Getting the Scoop on UNDERCOVER BOYFRIEND–Guest Post and Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m so excited to partner with a fab author, Jacob Z. Flores, in support of a contemporary M/M romance! UNDERCOVER BOYFRIEND sounds like a great read and it’s coming out next week!

Be sure to check out the awesome note from Jacob, and be sure to enter to win one of 10 eBooks from his backlist or a $50 GC!

About the book:
Two men, one lie, and a whole bunch of trouble.

Marty Valdez is in serious trouble. His sister’s wedding is around the corner, and everyone expects to meet Marty’s super-successful underwear model boyfriend—whom Marty invented. Now Marty has to produce a half-naked hottie or suffer the worst humiliation of his life.

FBI agent Luke Myers is in serious trouble. He’s been working undercover to take down a dangerous drug cartel, but his cover’s blown and he needs to disappear. Luckily, a geeky yet intriguing comic book artist gives him the perfect opportunity. Luke just has to pretend to be his boyfriend, and pretending is what he does best. But between Marty’s mother and his ex, Luke might’ve bitten off more than he can chew, and Marty’s knack for finding trouble might ruin more than just his sister’s wedding.

How about a little taste?

“Who is this?” his mother asked. Her tone was as friendly as a snarling pit bull. She opened the door and placed her hands on her ample hips, awaiting her answer.

“This is Tim, Mom,” Marty answered. “You said you wanted to meet him.”

“No,” she said, waving her finger at him as she did whenever she corrected him. “I said I wanted to see a picture.”

He sighed. “Well, I thought this would be better.”

From the grimace on her face, he could tell she wasn’t quite sure. “Well, he is handsome,” she admitted. “But I doubt he’s better than a lawyer.”

“Mom! He’s standing right here.”

“I know,” she said gesturing to Tim. “I have eyes. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell me he was coming when we spoke on the phone earlier?”

“Surprise!” Marty said with a hand flourish.

His mother’s only reply was a blank stare.

“Hola, Señora Valdez,” Tim said. He held out his palm in a show of respect, and she eyed it with a surprised smile. She was impressed yet remained guarded. “Muchísimo gusto.”

When he told her that he was thrilled to meet her, her stony façade faltered and a tiny smile crept across her red lips. She briefly placed her hand in Tim’s before she stepped back to let them in.

“You didn’t tell me he could speak Spanish,” his mother said after she closed the door.

Marty hadn’t expected that either. Based on Tim’s fair skin, blue eyes, and blond hair, he figured Tim was your average white boy who only spoke English. He’d clearly been wrong.

“I guess it just never came up,” he finally answered.

She eyed him before turning her gaze back to Tim. “¿Por qué tú hablas tan buen español?”

“Mom!” Marty exclaimed. Although he wasn’t entirely surprised, he was mortified that his mother was questioning why Tim spoke such good Spanish.

“Para el trabajo,” Tim replied.

“For work?” she asked. “I wasn’t aware that bilingualism was a requirement to have pictures taken in your underwear.”

Marty buried his face in his hands. If he died right now, he’d be okay with that. His mother was doing her best to be difficult. He wouldn’t blame Tim if he bolted for the front door and ran away screaming. Hell, if he did, Marty might go with him.

Instead of stumbling or acting offended, Tim laughed. “It’s not. But we have photo shoots all over the world and clients in many other countries. I find it’s a good idea to be able to converse with customers in their native language. It helps them remember who you are.”

His mother clearly wasn’t expecting that answer. She’d been trying to make Tim stumble, but she was the one caught off guard. She’d always been a proponent of bilingual education, and she often spoke in Spanish to the fifth-graders she taught. It aggravated her that most Americans could only speak English, and it was best not to get her started on Latinos who couldn’t speak Spanish.

“Come,” she said as she started for the kitchen. “You must be hungry. I’ll make you something to eat.”

Marty stood in shock as his mother disappeared into the kitchen. She only cooked for family or people she liked. How the hell had Tim managed to slay the dragon after a two-minute conversation?

Tim leaned in and whispered in Marty’s ear. “I told you I had it covered.”

Marty glanced up and nodded into Tim’s smiling face. He’d already forgotten what Tim had said. All he’d been able to focus on was the intoxicating aroma of sweat and Old Spice that hovered around Tim and the feel of Tim’s warm breath fanning across his neck.

Tim grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. “Come on,” he said. “I smell homemade tortillas.”

Ah! Who doesn’t love an interfering mama, amiright? I SOOOOO look forward to reading this one!

I’m delighted to invite Jacob to chat with us about his fave Pretend Relationship movies…and I totally agree with these choices!! #Kinship

Top 3 Pretend Relationship Movies

Hi, everyone! I’m Jacob Z. Flores, and I’m so glad to be here at V’s Reads. This is my first time here, and I’ve had a great time exploring this site. I want to thank my host for allowing me to come here today to promote my upcoming June 15 release Undercover Boyfriend, the first book in my One Fine Day series.

Some of you may already know this, but for those of you who don’t, this collection of books centers on the theme of marriage. For each book, readers will meet a new set of characters who will face a different set of complications, and in each book, I will be putting my own spin on some of the classic marriage/relationship tropes we have all grown to love.

In Undercover Boyfriend, I take on one of my favorite romance tropes—the pretend relationship. In honor of that, I decided to share with you today my top 3 favorite movies featuring the Pretend Relationship trope.

#3—Can’t Buy Me Love

I can’t tell you how much I loved this movie. I’ve loved it ever since first seeing it as a kid in the 80s. Why did I love it so much? Well, besides having a crush on Patrick Dempsey (who is even yummier today!!!!), I enjoyed this movie because I could identify with Dempsey’s character, Ronald Miller. I remember being that goofy high school kid, wondering what life on the other side of the popular fence was like, and Ronnie actually got to live it. Of course, he had to blackmail popular head cheerleader Cindy Mancini to be his girlfriend. Naturally, the spoiled rich girl agreed, and of course, the popularity got to Ronnie’s head, but in the end, love prevails. The road they had to travel to get there, however, was filled with sweet and hilarious moments.

I still laugh out loud when Ronnie busts out in the African Anteater Ritual and his new popular friends think it’s a rad new dance move!

#2—Easy A

Okay, so this movie might be stretching the “pretend relationship” trope a bit, but the movie does revolve around a pretend sexual relationship that never happened. High school senior Olive Penderghast (played by the lovely Emma Stone) lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to a college guy to get out of spending the weekend with her best friend’s hippie/nudist parents. Unfortunately, one of Olive’s Bible-thumping classmates overhears the lie and quickly spreads it around the school. Olive doesn’t do herself any favors when she plays up the lie by pretending to have sex with a classmate, who is tormented by the guys at his school for being gay. As the lies escalate, Olive’s world spins out of control, and the only one who seems unaffected by the gossip is Olive’s longtime crush Woodchuck Todd, who looks much better in the Blue Devil uniform!

1—Pretty Woman

Okay, I’m sure no one was surprised by that revelation. To me, this movie is the epitome of this trope. Edward Lewis (Richard Gere’s character) needed a girlfriend to attend social events with him, so he hires prostitute Vivian (Julia Roberts) to stand in. What follows is a love story of two characters, who never would have met had it not been for fate and a lie, falling helplessly in love with each other.

Pretty sure I know what I’m going to be streaming this weekend!! Thanks, Jacob, for stopping in and I wish you the best of luck on your new book series.

Interested? You can find UNDERCOVER BOYFRIEND on Goodreads,
Dreamspinner Press (Ebook, or paperback), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and GooglePlay. It comes out June 15th, but pre-orders are up now.

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a backlist book from Mr. Flores (ten winners!) or a $50 GC (1 winner!)
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:

Jacob Z. Flores lives a double life. During the day, he is a respected college English professor and mid-level administrator. At night and during his summer vacation, he loosens the tie and tosses aside the trendy sports coat to write man on man fiction, where the hard ass assessor of freshmen level composition turns his attention to the firm posteriors and other rigid appendages of the characters in his fictional world.

Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse.

When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.

Catch up to Jacob on his website, Facebook, twitter, Goodreads, and Tumblr.

Release Day Review and Giveaway–GIVE ME YOU!

Hi there! Today I’m excited to share a New Adult contemporary romance hot off the press from Caisey Quinn. GIVE ME YOU features two college freshmen who find love when they move on. I read KEEP ME STILL way back when, and I was excited to hear that we’d go back to that series.

Catch an excerpt, my review and enter to win a $25 GC below!

About the book:
Corin Connelly left her past far behind her in New York City. Along with her mother and an ex-boyfriend who had no plans to let her go. Starting over in college in California seemed like a vacation in paradise compared to her old life, and if anyone needs a fresh start, it’s her. But her new roommate has a life-threatening secret, and soon paradise becomes even more intense than New York. When she loses a bet to the university soccer team’s star goalie, Skylar Martin, he claims a prize she didn’t ever plan to give him.
A weekend in her hometown.

