Foothills Pride Box Set

The tiny Sierra Nevada community of Stone Acres looks benign on the outside, but it’s been a hive of activity since gay men from Silicon Valley began moving in. The Old Town establishment is up in arms as newcomers challenge the conservative community to move into the new millennium. Along the way, gay couples find true love and a new home.

Contains the stories:

What’s in a Name?: When barista Jimmy is dumped and gets drunk on his 30th birthday, a handsome, hunky bartender takes care of him, but is mum about his real name. When Jimmy presses him, the bartender makes the quest a game, giving him seven guesses and promising romance each night. For every wrong guess, Jimmy has to forfeit a hot, sexy kiss. Sounds good, but what’s the catch?

Redesigning Max: Out and proud award-winning designer Fredi Zimmer takes on straight outdoorsman Max Greene’s cabin renovation. When he finds out Max is closeted and wants to come out, Fredi helps Max remodel not only his cabin but his life. Angered that Fredi has turned him, Max’s former friends intervene. Will Fredi and Max win the fight for their happiness?

Behr Facts: After CEO Abe Behr discovers discrepancies in his construction company accounts, he hires CPA Jeff Mason to help him find the embezzler. Searching for the culprit, they become closer, and Abe realizes he’s gay. However, coming out to a hostile family and community may break up the couple before they cement their happiness. With so much strife, will love prevail?

When Adam Fell: Jason’s drug addiction ripped them apart. Does Adam want to get back together now that his former lover says he’s clean?

Relative Best: When hotel owner Zeke Bandy meets Vic Longbow, he sees stars. But Vic is in town to attend a wedding and to open an office, not to fall in love. Are they doomed as lovers because they’re both too busy for happily ever after?

Frank at Heart: What will it take to make hardware store owner Frank update himself and his store? Could the new man in town be the key to unlock Frank’s life and future happiness?

Waking the Behr: Ladies’ man and small town contractor Ben Behr is blindsided by his lustful feelings for San Francisco entrepreneur Mitch O’Shea. Can a country mouse and a city mouse bridge the gap in their upbringing and expectations to find love?

Short Order: Amid the happiness of the Christmas season, horticulturist Fen Miller and his landlord sous chef John Barton have some serious decisions to make. Fen must decide on a career and John on eluding his grim past. Together can they support each other enough to discover their happily ever after?

Published:
Publisher: JMS Books (https://www.jms-books.com/)
Editors:
JM Snyder
Cover Artists:
Written Ink Designs
Genres:
contemporary, MM, romance
Tags:
accountant, barista, bartender, bird watcher, cabin, chef, college graduate, computer game designer, construction worker, contemporary, embezzlement, entrepreneur, family, Foothills Pride series, gay romance, hardware store, hotel owner, interior designer, LGBTQ+, maitre d', MM, movie scout, music, Native American, Northern California, outdoorsman, POC, San Francisco, second chance, second chance at love, second chance love, short men, Sierra Nevada foothills, software designer, sous chef, starting over, teenager
Excerpt:

EXCERPT FROM "What's in a Name?"

