Casey Morales is an LGBT storyteller and the author of multiple bestselling MM romance novels. Born in the Southern United States, Casey is an avid tennis player, aspiring chef, dog lover, and ravenous consumer of gummy bears.
Took me a while to warm to Peter but Benji is the star of ‘Whipped’ for me. He is the Best Barbacks ever and lets everyone know it. Peter is his exact opposite, a brilliant Veterinary Surgeon who has always put animals before people, until he met Benji.
Casey’s Barback’ series is full of fun, frolics and banter, always leaves you with a smile on your face.
The Worldbuilding in this series is fantastic, and the romance is believable
This exceptionally written third installment in the Barbacks series by author Casey Morales is characterized by its emotional depth, humor, authenticity, and a compelling romance between two characters who are undeniably destined for each other.
Warning: It may induce tears, laughter, and frustration as the narrative unfolds and we become deeply engrossed in these characters.
Author Morales has crafted a universe that mirrors the familial bonds formed through friendship and love. The writing is precise, lucid, and appropriately humorous. The narrative centers around Benji, the beloved bartender, who has been residing just down the hall (measured at 22 feet) from Dr. Peter Loupier. Benji is mourning the loss of his long-term partner and is not actively seeking another relationship. His life is methodically organized, as evidenced by a color-coded whiteboard in his kitchen, with Post-It(TM) notes reflecting his structured approach to life.
When an incident necessitates the relocation of Benji by the apartment management, Dr. Loupier consents to accommodate him in his residence, albeit with specific conditions. The environment is meticulously orderly; however, Benji perceives the underlying sadness that envelops Peter, as well as his genuine compassion, exemplified through the "foster room" where animals under Peter’s care, yet abandoned, are tended.
Benji's attachment to the foster animals (and some permanent residents) underscores his compassionate nature towards Peter. His witty exchanges, late-night conversations, and discussions about Peter's shampoo serve to bring the two men closer together. Naturally, the story concludes on a positive note. Unlike some novels of similar length that tend to prolong the ending to an unreasonable extent, this work is a delight, owing to the richly developed characters Mr. Morales has provided.
It is also noteworthy that the author’s practice of including one or two chapters from the subsequent book in the series can be somewhat frustrating, as it compels us to dive immediately into the next installment.
This is book #3 in Casey's "Barbacks" series, and it really surprised me. Yes, like the first 2 books, this one is light & low-angst. And there are a few steamy scenes, but they are not central to the plot. What is central is the emotional depth Casey gives to the MC's Peter & Benji, and to the book itself. Yes I LOL'd multiple times. But I also cried multiple times and really found myself attached to these two guys - much more so than the characters in the first books in the series.
Benji is one of the bartenders at the new sports bar in Tampa. He's a former professional dancer with Korean heritage. Multiple injuries killed Benji's dance career so he has brought his performance skills behind the bar. His hair changes color weekly, he is a nonstop chatterbox, and he can make 3 or 4 different drinks simultaneously while he's socializing with the patrons. When there is a plumbing emergency in his apartment building and Benji has to move out for a couple months while it's repaired, the management company asks for volunteers to host the displaced tenants in exchange for rent abatement. Benji gets paired with Peter who lives across the hall. Peter is older, bookish, neat & clean, and a veterenary surgeon. Benji's cat comes along with him but that's ok because Peter has a cat, a 3-legged dog he rescued, and a litter of kittens he is fostering. The pets in this story are the secondary characters and they all get plenty of well-deserved airtime.
Benji & Peter are polar opposites at first glance, and the roomate situation starts off somewhat rocky. That's until Casey starts peeling the layers of the onion back and we see Peter & Benji are both hiding past hurt. As they each share their real selves, a bond forms between them that you know is going to deepen. Like I said, it's really heart-warming in a deeply empathetic way and I just loved these two guys more and more as I turned the pages. I almost didn't want to read the final chapters because I wanted to keep these guys close to me. But we get our HEA and I've had a nice book hangover for a week now after finishing it.
I suppose you could read this one stand-alone, but you really need to read the series in order to get the full effect. Grab yourself a copy and take a great ride with Benji & Peter and their menangerie. Guaranteed you will love this one! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Benji tends bar to regularly returns to his apartment after midnight. He’s not a quiet tenant, often letting his door bang open and closed. He also has a cat, Princess Consuela, who screams for half of an hour before feeding time adding to the irritation of his neighbours.
