Death by the SWORD?-Review and Giveaway

Sword blitz bannerHi there! Today I’m sharing my review for a contemporary retelling of Camelot. SWORD, by Realm Lovejoy, is a YA re-imagining of the mystical Camelot stories, with the Morgan LeFay being the unlikely heroine. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, HENGE, and was excited to see how the story progressed.

Check out the excerpt, my review and enter to win a $25 Amazon GC or one of 6 ecopies of SWORD.

Sword (Le Fay, #2)About the book:
Evil lurks. Camelot sits, vulnerable. The fate of a future king hangs in the balance.

After surviving a string of brutal trials, sixteen-year-old Morgan Le Fay is an official member of Camelot. But beneath its shining façade, Camelot is a crumbling government where loyalties are divided.

Nobody believes Morgan’s suspicions that enemies are closing in. Prince Arthur, a boy more interested in playing video games than ruling, will not listen to her, and neither will Lancelot, Camelot’s head of security. Even Morgan’s friend Merlin refuses to take action.

When Morgan discovers that someone is plotting to assassinate the future king, she must take her destiny—and his—into her own hands. With the sword Excalibur beckoning in the distance, Morgan embarks on a seemingly impossible mission. And before her journey ends, everyone will know what she is truly capable of . . .

In this second book in the LE FAY series, author Realm Lovejoy takes readers deep into the heart of a splintering Camelot.
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Praise for the first book in the LE FAY series, Henge:

“Camelot meets Hogwarts meets Panem in this intriguing, well-written beginning to a planned YA series.”–Kirkus Reviews

How about a little taste?

When I glance at Lancelot, he is studying me like he thinks I’ve gone mad, and it occurs to me I probably have a dark expression over my face.

“Look,” Lancelot says, bowing his head slightly. “Before the final trial, I told you that I wanted you to not think of me as the High Knight behind closed doors. That maybe we could be friends. I’m not sure if what I thought at the time is possible, but for one minute, let me be an ordinary person interested in your well-being. You are too hard on yourself. You have a bright future, though you may not see it right now. I see it.” He puts his hand on his chest to emphasize his conviction.

Seeing him friendlier makes me squirm—it’s somehow worse than when he’s being tough on me. I want to scream and run out of the room and over the hills.

He walks closer to me and I’m afraid he’ll smell my sweat.

“You’re tortured to hear this,” he says as if he can see through me. “I don’t know what happened to you in the past and what you’re suffering from, but if you could just trust me, I’ll prove to you that you’ll find a fulfilling career in Camelot.”

Turning my head, I hold my thin gown closer against my chest, afraid that it’s not enough cover.

“Please,” I say. “I appreciate your words, but you don’t understand—”

There is a knock at the opened door. Father peers in.

“Everything okay?” he asks sharply.

He glances at me before eyeing Lancelot.

“Everything is fine, sir,” Lancelot replies and steps away from me. “Good day, Ms. Le Fay. Glad we have an understanding.”

I catch the questioning look Father gives Lancelot. For a second Lancelot looks insecure as he slumps his shoulders just a tiny bit. I realize then that Father intimidates Lancelot. Father was once a highly respected knight himself. Lancelot is still young after all, especially for the High Knight.

Lancelot gives me a curt nod as Father guides him out.

“Apologies for the intrusion, sir,” Lancelot says.

Father doesn’t look happy. “I understand your job. I once had to do similar tasks myself.”

As I hear their footsteps recede, I am left to face dread. I don’t know what ideas will spring from my mind to deal with this conundrum. But I know whatever course of action I choose to take will be my worst and best idea—terrible and unstoppable, like a forest fire. I know this but cannot do anything about it, just as a drowning person cannot help but try to stay afloat to breathe. This is my attempt to take a breath before sinking. To push past that strong current that keeps me in one place.

I take the statue of Astolat off my nightstand and hold on to her.

“Please… please,” I whisper to her. “Don’t let me…”

Don’t let me what?

What am I afraid of doing?

As my room darkens, the question haunts me.

My Review:
This is the second book in the LeFay series, and really should be be read in order.

Morgan LeFay is a gifted 16 year old, one of the strongest magic wielders in Camelot, and still, she was not selected to be the Maven, adviser to young Prince Arthur. No, that duty was awarded to Merlin, a boy in Morgan’s class who was clearly infatuated with her. But, Merlin’s got a checkered association with the Luminaries, a sect of magic wielders who seek to bring down the House of Pendragon, of which Arthur and King Uther are sprung. Being Maven seems a supreme conflict of interest for Merlin, and Morgan’s both frustrated and jealous.

And, depressed. Morgan returns to her father’s home to sulk instead of assuming her post as a Black Knight under the command of High Knight Lancelot. Lancelot comes to pry her from her sorrow, and it sets off a chain of events that I did not see coming. Morgan’s soon on the run–with Prince Arthur, a sulky teen if ever I read one, and searching high and low for the mystical Excalibur. The trip is dangerous, and Morgan has certainly signed her own death warrant by making this trip. It’s really a mission, one that she hopes will save Arthur from a Luminary plot. And she’s pledged her life to protecting Arthur.

The endearment that arises between them is good. It wasn’t sappy or anything. Arthur is a bit of a pill–he’s 14 and it shows–and he only slightly warms to Morgan in their adventure. He grows up A LOT in this experience. I liked that part. Lancelot and Merlin have very mixed feelings about Morgan. On one hand she’s a traitor, on the other she could be a patriot. And the murk surrounding the Luminaries plans keeps Morgan on a path to execution. Well, maybe.

