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The Hot Cannolis #4
Hot Lips
Sometimes there are too many closets to come out of.
For two years, Tito’s been hiding from his past in the midst of his uncle and aunt’s big, crazy, compound full of relatives in a tiny town in California.
Now his past’s come to get him – and threatens not only Tito’s life, but to reveal the secret that will get Tito kicked out of the family he loves.
Time to fight back!
Ari Cohen, a tough cop on the hate crimes task force, knows about hiding and fighting, since he spends his life undercover searching out bad guys.
Ari’s got a big secret too that perfectly matches Tito’s --both in and out of bed.
But don’t play hearts and flowers yet.
The price they have to pay for the match may send them running back to their closets – if Tito can stay alive long enough to get there.
HOT LIPS is a M/M romantic suspense mystery, packed with sexy secrets, danger, family love, and a crazy, one-eyed cat.
For two years, Tito’s been hiding from his past in the midst of his uncle and aunt’s big, crazy, compound full of relatives in a tiny town in California.
Now his past’s come to get him – and threatens not only Tito’s life, but to reveal the secret that will get Tito kicked out of the family he loves.
Time to fight back!
Ari Cohen, a tough cop on the hate crimes task force, knows about hiding and fighting, since he spends his life undercover searching out bad guys.
Ari’s got a big secret too that perfectly matches Tito’s --both in and out of bed.
But don’t play hearts and flowers yet.
The price they have to pay for the match may send them running back to their closets – if Tito can stay alive long enough to get there.
HOT LIPS is a M/M romantic suspense mystery, packed with sexy secrets, danger, family love, and a crazy, one-eyed cat.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2022
221 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Tara Lain
97 books1,388 followersTara Lain believes in happy ever afters - and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn't believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara's characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara's creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Likely a Gryffindor or maybe a Ravensclaw but possessed of Parseltongue, Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
August 11, 2022
Unfortunately, while I came to enjoy the romance between Tito and Ari overall, there were a couple of things which didn't sit right with me.
I'll get to them in a bit and they will be spoiler tagged.
My biggest issue I think with this one overall, and compared to the previous three books, is that it kind of only felt Canali-adjacent.
Yes Tito is a cousin not a brother, but he's still been hanging around the series quietly in the background but here, he's removed from that setting to live with the other MC through a set of circumstances that aren't really given full weight.
The basic premise is that Tito was sent here after a mugging which we learn in this book was more of a hate crime. He's lived with them for a few years and has been working away in the garage apartment keeping to himself.
After a couple of drag Queens at a local club are victims of a similar hate crime, we discover Tito has been receiving threats from someone he thinks is connected to his New York mugging and to Tito's online drag Queen persona Tina, who has a YouTube channel featuring advice and make-up tips etc.
So far, so good. Tito gets involved with the club both to assist out with their website and with a charity fundraising event, but also to help Detective Ari Cohen - (who we're bluntly informed in a bit of an expository Prologue) is a gay Jewish man who likes men dressed as women both in drag and not - with investigating the recent crimes.
Now, the chemistry between them was off the charts from their first meeting at the Canali compound when Ricky brings Ari to meet Tito and find out more about his stalker threat.
But, and here's where I felt more work needed to be done, they jump from attraction but 'we should stay away from each other, we're too complicated because of our love of Drag' into a physical lust driven couple of encounters and then came the scene I found pretty troubling.
Following this, the pacing then shoots off all over the shop without settling down as we get a copycat crime that's not connected; Tito worries over his appearance as Tina at the club's fundraising event; Ari's parents tell him they're heading to visit; Tito and Ari go on a house decorating and remodeling spree and eventually the villain strikes.
Overall though I liked Tito and Ari both individually and as a couple. Ari's cat Moshe is a cute addition and all ends with a suitability happy future on the cards.
This isn't a horrible book by any stretch, I think i was just left a bit disappointed in comparison to others in the series.
Uncle Ricky's book is definitely my favourite and the one which seems to be the most rounded out but I also enjoyed the other two pairs.
I'm not sure if this is the last in the series or not but on the whole I've enjoyed reading about the Hot Cannolis.
#ARC kindly received from GRR Reviews in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I'll get to them in a bit and they will be spoiler tagged.
My biggest issue I think with this one overall, and compared to the previous three books, is that it kind of only felt Canali-adjacent.
Yes Tito is a cousin not a brother, but he's still been hanging around the series quietly in the background but here, he's removed from that setting to live with the other MC through a set of circumstances that aren't really given full weight.
The basic premise is that Tito was sent here after a mugging which we learn in this book was more of a hate crime. He's lived with them for a few years and has been working away in the garage apartment keeping to himself.
After a couple of drag Queens at a local club are victims of a similar hate crime, we discover Tito has been receiving threats from someone he thinks is connected to his New York mugging and to Tito's online drag Queen persona Tina, who has a YouTube channel featuring advice and make-up tips etc.
So far, so good. Tito gets involved with the club both to assist out with their website and with a charity fundraising event, but also to help Detective Ari Cohen - (who we're bluntly informed in a bit of an expository Prologue) is a gay Jewish man who likes men dressed as women both in drag and not - with investigating the recent crimes.
Now, the chemistry between them was off the charts from their first meeting at the Canali compound when Ricky brings Ari to meet Tito and find out more about his stalker threat.
But, and here's where I felt more work needed to be done, they jump from attraction but 'we should stay away from each other, we're too complicated because of our love of Drag' into a physical lust driven couple of encounters and then came the scene I found pretty troubling.
Following this, the pacing then shoots off all over the shop without settling down as we get a copycat crime that's not connected; Tito worries over his appearance as Tina at the club's fundraising event; Ari's parents tell him they're heading to visit; Tito and Ari go on a house decorating and remodeling spree and eventually the villain strikes.
Overall though I liked Tito and Ari both individually and as a couple. Ari's cat Moshe is a cute addition and all ends with a suitability happy future on the cards.
This isn't a horrible book by any stretch, I think i was just left a bit disappointed in comparison to others in the series.