Skylar Martin is used to getting what he wants. Growing up in a world of privilege has made his life easy, which is exactly how he likes his women. But when a feisty redhead tells him no, he becomes determined to figure out what makes her tick. And what she’s hiding.

Spending a weekend together will change everything they think they know about each other. The closer they become, the harder it is to hide the mistakes they thought they’d left behind–mistakes that will stand in the way of what they both want.
Corin and Skylar will have to stop hiding from the darkness in their pasts if they want a bright future together. But how can you love someone if you can’t forgive them?

How about a little taste?

“So Mortal Combat or that racing game you like?”

Skylar makes his pouty face at me. “What is it with you and Mortal Combat? You know the 90’s have passed, right?”

“It’s the only one I can beat you at,” I admit. “So it’s my favorite.”

“For now, right?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He sighs and hands me my controller. “Well, last week that fucking annoying ass Justin Bieber song was your favorite. Then yesterday you changed the channel when it came on—said you were sick of it. Not that I’m complaining.”

I open my mouth to argue but he rushes on.

“Those shoes, the red ones you bought when we went to the mall last week? You kicked them into the back of your closet after wearing them once.”

Geez. Why the sudden interest in my shoes?

“I’m sorry, Sky. Did you want to borrow them?” I smirk, but he levels me with a hard glare. I have no idea why he’s so uptight about footwear.

“You’re missing the point.”

“I didn’t realize there was one.” My mouth is suddenly dry. I thought we were going to hang out and play games like the other night. Clearly something is on his mind.

“You toss everything aside when it stops holding your interest, when the new wears off. You get bored easily.”

“And this is a problem because…”

He smiles, but it doesn’t feel real. “Ever had a bad break up, Corin? Ever been so upset that a relationship ended that you cried yourself to sleep?”

More like I cried because I was in a relationship. “God no. Every break up I ever had was like ‘good riddance.’ You know?”

He nods as if he does in fact know and I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but the arrogance dancing across his face pisses me off.

I narrow my eyes as he returns his attention to the animated players facing off on the screen. “You trying to say something? If you are, go ahead and say it.”

He’s judging me, I think. That really fucking sucks. He was the one person that I never felt like that with, the one that never seemed to judge me. Aside from Layla, and even I see how her eyes go wide sometimes when I say something she finds shocking or appalling. But never Skylar. And now he is.

“Skylar.” I put my controller down because like hell I am hanging out with him if he’s going to be a judgmental prick.

He turns to me with raised brows.

“So I like new stuff, so I don’t wear the same old stuff over and over. Maybe I had to do that my whole life and I hated it. So yeah, I work hard so I can buy red stilettos I’ll only wear once. I don’t need your fucking approval.” My voice breaks, damn him to hell.

I don’t know why his few words feel like needle sticks to my soul but they do. Shoving up off the floor, I snatch my black flats up and prepare to leave. Layla and Landen are in the dorm so I don’t know where I’ll go, but I’ll figure something out.

“Hey,” he says evenly, grabbing my wrist and pulling me down awkwardly into his lap. “Calm down.”

I swallow and resist the urge to bolt. Breathing heavily, I look into his eyes. “What’s with the psychoanalysis, Sky? I do something to make you mad?”

He shakes his head no. “No, babe. You didn’t. I didn’t mean to be an ass about it. I just thought I should warn you.”

I lean back a bit because sitting on top of him like this is doing things to me. I’m tingling everywhere our bodies are touching while he remains perfectly calm and collected. “Warn me about what?”

His lips curl slowly upward and he leans his forehead in until it rests on mine. “I see you, how you are. How things catch your eye briefly before you move on to the next shiny thing before you get too attached.” I wiggle in frustration, but his hands hold me to his lap. “It’s not going to be that easy with me. I just thought you should know.”

“I’ve never had trouble moving on…from anyone.” Not even my own mother, not that he needs to know about her.

“Because you never met anyone worth missing. Until now.”

I huff out a breath, because for some majorly messed up reason, I think he might be right. “Can we just play the damn game, Skylar?” I gesture to the television and he nods.

His lips flatten a bit before he smirks again. “Sure, sweetheart. We can play the game. If that’s what you want.”

Something tells me we aren’t talking about Mortal Combat anymore. My heart is pounding as I slide off of his lap over into my spot. I wipe my sweat slick palms on my jeans and face the screen. Why am I so worked up over this weird ass conversation?

Because you never met anyone worth missing.

Until now.

My Review:
Corin and Skylar are people from very different worlds who meet via their roommates in college.

Corin is a hardened gal who’s been used and abused by those she’s loved and took off for LA to get the education she always dreamed of. She meets Layla at school, and feels rather protective of this innocent young freshman. She’s especially not happy with Layla’s ex, Landen, who seems to be emotionally unstable.

Skylar’s pretty sure his roommate and soccer teammate, Landen, is certifiable. The way he’s completely gone over Layla is shocking, to say the least. Now, her redheaded, snarky roommate Corin? That girl is a total dynamo. For Skylar, a wealthy son who couldn’t buy his parents’ attention, Corin’s a challenge he’d love to meet.

As Layla and Landen’s romance goes boom, bust, and boom again, Corin and Skylar join forces to keep everyone stable–as best they can–and develop a strong friendship. Which Skylar wants to turn into more, and Corin’s afraid will totally destroy what little self-esteem she’s cobbled together.

The book spans several years, and I think that was a bit too ambitious, because I would have liked to be more ‘in the moment’ with these two. Rather, it felt kinda rushed and didn’t really experience much in the romance aspect. There was clearly enough story to build into two books. There’s a lot of filthy talk, and that seemed a little out-of-place for 19 year old kids, to be honest. My biggest gripe was with the editing, however, and I can only hope that the many errors I encountered in the book were corrected in the edition that went to print. I received an ARC on release day, though, so I’m nervous that I got the finalized book, and that would be a shame if it’s true.

The true romance really picks up about 60% into the book, but it’s still more drama than romance. Teeny bit of sexytimes, for the length of the book. I did like the story, and I’m glad I got to see these characters again.

Interested? You can find GIVE ME YOU on Goodreads, Amazon (US & UK) It’s $.99 for a limited time….

Catch the beginning of Skylar and Corin’s story in KEEP ME STILL!

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $25 GC and signed paperback!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Caisey Quinn lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her vivacious six-year-old daughter. She is the bestselling author of the Neon Dreams series (Avon/William Morrow) and the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult and Contemporary Romance novels.    She is represented by Kevan Lyon of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Catch up with Caisey online on her website, Facebook, twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Getting In Deep THE HARDER HE FALLS-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary M/M romance from Lynda Aicher. THE HARDER HE FALLS is a hurt/comfort story about a man steeped in guilt and one overcoming his disability.

About the book:
Expert whitewater-rafting guide Grady Kelley lives for that rush of adrenaline: at work, as the newest employee of a Portland-based outdoor-adventure sports company, and off the river, where liaisons with anonymous men keep him satisfied. Grady prefers no drama and no strings attached, but when tragedy strikes, fate leads him to Micah Swaine. He’s hot, masculine, distracting—and offers the kind of deeper connection Grady has sworn off, no matter how badly he craves it.

Working at a leather bar, Micah meets a lot of guys, but Grady’s different—and he seems to feel the same way. The trouble is, anything beyond casual sex is too risky for Micah. He’s got secrets he doesn’t know how to share, secrets that would make any relationship a battlefield. No man, even one as compassionate as Grady, would stick around for that kind of trouble. And yet, as physical desire melts the walls they’ve put up, Micah and Grady discover that trusting each other is the most exhilarating adventure of all.

My Review:
Grady is a 28 y/o out gay man who’s grieving for his cousin, Finn, trapped in a coma, and his friend Chris who died. Both men were hurt on a Class 5 rapids ride that Grady had led in the California mountains, as part of his new job at Kick, an outdoors-adventure company Finn began with Chris and several of their ex-military friends. Each day Grady spends hours by Finn’s bedside, willing him to wake. That’s how he meets Micah, coma-survivior and volunteer on the coma ward. Micah comes to read to the patients; he knew Finn personally through his day job of bartending at a leather bar.

Grady is immediately drawn to, and afraid of, Micah. He’s attractive but burly, and Grady had an abusive Dom several years ago–and never wants to go back in that direction emotionally or sexually. Still, the allure of talking to a man who’s been in Finn’s place is too much, and when they meet at the bar, Grady knows he wants what Micah can give him: release.

Micah isn’t a Dom, but he is a dominant lover. He’s able to ground Grady with his forceful loving but that brings on a temporary amnesia for time and place–a side effect of his previous brain injury. To his surprise, Grady never ridicules Micah regarding his spatial memory issues, and that’s more compassion than he’s experienced since his recovery. Perhaps these two men are meant to heal each other.

