4.25 stars
Ira is a genderqueer man living in Toronto; he’s a miniatures artist, sculptor, and dancer—though most of his dance gigs are burlesque. Ira’s not proud of it, but it pays the bills. Getting into exotic dancing wasn’t the best plan, especially since his first manager, Cedric, has been stalking him since Ira tried to walk away two years ago. Cedric has been a problem, and the ruckus he’s caused has lost Ira jobs, apartments, and his school friends. Ira’s holed up in a sublet apartment, living off lease, in an effort to keep Cedric from finding him.

Jed’s a bartender and building supervisor, and meets Ira when he attempts to help him, mistaking him for a woman out late in a bad neighborhood. Turns out Ira was just walking home from shopping, his high heels and skirt a red flag for the aggressive queer-bashers out for a thumping. Still, Ira’s androgynous looks are interesting and attractive, and what a bonus that they live in the same building, right? Well, Ira’s not a fan of being saved or taken care of—he’s spent years on his own now and friends only walk away. But Ira’s desperate for cash and the bar Jed works at, the Hen and Hog, needs a server. Having been turned away from such work in the past, Ira’s reluctant to be refused again, but when he’s nearly mauled by Cedric at his next exotic dancing gig and big, burly Jed stands as a bulwark against the gropers, well, it’s worth a try. They also decide to work on a friendship, but the attraction growing between hem is too strong to resist.

At the Hen and Hog Ira finds a comfortable position, working his way up from bussing tables to serving. The clientele seems ideal, barring one regular who’s got an unrequited crush on Jed and doesn’t like the competition. That said, when Cedric turns up like the bad penny he is, Jed and his co-workers and friends deflect him in stellar fashion. And, well, that leads to bigger problems in the short run.

This is a sweet, odd-couple romance with Jed and Ira exploring a new relationship with men that didn’t fit their usual type. Due to Ira’s history with exploitation, he’s not keen on big, strapping men who might hurt him, while Jed never anticipated falling for a slender, androgynous, genderqueer man—yet, wow, do those flashes of ladies’ fashion turn Jed on! Plus, Ira’s boyfriends in the past never wanted him to dance, but Jed’s a practical man, and he’s willing to accept Ira as he is—no matter the job.

The stalker storyline seemed a little rushed near the end, but the build-up of the romance was well-paced. There are a LOT of characters in this ensemble cast, and at times it was difficult for me to keep track. Also, and this might only affect me, but I couldn’t place the location for a long time and only confirmed it was Toronto by searching for Ira’s former college online. When I’m reading a book, I do like to have a strong sense of setting, and that was a miss for me—until I paused and investigated on my own. Maybe it’s not a thing for other readers, but it took me out of the story. It looks as if this book kicks off a new series, probably with secondary characters taking the leads, and I liked those characters enough that I’d read on.

Three stars as I dnf'd it during a reading slump. I am definitely interested in the book and will seek it out on my own for reading & review at some point. The cover initially caught my eye and it sounds like the kind of M/M I'd love.

I liked this a lot... but at times I felt like it was the same old story all over again. The smaller guy needing protection from the bigger guy. The thing that held this together for me though, was just how their relationship really ended up. And, this is not an HEA. Wheels and Heels really ends in a happy for now situation, which I felt really appropriate for the timeline of the story.

Yes, Jed feels the need to protect people, not just Ira. But with Ira, he also sees just how self sufficient Ira is, and how strong of a person he is. I appreciated that a lot because Ira has had to deal with a lot of crap in life and he's still standing. He is not going to apologize for who he is, or what he has had to do to make ends meet.

Jed, on the other hand, just has a protective streak. And he's really a great guy. So while sometimes the story felt very cliché, most of the time I felt like this is just how Jed is, and he is all for protecting people, especially his friends and people he is close to.

Jed and his group of friends from Hen and Hog are a great group of people and I can't wait to get the next book in this series. I don't know who it will be about, but I don't really care. I just want more from this group of really honest and kind people.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really tried to like this book but I couldn't get into it, so this was a DNF for now for me. I might try to read it at a later point though.

The strength in this book lies within the warmth of it's characters, even the minor ones. Ira is unabashedly, unapologetically himself, which is something I can admire in fiction and real life. It just so happens that being yourself, no matter what, can sometimes result in people being dickheads, as seen within the pages of this book. Luckily, sometimes you can find people who will stand with you no matter what.