Uncle Ricky's book is definitely my favourite and the one which seems to be the most rounded out but I also enjoyed the other two pairs.
I'm not sure if this is the last in the series or not but on the whole I've enjoyed reading about the Hot Cannolis.
#ARC kindly received from GRR Reviews in return for an honest and unbiased review.
August 26, 2022
⭐︎
2.5 "There Was Potential" Stars Rounded Down
⭐︎
Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the bunch. My second read of this author when it's just her solo didn't go the best.
The thing is, I liked Tito and Ari a lot, and I enjoyed some of their scenes together. The book also gets points for keeping my interest until the end. The plot wasn't amazing, but it was interesting enough and kept me interested in this story. That's why I'm giving this 2.5 stars instead of just 2 stars.
This story showed so much potential with Tito and Ari. They had the makings of strong, interesting characters and overall I enjoyed them separately and liked them together.
But I don't think this author did enough with the their story.
Honestly it felt like the plot overtook their love story. In fact this barely felt focused on their romance. It felt like a mystery of who was stalking Tito first, their romance second.
It baffles me, too, that we only get two sex scenes in this whole book - which is over 300 pages, to boot - and only one that's very detailed, which was the mutual blow jobs scene.
Their only on page sex scene happens SO fast, and borders on sexual assault because it really is their first time together, they haven't discussed anything, and then Ari just wakes up to Tito riding him. He's obviously into it and they're into each other, but still. THAT is their first time?? Like what?
Also every time after that is just...fade to black or a very very fast "he sucked him to completion and he shouted in ecstasy", no details, nothing. It's SO disappointing. And when it already feels like not enough attention is given to these two and their relationship, the lack of their sexual connection affects the story too, in my opinion.
There was the potential for these two to be awesome together, but there just wasn't enough of them. So much so that when Ari confessed he loved Tito, I wasn't buying it.
Also Tito was worried Ari was only into him when he was dressed as Tina, and Ari assured him he wasn't, but we didn't get much of him thirsting after Tito when he's just Tito. There is interest and attraction, but nothing to the level it gets with him when Tito is Tina. Idk, I just felt like we didn't really see Ari showing he was that into Tito. He liked him, but I felt like he was most into when he was Tina, that's that. I wish we had gotten him being as equally into Tito when he was Tito as when he was Tina, is all.
Also we were very cut off from the rest of Cannali's in this book. We have them at the beginning and the end and that's it, except for Mike and Shane and Tessa, and they were still pretty minimal presence in this.
I get it on some level, because Tito, 2 years prior to this, was attacked in New York and he's been hiding out, scared, at the Cannali property and now he's breaking free from that fear and getting his life back. I get that, I do, but still, some more of the family would have been nice to see.
We barely get any Donny, Dell, Uncle Ricky, etc in this. Tito felt cut off from them. Which maybe the author was going for that, with Tito intentionally trying to hide an be private, but...idk, it just didn't work for me in this.
Also while this could be considered fast between these two - about 2 weeks after they meet each other, they're already so in love - but this takes so much time in that 2 week period that this actually felt like a slow burn.
Nothing even happens between these two until about or after the 50% mark. And this is a long book so that was a good portion of the book. Which, I was actually liking, but it was taking its time with these two, getting to a place where them having feelings would be believable. But then the book barely focused on them, and I was just left with a "meh" feeling when it came to this couple overall.
I think the book spent too much time trying to set up the mystery of who was after Tito/Tina, and introducing possible suspects, and having things happen that aren't so bad but are still suspicious and then Ari is trying to find the culprit but he's not having much luck, etc etc.
I don't think the plot was exciting and interesting enough to have it be the main focus of this story. It should have been the romance first, plot second. Give us more time with these two, have the stalking storyline take place over months, not 2 weeks. Really let these two fall in love, show them falling love, give us some good, detailed sex scenes that show their deepening connection even more, and have the stalker plot come to a head at the end and have it be a much bigger than it was and it would have packed quite the punch.
Instead we get Tito, who was so scared after what happened to him - understandably - that he hid for 2 years, get over that within 2 weeks and just mostly be mad when he gets and ready to fight. Which would have been great, if we'd gotten a proper progression. Maybe even him asking Ari to teach him basic self defense - hey, another tool that could have been used to help showing them fall in love! - and maybe show him with his therapist - who was mentioned once in this whole damn book and who we never saw, and who Tito never once spoke about.
Nothing about "My therapist said..." and "I've been trying this thing my therapist taught me..." and so on. Instead we just know he's been hiding for 2 years, is still scared at the start of this, and then in 2 weeks, well he's cured of his fear! Easy peasy.
Yeah, no, I didn't buy it.
There are so many steps this book could have taken to be a really good one, and it didn't take those steps. I feel like the author was really interested in this drag queen, mystery plot and was so focused on that she didn't focus enough on the romance, and didn't focus on ways to make the story interesting and exciting, with a great romance at the front of it.
This just fell flat in too many ways.
The ending was lackluster too. Tito gets saved, it's 2 days later, we barely get anything with him and Ari, then a super fast kind-of epilogue with it being a month later and everything hunky dory - we don't even get Tito and Ari interacting in that quick epilogue.
And I had it rounded up to 3 stars, but the more I've written this review and really thought about this story, the more I don't feel like I can round it up. So instead I'm rounding down to 2 stars. There was just too much that frustrated me to round up. Giving it 3 stars would feel too generous, unfortunately😬.
I think this author greatly benefits with the help of Eli Easton, sorry to say. This one just...didn't work well at all. It had the potential...but it just didn't follow through on that potential.
Unfortunate, as I think in Eli Easton's hands, Tito's love story could have been great.
Until next time...
My ratings for The Hot Cannolis Series:
✦ Hot Seat: 4 stars (my review)
✦ Hot Wings: 4 stars (my review)
✦ Hot Pursuit: 4 stars (my review)
✦ Hot Lips: 2.5 stars
Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the bunch. My second read of this author when it's just her solo didn't go the best.