Perhaps not. Grady’s terrified his superiors at Kick will think he’s a sub, because they are all confirmed Doms and he won’t be ridiculed as weak again, not like he was before with his previous Dom. Also, Grady’s got a strong penchant for running. The only reason he’s still in Portland is Finn; he can’t abandon the only member of his family who still speaks with him. Plus, he’s still under investigation for the accident, and can’t take another job until he’s cleared of charges–if that’s the outcome. So, he and Micah spend more and more time together and they are both scared of falling too hard for a man who may not be there in the morning.

I liked this book, though I had some real issues with the medical side of things. I know all brain injuries are different, and lingering effects are varied, but the descriptions given regarding Micah’s injury/recovery really seemed far off the realm of possible–for me. I have a lot of experience in neurophysiology, however, and it probably won’t be a deterrent for most readers. More problematic for me was Grady’s complete angst over being seen as weak, or a sub. He’s all about run first ask questions never…and that got tiresome and felt juvenile. He could never let himself feel happy or satisfied, and I got that he was tied in emotional knots regarding Finn, but he lashed out in ways, and with dialogue, that didn’t make sense. Like trying to pressure Micah into performing a public scene for the benefit of some Kick partners–to prove he wasn’t a sub. Uh, come again? His fixation on labels was aggravating and it took me a long time to bond with Grady as a result. Though, I will admit, I really dug the second half of the book. I felt like Micah was a great character, and I liked how Grady and he interacted.

This is the first book in a series, and we’ll likely see the rest of the Kick family getting the subs/partners of their dreams in books to come. Also, I look forward to observing Finn’s recovery!

Interested? You can find THE HARDER HE FALLS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Google Play, and Kobo.

About Author Lynda Aicher:
I love to read. It’s a simple fact that has been true since I discovered the worlds of Judy Blume at the age of ten. After years of weekly travel as a consultant implementing computer software into global companies, I ended my nomadic lifestyle to raise my two children. Now, my imagination is my only limitation on where I can go and my writing lets me escape from the daily duties of being a mom, wife, chauffeur, scheduler, cook, teacher, cleaner, and mediator.

If writing wasn’t a priority, it would never get done.

You can catch up with Lynda on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Delving Deep Into BDSM 24/7–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new BDSM drama/romance in the Subs Clubs series by J.A. Rock. 24/7 is the fourth book in this series and relates the healing and heartache of Gould, a man plagued by regret over the loss of his friend, and ex-lover, Hal–still, three years later. I really loved MANTIES WITH A TWIST, so I was eager to read this one.

About the book:
We started the Subs Club to make the kink community safer for subs. Except now the others are so busy chasing their happy endings, it’s like they’ve forgotten what Bill did to Hal and the fact that he got away with it. They used to think I was betraying Hal’s memory by hooking up with the owners of the club where he died. Now they don’t seem to care about any of it anymore.

Maybe I am sometimes angry with GK and Kel for giving Bill a second chance, but they’ve been mentoring me for a year now, and whatever else they’ve done, they make me feel incredibly safe. So I want to try something: I want to offer them my complete submission, 24/7. To serve the people who forgave Bill. That’s the way I want to hurt.

Except I’m starting to care about them in a way I never meant to—and I think they feel the same way. But after Hal, I don’t know if I want to be in love again. Because what I really need, more than anything, is to see Bill brought to justice. Even if I have to do it myself. Even if it means losing GK and Kel.

—Gould

My Review:
This is the fourth book in a series, but I think it can still be enjoyed on its own. It is an adult book that features a M/F/M-ish type of relationship…it’s honestly hard to classify for reasons below.

4.5 stars.

Gould is a 28 year old Jewish man who knows he’s a submissive. He’s been in the BDSM scene for years now, and is one of the founding members of the Subs Club, a collection of four childhood friends who all practice BDSM, and are all male and all subs. It formed three years ago when Gould’s ex, Hal, also a sub, died by strangulation in a scene at a club owned by Kel and Greg–who are married. Kel is Greg’s Dom, and she’s a task master. Gould never forgave himself for breaking up with Hal, who was–admittedly–too into drugs and floundering. Hal and Gould had been tight; Hal was Gould’s first ever Dom, and Gould felt responsible for Hal dying–to a degree. He’s really still torqued off that the Dom who left Hal restrained in seclusion, Bill, got off on the second-degree murder charges while Gould pretty much struggles with his grief–almost daily.

At the beginning of the book Gould has been “playing with” Kel and Greg for several months. They are a heterosexual couple, but Kel enjoys having male playmates for Greg, and while Gred is her submissive, he is dominant to Gould. They have lots of kinky sexytimes, but the Gould really favors humiliation and loves being chastised. While roiling in his shamed subspace he’s able to commune with Hal’s spirit, and Hal’s inner voice is always putting him down, so that adds more shame for Gould to immerse himself in. He’s all about the shame.

I liked the way their relationship worked, in that Kel and Greg both embraced Gould, for the most part. Greg isn’t gay, and he isn’t bisexual, but he finds something very attractive in Gould, and is willing to share more and more of Kel with him. Gould’s always kept his feelings buried, but he knows he needs more from Kel, as a Dom, and he finally works up the nerve to ask if they can explore a M/s (Master/slave) dynamic. Kel trained as a Master, but never stuck with it due to the negative backlash she faced as a female. Gould’s request is a big temptation for her, and she and Greg decide to try this with Gould–for a week. Greg likes being submissive, but he doesn’t feel compelled to a 24/7 power exchange, like Gould craves. There are upsides, but Gould’s secrets regarding his depression over Hal and still-simmering rage at Bill complicate matters. Also, he knows that Kel and Greg have forgiven Bill–and have worked to rehabilitate him since Hal’s death–and that’s a big betrayal for Gould’s trust.

I’m not going to delve much deeper into the plot, but I liked the dynamic here. I felt Gould’s pain, his obsessive depression, and how sinking into sub-space really helped him to forget it for a time. Kel and Greg are fantastic partners to each other, and to Gould. Gould needs a lot of TLC, even if he won’t admit it, and Kel’s not a big fan of punishment. Plus, her brand of punishment is less about pain and more about humiliation, which works for Gould. Greg is staunchly het, but he’s also clearly attracted to Gould, which is nice. I’ve read a good big of BDSM, and this book is really less erotic and more intellectual. It’s all about the mind games, and tripping Gould out of his generally negative headspace. If you are looking for a gushing romance, this is not your book. (The only gushing that happens is rather gross, and completely humiliating to Gould, which satisfies his needs.) There is a quiet romance, of sorts, here; mainly it’s Gould asking for the love and attention he needs and both Kel and Greg stepping up to the plate. That was completely satisfying, even if it didn’t come with all heavy breathing and juicy moments. There is a lot of emotion to be had, which is why I even classify it as a “romance” of sorts…

As the series follows each of the four Subs Club members finding their forever Dom, I suppose this one marks the end. There is a significant sense of closure for the subs, as they all have mainly healed from the loss of Hal, and found happiness with their permanent partners, even Gould who gets the love, support and therapy he truly needs. This book was definitely darker than MANTIES WITH A TWIST, but it made sense that Hal’s bereaved ex, Gould, would have more trouble moving on. I loved the interaction with all the boys: Gould, Dave, Miles and Kamen. They are so loving and sweet to each other, in a purely platonic way.

Interested? You can find 24/7 on Goodreads, Riptide Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:
J.A. Rock is the author of queer romance and suspense novels, including BY HIS RULES, TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, and, with Lisa Henry, THE GOOD BOY and WHEN ALL THE WORLD SLEEPS. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama and a BA in theater from Case Western Reserve University. J.A. also writes queer fiction and essays under the name Jill Smith. Raised in Ohio and West Virginia, she now lives in Chicago with her dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

You can catch up with her online on her website, twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

The Quest: FINDING MY HIGHLANDER–Review & Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m spotlighting a time travel romance from Aleigha Siron. FINDING MY HIGHLANDER puts a savvy, contemporary woman deep into Scotland’s history, at a time when she’d be lucky not to be burned for a witch!

Catch an exclusive insight from Ms. Siron, my review and enter to win a $20 GC below!

About the book:
On a windswept cliff above San Francisco Bay in 2013, 27 year-old Andra Cameron, the last member of her family, prepares to scatter her family’s ashes to the wind. An earthquake catapults her to the Scottish Highlands in 1705. She wakes, aching and bloody, to the sound of horses thundering through the trees. Terrified and with no other options, Andra accompanies these rugged warriors. She can’t deny the undeniable attraction that ignites between herself and the handsome but gruff Kendrick. Will she trust him to provide protection in the harsh reality of 18th century Scotland and with her secret, or will she find a way to return home to the 21st century?