Jed is one of those people and he is an absolute delight. Burly, and a biker with an ooey gooey warm center that I just LOVE. He doesn't judge people based on appearance. Hell, he doesn't even judge people based on circumstance.

Basically he's my kind of guy.

These two together just make it, and although the time line was a little confusing, as in how much time does pass in this book? And the fact that its the opposite of a slow burn, I still enjoyed it.

One of the delights of this book for me was also that it takes place in a city I know, love, have lived in and was born in <3 I will always read about Canada.

The only part I couldn't get through was the sex scenes but that's a very it's not you it's me situation.

I do look forward to reading more of the Hen and Hog series.

While I loved the world that was created in this book, especially the one that exists in the Hen and the Hog pub, I was a little disappointed in the dynamic between the love interests. Why did the more feminine Ira need more protection? Why did Jed have the stereotypical big, burly, hairy, rides a motorcycle persona? While they are both lovely characters, and overall I did enjoy the story, I just didn't quite agree with the stereotypes...in my opinion.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved this book. Love, love, loved it. There’s just something about Ira that I couldn’t help but adore – and I certainly understood Jed’s need to protect him. As I read Wheels and Heels, I created a picture of a man who had the beauty and ethereal quality of the fey, yet a spine of steel and a strength of character any warrior would envy. Ira looks like someone who needs to be protected, to be cherished, to be shielded from the harsh realities of life. Yet those very same qualities also bring out the worst in some, making him the target of users, abusers, and miscreants. As the story develops, we learn that Ira has developed a thick skin and an independent streak forged out of the fires of being abandoned by those he called friends and isolated from those who didn’t turn their backs on him. While this serves him well when having to deal with the ghost from his past, it makes it more difficult for him to open up to Jed.

Watching the bonds form between Ira and Jed made for some great reading. Not only was it clear that Jed’s first kiss with Ira was out of the ordinary for him, but so was bolting. Even better was that it seemed as though both men were surprised to find the other as appealing as they did – as if they weren’t their usual type of guy. Their first encounter made it clear that Jed was a good guy and pretty much guaranteed that I was going to love him too. I mean seriously, the dude stops to head off a woman from wandering into a very dangerous situation and still insists on helping when he learns the woman is actually a man, knowing that it’s still a dangerous situation due to them being outnumbered. What makes Jed so awesome is that while rare, people like him still exist in the world because I’ve known a Jed or two in my life and they really do make the world a better place. Because of that, it was so easy for me to fall into Wheels and Heels and to believe Ira and Jed’s story – I want to believe that the Jeds of the world are able to find their own Iras. Mind you, I hope those Iras don’t come with a Cedric because that dude was a frightening level of crazy no one should have to deal with.

At first glance, it may look as though their story of acceptance is one-sided; that it’s about Jed accepting Ira for who he is and how he dresses. But Ira has to accept Jed for who he is as well – as a protector who needs to take care of those who are important to him. It’s Johnny who makes Ira’s acceptance of who Jed is clear when he points out that while Ira might fight Jed on certain things when it comes to Jed’s need to protect, Ira will never resent Jed for it or judge him for it. Ira understands and accepts Jed’s need to take care of him just as Jed accepts Ira’s need to cross-dress – and maybe accept isn’t really the right word because it suggests that Ira or Jed could choose to be different than they are, yet it’s the best word I can come up with. Either way, I am so happy that Wheels and Heels is the first book in the Stories from the Hen & Hog because I cannot wait to catch up with Ira and Jed again and find out whose story is next – and yes, I have my suspicions, but I’m hoping that we’ll learn more about Rex and his guys soon.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This story is an entertaining mix of quirky characters, sweet romance, and slow burn suspense. This is the first book in a new series about the lives and loves of the staff and regular customers at an LGBT friendly pub in Toronto.

At the start of the book, Ira finds himself trapped in the seedy world of strip clubs and go-go dancers. He is frightened, barely making ends meet and he’s running from a sinister former manager. Ira is a fascinating character. There are moments when he is strong and confident but also too many moments when he’s afraid and relies on others to take care of him. I liked him. I wanted to love him but there were too many times I didn’t understand his motives or his actions.

Jed is solid. He’s a bartender/biker/apartment manager who lives a quiet life surrounded by friends and tenants who respect him. Jed is a comfortable and steady complement to Ira’s glamour and drama. I liked Jed but he’s a little bit too perfect for me to love.

