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Made Marian #8.7
Made Marian Mixtape
The best mixtape always has a mix of favorites on it— songs playing in the background at Jude and Derek’s wedding or when Simone finally falls in love. Loud beats pounding the dance floor when Blue tries to seduce Tristan in public, or sleepy notes written late at night while Jude is on tour. Strains of familiar music bring heart-gripping memories rushing back in—memories of the first time Tilly meets Senator Cannon, the weekend a mysterious new family member arrives at a snowy cabin expecting solitude but finding a sexy lumberjack instead, or the winter Teddy “accidentally” strands Jamie in Tibet.
Made Marian Mixtape is a collection of everything from a short 1k word vignette to a longer 30k novella. Catch glimpses into the lives of favorite existing Marian characters and meet new ones as well. With everything from hot nookie in a broken elevator to double-doses of pre-wedding panic, Mixtape presents over ten new stories set in the Made Marian world that will make you sniffle, swoon, and laugh out loud.
Made Marian Mixtape is 72k words in length and best enjoyed by readers familiar with the Marian world.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2019
579 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Lennox
94 books4,389 followersI write M/M romance with humor, heart, and heat. Check out my backlist here on GR for a selection of series and standalone or visit www.LucyLennox.com!
I only keep a small list of my very favorite books and series in my bookshelf here. I read A LOT and it's hard to keep the list updated!
I only keep a small list of my very favorite books and series in my bookshelf here. I read A LOT and it's hard to keep the list updated!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
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August 13, 2024
Made Marian Mixtape is part of the Made Marian series by Lucy Lennox. This is a wonderful collection of bonus material on the family we have grown to love so much. There is just too much to tell you about all of them but it includes Jude and Derek, Blue and Tristan, and Teddy and Jamie. There are super short little chapters and longer stories. I have two that I will remember for a long time.
First is Hard Rock, which was Ammon Marian and Mark Hayes story. We briefly heard of Ammon when he was rescued from a cult when he was a teenager and brought to the shelter, Marian House. Now he is twenty years old and we learn his story. I loved him so much. He is so strong. In this little story, he is both faced with his past, and also his future. I loved both he and Mark. For this story alone I would give the whole collection five stars. I wish this one was longer or it’s own stand alone book!
My other favorite was Poker Face. It is Matilda Marian’s (Aunt Tilly) and Harold Cannon’s story and wow! First, we finally get to know the infamous Tilly beyond the ornery woman we’ve gotten to know. And there is so much more to her and Senator Harold Cannon’s story. I loved seeing a softer side of Tilly.
The whole book was wonderful. I already love the Marian’s so much and these little stories just made me love them more.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
First is Hard Rock, which was Ammon Marian and Mark Hayes story. We briefly heard of Ammon when he was rescued from a cult when he was a teenager and brought to the shelter, Marian House. Now he is twenty years old and we learn his story. I loved him so much. He is so strong. In this little story, he is both faced with his past, and also his future. I loved both he and Mark. For this story alone I would give the whole collection five stars. I wish this one was longer or it’s own stand alone book!
My other favorite was Poker Face. It is Matilda Marian’s (Aunt Tilly) and Harold Cannon’s story and wow! First, we finally get to know the infamous Tilly beyond the ornery woman we’ve gotten to know. And there is so much more to her and Senator Harold Cannon’s story. I loved seeing a softer side of Tilly.
The whole book was wonderful. I already love the Marian’s so much and these little stories just made me love them more.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
May 16, 2021
This book was so very good. It had so many stories in it. Each one was well written and fully developed. It gives the reader a good look into the lives of the Marion clan that we had been reading about. I particularly liked both Tilly's story and Amon's storylines. It was good to know more about their backgrounds. Also it explains alot about how Tilly is the way she is. LOL which is fabulous. I very much want to be just like Aunt Tilly when I get to be her age.
I trust that if you love the Made Marion books then you will love this one too. Happy reading.
I trust that if you love the Made Marion books then you will love this one too. Happy reading.
March 3, 2020
4 sweet-after-HEA-Stars!! 😍🤩 This collection of stories was like the Marian Family Album.. a glimpse into all the couples' lives in the Marian family. It also had shorts with new characters; Ammon Marian and his brother Gideon got their HEAs. 💕 And last but not the least, we also got the backstory of Aunt Tilly and her senator 💔.
The stories are sentimental, lovey-dovey💝, funny and very very steamy 🔥🔥😉. Overall, this is a must read if you absolutely L❤️VED the Made Marian series and have read all the books 🤩.
The stories are sentimental, lovey-dovey💝, funny and very very steamy 🔥🔥😉. Overall, this is a must read if you absolutely L❤️VED the Made Marian series and have read all the books 🤩.
June 27, 2020
The more Marian the better...
Good little collection of Marian shorts. I adore this series with this family so it is always nice to see what they are up to and any chance to spend more time with the couples I take.
It was neat to see part of Tilly's story too. Still not sure I'm over her giving up her kid. That takes away from her whole vibe.
It was nice seeing Simone in love. She deserved it.
I also really really like Ammon's and Mark's story. I wish it could be expanded upon because there is more there that needs to be explored. I mean Ammon's background is something that shouldn't be brushed over for a HEA. It needs more diving into. Same for Gideon.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Good little collection of Marian shorts. I adore this series with this family so it is always nice to see what they are up to and any chance to spend more time with the couples I take.
It was neat to see part of Tilly's story too. Still not sure I'm over her giving up her kid. That takes away from her whole vibe.
It was nice seeing Simone in love. She deserved it.
I also really really like Ammon's and Mark's story. I wish it could be expanded upon because there is more there that needs to be explored. I mean Ammon's background is something that shouldn't be brushed over for a HEA. It needs more diving into. Same for Gideon.
Overall an enjoyable read.
February 27, 2023
Loved these extra stories, but I would still read so much more of the Marian's.
I want more of Ammon and Gideon's stories and I'm dying to see Jamie and Teddy as parents!
There needs to be a huge Marian and Wilde reunion with all the couples from the shorts too, I'll miss all these crazy characters.
I want more of Ammon and Gideon's stories and I'm dying to see Jamie and Teddy as parents!
There needs to be a huge Marian and Wilde reunion with all the couples from the shorts too, I'll miss all these crazy characters.
January 7, 2020
Short tales that are sweet, loving, serious, funny and sexy...
A magnificent walk with the Marian’s ! More from our great characters in this series. I loved this so much. Mixed tape, refers to the list of songs you can play for certain tales. This is a fantastic read, we see Jude and Derek, Simone and Joel, Blue and Tristan, clubbing, Jude and Derek, with Jude’s loneliness on tour, Beau and Maverick, Dante and AJ, Teddy and Jaime stranded, Tilly and Harold’s secret, rescued by Mark, previously, Ammon and Mark’s tale, Griff and Sam’s elevator fun, plus Gideon (Ammon’s brother) finds a beefy bear in the woods, Hunter.
Questions answered, new information, sexy times.
Very thoughtful and simply lovely !
Enjoy !
=====
A magnificent walk with the Marian’s ! More from our great characters in this series. I loved this so much. Mixed tape, refers to the list of songs you can play for certain tales. This is a fantastic read, we see Jude and Derek, Simone and Joel, Blue and Tristan, clubbing, Jude and Derek, with Jude’s loneliness on tour, Beau and Maverick, Dante and AJ, Teddy and Jaime stranded, Tilly and Harold’s secret, rescued by Mark, previously, Ammon and Mark’s tale, Griff and Sam’s elevator fun, plus Gideon (Ammon’s brother) finds a beefy bear in the woods, Hunter.
Questions answered, new information, sexy times.
Very thoughtful and simply lovely !
Enjoy !
=====
September 16, 2020
Obsessed
OH MY GOD IM SO OBSESSED WITH THIS SERIES! Lucy can do no wrong in my eyes with this wonderful family, all the books, all the shorts, and all the extras were simply perfection. Ammon and Gideon’s stories were a great surprise, I absolutely loved them! Also, Teddy and Jamie... omg! And don’t even get me started on Tilly!
Loved it!
OH MY GOD IM SO OBSESSED WITH THIS SERIES! Lucy can do no wrong in my eyes with this wonderful family, all the books, all the shorts, and all the extras were simply perfection. Ammon and Gideon’s stories were a great surprise, I absolutely loved them! Also, Teddy and Jamie... omg! And don’t even get me started on Tilly!
Loved it!
