Giveaways

Out Now! THE SARRAN SENATOR–Excerpt and Giveaway!

BannerTemplate-4Hi there! Getting the word out on a new book in the M/M, menage/poly sci-fi Sarrans series from A.C. Katt. THE SARRAN SENATOR looks to be an intense read.

Catch an excerpt and enter the giveaway for a four-book Sarrans set below.

The_Sarran_Senator_400x600About the book:
The Sarrans return home from Earth in triumph, having gained many new Earthen fems, coffee, chocolate, and cats.

Senator Samuel Johnson joins his grandson Michael, his daughter Sara, and her WarriorPair on Sarran. To his delighted surprise, he bonds irrevocably with Tarin, one of Sarran’s top engineers. Tarin had been bonded before and thought he would never experience a bond again, yet Sam’s love gives him a new lease on life. Now they only hope the Goddess has a fem for them.

Then the Sarran Elders host a mixer for Sarran warriors to meet the Earthen fems. Margaret Mary O’Neil, Meg to her friends, is a talented woman who fled to Sarran like so many Earth women looking for a new life. When she meets Sam and Tarin, her life changes forever.

But while things are looking up for the Sarrans, with new babies being born and WarriorPairs settling down, their enemy the Zyptz are relentless in their efforts to wipe them out. When the Zyptz attack both Sarran and Earth, the mutual dependence between the two becomes ever more evident.

How about a little taste?

::We will need to get our promise rings and Asta glasses, but we can decide where to live and get our rings and glasses later. Right now I want you under me.:: Tarin pushed Sam’s shoulders down into the softness of the couch pillows. Sam turned on his side so they faced each other.

::I foolishly didn’t bother to ask, although I should have consulted Mark, but now that I’ve taken the vial, does my equipment work the same way?::

::Yes and no. Externally you will see the slick that pours from under your foreskin. This enables one of us to penetrate the other and our fem without pain when we bond. Internally, there will be a type of a tube, a Secondary Sperm Valve that connects your channel to the seminal vesicle in your partner. When a Sarran Warrior receives sperm from his bonded, it opens the valve. The sperm goes through the valve to connect to the seminal vesicle where they mix with the sperm of your bonded. It is only when they mix that we can impregnate our fem. Our offspring are born with half of our fem’s DNA and one-quarter of each of ours. After we form the bond with our fem, we may make penetrative love with her or without her, as the Triad chooses.::

::I feel foolish asking for such basic information. I had the whole voyage to research this aspect of Sarran physiology. I was concentrating on helping Michael adjust to Sara’s Warriors.::

::You did the right thing, my fox. From the holos you showed me, Michael had reason to be wary.::

::Now I feel like a pre-pubescent offspring in health class, not knowing how my body is supposed to function.:: Sam blushed. ::How do I please you?::

::All the ways you’d please yourself without penetration. Let me show you.:: Tarin sat up, got off the couch, and knelt in front of Sam, removing the boots Mark and Juraens had fabricated for him on board the Brightstar. Tarin kissed the inside of Sam’s knee. Sam moaned. He never knew he had a hot spot there.

Tarin removed his own boots and then attacked Sam’s flightsuit. The one-piece garment came off quickly, giving Tarin access to Sam’s body.

Sam looked at his lover in appreciation. “You have a beautiful, hard form. I love your wavy blonde hair and blue eyes. You are everything I ever looked for in a man. If I had met you before Mary, I doubt I would have joined the army. I’d have become a college professor and lived in a house very much like this with you always at my side.”

Sam ran his palm down Tarin’s side from his shoulder to the curve of his ass. “Beautiful … I can’t believe how lucky I am and it seems even our dreams are in alignment.”

Tarin blushed. ::I keep in shape because any Sarran Warrior can be called to battle at any time. You were in governance, how did you train? You have a hard and well-made body, my fox.::

::In the Senate Gym. I exercised and had a trainer. If I were going to be the President, I had to be in the best shape I’d ever been in my life. The job is debilitating. Although the United States is only one country on Earth, the President of the United States carries the weight of the world on his shoulders because we act as the planet’s police and are the only major power left on Earth. Russia and China have the land mass and China has population, but the United States still has the upper hand in weaponry. We, like the Sarrans, also have fierce Warriors.::

::Being on council is much the same as you describe the presidency. The Elders aged quickly during the war and later when the Zyptz took our fems, the Elders bore the brunt of finding a solution. Our population is dangerously low, a mere twenty-thousand WarriorPairs. If you add the unbonded Warriors and offspring, it is another ten thousand. We need all of these bebes our fems are carrying and we must keep them safe.::

::You have too much open land to police properly. What you need is a type of radar that lets the government know immediately if the atmosphere has been breached, or better still, something that shields the planet from all but our own vessels.::

“I’ve been working on that project with Bron. It’s almost ready.”

Sam was about to speak and Tarin put a finger on his lips. ::My fox, I want to know everything about you. We could talk until dawntine but right now, I want to love you. We’re naked and wanting. Can we make love?::

Sam smiled and kissed his bonded’s eyes. “I was counting on it.”

Interested? You can find THE SARRAN SENATOR on Amazon and JMS Books.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win the four-book Sarrans series set from author AC Katt.

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
AC Katt was born in New York City’s Greenwich Village. She remembers sitting at the fountain in Washington Square Park listening to folk music while they passed the hat. At nine, her parents dragged her to New Jersey where she grew up, married and raised four children and became a voracious reader of romantic fiction. At one time she owned over two thousand novels, until she and her husband took themselves and the cat to New Mexico for their health and its great beauty.

Now, most of AC’s books are electronic (although she still keeps six bookcases of hardcovers), so she never has to give away another book. AC is a late bloomer, however, she claims to have found her niche writing LGBT romance.

She hangs out at ACKatt.com and ackattsjournal.com; where she keeps her blog. To get snippets of new releases and Works in Progress subscribe to AC Katt’s Kattery by sending an e-mail to mlhansel@gmail.com.

You can reach AC online on her website, blog, Facebook, twitter, and Pinterest.

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Trying to Create SOMETHING FROM NOTHING–Excerpt and Giveaway!

BannerTemplate-3Hi there! Today I’m sharing a peek at a new book and fantasy M/M romance series from Nicky James. SOMETHING FROM NOTHING sounds like a suspense-filled read.

Catch the excerpt and enter the book giveaway below.

Nicole-James-customDesign-JayAheer2016-ebook-smallpreviewAbout the book:
With an impending war breathing down his neck and an ornery group of councilmen trying to keep him on track, accidental and unlikely King, Alistair Ellesmere, struggles to find a balance between being young, having fun, and ruling his realm his way.

Alistair befriends Brandon, one of his prodigy new recruits, whose smart-ass personality drives him to the brink of insanity when he shows him up at every turn. Through an unexpected bit of witty manipulation, Alistair finds himself drawn down a forbidden path where he shares more than just a similar past with this man. Terrified at the idea of loving another man, but unable to tear himself away, Alistair is faced with the trials of secrecy, jealousy and the law.

How about a little taste?

His dark blond hair falls in waves in front of his eyes, covering them again. I want to see those eyes. Need to see those eyes. He is no longer the scrawny kid who stood before me last spring. He has been working with Corban on strength training, as I suggested a while ago, and is showing much progress. His shirt is pulled tight over his newly developing muscles and my eyes move over his body, taking in his stunning appearance. My breath hitches in my throat as though I have forgotten how to breathe, which is ridiculous since I’ve been doing it all my life without a problem until now.

Ka-Thump, Ka-thump, Ka-thump.

It had started out as a challenge. Did I have the balls to match Brandon’s crazy antics? I thought so, but then, I ran away. Something happened that night to make me run and I have buried it deep, refusing to see it. Refusing to admit it. But it is there, undeniably there, and now as I stand before this man, heart ready to jump out of my chest, I know why. What Brandon suggested is crazy. It’s insane and was completely unexpected, but…It excites me, sends a thrill sparking through my body.

