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Curl Around My Heart

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At Pearl’s Hair and Nails, no one questions Tate Robinson about his high heels, crop tops, and lipstick, because he’s the boss and he can wear what he damn well pleases. The shop is his life, and he doesn’t need anything more. Until a man walks in with his adorable daughter, and Tate has to untangle her helmet-hair…and his growing feelings for the single dad.

Reece Evans has been on his job for years, has his own place, and now has custody of his eight-year-old daughter. But he doesn’t trust himself to avoid screwing up. Adulting is not his strong suit—or so he’s been told. And now a sexy beautician, who also happens to be his new downstairs neighbor, has Reece wanting and reaching for more than he thinks he’s capable of.

As Tate and Reece move past their own fears about relationships, Reece’s ex issues a threat that could destroy everything. Will Reece’s worries about other people judging him undermine his budding romance? And will Tate’s fear of rejection make him push Reece away? Or have the sweet single dad and his precocious daughter curled too tightly around his heart to give them up?

***Please be aware that this book contains references to drug addiction.***

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2018

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About the author

Londra Laine

3 books108 followers
Londra has loved to read since she discovered The Baby-Sitters Club. As a child, her parents would ground her by taking all the books out of her room for several days. Londra began reading romance in 2008 and fell in love with the M/M romance genre after purchasing a book by accident several years later.

After decades of daydreaming, and jotting down story ideas, Londra decided to give life to the characters in her head. She writes to give her guys the happy ending she wishes everyone––no matter their race, religion, gender, or orientation––could experience in real life.

During the day, Londra is a communications manager for a consulting firm. She is a recovering journalist. Londra loves the New York Yankees, Seinfeld reruns, tacos, and Friday nights on the couch with wine and a new book.

In 2010, she moved from her native California to New York City where she lived in Harlem for nearly eight years. In early 2018 she relocated to Seattle with her husband.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Barbara➰.
1,617 reviews411 followers
August 2, 2018
Oh man...I went into this with high hopes. And there were things I liked. It started out being a 3-3.5 star read for me but at about the 80% all the baby mama and family drama kind of ruined it for me.

There were things I liked such as LJ. She was a cute kid and I loved how Reece let her be her football playing, tutu wearing self. Reece was a great father and he did everything he could to make a good home for her. I loved Tate in all his femme glory. So, I didn't have a problem with the mc's and I liked them as a couple and a family.

But the bad outweighed the good I'm afraid. First, in the beginning there were too many descriptions of things I just did not need to know such as Tate's shop. This did seem to get better but occasionally the author would stray again into over descriptive territory.

Another thing that annoyed me were the time jumps...two weeks later, one week later, one month later, five months later. I felt like things were missing even though the chapter started with a brief synopsis of what had happened during that time period that was skipped. It was usually nothing major but I just felt like I missed a lot of them getting to know each other and spending time together as a couple.

Some things were just way OTT too, as I mentioned the baby mama drama and how she despised Tate and acted towards him. Also, how Reece's mom treated him and how Tate's dad treated him as well. It just seemed so OTT and depressing! Both of these characters had serious self-esteem issues but even that seemed OTT. But the main thing is suddenly EVERYTHING is wrapped up in a neat little bow. LJ's custody, Reece & Tate both stand up to their parents and then Reece's mom "comes around" as well as Tate's dad.

I just feel like the whole book needs "tightening" up....the wording, the plot, the drama etc. As I said, I loved these two as a couple and I think this could have been a much better story than it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for SoCalBookReviews.
602 reviews19 followers
August 1, 2018
~5 Stars~
The title is perfect for this book. These characters have absolutely Curled Around My Heart and have not let go. I really did love every part of this book, I was fully invested in this entire story and I still want more even days after finishing this one. I think this book will be one to stick in my head for a while.

I loved the three main characters, I say three because really there’s Tate, Reece and Reece’s adorable and snarky daughter LJ, she plays a huge part in this book as well.

Tate is a wonderfully flamboyant hairdresser who owns his own salon and dresses however he wants to, with no apologies if people don’t like it. Reese is a single dad struggling to make it through one day at a time while working, going to school and raising his young daughter. When LJ needs her hair done and they stop at the salon, these three form an instant connection to each other, which only intensifies when they realize they’re new neighbors as well. Tate and Reece have a slow-burning lead up to their actual relationship as a couple together which is great to see since it gives them more depth as characters and translates well into the full story, I would have hated it if they had an instant love story. Both Reese and Tate have different issues with their families to deal with. Tate with his family not accepting him and Reese with his mother not believing he can actually step up and follow through with raising his daughter alone. And Reese has some really crappy ex-gf troubles that give a heartbreaking touch to this book. I really just wanted to strangle her and her parents at times, they are horrible people. But both of these men have been made into well developed and likable characters, who are determined to do what they both think is right and overcome all the hard times they have to deal with and make it through the other side together.

I think everyone should take the time to read this book, I am sure most will love it just as much as I did.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Profile Image for JenMcJ.
2,307 reviews322 followers
July 24, 2018
This book felt realistic and truthful to the relationship between Reece and Tate for the first 80% of the book - baring the very expensive valentines weekend that I have no idea how Reece could afford.

However, the last 20% or so, all the problems both Reece and Tate were facing were wrapped up much, much too easily and in unrealistic ways. I didn't believe any of it and that really dragged the book down. The judges ruling, especially in California, Tate's dad's actions, LJ's mom, Jenna's actions and the Pollyanna ending while ideal....were too ideal for fiction.

I get that this a romance but sometimes romance, to me, must be found in getting through disappointment and obstacles and outside forces that break your heart, together. It's easy to get through the easy parts, it's the hard parts that challenge our relationships and make them stronger... or not. I feel like the author robbed the reader of watching them face those challenges.

I should add that the cover doesn't seem to represent either character at all.
Profile Image for Cee Brown.
1,306 reviews36 followers
July 24, 2018
★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤A tale of conqueuring inner peace.¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★

I am trying to remember if I have ever read an African American MM book. If I had, it is surprising as there are basically just IR book featuring an AA character. I applaud the author for tackling an almost hushed setting and bringing it to the forefront.

With Curl Around My Heart, I give kuddos to the author for shining light on both characters and making them relatable despite all the issues going on around them. Tate, the cross dressing beauty saloon owner who was just as comfortable in heels as he was enjoying a basketball game. He was attentive and wise and caring. And Reese, the single father raising his eight year old daughter alone following familial issues with the girl's mother. Even through words, you could tell Reese was hardworking, determined to make the best life for his daughter.

These two men met when hair disaster brought LJ and Reese to Tate's saloon for emergency help and with one look, both men were gone for. There was so much intervening disasters for the couple, from homophobia, Reeses's bisexuality, Tate's dress and appearance and his avoidance of his uncaring family to the disapproving Ms. Darlene, Reese's opinionated mother.