The thing is, I liked Tito and Ari a lot, and I enjoyed some of their scenes together. The book also gets points for keeping my interest until the end. The plot wasn't amazing, but it was interesting enough and kept me interested in this story. That's why I'm giving this 2.5 stars instead of just 2 stars.
This story showed so much potential with Tito and Ari. They had the makings of strong, interesting characters and overall I enjoyed them separately and liked them together.
But I don't think this author did enough with the their story.
Honestly it felt like the plot overtook their love story. In fact this barely felt focused on their romance. It felt like a mystery of who was stalking Tito first, their romance second.
It baffles me, too, that we only get two sex scenes in this whole book - which is over 300 pages, to boot - and only one that's very detailed, which was the mutual blow jobs scene.
Their only on page sex scene happens SO fast, and borders on sexual assault because it really is their first time together, they haven't discussed anything, and then Ari just wakes up to Tito riding him. He's obviously into it and they're into each other, but still. THAT is their first time?? Like what?
Also every time after that is just...fade to black or a very very fast "he sucked him to completion and he shouted in ecstasy", no details, nothing. It's SO disappointing. And when it already feels like not enough attention is given to these two and their relationship, the lack of their sexual connection affects the story too, in my opinion.
There was the potential for these two to be awesome together, but there just wasn't enough of them. So much so that when Ari confessed he loved Tito, I wasn't buying it.
Also Tito was worried Ari was only into him when he was dressed as Tina, and Ari assured him he wasn't, but we didn't get much of him thirsting after Tito when he's just Tito. There is interest and attraction, but nothing to the level it gets with him when Tito is Tina. Idk, I just felt like we didn't really see Ari showing he was that into Tito. He liked him, but I felt like he was most into when he was Tina, that's that. I wish we had gotten him being as equally into Tito when he was Tito as when he was Tina, is all.
Also we were very cut off from the rest of Cannali's in this book. We have them at the beginning and the end and that's it, except for Mike and Shane and Tessa, and they were still pretty minimal presence in this.
I get it on some level, because Tito, 2 years prior to this, was attacked in New York and he's been hiding out, scared, at the Cannali property and now he's breaking free from that fear and getting his life back. I get that, I do, but still, some more of the family would have been nice to see.
We barely get any Donny, Dell, Uncle Ricky, etc in this. Tito felt cut off from them. Which maybe the author was going for that, with Tito intentionally trying to hide an be private, but...idk, it just didn't work for me in this.
Also while this could be considered fast between these two - about 2 weeks after they meet each other, they're already so in love - but this takes so much time in that 2 week period that this actually felt like a slow burn.
Nothing even happens between these two until about or after the 50% mark. And this is a long book so that was a good portion of the book. Which, I was actually liking, but it was taking its time with these two, getting to a place where them having feelings would be believable. But then the book barely focused on them, and I was just left with a "meh" feeling when it came to this couple overall.
I think the book spent too much time trying to set up the mystery of who was after Tito/Tina, and introducing possible suspects, and having things happen that aren't so bad but are still suspicious and then Ari is trying to find the culprit but he's not having much luck, etc etc.
I don't think the plot was exciting and interesting enough to have it be the main focus of this story. It should have been the romance first, plot second. Give us more time with these two, have the stalking storyline take place over months, not 2 weeks. Really let these two fall in love, show them falling love, give us some good, detailed sex scenes that show their deepening connection even more, and have the stalker plot come to a head at the end and have it be a much bigger than it was and it would have packed quite the punch.
Instead we get Tito, who was so scared after what happened to him - understandably - that he hid for 2 years, get over that within 2 weeks and just mostly be mad when he gets and ready to fight. Which would have been great, if we'd gotten a proper progression. Maybe even him asking Ari to teach him basic self defense - hey, another tool that could have been used to help showing them fall in love! - and maybe show him with his therapist - who was mentioned once in this whole damn book and who we never saw, and who Tito never once spoke about.
Nothing about "My therapist said..." and "I've been trying this thing my therapist taught me..." and so on. Instead we just know he's been hiding for 2 years, is still scared at the start of this, and then in 2 weeks, well he's cured of his fear! Easy peasy.
Yeah, no, I didn't buy it.
There are so many steps this book could have taken to be a really good one, and it didn't take those steps. I feel like the author was really interested in this drag queen, mystery plot and was so focused on that she didn't focus enough on the romance, and didn't focus on ways to make the story interesting and exciting, with a great romance at the front of it.
This just fell flat in too many ways.
The ending was lackluster too. Tito gets saved, it's 2 days later, we barely get anything with him and Ari, then a super fast kind-of epilogue with it being a month later and everything hunky dory - we don't even get Tito and Ari interacting in that quick epilogue.
And I had it rounded up to 3 stars, but the more I've written this review and really thought about this story, the more I don't feel like I can round it up. So instead I'm rounding down to 2 stars. There was just too much that frustrated me to round up. Giving it 3 stars would feel too generous, unfortunately😬.
I think this author greatly benefits with the help of Eli Easton, sorry to say. This one just...didn't work well at all. It had the potential...but it just didn't follow through on that potential.
Unfortunate, as I think in Eli Easton's hands, Tito's love story could have been great.
Until next time...
My ratings for The Hot Cannolis Series:
✦ Hot Seat: 4 stars (my review)
✦ Hot Wings: 4 stars (my review)
✦ Hot Pursuit: 4 stars (my review)
✦ Hot Lips: 2.5 stars
August 10, 2022
Thank you to the author for an ARC of HOT LIPS in return for my honest review.
**Please note, SPOILERS below. If you haven't read the book and plan to, you might not want to read this review.**
I have read all of the books in The Hot Cannolis series so far & I've enjoyed all of them to different degrees. Sadly HOT LIPS didn't work for me. There was a lot of potential for this story to be a great one. Possibly even my favorite...IF the execution had been done well. Sadly, the pacing was rushed and off-kilter. The romance lacked a proper build-up to be believable. The mystery felt like it was all over the place and the resolution of it was messy.
