Month: March 2019

Making it Past the ROCKY GROUND–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new contemporary veteran romance from Kaylea Cross. ROCKY GROUND is the latest Crimson Point novel and features a Scottish military vet falling hard for a single mom who’s had it rough. I really liked FRACTURED HONOR so I was interested to read on in this series.

About the book:
She’s been hurt too many times…
Single mom Tiana Fitzgerald has sworn off all romantic relationships to protect herself and her daughter. Her track record is disastrous and she’s done getting hurt. But a certain sexy Scotsman in Crimson Point has other ideas, and somehow manages to sneak past her defenses at every turn. As the hits keep coming and her life implodes, she begins to see he’s unlike any man she’s ever known. Now he’s become the greatest threat to her heart, because there’s no possible future for them. Not when he’s leaving the country in a few weeks. And when her worst fears are realized, she must risk everything by placing her trust in in his hands.

He’s determined to capture her heart.
Scotsman Aidan MacIntyre never saw the fiery, beautiful Tiana coming. The prickly redhead has gotten under his skin as badly as he wants to get under hers. But she’s determined to keep walls between them. Luckily the former Royal Marine doesn’t know how to give up. Someone from her past wants to hurt her, but Aidan will stand between her and any threat. He’ll stop at nothing to protect her and the little girl who have completely stolen his heart—and fight for them to have a future together.

How about a little taste?

The molten hunger in his eyes sent a torrent of heat rushing through her body even as her old fears bubbled to the surface again. “Aidan…” she murmured, dropping her gaze to his chest.

She’d done it. Given her unspoken consent. Now her heart was trying to pound its way out of her chest.

His hand came up to stroke her hair away from her face. She leaned into his touch, craving more. Craving this wonderful, incredible man that for some reason wanted her in spite of all her imperfections.

Her heart beat an erratic rhythm against her ribs. She’d never experienced anything like this before. Not with this level of intensity. This was…something she’d only read about before. Was it because of everything they’d gone through together? Because she’d relied on him for survival?

His fingers stroked against her scalp in a drugging caress that had her eyelids drooping. “What are you so afraid of?”

She looked up at him again. God, he was beautiful. And strong. And brave.

He was also going to rip her heart out when he left.

It wasn’t easy to voice her insecurities aloud, but she felt comfortable with him. Close to him in a way she’d never felt with another man. “Of making another mistake. Of getting my heart broken again,” she whispered.

He cupped the side of her face to run his thumb over her cheekbone. “I’ll not hurt you, lass.”

Her insides squeezed at the tenderness in his voice, the yearning in his eyes. No, he wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. “But you’re leaving soon. In another few weeks.” That was going to leave a scar, no matter how gently the cut was made.

“Aye,” he agreed, his gaze locked with hers. “But I’m here now.”

His words reverberated in the deepest recesses of her heart. He was right here in front of her, and he wanted her.

Any other arguments she had stored up vanished in the space of a single heartbeat. Before she could think herself out of it, she gave free rein to the need pulsing inside her, took his face in her hands and pulled him down to her waiting lips.

My Review:
Tiana is a fierce single mother whose life seems to be unraveling. Her last boyfriend tried to molest her 8 year old daughter, Ella, and now she’s trying to ensure her little girl doesnt’t have to take a witness stand to protect herself from a predator. And, Evan, her first love and Ella’s daddy has reappeared and now wants to build a relationship with young Ella. So, really it’s not time to be falling for a Scotsman who seems to be more than just nice.

Aidan “Mac” McIntyre is a veteran working for an acquaintance from his military days. He wants to get his green card and sty in the US, but his appeals have been denied and he’s going to return to the UK for some time while it all gets sorted. This is why Aidan shouldn’t be falling for his boss’s tenant, but he can’t help admiring how strong Tiana is, and how well she minds her sweet young girl all alone. Learning how Tiana was betrayed in her past relationship sets Mac on edge. Which is good, because he’s gong to need all his battle-honed skills to ensure Tiana and Ell are safe, not only from Ella’s abuser.

This story went in ways I had never anticipated, which was good. As much as I read, it’s often hard to surprise me. Tiana and Ella get separated a a critical moment–through no fault of their own, but that makes them uniquely vulnerable for attack, and there is an enemy laying in wait. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but I will say my anticipation of a marriage of convenience did not bear fruit. Instead, there are more than one flight for their lives, and hostiles in every corner. I liked the three-prong attack Tiana needed to weather and felt she did it with grace. There are some sexy scenes, but I felt they were a bit long and mildly repetitive, so I skimmed those–not saying other readers won’t be enthralled. It was a little mundane, for me, though it made sense in the narrative.

It’s a solid romantic suspense, and I enjoyed it bunches.

Interested? You can find ROCKY GROUND on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Kobo.

About the Author:
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and has been nominated multiple times for the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

Catch up with Kaylea on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Instagram.

Out today! ROCKY GROUND Release Blitz!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a release blast for a new contemporary veteran romance from Kaylea Cross. ROCKY GROUND is the latest Crimson Point novel and features a Scottish military vet falling hard for a single mom who’s had it rough. I really liked FRACTURED HONOR so I was interested to read on in this series.

