Delivered
Fast
Portland Heat #3
Fast
Portland Heat #3
By: Annabeth Albert
Releasing May 26th, 2015
Kensington
Blurb
Portland, Oregon, aka Hotlandia, where
the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are ready to serve everything
piping hot, fresh, and ready to go—like the hard-working, hard-bodied men
behind the counters—with no reservations…
Sure,
Chris O’Neal has problems. His restaurant is still co-owned by his ex. His
flannel-and-tattoos style is making him accidentally trendy. He can’t remember
the last time he went out and had fun. But he’s not lonely, he’s driven. And
the hot bakery delivery boy is not his problem, no matter how sweet his buns.
Chris O’Neal has problems. His restaurant is still co-owned by his ex. His
flannel-and-tattoos style is making him accidentally trendy. He can’t remember
the last time he went out and had fun. But he’s not lonely, he’s driven. And
the hot bakery delivery boy is not his problem, no matter how sweet his buns.
Chris
is old enough to know Lance Degrassi’s sculpted good looks and clever double
entendres spell nothing but trouble. Lance is still in college—he should be
hitting the clubs and the books, chasing guys his own age, not pursuing some
gruff motorcycle-riding workaholic. Especially when he’ll be leaving for grad
school in a few months. But Lance keeps hanging around, lending a hand,
charming Chris to distraction. Maybe some steaming hot no-strings indulgence
won’t hurt.
is old enough to know Lance Degrassi’s sculpted good looks and clever double
entendres spell nothing but trouble. Lance is still in college—he should be
hitting the clubs and the books, chasing guys his own age, not pursuing some
gruff motorcycle-riding workaholic. Especially when he’ll be leaving for grad
school in a few months. But Lance keeps hanging around, lending a hand,
charming Chris to distraction. Maybe some steaming hot no-strings indulgence
won’t hurt.
Then
again, maybe it will…
again, maybe it will…
My
Review
Review
4 Stars!
I have to say that this novella is
my favorite in the series so far. I just loved Chris and Lances
story. I am amazed by just how much story Annabeth Albert is able to pack
into these short novellas. It is just so nice to be able to sit down and
read such a fulfilling story in such a short amount of time.
my favorite in the series so far. I just loved Chris and Lances
story. I am amazed by just how much story Annabeth Albert is able to pack
into these short novellas. It is just so nice to be able to sit down and
read such a fulfilling story in such a short amount of time.
This is the third story in the
Portland Heat series but there is very little crossover and each story can be
read as a stand alone. This story is told from Chris’s point of
view. Chris is in his mid 30s and lives in the apartment above the
restaurant that he runs but still owns along with his ex. Chris just
takes life one day at a time but he can’t help by notice the new delivery man,
Lance. Lance is in his early 20s. He isn’t easily intimidated and
has no problems going for what he wants. He is interested in Chris and
one thing leads to another and suddenly a one night stand turns into so much
more.
Portland Heat series but there is very little crossover and each story can be
read as a stand alone. This story is told from Chris’s point of
view. Chris is in his mid 30s and lives in the apartment above the
restaurant that he runs but still owns along with his ex. Chris just
takes life one day at a time but he can’t help by notice the new delivery man,
Lance. Lance is in his early 20s. He isn’t easily intimidated and
has no problems going for what he wants. He is interested in Chris and
one thing leads to another and suddenly a one night stand turns into so much
more.
I loved the chemistry between these
two characters. Some of the scenes were more than a little hot but I also
loved the times when they just spent time with each other. There was a
lot of focus on the age difference between the couple but I just don’t think 13
years is really that big of an age gap. My parents had a 10 year age gap
which has always seemed perfectly normal to me so what do I know.
two characters. Some of the scenes were more than a little hot but I also
loved the times when they just spent time with each other. There was a
lot of focus on the age difference between the couple but I just don’t think 13
years is really that big of an age gap. My parents had a 10 year age gap
which has always seemed perfectly normal to me so what do I know.