Bloody hell. I’m losing it. This is nuts.

Brandon risked a lot that night. The man all out admitted how he felt about me and I’m standing here, right now, because I need to know, as twisted and confusing as it is, if I feel the same.

Interested? You can find SOMETHING FROM NOTHING on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win an ebook of SOMETHING FROM NOTHING.
Good luck and keep reading my friends.

About the Author:
I live in the small town of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada and I am a mother to a wonderful teenage boy (didn’t think those words could be typed together…surprise) and wife to a truly supportive and understanding husband, who thankfully doesn’t think I’m crazy.

I have always had two profound dreams in life. To fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world, not bogged down by technology and to write novels. Since only one of these was a possibility I decided to make the other come alive on paper.

I write mm romance novels that take place in fantastical medieval type settings and love to use the challenges of the times to give my stories and characters life.

You can find Nicky online on her blog, Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

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Deceptions Abound in SMOKE AND FIRE–Review, Egg Hunt and Giveaway!

Smoke And Fire Blog Tour bannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a newly released book from paranormal romance sensation Donna Grant. SMOKE AND FIRE is the ninth book of her Dark Kings series all featuring contemporary romances for millennia-old dragon shifters. This new book is a second-chance romance for Ryder, the tech-savvy Dragon King, and the girl he loved and left three years before: Kinsey. It’s a fast-paced story that encompasses a huge world from which I’ve only gotten a taste.

To celebrate the release of SMOKE AND FIRE and the season of Spring, there is also a DRAGON EGG HUNT going on throughout the tour! Exciting, right? Certain stops throughout the tour will have something special to share with you which will provide you with an extra entry for the giveaway. Just like a traditional egg hunt, you’re going to have to search for these items/information!! Find out more information about the Dragon Egg Hunt at the bottom of the post!

Smoke and Fire (Dark Kings #9)About the book:
She wanted to touch him. There had always been something about being in his arms that made her feel as if she could tackle anything and the world wouldn’t dare get in her way…

SWORN TO PROTECT
A dragon shapeshifter and a computer mastermind, Ryder is sent to guard Glasgow after a devastating Dark attack. But when memories of an explosive affair come back to him-in the flesh-Ryder cannot help but want to protect the woman who haunts his dreams. Even if means shifting into the dragon he was never supposed to reveal…

DRIVEN TO DESIRE
Kinsey could never get enough of Ryder. His every touch only left her wanting more. But now that she’s seen him in his true form, Kinsey’s world is rocked to the core. She knows that to stay-and feel-alive, she must be with Ryder. But is Kinsey’s passion worth the risk of danger that comes with being a part of Ryder’s dark and fierce world?

How about a taste?

Kinsey felt as if she’d been run over by a train. Her heart began to knock against her ribs. There was a rushing in her ears, and she was sure her knees were going to buckle at any second.

How was it even possible that she was staring into Ryder’s hazel eyes that were a beautiful mixture of green and gold? His blond hair was cropped short on the sides with a little more length on the top. It didn’t matter if his hair was long as it used to be or short, he still took her breath away.

Was it his chiseled jaw or penetrating gaze? It could be his mouth and the wonderful things those lips could do to her. She knew there was a possibility it was his body, honed to perfection without an ounce of fat anywhere.

But he wasn’t human.

She needed to remember that.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

For a moment, he didn’t move as he looked at her. Then he sat back in his chair and swept his hand from one side of the room to the other. “This is my domain.”
She was damn good at her job, but Ryder exceeded her talent by miles and miles. “You asked for me specifically. Why? Because you had to talk? You could’ve just called instead of going to such lengths.”

“I didna send for you.”

There were few times in her life where Kinsey experienced full-on, please-let-the-floor-open-up-and-swallow-me embarrassment. Today, right at that moment, was the worst she’d ever suffered to a degree that nothing would ever compare.
She wanted to shrink away and disappear, to stop looking into his hazel eyes and trying to figure out what was going on. What did Ryder mean he didn’t send for her? Someone had. She didn’t just show up on a whim.

The room began to tilt. Kinsey blinked rapidly. She wouldn’t faint. She’d never fainted in her life, and she certainly wasn’t going to do it in front of Ryder. Hadn’t she experienced her embarrassment quota for the next forty years?

Beside her, Tristan cleared his throat. “Kinsey, I think there might’ve been a wee bit of a mistake.”

“There’s not,” she said and glanced over her shoulder into Tristan’s dark gaze. “And I can prove it.”

My Review:
When I signed on to read this book I didn’t know it was NINTH in a series. I must say that this book is best enjoyed when read in order. For those who are new to it, it’s still a fast-paced adventure, but the myriad characters, of good, evil, and undecided factions, are a lot to absorb.

The heart of this book is the love story that develops when Ryder, one of the Dragon Kings who inhabit Dreagan mountain (and whisky distillery) reunites with his lost love, an accomplished hacker named Kinsey. Ryder and Kinsey met four years prior and shared a deep love for a year. Then, Ryder disappeared without a trace. And brokenhearted Kinsey searched high and low for him.

In the three years since she’s had only one contact with Ryder, seeing him descend out of a flying dive as a dragon, who morphed into his human form to save her from death at the hands of a Dark Fae. Kinsey was rattled to say the very least. Sent by her company, Kyvor, to Dreagan’s offices, she’s stunned to meet Ryder face-to-face. No one can explain why she’s on the property, and a bogus work order only sends Kinsey and Ryder deep into the inner communications of Kyvor’s elite agents. As the time passes, Kinsey’s struck by her attraction to Ryder, and Ryder’s eager to spend any time he can with Kinsey–even if it means snuggling in beside her as she sleeps, because she ain’t leaving now that she’s breached their inner web of security.

Alongside of this are the continuing plot threads of the series–the looming war with Ulrik, a deposed Dragon King, battles with the Dark Fae, and that pesky Human problem. Just when it seemed as if all would work out, we had another curve ball hefted right at our reconnected lovebirds. This one was nearly fatal, but crisis-averted due to cooler heads at work. Thank goodness, because Ryder would have been devastated to have harmed Kinsey and later determined she was an innocent. There’s a little bit of lovin’ going on, but not much considering the length of the book.

Also, this book is being released in four parts. It’s probably intriguing for fans of the series, but fresh readers are going to want the full-book upfront as the early parts have too many people and too little substance tying them together to keep the narrative compelling. I found that I really didn’t get engaged until the end of the second part, nearly halfway through the book. That’s my own fault for not having read the previous eight books, so I stuck with it to the end and really liked it.

Interested? You can find SMOKE AND FIRE on Goodreads, Amazon (paperback or ebook), Audible, Barnes & Noble (paperback or ebook), Books A Million, iBooks, Kobo, IndieBound, and Tantor.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win prizes in the big giveaway including: a print copy of SMOLDERING HUNGER, a print copy of PASSIONS IGNITES, an ebook copy of DRAGON KING (Dark Kings novella), an ebook copy – Winner’s choice of any book in the Dark Kings series, or a Dreagan tote bag with 4 buttons from the Dark Kings and Reaper series! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and is for the duration of the event.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Mentioned earlier in the post was a DRAGON EGG HUNT going on throughout the tour. There are 9 “Dragon Eggs” (i.e. Blog Tour Stops) throughout the blog tour. Each representing one of the books in the series! The fun part is that, like a regular egg hunt, you’ll have to find these special stops and then FIND the “Dragon Egg”. The “Dragon Egg” is actually information within the site. Yup, site. 😉 You’ll have to visit each tour host, each day to see if they have a Dragon Egg for you to find. The Rafflecopter widget will provide you with the hint. The hint will be a questions or it will ask you for specific information. The DRAGON EGG HUNT is a fun and interactive activity that will provide you, the reader with some insightful information about the series!

donna_grant_newAbout the Author:
Donna Grant is the New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.
She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.