Peter is a veterinary surgeon and animal foster carer. He moved to Tampa following the death of his husband and enjoys his quiet time and his daily newspaper.
Benji and Peter live opposite each other. Benji refers to Peter as the Newspaper Robe Man and complained about the “asthmatic wildebeest” whose snoring could “strip paint”. At Peter’s initial sighting of Benji, he looked like a disco ball that had been involved in a car crash.
Following a plumbing incident, Benji is displaced from his apartment. When the building manager calls other tenants in the building to see who can help out, only Peter agrees, not realising his new temporary tenant will be Benji. On arrival, Peter set out his rules for Benji and explains about the current litter of 5 kittens he has. He introduces his judgmental cat, General Tso, his anxious tripod dog, Hiro and Potato, the snoring bulldog. He also has another dog in the bedroom Benji will use that is post-op.
Trying to be respectful of his host, Benji tries to tone himself down, which he manages in parts, however, he’s still Benji so starts to test his boundaries. After waking up to the foster kittens loose in his room (they were in the bathroom), he decides to name them after Destiny’s Child. This irks Peter because as a vet, he knows how easy it is to get attached to fosters when they’re named but Benji carries on regardless. His next push involves swapping out Peter’s toiletries. All the while, they communicate via post-it notes on the fridge.
I really enjoyed this one. So many funny parts to the story. There is a scene where the kittens are being photographed for adoption where I couldn’t stop laughing. I loved how Benji started becoming more his authentic self around Peter and less like his bar persona, although I liked both. It was good seeing Peter come out of his self imposed isolation as he and Benji got closer.
Overall, I’d recommend this story, and now I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the Barback series. If you enjoy a slow burn, tenderness and low spice with a good dose of hilarity, this is for you. 4 🌟
Barbacks may not be the place “where everybody knows your name,” but it’s the place where everybody’s up in your business. This is the third book in the series, and it is absolutely readable as a stand alone. While the first two books made me cry (happy tears!); this one made me laugh out loud repeatedly.
Flamboyant bartender Benji’s apartment suffers a flood from burst pipes. The apartment complex arranges temporary housing for displaced residents while repairs are underway. Benji’s across-the-hall neighbor, Peter, volunteers to take in a displaced resident. Peter sees the temporary free rent as funding for his work with rescue animals. Yes, this book has a lot of pets and rescue animals! Squee!
While Benji has one high demand pet; as a veterinarian Peter has three rescue pets and a rotating cast of foster animals. Benji is very extroverted and spontaneous, while Peter is very introverted and controlled. Communication happens via post-it notes on the refrigerator. It’s a perfect set up for high comedy.
Through planning a rescue animal event at Barbacks called “Paws and Pours,” caring for a series of litters of kittens, and lots of post-it notes, Benji and Peter gradually become closer. This is one of the slowest and most effective slow burn romances, ever.
I appreciated the hurt/comfort trope that initially seems to be one way, with Benji comforting Peter. Peter is stuck in grieving for his dead partner. But Benji is also stuck – in his public persona and grieving the loss of his dance career to an injury.
I also enjoyed Morales’s use of language throughout the book. Describing the rescue greyhound owned by another Barbacks staff member as moving “like a specter with a metabolism,” for example. Half a second of hesitation, half a second stretching into years, half a second between wanting and reaching. It’s a truly excellent, romantic story. Looking forward to Adrian’s story….
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Benji Kwan was the bartender with flair at Barbacks, the gay sports bay in Ybor, Tampa. Benji was all about big performance in a small half Korean package. His hair changed color on the regular, he was loud and dramatic, and his years of dance training gave him fluid moves behind the bar that only enhanced his performance. He shed glitter everywhere he walked and the customers loved him. Dr. Peter Loupier was a veterinary surgeon. A quiet man who lived alone with a twenty pound orange cat with opinions, a three legged dogged who Peter adopted after he had to remove his leg due to a car accident, an ancient overweight bulldog who snored like a chain saw and slept like a lump on the couch 22 hours a day. Peter was also an animal foster and his spare room was a rotating menagerie of new arrivals and surgery recoveries. Peter was still grieving the loss of his partner two years ago and had turned into a hermit. Peter lived across the hall from Benji and when broken pipes in the wall flooded and displaced a number of residents, management asked Peter to take Benji in, for compensation of course. Six to eight weeks max. Of course it was a disaster in the making. But gradually,.. well, that is a spoiler, so I won’t go there. I have been accused of having no sense of humor, but this book made me drop my kindle on the floor and hold my sides laughing, twice. No violence, no real angst, just a warm contemporary mm romance that you will fall in love with. This really should not be read as a standalone but there are only two releases that dropped first and two more to come. Read them all. I insist. Read it in one sitting and then read it again. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“He’s the foundation. I’m the walls and the roof. The building needs both.”