Told over a period of two years, the new to me author kept my interest and was able to convey so much emotion and all the feels. I will look out for more books from her.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the publisher through GB Promotions.
Profile Image for Bárbara.
1,157 reviews77 followers
July 24, 2018
*ARC provided by the author via Gay Book Promotions*


This is only the second of this author's work that I've read, but I can say without a doubt that I love her style. Especially, the way she depicts loving, assembled families- the love and care and dedication that's put into making everything work in order for everyone to be happy.

I can also say I appreciate how low on angst it was, given that some of the dynamics between the characters (especially when Jenna or Tate Sr. were involved) could have allowed for some heavy dose of drama. Ultimately, I appreciated the author's decision to play it smoothly, but at the same time making it as realistic as possible.

The characters, once more (just like in Forever With You), feel realistic and easily relatable, as well as easy to love. I was especially a fan of how badass Tate was, and of Reece's sweet, gentle nature. And, of course, I was inevitably a fan of LJ. As for the side characters, Kam and Dani are the best of friends and I enjoyed every intervention by them as well.

Overall, this author is definitely becoming a favorite, and one I will always look forward to read from.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
7,977 reviews458 followers
September 12, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars


This is a sweet and occasionally sexy story. Both Reece and Tate have trouble in their families. Tate’s father hasn’t disowned him, but he’s outwardly cold, and regularly shuts down any talk of Tate’s success, or sex life, at his family dinner table. Meanwhile, Reece’s mother talks down to him, treating him as if he’s still the high school screw-up who knocked up his girlfriend and dropped out of school. He can’t get her to see that he’s a responsible, grown man taking good care of his daughter—and taking night school to finish his degree. I really liked how Reece and Tate complement each other—they see the man before them, not the shadows their families perpetuate. Reese is wild about Tate’s outre look, and does his darnedest to show it, while Tate’s deeply touched by how loving Reece is to LJ. Still, Tate is certain Reece will want him to “tone it down” at some point, and he’s a bit hypersensitive due to bad experiences with other men. And Reece’s insecurity over his lack of success is a hotbed of struggle that he needs to overcome, and Tate’s constant support helps him do that.

Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.


Profile Image for Ro.
3,034 reviews16 followers
July 26, 2018
3.5
Tate Robinson is the owner of a salon who is unapologetic about who he is and what he likes. Mostly, anyway. He’s a successful business owner who has won competitions for his hair design but feels less than when he visits his family. But he’s an awesome boss and a kind person. So when a man walks into the salon at closing time with a young girl in a football uniform desperately needing help with her helmet head braids because tomorrow is picture day he is really unable to turn them down. That’s how he meets Reece and his daughter, LJ. When he finally, finally gets home after an incredibly long busy day at work all he wants to do is lay on the couch and veg. Unfortunately, a new neighbor upstairs is causing a ruckus moving furniture and Tate can’t stand it. He runs upstairs, pounds on the door only to find…LJ. His new neighbors are Reece and LJ. Uh oh.
What ends up happening is Reece needs help with the hair department and is willing to trade cooking for Tate. It’s a win-win situation. He works a lot and he cares for his clients – he is also very honest with them when they ask. “He held a strict policy that he never commented on his clients’ lives, never passed judgement to their faces anyway, or gave them unsolicited advice. Now, solicited advice he had no problem doling out in spades.” And it’s good advice. Sometimes I wanted someone to give him some advice about his family, especially when the closeness of Reece and LJ get him sad. “That closeness jogged long ago memories from when he was a kid, before his own father stopped talking to him…”
Reece can understand family issues because even though his mama talks to him and helps with LJ, she is a nonstop criticizer who is just waiting for Reece to fail. “But he wondered why his mama had not gotten that gene that other parents had – the one where they believed in their kids, even when their kids didn’t believe in themselves.” What her actions do is lead him to believe that he isn’t good enough, as a man, as a parent, as a son. He and LJ have gone through a lot, particularly because of LJ’s mom, Jenna, and he’s handled it so well but he can only see the negative. He’s bisexual, a fact that Jenna threw in her parent’s faces as an act of rebellion and now they make comments to LJ about it.
Doing LJ’s hair and sharing meals ends up leading to them being friends and then more. But it isn’t easy for either of them. Tate is waiting for Reece to leave him and Reece is sure he will mess it all up. Reece is so supportive of Tate while he deals with family , getting bothered because Tate gives up the heels, the makeup, the colorful clothes for dull when he visits his family. Reece lets his daughter be who she is – football and princesses? Of course! He thinks Tate should have that too.
So the story is focused on Tate and Reece (and LJ) for the majority until Jenna throws them a curveball, one that Reece doesn’t handle in the best way. I felt so awful for Tate and for Reece, even though I felt he was to blame for it. It gives him the courage to finally stand up to his mother but at what price? Everything isn’t totally on Reece, it’s a two way street, but it was heartbreaking.
This is where the story lost some for me, because we started getting a couple of time hops that were aggravating. “He just hoped Tate would be open to hearing him when Reece was ready to talk.” The next chapter is “A month later”. I thought WHAT? At least Tate had an ally in his brother’s new girlfriend, Keilani, and it is her that makes Tate able to stand up to his father.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I was pulling for everything to work out with these guys. The writing was fine – no over the top dialogue or awkwardness I had to figure out. Okay, I have to admit there were phrases here that made me cringe. I’m sure it’s just a personal preference but I can’t stand to read things like “…fully exposed, grasping empty hole” or “…red, wet grasping orifice…” Just ugh. But those were few. I felt the connection between Tate and Reece and that was important.
The cover art by Resplendent Media is a grayscale photo of two men, Reece and Tate. It’s a little sedate, although very fitting for the book, so I wish there had been a glimpse of Tate’s sparkle and shine because that’s what made him Tate.
I do have to take a second to address the dedication of this book. Dedicated to the uncle of the author, it was so bittersweet that it made me want to cry. We don’t know the story of the uncle but the sadness comes through.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,457 reviews30 followers
July 20, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review.

I loved this book! The romance between a flamboyant salon owner and a young single dad with a difficult past is sweet and charming - and heart wrenching at times. Tate is as joyful and entertaining as the contestants he watches on RuPaul's Drag Race - but beneath the surface too much rejection has made him vulnerable and wary. Reece is making a good life for him and his daughter but he doesn’t feel like he will ever be able to move past the reputation he gained as a teenager.

The relationship between these two is tentative and slow. Reece’s daughter LJ has more confidence than the two grown men and I love the way she brings out the best in both of them. I love that this is a quiet and very human story. Heartbreak is found in everyday challenges like Reece’s custody battle and both men’s strained relationships with their families. I love that these two men make each other better versions of themselves. I also love the humour and joy in the scenes in Tate’s salon. There are a couple of hot scenes in this book but this is more a book about life, love and relationships than it is about the sexual connection between Tate and Reece. There are some wonderfully poignant observations and moments in this story that will stay with me.