You can find Donna online on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Tumblr, Audible, and Tantor.

1e96c-enchantress2bdesign2b25262bpromo2btour2bbanner

Will & Patrick MEET THE MOB–Review & Giveaway!

Will & Patrick Meet the Mob BannerHi there! I’m so excited to share a review for the fifth book in the Will and Patrick series by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths. MEET THE MOB is yet another big step for these two men who married while drunk in Vegas and are now, semi-reluctantly, building a life together. You’ll need to read the previous episodes, (WAKE UP MARRIED, MEET THE FAMILY, DO THE HOLIDAYS, and FIGHT THEIR FEELINGS) first, for this one to make any sense, however. It’s certainly worth your time; I’ve enjoyed them all!

Catch the excerpt, my review and enter to win a copy of any of the Wil and Patrick episodes below.

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00075]About the book:

Patrick has finally accepted that he’s in love with Will, but his newfound determination to do something about that runs up against his father-in-law’s mobster plans. Though just what those plans are have as yet to be determined. As far as Will and Patrick can tell, they consist of blowing through town, wreaking small havoc, and turning the Patterson family’s lives on end.

Will must face the truth about his family before he can fully come to terms with his feelings for Patrick. And Patrick has to decide if this whackadoodle world is something he truly wants to be part of forever.

Episode 5 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.

How about a yummy taste?

The next morning, Will’s romantic musings feel like the product of overwrought exhaustion when Patrick wakes up cranky as a cat dunked in water.

“Turn off the alarm,” he snarls. “Make it stop.” Then, sitting up and glaring at Will like he’s going to kill him with the power of his mind, he demands, “Did you test yet? Did you eat? What’s your BG number?”

Will’s not even out of bed. Only fifteen seconds ago he’d had one hundred and seventy pounds of Patrick spread out on top of him. Of course he hasn’t tested yet. “I just woke up.”

“Don’t make me test you myself.” Patrick flings back the covers and stalks to the bathroom in his underwear. Will rolls his eyes but grabs his kit and quickly tests. Over the sound of piss hitting water, Patrick calls out, “Well? What’s the number?”

“Ninety-eight. Calm your tits.”

Patrick comes out, arms crossed over his chest and his hair sticking up everywhere. “Calm my tits? Calm your tits.”

Will indicates his nipples. “What? Check ’em out. Not even a little bit pointy.”

Patrick narrows his gaze but a reluctant smirk tweaks up the corner of his mouth.

“Let me guess.” Will laughs. “You know how to change that.” The knot of worry loosens in his chest. “Maybe later. I have to eat first.”

While they wait for room service, they shower and shave, and Will endures Patrick making a solid pitch for him to consider a Continuous Glucose Monitoring System.

“I’ll ask Dr. Anastasia about it,” Will compromises.

“And a pump.”

“Don’t push your luck.”

They throw on robes to greet Perry and his cart of warm, delicious-smelling goodies. Conversation is cut dead at that point as Patrick devours his bacon, muffins, doughnuts, and strawberries with fresh cream. Will’s healthier breakfast of cottage cheese, whole-wheat toast, and a small slice of quiche Lorraine isn’t nearly as exciting, but he doesn’t know how Patrick stays so slim eating like he does. If he tried it, he’d be the size of a house.

Once they finish breakfast, Will broaches the topic. “We’re going to need to talk about my dad eventually.”

“What happened to pretending he’s dead?”

“Unfortunately, he’s not.”

“Point.”

“And he’s staying in this building, so we’re bound to run into him sooner rather than later.”

“Better point.”

Will lets a wry grin spread on his lips. “But I’m not going to just sit back and let him run the show this time. I need find out why he’s in town and then get him to leave again. As soon as possible.” He stands up and brings the chess set over to the table, clearing away their plates. “If we can play ahead of his game, we can at least capture his queen. And then maybe even his king. Especially since he won’t be expecting us to be playing at all.”

“If by queen you’re referring to Kimberly, I don’t know about that. She’s a slippery one.”

“You think Tony’s back because of my mother?”

“Historically, her milkshake has brought him to the yard.”

Will sighs as he sets up the board. “She’s only been dating Jason a few weeks. Tony usually waits for her to get serious before he drops in to ruin her chance at happiness.”

“Maybe Jason proposed.”

“That’d be on The Hurting Times forums ten minutes after it happened. Have you seen it there?”

“Nope.”

“And Caitlin would have called threatening to jump off a bridge or shave her head or something drastic in protest.”

“So he hasn’t put a ring on it yet.”

Will moves his pawn forward. “It’s still a starting place.”

Patrick shoves one of his pawns out to an empty square. “Before surgery, I have to know what I’m dealing with. I can’t just cut into someone’s noggin without knowing if I’m going in to repair damage or to cut out a tumor. Same here. We need more information. What’s your dad’s sign?”

Will’s lips flatten. “Seriously?”

Patrick lifts his brows.

“Sagittarius.”

“I knew it!” Patrick shakes his head. “Never trust a Sagittarius.”

Will sighs and ignores this. “Even though the award ceremony isn’t until March, word is getting around now that I won the Healing Hero Award. I hope to God he’s not planning to stick around for that.”

“A congratulatory phone call from Mobster Daddy would have sufficed.”

Will moves a pawn in front of the right bishop. “You’ve been slapped with that stupid malpractice suit. That might have raised his hackles too, if he’s not sure of your intentions toward me.”

“I have zero honorable intentions toward you. So, he’d be onto something there.”

Will snorts. “You made an honest man of me.”

“For now.”

“Yeah.” Will smiles softly as gentle warmth blooms in his chest. “For now.” He bites his lip. “Do you think sex will be even dirtier once we’re divorced?”

Patrick looks up from contemplating the chessboard. “Are you planning on sleeping with me after we’re divorced?”

Will’s ears burn. “Would we have to stop?”

Patrick swallows, his blue eyes shading darker. “Not unless we want to stop.”

Heat zings in the air between them. Will clears his throat. “That’s a long time from now. Who knows when we’ll even have to think about it? You’ll probably be tired of sleeping with me by the time a loophole opens up for us.”

“I’ll never get tired of fucking you.”

Patrick sounds so certain that Will’s dick stirs and he has to look away, focusing his attention back on the chessboard. He’s not sure whose move it is now. “Anyway, there are plenty of reasons for Tony to make the trip from Minneapolis. I’m surprised I didn’t see it coming.”

Ah, Patrick. Always with the sweet talk!

My Review:
This is the fifth book in the Will & Patrick Wake Up Married series and needs to be read in order.

When last we left Will & Patrick they were still determined to get a divorce but separately acknowledged they each had real feelings developing for their spouse. Patrick was especially vulnerable, finally divulging his troubled childhood to Will, and finding Will to be sympathetic and supportive instead of disgusted.

In this episode, Patrick gets a crash course in mob mentality when Will’s father, noted mafioso Tony Molinaro arrives in Healing SD. I absolutely love how Patrick and Will stand on their own two feet in this episode. And Mob Daddy’s definitely pleased in the way that his son, Will, has grown. Tony never liked Will’s ex-boyfriend, Ryan, and he sees the strength and independence that Will now exhibits as something engendered with Patrick’s influence.

Will finally has the heart-to-hearts he’s needed, perhaps for years, with his mom and dad. Their family dynamics are so messed up, and Will’s issues are likely completely related to this dysfunction.

