Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: RULES FOR SANTA by Susan Hawke (Davey's Rules Series #3)

RULES FOR SANTA
Davey’s Rules Series Book 3

by Susan Hawke

M/M Romance, Daddy/boy

Release Date: 11.01.19

Blurb

Rule #18: Daddy’s boy will always believe in his Santa Daddy.

Homeless, alone, and now jobless, Cameron Evans is lost… until he’s found after a prominent local attorney literally trips over him when the boy is passed out from dehydration.

Scott Hendrickson has two things in life: his job as an assistant district attorney, and his son Davey. Other than that, he lives alone in a house that’s too big, too empty, too… lonely.

It’s not just Cameron’s life that might change for the better when Scott takes him in. Scott can provide material things and security, but Cameron returns the favor by breathing fresh air into Scott’s stale life.

Two men who need each other… one magical holiday season. Could a little Christmas magic be all that’s needed to bring the biggest gift of all? Maybe Cameron doesn’t need a Sugar Daddy… because he already has a Santa Daddy.

This is the third book in a series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Get ready for all the squishy holiday feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

Purchase on Amazon

Excerpt

After a sleepless night spent tossing and turning, I was up with the sun. Cameron came down right as I was pouring the fruit compote over a Belgian waffle. I noticed the backpack on his shoulder right off the bat. 

His stomach growled—loudly—but he ignored it as he met my eyes. "I'm going to get out of your hair now. I just wanted to thank you for taking me in last night. I looked out the window and it's not raining right now, so I should be okay." 

Shaking my head, I pointed to the island. "Drop your bag and come have breakfast. I didn't cook all this just for me, did I?" My chest fluttered when he instantly obeyed. 

His cheeks were pink as he climbed onto the stool. "Sorry, I just didn't want to assume or impose. I thought you might be sick of me by now. But I suppose it won't hurt to stick around long enough to have breakfast, especially since you went to so much work." 

"You’re not imposing at all. It's nice to have a little company in the house." I figured we would discuss his leaving later. First… food. 

"Wow, that's a beautiful compote. You reduced it perfectly, I won't even need syrup." Cameron smiled brightly as he looked at the plate I set in front of him. There were already platters of scrambled eggs and bacon on the counter, along with a container of freshly squeezed orange juice. I might have been a little too busy. 

"I just hope you like waffles." I spoke casually, setting a carafe of coffee on the counter along with a container of cream and cups for each of us. "I wasn't sure if you drink coffee or not. If not, that just means there'll be more for me." 

His eyes were closed as he moaned around his first bite of waffle. I wasn't sure whether to be pleased or turned on. Maybe a bit of both? After he swallowed, his eyes popped open and he reached for the coffee. "I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but I don't hate it. Especially with a rich breakfast like this, I’ll definitely want coffee today."

Carra's Review

Looking for a tooth-achingly sweet Daddy/boy holiday romance?  Well, you’ve definitely found it.  Rules for Santa fits that perfectly, if at times a bit much so…even bordering on cheesy.  But even given that, it’s hard not to like Scott and Cameron.

Scott is very much a Daddy, particularly from the care aspect (which is the part for me that felt almost a bit much).  He can’t help but step in once he realizes Cameron’s situation.  Cameron though seems to be ready to keep trying to make it on his own out on the streets, not wanting to keep taking from Scott.  But the way the story heads—which is absolutely clear to the reader every step of the way—is straight on to these two developing a relationship.

That development is slow and natural, with the requisite flirting moments that are part of those signals to readers that Scott and Cameron will wind up together.  For the most part the story is super-low on the angst scale with only one part where a touch of drama is introduced, then resolved quickly.  I found Scott’s son Davey to be kind of cheeky, but he’s a pretty good guy overall and does a good job in his supporting character role.

If you’re wanting light and sweet, slow burn holiday romance with an eventual Daddy/boy relationship, Rules for Santa is it.  For me, this was a 3.5-star read, and while there’s not a large amount of steamy scenes you’ll find this book is still meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I'd care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I've found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that's what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I'm a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown "kids of my heart." I'm more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Amazon Author - Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

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New Release with Excerpt: RULES FOR SANTA by Susan Hawke (Davey's Rules #3)

RULES FOR SANTA

Susan Hawke

Davey’s Rules Series Book 3

Susan Hawke

M/M Romance, Daddy/boy

Release Date: 11.01.19

Blurb

Rule #18: Daddy’s boy will always believe in his Santa Daddy.