HOT LIPS is set in the unique world of drag queens. For someone who knows so little about that world, I wanted a deeper dive into why being their authentic selves and doing drag was so important to these Queens, especially when the vitriol they face seems so much worse. Sadly, this was barely explored imho. We barely scratch this world or meet the other Queens or learn who they truly are or why they do what they do.
I don't think even Tito's reasons were strongly fleshed out for me. Why and how did he get into this scene back in New York, especially given how young he was? What was it like for him, that first time? And when he became the famous Lily of the Valley? What did it feel like to give that up, and what caused him to desperately seek Tina after? Basically, after such a traumatic experience, why couldn't he stay away or hide that part of himself? That urgency, that craving to be his two authentic selves and not always succeeding, the tension and angst this situation creates, and the breakdown that follows whenever he fails - all of it was lacking and felt like missed opportunities to me. The night things changed, what really happened? What did he actually feel? What was his recovery like? What was the cost of each day? I didn't just want things to be alluded to, which was what we got in HOT LIPS. I just couldn't quite reach into Tito's mind beyond the superficial. This was frustrating. Also, starting a book with a prologue and a dream to give us an idea of what happened in the past is an easy and not so satisfying way to explore those areas.
Ari - He was a likable guy, but I couldn't believe he was 27 years old. Sometimes he sounded like a mature cop, other times he sounded like a horny 17 year who couldn't control his urges. Other times (the one undercover scene) I just couldn't understand if I was supposed to take him seriously. That undercover scene felt so exaggerated. It was there as a tool to introduce Ari to us as this Jewish, gay cop and it felt like it as well. It lacked the tension or seriousness or danger of what undercover missions should be. And the resolution, all those months of work he put it, BAM was over in a second. Ari, imo, wasn't built up as a three-dimensional character.
The romance - this was an insta-lust turned insta-romance. It started off well, the first few times Ari and Tito met, I sensed the chemistry and the opportunity for them to become something great for each other. But sadly, I don't feel enough time was built up developing their relationship for this to take, and I mean the quiet vulnerable moments where they connected emotionally. It just felt all lust based and when the love word came into play, it was too out of the blue to be believable. Tito's transition from a terrified victim who hid for two years to someone who instigated the sexy times and took control would have been a great change, IF this build up had been set into place properly. Also, the main couple never really talked about what happened to Tito in New York and how it affected him. And how it still affects him. I do not mean quick discussions that barely scratch the surface. There were a lot of hurt/comfort moments that felt sorely missed.
The mystery - there was potential for this to be an interesting mystery. But the threats Tito received didn't feel scary at all. And re: the bad guys at the end - I understood why the author attempted this sort of a split resolution, possibly to stretch the anticipation and whodunnit? just a little longer. But the problem with this method of deviation is that I felt like she didn't do justice to enter angle/resolution.
Overall, I was bummed this one didn't work.
**Please note, SPOILERS below. If you haven't read the book and plan to, you might not want to read this review.**
I have read all of the books in The Hot Cannolis series so far & I've enjoyed all of them to different degrees. Sadly HOT LIPS didn't work for me. There was a lot of potential for this story to be a great one. Possibly even my favorite...IF the execution had been done well. Sadly, the pacing was rushed and off-kilter. The romance lacked a proper build-up to be believable. The mystery felt like it was all over the place and the resolution of it was messy.
HOT LIPS is set in the unique world of drag queens. For someone who knows so little about that world, I wanted a deeper dive into why being their authentic selves and doing drag was so important to these Queens, especially when the vitriol they face seems so much worse. Sadly, this was barely explored imho. We barely scratch this world or meet the other Queens or learn who they truly are or why they do what they do.
I don't think even Tito's reasons were strongly fleshed out for me. Why and how did he get into this scene back in New York, especially given how young he was? What was it like for him, that first time? And when he became the famous Lily of the Valley? What did it feel like to give that up, and what caused him to desperately seek Tina after? Basically, after such a traumatic experience, why couldn't he stay away or hide that part of himself? That urgency, that craving to be his two authentic selves and not always succeeding, the tension and angst this situation creates, and the breakdown that follows whenever he fails - all of it was lacking and felt like missed opportunities to me. The night things changed, what really happened? What did he actually feel? What was his recovery like? What was the cost of each day? I didn't just want things to be alluded to, which was what we got in HOT LIPS. I just couldn't quite reach into Tito's mind beyond the superficial. This was frustrating. Also, starting a book with a prologue and a dream to give us an idea of what happened in the past is an easy and not so satisfying way to explore those areas.
Ari - He was a likable guy, but I couldn't believe he was 27 years old. Sometimes he sounded like a mature cop, other times he sounded like a horny 17 year who couldn't control his urges. Other times (the one undercover scene) I just couldn't understand if I was supposed to take him seriously. That undercover scene felt so exaggerated. It was there as a tool to introduce Ari to us as this Jewish, gay cop and it felt like it as well. It lacked the tension or seriousness or danger of what undercover missions should be. And the resolution, all those months of work he put it, BAM was over in a second. Ari, imo, wasn't built up as a three-dimensional character.
The romance - this was an insta-lust turned insta-romance. It started off well, the first few times Ari and Tito met, I sensed the chemistry and the opportunity for them to become something great for each other. But sadly, I don't feel enough time was built up developing their relationship for this to take, and I mean the quiet vulnerable moments where they connected emotionally. It just felt all lust based and when the love word came into play, it was too out of the blue to be believable. Tito's transition from a terrified victim who hid for two years to someone who instigated the sexy times and took control would have been a great change, IF this build up had been set into place properly. Also, the main couple never really talked about what happened to Tito in New York and how it affected him. And how it still affects him. I do not mean quick discussions that barely scratch the surface. There were a lot of hurt/comfort moments that felt sorely missed.
The mystery - there was potential for this to be an interesting mystery. But the threats Tito received didn't feel scary at all. And re: the bad guys at the end - I understood why the author attempted this sort of a split resolution, possibly to stretch the anticipation and whodunnit? just a little longer. But the problem with this method of deviation is that I felt like she didn't do justice to enter angle/resolution.
