also very fond of the way how responsive he is – and in so many parts, not just in bed. 😉 It’s clear Landon and Bailey complete each other pretty well, both are pretty different but share a lot of mutual hobbies and interests. The best foundation for a solid friendship and relationship.
I also adored how much conversation was in the book, how many scenes were based on consent and agreement, and even in steamy scenes, they were on the same page, set their limits; explored together their likes and talked and agreed on their no-gos. 🙂
This story was charming and adorable but also heart-clenching emotional and the trigger warning/content warning was really necessary and I give kudos for putting them right at the beginning, just like a lot more books should do it to avoid unpleasantries.
5 out of 5 stars for this, a sweet novella in the #gaymers series, and I really hope Annabeth Albert writes more stories – or even a new one – with nerdy, geeky guys falling in love. ❤
RELEASE BLITZ
Title: Level Up
Series: gaymers # 4
Author: Annabeth Albert
Genre: M/M Romance, Contemporary
Release Date: May 17, 2018
Publisher: Self-publishing
Lenght: 40.000 words
Cover artist: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
Note: Former released in the Exposed Anthology
Add to you bookshelf:
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PURCHASE LINKS
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Blurb
Landon can’t believe he’s let himself get roped into participating in a charity calendar, let alone one that features tastefully photographed nudes. The genius physicist is hardly model material and he’s dreading the nude part of the photoshoot. Amid his reluctance, the one bright spot is his emails back and forth with the photographer.
However, Bailey ends up being not quite what Landon expects, and their first meeting is decidedly awkward. Bailey’s persistent though, and gradually Landon warms to the burly photographer, and they discover they have a shared love of gamer culture.
A tentative friendship is born, but the road from friends to lovers isn’t easy. Landon’s battling past trauma and must decide how much of a risk he’s willing to take. A sexy connection may not be enough to keep them together unless both are willing to put their hearts on the line.
Approximately 40,000 words. Previously released as part of the EXPOSED anthology, and loosely linked to the #Gaymers universe, this friends-to-lovers, hurt/comfort story stands alone with a guaranteed happy ending. Contains a brief mention of a prior assault, but no on-screen violence or flashbacks.
Excerpt
LEVEL UP EXCERPT—This is their first kiss, because I absolutely love writing first kiss scenes!
***
Bailey was the type who moved a lot as he gamed, biceps flexing, knees wiggling, shoulders jostling. Landon always liked people who got so into gaming, but it was more than a little distracting. His body was quickly coming to associate that orange scent of Bailey’s with good things, and other parts of him apparently liked Bailey’s nearness, which was a novelty because instead of intimidated, as he would have expected, he was more than a little turned on.
“Oh man, that was a rush.” Bailey laughed as both of their health meters dipped to zero. “I’m almost wishing I’d gone into game art, not photography. Amazing how these graphics have held up over the years.”
“Totally. And speaking of art, let me find the Space Villager stuff.” Landon reluctantly stepped away from the game. He headed to the nearby kitchen, where he was pretty the papers were buried with a stack of mail. Paper control was not his strong suit. “You’ll go nuts at the latest screen shots and promo teasers.”
“Cool.” Rather than follow Landon, Bailey went to sit on the couch.
“You want a drink while I’m in here?” Landon called to him after he found the papers under a pile of pizza ads. “I’ve got four flavors of Snapple, soda, and water.”
“Surprise me with a Snapple flavor.” Bailey looked right at home on Landon’s couch, lounging back.
He really did not look at all like any photographer Landon had ever met, and curiosity had him asking, “So why photography? You said you could have done game design?”
“Yeah, I had plenty of friends at the art institute go that direction. But I’ve been in love with photography ever since I worked on our middle school yearbook. I figured out quickly that taking pictures of events and sports was far more fun than trying to do the sports myself, so I did yearbook all through high school, got a photography scholarship to the art institute in Portland.”
“So you don’t play a sport?” Landon had a hard time believing that. With Bailey’s height and breadth, he totally looked like he lived for weekend games of some type.