Whipped! by Casey Morales is the third book in the Barbacks series and it is not what I expected at all. I knew that I was going to like it, but I absolutely loved it! Way more than I ever anticipated. Since I already knew Benji from the previous books as that lighthearted, charming guy who won everyone (his colleagues and patrons), I thought his story would be light and easy, but I was totally wrong. Casey did what he usually does, shattered all my expectations and wrote a story that hit me in the feels way more than I expected. Whipped! has become, hands down, my absolute favourite of the series.
This is a forced-proximity trope story. Peter and Benji are two polar opposites that are brought together due to a pipe burst. Benji Kwan is loud, flamboyant and works as a bartender in Barbacks, a gay sports bar in Tampa. Peter Loupier is a surgeon vet who lives across the hall. He’s a grieving hermit who shares his apartment with foster animals. It seems that their roommates situation is going to be a disaster, but they find a way to live with each other and much, much more.
It's just so deeply heartfelt. The emotional weight of Peter’s past combined with Benji’s hidden vulnerabilities, has had me blinking back tears and constantly pausing just to process it all. At the same time, the story is incredibly sweet. The Post-it notes conversations are everything, and the massive crew of foster animals just melt my heart. It’s a beautiful, thoughtful read that makes you deeply feel and take a step back and think.
Highly recommended!
Thank you, Casey Morales for this free eARC. This is my honest review and recommendation.
‘I took care of the things that needed me’ – another fun Barbacks story!
Always reliable, Casey Morales continues to create fascinating and authentic realms for his MM romances. His series now includes Nashville Spicy, Heartstrings of Honor, Of Crowns & Quills, Of Shadows & Secrets, Land of Jade & Fire, and now Barbacks – a welcome step away from his historic war novels and visits into Asian realms, and focuses on fun, happiness, and light hearted romance! The Barbacks series includes to date – POPPED!, TAPPED!, and now WHIPPED!
Setting the tone of this delightful book, we meet Benji, the colorful Barback: ‘Garfield built an entire empire on hating Mondays, but Mondays at least have the decency to be dramatically awful. The alarm doesn’t go off, or the coffee maker dies, or you step in something suspicious on the sidewalk and spend the rest of the day pretending your left shoe doesn’t smell like the underside of a bridge. Mondays are a villain. You can respect a villein, But here’s the thing about Tuesdays: They’re boring…this Tuesday started well. Suspiciously well…’ And with Casey’s ever-present glowing humor he delivers this fun story as follows: ‘He planned for everything... except Benji Kwon. They'd been neighbors for months — the methodical veterinary surgeon in 4B and the bartender with glitter on his collar in 4A.Then a plumbing disaster flooded Benji's apartment, and Peter made the mistake of offering his foster room as a temporary home. It was supposed to last for two weeks, maybe three. They had separate shelves, separate schedules and there would be absolutely no touching the laminated kitten binder. Their Post-it war started on day one.’ Casey’s grip on humor just grows stronger with each novel!
I LOVED ALL THE CHARACTERS AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS- HUMAN AND ANIMALS!💕 📝🍹🐾🐈💻
I loved Benji in all the previous books and couldn’t wait for his story- and it did not disappoint!
Benji Kwon 25 performs behind a bar counter for a living, has different personas but only the people closest to him knows the true persona- the quiet empathetic broken dancer who fills the quiet with chatter and performance…
And then his apartment gets flooded and he needs to find a place for him and his yowling Sphynx -Princess Consuela!
“Well,” I said. “You’re the weather check.” “And you’re the bathrobe.”
Veternary Surgeon and neighbour of Benji- Dr Peter Loupier enjoys the quiet after grieving the loss of his partner David for two years but also fills it with a three legged pit bull called Hiro, a wheezing bulldog called Potato, a Tabby cat called General Tao and revolving foster animal rescue kittens until a human rescue changes his quiet, controlled life…
“I’m going to fix you, Peter Loupier. I don’t know how yet, but I’m going to fix you.”