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    • Is there anything worse than waking up with a really bad hangover? The answer, I found out that morning, was a solid yes. My particular hell was waking up in a strange bed with someone lying next to me, who's snoring away so loud I was surprised the neighbors weren't complaining. What made it all worse was I had to pee really, really bad, and I didn't have a clue where the bathroom was.
    • I lay on my back taking stock. I was naked, covered with a beige sheet and navy blue comforter in a huge bed, my head taking up most of the California king space.
    • Where the heck was I? I had no clue. I really didn't care because I was hurting so badly it'd probably be better if whoever lived here would just shoot me and put me out of my misery.
    • Still, I had to pee, so I slowly swam to the edge of the bed, trying not to move any body parts. Which was a complete failure. I ached all over. Had someone beaten me up?
    • As I reached the side of the bed and peered over the edge at the floor a few stories below, I groaned. Where was the ladder to climb down to the carpeting? I clutched the edge of the bed with one hand and rolled to my side.
    • "Hey, where you going, Jimmy?"
    • I hadn't noticed the snoring had stopped until the voice boomed in my ear.
    • Carefully, I turned my head.
    • The Stonewall Saloon bartender with the nametag of Alex last night was peering at me over his chest of hair. His eyes were squinted. A slender beam of light from a gap in the curtains was aimed at his face.
    • "Bathroom. Pee." I sighed. "Gotta pee."
    • "Right." He groaned and caused a tidal wave on the mattress even though it wasn't a water bed.
    • My body reacted with the seismic quake and my stomach protested. I swallowed back the rising pain even though I knew my gut had nothing left in it to come up.
    • I felt large hands under my arms.
    • "Right this way."
    • His voice clanged from one of my ears to the other.
    • He turned me, and we marched to a doorway and into the bathroom. Carefully, he lowered my nude body down onto the toilet.
    • "No spilling." He turned away and walked into the hallway.
    • I pushed my limp dick between my legs and did my thing, not spilling a drop on the bathroom floor or the toilet seat. Then I rested my arm on the sink counter next to the toilet and put my head on my arm.
    • "Nope, no snoozing here." His voice boomed. "C'mon. It's way too early for this shit."
    • Again arms lifted me. After I balanced myself, one hand left. The toilet roiled. The hand returned.
    • "We'd usually wash our hands," the voice murmured through me, "but I think we'll skip it this time."
    • Back in bed, covered, dry mouthed, I decided it was again nap time.
    • * * * *
    • The next time I woke, I was awake. Awake awake. Oh my God, where in the hell am I awake. Shit, I'm in big trouble awake. Where are my clothes awake.
    • I took inventory. No pain in the ass. That was a relief. No smell of semen. Check, and another sigh. No aches and pains that weren't directly related to way, way too many shots and beers, check. No clothes. No clothes?
    • I was okay, pretty much, other than naked, hungover, and in a stranger's house.
    • Damn it, I was thirty years old, naked in a stranger's bed, with only a hazy recollection of what happened after my now former boyfriend Alex stranded me at the Stone Acres' historic saloon.
    • I had a hazy memory of the bartender helping me to the bar bathroom the night before and this morning. So was I at his house? If so, how'd I get here?
    • "Um," I tried to say, but my mouth was glued shut.
    • I reached over to feel the side of the bed. Still there. Then I reached over to the other side. Nothing. No one.
    • Okay, I was alone in a strange bed as my memory filtered back online. I had been an ass, and the bartender with the faux name of Alex had taken care of me anyway. I owed him my firstborn child, should such a thing happen to me now in my boyfriendless state. I owed Alex the bartender everything, including my pride and gratitude.
    • What I really needed to do was apologize for causing him so much trouble.
    Slowly I sat up and then stood. My knees protested, so I sat back down and then tried again. This time my knees cooperated.

 

 

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Heart of the Holidays

Everyone hopes his road to happily ever after will be carefree and smooth, but too often hair-pin turns and detours seem to get in the way.

Having thought he was on the road to forever before, former Silicon Valley programmer Dan Lassiter is leery about pedaling down it again. His elderly companion Charlie urges him to get to know Rick Reardon whose bakery is across the street from Dan’s bicycle shop.

Under the watchful eye of Charlie, Dan and Rick take tentative steps toward each other, all the while trying to avoid potholes such as exes, homophobes, and family problems.

As summer turns to fall and then winter, they hope that the road will be smooth going from their first date and first kiss to having what Rick’s sister euphemistically calls their “sleep overs”. At each step, though, they are tripped up and wonder why there seem to be so many bumps in their road.

Maybe Dan and Rick should heed some of Charlie’s sage advice or maybe they should listen to their hearts instead of the ghosts from their pasts.

Published:
Publisher: JMS Books (https://www.jms-books.com/)
Editors:
JM Snyder
Cover Artists:
Written Ink Designs
Genres:
contemporary, holiday, MM, romance
Tags:
bakery, bicycle shop, computer game designer, contemporary, elderly companion, family, gay romance, Halloween, homeless, LGBTQ+, MM, non-series title, software designer, starting over, Thanksgiving
Excerpt:

The kids and their mom arrived after lunch, right about the time Charlie usually turned in for a nap. He gave them the once over as they got out of the car, nodded to me with raised eyebrows, and ambled back toward the house. I guess he figured he’d meet them sometime, probably sooner rather than later, so he didn’t have to knock himself out now. It was the siesta part of his day.

After the kids tumbled from the car and jumped on Rick, he pointed at my open garage and waved at me. I waved back, and they galloped across the street.

“Hi, I’m McKinsey! You can call me Mack.” The red-haired boy danced in front of me. His hair blazed in the sun and was as bright as his green eyes and freckles. He didn’t look anything like his uncle. “So these are all the bikes I can ride? Can I try them out first?”