Patrick has his hands full managing his worries regarding a frivolous lawsuit, the indecent proposals he’s facing from Papa Tony, and Will’s medical issues. And, figuring out how to tell Will that he actually loves him. I really respected Patrick’s resistance to being boxed up in the “on the [Autism] spectrum” excuse for his aloof behavior, and the assumed deficiency in his emotional ability as a result. He’s honest, for the first time, with his feelings and wants desperately to own them, but can’t find a way to communicate. His vulnerability is so poignant. Will accepts Patrick at face value, but wishes for more. He’s not willing to imagine his life without Patrick in it, even after their divorce. If that DOES come to pass.

We shall see…I’m totally needing the final episode in this series. #Yesterday.

Expect good-tempered mafia men who play crap practical jokes, Will and Patrick to continue the kink, and some home truths that needed saying long, long ago. Also, love.

Interested? You can find Will and Patrick MEET THE MOB on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Clink on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win any of the Will and Patrick episodes. (Two winners!)
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Authors:
Leta Blake
Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

You can find out more on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Alice Griffiths
A long-time reader of romance novels, Alice Griffiths finally took the plunge into writing, teaming up with best-selling author Leta Blake for the ‘Woke up Married’ serialized comedy. A lover of tropes, Alice enjoys mining old ideas and putting a fresh, funny spin on them. Formerly working in the newspaper industry, Alice is now an art curator. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

You can find out more about her by following her on Twitter and Facebook.

Running Through the Memories–IN HER EYES–Review and Giveaway

In Her Eyes Blog Tour BannerHi there! Today I’m so excited to share a review for a contemporary New Adult sports romance from Wesley banks. IN HER EYES is a look into two worlds–young parenthood and elite track & field. I really enjoyed it.

Catch the excerpt, my review and enter to win a book and $20 gc below.

inhereyes-kind-final-1600x2560About the book:
When Ben Wilder is given a second chance he focuses on the one thing he’s always been good at: running. After walking on to the University of Florida Track and Field team he begins to quickly move up the national rankings, paving a path towards the NCAA Championships. Everything is going the way he planned, until the day he bumps into Casey Taylor.

New to Gainesville, and focused on her first year out of medical school, Casey is initially hesitant to let Ben into her life. But the truth is she’s worried about letting a guy near the one thing she loves most: her daughter, Emma. After one fun and fateful night Casey can no longer bury her feelings behind these excuses, and takes a chance on a guy she is slowly falling for.

Casey’s relationship with Ben starts to gradually build into a love that she has never felt before. But more importantly, Emma has taken a particular liking to Ben. As they all spend more time together Ben is forced to confront painful memories when he starts to notice something hauntingly familiar in Emma’s eyes.

After a local journalist uncovers the secret of Ben’s past their lives begin to converge on a single promise that Ben Wilder has long since made: to never give up…no matter what.

How about a little taste?

Ben took a seat in one of the blue leather chairs across from his desk. To Ben’s right was a brunette lady sitting against the adjacent wall, wearing a black pantsuit with a white blouse, and clutching a leather bound notebook.

“You wanted to see me, Coach?” Ben said, ignoring the woman in the room for the moment.

Coach didn’t say anything at first, he just leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. He looked annoyed about something.

“Ben, this is Claire Stewart,” Coach said. He didn’t motion at the woman, or even look at her. He just stared straight ahead at Ben.

Ben looked over at Ms. Stewart. She looked middle aged, maybe late thirties. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail with long bangs cropping her face, and a pair of glasses tucked into her blouse. Ben was unsure if he should cordially introduce himself or half pretend she wasn’t even in the room like Coach. The woman flashed a quick closed lip smile, and he chose to do the same.

“Miss Stewart here is a journalist for the local ABC affiliate.” Coach paused again, seemingly forcing his sentences out through gritted teeth. “She plans to run a story in the near future.”

Ben tried to remain expressionless as his hands clamped tightly around his legs, as if he were bracing for impact. It hadn’t been abnormal for reporters to request interviews, but Coach was making this particular one seem like a big deal.

“She is here out of the kindness of her cold, black heart to let us know in advance,” Coach seethed.

It would be an understatement to say Coach definitely did not like this woman, or the reason she was here.

The woman who had been sitting silently in the corner of the room began to speak: “Ben.” Her voice didn’t seem hurtful or mean. In fact it was soft and slow and poured out like a stream of cool water. “I want to tell your story.”

Ben looked over at the woman’s dark brown eyes but didn’t respond.

She continued. “I want to tell the story of the young man who returns to running to shatter several collegiate records, after overcoming the tragic loss of his daughter and wife…”

The woman kept on talking about something, possibly even asking Ben questions. Ben still stared in the woman’s direction, but he didn’t see her. He didn’t hear her. All he heard was Grace’s voice. All he saw was her aquamarine eyes.

My Review:
This is a tender, innocent and mostly-sweet sports romance between an elite college distance runner and a first-year medical resident.

Ben is a 24 y/o walk-on to the track team at U of Florida. He’d had dozens of scholarship offers when he was in high school but forewent all of those to marry his high school sweetheart and be a father to their only daughter. Tragedy has struck Ben’s short life–he has no family remaining, excepting his adoptive parents. Trying to rebuild after the loss of his wife and Grace, he contacts the track coach at Florida and becomes the oldest Gator on the team.

In the run-up to the end of season, he meets Casey, immediately drawn to her as he had been to his wife many years before. Casey’s afraid to let any man close to her and her young daughter, though. It’s a bit push-pull, but Ben overwhelms Casey with kindness and sincerity. I really enjoyed the sports-part of this romance. Ben is a dedicated athlete and takes care to do his best, fulfilling the promise he made to Grace not long before she died. There are many references to legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine, and it’s clear from the start that Ben is in a whole different class of runner–ranked second in the country in his event.

The romance is sweet and tender, with Ben being an excellent partner to Casey and her little Emma. I liked that we had solid working people in the book. I liked how Casey worked to find balance to be a parent, doctor, and girlfriend–that was described very well and realistically. The book is a sentimental read, made especially so because it soon becomes clear that Ben is struggling with some medical issues that may, or may not, be related to some of the tragedy he’s endured.

There’s a little bit of break-up-to-make-up, but the ending is positively HEA, and *might* cause a bit of leakage in the general eye area. The ending twist wasn’t quite as flushed out as I’d have liked, but it was still rewarding. It took me a little bit of time to get used to the rapid POV switching-style of the book. Several characters tell this tale, but mostly it’s Casey and Ben’s story.

Interested? You can find IN HER EYES on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win an ebook of HOPE IN EVERY BREATH and a $20 gc.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Author Pic - Wesley BanksAbout the Author:
Wesley Banks was born in 1983 and grew up on the west coast of Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. After spending over 7 years building movable bridges from Florida to Washington he decided to focus on his true passion: writing.

Wesley recently moved from Florida to Oregon to get back to the great outdoors that he loves so much. He lives with his wife Lindsey, and his two dogs Linkin and Story. Most of his time these days is spent writing, with as much rock climbing, hiking, or skiing as they can fit in.

You can catch up to Wesley online on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Instagram.
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She’s Totes ADORKABLE–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! Today I’m excited to share a review for a contemporary YA romance from Cookie O’Gorman. ADORKABLE is a sweet and innocent friends-to-couple tale about a geeky gal and her BFF soccer jock.

Catch my review and be sure to enter the $25 Amazon GC giveaway below.

adorkable-finalAbout the book:
Adorkable (ah-dor-kuh-bul): Descriptive term meaning to be equal parts dorky and adorable. For reference, see Sally Spitz.
Seventeen-year-old Sally Spitz is done with dating. Or at least, she’s done with the horrible blind dates/hookups/sneak attacks her matchmaking bestie, Hooker, sets her up on. There’s only so much one geek girl and Gryffindor supporter can take.

Her solution: she needs a fake boyfriend. And fast.