This is a story that kept me guessing, and I felt engaged throughout. It’s a rather innocent tale, and a bit melancholy. I was grieved when Morgan was arrested, and felt that her new status, as a bearer of Pendragon’s Blessing, would have saved her, but it was not the case. The end is a fast and furious ride that includes a stay of execution in the most dire of ways. Arthur and Morgan have some reckonings to make, and I am eager to see how this plays out in the next book in this series. I also wonder how both Merlin and Lancelot will handle their feelings for Morgan going forward. I’m not certain that it qualifies as a “love triangle” as Morgan has only discovered romantic feelings, and they are set on one man–the one she cannot have. The resolution is sufficient for this volume, but the story remains active. Definitely recommend!

Interested? You can find SWORD on Goodreads  and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $25 Amazon GC or one of 6 ecopies of SWORD!
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!


About the Author

Realm Lovejoy is a writer and an artist. She was raised in Washington State and the alps of Nagano, Japan. Her father is a Japanese ex-monk and her mother an English teacher from Rhode Island. Her art is influenced by both the East and the West.

Realm aspires to tell stories through her writing and art. She is agented by Jessica Regel. Her YA Sci-Fi book CLAN was released in 2013 and HENGE, the first book int he LeFay series was released in 2014.

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All In on WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS–Review & Giveaway

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Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a Christmas-themed M/M romance from Jay Northcote. WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS is a standalone friends-to-lovers story that is just a perfect read. You know I just love these Brit boys and their sexy escapades, so I’m glad to get the chance to share that interest here. Check out the excerpt, review and giveaway below.

WhatHappensXmas_FINALAbout the book:
When two friends pose as boyfriends, could what happens at Christmas turn into something more?
Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn’t want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean—Justin’s best mate and long-time secret crush—volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame.

Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there’s never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin’s boyfriend isn’t a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean’s more than willing. At the party pretense and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.

In the aftermath, they both assume it was a one-time thing until fate intervenes. Stuck together in London over the holidays, they give in to temptation again. But what happens at Christmas stays at Christmas… right?

How about a little taste?

Justin’s phone chimed with a text, interrupting Sean’s train of thought.

Justin picked up his phone to read the message. “Ugh.” He put the phone back down without typing a reply and ran his hands through his hair.

“What’s up?”

Justin sighed. “It’s our work Christmas party next weekend. I’ve already got a ticket, and nearly everyone in the office goes, but it’s for partners as well. One of my co-workers, Jess, is bugging me to come, but I can’t face it. I bet Andy’s going to bring his new boyfriend. I know he’s a shit and I shouldn’t let him get to me, but the thought of him parading around with my replacement, and me being there on my own, isn’t very appealing.”

“Is it too late to find someone to take?”

“No, they don’t need final numbers till Monday.”

“Well, then. Take someone else and flirt like crazy in front of him. Show him you can do better and that you’ve already moved on.”

“But I’m not ready to date. It’s only been two weeks, and I’m still at the feeling-sorry-for-myself stage.”

“I’ll go with you,” Sean offered. “I could be your date. We could pretend we’ve got together and are a couple now.”

“Yeah?” Justin looked thoughtful. “Are you sure?”

Duh. It would hardly be much of a sacrifice to flirt with Justin all night. It would actually be a relief not to have to hide the way he felt for a change.

“Sure,” Sean replied. “I think I can manage to fake that I’m arse-over-tit infatuated with you. As long as it’s only for a few hours.”

“Gee, thanks.” Justin rolled his eyes. “You really know how to make an already-wounded ego feel better. But if you’re up for it, we should totally do it. Andy was always jealous of you before you went away. He saw you as competition because we lived together and were so close. I’d love to see his face when I walk in with you on my arm. I think he’ll hate it even if he’s moved on.”

“Okay.” Sean rubbed his hands together, excited at the prospect of getting to piss off Andy. “Let’s do it! Text your friend Jess back and tell her you’re in—with a hot date.”

My Review:
This is an adorable friends-to-lovers romance.

Justin and Sean have been friends since they were seven years old. Justin came out early–mostly because everyone assumed he was gay anyhow–But Sean only came out a couple of years ago. Justin felt betrayed when he learned Sean was gay, because he’d fancied Sean for ages and felt he would have been a safe harbor, plus he would have loved to experiment with him when they were close together.

Well, it’s Christmas time and Justin is newly single–what with that cheater Andy revealing all two weeks ago. He’s about to call off his plans to attend the company Christmas party when Sean arrives and offers to go as his pretend boyfriend–to make Andy jealous. Sean has just returned from a 9 month trip, and he’s camping on Justin’s sofa until he gets a job and a flat. That said, he’s not unhappy about the close quarters. He’s wanted Justin for years, but Justin was always dating a bloke and the timing was never right.

Their time is close and friendly, with each man surreptitiously checking out the other, and their date is, well, super extra hot. All that closeness, and dancing and snogging…leads to more. But, can Justin and Sean turn the one night of passion into a relationship?

I loved the realistic feel to this one. These guys are so conscious of their friendship, and don’t want to harm it in any way. They are totally gone for each other, and hold back and hold back and hold back–until they just cannot hold back any longer. Each is afraid he loves the other more than he is loved, and each is completely and totally wrong. It’s the perfect twist and the best Christmas for each of them.

Also, HAWT. They coulda lit up the Christmas tree with their passion. This is a fast read, but doesn’t skimp on the feels.

Interested? You can find WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS on Goodreads, Amazon (US and UK)

 

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win a backlist book from Jay Northcote and a $10 gift card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

You can find Jay on her website, Twitter, Facebook Author Page, and Amazon.

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Forgiveness and Mercy if you BEG ME–Review and Giveaway!

SB_BegMe_BlogTourHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for the third erotic novella in Jennifer Probst’s Steele Brothers series. CATCH ME and PLAY ME were both about alpha men and the sexy women they pleasure. DARE ME was all about a man needing discipline. And BEG ME is a second chance romance. When Remy Steele finds Cara, the lost love of his life, awaiting him in his FANTA-C suite he not sure if this is a cruel joke or a “do over.”