“Yeah, but don’t go very far. I’ve got an app keeping an eye on them.”

“Cool. Bye.”

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He didn’t wait for me to explain further, but ran toward the racks so fast that I thought he would barrel into them. A small hand on my arm stopped me from chasing after him.

“Don’t worry. He’s careful. He won’t hurt the bikes. We won’t go far because of mom.” Since I wasn’t worried about the bicycles, I looked down into brown eyes, a solemn face, and curly sable hair. “I’m Leslie. Everyone calls me Lee. My brother throws himself into his activities. I don’t. Can we choose any of the bicycles?”

I glanced up at their uncle who shrugged at me. The small hand let go of my arm, so I looked down at Lee again.

“Yes. You have three choices. One, you can select a bike and ride it the entire time you’re here. Two, you could come back to the garage and pick another one to ride for the day, the half-day, the hour, or however long you want it. That means if you wanted, you could ride every bike in this place in one day. Or your third choice, you could stay at the bakery and not go bike riding at all.” I winked at her. “I would choose the bakery except then I’d look like a human lead balloon if I did.”

She giggled and put her hand on my arm again.

“I like you, Mr. Dan. I think we’ll get along fine.” She nodded and gave me a long assessing once over. “Don’t worry. You don’t look like a balloon at all. Not at all.”

If she’d been in her teens, I would have thought she was flirting. But Lee seemed as if she was merely making an observation.

I liked both kids and their approaches to life. I’d be willing to bet Charlie would like them too when he got up from his nap and met them.

Unlike her brother, Lee sauntered over to the bikes, many of which were now askew thanks to Mack’s unsorting process. She carefully started to right those tossed aside. She stopped at a turquoise bicycle, hopped on, and waved to me and her uncle as she sped away. Her brother was long gone. The bike rack still needed straightening which would give me something to do while Charlie snoozed.

I started toward it. Rick had surged across the street and was striding up to me.

“Here. I’ll help.” He stood staring down at the mishmash of bikes. “If you show me how to untangle them without making things worse.”

I nodded.

“I don’t get it. Aren’t you afraid people will just take off with your bikes and you’ll never see them again?”

I watched him bend over to pick up one on the ground. My groin tightened at the sight. We were going out to dinner. Together. Soon. My heart and dick lifted as my mind piled up image after image of dinner and afterward. It was about time for me to get back in the saddle as it were.

 

COLLAPSE
Reviews:Cheryl on Cajun's Cabinet for Reviews wrote:

Dan packs him and his older house mate up moving to a small town looking for different environments, settled in a ghost town of a city until new a neighbor opened a bakery across the street. Rick was looking for a new start but never dreamed he would be looking while his sister and her two kids lived with him. Rick and Dan start off with just getting to know you but what happens for their first date could blow everything up. A cute little get to know them type of friends to lover to maybe more? Can the town of sidetrack handle all the cuteness this book brings.

Valerie on LoveBytes wrote:

Because of the unhurried progression of their relationship, the book lacks a sense of urgency. Dan and Rick’s relationship proceeds at the speed of snail. It’s slow, but not slow–burn since it’s lacking much passion. Conversely, there’s no insta-love, which pleases me greatly. Pat Henshaw’s approach to her characters falling in love is neither good or bad – it’s a matter of personal taste whether this more leisurely pace is to your liking. She has created a quiet holiday story, sometimes humorous, sometimes heart warming, and overall, very enjoyable. Happy endings are provided for everyone, not just the leading men, and it wraps up neatly into a nice holiday package.

Sharonica on Sharonica's Logical Reviews wrote:

5 Sugar and Spice Stars!

I adore Pat Henshaw’s novies because they pack so much heart, charm, and happiness between their covers (yes, THOSE covers too) you cannot help falling in love with every single character in the story.

“Heart of the Holidays,” begins right before the holiday season in October when local baker Rick and bicycle shop owner Dan are pushed together because of Rick’s niece and nephew who often make use of Rick’s bike rentals.

As the guys become friends the friendship evolves into something more with the season’s progression into the New Year. Soon Holidays are passing by and botched Family get togethers turn into found family reunions. This is the perfect Holiday afternoon read by a warm fire or Christmas tree lights.

on Book Gemz:

What I Liked…
This is was my first Pat Henshaw book. I really enjoyed the story. It was a fast-paced novella that will not lose your attention! The author embedded a number of obstacles in the way of the two main characters uniting. Crazy ex-lovers, homophobia, small town challenges, family, family, and of course family.