December 16, 2019
I love reading about the Marian family. This book was made up of stories about some of the couple's in the family. This book started with with Derek and Jude the night before there wedding it was heartwarming and heartfelt Jude was worried that Derek would change his mind. Blue and Tristan decide to leave the kids at home for a weekend of staying in a hotel and going clubbing. This was funny Tristan didn't do the gay club scene so it's all new to him. They end up getting caught doing it in the stairwell of the hotel. The story that I really want to read more about is Ammon and Mark. Ammon was rescued by AJ and the Marian's adopted him. Ammon is a 20 year old virgin who is also a musical prodigy he also plays the piano. Mark who was engaged to a woman who wanted to change him he wanted kids she didn't. I really want to read about these two other love story and also more about there past. I also want to read about Ammon's brother Gideon and Hunter who is Ollies brother. Please Ms. Lennox please write about them. I also liked the story about Tilly and and the Senator and there shared past. Then Jamie and Teddy and how Teddy wants to stop traveling for work and raise a family. This was a really good read. I love this family and this series. This book was well written with no errors grammar or spelling. I hope we get more from this series.
December 17, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Made Marian Mixtape is a collection of stories set in the world of the Made Marian series. It would be best enjoyed by readers who are already familiar with those characters and the world of Marian. All of the Marian favorites are here in one book from Blue and Tristan’s night out on the town, to Simone’s wedding, to a longer story featuring Ammon, scenes with Teddy and Jamie, as well as a new face or two. Some of the stories are quick glimpse scenes and some are a bit longer. If you are missing the large Marian family, there’s an assortment to choose from here.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Made Marian Mixtape is a collection of stories set in the world of the Made Marian series. It would be best enjoyed by readers who are already familiar with those characters and the world of Marian. All of the Marian favorites are here in one book from Blue and Tristan’s night out on the town, to Simone’s wedding, to a longer story featuring Ammon, scenes with Teddy and Jamie, as well as a new face or two. Some of the stories are quick glimpse scenes and some are a bit longer. If you are missing the large Marian family, there’s an assortment to choose from here.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
December 9, 2019
I loved this collection. It was a divine pleasure to re-visit the Marion clan. Such an amazing family that is all about love. In this collection we catch up with the Marian siblings. We meet new characters and we get an in depth look at Ammon Marian whom so many have begged for his story. Of course a Marian reunion would be incomplete without Granny, Irene and Aunt stilly. Buckle your seatbelts and join the ride that is the Marian family. The shenanigans will bring you to tears with laughter!
October 22, 2021
Loved catching up with old mcs and getting new characters :) I really wish Gideon got his own full length book.
January 29, 2020
A collection of snippets and short stories revolving around the men (and women) of the Marian clan.
I especially loved Ammon and Mark and wanted 100+ more pages of them!! That said, their story was one of the longer ones in this collection and it was fantastic. Other "shorts" are more like deleted or bonus scenes. I felt like Gideon and Hunter may need a re-visit, that their story is not quite over yet...
that is all I am saying on this matter to avoid spoilers.
Note:
It is 100% necessary to read the Made Marian series PRIOR to reading this book.
Rating: R ~ Score 4.25 ~ Stars: 4
~
Purchased paperback and borrowed a kindle copy via my #KindleUnlimited subscription. All opinions are my own. I was not asked or encouraged to leave feedback of any kind by any parties.
I especially loved Ammon and Mark and wanted 100+ more pages of them!! That said, their story was one of the longer ones in this collection and it was fantastic. Other "shorts" are more like deleted or bonus scenes. I felt like Gideon and Hunter may need a re-visit, that their story is not quite over yet...
that is all I am saying on this matter to avoid spoilers.
Note:
It is 100% necessary to read the Made Marian series PRIOR to reading this book.
Rating: R ~ Score 4.25 ~ Stars: 4
~
Purchased paperback and borrowed a kindle copy via my #KindleUnlimited subscription. All opinions are my own. I was not asked or encouraged to leave feedback of any kind by any parties.
December 10, 2019
Perfect for Marian Fans
Although each little ‘song’ is self-contained and enjoyable, this book is best enjoyed by those who have a passing acquaintance with the Made Marian world. If you’ve read all the big books, you’re in a great position to truly enjoy this. If you happen to have read all the smaller stories as well, you’ll be likely to fall even more in love. Heck, you might be inspired to go back and re-read the whole series. I know I was tempted. So many books, so little time. (Quick note – there is a family tree and a reading order for the entire series in the back of the book.)
I considered writing a mini review on each story but some of them haven’t been announced and I want each to come as a fun surprise – as they did for me. Instead, I’ll give a couple of my favorite quotes (no spoilers involved).
First, there’s the night before Derek and Jude’s wedding. It was inevitable these guys would make it permanent and there are little clips of them later (including Jude’s Lullaby which is the only previously released ‘song’). Anyway, Jude is hunkered down at his parent’s house and Derek is home alone. Well, not for long.
“Grab your jockstrap, Stud Muffin,” Tilly commanded. “We’re taking you out.”
I laughed and gestured for them to come inside. “Where are we going? I thought you ‘d be at Thomas and Rebecca’s giving Jude some kind of last-minute sex talk.”
Granny scoffed. “As if. Irene scored half-off coupons for drag night at the Inside Out. We can’t get in without a real gay.”
I glanced between the two lesbians and raised my eyebrows.
“Chicks don’t count,” she said, flapping her hand. “We need dick. It’s like a magic wand or something. Let’s go. And grab your singles ‘cause we’re gonna need lots of tips.”
Well, if there was a better way to spend my last night as a single gay man than going to a drag show with three horny old ladies, I didn’t know what it was.
Okay, I might have hooted in laughter. There were many funny moments in the stories, enjoyable even if you don’t know all the characters. Just the thought of Teddy and Jamie stranded in Tibet was funny, yaks and all. Of course I suspected something was afoot, but didn’t see that ending coming.
There were also more serious and longer stories. Ammon was the young man rescued by AJ in Delivering Dante. He was embraced by the Marians but was too young for the time for a happy ending. He reappears in this book, twenty years old and far more mature. He’s playing his violin in school and volunteering at the shelter. He’s getting more confident and an encounter with bodyguard Mark has him wishing for things he’d always considered out of his reach. Mark, though, has reservations. He’s much older than Ammon and, as he says, “imagine having a crush on someone who literally had fifteen brothers and brothers-in-law watching out for him, not to mention a feisty sister who took s- from no one.”
But Ammon, more than most, deserved a happy ending.
Speaking of that feisty sister… Simone Marian never got her own big book, but she’s loomed large in many of the stories, especially when she was kidnapped in the cross-over book Lucy wrote with Sloane Kennedy. So, in this book, Simone gets her own happy ending. Or beginning, depending on how you look at it. The romantic in me might have swooned. Several times.
Along with the humor came moments of poignancy. Will every reader need a tissue? Probably not. But, if your heart is easily touched, like mine is, you may want to keep one handy.
Then there are passages like the following:
I looked from his lips to his eyes where the heat was undeniable, but for the first time in my entire life, my gut told me to wait instead of making a move. My c*ck downvoted the idea, but my brain overrode it.
Curious to know who actually vetoed sex? You’ll just have to read to find out. (Hint – new characters!)
As you can see, I enjoyed revisiting the Marian clan. The stories touched me and, of course, made me laugh. I mean with Tilly, Granny, and Irene, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a raucous time. I recommend you pick up this little gem and enjoy.
Although each little ‘song’ is self-contained and enjoyable, this book is best enjoyed by those who have a passing acquaintance with the Made Marian world. If you’ve read all the big books, you’re in a great position to truly enjoy this. If you happen to have read all the smaller stories as well, you’ll be likely to fall even more in love. Heck, you might be inspired to go back and re-read the whole series. I know I was tempted. So many books, so little time. (Quick note – there is a family tree and a reading order for the entire series in the back of the book.)
I considered writing a mini review on each story but some of them haven’t been announced and I want each to come as a fun surprise – as they did for me. Instead, I’ll give a couple of my favorite quotes (no spoilers involved).
First, there’s the night before Derek and Jude’s wedding. It was inevitable these guys would make it permanent and there are little clips of them later (including Jude’s Lullaby which is the only previously released ‘song’). Anyway, Jude is hunkered down at his parent’s house and Derek is home alone. Well, not for long.
“Grab your jockstrap, Stud Muffin,” Tilly commanded. “We’re taking you out.”
I laughed and gestured for them to come inside. “Where are we going? I thought you ‘d be at Thomas and Rebecca’s giving Jude some kind of last-minute sex talk.”