I found it slightly frustrating that an author willing to queer up gender boundaries with Ira’s character then matched him with a butch alpha male in Jed. It’s reductive and irritating when even m/m romance reinforces tired masculine/feminine pairings.

Ultimately, this was an entertaining read. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters at the Hen and Hog and I liked the suspense at the end of the story. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is (I am hoping) the first in a new series and does a great job of introducing a lot of people who definitely have stories to tell in future installments – which I always like. The Hen and Hog is a pub/restaurant which collects characters and values them.

Whilst the premise behind this story isn't new, I think it is a good read, and both Jed and Ira are good guys. Neither need redemption, changing, or improving – they are attracted to each other, accepting of each one's foibles and fashion sense (or lack thereof). The drama is not of their making, and they deal with the fallout in a life affirming manner.

The dialogue is entertaining, the romance is both sweet and sexy. They work at things, and whilst Jed is in a position of power due to his size, relative income, and nature, he is not overwhelming or pushy. I loved the bit when he has to walk home and realises how strong Ira must be to not panic at every sound.

So much more goodness to come, I am looking forward to seeing who gets their happily ever after next!

Though I rarely let it influence me to this extent, the cover sold me on this book. I love a cross-dressing and/or effeminate main character in my stories. In fact, those with lingerie or manties? Bring them on. Unfortunately, this story failed to deliver on any of my expectations.

Ira Bedford is one of the most complicated characters I’ve read in a while—and I don’t mean that in a good way. Some of his words and actions conflict with his previous statements and expectations. Even his damsel-in-distress actions and sweet demeanor can change at the drop of a hat, and suddenly, for no apparent reason, he’s upset and snarky and feeling overprotected. Hmm, it was a bit confusing in places and I like my characters to have consistent behaviors—whether bad or good.

The story was quite elementary: diva who wants to pursue his art career and enjoyment in dancing is pursued by evil past manager/pimp/whatever. A hero comes to the rescue and eventually, though the diva doesn’t want to hide behind someone’s big, broad chest, he gives in and lets the hero be a hero. Enter bad guy with a gun and hero proves his worth.

Honestly? It really was not much more than that. Except that sometimes Ira, the diva, didn’t want his cross-dressing pointed out or noticed and he wanted to be loved for himself with no one controlling what he wears. Well, he gets that from Jed, the good guy in this story, but either Ira doesn’t realize that or he dismisses it and plays his “poor me” tune a few more times. Ira also took a dance class, ostensibly to keep up on his moves, even though he wasn’t dancing professionally anymore. There was quite a bit about the class and the instructor in the story, and there was even a party at the instructor’s home. But that subplot fizzled out and really went nowhere fast. I really don’t see the point of including more than the fact that he was taking a class.

There’s also a host of characters who hang out at the Hen and Hog Pub, most of whom I’m sure will return in future series installments. Some of them got quite a bit of on-page time in the story but most of them faded away by the end. Except for two. Methinks I know who the MCs will be in the next book.

In summary, this book disappointed me. I did not like Ira, the character who was most definitely at the core of the story. I normally like a flamboyant man, one who cross-dresses and shouts his uniqueness to the word. Ira fell far short of that, though I believe that’s how he was intended. Jed, the hero who came to Ira’s rescue time and again was a sweet guy and, in my opinion, deserved someone much more stable. But nevertheless, he chose Ira, and he was both a rock and a rescuer throughout the book.

This is not one I can recommend to lovers of MM romance simply because I couldn’t buy the main character’s behavior and the elementary plot.

A romance with very little conflict.

**spoilers**
I liked Ira, but Jed was like a tree. Lumbering and wooden. And his bossiness was more infuriating than endearing.
Cedric provided very little threat until the climax. He essentially just stood menacingly and watched Ira/Jed from a distance. He tampered with Jed's motorcycle, and tried to break into Ira's apartment, but most of the time, he seemed harmless. And when the bar staff went through this elaborate plan to pour drinks on him it all felt really childish. Of course, Cedric shows up with a gun and causes some serious danger soon afterwards--that was the most captivating part of the story, and about the only time where I was hooked.
The romance itself had zero conflict. The characters barely had any disagreements about anything. And because they got together so early in the story, it made for a rather boring read.