About the book:
She’s been hurt too many times…
Single mom Tiana Fitzgerald has sworn off all romantic relationships to protect herself and her daughter. Her track record is disastrous and she’s done getting hurt. But a certain sexy Scotsman in Crimson Point has other ideas, and somehow manages to sneak past her defenses at every turn. As the hits keep coming and her life implodes, she begins to see he’s unlike any man she’s ever known. Now he’s become the greatest threat to her heart, because there’s no possible future for them. Not when he’s leaving the country in a few weeks. And when her worst fears are realized, she must risk everything by placing her trust in in his hands.

He’s determined to capture her heart.
Scotsman Aidan MacIntyre never saw the fiery, beautiful Tiana coming. The prickly redhead has gotten under his skin as badly as he wants to get under hers. But she’s determined to keep walls between them. Luckily the former Royal Marine doesn’t know how to give up. Someone from her past wants to hurt her, but Aidan will stand between her and any threat. He’ll stop at nothing to protect her and the little girl who have completely stolen his heart—and fight for them to have a future together.

How about a little taste?

The molten hunger in his eyes sent a torrent of heat rushing through her body even as her old fears bubbled to the surface again. “Aidan…” she murmured, dropping her gaze to his chest.

She’d done it. Given her unspoken consent. Now her heart was trying to pound its way out of her chest.

His hand came up to stroke her hair away from her face. She leaned into his touch, craving more. Craving this wonderful, incredible man that for some reason wanted her in spite of all her imperfections.

Her heart beat an erratic rhythm against her ribs. She’d never experienced anything like this before. Not with this level of intensity. This was…something she’d only read about before. Was it because of everything they’d gone through together? Because she’d relied on him for survival?

His fingers stroked against her scalp in a drugging caress that had her eyelids drooping. “What are you so afraid of?”

She looked up at him again. God, he was beautiful. And strong. And brave.

He was also going to rip her heart out when he left.

It wasn’t easy to voice her insecurities aloud, but she felt comfortable with him. Close to him in a way she’d never felt with another man. “Of making another mistake. Of getting my heart broken again,” she whispered.

He cupped the side of her face to run his thumb over her cheekbone. “I’ll not hurt you, lass.”

Her insides squeezed at the tenderness in his voice, the yearning in his eyes. No, he wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. “But you’re leaving soon. In another few weeks.” That was going to leave a scar, no matter how gently the cut was made.

“Aye,” he agreed, his gaze locked with hers. “But I’m here now.”

His words reverberated in the deepest recesses of her heart. He was right here in front of her, and he wanted her.

Any other arguments she had stored up vanished in the space of a single heartbeat. Before she could think herself out of it, she gave free rein to the need pulsing inside her, took his face in her hands and pulled him down to her waiting lips.

Interested? You can find ROCKY GROUND on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Kobo.

About the Author:
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and has been nominated multiple times for the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

Catch up with Kaylea on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Instagram.

Trying to Outwit the SPELL TRACKER–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m back and sharing a review for a YA paranormal M/M romance adventure from Alex C Vick. SPELL TRACKER is the first book in the Light Mage series, and I did like the start to it.

About the book:
Luca has a problem his magic can’t solve. The boy he’s loved since they fought side-by-side as gladiators in Ancient Rome is about to die for the last time. Luca’s only chance to prevent it is to make a deal with the Spell Tracker, who demands Luca’s own life as collateral.

At seventeen years old, Luca is a Light Mage, the rarest of magicians. He’s able to navigate the earthbound dimension without losing his memory of its magical counterpart. Like an invisible kind-hearted ghost, he helps others to graduate their life paths and take up their chosen magical professions.

But this time, with the help of the Spell Tracker, Luca is earthbound again for real as a high school senior. The boy he’s here to save is nothing like he expected, and before long his head and his heart are all over the place, as well as his intended rescue. The Spell Tracker can hardly wait for him to fail. The life of this particular Light Mage is something he’s wanted for a very long time.

My Review:
Honestly, I think the blurb is a tad misleading. Luca is thousands of years old. His form is forever trapped in the body of a 17 year-old, however. He’s a guardian, a class of angel destined to help souls in trouble to find their way into a good life path. The more success he has at this noble pursuit, the more power Luca can attain, which could help him break loose of the cycle he is in.

Luca makes a bargain with the Spell Tracker, a shadow mage who oversees a guardian’s great trial–Luca’s newest and most difficult assignment. Luca’s mission is to assist a soul he’s known before. In fact, this soul–now reincarnated in a teen girl’s body, is that of the first boy Luca ever loved. Luca had helped this boy to train for battle the Colosseum in Ancient Rome, where they were both slave-combatants. Luca’s final act as a human was to save the life of the boy he loved–which graduated him to guardian status.

The story is set in a modern day school, and the Spell Tracker has set the rule that Luca cannot leave the school he attends. It’s not a boarding school, so he has to hide out there in unused offices, etc. Luca has to befriend Cass, the girl who bears his former love’s soul, but it isn’t easy. She’s the most distrusting girl in the school–shattered by her father’s infidelity and her mother’s grief. Devin, Cass’s half-brother, takes an immediate liking to Luca–and it’s hard for Luca to resist the sweet boy who happens to be an unknowing light mage. Luca endeavors to get Cass to examine her past, but she’s resistant. Devin also tries to assist her, but she thinks he’s a liar–and their previous friendship is buried in bitter animosity.