Granny scoffed. “As if. Irene scored half-off coupons for drag night at the Inside Out. We can’t get in without a real gay.”
I glanced between the two lesbians and raised my eyebrows.
“Chicks don’t count,” she said, flapping her hand. “We need dick. It’s like a magic wand or something. Let’s go. And grab your singles ‘cause we’re gonna need lots of tips.”
Well, if there was a better way to spend my last night as a single gay man than going to a drag show with three horny old ladies, I didn’t know what it was.
Okay, I might have hooted in laughter. There were many funny moments in the stories, enjoyable even if you don’t know all the characters. Just the thought of Teddy and Jamie stranded in Tibet was funny, yaks and all. Of course I suspected something was afoot, but didn’t see that ending coming.
There were also more serious and longer stories. Ammon was the young man rescued by AJ in Delivering Dante. He was embraced by the Marians but was too young for the time for a happy ending. He reappears in this book, twenty years old and far more mature. He’s playing his violin in school and volunteering at the shelter. He’s getting more confident and an encounter with bodyguard Mark has him wishing for things he’d always considered out of his reach. Mark, though, has reservations. He’s much older than Ammon and, as he says, “imagine having a crush on someone who literally had fifteen brothers and brothers-in-law watching out for him, not to mention a feisty sister who took s- from no one.”
But Ammon, more than most, deserved a happy ending.
Speaking of that feisty sister… Simone Marian never got her own big book, but she’s loomed large in many of the stories, especially when she was kidnapped in the cross-over book Lucy wrote with Sloane Kennedy. So, in this book, Simone gets her own happy ending. Or beginning, depending on how you look at it. The romantic in me might have swooned. Several times.
Along with the humor came moments of poignancy. Will every reader need a tissue? Probably not. But, if your heart is easily touched, like mine is, you may want to keep one handy.
Then there are passages like the following:
I looked from his lips to his eyes where the heat was undeniable, but for the first time in my entire life, my gut told me to wait instead of making a move. My c*ck downvoted the idea, but my brain overrode it.
Curious to know who actually vetoed sex? You’ll just have to read to find out. (Hint – new characters!)
As you can see, I enjoyed revisiting the Marian clan. The stories touched me and, of course, made me laugh. I mean with Tilly, Granny, and Irene, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a raucous time. I recommend you pick up this little gem and enjoy.
November 9, 2023
RECENSIONE A CURA DI EVELYNE
Chi di voi ha letto la serie avrà già conosciuto tutti i protagonisti e le dinamiche che li legano. In questo volume vediamo Tillly, Jude, Griff, Jamie… Li incontriamo tutti, uno per uno, con l’aggiunta di due nuovi personaggi: Ammon e Gideon.
Ogni storia è composta da pochi capitoli che vi permetteranno di scoprire qualcosa in più sui protagonisti e i loro compagni.
Continua sul nostro blog!
Chi di voi ha letto la serie avrà già conosciuto tutti i protagonisti e le dinamiche che li legano. In questo volume vediamo Tillly, Jude, Griff, Jamie… Li incontriamo tutti, uno per uno, con l’aggiunta di due nuovi personaggi: Ammon e Gideon.
Ogni storia è composta da pochi capitoli che vi permetteranno di scoprire qualcosa in più sui protagonisti e i loro compagni.
Continua sul nostro blog!
July 31, 2020
3.5 stars for the entire collection. Four stars for Ammon and Mark's story, although I missed the resolution of the trial. The other stories were a bit fragmented and Tilly's story had so much in it that it became a resume of things that happened without a resolution surrounding her daughter. Overall it was lovely to see the Marians again.
July 9, 2021
It's been so long since I first read Borrowing Blue, but it's also lovely to catch up with the family. Some of the characters were more familiar than others (I know I read them, but Dante and A.J? No clue, really...), but my favorites here were Ammon & Mark and Gabriel & Hunter, plus Blue and Tristan out on the town (soooo hot!). A great anthology of Marian life!
December 11, 2019
I loved jumping back into the crazy that is the Marion family.
Ammon's and Mark's story was a stand out! So sad but so beautiful too.
There is so much love and fun in this family.
As always, there is plenty of laughter and sexy times but overall so much love and happiness.
Highly recommend.
Ammon's and Mark's story was a stand out! So sad but so beautiful too.
There is so much love and fun in this family.
As always, there is plenty of laughter and sexy times but overall so much love and happiness.
Highly recommend.
July 8, 2024
This is a fun check in with all of our favorite Marian characters. I enjoyed these little peaks into the guys lives as they enjoy their happily ever afters. But really my favorite part of this novel is probably Ammon's story. So adorable and I just loved him and his sexy bodyguard. So sweet.
August 1, 2024
4.5 stars, rounded up.
This is a nice collection of short stories from the Made Marian series. A lot of our favorite characters are back, along with some new additions - Ammon, Gideon, and Mark. I liked some stories better than others but all in all it was an entertaining read. There are some spoilers from the series and from the actual short stories themselves. I've become invested in the Made Marian world so some of my opinions are a bit stronger than others.
Love Shack
Two of my favorite characters in this series are Jude and Derek from Jumping Jude. If I'm given a chance to read more about them, I'm all over it.
But...
Love Shack describes something that didn't actually happen in their book. There's an author's note at the beginning that describes why she wrote this particular story. As much as I liked seeing these guys again, I wasn't a fan of the author throwing out a short story about a wedding that didn't happen. Jude and Derek eloped to Hawaii. There were special reasons why they did that and not have a huge family wedding like the other Marian siblings.
With that being said, Love Shack is a super short story that takes place the night before the big wedding in front of family and friends that didn't happen. Jude is scared that he's too much for Derek. He's a popular country music star and is constantly being scrutinized in the media. There's also Derek's family that haven't exactly embraced their gay son or the fact that he'll be marrying a man. When they separate to spend the night apart - no seeing each other before the wedding - Jude has some emotional moments with his mother over his fears of maybe losing Derek. Derek, being amazing, is right there to make sure he knows he'll be around forever.
Nice story but misleading if you've not read the others in the series.
Wedding March
Simone finally gets her man. Well, she got him a book or two back in the series, but it wasn't official until now. After being left at the altar by John, Tristan's brother, it looked like the only Marian sister wouldn't be trusting again. But then Joel Healy came into her world, even having to save her from bad guys in Made Mine. Of course, first she had to set him up with Noah during his blind dates from hell in A Very Marian Christmas after being told by her mean brothers that he was gay. He's not.
It starts off sweet with Simone and Blue at the wedding venue right before Simone and Joel say their vows. Blue is, as always, hilarious. Hilarious and sweet, which causes Simone to start crying when she's already nervous about marrying Joel. After a few more emotional moments with Joel himself, it's time for the wedding. The wedding was a total Aww! moment.
Until it was over...
Geez. Talk about being silly. The ending after Joel calls Simone Mrs. Healy. I mean, really. There can be too much Marian, you know? And for what was suggested - or should I say demanded - of Joel was ridiculous. I hate it because the short story was quite good until that point.
Otherwise, the story was nice. It was good to finally see Simone get her HEA.
Club Mix
Blue and Tristan (from Borrowing Blue) are married now with two kids. Being an 'old married couple' they don't go to clubs or get out much outside of spending time with their daughters and Blue's family. Blue, who'd had the typical young gay man experience with the clubs before he met Tristan, is planning a special night away with his man. Hotel room, dancing, and no kids for a night.
"We're an old married couple. People like us are banned from clubs."
"I want to dance with my sexy husband," he said, bordering on whining. "Please?
~~~
"I would have picked Mexican food, but I have plans for you later that do not mix well with refried beans."
"This conversation is why married people aren't allowed in clubs," I pointed out.
Tristan never experienced the club scene having married his horrible ex-wife and not acting on his bisexuality for reasons mentioned in Borrowing Blue. Blue wants to give him that night, especially after Tristan had admitted once that he'd never hooked up in a club or even had sex in public - something Blue never thought his serious husband would be interested in doing. He's happy with Blue and feels like he has everything now - which he does - but it gives Blue the idea to give him that one night.
If you read their book you know that Tristan is the more serious of the two, with Blue having a goofy sense of humor. So after dinner and dancing when Tristan gets Blue inside a stairwell happens....
Let's just say that the public sex thing on Tristan's bucket list just checked off in a big way.
I adore these guys together. I've loved them both since their book and grew to love them even more throughout the Made Marian series.
Great short story.