Overall, I was bummed this one didn't work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2022
I really wanted to love this one. I adore this series, and eagerly awaited Tito's story. I practically did a happy dance when I found out that I'd been granted an ARC! Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. It really was all over the place, the mystery was very superficially addressed and I just didn't connect withTito and Ari. I also wanted more Canali family involvement. This has kinda made the other books for me, I love their interaction. There's one particular scene between Tito and Ari that didn't sit well with me, and I was surprised at its inclusion. Must add here that I am a big Tara Lain fan, and it pains me to write this. I am aware that the lady wasn't too well when the book was being written and produced, and can only imagine that this is responsible for the story's lack of depth. Wanted to love it, didn't hate it, but felt that it could've been better.
August 24, 2022
2 stars for a convoluted mess..
What is this? A kid gets jumped, attacked.. he becomes an almost shut in due to the anxiety of his attack ... for two years.. then he decides that he is going to be go out and be vamped out drag queen ????
This plot made no sense and was all over the place with no rhyme or reason..
A bad ending to a decent series..
What is this? A kid gets jumped, attacked.. he becomes an almost shut in due to the anxiety of his attack ... for two years.. then he decides that he is going to be go out and be vamped out drag queen ????
This plot made no sense and was all over the place with no rhyme or reason..
A bad ending to a decent series..
August 28, 2022
Sadly that didn't work for me well. I give 1.5 stars but barely. I liked the idea of Tito but damn the book didn't do him right.
The love story was basically nonexistent. I had a lot of issues with their sexual encounters. Also the plot made no sense for me. I'm sad but the series ends with a letdown for me.
The love story was basically nonexistent. I had a lot of issues with their sexual encounters. Also the plot made no sense for me. I'm sad but the series ends with a letdown for me.
August 22, 2022
I have been reading lots of good things about this series and was happy to jump into it - but sadly I had some issues with this one, and a couple of things just didn’t sit right with me.
Hot Lips started out great with a lot of potential and there were some serious chemistry between Tito and Ari when they first met, but for me it just seemed to sizzle out as it took a long time before anything happened between them. Both Ari and Tito were interesting characters and I liked the layers to them, but I just didn’t feel the connection between them.
The pacing felt off and rushed at times, like Tito hadn’t left the compound for years and suddenly he’s okay enough to stay with Ari, who he barely knows at the point, in the middle of a city? It just didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I also expected more from the suspense plot than what happened, there was just a lack of tension in the story - both between the characters and the plot.
There were parts I really liked: the drag queens and the time spent at the club, the scenes with the Canali family and Ari’s cat Moshe made me giggle a few times. Overall it was an enjoyable story but I guess I just expected more in general. There was also a scene that was borderline sexual assault that just made me feel really uncomfortable and it was just never discussed or brought up afterwards which I found a bit strange.
I’m hoping this one was a fluke as I’m still planning to read the other books in the series, I really liked the Canali family and I’m curious about the other couples.
Hot Lips started out great with a lot of potential and there were some serious chemistry between Tito and Ari when they first met, but for me it just seemed to sizzle out as it took a long time before anything happened between them. Both Ari and Tito were interesting characters and I liked the layers to them, but I just didn’t feel the connection between them.
The pacing felt off and rushed at times, like Tito hadn’t left the compound for years and suddenly he’s okay enough to stay with Ari, who he barely knows at the point, in the middle of a city? It just didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I also expected more from the suspense plot than what happened, there was just a lack of tension in the story - both between the characters and the plot.
There were parts I really liked: the drag queens and the time spent at the club, the scenes with the Canali family and Ari’s cat Moshe made me giggle a few times. Overall it was an enjoyable story but I guess I just expected more in general. There was also a scene that was borderline sexual assault that just made me feel really uncomfortable and it was just never discussed or brought up afterwards which I found a bit strange.
I’m hoping this one was a fluke as I’m still planning to read the other books in the series, I really liked the Canali family and I’m curious about the other couples.
August 19, 2022
This was certainly sexy. It felt more detached to the first three books, maybe because most of the family wasn't as prominently featured, but it was enjoyable. I really enjoyed Tito, and seeing him develop, and finally finding why he moved with the Canali clan.
August 23, 2022
I loved this story, and once I picked it up, I didn’t want to put it down. I enjoyed catching up with Tito’s extended family again. The family theme of this series and the support and love they have for each other is one of its strengths.
Tito and Ari fit together so well. They’re both good at undercover work and although opposites at first glance have a lot more in common than I initially expected. I guessed Tito’s secret before the reveal but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the plot. I thought the author did a great job in sprinkling red herrings to make me doubt my theory. I love how they fall for each other.
Moshe is wonderful. I love how he bonds with Tito, and is fiercely protective of him. And how Ari does too.
I liked the mystery/suspense part of the story, and how that progressed then came to a head in an exciting showdown. Tito totally rocks, especially considering what he’s been through, and I liked the role he has in taking back his life.
I loved that Mike, Shane, and Ricky played a good-sized role in this story, and I liked the drag queens who are very strong characters. I liked the sense of community, and how everyone rallies around. Ari and Tito’s HEA is perfect, especially with its focus on family. I loved how well Ari and Tito’s families get on, especially Lucille and Ari’s mother.
I’m sad to see the end of this series, although, as I came in part way, I luckily still have some catching up to do.
Tito and Ari fit together so well. They’re both good at undercover work and although opposites at first glance have a lot more in common than I initially expected. I guessed Tito’s secret before the reveal but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the plot. I thought the author did a great job in sprinkling red herrings to make me doubt my theory. I love how they fall for each other.
Moshe is wonderful. I love how he bonds with Tito, and is fiercely protective of him. And how Ari does too.
I liked the mystery/suspense part of the story, and how that progressed then came to a head in an exciting showdown. Tito totally rocks, especially considering what he’s been through, and I liked the role he has in taking back his life.
I loved that Mike, Shane, and Ricky played a good-sized role in this story, and I liked the drag queens who are very strong characters. I liked the sense of community, and how everyone rallies around. Ari and Tito’s HEA is perfect, especially with its focus on family. I loved how well Ari and Tito’s families get on, especially Lucille and Ari’s mother.