I did inwardly groan when this
couple had their major conflict in the story. Any time one person starts
making decisions for the other person’s best interest without asking what they
actually want, things also seem to go wrong.
couple had their major conflict in the story. Any time one person starts
making decisions for the other person’s best interest without asking what they
actually want, things also seem to go wrong.
I would recommend this story to fans
of M/M romance. I thought it was a sweet and sexy quick read. I
definitely plan to read more of Annabeth Albert’s work in the future.
of M/M romance. I thought it was a sweet and sexy quick read. I
definitely plan to read more of Annabeth Albert’s work in the future.
I received a copy of this book from
Kensington Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Kensington Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Author Info
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 toddlers.
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 toddlers.
Represented by
Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency
Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency
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Excerpt
The delivery boy had sweet buns. Not to mention
prize-winning rolls. He wore a pair of
those fancy over-the-ear headphones and shimmied around the white bakery truck,
his hips and ass working in time to what was apparently a killer beat. Even the
way he climbed into the back of the truck was a choreographed dance. I wasn’t
usually one to get distracted by eye candy, but that ass . . .
prize-winning rolls. He wore a pair of
those fancy over-the-ear headphones and shimmied around the white bakery truck,
his hips and ass working in time to what was apparently a killer beat. Even the
way he climbed into the back of the truck was a choreographed dance. I wasn’t
usually one to get distracted by eye candy, but that ass . . .
I’d propped open the service door at the rear of my
coffee shop about fifteen minutes earlier, hoping to coax a cool breeze into
the stuffy storeroom where I’d been working. I leaned against the door frame,
appreciating the unexpectedly fine view in the alley.
coffee shop about fifteen minutes earlier, hoping to coax a cool breeze into
the stuffy storeroom where I’d been working. I leaned against the door frame,
appreciating the unexpectedly fine view in the alley.
When the guy emerged from the truck—headphones around
his neck, carrying a stack of pink boxes—I pushed away from the door and met
him at the edge of the concrete steps. I tried to play it cool, like I hadn’t
spent the last five minutes perving on his world-class bubble butt.
his neck, carrying a stack of pink boxes—I pushed away from the door and met
him at the edge of the concrete steps. I tried to play it cool, like I hadn’t
spent the last five minutes perving on his world-class bubble butt.
“You’re not Vic,” I said as I ushered him into the
hallway that led back to the kitchen and storeroom.
hallway that led back to the kitchen and storeroom.
“Nope. I’m Lance, Vic’s cousin. I’ll be handling your
deliveries from here on out.” His smile—a wide, toothy grin—was almost as
adorable as his butt. The only resemblance he had to my usual beefy delivery
guy was in the chiseled facial features and light olive skin. He looked like
he’d be right at home playing World Cup soccer for Italy with his wide
shoulders, lean torso, muscular thighs and legs. And that ass.
deliveries from here on out.” His smile—a wide, toothy grin—was almost as
adorable as his butt. The only resemblance he had to my usual beefy delivery
guy was in the chiseled facial features and light olive skin. He looked like
he’d be right at home playing World Cup soccer for Italy with his wide
shoulders, lean torso, muscular thighs and legs. And that ass.
Which I was going to stop thinking about right the
hell now. He was too young—I could see that even more clearly under the
fluorescent lights of my kitchen. Early twenties, if that. His gelled-up black
hair fell across his forehead in artfully bleached strands. Too high
maintenance for my taste.
hell now. He was too young—I could see that even more clearly under the
fluorescent lights of my kitchen. Early twenties, if that. His gelled-up black
hair fell across his forehead in artfully bleached strands. Too high
maintenance for my taste.
“I’m Chris O’Neal. Here, let me help you with those.”
Taking part of the stack from him, I showed him the metal racks where I stashed
recent deliveries.
Taking part of the stack from him, I showed him the metal racks where I stashed
recent deliveries.
“Nice setup you’ve got here.” Lance looked around the
cramped but efficient kitchen area.
cramped but efficient kitchen area.