Jude's Lullaby
What a sweet, sweet story. Jude's on his first international tour in a long time. Derek's at home with their little boy Wolfe, with AJ and Dante taking his place guarding and protecting Jude. Jude's having a difficult time being away from Derek and his son. It's wearing on him pretty hard, even more so when he FaceTimes Derek after each show. He's beyond exhausted and he's sad because he's so homesick. Derek, being the ever attentive husband, knows that Jude's having a harder time than he's letting on.
Jude's eyes locked on mine. "I love you so much it hurts sometimes, Derek."
If you've not read Jumping Jude, read it. Jude and Derek are simply perfect together. As different as night a day, they fit in ways a lot of couples don't. Derek has always known what his man has needed even before Jude did. So he secretly makes plans.
In one part of this story I almost cried like a baby. It's after Jude's next to last show of the tour and he's simply had enough. He barely makes it to his dressing room before he's breaking down and sobbing.
'As soon as the door closed behind me, I dropped my smile and pressed my back against the cool door before letting myself slide to the floor in a heap.'
'I was almost done. Only one more show and it was over for at least another year. I could go home to my husband and my baby.'
'My face fell into my hands, and I let my exhaustion get the best of me, finally.'
I wish I could say more but I don't want to give away the entire story. I will say that this is absolutely perfect, and I'm beyond grateful for this little short that gave me a glimpse of these guys again outside their own book. Love Shack (above) doesn't really count because that one's about a wedding that never was. Jude's Lullabye is about Jude and Derek in the here and now after they've already become a family.
I love these guys and I love this story.
Beach Music
Super, super short story about Beau and Maverick from Moving Maverick having a little fun in the outdoor shower after Beau gets hot and bothered watching his husband walk the dog on the beach.
'I looked up at his handsome face, dark with beard shadow and full of familiar affection for me. My stomach flipped over.'
"Thank you for loving me," I said.
His eyes crinkled with a smile. "Easiest job I've ever had."
And he leaned down and kissed me until my toes curled and we were both late for work.
I love Maverick and Beau, so it was nice to see them again. Of course, because I do love them, I wish it would have been a little longer. Even so, I'm good with the brief glimpse of their life.
Birthday Song
It's Dante's twenty-fifth birthday and AJ has a big surprise for him. They'll be having a birthday dinner that night at the vineyard with the family and then they'll be leaving a grand adventure in an RV.
And it started out so well...
This would have been so perfect had Aunt Tilly not barged in and ruined it. I like Aunt Tilly for the most part. I even understand why she's in this and why she did what she did - which I can't go into without spoiling it. It's a like full circle thing from Delivering Dante. Even so, I wanted AJ and Dante alone. I wanted to see them have a little bit of time away from everybody else. In their book it was too much Aunt Tilly and too much of everybody else.
I wanted just Dante and AJ.
Alas, it was not to be.
Even so, I'm always happy to see these two guys. I enjoyed the story for the most part, but Aunt Tilly's gone from being the fun eccentric aunt to being the annoying old lady from hell.
Hard Rock
Hard Rock introduces two new main characters to the Made Marian series. First, there's Ammon, a twenty-year-old who is the latest adoptee of Rebecca and Thomas Marian. After being rescued from a religious cult in Utah when he was sixteen, he was brought to the Marian House shelter in San Francisco, and then adopted by the Marians. A shy violinist at a prestigious music school, he mostly keeps to himself. When I say shy, I mean he's really shy. Simone at one point describes his innocence meter at being a thousand.
Second, there's thirty-two-year-old Mark, who works for Joel's security company, the same one Derek worked for when he met Jude years before. Mark, who's bisexual, is engaged to a woman named Raisa. Mark grew up in a bad part of Chicago and has the scars to prove it. He also has a lot of tats, something his 'perfect' fiancee can't stand. The engagement ends shortly after the story begins at an event with Raisa's wealthy family. When her father introduces Mark to a plastic surgeon who starts going on about getting rid of Mark's 'ugly' scar above his eye and removing the tats, Mark's ready to bolt. He does bolt when Raisa goes along with everything being said. When he ends the engagement he realizes that he never really loved her anyway because it's too easy for him to walk away. Raisa, however, doesn't let him just go. She was something else.
Mark has been asked by Simone, Ammon's adopted sister, if he would take Ammon to a practice at his university as a favor. He and Ammon haven't met before, but Mark knows who he is. The practice turns out to be a performance that Ammon is too shy to tell his family about. Things are a little awkward in the car on the way there and back but they do chat a little.
Fast forward a few days and Ammon has received a summons to return to Utah to testify against his father in his abuse trial. When Ammon was being abused nobody cared. Everybody in the small town - with the exception of one person who does try to help and ultimately gets him out - is either a member of the church or close to his father in some way. He's absolutely terrified to face these people again. The Marians don't want him going alone, but he knows that having his new family with him will stress him out more, so he requests Mark specifically to be the one to accompany him. Mark readily agrees. He's felt protective of Ammon since day one and wants to be there for him.
The deposition and trial go about as well as can be expected. The paralegal present for the deposition is somebody from Ammon's old church and the district attorney is too dense to see why that would be a problem. Thankfully, Mark is there to end things with him before they get too bad. The trial is heartbreaking once the defense attorney gets started. When it's over, Mark does everything he can to make him feel better.
This is a sweet story. The reader is taken inside Ammon's head as he worries about saying or doing the wrong thing in front of Mark, who he's really starting to care for. He's never been with anybody before but he's finding himself wanting Mark bad, and not just for sex. He wants to be held and protected.
Mark wants to be that protector and not just temporarily. He's seriously falling for the shy younger man, and wants to do everything in his power to make sure he never hurts again, either physically or emotionally.
A couple of other family members of Ammon's are introduced outside of his father. One's not really worth even mentioning. Another one, Gideon, is. He's Ammon's nineteen-year-old brother. I adored him. His story is later in the anthology, Let It Snow.
I absolutely loved this. It's one of my new favorites in the Made Marian series. At first I was hesitant about reading a story in this world with new main characters who'd not been mentioned before. I'm really glad I did. Ammon is so sweet, so innocent. Mark is kind of the ultimate bad boy. They're perfect for each other. There's also a nice epilogue that shows them about a year or so later.
I don't know how many pages it has or the word count but it's much longer than all the others.
Great story.
Yakkity-Yak
This is a prelude to the next story so there's not much to it. Teddy and Jamie (from Taming Teddy) are packing for a trip to Tibet, and things start getting a little hot and heavy. There's also a bit of humor.
"Sweetheart," he drawled. "I've never ruined sex in my life."
"You once vomited on my dick," I reminded him. "Just as I was about to come."
He rolled his eyes. "You have a long memory. And your sister makes a strong drink.
Tibetan Chants
'My ass was showing.
Well, not literally, thank god. It was cold as fuck out here. But when I got nervous, I turned into an ass. And poor Jamie was bearing the brunt of it right now. We were stranded on the Tibetan Plateau after our all-terrain vehicle tour had abandoned us. I pinned Jamie with a glare that must have looked an awful lot like blame.'
I can't think of a better way to describe Teddy when he and Jamie are abandoned in Tibet. Of all the characters in the Made Marian series, Teddy's my least favorite. I love Jamie, but Teddy is a bit much. Even so, this story was nice enough. Their getting abandoned was no accident, but I can't say much more other than suddenly Teddy's wanting things the other Marian brothers and their families have.
Poker Face
Aunt Tilly finally gets her own story and her man. Outside of her butting into everyone else's anyway. In Delivering Dante there was a quickie trip to Vegas, a runaway RV, and a certain senator who just happened to be the father of a sitting president, and the Secret Service hot on their tail. Dante and AJ were stuck being along for the ride whether they wanted to be or not.
The reader knew that Tilly hooked up with the senator. What the reader didn't know was that there was history between them from long before that Vegas trip. Poker Face shows a serious side of Tilly. It also has her reuniting with the only man she's ever loved after breaking his heart twice - once decades ago, and again recently when she told him the truth about something that had happened a long time ago.
"I'm not wearing white at the wedding."
"Neither am I," I said solemnly. Tilly's hand shook in mine. She was terrified.
"Because I've had sex with lots of men. Lots."
I glared at her. "Simmer down, Lolita. No need to remind me."
This was sweet if you like Aunt Tilly. I'm Aunt Tilly'd out at this point, though I did enjoy the story well enough.
Waking Up In Vegas
Most of what's said in this story was said in Delivering Dante with regard to Tilly, the good senator, and a wedding that may or may not have happened. The story was okay, I guess, but nothing I didn't already know or suspect, especially after reading the story above.