This one gets an extra star from me, though, simply because it took place in Toronto. So many familiar references...! I've never read a book with a setting I knew so intimately. Though I'm outdated because I didn't know that OCAD changed their name to OCAD University. Seems redundant.

Unfortunately I just cant get into the right mindset for this book.

ed and Ira

A nice and lovely story even if it was a bit one-sided. Whole Ira's side and less Jed's. But at the end it really didn't matter.

Ira a colorful guy who loved to run on high heels put on lipgloss. Jed the opposite of Ira, a big bulk biker, but soft at heart, working as bartender at The Hen and Hog Pub and as superintendent where he lives.
After getting away from Cedric a sort of pimp Ira tries to get around with life. Only Cedric can't let Ira go....makes his life miserable....that's an understatement.

Jed's living at the same building as Ira is very protective and that's something Ira likes and also not. Both men like each other and getting more and more involved. But some nasty business is getting in the way. The Hen and Hog Pub is just the safest place to be...

A nice read with engaging personalities, I loved how Ira expresses himself. The story was well done... Love, angst, friendship and the best bar/restaurant you can imagine. The chosen family the best to have around.
The story is written very entertaining. The environments good, the sexy parts were well done. The end was a bit abrupt I would have loved some more certainty for the future.
In short a really nice story to read.

Jed and Ira could have happily continued falling in love and learning about each other. Unfortunately, Cedric, Ira’s “manager” when he actually used to strip, can’t seem to leave Ira alone even though it has been a couple of years since Ira quit associating with him. Cedric has harassed Ira at every apartment he has found, harassed him at university, and seems to feel Ira owes him something. I had a really bad feeling that the resolution to Cedric wasn’t going to be quick or easy, and that Ira was probably going to suffer.

An achingly sweet, enjoyable read. Sometimes you just need a really good fluff book and this hit the spot.

I like books with characters that are different. And I got there here, halfway. Ira is the kind of character I love to see in a book. Unabashedly himself no matter the consequences. Heels, women's clothes, make up. Bring it on.

Jed was the typical hipster do-gooder. Trying to save everyone. But he kind of worked here. I liked him, but I didn't love him. It's like if one character is femme, the other needs to be totally butch. Meh.

But I did like their story. Admittedly I was a bit confused with the whole "manager of club dancers" thing and having to have a license to dance in clubs. I guess that is a Canadian thing which basically turns these managers into pimps. And based on the blurb, I expected Cedric, the manager, to be a much bigger part of the story. We don't officially meet him until about halfway in. Meeting him sooner would have added a lot of much needed angst and tension to the story. Jed as a protector would have fit better.

Jed and Ira seemed to settle in to a relationship rather quickly. Which is fine, but I just needed more. Time lapses to move everything along without substance where prevalent. Honestly, my favorite part of the book was when Jed said they would do whatever Ira wanted that day. Seeing them together like that- THAT is what I wanted more of.

The ending was rather typical and not shocking. At least not to me.

I have to say that I am eager to read the next book if the main characters are who I hope they are.

Why did I read so many poor gay hero story? Ira is a cross dresser and was so poor that he hardly had enough to eat after paying rent. This story reminds me very much of Anna Martin's The Impossible Boy. We have a cross dresser and then we have a gruff guy next door. Jed is literally the guy upstairs as he live in the same apartment as Ira.

This is a story of attraction at first sight. Jed had a hero complex, he like to save everyone and one night he saved Ira from some bullies. From the first night, Jed wanted to kiss him and date him. Jed is the role model for perfect boyfriend and he dates. The conflict in their relationship is Ira, who doesn't like saving. In my opinion, Ira definitely needs saving, but he had some backbones and make sure Jed knows about it too.

Ira used to work as a go go dancer and his ex-manager keep harassing him for years. Poor guy can't even live peacefully. I'm so glad that he finally found Jed and his extended family at the Hen and Hog bar.

IMO, Ira had a contradicting personality. He seems insecure and shy most of the time, but then at other times he will be fierce whenever Jed act all protective over him. Sometime I can't predict what will Ira act next, which is confusing. But bottom line is, I like seeing Ira finally had someone he can count on.

The part that I appreciate most is seeing how domesticated Jed and Ira are. They are not flashy people, they don't go out. They are homebody, which is just so mundane that I feels so much warmth. The idea that they just spend time chilling out at home sounds really appealing. But of course, not all is sunshine and roses. We had a bad guy around the corner after all. He did get is comeuppance.