Meanwhile, the Spell Tracker has always planned to harvest Cass’s soul–and he’s not below tricking Luca in order to do it. The climax is a little confusing, in that Luca wants to sacrifice himself to save both Cass’s and Devin’s souls–and Devin wants to save Luca and Cass. Cass would sacrifice herself, but her soul is already bound in contract. There’s a lot going on including teleportation, visiting past lives, reincarnation, the angelic host intervening, and a slippery shadow mage not living up to the spirit or letter of his contracts.

The end is happy, with all favorable parties finding a satisfactory solution to the soul swap. Cass gains back memories of her previous lives–and a new purpose to pursue. Luca and Devin find their love is strong enough to start fresh and build a solid bond. There’s a lot of history in this story–which was a little bogging on the pace. Also, Luca and Cass have two names, one for now and one for then, and that was a bit confusion. There’s a bit of typical teen drama about who is sleeping with whom, and those moments got catty I might have had an eye-roll or three as it seemed drama-for-drama’s-sake. There will be another story and I think I’d read on, just to see how everyone fares.

Interested? You can find SPELL TRACKER on Goodreads and Amazon. I read a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author: (in her own words)
Ever since I was old enough to figure out there was probably no such thing as magic, I always (secretly!) hoped it was some kind of mistake. Surely it must exist somewhere? Eventually I decided it must have been lost or forgotten somehow. And that’s where the idea for Stealing Magic, the first book, came from.

I live in the South of England with my husband and two daughters. When I’m not at work, or writing about magic, I also enjoy reading and photography. I’m a big Shakespeare fan too.

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

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Out today! REMIND ME by Samantha Chase

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a cover and excerpt for a new contemporary romance out today from bestselling author Samantha Chase. REMIND ME is a reconnection romance for a woman coming back to her hometown to settle her great-grandfather’s estate. She never thought she’d fall for her first love all over again. This is the perfect place to jump into Ms. Chase’s work, since it’s the first book in her new Magnolia Sound series. Look for my review in the coming week!

About the book:
It’s been years since Mallory Westbrook set foot in Magnolia Sound, but the death of her great-grandfather forces her back. Two weeks to get his affairs in order then she would return to her life in New York. The perfect plan, if not for Jake Summerford—her first love who broke her heart.

Jake always regretted the way things ended with Mallory and now that she’s back in town, he’s hoping they can put the past behind them. As they reconnect, old feelings resurface and Jake realizes that friendship is only the beginning of what he wants from Mallory.

With one foot out of the door, Mallory is looking for any excuse to leave Magnolia Sound behind. Forever. Will Jake’s plan to replace the old, painful memories help him finally show her their love deserves another chance?

How about a little taste?

“But we were already hanging out,” Mallory reminded him and the look Sam gave her bordered on hysterical. “What? What’s so funny?”
“We all know I’m the third wheel here and the two of you would like nothing more than to be alone, so…I’m leaving,” he said, walking back into the kitchen to put the beer back in the refrigerator. “I’m gonna go home and tell Mom what the plan is–I’m going out to be a good cousin, while you’re here doing…I don’t know…Jake.” He winked. “You two have fun!”
Jake knew he didn’t let out a breath until the back door closed and he saw Sam walk down the deck stairs from the living room window. “Well…that was…awkward.”
“Just a little,” Mallory agreed. “Ugh…why is my brother such a dork?”
Laughing, Jake shifted them until her head was on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t call him a dork, he’s just a little…”
“He’s a dork. Trust me. We’re twins and I’m allowed to say it.” She shook her head. “He’s going to be snarky about this until he leaves.”
“About what?”
“You and me. Us. The fact that he knows what we’re doing.” She groaned. “Now, every time I mention seeing you or doing something, he’s going to make some sort of doofus comment about how I’m doing you. I’m telling you, he’s the worst.”
But Jake couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t have any siblings so he didn’t understand the dynamics, but from where he was sitting, it was all pretty comical. The fact that they each other and had such obvious affection for each other was a pretty amazing thing. Maybe it was because they were twins or something. All he knew was that he hadn’t met many siblings with the kind of relationship Sam and Mallory had.
Plus, he liked knowing Sam looked out for her when he couldn’t.
And that one single thought had him going still.
This wasn’t going anywhere–this was about passing the time and getting her out of his system. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking about his feelings or hers. This was temporary. They both saw the end before they started up again, so why was he suddenly feeling concerned about how Mallory was going to be when he wasn’t around?
“Jake?” she asked softly, looking up at him. “You okay?”
He nodded. Right now, he didn’t want to talk. Hell, he didn’t want to think either. All he wanted was to feel–feel Mallory’s body against his. Feel her skin under his hands. Feel her breath mingling with his.
Standing, he gently tugged her to her feet before plunging his hands into her hair and giving her a searing kiss. If she was surprised by the sudden change of events, she didn’t show it. If anything, she kissed him back with equal abandon.
So good, he thought. Kissing Mallory was always so damn good…
When he had invited her to come home with him earlier–before Sam showed up–Jake envisioned them coming in and talking and maybe sharing some lazy kisses before he seduced her into staying the night. But as Mallory pressed up against him and purred, he was pretty sure nothing was going to be slow and lazy, and that he was the one being seduced.
And he loved every minute of it.
Without breaking the kiss, they maneuvered across the room and down the hall, stopping once so he could back her against the wall and grind against her. She tore her lips from his and sighed his name like a plea. Reaching down, Jake lifted her until her legs wrapped around his waist and it took every bit of self-control he possessed not to take her right then and there. Her dress was bunched up at her waist and the barely-there panties would be gone with only the slightest of tugs…
“Bed,” he growled against her throat even as he continued to rub against her. “I want you in my bed.”
“Then take me there,” she said breathlessly.
Easier said than done, he thought, forcing himself to walk the last ten feet to his room. At the side of the bed, he simply let himself fall and kept Mallory in his arms. They laughed and rolled until they were comfortable and then he sank back into the kiss.
Mallory tugged at his shirt and once she had it pulled free of his trousers, her nails scraped up his back and it gave him chills. Sitting up quickly, he ripped the shirt off–buttons flying in every direction.
“Wow,” she panted. “That was incredibly sexy.”
“Oh, yeah?” he asked, his own breath coming out roughly. “How do you feel about this?” His hand snaked under her dress and he tugged her tiny panties off–the sound of the fabric ripping seemed insanely loud in the room.
“Oh!” she cried as her hips bucked off the bed. Jake knew what she wanted and he was more than happy to give it to her. In a flash her dress was off. He peeled her bra off with his teeth as she writhed beneath him. “Jake…”
Once he had her completely naked, his self-control completely vanished. His mouth and hands were everywhere. While he licked and suckled at her breasts, his hand was ruthlessly teasing her between her legs. Watching Mallory lose control was one of his favorite pastimes and as he urged her on, he knew it would always be this way. She cried out his name again and again and again and each time it ratcheted his own arousal up more and more.
He hated to move away from her even for a second, but he still had half of his own clothes to discard. Mallory reached for him as he moved away and he smoothed a hand across her stomach. “Soon,” he whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