Laird Kendrick MacLean and his men, escaping a recent skirmish with their worst nemeses, clan Cameron and their Sassenach allies, are shocked to find an injured, unprotected female in their path. How could she not know her kin and how had she landed in the middle of the wilderness alone? His men suspect she’s a spy or a witch. Still, Kendrick will not abandon an injured woman, even if she speaks unusually accented English, and her name is Cameron. Will he ransom her to others or will their closed hearts open to each other? Although he questions her every utterance, this feisty, outspoken woman inflames his desire like no other.

A bit of the book…

Andra leaned her head against the cool, damp stone. This can’t be happening. It isn’t real. But the odor of sweaty horses and men and the coppery tang of blood certainly smelled real. The hard-muscled mass that had kept her from toppling off his horse certainly felt real. More real than anything she had felt for months, perhaps years, but her mind couldn’t connect this experience to a meaningful reality.

As Kendrick walked to the back of the cave, she closed her eyes and slid to the floor. The past few hours would not congeal into anything that made sense. “Well, Dad,” she groaned, “either I’m suffering delusions and the wildest hallucinations, or I am in Scotland, but I know not when, where, or how.” For a moment, she swore she could hear his laughter, scolding her to buck up Andra, and go with the flow. It was one of his favorite admonishments, always delivered with a chuckle.

Battered, bruised in body and mind, Andra questioned her tumble through…what? Space, time? Impossible! But perhaps not, how else could she explain her present circumstances? Her shoulders and back ached from the extreme effort it had taken to hold her body stiff and separate from Kendrick’s during their frantic charge through the night. Yet she still felt the thrill of desire that had infused her when she finally relented to the grip of those strong arms and sagged against his hard chest. What was that about?

Speaking of time travel….thoughts from author Aleigha Siron

At this stop on my blog tour, I’ll start with a brief introduction about time travel.
From Newton’s straight arrow theory, to Einstein’s gravitational theory that states time is like a flowing river, thus only forward motion in time is possible, captivates us. However, what would happen if an earthquake or some other anomaly caused that river of time to momentarily flow in reverse or open a time warp? This is the theory for my book Finding My Highlander.

These early explorations through modern day attempts to combine quantum theory and gravity, to wormholes, to theoretical physicists’ superstring theory and the “theory of everything,” continue to energize both science and imagination.

What if the multiple universe idea is the key and everything that could exist is happening in some other dimension simultaneously. Now that concept scrambles the brain, but it has been used as the basis for a number of books and movies.

Thanks to theoretical physicists’ research, even Steven Hawking has recently changed his position from time travel being impossible to one of possibility but not practicality.

Sometimes I feel like I’m not really of this era, as though I belong somewhere far in the past when life moved at a slower pace. If I did go back in time, I’d want to remember what I’ve learned on this journey through life so that I might do it all again with the wisdom of age, and the spirit and fire of youth.

However, please send me back with plenty of money because I don’t want to be poor in the “good ole’ days,” when you toiled long and life was short.

My fascination with this subject presents untold opportunities to explore foreign realms and eras on the page while enjoying present day comforts, like indoor plumbing, speed of transportation, and yes, even computer technology, though that is also my constant nemesis.

It turns out Benjamin Buttons was right after all, everything is backwards.

Ha! That’s a fun way to think about it.

My Review:

Andra Cameron is a contemporary woman living in San Franscisco. Her parents, Scots through-and-through, have both died, as has Andra’s newborn child. Honoring her father’s dying wish that his and her mother’s ashes be returned to Scotland, Andra plans the journey. But, before she boards the plane, she releases some of the ashes in California. It seems an earthquake strikes, but the next Andra can tell, she’s waking with a concussion in a highland forest.

Captured by the big and burly Laird Kendrick MacLean, Andra must hide who she is, or risk being slain for a witch. Kendrick’s men are highly suspicious of the Sassenach (foreigner, which Andra clearly is) and only allow her to help tend a mortally wounded man–Kendrick’s brother Lorne–when she demonstrates that the pills she gives him are not toxic to herself. They remain in very close quarters for a week, during which time Andra cannot explain her history or presence in their midst. She rescues two children, the only survivors of a Cameron clan-led massacre, and the war party is moved by her gentleness with the children.

The more time they spend together, the more Kendrick is attracted–despite his vow to never love again. He’s had a hard adulthood. Thrust into power when his father took ill, and losing his wife and firstborn child in labor, Kendrick has sworn to protect his people at all cost, and forsake any thought of love again. That said, Andra’s brash and confusing manner has caught his attention and interest. If only he could get to the heart of her secrets! He wants to believe she isn’t a threat, but the Camerons and Sassenach English keep chipping away at the borderlands. Is she in league with them as a spy? Can he afford to fall for her when his duty is to marry well and save his clan?

If you like time-travel or Highlander romance you’ll be thrilled with this new story in the genre. Andra is a kind and compassionate woman, and Kendrick is a stalwart man. They experience a mutual and thrilling attraction, with Andra initiating some loving after witnessing a tragic event. Kendrick is cautious, and intrigued, by the spitfire who claims she was raised abroad. When Andra falls ill, Kendrick and Lorne learn some of Andra’s secrets–and how to open a bottle of Advil!

Despite the danger, their attraction builds into a true affection, and more. If only they could trust each other fully. Though, when the clan MacLean is drawn into battle to save Kendrick’s sister and Andra, his reaction to her grave injuries makes it all too apparent that the need for answers regarding Andra’s history is a moot point in the face of Kendrick’s love for her. Plus, men want to marry Andra, and Kendrick cannot bear the thought.

I really liked the struggle that Kendrick battles to change his mind and heart over his unmarried state. And, his unwillingness to lose Andra, even when he learns all her secrets. Andra’s a fighter, in more ways than one, and truly earns the respect of Clan MacLean, and the heart of her own Highland laird.

Interested? You can find FINDING MY HIGHLANDER on Goodreads, Tirgearr Publishing, Amazon (US and UK) Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, and Kobo.

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card. Check out other stops on the tour to increase your chances!
Good Luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
After more than twenty years writing and delivering management and other training programs for modest-sized to Fortune Five Hundred companies, and ten years developing community crisis-intervention training programs, Aleigha turned her writing efforts to her first loves, fiction, and poetry. Her poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies and university presses over the past few decades. Following a difficult period in her life, she discovered solace in romance novels that inspired her to write in this genre. As she says, “who doesn’t desire a guaranteed happy-ever-after scenario?” Always interested in the concept of time-travel, she knew her first few stories would follow that theme.

When not writing, her trusty four-legged companion/helper, Strider, accompanies her on sunset walks along the shore. During these quiet walks under an expansive sky, with the whoosh of waves across the sand and her gaze drifting over the rolling sea, her best glimmers of inspiration come to mind. Following the recent discovery of distant Scottish ancestors, she embarked on a trip to the Highlands. Although she had already developed the characters for Finding My Highlander, her trip to the Highlands enriched the characters and enhanced the story direction. This is her first full-length romance novel. Aleigha is working on a prequel to Finding My Highlander, and another time-travel novel set in a later period.

You can find Aleigha online on her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Learning to Play THE SOUND OF US–Review and Giveaways!!

Hi there! Today I’m so excited to share a review–and giveaways!–in support of a new contemporary YA romance from debut author Julie Hammerle. THE SOUND OF US is a sweet and sassy story about Kiki, the nerdy, sidekick, opera gal who truly finds her path only once she’s stepped off of the wrong one.

There’s an excerpt below and a couple of great giveaways, too!

About the book:
Kiki Nichols might not survive music camp.
She’s put her TV-loving, nerdy self aside for one summer to prove she’s got what it takes: she can be cool enough to make friends, she can earn that music scholarship, and she can get into Krause University’s music program.

Except camp has rigid conduct rules—which means her thrilling late-night jam session with the hot drummer can’t happen again, even though they love all the same TV shows, and fifteen minutes making music with him meant more than every aria she’s ever sung.

But when someone starts snitching on rule breakers and getting them kicked out, music camp turns into survival of the fittest. If Kiki’s going to get that scholarship, her chance to make true friends—and her chance with the drummer guy—might cost her the future she wants more than anything.

How about a little taste?

From the music app on my phone, Ani DiFranco belts out a choice insult just as Brie bursts through my dorm room door, crosses the room, and plops a giant cardboard box on the other bed.

“I guess we’re roommates,” she says. There were a bunch of boxes in the room when I arrived, and I wondered who they belonged to. I suppose that mystery is solved.

I scramble to stop Ani from singing anything else we both might regret later and I look up just in time to see Seth Banks crossing the threshold into my dorm room, carrying another larger, heavier box over to Brie’s side.

