Review + Blog Tour + Giveaway: Hell on Wheels by Z.A. Maxfield

Hell On Wheels
Author: Z. A. Maxfield
Reviewer: B.
Rating: A-

What I’m Talking About:

Living in Bluewater Bay always suited Nash Holly just fine, for the most part. Taking on a lot of the responsibility for his family at a young age never made his path an easy one, but he gladly accepted his role with unshakeable devotion. The idea that there might be more for him wasn’t anything he allowed himself to think about, at least until a close call on a rainy night turns out to be much more than it seems.

Spencer Kepler-Constantine knows all about the pitfalls of fame, but recent heartbreak has made his entire existence a misery. Unable to escape the spotlight, he’s determined to hide his pain from everyone, including himself, if he can possibly manage it. But, when an unexpectedly erotic interlude with a stranger who doesn’t play by the rules shakes Spencer up in lovely and terrifying ways, he begins to wonder if the best thing to ever happen to him isn’t right in front of him after all.

Hell on Wheels is an appealingly simple, romantic tale of two men who aren’t exactly looking for anything, but end up finding it anyway. Nash and Spencer are opposites in just about every way possible. Nash is a high-octane, small-town mechanic whose commitment to his family doesn’t leave him any room for romance. Spencer is a famous celebrity on a popular TV show who is in the middle of a very public divorce and would prefer to avoid another relationship at all costs. A “no-strings” arrangement would be preferable to both men, if only they weren’t so perfect for each other.

While it is neither action-packed nor suspenseful, Hell on Wheels is a sweet story about expectations and honesty, and the dangers of making assumptions, no matter how badly our hearts want something. Though their respective worlds seem to clash spectacularly, Spencer and Nash are more complimentary than either is willing to admit, except sexually—an element of their relationship they both (thankfully) embrace. Z.A. Maxfield has, once again, written two complicated, deserving characters who have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be happy, yet who can’t seem to let go of their own fears long enough to reach for it until it’s almost too late.

With one exception, each of the Bluewater Bay stories is written by different authors and is meant to be read as a standalone. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Hell on Wheels, and would very much like to add the others in the series to go with it. Even though they don’t make it easy, Nash and Spencer are a pleasure to read about, and I liked seeing the trust between them expand to fill the empty spaces in both their lives. Tender, sexy, and funny, Hell on Wheels is remarkably well rounded and, like the other Z.A. Maxfield stories in my collection, it’s definitely a keeper.

My Rating:  A- Enjoyed A Lot

From the Author:

Some diversions are life changing.

Thanks to That’s What I’m Talking About for taking time to review my latest book, Hell On Wheels. In this installment of the Bluewater Bay book series, you’ll find chance meetings, intense physical attraction, and quirky men. If you’re an old-school ZAM fan, this is the book for you!

My Blog Tour giveaway plan is as follows:

1. Comment here for the chance to win an ebook. My assistant William will randomly pick a winner for each blog I visit, and that person will win an ebook of their choice from my backlist.

2. For the Hell On Wheels Tour Rafflecopter giveaway, I will be awarding one lucky reader with a $25.00 gift certificate for Amazon. The giveaway will conclude at midnight on December 8^th, 2014 at which time we’ll choose a winner.

3. There are many ways to enter, and some can be done more than once. Give yourself lots of chances to win by following along the blog and commenting.

But be sure to get to know the all the men of Bluewater Bay at Riptide Publishing, here.

About the Book:

Nash is the reliable one in the Holly family, the guy everyone counts on to keep things going. His genius twin brother is off at university, so Nash runs the family’s auto repair business and cares for his partially-paralyzed little sister while his crackpot father invents. His life seems mapped out for the foreseeable future, however much that might chafe. 

So when Wolf’s Landing actor Spencer Kepler-Constantine lands in his life, Nash is ready for a diversion. Spencer is in the middle of a very painful, very public divorce and isn’t ready for a relationship—not that Nash wants one. But they both need a friend, especially one with benefits. 

As they grow closer, Nash starts to see his family in a whole new light. Do they really need him so badly? Or does he simply need to be needed? Then Spencer’s ex reappears with a grand romantic gesture, and Nash has to figure out what he wants—and how to get it—before Spencer’s gone for good. 

Release Date: December 1, 2014
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Series: Bluewater Bay #3
ISBN: #978-1626491731
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ, m/m
Format(s): paperback (291 pages), e-book
Book Source: Publisher

Purchase Info:
Hell on Wheels (Bluewater Bay #3)

About the Author:

Z. A. Maxfield started writing in 2007 on a dare from her children and never looked back.  Pathologically disorganized, and perennially optimistic, she writes as much as she can, reads as much as she dares, and enjoys her time with family and friends. Three things reverberate throughout all her stories: Unconditional love, redemption, and the belief that miracles happen when we least expect them.

If anyone asks her how a wife and mother of four can find time for a writing career, she’ll answer, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you give up housework.”

Readers can visit ZAM at her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr.

Giveaway:

In addition to the blog-specific giveaway mentioned by the author above, there is a blog tour giveaway you can enter using this Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please note that this contest is sponsored by the author and/or publisher. Open to participants, 18 years or older, who are legally allowed to participate in such a contest as allowed by their local laws. All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the contest sponsor. Prize will be delivered by the author and/or publisher. This blog, its reviewers, and the owner are not responsible for the contest or items lost in the mail. By entering this giveaway, participants agree to abide by these terms.