The main characters were well developed, each with their flaws, pasts, and anxieties. Both of them looking for a past to start over, happen to end up opening businesses across the street from each other. After a period of admiring from afar, one finally takes the chance of asking for a date. There was some unsuccessful woo-ing involved, but don’t worry, it does end up being a happily ever after story.

A Forewarning…
There is a surprise ending to the novella. I am a little torn on that surprise ending….as it explains a few little things in the book that I read and thought “that was a little odd way to say that”, but then others in the book that made me call into question. With all that said….it was a cute ending & surprise.

The Bottomline…
I know this is a shorter review than my normal ones, but the story is good (IMHO) and packed with lots of things, I am trying real hard not to give too much away!

Linda on Queeromance Ink wrote:

Putting the past where it belongs and taking a chance on a new beginning is what Heart of the Holidays is all about, and the surprise ending is worth the wait.

Anne on Drops of Ink wrote:

I enjoyed this sweet romance about two men getting to know, and falling for, each other in a small town. Although I figured out who exactly Charlie was early on in the story, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. I loved how his presence was a constant throughout, and the effect he had on everyone he met.

****

I thought the ending was very sweet and totally the HEA these guys deserve.

Rache Reed on Rachel Reed Reviews wrote:

This was a sweet contemporary, opposites attract Holiday Romance.

I loved how the author portrayed a sweet slowburn burn friends to lovers romance between Dan and Rick.

This book gave me all the feels with a splash of holiday cheer.

The storyline was engaging and the characters were likeable, relatable and well fleshed out.

If you like an adorable, slowburn, friends to lovers romance laced with a little holiday magic, be sure to give this one a go.


Frank at Heart

Everything about thirty-five-year-old Stone Acres hardware store owner Frank McCord is old-fashioned—from his bow tie and overalls to the way he happily makes house calls. He dreams of lasting romance, true love, and marriage.

Frank’s ancestors have run the store and been mainstays in the small California town for over a century. While genial Frank upholds tradition and earns the respect of friends and neighbors, he fears he’s too dull and old to attract a husband. Maybe it’s time to break out of his mold.

Then handsome thirty-six-year-old electronic games designer Christopher Darling and his fifteen-year-old son, Henry, come into his life. Christopher has everything Frank could want in a potential partner: charm, kindness, and compatibility. Also, he’s a terrific father to Henry.

When their Stone Acres home turns out to be uninhabitable, Frank offers the Darlings temporary lodging in his ancestral farmhouse, where he and his tenant Emil reside. Since Emil thinks Frank is his, sparks fly.

Suddenly, Frank’s monotonous life promises to explode with love and change him forever.

Published:
Publisher: JMS Books (https://www.jms-books.com/)
Cover Artists:
Written Ink Designs
Genres:
contemporary, MM, romance
Tags:
computer game designer, contemporary, Foothills Pride series, gay romance, hardware store, MM, novella, Sierra Nevada foothills, software designer, teenager
Excerpt:

“Frank, is there a problem? If you can’t go to lunch today, we can make it another time.”

I turned to him with my mouth hanging open. He’d rescued me. Incredible. I didn’t even know the guy, and he’d thrown me the proverbial lifeline. Christopher was looking at me like he expected an answer. I shook myself.

“What? Oh, yes, it’s time to eat. Hold on. I’ll be there in a second.” Then I turned back to Emil. “Christopher, I’m not sure if you’ve met Emil. Emil’s my tenant.”

Emil’s eyes turned to slits—now like a cat rather than a doe—as he watched Christopher walk toward us.

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I was a little surprised Emil wasn’t panting over Christopher, since he embodied the kind of beauty Emil drooled over in men’s fashion magazines, usually with a comment about how I’d never look like any of them. Then I remembered how Emil hated children, especially teenagers. Maybe the sight of Henry, who’d followed his father into the back room, had soured Emil on Christopher’s handsomeness.

“You didn’t tell me you had a date.” Emil smiled a lips-over-teeth grimace and shook hands with Christopher.

“Did you forget about me, Frank?” Christopher teased, and I grinned back at him in surprise.

“I’ve had a lot on my mind today.” Talk about understatements. The pull between us, however, was loud and strong.

