My lovely readers and followers. :3
I hope you’re ready for a new, sweet holiday romance by Annabeth Albert?
Better Not Pout mixes the best features of the author’s writing together: you love her military romance series Out of Uniform? You can’t get enough of the holidays even if it’s a few weeks until then? Well, this book got you covered. :3
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. 🙂
Better Not Pout by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
What a charming pre-Christmas story which totally gives you the right feels before the (upcoming) holidays.
Annabeth Albert is back in her well-known area of writing books with hot military men, men in uniform and who have a certain kind of air around them.
I loved how Sergeant Major Nicholas – Nick – Nowicki was presented. He’s an experienced military guy who’s close to his retirement although it’s not that what he wishes for.
I could totally feel his struggle. He lives and breathes the military life; having this snatched away from him, no matter how well he served over these almost 30 years, must be a hardship, but: his time to leave has come.
As a fresh wind Teddy MacNally swifts into his life, unexepected and as welcome as the snowstorm looming over them. Nick isn’t in the mood for having a thing with a gleeful, always sunny guy who’s wearing the elf costume a bit too good.
What I love about Albert’s stories is that she is able to create two very unique, very different characters but in the end their connection point are shared values, the same (bitter) experience or being vulnerable behind their public appearance. In this book we have it too; Teddy isn’t always the overcheerful guy; he is partly struggling with his unknown path, his direction in life.
Nick is – obviously – at a crossroad but although Teddy has everything settled his life is a save thing and to be blunt a bit boring, but who is he to challange that? Playing it easy is one thing, taking risk another and that’s what both guys are afraid of.
I really loved the humorous innnuendos, the funny, utterly hilarous scenes where we see a grumpy Nick in the Santa costume but also loved the domestic parts in the book, the growing relationship of these two guys.
It really warms your heart and reading it feels like been wrapped with a cozy, snuggly blanket.
This holiday romance with a grumpy military sergeant and his unexpected parner in crime in an elf costume is definitely what you need to get yourself into the holiday spirit. :3
5 out of 5 stars for it.
View all my reviews
RELEASE BLITZ
Title: Better Not Pout
Author: Annabeth Albert
Genre: M/M Romance, Contemporary
Release Date:November 12, 2018, November 27, 2018 (print)
Publisher: Carina Press
Lenght: 40.000 words
Cover artist: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
Add to you bookshelf:
(click on this button or this link)
PURCHASE LINKS
Carina Press
Amazon
Barnes & Noble (ebook) | B&N (print)
Blurb
One hard-nosed military police officer.
One overly enthusiastic elf.
One poorly timed snowstorm.
Is it a recipe for disaster? Or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for holiday romance?
Teddy MacNally loves Christmas and everything that goes along with it. When he plays an elf for his charity’s events, he never expects to be paired with a Scrooge masquerading as Santa Claus. His new mission: make the holiday-hating soldier believe he was born to say ho-ho-ho.
Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki doesn’t do Santa, but he’s army to his blood. When his CO asks an unusual favor, Nick of course obliges. The elf to his Kris Kringle? Tempting. Too tempting—Nick’s only in town for another month, and Teddy’s too young, too cheerful and too nice for a one-night stand.
The slow, sexy make-out sessions while Teddy and Nick are alone and snowbound, though, feel like anything but a quick hookup. As a stress-free holiday fling turns into Christmas all year round, Teddy can’t imagine his life without Nick. And Nick’s days on the base may be coming to a close, but he doesn’t plan on leaving anything, or anyone, behind.
***
Annabeth Albert says that, “BETTER NOT POUT is a male/male holiday romance featuring endearing characters with a fun, flirty plot that will remind readers of their favorite holiday rom-coms.”
Excerpt
It was entirely possible that standing in Teddy’s office in his drawers was less humiliating than trying to squash himself onto the couch. He narrowly avoided rolling to the floor, but ended up in a sneezing fit because up close and personal, the couch smelled like a combo of woodsmoke and fabric cleaner of some kind. And his neck and thighs were both cramping, but he tried to not groan aloud.
“Yeah. You look totally comfy.” Teddy shook his head at Nick as he finished putting the game away and banking the fire. “Come on. Bed. I’ll even turn on the electric bed warmer for you.”
“We can share,” Nick said decisively. He’d slept next to men on planes and in various mission situations. Surely he could survive the temptation that was Teddy in a warm bed.
“Excellent.” Teddy’s eyes went dark and hot.
“To sleep,” Nick clarified.
“Darn. Can’t blame a guy for hoping?” Teddy gave him a smile over his shoulder as he led the way up to a cozy sleeping loft. A large, high sleigh bed that still looked too small for both of them dominated the room, piled high with colorful quilts. Teddy clambered onto the bed, crawling across it, muttering something about finding a controller but Nick was too transfixed on his bouncing ass to pay much attention to his words. It was surprisingly round and high and rather bitable and…
“See something you want?” Teddy glanced over his shoulder.
Busted. And he must have not been able to wipe the want off his expression fast enough because Teddy crawled back across the bed to kneel in front of where Nick stood, looking like some angelic offering. An offering Nick wasn’t sure he could turn down a second time.
“How about…” Teddy pitched his voice low and seductive, almost a whisper. “I get it, I’m not your type, but maybe I could turn off the lights and you could… I dunno…pretend? Just for tonight?”
“Never said you weren’t my type,” Nick said, voice like sandpaper. True, he’d been thinking just that an hour earlier, but Teddy not being his usual didn’t mean that Nick didn’t see his appeal or that the chemistry wasn’t there. And fuck, it would be so much easier if the chemistry between them didn’t crackle like the downstairs fire. His hand was apparently done taking orders from his brain that evening and reached out to stroke Teddy’s smooth jaw. “Just that it was a bad idea.”
“It’s an excellent idea.” Teddy stretched like a cat under Nick’s touch, eyes drifting shut, like he was every bit as hungry for Nick’s touch as he was to give it. And Nick gave up the fight with a groan. This was a terrible idea for all sorts of good, logical reasons, and things were likely to get awkward, but hell if he could bring himself to stop touching Teddy. He buried his hand in those golden curls, which were far softer than they looked.
And Teddy knew he’d won, closed the remaining distance between them and looped his arms around Nick’s neck. “Now do I get to tell you what I want?”
This time Nick laughed, long and low. “Yeah. You do.”
“Goody.” Teddy beamed at him. “But it’s probably gonna be easier to show you…”
With that, Teddy leaned in, slow enough that Nick could have stopped him if he’d been so inclined. Which he wasn’t. No, he’d made up his mind to have this thing. He’d deal with the consequences—and there would be consequences—like an adult, but for tonight, he was going to let himself have Teddy.
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. Her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.
To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.
Author links / get in contact
Website / Blog
Newsletter / Mailing List
Facebook Private Profile
Facebookgroup Annabeth’s Angels
Goodreads
Twitter
Instagram
GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway to win 1 of 2 e-copies of any OUT OF UNIFORM series book or a finished Paperback copy of BETTER NOT POUT!
Your chance to win *click*
Please note: the giveaway is not sponsored, administered or endorsed by Mikku-chan / A World full of Words.
Release blitz and review tour hosted by/through A Novel Take PR.
Mikku-chan 