“Hi,” he says. “Kiki, right?” He knows my name. Seth Banks somehow knows my name.

I nod, and sneak a glance at the mirror on the wall next to my bed, assessing myself against the two model-caliber people in my dorm room. I’m still wearing the cat dress. My frizzy hair is up in a messy bun, but the effect actually works with my blue-plastic glasses. I look eccentric, but artsy, which may not be the best look of all time but it is, in fact, a look.

(You’re probably wondering who my celebrity twin is. Well, there aren’t a lot of women in pop culture who have my body type, i.e. dumpy. I’m too fat to be thin and too thin to be fat. Head-wise, I have the glasses and mouse-like features of Mary Katherine Gallagher from Saturday Night Live with hair like Hermione before someone gave her hot oil help between the second and third movies.)

Brie cocks an eyebrow at me and tucks her bottom lip under her top teeth as she picks up my backpack and drops it on the ground with a perfunctory thud. I had tossed it onto the blue papasan chair in the middle of our room after I got back from the auditions. “That’s my chair,” she says. “My. Chair.” And then she proceeds to place a six-pack of Diet Coke into the fridge—My. Fridge.—because apparently that’s how fairness works.

My Review:
Kiki is a high school junior at a six-week voice camp, singing opera, at Krause University, her sister’s alma mater and Kiki’s dream school. Of the 30-odd kids that were accepted, seven may win a full scholarship to the university. It’s a big opportunity for Kiki, but she’s not sure if is really sold on opera. She’s a good vocalist, but she has other interests musically–and her voice coach is a fussy man whose rules are strict and mostly unreasonable.

Kiki soon learns that the teachers have set the kids upon each other as guard dogs–enlisting them to snitch on anyone who steps out of line. As kids fall short and get kicked out, the pressure builds. Kiki’s drawn to another camper, Jack, a golfer, and the connection sizzles, but Kiki’s got issues with self-esteem. She’s a bit overweight, and she’s always been treated as a side dish. Her childhood best friend even stole the one guy Kiki finally worked up the courage to try and date. So she adopts a new, bolder mentality. She’s got a cute new wardrobe and she’s trying to step out of her comfort zone. When Jack gets close, but not close enough, Kiki’s sure it’s because she’s not attractive.

The book is fun adventure, with great supporting characters and experiences that are germane to the whole of teendom–breaking curfew, hooking up, crashing college parties, getting drunk–and it’s all going good, except for the “mole” who’s turning kids in to eliminate the competition for the scholarships. Oh, and Jack isn’t the great guy he seems, and Kiki’s semi-cracked up over it–but she handles it like a freaking boss. She gets her first few kisses, and I loved how Kiki owned herself. She loves scifi TV, and connects with kids who love her same shows. She loves show tunes and performing, but not necessarily opera, and questions whether Krause is the right place for her. Her alternative is going to the college in Illinois where her father teaches and getting a degree in something other than music–there’s no fine arts department at his school. That’s a depressing thought, so she does give a lot of effort to the competition. She’s probably a shoe-in for the scholarship when she’s faced with a big choice, and I think she does the right thing. It’s not easy to walk away from a dream, but Kiki does it with style and class, and then she goes on to embrace the life she truly wanted, in a way she never expected. Again, Kiki owns herself. She doesn’t pull many punches when she’s caught in a bad spot, and she earns all the friends and connections that she makes.

@Kikeronis U ROCK!

Interested? You can find THE SOUND OF US on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, The BookDepository, and Books a Million. It releases tomorrow, but you can pre-order it today!

A few words from V on “body image” books….
THE SOUND OF US features Kiki, a gal who knows that she’s a little “too big” to be classical star material. All the front-runners in the competition are objectively attractive, slender and have sex appeal. Kiki doesn’t. She doesn’t hate herself, but she doesn’t “love” herself much either. I liked how she matured over the six weeks at camp. At first, it seemed as if she was play acting–fake it until you make it, of a sort–with all the right clothes, and trying to tame her frizzy hair, but she began to see that there were several people who were drawn to her because of her personality and openness, and they also found her physically attractive. As a woman, I recognize those moments of childhood insecurity as a rite of passage many of us face. Going through it again with Kiki was sure fun, for me. Her…not so much.

I’ve blogged about a few books in the past year where the characters had similar insecurities regarding their physical appearance. BIGGIE features an overweight (morbidly obese) high school senior who goes out for his baseball team. LETTING ANA GO is a rough one, about two girls with anorexia. THE ART OF NOT BREATHING features an overweight girl who takes up freediving to commune better with her drowned twin. And, THE LIBBY GARRETT INTERVENTION features an overweight girl who needs to love herself so she can embrace the real love of a special guy.

I do know a lot about teen eating disorders. Someone very close to me suffers anxiety-related binge eating, which is problematic because he’s also an athlete who has to maintain a specific weight to compete. I’ve been a blogger for several years, but I’ve been a writer even longer. The knowledge I gained in learning about, and getting treatment for, this person sparked me to write a novel–currently on submission through my agent–about an elite wrestler who develops an eating disorder. So, every time Kiki railed about her body, I had a moment of kinship, and also a moment of sadness. It’s not a MAJOR part of the book, but I really loved how Kiki came out of her self-loathing and worked her body to advantage. And, I was glad there wasn’t any fat-shaming going on. One thing that Kiki learned in the book is that life is too short to be miserable and we should all embrace our selves and our opportunities.

Sound advice at any stage of life.

GIVEAWAY 1

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $25 Amazon GC.

GIVEAWAY 2

Dubsmash Contest Grand Prize:

A paperback copy of The Sound of Us by debut author Julie Hammerle
A box of Nutty Bars, which are prominently featured in the novel
A DVD of High School Musical, so you can watch the movie repeatedly to perfect your dubsmash abilities

How to enter the Dubsmash Contest? Create a dubsmash video on the Dubsmash app, the Musical.ly app, or upload it to your YouTube Channel of any song from Camp Rock, High School Musical, or Pitch Perfect.

Email in your video to publicity@entangledpublishing.com between May 30, 2016 and June 29, 2016 @ 11: 59 pm EDT for the first, mandatory entry into the contest, and then add one of several other ways to enter via this Rafflecopter link to increase your odds of winning! While we welcome all videos, only US residents are able to win the Grand Prize.

For full contest details click here!

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Julie Hammerle is the author of The Sound of Us, which will be published by Entangled Teen in the summer of 2016. Before settling down to write “for real,” she studied opera, taught Latin, and held her real estate license for one hot minute. Currently, she writes about TV on her blog Hammervision, ropes people into conversations about Game of Thrones, and makes excuses to avoid the gym. Her favorite YA-centric TV shows include 90210 (original spice), Felicity, and Freaks and Geeks. Her iPod reads like a 1997 Lilith Fair set list. She lives in Chicago with her husband, two kids, and a dog. They named the dog Indiana.

Website│Twitter│Facebook│Goodreads

It’s Love…COME WHAT MAY–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary New Adult M/M romance from AM Arthur. COME WHAT MAY is a journey for one young man whose life seemed perfect…from the outside looking in. It’s got so many beautiful feels!!!

Check out the excerpt, my review and enter to win in the giveaway below!

About the book:
Jonas needs Tate. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Or at least, he doesn’t want to admit it. Because there is no way Jonas Ashcroft is gay. He’s a straight, carefree frat boy player, just like any good son of a conservative state senator. If only his struggle to convince everyone—especially himself—didn’t leave him so miserable. No matter how many girls or bottles he drowns himself in, Jonas can neither escape nor accept who he is.

Enter Tate. He’s smart, confident, and instantly sees right through Jonas’s surly exterior. Sure, he’s done things in life he’s not proud of, but he knows who he is and what he wants. And what he wants is Jonas. As their easy friendship intensifies into something more, Tate introduces Jonas to a life he’s never known. One filled with acceptance and sex and a love that terrifies and excites them both.

But some inner demons refuse to be shaken off so easily. When Jonas’s old life barges in, he faces a shattering choice, one that could destroy everything he and Tate have fought so hard for. Sometimes love just isn’t enough—and sometimes it’s exactly what you need.

A little taste!

“It’s small,” Jonas said.

“Better than a cardboard box or foster care.” The sharpness in Tate’s voice echoed in his frown.

Jonas had never known anyone before who’d been in foster care, and saying so would probably make him the biggest douche on the planet. It also took the edge off some of his irritation over the total mindfuck that was Tate Dawson. “It’s way better than both of those things. You worked hard for this place, Tate. I haven’t worked hard for anything in my life.”

“I disagree.”

He blinked. “You do?”

“Yes, I do. I think you work very, very hard to convince yourself and the world that you’re something you’re not. I think you work very, very hard to be perfect when no one is, and the only thing anyone should ever do is just be her or himself. Be true to you, not to what others want from you.”