This sounds like a good one!

Interested? YOu can find out more about REMIND ME on Goodreads, or pre-order it in advance of its March 12th release on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and GooglePlay.

About the Author:
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Catch up with Samantha on her website, twitter, Facebook, Instagram and BookBub or sign up for her newsletter.

Right Place, Right Time: BITTEN BY FATE, A Review and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review of a new paranormal M/M romance from Annabelle Jacobs. BITTEN BY FATE is the 6th book in her Regent’s Park Pack series featuring an alternate universe where werewolves are very much a part of everyday life around London. You all know I really enjoyed BITTEN BY MISTAKE and BITTEN BY DESIGN the first two books in this series. I’ve read nearly all of them and am sad that the series is come to a close!

Scroll down to enter the giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC or two previous titles in the series.
About the book:
Daryl plays with fire and gets burned by fate…
Former Primrose Pack member Jason Black happily accepted his role as beta in the new Regent’s Hill pack, knowing that merging the two was the best decision for everyone involved. Daryl Easton is loyal and honest but wary of change. The joining of the two packs wasn’t his preferred outcome, and he’s struggling to see all the newcomers as pack, including those now working alongside him.

When the alpha council proposes a two-week pack-building course to help improve troubled relationships, Jason and Daryl are sent along as backup. It soon becomes clear that the unit members and their betas won’t be the only ones taking part in tasks—Daryl and Jason will have challenges of their own to complete.

With the full moon adding to the rising tension, emotions are volatile, and tempers flare among the unit members. Jason and Daryl become closer than either of them expected, but with such opposing views on relationships, a messy outcome seems inevitable unless Daryl can let go of the past.

My Review:
This alternate world features wolf shifters who have specific pack domains within contemporary London. Daryl has been a lifelong member of the Regent’s Park park, and trusts his alpha and the shifters he’s known for years, but he knows his role. He’s a beta in the pack, which has expanded to include members of the Primrose pack, now that their traitorous alpha was killed and the pack beta imprisoned. So, when his alpha send Daryl to chaperone two other beta units having team building training to better incorporate their Primrose members, Daryl won’t refuse. And, when he finds out he’s sharing quarters with Jason, a new beta from the Primrose pack, well, he’s also not going to refuse. Both Daryl and Jason need to get to know one another better and build some trust so they can help with pack duties.

Of course, the pack bonding activities extend to Jason and Daryl. They have specific tasks that have an erotic tinge to them–especially as they share a mutual attraction. Jason has made no secret of wanting a mated bond, but Daryl shies away from this. He has bad memories of his father and mother–who had a good marriage–getting messed up by his mother inadvertently finding a potential bond match with another male. So, Daryl isn’t willing to get physical with Jason until he’s sure they won’t form a bond. It’s rough on Jason, who can’t understand Daryl’s aversion to bonds.

As they spend time and space with one another, their attraction grows–and Daryl’s tentative explorations at physical love don’t seem to bring on the tingling, bonding hormones. Jason is still wary of falling too hard for Daryl, and being left with a painful unrequited bond. But, he also recognizes the chance he has with Daryl, whose taciturn demeanor changes completely when they are behind closed doors. There he’s passionate and loving in ways Jason didn’t anticipate.

There’s drama with the new pack members clashing with longtime members, but this seems to wane as the team challenges continue. It’s going so well that they plan to leave the camp early and return home–which is good because a potential bond has arisen despite Daryl’s most ardent efforts to contain his emotions. It’s painful and frustrating for both Jason and Daryl, yet it’s nothing compared to how hard it gets when tragedy strikes on their final team bonding day. A crossroads opens between Daryl and Jason with the imminent danger sparking more than a comrade-response. The rush to get home is overshadowed by the suspicion that the accident had been planned. For these guys, their hardest moments come at the very end. And, they do fall headlong into a bond, which Daryl learns to embrace after having some wise counsel from key players in his life.