Elevator Music
Elevator Music is about two of my favorites, Sam and Griff, getting stuck in an elevator. Sam is coming back from getting his wedding band from their car when he sees Griff coming to look for him. Why was his wedding band in the car instead of on his finger? Well, apparently Sam doesn't understand the amazing awesomeness of Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born. :) As a joke, Griff took off his ring and put it inside the glove department.
"I believe your exact words were, 'Bradley Coop-" My words ended suddenly as Griff's hand closed around my throat.
"You don't deserve to say his name out loud," he warned. "Samantha Coxwell, you're treading on thin ice."
I grabbed his dick, which was still plenty plump. Arguing with me always made Griff horny. "It's Sam Marian, asshole. Until you serve me with actual divorce papers, I earned every bit of that name and continue to do so every minute I spend putting up with your dramatics."
They're so cute. And I did mention them being two of my faves. ;)
Well, what are two hot and horny men to do when they're stuck in an elevator together? Well, Sam has no problem dropping to his knees....
And that's all I say about the story because it's really short. It's funny, it's sexy, and it's always good to see these guys.
Let It Snow
After Ammon testified against his father, he brought his brother Gideon back to San Francisco with him. Gideon had been malnourished from living on the streets after leaving the religious sect they'd both been raised in. He was saved by Mark, who brought the two brothers together again.
It's two years later and Gideon has had the time of his life living as an out gay man. From Grindr, to other random hookups, he's been in and out of more beds than he can count. When the random hookups stopped being enough, he started looking for a relationship, even trying a professional matchmaking service. All the guys he got matched with ended up dumping him. Ollie, Jude's best friend/former manager/nanny, suggests Gideon take a week at her family's cabin. He agrees, believing that a week of alone time and no responsibilities will be just what he needs. He's working at the Marian's veterinarian office as he attends vet school. After asking Simone for time off, he heads toward the cabin. By the time he arrives it's long after dark and the snow is falling pretty hard.
What - or should I say who - he finds at the cabin is a big bear of a man who's the sexiest man Gideon's ever seen. His name is Hunter. It turns out that Hunter is Ollie's brother and her sending Gideon during this particular week wasn't a coincidence. The Marians are all about matchmaking, so there you go. Ollie's not an official Marian but close enough. She's been close to Jude and the rest of them for years and years so she's honorary.
"I came to the woods and met a bear."
I nipped his skin between my teeth until he yelped and laughed harder. His laughter made me feel stupidly heroic.
After the laughter died down, I nudged him onto his back so I could make eye contact.
"I came to the woods and met someone I'm desperate to get to know better."
It turns out that Hunter and Gideon are perfect for each other.
This is a nice story with a HFN ending. It was good seeing Gideon a couple of years after he was introduced in Ammon and Mark's story. I loved Hunter right off and thought Gideon was adorable.
This is a nice collection of short stories from the Made Marian series. A lot of our favorite characters are back, along with some new additions - Ammon, Gideon, and Mark. I liked some stories better than others but all in all it was an entertaining read. There are some spoilers from the series and from the actual short stories themselves. I've become invested in the Made Marian world so some of my opinions are a bit stronger than others.
Love Shack
Two of my favorite characters in this series are Jude and Derek from Jumping Jude. If I'm given a chance to read more about them, I'm all over it.
But...
Love Shack describes something that didn't actually happen in their book. There's an author's note at the beginning that describes why she wrote this particular story. As much as I liked seeing these guys again, I wasn't a fan of the author throwing out a short story about a wedding that didn't happen. Jude and Derek eloped to Hawaii. There were special reasons why they did that and not have a huge family wedding like the other Marian siblings.
With that being said, Love Shack is a super short story that takes place the night before the big wedding in front of family and friends that didn't happen. Jude is scared that he's too much for Derek. He's a popular country music star and is constantly being scrutinized in the media. There's also Derek's family that haven't exactly embraced their gay son or the fact that he'll be marrying a man. When they separate to spend the night apart - no seeing each other before the wedding - Jude has some emotional moments with his mother over his fears of maybe losing Derek. Derek, being amazing, is right there to make sure he knows he'll be around forever.
Nice story but misleading if you've not read the others in the series.
Wedding March
Simone finally gets her man. Well, she got him a book or two back in the series, but it wasn't official until now. After being left at the altar by John, Tristan's brother, it looked like the only Marian sister wouldn't be trusting again. But then Joel Healy came into her world, even having to save her from bad guys in Made Mine. Of course, first she had to set him up with Noah during his blind dates from hell in A Very Marian Christmas after being told by her mean brothers that he was gay. He's not.
It starts off sweet with Simone and Blue at the wedding venue right before Simone and Joel say their vows. Blue is, as always, hilarious. Hilarious and sweet, which causes Simone to start crying when she's already nervous about marrying Joel. After a few more emotional moments with Joel himself, it's time for the wedding. The wedding was a total Aww! moment.
Until it was over...
Geez. Talk about being silly. The ending after Joel calls Simone Mrs. Healy. I mean, really. There can be too much Marian, you know? And for what was suggested - or should I say demanded - of Joel was ridiculous. I hate it because the short story was quite good until that point.
Otherwise, the story was nice. It was good to finally see Simone get her HEA.
Club Mix
Blue and Tristan (from Borrowing Blue) are married now with two kids. Being an 'old married couple' they don't go to clubs or get out much outside of spending time with their daughters and Blue's family. Blue, who'd had the typical young gay man experience with the clubs before he met Tristan, is planning a special night away with his man. Hotel room, dancing, and no kids for a night.
"We're an old married couple. People like us are banned from clubs."
"I want to dance with my sexy husband," he said, bordering on whining. "Please?
~~~
"I would have picked Mexican food, but I have plans for you later that do not mix well with refried beans."
"This conversation is why married people aren't allowed in clubs," I pointed out.
Tristan never experienced the club scene having married his horrible ex-wife and not acting on his bisexuality for reasons mentioned in Borrowing Blue. Blue wants to give him that night, especially after Tristan had admitted once that he'd never hooked up in a club or even had sex in public - something Blue never thought his serious husband would be interested in doing. He's happy with Blue and feels like he has everything now - which he does - but it gives Blue the idea to give him that one night.
If you read their book you know that Tristan is the more serious of the two, with Blue having a goofy sense of humor. So after dinner and dancing when Tristan gets Blue inside a stairwell happens....
Let's just say that the public sex thing on Tristan's bucket list just checked off in a big way.
I adore these guys together. I've loved them both since their book and grew to love them even more throughout the Made Marian series.
Great short story.
Jude's Lullaby
What a sweet, sweet story. Jude's on his first international tour in a long time. Derek's at home with their little boy Wolfe, with AJ and Dante taking his place guarding and protecting Jude. Jude's having a difficult time being away from Derek and his son. It's wearing on him pretty hard, even more so when he FaceTimes Derek after each show. He's beyond exhausted and he's sad because he's so homesick. Derek, being the ever attentive husband, knows that Jude's having a harder time than he's letting on.
Jude's eyes locked on mine. "I love you so much it hurts sometimes, Derek."
If you've not read Jumping Jude, read it. Jude and Derek are simply perfect together. As different as night a day, they fit in ways a lot of couples don't. Derek has always known what his man has needed even before Jude did. So he secretly makes plans.
In one part of this story I almost cried like a baby. It's after Jude's next to last show of the tour and he's simply had enough. He barely makes it to his dressing room before he's breaking down and sobbing.
'As soon as the door closed behind me, I dropped my smile and pressed my back against the cool door before letting myself slide to the floor in a heap.'
'I was almost done. Only one more show and it was over for at least another year. I could go home to my husband and my baby.'
'My face fell into my hands, and I let my exhaustion get the best of me, finally.'
I wish I could say more but I don't want to give away the entire story. I will say that this is absolutely perfect, and I'm beyond grateful for this little short that gave me a glimpse of these guys again outside their own book. Love Shack (above) doesn't really count because that one's about a wedding that never was. Jude's Lullabye is about Jude and Derek in the here and now after they've already become a family.
I love these guys and I love this story.
Beach Music
Super, super short story about Beau and Maverick from Moving Maverick having a little fun in the outdoor shower after Beau gets hot and bothered watching his husband walk the dog on the beach.
'I looked up at his handsome face, dark with beard shadow and full of familiar affection for me. My stomach flipped over.'
"Thank you for loving me," I said.