Enter Becks, soccer phenom, all-around-hottie, and Sally’s best friend practically since birth. When Sally asks Becks to be her F.B.F. (fake boyfriend), Becks is only too happy to be used. He’d do anything for Sal–even if that means giving her PDA lessons in his bedroom, saying she’s “more than pretty,” and expertly kissing her at parties.

The problem: Sally’s been in love with Becks all her life–and he’s completely clueless.

This book features two best friends, one special edition Yoda snuggie, countless beneath-the-ear kisses and begs the question:

Who wants a real boyfriend when faking it is so much more fun?

My Review:

Sally Spitz is an unfashionable senior in languishing in tiny, soccor-loving Chariot, NC. Her divorced mother and matchmaking bestie, Hooker, want her to find love. Or, at least a date. So, they keep setting her up with random people–even girls, just in case she swings that way.

Thing is, Sally’s always had a crush on her best guy friend, Becks. He’s a soccer phenom with a sure college scholarship, and no other guy (because she really does like guys!) measures up. Becks never settles on a girl, always finding someone new–and there are plenty of gals who swoon for his scruffy good looks. In order to derail any further ambush dates, Sal begs Becks to be her “fake” boyfriend for one month. She figures that she’ll put up a good show, enjoy time with Becks, and then suffer a horrible “break up” that will keep the matchmakers at bay for the rest of senior year.

Thing is, being with Becks is both horrible and wonderful. It’s all Sally ever dreamed of, and she knows it’s going to kill her when this ends and Becks goes back to his merry dating self. I liked how real all of that felt. And I did like the introduction of a glitch in the form of Ace, one of Beck’s teammates whose long harbored a crush on Sally.

This one is fun and sweet and, at times, bittersweet with an HEA ending. I liked Sally and Becks, they each have strong feelings for the other. I loved how Becks refused to name his college of choice until he could guarantee being near Sally. I think, however, the book suffered just a bit from a case of the Briticisms–namely some British sentiments, character naming, and idiom that seemed out of place for this southern US locale. Also, there was a disconnect in the time frame that made little logical sense–the book opens in autumn, and there’s talk about graduation and getting out of school that seems imminent (weeks!). These kids wouldn’t graduate for 9 months…and so that was a bit of a head scratcher.

That said, the prose is fun and the pace is appropriate. It’s a squeaky clean read with less than a handful of kisses in the whole story.

Interested? You can find ADORKABLE on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

cookie o'gormanAbout the Author
Cookie O’Gorman writes YA romance to give readers a taste of happily-ever-after. Small towns, quirky characters, and the awkward yet beautiful moments in life make up her books. Cookie also has a soft spot for nerds and ninjas. Her debut novel ADORKABLE will be released in 2016.

Catch up to Cookie on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

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Their Connection Was MORE THAN LOVE–Review & Giveaway

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Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review for a new release from Amelia Bishop. MORE THAN LOVE is a contemporary M/M second-chance romance between a small-town cop and the one who got away fifteen years ago.

Catch my review, the yummy excerpt and enter to win your own ebook below.

trustme_cover_v3About the book:
Dan watched the people in his life settle down, get married, and have kids, while he cycled through a seemingly endless string of break-ups and disappointing relationship fails. From time to time, he thought about the one that got away: Ian. The college boyfriend he’d never quite forgotten.

So when Ian comes back to town and wants to get together, Dan jumps at the chance to see his first real boyfriend again. And despite his track record, he holds out hope that he and Ian might make it work the second time around.

While Ian is still just as sweet and sexy as he was back in college, he’s also harder, slicker, and more secretive than Dan remembers. As much as Dan wants to fall head first into their new relationship, he fears those secrets, and worries what Ian might be hiding. Left unchecked, Dan’s doubt and mistrust could threaten his second chance at happiness with Ian.

Sometimes, what destroys us are not the things we fear, but our fears themselves.

How about a little taste?

“Yep. Unless you want to skip it and go right back to your place. I could definitely be persuaded.” Ian raked his gaze over Dan slowly, then unlocked the car and ducked into the driver’s seat with a sexy grin.

“And how am I supposed to persuade you?” Dan buckled his seat belt as they pulled out of the lot.

“Use your imagination, it’s a half hour ride.” Ian shifted in his seat, pivoting his hips and drawing Dan’s attention to the bulge at his groin.

In the car, free from prying eyes and liberated by the cocktails he’d downed at dinner, Dan let his mouth do what it wanted. He licked Ian’s jaw, dragged his tongue down Ian’s neck, and sucked the hollow at his throat while running a hand over the front of Ian’s khakis.

“Careful, any more persuasive and I’ll run off the road.” Ian chuckled and leaned in to Dan’s mouth, a low rumble of approval vibrating in his throat.

“Mmm. I’m trained for that. We’ll be fine.”

Ian laughed and took one hand off the wheel, wrapping it around Dan’s head, holding him to his neck. “That feels great. God, I’ve missed you.”

Dan sucked up the skin under his mouth, not hard enough to leave a mark, but just until Ian moaned. He’d missed this, too. Somehow, no one had ever made him feel as sexy as Ian did, no one ever had given him the same thrill. For years after college, he’d tried to re-enact the frotting he’d enjoyed with Ian, but it never felt as fulfilling with anyone else. Most other guys expected penetration, which Dan was happy enough to partake in, yet somehow, even burying himself in someone else and pounding away wasn’t as satisfying as simply rubbing against Ian.

He was hard and Ian’s neck was damp when they finally reached his neighborhood. He managed to walk up the drive and into his house with some dignity, and even locked the door behind them. As soon as that was done, though, he went back to kissing Ian. Now he could freely take Ian’s mouth, which he did, and reached down to cup his ass for emphasis. Fuck, he felt good, all muscle and wiry strength.

Ian pulled back and pressed his forehead to Dan’s. “I want to be naked with you.”

Dan laughed at the blunt request, but he couldn’t deny he wanted the same thing. “This way.” He led Ian down the hall to his bedroom and undressed, throwing his clothes on the floor.

Ian did the same, and in moments they were both nude, standing by the bed. Dan was just drunk enough to not care about the slight padding around his middle, and Ian was sober enough to respond to Dan’s attention.

“Damn, you’re sexy.”

Dan burst out laughing. “Man, I’ve put on at least thirty pounds since college.”

“So fucking sexy.” Ian repeated, and punctuated his words with a two-handed caress down Dan’s torso.

A spike of lust shot through Dan at the words and the attention, and he urged Ian onto the mattress.

My Review:

I think the last line of the blurb for this books speaks absolute volumes about the story. Dan and Ian had a short love affair in college that ended when Ian took a job in Chicago and moved to take it. Dan felt abandoned and vulnerable–especially as he was still closeted. Still, he never forgot Ian and the closeness they shared.

Fifteen years pass. Dan is a police sergeant in the same town where he grew up. He’s out, and lonely. He’s had some rather serious relationships over the years, but none quite matches the intensity of his experiences with Ian. He often flips through Ian’s social media in order to keep connected, without giving his interest away. When a particular trigger catches him unawares, Dan reaches out and learns that Ian’s moving back to their college town–where Dan lives.

Ian asks for a ride from the airport, and Dan’s confused but willing. They strike a spark, and it seems things will be going along as if they never left off…except. Except Dan’s a suspicious cat. He’s never sure that he’s got the right read on things, and his cop’s intuition continues to batter at his mind as he watches Ian–who has a shady direct sales business–outspend any reason.

I’m not saying that Dan’s suspicions are unwarranted, it’s just that he can’t ever speak about them and lets them build up to a point that he reads as almost paranoid. Honestly, I was more than tempted to read ahead, because I was getting FREAKED OUT, for real. I’m not going to assure you that everything was just a misunderstanding, because that’s all shades of gray, to be honest. Ian is a guy after a quick buck and he does get mixed up in somethings he should not.