Jonas’s throat squeezed tight. “I can’t.”

Tate took a step closer, bringing a gentle waft of sweat and something sweet. “Why not?”

He saw the barest reflection of himself in Tate’s glasses and he didn’t like it. He stepped back. Tate snagged his wrist and held him there. The touch sent awareness buzzing across his skin, down his spine and straight to his balls. H needed to pull away before this got out of control.

And then his rebel brain decided it was a good idea to glance at Tate’s pink lips. Lips that Tate, the asshole, licked with slow swipes of his tongue.

Jonas yanked away his hand away so hard Tate stumbled. “I’m not gay, so you can get that ‘fuck the frat boy’ fantasy out of your head right now.”

Instead of being cowed, Tate planted both hands on his hips and said, “Who are you trying to convince? Because it’s just you and me in this room, and I’m not the one who brought up your sexuality. You did.”

Damn him. “Why won’t you leave me alone?”

Tate’s gaze drifted over his face as he sought for words. “Because every time we’re together I can tell you’re struggling with something. You put up this lone wolf front to keep people at arm’s length so you don’t have to work so hard to pretend, but it’s exhausting you. Jonas, you can be yourself with me. Whoever that is.”

“I can’t.” Talking was getting harder around the lump in his throat. His heart was kicking too fast and his chest ached.

“Look me in the eye.” Tate closed the three strides between them, then curled a warm hand around the back of Jonas’s neck. “Look me in the eye and say you don’t want to kiss me right now.”

My Review:

Jonas is a closeted junior in college sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Delaware to keep him out of the spotlight after he’s expelled from school in a frat-hazing-stunt-gone-wrong. Jonas has had a hard time living up to the perfect ideals of his strict, conservative parents, and suffers from a possible learning disability his folks won’t accept.

Living with his aunt and uncle is a totally new world. Financially, they don’t have much, but they share with real joy. They take care of their own, and more: they have tenants above their garage, Tate and his two younger sisters.

Tate is a 23 y/o out gay man who’s not ashamed at his years of tricking to keep his family fed. Tate and his sisters were orphaned when he was just 16, and he fought hard to win their custody–not before they were both in bad spots in foster care. Tate strives to always put them first, especially his youngest sister Marnie who was assaulted and still suffers PTSD.

Tate is immediately attracted to Jonas, who’s a right godly male specimen. Jonas is afraid of the feelings that Tate stirs, but can’t help being awed by Tate’s sheer awesomeness. Did I mention Tate runs (with his good friends) a homeless shelter for LGBT teens who’ve been kicked out by their parents? Yeah, Tate’s the stand-up man Jonas would love to be. And that admiration allows Jonas to finally drop his facade. He’s known he was gay for some time, but lives in fear of his parents cutting him off.

Of course, being in Delaware with his loving and open extended family–and Tate–allows Jonas to cut loose in a way he never could in college. And, Jonas pretty much loves it. Expect a lot of real hard times, though, because Daddy Dearest is one for the Internet Shame Awards.

I seriously fell into this book. It was such a heart-tugger, and really allowed these two young guys to explore a solid first relationship–one that was definitely heading into “forever” territory in the HEA ending. Jonas gets the help he needs to be a fully functional adult, one not beholden to his father’s homophobic and controlling whims. Tate learns that he has to let go of his guilt surrounding the years he couldn’t keep Addyson and Marnie protected, and build a new and brighter future for them, and himself, with Jonas.

There are some awesome secondary characters, and I’m sure we’ll be lucky enough to experience their love stories going forward. I really ache for Marc and hope he finds a forever man.

The whole “gay teen homeless shelter” background was fantastic, and wonderfully rendered. It was clear exactly how razor-thin the operating budgets of these (unfortunately!!) necessary centers are, and I loved how Jonas did his very best to make Tate’s place more financially solvent. I can only hope that a reconciliation for Jonas and his parents is on the horizon, and that a hefty donation from them will keep the doors open and the kids fed.

Interested? You can find COME WHAT MAY on Goodreads, Carina Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $25 gc to Amazon or Barnes & Noble–winner’s choice!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories. A.M. Arthur’s work is available from Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, Dreamspinner Press, and SMP Swerve.

When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.

Catch up with Ms. Arthur on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Tumblr.

Working Out the Kinks–BETA TEST–Review & Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review for a fantastic new contemporary M/M romance from Annabeth Albert. I absolutely loved STATUS UPDATE, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on BETA TEST. Though it’s the second book in the #Gaymers series, it’s fully enjoyable on its own. I just love me some interracial romance, and this one has both heart and hearth–meaning serious amounts of family drama.

Catch a First Kiss excerpt and enter to win a $20 GC in the giveaway below!

About the book:
Player vs. Player. Fight!
Brilliant graphic designer Ravi Tandel is ahead of the game—he’s just been asked to present a top secret project at a huge conference in Seattle. All systems are go…until he learns his buttoned-up office nemesis is coming along for the ride.

Tristan Jones isn’t really the gamer type, but he knows the back end of the video game business inside out. Together, he and Ravi will give an awesome presentation. If they survive the cross-country trip first.

Tossed together in close quarters, Ravi’s shocked to see Tristan’s sexy, softer side emerge from such a conservative shell. He’s less shocked to learn his handsome colleague’s prominent family would never support an out-and-proud son. But Ravi didn’t struggle through his own coming out to hide who he is now. To be together, Tristan will have to push past his fear and ultimately decide: Does he want a future with Ravi? Or is it game over before they’ve even begun?

How about a little taste?

Knock. Knock. A knock came from the connecting door, startling Ravi into hopping off the bed.

“Tristan?” he called before unlocking the door.

“Yeah,” came the muffled reply.

“What’s up?” As he opened the door, he realized that he didn’t even have a shirt on. After his shower, he’d pulled on a pair of Star Wars lounge pants that Avani had given him on his last birthday. He wasn’t a modest guy, but this was a bit…exposed for a late-night encounter.

“Um. Not much.” Tristan stood there in ridiculous blue plaid pajamas and bare feet, hair still damp and sticking up at weird angles. The overall effect should have been one of Tristan escaping from whatever retirement compound Elmer called home, but instead Ravi found it endearing.

You’re so screwed, man.

“Not much?” Ravi raised an eyebrow. “But you knocked?”

“Um. Yeah.” Tristan scratched his neck and shuffled one foot. “My room stinks.”

“Your room stinks?” Ravi had to stop himself from laughing. As far as pretexts went, that was pretty darn lame, high-school-campout-worthy stuff.

“It really does.” Tristan gestured, and Ravi followed him in and took a deep sniff. Yeah, the room did smell pretty funky.

“O-kay.” Ravi drew the word out. “Why don’t you call the front desk? This is a pretty big place, and it’s the middle of the week. I’m sure they can find you a different room.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.” Tristan did the shuffle thing with his foot again. “Never mind.”

“Tris.” Ravi grabbed Tristan’s shoulders when he tried to turn away, forced him to look at him. “What’s really up?”

“Nothing. I was thinking we could watch a movie in your room, but you’re right, I should call for a new room.”

“That’s what you want? To hang out with me?” Ravi took a step forward, not dropping his hands from Tristan’s shoulders. He could feel his warmth even through the soft blue cotton. Their bodies were mere inches apart now. Tristan’s gaze went straight to Ravi’s mouth before he licked his own lips.

Oh fuck. Killing me, Tris, you really are.

“I’ve got a movie on,” Ravi said softly, making no move toward his room or to step away from Tristan. There were a thousand reasons why he needed to step away, get Tristan to call for a new room, and stop the energy arcing between them, yet he couldn’t seem to find the one that would get his feet to move.

“Yeah.” Tristan’s exhale ghosted across Ravi’s face. His eyes continued to look as though they had a tractor beam on Ravi’s mouth. “That’s good.”

“I’ve got no clue what the movie is.” Ravi laughed shakily.

“That’s okay.” Tristan moved, subtly leaning forward before retreating a millimeter, like he wasn’t quite sure how to close the gap between them.

Ravi knew, but there were a whole host of reasons why he should retreat and lock the door behind him, put a hotel’s worth of distance between himself and temptation. But he didn’t move back, instead doing what Tristan was shuffling toward and closed the distance between them, claiming Tristan’s mouth like he’d been obsessing about for two days now.

Okay, okay, perhaps a bit longer than that, if he were honest with himself. Tristan was fussy and prissy and so not Ravi’s type, except he was cute and endearing and eager to please and…

Oh fuck it. They were so doing this thing.

Ravi’s lips slid softly over Tristan’s, hands coming up to cup Tristan’s face. His skin was smooth and slightly slippery, as if he’d shaved earlier. Tristan gave a little sigh as their lips collided, a happy noise that went straight to Ravi’s dick. Tristan tasted like a minty memory from Ravi’s teen years, a simple, classic taste that totally fit with the rest of Tristan’s persona.