I’m sad to see the end of this series, although, as I came in part way, I luckily still have some catching up to do.
August 23, 2022
What a wonderful wrap up to the “Hot Cannolis” series! I’m sad to see that it has ended but thank you Eli Easton and Tara Lain for writing one of the most wonderful series that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I still want to reiterate that this series would make a wonderful gay hallmarkesque movies with them hot Canali studs! The story itself was intense with a very surprising ending! I couldn’t stop reading til I got to the end!
The story focuses on Tito, one of the Canali clan members who had popped up in the previous books and we learn more about who he is. He’s one of the introverted member who doesn’t like making waves and prefer to be inconspicuous whenever possible. However, he quietly came out to Ricky (the other guy in the clan) who was on the police force and asked for help with being harassed by someone through emails. Ricky, in turn, reached out to Ari, one of the members of the Hate Crimes Task Force and he agreed to meet Tito. However, on that day he met Tito, someone did a job on drag queens in the area and had to leave quickly. That started something between Ari and Tito. That’s where I’m going to stop and encourage you to pick up the book to read and find out what happened and the ending as well! Worth more than 5 stars!!!!!
The story focuses on Tito, one of the Canali clan members who had popped up in the previous books and we learn more about who he is. He’s one of the introverted member who doesn’t like making waves and prefer to be inconspicuous whenever possible. However, he quietly came out to Ricky (the other guy in the clan) who was on the police force and asked for help with being harassed by someone through emails. Ricky, in turn, reached out to Ari, one of the members of the Hate Crimes Task Force and he agreed to meet Tito. However, on that day he met Tito, someone did a job on drag queens in the area and had to leave quickly. That started something between Ari and Tito. That’s where I’m going to stop and encourage you to pick up the book to read and find out what happened and the ending as well! Worth more than 5 stars!!!!!
August 11, 2022
Holy hot cannoli! This is the 4th book in this series and I loved it! I devoured this book in one sitting! The characters and mystery grab you from the 1st page! Well written, steamy with a mystery that keeps you guessing who the stalker is! Tito is not like most the cannoli men he is a bit femme and has a secret drag queen persona! He is so strong and good . I adored watching him find himself and his confidence again after living with fear for so long! Ari is amazing, Loving and supportive! Moshe, I can picture the chubby little fluffball perfectly! He definitely owns a place in the book! This is a definite must read! I received this book from GRR and these are my honest opinions
June 8, 2023
This didn't work for me at all! I had so much anticipation following Uncle Ricky's story that is probably my favourite.
This was a complete let down. I stopped reading at 50% and jumped to the end. It lacked steam, suspense, excitement. I didn't care if and how Ari and Tito would get their HEA. After how much love I experienced for the other 2 books, this just makes me so sad.
I found out after I'd started the book that Eli Easton didn't work on this with Tara Lain. I wish she did. It would have been much more cohesive.
This was a complete let down. I stopped reading at 50% and jumped to the end. It lacked steam, suspense, excitement. I didn't care if and how Ari and Tito would get their HEA. After how much love I experienced for the other 2 books, this just makes me so sad.
I found out after I'd started the book that Eli Easton didn't work on this with Tara Lain. I wish she did. It would have been much more cohesive.
August 23, 2022
Hot Lips is the 4th book in the Canali series, and I was glued to the pages from the beginning to the end.
I loved both Tito and Ari. Tito is adorable, and I was so glad that he found the strength to overcome his past and stand up for what he believes in. Ari was lovely, and strong while still being gentle underneath. They worked well together, and I wasn’t surprised that their instant attraction soon turned into more.
There were also appearances by previous characters, Shane and Mike, Tessa, Uncle Ricky and to a lesser extent, the rest of the family but not as much as in the previous books. Perhaps this was because Tito doesn’t want to upset his Uncle, who took him in when he needed to leave New York, and their relationship is one step more removed so it’s not such a big angsty part of the story as in the others. Instead, we're taken on a suspenseful ride into the world of drag queens and the dangers they face.
A great read, this book was full of intrigue, angst, emotion, and heat, and had a wonderfully sassy cat who captured my heart along with the MCs. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.
I received a copy of this book from GRR to review, and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.
I loved both Tito and Ari. Tito is adorable, and I was so glad that he found the strength to overcome his past and stand up for what he believes in. Ari was lovely, and strong while still being gentle underneath. They worked well together, and I wasn’t surprised that their instant attraction soon turned into more.
There were also appearances by previous characters, Shane and Mike, Tessa, Uncle Ricky and to a lesser extent, the rest of the family but not as much as in the previous books. Perhaps this was because Tito doesn’t want to upset his Uncle, who took him in when he needed to leave New York, and their relationship is one step more removed so it’s not such a big angsty part of the story as in the others. Instead, we're taken on a suspenseful ride into the world of drag queens and the dangers they face.
A great read, this book was full of intrigue, angst, emotion, and heat, and had a wonderfully sassy cat who captured my heart along with the MCs. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.
I received a copy of this book from GRR to review, and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.
August 18, 2022
First of all, I love this series. It's got progressively better as it's gone on, and as much as I liked the previous book, for me this is the best of the lot. I adored Tito and Ari (and Moshe) and loved reading their story. It's the perfect mix of romance, drama, suspense, and sass and it was just wonderful.
It could be read as a standalone but features more cameos from the previous Canali couples than any of the other books. Not going to lie, I guessed Tito's secret almost from the start but I still loved the reveal, it was so well done. There aren't really a lot of books with drag as the main theme and I thought this was done really well. I loved meeting all the other drag queens and loved the names Tara Lain came up with. (I did think there was something off with Kobayashi Marie though, she was a little suspicious).
Ari and Tito together were 🔥 HOT HOT HOT though, oh wow. I just loved these two together so much. They were literally made for each other and I loved seeing them come together slowly.
The whole thing was so well done, with the stalking subplot and Tito's family finally accepting him, it was a wonderful, fun read and I can't recommend it enough.