I hustled Emil out the door, past a smirking Riley. I assured Emil he’d be able to find a ride with one of his friends. Over Riley’s quick cough, I even suggested Emil might want to go talk to Gus over at the Old Town garage and see if Emil’s Camry was fixed yet. I suspected Emil didn’t have enough—or wouldn’t spare enough—money to get it out of hock and found it cheaper to ride to work and back with me. I was tired of being his chauffeur, and Emil knew it.

He left, grumbling and unhappy.

“Good riddance. You should evict him. That one’s up to no good.” Riley’s mumble made me shake my head.

I didn’t wish Emil ill while he was trying to get himself together. I just wanted him to be less needy and clingy around me.

As I shut the door behind him, I held back a sigh of relief and looked at the time. I had a little over an hour to eat and get back to the store.

When I glanced at Christopher and Henry, they were staring at me. Christopher had concern written all over his face, but Henry seemed like a normal fifteen-year-old.

“I’m hungry. Where are we going?” Henry might have picked up on the discord around him, but he wasn’t going to let a little uneasiness keep him from food.

I was buoyed by his cheerfulness.

We ended up at the newly refurbished Limelight Diner, once a bar and now a breakfast and lunch place. We found a table for three in the back corner where we wouldn’t be jostled by the steady stream of people buying takeout sandwiches and chips.

I noticed a few unfamiliar faces among the folks standing in line to order and realized the summer onslaught might already have begun. I had to get myself and the store ready ASAP.

After Henry got up to retrieve our order and bring it to the table, I leaned in toward Christopher.

“Thanks for the invitation to lunch.” It was awkward, but I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t grateful for what he’d done.

“Anything I can do to help. You’re a kind man, and sometimes kindness gets taken advantage of.”

How right he was. Still, I appreciated his stepping in. As I let his words settle, he blushed.

“Look, Frank, I might have a problem, and I’d appreciate it if you’ve got a minute after Henry’s test to check it out. I need some advice. Some house advice.” He looked both concerned and worried. “Oh no, and now I’m coming across as taking advantage.”

“Not really. I’ll be happy to help.” After the way he’d saved me from being hounded to death by Emil, giving Christopher a few minutes later this afternoon wouldn’t be a hardship. Besides, it gave me more time to ogle him.

COLLAPSE
Reviews:A. M. Leibowitz on A. M. Leibowitz wrote:

Perhaps my favorite thing about these books is that they are the way the world should work. Not merely happy endings but full of love, support, kindness, joy, and friendship all throughout. They’re the kind of uplifting stories we could use more of.

For a visit to a favorite town, characters who are easy to love, and a story with just a hint of a message, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.

Kat on Love Bytes wrote:

It turns out I have been missing out on a really good book series if the previous books are anything like this one!

Frank McCord has been stuck in a rut! He inherited his family farm and hardware store, complete with the uniform his grandfather decided needed to be worn…“denim overalls, button-down shirt, and clip-on bow tie.” When an very attractive customer keeps coming in he starts to rethink his stodgy look. He also, for the first time in forever, takes a good look at his personal lacking non-business life. When the man’s son comes in looking for a job he finally gets to talk to the stranger. Christopher Darling and his son Henry are both openly gay. They have moved to the new town of Stone Acres to move on from their troubling past. When Christoper has serious questions about the remodel that was done before he purchased his new-to-him home he asks Frank for his opinion. One look at the redesign has Frank rushing everyone out of the unstable home. “Frank at Heart” is the story of how Christopher and Henry take up Frank’s generous offer to stay with him while the home is made safe and what happens when these two men are forced to look at the feelings that are blossoming.

I really liked Frank. I have somehow stumbled upon the sub genre, men with panic attack issues, again. The author treated the issue with respect and allowed Frank to maintain his dignity from this sometimes debilitating problem. Christopher was very gentle and caring man that I was very fond of. He took hold of the situation from the start, almost like he had a sixth sense but I accredit it more from his experience being a full-time dad to his son. He was also very intuitive and protecting of Frank right from the start.

The men seemed to have a true connection from the start. It was a bit insta-love, even if they didn’t act on it immediately. And speaking of acting on it, you do get a few kisses and some hand holding on page, however the sex is just referred to having happened and is completely off page.

I foresee myself with a whole new set of books to read on my vacation as want to know more about this town and the men that were referenced in the story. I didn’t find myself at a lost though, not knowing those men’s stories …yet!