Don’t for get to scroll down and enter the giveaway for two of Ms. Probst’s bestsellers!

Beg Me (Steele Brothers, #4)About the book:
Remington Steele comes to Vegas to be with his brothers and try to get over the one woman he’s never been able to forget. As childhood sweethearts, she hadn’t been able to handle his Dominant tendencies, choosing to run away without a good-bye. But when he’s suddenly face to face with Cara Winters, all grown up and finally ready to be his, Remington needs to make his own choice. To leave the past behind forever, or forgive and be with the woman he’s always loved?

Cara wasn’t ready to be the type of woman Remington needed in his life, so she disappeared and broke his heart. But she’s changed, and is ready to embrace the woman she always craved to be. She begs him to take her for one night, and Remington finally agrees. Will they get a second chance at love, or are the scars from their past too deep to heal?

(ADVISORY: THIS IS A SHORT EROTIC NOVELLA WITH BDSM ELEMENTS. THIS IS NOT INTENDED FOR READERS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD. HAS BEEN REVISED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SCENES.)

My Review:
This is the fourth book in a series, and can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Remington Steele (yes, I died, too, reading that name!) is the youngest of the four Steele brothers and the last to leave his home in Atlantic City to become a Vegas dealer. He’s also the next on the list to get a night of extreme pleasure via the FANTA-C matching service. Remy’s been feeling down, unable to build a bond with a new female sub for years…not since his college sweetheart, first and only love, and first D/s partner fled their home leaving only a note on his dresser.

So, naturally, the woman of his dreams is Cara–and she’s his FANTA-C match for one night only.

I liked this one. What gal doesn’t want to pass out from too many orgasms, amiright? Cara’s a BBW, and she was really fragile when she first met Remy in college. She couldn’t tolerate his compliments, which led to lots of punishment. She wasn’t sure about the direction of her life, and she panicked. It happens. She explains all this in their night together, and it solidifies one thing for her:  Remy is the only man who can be a partner to her in all ways.

Remy, on the other hand, thinks their one night is a chance to purge the toxic emotions from his memory. He’s pined for Cara too long to just let it all go…right?

Well, it’s a ROMANCE and an HEA is required. Fear not, it happens. It’s a sexy short read, with a sub that will not be denied, and a Dom who will not relinquish control. This was one of the more strong BDSM titles in the series, with bondage, orgasm denial, and flogging. Expect lots of tears from both parties, and a break-up to make up formula, as is the norm here. Enjoyable, quick, sexy read to fill in your time waiting for the nurse to call you into an examining room.

Interested? You can get your copy of BEG ME on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

SB_WEEKS_2 copyAvailable now!

CATCH ME on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

PLAY ME on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

DARE ME on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a signed paperback of SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS and SUMMER SINS by Jennifer Probst. (US Only.)
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Jennifer ProbstAbout the Author:
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers.

Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team. You can also find her Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.
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BEAUTY AND THE BOSS Finding Love–Review and Giveaway

BATB_BlogTour
Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review of Diane Albert’s new contemporary romance. BEAUTY AND THE BOSS is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast which was fun and quirky. Ben Gale is a brute of a boss, and he’s taken by beautiful researcher Maggie. He wants to do right by his father’s memory, and it’s making everyone pretty unhappy–mostly Ben.

Catch the giveaway below for a special prize from Diane!

BatB_500About the book:
Researcher Maggie Donovan has no luck with men, and it doesn’t help that she can’t keep her eyes off of her sexy boss – the one everyone else in the office calls The Beast. Relationships in the office are forbidden. So no one is more surprised than Maggie when she pretends to be his fiancée to save him during a difficult situation. Not only has she put her job on the line, but the future of the company.

Billionaire Benjamin Gale III doesn’t believe in love or romance, but the look on his mother’s face when Maggie tells her that she’s his fiancée is worth millions. Instead of firing her for her insubordination, he goes along with the ruse. In his arms–and in his bed–she’d be everything he could ever want…which is why he can’t have her.

But if he doesn’t let her go, they’ll lose everything…

My Review:
This is an enjoyable modern twist on Beauty and the Beast.

Benjamin Gale III is the CEO of his company following the death of his father six years prior. He’s always been guilty that he didn’t make it to his father’s death bed–because he was young and out partying and had no idea his dad would suffer a massive heart attack out of nowhere… (whatevs.) He lets his mother guilt and guilt and GUILT him and he drops all his social life and friends and etc to completely concentrate on running the company. Which he does. Very Well.

Lately Benjamin has noticed the extreme work ethic of one of his staff researchers, Maggie Donovan, mostly because Maggie stays as unconscionably late as Benjamin. He’s noticed her a bunch, and decides to reward her diligence with an office dinner late one Friday night. As colleagues. Thing is, the whole deal becomes an entanglement when Benjamin’s shrew of a mother turns up and accuses Benjamin and Maggie of sordid business prompting together. Maggie comes to Benjamin’s defense at the risk of her job, and they walk out of the office no longer just boss and subordinate, but also engaged.

The rest is a bit of fun, with Benji blowing his chances to woo Maggie proberly, at first, and Maggie being too hard-hearted to really let Benji in–on account of she’s been hurt too many times before. Benji’s mom has a whole plot to drive them apart and force Benji to marry a woman of her choosing. This must be the fairytale part of this, I’m sure, because I just cannot believe the vapid, waste-of-space females that are parade-ready to marry Benji. Also, the mother was, evil stepmother cruel and the clock ticking down to midnight at the ball made be dizzy with mixed fairytale plot strands.