Homeless, alone, and now jobless, Cameron Evans is lost… until he’s found after a prominent local attorney literally trips over him when the boy is passed out from dehydration.

Scott Hendrickson has two things in life: his job as an assistant district attorney, and his son Davey. Other than that, he lives alone in a house that’s too big, too empty, too… lonely.

It’s not just Cameron’s life that might change for the better when Scott takes him in. Scott can provide material things and security, but Cameron returns the favor by breathing fresh air into Scott’s stale life.

Two men who need each other… one magical holiday season. Could a little Christmas magic be all that’s needed to bring the biggest gift of all? Maybe Cameron doesn’t need a Sugar Daddy… because he already has a Santa Daddy.

This is the third book in a series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Get ready for all the squishy holiday feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

Purchase on Amazon

Excerpt

I tried not to react. I wasn't entirely sure if I wasn’t reading things wrong. The last thing I wanted was for him to feel pressured. I drummed my fingers on the table for a second or two. "So after our excursion last night, I couldn't help but notice something important was missing when we got home. Do you know what I'm referring to?"

"The fact that yours is the only house on the block with no lights? I mean, if I didn't know better I would think that Scrooge lived there." The honeyed notes in his whiskey brown eyes sparkled mischievously. The forest green sweater complimented him perfectly, bringing out the coppery notes in his hair and those eyes. It was no wonder I couldn't keep my eyes off him.

I forced myself to stay on topic and quit checking him out. "I had an idea to fix that, if you're interested. But I should probably warn you, it involves another shopping spree."

Cameron bounced in his seat, doing another one of his chair dances where he swayed his shoulders from side to side and snapped his fingers over his head. So damned cute. "If the shopping spree involves decorating your house, I'm definitely in. But only if we’re doing it both inside and out. No offense, but do you have any idea how depressing it is that you don't have a Christmas tree?"

I gasped dramatically, playfully putting my hands to my cheeks like that kid in Home Alone as I teased the boy. "We can't have that, can we? So yes, if you're in, then I vote we spend the next few hours getting our Christmas on." I held up my phone and admitted a small truth. "We don't need to decorate the outside though, I hired someone this morning to go by and string up lights. They should be up by the time we get back."

Shaking his head, Cameron looked disappointed in me as he clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "I get that you're a super busy lawyer and all, but that's totally cheating. Just for that, I'm going to make you by the biggest, tackiest blowup lawn ornament that we can find. That's the only way I'll accept hiring someone to hang generic, boring, perfectly spaced lights around your house."

Channeling my son, I playfully stuck my lower lip out to tease him. "Does it help if I also requested the lights look like icicles? And that I told him I want the house completely covered on every side?"

"That depends, are you going to let me buy the blowup ornament for the lawn?" God, he was adorable when he was sassy. I had to admit that I liked that Cameron was feeling comfortable enough with me to tease.

I flagged the waitress down, motioning for the bill. "Sold. But we better get out of here if we're going to get everything on my list." When Cameron started humming Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, I almost wanted to do one of his chair dances myself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I'd care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I've found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that's what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I'm a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown "kids of my heart." I'm more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Amazon Author Page - Facebook

New Release-Excerpt: HOW NOT TO BREAK by Susan Hawke (A Lovestrong Novel)

How Not to Break

A LOVESTRONG NOVEL

Susan Hawke

M/M Romance

Release Date: 03.09.19

Purchase on Amazon

Blurb

Take one former SEAL with a healthy dose of regret…

Nick St. Cloud is living with shame from the one time he let his lust override his sense of honor. He’s haunted by the memory of when he made love to his best friend’s eighteen-year-old son. The tragic accident that happened that same night has only compounded his guilt. A decade later, he’s doing his best to be there for Charlie’s son, but anything more than that just wouldn’t be right… would it?