Does that mean the end for Dan and Ian? Uh…sorta. For a bit. Dan has some real growing to do, and being honest is one of the steps he takes. I loved how passionate he was, and also Ian–who is NOT a bad guy–has so much love and compassion. These guys never really wanted to step away all those years ago, and coming together now is so right and sweet and terrifying all at once. There’s a lot of sweetness in the book and that’s what had me so nervous. You never want to watch good people get hurt, and–like Dan–I suspected severe hurt on the horizon.

I do appreciate the author’s inclusion of a black MC, and I really enjoyed the flipped stereotype: Dan is a black cop suspecting his white boyfriend of criminal activity. I just wished I had a little more ethnicity to latch onto. Dan could have easily been a white guy. Apart from the cover photo if I hadn’t been told he was black (on page 42) I would have never once suspected it. I’m not about stereotypes at all, I just want to have a better sense of the black community when I read about about black people. I have tons of black friends and I know that there are some specific community issues that could have been highlighted here to engage readers in a way that surpassed the romance.

That said, it’s an interesting read, low angst, high suspense, with a second chance romance that really becomes a “three time’s the charm” situation.

Interested? You can find MORE THAN LOVE on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****

Clink on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win an ebook of MORE THAN LOVE.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Amelia Bishop lives in New England, just a block from Narragansett Bay, where she walks almost every day of the year collecting shells, sea glass, and random pieces of garbage she considers “treasure.” Amelia believes there is magic to be found in almost anything if you look closely, and delights in revealing the extraordinary hiding within the ordinary. Her stories celebrate the most magical and extraordinary thing of all: love.
When she isn’t writing or walking along the bay, Amelia enjoys camping, hiking, painting, crocheting, cooking, and spending lazy days reading on the beach.

You can catch Amelia online on her website, Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and sign up for her newsletter.

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Inconvenient Love–TALK DIRTY TO ME–Review & Giveaway!

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Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review for a new motorcycle club M/M romance from Jessie G. TALK DIRTY TO ME is the second book in the Devil’s Pride MC series and features two DEA agents, one in deep cover and the other his dedicated contact, finding love at the best and worst possible time. For Jessie G fans, there are plenty of Sizzling Miami cameos.

Catch the excerpt, my review and a twisted giveaway below!

Talk Dirty To Me - Final - 400 x 600About the book:
As a secret agent for the DEA, Snake’s gone deep into Devils Pride MC with the hope of bringing down the head of Miami’s lucrative drug trade and finds himself saddled with the club’s volatile and secretive SA instead. Unfortunately, after years as partners doing shit neither of them wanted to do for reasons neither of them felt comfortable sharing, Snake considers Trick his best friend. Now he’ll do anything to repair the damage his own necessary lies did to their friendship because, while Trick may have walked away from the MC, Snake needs someone he trusts to have his back.

Meanwhile, Snake’s contact at the DEA has him tied up in knots. The sexy voice and inappropriate comments have him walking around with a permanent set of blue balls. Life undercover is lonely and he lives for every phone call, but his own personal Deep Throat is skittish about committing to a date once Snake returns to headquarters. As far as Snake’s concerned, they only have one shot to build something together and he’s not willing to waste it.

Greg knows he’s not Snake’s type, or anyone’s for that matter. Former love interests called him plain, chubby, and boring. More comfortable in his tech cave than with people, he’s a grade A nerd who isn’t exactly GQ material. Normally he would never be brave enough to flirt with anyone—much less the very hot and very dangerous ginger who’d been starring in his nightly fantasies—but Snake needed something to keep him from getting lost undercover. What started out as a helping hand quickly became an integral part of their relationship—if one could call a five year phone conversation a relationship—and Greg is terrified that once Snake’s sees the wizard behind the curtain, he’ll lose the only man he’s ever loved.

Now the DEA has called Snake home to plan the next stage of the mission, leaving Greg no more places to hide. When fantasy and reality collide, will it be everything Snake hopes for or everything Greg fears? The trick will be staying alive long enough to figure out the answer.

How about a little taste?

Knowing what Gene needed before he actually asked was what made them a good team and his growing personal feelings aside, he believed they worked well together. Greg also knew Gene felt the same way because he never failed to show his appreciation. “Thanks, Sunshine, I knew I could count on you. So, tell me how the move to Tampa’s going?”

Greg sighed and leaned back in his chair to look at the ceiling. He had been working at the DC office since joining the agency and while he enjoyed the work, DC was a stressful place to live. He’d adapted just as he’d done when he went to MIT in Cambridge, but it wasn’t his first choice. When the request to transfer and be closer to the undercover operation he’d been devoting ninety percent of his time to came in, he jumped at it even though he questioned his superior’s motives.

But moving was stressful, fitting in with new coworkers more so, and doing both while keeping up with Gene’s needs was damn near exhausting. It was worth it, but he was more tired than he ever remembered being and none of that was Gene’s problem. As an undercover agent in an outlaw motorcycle club, he had more important things to worry about, so Greg downplayed the stress he’d been under. “Florida’s better than DC, that’s for sure.”

“But?” Gene asked knowingly and Greg sighed. He should have known better than to think he could bluff his answer. They’d been talking multiple times a day for almost a year. If there was anyone who could tell just by the tone of his voice what he was feeling, it was Gene.

“When I first got this assignment, it seemed odd that I wasn’t immediately transferred to a closer office. Not that location really mattered in the past, but our partnership was a first in the agency. Normally, undercover agents have full use of the entire Intelligence Division and everyone in ID works together so nothing falls through the cracks.” Maybe he was becoming more like Gene, because he was seeing shadows everywhere lately. “That didn’t happen and it obviously wasn’t necessary because I was able to do whatever you needed from DC. So why, out of nowhere, did Crockett and Stimer request me in the Tampa office? If they wanted me closer to your operation, why not Fort Myers or even the Miami office?”

Gene didn’t immediately respond and Greg knew he was choosing his words. Lately, they’d begun to wonder if someone within the agency, or any branch of law enforcement, was working with Durango. Crooked agents were an unfortunate fact of life and the more information he uncovered about Durango and the MC, the more things didn’t add up. Namely, putting an agent in what they had to know would be a long term undercover operation only to bitch about how long it was taking him to get the job done. It was like they were setting him up for failure and that didn’t sit well with Greg at all.

He was fully invested in doing the best job he could and that was only solidified by the growing personal feelings he was developing for Gene. The last thing Greg wanted was to see him get burned by the agency they both joined in the hopes of doing something good.

“I can hear those wheels turning from here, but we both know how dangerous it is for you to go poking around into Crockett or Stimer. You’re the new face in the office so you have no allies you can trust. If anyone catches wind of what you’re doing…”

“They won’t.” Greg wanted to sneer at the suggestion that he didn’t know how to cover his tracks. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that Gene cared about the risks he might be taking. That concern was a foreign concept that he didn’t know how to deal with. “I know how to hide a trail, Gene.”

“I don’t doubt your abilities for a second,” Gene assured, taking the wind out of any potential argument between them. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. If Crockett or Stimer or someone else has a hidden agenda, you’ll find it in the work we’re already doing. You’re already cherry picking the information you put in the files, already deciding what they can and can’t be trusted with, right?”

“Yes,” Greg grudgingly admitted. He just didn’t know if those precautions were enough.

Gene chuckled at his tone. “You and I both know if they’re in any way involved in Durango’s business, if they’re doing anything to hinder the case, you’ll uncover it in the intelligence you’re already gathering. I know it’s not enough, but I’m already in play and there’s no way to step back now. If you go digging and someone catches wind of it, you paint a target on both our backs.”

Which was the only reason he hadn’t already gone digging and why he was coming clean now. The very last thing he wanted to do was make Gene’s job more dangerous than it already was. “Fine.”