Two total opposites in close proximity that learns to co- habitat with rescue animals, post-it notes, a white board, quiet banter and controlled interaction and in doing so they rescue each other and form a beautiful deep bond in three months but is it only the close proximity or is there more to their connection?…
I laughed out loud, cried with them and sighed with relief when I turned the last page!
I loved them as two broken characters that becomes the glue to each other that fixes what was broken one post-it at a time…
I love the found family of Barbacks and look forward to the new hire Adrian’s story next!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
How two broken men, seemingly nothing in common, actually had everything. It was stunningly beautiful book. Two complete opposites, one a rigid, count-the-minutes-in-the-shower (15 minutes max. by the way) person, folding clothes into a fitted army bed sheets-style box, including the boxer briefcase underwear that are folded into a perfect tight cornered box. And Peter folded all his clothes is the beginning of his seduction of Benji. Oh & what Benji did & said was OMG perfect.
And just like the many books Casey Morales has written, this one is hysterically. The five little kittens, Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly, LeToya, and LaTavia, can escape any room that is securely closed better than any magician, even Houdini. Beyoncé stands on Solange’s back, reaching up with one paw, and pushes down the lateral which opens the door. —genius. Nope, not going there, But when Peter made that surprise back-door zoo date where they got to meet and greet the mother giraffe where Peter had saved her little baby’s life, or getting into the warm water area so an injured manatee can feel safe with both Peter and Benji in the safe pool with her, as that injured soul rested her head on their hands brought tears. OMG Talk about a perfect date, OMG 10 out of 10. This book is a truly memorable, funny, and even deeply emotional about two gay men who are lost and broken but find each other to not only heal, but so much more.
Casey Morales is a gifted writer. Loved this book.
This is a super fun read. The snarky banter between Benji and Peter is hilarious and I highlighted so many lines while reading. Benji is very over the top without becoming annoying and Peter is so very precise, but somehow they work really well together. The found family vibe provided by all the supporting characters was amazing as well (though I did find Mia a bit overbearing from time to time). I really enjoyed the journey (the very slow burn journey) that Benji and Peter took together. The thing that kept this from being a 5 star read for me were a lot of teensy continuity errors. Nothing so big that it took me out of the story, but I'm fairly detail oriented so there were things that made me scratch my head/re-read a section before I just shrugged and moved along. [For example, a time would be stated, then a page later a different time. Or someone would be heading for the door, but a page later they turned around and went back inside even though they hadn't actually left.] It was by no means a deal breaker (and I would read other books by this author), but if continuity errors are something that would drive you nuts, it might be worth picking a different read. Definitely recommend this if you're in the mood for slow burn with quirky characters and lots of snark.
***I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.***
From the very first book in the series, Benji captured my heart, and his story continues to shine as the series progresses. As we dive into the third installment, it becomes clear that Benji is not just a character; he’s a source of joy and laughter. The way he navigates love in the most unassuming way is both engaging and relatable.
One of Morales’ many strengths is his incredible sense of humor. He maintains a lighthearted tone throughout, making the reading experience enjoyable. Each page feels alive with witty dialogue and charming interactions. This book exemplifies Morales’ ability to weave levity into deeper themes of love and connection, making it an absolute must-read. If you’re looking for a story that can lift your spirits, you’ve found it.
Benji's relationship with his neighbor showcases an endearing blend of Post-it notes and clever banter. These small details highlight their connection while keeping readers engaged and smiling throughout. The joyous exchanges and humorous undertones create a narrative that is both entertaining and heartwarming. In a world where finding genuine love can feel daunting, this story reminds us that sometimes the simplest gestures resonate the most.
I can confidently say it’s shaping up to be one of my favorite series. If you haven’t yet added this series to your reading list, now is the perfect time to do so!
Peter is a grumpy veterinary surgeon who thrives on schedules, organization, and apparently suffering quietly. Benji is pure glitter-fueled chaos wrapped in crop tops, sarcasm, and emotional support bartender energy. Watching these two become accidental roommates after a plumbing disaster was absolute comedy gold.
The Post-it note war alone deserved its own award. Between emotional support foster dogs, stolen hoodies, late-night kitchen talks, and Peter slowly realizing he’s in love while pretending he’s just annoyed, I was laughing the entire time. Benji absolutely steals the story. Beneath all the glitter, teasing, and nonstop chaos is someone incredibly caring, lonely, and impossible not to root for. He bulldozes his way into Peter’s carefully controlled life one sarcastic comment and unnecessary kitchen dance at a time.