And now for the elephant in the room. This is a story about the relationship between two black men. It shouldn’t be a surprise - but sadly, this is an unusual m/m pairing. Romance writers are slowly starting to introduce non-white heroes, but usually in isolation. We now get some BAME characters in sports romance and in military romance but usually in a predominately white setting. This book gives readers two black leading men who are surrounded by black characters. Tate and Reece have complicated families and interesting friends. I love that the author doesn’t feel any need to explain, apologise or set the scene any more than a white writer writing about white characters would. There are a few black American cultural cliches in this book - but there are also some surprises. These characters are fully formed people, not types. I don’t feel like this book was written to make a statement about race in romance writing - but it did make an emotional impact on me and it forced me to question the lack of diversity in romance - especially in a sub genre like m/m which is supposed to be all about diversity.
Profile Image for namericanwordcat.
2,442 reviews426 followers
July 31, 2018
4.5 Stars

I have been very lucky this week and discovered a few great new to me writers. Londra Laine tops the list.

The writing in this romance is crisp, the character work excellent, the character driven plot well done.

Tate first meeting of Reese is a bit rough as Reese is asking for his daughters hair to be done as the beauty shop Tate owns is closing. Tate has good boundries.

Turns out they are neighbors. In my mind Reese, invade's Tate's space a bit too much and ask for favors before he really has created that relationship but he is out of his depths with his daughter's hair so it follows. I do wish Tate had taught him how to do some basics though. But maybe Tate just didn't wish too.

I love that both heroes are African American but with very different backgrounds.

However, they share difficult parents. It is really great to see the personal growth of each hero that allows their connections with their families to improve.

There is some baby mama drama that makes sense and comes and goes quick enough not to harm the romance elements.

I am sure Laine will become an auto buy for me.
Profile Image for Helen Oakes.
251 reviews29 followers
July 24, 2018
*arc received in exchange for an honest review*

I loved the cover of this book. I know, I know. Don’t judge a book by its cover but that is a damned pretty cover. Unfortunately didn’t really represent either of the characters in the novel but that’s not the end of the day. This was a good read. There was a few time jumps that I’m not a fan of in novels but it helped the story move along. At first I wasn’t a fan of Tate. I thought he was a grouchy git that really needed to learn to be neighbourly, especially when poor Reece needed help with LJ’s hair - how about showing him how to do it rather than just doing it then grumbling when he keeps coming and asking for support? Reece’s mother wasn’t much better of a character. Everything got tied up in a pretty bow without really much depth at the end. However, I did like this book. I think LJ was the cutest thing and I love when authors get children spot on and not too clever for their ages. My first novel by Londra Laine and I do think I’ll be checking out any more that she has.
Profile Image for Karolina Cebula.
390 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2018
Review in English and Polish || Recenzja po angielsku oraz polsku

Tate Robinson is a young, confident and ambitious owner of a successful salon offering hairdressing and cosmetic beauty treatments. Mostly satisfied with his life, surrounded by people who accept his unusual sense of style and love for makeup and not thinking much about all the unpleasant family issues, he's looking boldly to the future and enjoying what he managed to achieve on his own. When, after working hours, Reece Evans, a busy, single father, arrives in Pearl's Hair and Nails with his disheveled eight-year-old daughter, on the walls surrounding these two men appears a first crack. The next ones are only a matter of time, because fate apparently makes every effort to make Tate's and Reece's paths intertwined like a braid. The men need only to open themselves to the world around them and to each other. But are they ready for this and will they find enough courage to face adversity and fight for their tomorrow?

Anyone interested in "Curl Around My Heart" knows in advance that it's a story about love and in many cases that is probably the main reason why people want to read this book. However, what they do not realize is the fact that this novel does not focus only on romantic affection but also branches out into other types of love. So we can also find here the topics of: parental love for a young and grown-up child; young and grown-up child's love for his/her parents; self-love. I would compare it to a tree with a general concept of love as a trunk and all the varieties of love presented in the novel as the branches. At the same time, our "tree" is covered with "leaves" of acceptance. For "Curl Around My Heart" also deals with this topic. In this story the author found some place for the problem of being accepted by people closest to us – family and significant other – as well as of accepting ourselves with all our pros and cons. All of this is a proof of the true charm and value of this intelligent story, which, unlike so many others, has a real depth.

Tate, who, I admit, very quickly became my favorite, is also the great advantage of this novel. First of all, he's a very strong and independent character who doesn't give up easily and tries to achieve his goals placing his faith in his own skills. He can be a support to those who need it, although he can't count on his closest family who, though accepting his sexuality, seems to reject everything else that makes Tate who he is. Nevertheless, the man fully accepts himself and every day he holds his head up. At the same time, he’s a man who has a huge, loving heart and who's a real ray of positive energy which he shares with others. I really admire him. It's worth adding that his penchant for makeup, high heels and women's clothes also makes him someone exceptional and unique. In literature people like him are still in the minority, which I regret very much. At this point, I also have to fully agree with Reece because I think that Tate with all these "beautifications" is really hot and sexy. No wonder that he's my undisputed number one in the novel.

It doesn't mean, however, that other characters created by Londra Laine don't catch our heart. All of them, without exception, have something special in them and they are something more than just some roles to play. In other words, they are neither an element of decoration nor empty vessels that are to fulfill their task and may disappear from this story. These characters have a certain depth, also the psychological one, and in one way or another they affect the main characters, when we get to know them, but also influenced them in the past and to some extent shaped them. So these are: the parents with the ways they treat their sons, other family members and the daily ups and downs associated with them, people who are friends of our leads. Let me also add that each of Londra Laine's characters is very believable and real, so we can successfully see our friends, family members and ourselves in them.

I would also like to write a few words about the erotic aspects of the book. We already know that this novel is one hundred percent romance. But as it happens, all romances are different because some focus mainly on feelings, others are full of bed scenes and yet there are some that offer us both in different proportions. I would say that "Curl Around My Heart" belongs to this last, most balanced group that has its good and bad sides. The fact that the author doesn't focus on the detailed description of sex for the entire book undoubtedly makes us read this novel with greater seriousness and that's certainly what the problems presented here deserve. We also see this book more as a good and ambitious one than a funny story to satisfy the needs of our perverted hearts. On the other hand, Londra Laine in the first bed scene shows us that she can describe sex in a really hot way. That's how she awakens our appetite for more and then makes us suffer because of our unsatisfied needs. In short, the brevity of erotic descriptions is good for this novels but not for the readers who want "more, harder, in detail".