His eyes crinkled with a smile. "Easiest job I've ever had."
And he leaned down and kissed me until my toes curled and we were both late for work.
I love Maverick and Beau, so it was nice to see them again. Of course, because I do love them, I wish it would have been a little longer. Even so, I'm good with the brief glimpse of their life.
Birthday Song
It's Dante's twenty-fifth birthday and AJ has a big surprise for him. They'll be having a birthday dinner that night at the vineyard with the family and then they'll be leaving a grand adventure in an RV.
And it started out so well...
This would have been so perfect had Aunt Tilly not barged in and ruined it. I like Aunt Tilly for the most part. I even understand why she's in this and why she did what she did - which I can't go into without spoiling it. It's a like full circle thing from Delivering Dante. Even so, I wanted AJ and Dante alone. I wanted to see them have a little bit of time away from everybody else. In their book it was too much Aunt Tilly and too much of everybody else.
I wanted just Dante and AJ.
Alas, it was not to be.
Even so, I'm always happy to see these two guys. I enjoyed the story for the most part, but Aunt Tilly's gone from being the fun eccentric aunt to being the annoying old lady from hell.
Hard Rock
Hard Rock introduces two new main characters to the Made Marian series. First, there's Ammon, a twenty-year-old who is the latest adoptee of Rebecca and Thomas Marian. After being rescued from a religious cult in Utah when he was sixteen, he was brought to the Marian House shelter in San Francisco, and then adopted by the Marians. A shy violinist at a prestigious music school, he mostly keeps to himself. When I say shy, I mean he's really shy. Simone at one point describes his innocence meter at being a thousand.
Second, there's thirty-two-year-old Mark, who works for Joel's security company, the same one Derek worked for when he met Jude years before. Mark, who's bisexual, is engaged to a woman named Raisa. Mark grew up in a bad part of Chicago and has the scars to prove it. He also has a lot of tats, something his 'perfect' fiancee can't stand. The engagement ends shortly after the story begins at an event with Raisa's wealthy family. When her father introduces Mark to a plastic surgeon who starts going on about getting rid of Mark's 'ugly' scar above his eye and removing the tats, Mark's ready to bolt. He does bolt when Raisa goes along with everything being said. When he ends the engagement he realizes that he never really loved her anyway because it's too easy for him to walk away. Raisa, however, doesn't let him just go. She was something else.
Mark has been asked by Simone, Ammon's adopted sister, if he would take Ammon to a practice at his university as a favor. He and Ammon haven't met before, but Mark knows who he is. The practice turns out to be a performance that Ammon is too shy to tell his family about. Things are a little awkward in the car on the way there and back but they do chat a little.
Fast forward a few days and Ammon has received a summons to return to Utah to testify against his father in his abuse trial. When Ammon was being abused nobody cared. Everybody in the small town - with the exception of one person who does try to help and ultimately gets him out - is either a member of the church or close to his father in some way. He's absolutely terrified to face these people again. The Marians don't want him going alone, but he knows that having his new family with him will stress him out more, so he requests Mark specifically to be the one to accompany him. Mark readily agrees. He's felt protective of Ammon since day one and wants to be there for him.
The deposition and trial go about as well as can be expected. The paralegal present for the deposition is somebody from Ammon's old church and the district attorney is too dense to see why that would be a problem. Thankfully, Mark is there to end things with him before they get too bad. The trial is heartbreaking once the defense attorney gets started. When it's over, Mark does everything he can to make him feel better.
This is a sweet story. The reader is taken inside Ammon's head as he worries about saying or doing the wrong thing in front of Mark, who he's really starting to care for. He's never been with anybody before but he's finding himself wanting Mark bad, and not just for sex. He wants to be held and protected.
Mark wants to be that protector and not just temporarily. He's seriously falling for the shy younger man, and wants to do everything in his power to make sure he never hurts again, either physically or emotionally.
A couple of other family members of Ammon's are introduced outside of his father. One's not really worth even mentioning. Another one, Gideon, is. He's Ammon's nineteen-year-old brother. I adored him. His story is later in the anthology, Let It Snow.
I absolutely loved this. It's one of my new favorites in the Made Marian series. At first I was hesitant about reading a story in this world with new main characters who'd not been mentioned before. I'm really glad I did. Ammon is so sweet, so innocent. Mark is kind of the ultimate bad boy. They're perfect for each other. There's also a nice epilogue that shows them about a year or so later.
I don't know how many pages it has or the word count but it's much longer than all the others.
Great story.
Yakkity-Yak
This is a prelude to the next story so there's not much to it. Teddy and Jamie (from Taming Teddy) are packing for a trip to Tibet, and things start getting a little hot and heavy. There's also a bit of humor.
"Sweetheart," he drawled. "I've never ruined sex in my life."
"You once vomited on my dick," I reminded him. "Just as I was about to come."
He rolled his eyes. "You have a long memory. And your sister makes a strong drink.
Tibetan Chants
'My ass was showing.
Well, not literally, thank god. It was cold as fuck out here. But when I got nervous, I turned into an ass. And poor Jamie was bearing the brunt of it right now. We were stranded on the Tibetan Plateau after our all-terrain vehicle tour had abandoned us. I pinned Jamie with a glare that must have looked an awful lot like blame.'
I can't think of a better way to describe Teddy when he and Jamie are abandoned in Tibet. Of all the characters in the Made Marian series, Teddy's my least favorite. I love Jamie, but Teddy is a bit much. Even so, this story was nice enough. Their getting abandoned was no accident, but I can't say much more other than suddenly Teddy's wanting things the other Marian brothers and their families have.
Poker Face
Aunt Tilly finally gets her own story and her man. Outside of her butting into everyone else's anyway. In Delivering Dante there was a quickie trip to Vegas, a runaway RV, and a certain senator who just happened to be the father of a sitting president, and the Secret Service hot on their tail. Dante and AJ were stuck being along for the ride whether they wanted to be or not.
The reader knew that Tilly hooked up with the senator. What the reader didn't know was that there was history between them from long before that Vegas trip. Poker Face shows a serious side of Tilly. It also has her reuniting with the only man she's ever loved after breaking his heart twice - once decades ago, and again recently when she told him the truth about something that had happened a long time ago.
"I'm not wearing white at the wedding."
"Neither am I," I said solemnly. Tilly's hand shook in mine. She was terrified.
"Because I've had sex with lots of men. Lots."
I glared at her. "Simmer down, Lolita. No need to remind me."
This was sweet if you like Aunt Tilly. I'm Aunt Tilly'd out at this point, though I did enjoy the story well enough.
Waking Up In Vegas
Most of what's said in this story was said in Delivering Dante with regard to Tilly, the good senator, and a wedding that may or may not have happened. The story was okay, I guess, but nothing I didn't already know or suspect, especially after reading the story above.
Elevator Music
Elevator Music is about two of my favorites, Sam and Griff, getting stuck in an elevator. Sam is coming back from getting his wedding band from their car when he sees Griff coming to look for him. Why was his wedding band in the car instead of on his finger? Well, apparently Sam doesn't understand the amazing awesomeness of Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born. :) As a joke, Griff took off his ring and put it inside the glove department.
"I believe your exact words were, 'Bradley Coop-" My words ended suddenly as Griff's hand closed around my throat.
"You don't deserve to say his name out loud," he warned. "Samantha Coxwell, you're treading on thin ice."
I grabbed his dick, which was still plenty plump. Arguing with me always made Griff horny. "It's Sam Marian, asshole. Until you serve me with actual divorce papers, I earned every bit of that name and continue to do so every minute I spend putting up with your dramatics."
They're so cute. And I did mention them being two of my faves. ;)
Well, what are two hot and horny men to do when they're stuck in an elevator together? Well, Sam has no problem dropping to his knees....
And that's all I say about the story because it's really short. It's funny, it's sexy, and it's always good to see these guys.
Let It Snow
After Ammon testified against his father, he brought his brother Gideon back to San Francisco with him. Gideon had been malnourished from living on the streets after leaving the religious sect they'd both been raised in. He was saved by Mark, who brought the two brothers together again.
It's two years later and Gideon has had the time of his life living as an out gay man. From Grindr, to other random hookups, he's been in and out of more beds than he can count. When the random hookups stopped being enough, he started looking for a relationship, even trying a professional matchmaking service. All the guys he got matched with ended up dumping him. Ollie, Jude's best friend/former manager/nanny, suggests Gideon take a week at her family's cabin. He agrees, believing that a week of alone time and no responsibilities will be just what he needs. He's working at the Marian's veterinarian office as he attends vet school. After asking Simone for time off, he heads toward the cabin. By the time he arrives it's long after dark and the snow is falling pretty hard.