This is planned to be the final book in this series, not sure if there will be spin-offs; there’s already been one. I’ve enjoyed the journey through all these characters’ experiences and falling in love even when they haven’t planned, wanted, or expected it.

Interested? You can find BITTEN BY FATE on Goodreads and Amazon (US and UK).

You can also find the rest of the Regent’s Park Pack books here:
Book #1 – Bitten By Mistake: Amazon US and UK
Book #2 – Bitten By Design: Amazon US and UK
Book #3 – Bitten By Desire: Amazon US and UK
Book #4 – Bitten By The Alpha: US and UK
Book #5 – Bitten By Her: Amazon US and UK

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $10 GC to Amazon or ebook copies of BITTEN BY MISTAKE and BITTEN BY DESIRE from Ms. Jacobs.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

Catch up with Annabelle online on her website, Facebook, twitter or email at ajacobsfiction (at) gmail (dot) com.
signal boost

Uncommon Connection BORN OF AIR–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a M/M paranormal romance from Sean Michael. BORN OF AIR is the fourth book in his Dragon Soul series. I liked BRANDED BY FLAMES and SEDUCED BY THE TIDE. so I was eager to continue reading in the series. All the Dragon Soul books feature one of the five centuries-old Beteferoce dragon shifter brothers finding love with his perfect mate.

About the book:
SWAT cop and dragon shifter Mark Beteferoce had—and lost—a soul mate. He’s finally at the point where he can get through the days without thinking about what used to be…until he tastes Quincy O’Brien’s doughnuts and takes him home to play.

Quincy O’Brien is a gifted baker, but at night he dreams of soaring through the sky on dragonback and being topped by the perfect Dom. Mark satisfies the kinky urges Quincy has only explored in his subconscious, pushing his limits and caring for him afterward.

From the start, their connection was more than sexual. It’s known; it’s familiar somehow. And it’s slowly driving Mark insane. What shouldn’t be possible most certainly is, and the bond between himself and Quincy runs deeper than either of them could ever have realized.

My Review:
Mark Beteferoce is a SWAT cop and second-eldest of a clutch of dragon shifters who live in eastern Canada. Unlike his younger brothers Jake, Deke and Luke who have recently found their fated mates and bonded, Mark has already had a bonded mate. And, lost him. It’s been nearly a century, and Mark has worked hard to overcome his shattering grief. One day he stops into Quincy’s bakery and falls into instant lust…with a donut. Oaky, and with the cute baker.

That’s all it takes for Mark to swoop in and bring Quincy home for the weekend. And let the sexytimes begin… Until Mark overhears Quincy talking in his sleep and using words only ever uttered by his dead mate.

This is essentially a sexfest, with lots of BDSM including pain play. The Dragon shifters find their mates and then claim them by having lots of bareback sex. Their semen has magical powers to gift their mates with good health and long life–to match that of their immortal dragon mates.

I thought there would be more discussion of the demise of Mark’s first mate, but we skipped that, unfortunately. Quincy has a tentaive link to Mark’s past, but he wants to be seen as Mark’s future, a man of his own merit, and that causes a little low-level conflict. Mostly Mark is a jerk to Quincy at first, and spends a lot of time investigating Quincy’s past to assure himself that he’s not being snowed by a conman. The separation is difficult, because they should be feeding their bond with more sex, and instead they are maintaining a distance. At least until Mark makes amends.

There are some cameos from the other mated Beteferoce brothers, which is fun. Don’t expect more of a plot than two men meet and have an unexpected spark…and tons of sex. If that’s your jam, and you dig dragons flying with their mates, well this is the book for you.

Interested? You can find BORN OF AIR on Goodreads, Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Often referred to as “Space Cowboy” and “Gangsta of Love” while still striving for the moniker of “Maurice,” Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to “Chicago.”

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Catch up with Sean on line on his website, blog, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Illegal Love BITTEN BY MISTAKE–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a paranormal M/M romance from Annabelle Jacobs. BITTEN BY MISTAKE is the 1st book in her Regent’s Park Pack series featuring an alternate universe where werewolves are very much a part of everyday life around London. I really enjoyed BITTEN BY DESIGN but I read this one a ways back and didn’t have a chance to post my review until now.

Scroll down to enter the giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC or two titles in the series–including BITTEN BY MISTAKE.
About the book:
From animosity to searing passion in a lunar cycle… but can their bond survive?

Wolf shifter Nathan Kohl’s pack is his whole life. Arrogant and handsome, he avoids commitment to anything or anyone outside of his pack. He works hard, plays hard, and pursues humans as lovers because there’s little to no chance of him forming a permanent bond. However, when Jared Taylor comes into Nathan’s life, every rule is broken.

After a bad experience, Jared vowed to never get involved with another shifter, no matter how much they got under his skin. Despite being physically attracted to Nathan, who’s all kinds of hot, Jared only sees an arrogant, domineering bastard.

A disastrous case of mistaken identity throws Nathan and Jared together until the next full moon. Forced to spend the next twenty-eight days in close proximity, they can no longer ignore the powerful attraction between them. Passion ignites, and their relationship takes a turn neither of them wanted.

But when the full moon comes, everything might change again.