What undoubtedly lacked in "Curl Around My Heart" was a supplementation or an exchange of "the passage of time references" for additional chapters in the second half of the book. Mainly I'm talking about the parts in which appear the phrases like: "Five months later" (chapter 9) – here I am definitely missing a chapter describing Reece and Tate's relationship at the time and illustrating their deepening feelings; "One month later" (chapter 13) – I really suffer from the lack of a chapter, even a small one, showing the life of the characters after the events from the previous installment; "Two months later" (Chapter 15) – those very important in Reece's and Tate's life months are really begging for their development and a closer presentation of their impact on life, feelings and psyche of the two lead characters. Mostly in these parts, the novel seemed noticeably poorer to me and aroused the feeling of unmet need to read something more, to deepen the knowledge of what was happening in that "time shift".

Taking it into consideration, "Curl Around My Heart" is a really good, intelligent and valuable novel, describing difficult and real life topics that affect our everyday routine. This story is not only an entertainment but also something like a guidepost that shows us that we should believe in ourselves, accept ourselves and be ourselves, even if sometimes it's not easy. This is definitely one of the best books I've read and I recommend it to everyone who's looking for a more ambitious and richer content, feelings and emotions.

___________________________

Tate Robinson jest młodym, pewnym siebie i ambitnym właścicielem dobrze prosperującego zakładu oferującego usługi fryzjerskie oraz kosmetyczne. W większości zadowolony ze swojego życia, otaczający się ludźmi, którzy akceptują jego niecodzienne poczucie stylu oraz zamiłowanie do makijażu, nie myśli wiele o przykrościach, jakich doświadcza ze strony rodziny, patrząc odważnie w przyszłość i ciesząc się z tego, do czego zdołał dojść własnymi siłami. Kiedy po godzinach pracy w Pearl’s Hair and Nails pojawia się Reece Evans, zabiegany, samotny ojciec, wraz ze swoją rozczochraną ośmioletnią córką, na otaczających dwójkę mężczyzn murach pojawia się pierwsze pęknięcie. Kolejne są tylko kwestią czasu, ponieważ los najwyraźniej dołożył wszelkich starań, aby ścieżki Tate’a i Reece’a splatały się ze sobą niczym warkocz. Mężczyźni muszą tylko otworzyć się na otaczający ich świat oraz na siebie nawzajem. Czy są jednak na to gotowi i znajdą w sobie wystarczająco dużo odwagi, aby stawić czoła przeciwnościom i zawalczyć o wspólne jutro?

Każdy, kto sięga po „Curl Around My Heart” z góry wie, że ma do czynienia z historią o miłości i zapewne w niejednym przypadku właśnie to stanowi powód zainteresowania tą pozycją. Tym, z czego nie zdajemy sobie jednak sprawy jest fakt, iż powieść ta nie skupia się tylko na miłości romantycznej, ale rozgałęzia się także na inne jej rodzaje. Znajdziemy tu więc również temat: miłości rodzicielskiej do dziecka młodego oraz całkiem dorosłego; miłości dziecka zarówno tego młodego, jak i dorosłego do rodzica; miłości do samego siebie. Porównałabym to do drzewa, gdzie pień stanowi ogólne pojęcie miłości, zaś gałęziami są wszystkie jej przedstawione w powieści odmiany. Jednocześnie nasze „drzewo” porastają „liście” akceptacji. Tak się bowiem składa, że „Curl Around My Heart” to także książka poruszająca właśnie ten temat. Autorka znalazła w niej miejsce zarówno na problem bycia akceptowanym przez najbliższe sobie osoby – rodzinę oraz tę tak zwaną drugą połowę – jak i zaakceptowania samego siebie ze wszystkimi swoimi wadami i zaletami. I właśnie to wszystko stanowi o prawdziwym uroku oraz wartości tej inteligentnej historii, która, w przeciwieństwie do tak wielu innych, posiada prawdziwą głębię.

Ogromną zaletą tej powieści jest również postać Tate’a, który, przyznaję, bardzo szybko stał się moim ulubieńcem. Przede wszystkim jest to bohater bardzo silny i niezależny, który nie poddaje się łatwo i własnymi siłami dąży do obranego celu. Potrafi być podporą dla tych, którzy tego potrzebują, choć sam nie może liczyć na najbliższą rodzinę, która choć akceptuje jego seksualność, to jednak wydaje się odrzucać wszystko inne, co czyni Tate’a tym kim jest. Mimo to, mężczyzna w pełni akceptuje samego siebie i na co dzień chodzi z dumnie uniesioną głową. Jednocześnie jest człowiekiem o ogromnym, kochającym sercu i prawdziwym promyczkiem pozytywnej energii, którą zaraża innych. Naprawdę go podziwiam. Warto dodać, że jego upodobanie do makijażu, szpilek oraz damskich łaszków również czyni go kimś wyjątkowym i niepowtarzalnym. W literaturze postaci takie jak on wciąż znajdują się w mniejszości, nad czym bardzo ubolewam. W tym miejscu muszę też w pełni zgodzić się z Reece’em, ponieważ i ja uważam, że Tate ze wszystkimi tymi „upiększeniami” jest naprawdę gorący i seksowny. Nic więc dziwnego, że w powieści stanowił mój niekwestionowany numer 1.

Nie znaczy to jednak, że inne postaci stworzone przez Londrę Laine nie chwytają nas za serce. Wszystkie one bez wyjątku mają w sobie coś wyjątkowego i są czymś więcej, niż tylko rolami do odegrania. Inaczej mówiąc, nie są ani elementem dekoracji, ani pustymi naczyniami, które mają spełnić swoje zadanie i mogą zniknąć z tej historii. Te postaci posiadają pewną właściwą sobie głębię i nierzadko psychologiczne zaplecze, które w taki czy inny sposób wpływa na głównych bohaterów, kiedy ich poznajemy, ale też wpływało na nich w przeszłości i do pewnego stopnia ich ukształtowało. Są to więc rodzice z ich podejściem do synów, inni członkowie rodziny i wiążące się z nimi codzienne wzloty i upadki, ludzkie, którzy są przyjaciółmi naszej najważniejszej dwójki. Dodajmy także, że każda z postaci Londry Laine jest bardzo prawdopodobna i prawdziwa, więc z powodzeniem możemy odnaleźć w nich naszych znajomych, członków rodziny, samych siebie.