That said Benji and Maggie do develop a satisfactory romance that has the classic big misunderstanding and a plausible reunion. I liked very much the banter and wittiness of both Benji and Maggie. Benji is great guy who’s been put down quite a bit too much and has a (implausible, IMHO) low self-esteem. He’s desperate for real affection, and Maggie is fully able to provide that. She’s a revelation and he’s unwilling to let her go, even when he thinks his company is tanking and he must “marry up” to save it. I liked him, and I liked Maggie and I was happy their romance was an HEA. I think there were some plot threads that could have been more tightly woven, but it was a solid breezy read with decent sexytimes.

Interested? You can find BEAUTY AND THE BOSS on Goodreads, Amazon , Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a signed modern fairytale journal from Diane Alberts.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Diane 1 smallDiane Alberts is a USA TODAY bestselling Contemporary Romance author with Entangled Publishing. Under the name Jen McLaughlin, she also writes New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling books with Penguin Random House. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and four cats. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway for MOMENT OF SILENCE

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Hi there! I’m so excited to offer a first look at MOMENT OF SILENCE a contemporary M/M romance by Karen Stivali. You know I loved MOMENT OF IMPACT, MOMENT OF TRUTH, and MOMENT OF CLARITY, all books in the same series. This time, we’re getting the story of Collin’s brother, Quinn, a young priest who seems to be questioning his life.

Make sure to drop down and enter the giveaway for an ebook of MOMENT OF IMPACT.

Momentof Silence_FINAL_no-bleedAbout the book:
Growing up, Jason Stern led a charmed life complete with devoted sisters, a father who was one of Brooklyn’s most respected rabbis, and a mother who made the world’s best babka. He headed to NYU ready for anything—except falling for the wrong guy, coming out, and getting disowned by his once-loving family. In spite of that, Jason managed to graduate with honors. He’s got friends who treat him like family, and he’s proudly running the largest LGBTQ teen shelter in Manhattan. Life is good, but he’s still falling for the wrong men.

When charming, sexy Quinn Fitzpatrick begins work at the shelter, Jason falls hard and fast. Quinn is tall, blond, funny—damn near perfect. Only if Quinn’s gay, even he doesn’t seem to know it. If he does, he’s not telling anyone. And he’s about one ceremony away from becoming a Catholic priest.

Long hours of work turn to long nights of talking and laughter, and Jason dares to hope this time he’s falling for the right guy. But Quinn’s got a past to deal with and major decisions to make about his future. When Quinn leaves for a silent retreat, Jason knows the silence may change everything.

How about a little taste?

Pierogi were just what the evening required. We got two orders, potato with fried onions, and cheese doused in butter. To round things out, we added a gigantic link of kielbasa and finished it all off with blueberry blintzes. By the time we were done eating, I was so full I could barely move.
“This was awesome.” Quinn licked a purple streak of blueberry off his fork before setting it down and pushing his plate away.
I was too mesmerized by the sight of his tongue to speak right away.
The waitress stopped at our booth. “All set?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
She placed the paper check between us, and Quinn reached for it, but I grabbed it first. “I’ve got this one. Make up for the popcorn you gave away.”
“You don’t have to do that.” He pulled out his wallet and put a twenty on the table.
“You can’t let anyone do anything for you, can you?”
Quinn’s eyes bugged, then softened. “Yeah, I guess I do have a problem with that sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“Okay, most of the time.”
“You know what they say. The first step is admitting you have a problem. And the second is letting me pay for dinner.” I stuck the check and enough money for the meal and tip under the glass sugar shaker, then grabbed Quinn’s twenty, folded it in half, leaned over, and tucked it into his shirt pocket.
My fingers were in the pocket before I fully realized what I was doing. Then the whole universe condensed into the drag of my fingers on that two-inch-square area of his chest. His rock-solid chest that tightened the instant I made contact. My own chest froze, devoid of air. I’d forgotten how to breathe. All I could do was think about the fact that I had my hand on this man who’d consumed my waking and sleeping hours for weeks. And I had to let go. Literally.
I pulled my hand away, trying to turn the rush of breath that returned to my lungs into something resembling a laugh. “Ready to get out of here?”
Quinn nodded.
Shit. He’s silent again. Did he notice that moment of fantasy lust I just played out? What the fuck is wrong with me? Way to make him uncomfortable. Fuck—My monologue of self-criticism was interrupted by his hand on my shoulder.
His hand was probably a normal temperature, but given the heat it generated in my body, he might as well have been the Human Torch . Great. I’m not only in love with a straight priest, he’s also a superhero.
Quinn chuckled, and for a second I worried I’d said my crazy thoughts out loud. My face flushed to match the heat that coursed through the rest of me. “What?”
He handed me my keys. “You left these on the table.”
“Oh.” I took them, heat flaring through me in another rush when his fingers brushed mine as he placed the keyring in my hand. “Thanks. Geez. That would have sucked if I’d left those here.”
“Yeah.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I nearly tripped over the step as we left the restaurant. It was a text from Campbell. I laughed. “Apparently my roommate’s having an orange juice crisis, as in we’re out of orange juice. I need to stop at the bodega on the way home. I feel like we’re married sometimes. In a weird, sexless way.” Stop talking. Now.
“It’s good you get along so well.”
I gestured to the store on the next corner. “You need anything?”
“Nah. I’m too full to even think about eating or drinking anything.”
“The power of the pierogi.”
He grinned. “See you tomorrow?”
“Get some sleep. Tomorrow we’ll work on those shelves. Unless you think we need to run the math one more time.”
“Just triple-checking your skills.” The teasing sound in his voice made me want to stay on that corner and talk to him all night. Anything to keep hold of the pleasant hum that was vibrating through my body. But then he turned away, heading toward his place, hand in the air in a backward wave of sorts. “Good night.”
It was indeed. “Night.”