And the way they fit together felt like a different kind of memory—like they’d done this before and yet never before in the same instant. Brand-new and achingly familiar. And far, far too sweet for Ravi’s blood.

My Review:
This is the second book in a series that’s fully enjoyable on its own.

Tristan is the son of a very conservative judge and lawyer, and survived the loss of his adored elder brother to a drunk driving accident nearly a decade before. He came out years ago, but his parents have asked him to keep his sexuality on the super-down-low so as not to interfere with his mother’s keen political aspirations. So, while he’s “out” he’s mostly closeted. It’s a total frustration when he’s hired at a completely gay-friendly videogaming company–because he’s super jealous of all his co-workers who live out-and-proud. Ravi, in particular, rubs Tristan all the wrong ways because he’s absolutely stunning, and far too flamboyant to be deemed acceptable partner material in his parents’ circle.

Ravi is an out-gay Indian man whose mother and grandmother have vociferously denounced his homosexuality and continually seek to link him with women. He’s been invited home for his younger sister’s wedding and has been delaying accepting the invite because he cannot bear the pressure and scrutiny. He loves his job as a graphic designer, even if he believes his task-master–Tristan–is a shrill homophobe. It’s even more frustrating that he finds Tristan attractive, as Ravi will never get into another workplace romance; not after his previous debacle…

Working on the latest top secret project for roll-out at ComicCon Seattle, Tristan is more and more aggravated by Ravi’s inability to meet deadlines. They get into a fight, in the middle of a company party, and both end up leaving the party early–so neither of them consume the tainted food that sends all the higher-ups to the hospital. And that means Ravi and Tristan are the only two people on the ComicCon project who are able to drive the display up to Seattle.

Two men in a truck. That’s the name of a local moving company here, and boy howdy do Ravi and Tristan move. They spend hours in traffic and share, and overshare, and break down (literally, regarding the truck) and come together (literally, regarding the sex). It becomes a case of: “what happens on the way to Seattle stays…” scenario, and it’s transcendent for both men. Tristan is truly out, and rather proud, not just of the experience of being with a free-spirit like Ravi, he’s also darned proud of his hard work and the accolades the company’s booth is receiving. Ravi’s aware that everything with Tristan is too much to contain within the confines of several days and nights, and they decide to go into stealth mode back in California. Oh, but it’s not easy…

I loved how these guys were so up-front about their troubles and pain, how they deal with the pressures of family. Tristan is ashamed to even mention his mother, knowing that her brand of politics will likely turn off any of the new friendships he’s building–and might cost him Ravi. And, yet, when he does confide he finds some level of security. Tristan has always carried the burden of his brother’s death, and Ravi has carried the burden of his family’s shame, but each man is able to reach beyond that, as they build a more secure relationship. Even as Ravi continues to maintain this is a FWB-situation, he’s more and more captivated by Tristan, and spends all his off times at Tristan’s house. I liked how Tristan used his new-found strength, security with both Ravi and his job, to stand up against his parents and their strong-arm tactics. And I liked how Ravi, with the love and support of Tristan, was able to push back against the issues in his own family, and build better, and stronger, relationships with his siblings. The whole book is a feels-generator, with two guys who want love finding it when they least anticipate, and growing into their adulthood in new and unexpected ways.

Interested? You can find BETA TEST on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.

Be sure to check out the first book in this series, STATUS UPDATE, and I look forward to telling you all about CONNECTION ERROR due out this fall.

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $20 gift card!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children. Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Find Annabeth online on her website, Goodreads, twitter and Facebook.

Looking Past What’s STAINED–Review & Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and excerpt for a new contemporary M/M romance from Chris T. Kat. STAINED is a deeper look into love, one that passes beyond the superficial, that’s for sure.

About the book:
Blair Clark has reached his breaking point. Forced to leave one job because of sexual harassment, he’s having difficulty finding another. Since no one believes what happened, Blair’s left with a stain on his employment record that he can’t get rid of. He’s had to move back home with his mother. As if that’s not bad enough, he realizes his crush, Travis, is simply using him. His romantic life looks as hopeless as his job search.

Jack Ross is sure he’ll never find anyone who’ll love him for who he is. All anyone sees is the port-wine stain on his left cheek—not the man behind it. Even his mother thinks he should get rid of it. But the procedure is difficult and painful.

When Blair applies for a secretarial position with Jack’s firm, both men learn that beauty is, indeed, in the eye of the beholder. It’ll take a lot of trust to chase away their insecurities, but if they take a chance on one another, love will find a way.

How about a little taste?

“Can’t I?” I gazed into Travis’s brown eyes, the same eyes I dreamed about at night. In those dreams they were filled with love, but when I looked now, I only saw cruelty, arrogance, and something more, something darker I didn’t want to think about.

“No.” Travis snatched my chin, held it tightly between his big fingers and forced me to keep perfectly still. “No, you can’t. Choose a manly job and they’ll stop. Keep flaunting your sexuality and that’s what they’ll do.”

“Flaunting my sexuality? What’s that got to do with my job?”

“You’re a secretary, for fuck’s sake. It’s a woman’s job. Now stop adding fuel to the fire and cowboy up.” Travis’s voice remained low but it held an angry edge to it, one I recognized well.

I dropped my gaze, and a moment later Travis let go of my chin. Breathing out a sigh of relief, I winced when another guy asked, “Having trouble keeping the fairy in line?”

“Are you kidding?” Travis replied, puffing up his chest.

Enough was enough. I bolted up, ready to leave, when a big hand clamped on my arm. I tugged, but the grip tightened. Anxiety blossomed into fear, especially when the table dropped into sudden silence.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Travis hissed.

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, making it impossible for me to answer. What the hell was wrong with me? Why had I pursued Travis for so many months? Just because of his looks? Sure, he was hot, and exactly how I liked my men—big, fair-haired, and brown-eyed. But there was no love lost between us. Travis would never come out as gay, even though he liked to fool around with me whenever it was convenient for him.

“Blair, sit your ass down again, you’re attracting attention.”

When Travis pulled at my arm with more force, I planted my feet. I didn’t anticipate Travis letting go all of a sudden, leaving me to stumble backward. I crashed into someone behind me, taking us both to the ground.

Rolling to my knees and away from whomever I’d thrown, I apologized, “I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you?”

Heat flooded my cheeks as embarrassment swept over me. Holding out a hand for the guy I’d tripped, I recoiled when the man sat up, revealing his face. A gasp tumbled over my lips and I stared openmouthed. The skin of the man’s left side was stained in red, giving him a slightly scary appearance, as if he’d been badly burnt.

“I’m fine,” the man said, his brows creasing in a frown. Obviously he’d seen my reaction and wasn’t too thrilled about it.

I couldn’t help but stare even more. The man’s dark blue eyes bore right into me, daring me to say anything. The stained skin drew my attention, no matter how hard I tried to look elsewhere. It looked so painful, a large blotch of red that started below the man’s eye, covered his whole cheek, and tapered out at his jawline.

“It’s not contagious, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” the man said in an icy tone. He rose in one fluid motion, holding out his hand for me to… to what? Help me up? Why would he do that?

I eyed the outstretched hand, hating myself for the fear coursing through me. Just when I was about to take the man up on the offer, two big hands grabbed my waist and hoisted me to my feet.

My Review:

Blair Clark is a professional secretary who’s had a bad break. He was sexually harassed at his last job and let go when his complaint was deemed “without merit.” He’s since had to move home with his kind, and disabled, mother, and he’s feeling rather low. His “friend” Travis is a real piece of work, borderline abusive and truly a vicious closet-case.

Blair has an interview for a job with a man he’d accidentally bumped the night before, Jack Ross. Jack has a large port-wine stain (a blotchy red birthmark) that covers a large portion of his cheek. Like the run-in the night before, Blair nearly fumbles this opportunity, but Jack likes his forthrightness and experience, despite his last job’s poor reference; he hires Blair.

Working together seems to go well, Blair and Jack develop a strong professional rapport nearly immediately, and there is a mutual attraction budding. For me, I’d have liked a little more build-up of this romance. Blair has been burned before, and I’d expect him to hold off on getting physical with Jack. Likewise, the insertion of Travis into this mix was a little too much too soon. he’s not happy being brushed off, though he was never a true partner to Blair. The giant crisis came nearly from outer space. I didn’t get the rationale behind Travis’ motivation at all. I do suppose some folks are really simply vindictive jackwads, but it all happened so quickly I struggled to accept the act, and Blair’s response. I think a little more foreshadowing would have made this seem both likely and inevitable.