What - or should I say who - he finds at the cabin is a big bear of a man who's the sexiest man Gideon's ever seen. His name is Hunter. It turns out that Hunter is Ollie's brother and her sending Gideon during this particular week wasn't a coincidence. The Marians are all about matchmaking, so there you go. Ollie's not an official Marian but close enough. She's been close to Jude and the rest of them for years and years so she's honorary.
"I came to the woods and met a bear."
I nipped his skin between my teeth until he yelped and laughed harder. His laughter made me feel stupidly heroic.
After the laughter died down, I nudged him onto his back so I could make eye contact.
"I came to the woods and met someone I'm desperate to get to know better."
It turns out that Hunter and Gideon are perfect for each other.
This is a nice story with a HFN ending. It was good seeing Gideon a couple of years after he was introduced in Ammon and Mark's story. I loved Hunter right off and thought Gideon was adorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2022
This collection of short stories is just everything if you loved the Marians half as much as I did.
The stories vary in length from just a few pages, maybe a glimpse in the life of one of the established couples, to a couple of complete stories (Ammon, the latest addition to the Marian family, gets his own complete novelette).
It's not exclusively MM, we also get Simon's wedding and we dive into the real background of the one and only Aunt Tilly.
Revisiting these guys, after reading their stories so many times, is like being back with family or old friends, it's like a warm blanket and a hot chocolate in front of a cozy fire place... It's just good to my heart.
The stories vary in length from just a few pages, maybe a glimpse in the life of one of the established couples, to a couple of complete stories (Ammon, the latest addition to the Marian family, gets his own complete novelette).
It's not exclusively MM, we also get Simon's wedding and we dive into the real background of the one and only Aunt Tilly.
Revisiting these guys, after reading their stories so many times, is like being back with family or old friends, it's like a warm blanket and a hot chocolate in front of a cozy fire place... It's just good to my heart.
July 21, 2025
Alloooora, ho amato TUTTO. In questo volume facciamo un giro nelle storie di alcuni dei nostri amati componenti della famiglia Marian e soprattutto scopriamo un po' della nostra amata matriarca Tilly. Leggere su di lei è stato molto toccante. Ma non solo, ci inoltriamo nelle strorie d'amore degli ultimi entrati della famiglia Ammon e Gideon, i due ragazzi fuggiti da una orribile setta estremista cristiana. Non voglio dilungarmi troppo in questa recensione perchè tanto non c'è molto da dire perhè a mio avviso bisogna solo godersi la lettura senza troppi pensieri. Mi mancheranno tantissimo ma so che sono sempre qui con me per poter ritornare da loro quando ne sentirò la mancanza.
December 12, 2019
Why?
I don't know why Lucy felt the need to write this. I think she did a good job tieing up everything in other stories.
These stories seem rushed and well, poorly written. I never like it when authors just can leave well enough alone and just end a series.
Lucy, please just put the Marian family away. We have enjoyed them now let's move on. You are a great writer and this is doing you no justice.
I don't know why Lucy felt the need to write this. I think she did a good job tieing up everything in other stories.
These stories seem rushed and well, poorly written. I never like it when authors just can leave well enough alone and just end a series.
Lucy, please just put the Marian family away. We have enjoyed them now let's move on. You are a great writer and this is doing you no justice.
December 11, 2019
DNF 26% Just didn't hold my interest. One of the shorts had already been published on the author's website and the rest were just meh. Wish I hadn't bought this.
June 23, 2024
I love this crazy bunch!
October 18, 2021
A great little addition to the series - some real gems in this book.
June 22, 2025
This is a book of short stories that takes place sporadically between Grounding Griffin and Nautical. It is all about the Marian family members, but there are a few references to the Wildes.
Love Shack - Derek and Jude's wedding
Wedding March - Simone's wedding to Joel
Club Mix - Blue and Tristan go into the city to a club to fulfill Tristan's fantasy of sex in a club. It doesn't quite work but they end up having sex in the hotel stairwell.
Jude's Lullabye - Jude is on an international tour and is exhausted. Derek is home with 2 yr old Wolfe and realizes Jude needs him. He flies to Paris to surprise Jude for his last show. Jude tells him they have been chosen to adopt unborn twins and Jude is done touring for the foreseeable future.
Beach Music - Mav an Beau have sex in the outdoor shower. That’s it.
Birthday Song - AJ rents a camper van for Dante's 25th birthday. Before leaving, they have sex and wake up to Tilly driving them to Vegas. She says they can drop her off and then go in their planned trip to Yellowstone.
Hard Rock - Ammon (20) is the new adopted Marian brother. Mark (32) works at On Your Six (the security company owned by Simone's husband Joel and where Derek and AJ work) and is asked to provide security to Ammon when he goes to testify against his abusive father. They had met previously and there is a mutual attraction that neither has acknowledged. While back in Utah, they admit their mutual attraction and hook up/fall in love. Ammon's brother Gideon shows up also having been kicked out for being gay, and Ammon takes him home with him. In the epilogue a year later, they are looking to get a house near the vineyard and the school Ammon will be teaching music at.
Yakkity-Yak - Jamie and Teddy getting ready to go to Tibet
Tibetan Chants - Jamie and Teddy on the Tibetan plateau with yaks get stranded (orchestrated by Teddy) to have a talk about adopting children and settling down, which they decide to do
Poker Face - Tilly and Harold - we find out that they had dated as teenagers and the baby Tilly had and had put up for adoption was Harold's child. He had no idea because Tilly broke up with him while he was away at college to protect him and never told him. She has just told him about their daughter Kelly and grandson, Miller and he was so angry he left her. We learned that chili had been taken in by an incredibly wealthy family after she had her baby, because she became close to their only daughter who is also at the home for unwed mothers at the same time. When the parents died, they split their vast fortune between their daughter and Tilly. That is how she wound up wealthy. Harold has a talk with his sister and realizes that he understands Tilly's decisions and still wants to be with her. He shows up to the vineyard and asks her to marry him and she agrees.
Waking Up in Vegas - the story of what really happened between Tilly and Harold in Las Vegas in Delivering Dante
Elevator Music - Sam and Griff have an interlude in a stuck elevator
Let it Snow - Gideon (Ammon's brother) wants a boyfriend but has failed at relationships many times in the two years since he has gotten out of the church. Ollie, Jude's best friend, sends him to her family cabin for a vacation. Which she does not tell him is that her brother Hunter is also staying there. They headed off immediately and end up hooking up. We are left with the impression that they will fall in love.
Love Shack - Derek and Jude's wedding
Wedding March - Simone's wedding to Joel
Club Mix - Blue and Tristan go into the city to a club to fulfill Tristan's fantasy of sex in a club. It doesn't quite work but they end up having sex in the hotel stairwell.
Jude's Lullabye - Jude is on an international tour and is exhausted. Derek is home with 2 yr old Wolfe and realizes Jude needs him. He flies to Paris to surprise Jude for his last show. Jude tells him they have been chosen to adopt unborn twins and Jude is done touring for the foreseeable future.
Beach Music - Mav an Beau have sex in the outdoor shower. That’s it.
Birthday Song - AJ rents a camper van for Dante's 25th birthday. Before leaving, they have sex and wake up to Tilly driving them to Vegas. She says they can drop her off and then go in their planned trip to Yellowstone.
Hard Rock - Ammon (20) is the new adopted Marian brother. Mark (32) works at On Your Six (the security company owned by Simone's husband Joel and where Derek and AJ work) and is asked to provide security to Ammon when he goes to testify against his abusive father. They had met previously and there is a mutual attraction that neither has acknowledged. While back in Utah, they admit their mutual attraction and hook up/fall in love. Ammon's brother Gideon shows up also having been kicked out for being gay, and Ammon takes him home with him. In the epilogue a year later, they are looking to get a house near the vineyard and the school Ammon will be teaching music at.
Yakkity-Yak - Jamie and Teddy getting ready to go to Tibet
Tibetan Chants - Jamie and Teddy on the Tibetan plateau with yaks get stranded (orchestrated by Teddy) to have a talk about adopting children and settling down, which they decide to do
Poker Face - Tilly and Harold - we find out that they had dated as teenagers and the baby Tilly had and had put up for adoption was Harold's child. He had no idea because Tilly broke up with him while he was away at college to protect him and never told him. She has just told him about their daughter Kelly and grandson, Miller and he was so angry he left her. We learned that chili had been taken in by an incredibly wealthy family after she had her baby, because she became close to their only daughter who is also at the home for unwed mothers at the same time. When the parents died, they split their vast fortune between their daughter and Tilly. That is how she wound up wealthy. Harold has a talk with his sister and realizes that he understands Tilly's decisions and still wants to be with her. He shows up to the vineyard and asks her to marry him and she agrees.