Gene laughed at him again and he found himself pulling up a photo of the agent. It was unfair how good looking the man was. Tall, broad, scruffy, with piercing eyes and a strong chin, and lips made for doing sinful things. Gene was all of Greg’s weakness wrapped up in a hard body that made his fingers itch to touch.

A soft sigh and the sound of a bed creaking brought his attention back to their conversation. “I’m done thinking about this for tonight. Tell me something good before we hang up.”

My Review:
This is the second book in the Devil’s Pride MC series, and likely best understood when reading in sequence. To catch up, Snake/Gene is a DEA agent that infiltrated the Devil’s Pride club in Ft. Myers Florida. In the previous book, TRICKING CHASE, he helped the MC get rid of a drug dealer, Durango, who had possibly kidnapped the sister of a patch member–Ty. Ty was a marine, who didn’t re-up when his sister went missing. For years Ty and Snake worked within the club to find out who was dirty, and they eventually teamed up to get rid of Durango and find Ty’s sister. This operation also included many of the Sizzling Miami characters. Snake broke his cover and guaranteed immunity to Ty in exchange for halting the trafficking of drugs, guns and humans.

Well, cut the head off a worm and you get new worms. See, Durango’s brother Santos picked up where his bro left off. And Snake (Gene) is exposed to the MC as an agent. The feds are considering taking out the whole MC, and Gene feels responsible. He spent five years with these guys and doesn’t want them all to get tarred with the criminal brush. He enlists Ty to help him track down Santos, much to Ty’s frustration. He was finally settled with his boy, Chase, and their growing family.

Also, both Gene and his DEA contact Greg think Gene’s been further compromised, by a mole in the DEA. Greg has been the voice at the other end of the phone for five long years. During this time they have built a strong rapport, and that includes sharing hopes, dreams, and fantasies. Greg is completely infatuated with Gene, but suffers crippling body dysmorphia as he’s not the fittest or the sexiest man alive. He’s softer, fuller, and nerdier than the gay men he’s idolized, and has been hurt by many a partner for his non-GQ appearance. Gene absolutely doesn’t care. Greg has kept him safe for five grueling years of deep cover, and he loves the man behind the voice.

Gene so looks forward to meeting Greg, and their first face-to-face does not go well. Oh man! I had the awkward laughs going strong. I really loved how Gene embraced Greg and loved all of him so thoroughly. When they have to separate again, so Snake can fix his mess with the MC club, there’s a lot of wanting going on. Both Gene and Greg want a life together, and that likely means leaving the DEA. Besides, they’re rather disillusioned with the agency after learning one of their superiors is planning to cut them loose.

There’s a whole lot of plot and scheming to settle the business of the book, but it’s an HEA and that includes Greg and Gene riding off on Snake’s bike into the glorious sunset. The stage is set for another book–I’m sure it will include Carlos, Devil’s Pride MC Prez, and Mateo, the young, manipulative son of a rival MC Prez. If you like motorcycle club romance, you’ll probably like this one. I found I enjoyed it far more than TRICKING CHASE, the first book in the series, because it centered on a developing romance. There’s a little bit of sexytimes–I would have liked more, but I’m not complaining. Gene and Greg are sweet together, for all the dirty talk they share.

Interested? You can find TALK DIRTY TO ME on Goodreads, Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, Kobo and All Romance eBooks.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click this a Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a $30 Amazon GC, OR signed paperbacks of TRICKING CHASE and TALK DIRTY TO ME (Grand prize) Three runners’ up will win an ebook of TALK DIRTY TO ME and a Happy Guy wine opener.

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I’d begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it’s a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it’s been amazing to have made this dream my reality.

I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics, and happily ever after. I’m a lover of strong secondary characters, and series filled with families—biological or chosen. All are themes you’ll find throughout my books.

Catch up with Jessie G online on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Tsu, Google+, Ello, Tumblr, and Goodreads.

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Seeking Out a HEARTBREAKER–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! I’m so excited to share a review for Kat and Stone Bastion’s new adult romance HEARTBREAKER out today! You know I’ve loved their NO WEDDINGS books (No Weddings, One Funeral, Two Bar Mitzvahs, Three Christmases and For Valentine’s) so I was excited to read their next collaboration. Kiki Michaelson is the artsy gal who got burned by a boy and seeks men who can’t hurt her. Little did she know Darren Cole would turn her palette from monochrome to Kodachrome…

Catch the details on the $25 giveaway below….

Heartbreaker (Unbreakable, #1)About the book:
Kiki Michaelson wants one wild night to forget her starving-artist worries. Simple.
Only instead of Darren Cole becoming her one-night stand, he taunts her with a challenge. Then while she’s trying to best him at his own game, he turns out to be the last thing she’s prepared for: someone she wants to keep.
Which means all he can ever be…is a friend.

Darren Cole never allows a girl to get close—not close enough to matter.
Then storms in Kiki Michaelson, a beautiful, fearless temptation that rocks his world off-balance. But he fights their attraction, unwilling to gamble something physical with their close ties. Until the passionate sculptor exposes her heart and breaks his wide open.

In that moment it becomes clear: she could never be just a friend.
Sometimes what you run from…is exactly what you need.

***HEARTBREAKER is a standalone, full-length new adult romance told in dual POV. Due to mature themes and adult language, this book is for those 18 and older.***

How about a little taste?

I watched his prone body lower, then lift.

Lower.

Lift.

My breath caught and my stride slowed as I drew closer. My mouth gradually fell open. My eyes widened.

Shirtless, baseball hat spun backward, hands sunk into silver metal pails of sand, he performed the most unique pushups I’d ever seen. His skin glistened with a sheen of perspiration under the section’s brighter lights. Taut muscles along his back, shoulders, and arms flexed under the strain of every measured drop and rise.

The world around me seemed to stop—except for him. Art in motion. Beauty in action. Every woman’s fantasy-come-to-life coalesced into one surreal moment where my mind fabricated my body beneath that incredible male form, under all that raw muscle and energy.

On the next downstroke, he paused. Then he glanced up. His gaze locked with mine.

Busted.

Yet powerless to stop myself, I studied the rigid contours of muscle as he held that position. The artist in me flared to life, imagining those lines sketched in charcoal. His tattoo. My gaze lingered on three thick curving tribal-style crescents. The largest began at the base of his neck, where its tip fanned into multiple points. Two smaller crescents overlapped tips with the first, each arcing a different direction, one toward his back, the other curving beneath his arm.

My skin began to heat under the spotlight of his attention, and I burned the image into my memory for when I had a quiet moment, later.

My mouth had gone dry.

I swallowed hard.

Then I found my voice as my brain cells finally began to fire again. “Really? You invite me here and do that” —I gestured toward him with a wild wave of my fingers— “and I’m supposed to think only friendly thoughts?”

His lips twisted into a smirk. “Try.”

I forced my attention back to his face and held his stare. “All I see is sex on a stick.”

Oh, shit. I blurted that out loud.

His knees lowered to the floor, then he pulled his hands from the sand. “Try harder.”

My Review:
While this book shares some of the characters from the No Weddings series, it can be fully enjoyed on its own.

Kiki’s a 27 y/o woman who has been burned more than once, in more than one way. Despite being a successful up-and-coming artist, she’s got money struggles she doesn’t know how to fix–and which are totally outside of her control. Her high school crush busted her heart wide open and that makes her–to this day–gun shy of any man. She prefers anonymous hook-ups, but struggles to put herself out there, too.

She reaches out to Darren, one of the DJs who works for the event planning company Kiki owns with her three siblings, only to be shot down. Darren’s life is complicated by guardianship of his teen-aged sister, who suffers depression. He works hard and goes to school, trying to support them both, and while he’s attracted to Kiki, he is spread very thin between all his responsibilities. Still, he doesn’t want to never see Kiki, so he offers her friendship, and to help her train for a 5K race–which is one of her goals.