Blair was never not-attracted to Jack, and his constant build-up of Jack’s self-esteem is really very tender. Jack is good man, one that works heard for himself and those he cares for. To be so shattered over a birthmark, even one that draws over-the-top commentary from all and sundry, must be a hard way to live a life. I kind of wanted to knock Jack’s mother in the teeth, but I hope she recognizes her folly before there is no chance for redemption. That said, it’s a sweet, short read that is guaranteed to expand the idea that beauty is far more than skin deep, and that living right is the best way to survive emotional and professional set-backs.

Interested? You can find STAINED on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

GIVEAWAY

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win one of three copies of books from Chris’ backlist!
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Catch up to Chris online on her blog, Goodreads, Amazon and twitter

Cover Reveal and Excerpt for A SECOND HARVEST by Eli Easton

Hi there! I’m so excited to share a first look at a new contemporary M/M romance from Eli Easton. I’ve loved her books, including HOW TO HOWL AT THE MOON, HOW TO WALK LIKE A MAN, and HOW TO WISH UPON A STAR, so I’m excited to read A SECOND HARVEST, which sounds like an unexpected love story for two mature men who thought their time had passed. I’ll share a review for the book in July once it releases, but in the meantime…

Check out this evocative cover!

About the book:
David Fisher has lived by the rules all his life. Born to a Mennonite family, he obeyed his father and took over the family farm, married, and had two children. Now with his kids both in college and his wife deceased, he runs his farm alone and without joy, counting off the days of a life half lived.

Christie Landon, graphic designer, Manhattanite, and fierce gay party boy, needs a change. Now thirty, he figures it’s time to grow up and think about his future. When his best friend overdoses, Christie resolves to take a break from the city. He heads to a small house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to rest, recoup, and reflect.

But life in the country is boring, despite glimpses of the hunky silver fox next door. When Christie’s creativity latches on to cooking, he decides to approach his widower neighbor with a plan to share meals and grocery expenses. David agrees, and soon the odd couple find they really enjoy spending time together.

Christie challenges the boundaries of David’s closed world and brings out feelings he buried long ago. If he can break free of the past, he might find a second chance at happiness.

How about a little taste?

Chapter 1

David sat against the rough wooden boards of the cow stall and watched Gertrude die. She opened her big brown eyes once toward the end and gazed at him for a long moment. In the glow of the lantern light, her lashes cast deep shadows so David couldn’t see what emotion might be in those eyes. Was she grateful he was sitting up with her? Did she know it was time to go? Was she relieved to finally be leaving this farm where she’d spent her entire long life?

But she was just a cow. Probably she thought none of those things. When she closed her eyes again, it was for the last time. An hour later she stopped breathing, and she was gone.

It felt like an era passed with her, silently and stealthily. David was there when Gertrude was born. She was the first cow that was his, designated as such while still in the womb, a birthday present from his parents. He raised her and showed her at the Harrisburg farm fair when he was in eleventh grade. She was a beautiful brown jersey with classic lines, and she won a third-place ribbon that day. David was proud enough to burst. For years afterward Gertrude was a reliable, strong milking cow.

A farmer didn’t get sentimental about animals. That was plain stupid. But David was not able to kill Gertrude when her milk production fell off. She’d half performed for another decade until he eventually retired her to pasture. If anyone asked, he told them it was good to have a mature cow around to show the rebellious younger ones what was what, teach them the routine. And Gertrude was a leader by personality. She knew how to put other cows and heifers in their places. But the truth was, David just couldn’t bear to load her in the truck and take her to the slaughterhouse.

She was a part of his boyhood, and it was right she was dead now. God knew the boy in him was a far distant memory.

He turned off the lights in the barn and walked back to the house. It was foolishness to have stayed up with her. The day’s work had to be done whether or not he had a good night’s rest. He was too old for this.

The light in the kitchen was on as he approached the house. He checked his watch. It was just past 5:00 a.m. Amy must be up.

For the past two years, Amy had come home from college for the summer to work as a nursing intern at the Lancaster hospital and to help him run a CSA program on the farm. It was Amy who did all the customer work. She made up the flyers, packed the boxes of produce, and met with the customers every week when they came to pick up their shares. She was good at that sort of thing. He wished he could pay her more, but like every other operation on the farm, the profit from the CSA was a very faint line of green. David honestly didn’t know how most farmers made it. His grandfather had paid off the farm, but still, between property taxes, upkeep and maintenance, animal feed, and everything else, he made just enough to get by. As his dad used to say, the gravy was thin.

He opened the sliding glass door and saw Amy in her bathrobe pulling some fresh eggs from the fridge.

“Hey, Dad.” She yawned. “What are you doing out at the barn so early?”

“Gertrude passed.”

“Aw! That’s a shame.” Amy didn’t sound too broken up about it. Then again Amy learned young not to get attached to the animals.

He grabbed a glass from the cupboard, went to the fridge, and poured himself some orange juice. But when he went to lift it to his mouth, he was surprised to discover a hard, thick lump in his throat. He put the glass back on the counter and breathed. Ridiculous. He hadn’t gotten particularly choked up, even when Susan died. But then she was sick for a few years. Her death was a blessing in the end.

“Things live. Things die. That’s the way of it.” His voice was gruff, but the lump eased. He drank his juice.

When he put the glass down, Amy was watching him with a frown. “You sound so cynical. I worry about you, Dad. You should take Mrs. Robeson up on her offer for dinner. I think she really likes you.”

“I’m not interested in Mrs. Robeson.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “You should give her a chance. Mom’s been gone two years now. She wouldn’t want you to be alone forever. And Mrs. Robeson taught both Joe and me in Sunday school. She’s a very nice lady.”

David gave Amy a warning look. “I don’t care to discuss my love life, thank you. Are you gonna cook those eggs, or are you waiting for them to hatch?”

Amy snorted a laugh, but she opened a cupboard and brought out a skillet. “Slave driver! I just worry about you. I hate that you’re all alone here when I go back to school. Joe hardly ever comes home.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I know! That’s the problem. You’re turning into a crusty old hermit. Next time I see you, you’ll have a beard down to your belly button. I know you live on TV dinners, hotdogs, and chips. It’s not healthy. You should get remarried. I know Pastor Mitchell thinks so.”

“Pastor Mitchell wants to get some of his old maids and widows married off so he doesn’t have to handhold them so much. I’m not interested.”

David was half teasing, but Amy still gasped. “Dad! That’s a terrible thing so say!”

David waggled his eyebrows, unrepentant, and exited the kitchen.

He went upstairs and took a shower. The sleepless night hit him along with the hot water, and he knew it would be a long day. Why had he felt compelled to sit up with Gertrude? She probably hadn’t even known he was there. But at the thought of her, another wave of sadness hit him. An image ran through his mind—one of falling leaves and the boy he’d been playing in them, laughing. He had no idea where that came from or why.

Out of the shower, he used a hand to wipe off the fogged mirror. He looked at himself critically to see if he could get away with not shaving this morning. His reflection surprised him briefly, as it always did. He felt so old. He always expected to see white hair and a sagging face when he looked in the mirror. But there were only a few strands of gray at the temples of his dark-brown hair and in his close-cropped beard. His face was not young, but it wasn’t sagging yet either. He’d lost a good thirty pounds since Susan died, so he actually looked younger.

Fine. He might not look old, but he sure felt it. And he suddenly understood why he sat up with Gertrude. He wanted to watch her as she escaped the farm at last, as she simply left her body and went away, gone where no one could prevent her going and no one could follow.

One day David would leave too, maybe just that way. He’d shut his eyes and vanish, leaving a shell behind. But dear Lord, he was only forty-one this past May. Even if he died when his dad did, at age fifty-eight, he had years to wait yet.

Just to… wait.

Oh, man! This one is gonna get me in the feels, I just know it!

Interested? You can find A SECOND HARVEST on Goodreads, and pre-order it in advance of its July 1st release on Dreamspinner Press (eBook or Paperback).

About the Author:
Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a game designer, an organic farmer, an avid hiker, and a profound sleeper, Eli is happily embarking on yet another incarnation as a m/m romance author.

As an addicted reader of such, she is tinkled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.

Catch up with Eli on her website, Facebook, and twitter.

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V's Reads…

Reviews, Rants and Rambles from a mom and pre-published author

Month: June 2016

Getting the Scoop on UNDERCOVER BOYFRIEND–Guest Post and Giveaway!

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Release Day Review and Giveaway–GIVE ME YOU!

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Getting In Deep THE HARDER HE FALLS-A Review

Delving Deep Into BDSM 24/7–A Review

The Quest: FINDING MY HIGHLANDER–Review & Giveaway!

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Learning to Play THE SOUND OF US–Review and Giveaways!!

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It’s Love…COME WHAT MAY–Review and Giveaway!

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Working Out the Kinks–BETA TEST–Review & Giveaway!

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Looking Past What’s STAINED–Review & Giveaway!

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Cover Reveal and Excerpt for A SECOND HARVEST by Eli Easton

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