Ooh! I cannot wait for this one!

If you can’t wait, too, go on and pre-order this one on Dreamspinner Press (eBook and paperback).

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a free copy of MOMENT OF IMPACT from Karen Stivali.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author
Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. She’s also the multiple award-winning author of contemporary and erotic romances. She writes novels about love…like real life, only hotter.

Her lifelong fascination with people has led her to careers ranging from hand-drawn animator, to party planner, to marriage and family counselor, but writing has always been her passion. Karen enjoys nothing more than following her characters on their journey toward love. Whether the couples are m/f or m/m, it’s guaranteed that Karen’s novels are filled with food, friendship, love, and smoking hot sex—all the best things in life.

When Karen isn’t writing (and often when she is), she can be found on Twitter attempting witty banter and detailing the antics of her fruit-loving cat, BadKitteh. She loves to hear from readers (and other writers), so don’t hesitate to contact/follow/like her at Twitter, Facebook, or her website.
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Happy Book Birthday Giveaway for BEAUTY AND THE BOSS

BATB_Blitz
Hi there! I’m getting the word our on the release of BEAUTY AND THE BOSS by Diane Alberts. This is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast which was fun and quirky. Ben Gale is a brute of a boss, and he’s taken by beautiful researcher Maggie, but his life isn’t completely his own and he’s feeling pretty thorny over it.

Catch the giveaway below for a special prize from Diane!

BatB_500About the book:
Researcher Maggie Donovan has no luck with men, and it doesn’t help that she can’t keep her eyes off of her sexy boss – the one everyone else in the office calls The Beast. Relationships in the office are forbidden. So no one is more surprised than Maggie when she pretends to be his fiancée to save him during a difficult situation. Not only has she put her job on the line, but the future of the company.

Billionaire Benjamin Gale III doesn’t believe in love or romance, but the look on his mother’s face when Maggie tells her that she’s his fiancée is worth millions. Instead of firing her for her insubordination, he goes along with the ruse. In his arms–and in his bed–she’d be everything he could ever want…which is why he can’t have her.

But if he doesn’t let her go, they’ll lose everything…

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Interested? You can find BEAUTY AND THE BOSS on Goodreads, Amazon , Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a signed modern fairytale journal from Diane Alberts.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Diane 1 smallDiane Alberts is a USA TODAY bestselling Contemporary Romance author with Entangled Publishing. Under the name Jen McLaughlin, she also writes New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling books with Penguin Random House. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and four cats. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Secret Love for ABBY AND THE CUTE ONE–Review & Giveaway

abby and the cute one tour bannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a newly released contemporary YA rockstar romance from Erin Butler. ABBY AND THE CUTE ONE is the fifth book in the Backstage Pass series about the members of boy-band Seconds to Juliet finding beautiful, strong girls to date. It’s a fun series! Check out my reviews for MIA AND THE BAD BOY, DAISY AND THE FRONT MAN and ANYA AND THE SHY GUY, to learn more about the series.

Don’t forget to drop down and enter the giveaway for a swag bag, or a $25 Amazon gift card!

AbbyandtheCuteOne_FINALAbout the book:
He’s cute. He’s famous. And he could ruin everything…
Every member of Seconds to Juliet has a girlfriend—except for Nathan Strong. Now the band’s manager is leaning hard on “The Cute One” to play the role of the band’s heartthrob. With the band’s sales in decline, it’s up to Nathan to keep the fans’ fantasy alive.

The plan is to stage a fake relationship and a fake breakup, and then let the fans fight to be the one to mend Nathan’s broken heart. Just one problem. There’s another girl in the picture–one Nathan can’t stay away from. In private, Nathan’s stealing kisses with the band’s new opening act, Abby Curtis.

If they’re caught, no one wins. Abby will be fired, and the band might not recover the success they need to survive. But even with the pressure mounting, Nathan and Abby can’t stop themselves from stealing one more touch, one more kiss. And it’s only a matter of time before it all falls apart.

My Review:
Nathan Strong is the new IT boy of Seconds To Juliet, and he’s not happy about it. All his bandmates have real relationships, with girls they love, and he’s on a blind date every week with some starlet he doesn’t know and who doesn’t want to know him. It’s lonely on the road, and he’s feeling down about it when he meets Abby Curtis. It’s a sweet meet-cute and they’re getting along well before he realizes that she’s auditioning to be an opening act on S2J’s tour. Crap!

Abby’s so taken by Nathan, not that she didn’t already have some fangirling attraction, and so crushed when he disses her after she nails the audition and gets signed to tour with S2J. Well, that is until S2J’s manager lays it all out: if she has any romantic contact with any of the band, including Nathan, she’ll be fired.

THat said, she and Nathan really can’t stay away from each other. And, that’s rough when Nathan’s being set up for a public romance/heartbreak scenario with a popular teen actress, Marissa. This is a sweet/bittersweet story abut going after one’s dreams, even when they are in conflict. I liked both Nathan and Abby from the start, and symapathized with their plight. They are kindred spirits, and wanting both love and success in their lives. The obstacles in their way seem too high to climb, but Nathan’s friends are there when he needs them.

Expect sneaking around, forbidden kisses, and a grand gesture of epic proprtions. It’s an HEA all the way. This is a clean romance, with no foul language, suggestiveness, and only a few heated kisses that never go farther. Suitable for all YA readers.

Interested? You can find ABBY AND THE CUTE ONE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo Books.

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Don’t forget about the other books in this series! I’ve read and really enjoyed three others: MIA AND THE BAD BOY, DAISY AND THE FRONT MAN and ANYA AND THE SHY GUY All the buy links are on those posts.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win your choice: Backstage Pass Swag Pack or $25 Amazon gift card.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

erin butlerAbout the Author
Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she loves to read. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially fangirls over a sigh-worthy romance.

She lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. Preferring to spend her time indoors reading or writing, she’ll only willingly go outside for chocolate and sunshine—in that order.

Fidn Erin online on her website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.
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DARE ME To Find Love! Review and Giveaway

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Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for the third erotic novella in Jennifer Probst’s Steele Brothers series. CATCH ME and PLAY ME were both about alpha men and the sexy women they pleasure. DARE ME is a little different. In this one, Rafe Steele isn’t looking for a woman to dominate…nope. The third Steele son, a decorated war veteran, wants a Dominatrix. And boy howdy does he get one!

Don’t for get to scroll down and enter the giveaway for two of Ms. Probst’s bestsellers!

DAREMe(Final)About the book:
As a military leader back from the war, and the youngest of his two dominant older brothers, Rafe Steele struggles with a secret. He craves surrender in the bedroom under the controlled hands of a Dominatrix. When his brothers offer him an experience through the exclusive agency, FANTA-C, he jumps at the chance to experience one perfect night. After one experiment, he’s sure he’ll be able to move on. But he never counted on Summer Preston to strip down his walls and make him want more so much more…

An elementary school teacher with a girl next door, fresh face, Summer is constantly barraged by men who want to take care of her, but she longs to meet a strong man who can handle her dominant ways in the bedroom. Trapped in her own storybook life, she books a one-night stand to finally experience her fantasy. But she never counted on Rafe Steele to push her boundaries in both the bedroom…and her heart.

My Review:
Rafe is a combat veteran who’s struggling with his return home. He doesn’t have PTSD, per se, but he does suffer nightmares and has lost some of his vigor. Having been awarded a medal for his service was cold comfort to losing his comrade. He followed his brothers into dealing cards out in Vegas, hoping the change of scene would be beneficial, and isn’t really up for this FANTA C date night both Rick and Roman press him to take–but they are paying for it. Plus, they found perfect women in their dates, so it can’t a bad service, can it?

Summer Preston is a third grade teacher who’s always lived up to her parents’ expectations. Well, until she didn’t marry the young pastor they had desired for her. Nope, Summer needs a bit more feistiness in her bedmates. It took her years to come to terms with her desires, and she’s not going to let anyone shame her for wanting to dominate her partners. She finds the bulky and scarred Rafe much to be enjoyed, and while he’s not intimidated by her girl-next-door appearance at first, her leather catsuit and skill with a paddle turn his volume up on life.

They have a steamy one-nighter, and that’s all. Because men like Rafe Steele don’t submit. What would his brothers think! I’m not sure if Rick and Roman would get the vapors like Summer’s parents, but still! Come on Rafe! Man up, soldier! As with the two previous books each of the parties needs a bit of a “cooling off” period, in order to bend their brains around finding the perfect match. This happens, most especially for Rafe; he has a heart-to-heart with his brothers, who seriously aren’t cool with his behavior, I loved how caring Rafe was for Summer’s student whose father was off in combat. And both Summer and Rafe are sweet characters who are both coming to terms with their unconventional needs. It was a yummy sexy read with a positive sexual premise, and empowering for those who find their needs to be outside of the stereotype. I liked. Also, short enough to be enjoyed while the kiddos are off watching a cartoon!

Interested? You can get your copy of DARE ME on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

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Available now! CATCH ME on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

PLAY ME on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

Pre-order BEG ME on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a signed paperback of SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS and SUMMER SINS by Jennifer Probst. (US Only.)
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Jennifer ProbstAbout the Author:
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers.

Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team. You can also find her Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.
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Double The Love: SAFETY IN NUMBERS–Review and Giveaway!

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Hi there! Today I’m so excited to share my review for a new contemporary M/M romance from Jessie G. SAFETY IN NUMBERS is the fifth book in Jessie G’s Sizzling Miami series, and features two couples, with two love stories. I just loved FOR A REASON, and relished the chance to get back to these boys!

Make sure to drop down and enter the giveaway for two $25 gift cards and signed books!

SIN CoversAbout the book:

“Bros stick together no matter what.”
When Chris and Liam made that promise, they had no idea how important it would become or how it would be tested in the most brutal way. Nine years later, their bond cemented in blood, that relationship is all they have to hold on to.

“No matter what happens, this friendship will be the one constant we can count on.”
When Billy and Owen made that promise, they knew exactly how dangerous the world could be. They survived prison by protecting each other and they survived freedom by holding that promise sacred. Now they want more than just to survive and they want it from the brothers whose bond is as strong as their own.

“We are stronger together than we’ll ever be apart.”
When Owen reaches his breaking point, Chris jumps at the chance to make things right for all of them. With the future in their grasp, will they realize their strength is in their numbers and finally become the family they crave?

Author’s Note: This is NOT a foursome, but the story of two couples that needed to be told together.

How about a little taste?

That silence hid a lot from their friends, but Liam knew Chris was plagued with memories far worse than his. That’s why they decided not to celebrate alone this year. Billy and Owen were expected any minute and it was the first time they invited anyone to join them. The anniversary was bittersweet for them and they chose to celebrate it because becoming brothers meant that much to them. “Do you think they’ll find it stupid?”

Chris just shrugged as if it was no skin off his back what they thought and Liam knew that was just bravado. Fact was, they both very much cared what the two men thought. “Liar.”

His brother sighed and dropped his head back. As if shit wasn’t fucked up enough, they fell for two bastards just as fucked up as they were. “I know you’re worried about Owen. The business with Colin is growing out of their control and I’m not sure why he thinks it’s a good thing. Is he trying to prove something? And the middle of the night phone calls from the FTR? He’s looking more and more fragile every day.”