Their chemistry felt natural from the start, and the balance between humor, emotion, and quiet vulnerability was perfect. Funny, sweet, emotional, and full of forced proximity perfection. Honestly, Peter never stood a chance the second Benji walked into his apartment with glitter on his collar.
I received this ARC from Booksprout and voluntarily leaving my review.
Whipped! Barbacks Book #3 by Casey Morales is the sweetest story! I think it's my favorite so far. It's just so tender, and quirky, and real. You have all the characters from the previous books and you get to expand on, on my favorite character.
Benji: He kind of reminds me of Ezekiel Jones from the Librarians. The brilliant influencer/ bartender who is always on. Always evaluating and performing but underneath it all he is processing his internal world in relation to the external world and leaving a trail of glitter and emojis in his wake.
Peter- Introvert, veterinarian, Organized, particular, communicates with Post it notes. Grieving the loss of his partner and the life they thought they would have Peter has been existing but not really moving for the past few years all that is about to change when he opens his home and eventually his heart.
This was truly a beautiful story and I wholeheartedly recommend it! You will melt as they grow closer. If you are looking for nsfw scenes this one is not that. Their bedroom activities fade to black and you get to relive some of it in their thoughts but its not explicit but it's perfect for Benji and Peter.
I received this as an Advanced Readers Copy via Booksprout for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Dr. Peter Loupier always carefully planned for everything affecting his life, but Benji Kwon was unexpected. The two of them had been neighbors for some time now, Peter (a dedicated veterinary surgeon) in 4B, and the bartender Benji Kwon in 4A. When a plumbing incident forces Benji out of his apartment, Peter steps up and invites him to temporarily move in with him short-term until the problem is resolved, laying out all the conditions that would apply to his residing there. A Post-it battle immediately began as they left messages driving each other crazy in the best of ways through their communication "tool". Where would this lead as the exit time never seemed to materialize? Peter was a planner, so sudden realization of feelings took him by surprise. Benji's unpredictable, more chaotic approach to life, keeps them both "adjusting" and enjoying each other's company, and will have the reader laughing along with them as their lives merge. Will they decide to stay together? Or will things return to what they used to be when Benji informs him that Terri called, the apartment is done, everything passed inspection and Benji can move back whenever? Even the animals will want to weigh in on this decision . . .
Wow, what a ride! This book was so much fun! Benji is a whirlwind of energy, sass and glitter. He works as a bartender at Barbacks, a gay sports bar in Tampa and lives with his hairless kitty, Princess Consuela. Across the hall is his grumpy neighbor, Peter, a veterinary surgeon. When an emergency hits and his apartment is temporarily rendered unlivable, Benji is paired with Peter as a roommate. Can polar opposites exist in the same space? Yes, with enough yellow post it notes, thet can.
What I really loved about this story is how well Casey brings his characters to life. And not just the MCs, but the side characters too! Even the pets, from Princess Consuela to General Tso to Hiro to wayward foster kittens who are escape artists. All of them feel real. And the bar feels like a place you'd like to hang out next time you're in Tampa.
I giggled, chuckled, laughed out loud, teared up a bit and swooned, sometimes all on the same page. I am really loving this Barbacks series and book 3, Whipped!, did not disappoint. Yes, there was some steam, but it was not the main focus. I loved this book so much. Now I want to pet a giraffe.