My Review:
This story (series) is set in modern-day London with an alternate universe of wolf shifters who co-exist with humans. THere is a history of Pack Wars having ended about a decade before, and a law requiring bites from shifters to humans to be registered and consented to–in order to prevent illegal turning of humans to fill pack rota.

Nathan Kohl is a member of the Regent’s Park Pack of wolves. He’s a decent looking guy, and he’s generally down for some no-strings sexytimes. He hits on Jared, a cute human with an aversion to shifters–ever since that bad experience. While Nathan’s cool with Jared’s cold shoulder, they run into each other again as Nathan’s chasing rogue shifters through pack territory. He’s flustered in the moment, having battled and knowing he’s got to get rid of this threat when he attacks a figure he thinks is one of the rogues. He bites first…and learns his victim is Jared.

Jared is wrecked, thinking he’s dead meat. Nathan stops short of killing Jared, but he knows he could be imprisoned or executed if Jared turns wolf from this illegal bite. He convinces Jared to come to his home for medical attention, and to monitor his potential turn from humanity. Jared isn’t pleased by the situation, but he recognizes that Nathan could have killed him and hidden the evidence of his crime. He’s willing to wait out the next full moon and see what happens. What happens is that Jared and Nathan sequester themselves in Nathan’s pack flat. And, it’s a tight space for two guys who would normally find each other irresistible.

Though enemies, they begin to connect on an emotional and physical level. Nathan can’t keep the secret of Jared–his fellow wolves have heightened senses and will smell Jared’s foreign presence. They have to come clean to Nathan’s beta and alpha wolves in order to protect both Nathan and tend to Jared’s needs. Plus, the rogue shifters are back, and the threat of escalating violence causes the Regent’s Park alpha to reach out to his adjacent neighbor–alpha of the Primrose pack. This guy Alpha Newell is a real piece of work, and while both pack need to take down the rogues together, Newell is more interested in ensuring Nathan pay dearly for his mistake.

I liked the action and paced of this story. There’s so much happening between the shifter politics and the growing bond between Nathan and Jared. Shifters have a “fated mate” love in this world, and Jared seems to be Nathan’s–which is is both joyous and disastrous. Nathan’s concerned what it might mean to Jared if they bond and then Nathan’s prosecuted, or executed. A widowed mate could be forever damaged emotionally and physically. There’s just enough backstory for us to understand the world, and Nathan’s place in it. He makes a sympathetic character because of the mistaken identity–and hos later persecution by Alpha Newell. WHile Jared’s a bit insufferable at the beginning, it felt reasonable due to the extenuating circumstance. Once he and Nathan begin to bond, however, he’s 100% in Nathan’s corner, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep his wolf lover by his side.

As a beginning book in a series, this is a great start with lots of interesting characters, and a dynamic plot. I wished I had a bit more sense of the London world here, as it felt a little lackluster. While some descriptions were given of the locale, it was generic enough I could have imagined these folks haunting the streets/parks of Chicago.

Interested? You can find BITTEN BY MISTAKE on Goodreads and Amazon US and UK

You can also find the rest of the Regent’s Park Pack books here:
Book #2 – Bitten By Design: Amazon US and UK
Book #3 – Bitten By Desire: Amazon US and UK
Book #4 – Bitten By The Alpha: US and UK
Book #5 – Bitten By Her: Amazon US and UK
Book #6 – Bitten By Fate: Amazon US and UK

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $10 GC to Amazon or ebook copies of BITTEN BY MISTAKE and BITTEN BY DESIRE from Ms. Jacobs.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

Catch up with Annabelle online on her website, Facebook, twitter or email at ajacobsfiction (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Coming Soon! REMIND ME by Samantha Chase

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a cover and excerpt for a new contemporary romance coming soon from bestselling author Samantha Chase. REMIND ME is a reconnection romance for a woman coming back to her hometown to settle her great-grandfather’s estate. She never thought she’d fall for her first love all over again. This is the first book in the new Magnolia Sound series, so it’s a good place to jump into this author’s work, if you haven’t read her before.

About the book:
It’s been years since Mallory Westbrook set foot in Magnolia Sound, but the death of her great-grandfather forces her back. Two weeks to get his affairs in order then she would return to her life in New York. The perfect plan, if not for Jake Summerford—her first love who broke her heart.

Jake always regretted the way things ended with Mallory and now that she’s back in town, he’s hoping they can put the past behind them. As they reconnect, old feelings resurface and Jake realizes that friendship is only the beginning of what he wants from Mallory.

With one foot out of the door, Mallory is looking for any excuse to leave Magnolia Sound behind. Forever. Will Jake’s plan to replace the old, painful memories help him finally show her their love deserves another chance?

How about a little taste?