Liam knew he wasn’t stating anything new. What he didn’t know was what Chris intended to do about it. Lately, when it came to Owen, Chris conveyed zero intent and seemed to be waiting for Owen to read him as effortlessly as Liam did. Their brother bond had been forged through blood and he was afraid Chris’s expectations of Owen were unreasonable. “Do you see his face every time he thinks he’s failed to understand you? The weight of it is crushing.”

Instead of regret, all Liam saw was anger in Chris. It wasn’t a common emotion for Chris and Liam could name every time he saw it. The fact that Chris knew what he was capable of if provoked had made him extremely conscious of that emotion and he often went to great lengths to contain it.

Owen was the very definition of insecure. Just the type to inspire Chris’s protective instincts, which Liam knew for a fact Owen did. Hell, he inspired Liam’s protective instincts. Owen was stubborn though and he often distanced himself, keeping things bottled up until they manifested elsewhere. Like in panic attacks that felt like heart attacks, which he also tried to hide. Liam nearly lost it when they found out that Billy was keeping Owen’s secret.

Chris nodded slowly, as if he completely followed Liam’s train of thought and waited for him to connect the dots. And just like that, Liam understood. “You’re pissed because he doesn’t come to you when the panic sets in. That he hides it from you and they hide it from us.”

It made total sense, but he had to wonder if they were expecting too much. After all, they couldn’t call what was going on with either man a relationship. No, they were four fucked up bastards trying to come together in some romanticwhat? Not a foursome, eww…he loved Chris, but yeah, that just wasn’t happening. And Owen wasn’t his type any more than Billy was Chris’s type. But—always with the fucking buts, right?—what was happening was very definitely happening to the four of them, and Liam now had to wonder if that was the problem, because trying to come together was definitely not the same as being together.

Chris shook his head and shifted in his seat. No, he was right. It wasn’t just their brother bond that made it impossible to move forward as two separate couples. Billy and Owen had formed their own unique friendship in prison and were no more likely to move forward without the other one either. “Just once, couldn’t we have done something the easy way?”

The fire door banged open and Liam turned to see Billy and Owen, arms full of brightly wrapped packages, struggling to pull a huge cluster of balloons through the door. It was a shocking contrast to their dark thoughts and so uncharacteristically sweet of both men. Billy caught their surprised stare and yelled, “Is this where the party’s at?”

“It is now.” It might seem silly, but it was exactly what they needed and exactly who they needed it from. Maybe they hadn’t been expecting too much at all. Liam rose to give them a hand and glanced down to see the look of longing in Chris’s eyes and thought maybe it was time they all expected more.

My Review:
This fifth book in a series, but is enjoyable as a standalone. Billy, Owen, Chris and Liam are all ex-cons in Miami living in a community home and working in various businesses to forward their rehabilitation. Billy, Chris and Liam all work for Bull, Owen’s older brother, in a garage working on cars, though Billy is beginning to branch out into a friend’s motorcycle repair/rebuild shop. Owen is a draftsman and carpenter doing rehabs and finishings. They are all blue collar type guys with simple desires: to repair their broken lives, to find peace, and to find love.

Billy and Owen were in prison together and formed a tight bond–they remain friends on the outside and lean on each other heavily. Billy’s unsure that he can stay out of trouble, but it’s been nearly four years and he’s still working hard. He’s tried to reconcile with his family, but they are obstinate–they had been hurt too many times. Owen’s plagued by anxiety attacks and fear of failure, and he’s desperate to have a loving connection. Liam and Chris are stepbrothers who went to prison when Chris killed Liam’s father–an abusive POS who nearly killed Chris on the night of the fatality. Chris had been so damaged he hasn’t spoken in years, but he is now–in slow fits and starts. For Chris, there is nothing he won’t do to protect Liam, who has been cast out by his own family for standing by Chris. Their legal journey (in and out of prison) is murky and likely to be revealed in a later book.
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So, Billy is interested in Liam and Owen wants Chris, and vice versa. These guys know they can’t survive on their own, so they are trying to build two relationships together. No, not a foursome; two couples who are very close. It’s an interesting dynamic and I was glad to see how they all made time to be together and also to find time to bond as separate couples. I had anticipated a bit more steam, considering we’ve got TWO couples, but it’s not that way. There’s some nice sexytimes, but not an overwhelming amount of them. I think the book really picked up for me about 25% in. All the first part offered was some vague outlines of the background and I wanted to get to the action sooner, so that was disappointing, but the rest of the book was solid.

Billy’s family does reach out, and for horrible reasons. Still, that opening might prove to be the change Billy’s needed to get over his guilt. Liam and Chris say goodbye to the negativity of their past, mostly with the letting go of the one person who could have turned their lives around, and didn’t–Chris’ mother. There’s a lot of anger and frustration for both Chris and Liam, and I hope their lives are better moving forward. It seems they will be…

We get some catching up with guys from the previous books, including Bull and Red, and lots of soul-searching and communication, which is great for Chris who hasn’t spoken in so long. The series is growing up, with lots of mature men making mature decisions, which is always fun to see. Setting aside the slow pace of the beginning this was a thoroughly enjoyable read with two feel good endings.

Interested? You can find SAFETY IN NUMBERS on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, AllRomance and Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY***

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win one of TWO $25 ebook GC (Amazon, B&N, ARE, or KOBO) winner’s choice, or one of 2 signed paperbacks of Safety in Numbers
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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 six published books to date, 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.

You can find Jessie G on these social media outlets:

Facebook | twitter | Pinterest | Tsu | Google+ | Ello | Tumblr | Goodreads

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Fierce Times NEGOTIATING LOVE–Exclusive excerpt, Review and Giveaway!