Kilka słów chciałabym napisać także na temat erotycznej strony książki. O tym, że powieść jest w stu procentach romansem już wiemy. Tak się jednak składa, że romans romansowi nie równy, ponieważ jedne skupiają się głównie na uczuciach, inne pełne są scen łóżkowych, a jeszcze inne dostarczają nam jednego i drugiego w różnych proporcjach. „Curl Around My Heart” zaliczyłabym do tej ostatniej, najbardziej wyważonej grupy, co ma zarówno swoje dobre, jak i złe strony. Fakt, iż autorka nie skupia się przez całą długość książki na szczegółowym opisie seksu bez wątpienia sprawia, że podchodzimy do tej powieści z większą powagą, na co bez wątpienia zasługują poruszone tu problemy. Traktujemy ją również bardziej jako lekturę na poziomie, niż czytadło mające zaspokoić potrzeby naszych perwersyjnych serduszek. Z drugiej jednak strony, Londra Laine w pierwszej scenie łóżkowej pokazuje nam, że potrafi przedstawiać seks w naprawdę gorący sposób. Rozbudza tym nasz apetyt na więcej, aby później kazać nam cierpieć z niezaspokojenia. Krótko mówiąc, zwięzłość erotycznych opisów wychodzi na dobre powieści, ale nie koniecznie liczącemu na „dużo, ostro i obrazowo” czytelnikowi.

Tym, czego w „Curl Around My Heart” niezaprzeczalnie mi brakowało, było uzupełnienie lub zamiana pojawiających się w drugiej połowie książki „odnośników do upływającego czasu” na dodatkowe rozdziały. Chodzi mi między innymi o momenty, w których pojawiają się zwroty: „Pięć miesięcy później” (rozdział 9) – tu zdecydowanie brakuje mi rozdziału opisującego związek Reece’a oraz Tate’a w tym czasie oraz obrazującego ich pogłębiające się uczucia; „Miesiąc później” (rozdział 13) – naprawdę boli mnie brak rozdziału, nawet drobnego, pokazującego życie bohaterów po rewelacjach z rozdziału poprzedniego; „Dwa miesiące później” (rozdział 15) – te jakże istotne w życiu Reece’a i Tate’a miesiące naprawdę proszą się o ich rozwinięcie i bliższe przedstawienie ich wpływu na życie, uczucia oraz psychikę dwójki głównych bohaterów. Przede wszystkim w tych właśnie miejscach powieść wydawała mi się zauważalnie uboższa i budziła uczucie niezaspokojonej potrzeby przeczytania czegoś więcej, pogłębienia naszej wiedzy na temat tego, co działo się w tym „przeskoku czasowym”.

Podsumowując, „Curl Around My Heart” to naprawdę dobra, inteligentna i wartościowa powieść, poruszająca tematy życiowe, trudne, które dotykają naszej codzienności. To nie tylko rozrywka, ale także swojego rodzaju drogowskaz pokazujący, że warto wierzyć w swoje siły, akceptować siebie i być sobą, nawet jeśli czasami nie jest to łatwe. Jest to zdecydowanie jedna z najlepszych książek, jakie czytałam i polecam ją wszystkim, którzy szukają lektury ambitniejszej i bogatszej w treść, uczucia, emocje.
Profile Image for Jenny Wood.
Author 25 books309 followers
July 24, 2018
Wheeew, I am such a sucker for a hot dad story. Hello, Reese and his daughter LJ.

Having just recently gotten temporary full custody of his eight year old LJ, (her mother had left her home alone for days to go on a drug binge,) he’s doing everything he can to stay on top of things as a single father. He has help from his mother, but he’s trying to make a way for him as his baby girl. It’s hard, and his self-esteem isn’t the best; with his mom constantly putting him down and nobody thinking he can do much of anything, he’s actually doing an amazing job.
He works full time, he’s going to school, and his daughter and happy and healthy, and his house is where he feels safe. Letting LJ be the little girl she wants to be, means playing on a football team with a bunch of boys, and that does severe damage to braided hair, and tomorrow was picture day. It was late, but he had to do something. He takes her to Tate’s.

Tate, in all his makeup wearing, heel wearing glory, was my favorite. I adored him! After opening a beauty shop in honor of his grandma- the only one who ever accepted him for who he is; Tate was there after hours, cleaning and closing down his shop. Color him surprised, when a hot dad with his little boy came in, needing a haircut. Color him even more surprised when that boy took off his football helmet and was the cutest little girl, desperate for someone to fix her hair. Between hot dad and cute kid, he couldn’t say no…. and he had tried.

Tate had loved the sweet way that Reese had about him, and the way he seemed to adore his little girl. He had a hard time forgetting about them after he’d went home that night, but wouldn’t you know, it wouldn’t be the last they’d see of each other. Not only would they come to Tate for more hair emergencies, but he’d also found out tht they were his new upstairs neighbors.

It was slow going at first, neither man having very high self-esteem, and even with a push from a very enthusiastic LJ, it was still a bit before they finally give in and see what could happen.
Their journey together was sweet. Tate was endlessly supportive, he always got on to Reese when he was feeling down about himself and always put him in his place when he talked down about himself. He helped him see that he was doing okay, and he didn’t just fall in love with Reese, he adored LJ, too.

Reese had a tougher time, he had so much going down in his life, especially after LJ’s mom’s family tried to stir up trouble; but, he gave Tate what he’d never had. He loved Tate and all that he was, and he wasn’t embarrassed by him, or whatever it was that people often didn’t go beyond a night or two with him. He was so “extra”, and I guess, in a way he was. He worked it though. I loved that soooo much.

Of course, things get a little rocky, especially when LJs mom comes and takes him back to court for custody. Its hard for all of them, but I held out hope that things would work out for them. Tate, being his supportive self, of course wasn’t going to let Reese go through it all alone, even when Reese pushed him away. By the ending, I was swooning more over Tate, and I didn’t think that was possible. I just loved him. (If I haven’t reiterated that enough.) And I loved the little family they made together. Not perfect, but perfect for each other.

Overall, it was a really sweet read and I’d definitely recommend it.

4 stars from me!
Profile Image for Angie.
1,274 reviews21 followers
July 26, 2018
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads

I simply adored this book. Little LJ stole my heart from rhe start! Reese and Tate were so amazingly good together. They both had crappy families that tore them down but each man succeeded in building the other one up. This story made me laugh and cry, made my heart break and mended it back together. Reese accepted Tate and how he dressed and wore makeup. He hated it when Tate would tame it down because it wasn't really Tate. Little LJ was sassy and smart and I wanted to hug her so many times. The story and characters were simply wonderful.
Profile Image for Chris, the Dalek King.
1,169 reviews148 followers
July 26, 2018
Tate Robinson has had his fair share of men willing to date him. They just never seem to want to stay very long. He’s not saying it is because of the high-heels and lipstick…but, ok, yeah, that is exactly why. So he doesn’t have high hopes when Reese and his football-clad daughter wander into his shop in desperate need of his hairdressing prowess. Doesn’t stop him from taking a long look and dreaming, though. Then he finds out that Reese and LJ are his new neighbors–and that his dreams are not as un-reciprocated as he thought. But his fashion sense has long been the death-blow to every relationship he has had, and he is worried that Reese will only want him for a few nights and nothing more.