“Thanks.” Most of The People’s Cup square footage was
devoted to the coffee bar and seating area in the front, so I made do in the
back with my organization system, which bordered on the obsessive. I’d
installed floor-to-ceiling shelving on every wall, including over the cooktop
and counters. The center prep table was where most of the action happened, and
its broad expanse was covered with the beginnings of several dishes for
tomorrow’s Sunday brunch.
devoted to the coffee bar and seating area in the front, so I made do in the
back with my organization system, which bordered on the obsessive. I’d
installed floor-to-ceiling shelving on every wall, including over the cooktop
and counters. The center prep table was where most of the action happened, and
its broad expanse was covered with the beginnings of several dishes for
tomorrow’s Sunday brunch.
“I’ve been here before with friends from PSU—for your
Sunday thing. And during the week once or twice to study.”
Sunday thing. And during the week once or twice to study.”
I made a noncommittal noise. Great. A college kid. As if I needed to feel like more of an old,
cranky perv.
cranky perv.
“Let’s get the rest of the boxes.” I herded him back
out to the alley. I was eager to get him and his distracting ass on his way. I
had several more hours of staging work ahead of me to prepare for Sunday’s
buffet. During the week we were just another coffeehouse, but we were known all
over Portland for our Sunday brunch.
out to the alley. I was eager to get him and his distracting ass on his way. I
had several more hours of staging work ahead of me to prepare for Sunday’s
buffet. During the week we were just another coffeehouse, but we were known all
over Portland for our Sunday brunch.
“So are you the owner? This all yours?” Lance asked as
he got another load of boxes from the truck.
he got another load of boxes from the truck.
“Yeah. Mine and my partner’s. Business partner.” I
fumbled the stack of boxes he handed me. Why had it felt so necessary to make
that qualification? Like the kid would be in any way interested in my messed-up
business relationship with my stubborn bastard of an ex.
fumbled the stack of boxes he handed me. Why had it felt so necessary to make
that qualification? Like the kid would be in any way interested in my messed-up
business relationship with my stubborn bastard of an ex.
Despite his pretty-boy looks, the kid was probably
straight; he had a confident swagger girls his age likely found irresistible.
straight; he had a confident swagger girls his age likely found irresistible.
“I’ve been to your other place, too—the one in
Northwest. Did the delivery there earlier. I like this location better.”
Northwest. Did the delivery there earlier. I like this location better.”
“Me too,” I said, my voice drier than gin. “Randy give
you any issues?”
you any issues?”
Randy had his location; I had mine. Our relationship
had turned into something out of a bad chick flick, except there wasn’t any
cute ending coming.
had turned into something out of a bad chick flick, except there wasn’t any
cute ending coming.
“Randy? Nah. It was some girl named Becky, with a nose
ring and huge gauges.”
ring and huge gauges.”
I nodded. That sounded about right for Randy’s taste.
And I was not going to care whether
he was banging her or how long she’d last as an employee. His shitty employee
turnover wasn’t my problem. I’d washed my hands of what happened at the 23rd
Street store.
And I was not going to care whether
he was banging her or how long she’d last as an employee. His shitty employee
turnover wasn’t my problem. I’d washed my hands of what happened at the 23rd
Street store.
“You want a cup of coffee for the road?” I asked
before I could stop myself. It was the same courtesy I’d always extended to his
cousin and to most of our other delivery people, but somehow my offer felt
tinged with more than politeness.
before I could stop myself. It was the same courtesy I’d always extended to his
cousin and to most of our other delivery people, but somehow my offer felt
tinged with more than politeness.
“What do you have on offer today?” His grin was more
than a little wicked.
than a little wicked.
Wouldn’t
you like to know? I bit back the flirtatious retort. And
what the hell was up with that? I did not
flirt. Hell, anything other than bitter and grumpy hadn’t been my MO for
months now.
you like to know? I bit back the flirtatious retort. And
what the hell was up with that? I did not
flirt. Hell, anything other than bitter and grumpy hadn’t been my MO for
months now.
*****
Can Lance bring out the softer side of this cranky
chef? Find out in DELIVERED FAST!
chef? Find out in DELIVERED FAST!
Thank you so much for hosting DELIVERED FAST!
Thank you for letting me be a part of the tour!