“But we were already hanging out,” Mallory reminded him and the look Sam gave her bordered on hysterical. “What? What’s so funny?”
“We all know I’m the third wheel here and the two of you would like nothing more than to be alone, so…I’m leaving,” he said, walking back into the kitchen to put the beer back in the refrigerator. “I’m gonna go home and tell Mom what the plan is–I’m going out to be a good cousin, while you’re here doing…I don’t know…Jake.” He winked. “You two have fun!”
Jake knew he didn’t let out a breath until the back door closed and he saw Sam walk down the deck stairs from the living room window. “Well…that was…awkward.”
“Just a little,” Mallory agreed. “Ugh…why is my brother such a dork?”
Laughing, Jake shifted them until her head was on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t call him a dork, he’s just a little…”
“He’s a dork. Trust me. We’re twins and I’m allowed to say it.” She shook her head. “He’s going to be snarky about this until he leaves.”
“About what?”
“You and me. Us. The fact that he knows what we’re doing.” She groaned. “Now, every time I mention seeing you or doing something, he’s going to make some sort of doofus comment about how I’m doing you. I’m telling you, he’s the worst.”
But Jake couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t have any siblings so he didn’t understand the dynamics, but from where he was sitting, it was all pretty comical. The fact that they each other and had such obvious affection for each other was a pretty amazing thing. Maybe it was because they were twins or something. All he knew was that he hadn’t met many siblings with the kind of relationship Sam and Mallory had.
Plus, he liked knowing Sam looked out for her when he couldn’t.
And that one single thought had him going still.
This wasn’t going anywhere–this was about passing the time and getting her out of his system. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking about his feelings or hers. This was temporary. They both saw the end before they started up again, so why was he suddenly feeling concerned about how Mallory was going to be when he wasn’t around?
“Jake?” she asked softly, looking up at him. “You okay?”
He nodded. Right now, he didn’t want to talk. Hell, he didn’t want to think either. All he wanted was to feel–feel Mallory’s body against his. Feel her skin under his hands. Feel her breath mingling with his.
Standing, he gently tugged her to her feet before plunging his hands into her hair and giving her a searing kiss. If she was surprised by the sudden change of events, she didn’t show it. If anything, she kissed him back with equal abandon.
So good, he thought. Kissing Mallory was always so damn good…
When he had invited her to come home with him earlier–before Sam showed up–Jake envisioned them coming in and talking and maybe sharing some lazy kisses before he seduced her into staying the night. But as Mallory pressed up against him and purred, he was pretty sure nothing was going to be slow and lazy, and that he was the one being seduced.
And he loved every minute of it.
Without breaking the kiss, they maneuvered across the room and down the hall, stopping once so he could back her against the wall and grind against her. She tore her lips from his and sighed his name like a plea. Reaching down, Jake lifted her until her legs wrapped around his waist and it took every bit of self-control he possessed not to take her right then and there. Her dress was bunched up at her waist and the barely-there panties would be gone with only the slightest of tugs…
“Bed,” he growled against her throat even as he continued to rub against her. “I want you in my bed.”
“Then take me there,” she said breathlessly.
Easier said than done, he thought, forcing himself to walk the last ten feet to his room. At the side of the bed, he simply let himself fall and kept Mallory in his arms. They laughed and rolled until they were comfortable and then he sank back into the kiss.
Mallory tugged at his shirt and once she had it pulled free of his trousers, her nails scraped up his back and it gave him chills. Sitting up quickly, he ripped the shirt off–buttons flying in every direction.
“Wow,” she panted. “That was incredibly sexy.”
“Oh, yeah?” he asked, his own breath coming out roughly. “How do you feel about this?” His hand snaked under her dress and he tugged her tiny panties off–the sound of the fabric ripping seemed insanely loud in the room.
“Oh!” she cried as her hips bucked off the bed. Jake knew what she wanted and he was more than happy to give it to her. In a flash her dress was off. He peeled her bra off with his teeth as she writhed beneath him. “Jake…”
Once he had her completely naked, his self-control completely vanished. His mouth and hands were everywhere. While he licked and suckled at her breasts, his hand was ruthlessly teasing her between her legs. Watching Mallory lose control was one of his favorite pastimes and as he urged her on, he knew it would always be this way. She cried out his name again and again and again and each time it ratcheted his own arousal up more and more.
He hated to move away from her even for a second, but he still had half of his own clothes to discard. Mallory reached for him as he moved away and he smoothed a hand across her stomach. “Soon,” he whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

This sounds like a good one!

Interested? YOu can find out more about REMIND ME on Goodreads, or pre-order it in advance of its March 12th release on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and GooglePlay.

About the Author:
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Catch up with Samantha on her website, twitter, Facebook, Instagram and BookBub or sign up for her newsletter.

Out Today! BITTEN BY FATE

Hi there! Today I’m getting the word out on a new paranormal M/M romance from Annabelle Jacobs. BITTEN BY FATE is the 6th book in her Regent’s Park Pack series featuring an alternate universe where werewolves are very much a part of everyday life around London. I really enjoyed BITTEN BY DESIGN and a few of the others…though I’ve been slow to post reviews here.

Scroll down to enter the giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC or two previous titles in the series.
About the book:
Daryl plays with fire and gets burned by fate…
Former Primrose Pack member Jason Black happily accepted his role as beta in the new Regent’s Hill pack, knowing that merging the two was the best decision for everyone involved. Daryl Easton is loyal and honest but wary of change. The joining of the two packs wasn’t his preferred outcome, and he’s struggling to see all the newcomers as pack, including those now working alongside him.

When the alpha council proposes a two-week pack-building course to help improve troubled relationships, Jason and Daryl are sent along as backup. It soon becomes clear that the unit members and their betas won’t be the only ones taking part in tasks—Daryl and Jason will have challenges of their own to complete.

With the full moon adding to the rising tension, emotions are volatile, and tempers flare among the unit members. Jason and Daryl become closer than either of them expected, but with such opposing views on relationships, a messy outcome seems inevitable unless Daryl can let go of the past.