I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
It could be read as a standalone but features more cameos from the previous Canali couples than any of the other books. Not going to lie, I guessed Tito's secret almost from the start but I still loved the reveal, it was so well done. There aren't really a lot of books with drag as the main theme and I thought this was done really well. I loved meeting all the other drag queens and loved the names Tara Lain came up with. (I did think there was something off with Kobayashi Marie though, she was a little suspicious).
Ari and Tito together were 🔥 HOT HOT HOT though, oh wow. I just loved these two together so much. They were literally made for each other and I loved seeing them come together slowly.
The whole thing was so well done, with the stalking subplot and Tito's family finally accepting him, it was a wonderful, fun read and I can't recommend it enough.
I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
August 16, 2022
A Cannolis story with a dual theme. One is a threatening mystery, and one is a Canali nephew whose secret could break the family asunder. Tito is broken psychologically because of a brutal attack he suffered back in NYC. Now he has been enfolded into the Cannoli fold for the last two years to heal. A matchmaking attempt by Mike and Shane introduces Tito to undercover cop Ari Cohen who is openly gay and investigates hate crimes . Mutual attraction is lingering but Tito has a secret life he only shares on social media, and this is where this book's title "Hot Lips" comes into play. Little does he know that Ari, the hard-as-nails cop has fantasized about this lovely Tina while becoming enamored with her media appearances. Throw in brutal drag queen attacks by homophobic morons, the police investigation into these attacks, marvelous characters inhabiting Purely Pink and the eatery Lavendar Scone , and throwing in the one-eyed feline Moshe and any reader will discover another great read that reflects real (not imaged) people handling real life problems without whitewashing life's realities in this 4th book of "The Hot Cannolis" series by Tara Lain. I'm voluntarily reviewing an ARC of this book.
August 23, 2022
A wonderful book to end this wonderful series about the Cannolis brothers. I have loved them all and this one is also good, despite being different than the others. I think that is due to Tito being different from his brothers. Please know that yes you can read this as a standalone and we do not get much of the other brothers in this book, you will enjoy it more if you have read the other books--just enough to fill in pieces if you have read them all. While Tito is different from his brothers i soon realized it was not because he did not possess their strength, it was due to his fear of his past coming out and the impact it would have on his family. Since the past has a way of haunting us, his past does come back and soon he is having to work with Ari, the loveable hate crimes cop, to see who is hurting drag queens. It was fun to see Tito finally find the courage to stand up to his past and overcome his fears, and of course it helped to have his new friend Ari to help him along the way. I will admit they move quickly to the love stage for me, but again the mystery drives the plot and makes for a great read. It was fun to see them work together to help others and help Tito come to terms with his past. Ari is the perfect supportive partner. Enjoy this wonderful mystery and romance. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
August 13, 2022
The final book in the Hot Cannoli series was intriguing. A suspense/mystery involving the quiet cousin Tito who came to live on the Cannoli compound. Turns out he was feeling from New York after he was attacked one night.
He’s been receiving threatening messages that make him think the attack wasn’t random and the attackers weren’t done. Finally ready to ask for help he turns to Uncle Ricky, a detective with the Sacramento Police, who in turn brings in Ari, an officer with the Hate Crimes task force, which coincides with attacks that have started against local drag queens.
These two have chemistry, and as their lives intertwine due to the crimes and Tito’s desire to help put a stop to the violence, they become closer and closer.
I liked the premise, and both Tito and Ari are really great guys. I did miss the Cannoli clan which wasn’t as present in this one, but we got a pretty cute and discerning cat that kinda makes up for it.
3.5 roundup to 4
He’s been receiving threatening messages that make him think the attack wasn’t random and the attackers weren’t done. Finally ready to ask for help he turns to Uncle Ricky, a detective with the Sacramento Police, who in turn brings in Ari, an officer with the Hate Crimes task force, which coincides with attacks that have started against local drag queens.
These two have chemistry, and as their lives intertwine due to the crimes and Tito’s desire to help put a stop to the violence, they become closer and closer.
I liked the premise, and both Tito and Ari are really great guys. I did miss the Cannoli clan which wasn’t as present in this one, but we got a pretty cute and discerning cat that kinda makes up for it.
3.5 roundup to 4
August 24, 2022
This series is a lot of fun, excellent mix of interesting characters and engaging mystery. I liked the prologue, it was a great way to kickstart the mystery of Tito’s stalker. Tito is living at the Canali compound, he is an interesting character as he is quite different from most of his Canali cousins. One of my favorite aspects of the book was Tito learning to embrace all sides of himself. While the book covers several serious topics like hate crimes, stalking, and violence the author does a good job mixing in humor so it is not too heavy. I loved checking in with many of the characters from previous books- especially Mike and Shane. Twisty and well done plot, I enjoyed Tito and Ari’s story. ❤️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
April 3, 2023
Ok, I’m not usually one to write reviews but I could not let this go. This book was pretty good. If you enjoy action and a little mystery, you will probably enjoy this book. But do yourself a favor and just skip the “sex scene” on page 199. It was so out of left field and impersonal and honestly cringy (consent, anyone?) that I almost stopped reading, only made worse by the fact that it was their first (and only, really, on page) time together (besides a couple blow jobs). Following in that fashion, the romance was lackluster and seemed forced and rushed. Overall, the story was intriguing and the characters were pretty good, but definitely my least favorite of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 8, 2025
These books may have gotten progressively worse? Idk.
More crime in this one!!!! I just don’t care to read a whole book about crime when I’m trying to see two men fall in love? Unless I specifically picked up a gay crime book but that’s NOT WHAT THIS IS.
This is supposed to be about gay firefighters who are all related for some reason. No one in this book even fights fires.
Anyway this is actually a drag queen/hate crime crossover. So do with that what you will.
I loved both characters very much, they were PRECIOUS. I liked the ‘decorating his house’ storyline, it was cute. I especially loved our king Moshe, the feline overlord.
Everything else I could leave.
And just as an update for those playing along at home, the homophobic, fuck-ass dad (uncle, here) was fully accepting in this book and I still fucking hate him.