“Nope. Hopelessly uncoordinated.” Bailey shot him an endearing smile when Landon handed him the bottle of tea.
“Me too.” Landon clinked bottles with him, then held up the papers. “Found the codes. But can I show you some stuff on the TV screen while you have your drink?”
“Absolutely.” Bailey took a long swig of tea, and Landon had to look away before he got mesmerized by Bailey’s full mouth, how it looked when his tongue chased a stray drop of moisture, how pink it was in contrast to his paler skin and brown beard.
Landon queued up the pre-release trailer Josiah had sent him a link to. Bombastic music filled his small living room as on the screen, and a spaceship pulled in for a landing on a planet filled with ruins of a once-powerful civilization. The narrator had an iconic voice and detailed all the special features of the expansion pack. Landon had already watched this a half-dozen times, and it still gave him happy chills.
“Wow. I can’t wait.” Bailey looked suitably awed. “This is even cooler than when War Elf added the mystic raids.”
“I know, right? Now look at the in-game screen shots.” He brought up another video, body relaxing more and more despite Bailey’s nearness. It was just so awesome to have someone new to share this with. He’d been hyped about this all week, but Pike was distracted by his boyfriend Zack’s deployment, Savannah didn’t game much, and the rest of his regular crew seemed to have other things occupying their attention.
Somehow, as he shared more video clips, he drifted closer to Bailey, so that their knees were almost rubbing. It wasn’t a giant couch, so there wasn’t a ton of room to move back, but even so, Landon wasn’t looking for an escape. He was aware of Bailey, very much so, but not nearly as freaked out as he’d been a few hours ago. Instead, his senses seemed to soak up Bailey’s scent and nearness, and it wasn’t until the fourth or fifth video that he realized that he was aroused.
Clink. Somehow Landon’s left hand, holding his drink, and Bailey’s right hand tangled.
“Oops.” He tried to extricate himself without spilling both beverages. Bending to put his on the floor, he hadn’t realized that Bailey had also leaned down until their heads collided.
“Ow,” they said simultaneously.
“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry.” Bailey reached out, feeling around on Landon’s head. “Did you see stars? Break the skin?”
“I’m fine.” Landon didn’t pull away. Bailey’s hand felt damn nice. Gentle. Soothing more than just the bump on his head. Their eyes met, and he really needed to move back, break this spell, but he didn’t, instead leaning into to the touch. Bailey’s eyes darkened, and he stroked down Landon’s jaw. God, that felt so good, like an extra blanket on a chilly night, warmth he hadn’t realized he was missing. How long had it been since he’d been touched like this? Hugged, sure. He’d hugged Savannah goodnight, and hugged and wrestled around with his best friend Pike at the last LAN party, but neither of those things was touch like this. Caring. Sweet. Arousing.
Bailey leaned in again, way slower this time, all the time in the world for Landon to stop him. But he didn’t. Bailey’s beard tickled an instant before their lips met, a soft slide of mouths. Not aggressive at all, not the on-a-tight-schedule rush of a hookup, Bailey kissed like they had a sleepy Sunday afternoon to kill, like each reaction of Landon’s mattered, like he was trying to memorize something important and was going to take his time learning the lesson.
Landon was the first one to take things further, mouth opening on a sigh, welcoming Bailey’s agile tongue. He tasted sweet, like tea, and minty like the gum he’d popped after the pizza, familiar yet new at the same time. How had he managed to forget how awesome kissing could be? A laugh bubbled up in his chest, but quickly transformed to a groan of pleasure as Bailey nipped at his lower lip.
Not content to let Bailey be the one exploring, Landon sent his own tongue on a quest, tracing Bailey’s full lower lip, delving inside to rub tongues, retreating playfully to earn another nip. Fuck. This was nice. The video switched over to something random, and he barely registered it. He couldn’t say how long they kissed, just that he didn’t want it to ever end.
Author bio – Annabeth Albert
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.
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