So…I guess first off, this book is set in the city I live in. Which I always find incredibly odd. Sacramento is hardly the most entertaining city in the world (or even northern California) so despite it being the capital of my state, it always seems to shock me when I find authors who have actually lived around here. I did get a laugh from how the author was able to sum up the interesting things to do in Sac in two sentences, though. Don’t think it was an intended joke–and even if it was it was certainly not anything that 99.999% of readers would care about…but, yeah, I was greatly entertained. I don’t often have first-hand knowledge about where scenes in books are set, but that wasn’t a huge problem with this book.

Leaving that little bit of self-entertainment aside, I had mixed feelings about a lot of this book. The first half(ish) of the story was certainly the stronger section of the book. Tate and Reese are well set up, and their interactions kept the scenes interesting. While I certainly can’t say I have ever enjoyed a trip to the hairdressers, the atmosphere in Tate’s shop had a flair to it that made it feel real, if a bit out of my sphere of knowledge. I had a bit of a harder time with the scenes involving LJ–Reese’s daughter. Some of her scenes were easier to handle, but she sometime took on that “small adult” role which always makes kids in books and movies feel a bit off to me. It didn’t happen all the time, so it wasn’t too big a problem, but there were some sections of dialogue–especially near the end–where the dialogue got a bit to after-school special with her.

Actually, the later part of the book, where almost every chapter was separated by time jumps of nearly two or more months, was where a lot of my problems with this story came in. Things started to feel incredibly rushed. Even though time has clearly passed so that the relationship had time to grow, I never got to see any of that so it felt like I was missing huge chunks of both their character development and the relationship. I appreciate that they were not saying “I love you” only weeks after meeting, but the growth of their relationship felt very thin because we hardly got to see any of it. I can believe that they would be in a place to say “I love you” when they did…I just didn’t buy that they actually were. Because the book didn’t do a whole lot to sell it to me.

The increase in the pace also made a lot of the climax incidents feel forced and somewhat out of nowhere. Not completely, because looking back I can see where the groundwork had been laid, but a lot of the emotional impact was undercut by how little time we got to spend with the guys up to that point. We are told that everything is going great with them until it all goes to shit, but telling me, instead of showing me, made me too removed from the characters when I needed to be right there next to them in those scenes.

There is also one other thing that made it harder for me to connect with this story than it should have. But I want to put a huge caveat next to this one. Because there is every chance that my experience with this issue is one that other readers will not have. And normally this is not something I would bring up at all, but it did have a big enough impact that it made the story significantly less enjoyable for me. So…there were some formatting issues with my copy of this book. Which, like I said, might totally be down to having received an advanced copy that was not the finished product. And while I’m not taking any stars off for this, because I fully expect these things to have been caught and fixed before publication, I do want to say that there were several times in this book where something went wonky and it completely destroyed the meaning of the sentence it was affecting. There as also dialogue that had no ending punctuation. It was….distracting. Not a swear off the book kind of distracting, but enough that I kept getting jolted out of the story every couple chapters. I can’t deny that it had an impact on my overall enjoyment of this book. I can’t say that the book would have been rated higher if the errors had not been there, but I can say that there is every chance that not having to fight with this would have lessened some of the pressure on other aspects of this book that I found difficult to overlook.

Curl Around My Heart was a good story that felt a bit hampered at times by the need to move the book along so that plot could happen. Had there been fewer time-jumps I think this could have been better, but there were also some really good character moments that helped offset the missing pieces of development. On the whole, I enjoyed it…just not nearly as much as I wanted to.

3.5 stars


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
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…also, fuck the Kings. Actually, fuck basketball in general…and basketballs in particular. (That’s right, I’m totally holding onto my grudge from high school P.E. where I spent nearly two months getting repeatedly slammed in the face with stupid fucking basketballs. Actually, my love of hockey might be due to the fact that I never once had to deal with getting hit by a puck growing up.)
Profile Image for WycEd Reader.
2,313 reviews37 followers
August 11, 2018
Check out our Curl Around My Heart Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved this book! The romance between a flamboyant salon owner and a young, single dad with a difficult past is sweet and charming – and heart wrenching at times. Tate is as joyful and entertaining as the contestants he watches on RuPaul's Drag Race – but beneath the surface, too much rejection has made him vulnerable and wary. Reece is making a good life for him and his daughter, but he doesn’t feel like he will ever be able to move past the reputation he gained as a teenager.

The relationship between these two is tentative and slow. Reece’s daughter, LJ, has more confidence than the two grown men and I love the way she brings out the best in both of them. I love that this is a quiet and very human story. Heartbreak is found in everyday challenges like Reece’s custody battle and both men’s strained relationships with their families. I love that these two men make each other better versions of themselves. I also love the humour and joy in the scenes in Tate’s salon. There are a couple of hot scenes in this book, but this is more a book about life, love, and relationships than it is about the sexual connection between Tate and Reece. There are some wonderfully poignant observations and moments in this story that will stay with me.

And now for the elephant in the room. This is a story about the relationship between two black men. It shouldn’t be a surprise but sadly, this is an unusual m/m pairing. Romance writers are slowly starting to introduce non-white heroes, but usually in isolation. We now get some BAME characters in sports romance and in military romance but usually in a predominately white setting. This book gives readers two black leading men who are surrounded by black characters. Tate and Reece have complicated families and interesting friends. I love that the author doesn’t feel any need to explain, apologise, or set the scene any more than a white writer writing about white characters would. There are a few black American cultural clichés in this book – but there are also some surprises. These characters are fully formed people, not types. I don’t feel like this book was written to make a statement about race in romance writing, but it did make an emotional impact on me and it forced me to question the lack of diversity in romance – especially in a sub-genre like m/m, which is supposed to be all about diversity.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely adored Curl Around My Heart!!! This book wasn’t actually on my review list, but as our blog’s review coordinator, I strive to categorize the books we review as accurately as I can. Not knowing if Tate wore makeup because he was genderfluid or nonbinary, or if he simply enjoyed doing so, I cued the book up on my Kindle to read through the first chapter or two to see if I could suss it out for myself, rather than waiting for a reply from the ladies who signed up to review it. Best mistake ever!