This series is just getting better as it goes!! We're back with the guys of Barbacks, a gay sports bar in Tampa. Benji is the social media star bartender who is flamboyant and fun, needing to fill any empty space with glitter and performance. Mostly because he doesn't feel secure enough to let himself be the quiet version around other people. His neighbor across the hall is his exact opposite. Peter is quiet and controlled, living a life run by whiteboard schedules and post-it notes. He's a veterinary surgeon who fosters a constant stream of pets to help fill the void left by the death of his partner. When Peter takes Benji in when his apartment floods, they both are dubious about the situation. But that wariness grows into something a lot more important and deep than either of them were looking for. There are hilarious situations and more than a few instances of scenes playing out like a 1980s montage with music and everything in my head. Benji and Peter also find a lot of quiet and vulnerable spots that had me tearing up. It's just a good time with depth and I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What was that? I feel the need to say that I rated the first two Barbacks books 5 stars. They were packed with humor and just so darn cute. So, believe me when I say that I was really looking forward to Benji’s story. I repeat: What was that? Did Casey’s editor quit? Did they skip editing before publishing? So many disgruntled notes. • Where did the other dog go? Shortcake, I think. • Adoption Day: Two completely different versions • Bottle feeding 10-week-old kittens? • Why did Benji call Peter to say a customer was rude? No need for the call. • Peter drove back home - - - But he never left. • Jacks played football. We know because there was an entire book about it. He would not have hockey sticks from his time in juniors on the wall. Come on. • Princess lived in her carrier. Literally was in her carrier the entire book except for three scenes. I would have become neurotic and grumpy too! Positives: Adorable animals. Loved the zoo. Liked Peter & Benji as a couple. Could have been another good read. I will be reading the next book. I'm invested in the bar. Please be better.
Casey Morales does it again! Princess Consuela has to be my favorite character ever, or maybe Potato. Seriously! How can he come up with the most perfect names in the Universe for pets? And the best thing is that pets are an integral part of the story, as well as Benji’s clothes. Everything that surrounds the characters has a part to play, and plays it perfectly. And that’s why I love Carey Morales’ stories. The settings, the “side characters”, jobs, apartments, apartment managers that have more patience than saints… everyone and everything helps move the story forward, gives it a depth and a richness that is hard to match, and makes the stories unique and interesting. Yes, there are themes that we’ve seen in other books, but all the surroundings, whether they’re a person, animal or clothes that tell a story themselves, offer a unique and beautiful perspective that makes this story fresh, fun, and new. And I love how this isn’t a book about opposites attract, but two people giving the other a chance, and finding someone to love, and be loved by in return.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Benji and Peter live across the hall from one another and are what you might call "waving neighbors". Until a pipe bursts in Benji's apartment leaving it uninhabitable for the original estimate of 6-8 weeks. He had no idea (and Peter didn't either) that they would become roomies for the foreseeable future. The story really takes off from there with subtlety and nuance that allows the characters to feel their feelings and breathe through what is happening behind the scenes. Benji becomes a very different person at home because Peter makes him comfortable enough to know that he doesn't have to be "on" all the time. Peter finally wakes up to world around him through Benji's gentle prodding. The slow-burn of their romance feels organic for them. This is a very calm book and opposite of what you would expect based on what we have seen of Benji in the previous books in the series. Perhaps that is the point. Love can have the transformative power that you never see coming.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After reading the first 2 books in this series, I was very curious how Benji was going to get his HEA, I was not disappointed. Peter is a veterinary surgeon who lives across the hall from Benji. Benji’s apartment floods and he has to move out, the apartment arranges for Benji to move in with Peter and Peter will get free rent for the entire time Benji lives with him. Benji and Peter are opposites. Benji is loud and glittery and flamboyant. Peter has lists and procedures for his life and he is getting over the death of his partner. Benji and Peter bond over Peter’s foster animals and pets. This is a really sweet love story of 2 men slowing falling for each other and opening their wounded hearts to someone. We are also introduced to 2 new characters who I know will get love stories of their own. I am looking forward to reading all the books in this series. I recommend this whole series. Story 4.5, Spice 2(this is more sweet than steamy) I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Brilliant writing. Casey Morales just has this special quality to his writing style. This was a 5 star read for me…
Benji was amazing in book 2 so I was very excited when this one was released. It was more than I could ever hope for.
Benji and Peter are just 2 “normal” guys… they weren’t super star model athletes, they were spectacularly ordinary as individuals and extraordinary special as a couple
Peter’s journey hit me in the feels, the most. Being in a situation of losing the love of your life, the grief, being closed of to the world, I felt him deeply from my past. Now, as time passed, I feel like a Benji in this world. And that feeling is amazing.
I loved this book so much that I went to Casey’s store online and got myself 2 special blue mugs… one to drink my tea. And the other to sit on my shelf to remind me that reading is my passion because of books like this one.