Waking Up in Vegas - the story of what really happened between Tilly and Harold in Las Vegas in Delivering Dante
Elevator Music - Sam and Griff have an interlude in a stuck elevator
Let it Snow - Gideon (Ammon's brother) wants a boyfriend but has failed at relationships many times in the two years since he has gotten out of the church. Ollie, Jude's best friend, sends him to her family cabin for a vacation. Which she does not tell him is that her brother Hunter is also staying there. They headed off immediately and end up hooking up. We are left with the impression that they will fall in love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2020
For me, Mixed Tape ends up being a “mixed bag” of good and not so good.
The Good:
As a collection of short stories in the Made Marian universe, it’s fun to learn a little more about things that happened off page (e.g., Tilly’s early years, Simone’s marriage, etc.). Overall, I also enjoyed Ammon’s story, even if I wish we learned what happened to his sister and what the actual outcome of his father’s trial was.
The Not So Good:
There are a few continuity errors throughout the various stories. For the most part, they are very minor, and I probably wouldn’t noticed most of them at all if I hadn’t read everything in the Made Marian and Forever Wilde catalogs together in order.
However, there was one very large continuity conflict that I couldn’t get over. It was discordant to be reading about Jude and Derick hanging out with the various members of the Marian family on the night before their wedding in “Love Shack,” when we are also surprised to learn they had eloped to Hawaii and had been secretly married for months at the end of “Grounding Griffen.” It seems to me that Lucy Lennox shouldn’t have included “Love Shack” when she published the collection or she should have rewritten it so the title became a reference to a hut on a private beach in Hawaii instead of a flowered gazebo in the Marian’s San Francisco backyard.
Finally for me, the one other “not so good” aspect of the collection was the over inclusion of sex scenes.
While it may be a side effect from reading too much Lucy Lennox at once, I’ll just say that I will be a happy man if I never read/hear about someone entering or being gripped by another man’s “warm channel” again in my life.
The Good:
As a collection of short stories in the Made Marian universe, it’s fun to learn a little more about things that happened off page (e.g., Tilly’s early years, Simone’s marriage, etc.). Overall, I also enjoyed Ammon’s story, even if I wish we learned what happened to his sister and what the actual outcome of his father’s trial was.
The Not So Good:
There are a few continuity errors throughout the various stories. For the most part, they are very minor, and I probably wouldn’t noticed most of them at all if I hadn’t read everything in the Made Marian and Forever Wilde catalogs together in order.
However, there was one very large continuity conflict that I couldn’t get over. It was discordant to be reading about Jude and Derick hanging out with the various members of the Marian family on the night before their wedding in “Love Shack,” when we are also surprised to learn they had eloped to Hawaii and had been secretly married for months at the end of “Grounding Griffen.” It seems to me that Lucy Lennox shouldn’t have included “Love Shack” when she published the collection or she should have rewritten it so the title became a reference to a hut on a private beach in Hawaii instead of a flowered gazebo in the Marian’s San Francisco backyard.
Finally for me, the one other “not so good” aspect of the collection was the over inclusion of sex scenes.
While it may be a side effect from reading too much Lucy Lennox at once, I’ll just say that I will be a happy man if I never read/hear about someone entering or being gripped by another man’s “warm channel” again in my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2019
I would like to quote Mary Poppins: “Practically Perfect” because honestly this is. If you are a Made Marian fan, you will be blown away with delight over this collection of stories.
It gave me all the feels… So incredibly good to connect with this family again and their amazing characters.
That being said, I am struggling to get a decent review up because tbh I don’t want to go into specifics. As these are all short stories centering on the men and family members of the Marian family I don’t want to spoil any of it.
Each story is wonderfully unique and delightful in its own way.
So what should I tell you then? Well I can emphasize that if you read this series you definitely need to read this collection. I can mention that it has at least one surprising story in there that you probably don’t expect. And I can say there is sweetness but definitely also sexiness and most of all love in all kind of forms.
I can say there are different family members centered in the stories so we see Blue and Tristan, Jude and Derek but we also see Ammon for example. The blurb sums it up quite nice.
The writing is compelling as we’ve come to expect from author Lucy Lennox and it has been quite a while since I felt the urge to not quit reading but keep going like this.
Overall I have loved the few hours spend in this world again and am feeling content and happy.
If I could give more than 5 hearts I would definitely do so
Highly Recommended to an everyone who read this series, and if you haven’t read this series you should btw 😉
Review posted at www.lovebytesreviews.com
It gave me all the feels… So incredibly good to connect with this family again and their amazing characters.
That being said, I am struggling to get a decent review up because tbh I don’t want to go into specifics. As these are all short stories centering on the men and family members of the Marian family I don’t want to spoil any of it.
Each story is wonderfully unique and delightful in its own way.
So what should I tell you then? Well I can emphasize that if you read this series you definitely need to read this collection. I can mention that it has at least one surprising story in there that you probably don’t expect. And I can say there is sweetness but definitely also sexiness and most of all love in all kind of forms.
I can say there are different family members centered in the stories so we see Blue and Tristan, Jude and Derek but we also see Ammon for example. The blurb sums it up quite nice.
The writing is compelling as we’ve come to expect from author Lucy Lennox and it has been quite a while since I felt the urge to not quit reading but keep going like this.
Overall I have loved the few hours spend in this world again and am feeling content and happy.
If I could give more than 5 hearts I would definitely do so
Highly Recommended to an everyone who read this series, and if you haven’t read this series you should btw 😉
Review posted at www.lovebytesreviews.com
December 10, 2019
Wonderful collection. Fun, sexy, sweet.
The Made Marian series is a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed every single one of these stories that go along with the series.
It would be impossible to pick just one although I think Ammon’s leads the way for me. They all had characters I love or loved getting to know in the case of ones I didn’t know as well yet, and wonderful glimpses into their lives
I really only read short stories, etc when they go with series/ characters I already love as I much prefer longer reads. This however was perfect for me because it was a collection so read altogether like a longer book and also had so many characters I love.
There is also a suggested chronological reading flow near the back which I really appreciate. I love to re-read and like having bonuses, shorts, etc where they go in a series timeline. I know I’ll be doing a full series reread soon and will love incorporating these in!
Overall I loved this and recommend if you are a Made Marian fan, even if you aren’t normally a short story fan like me. And if you haven’t already read the series you need to!
The Made Marian series is a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed every single one of these stories that go along with the series.
It would be impossible to pick just one although I think Ammon’s leads the way for me. They all had characters I love or loved getting to know in the case of ones I didn’t know as well yet, and wonderful glimpses into their lives
I really only read short stories, etc when they go with series/ characters I already love as I much prefer longer reads. This however was perfect for me because it was a collection so read altogether like a longer book and also had so many characters I love.
There is also a suggested chronological reading flow near the back which I really appreciate. I love to re-read and like having bonuses, shorts, etc where they go in a series timeline. I know I’ll be doing a full series reread soon and will love incorporating these in!
Overall I loved this and recommend if you are a Made Marian fan, even if you aren’t normally a short story fan like me. And if you haven’t already read the series you need to!
September 22, 2021
I'm just finishing the Made Marian series. I'm in love with all of them. The books are so good, funny, hot and romantic as hell, but I think I'm going crazy with the timeline lapses, despite reading all of them following the suggested order (only skipped Made Mine because it's a crossover with the Wilde's universe, my next series to read). I blink and there's Griff taking care of his own toddler Benji. What?! How?! When?! I took a nap ;-) and when I'm awake, the kid Ammon is a grown man at his 20's. OK, but he's also a Marian, officially adopted by the clan and lives above Jude's garage. Wow! I turn the page and a brief commentary (less than one paragraph, as if it´s no big deal!) informs me that Tilly's lost grandson, Miller, had been previously introduced to her family. Again: what?! When? How's everyone reacted?! All those BIG steps missing are driving me nuts. At first I thought there would be stories in this "Mixtape" tying up the loose ends, but I couldn't find anything like that so far. Instead, we've had an entire volume of short stories dedicated to extra characters like Josh, Brad or Beck. Not fair at all.
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