Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters is an anthology of seven (mostly) naughty little stories that range from romantically sweet to yowza hot and steamy. What’s not to like about muscled guys wielding power tools? Okay, that was a dorky pun but seriously, I swoon over a man who works with his hands and maintains a buff body through manual labor. All of the authors except one, Amie Stuart, are new to me, so I enjoyed getting a taste of new voices, some of which I will definitely revisit. The stories are a nicely varied selection, each employing a different and often unique take on the theme. I’m not going to recap them all since the blurb does a nice job of it. However, I did have my favorites, and here they are.I love a good menage story! Needless to say, I was excited to see there were two included:

Knockout by Cari Quinn features JC, a hunky carpenter, Emerson, an MMA fighter, and Lily, the cop’s daughter they’re both in love with. Emerson and Lily have known each other since they were kids. His vow to Lily’s dad to watch over and protect Lily is at odds with his desire to do naughty things to her. Not wanting to betray that trust, Emerson has never confessed his true feelings for Lily. Until he sees his buddy JC making a move on her. Strange thing…Emerson finds himself attracted to JC as well. When he discovers the attraction is mutual, and that it flips Lily’s switch big time, he couldn’t be happier. But how to break the news to Lily’s overprotective, cop of a father?
Ms. Quinn writes a fast-paced story that keeps you turning pages. It is witty, fun, sexy hot, and full of emotion. The characters have quite a lot of depth for a short story, and I liked them all. Emerson, Lily, and JC are truly concerned not only for each other’s feelings but how their unconventional relationship will impact family and friends.

Unashamed by Leah Braemel had me laughing out loud at the banter long-time friends and business partners, Noah and Max dish out to each other. Their construction company has been partnered up with house flipper/renovator Haley O’Connell for a couple years now but it’s only recently that she dumped her cheating fiance, and the guys couldn’t be more ecstatic. They’ve each been attracted to the sexy blonde since day one, and when they hear a rumor of her menage fantasy they’re tripping all over themselves to make it happen.
This is much more than a sex fest of a story. Noah is open about his bi-sexuality, however, Max’s Catholic Italian family may be a problem if he admits his attraction to Noah. Things could get even more complicated if this threesome with Haley works out to be the long-term relationship he and Noah want.
I loved these guys! Ms. Braemel digs deep into Noah and Max and makes us feel as if we know them. Max isn’t the only one who fears whether or not a threesome will work, let alone how it will affect what others think of them. The intelligent conversations and the way they support each other is beautiful. The conflict is justified but it in no way becomes drawn out. This was a gem of a story and I’d love to read more about this threesome.

Against The Wall by Amie Stuart is everything I love about Ms. Stuart’s talent as a storyteller. She writes down-to-earth characters in believable, everyday types of situations in such a way I am totally invested in the outcome. I want to be BFF’s and hang out with the girls. I want to get down and dirty with the hot guys. Her story in Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters pulls out all the stops with Lexi Kimball, Safety Supervisor on a construction site. Not only is Lexi fighting for respect from her crew, the job site is plagued with vandalism. As if that’s not enough, hottie crew foreman, Wade Wilkins, sees her in a slightly compromising situation at a local club. Lexi’s had her eye on Wade’s assets for some time now but doesn’t mix work with pleasure. Or does she? This fun and sexy little story certainly hit the spot.

Marked For Love by Anna J. Stewart is one of those rare, sexy stories that make your pulse pound without anyone doing anything more than kissing! Regan Murphy has been in charge of her six siblings and the family pub since her mother died eight years ago. She’s a spunky, opinionated, Irish redhead loved by everyone except her sixteen-year-old sister who has been testing her limits and Regan’s patience in every way possible. When Maura’s latest stunt takes them across the street to Marked, the new tattoo parlor, the walls of Regan’s carefully controlled world begin to crumble. All due to the well-toned arms covered in ink, longish hair, and dark sultry eyes of one Brodie Crawford. In short order, Brodie and his five-year-old daughter, Cilla, will take apart Regan’s walls brick by brick.
Marked is a short story that reads like so much more. The Murphy brood is a close-knit boisterous bunch dealing with a busy pub, an absentee father, and the usual growing pains that come with teenagers. Brodie’s challenges as a single father are far more complex than the norm. Ms. Stewart has written a perfectly balanced and satisfying story.

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