More crime in this one!!!! I just don’t care to read a whole book about crime when I’m trying to see two men fall in love? Unless I specifically picked up a gay crime book but that’s NOT WHAT THIS IS.
This is supposed to be about gay firefighters who are all related for some reason. No one in this book even fights fires.
Anyway this is actually a drag queen/hate crime crossover. So do with that what you will.
I loved both characters very much, they were PRECIOUS. I liked the ‘decorating his house’ storyline, it was cute. I especially loved our king Moshe, the feline overlord.
Everything else I could leave.
And just as an update for those playing along at home, the homophobic, fuck-ass dad (uncle, here) was fully accepting in this book and I still fucking hate him.
August 21, 2022
Hot Lips rocked and I loved the story of Tito finding his voice and Ari finding his one. The entire series of the “Hot Cannoli’s” has rocked and I encourage everyone to read about a very special family in Resolute, CA. This book was full of found family, real family and open and accepting friends who protect the ones they love and pitch in when help is needed. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I can’t reiterate enough that this book is just wonderful. There is danger aplenty and the reader goes through a range of emotions as Tito fights back and Ari makes sure he has his back along with a cat named Moshe Dayan. Highly recommend this book and series!
August 22, 2022
This suspenseful novel was very steamy! I had never read Tara Lain before, but I am now a fan. Ari and Tito are absolutely boyfriend goals, with Ari appreciating everything that Tito does, from being a computer programmer, a decorator, and even a drag queen. I love how we weren't sure how the story would shake out, even towards the end. The sexy scenes could be a little more common and in a little more detail. But, the story is written so well, there is no point deducting a star for that. I highly recommend this m/m romance!
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August 22, 2022I'm sad that this series is ending but what a great way for it to end. Tito has been in hiding on his family compound for two years after a horrific attack on him. Ari is a cop that specializes in hate crimes and he's asked by Rafe to see if Tito will open up to him. The attraction between these two can be seen throughout the book. The book is romantic, sweet, has some angst, and has some very intense moments and these two are burning up the pages. The Cannolis family always look out for each and that's what I like about these books.
August 23, 2022
I freakin love all these Canali’s!! Hot Lips is the fourth book in The Hot Cannolis series. It’s best read in order as the previous characters make an appearance but not as much as the previous books. Tito works with computers and Ari is a police officer. They have a fantastic connection, chemistry and steamy instalove. I seriously adored Tito and Ari!! I loved the suspense within the story, well done. Overall, a great addition to the series. Well written with good pacing that kept me engaged.
August 11, 2022
Hot Lips is the fourth book in The Hot Cannolis series. I have read and enjoyed all the other books.
Tito has always remained somewhat a mystery throughout the series. He is a transplanted cousin from New York who suffered a mugging has is experiencing PTSD. He finds refuge in the Cannolis family compound.
Ari is a hate crime detective and is investigating a series of crimes against drag queens. When their paths cross there is instant sparks.
I enjoyed the connection between these two. The suspense will keep you turning the pages. You will be rooting for these two to get their HEA.
Of course my favorite character is Moshe the cat!
Tito has always remained somewhat a mystery throughout the series. He is a transplanted cousin from New York who suffered a mugging has is experiencing PTSD. He finds refuge in the Cannolis family compound.
Ari is a hate crime detective and is investigating a series of crimes against drag queens. When their paths cross there is instant sparks.
I enjoyed the connection between these two. The suspense will keep you turning the pages. You will be rooting for these two to get their HEA.
Of course my favorite character is Moshe the cat!
August 23, 2022
Hot Lips is the fourth, and likely final book, in the ‘Hot Cannolis’ series. This story stars Tito, cousin of Mike from the first book, and Ari, an undercover cop. This is told in first person from both Tito and Ari’s povs, and the mysterious stalker's pov.
I received an ARC copy from the author. I am voluntarily giving my honest and unbiased opinion.
I received an ARC copy from the author. I am voluntarily giving my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 21, 2022
I LOVED THIS ADVENTURE! Tito works hard to come off as a computer geek. He has been hiding out at his cousins for the past two years, running from an event that has left him just this side of agoraphobic. But it looks as if his past has found him and he needs help. That help comes in the form of hunky hate crimes cop Ari Cohen. I loved Ari. As the mother of a gay Jew, I felt seen. This was a fabulous addition to the Hot Cannolis.
August 19, 2025
While I wanted a little more "cop stuff" to this story since we're introduced to the stalker storyline right away, it was still a good story. There wasn't really much in the way of an investigation into what Tito had said about being stalked. The past wasn't ever really looked into and Tito's stalking claims were essentially brushed off. But I did enjoy Tito and Ari getting to know each other.
Tito's past really wasn't going to be something he could easily get past or move on from. But I enjoyed seeing him slowly but surely claw back his own power. Ari was supportive of Tito finding that strength again and gave him space while also making sure he was protected at all times. He's intrigued by Tito's alternate side and his drag persona when he finds out and he knew he would do anything to keep Tito safe even if he wasn't sure how much of the danger was real at first.
This was a good story and I enjoyed it, I just wanted a little bit more on the investigative side. Ari and Tito were a good couple and I loved seeing the whole of the Cannolis clan rally around Tito despite his fears of their rejection if they found out about the other side of him.
Tito's past really wasn't going to be something he could easily get past or move on from. But I enjoyed seeing him slowly but surely claw back his own power. Ari was supportive of Tito finding that strength again and gave him space while also making sure he was protected at all times. He's intrigued by Tito's alternate side and his drag persona when he finds out and he knew he would do anything to keep Tito safe even if he wasn't sure how much of the danger was real at first.
This was a good story and I enjoyed it, I just wanted a little bit more on the investigative side. Ari and Tito were a good couple and I loved seeing the whole of the Cannolis clan rally around Tito despite his fears of their rejection if they found out about the other side of him.
August 25, 2022
Low heat, nice read. 3.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2023
Shy little Tito is not so shy. Enjoyable with an interesting plot line. Much like the others with a lot of inner dialog and angst.
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