Plus the younger guy who he’s tried to forget…

It’s been ten years. Ten long years. Does Shaw Michaelson feel bad about having seduced his dad’s best friend? Umm, maybe? Although he could’ve done things differently, Shaw can’t find it within himself to be sorry for the hottest night of his life with the one man he’s never been able to forget. The man he’s patterned every subsequent relationship after… yeah, Shaw totally has a type.

Equals a pair of men who deserve a second chance at a first time.

The two men are living in an uneasy peace within the same small town and circle of friends, being careful not to let the other get close enough to open old wounds. All their walls fall when a stalker begins terrorizing Shaw, sending him running to the one man he knows will keep him safe.

This is the fourth book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Intended only for 18+ readers, this is an mm romance full of all the fun, fluff, and feels you’d want from an S. Hawke book.

Note: Possible trigger warning for the mention of an animal being harmed off-page and the psychological trauma of being stalked.

Excerpt

Rising from my chair, I got right up in his space and glared up at him. "I know it's hard for you to wrap your brain around this, but I'm a man. A grown-ass man. I don't need a keeper, a savior, a knight in shining armor, or a master. Get it through your skull, and pass the memo along to any and all interested parties."

I was so angry at this point that I was shaking. And he wasn’t the only one I was pissed at. I turned and pointed at Rick. "And as for you… you can wipe that smug sh*t off your face, because that goes for you too. If you want to help me, then go find whoever's behind all this crap. I'm leaving, Rick. If you follow me, I swear to God I will kick you in the nuts. Seth, give me a five-minute head start, okay? Make sure Rick doesn't try to follow me, because I don't want to get arrested for assaulting an officer."

Seth was laughing his ass off as I stormed out of the bar. I hadn't made it even half a step over the threshold before Nick came rushing up after me.

"Goddammit, Shaw. Walk off in a huff on your own time, not when you have a stalker. Seriously, you can't be an idiot when you have someone stalking you. At least let me walk you to your car if you won't let me do anything else for you."

Instead of commenting, I merely pulled my key fob out of my pocket and clicked the button to unlock my car. Headlights flashed from where it was parked two spaces from the door. I waited for him to notice that before I spoke. "See? Not an idiot. I actually thought ahead and parked by the door. Go me!"

Nick groaned, rubbing a hand over the top of his head as if I frustrated him so much that he couldn't even deal. Good. That made two of us because I couldn’t deal with him right now either. "I don't think you're an idiot. I think you're vulnerable—there's a difference. You're a small guy, Shaw. You could be easily overpowered."

I was almost to my driver's door when Nick decided to prove his point. He pulled a slick move that had me bent backward over my hood and gaping into his face where it hovered just above mine. I was beyond pissed… and more than a little bit turned on.

The f*cker had the nerve to wink. "See how easy it was to overpower you? Tell me, Shaw—do you have any idea how to turn the tables and get free of my hold? Sure, this is me right now, but if it was someone else? This is why you need protection."

Without stopping to think it through, I acted on impulse. Grabbing his head, I pulled him forward as I leaned in to close the distance and kissed him hard. My c*ck came to full attention when the kiss got away from me. Frustration turned to passion somewhere along the way and I forgot what I was doing for a few. While our tongues danced against each other, Nick eased up on his hold to run a hand lightly along my side. Despite my racing heart and aching c*ck, the moment I felt the touch of his hand, I remembered my half-assed idea that had gotten me here.

Gotcha.

Breaking the kiss, I quickly ducked under his arm and whipped open my driver's door, slipping into the car while he stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face. I started the car, then cracked the window just enough to slip my hand out to flip him off.

I followed the gesture with a little taunting. "Tell me, Nick. Was that distraction a good enough tool to get free? Piss off. I'm neither your charity case nor your ward to protect. I’m a man, Nick. A man who can take care of his own sh*t. Have a good evening!"

I glanced into the rearview mirror and grinned when I saw that he stood gaping after me as I drove off. I would call the points Shaw: one, Nick: zero—except for the fact that I was driving away with tingling lips and a throbbing c*ck. Talk about a plan backfiring.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I'd care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I've found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that's what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I'm a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown "kids of my heart." I'm more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Amazon Author - Facebook