NL--BannerTemplateHi there! Today I’m featuring an EXCLUSIVE excerpt and review of Morticia Knight’s newest release, NEGOTIATING LOVE. It’s a sensual and sexy M/M BDSM romance, book five in the Sin City Uniforms series. You’ll remember that I really liked HELD HOSTAGE. Well, we see a bit of Brett and Cole in this one, too, but only as cameos. Steve had been a convenient partner for Cole for years, and this book tells us how they each found worthy partners.

Scroll down and check out the excerpt, my review and enter the giveaway!

Neg-LoveAbout the book:
Can the kinky billionaire owner of Dark Fantasy Resort Casino capture the heart of a muscled SWAT officer with a secret fetish?
SWAT Team Hostage Negotiator, Steve, wonders why he can’t stay away from the spoiled rich Allistair, owner of Dark Fantasy Resort Casino. They have mutual kinks – ones Steve can’t find with other lovers—but there’s something else about the emotionally detached, beautiful man that calls to him.

Billionaire Allistair stays alone in his luxury penthouse apartment at the top of Dark Fantasy, terrified of the real world and of opening himself up to genuine emotions. He takes lover after lover, all of them allowing him to do whatever he wants to their bodies, in the hopes that they can scam something from him.

One night is all he ever shares with a plaything—he knows they only want the money and luxury he can offer them and nothing more. But the down to earth Steve is different. They share the same kinks and are explosive when together. But could the muscled law officer ever want more than the lust-filled encounters that have become such an addiction?

As they grow closer, they discover they also have to find a balance between Steve’s everyday world and Allistair’s entitled world before they can truly find an ever after. They also have to make sure Allistair stays safe. Filthy rich playboys are too tempting to those who seek the ultimate payday—and who aren’t afraid of hurting someone to get it.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of BDSM and fetishism.

How about a little taste?

He wasn’t sure how long he was out, but when he was finally aware of himself again, he was unbound, lying on his side on the blanket with Allistair curled around him. He’d been covered with yet another blanket and he was warm. Safe.

“Are you back with me?”

“Yeah.” He had to clear the gravel from his throat. “Shit. Did I pass out?”

The heat from Allistair’s breath fanned over his skin as he chuckled. “Maybe. I was able to untie you then manipulate you without any resistance.” Allistair rubbed his lips back and forth across his shoulder. “So exquisite in your trust. Your surrender to me.”

Steve twisted in Allistair’s embrace until they were facing each other, wincing from his sore muscles.

Allistair ran a finger along his lips then frowned. “Stay still. I need to get you some water.”

Being pampered by Allistair Richmond had never seemed as if it would be a remote possibility when he’d entered Club Seduction a couple of nights before. Another thought hit him. Despite his belief that it would be impossible, Allistair had wrenched one of the most mind-shattering orgasms of his life from him by using the fake phallus. His lover was a magician or a sorcerer.

Or a vampire.

He laughed almost hysterically, his emotions all over the map.

Allistair helped him to sit up a bit. “That’s a good release. Here, take a sip.”

He was offered a cold bottle of water, one of the ones they’d brought in the backpack with the blue ice. It was difficult not to chug it once he got it to his lips. He hadn’t realized how dehydrated he really was.

Once he’d finished about half the bottle, Allistair encouraged him to lie back down then rose to his feet, still only wearing his silk boxers. His arousal was obvious and Steve felt guilty for not reciprocating. He reached for him, not just to pleasure him, but because he craved their closeness.

He snuck in. Got me.

My Review:

Allistair Richmond is a trust fund brat who made good. he took his money and built an empire of companies, including the  Dark Fantasy resort and casino in Las Vegas. He’s had a solitary life, with parents who were mostly absentee and an elder brother, Quentin, who is more psycho than…well, psycho. Due to threats from unnamed persons, as well as Quentin, Allistair is mostly holed up in his penthouse suite. He has no problem finding one-nighters, but he’s definitely down for a repeat performance with sexy bottom and police negotiator Officer Steve Ashwood.

Steve’s a regular guy, an army veteran and a proud wearer of women’s lingerie. *swoon* Honestly, didn’t know that manties would be a thing for me, but yeah. The genuine affection both Steve and Allistair have for women’s lingerie was yummy. Steve likes to be dominated. Hard. He’s super stressed in his role as a negotiator and craves punishment and rough love to clear his head when things go wrong. We had a few hints of Steve in HELD HOSTAGE, because he’s Cole’s long-time friend and frequent no-strings sexual partner. It was Steve who called an end to their hook-ups because what Allistair wants is anything but casual. Steve thinks that Allistair is the most beautiful man he’s ever seen.

There some interplay between Steve and Allistair, clashing over finances and the like. Steve is a proud man, and never wants to feel as if he is “bought”–he doesn’t like gifts, cash or anything of the sort, and Allistair isn’t used to dealing with people on an emotional level. All his previous partners have been after his money; Steve’s a refreshing change. I liked how they worked this out, and spent a good bit of time setting boundaries. There is little conflict between them, most of the suspense comes from the specter of Quentin, and his vague threats to extort more money from his more successful younger brother.

Expect some hostage scenes, and some quiet mornings, and some HOT lovin. Mmmmm. I always ask that the excerpts I receive for the blog are PG-13, and well, this one was a challenge. There’s a lot of sexytimes, LOL! That said, there’s a nice story, too, and it was great to see Brett and Cole again. While this is part of a series, it’s probably fine to read it as a standalone. It’s a super quick read, and sure to be enjoyed by folks who like it kinky.

Interested? You can find NEGOTIATING LOVE on Goodreads, Pride Publishing, Amazon (US and UK).

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a signed paperback and a goodie bag!
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Morticia KnightAbout the Author:
Author Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after. If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011.

Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.

You can find Morticia online on her website, Goodreads, Totally Bound, Amazon, Twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading (and commenting!) my friends! Pride-Promotions