Within just a few pages, I found myself sucked into Tate’s life, into Reece’s life, and even into little LJ’s life. I couldn’t put it down as I slowly but surely fell in love with the three and the tentative family they were creating. My heart broke for both Tate and Reece as both men were belittled and made to feel less than by the very people in their lives who should have loved them and supported them unconditionally. My heart soared as the two took tentative steps toward a friendship that quickly became more as Tate realized that Reece didn’t tolerate his effeminate ways but embraced them. And it continued to soar as Reece’s confidence grew each time Tate pointed out his parenting and personal successes, showing Reece what it felt like to have someone who believed in him and encouraged him. Not surprisingly, my heart also got bruised along the way as it was a very bumpy journey for Tate and Reece to navigate parental disdain, a custody battle, fear for LJ, miscommunication, and disappointment. Yet despite all that, when Reece needed him most, Tate was there for Reece, giving him a shoulder to cry on and holding him together while Reece’s world fell apart. Despite their young age and some fear-driven miscommunication, there’s a maturity to Tate and Reece’s story that I don’t often see in romances that fall in the new adult age range, and it was quite refreshing. It’s also what made the epilogue so freaking perfect!

There is so much to love about Curl Around My Heart that I cannot properly express my full enjoyment. The only thing I didn’t like about the book when I first encountered it – the jumps in time – went away quickly as I realized they were necessary to propel the story forward. I suppose it actually is the author’s fault that I enjoyed spending time with Tate, Reece, and LJ so much so that I wanted more of their lives together, but the jumps in time were clearly marked and well executed – even if I was cheated out of LJ’s playdate with her teammates. But in my opinion, that’s the mark of good writing, creating characters your readers don’t want to say goodbye to and I definitely wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Tate, Reece, or LJ. At least I can revisit them anytime I want to on a re-read… unless Londra Laine gets inspired to write a sequel, in which case, I’m all in for that. Until then, I’ll be checking out Laine’s other work while I wait to see what the author releases next.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I simply adored this book. Little LJ stole my heart from the start! Reese and Tate were so amazingly good together. They both had crappy families that tore them down, but each man succeeded in building the other one up. This story made me laugh and cry, made my heart break and mended it back together. Reese accepted Tate and how he dressed and wore makeup. He hated it when Tate would tame it down because it wasn't really Tate. Little LJ was sassy and smart, and I wanted to hug her so many times. The story and characters were simply wonderful.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Curl Around My Heart by Londra Laine to read and review.

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Terri.
1,453 reviews
July 24, 2018
I loved Tate Robinson. At a young age, without support from his family, he took charge and built a well respected business. He was a successful business owner, a wonderful friend, a devoted son (even when he had little to no reason to be), and a beautiful man who wasn't afraid to show his love of feminine fashion.
Reece was a wonderful character, though I wanted to shake him to make him stop taking on and believing others' bad perceptions of him. He was a very good man and an even better father to his adorable football playing little girl, LJ.
I really loved the interaction between Tate Reece, and LJ. They made a sweet family, even if they didn't live together. They were all so supportive of each other. The trials they faced were difficult, but their love was real. Tate and Reece were so sexy together, and they were so sweet with LJ. The ending seemed to wrap up a bit quickly, but I was ultimately very satisfied with the story. Honestly, the only thing I found hard to believe was how everyone in Tate's beauty shop could hear all the conversations. When the woman under the dryer was commenting on Tate's conversation, I shook my head. I've been under the dryer and can't hear a darned thing going on around me, LOL! That said, this was a great story.
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews133 followers
July 23, 2018
Curl Around My Heart is a fantastic and fun read by Londra Laine.



I love Tate with his high heels and eye shadow, as he is just a breathe of fresh air! And I love Reece and his easy going manner with his daughter, as he's just trying to be the best dad he can.

The family issues is this book are well done, with Tate's family unable to accept him as he is, Reese's unsupportive and judgemental mother, and the issues with Reese's ex. All of these were written in a realistic way, with heart and compassion.

I love Reese's daughter, LJ. She is adorable with her love of sports and her unruly hair.

The story is sweet and charming and I loved every second of it. It is beautiful to see this two men who are on their own come together to find the support they need.

I definitely will be reading Curl Around My Heart again, and I highly recommend this refreshing romance by Londra Laine.

Profile Image for Dixiecowgirl.
1,420 reviews25 followers
July 24, 2018
All the feels! I loved the flow and feel of this book. As the reader i got to know each MC and fall in love with them. My heart hurt some for both men as they went through their daily struggles and fell in love. I enjoyed the writing and the story-line felt authentic. We also have lots of cute and sweet time with Reeces' adorable daughter LJ.

Tate and Reece develop a really special connection and the love is touchable. I loved the strength of each character and how accepting they were of each other. How they made room in each others lives for the other. I did want to slap Reeces's mother a time or two. Both families have some growing to do and that weaves nicely into the story.

One of my favorite quotes from the story is 'with every braid of ladybug's hair, every meal you cooked, every touch, every glance, you and LJ curled around my heart'.

Treat yourself to this beautiful story!
Profile Image for Lisa.
332 reviews30 followers
July 25, 2018
Arc copy received in exchange for an honest review.

3.5* I loved it until maybe 70%.

Tate is owns his own beauty parlour come hairdressers he has everything. He is successful won awards things are going well asides from a few family issues. What he really wants is some one to love him for him . He likes his high heels and glitter and just wants some to accept him the way he is. Along comes Reese and LJ

Reese is a single dad to LJ. He won custody when her mother screwed up. He is hopeless at sorting out her hair and brings her to Perls to get some help.

It’s instant chemistry and things progress quickly. This is where my issue lies. It go’s from date number 3 to 5 months down the lone when LJs mother appears back on the screen and the drama starts. Then it’s all magical and happy again. I just didn’t feel it for the last 30% I know it’s fictional but it was very unrealistic.
Profile Image for Maria Vickers.
Author 31 books376 followers
July 28, 2018
Curl Around My Heart by Londra Laine is a love story that challenges stereotypes and will hit all of the right notes. Well-written with a cast of colorful characters, the story will give you the feels and make you want to keep turning the page. I will also say that there were a couple of unexpected situations that popped up in this story, but I liked that there were a few surprises. There were also a few things that I thought were glossed over and might need a little more meat to it. Like how the mother, who had certain issues, immediately won without the courts looking more into the situation. As someone who has witnessed a friend going through a similar issue, I felt like it wasn't complete and things were missing. That said, I love the story woven by this author for Tate and Reece.

Overall though, I'll give this story 4 stars and recommend that you one click this book today.
Profile Image for Valerie.
Author 17 books169 followers
July 24, 2018
Tate is such an original character. He does what he wants, wears what he wants, and damn what anyone says about him if they judge him. And behind the confidence, a man who is hurt by the rejection of his family but feels love for the only family member that supported him.

When he meets Reece, a single father to LJ, he is rocked out of his routine and starts to think that maybe he is lonely, despite what he’s achieved in his life.