Interested? You can find BITTEN BY FATE on Goodreads and Amazon (US and UK.

You can also find the rest of the Regent’s Park Pack books here:
Book #1 – Bitten By Mistake: Amazon US and UK
Book #2 – Bitten By Design: Amazon US and UK
Book #3 – Bitten By Desire: Amazon US and UK
Book #4 – Bitten By The Alpha:  US and UK
Book #5 – Bitten By Her: Amazon US and UK

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $10 GC to Amazon or ebook copies of BITTEN BY MISTAKE and BITTEN BY DESIRE from Ms. Jacobs.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

Catch up with Annabelle online on her website, Facebook, twitter or email at ajacobsfiction (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Unexpectedly Loving a SINGLE WHITE INCUBUS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a M/M contemporary paranormal romance from EJ Russell. If you aren’t from Illinois/the Chicago area, you may not know it, but today is Casimir Pulaski Day–a celebration of the life of a Polish general from the American Revolutionary War. As we have a large Polish population, we often take off the first Monday in March to celebrate this hero…and I spent the day working. (Teachers have the most homework!!) Anywho, This book has a Casimir in it, so I thought I’d finally post a review since I read it a few months ago and I totally loved it. SINGLE WHITE INCUBUS is the first book in the Supernatural Selection series that follows supes of all types finding love through a witch=run online matchmaking service. It all started with CUTIE AND THE BEAST. THE DRUID NEXT DOOR and BAD BOY’S BARD, but this book is a fun spin-off.

About the book:
Does a bear shift in the woods?
Well, partially. That was what got grizzly shifter Ted Farnsworth into trouble. He wasn’t trying to break the Secrecy Pact. He just wants people to see the real him. So he signs up with the mate-matching service Supernatural Selection — which guarantees marriage to a perfect partner. Not only will Ted never be lonely again, but once his new beaver shifter husband arrives, they’ll build Ted’s dream wilderness retreat together. Win-win.

Quentin Bertrand-Harrington, scion of an incubus dynasty, has abstained from sex since nearly killing his last lover. When his family declares it’s time for him to marry, Quentin decides the only way not to murder his partner is to pick someone who’s already dead. Supernatural Selection finds him the ideal vampire, and Quentin signs the marriage agreement sight unseen.

But a mix-up at Supernatural Selection contracts Quentin with Ted. What’s Ted supposed to do with an art historian who knows more about salad forks than screwdrivers? And how can Quentin resist Ted’s mouthwatering life force? Yet as they work together to untangle their inconvenient union, they begin to wonder if their unexpected match might be perfect after all.

My Review:
Quentin Bertrand-Harrington is a wealthy celibate incubus looking for a mate, now that his mother has declared it necessary for him to marry. But, he’s terrified of harming another potential lover. His incubus power drains his lovers, and if he gets carried away it could turn one into a husk–so he thinks it best to find an undead lover of the same station. Casimir Moreau, an unmatched vampire of some renown, seems to be a perfect match, as guaranteed by the Supernatural Selection Agency.

Quentin takes a suppressor to dull his incubi urges, and he doses up in preparation for the cross-country flight from his Boston home to Portland, Oregon. He’s so out of it, he doesn’t know that the binding marriage contracts he signed were changed at the last moment, but he does find out rather quickly after being dropped off in the middle of a forest on the doorstep of his unexpected husband, Ted Farnsworth.

Ted is a grizzly shifter, and not too quick on the uptake. He’s not okay with what he suspects was Quentin’s interference. What good is a city-wise art historian out in the woods? Ted had been expecting to marry an industrious non-shifting beaver named Rusty. Rusty might not turn into a beaver, but he has a gift with wood, and construction. Ted wanted Rusty to help him finish a rental vacation lodge for other supes as a business they could run together.

He treats Quentin rather shabbily, and needs to reach out to the only people he trusts to help: Dr. Kendrick, his therapist, and David, Kendrick’s healer husband. These are characters from CUTIE AND THE BEAST, and they make some fun cameos. Ted and Quentin are officially married, even if the plan is to break their bond and unite with the original supes they were paired with. Only, it’ll take a month to get this managed, on account of the witches’ spell needing to take place in a certain phase of the moon. In the meantime, David helps Quentin to see that his chemical suppressors are actually toxic to him. Out in the woods, it’s less likely that Quentin will stumble upon a naive victim for his hunger–and once he and Ted agree to have some sexytimes, Quentin’s more healthy than he has been in years.

This is a charming odd-couple romance, with all sorts of zany characters, and fun adventures. Ted is a bear of a man, who’s also subject to fits of grizzly temper. The first part is attractive to Quentin, while the temper needs to be tamed. I liked how these guys fit each other so perfectly, both helping the other through the hard parts of their lives. While they originally thought it was imperative to manage a quickie divorce, they soon fall for one another. Should they go against the original match? Or, did the magic make a last-second switch for all the right reasons? Their choices sway the situation in favor of true love, and it works out to a very happy ending.

Interested? You can find SINGLE WHITE INCUBUS on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
E.J. Russell writes romance in a rainbow of flavors — from M/F stories grounded in absurd contemporary reality to M/M tales splashed with the supernatural — but you can be sure that while the couple makes their way to HEA, they’ll never stray too far into the dark.

You can catch up with Ms. Russell on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!