Over the several weeks of the book’s span they do develop a friendship, with the a side order of lust. Both Darren and Kiki are guarded regarding their own personal problems, but that changes when Darren has to rescue his sis and Kiki intercedes. I really liked the way depression was handled in the book. Both Darren and his sis suffer in different ways since their mother died, and Kiki is a good mediator between them. Also, the romance development was steady and not rushed. Kiki and Darren get to know each other before they get into bed together. There’s a bit of sexytimes, but it’s just the right amount, I think. The main focus remains on the growth of both Darren and Kiki to allow each to trust the other and find comfort in their sorrow and joy in their successes. Lots of feels, here, that are very companionship-centered. It’s a solid spin-off romance that will please romance fans.

Interested? You can find HEARTBREAKER on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon CAN, Amazon AU, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble UK, and Kobo.

HEARTBREAKER Release Day $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Be sure to visit Kat & Stone on their Facebook page today to enter: Kat & Stone Bastion’s Facebook

About the authors:
Kat Bastion won several awards for her bestselling debut novel Forged in Dreams and Magick.

Kat and Stone Bastion’s bestselling first novel No Weddings and the No Weddings series were named Best of 2014 by multiple romance review blogs.

When not defining love and redemption through scribed words, they enjoy spending their time mountain biking and hiking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Catch up with them online on their blog, Facebook, Kat’s Twitter, Stone’s Twitter, website.
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Taking Chances MENDING THE RIFT–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! I’m eager to share this review for a dystopian future M/M romance from Chris T. Kat. MENDING THE RIFT is an mpreg (male pregnancy!) tale in a society where alliances are forged by marriage and breeders are a hot commodity.

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About the book:
In a future where man’s ability to reproduce is severely compromised, humanity has adapted to survive. Breeders—male and female—have become precious commodities, and they are strictly guarded and subject to limitations.

Luca Walker is a breeder. Though he knows what’s expected of him, as the youngest son of the Northern Confederacy’s Vice President, he’s held out against the pressures of an arranged marriage because he longs to marry for love, not duty. But he’s been promised to Colonel Liam Smith and there’s little he can do about it, no matter that Luca is secretly in love with his bodyguard, Marcus Gray.

When Luca finds himself pregnant with Marcus’s baby, Smith is furious and vows to take what is his—by force, if necessary. Now Luca must fight for his life and the life of his unborn child… as well as the love of Marcus and the happily ever after he’s always dreamed of.

Who about a little taste?

Marcus rappelled off and stepped onto the ground with a crunch of his boots. Pointing at the opening with the askew ladder, he asked, “Don’t tell me you seriously considered climbing down this way.”

Luca shrugged. “I’d have preferred spontaneous levitation, but it didn’t happen.”

He yelped when Marcus put an arm around his torso and lifted him to his feet, as if he weighed nothing. “Hey!”

Marcus silenced him with a glare, and Luca gritted his teeth while Marcus thumped dust off his clothes. “Your father is livid.”

Luca swallowed. He’d expected worried, maybe a bit mad, but livid? His father never got furious at him. Not for long, anyway. Being the baby of the family had its perks. “Why?”

“Why? Seriously, Luca, you have to ask why?” Marcus patted Luca’s behind more firmly than was strictly necessary.

Luca shifted, trying to get away from Marcus’s arm. When that didn’t help, he slapped Marcus’s hands away and stepped aside. He couldn’t think when he was so close to Marcus—when the man touched him, he sent shivers up and down his spine. He ignored the glower Marcus directed at him. “Yes, seriously. He knows I don’t want to marry Smith. I don’t want anything to do with all that shit. I want to decide what I’m going to do with my life.”

Marcus shook his head. “Smith is a good man. My brother Kyle worked for him. He said he always treated his people well. If you want I could try to get Kyle on the phone so you can talk to him. That is, if I can get a hold on him. Trust me, you’ll be in good hands.”

“You don’t get it! I don’t want to be in good hands!”

“No?” Marcus raised an eyebrow.

Luca huffed, a small smile forming on his lips. “Well, yes, of course I want to be in good hands. But I want someone to love me, and not just for my ability to become pregnant. I want… you.”

Luca’s heart thundered in his rib cage. There, he’d said it. The ball was in Marcus’s court. Sure, it had only been one night, and Marcus’s reaction afterward hadn’t been promising, but maybe he’d just been scared? Maybe he feared to lose his job? Nonetheless, there was more going on between them, and they both knew it. That one night had just been the last logical step. Luca regretted nothing.

For a moment Marcus seemed startled, and there was a softness in his eyes that was solely reserved for Luca. The softness vanished too quickly for Luca’s liking.

Instead, Luca was greeted with Marcus’s usual, scrutinizing gaze. “You don’t want me, and you better never mention this again. It was a mistake. Now get it out of your head and be a good boy.”

My Review:

This is an interesting dystopian future M/M romantic suspense. Several hundred years in the future, after war ravaged Earth and what remained of civilization has adapted to lowered fertility, it seems that males begin to spontaneously develop internal female sex organs–what we would consider semihermaphroditic, as they have no external female genitalia.

Breeders, male and female alike, had been sheltered and kept from working and even being present in society when they are pregnant, but times are changing in the Northern Confereracy (which exists where Germany and Austria once did) where Luca is the youngest of ten children sired by his father and carried by his dad. All of Luca’s siblings are prolific breeders and Luca–at 22–is well past the usual age of marriage. He’s holding out for a love match and is enamored of his bodyguard, Marcus. Luca is headstrong and frustrated that he’s betrothed to Captain Liam Smith, a man he’s barely met. He runs on the eve of the wedding, only to be tracked down, again, by Marcus. In the kerfuffle, Luca learns he’s been made pregnant–against his will–and is only calmed by the knowledge that his baby is Marcus’ and not that of Capt. Smith.

While Luca, his family and Marcus, do their utmost to keep the pregnancy hidden until the 10th week so Marcus can claim Luca and petition for marriage, Capt Smith becomes enraged. No one expects the lengths he will go to to get Luca–and when this does happen, the terror and torture is bad, bad, bad. The Southern Union, under a tentative truce with the Northern Confederacy, wants to study Northern breeders, and Luca’s a perfect specimen. There’s a lot more going on than simple revenge.

Expect multiple attacks, kidnappings, delayed nuptials, a growing bond between daddy, belly, and daddy, and some yummy sexytimes. This is a book that does not spare the action, and Luca’s life is not the simple path one would imagine for the youngest son of a nation’s Vice President. Lots of political intrigue, and danger, are part of this plot. I will admit to getting a little exhausted by the constant high tension/high stakes. I really just wanted Luca and Marcus to disappear into a cave, or something, to avoid the threat of capture and cuddle.

I struggled with the dialogue, as I truly expect speech patterns and idiom to change in the span of 200 years, and it felt very much 21st Century American-English, when we were set in 23rd Century central Europe. There didn’t seem to be many advances in technology, either, besides the medical breakthroughs regarding Breeders. So, the worldbuilding, as a whole, was lacking, for me. I did like the subplot/subtext of breeder prejudice, and respected both Luca and his dad’s attempts to subvert the restrictions placed on Breeders so that they could be whole persons with occupations and aspirations, not just baby factories.

In total, it was an interesting story. I like Mpreg and this one was really about the pregnancy. We follow Luca throughout the 36 weeks of gestation, and beyond. All of that was fascinating, to me. I loved how dedicated Marcus and Luca were to each other. There are several loving relationships present in the book, which was good to read.

Interested? You can find MENDING THE RIFT on Goodreads, Dreamspinner (ebook, paperback), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.

 

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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
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