I am on the fence about this book because I’m trying to figure out if it’s the best one in the series. They’ve all been amazing, but this one was absolutely FABULOUS! As I’ve said in previous reviews of Casey’s books, he writes the best side characters but in this one, he may have written the best animal side characters. We have Princess Consuela, who is the perfect companion for Benji, and General Tso, standing guard on top of the refrigerator. And whatever you do, make sure you’re not drinking anything when Caption, the parrot, is brought into the vet office. 😂 Benji and Peter should not work .they are complete opposites but somehow they absolutely do. It was so wonderful to see Peter finally starting to come out of his two .year slump. And on a personal note, I found someone else who uses Post-Its as much as I do, so that made me ridiculously happy. 😂
In the next Barbacks book, Benji's apartment is flooded. The boisterous bartender is temporarily forced to live with his strange across-the-hall neighbor, the pedantic Peter. So opposite in personality, so perfect for each other. Their love story is told in post-its and bar gossip. Peter, a veterinarian, in an endless time out after a loss he can't put behind him, that changed his life forever. Benji always "on" at work, that or tik-tok. Peter is repressed and emotionally unavailable. Benji doesn't know the meaning of quiet and everyone he meets is a friend. These books are hilarious, clever and witty with give and take that competes with the best of them. Casey brings real people to life and makes you adore guys with all their quirks. I received a copy of this through BookSprout and this is my voluntary opinion.
I read this twice before leaving my review. I have read so many of Casey Morales books and every time I love them and they stick with me. This one took a life of its own. Benji was pizazz and sparkles from the beginning of this series. And his personality was a character in itself. Then he moves into Peter’s. Peter who hasn’t been living but existing in his grief. These two were so balanced and grounded together and were exactly what the other needed. I laughed I cried. I set the book down waited and then read it again. Barbacks has been an amazing series from book 1. And every character is written so well and easy to connect with and every book is my favorite book until I read the next one. This book is breathtakingly real. I can’t recommend this series enough and until the next one this is my favorite.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Veterinary surgeon Peter and bartender Benji star in Whipped, the third book in Casey Morales' Barbacks series, set in a Tampa Florida gay club. After a plumbing disaster that leads to our heroes being unlikely roommates, Peter and Benji gradually become closer.
It wouldn't be a Barbacks novel without laughter and tears and Whipped has an abundance of both; Mr Morales, an automatic click for my TBR, has outdone himself with Whipped! Whether ROFL or crying hysterically over the foster kittens and their adoption adventures I couldn't put this book down and finished it in less than one day.
I loved Whipped and am eagerly awaiting the next book, Spiced, featuring Arden, a dancer hired in Whipped.
ARC review First I must say that I will absolutely give this book more then five stars. I love Benji and I really connected with this read. I have always enjoyed his personnna in the other books, but now I want to adopt him, marry him or anything in between. He's one of a kind special. This read is funny, warm, emotional and full of fluffy sweet animals, mainly cats and dogs. Benji who is the life of the party, the performer with the warmest heart has finally found his safe place, with Peter. And what a place to land. Together they create magic on page for the readers to enjoy. Pick up this amazing book for some summer reading.
Whipped! Barbacks Book 3 in the series is a wonderfully emotional journey of two men finding what is missing in their lives. It is a very slow burn exploration of Benji's and Peter's growing relationship. Benji is the flamboyant bartender at Barbacks who is forced into moving temporarily with a neighbor he didn't know because of major water damage to his apartment. Peter is a lonely widower grieving the death of his Husband two years previously. It is full of pets, foster pets and the growing love between the two men as Benji helps Peter to open up and overcome his grieving and open up to love again. A great addition to the series. I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.
I was held captivated from the beginning with Benji and Peter's story. A sweet, engaging, entertaining with laughable moments of kitty chaos, post it dialogues, doggies and cats personalities brought to life in a way only people who has fur babies would relate too. A Vet surgeon with opinionated feeding guidelines for foster kitties and color coded charts, a bartender with inside out wardrobe and a cat who is vocal about her feeding times add in a water situation that causes them to share a space...what could possibly go wrong??? With found family of friends at Barbacks the energy and advice in abundance...
I received a free copy and leaving my honest review voluntarily.
After Benji sort of stole the show in the previous book, I loved seeing him actually take center stage in this book! I enjoy a good opposites-attract romance when it's done well, and it was Definitely done well here. Peter was just so lovable, and it didn't hurt that he didn't start off as some enormous jerk. As someone who fosters cats, I loved seeing fostering have such a huge part in the story. While I do have some small quibbles with the portrayal (why are the kittens still being formula fed all the way up until their adoption???), it was done well for the most part and hopefully tugs some heartstrings.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.