The book was a slow burn between two people who’ve been hurt in the past with toxic people in their lives and they still grow as people together. It’s a wonderfully sweet story with several bumps in the road that had me growling aloud from time to time but Tate and Reece are worth it!
310 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2018
Tate is the flamboyant hairdresser who likes to wear heels and make-up. At closing time one day, a harassed, single dad brings his football playing, princess loving eight year old daughter in for emergency hair taming.

Its not long before their paths cross again and soon the pair give into their attraction to each other. Both of them have lacked support within their own families and they become a sort of support system for each other.

LJ is adorable and the two main characters of Tate and Reece are well written. Their love for LJ and each other is obvious throughout the book which charts the first 2 years of their relationship.

I received an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
758 reviews3 followers
July 25, 2018
Curl Around My Heart is the first book I read by Londra Laine, but it won’t be the last. I really loved this story and it kept me wanting to read all the way through the story. I loved the story between Tate and Reece, they were both so lovable and I totally rooted for them all the way. I love stories that include children and this didn’t disappoint. It was sweet and sexy and I loved how they met. I would absolutely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Shelba.
2,362 reviews65 followers
August 10, 2018
DNF @ 22%.

At almost 1/4 of the way through this book, the two MCs have barely interacted. Tate did LJ's hair, Tate told Reece to keep it down, Reece once more begs Tate to do LJ's hair. I think Tate has had 4x the interaction with LJ. Speaking of LJ, she's almost 9(?) years old, yet she speaks, and is spoken to, as though she was 5 years old.

So, basically, Tate seems okay, I don't know enough about Reece to care about him one way or another, and if LJ is going to be so prominent in this story, I can't deal with the aged-down speech going on there. I think if I was spoken to like that when I was 9 years old, I'd think I was talking to an idiot.

I've read Londra Laine's other book, and enjoyed it until the end where it got OTT, and ended up rating it 2 stars.... so since I am not feeling this book and it is also showing indicators that it's probably also going to be OTT, I'm out and most likely will not be picking up another book from this author in the future.
Profile Image for Shannon.
440 reviews
July 22, 2018
i received this copy from the author for an honest review.. I liked how this was not the standard story where one of the main character see’s their mate and life is perfect....

We see what happens each characters family, personal and work life issues and how everyone is trying to grow and improve.... loved LJ and how she worms her way into Tate’s heart....

This was a nice surprise .... i am glad that the families came together in The end to help the two MC’s .....
Profile Image for Witchiepoo.
447 reviews
July 23, 2018
This book was well written. With great characters and story line. It was a sweet story of love between two unlikely characters.

I just couldn’t get into it as much as I had wanted to. Nothing at all against the author or the story itself, it just didn’t fully grab me.

I was received an ARC for an unbiased and honest review.
Profile Image for Angela Goodrich.
1,608 reviews98 followers
July 26, 2018
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I absolutely adored Curl Around My Heart!!! This book wasn’t actually on my review list, but as our blog’s review coordinator, I strive to categorize the books we review as accurately as I can. Not knowing if Tate wore makeup because he was genderfluid or nonbinary, or if he simply enjoyed doing so, I cued the book up on my Kindle to read through the first chapter or two to see if I could suss it out for myself, rather than waiting for a reply from the ladies who signed up to review it. Best mistake ever!

Within just a few pages, I found myself sucked into Tate’s life, into Reece’s life, and even into little LJ’s life. I couldn’t put it down as I slowly but surely fell in love with the three and the tentative family they were creating. My heart broke for both Tate and Reece as both men were belittled and made to feel less than by the very people in their lives who should have loved them and supported them unconditionally. My heart soared as the two took tentative steps toward a friendship that quickly became more as Tate realized that Reece didn’t tolerate his effeminate ways but embraced them. And it continued to soar as Reece’s confidence grew each time Tate pointed out his parenting and personal successes, showing Reece what it felt like to have someone who believed in him and encouraged him. Not surprisingly, my heart also got bruised along the way as it was a very bumpy journey for Tate and Reece to navigate parental disdain, a custody battle, fear for LJ, miscommunication, and disappointment. Yet despite all that, when Reece needed him most, Tate was there for Reece, giving him a shoulder to cry on and holding him together while Reece’s world fell apart. Despite their young age and some fear-driven miscommunication, there’s a maturity to Tate and Reece’s story that I don’t often see in romances that fall in the new adult age range, and it was quite refreshing. It’s also what made the epilogue so freaking perfect!

There is so much to love about Curl Around My Heart that I cannot properly express my full enjoyment. The only thing I didn’t like about the book when I first encountered it – the jumps in time – went away quickly as I realized they were necessary to propel the story forward. I suppose it actually is the author’s fault that I enjoyed spending time with Tate, Reece, and LJ so much so that I wanted more of their lives together, but the jumps in time were clearly marked and well executed – even if I was cheated out of LJ’s playdate with her teammates. But in my opinion, that’s the mark of good writing, creating characters your readers don’t want to say goodbye to and I definitely wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Tate, Reece, or LJ. At least I can revisit them anytime I want to on a re-read… unless Londra Laine gets inspired to write a sequel, in which case, I’m all in for that. Until then, I’ll be checking out Laine’s other work while I wait to see what the author releases next.

Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication.

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for jennrubenstein.
147 reviews8 followers
August 6, 2018
My first book by Londra Laine but definitely not my last

This book had me so emotional, in the best way. This is the first book I've read by Londra Laine, hopefully the first of many. I love M/M romance, especially with gender nonconforming characters, and everything about this story is just so well written. I love that we learn not only about the two main characters, but their families and friends - Tate and Reece were fully fleshed out to the point that I really feel like I know them, I'm invested in them, I hurt when they hurt and celebrate their joy. Thank you for bringing these characters to us. I can't wait to read more.
Profile Image for Sarita Chapdelaine.
1,215 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2018
This is a delightful book and I love it. It has everything I want in a great romance with incredible characters, an interesting story, a sweet and resilient little girl, some angst and two people that deserve a beautiful life. I could not put this book down and I love how many emotions I felt while reading it. Tate is amazing and he knows who he is and what makes him happy. He is determined to move past his family's disapproval of his choices and meeting Reese and LJ is the best thing that has ever happened to him. Reese is an awesome dad and he is doing his best for LJ even though his mom can't seem to see the good man he has become. Tate and Reese have a smoking hot chemistry between them, a deep connection and they accept each other as they are. The secondary characters add a lot to this story and the complicated relationship between the MC's and their families is very well done. I love the ending and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
2,320 reviews7 followers
July 26, 2018
A spectacular story with wonderful characters. I especially love Tate with all of his flamboyance, quick wit, attitude, and sweetness all rolled into one amazing person. He is just perfect for Reece and I love watching their relationship grow as they overcome their fears and help one another overcome their insecurities. I really like LJ, she's a spectacular addition to the story and I love how throughout everything, Reece and Tate's main focus is on her well being and happiness. They are a perfect family!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
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